An unusually large number of competitive contests for New Jersey’s congressional seats, a Senate candidate with deep pockets, and funding from outside groups make for costliest election ever

Despite reductions, tenant advocates and attorneys claim a crisis still exists, especially in Essex County — particularly Newark — which saw more than 40,000 filings in fiscal 2018

The Garden State leads the nation in freeing prisoners, a trend helped along by sentencing reform and changes in the way drug crimes are dealt with by the courts

Prescriptions are way down but that hasn’t halted the accelerating number of fatalities. The one bright spot is Ocean County, which has seen big decline in deaths related to the drugs

The turnout for the midterm primaries was the highest in years, with Democrats showing up at the polls in greater numbers that Republicans in most congressional districts

Millennials, immigrants, and even a few baby boomers driving population gains in the Garden State’s urban counties

Despite efforts to encourage integration, state’s public school system continues to be among the most segregated in the nation

Federal legislation before Congress could strip thousands of New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens of their SNAP food-assistance benefits

Homeowners in best-off communities save far more than residents of low-income cities — and are likely to save even more if Legislature adopts governor’s proposal to raise the deduction

More June graduates took and passed their AP exams than in prior years, but poorer districts continue to lag in the number of test-takers

This year’s outbreak could match or even exceed the severity of the H1N1 pandemic of 2009

From county to county there can be significant differences in percentage of defendants held over pending trial

Older New Jerseyans are employed at higher rates than the national average and there has been a marked increase in the number of workers over the age of 75

Waste not, want not isn’t the watchword for these communities, but they’ve definitely got the first part down

The Republican tax-reform package targets benefits taken by New Jerseyans in college and grad school — and their families

County by county assessments help show where the voters went to the polls and where they stayed home — compared with the stats for 2013

Record amounts are being spent on this year’s race for the governor’s mansion. Here’s a way to see who’s being the most generous to which candidate

Increase in reports of sexual violence probably reflects fact that ‘survivors know they’ll be believed and the system will take them seriously’

In some towns, write-offs for state and local taxes are about $1,500; in others, they can be more that $100,000. Regardless, the money can be very important

Census data for 2016 shows the median household income of blacks was, on average, little more than half that of non-Hispanic whites

A reduction in federal funds would be felt by all districts; some would bear up, but others would be devastated

Which New Jersey students leave school with the most debt? Which are carrying the least?

The lowest average salaries for teachers and other education professionals tend to be found in charters and small, elementary school districts

NJ’s Hispanic population grows but new census data reveal wide disparities in income, poverty, health insurance

Youth prisons, according to critics, are expensive, underutilized, and ineffective and should be shut down in favor of community-based programs

For critics it’s not just a matter of winners and losers; NJEA dismisses strategy as ‘sick scheme’ for proposing school budget cuts so late in the day

Campaign spending in the run-up to the primaries continues to track record-breaking amounts, reaching almost $37 million as of May 23