>> This is is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Thanks for joining us.

A popular abortion pill will stay on the market for now but with significant restrictions.

In a late-night ruling to pause, on part of a lower court ruling that suspended approval of the abortion pill.

But a panel and the Court of Appeals allowed other parts of that ruling to stand, blocking a seven year effort by the FDA to expand access to the drug and potentially setting up a showdown in the Supreme Court.

Among the restrictions, requirement for a person doctors visits, blocking it from being sent to patients through the mail and limiting its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy instead of the current 10 weeks.

New Jersey's congressional members have been vocal on the issue.

GOP Representative Crist Smith signing on with the group of other Congressional Republicans, backing the initial ruling from the federal judge in Texas.

A Democrat today introduced legislation to prevent so-called judge shopping, which is what critics claimed were used in that case.

>> This decision has changed the rules around the use of the drug and ordering it cannot be sent through the mail.

That incredibly harms access across the country.

We expect there will be additional legal developments.

Women's health care is historically and consistently undervalued and restricted and this decision is detrimental.

Briana: For more on this latest decision, I am joined by Catherine Weiss and she is part of a national network of lawyers advising clients on this case.

Good to talk to you again.

Help us understand what this latest ruling means for the average person.

>> The Fifth Circuit restored restrictions on the delivery of the drug to what they were before 2016.

They are second-guessing what the FDA has approved.

Their authority is not to apply these conditions.

What they did was hold that the vision of these conditions over the last several years was likely to be outside of the FDA's authority.

So these restrictions existed between the year 2000, when though Dart was first approved and that your 2016 when the FDA started to reevaluate and reduce the restrictions associated with the delivery of this drug.

What the Fifth Circuit did was take us back in time to 2016.

It tightened the restrictions to back to where they were.

Briana: As far as what I have read, the ruling said a lot of women had this medication while those restrictions were in place.

As far as the court was concerned, it does not make an untenable situation.

I am wondering though if any of this ruling matters since we know the Department of Justice is asking the Supreme Court to take this case.

>> First of all, asking the Supreme Court to take the case does not mean it well.

Is the Supreme Court going to decide to review this decision?

We do not know yet.

Even if it does, it is always relevant what the lower court has said.

The Supreme Court sets to identify and correct legal errors by the lower courts so the analysis the Fifth Circuit used is going to be relevant in the Supreme Court because that is the analysis that will be under review.

One of the troubling things about the Fifth Circuit decision in the District Court decision is that they reassess the safety data in a way that is out of step with how scientists view medical data.

They looked at the complication rate of mifepristone in isolation when what they should be asking is how does it compare with the alternatives.

The answer to that question is childbirth has a complication rate many times higher than the complication rate of any first trimester abortion by any method.

Medical abortion in particular has a complication rate of about one in 322 women will have a serious complication resulting from a medical abortion.

These are very low.

Briana: Thank you so much for your time.

Unusually hot, dry weather conditions have made it a tough week for the spread of wildfires but firefighters are getting control of the Oak fire off Route 23 and West Milford.

It spread to 400 acres but was 40% contained this afternoon.

It is the largest fire North Jersey has seen in more than a decade.

No structures are threatened, route 23 is back open, but Echo Lake Road remains closed.

A much larger wildfire in Ocean County is now 100% contained.

It burned over 300 acres of land there.

New Jersey is in the peak of its traditional wildfire season.

The risk is increased with temperatures hitting record highs and no rain in the forecast until at least Saturday.

>> Extreme fire performs differently in the southern pine forests as compared to here.

Briana: 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.

A representative said there is progress with pay raises and the governor says he could offer more state funding for New Jersey's largest university, but has not given details.

It is the noneconomic issues remaining the sticking point, keeping professors in the picket lines and students out of classrooms.

Our reporter has the story.

Reporter: While picketers walk the line of the first ever strike by workers and educators, final exams loom and commencement is in May.

This graduating senior supports striking professors but is keeping an eye on the calendar too.

>> They said it would not affect graduation.

I hope they reach a solution and graduation does not have to be delayed.

