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♪ >> From NJ PBS, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Breanna Vannozzi.

>> Good evening and thank you for joining us tonight.

Day two of the Rutgers University strike has thousands of staff and faculty picketing outside classrooms on all three campuses of the state's flagship university.

The historical work action is the first of the more than 250-year-old school, the result of failed contract negotiations as the three unions representing workers found for better pay and job protections.

The bargaining is still underway, taking place at the governor's office in Trenton as a fourth union considers joining the fight and action from records leadership looms.

Rhonda Flanigan is following the story and has the latest from the picket line.

>> They marched down College Avenue at Rutgers, New Brunswick on day two of a historic strike by multiple unions representing about 9,000 members at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick, and Camden.

Spirits remain high.

>> Let's go!

>> More than 90% of union members voted to strike after months of contract talks hit a wall.

They seek higher wages, paper tea and job security, especially for adjunct professors who get paid per class and grad students.

>> I am a tenure-track Professor and I have a lot of privileges others don't have.

My kids and I get to come out and be a voice for them.

>> Contract negotiations continued for a second day in Trenton where Governor Murphy called all sides to huddle at the Statehouse and get this solved ASAP.

How is it going?

There has been movement on some of the smaller issues, but in terms of the larger issues, the core issues for us, equal pay equal paperwork, recognition, recognition from management that we do the same work as everybody else as far as adjuncts, recognition that grants deserve to be treated as workers as well, that kind of stuff has been slow coming.

>> I have a Master's degree as many of us do, and to make ends meet I had to do DoorDash.

>> This is a special counselor for students to help them access our services.

Counselors remain understaffed and underpaid, so he is walking a picket line.

>> They just throw things on our plates and expect us to deliver and come here smiling and be professional and happy when actually you know, that gets challenging after a while.

>> In order for our students to feel supported and receive the services that they need, we need every single person out here to be able to make a living wage.

>> Join the strike!

>> With slogans, they passed dorms and ask students to join their protest.

60,007 students did.

>> I am striking with them in solidarity.

>> All of my classes are canceled and I am with the professors.

I think they are doing what they need to be doing right now.

>> The university president said the governor asked him not to go to court to force the striking workers back on the job.

Holloway said he agreed for now.

>> This is where it will be resolved, in the streets.

>> The AFL-CIO President expressed full support for the unions and a fourth union could join these picket lines.

The AFT with 20,500 members who provide dining and other services is considering a strike authorization vote.

>> It's a shame we had to do this, but this really reflects on the priorities of this institution, where they are putting their money, it really shows with a headset.

>> We thank the governor for bringing folks together, but it is time to sit at the table and make a commitment until this is resolved.

>> The University says that they are negotiating in good faith.

>> In New Brunswick, I am Brenda Flanagan for NJ Spotlight News.

>> We have team coverage on the strike.

Head to our website for more details from the digital reporters.

The race for the next governor is still two years away, but in New Jersey politics, it is never too early to jump in.

The Jersey City Mayor announced his bid for the Democratic nomination, confirming what most political insiders long assumed.

The announcement came packaged in a video leaning on his military service and the 46-year-old has led Jersey City for the last... and cut his teeth as a councilman there for eight years prior to that.

He will likely face a crowded field of Democrats vying for the job, his early campaign launch could help him raise money and the name recognition that will be needed to win.

David Cruz spoke with the mayor this morning just after formally entering the race.

>> Stephen had a jampacked morning.

Just before this ribbon-cutting for a new public safety building in the city, the mayor released a video making it official what most everyone had assumed.

>> I believe leadership is about standing up for what you believe in even when it is not popular.

And then fighting successfully to get it done.

Now I am running for governor to bring that same energy and fight to Trenton.

>> Two big announcements in one day.

Was the mayor overfeeding the news cycle?

>> Well, I got you all here, right?

[Laughter] >> He is going to need that sense of humor if he is going to traverse the treacherous waters on the way to the governor's job.

You may remember back in 2016, Philip was all set to announce a run for governor when he got big-footed by this guy.

>> What is the biggest difference between this effort and the one that got short-circuited by the other millionaire from Goldman Sachs?

>> Last time I didn't declare, that's a big difference.

Secondly, I make clear there is no...opposition.

I am all in on this and part of today's announcement is to further move that message for.

Last time I was a first-term mayor, I think I have grown in the last eight years.

>> He is the first Democrat to declare his candidacy, but he knows he won't be the only one.

Members of Congress have been frequently mentioned as candidates, and there is Steve Sweeney, Craig Coughlin, and Raz Baraka.

>> I think he is trying to distinguish himself.

This is going to be a large field and a diverse field.

And first and may have some value.

You have extra time to get out and around the state, you ask physically the ability to counter and offer your take on state policy decisions that are going on now.

I think he sees an opportunity to almost provide a campaign that is a shadow governor for the next couple of years.

Not only is it smart, but I think that it is potentially a useful role for New Jersey to have that voice for the next couple of years.

>> It's not like he does not have a record to run on.

Jersey City is one of the hottest cities in the state, Philip because of the economic engine of New Jersey.

