Congressman Van Drew announced that South Jersey will receive $99 million in federal funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to replenish and protect key beaches in the region. This is the biggest investment in New Jersey beach projects in a year without a severe coastal storm.
Continue reading “ICYMI: Van Drew Secures $99M for South Jersey Beach Replenishment”Chronicling Five Decades in the Newsroom—From the Newark Riots to Undercover Investigations
Gloucester City, NJ — January 2026 — After more than 50 years shaping public discourse across South Jersey and Philadelphia, journalist and editor William E. Cleary Sr. announces the release of his memoir, From Pen to Paper: Lessons From a Lifetime in the Newsroom. The book offers a candid, insightful look into the triumphs, trials, and truths of a career devoted to public service journalism—and a life shaped by service long before he ever picked up a pen.
The book is available on Kindle/Amazon. Buy your copy today!
Part memoir and part guidebook, From Pen to Paper traces Cleary’s journey from on-the-scene reporting to editorial leadership, revealing the tools of the trade and the unwritten rules that define the profession. With wit and wisdom, Cleary shares stories from inside the newsroom—where deadlines loom, facts matter, and integrity is non-negotiable. But the book also ventures beyond the newsroom, into the streets of a burning city and the shadowy world of organized crime.
Before Cleary became a journalist, he was a soldier. In July 1967, as a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 50th Armored Division, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment—the legendary “Jersey Blues”—Cleary was among 3,000 troops deployed to Newark during one of the most violent urban uprisings in American history.
“The Newark riot happened 57 years ago, but the memory is still fresh,” Cleary writes. “Some of us who were there called it ‘The Battle of Newark.’”
On the morning of July 12, 1967, Cleary was working as a mailman at the Gloucester City Post Office when his supervisor pulled him aside. Governor Richard Hughes had activated the Guard. Cleary was ordered to report immediately to the Pitman Armory—no phone calls, no detours home.
“As I drove south on Route 47, my mind raced,” he recalls. “I knew nothing about riots in Newark. But I did know there were reports about National Guard Units being sent to Vietnam and Berlin, Germany—both hot spots in the ’60s, oceans away.”
For five harrowing days, Cleary and his squad—a tight-knit group of young men from Gloucester City, Brooklawn, and surrounding towns—patrolled the streets of Newark as fires raged and tensions boiled over. The experience left an indelible mark on the young guardsman, shaping his understanding of civic duty, community, and the fragility of social order.
“In those days, the Gloucester guys were always there for each other,” Cleary writes. “If you found yourself in trouble, you could count on your friends to have your back. It was an unspoken bond.”
That sense of duty would follow Cleary into journalism, where he built a reputation for asking tough questions and holding power accountable.
An Enigmatic Visitor and a Three-Month Investigation
Twenty-two years later, on a sweltering Monday afternoon in July 1989, Cleary’s integrity would be tested differently.
He was four years into ownership of the Gloucester City News when a tall, impeccably dressed man walked into his office. The stranger—whom Cleary refers to in the book as “Mr. Smith”—claimed he operated in “heavyweight circles” and had been told that anyone wanting to do business in Gloucester City needed to consult Bill Cleary first.
Smith’s associate, “Mr. Jones,” was allegedly connected to an area mob boss. Their pitch: a lucrative waterfront development deal.
Cleary immediately smelled trouble. After the meeting, he worked the phones, reaching out to contacts across law enforcement. One call went to a New Jersey State Trooper he’d known since childhood. That trooper escalated the matter to his superior, Lieutenant Michael Lyons.
What followed was a three-month covert operation. At the request of the State Police, Cleary continued meeting with Smith and Jones, gathering intelligence while investigators worked behind the scenes.
“I thought they were targeting Mayor Bevan,” Cleary recalls. “But the State Police and others eventually made it clear: I was the target. They wanted to compromise the newspaper.”
The investigation revealed an attempted shakedown—an effort to intimidate or buy influence over the one institution in town that held a mirror to power. Cleary’s cooperation with law enforcement helped expose the scheme, and neither man was ever charged, though their plans were thwarted.
The incident underscored a principle Cleary had lived by since his first days in the newsroom: “Journalism isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for those willing to chase the truth, even when it’s inconvenient.”
A Career Defined by Tenacity and Integrity
Cleary began his journalism career in 1968, covering local government, public safety, and community life for the Gloucester City News and the Camden County Record. In 1978, he was named editor of both weekly newspapers, solidifying his reputation for investigative rigor and editorial leadership.
In 1984, Cleary and his wife, Connie, purchased the Gloucester City News, guiding the paper through two decades of growth and community service. After selling the newspaper in 2004, Cleary launched Cleary’s Notebook News (CNBNews)—one of South Jersey’s earliest independent online news platforms.
Today, at 82, he continues his in-depth reporting on the South Jersey and Philadelphia region, maintaining the same commitment to truth and public service that has defined his entire career.
A Memoir for Journalists and Citizens Alike
From Pen to Paper is more than a journalist’s memoir—it’s a testament to the power of local news, the importance of ethical leadership, and the courage required to stand firm when pressures mount. Whether recounting his days on patrol in Newark, his battles with deadlines and sources, or his face-to-face meetings with alleged mobsters, Cleary writes with clarity, humor, and hard-earned wisdom.
The book is essential reading for aspiring journalists, students of history, and anyone who believes in the vital role of a free press in a functioning democracy.
Availability
From Pen to Paper: Lessons From a Lifetime in the Newsroom eBook: $9.99 | Paperback: $16.99 Available Monday, February 3, 2026, on Amazon/Kindle
About the Author
William E. Cleary Sr. is a veteran journalist with a career spanning more than five decades. He began reporting in 1968 for the Gloucester City News and the Camden County Record, covering local government, public safety, and community life with tenacity and integrity.
