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foundation.

Agree brie the sports world is in mourning after Johnny Gaudreau and his brother are killed been an alleged drunk driver.

A national overdose awareness day and a road map for saving lives, leveraging setment funds to drive change.

>> What is working well is residential addiction treatment, outpatient treatment evidence-based services.

Briana: The garden State prepares for labor day weekend as a record number of travelers are hitting the roads and skies.

>> Some of the people that may have put off going to the shore much of the summer for financial reasons are realizing this is the last chance.

Briana: After a week of political jockeying, State Senator Nellie Pou.

>> I'm honored and privileged and so proud to become the first Latina in the history of the State of New Jersey to go to Congress.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

ANNOUNCER: From nj PBS studios this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Thanks for joining us this Friday night.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few key stories we are following.

A tragedy in south jersey is sending shock waves.

Columbus blul jacket star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed Thursday night after being struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding bikes.

He is known as "Johnny hockey" to fans were killed on a highway near family home.

Authorities say a man driving an S.U.V.

tried to pass two other cars and struck the brothers from behind.

The brothers were in town to be groomsmen in their wedding for their sister.

Johnny was drafted in 2011 by the flames.

He played 11 professional seasons in the NHL and most recently with the blue jackets.

The New Jersey devils and blue jackets issued statements saying in part they are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy and Johnny played the game with great joy.

Now it has been a dangerous year on New Jersey roads.

According to State police statistics, there have been 402 fatal cashes and 424 fatalities so far.

That is a 14% jump from last year.

Also tonight, garden State officials are calling on the Federal Government to create new protections from forever chemicals polluting the air.

The New Jersey department of environmental protection along with counterparts in north Carolina and New Mexico petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday to list four chemicals as hazardous under the Federal.

Pfoa, pfas are the common members of the pfas families.

But the same products used to make the chemicals make it impossible to brick down.

Pfas has been linked to serious health effects in humans.

They are trying to address pfas pollution.

Dozens of drinking water systems around the State are found to have high levels.

Air pollution from industrial facilities that use pfas is a course of the problem in New Jersey.

And if you struggled through the heat this summer, you weren't alone, it was one for the books.

Scientists say U.S. and world are on track for the most human summer season on record based on 85 years of recordkeeping and measuring dew points.

Climate experts models say human caused global warming would lead to higher humidity because it evaporates more water.

It makes sense.

But the consequences can be severe.

More humidity puts greater stress on the body and increases the odds of more rainfall and flooding and more demands for air conditioning.

The sweltering conditions made it dangerous in some areas where the summer felt relentless.

Increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and death.

The Biden administration opened comment on proposed rules to protect workers from heat.

And if the heat trend holds, five of the most humid summers on the U.S. and planet will have occurred since just 1998.

The heat is an extra reason for residents to head to the shore this holiday weekend.

Both aaa and the port authority expect record travel on the roads, rails and the air.

They expect a big boost for businesses up and down the State.

We spoke to tourism officials about the success of this summer season and what to expect if you are headed out this weekend.

>> While summer technically goes for another three weeks, most of us consider this the last.

Travel and economic experts expect it to be a busy one in New Jersey.

>> Some of the people who may have put off going to the shore much of the summer for financial reasons are realizing this is the last chance.

>> We have seen increases across the board.

People that are staying locally understandably because of the start of the school year looking to get the last long weekend.

And we are seeing drive trips increase.

Aaa estimating a 9% increase in travel bookings.

Tracy says more people want to get out and drive or fly.

>> What we are seeing is people want experiences.

So they are not putting as much stock as they did necessarily in material items.

But they want to go and have these experiences, which is why we are seeing increases in not only domestic bookings, but in international bookings.

>> The total numbers aren't in yet for shore communities, but ben ROSE said it was a pretty good summer from the wildwoods like the trump rally in may.

>> People got introduced to the wildwoods.

The musicfest sold out this year and there were 40,000 tickets sold for each of the four days.

That is a huge influx in June kicking off our business.

>> A good summer for the wildwoods but not a great one.

As they dealt with a slew of obstacles.

>> That can be attributed to the high airport volume and people flying overseas for vacations.

There is a huge increase in flying to Europe.

>> Boardwalk merchants were upset by the lack of big events that would draw people to the boardwalk and help their business.

The air show, which brings in up to half a million people, for some reason, that didn't occur this year and it has been going on for decades.

>> Stockton professor said the summer was mixed for Atlantic city.

Ka inoos made some money.

>> Once prices go up, they are not going up quite as fast.

So you don't have to get much of a price increase, but still, those commodity prices, labor prices, energy prices were up significantly in Atlantic county where I live.

>> If you don't feel like fighting through this traffic, you could always head down the shore later on.

