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

Briana: Good evening and thank you for joining us.

Rutgers University members are willing to bring back the strike if contract demands are not met soon.

The three unions that were on strike last week picketed today outside a Rucker's board of governors meeting, and they were joined by a fourth union made up of workers whose members have started the process of authorizing a strike.

After marathon negotiations last week resulted in tentative agreements for two of the unions, members are keeping up the pressure on the administration through protests and rallies, reminding workers leadership this -- reminding rockers -- Rutgers leadership this is not over.

Reporter: the University -- >> The University, which has not been bargaining, are back to the same old shenanigans.

If there bargaining team does not get back to the table and get us the articles we need so we can tie up this contract than the strike is back on.

Rutgers faculty vented frustration with contact -- Hundreds protested outside a Board of Governors meeting threatening to go back on strike less than a week after a tentative agreement was reached in Trenton.

>> When we agreed to suspend the strike we did so with the knowledge and the agreement the administration would keep working weekly on issues outstanding particularly for grad students and our medical colleagues.

They have started dragging their feet again just as they were doing before we went on strike.

Reporter: while two Rutgers unions have agreed to tentative deals, the third still has not.

>> Not all segments of the unions are getting enough time at the table and that is concerning to us.

It could be the case management is trying to run out the clock.

They all have demands that need to be heard by management and which currently are not being sufficiently responded to.

Reporter: Those demands include things like more paid family leave time and subsidies for child care.

>> There is a lot of issues with graduate workers that are still out there.

They need five-year funding so they have predictability in their schedules.

They need childcare support.

There is a perception that grad students are just students, they are not workers, they are not adults, they don't have kids.

>> We want the University to stop de-tenure ring doctors.

>> I am a single parent of two preteens and a PhD student.

Things like childcare subsidies and job security are incredibly important.

>> I had to take off a number of semesters where my family went without an income from a because I was -- from me, because I was at home recovering, postpartum and cannot work.

Reporter: Mary estimates she will need four more years to finish her doctorate.

She says she is in a tough spot unless the union's demands are met.

>> I'm forced to continue to take teaching contracts when what I really want to do is finish my degree, but I cannot afford to do that.

We want to move on with our lives, we want to finish this.

Reporter: The strike included three unions, but a fourth could join them if negotiations do not pick up steam.

The union representing Rutgers administrators is in the process of a strike authorization pledge, the step before voting for a strike.

>> The gains that we make are made through demonstrations of worker power and community power and union power.

Management takes note of that.

Reporter: There is not much time left in the semester for Rutgers and its unions to reach a deal.

Finals start in two weeks and commitment is 10 days later.

Rutgers tells us quote, we continue to be in daily negotiating sessions and believe we are coming closer to agreements every day.

Our focus right now is on reaching an agreement beyond the framework agreed to on Friday, and supporting our students' continued academic process.

Briana: The U.S. Supreme Court has until midnight Friday to decide whether mifepristone, a widely used abortion pill, should remain available nationwide.

Extending their original deadline by two days.

Justices are weighing whether to more permanently block a lower court ruling that rolled back the food and drug administration's more than two decade old approval of the medication, which is used in about half of all medication abortions in the U.S. Mifepristone is also commonly prescribed to treat miscarriages.

Last week, the fifth U.S. circuit Court of Appeals gave the FDA a partial victory, declining to suspend the medication entirely, and instead putting restrictions on it.

That ruling limited mifepristone's use from up to 10 weeks of pregnancy to seven, requires three in person doctors visits to get the prescription, and what ban it -- and would ban it from being prescribed for telehealth and sent through the mail.

But the pill remains accessible.

But it's caused mass confusion for patients and chaos for abortion providers, like this OB/GYN in the state.

>> For us on the ground providing care, it is really stressful to continue to have to think about how to change care to accommodate for the Supreme Court ruling.

All of us are waiting for what will happen on Friday and we do not know exactly what that will look like.

But that will determine what kind of care people will be able to get in New Jersey.

Briana: Adding to this whole mix, the generic maker of mifepristone, sued the FDA on Wednesday, seeking to protect its drug if the courts repeal the medication's approval.

This will be the first U.S. Supreme Court action related to abortion since it overturned Roe v. Wade in June of last year.

