New Jersey will tighten its already strict gun laws with a new set of measures aimed at reducing illegal firearms sales and curtailing gun suicides.

They are the latest laws signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, a progressive Democrat who has made gun control one of his top priorities since taking office.

“Even though we have more work to do, we must take great pride in what we are doing today,” Murphy said at a Tuesday press conference. “These new laws will continue to send the message that we take gun safety and the safety of our communities seriously in New Jersey.”

Award-winning contemporary American Sculptor, conceptual and visual artist, painter and printer Willie Cole was born in Newark but his artwork is loved worldwide. 

Cole, who now lives in Mine Hill, New Jersey and part-time in Los Angeles, is excited about his latest project that will eventually end up in a Newark school.  He'll be using 16 and 8 ounce water bottles to create a 30-foot kid sculpture.  It's not the first time he used water bottles in an artistic way.

WBGO commentator Mildred Antenor is tired of hearing that certain candidates aren't "black enough" to run for office or represent certain populations.

Antenor says the most recent example is California Senator Kamala Harris.

El Paso City Councilman Peter Svarzbein recently spent a weekend in Newark while he attended the Next City's first-ever regional Vanguard conference.

WBGO's Alexandra Hill caught up with Democratic councilman to talk to him about the border crisis impacting his community.