Reporter: For some students, timing is crucial.

>> Have to go back to my hometown.

Exams got delayed by the strikes.

>> A lot of kids are chilling right now, but the catch up after this is going to be bad.

Reporter: Chemical engineering major Sean also got a summer internship with Pfizer.

>> I've exams next week.

>> The professors are not sure how it is affecting the classes every day because it changes.

So far I did not have any classes.

Reporter: Students said they are trying to keep up online and that professors do keep in touch.

That often follows a long day on the strike line.

>> We could always keep in contact with the teachers through email.

They are just as supportive as they always were.

Reporter: Union negotiators say contract talks are making progress mostly on financial items, but that complex issues like equity are taking longer to resolve.

Strikers picketed outside the homes of the board of governors members this morning.

It was in an effort to keep up the pressure they believe is driving negotiations forward.

A university spokesperson cited substantial progress during a long day of negotiations.

We will keep working until we have fair contracts for all of our employees.

Talks resumed at 11:00 a.m., but some legislators joined the strike line to express their impatience.

>> It is an important deal, but it will also be a groundbreaking deal in terms of fairness.

>> I am only concerned about the students who are so close to graduating for some and finishing the semester for others.

And so, what do you do?

Reporter: The Rutgers President threatened to break the strike by seeking a court injunction.

Held up at the governor's request, but a union negotiator said that if we do not finish the job, the injunctions are coming.

Briana: For more on the Rutgers University strike, check it out online.

A potential prisoner swap between the United States and Russia could be on the table.

A top Russian diplomat says Russia might be willing to discuss the exchange involving detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich but only after his trial on espionage charges.

Lead U.S. hostage negotiators say embassy officials are being blocked from visiting him at the prison, as United States and its allies continue calling for his release.

Those calls came last night from a group of reporters who gathered at the Columbia School of Journalism determined to bring them home.

Reporter: As American journalist Evan Gershkovich sits in a Russian jail cell, journalists gathered in New York to condemn the Kremlin for charging him with espionage.

>> These are made up charges.

He is wrongfully detained.

>> One reason why these charges against Evan are so absurd as you have to pass a pretty extensive background check from the people who have arrested him.

The Russian authorities know very well these charges are false.

>> He went to neighboring countries and spoke to antiwar Russians who fled Russia in recent months.

Those are exactly the stories Russian authorities do not want to be published.

Reporter: The journalists spoke at Columbia University to raise awareness for a campaign to bring attention to the first American journalist jailed in Russia on espionage charges since the Cold War.

They criticized Russia for also fostering an environment hostile to journalists and freedom.

>> 10 days before he was arrested, a guy was arrested on the Moscow Metro after another person looked over his shoulder and saw something on his phone that appeared to be too pro Ukrainian.

This is the context in which we are operating.

>> When we conducted our census in December, there were 19 journalists in Russian jails.

That is the highest number since we started keeping records.

Reporter: Evan works for the Wall Street Journal.

His editor says his detainment will not deter the press from covering stories in Russia.

>> It is very difficult to calibrate that risk and we are all going to have to think differently about operating on the ground in Russia.

Many of the news organizations are thinking differently as well but that cannot stop us from doing the reporting we need to do.

>> A week before he was arrested he told me this was "the most important job I will ever have."

And he will continue to tell it.

>> I hope he does not blame himself.

He will get out of this.

Reporter: David Rhodes speaks from his own experience.

He was kidnapped from the Taliban in 2008 and held captive for eight months before he escaped.

He thinks if Evan never gets free and goes back to work, it will not be the country where he worked over the past six years.

>> Some people do go back, but he will have to work that out.

His whole career has been covered in Russia.

He will not be able to cover Russia.

Reporter: President Joe Biden and groups around the world have called for Russia to release Evan.

A Kremlin official said they would be open to a prisoner exchange only after a verdict is handed down in his case.

Briana: In our Spotlight on Business report, another inflation report today with unexpected positive signs.

This one is the producer price index for March, shown a .5% decrease month over month.