In 1978, Cleary was named editor of both weekly newspapers, a role that solidified his reputation for investigative rigor and editorial leadership. In 1984, he and his wife Connie purchased the Gloucester City News, guiding the paper through two decades of growth and community service.
After selling the newspaper in 2004, Cleary launched Cleary’s Notebook News in 2006 (CNBNews)—one of South Jersey’s earliest independent online news platforms. Today, at 81, he continues his in-depth reporting on the South Jersey and Philadelphia region, maintaining the same commitment to truth and public service that has defined his entire career.
Pino condemns Pou’s demand for USPS to defy federal election security; Slams GOP Primary Opponent’s Silence on Protecting Legal Voters
Rosie Pino, four-term local elected official and Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 9th District, today issued a sharp rebuke of Nellie Pou and New Jersey Democrats following their formal demand that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ignore federal executive orders aimed at securing the nation’s mail-in ballot system.
Continue reading “Nellie Pou Accused of Push to Flood NJ with Illegal Mail-In Ballots”
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials announced that Priya Jain was sworn-in today as New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner, making her the 21st Chief Executive of the Department. The full New Jersey State Senate unanimously confirmed her nomination on March 23.
Governor Sherrill nominated Commissioner Jain on January 19, 2026, and she has served in an acting capacity since then. She will continue her work overseeing the Department that manages the state’s multi-faceted transportation network. The Commissioner of NJDOT also serves as Chair of New Jersey Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Continue reading “Priya Jain sworn in as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation”
Burress petitions filled with ‘pervasive fraud’ and ‘procedural illegality’
CLIFTON, NJ — On Monday, March 30th, the Office of Administrative Law heard Gonzalez v. Burress to adjudicate a formal challenge to Tiffany Burress’s nominating petitions. The filing alleges the Burress campaign committed rampant and pervasive fraud to secure a spot on the June primary ballot.
“The Burress campaign has betrayed every Republican who cares about election integrity,” said Kenny Gonzalez, campaign manager for Rosie Pino. “As outlined in the filing, these petitions demonstrate a coordinated pattern of ghost circulation, signature harvesting, and willful perjury.”
Continue reading “Tiffany Burress Faces Ballot Disqualification”
The campaign of Michael McGuire proudly announces that Monmouth County Sheriff and Republican Committee Chairman Shaun Golden has officially endorsed his campaign.
Sheriff Golden stated: “I am proud to endorse Michael McGuire for Congress. As a retired NYPD officer, Marine Corps veteran, and current Naval Reservist, he brings the proven leadership and deep commitment to public safety that Monmouth County and all of New Jersey need to protect our communities and support our first responders.”
Continue reading “Sheriff Shaun Golden Endorses Marine Veteran Michael McGuire for Congress”
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| The New Jersey Department of Health would be required to develop and distribute comprehensive guidelines to help schools and colleges implement on-campus anti-vaping awareness campaigns under legislation passed by the New Jersey General Assembly earlier this week. Assemblywomen Shanique Speight, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and Carol Murphy sponsored Bill A2195. Under the legislation, the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Education and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, would create and update guidance that equips school districts and institutions of higher education with research-backed strategies to combat the rising use of e-cigarettes among adolescents and young adults. The guidelines would be publicly available on each department’s website. The guidelines would have to include recommendations for implementing multi-tiered, age-appropriate anti-vaping campaigns that promote positive behavioral change. They would also provide schools with research-based materials detailing the health risks of vaping, including its effects on lung health, mental health, pregnant women, workplace environments, and small children, as well as comparisons to traditional cigarette smoking. “Strategic marketing and misinformation that downplay the serious health risks of vaping are targeting our young people,” said Assemblywoman Speight (D-Essex, Hudson). “This legislation ensures that schools and colleges have clear, research-driven tools to educate students about the dangers of e-cigarettes and empower them to make healthier decisions.” Additionally, the guidance would encourage the use of decision-making models to help students resist peer pressure and make informed, healthy choices. Schools would also be encouraged to incorporate targeted marketing materials designed for middle school, high school, and college-age populations.”We cannot ignore the growing number of adolescents and young adults who are becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping,” said Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson (D-Hunterdon, Mercer). “By providing structured, age-appropriate guidance and updating it annually, we would be giving educators the support they need to confront this public health challenge head-on and protect the long-term well-being of our students.” “As the Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, keeping New Jerseyans – particularly our youth – safe and healthy is my top priority,” said Assemblywoman Murphy (D-Burlington). “Bill A2195 would provide educators with the resources they need to teach students about the dangers of vaping and the need to avoid e-cigarettes as they grow and mature.” |
By Dana DiFilippo, New Jersey Monitor
Thousands of people hit the streets of New Jersey Saturday to protest President Donald Trump during the third official No Kings protests, a national day of action that mobilized millions around the country to demand change 14 months into his controversial second term.
Trump’s critics had plenty to protest, given all that has happened since the last No Kings protests in October, including a deadly, costly war with Iran, escalating brutality by immigration agents, and the deployment of armed immigration agents to airports.
Continue reading “Thousands in NJ protest President Trump in ‘No Kings’ rallies”
Assemblyman Dave Bailey, Jr.’s legislation designed to ensure that public utility customers are not burdened with subsidizing the energy costs of large load data centers passed the New Jersey General Assembly on Monday. Assembly members Joe Danielsen, Clinton Calabrese and Eliana Pintor Marin also sponsored Bill A796.
Continue reading “Utility Cost Protection Bill Clears Assembly”