There is never a bad time to go to the beach in New Jersey.

>> The temperatures are mild.

There is reduced rates in all the accommodations, so you can get great hotel rates and no lines in restaurants.

>> And soon as kids go back to school, no one is pulling them out to go on vacation.

It's the best time to experience things when the weather is still debate and significantly less crowds.

>> That is still off in the future.

In the meantime, there is slight relief from the port authority in New York and New Jersey.

They are pausing repairs through the weekend while anticipating nearly 7 million people to pass through them.

Briana: State Senator Nellie Pou officially secured thedom chiropractic nomination to replace the late Congressman bill Pascrell which gave the party eight days to pick a successors before ballots go to print.

Pou was the sole candidate and got unanimous vote at the special county election held in Wayne.

464 committee contest -- members voted in favor of her nomination And governor Murphy and even Pascrell's family.

That load her competitors to drop out of the race.

Paterson mayor and assembly mayors all tossed their hat in the ring, but didn't get the support.

Senior political correspondent breaks down the nomination process and what's next in the district 9 race.

>> In the year where the successor process has been in focus probably than ever before, the race to succeed the late Congressman bill Pascrell on the Democratic ballot for the fall ended before it really began.

In just a few day's time, only one of the four candidates was left standing.

>> I give you now Senator Nellie Pou.

>> You are a humble person, but as Joe Biden once said to Barack Obama, this is a big f-ing deal.

>> It is a big deal and I'm honored and proud to become the first Latina in the history of the State of New Jersey to go Congress.

>> Pou's successful campaign as it were brought it into focus again.

State law says committee members vote to make the pick.

But in reality, only the three guys, the county chairs in hudson, bergen and Passaic counties have to agree on a candidate.

In Pou's case, bergen's voting was critical which led to this week's pro forma exercise.

>> May I have a vote.

>> But a vote is not a secret vote even with just one candidate to choose from.

And critics, including the New Jersey institute for social justice say a secret vote is the minimum level of Democratic process voters should be entitled to, even given the tight time constraints straints in this case.

>> Yes, I think it's fair to say hey, you should have at least an expectation, if not a change in expectation to go hey, you should have a anonymous vote, a secret ballot, one of the fundamental parts of democracy, the whole idea of a secret ballot.

Let candidates come and make their case instead of having a process where everyone watches how heavy handed party bosses are and then just has to live with it.

>> Billy Prempeh the Republican who will face off against Pou is Pou is what happens when the party chairs call the shots.

>> She is not the most qualified.

I want her to get on the debate stage.

The people deserve to know what this candidate stands for.

>> Nellie Pou would appear to be the favorite.

Pascrell won this district by 12 percentage points in 2022. Who will succeed Pou in the State Senate.

The same potential candidates for Pascrell's seat will likely put their names up for that process, which includes a convention of committee members in the 35th legislative district.

The maneuvering for that seat has already begun.

For Democrats today, they seem to be OK to have arrived at a solid blue vote like Nellie Pou, which maybe a touch of uneasyness about how they got here.

I'm David cruz.

"NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: Democrats could potentially make history now if Pou defeats the Republican challenging billy Prempeh this fall.

She will be the first Latina to represent New Jersey in Congress.

Pou got her start in politics when she was appointed in 1997 to fill a seat in the State assembly when Pascrell was first elected to Congress.

She held the seat until 2012 and won four re-elections since then.

State Senator Nellie Pou joins me now.

Congratulations.

I'm sure it has been a whirl wind process and given the short runway to the election, does that mean campaigning starts today?

>> It certainly does.

It does start today.

Let me just say that we're ready and ready to run.

I want to mention this week, obviously has been mixed with emotion, both heavy in grieve but at the same time full of hope.

The passing of my dear friend and mentor bill Pascrell has left an impact to all of us.

He was a beloved servant, someone who truly was known all throughout his congressional district, but all throughout the State and the Nation because his voice was heard loud and clear.

He was a true fighter, someone who I absolutely highly respected.

So it comes with that mixed emotion.

Briana: I'm sure it must feel surreal almost 30 years ago when you filled his State legislative seat.

Now here you are potentially going to fill his congressional seat.

We have all talked about how he was a fighter.

He didn't min everyone ce words.

And if you are elected -- >> You know, we all know how Bim and how big of a person he was in terms of making sure that his voice was heard.

I will be working equally as hard and I would probably say I would have to work even harder because I know that I need to begin establishing the groundwork from day one.

I am prepared to do that.

I feel that all my years in service has allowed to prepare me for this next step.

Briana: What's at the top of your priority list for the issues that you are going to focus on in the State.

You have done a lot with your see in the judiciary committee, juvenile justice reform.

