TOP NEWS
New Jersey Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell resigned after a four-month investigation found he violated state ethics rules, including offering state jobs, and sexually harassed women. Former N.J. Attorney General Christopher Porrino and Shontae Gray, a former assistant U.S. attorney, conducted the investigation and interviewing complainants, including state employees and potential witnesses. State Comptroller Shirley Emehelu will replace Caldwell as secretary of state until a new lieutenant governor is selected.
WHYY Public Media
NJ Transit will temporarily operate on a modified train schedule from Oct. 11 to Nov. 14 as Amtrak works on the Portal North Bridge. The bridge will replace the 114-year-old swing bridge over the Hackensack River, and is meant to improve long-term reliability and capacity along the Northeast Corridor. The modified schedule will affect all train lines except the Atlantic City Rail Line. Adjusted schedules are available online.
NJ Transit
Middle and high school students in N.J. can apply to 2026 Congressional App Challenge by Oct. 26. Students can submit their designs of their own software applications to enter the contest. Winning applications are featured in the Capitol Building, winners are selected by congressional district. Submission guidelines are available online. Add to 📅.
Congressional App Challenge
Voting information webinar planned with League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area and N.J. State Bar Association on Oct. 6. It is from 12-1 p.m. Attendees will learn about the voting process and how to learn about candidates by using trustworthy sources. Registration is required. Add to 📅.
League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area
New Jersey partnered with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to purchase $90 million in medical debt held by nearly 20,000 residents, bringing the total number of forgiven debt to $1.6 billion for nearly 900,000 residents since August 2024. For this round of purchasing, N.J. used $600,000 in American Rescue Plan funds. To qualify, individuals must have medical debt equal to 5% of their annual income, or earn four times the federal poverty level or less, which is $63,840 for a single adult and $132,000 for a family of four in 2026, the most recently available figures. There is no application or request process for medical debt relief because it is purchased directly from creditors.
New Jersey Department of Health
Dining Out Jersey Foodie Expo 2026 planned by Dining Out Jersey on Oct. 7 in Cliffside Park. The event, scheduled from 6-10 p.m., at Riverside Ballroom, 700 Palisadium Dr. The expo will feature food from premier restaurants, wine and spirits sampling, entertainment, and door prizes. General admission tickets are available online. Add to 📅.
Dining Out Jersey
Out in Jersey Magazine seeks volunteers to join its podcast. The podcast is about current LGBTQ+ stories. Interested volunteers should contact the magazine online.
Out in Jersey Magazine
New Jersey Citizen Action is hiring a bilingual community educator. Responsibilities include conducting English- and Spanish-language fair housing workshops, completing reports and administrative forms, and more. Position is hybrid and applicant must work out of its Newark or Highland Park offices. To apply, email cover letter and resume to jobs@njcitizenaction.org.
New Jersey Citizen Action
“Free the Degree,” a campaign to increase access to higher education in N.J., launch event planned with N.J. Institute for Social Justice on Oct. 9 at NJIT. It is from 4-7 p.m. and will include a panel, student resources, and information about scholarships. Add to 📅.
New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
Sen. Andy Kim’s office is hiring a full-time legislative fellow to work in Washington, D.C. from January to May. Applicants must have ties to N.J. Responsibilities include legislative research, policy-writing, constituent engagement, and stakeholder communications. Applications due Oct. 30. Add to 📅.
Senator Andy Kim
