New Jersey

Pa., N.J., Del. join lawsuit to stop federal funding cuts to health departments

Published

9 months ago

April 1, 2025

Pa., N.J., Del. join lawsuit to stop federal funding cuts to health departments

In Pennsylvania, the cuts amount to more than $495 million to the following state departments: Health, Human Services and Drug and Alcohol Programs, according to the lawsuit. The money supports about 150 commonwealth staff and contractors.

“Losing these grant funds will mean an inability to provide allocations to local treatment authorities for substance use disorder intervention, treatment, and recovery services,” the lawsuit states.

Funding losses would also impact awards to “private entities that deliver recovery support services, employment services, pregnancy support services, and drop-in centers directly to persons who have or are in recovery from [substance use disorder],” Pennsylvania officials said.

HHS includes federal agencies and departments like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The changes to HHS grant funding also affect the CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement, which supports state and local health departments to prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.

In New Jersey, the state Department of Health has used ELC grant money to support 94 local health departments “to cover staff; data infrastructure; community outreach and education; infectious disease preparedness; coordination and crisis response; renovations and facility improvements; and professional development and training,” according to court documents.

The Garden State would also see cuts to its SAMHSA grants, which fund mental health programs.

“The abrupt termination leaves the New Jersey Department of Human Services with no ability to ensure that these individuals will be appropriately transitioned to other services,” plaintiffs stated in their lawsuit. “This disruption of care could be life-threatening.”

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New Jersey

NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

Published

10 hours ago

December 16, 2025

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NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) — New Jersey casino workers, who are pushing to permanently ban smoking in their workplaces, held a rally in Trenton on Monday.

A hearing was held to discuss a lawsuit that aims to close the smoking loophole in the Garden State.

For years, casino workers have been pursuing protections against secondhand smoke in their workplaces.

RELATED | Judge allows smoking to continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to workers

New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act largely bans indoor smoking, but casinos have a long-standing exemption.

The lawsuit filed last April by the United Auto Workers, which represents dealers at the Bally’s, Caesars and Tropicana casinos.

In August 2024, a judge ruled in favor of the casinos to allow smoking to continue.

“Casino workers are expected to clock in to work every day despite inevitably facing a toxic environment that could cause countless health issues, including cancer, heart disease, and asthma,” said Nancy Erika Smith, the lawyer representing Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and the UAW on Monday.

“We’re asking the court to find the exemption in New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act unconstitutional and void it immediately. We hope this case will serve as a precedent for casinos across the country to close their smoking loopholes and stop poisoning their workers,” added Smith.

The casinos have warned that thousands of jobs and millions in gambling revenue and taxes could be lost if smoking was banned.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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New Jersey

11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend

Published

23 hours ago

December 15, 2025

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11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend

A teenager was shot to death in Jersey City, a woman was killed in a fiery crash with a dump truck in Ocean County, and a man is in critical condition after an SUV hit him in a Princeton crosswalk.

Here are the headlines from the weekend in New Jersey you may have missed.

Teen Shot Dead In Jersey City Apartment, Prosecutor Says

A 16-year-old boy was found shot to death in Jersey City on Friday night, prosecutors said.

Woman Killed In Fiery Head-On Dump Truck Crash In Ocean County

A woman was killed Friday when her van hit a dump truck head-on in Jackson and burst into flames, Jackson police said.

Evelin Villanueva-Detejeda, 43, of Perth Amboy, was killed in the crash that happened about 2 p.m. on Toms River Road (Route 571) near Osprey Place, Sgt. Edward Travisano said.

Six people sustained minor injuries in the collision late Friday afternoon, according to State Police Tpr. Christopher Postorino.

Read more: 11-Vehicle Crash, Overturned Truck Shut Down Turnpike In South Jersey: Police

NJ College Student Abducted From Campus, Sexually Assaulted By Armed Man, Police Say

A Union County man is facing a slew of charges after kidnapping a woman, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

Akram Elsayed, 28, of Roselle, has been arrested after an investigation found that he’d kidnapped a woman and handcuffed her to the door of a car, police said.

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