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.
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.
New study urges cheaper communications for incarcerated people
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 28, 2022
New Jersey prisons charge lower rates for phone calls than most other states, a study found. There's still room for improvement, authors noted.
Casino smoking ban among measures that remain in limbo at end of 2022
By: Dana DiFilippo, Nikita Biryukov and Sophie Nieto-Munoz - December 25, 2022
A bill that would ban smoking inside casinos is one of numerous measures that didn't make it to law in 2022.
Transparency advocates lose case over prosecutor group’s records
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 23, 2022
A judge ruled the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey doesn't have to release records to the ACLU-NJ, a blow for transparency fans.
South Jersey’s ‘Chicken Lady’ aims to bring chickens to backyards, one town at a time
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 22, 2022
Many N.J. municipalities ban backyard chickens, but a South Jersey chicken fan has helped about 30 towns pass ordinances to allow them.
New law expands child welfare oversight, caps caseloads
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 21, 2022
A new law expands oversight of N.J.’s child welfare system and caps caseloads for social workers handling child abuse and neglect cases.
Bills aim to reduce food waste through labeling and composting
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 21, 2022
Lawmakers touted two bills to reduce food waste as environmentally friendly because rotting food creates greenhouse gases that fuel climate change
Bills to toughen penalties against car thieves advance, despite objections
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 20, 2022
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced eight bills largely aimed at expanding penalties for car theft, despite social justice reformers' concerns.
Assembly passes ‘privacy’ bill, dozens of others, in last session of 2022
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 16, 2022
Assembly legislators passed dozens of bills in their last session of 2022, including one exempting elected officials' addresses from public disclosure.
Lawmakers advance bill to ban invasive plants, revive statewide invasive species council
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 15, 2022
Legislators agreed Thursday with environmentalists that a long-dead commission to fight invasive species in N.J. should be reestablished.
State to survey residents on internet use to ensure access, affordability
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 14, 2022
With the pandemic driving everyone online, the state has launched a survey to assess internet speed and usage statewide and identify gaps.
Assembly panel advances bills to shield public officials’ addresses
By: Dana DiFilippo - December 12, 2022
N.J. lawmakers unanimously advanced several bills Monday that would keep the property addresses of public office holders and seekers private.