With development that has now extended beyond the so-called Gold Coast waterfront.

He is spearheading a waterfront development that will be 35% affordable housing.

And he has diversified the police force, backed civilian complaint review boards, and criticized a recent elections transparency act.

Still, he has his detractors, who criticize his style, his lackluster outreach to the black community and his self-criticism of at-large councilmember Amy M. DeGise.

He is also a liberal Democrat.

>> We have seen the Democrats go far left.

And this is not a far left state.

I can tell you that he is not the most popular guy in the world.

The question is, are we as Republicans going to give them a reasonable alternative to far left policies?

This state has always been in the middle and it should behoove us as Republicans proving to people that they can trust us in charge of government.

>> Then there is the whole Hudson County thing.

Hudson County has had more mayors go to jail then have become governor.

And while he came on the scene as a reformer, critics say he is now a major cog in the Democratic machine.

>> I guess maybe one thing he will have to contend with is that it has been 83 years since we had a governor from Hudson County and it has been a little bit of a curse, and maybe you know if you are in Hudson you would say we are overdue.

>> What I'm trying to do is organize and any time to do that.

I'm committed to doing this whether the political structure is with me or not.

That takes time.

>> The last governor from Hudson was Harry Moore, a Democrat who went on to serve in the Senate.

But one step at a time.

2025 is still two years away and that is a lot of time to build momentum and maybe name recognition if need be.

I'm David Cruz, "NJ Spotlight News."

>> The U.S. government on Monday formally designated Wall Street Journal reporter and New Jersey native Evan Gershkovich as wrongfully detained in Russia.

More resources were unlocked, including a person for exchange.

He was detained in Russia on March 29 and accused of espionage.

The first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying.

The "Journal" denies the allegation and a spokesperson from the Grand Kremlin doubled down today, claiming that he was "caught red-handed and violated Russian law."

President Biden spoke to Gershkovich's parents while en route to Ireland today and told reporters this new designation changes the dynamic of the case.

Governor Murphy, also posting for his immediate release and not mincing words with Russia's president, calling him a pig.

There are still racial disparities for those serving time behind bars in New Jersey.

That is despite cutting the prison population by about 10,000 inmates over the last decade.

Data from the states' annual inmate count shows black people account for 59% of the state's prison population, but make up just 15% of the general population.

While the number of incarcerated white people stands at 22% and 14% for Hispanic.

Research and advocacy group the Sentencing Project says that means black adults in New Jersey are about 12 times more likely to be imprisoned then a white adult.

The state has the worst prison racial disparities in the country, 10 years ago, 61% of offenders in the state prisons were black, just 2% higher than today with far less inmates.

>> Drug makers are backing the FDA in a nationwide battle over an abortion pill ruling.

Senior executives at more than 400 pharmaceutical and biotech companies sent a scathing letter on Monday condemning the ruling by a Texas federal judge suspending FDA approval of the pill mifepristone.

One of the pills used in abortion procedures.

They called for the decision to be reversed saying that it ignores science and in a new court filing Monday, attorneys general in 23 states, including New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, warned this really presents devastating risks to millions of people.

The Texas order goes into effect at midnight on Friday and unless an appeals court sides with the justice, we will see impacts in New Jersey.

>> We as medical providers don't want junk science coming in to tell us how we are able to care for the patients that need us.

>> She is outraged by the decision in Texas blocking mifepristone.

The drug is the first of a two-step regimen in most medical abortions.

It is also used in miscarriage care.

>> This is not just a threat to medication abortion access, it really undermines the weight that our government is meant to function.

Never before has one court taken on the FDA and the decision that has been made over 20 years ago.

>> The FDA process into approving the drug is very thorough and they require a lot of information before they are going to put any prescription medication out there.

And the fact that you have now had an additional 23 years with very, very minimal negative results or negative effects out of it, it is more of a political discussion unfortunately, as opposed to a patient care discussion.

Regardless of how you feel about abortion one way or another.

>> Right now the drug is given in the second step of a medical abortion.

If mifepristone is ultimately banned by court order, patients would only be allowed to take its counterpart.

>> We can still provide procedural or in clinic abortions as well as medication abortions.

But they will look different.

They will need a different regimen.

Using a single medication, and taking longer, and being more physically demanding on the patient.

And so we are anticipating that many patients will choose to than in fact do a procedural abortion, which is just obviously changing timing and managing the demand for services paid.

>> This is going to have a broad impact on a lot of people, both here in our state and across the country.

It also is something that has been a big tool in helping people access cap that -- care that they would not otherwise have.

You can get care via telemedicine, and people that don't want to undergo the procedure have a great option in medication abortion.

>> While the second drug in the process is being allowed, there are concerns it could be banned.

>> Are standard for care for induction of labor, and I worry because I don't want any medication to be off label or to not be able to use, even though we have great data.

But we don't really know what will happen next.

>> As of right now, mifepristone is still available in New Jersey until the appeal to the fifth circuit court in Louisiana is decided.

The Department of Justice is now asking the court to render its decision by Thursday, one day before the ban is scheduled to go into effect.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I am Elizabeth Rose Cooper.

