New Jersey

We must do more to isolate Iran. This is how New Jersey can help.

Published

2 years ago

July 30, 2024

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We must do more to isolate Iran. This is how New Jersey can help.

3-minute read

Michael Inganamort
| Special to USA TODAY Network

In early July, the Director of National Intelligence warned that Iran is funding and providing material support to anti-American and anti-Israel protestors across the United States. On July 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited the DNI report in his address to a joint session of Congress, White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby affirmed it and protesters summarily burned American flags and vandalized statues outside Union Station in Washington, D.C., forcing the shutdown of the train station.

Worse yet, intelligence reports indicate that Iran has been planning to assassinate former President Donald Trump and other former and active senior government officials.

This is, of course, on top of the work Iran does to arm and fund Hamas in Israel, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and a cadre of other terrorists in Iraq and Syria.

How does New Jersey fit in?

What does any of this have to do with New Jersey?

To begin, we are not immune or isolated from Iran’s dangerous behavior. In September 2022, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey charged two Iranian nationals with hacking and attempting to extort a business in Morris County and a municipality in Union County. And there is no telling whether the anti-America protests that have taken place in New Jersey were among those funded by Iran.

Fortunately, there are tools at our disposal to isolate Iran. Under current law, companies competing for public contracts within the state are ineligible if they concurrently do more than $20 million of business with Iran’s energy or finance sectors. Put another way, these companies are eligible if they do a little less than $20 million of business with Iran’s energy or finance sectors. I believe New Jersey can do better than that. And given Iran’s aggressive and potentially deadly agenda inside the United States, I believe we have to do better than that.

In June, I introduced Assembly Bill 4632 to redefine “persons engaging in investment activities in Iran,” cutting the threshold in half, from $20 million to $10 million. This is an important first step in isolating Iran and dramatically reducing any indirect support gained from New Jersey public contracts. My ultimate goal and intention is for this threshold to be reduced to zero.

Under federal law, states have the flexibility to determine their financial posture towards Iran. The federal Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Investment Act, signed into law in July 2010, empowered state and local governments to prevent or discontinue contracts with companies doing business in Iran. Then-Governor Chris Christie did so in 2012, establishing the $20 million threshold. As of July, New Jersey has 31 companies on its prohibited list. My bill strengthens this law — and would grow the prohibited list — at a critical time.

At least 13 other states have similar bans to New Jersey’s 2012 law, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee. Some of these states go further, by not just setting a threshold for Iran investment, but also limiting the size of the public contracts themselves. California and Florida ban public contracts of $1 million or more, Tennessee’s threshold is $1,000, and New York bans all contracts.

Notably, the bill does not create any additional work local certified purchasing agents, as the responsibility for certifying compliance rests with the vendors and bidders. The Division of Purchase and Property within the Department of the Treasury maintains its role in monitoring and enforcing the list of prohibited companies, with stiff penalties at its disposal.

By lowering the financial threshold in New Jersey, we ensure more individuals and companies are scrutinized, putting our state at the front of national efforts to isolate Iran. We cannot leave room for ambiguity when it comes to our position on Iran. It is imperative that we send a clear and unequivocal message: New Jersey will not tolerate indirect support of Iran’s dangerous agenda. Our state’s integrity and security depend on such decisive actions.

Michael Inganamort represents New Jersey’s 24th Legislative District, which includes all of Sussex County and parts of Morris and Warren counties, in the State Assembly.

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New Jersey

Jamie Ding wins 21st on ‘Jeopardy!’ to tie fellow New Jerseyan on list

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2 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Jamie Ding wins 21st on ‘Jeopardy!’ to tie fellow New Jerseyan on list

‘Jeopardy!’ champ Jamie Ding won his 21st straight game on April 10, tying a fellow New Jerseyan Cris Pannullo on the all-time wins list.

Jamie Ding won his 21st straight game on “Jeopardy!” on the April 10 show, tying a fellow New Jerseyan on the all-time wins list.

The Lawrenceville resident moved into a sixth place tie on the wins list with Cris Pannullo, an Ocean City native who won $748,286 while winning 21 games in 2022.

Ding won $36,400 on Friday’s show to bring his 21-day total to $609,000. He is in sixth place on the regular-season money list behind Pannullo and remains in 14th place on the all-time earnings list, according to Jeopardy.com and TheJeopardyFan.com (See Top 10 lists below).

Ding’s opponents on Friday’s show were: Kathi Fitzgerald, an English teacher from Williamsburg, Virginia, and Xaque Williams, a writer from Knoxville, Tennessee.

