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BRIANA: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," Bracing for unit Somerville -- bracing for another Somerville.

NJ Transit is planning for the worst-case scenario.

>> This is not the time to dig an agency with is finally standing up on its feet and take a two by it.

Briana: Plus, Trumpist claimed that executive order providing type of relief to automakers.

>> there already is an affordability issue.

This only makes it worse.

Briana: The head of the DEP makes his case to avoid state-level funding cuts, warning it could have dire consequences.

And with autism diagnoses on the rights, advocates weigh in on RFK, Jr.'s autism initiative.

♪ ANNOUNCER: from NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us this Wednesday night.

I'm Brianna Vannozzi.

We begin with a few of today's top headlines.

First, Thousands of rail commuters are being told to prepare for the words, as New Jersey transit basis for a strike from its union railroad engineers.

CEO Kris Kolluri today it laid out a contingency plan, if the two sides can't get to a contract agreement by the May 15 deadline.

We will expand bus service across the state, focusing on getting people in and to Manhattan, which is where 70% of two commuters go.

4 parking rates -- Park & Ride will also offer more bus routes.

But that extra service will still only be able to handle about 20% of the agency's daily rail ridership.

So New Jersey transit is asking folks who can work from home to do so, at a lower social workers to get to their jobs.

The agency says it will cost of about $4 million per day, and the plan will be run by local and regional operators.

The two sides met today that remained far apart on wages.

The Brotherhood of locomotive engineers union is expected to provide a counter proposal by next week, but has argued salary proposals currently on the table are lower than other railroads in the region.

>> This is not what anyone of us wants to do.

But what we are not going to do is cower under the table and not have a plan for our customers, because that is my Singulair priority.

That is what I am free to focus on.

And I hope the Union comes to a conclusion that is reasonable.

That is rational.

And that is considerate.

Briana: Also tonight, in exactly one week, he will need to show every lady or a valid passport to fly within the U.S. For those who don't have either, the state motor vehicle commission has been ramping up outreach with mobile units moving into communities so folks can get an appointment closer to home.

Good luck and those parts are filling up as quickly as they are posted on the state website.

Officials say the agency is issuing about 23,000 REAL I.D.

's per week 1020 500 appointments open up every morning on a rolling basis, not including the extra appointment added on REAL I.D.

Thursdays.

According to federal data, at here lead the nation for the number of people who have U.S. passports.

79% of New Jerseyans, a little over 6.5 million out of the roughly 8 million people live here, have a valid passport, which means you can breathe a little easier and wait for the Russia Today down before making that appointment.

And this may be the best escapes yet for arriving home late on a weeknight, and unexploded bombs dating back to World War II was discovered in the Cape May Canal Tuesday night, forcing the waterway to shut down.

Stranding thousands of passengers on the Cape May loose ferry.

A spokesperson for the river and their authority says the ferry at about 70 people on board were forced to turn around and stay in Delaware for the night.

A bomb squad was called into it disarmed the device, which according to reports was spotted during low tide.

Authorities aren't providing any other details about the deactivated bomb giblet discoveries a World War II munitions, especially at sea, are not uncommon.

That was the preferred way of discarding them at the time.

The ferry went back up and running as of 10:38 this morning.

You just never know what the tide will bring in.

President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order scaling back tariffs on automakers, that 25% fee on imported cars and car parts states, but they will not be forced to pay additional tariffs like those on steel and aluminum.

That change comes as the industry grapples with uncertainty and added costs due to the tariffs, and analysts still expect overall car prices to write.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan looks at how it has affected car shoppers.

Reporter: Heads up, car shoppers, while Donald Surrett did begrudgingly grant if concessions to carmakers, they will still end up paying most of the president has put 25% tariffs on imported cars and auto parts.

That will probably drive up prices on both new and used vehicles by thousands of dollars in coming weeks.

>> There already is an affordability issue with new cars, so this only makes it worse.

Reporter: Andy Shapiro boards that had some other group in Jersey City.

He said his suppliers, and eight and Subaru, will try to eat some of the higher new-car costs, that repair bills could soar.

>> That is my real concern.

People who have significant issues, whether it is a major engine issue or a battery repair, we don't know what that looks like, that -- or a body repair, we don't know what that looks like, it's negative good.

