Here is The Jersey Bee’s top news for New Jersey for the week ending Sep. 18, 2026.
TOP NEWS
New Jersey residents participating in SNAP and WFNJ programs will receive new EBT cards that are chip-enabled. The new chip feature is meant to protect residents against skimming, which happens when someone attaches an illegal device to a digital payment system to steal card information or a PIN number. In 2023, about 23,000 individuals filed a claim reporting stolen EBT benefits in N.J., totaling to $11 million. EBT cardholders must activate their new card within 90 days of receiving it, and current benefit cards will expire 60 days after the new one is issued, according to the Department of Human Services. People can lock or unlock their card at njfamiliesfirst.gov or through the ConnectEBT app.
Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Some undocumented immigrants in N.J. will lose healthcare coverage under NJ FamilyCare starting Oct. 1. The change in coverage status comes after the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” was signed in July 2025. OBBBA is a federal spending law signed July 2025 that cuts funding for Medicaid, Medicare, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. People who may lose eligibility for NJ FamilyCare include refugees, asylum seekers, humanitarian parolees, victims of domestic violence or human trafficking. Affected individuals may qualify for healthcare coverage under Get Covered, the state’s health insurance marketplace. Enrollment must be completed within 60 days after NJ FamilyCare coverage ends on Sep. 30.
New Jersey Department of Human Services
New Jersey joined a coalition of 21 states in a lawsuit against the federal government over a new rule that allows immigration officials to deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits. The new guidance goes into effect Sep. 18 and rolls back 2022 public charge regulations, which restricted immigration officers from considering the applicant’s use of non-cash public benefits. That includes services like Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The coalition argues that the new policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeds the Department of Homeland Security’s authority, and the rule does not establish which benefits could affect a green card application. It asks a federal judge to rule the policy unlawful and vacate it.
New Jersey Globe
Families can attend a webinar discussing ways to improve communication with children on Sep. 23. Led by Teen Speak NJ, a program and workshop series funded by the state Department of Health. The webinar is from 12-2 p.m. and a second session is Sep. 30 at the same time. Attendees will learn strategies for building trust and improving their children’s self-efficacy. Registration is required. Free admission. Add to 📅.
New Jersey Department of Health
“Creating a Healthy Workplace Culture” webinar planned with planned with Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children on Sep. 23. It is from 1-4 p.m. and is in collaboration with Rutgers School of Social Work. Attendees will learn how to identify unhealthy workplace culture, describe psychological safety, and use strategies to reduce burnout. Registration is required. Free admission. Add to 📅.
Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children
Clean-up of about 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from a data center into Secaucus’ Anderson Creek is continuing this week, state officials said. The fuel spilled from two broken storage tank valves at the Equinix Data Center on Sep. 11. The creek is a tributary of the Hackensack River, and flows through the Meadowlands and empties into Newark Bay. The fuel spill comes after residents and environmental advocates urged Gov. Mikie Sherrill to place a three-year statewide moratorium on the approval and construction of large-scale data centers in order to evaluate environmental, energy, and public health risks associated with data centers. Almost 100 cities and towns across N.J. passed local laws banning new data centers.
Gothamist