For more on what could happen next, I am joined by codeine and professor of law at Rutgers Law school.

Good to have you back on the show.

What should we expect to happen next?

>> Well, now we're just waiting for the Supreme Court to weigh in.

We got the stay last week from Justice Alito.

We thought we would get a decision from them yesterday, on Wednesday.

We didn't.

They extended it until Friday.

We are waiting to see essentially whether the Supreme Court will decide one of the existing changes to mifepristone law will go into effect based on the decision from the courts below, or whether they will say we just need to keep everything status quo throughout the court proceedings rather than change anything.

So what we are really worried about, depending on where you sit, what we are worried about is whether the Supreme Court is going to decide to change anything about how people access mifepristone while this legislation is pending.

Briana: What does it say, if anything, what does it suggest that the justices needed more time?

They extended this deadline for themselves.

>> I am not quite sure how to interpret that.

To be on it, I have sort of tried to get out of the business of trying to think about what this court is trying to do because they seem to be a little all over the place.

But I think it makes sense that they are spending time really thinking through the implications of this case.

If they decide, for instance, that the original stay from the first judge in Texas, if they decide what that judge decided should go into effect, it basically means that it will essentially take mifepristone off the market, depending on how the FDA wants to respond.

If they want to go with what the Court of Appeals said, with a per stone will remain on the market but a lot of the changes made to how it is prescribed and how people can accept -- access it over the years, that will go away.

The only way we get to status quo means if the Supreme Court says we don't care what the other courts did, we are going to keep things exactly as they are now until we have a decision on the merits.

Briana: Does it raise other legal issues just about the FDA's process approving drugs?

Because that is the larger issue at hand with this case.

>> yeah.

So, I wonder -- I said I was not going to try to think about -- Briana: Well, we got you now.

>> I wonder if part of what they are thinking is, this is a really big deal.

This is not just about abortion, and we need to really spend some time thinking about the impact of making a decision that says we do not care what the experts and the FDA had to say, we think they were arbitrary and capricious when they decided to approve mifepristone.

So we are going to tell them that they have to take it off the market.

That is a huge decision for her to make and it raises serious implications about the relationship between our various branches of government.

Hopefully they will come down on the right side.

Briana: There was another lawsuit filed today by Jen biome, the maker of a generic version of mifepristone, suing the FDA basically to protect its drug should action be taken.

Does that have any effect here?

>> We have a lot of litigation going here.

We already had Texas, we have Washington State, and now we have another case going.

Another piece of this puzzle that we have to think about is what we do when we have all of these competing decisions coming out of various federal courts.

People are filing all over the place, and different plaintiffs are filing.

And that is a piece of the puzzle for the Supreme Court as well.

They have to figure out if we have all these competing ideas floating around, they are the final arbiter, they are the ones who get to decide ultimately what the law of the land is and that is a very big role for them to play in this suit.

Briana: Correct me if I am wrong, but last year in overturning Roe v. Wade, wasn't it the Supreme Court that said it would leave abortion policy up to states and the federal government, and yet here we are?

>> Here we are, exactly.

That is what a lot of us predicted.

It was very clear that what was going to happen after Dobbs, one, was enormous chaos in terms of providing abortion in this country.

But two, lots and lots of litigation.

Once that litigation is in federal court, the Supreme Court is on the table, and that is what we are seeing right now.

Briana: We will be checking back in with you.

Kim, thanks so much.

>> Of course.

Briana: The state's top campaign finance watchdog assuming the Murphy administration for the second time this year.

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.

The controversial new law allows Governor Murphy to directly appoint the agency's commissioners without advise and consent of the Senate.

This lawsuit seeks to block the governor from making those appointments and from cutting the amount of time the commission has to investigate campaign finance violations from 10 years to two years after the violation was committed, which essentially kills most of the agency's current caseload, including four current investigations for violations by Democratic and Republican leadership committees.

He previously filed a lawsuit against the governor alleging he was being targeted for speaking out against so-called dark money in campaigns.

Most people age 65 and older can now get an updated COVID-19 vaccine booster.

The CDC on Wednesday signed off on a second dose of the new bivalent shot to be given at least four months after the initial dose.

