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Democratic leaders in the Senate and Assembly say sending the governor a gay marriage bill will be a top priority in the new legislative session.

New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez is taking issue with speculation voiced Friday that he is blocking the appointment of a popular judge to the federal appeals court because of a personal vendetta.

New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has remained mum on why he is blocking the appointment of a popular judge backed by President Barack Obama to the federal appeals court – the first time a Democrat has held up an Obama judicial nomination.

A prominent education organization in New Jersey is criticizing the state's application for a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law.

The redrawing of New Jersey's congressional districts is expected to be decided Friday with a tie-breaking vote coming from the one non-partisan member of the commission.

A New Jersey state court upheld a decision Wednesday to allow a Hebrew immersion charter school to stay open in East Brunswick in what amounts to a legal victory for supporters of charter schools across the state, where multiple suburban districts are fighting similar proposals.

New Jersey's Congressional Redistricting Commission will wrap up its new map before Christmas, and it's beginning to look like Congressmen Steve Rothman (D-9) and Scott Garrett (R-5) will be the two getting coal in their stockings.

A controversial contract to house illegal immigrant detainees in a privately run facility was unanimously approved by the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders Wednesday night.

This time of year, the sidewalks are crammed with holiday shoppers along Fifth Avenue. But there was a time, not so long ago, when Newark's main street was a marquee shopping boulevard. Bits of the city's storied shopping past are still etched on the buildings — a reminder of what once was, and what, some people hope, the city can be again.

New Jersey gets a lot of attention for its annual bear hunt, which wrapped up last week with 464 kills. But that's just one of the ways the state's wildlife officials are managing the bear population year round. Bears have turned up in every county in the state, including a few blocks from the George Washington Bridge — and there are an estimated 3,200 bears in Northwestern Jersey alone.

With every detail of its process under scrutiny, the Christie administration said yesterday that 17 of 42 applications for new charter schools in the state have made the first cut in the latest review, while the remainder have been eliminated, at least for now.

A New Jersey lawmaker is calling on Governor Chris Christie's office to investigate how the Port Authority handled recent bridge and tunnel tolls and PATH fare hikes.

The commander of New Jersey's National Guard is resigning after being caught having a physical relationship with a woman who worked for him, state officials said.

Former New Jersey Republican Governor Thomas Kean is such a believer in climate change that he is calling on informed citizens to "confront those who don't believe in the science of it for the ignorant people that they are."

The number of New Jersey residents receiving food stamps has doubled in the last four years despite the state’s standing as No. 2 wealthiest in the nation.

Supporters of the American Dream Meadowlands project – formerly known as Xanadu – will plead their case this week for the filling of five acres of wetlands to permit the expansion of the stalled project’s footprint to more than three million square feet.

A day after New Jersey voters rejected all of the challengers Governor Chris Christie backed in pricey TV ad buys, the governor said the results were “no big shocker." Meanwhile, Democrats said the election was proof of "Christie fatigue" and a desire for "results over rancor." And although Democrats managed to hold key seats, the party has a tough road ahead.

Up-to-the minute election returns from across New Jersey.

Thousands of New Jersey residents are headed to the polls Tuesday — with all state legislative positions and hundreds of county and local offices up for election. There is also a referendum on legalizing sports betting. Tonight, WNYC will bring you results from across the region, but we're putting a special focus on the races and issues in New Jersey.

Starting at 8 p.m, LISTEN to our live coverage of Election Night 2011 and join us for a LIVE CHAT.

Though light turnout is predicted when New Jersey voters head to the polls Tuesday, the battle over who wins Bergen County could be the most watched contest in the state – with implications for 2012 political landscape and beyond.