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Episodes
Friday Apr 21, 2023
Friday Apr 21, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News a Happy Canniversary!! It’s been one year since NJ welcomed its first legal recreational cannabis sales to the garden state. A year later there are now twice as many dispensaries that sell recreational cannabis but no recreational-only sites in the state. And even more concerning, there are NO recreational cannabis businesses owned by women or Black residents; Federal lawmakers are once again pushing legislation to overhaul the nation’s immigrant detention policies. New Jersey’s Junior Senator Cory Booker is re-introducing the “Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act.” This as Senior Senator Bob Menendez unveiled a new immigration overhaul plan and is pressing the President to take notice. David Cruz goes one on one with the NJ Senator; AND on this Earth Day …polluters will now be held accountable for their actions here in Jersey. This week Attorney General Matt Platkin and Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette announced 8 new environmental enforcement actions targeting polluters across the State whose toxic legacies continue to threaten public health, safety, and the environment. And in an effort to continue to promote a clean New Jersey, a group of elected officials are marking Earth Day by touring a community solar project and pushing to install solar panels on more rooftops around the state.
Thursday Apr 20, 2023
Thursday Apr 20, 2023
Rutgers Faculty are willing to go back on strike reminding everyone it was “suspended not ended.” Hundreds of Union workers picketed outside a Board of Governors meetings saying they will bring back the strike if contract demands are not met soon; The state’s top campaign finance watchdog is suing the Murphy administration. For the second time this year. Jeffrey Brindle, the Executive Director of New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission filed a suit today in Trenton Superior Court. Alleging the newly-signed Election Transparency Act is illegal and unconstitutional; After being shut out of the NHL playoffs the last few seasons… the New Jersey Devils ARE BACK. It’s both good news for fans… AND the state’s bottom line. Because the deeper the playoff run—the better the odds for a good economic boost in the area; And today may be the unofficial holiday celebrated for anyone who enjoys marijuana… but TOMORROW is the state’s one year anniversary of legalizing recreational weed. Despite promises of social justice within the industry… there are still no recreational cannabis businesses run by Black or Brown state residents.
Wednesday Apr 19, 2023
Wednesday Apr 19, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News the US Supreme Court WILL allow the abortion pill mifepristone to remain fully accessible. But only temporarily. Giving judges more time to consider the case. Punting a decision from tonight at midnight… until midnight FRIDAY; The White House is now labeling Xylazine an official emerging drug threat to the nation. The first time any drug has been given that designation. Also known as “tranq”... it’s a powerful sedative that’s FDA approved as a large animal tranquilizer. And it's increasingly being found mixed with opioids; There’s a bigger effort to stem the tide of drug overdoses in Paterson. Where the city’s Black Lives Matter chapter recently opened a Harm Reduction Center. A strategy to give resources to more Black community members in need of the help. With a goal of saving more lives and reducing the spread of HIV infections; And even with extra help from the state New Jersey is still seeing a predicted hunger crisis. Families are struggling to pay for basic groceries. The combination of food-price inflation… and the end of federal SNAP benefits is putting basic items out of reach for more shoppers…In turn… they’re leaning on food banks to fill in the gaps more and more.
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News Rutgers University health care workers, not professors, took the streets today in protest. The union representing the thirteen-hundred researchers, nurses, pharmacists, and doctors want the University to know their contract is still in limbo; Progressive groups are eyeing Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr.’s seat. Rallying in Bridgewater today— calling on the freshman representative to host a town hall for constituents. So, they can directly ask him questions about his votes in congress; Don’t be surprised if you no longer see masks being worn at your doctor’s office. A big win for New Jersey…The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled today allowing the state to exit the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor. An agency created back in the 1950’s. The statewide mandate requiring people to mask up at all health care facilities has been lifted; And April is National Donate Life Month, and it has a particularly special meaning for one mother and son. In need of an organ donor…and without a match. They turned to the idea of living donation.
Monday Apr 17, 2023
Monday Apr 17, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News the historic Rutgers University strike is over—-for now. Unions reached a tentative contract deal with university leadership this weekend. Classes are back in session, for now; Meanwhile, labor issues are taking center stage at other NJ colleges and universities. At NJCU, the local AFT union and the university announced they’ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding, watching, and learning from what went down at Rutgers; Some advocates are calling for more help from the government to curb rising rates of domestic violence. Bergen County’s Center for Hope and Safety is reporting an 80 percent increase in calls last year to the 24/7 domestic violence hotline, what is causing the uptick? AND a stunning reversal tonight from the state’s cannabis regulatory commission. Backtracking on a decision to deny Curaleaf’s annual license to grow and sell recreational marijuana. Giving one of the state’s largest cannabis companies a second chance to comply with state law.
