New Jersey

New Jersey legislation aims to end disparities for minority- and women-owned businesses

Published

2 years ago

September 24, 2024

New Jersey legislation aims to end disparities for minority- and women-owned businesses

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Significant disparities exist for minority- and women-owned business enterprises in the Garden State seeking government contracting opportunities. That’s the finding of the New Jersey Disparity Study, completed at the beginning of this year.

In response, the Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee approved a legislative package Monday designed to level the playing field.

What the data shows

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, committee chair, said the study examined 240,000 contracts across more than 60 state agencies from 2015 to 2020, and the findings confirmed what many have long known.

“The disparities in public contracting have been an opportunity that’s been locked out for minority- and women-owned businesses in New Jersey, and it’s truly unacceptable,” she said.

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, the chair of the Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee, announcing legislation to level the playing field for minority- and women-owned businesses.

The study found that Black-owned companies make up more than 9% of the available construction businesses in New Jersey but received only 0.014% of government-issued contracts.

“I’ve never heard such bleak numbers in construction contract dollars,” she said. “Nearly 28% of construction firms in the state are minority-owned, yet they receive just 3.47% of prime construction contract funds.”

She added, “Women-owned businesses account for nearly 38% of all professional service firms, yet they received less than 10% of contracts valued up to $800,000. The evidence is clear: Systemic inequities persist.”

Benjie Wimberl and other members of the General Assembly stand — Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (left) and other members of the General Assembly support the legislative package.

What needs to be done

“Laws need to be modified and modernized in the procurement practice,” said Sumter. “We want a fair opportunity to compete.”

Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly agreed that action is needed now.

“This is true disparity; these numbers are not satisfactory. Our folks deserve better and they deserve more,” he said.

To address the problem, Sumter said it is crucial that state agency contracting units and prime contractors “adhere to clear criteria that demonstrates a good faith effort to increase participation by minority- and women-owned businesses in state contracting.”

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New Jersey

NJ’s Jamie Ding wins 17th straight on ‘Jeopardy!’. See his ranking

Published

12 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

NJ’s Jamie Ding wins 17th straight on ‘Jeopardy!’. See his ranking

“Jeopardy!’ champ Jamie Ding show no signs of slowing down, winning his 17th straight game.

The “Jeopardy!’ champ just keeps on rolling.

Jamie Ding, of Lawrenceville, N.J., won his 17th straight game on the long-running game show to put him alone in 10th place on the all-time “Jeopardy!” wins list, according to TheJeopardyFan.com. He broke a tie with Ryan Long (16 wins in 2022) and fellow New Jerseyan Scott Riccardi, an engineer and Rutgers grad from Somerville, who won 16-straight last July.

On the Monday, April 6 show, Ding won $31,611 to bring his 17-day total to $494,012, which is eighth on the regular-season money list all-time and 19th overall.

Ding’s opponents on Monday’s show were: Mikey Hlebasko, a sales operations director from Marietta, Georgia, and Maggie Faucher, a research assistant from Pittsburgh.

Heading into Final Jeopardy in Monday’s game, Ding had the contest wrapped up with $44,200 to Faucher’s $7,400 and Hlebasko’s $3,000, TheJeopardyFan.com reported.

The Final Jeopardy was: “At least since 1890 plans have existed to link these two islands across the North Channel: a 2021 estimate ranged around $450 billion.”

All three contestants missed the correct answer, which was: “What is Great Britain and Ireland?”

Who is Jamie Ding?

Ding, who works for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, has secured a spot in the season-ending Tournament of Champions.

He has a supporter in New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who posted applauding Ding after he set an impressive record on the show that began 62 years ago.

On the March 17 show, Ding set the mark for highest Coryat score with with $42,400, topping the record of $39,200 achieved by now “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings back on June 10, 2004, according to TheJeopardyFan.com. On the April 1 show, Ding tied Jennings with at $39,200 Coryat. A Coryat score, named after a former contestant, is the sum of the natural value of any clues without Daily Doubles or Final Jeopardy.

Sen. Andy Kim has also tweeted out congratulations to Ding during this impressive run on the show.

While Sen. Cory Booker tweeted on April 1: “Jamie Ding! Making New Jersey proud! This Lawrenceville resident spends his days helping fund affordable housing across the Garden State, then goes on national TV and dominates. The man answers trivia on @Jeopardy and houses people for a living. New Jersey does not miss. Keep buzzing, Jamie.”

Originally, Ding is from the Detroit area, having graduated from Grosse Pointe North High School in 2009. He graduated from Princeton University in 2013.

