By CNA Staff In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Jan. 11, a New Jersey congressman is calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bipartisan piece of legislation intended to combat what his office calls “modern-day slavery.” “Human traffickers have benefitted from a culture of denial and a lack of awareness throughout our communities,” U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said in a Jan. 11 press release. “Education and awareness programs — especially and including t... Read more

By Doug O’Malley and Greg Lalevee The signing of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package last month was a historic step forward to invest and repair our nation’s infrastructure — from our roads, bridges and rail lines to investing in broadband and modernizing our electric grid to repairing our water infrastructure. This long-delayed legislation rightfully received the full support of every member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation. The package included a $15 billion down paym... Read more

By Community Bulletin Project Freedom recently joined with local officials as they broke ground on their second community in Hamilton Township — Freedom Village at Hamilton Woods. Project Freedom’s new development, called Freedom Village at Hamilton Woods, will have 72 units and be located at Justice Samuel A. Alito Way & Whitehorse Mercerville Road. The location is situated near Hamilton’s Public Library, Hamilton’s Police Station and the Hamilton Area YMCA. Attending the groundbreaking includ... Read more

By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The $1 trillion infrastructure law signed last month by President Joe Biden will include $168.9 million for New Jersey next year to begin replacing lead water pipes and addressing drinking water contamination, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The new law includes funding to get rid of every lead water pipe, a project that in New Jersey alone will cost an estimated $2.3 billion to replace 350,000 lead service lines, accord... Read more

By Carl Comegno Gannett Staff Reporter - Master Sgt. Chris Joyce used to have to lay on his stomach to control the refueling boom of the Air Force's KC-135 refueling tankers. "Lying down was backbreaking," he said. As one of the first airmen trained to operate the boom on the Air Force's aging refueling tankers, Joyce was happy to see two new KC-46A Pegasus supertankers arrive at the Joint Base this week. Boom operators on the new tankers sit more comfortably at a console in front of computer s... Read more

By Keith Sargeant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The body was sprawled across a patch of Vietnam jungle, lying where it had been cut down by bullets. The enemy was closing in quickly, but Sgt. Nick Martinez couldn’t leave his man behind, even if meant he’d be exposed in an open field. In the midst of a raging firefight, the man known as “Chico” sprinted to the fallen soldier and tossed down his rifle. He tugged at the shoulders, then tried to lift 200 pounds of dead weight. It wouldn’t budge. Sn... Read more

Project Freedom broke ground for a new development with 72 units, called “Freedom Village At Hamilton Woods” today located at Justice Samuel A. Alito Way &Whitehorse Mercerville Road. Congressman Chris Smith thanked members of Project Freedom for the tremendous work that has been done to make affordable, accessible and barrier free housing available to people. Congressman Smith met Executive Director, Norman Smith three and a half decades ago, he said Norman is not a guy you can say no to, that ... Read more

By Elizabeth Myers - Frank J. Uveges was a man who loved Coors Light, tending to his garden, and keeping in touch with his family all over the country. The man family members called “Uncle Frank” loved giving his children, nieces, and nephews dollar bills for good behavior. While he would give money to the people he loved, he was just as quick to collect money for the organizations he cared about like the Hibernians Club, The American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus. Frank loved Hamilton Tow... Read more

Below is the op-ed written by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-chair of House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, on the recent explosion of anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world: Read more

News 12 Staff - Jersey Shore towns still owing millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency loans following Superstorm Sandy will get a much-needed break - the loans were forgiven by the government. "Saving a million here, 2 million there and these municipalities is going to go a long way, and that's money that can be better spent on perhaps maybe mitigation efforts, resiliency, somewhere else in the community where we can get the best thing for our buck,” says Sandy survivor Joe ... Read more