Great to see Sydney joining NJ Urban News and @reportforamerica.bsky.social She will be a great addition to the team! www.linkedin.com/posts/sydney...

#rfaday | Sydney Salomon

Excited to announce that I’ve joined Report for America as a corps member and will be serving as the Community Impact Reporter at New Jersey Urban News. I’ll be covering housing, health equity, educa...

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As Gov. Mikie Sherrill prepares to introduce her first spending plan next week, the Legislature has yet to pass a bill that would add a 40-cent fee to each New Jersey telephone bill to fund the state’s 988 Suicide & Crisis hotline. @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/03/as-s...

As suicides rise, NJ lacks permanent funding for 988 crisis hotline | NJ Spotlight News

Trump cut funding for young LGBTQ+ callers, and the state lacks revenue to provide some longer-term services for users of all ages

njspotlightnews.org

The legislation moving this year's gubernatorial budget message to March 10 has now been approved by both full houses of the NJ Legislature. @njspotlightnews.org

Sherrill to get extra time to deliver first budget | NJ Spotlight News

First-year governors have customarily been granted an extension under a decades-long bipartisan tradition

njspotlightnews.org

“My life has been profoundly impacted by the opioid crisis,” said Rocky Schwartz of Hunterdon County. “I can’t even count how many funerals I have attended.” @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/02/rest...

Restore addiction funding, NJ lawmakers urged | NJ Spotlight News

Lawmakers diverted $45 million from lawsuit settlement fund to hospitals

njspotlightnews.org

The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee hearing here in Trenton is set to begin shortly. On the agenda today are two bills addressing the 988 system of care and millions of dollars in opioid funding. Story to come soon. @njspotlightnews.org

Wow what a night in NJ CD 11. Malinowski not ready to concede, but the progressive Mejia has the lead. It could take a while for a final decision

The funding worries come as prolonged record-breaking cold grips parts of the United States . . . In Toms River, an elderly homeless woman last month was found dead in her snow-covered car. Reporting by @bobby-brier.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org

Trump proposal imperils $8 million for New Jerseyans' rental aid | NJ Spotlight News

Social-service groups say they're turning to the state -- and tapping credit lines -- to help prevent disaster for almost 900 households

njspotlightnews.org

Residents of nearly 900 New Jersey households are at risk of homelessness as President Donald Trump’s proposed policy changes sow uncertainty about millions of dollars in annual federal rental assistance. @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/02/trum...

Trump proposal imperils $8 million for New Jerseyans' rental aid | NJ Spotlight News

Social-service groups say they're turning to the state -- and tapping credit lines -- to help prevent disaster for almost 900 households

njspotlightnews.org

As mounting economic pressures push more people into homelessness, volunteers and outreach workers traversed NJ this week for the state’s annual count of the homeless. NJ homelessness is on a five-year upswing, according to Monarch Housing Associates, and advocates expect another increase in 2026.

NJ has revised its license requirements for outpatient treatment, writing new rules to allow for integrated outpatient care, a move hailed as landmark reform after NJ officials & health advocates had been trying to do so for years. @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/nj-r...

NJ rewrites license rules for outpatient treatment centers | NJ Spotlight News

State creates one license for providers offering primary care, mental health and addiction services

njspotlightnews.org

Honored to have worked the past few years with @bflanagannj.bsky.social — today was her last day before a well deserved retirement. What a career, we’ll miss you! youtu.be/HyY2dJAGTo8?...

Brenda Flanagan's final sign-off from NJ Spotlight News

YouTube video by NJ Spotlight News

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“We are counting on the Sherrill admin. & the Leg. to do the right thing & reintroduce the $45 million, move it swiftly & ensure opioid settlement funds are used as intended. Lives depend on getting this right.” — Elizabeth Burke Beaty @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/sher...

Sherrill administration under pressure to restore $45M in opioid settlement funding | NJ Spotlight News

Money was diverted to four hospital systems before Gov. Murphy signed state budget in June

njspotlightnews.org

Gov. Murphy’s final State of the State address is set to begin at 3 pm EST. Stay with @njspotlightnews.org as we continue to cover the speech live and with additional coverage throughout the week.

As lame duck comes to an end, NJ's majority Democratic lawmakers approve spending millions on World Cup marketing and pet projects, as well as new tax breaks for the operators of the Prudential Center in Newark. @njspotlightnews.org

NJ lawmakers rush to pass bills on final day of lame duck session | NJ Spotlight News

Include codifying protections for undocumented immigrants, providing tax incentives to refurbish Prudential Center

njspotlightnews.org

“It shouldn’t be a scary thing (for children to get vaccines) and you shouldn’t feel bad for doing everything you can to protect your child.” — Jill Moghadam, mother and educator, of Marlton @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/nj-h...

