Guides and Explainers

Ornate legislative chamber of the New Jersey General Assembly, featuring rows of wooden desks with blue chairs arranged in a semicircle on a patterned blue carpet. The room has a high, coffered ceiling with a large glass skylight and gold-trimmed architectural details. A prominent chandelier hangs in the center, and upper balconies with wooden seating line the perimeter. Two banners display the New Jersey state seal and the words "New Jersey General Assembly."

How New Jersey leftist groups define “progressive”

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Guides and Explainers
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May 6, 2025

The Jersey Bee asked three New Jersey organizations on the political left to explain what “progressive” means to them. Here’s what they said.

Latest in Guides and Explainers
A stylized collage features the outline of New Jersey in light blue, overlaid on a blurred dictionary page with entries related to "politics." A hand holds a magnifying glass that centers on the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey.
Common political terms and what they mean in New Jersey
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Elections
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May 5, 2025

Politicians and media use terms to describe policies and politics in New Jersey that aren’t universally understood. Here are some common political terms and what they mean.

Illustration of a fake visa document with a red stamp reading "FAKE" across it. The background features a repeated pattern of the words "SCAM" and "ESTAFA" in red and gray.
How to protect yourself from scams pretending to be immigration agencies or lawyers in New Jersey
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Immigrants
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April 16, 2025

Scam emails and messages falsely promise legal representation for obtaining a Green Card or other immigration services in exchange for a small fee. Here is what to look for.

Illustration of a judge holding a gavel while standing at a podium in front of a large visa document. The visa includes a photo placeholder, signature line, and various identification elements.
How to prepare for an initial immigration court appearance in New Jersey
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Immigrants
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April 8, 2025

Here’s what you need to know about immigration court appearances and what happens if you miss them.

An artistic rendering of Bloomfield Tech, including a colorful building with a symmetrical, classical design, featuring columns and large rectangular windows. The facade is decorated with vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and turquoise, creating a rainbow-like effect across the structure. The central entrance has a staircase leading up to teal double doors, framed by orange and turquoise walls. The top of the building includes ornate detailing and faded engravings. The sky above is clear and blue.
What we know about Bloomfield’s purchase of the former site of Essex County’s Bloomfield Tech high school
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Local Government
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March 25, 2025

The Jersey Bee received questions from residents about the purchase and development of the former Bloomfield Tech property. Here's what we learned.

A stylized digital illustration features a hand holding a magnifying glass against a yellow background with abstract shapes. Inside the magnifying glass, there is a simple line drawing of two hands exchanging money above a government-style building.
How to find public assistance without violating public charge rules in New Jersey
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Immigrants
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March 11, 2025

Public charge determines what public resources a visa or green card applicant can rely on in the United States.

Gráfico de estilo collage que presenta recortes hexagonales de seis personas, cada una en una foto profesional, dispuestas en el centro de la imagen. El fondo muestra la cúpula del Capitolio del Estado de Nueva Jersey, parcialmente descolorida. Hay formas hexagonales en blanco esparcidas a la izquierda, lo que sugiere lugares reservados. Los individuos son cinco hombres y una mujer.
Los candidatos a la gobernación de Nueva Jersey en 2025 responden preguntas sobre segregación y equidad
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Español
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February 21, 2025

The Jersey Bee preguntó a 12 candidatos a la gobernación de Nueva Jersey cuáles eran sus planes para un estado más justo y equitativo. Seis respondieron. Esto es lo que contestaron.

A team of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers in tactical gear enter a home, confronting a man standing at the top of a staircase. The officers wear bulletproof vests labeled "POLICE ICE," and one appears to be carrying equipment. The man, dressed in a black shirt, has a blurred face. The setting is dimly lit, with a wooden front door ajar and a hallway visible inside.
How noncitizens can protect themselves when talking to ICE officers in New Jersey
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Resources
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February 12, 2025

What you say (or don't say) to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers could protect you and your family if ICE is at your home or workplace.

A digital illustration featuring a round badge with a blue background and a red border. At the center, a ballot box labeled "VOTE" in bold, hand-drawn letters has several pink ballots being cast into it. Surrounding the box are red and black abstract shapes resembling bursts of energy. The background is yellow with subtle wave patterns.
Newark students’ guide to voting in local school board elections
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Guides and Explainers
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February 3, 2025

Here’s what 16- and 17-year-olds need to know about voting in Newark’s school board elections.

A color graphic divided into four quadrants, each representing a different zoning category: a house on green (residential), trees on blue (green space), a factory on red (industrial), and barren land with branches on yellow (unused land). The background is black with abstract grey curves on both sides.
How municipal zoning and planning work in New Jersey
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Guides and Explainers
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January 15, 2025

Zoning and planning boards decide what gets built where in every city and town in New Jersey. Here is how zoning works and how to get involved in zoning and planning decisions where you live.

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