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.
Deceptive marketing by crisis pregnancy centers prompts bills, consumer alert
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 17, 2023
N.J. officials have issued a consumer alert and introduced bills to thwart deceptive advertising by antiabortion crisis pregnancy centers.
Approval of gas pipeline expansion sparks environmentalists’ pleas for state action
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 13, 2023
Environmentalists called on Gov. Phil Murphy to act after a federal regulator approved a controversial gas pipeline expansion project.
State diverted $2B from clean energy fund to NJ Transit, other needs, report finds
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 13, 2023
N.J. officials diverted $2 billion since 2010 from a clean energy fund to other things, prompting critics to call for an end to the practice.
N.J. GOP counters governor’s address with demands for less spending
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 10, 2023
Republicans reacting to Gov. Phil Murphy's State of the State address complained he spends too much money and embraces "extreme" policies.
Judges can deny ill inmates compassionate release in ‘extraordinary’ cases, high court says
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 10, 2023
The N.J. Supreme Court rules judges can deny compassionate release to ill inmates if “extraordinary" factors justify continued incarceration.
Poverty, income biggest predictors of internet quality in N.J., study finds
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 9, 2023
Affordability, not infrastructure, drives the digital divide that keeps high-speed internet out of low-income N.J. households, study finds.
Raising retirement age of judges could fix judicial vacancy crisis, lawmaker says
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 9, 2023
A senator wants to raise the retirement age for N.J. judges to 75 to reduce judicial vacancies and clear backlogged cases.
Transgender councilwoman takes office in Trenton
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 6, 2023
The state's LGBT rights group says Jennifer Williams is the first transgender person elected to a municipal council in New Jersey.
Trenton cop indicted in 64-year-old’s death during violent 2020 arrest
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 5, 2023
A grand jury indicted one of several Trenton cops involved in the 2020 arrest of an elderly city man who died after getting pepper-sprayed.
Judge orders state to release information about police use of baby blood spots
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 4, 2023
Four N.J. police agencies used blood samples from the state's newborn screening program to investigate five crimes, sparking privacy concerns.
Insurance mandate for abortion care starts for some N.J. health benefits plans
By: Dana DiFilippo - January 3, 2023
Under a new state law meant to reduct barriers to abortion, some health insurers now are required to fully cover the procedure.
In renaming things, N.J. policymakers hope words will move minds
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 29, 2022
Government continually renames things to be more sensitive and precise, but experts say new words can reframe problems and sway opinions.