>> In our spotlight on business reports, hydrogen is a great energy source.

New Jersey is teaming up with six other states in the Northeast to create a regional clean hydrogen hub vying for more than $1 billion in federal funding, being made available out of a larger pot of money, to expand ways clean hydrogen can reduce global warming emissions and create green, good paying jobs.

Advocates say hydrogen production could be especially helpful for transportation and other heavy industry, major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

They could also be used to power cars and homes.

Skeptics worry about the cost and whether hydrogen will end up being blended with natural gas to heat homes.

You can read more about the proposal and the potential impact on New Jersey in Tom Johnson's story on NJSpotlightNews.org.

Governor Murphy wants to open up more state jobs to people without college degrees.

In an executive order signed Monday, the governor said experience and learned skills can be equivalent to a bachelors degree.

The new order requires the states Civil Service Commission to spend the next six months reviewing public-sector jobs, and identifying those that do not need a diploma.

According to Murphy, a little less than half, about 2000 out of 5000 state jobs, require a four-year degree.

The change comes as higher officials notice rising costs for schools and lower enrollments.

And a national labor shortage that is hitting just about every sector from teaching to health care workers.

Meanwhile, a new law is now in effect for laid-off workers.

Companies with 100 or more employees are now required to give severance pay to both full and part-time workers during mass layoffs.

That is defined by 50 or more workers losing their job.

Those businesses also have to give workers 90 days' notice before downsizing and pay a week of severance for every year worked.

State lawmakers originally drafted the bill in 2018 in response to the Toys "R" Us closure that hit thousands of New Jersey workers.

Governor Murphy signed the protections into law in 2020, but its rollout got delayed due to the pandemic.

Most recently, Bed, Bath & Beyond has come under fire for a large layoff just prior to the new rules taking effect justice spring.

A move some legislators called stressful.

The state got another bump in credit ratings from a major agency.

Fitch ratings raised New Jersey's issuer rating from an A to an A+.

That is the fifth highest on Fitch's scale, and the second rating upgrade in a week for the state.

The state has worked to reduce bond in debt, and called it slow but steady progress to address fiscal and liability challenges, something we have talked about quite a bit on the show.

Moody's was the other agency to richly operate our status from an 83 rating to an A1.

Turning out to Wall Street, here is how the markets closed today.

>> Support for the business report provided by New Jersey American Water.

We keep lifeline online at amwater.com.

♪ >> 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 that required all states to keep people on Medicaid during the health emergency.

Now, for the first time in three years, boost recipients will be reviewed to make sure they still qualify.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis has more.

>> Starting over the next 12 months, your family care, the Medicaid agency here in New Jersey, is going to be reviewing all Medicaid members to ensure that recipients are still eligible for benefits.

>> It is a process that states used to complete annually, but during covid, the federal government relaxed its guidelines to improve annual eligibility.

>> This is an enormous undertaking every state is going through right now, because for three years states have not had to go through this normal predetermination of eligibility process, which is just a normal function.

>> This is the biggest coverage transition since the initial open enrollment.

In the affordable in Tony 14.

Under a federal law that this past in reaction to the Covid pandemic, states were asked to maintain continuous coverage in Medicaid during the public health emergency and in return, federal government provided additional subsidies to help with that.

>> During that time there were no penalties if the individuals failed to complete their applications.

They could remain on the program.

But that has changed now as of April 1 and all Medicaid patients will have to complete an application that will be coming to them in the mail.

Seems simple enough right?

>> Sony people were transient during the pandemic, people lost their jobs and moved in with family to save money, and probably updating their addresses was not a priority for many, many members.

Especially low income members in New Jersey.

So the big concern is that the state does not have, or their care organization does not have, an accurate address.

There are five organizations comprised of insurance companies and medical providers that administer aid in New Jersey.

They are now working together with the state to reach the Medicaid population, aware that as many as 350,000 people could lose coverage during this process.

>> Nationally there are estimates that something like 13-15% of Medicaid enrollees will lose their coverage.

If you take that 13-50% national estimate and you apply it to New Jersey and its 2.2 million members, that is how you get to about 300,000, 350,000.

>> They are trying to drive those numbers down.

>> Doctors and providers should let their members know to look out for there are re-verification materials coming through the mail.

>> Date should also prompt them to report new addresses, to new health-care organizations, their managed-care organizations or estate directly so they get access to those materials.

>> Applicants will have a 90 day deadline to return the applications, but the concern is the disruption in care for folks who do not realize they will miss it.

There is a chance there will be a disruption in any care you are receiving from a doctor or a physical therapist or long-term care.

We really do not want to see those kinds of disruptions.

>> The message they are driving home, check your mail and get those applications back to the state as soon as you get it.

Postcards will go out on the same month your application is scheduled to arrive to give an extra heads-up that this application must be returned.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I am Joanna Gagis.

>> That will do it for us tonight.

A reminder, you can now listen to "NJ Spotlight News" anytime via our podcast.

Make sure you download it and check us out.

From the entire "Spotlight" team, thank you for being with us, have a great evening.

We'll see you back here tomorrow.

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