>> Eventually the consumer will be seeing it.

Reporter: Lower or automobile dealer lobbying group.

She says carmakers had at the president to walk back some of his tariffs, warning they would push up production costs, eat into profits, and great prices.

New car price is currently average $50,000 in New Jersey, and loads are cheap.

>> we have been seeing this growing, longer-term loans, higher monthly payments, you know, the average monthly payment since, has continued to grow up.

And the cost of new vehicles continues to go up.

Reporter: But at a Michigan rarely celebrating his 100t day inh office, Trump claimed his tariffs would force automakers to build factories and restore the industry here in America.

>> This is great to create more jobs in the state and this country.

And to help these automakers bring factories home as rapidly as possible, I have just signed an executive order to give partial tariff rebates to any company that assembles its cars here.

Reporter: He signed two executive orders excusing automakers grouping painted 25% import taxes from also having to pay other levees, like that steel and aluminum tariffs.

And the president cut them slack on his auto parts tariff, exempting small percentages of the manufacturers' suggested retail price per car is assembled here over the next two years.

>> But just in case we can get everything in time, we give up a little bit, 15% of the tariffs and 10% of the tariffs.

We give them a little time before we slaughter them if they don't do this right.

>> This kind of kick the can down the street, probably two years for the automakers.

It still hurts imported automobiles.

Reporter: This not predicts no clearance is nowhere enough time for carmakers to totally retool and revive auto manufacturing in the country.

He also foresees continued fallout from what he calls Trump's haphazard approach, playing favorites.

>> One of the complaints is that it leads to a crony capitalism.

There are countless other industries that are rightfully screaming, "I'm still being purpose of my inputs, and I'm centering."

Reporter: Many New Jersey businesses stockpiled merchandise earlier this year front-loading inventory ahead the tariffs, that parts are already starting to notice a decline in shipping traffic.

Turn auto inventory is down at 30 day supply at pre-tariff prices.

If you are looking to buy a car in the next couple of months, Schapiro advises -- >> Do it now while there is still a ground that is pre-tariffs.

Reporter: And get your car needs repairs, schedule that before those tariffs kick in on Saturday.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: It is the time of year in Trenton where every state agency is fighting for their piece of the budget by.

The head of New Jerseyans's head of environmental protection made his case to lawmakers Tuesday at the status hearing explaining funding cuts being proposed at the state level will tie the agency's hands while trying to tackle worsening problems like climate resiliency and flooding, all while getting less money from the federal government, too.

Ted Goldberg reports as part of our series "under the dome."

Reporter: The proposed budget offers less money for the Department of Environmental Protection, even as Commissioner Shawn LaTourette says his people need more money to do more things.

>> Do you believe that the amount of money that nature as he gets from the federal government adequately reflects the state needs?

>> Knows it's not sufficient.

Reporter: The proposed budget would give the DEP $1.8 billion in state and federal funds, 13% less than next year.

This comes as federal funding becomes more uncertain, even to the DEP is responsible for enforcing which federal laws regarding the environment.

>> The U.S. EPA supports DEP with grants to enable the implementation of the laws and they are at well we do it.

.

One can only hope that those who profess to be in search of government efficiency actually opened their eyes to see that a successful framework does in fact, exist.

Reporter: Tuesday's hearing focused on all things environment.

The Forrest Frank service is excluded for an extra million dollars in funding, earning praise from both sides of the aisle.

>> We are stepping across the system of towers is needed.

We also have needs for equipment improvement.

Reporter: The rest of the hearing got a little heated -- >> Same as the administration wants to take her consumer choice that forced electric cars on everyone.

Reporter: Simply said to the Murphy administration for pushing incentives to own electric vehicles and paying for charging stations statewide.

>> We will have spent $100 million of taxpayer money at repair taxes and fees over the past four years on infrastructure improvements.

>> We cannot meet the needs of the clean air act without a transition over time, to a cleaner transportation future.

NASA that doesn't happen all at once.

Reporter: The DEP also part of heat for new regulations regarding land flood-prone areas.

>> The proposal aims to do that, to improve how we protect our businesses and communities from these hazards, and not at the expense of development, not at the expense of our need for housing and economic growth, but it would foster conditions for homes to be built in a safer way.

