>> Funding provided by the November -- members of the New Jersey education Association.

Making public schools great for every child.

And by RWJBarnabas health, let's be healthy together.

Briana: A four-point magnitude earthquake rattles New Jersey.

Tilting's, houses and residents shaken up after the biggest earthquake to rock the East Coast in over 10 years.

>> We are not exempt from the power and impact of an earthquake.

Briana: Rutgers students call on the university to end its investments into Israel he based companies as the Israel Hamas war ends at six month.

>> Oftentimes you will see these outbursts it's their pain that's coming out there voicing in the spaces.

Briana: Stopping squatters.

>> We need to restore the rule of law and make sure people respect the rule of law in the state of New Jersey.

Briana: Two Republican state senators push legislation to criminalize squatting attendant advocates are pushing back.

Eyes on the skies as Americans repair for Monday's solar eclipse phenomenon.

What are tips to safely watch the event.

NJ Spotlight news begins right now.

♪ >> From NJ PBS Studios this is NJ spotlight news.

Briana: Good evening and thank you for joining us this Friday night.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake sent tremors through New Jersey this morning and rocked the Northeast corridor from Maryland to Massachusetts.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey the quake hit at 10:23 a.m..

It's Epicenter, early estimates show it was felt I some 42 million people all along the East Coast who largely are not accustomed to this kind of event.

It rattled large buildings, shook windows and cars for about 20 to 30 seconds.

Governor Murphy took to social media letting residents know the state activated the emergency operations center.

Murphy spoke with President Biden by phone briefing him on the incident.

911 centers across the state reported being inundated with calls.

Only very minor outages have been reported and no injuries.

Assessments are ongoing.

Globally this level of earthquake is not uncommon but it was enough to unnerve a lot of tough Jersey residents.

>> It was definitely like a zero gravity event.

I thought I was leaving the earthquakes behind.

>> I was like what's happening.

She is like Chris, no.

It's an earthquake.

I thought earthquakes were a California thing.

>> Besides the shock, flights were temporarily grounded in and out of Newark airport.

Suspending service to check the integrity of the line.

New Jersey transit operated on delays and the Holland Tunnel was closed to traffic for inspection.

The state police Colonel said commuters should rest easy.

>> They should be confident in the inspections taking place so far.

NJ transit has been out there.

end of what we wouldEvery few s like this, but maybe this strong or they are not usual.

>> I think a lot of us were brushing up on our history of the fault line today being the longest in the Northeast.

So what did that mean for the amount of people who felt it and at a 4.8 what is the significance of that and the potential for damage.

>> I guess there's some reports of minor damage around.

I was looking at the did you feel it shake map on the USGS website as far as Central Pennsylvania up to New England and Virginia.

It was pretty widely felt.

A relatively shallow earthquake only less than five kilometers deep.

The thing is if this had happened in Wyoming or Utah it would not be that big of a deal but it is here in a populous area in the Northeast so a lot of people did feel it.

As far as its widespread feel because it was shallow there might be minor damage here and there.

Briana: What triggers it Greg?

What triggers an earthquake like this.

You can clarify but it appears something of this significance hasn't happened or at least it's the strongest in the last 50 years.

Greg: This is not a tectonic lead active part of the country.

We are not at a plate boundary like California or Utah might be where there's more tectonic activity.

This is simply the crust adjusting.

It is an existing fracture and a fault in the crust so it does adjust it and one reason to can do that is even 10 or 20,000 years after the Ice Age the crust around in the Northeast is still slightly adjusting the weight of the glaciers that are no longer on us.

80's normal kind of adjusting the crust as part of the continent as it sags or shifts a little bit.

Sometimes they are very minor things you pick up and it may move a little bit more.

>> What is the likelihood of something of this magnitude happening again and of course we saw major quakes happen in Asia earlier this week.

So what is the likelihood for this happening again here which I think is what a lot of folks are wondering.

