The outgoing Senate Majority Leader was originally set to retire Jan. 11

The State Comptroller’s Office, in a Jan. 5 report, faulted the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for not clawing back $200 million in overpayments.

Under the program, businesses can receive subsidies for building grocery stores and other places to sell healthy foods.

Holtec International was awarded the $260 million Grow NJ incentive in 2014 for moving to Camden, making it one of the largest in state history.

Wesley Matthews will take over for Jose Lozano, who announced last month that he would return to Hackensack Meridian Health as a senior vice president of business.

The Somerset County Park Commission and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County will both collect this year's trees.

The orders from the Passaic and Hudson county municipalities follows similar new orders from places including Newark, South Orange and Montclair.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority began accepting applications for the competitive grant, which will provide $2 million to a for-profit or nonprofit entity to support the organization and execution of an arts and innovation festival in 2022.

The $1 increase is in line with a law Gov. Phil Murphy signed in 2019 that will eventually see many state workers reach $15 by 2024.

Less than 24 hours after it landed on his desk, Gov. Phil Murphy approved legislation to reduce payments in lieu of taxes that the state's nine gambling halls make to Atlantic City, the local school district and the county.

Assembly Bill 521 would allow employers to immediately deduct up to $150,000 from their taxes for the costs of complying with pandemic rules in 2020 and 2021, including those aimed at reducing capacity, improving ventilation, installing barriers, adding outdoor equipment and enforcing social distancing.

“We are still in the midst of a pandemic and need to take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard and best ensure the health, safety, and welfare of our residents,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.