What are the top issues for your district on the Federal level?

>> I would say that some of the issues that are important to us on the Federal level are very much the same issues that we see day-to-day and making sure that we build upon our infrastructure and making sure that we address some of the economic needs that are important to our entire district.

It's important that we have the proper access and accessibility to health care, building upon making our educational system greater and enable to ensure that those resources are available for my district.

Briana: You mentioned that you plan to build upon the foundation that the late Congressman laid.

Where do you stand?

Is there any discrepancy in your stance of sending military aid to allies like those in Israel.

There was some conflict given the makeup of the district having a large Palestinian-American population?

Do you say you stand with the late Congressman in a similar stance?

>> I believe it is important for us to continue the work working to support our allies.

And I strongly believe that that's something we need to continue to do.

But with respect to your question about setting limitations, my position would be similar to that of our late Congressman making sure that we provide the necessary resources to our -- all of our allies and certainly we know that that would be important, setting limitations at this time would not be a good thing to do.

And I would be looking to continue that effort.

Briana: State Senator and now Democratic congressional nominee Nellie Pou.

Saturday marks international overdose awareness day, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those who died and remind the public there is hope.

There are a number of local events being sponsored from vigils to meetings and community outreach.

According to the C.D.C., 2600 people lost their lives to overdose last year.

Advocates are zeroing in on parts of the State that need more money to save residents from this.

>> Unfortunately, the drug was layed with Fentanyl and didn't stand a chance and gone within seconds.

>> Hard for Arlene to talk about her younger brother who died an overdees after years of struggling with addiction.

Tomorrow, August 31 is international overdose awareness day and more than 2500 dying from an overdose in 2023, recovery support groups are calling for change.

>> Every overkoas is preventable.

>> This woman is with the not one more campaign and how to spend the funds coming to the State from PHRMA companies.

>> We would like to see these funds for immediately assisted treatment, which are evidence-based practices.

Centers where people are coming into get testing strips.

>> New Jersey is expected to get about a billion dollars between now and the year 2038.

That billion dollars is going to be split in half.

Half is distributed by the State and the other half is going to counties and cities throughout the State of New Jersey.

>> Bob leads inintelligent House in Newark and agrees the funds should go to programs that are proven to reduce overdose designates.

>> Residential addiction treatment and evidence-based prevention services, harm reduction services and ensuring that recovery support is available.

>> One of those key support is housing.

>> Safe, sober, supportive recovery housing.

So, there are some housing opportunities for individuals, but not enough.

>> Not one more roadmap discourages systems that continue the war on drugs approach or criminalizing those that are battling addiction.

>> Don't kick our way out of this problem because it has never worked.

>> An approach that has been successful is overdose prevention centers and use inside rather than out on the street.

>> They work, they take public use inside.

So not only you are not getting outside for using, you are bringing that in.

But if you overdose, there is someone there to reverse the overdose and connect you to care.

>> An addict walks into the hospital.

They revived and let him go a few hours later.

What they will do is continue to use the drug and that's what happened with my brother.

He walked out of the hospital and died.

So I would like some of those funds to go meeting with E. R.'s and talking to doctors and creating procedures for referrals to care.

>> These personal perspectives that not one more should be part of the strategic planning and asking the State to listen to them and target organizations that are building relationships within the communities of those using drugs.

>> We are guiding you in the direction of the opioid where that money should go.

We are on the front lines and listening to people who are struggling, the families of people who have died and this is where they want the money to go.

It is based in evidence.

>> It more costly and time consuming.

The most effective responses have been on a more local level and community centers in each county will be beneficial.

>> They would like the council to open its meetings to the public so they can weigh in on the billion dollar allocation.

Briana: Turning to Wall Street, stocks climbed today after the latest reading on the fed's inflation index.

Here's how the trading day ended.

Finally tonight, a jersey shore landfill that closed decades ago is getting hit with fines for pollution.

State environment regulators issued a $300 howrks to the air Marine property in key port after recent inspections identified a number of violations including that the landfill was never properly closed and over the years, the owner didn't take steps to make sure illegal dumping was occurring.

The location was once home to an airplane hangar.

After operating as a landfill, it was used as an industrial park for businesses arranging from auto mechanics to landscaping companies.

They discovered what appeared to be chunks of lead illegally dumped on a public beach that prompted this recent investigation.

But air Marine hasn't been linked to the material.

An investigation is ongoing and the State geologists said it may have been naturally occurring.

That's going to do it for us tonight.

Download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast so you can listen to us any time.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great weekend.

Be safe if you are traveling.

And we'll see you back here on Monday.

ANNOUNCER: New Jersey education association making public schools debate for every child and RWJBarnabas health.

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