Author

Dana DiFilippo is a reporter for the New Jersey Monitor, a sibling site of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. She formerly worked at 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.
Pennsylvania joins states accusing Meta of fueling children’s social media addiction
By: Dana DiFilippo - October 24, 2023
The states claim that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta knew its platforms psychologically harmed youth but hid those harms and added more to fuel youths’ social media addiction.
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver dies at 71
By: Dana DiFilippo - August 1, 2023
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver, who made history as the first Black woman to lead the state Assembly, has died, her family announced Tuesday. Oliver, 71, has been hospitalized since at least Monday. Her family did not disclose her cause of death or other details. “She was not only a distinguished public servant […]
Johnson and Johnson bankruptcy claim is a ruse to limit liability, cancer victims say
By: Dana DiFilippo - July 10, 2023
The New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant, faces paying billions of dollars to resolve lawsuits filed by people who say they got cancer from its products.
Effort to expand tax incentives for wind power in New Jersey moves forward despite outcry
By: Dana DiFilippo - June 28, 2023
Protester packed the statehouse to urge lawmakers to block a tax credit bill.
A leftover pandemic restriction in N.J.’s prisons deprives some of ‘lifeline’ family visits
By: Dana DiFilippo - June 8, 2023
More than three years after the state closed New Jersey prisons to visitors as a pandemic precaution, they’ve opened them up again — but a lingering requirement to schedule visits has kept visiting rooms at many facilities largely empty.
Rowdy teens at the Jersey Shore shine light on controversial aspect of N.J.’s marijuana law
By: Dana DiFilippo - June 5, 2023
''There has to be an honest assessment of whether there have been some unintended consequences from the laws,' an official said.
As New Jersey’s prison population grays, calls grow for ‘geriatric parole’
By: Dana DiFilippo - May 23, 2023
1 in 5 people behind bars in the Garden State's state prisons are older than 50. The cost of their care is soaring.
What hazardous materials travel on trains around New Jersey? It’s a secret
By: Dana DiFilippo - March 22, 2023
The Association of American Railroads lists 18 pages of hazardous materials transported by rail around the country.
N.J. lawmakers propose eliminating the cost of calls for incarcerated people
By: Dana DiFilippo - February 27, 2023
Reformers have long called on policymakers to reduce the cost of communications in correctional facilities.
New Jersey races to meet expedited deadline to distribute water assistance — or lose it
By: Dana DiFilippo - February 8, 2023
Pa. could be a downstream beneficiary of the federal funding if Garden State officials fail to act.
N.J. lawmakers pass bill to make ‘sextortion’ a crime
By: Dana DiFilippo - February 5, 2023
TRENTON, N.J. — Using sexual images to extort victims could soon become a crime in New Jersey after lawmakers in the Senate unanimously passed legislation last week to criminalize “sextortion.” Sextortion can involve someone hacking into a person’s computer or phone to steal sexual material and threaten to distribute it, or coercing a victim into taking […]