Greg: There might be some minor actor shocks but probably things most people won't feel.

To have something as strong or stronger would be unusual and not likely at all.

>> Typical when it comes to the scientific nature, rare for those of us who have lived in the state our whole lives.

Greg Pope, thank you so much.

Greg: Thank you.

Briana: An Israel he investigation confirms the airstrike that killed seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen violated the military's own protocols admitting it should not have happened.

Two officers have been fired from their posts and three senior commanders were reprimanded for their roles in the drone strike that killed the workers.

The White House says it has no plans to conduct a separate investigation.

The event has sparked fury from many of Israel's allies and frustrations here at home.

Students at the Rutgers New Brunswick and Newark campuses are voting to join other schools divesting from Israel.

A significant move that has so far been resisted by the administration.

Ted Goldberg has the story.

>> Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway heard in year fall at the town hall with the school student assembly.

>> I made clear on my view -- >> What about that?

>> I made it clear on Tel Aviv University and the fact we are not severing relationships.

>> 30,000 people dead and he runs away like a coward.

>> Earlier this week, Holloway sends an email explaining my Rutgers is not planning on divesting from companies chow ties to Israel.

He said the boycott divestment sanctions movement is "wrong and I believe an engagement not isolation I believe enlightenment comes from involvement and that lasting progress and peace are the outcomes of diplomacy and discussion."

>> The community is upset, grieving in many ways and oftentimes when you see these outbursts it's their pain coming out there that they don't feel like they have a voice in the spaces they inhabit.

>> The Muslim chaplain for Rutgers New Brunswick says students were told last night's town hall would be open Mike and there would be a question-and-answer format which ended after one question.

>> We wanted this to be a conversation for the president to speak to us and hear from us as well.

The night turned into just hearing from us and not being able to engage in dialogue.

>> Starting off with the demand is not going to win the day.

Starting from a place of we want to understand better and collaborate better, we want to be partners will get you further.

>> This week Rutgers new work students are voting on joining other students -- schools in divesting and disassociating with Israeli universities.

Students write we value ethical responsibility over complicity and depression in pursuit of divestment from Israel and its genocide in Gaza.

We call on our universities to reimagine an endowment fund free from global divesting investments and global justice.

Psychology professor Ken Harper says divestment would be a huge mistake.

>> This referendum is putting the whole domain of learning and the whole institution in an institutional ghetto.

I don't believe in ghettos.

They don't help.

>> Cosigning a letter defending his school's stance.

>> Isolation of an entire country based on ideological national and probably ethical grounds and for us that is anathema to what higher education is all about.

>> He says the actions of Israel's government should be considered separate from Tel Aviv University, Israel's largest university and a school moving into a 606 $5 million project in New Brunswick.

>> Neuropsychology of different psychological dysfunctions, anxiety, autism.

These are things that is a psychologist I need to engage in.

Why would we not want to have connections with another institution which we can do what we are supposed to do, discover, learn and disseminate information.

>> They say they should sever ties because of Tel Aviv University.

>> That's really where it's coming from is a moral imposition.

Why would we want a relationship with an institution like that.

>> For Rutgers to consider divesting 10% of the student body has to vote and a majority have to vote in favor.

Majority -- in Newark, I'm Ted Goldberg.

NJ spotlight news.

Briana: A union representing casino workers is filing a lawsuit against the state to put an end to smoking on casino floors.

Arguing workers are being denied their right to equal protection because of an unconstitutional loophole in the states smoke-free air act.

The suit names Governor Murphy and the state health Commissioner claiming they failed to protect the safety of casino workers.

The lawsuit comes as legislation to ban smoking in AC casinos has stalled in Trenton.

Brenda Flanagan reports.

>> Fired up dealers, servers and housekeepers sick of inhaling secondhand smoke in Atlantic City's casinos and tired of waiting for lawmakers to act rallied at a Trenton courthouse where they filed a lawsuit today seeking injunctive relief.

