Hey, NJ

Hey NJ! This week, we're talking about the nation's loneliness epidemic.   In May 2023, then-Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory that revealed about half of U.S. adults reported experiencing loneliness.    As part of NJ PBS' "A Matter of Faith" series, podcast host Manya Brachear Pashman explored what it means to feel alone and how faith, religion and spirituality are driving both...

Hey, NJ! This week, we’re talking about the recent confrontations outside Delaney Hall.   The scene outside the Newark immigrant detention center captured national attention over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, when tensions hit a boiling point between protesters and ICE agents over detainees' hunger and labor strike.   The tension grew the following weekend, when peaceful protestors were joined...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about a new harm reduction initiative in Paterson.   Black Lives Matter Paterson recently unveiled five naloxone kiosks around the city as part of a growing around-the-clock initiative. Each kiosk is stocked with roughly 50 boxes of naloxone — the opioid-reversal medication also known by the brand name Narcan — and offers first aid particularly when help isn’t ava...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about skyrocketing gas prices. Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, gas prices have increased by more than 50%. According to AAA , the average price for a gallon of gas in New Jersey currently sits at $4.50. With cost-of-living concerns atop many people's minds, there've been growing calls to suspend both the federal and state gas taxes to offer mot...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about "Blue Ribbon" awards.    A recent NJ Spotlight News investigation found that more than a dozen New Jersey schools paid thousands for private “Blue Ribbon” awards resembling the federal academic honor. Critics call the practice deceptive and potentially illegal, especially after a Newark charter school received the designation despite weak academic performanc...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about the mental health impacts of online sports betting.   Last week, Texas Tech University quarterback Brendan Sorsby announced he would take a leave of absence and enter a treatment program for his gambling addiction. The news prompted hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin to revisit some recent reporting on the mental health impacts of sports betting, specif...

Hey, NJ! This week, we’re talking about the mysterious absence of Rep. Tom Kean Jr. from Congress. Kean, who represents New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, has not voted on the House floor since March 5. Kean's chief of staff explained that he was "addressing a personal health matter." But after Kean was absent from a reception in the Capitol for Gov. Mikie Sherrill last week, members of New...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin are joined by NorthJersey.com reporters Katie Sobko and Colleen Wilson, who have been following this story since NY/NJ was awarded the final match of the tournament in 2023. From looming transportation challenges to economic concerns, lessons learned during the 2014 Super Bowl to security plans...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about the war in Iran. The Trump administration launched a war. Now, over a month into an expansive war in the Middle East, where is Congress? Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin are joined by NJ Spotlight's Washington correspondent Benjamin J. Hulac to discuss secret congressional briefings, upcoming federal budget hearings, war power votes and more. --------...

Hey, NJ! This week, we’re talking about – what else this time of year – NJ’s budget. Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin are joined by NJ Spotlight’s budget and finance writer John Reitmeyer to discuss the always-challenging political process behind budget negotiations. They discuss the popular – and costly – property tax relief programs including Stay NJ, Anchor and more. They also tackle a b...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about Medicaid cuts.   Seismic changes are coming to Medicaid after President Donald Trump signed legislation that he named the "Big Beautiful Bill." Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin discuss what those changes mean in New Jersey, specifically for the thousands of legal immigrants who will lose coverage come fall 2026. They also discuss what work requirement...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about ICE's footprint in NJ.  Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst would be used to hold immigrant detainees. Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin, joined by Washington correspondent Benjamin J. Hulac, discuss the significant expansion of ICE's operations in New Jersey, and what implications...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about maternal health. In NJ, women are dying after giving birth at alarming rates. Black women are seven times more likely to die while pregnant, giving birth or soon after compared to white mothers, according to a state analysis. Health care writer Lilo H. Stainton joins hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin to discuss how one program is saving lives and impro...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about recent federal education cuts.    President Donald Trump’s administration froze $7 billion in already-approved funding for school districts. In NJ, that’s $143 million for public schools. Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin discuss some potential impacts, including possible cuts to after-school programs, teacher training and much more. They also talk abo...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking safety at the Jersey Shore. Ever wonder if those boardwalk games are rigged? Has anyone actually won that giant prize? Correspondent Raven Santana joins hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin to talk about what state inspectors are doing to protect you from unfair games and incorrect scales at the fudge shop. We also talk curfews, backpack bans and what Shore tow...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about the state budget.   Want to know what NJ taxes are going up? Or where your tax dollars are going? Good luck.   Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin are joined by budget and finance writer John Reitmeyer. They discuss how, once again, New Jersey lawmakers have raced up against a budget deadline and conducted nearly all of the negotiations for major deals b...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about rising electricity bills.    Why’s your bill so high? It’s complicated... really complicated. Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin dive into why electricity bills are rising in New Jersey. They explain the state's complex power grid, transmission system and energy auctions. How are AI data centers playing a part in why you’re paying more? What are lawmake...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about new technology in the fight against opioid-use disorder.    Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin, joined by health care writer Lilo H. Stainton, discuss a new treatment option for residents using methadone for opioid use disorder. We'll dive into the small change in state regulations that allowed people in addiction treatment to use an app, developed by S...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about the primary election.    Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin break down everything NJ voters need to know ahead of June 10, including the differences between partisan and nonpartisan elections, voting eligibility and the various methods to cast a ballot. They also discuss NJ's historically low voter turnout for primaries and why NJ's closed primary may b...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about taxes.    Gov. Phil Murphy's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 included more than $1 billion in tax hikes to bridge the gap between revenues and projected spending. Hosts John P. McAlpin and Maddi Ference discuss the complexities of New Jersey's tax system and the implications of Gov. Murphy's potential tax changes. With just a few weeks to enact a budget...

Hey, NJ! This week, we’re talking NJ Transit. The NJ Transit strike is settled and rail service is back up and running. But the financial outlook for New Jersey’s largest bus and rail system is still down. Fares are going up... again. Why? Hosts John P. McAlpin and Maddi Ference tell you what the NJ Transit strike shows about how shaky the agency is. ----------  Read more: “ NJ Transit strike: The...

Hey, NJ! This week, we're talking about the state budget.  It may sound boring, but it's not. Hosts John P. McAlpin and Maddi Ference recap some of the highlights from recent legislative committee hearings in Trenton.   What does that mean? Climate change. Wildfires. NJ Transit fare increases. It's MVC fees and community colleges. Cuts to tuition aid. The gas tax. Join us for the real-life, commun...

New Jersey is spending millions on hospitals, schools and stormwater projects. Money is going to childcare services and maternal health programs. Towns are getting money. Food pantries. Community theaters. But, where’s it coming from? NJ’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act. What’s that have to do with COVID-19? Read more here . On today's episode, we'll explain how we tracked the final...

Hey, NJ is a podcast for New Jerseyans who want to know things. In this weekly podcast, we’ll focus on three keys: affordability, accessibility and accountability.     We’ll talk property taxes, NJ politics and just what's happening in NJ... since there's no shortage of headlines.      We want to hear from you! What stories should we be covering? What questions should we be asking? Let us know! Se...