New Jersey Weekly: Oct. 23, 2026

TOP NEWS

In-person early voting for the 2026 general election will be held from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. People can access their county’s early voting locations Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday until 6 p.m. A list of locations is available online. Add to 📅.
New Jersey Division of Elections

Residents can attend public forums to share feedback on N.J.’s school funding on Oct. 27. Attendees will learn about N.J.’s school funding system, hear from N.J. Department of Education staff, and share input and experiences. Forum begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Essex County Donald M. Payne School of Technology in Newark. Registration is required. Add to 📅.
New Jersey Department of Education

“Planning for Parenthood: A Maternity Leave Guide” webinar planned with Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ and Family Connects NJ on Oct. 27. It is from 10-11 a.m. Attendees will learn about the maternity and family leave timeline, how to use the Paid Leave Navigator, eligibility requirements, and more. Registration is required. Add to 📅.
Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ

Rutgers will receive a $500,000 state grant to lead research on social media’s effects on children, according to Gov. Mikie Sherrill. Rutgers will assess the impact of social media on children’s mental and physical health, identify strategies for reducing harmful and addictive use, and ways to promote healthy and responsible online habits. Findings will be shared to the public on a rolling basis with recommendations to follow within a year. In August, Sherrill signed the New Jersey Kids Code Act, which limits social media platforms from collecting data from N.J. minors for algorithm and content recommendations; limits the discoverability of children’s accounts, including through search engines; and directs a four-year state university to establish a research center to study social media addiction.
New Jersey Monitor

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were found in 91% of 86 tested sites throughout N.J. between 2022 and 2024, according to an analysis of federal, state, and non-profit water testing data. The 86 samples were collected along the Raritan River watershed. PFAS, or toxic “forever chemicals,” resists breaking down over time and has been linked to health issues, including birth defects and cancers. Environmental advocates have urged officials to replace PFAS with safer alternatives, ban industrial facilities from dumping PFAS in waterways, and stop using PFAS-laden sewage sludge or residual fertilizer on farmland.
New Jersey Patch

New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children seeks bilingual volunteers to provide in-person interpretation during asylum interviews and psychological evaluations for immigrant children and youth. Volunteers must be fluent in English and Spanish. Apply by emailing rsalcedo@njcic.org.
New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children

Domestic workers, or people who provide household services, can attend a webinar discussing their rights on Oct. 29 with the N.J. Department of Labor. It is from 7:30-9 p.m. and will discuss the state’s Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights. Registration available online in English and Spanish. Add to 📅.
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development