He measures costs paid by companies and is a good indicator of consumer inflation, which appears to be cooling.

The news comes as Tax Day looms, that refund needed more than ever for families across the state.

John joins me for some last-minute tips.

We are getting down to the wire.

Tax Day is not April 15 this year.

When is it?

>> A few more days for those last-minute filers.

Tax Day this year is April 18 because the 15th falls on the weekend and there was a holiday in D.C. on the 17th.

You have a little bit more time.

Briana: We have been talking a lot about the rising cost of goods.

A lot of people clamoring to get the refund.

What is the fastest way to get your taxes filed?

>> Both the federal and state governments are encouraging people to file electronically.

For those who are owed a refund, this seems to be the best way to get your refund quicker than if you were to file a paper return.

But the state and the federal governments are suggesting it is taking a little bit longer after filing paper returns.

If you want to speed up the refund, file electronically.

The federal government and the state both have ways you can do that.

For those who meet income standards, the free file program is very effective.

Briana: And do not be confused if you do see your refund.

It is not your rebate.

>> That is right.

And make sure that if you have filed your returns already at the state level, anchor benefits are coming out concurrently.

Anchor benefits will either be 1500, 1000 or $450.

Those big, round numbers will be your anchor benefit if you've qualified.

Anything else is going to be tax refund from the state if you are owed one.

Briana: This is the time of year when scammers tend to prey on people.

>> Be watchful of anyone asking for private information who is not your tax preparer or somebody else you are in regular contact with.

If you are using a tax preparer, make sure you are using one that is willing to sign that return.

Briana: I cannot let you go without talking about credit upgrades of the state.

What happened?

>> Three different rating agencies have moved New Jersey's credit rating up one notch.

The state is doing a better job of paying its bills.

Briana: Everything you need to know there.

Thanks, John.

Stocks reacting to the latest report pointing to cooling inflation.

Here is how markets closed today.

Be sure to check out "NJ Business Beat" this weekend.

We break down the growing trend of side gigs.

That is Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. Canada is competing for three available seats on Newark's Board of Education.

Newark is one of only about a dozen districts that still hold school elections in April rather than November to save money and boost low turnout.

Just 3% of registered voters in the city cast ballots last year.

Melissa Rose Cooper has the story.

>> You will be able to sit at the 1960's sit in diner.

We explore what happened during the sit ins.

>> It is one of several presentations visitors will see inside the power voting experience.

The pop-up Museum is an interactive exhibit highlighting significant periods of the civil rights movement.

>> In the classroom we are able to explore some of the elements of what education look like before and what it looks like now, and we are hopeful people will be able to pull on Ruby Bridge's experience.

>> With Newark's low voter turnout history, she says the museum is a perfect way to encourage residents to head to the polls.

>> We have created an unofficial ballot box.

We want people to learn more about the vote by mail process.

We have learned especially for black women that they want more opportunities to vote because they may not be able to make it out to the polls.

>> This was like an old voting booth here.

You can see a hand holding the ballot.

>> She is the artist behind this mural titled "Claiming our Seat."

He says it depicts how the past and present are connected.

>> It is showing a bus from the 1960's.

then you go forward to the George Floyd protests.

And the seniors who were still here, they are still pushing and strong enough to know this is what we need to do.

Do not forget it.

>> This is an actual bus from 1964 and visitors can take a tour and get an up close look at history.

>> Everything is about an exploration of the past and the present.

You can go from Rosa Parks who claimed her seat on the bus.

John Lewis, who was one of the founding freedom riders.

And Stacey Abrams we know is running around and has been killing it in terms of activating voters and making voters aware.

>> Plans are in the works to take the bus around the city to engage more voter turnout's.

The exhibit will remain open through the end of June.

Briana: That is going to do it for us tonight.

Be sure to tune into "Reporters Roundtable" tomorrow morning.

A panel of local journalists break down the local headlines of the week.

That is Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. Also, you can now listen to "NJ Spotlight News" anytime via podcast.

Make sure to download it and check us out.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us.

Enjoy this beautiful evening and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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