Colleen O'Dea
@colleenodea.bsky.social
140 followers 86 following 70 posts
Lifelong Jersey journo, NJ Spotlight News senior writer, Bruce IS the boss, my posts are my own.
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colleenodea.bsky.social
NJ LD2 covers most of AtlanticCo. Both Dems Maureen Rowan and Joanne Famularo answered our voter guide. njspotlightnews.org/special-repo... GOP incumbents Don Guardian & Claire Swift
did not. Stockton will host a debate Oct. 21 livestreamed so tune in stockton.edu/events/2025/...
2025 election guide: LD2 - NJ Spotlight News
NJ Voters Guide: 2nd Legislative District New Jersey’s 2nd Legislative District covers part of the southeast coast of the state. It covers a
njspotlightnews.org
colleenodea.bsky.social
Starting to highlight NJ legi races. If you are in Cape May Co or parts of Atlantic or Cumberland, LD1 is your district. Both Dems responded to our guide. GOP incumbent McClellan & Simonsen didn't. www.njspotlightnews.org/special-repo... Ck all Assembly races in our @njspotlightnews.org voter guide
2025 election guide: LD1 - NJ Spotlight News
NJ Voters Guide: 1st Legislative District New Jersey’s 1st Legislative District is the southernmost in the state. It covers Cape May and parts of Atlantic
www.njspotlightnews.org
colleenodea.bsky.social
Tomorrow is the last day to register to vote in NJ, so check that your registration or register today. You get the chance to choose the next gov & direction of the state for the next 4 years. You can use @njspotlightnews.org elections page. www.njspotlightnews.org/nj-decides-2...
NJ Decides 2025 - NJ Spotlight News
www.njspotlightnews.org
colleenodea.bsky.social
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.
njspotlightnews.org
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
Reposted by Colleen O'Dea
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Colleen O'Dea
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Colleen O'Dea
njspotlightnews.org
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
Reposted by Colleen O'Dea
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Colleen O'Dea
bflanagannj.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Colleen O'Dea
tmel1219.bsky.social
#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.
colleenodea.bsky.social
Cuts to NJPBS are impacting now
atnj.org
#FortLee #NJ
#VisibilityBrigade
Letters on an overpass spelling out: Defund ICE not PBS
Reposted by Colleen O'Dea
bflanagannj.bsky.social
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
colleenodea.bsky.social
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
colleenodea.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Colleen O'Dea
bflanagannj.bsky.social
“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
colleenodea.bsky.social
Epic
mattbelloni.bsky.social
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.
colleenodea.bsky.social
Given the cuts to PBS, I could be following you. Making we could start a news for NJ women website ;-)
colleenodea.bsky.social
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.
colleenodea.bsky.social
Stacie, you are such a pro. May the next chapter be the best yet!
colleenodea.bsky.social
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.)