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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · 6d

One woman at NJ's Edna Mahan women's prison had a fractured eye socket and another had a concussion. Unless the state convinces the appellate division to allow it to fix errors and bring the case again, none of the 14 will have to stand trial.

NJ Spotlight News @njspotlightnews.org · 6d

A Superior Court judge dismissed the indictment of the former officers and staff on Thursday, citing delays, errors and “prosecutorial mismanagement” by the state.

Criminal case against NJ corrections officers, staff dismissed | NJ Spotlight News

Judge rejects indictment brought after violent action in women’s prison

www.njspotlightnews.org

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

NJ Spotlight News @njspotlightnews.org · 8d

Listen to The Brian Lehrer Show on @wnyc.org TOMORROW, Oct. 2!

Our very own @johnreitmeyer.bsky.social will talk about taxation and the NJ governor's race as part of WNYC's "30 issues in 30 days" series.

More: www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/30-...

The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News

Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.

www.wnyc.org

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

John Reitmeyer @johnreitmeyer.bsky.social · 8d

Announced today by NJ's Department of Labor and Workforce Development:
The minimum wage earned by many hourly workers in New Jersey will rise automatically to $15.92, starting on Jan. 1, under the latest cost-of-living adjustment required by the state Constitution.
@njspotlightnews.org

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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · 8d

The headline says it all. www.amny.com/immigration/...

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

Raw Story @rawstory.com · 8d

A national security expert rated President Donald Trump's speech on Tuesday before the nation's military leaders a "10 out of 10" for being the president's "most unsettling" public speech.

National security expert gives Trump's latest speech '10 out of 10' for 'most unsettling'

A national security expert rated President Donald Trump's speech on Tuesday before the nation's military leaders a "10 out of 10" for being the president's "most unsettling" public speech. yet. Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security advisor in the Obama administration, discussed Trump's speech on ...

bit.ly

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

John Reitmeyer @johnreitmeyer.bsky.social · Aug 12

New NJ budget details quietly added to a dedicated page on the legislative website late Friday appeared to be keeping some key info hidden from public view.
This includes sponsorship of controversial budget language allocating $45M in opioid settlement funds to four hospitals.
@njspotlightnews.org

NJ Budget: Details revealed of last-minute add-ons | NJ Spotlight News

Until late last week, the sponsors of the added spending had not been publicly disclosed by majority Democratic legislative leaders.

www.njspotlightnews.org

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

NJ Spotlight News @njspotlightnews.org · Aug 13

So far this year, the state Department of Health has reported 3,842 positive Lyme cases across NJ’s 21 counties. Hunterdon County currently tops NJ’s Lyme hot spots, followed by Morris, Sussex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Check for ticks: NJ is seeing more tick-borne Lyme disease | Video | NJ Spotlight News

The black-legged deer ticks that spread Lyme disease are flourishing in New Jersey, as are other ticks, too, according to entomologists.

www.njspotlightnews.org

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

Ben Hulac @bhulac.bsky.social · Aug 12

In New Jersey and beyond, business is looking great for the private prison industry.

“I think it is an unprecedented opportunity for them," one attorney told me.

www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/08/priv...
@njspotlightnews.org @aclu-nj.org

Revenue boom for private prisons amid Trump ICE actions | NJ Spotlight News

GEO Group and CoreCivic, both of which operate facilities in New Jersey, saw revenues jump in the latest quarter.

www.njspotlightnews.org

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

John Reitmeyer @johnreitmeyer.bsky.social · Aug 13

Who sponsored resolution #1388, a controversial budget language change that sent $45M from NJ's opioid settlement funds to four hospitals?
It's still a mystery, reports @lilohstainton.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org, and a key Democratic is now looking to claw it back.

NJ lawmaker looks to claw back opioid settlement funding | NJ Spotlight News

Budget funding was taken away from grassroots addiction treatment, diverted to four hospitals as part of a last-minute backroom budget deal.

www.njspotlightnews.org

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

Brenda Flanagan @bflanagannj.bsky.social · Aug 14

Folks facing sky-high energy bills gather for an appointment with NJ BPU, providers and consumer advocates to sign up for rate relief programs. At St Paul AME Zion Church in Ewing. Story tonite. @njspotlightnews.org

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

tmel1219.bsky.social @tmel1219.bsky.social · Aug 13

#ProudBlue #Voices4Victory

The trump admin is trying to feed our kids propaganda that downplays slavery.