They want to judge to strike down the special exemption in the smoke-free air act which makes casino workers almost the only employees forced to work around toxic smoke.

>> You stand in an area with everyone smoking around you and your head is lower than them so every breath they exhale you take in.

>> She says it is not fair.

>> They took a job with the expectation that the state would keep me safe.

>> The UAW represents 3000 Atlantic City casino workers filing the suit along with the group casino employees against smoking's effects.

They warned politicians, naming industry executives and other unions in New Jersey and across the nation.

>> If the legislation will not stand up for the health and safety of workers and we are just in it after them legally.

Come out to the light of day.

If I can smoke in your office you shouldn't be allowed to smoke where I work.

>> The lawsuit names jerseys health Commissioner and Governor Murphy and argues exempting casino workers violates their constitutional right to safety illegally grants casinos exclusive privileges and immunities and violates workers rights to equal protection.

>> They've been denied the right to safety that all other workers in New Jersey have.

It's unconstitutional so we are taking the fight from the back room to the courtroom.

>> The union hopes this lawsuit will light a fire on New Jersey officials looking to earn the support of Andy Kim.

>> You take it in your own hands.

And say you have to protect us.

These are constitutional right to be protected.

I have had a little bit of experience with lawsuits and taking legal action.

And we won.

>> Not all casino worker unions agree with the UAW.

United local 54 opposes the smoking ban they are afraid that kind of restriction would drive Atlantic City gamblers to go elsewhere.

Efforts to pass casino smoking ban have languished in the legislature facing opposition from powerful gaming and business lobbyists.

They argue a total ban could choke revenues and lead to massive layoffs.

A compromise measure still permits limited smoking areas with 15 foot buffers and enclosed rooms where workers can opt out and sponsor reads -- reason.

>> This is about moving incrementally to work environment.

That is going to do better.

>> The UAW Stites -- site study preferring smokeless casinos and they urge local 54.

>> The membership of that union stand up and tell them enough is enough.

>> Local 54 did not reply for requests to comment.

The senator who sponsored the total ban said we allow corporations to oppose their employees for decades.

I'm grateful to everyone involved in today's landmark lawsuit.

I pray the judge will see the merits of this case.

The judge will set a hearing day.

In Trenton I'm Brenda Flanagan.

Briana: Two Republican state senators have introduced a bill that would criminalize the occupying of vacant properties commonly known as squatting.

The lawmakers claim squatting has long been an issue in New Jersey and want to give homeowners more protections but some activists and attorneys are pushing back saying it's not a widespread problem.

The legislation they say is being fueled by fear mongering over migrants.

Melissa Rose Cooper reports.

>> Everything of value was gone, furniture it appears they have little kids there.

They stripped copper out of the heater, the hot water heater.

>> A frustrating situation Nick says he was forced to face after squatters over the Burlington County home his siblings inherited after their aunts passed away.

He first tried calling police about the situation that was told to contact an attorney.

>> Basically it was a civil matter not a criminal matter which is hard to comprehend but I thought if you broke into a property that's a criminal offense.

Apparently if you set up shop and set up living there and there are no no trespassing signs on the property then it a civil matter.

>> Which the state Senator Douglas Steinhardt says can take months or years to resolve.

>> Breaking into someone's home for the purpose of committing a crime and trust plan -- trespass.

But if the intent is to break in and deprive them ownership of it there's no law on the books in New Jersey to criminalize that.

>> He is now cosponsoring legislation along with State Senator Mike tester that would make the unlawful occupancy of a dwelling a crime in New Jersey.

>> As we are finding it's leading to other unintended consequences where homeowners are being arrested for trying to reclaim their property and worse yet people are walking unknowingly into a property that's occupied.

>> We are seeing this uptick because there are hundreds of thousands if not millions in the United States of America and certainly thousands in the state of New Jersey residing here illegally and now they will continue their illegal activity and try to seize someone's home.

>> Critics say New Jersey does not have an issue with squatting and the real problem is a lack of housing.