Reporter: Really more resilient environmental landscapes, is a document that dictates how people can build or rebuild along the coasts.

>> Certain areas will be subject to stricter regulations resulting in higher costs to build affordable housing or any housing at all.

The real proposal is based on speculative and a certain sense for a projected five foot sea level rise.

>> There are folks who have organized a very specific campaign of misinformation and disinformation to provide, to place in your hands, the things that you just read to me that are incorrect.

Senator, if I were you, I would be placed at them for lying to you.

>> Are you saying they're essentially taking a chicken little support students in and the sky is falling, and that this is much to do about nothing?

>> That is exactly what I are saying.

We already do this it in and communities.

That two years ago.

And it has not ended the economy in those communities.

That it won't in yourse.

Reporter: Away from the shoreline from that letter that was also concerned about New Jersey's environmental justice law, whether or not it is illegal the Passaic Valley see which commission to possibly build a fourth gas field power plant in Newark.

>> It is incredibly demoralizing to our ZIP Codes, our neighborhoods and families, understanding everything that we consume literally, that we breathe, that there would be a consideration of this power plant.

>> There is not the ability to deny it.

It doesn't provide the DEP with absolute authority, we don't make others' choices for them, we don't get to make the traces of that commission.

.

Reporter: Also mentioned the need to our PFAS, out of the water supply, something estimates would cost a billion dollars for the entire state.

A pricey proposal for an already busy agency.

At the Statehouse in Scott Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

>> "Under the door is made possible impact by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Briana: In the next few weeks, held Secretary RFK, Jr. has announced a series of studies aimed at identifying environmental toxins he claims are responsible for the dramatic rise in autism among young kids in the U.S.

According to CDC data, one in 31 kids in the country have been identified with autism spectrum disorder.

That number is even higher in New Jersey, at one in every 29 children.

And while some of the comments made by Kennedy sparked outrage among the autism community for being insensitive or lacking evidence, others rang true.

But that's a Miller chair at the New Jersey chapter of the national Council of severe autism, which had a more nuanced cake.

She joins me now.

Patricia Miller, great to speak with you about this.

I want to ask you first because the comments made by the Health and Human Services Secretary got on the reaction, some good, some bad -- got a little reaction.

How did you receive what he had to say about the autism community at large?

Guest: Once I think we are grateful that it puts severe profound autism in the spotlight.

Very often, the severe and profound part of the spectrum does not have a voice because many of them are nonverbal and they are sort of forgotten about.

When we talk about the autism spectrum disorder.

And so, we are front and center.

I think that we welcome the opportunity to look into researching environmental contributors and other potential causes, but they must be pursued through a scientific channels.

Briana: So, I may not have this number exactly correct, it is about 30% of folks within the autism community who have profound severe autism?

Guest: Yes Pop.

Briana: Is he asking the right questions or looking to find the right answers when talking about environmental toxins, and talking about getting into what he says are factors of a preventable disorder, I mean, how does the Council view that?

Guest: The Council, we are not scientists.

What we would recommend is that they absolutely speak to Allison Singer from the autism science foundation, as they have done a lot of work in this area and have actually created a strategic plan that focuses research specifically on the needs of the severe community that we absolutely support.

That we have, as the national Council as well as the New Jersey chapter, put the strategic plans in legislators' hands, and Congressmmen's hands and we hope the legislation looks at these opportunities when they are looking forward with the research he is talking about.

Briana: You are a mom, you have three kids, you have a son who has profound autism.

When you are sitting there listening to this, what rang true for you, and what did you feel was missing?

Guest: What rang true is that this is hard.

But I think what was missing, it's just that human nature of these children.

They are our children.

The apples of our eye.

They walk in and light up a room.

Don, my son, is 24, and he has severe autism.

He doesn't have language.

He can't read or write.

As he becomes an adult, he can't tell us if he has a headache or if he is in pain.

You can tell us if someone is hurting him.

They don't experience the world the way a typical 24 year old does.

However, they absolutely continue to learn and can learn.

We want to remember that the focus of what we need is to be able to create support so that they continue to be successful and can learn.

Briana: What would your message be for the federal government and where they need to set your focus?

Guest: Base -- -- they definitely need to set their focus on marketing Medicaid for the most vulnerable population.

