Mercer County Buys 56 Acres from Rider University for $8.5M
Mercer County will purchase 56 acres from Rider University for $8.5M, preserving open space including a historic beech forest tied to Aldo Leopold.
Karen O'Brien
Staff Writer, Business
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About Karen
Karen O'Brien is a Morristown resident who grew up in Toms River. Irish-American, her dad was a longshoreman and her mom was a nurse. A Rutgers undergrad with an MBA from Rutgers Business School, she worked in pharma marketing for ten years before pivoting to journalism. She covers New Jersey's economy — pharma, healthcare, logistics, the industries that actually employ people. She believes economic journalism should explain what's happening to workers, not just stock prices.
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Articles by Karen (20 articles)
Hudson Regional Health Shuffles Leadership at Two Hospitals
Hudson Regional Health moves Dr. Michael Hochberg to Hoboken University Hospital and elevates Dr. Vijayant Singh to lead Bayonne University Hospital.
NJ Bill Would Refund Fees for Delayed Permits and Licenses
A New Jersey Senate bill would require state agencies to refund application fees when permits or licenses aren't processed within set timelines.
NAI DiLeo-Bram Closes 20,000 SF in Edison Office Leases
NAI DiLeo-Bram completed four office leases totaling 20,000 SF in Edison, NJ, signaling tech sector commitment to Central Jersey office space.
Northeast Biotech Labs Are Leading a Quiet Digital Procurement Transformation
From the research campuses of Cambridge to the pharmaceutical hubs of central New Jersey, biotech and pharma companies across the Northeast are quietly overhauling how they buy lab supplies — and the savings are adding up fast.
Camden County LINK Trail Breaks Ground: $108M, 34-Mile Greenway
Construction begins on the $108M Camden County LINK Trail, a 34-mile greenway connecting Camden City to the Pine Barrens across New Jersey.
Hudson Tunnel Project Timeline: 15 Years in the Making
From its 2011 origins to federal funding fights and active construction, here's a complete timeline of the Hudson Tunnel Project's turbulent history.
Rowan University Gets $1.9M for 3D Housing Research & Roads
Rowan University and Gloucester County share $1.9M in federal funding for concrete 3D-printed housing research and road construction near West Campus.
NJ Legislative Earmarks Up 450% in State Budget Report
A Garden State Initiative report reveals $860M in discretionary spending added to New Jersey's FY2026 budget, costing households $240 annually.
New Portal North Bridge Opens Early Amid NJ Transit Delays
NJ Transit opened the new Portal North Bridge three days early after overhead wire issues caused up to one-hour delays on the Northeast Corridor.
NJ Assembly Democrats Push Small Business Reform Bills
New Jersey Assembly Democrats advance bills to cut red tape, modernize permitting, and reduce costs for small businesses across the state.
NJ Film Commission Expands Film Ready Communities to 58
Fifteen new NJ municipalities earn Film Ready Community certification, bringing the statewide total to 58 communities prepared to host film and TV productions.
NJ Innovation Evergreen Fund Invests $4.65M in 5 Startups
The NJ Economic Development Authority invested $4.65M in five companies through the Innovation Evergreen Fund, targeting startups in Mercer, Camden, and Hudson counties.
Sherrill Unveils $60.7B NJ Budget Boosting School Funding
Gov. Mikie Sherrill proposed a record $60.7B New Jersey budget with historic K-12 funding and cost cuts to address a $3 billion structural deficit.
Maple Shade Gets $1M to Replace Kings Highway Water Plant
Maple Shade secured $1.09M in federal funding to replace its aging Kings Highway water treatment plant, improving drinking water for nearly 20,000 residents.
The Palladium Supply Chain Crisis Has a Greenland Solution, a Fresh NASDAQ Deal, and New Jersey's Pharma and Tech Industries Are Paying Attention
A $68 billion palladium deposit just landed inside a NASDAQ-listed company, and the supply chain it touches runs straight through New Jersey's pharma corridor and Jersey City's financial district.
Woodbridge's Kislak Co. Closes $8.35M NY Apartment Deal
Jersey-based real estate firm makes another big move across state lines with Hamilton Garden Apartments sale in upstate New York market.
Horizon Blue Cross Cuts 242 Jobs as Financial Pressures Mount
New Jersey's largest health insurer eliminates positions across multiple departments as rising medical costs and regulatory pressures squeeze margins.
New Jersey Pharma Giants Continue to Dominate Fortune 500 Rankings
With 14 companies on the Fortune 500, including pharma leaders Johnson & Johnson and Merck, New Jersey remains the medicine chest of the world.
Paramount Signs On at Bayonne's 1888 Studios as NJ Film Industry Hits Record Highs
Paramount's deal to lease space at Bayonne's 1888 Studios caps a record year for NJ film production, with $833 million in qualified spending.