Friday Apr 14, 2023
Friday Apr 14, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News the wildfire burning in West Milford worsened overnight as windblown embers sparked NEW fires east of Echo Lake, as of this morning the fire was roughly 975 acres in size and only 65% contained, the blaze threatening TEN structures and temperatures this week giving firefighters a run for their money; Rutgers University is now in Day FIVE of its strike, those negotiators could take a lesson from New Jersey City University, who signed an agreement this week with ITS teachers union; The state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission delivered a shocking blow when it rejected the recreational license renewal for Curaleaf, the state’s largest cannabis dispensary. CRC board members said they denied the license because Curaleaf failed to engage in collective bargaining with its union employees, a condition of maintaining their license in the state, hundreds of employees now at risk; And it’s an idea that’s saved lives. If you can’t afford your life-saving medication, you can come to the Charitable Pharmacy in Red Bank and get it… for free!!
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News a popular abortion pill WILL stay on the market—FOR NOW. But with significant restrictions. A late-night ruling by a federal appeals court hit pause on part of a lower court ruling that suspended approval of and access to mifepristone; The unusually hot, dry weather conditions we’re under have made it a tough week for the spread of wildfires. But firefighters are gaining control of a wildfire off Route 23 in West Milford. It spread to 400 acres but is now 40 percent contained; The historic Rutgers University faculty strike continues into day FOUR. Union leaders have been meeting late into the night at Governor Murphy’s office trying to hammer out a contract deal; And in Newark a voting rights advocacy group is sponsoring a pop-up museum in the city. An interactive experience that walks visitors through key moments in the country’s history of civil rights… in hopes of encouraging them to utilize their power to vote.
Wednesday Apr 12, 2023
Wednesday Apr 12, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News a fast-moving wildfire in Ocean County scorched nearly 4 thousand acres…in less than 24 hours. Firefighters are still battling the blaze being called the Jimmy’s Waterhole Fire, as other smaller blazes pop up around the state; Pressure is on to negotiate a deal between Rutgers University and thousands of striking union members. Now on the picket line for the 3rd day; With more than 2-and-a-half years to go…the state officially has its first candidate vying to be the next Governor. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who is next to toss their hat in the ring? And in Newark there’s a concerted effort to help residents live a happier, longer, healthier life simply by planting more trees.
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News Day TWO of the Rutgers University strike. As thousands of staff and faculty picket outside classrooms on all three campuses of the state’s flagship university, negotiations continue in the Governor’s office in Trenton; The New Jersey 2025 race for Governor officially began today, with Jersey Mayor Steve Fulop officially announcing his candidacy; The US Government on Monday formally designated Wall Street Journal reporter and New Jersey native Evan Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained” in Russia, Governor Murphy also demanding his release and not mincing words when it came to Russia’s President, calling him a “pig;” And hundreds of thousands of state residents could lose their health coverage. If they fail to complete a renewal process by the deadline. The risk is the result of an expiring pandemic mandate.
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News a historic labor strike is underway in New Jersey. For the first time in Rutgers University’s 257-year history it’s 9 thousand full and part-time educators walked off the job; The availability of a key abortion medication hangs in the balance. After rival federal court rulings were released Friday from judges in two different state and now the fate of a widely used FDA approved drug to end pregnancies may be headed to the Supreme Court. Police presence at mosques in Paterson will be ramped up through the end of Ramadan. After an imam was stabbed Sunday while leading early morning prayers; Investigations into racism allegations within the town of Clark’s police department and mayor’s office haven’t yielded any real outcomes; Governor Murphy’s plan to overhaul the state’s outdated liquor laws appears headed for trouble. With a divided legislature and dueling ideas over just how to do it. So far proposed legislation rewriting the rules isn’t getting much support from lawmakers; And the fate of the iconic Nabisco factory in North Jersey is being delayed again. An implosion scheduled for April 15th will be postponed–there’s no new date yet.
NJ PBS, New Jersey’s public television network, brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to all 21 counties in New Jersey and its tri-state neighbors.
The network’s flagship weeknight newscast, NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi, provides multiplatform reporting from across the Garden State.