New Jersey
How one New Jersey community is learning to save monarch butterflies
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) — Monarch butterflies are not on the endangered species just yet, but climate change, the use of pesticides and suburban sprawl have all had negative impacts, decreasing their numbers.
The Camden County Parks Department hosted a party Tuesday night in an effort to help reverse the trend.
There was food, face painting, balloon animals, bubbles, music and a call to action to save monarch butterflies.
“We are here today to help save the monarch butterfly. It’s more to bring awareness, to tell people what they can do and what we have done as a county,” Lauren Bonus, the superintendent of the Camden County Mosquito Commission, said.
Bonus, affectionately known as “the bug lady” by her colleagues, explained why the monarch is so important.
“They’re pollinators,” Bonus said. “They’re beautiful, and they are just a spectacle in the insect world because they are the only butterfly to have such a large two-way migration.”
One generation of monarchs migrates all the way down to Mexico, and three to four new generations then migrate back north, she added.
Potted milkweed, a plant the butterflies need to survive, was handed out to all attendees so they can plant them at home.
“It was great, you get to see the butterflies come out. … It was just a lot of fun, and it was great for the kids,” said Brent Rovner, of Haddon Heights, who was at the event with his family.
Because of the large turnout Tuesday night, there’s already discussions about finding a bigger space for next year’s party.
New Jersey
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy sends letter on congestion pricing to President Trump
NEW JERSEY (WABC) — Gov. Phil Murphy said he sent President Donald Trump a letter on congestion pricing Monday to request a reexamination of federal approval on the plan.
“As you begin your second term as President, I welcome any opportunity to work with you and your Administration where we can find common ground,” wrote Governor Murphy. “One area where I believe our priorities align is congestion pricing.”
He went on to call the current congestion pricing plan a “scheme.”
“The current congestion pricing scheme is a disaster for working and middle-class New Jersey commuters and residents who need or want to visit lower Manhattan and now need to pay a big fee on top of the bridge and tunnel tolls they already pay,” continued Governor Murphy. “And, adding insult to injury, New Jersey communities are not being fully compensated for the additional traffic and attendant pollution that will be re-routed to them because of congestion pricing.”
Lawyers for New Jersey told a judge they will file an updated legal challenge to the Federal Highway Administration’s “multiple re-evaluations” of congestion pricing.
The legal move keeps New Jersey’s opposition in federal court to the toll pricing going as Trump takes office.
The state plans to drop its unsuccessful attempts to get a restraining order against New York, denied by both a federal judge in Newark and by an appeals court in Philadelphia.
It will instead continue to file challenges with Judge Leo Gordon in Newark, who largely ruled against attempts to block congestion pricing but seems sympathetic to some of New Jersey’s arguments against it.
“New Jersey intends to seek leave of the Court to file an amended complaint to challenge the Federal Highway Administration’s multiple re-evaluations of the congestion pricing program,” attorney Randy Mastro wrote in court papers. “New Jersey expects to file its application shortly.”
Separately, New Jersey will soon launch a $20 million program to give New York businesses in the central business district grants to allow New Jersey residents to work remotely or at a satellite office in the Garden State.
The state will advertise this new program – dubbed NJ RISE, or New Jersey Re-assigning In State Employees program — with billboards at the major bridges and tunnels.
ALSO READ | Student authors honored after immigration stories featured in book
Janice Yu has more on the 58 immigrant students in Newark recognized for the book they wrote, “We Were Strangers Once, Too.”
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New Jersey
How cold will it be in New Jersey this week? Frigid temperatures grip Garden State
1-minute read
Frigid temperatures have gripped New Jersey and are unlikely to thaw before week’s end, locking in place the first legitimate snowfall of winter and creating icy conditions on the region’s roads.
Temperatures were in the teens across much of the state Monday morning, with wind chills making it feel like just 5 degrees as people awoke to shovel out driveways and clear sidewalks. Most of North Jersey received between 2 and 6 inches of snow.
Winds were about 10 mph and the dewpoint was just 5 degrees, making it very dry and cold, according to the National Weather Service.
Monday’s high temperature is expected to be around 27 degrees, making it one of the warmer days this week. But it gets much colder tonight, with a low around 7 and a wind chill that will make it feel like zero.
Here’s a look at the National Weather Service’s forecast for the next seven days (get out your parka).
Tuesday’s weather
Increasing clouds and cold, with a high near 19. Wind chill values between -5 and 5. West wind 6 to 8 mph. At night, expect it to be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 6. Wind chill will make it feel like a temperature between zero and 5.
Wednesday’s weather
Sunny and cold, with a high near 19. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. At night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 9.
Thursday’s weather
Partly sunny, with a high near 27. At night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 12.
Friday’s weather
Sunny, with a high near 31. At night, it will be mostly clear, with a low around 16.
Saturday’s weather
Sunny, with a high near 34. At night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Sunday’s weather
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39.
New Jersey
A recap of the season's first significant snowfall in Northern New Jersey
A recap of the season’s first significant snowfall in Northern New Jersey
News 12’s Tom Krosnowski has a recap of how Northern New Jersey residents dealt with the season’s first significant wintry weather.
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Jan 20, 2025, 3:26 AM
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Updated 2 hr ago
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