This year marks our 30th year of publication. We’ll celebrate throughout 2006 by spotlighting memorable New Jersey news events of the last three decades. In each issue we’ll feature an episode from that month in the state’s past. We begin with the breakup of Bedminster-based telecom giant AT&T, which followed an announcement by the company in January 8, 1982.

Seen in: History, Towns & Schools

This month we recall Governor Brendan Byrne’s 1979 signing of the Pinelands Protection Act, put forth to end construction in unspoiled portions of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.

Seen in: Historic Jersey, History, Outdoors, Politics & Public Affairs, Towns & Schools

This month we remember the first flight of People Express, out of Newark Airport in April 1981. Before People went bust nearly six years later, its introduction of super-low prices changed the airline industry forever.

Seen in: History, Towns & Schools

Since the first Atlantic City casino opened for legalized gambling 28 years ago this month, the city has become a major hot spot. We look back at the legislation that allowed gambling and its impact on the state.

Seen in: History, Towns & Schools

We look back at the notorious tax increase that took effect under Governor Jim Florio’s watch in June 1990, which spawned a citizens’ backlash that forever changed New Jersey’s political landscape.

Seen in: History, Towns & Schools

In this era of Reality TV, let’s give credit to those New Jerseyans committed to the quaint pursuit of getting into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Seen in: Jersey Celebrities, Jersey Living

For decades Meadowlands referred to the odiferous stretch of swamp glimpsed from Route 3 and the Turnpike. That changed on July 2, 1981, when the Brendan Byrne Arena opened, joining the five-year-old Giants Stadium and Meadowlands Racetrack.

Seen in: History, Towns & Schools

In December 1986, it’s announced that New Jersey will get a new terminal for imported cars—just the latest sign of the state’s declining role as a manufacturing powerhouse.

Seen in: History, Towns & Schools

Situation: Taxes, especially property taxes, have risen to onerous levels and threaten to make the state unaffordable for all but the affluent.

Seen in: Towns & Schools

Situation: Every level of government appears to be brimming with unethical officials who, as they conduct the public’s business, view entitlement, favoritism, and lawbreaking as routine.

Seen in: History, Towns & Schools