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This is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi >> It has been weeks of negotiations and walkouts, but it appears to unions representing Rutgers University staff have reached a tentative deal.

It would provide substantial salary increases for staff, graduate and teaching assistants.

Last night, the medical staff protested saying until now, they have been left out of the talk.

We spoke with some of them to hear their complaints and plans for what comes next.

>> After an historic strike, to unions confirmed they have reached a tentative deal with the University.

The bargaining community for the adjunct faculty said they will present it to board members for a vote.

They said the adjunct contract -- we have made headway and we expect our board and members will likely see it that way as well.

The full-time faculty union president confirmed her union has a resolution to present its board members sometime within the next 24 hours.

The announcement comes months after negotiations and an unprecedented walkout.

Faculty launched a history making strike against the University earlier this month but paused the action after five days when the governor brought negotiators to the table and offered state funding to help make a deal.

While progress has been made by full-time and adjunct faculty, union leaders report issues remain especially for biomedical researchers and health science faculty.

>> We have made some gains, but we are still being treated by -- like second-class citizens.

>> the president said her group is negotiating with a completely different set of administrators than the other faculty unions and they are getting less equitable offers.

While the strike remains paused, University faculty tweeted plans to picket tomorrow promising and not -- March through New Brunswick.

Other unions continue to negotiate.

Picketers represented 1100 interns and physicians at the University Hospital in New Brunswick.

They often pull 80 hour shifts.

They are paid on average $14.84 per hour.

>> We are overworked and underpaid.

Where the doctors working at the only public hospital in New Jersey serving a community in New York work that is already facing steep carriers to care.

>> It's frustrating and it's not fair given that other health care employees are making much more.

>> She says she and her colleagues earn less than $62,000 per year for jobs that pay $70,000 and 75 -- $75,000 at other locations.

>> What we are asking for is commensurate with the market.

Parity with our comparable institutions.

>> These physicians also want help with health care, child care, and transportation costs.

The rally drew support from politicians and other organized labor leaders who reminded Rutgers administrators how doctors were at pandemic.

>> We were heroes and now we are zeros.

I'm sick of it and I'm sick of Rutgers.

I'm sick of stall tactics.

I'm sick of lack of movement.

We need a contract and we need now.

>> they need to put their money where their mouth is and make sure they bring it up to where you need to be.

>> Talks will continue with two down, 10 other contracts remain in negotiation.

>> The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the limit save grow act.

It would raise the debt ceiling on the in exchange for massive spending cuts.

The federal government hit its debt limit already and the U.S. Treasury Department has now had to take extraordinary measures to pay the government's bills and avoid defaulting on its debt, something the U.S. has never done before.

Those options will run dry in June.

I am joined by a congresswoman who was not able to vote on Wednesday but she says if she says if she had, it would have been now.

Thank you for having me.

The bill passed ties increasing the debt limit to decreasing spending cuts.

You are opposed.

Why?

>> This situation they presented is dammed if you do, dammed if you do, damp if you don't.

Either we crash our economy by not dealing with the debt ceiling or we cut vital important resources to people from Seniors to Veterans to disable to minorities to low income that impacts housing and health care and Social Security and Medicaid and Medicare all of those things that distinguish us from an underdeveloped or an evil authoritarian regime in some some other country.

>> economists right now are saying that we are teetering or nearing a recession and that like you said cuts to federal spending or cut or lack of increasing the debt ceiling could push us over that edge.

do you think though that there is value in having a conversation around cutting spetting spending in Washington do you think that's something we need to consider.

>> so let me tell you what I think I think that you can't negotiate with these Republicans that they are negotiating from a very mean perspective that is negatively impacting the well-being of their constituents my constituents and everybody else in this country.

I think that we're all logical people in my caucus and we'll be looking to see how we accomplish what we need to do to preserve the economy and the um the credit worthiness of the United States of America so that we don't crash the economy kill 401ks kill people kill jobs and and kill the future for so many others.

what what they presented before us uh the other day is not anything that's not a starting point for any negotiations.

that's just the illustration of how out of touch and mean they are.

>> the house led by house leader Kevin McCarthy has said that they view themselves now not as on the defensive but rather on the offensive where does this bill go now when it reaches the Senate what do you think its future holds.

>> let me say that McCarthy is not the leader of this conference it is Marjorie Taylor green for one thing and let me just tell you that this bill goes into the toilet where it belongs it's Dead on Arrival in the Senate and number three is if this is an illustration of they're doing work and moving forward then they're just so out of touch they have no idea what their constituents need and expect and their constituents are going to hear about this from every one of us.

>> and yet time is running out to raise the debt ceiling and so a deal has to be struck do you believe in just a few seconds left that bipartisanship that a compromise is possible.

>> you already you already lost four votes on uh before Republican votes on this bill that he um set forth the other day.

I do believe that there will be support at the end of the day for protecting our worthiness our our credit worthiness in this country .

>> It was a Bloody start people were killed and injured on a missile attack on an apartment building.

Russia is facing increased sanctions from the United States for unjustly detaining Americans.