It's recommended for older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

The FDA already authorized use of the booster, meaning shots can begin immediately.

And since keeping up with the vaccine schedules from both drugmakers has gotten confusing for most people, at best, the CDC is simplifying recommendations.

So anyone age six or older will be considered up-to-date on the shots if you have had at least one of the bivalent mRNA vaccines.

And according to officials, you will not need to get another until the fall or winter.

In New Jersey, more than 4 million people eligible for the booster have received one.

The Ocean County school District where a 14-year-old died by suicide earlier this year is facing another lawsuit over alleged failure to investigate harassment and bullying on school grounds.

The parent of a student with autism is suing Central regional school district, accusing officials of quote, will fill -- willful indifference to what they call a hostile, intimidating, and abusive education environment for the student, which the lawsuit contends was due to that student's gender, sexual orientation, and perception as disabled by the harassers.

The first lawsuit brought against the district was by a parent of another student in October 2022, alleging a pattern of on-campus assaults and social media bullying.

In February, the 14-year-old student Adriano died by suicide after videos of her being attacked by classmates were spread online.

A spokesperson for Central regional school district said the district cannot comment on pending litigation.

In our spotlight on business report, after being shut out of the NHL playoffs for the last several seasons, the New Jersey Devils are back, and facing off tonight in Newark against rival New York Rangers in the second game of the first round series.

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.

Not to mention the tri-state draw for fans.

The two team's arenas are separated by just 14 miles in the Hudson River.

For more I am joined by hockey aficionado and our budget and finance writer.

John, this is a piece you put together with Madeleine from our team, thinking people are not just buying tickets, they are getting a beer and a burger before the game.

>> Yeah, that's absolutely the case.

When you think about the excitement for the New Jersey Devils right now, or maybe even Rangers fans who live in the area who are coming to watch the games in person, when the teams are performing well that is good for business also, because that means fans are getting together before the game, maybe have a beer before they had inside, and may be sticking around after the game and going out again in the area to recount how it went with whichever team you root for.

That is all good for the bottom line for the team itself, but also for the area businesses.

And they could still certainly use a boost coming out of the pandemic.

Briana: For sure.

Did stately economists give you a dollars and cents amount for what we might typically see in a playoff run?

>> It is hard to put a precise number on it.

We have seen projections from other teams at times.

What we do now is that the regular season ended.

So these are all games that are added to the schedule, so it is all extra.

Ticket sales, merchandise sales, concession sales in and outside the arena, people going to bars and restaurants, using New Jersey transit perhaps to get to the games.

These are all things that add to the bottom line.

Staying at a hotel.

If the Devils could go on a long playoff run -- and it remains to be seen -- that only exponentially increases what can be generated in terms of the economic impact.

Briana: I have to think the fact they are playing the Rangers, they have not played them since 2012, correct me if I'm wrong -- it is going to bring in people from the tri-state.

So that has to be an even bigger help for restaurants and businesses.

>> Absolutely.

You think that would add to demand for those businesses, and prices go up.

Certainly it is a hot ticket right now.

If the devils can go deeper into the playoffs typically would see people coming in from out of town and they would be staying in our hotels and visiting restaurants if they come for the two games played in New Jersey.

That is something we have to keep an eye on going forward if they are lucky enough to advance.

Briana: You mentioned people might be taking New Jersey transit to get to the games.

We have some budget information this week about the forecast for the transit agency.

What can you tell us?

>> Absolutely.

The state budget is coming together right now for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, and so is New Jersey transit's budget.

In the short term it is a balanced budget and it looked to be doing fine, even while waiting for ridership to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, which it has yet to do.

But that is because they are getting a big dose of federal COVID-19 aid basically, and that is helping to balance the budget in the short term.

It is in the out years that there are really big concerns, or alarms being raised right now, because it looks like the agency is facing huge deficits in future years when that federal aid starts to go away.

And that raises concerns about things like fare hikes or service cutbacks, so that will be something to keep a really close eye on going forward.

Briana: We noticed your hockey trophy in the background, it did not go unnoticed.

John, thank you so much.

You can read more about how the devil's playoff run could be a win for the economy, and get a little insight hockey knowledge by checking out the full story at njspotlightnews.org.