NJ health experts stress vaccination following season's first confirmed pediatric flu death | NJ Spotlight News

Uptick in NJ cases come as federal health officials are overhauling childhood vaccine schedule

njspotlightnews.org

Students expected to benefit from cell phone ban @govmurphy.bsky.social plans to sign the legislation into law this morning at Ramsey High School in Bergen County. @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/stud...

Students expected to benefit from cell phone ban | NJ Spotlight News

Statewide limits for public schools expected to become law Thursday

njspotlightnews.org

Is NJ’s school ethics law being weaponized to silence critics? Few in the public are aware of how broadly written this code is, and why school board members have good reason to fear its use. www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/is-n...

Is NJ’s school ethics law being used to silence critics? | NJ Spotlight News

Board members face legal action for comments on social media and public meetings

njspotlightnews.org

“We are really eager to see this bill signed into law, just to know that our state is committed to advancing on this and to not going backward because where we are is unbearable…”- Amber Reed @aapinewjersey.org @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/nj-p...

NJ’s police deadly force policy may get mandatory review | NJ Spotlight News

Bill requires regular exam by state AG. Advocates say it’s a ‘step in the right direction’

njspotlightnews.org

Prepping our @NJSpotlightNews voter guide for NJ CD11 special primary. Got a question you think we should ask the candidates?

The last-minute push for more money during the current lame duck session of the Legislature is among the latest examples of the lengthy efforts some nonprofit leaders feel they must take to keep their social support programs open. @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/firs...

First they cut its funding. Now NJ lawmakers want money for homeless program | NJ Spotlight News

Move is one of several to restore funding to social services cut in budget this year

njspotlightnews.org

More NJ public school students could soon be restricted from using smartphones & other devices w/ internet access throughout the school day, an effort by legislators & policy makers to limit classroom distraction & improve mental health @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/cell...

Cell phone ban for NJ students looms | NJ Spotlight News

Lawmakers press ahead with possible ban. School officials see successes already

njspotlightnews.org

“We did what we said we would do, and in politics, that is not often the case. We campaigned on an agenda that we actually, when we got into office, we actually executed and stayed true to,” Gov. Murphy said during a final sit-down interview with @njspotlightnews.org

Phil Murphy talks COVID-19, affordability, NJ Transit as he readies to leave office | NJ Spotlight News

‘We did what we said we would do, and in politics, that is not often the case’

njspotlightnews.org

UPDATE: Sen. Pres. Scutari today announced he's pulling the controversial bill from consideration during this month’s lame-duck legislative session. “I’ve heard the concerns, and I’m going to listen to them,” he said, adding that he would revisit the proposal next year. More at @njspotlightnews.org

Brenda Flanagan@bflanagannj.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Tempers flare as senators vote to limit NJ watchdog powers www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/temp...

Should judges consider a defendant’s history as a victim of domestic violence? Latest for @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/shou...

Three NJ hospitals could soon receive state funding to research the medicinal benefits of psilocybin to treat mental health disorders under a bill that recently cleared an Assembly committee. @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/nj-l...

NJ looks to create hallucinogenic mushroom research program | NJ Spotlight News

State would fund three hospitals to study impact on mental health disorders

njspotlightnews.org

The fate of a plan to create a permanent and dedicated source of funding for a state hotline that helps people experiencing mental health emergencies by taxing phone lines in NJ remains uncertain in the remaining weeks of Gov. Phil Murphy’s tenure. @bobby-brier.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org

Will NJ tax phone lines to support 988 crisis hotline? | NJ Spotlight News

Advocates press for dedicated funds as calls increase

njspotlightnews.org

Latest story with @johnreitmeyer.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org

John Reitmeyer@johnreitmeyer.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Amid a surge in NJ housing costs - and the homeless population - housing advocates praise a top Democrat's push to give towns the power to create trust funds and housing plans to help address and prevent homelessness in their communities, reports @bobby-brier.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org.

Amid a surge in NJ housing costs - and the homeless population - housing advocates praise a top Democrat's push to give towns the power to create trust funds and housing plans to help address and prevent homelessness in their communities, reports @bobby-brier.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org.

Homelessness is rising. NJ towns might get help with housing | NJ Spotlight News

Effort to address homelessness at the municipal level being led by Senate President Nicholas Scutari

njspotlightnews.org

As shootings decline, NJ violence prevention groups get funding cut ‘Street teams’ forced to lay off workers, reduce programs @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/11/as-s...

As shootings decline, NJ violence prevention groups get funding cut | NJ Spotlight News

‘Street teams’ forced to lay off workers, reduce programs

njspotlightnews.org

You can watch the full interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuiP...

NJ Spotlight News: November 20, 2025

YouTube video by NJ Spotlight News

youtube.com

John Reitmeyer@johnreitmeyer.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill discussed her pending cabinet nominees, freezing utility bills and how she will approach her first state budget during a wide-ranging interview with @njspotlightnews.org held during the New Jersey State League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City.