Like a New Jersey native, the reporter from the Wall Street Journal who is detained on charges of espionage.

The Wall Street Journal joined with other publications yesterday to run a full page ad demanding his release and saying journalism is under attack.

He put out a statement through his Russian legal representation yesterday saying I am humbled and deeply touched by all of the letters I received.

I have read each one carefully with gratitude.

New Jersey students will no longer need to be in science class to hear lessons on climate change.

this week Rutgers University held an event to teach the teachers how to teach the impacts of climate change across all subjects in New Jersey schools Melissa Rose Cooper brings us the story from Rutgers New Brunswick campus to see how this new approach will help Educators incorporate the topic in a more Hands-On way.

it's part of our ongoing series Peril and promise that reports on the human stories of climate change.

>> climate change is a topic we are all dealing with students need to know how to access that information how to understand it better in every subject matter can do their part.

>> Sarah Rupert is hoping this Workshop will help her expand ways to incorporate climate change into the classroom as a fine arts teacher at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Huntington County she says her students are eager to know more.

>> I do see students taking on and feeling challenged by climate change you know from just wondering how to help to wondering what evidence and where it comes from we address it in PSAs in class and photography the students do posters and even through researching you know what are the issues today how are the numbers changing what's the data how do you use that visually as a representational medium to help kind of clarify some of the questions that they do have.

>> hosted by Rutgers University the goal is to help teachers across the state States educate their students on climate change as New Jersey is the first in the country to make the subject a part of the public school curriculum.

>> we want to be able to bring the world's most pressing issue which is climate change to young people so that they can take part in creating Solutions so that interdisciplinary approach we have teachers here from World Language from history from art from science from math and physical education all different disciplines coming together to figure out the best ways to present climate change understanding to young people.

>> I was a science teacher for 15 years in Neptune and I taught biology environmental science and some of the physical sciences and so we've always talked about climate change in those 15 years but now to add them to our curriculum documents and to have them across every discipline so that students really get an understanding of how climate change is impacting them in every way in their lives throughout all of their disciplines and all of the grade levels is really important.

>> workshop included Hands-On and interactive sessions with other teachers all collaborating on the best approach for including climate change in their classrooms first lady Tammy Murphy commending teachers for their commitment.

>> these tools are designed to create an environment for Innovation and new ideas prepare our students to meet the reality of our shared climate challenges and to develop the next generation of climate leaders.

further climate education also critically and crucially prepares New Jersey students to compete and succeed at the green jobs economy.

>> we know that sea level rise in Jersey is twice as fast as other places Across the Nation that's the first thing we have a large Coast we know that 84 of kids want to learn about climate change education and this is the topic that they want to learn about and they're concerned about we know that 89 of students have reported that they have stress and anxiety from climate change and they're thinking about it over time so 89 people are thinking about environment so those kids are having those thoughts it is anxiety provoking and they want to learn more and they want support.

>> Educators at the workshop say they're grateful for the opportunity to improve climate change education in New Jersey.

Rutgers plans to host another event like this next year.

>> Homeowners who suffered property damage have until Monday, May 1 apply for a.

The recovery program has $68 million from federal disaster relief funds.

So far, 1200 applications of come in but the state says it will take a while to finalize the awardees even after the deadline passes.

The department will have to verify the property damage, conduct inspections, and determine the cost of the repair.

They call it the Hudson River rivalry, a showdown between the Devils and the Rangers in the playoffs.

the Devils taking the lead in the series last night with a four-nothing win over the Rangers bringing them 3-2 in the series but the Devils aren't the only winners in the Rivalry the city of Newark is seeing crowds flood its downtown and as Ted Goldberg reports that could change the game in the state's largest city.

>> the devil's first playoff trip in five years has brought more hockey and more excitement to downtown Newark let's go Devils yeah it's also big for Rangers fans in New Jersey who don't have to cross the Hudson River to watch their favorite team.

>> it's freaking awesome man let me tell you right here with some good people you know it looks like a good time I can't wait I'm going to game six at the Garden I'm having black it's a great feeling to have playoff hockey just to have our boys out there on the ice >> okay enough about that guy some hockey fans traveled a little further than just a few counties >> Texas we went to the airport really early like we got up at like 4 30. and then it was like a two and a half like two and a half hour flight and then we got here and it was like an hour drive from New York.

>> for local business owners these playoff games have led to a nice boost in Revenue.

>> we have a full crowd every home game literally we're noticing more business with the playoffs and it actually starts earlier people are coming to come into the site here a lot earlier during the day now instead of coming at like five o'clock people are getting here around four o'clock and eating and then going over there it's been good for business.

>> John harrindo is the part owner of Ellie's Bistro a stone's throw away from the Prudential Center.

they started selling pizzas two years ago when kovitz still crippled local businesses and kept crowds away from the rock .

>> they were aren't even open when we first opened then they started taking PR I think allowing like 20 capacity and then just kept adding as as it went on City Hall wasn't even open when we opened.

>> part of it is the capacity of the Arena the other part of it is the Public's trust and going out to restaurants places of gathering indoors in particular that that it affected us it was a significant loss of business for us.