This is the far right slop that is expected to replace PBS!
Disgusting.

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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Aug 15

Cuts to NJPBS are impacting now

Action Together New Jersey @atnj.org · Aug 14

#FortLee #NJ
#VisibilityBrigade

Letters on an overpass spelling out: Defund ICE not PBS

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

Brenda Flanagan @bflanagannj.bsky.social · Aug 15

Support your local PBS stations...

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/b...

PBS Slashes Budget by 21% After Federal Funding Cuts

www.nytimes.com

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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Aug 7

7 people released from NJ prisons due to a very serious or terminal illness in the FY 21-24 years. Hard to imagine that's what lawmakers envisioned when they passed - in a bipartisan manner - the compassionate release law and envisioned budget savings. www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/08/advo...

Few prisoners let out under NJ’s compassionate release law | NJ Spotlight News

Fewer than 10 inmates have been allowed out of prison to receive care or to die at home or near loved ones since the law took effect in 2021.

www.njspotlightnews.org

Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 25

ICYMI, an important post about the decline in local journalism. NJ is worst, or 2nd worst, meaning the fewest journalists per resident.
Democracy cannot survive without independent news and with an informed public consuming unbiased news from legitimate sources.
medium.com/centerforcoo...

New Jersey at the bottom: New per-capita reporter research shows how few watchdogs our state has

NJ’s geographic position and number of start-ups contribute to the low reporter count

medium.com

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Reposted by Colleen O'Dea

Brenda Flanagan @bflanagannj.bsky.social · Jul 24

“This appeal raises significant questions about the claim…that the Attorney General ‘may supersede and take control of an entire law enforcement agency’ whenever he determines that step to be appropriate." NJ Supreme Court
www.njspotlightnews.org/video/court-...

Court ruling raises questions about takeover of police departments | Video | NJ Spotlight News

NJ Supreme Court rules in case of Paterson, but signals need for legislative clarification

www.njspotlightnews.org

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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 22

Epic

Matt Belloni @mattbelloni.bsky.social · Jul 22

More news: Get ready for some Jon Stewart F-bombs: Tonight’s Daily Show is airing uncensored on Comedy Central, that’s only happened a handful of times in the history of the show.

Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 18

Given the cuts to PBS, I could be following you. Making we could start a news for NJ women website ;-)

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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 18

Congratulations!

Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 18

Stacie, you are such a pro! May the next chapter be your best yet!
The loss of so many great journalists only makes the public even less informed, which hurts democracy. And fewer people consume unbiased news and there are more layoffs ... A vicious and dangerous cycle.

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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 18

Stacie, you are such a pro. May the next chapter be the best yet!

Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 15

2. Very very little goes to GOP districts because the party has no power right now. And they can't trade a vote for pork because the Dems don't need their votes.
3. Lack of transparency, done last minute, no 1 gets to comment intelligently, if at all. (Tho comments likely wouldn't matter anyway.)

Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 15

I think there are a couple of issues.
1. There is no vetting process. if you can convince your legislator and he has some power, or is in a competitive district this year, you get $. There are no doubt many other worthy - perhaps more worthy - projects that don't meet those criteria so don't get $

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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jul 1

What did the Democrats add to the ~$59B NJ budget on Friday night? Hundreds of millions of Christmas tree decorations - aka pork. Lots for projects in leaders' districts, tho we still don't know who actually asked for the $.
@njspotlightnews.org
Full list:
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/07/new-...

NJ Dems add $400M to budget for pet projects | NJ Spotlight News

The practice of adding hundreds of millions of dollars for lawmakers’ preferential projects continues with the new state budget.

www.njspotlightnews.org

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Colleen O'Dea @colleenodea.bsky.social · Jun 17

By not relying on experienced, ethical, trained professional journalists, many in US are misinformed. They either seek what they want to hear or may unknowingly get false narratives. I wish I could say this trend will reverse but I doubt it. And our democracy suffers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Social media now main source of news in US, research suggests

A report also finds right-leaning audiences on X have almost doubled in the UK since Elon Musk's takeover.

www.bbc.com

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