>> Immigrants are part of that housing crisis.

It can be extraordinary difficult to find, secure and stable housing when you are noncitizen.

The types of paperwork that's collected, the type of credit history, job employment checks and what we see time and again our landlords will use excuses to try and evict their immigrant tenants or to get their immigrant tenants to self evict.

>> Catherine believes the legislation is a fear mongering tactic about undocumented people and is searching for a problem that does not exist.

>> I wanted to dispel the idea like somebody who lives in your house for a week may have the right to stay there.

That is not true.

It is not true what the sponsors of this bill are saying which is property owners have no recourse.

If someone invades your house and sets up -- starts sleeping there, there are two things already in New Jersey law that property owners can and should do.

The first is they should call the police.

It is criminal trespass to enter property but you have no right to be in.

>> There is an action in place that calls for a fast proceeding to allow the owner to get damages.

Lawmakers supporting the legislation say they just want to make sure homeowners are fully protected.

For NJ Spotlight news I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

Briana: In our spotlight on business report connecting wind energy to the power grid.

The state moving forward on rent projects, the next step the power available to residents.

The state Board of Public utilities has closed the bidding process for projects expected to bring six gigawatts of power to the JCP and Dell substation.

The BP you did not disclose how many bids it is considering but it's believed to have four under consideration.

It puts them one step closer to bringing 11 gigawatts of power to New Jersey 2040.

The project requires a 12 mile underground connection to link the substation to a single facility in Siegert where the power will be sent from wind farms.

The BP was expected to award the project later this year.

On Wall Street stocks were sent rallying after a blowout March jobs report that was just a lot better than what investors expected.

Here's how the markets closed for the week.

Make sure to tune in to NJ BusinessWeek.

April is financial literacy month in New Jersey.

Raven talks to educators about the importance of financial education along with the programs available to improve your financial literacy.

Watch Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. on NJ PBS.

♪ Finally tonight, if one natural phenomenon a celestial rarity on Monday a total solar eclipse will pass over a large chunk of North America a partial eclipse will be seen in New Jersey.

That's when the Moon passes in front of the side -- in for the sun during daylight to darkness.

It is the last full eclipse to be visible anywhere in the U.S. until 2044.

For serious sky watchers you will have to travel out-of-state to get the best view.

Upstate New York in Northwest Pennsylvania are in the path of totality but you can get a good look in North Jersey where 90% of the sun will be blocked at around 3:25 p.m.. You will only see it for roughly two to four minutes but that is enough time to do damage to your eyes.

Some schools are canceling class over worries kids will look directly up at the sun.

You can pick up a pair of those cardboard eclipse safety glasses to avoid that.

Andrew Gerard is taking a group of students and faculty to view the eclipse in New York.

For some this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

>> This one on April 8 is particularly special because it can a breakthrough Mexico, the United States, Canada.

That's why it's often referred to as the great North American eclipse.

The astronaut -- astronomical Society put out a list of different eyewear to be used.

That meets their standards.

It can be really tough to determine a good product from a bad product.

Briana: That is going to do it for us but make sure to turn in -- tune into reporters roundtable.

They talk to Michael Rasmussen.

About the fallout from the historic ruling on the party line lawsuit.

A panel of local reporters breaks down this week's political headlines.

Watch Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:00 on NJ PBS.

David continues the party line conversation where he discusses why some party leaders are still staunch supporters of the ballot system.

That Saturday night at 6:30 and Sunday morning at 10:30.

For the entire NJ spotlight news team thank you for being with us, enjoy the weekend and we will see you back here on Monday.

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

And by the PSEG foundation.

>> Our future relies on more than clean energy.

Our future relies on empowered communities to help -- the health and safety of our families and neighbors.

For schools and streets.

The PSEG foundation is committed to sustainability, equity and economic empowerment.

Helping towns go green.

Supporting civic centers, scholarships and workforce development that strengthen our community.

♪