>> Kevin is a co-owner of American whiskey a bar sitting right next to the home of the Devils they've been open for two years and I've seen the Devils put together one of the worst records in the league only to turn things around and finish this season with the third best Mark in the NHL.

you can guess which led to higher sales.

>> positivity leads to people coming earlier staying after uh uh we always want the guests to be happier and it shows in our sales it shows in our attendance and it shows in morale.

>> businesses have a positive impact when teams make playoffs runs there's watch parties people are excited they go for a social aspect to be around other fans but there's also people hosting friends and family not large watch parties in their own homes so it has a positive impact on the local restaurants as well even the the takeout Market.

>> Josh lupinek is an associate professor of Sport Marketing at Montclair State he estimates that each home playoff game brings 100 to 200 thousand dollars for the city of Newark.

a credit to New Jersey's hockey fandom and the Devils organization.

>> as an organization the Devils have been uh wonderful in gearing up you see a lot of different things that they're doing outside the Prudential Center and hopefully that continues in their run.

>> as this first round playoff series comes to a close either Saturday or Monday it might be hard to know who's cheering louder for the devils devils fans or newark's local business owners in Newark >> Here's a look at how the markets closed for the week.

>> Support for the business report provided by the Chamber of Commerce.

Membership and event information online.

>> Make sure you check out NJ Business Beat this weekend.

An overlooked part of our economy, prisoner reentry and the challenges they face when trying to return to the workforce.

That is Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday on PBS.

♪ >> The next episode in our film series is now online.

It examines the simple question, does where you live affect how you live?

We profile one person in each of our 21 counties and look at the social determinants that affect that person's life.

This latest addresses Mary-Beth and Scott Thompson.

They have been making waves as volunteers with clean ocean action for decades and have now recruited their kids and their grandkids to help keep the ocean safe Brianna vannozzi talked to them about their mission to make their passion a family affair.

>> Mary Beth let me start with you what compelled you to really dedicate yourself to Ocean conservancy and advocacy for that matter.

>> thank you for having us Brianna it's an honor I'd say that the ocean is in my soul um to me it's peaceful and reflective yet at the same time it's energizing and exciting.

it's just an amazing natural resource that we have and all it asks in return for all it gives us is to protect it and keep it clean and I think that's what we as humans should be doing in our responsible for doing but in a more pragmatic way.

>> Scott I'm curious about through the volunteer work that you've done what concerns you the most about where we're heading and what you've been seeing in terms of the changes uh to our our ocean.

>> well one of the most pressing issues right now is the wind farms and how they are being proposed and how they may impact what's going on here in in the New York White which is our area off the coast.

you know there's a tremendous demand for energy and I understand that and with the greenhouse gas concerns and global warming it's a legitimate Factor but I don't think that we should jump right into it and really push the industrialization of the ocean without really testing things and trying things out of course there's too much at risk and we need to take a hard look at what we do for energy consumption and take a look at energy conservation and try and try and create that balance between our natural resources whether it's the ocean or anywhere else.

>> specifically for clean ocean Scott your time in volunteering specifically for clean ocean action you all do Beach sweeps about twice a year you've got like 70 locations now that you do what are you finding in terms of pollution what's most coming up both on our beaches and in our Waters and and what's concerning you there.

>> well the biggest issue is Plastics and those Plastics come in a variety of different shapes and sizes and basically what ends up happening is once they get out there in the ocean or in the in the waterways that get into the ocean they break down and once they start to break down then they become part of the food chain and other animals and creatures that are there create problems when they're consuming what what they understand is a food source and it's not a food source so we need to come up with better ways to filter through that and take care of our garbage and reduce the plastic consumption and recycle whenever we can make sure that it doesn't go in the ocean.

>> Mary Beth I love that this has become really a generational thing we see you your kids your grandkids out there on the beach picking up litter talking about all of these issues what is that meant for you as a family and for raising a family here in the state.

>> it's been wonderful and and our children really are our inspiration they started volunteering for clean ocean action as children practically as soon as they could walk and now our children are adults and have their own families and they are still involved and to me that's that's what's important is is carrying it forward and teaching generation after generation to become stewards for their environment.

>> It is certainly a lasting legacy.

Thank you so much for joining me.

>> Thank you, it's an honor.

>> You commit the entire Thompson family and all of the other extraordinary New Jersey residents featured in the 21 series on the website.

Be sure to check out the roundtable, he talks with a senator about struggle to move the GOP away from the conspiracy theories and election denying extremists.

Catch chat box, he gets a reaction to President Biden's reelection announcement and the pros and cons of a trump rematch.

A reminder now you can listen to spotlight news any time via podcast.

Download it and check us out.

Thank you for being with us, have a great weekend and we will see you back here on Monday.

♪ >> The members of the New Jersey education Association making public schools great for every child.

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

Lead funding is provided by -- major support is provided by these donors.

>> Our future relies on empowered communities, the health and safety of our families and neighbors, our schools and streets, the foundation is committed to sustainability, equity, and economic empowerment.

Investing in parks, helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships, and workforce development that strengthen our community.