And on Wall Street, here is how the markets closed today.

Make sure you check out NJ BusinessWeek this weekend.

They take us downtown across New Jersey, highlighting some of the most successful main Street in the Garden State, including one that was just named best in the country.

That is Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. on our NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

♪ All right.

Today may be the unofficial holiday celebrated for anyone who enjoys marijuana.

But tomorrow, that is the state's one-year anniversary of legalizing recreational weed.

Despite promises obsessive -- social justice within the industry, there are still no recreational cannabis business is by Black or brown state residents.

Melissa Rose Cooper checks in with women at various stages of opening a cannabis business about the roadblocks they faced as part of our ongoing series, chasing the dream, focusing on justice, poverty, and economic opportunity.

>> We are crushed.

We were gutted.

We still are.

Reporter: Feelings of hurt and disappointment so fresh after finding out plans to make her business, a legal dispensary in her hometown, would have to be put on hold.

>> We find our location, which is extremely hard.

Real estate is one of the hardest barriers of entry, specifically for people of color.

We raised a multimillion dollar deal to build out our country -- company.

And we were seeking approval to move forward.

We found a really dope building and we had the support of the community for what we thought would be a community venture.

Sadly, we were denied our municipal application.

Reporter: It is an issue she says many other Black and Brown owned cannabis businesses are facing across the state.

Last week, she raised some of their concerns in front of the cannabis regulatory commission.

>> There have been lobbying firms from the state Democratic Chairman where he was pushing for a company.

Those who actually won the license formal councilwoman back to buy a campaign contributor.

So those were the type of entities we were going up against as a small business.

And we did not think that we would have to power broke politically to enter this space, but essentially that has been the name of the game.

>> In order to continue to stay motivated, like you said, it is so much hard work on a daily basis.

Reporter: She is the CEO and founder of one of the only women in the state with a license to grow marijuana.

She's currently in the process of securing a property, but has been having trouble finding a location in a municipality that allows recreational sales.

>> It is extremely discouraging to know that not one block or brown operator has -- Black or brown operator has crossed the finish line in the city, when we were promised social equity.

Most heavily impacted in a negative way our community.

Therefore, these opportunities should be going to people like myself.

Reporter: But she is hopeful more Black and Brown owned cannabis businesses will start getting the green light.

She is the first Black women to open a medical dispensary in New Jersey.

And last week the state awarded her a license to sell recreational cannabis as well.

>> Women of color are not necessarily represented in the cannabis market.

We are less than 2% as far as C-suite leaders.

It's a breathtaking opportunity to demonstrate that this is possible, and to be a model for other young women and women in this space to push forward, to contain and advocate and be the voice of change in this brand-new industry.

Reporter: She plans to fight back.

>> We did not come this far just to come this far.

We want to make our community, not the 10 people who made that vote, we still want to make our community proud.

We want to be a dominant factor in the delivery space in New Jersey.

We want to show there is an opportunity for Black and Brown people to do entrepreneurship.

If that means going to a different city, then fine.

If that means standing up for ourselves here legally, that too.

Reporter: Never giving up hope that opening up her own cannabis business will finally become a reality.

Briana: Our social justice writer has a look at the roadblocks preventing nonwhite owners from getting into the marijuana industry.

To read it, head to njspotlightnews.org.

That is going to do it for us tonight, but to into Reporters Roundtable tomorrow morning, where legal weed is also the topic.

He talks with a State Senator about why he is calling for the end of the cannabis regulatory commission, and who he thinks should regulate the industry moving forward.

That is Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel, or wherever you stream.

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

So go ahead and download it and check us out.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News team, thanks for being with us.

Have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

♪ >> NJM insurance group, ensuring the needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

New Jersey realtors, the voice for real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at njrealtor.com.

Major funding for chasing your dream is provided by, the JPB foundation, with additional funding from the Peter J Peterson and Joan fund.

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Committed to the creation of a new, long-term, sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

Online at us.orstead.com.

>> 2023 president of New Jersey realtors.

Whether it is helping a family find their perfect home or securing space for small business owners, New Jersey realtors have been helping their clients achieve their dreams for more than a century.

No matter what your unique needs are, there's a New Jersey realtor for you.

♪