New Jersey
Middlesex Democrats pick Brad Cohen in NJ 12th Democratic primary
Charles Stile breaks down Gov. Sherrill’s first budget address
NorthJersey.com Columnist, Charles Stile, gives his take of Gov. Sherrill’s budget address, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Trenton.
The crowded race for the Democratic nomination to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District is shaping up as a contest largely divided along county lines in the district stretching from Trenton to Plainfield.
The district is considered safely Democratic, making the winner of the June 2 primary the overwhelming favorite in the November general election.
The latest development came March 11, when the Middlesex County Democratic organization endorsed East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen.
The Democratic primary field includes Sue Altman, Cohen, Trenton activist Elijah Dixon, small‑business owner Kyle Little, Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds‑Jackson, Somerset County Commissioner Shanel Robinson and West Windsor Democrat Sujit Singh.
Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chairman Kevin P. McCabe called 2026 a pivotal election year and cited Cohen’s record of local leadership as a key reason for the endorsement.
“I have known Mayor Cohen as the mayor of East Brunswick, and he has helped transform that community,” McCabe said. “I am excited to see him bring the change he has brought to Route 18 to Washington. The progress we believe in does not happen by accident — it takes electing the right people.”
Mapp, a four‑term mayor and the only candidate from Union County, has pointed to his executive experience and record on economic redevelopment, housing investment and health care access as central to his campaign. He has emphasized affordability and municipal leadership as qualifications for Congress.
Mapp has been endorsed by the Union County Democratic Committee.
Robinson, a Franklin Township resident and Somerset County commissioner, helped break a decades‑long Republican hold on county government in 2018 and has since served on the all‑Democratic county commission. A former Air Force mechanic, she has emphasized her background in public service and emergency response, including Somerset County’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Ida.
Robinson has been endorsed by Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, D‑17, and the Somerset County Democratic Veterans Caucus. The Somerset County Democratic Committee is scheduled to meet March 18.
Reynolds‑Jackson, whose legislative district includes southwestern Hunterdon County, West Windsor and Trenton, has received the endorsement of the Mercer County Democratic organization.
She has highlighted her legislative work on affordability, including efforts to protect families from medical debt, expand access to paid family leave and support public education.
Altman, the state director for U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and the Democratic nominee in the neighboring 7th Congressional District in 2024, is also seeking the nomination. She has focused her campaign on voting rights, environmental protection and government accountability and brings statewide political experience to the race.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
New Jersey
For FIFA World Cup, New Jersey encourages towns to extend alcohol sales at bars, restaurants
New Jersey is trying to help bars and restaurants cash in on the FIFA World Cup by letting them sell more alcohol throughout the tournament.
Over a pint of Guinness at Mulligan’s Pub in Hoboken, Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Monday signed a proclamation encouraging municipalities to temporarily extend alcohol sales during matches.
“This is the first time I’ve signed a proclamation in a bar,” said Sherrill.
What could change?
The goal is to convince local leaders to let bars and restaurants open earlier or stay open later to align with the World Cup schedule across time zones.
Changes would vary from town to town, since the proclamation does not mandate any changes to local rules. It simply gives the option to adjust them during the 39-day event.
“It’s allowing businesses to really get some good economic impact from the World Cup,” said Sherrill.
Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour said she’s open to the idea.
“I think we’ll be taking this into consideration as a great option for us,” Jabbour said. “We’ve been actively working with our public safety departments to make sure that all of the logistics around World Cup are coordinated appropriately.”
Bar owner expects big crowds
Mulligan’s Pub owner Louis Jannuzzi said the business is expecting big crowds during the tournament.
“We’re expecting a lot of people to show up, but we’re going to make it the best place to go watch a game, other than going to the game itself I suppose,” Jannuzzi said.
Extended hours could be mean even bigger business for Mulligan’s and bars across the state.
The six-county region — Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Union — is home to 2.6 million residents, six major league teams and four NCAA Division I athletic programs that collectively drew 12.7 million in attendance during our study.
Home base: The region is home to sports business companies including: 16W Marketing; BetMGM; Goldklang Group; Mars Wrigley (U.S. operations); Prudential Financial; Samsung; Skanska; and ZRG Partners.
Over the past three years, MetLife Stadium (which will host eight 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, including the final), and Prudential Center (which added the PWHL Sirens to its busy roster) each reported record revenues, and Sports Illustrated Stadium snagged a new naming-rights deal and will be the official NY/NJ World Cup 26 Jersey Fan Hub.
Recent events and wins for the area include WrestleMania in 2019; the SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa in March; 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball East Regional; and Brazil’s base camp at the Red Bulls’ Columbia Park Training Center.
Previous Rankings
2023: #2 (with New York City)
2024 Event Hosting: #7 (with New York City)
2025 Soccer: #2 (with New York City)
A black bear was spotted in the area of Frederick Court in Princeton on Saturday night, according to an alert issued to residents. A bear was also spotted May 15 in the area of Heather Lane between Cherry Valley Road and Great Road. It is unclear whether the latest sighting is the same bear.
Residents are advised not to approach the bear and to remain indoors if they see it.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, black bears are common in parts of New Jersey, and they sometimes travel through residential neighborhoods as part of their natural movement patterns.
Residents should not leave food or garbage outdoors because bears can quickly become attracted to human food sources. Bears may eat garbage, pet food, birdseed, and other easily accessible items. Bears that gain access to food in residential neighborhoods may lose their fear of people and repeatedly return to the area. Some nuisance bears eventually must be trapped.
State wildlife officials urged residents in bear-prone areas to take precautions to reduce the chances of attracting bears.
Recommended precautions from the The information was provided by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife include:
- Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers.
- Store garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Keep garbage in a secure location until the morning of pickup.
- Do not feed bears.
- Do not approach bears.
- Do not run from bears because running may trigger a chase response.
- Avoid direct eye contact with bears.
- Remain calm and slowly back away if encountering a bear.
- Make noise by yelling, clapping, singing, or using an air horn.
- Make yourself appear larger by waving your arms or lifting a jacket overhead.
- Stay together if you are in a group.
- Make sure the bear has an escape route.
Officials also advised residents to watch for warning behaviors from bears, including huffing sounds, jaw popping, and swatting at the ground, which can indicate the animal feels threatened.
Bears may stand on their hind legs to get a better view or detect scents in the air, which is not always considered threatening behavior.
Residents can report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the NJDEP’s 24-hour hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP, or 1-877-927-6337.
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