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.
Senator Menendez says he’s still not guilty in second arraignment on corruption charges
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 23, 2023
Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty Monday in Manhattan on a superseding indictment accusing him of acting as a foreign agent for Egypt.
New Jersey state police’s expungement backlog of 46K cases spurs lawsuit
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 23, 2023
The New Jersey State Police have a backlog of more than 46,000 expungement orders and now faces a lawsuit to compel more timely compliance.
Jan. 6 rioter who stormed Pelosi’s office ordered to pay $50K for defamation of Rutgers student
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 20, 2023
A Rutgers University student has won a $50,000 judgment for defamation against a Capitol rioter who blamed him for her post-riot flight.
Speeding ships threaten extinction of North Atlantic right whales, study warns
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 19, 2023
Whale lovers have blamed offshore wind development for rising whale deaths, but a new study blames collisions with speeding ships.
Majority of New Jersey residents polled say indicted Sen. Menendez should resign
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 19, 2023
A new poll shows most New Jersey residents want indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, who's accused of being a foreign agent for Egypt, to resign.
New Jersey will spend $25M to expand free, full-day preschool by January
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 18, 2023
Twenty-six school districts in 13 counties will get almost $25 million to expand all-day preschool, Acting Gov. Tahesha Way announced.
Feds to probe Trenton police for ‘problematic’ use of force and illegal stops
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 17, 2023
The U.S. Department of Justice will investigate whether Trenton police have a "pattern or practice" of excessive force and illegal stops.
As N.J. prepares to vote, guns largely missing from campaign trail conversation
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 17, 2023
While guns dominated legislative priorities at the end of last year, they've largely been missing from campaign conversations this election season.
Talks to resume this weekend for 1,700 New Brunswick nurses striking over ‘safe staffing’
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 13, 2023
Nurses' demand for minimum nurse-to-patient ratios remains the sticking point in a strike that has stretched more than two months.
N.J. corrections official at center of corruption probe demoted after DUI arrest
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 12, 2023
A deputy commissioner in the state Department of Corrections has been demoted and suspended without pay after getting charged in a DUI crash.
Over-the-counter contraceptives to start at New Jersey pharmacies in early 2024
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 11, 2023
Two state boards advanced rules that will allow women to buy birth control without a prescription next year.
New Jersey Supreme Court weighs free-speech claims in witness tampering case
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 11, 2023
William Hill's attorneys say he had a First Amendment right to write to a crime victim, but prosecutors say his letter was witness tampering.