Ding told his alma mater that being on the show is “phenomenal.”

He and his sister have a Instagram account where they review General Tsos chicken at restaurants called: @attorneygeneraltsos. Ding talked about it on the show.

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New Jersey

Best places for sea glass at the Jersey Shore: Try these hotspots

Published

24 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Best places for sea glass at the Jersey Shore: Try these hotspots

APP.com Digital Desk
| Asbury Park Press

New Jersey offers some fantastic spots for sea glass hunting, particularly along the Delaware Bay and certain parts of the Atlantic coast.

Here are some of the best places to increase your chances of finding frosted treasures:

Jersey Shore

Barnegat Light: Many sea glass enthusiasts recommend Barnegat Light, especially by the jetty. Look in the sand and around the jetty rocks.
Popamora Point Beach (Highlands): A free, clean state park beach with good potential, offering views of the Sandy Hook Bay.
Bay Head: This peaceful Ocean County beach has gained a reputation as a great sea glass destination and is often less crowded than other spots.
Sandy Hook (Bayside): While the ocean side might not be as fruitful, the bay side of Sandy Hook can yield good results.

South Jersey

East Point Beach (Heislerville, Maurice River Township): This hidden gem where the Delaware River and Maurice River meet the bay is excellent. The area has a rich history of glass production and shipwrecks, contributing to the sea glass supply.
Higbee Beach (Cape May): Another Delaware Bay gem, known for its rustic feel and good potential for sea glass, pottery shards and old bottles.
Sunset Beach (Cape May): This is perhaps the most famous spot in New Jersey for sea glass and for “Cape May Diamonds” (naturally tumbled quartz). The Delaware Bay beaches tend to yield more glass due to historical shipping activity and less intensive beach replenishment compared to some oceanfront areas.
Townbank (Cape May): Located on the Delaware Bay and often cited by local hunters for its good finds.

Where to look for sea glass

High tide wrack line: This is the line of debris left by the highest tide, often containing shells, driftwood and, yes, sea glass.
Rocky or pebbly beaches: Sea glass tumbles and smooths more effectively on beaches with a mix of sand and pebbles or rocks. Heavily raked sandy beaches are generally less productive.
Near inlets, bays and historic areas: Areas with historical shipping, fishing or even old dump sites can be great sources of old glass that has been tumbling for decades.
Near jetties: These structures can trap debris, including sea glass.

What is sea glass?

Sea glass is essentially nature’s polished gemstone, born from discarded glass that has been transformed by the persistent forces of the ocean. Imagine a broken bottle or piece of tableware tossed into the sea. Instead of remaining a sharp, dangerous shard, it embarks on a multi-decade journey of transformation.

Sea glass occurs in a spectrum of colors, reflecting its original source. Common hues include greens, browns and clear/white, primarily from bottles and jars. Rarer colors like blue, purple, red, orange and yellow are highly prized by collectors, often originating from older or less common glass items such as medicine bottles, insulators or specialized art glass.

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New Jersey

Severe Weather Poised To Pound NJ Easter Sunday

Published

1 day ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Severe Weather Poised To Pound NJ Easter Sunday

The Garden State is expected to see a quick shift in weather Easter Sunday, with low clouds and pockets of dense fog in the morning giving way to warmer temperatures and thunderstorms by midday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters note that areas north of a warm front were seeing low clouds and locally dense fog Sunday morning. That front is expected to lift north after daybreak, leading to temperatures in the 60s and 70s later in the morning. The warmer stretch is not expected to last long.

A cold front is forecast to approach by midday, bringing a line of showers and isolated thunderstorms

The National Weather Service said some storms could be strong to severe. A Marginal risk was in place Sunday across the Delmarva region and southern New Jersey.

According to the weather service, the primary threat with the stronger storms is locally damaging winds. The forecast does not list other threats in the source material provided. Residents in areas included in the Marginal risk may want to keep an eye on changing conditions through the middle of the day as the front moves in.

The setup points to a fast-changing day for people making outdoor plans. Morning fog and low cloud cover are expected to improve after daybreak as the warm front lifts north, but the window for milder weather may be brief before the next system arrives. By midday, showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop along the approaching cold front.

The National Weather Service did not provide a more specific timetable in the source beyond saying the cold front would approach by midday and that the warm front would lift north after daybreak. It also did not identify individual towns expected to see the strongest conditions.

The forecast area highlighted for the stronger storm risk includes southern New Jersey and Delmarva.

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