As has been his trademark during most of his run, Ding had the game clinched prior to Final Jeopardy. He had $26,800 to Williams’ $8,200 and Fitzgerald’s $200, TheJeopardyFan.com reported.

The Final Jeopardy was: “A river named for the sacred lotus flower flows toward this 890,000-square-mile body of water.”

Ding and Williams both had the correct response: “What is the Bay of Bengal?”

Ding risked $9,600 to finish with $36,400, while Williams bet $7,000 to finish with $15,200.

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 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.

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.

Top 10 ‘Jeopardy!’ consecutive wins

Here are the Top “Jeopardy!” contestants in terms of consecutive wins, according to Jeopardy.com (Note: Prior to season 20 in 2003, there was a five-game win limit on the show):

Ken Jennings, 74 games, 2004
Amy Schneider, 40 games, 2022
Matt Amodio, 38 games, 2021
James Holzhauer, 32 games, 2019
Mattea Roach, 23 games, 2022
Jamie Ding, 21 games, current
Cris Pannullo, 21 games, 2022
Julia Collins, 20 games, 2014
Jason Zuffranieri, 19 games, 2019
David Madden, 19 games, 2005

Top 10 ‘Jeopardy!’ regular-season money

Here are the Top “Jeopardy!” contestants in terms of money won during regular-season play, according to Jeopardy.com:

Ken Jennings, $2,520,700
James Holzhauer, $2,462,216
Matt Amodio, $1,518,601
Amy Schneider, $1,382,800
Cris Pannullo, $748,286
Jamie Ding, $609,000
Mattea Roach, $560,983
Jason Zuffranieri, $532,496
Scott Riccardi, $455,000
David Madden, $430,400

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New Jersey

New Jersey 12th Congressional District Primary Debate: A Student-Led Forum – Insider NJ

Published

14 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

New Jersey 12th Congressional District Primary Debate: A Student-Led Forum – Insider NJ

Princeton, NJ – April 2, 2026 – The upcoming 12th Congressional Debate forum on April 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM is a call to action for communities across the 12th Congressional district. This forum represents an opportunity for us to hear directly from those seeking to lead, to demand accountability, and to push for the policies that will bring justice and equity to our people.

For generations, civic engagement has been the engine of progress in America. From the courthouse steps to the ballot box, coalitions of multi‑ethnic, multinational, and faith‑based organizations, often led by young people, fought so that we might all stand tall in our power to cast our vote today. It has never been more important to make sure New Jersey has representation in Washington D.C. to advocate for the best interests of our communities and the nation.

“As student organizations, we know that we are living in a crucial moment in time,” said President

Chris-Tina Middlebrooks, NAACP Princeton University College Chapter .“The fight for justice, for dignity, for the right to breathe free and prosper in this country is far from over. This forum is an opportunity for our community to stand together and demand that those who seek our votes are committed to serving our needs.”

“Civic engagement does not start at the polling station; it begins long before. As both students and community members, we must ask questions, stay informed, and show up,” said Vote100 Head Fellow Sarah Kwon. “The forum is a valuable opportunity to come together and directly engage with policymakers who have the potential to create meaningful change.”

“For over two centuries, the American Whig-Cliosophic Society has been committed to fostering rigorous debate and civic engagement. We believe that democracy is strengthened through open dialogue and active participation. This forum continues this tradition and is part of our commitment to ensure that students and community members can engage directly with candidates and the issues that shape our democracy.” Alejandra Ramos, the American Whig-Cliosophic Society

This election will determine how New Jersey’s 12th congressional district is represented in Washington D.C., a pivotal moment where our district needs federal representation to amplify our voices on all fronts. We must ensure that our voices are heard, our concerns are addressed, and our futures are secured.

We urge every student, community member, and interested individuals to attend, ask the hard questions, and make an informed decision when casting their vote.

This non-partisan 12th Congressional Debate forum sponsored by the American Whig-Cliosophic Society, NAACP Princeton University College Chapter, and Vote100. This event is open to all.

For more information on the forum or community involvement, please contact:

Alejandra Ramos at ar8603@princeton.edu, Noah Barkan at nb7360@princeton.edu, Sarah Kwon at

sk5905@princeton.edu and Chris-Tina Middlebrooks at cm7022@princeton.edu. ### END ###

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Allen | POST-RAW 4.9.26 | New Jersey Devils

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Allen | POST-RAW 4.9.26 | New Jersey Devils

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