This population absolutely requires caregivers and families to have extended access to housing and health care and to support services.

That all caps through Medicaid and Medicare and Nash comes through Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security.

We would love this administration to look at this as an opportunity to declare severe and profound autism as a public health emergency so that the funding and the research, the clinical research can actually happen, in a severe and profound population.

, you know, in the 1990's, 95 percent of clinical research included the profound.

Today it is less than 6%.

So this cohort is not being looked at, it's not being looked at with variables that matter, like adaptive skills, like verbal skills.

There are all these areas that actually the research has to be sound and unbiased and down in the correct way.

We believe it will take time and the right resources.

Briana: Patricia Miller is the state chair for the New Jersey chapter of the National Council of severe autism.

Thank you so much for your time.

Guest: Thank you.

Briana: Family tonight, a new art exhibit in Newark, is recognizing and distributing the work of Doulas, and the work they provide during birth and postpartum, playing a role in producing outcomes from both babies and parents, to keep you in low income city that often get overlooked.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports.

>> what we really wanted to do was to highlight the important role of Doulas and maternal care and also how they are part of the solution to the Blackman to help Prices.

Reporter: That crisis has come into focus with shocking data that black women are seven times more likely to die from childbirth the white women, and black babies, retailers more likely to die before their first birthday.

Doulas have been a key solution and their work has been vertically progressed through an art exhibit that opened yesterday.

>> To let's do a lot of work that doesn't get a lot of recognition.

One of the things that they felt invisible, they don't feel that the work they do is seen.

We wanted to be able to create a space that give them visibility.

Reporter: She is one of our vision designers.

She and her design partner and spent nine months interviewing and shadowing Doulas through their work.

>> They work so intimately with Bernarda Pera and their work is quite impactful and we have the research to supported, but a lot of it is one-on-one.

It is the texts that night, the conversations before and afterwards.

So many of the people surrounding that work never see that.

Reporter: To illustrate that point, the exhibit is set up with zones that highlight different aspects of a Doula's work.

>> The first in the welcome wall.

Then you go to the living room area that represents the relationship between the client and the Doula.

Then you get into the Doula workspace, this represents what catalyzed a lot of Doulas into the work they are doing.

Reporter: Harris says many of them started as Doulas before they even knew what it was called, saying for them, it felt like a common.

>> Then you get into a Greek altar.

We would have to commemorate grief and normalize grief is just a natural part of the birth experience.

Whether there is a loss of your life before birth, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a child.

Then you get into this wall that represents the relationship, bridging the relationship between Doulas and hospitals and medical professionals as saying, hey, Doulas are part of the birth team and this is what that relationship could and should look like.

Reporter: The last zone is a community workspace meant to deactivate everyone to show up for the birthing people in their lives.

The exhibit was the result of a collaboration between Newark Art space, the social justice organizations like narrative initiative and in good company, that Burke foundation, and an NJ pac, which hosted the opening, and others.

>> New Jersey has a crisis right now with black return of.

A lot of times you see and hear facts and figures about this information, and that can kind of sometimes -- it hits you, that what do you do with that information?

This exhibit is a beautiful illustration where you can actually immerse yourself in the stories and the lived experiences of women and birthing parents in New Jersey.

>> Looking at that through the lens of art and how art can capture the beauty of something that can at times be heartbreaking, but also, be joyful and really allow people to express through their own storytelling and through their actions what's happening, it's a beautiful thing and I think it goes way beyond what is in the data when you start to cite statistics.

>> This exhibit has been made to be portable.

So it can travel from city to city across New Jersey.

If someone has a gallery that would be the perfect space to show this work, it can travel.

We would like you to travel beyond New Jersey as well.

Reporter: The exhibit will be here until July.

The curators are hopeful it will live on long before after that.

In Norco, I'm Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

>> Support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

Briana: That will do it for us tonight, but before we go, make sure you check out ChatBox with David Cruise.

He continues his Challenger series and one conversations with Democratic candidate, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill.

In a crowded field of candidates, what sets her apart?

That is Thursday at 6:00 p.m. streaming under NJ Spotlight News Youtube channel.

I'm Briana Vannozzi, for the entire team at "NJ Spotlight News."

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great evening.

We'll see you right back here tomorrow.

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