Author

Dana DiFilippo comes to the New Jersey Monitor from WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR station, and the Philadelphia Daily News, a paper known for exposing corruption and holding public officials accountable. Prior to that, she worked at newspapers in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and suburban Philadelphia and has freelanced for various local and national magazines, newspapers and websites. She lives in Central Jersey with her husband, a photojournalist, and their two children.
Court battle heats up over Hanover policies on parental notification, transgender rights
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 29, 2023
Hanover public schools is asking a judge to reject the state's effort to reinstate a district policy protecting gay and transgender students.
Experts alarmed by claims that Menendez eased military aid to Egypt
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 26, 2023
Claims that Sen. Bob Menendez ensured the flow of U.S. aid to Egypt despite human rights concerns is a national security issue, experts say.
New Jersey advances plan to allow midwives to perform early abortions
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 23, 2023
The state is now accepting public comment on its plan to allow the state's 450 midwives perform abortions in an effort to expand access.
Menendez indictment details attempts to influence federal prosecution of senator’s friend
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 22, 2023
Federal prosecutors say Sen. Bob Menendez sought to install a U.S. attorney who would help one of his supporters beat criminal charges.
New census data details New Jersey’s growing diversity
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 22, 2023
The U.S. Census Bureau released its most detailed race and ethnic data ever this week, shedding light on New Jersey's growing diversity.
Forest fire service gets funding boost after New Jersey’s worst wildfire season in decade
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 21, 2023
Firefighters battled more than 1,000 forest fires this year, with 14 blazes considered major. That's the worst wildfire season in a decade.
New Jersey seeks dismissal of election watchdog’s lawsuit challenging controversial law
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 20, 2023
The state says a lawsuit filed against Gov. Phil Murphy by Jeff Brindle, who heads the Election Law Enforcement Commission, is meritless.
Transparency watchdog fights new rule that keeps disputes over public records a secret
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 20, 2023
A watchdog has taken the Government Records Council, which decides public records disputes, to court because it has sealed its pending cases.
Lawsuit can proceed against New Jersey prison guards accused of refusing disabled man’s needs
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 19, 2023
Prison staff showed "deliberate indifference" in refusing to give a disabled incarcerated man his cane for 10 days, a judge said.
Judge halts striking nurses’ rowdy pickets at New Brunswick hospital
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 19, 2023
About 1,700 striking nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick must halt noisy, disruptive pickets, a judge ruled.
Striking New Jersey nurses return to the bargaining table, six weeks into walkout
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 14, 2023
About 1,700 nurses walked off the job six weeks ago in a dispute over their demands for a lower nurse-patient ratio. Talks resumed Thursday.
Appeals court agrees shaken baby syndrome is ‘junk science’ in some cases
By: Dana DiFilippo - September 13, 2023
A New Jersey appellate court sided with two fathers accused of child abuse who argued the science behind shaken baby syndrome isn't sound.