Former mental health reporter @njspotlightnews.org Alum @reportforamerica.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3mmcdqb32s22eGreat to see Sydney joining NJ Urban News and @reportforamerica.bsky.social She will be a great addition to the team! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sydneyrsalomon_rfaday-ugcPost-7462895891234942976-MV03?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAABweEJoBPpJZWkPQ1VnOm_NektsytKlKZuY&utm_campaign=copy_link20 May 2026 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmcdqb32s22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3mg5v6r3ok22fAs 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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/03/as-suicides-rise-nj-lacks-permanent-funding-for-988-crisis-hotline/03 Mar 2026 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg5v6r3ok22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3mej2zcppjc2q“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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/02/restore-addiction-funding-nj-lawmakers-urged/10 Feb 2026 13:29 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mej2zcppjc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3megqd346222iThe 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.org09 Feb 2026 15:12 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3megqd346222ihttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3me23oejxac22Residents 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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/02/trump-proposal-imperils-8-million-for-new-jerseyans-rental-aid/04 Feb 2026 14:31 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3me23oejxac22https://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3mczkbfv3j22iNJ 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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/nj-rewrites-license-rules-for-outpatient-treatment-centers/22 Jan 2026 15:54 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mczkbfv3j22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3mcrszast4c27“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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/sherrill-administration-under-pressure-to-restore-45m-in-opioid-settlement-funding/19 Jan 2026 14:09 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcrszast4c27https://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3mcddinnfnc2yGov. 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.13 Jan 2026 19:54 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcddinnfnc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3mccre226vk2w“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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/nj-health-experts-stress-vaccination-following-seasons-first-confirmed-pediatric-flu-death/13 Jan 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mccre226vk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3mbwalmkzyk2cStudents 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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/students-expected-to-benefit-from-cell-phone-ban/08 Jan 2026 14:58 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbwalmkzyk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3makj76vjxc2s“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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/nj-police-deadly-force-policy-may-get-mandatory-review/22 Dec 2025 05:35 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3makj76vjxc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3maahq26xlc2gThe 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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/first-they-cut-its-funding-now-nj-lawmakers-want-money-for-homeless-program/18 Dec 2025 05:42 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3maahq26xlc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3m7zt6spemk2cMore 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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/cell-phone-ban-for-nj-students-looms/15 Dec 2025 14:18 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7zt6spemk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3m7n7jqfdmk26Should judges consider a defendant’s history as a victim of domestic violence? Latest for @njspotlightnews.org https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/should-judges-consider-a-defendants-history-as-a-victim-of-domestic-violence/10 Dec 2025 13:54 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7n7jqfdmk26https://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3m7icqfuve22eThree 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 https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/nj-looks-to-create-hallucinogenic-mushroom-research-program/08 Dec 2025 15:08 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7icqfuve22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3m6hpnn3uos2hLatest story with @johnreitmeyer.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Nov 2025 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6hpnn3uos2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bobby-brier.bsky.social/post/3m6evvzs5es2tAs shootings decline, NJ violence prevention groups get funding cut ‘Street teams’ forced to lay off workers, reduce programs @njspotlightnews.org https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/11/as-shootings-decline-nj-violence-prevention-groups-get-funding-cut/24 Nov 2025 13:16 +0000at://did:plc:svkeqvlmac4vb3kqstlprabg/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6evvzs5es2t