NEW JERSEY: Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula was sworn in on January 8 to the 213th Legislature of New Jersey as a member of the General Assembly for his fourth consecutive term. The proceedings took place in Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton.

Chivukula represents the state's 17th Legislative District, which includes Franklin Township in Somerset County, Highland Park Borough, New Brunswick City, North Brunswick Township, and Piscataway Township in Middlesex County.Chivukula is the only Asian-American in the newly constituted Assembly which sets many records; among its 80 members are 10 African-Americans, seven Hispanics, and the highest-ever number of women legislators - 25. The 25 new members entering the state Assembly constitutes the largest number since 1992, when 30 new members took Assembly oaths.