Host: tonight on NJ Spotlight News, a state in mourning, the governor returns home after the unexpected passing of her Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.

>> Let us join together in memorializing the rockstar we cherish and the legacy she leaves behind.

Host: on strike, 1700 nurses walk of the job it RJ W University -- RWJ Hospital following failed negotiations, the nurses a demanding better pay and higher staffing levels.

>> We are tired, we are burnt out, we are going and going every day.

At not getting breaks because you were too busy to take a break.

Host: plus, segregation in schools.

New Jersey's will system struggles to attract teachers with diverse backgrounds.

>> We are seeing the population of Latino students has grown at a rate that far outpaces Latino teachers in Newark.

Host: is AI taking over news next.

As artificial intelligence technology develops how will it affect the world of newsgathering in the state?

>> These tools are not meant for truth, they are meant to predict the next set of words.

Host: NJ Spotlight News starts now.

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More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

And by the PSEG foundation.

♪ >> This is NJ Spotlight News.

Host: good evening and thanks for joining us.

I am Joanna Gagis.

After the shocking and untimely death of New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver this past Tuesday, Governor Murphy made his first public appearance today after returning early from his trip to Italy.

The governor holding a press conference to honor his former partner in politics, calling Oliver a trailblazer in every sense of the word and one of the finest public servants in New Jersey history.

Murphy saying that asking him to be his running -- asking her to be his running mate was the best decision he made.

More on the tribute to Sheila Oliver and the impact she has had on New Jersey.

David joins us from the statehouse.

>> It has become apparent over the last few days just how powerful an impact Sheila Oliver had across the state, from cities like Newark to Camden city, Trenton city and even Atlantic City.

They are mourning up our house.

Today the governor spoke to the press for the first time since her debt this week.

>> Personally speaking, Tammy and I along with our four children are devastated.

From the day Sheila agreed to join me in our first campaign in 2017, I have relied on her counsel, compassion, and her courage at every single turn.

And did during our past six years of partnership, and it was by the way almost six years to the day, she had become an honorary member of the family area we posted after her passing I think Tuesday late in the day of photograph from the night that we introduced Sheila to our kids, a magical evening in the East Ward in Newark, and it is a night we will never forget.

She became to them almost like an aunt, and she was a sister to Tammy and me.

She'll it was a trailblazer in every sense of the word.

Over her more than five decades in public service, she made history again and again as the first black woman to serve as Speaker of the General assembly, as the first woman of color elected to statewide office in our state's history, and as the highest ranking black woman to ever serve the people of New Jersey.

But above all, Sheila was the pride and joy of Essex County.

>> All of lay in state here at the Rotunda on Thursday, and then on Friday at the Essex County Courthouse.

Our rare honor for a public figure that speaks to her historic career.

>> as governor I relied on Julie to shape our administration of husband's policies on revitalizing our cities, expanding affordable housing, supporting our neighbors in need, and so much more.

And I relied on Sheila not only because of her expertise and brilliance, but because she brought her lived experience to the table.

Both as a child of Newark and is a longtime resident of East Orange.

She was an inspiration, an icon, and an irreplaceable friend, confidant, and leader, and if you look at her resume, she is almost if not singular in public service at all levels of government in an uncanny way, at the community level, at the county level, in the legislature in a variety of capacities, board as I recall in East Orange.

Just one thing after another.

>> Murphy deferred to the family on the cause of death, but said Oliver was able to discharge her duties until she was hospitalized on Monday.

The governor has until September 15 to choose a replacement.

Key said today that process will not begin until after the funeral, which is scheduled for next Saturday.

Host: in New Brunswick, 1700 nurses are on strike walking out of RWJ University Hospital early this morning.

The union nurses blaming staffing levels and a lack of paid sick days as key points of their failed negotiations with the hospital.

As Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports, they say they are fighting for the safety of themselves and patients, even though the hospital which is an underwriter of NJ Spotlight News because the -- calls the move extreme.

>> They walked of their jobs at Robert and Woody Johnson Hospital and on to picket lines.

For the first time in 17 years, nurses went on strike, at 1700 of them demanding better staffing and the level one trauma center that sees 3 million patients a year.

>> We are tired, we are burnt out.

We are going and going every day, all shift.

It is not getting breaks because you are too busy to take a break.

>> In the Isaac are more critical patients, they require a lot of attention and care, so when Isaac was our shortstaffed it is profound.

>> It is impossible.

We are not being respected and working unsafely.

>> This veteran nurse says there attention is divided among too many tasks instead of focused solely on fragile babies.

One patient's mom complaint.

>> She was like can you keep your eyes on my baby?

That is hard to explain to the parent, sorry, we have way more roles than just taking care of your baby.

[chanting] >> Contract negotiations started in April in the face of a nationwide post-pandemic nation -- nursing shortage.

Georgia needs 14,000 more nurses.

>> The problem we have in health care right now is that we have a crisis, a staffing crisis is a health-care crisis.

>> The hospitals made three contract uppers and says it is willing to go to arbitration.

In his statement it says that these nurses are the highest paid in New Jersey and they work among a facility that is the highest staff in the state.

We are deeply disappointed that you decided to take this extreme action, adding that insulators -- its latest offer address staffing concerns and provides $20 per hour bonuses to the hospital follow nursing standards.

The union voted down the first two offers and has not like to the third one, said the president.

>> The third proposal is like the second one.

It mirrors the second one.

We had multiple membership meetings and the members did not want to vote on it again.

>> The union is a complete staffing standards similar to deals negotiated at Mount Sinai.

RWJ offered a 56% raise over three years, but it's last staffing offer imposes a penalty if nurses call out sick.

That is a nonstarter.

>> Gathering local union leadership to have a conversation and plot out our strategy for the next couple of days.

>> The hospital is continuing patient care without interruption, not with medical students but with replacement nurses.

>> People do not like that, but they will allow us to do what we have to do and they will do what they need to do.

>> No word on when negotiations will resume.

Host: former Governor Chris Christie was in Ukraine today in a surprise trip where the Republican presidential hopeful met with President Zelenskyy.

Chris Christie indicating his support for Ukraine, saying he would send F-16 fighter jets and criticizing President Biden for not sending them, accusing him of not doing enough to support Ukraine.

Kristi -- Chris Christie was seen touring a number of war-torn locations including the site of a mess grave.

The former governor is trying to distinguish himself amidst a crowded Republican field where he says is a poll numbers do not tell the whole story of his standing among Republicans.

The trip follows former Vice President Mike Pence's trip in June.

The election transparency act signed into law in April is taking effect, and it feels anything but transparent.

The law doubles the limits for campaign contributions, it does away with paid to play laws, and cuts the statute of limitations for campaign finance violations from 10 years to 2.

That last change leading to the dismissal of 107 finance complaints, including a three count complaint against the democratic state committee and a two count complaint against the Republican committee.

Complaints were drafted against the Democratic Senate majority and campaign committees.

Money is rolling in, a combined $3.6 million as contribution limits for those committees were tripled from $25,000 up to $75,000 per donor.

Advocate of receding staff that reflects the school population needs to better outcomes, even though studies show this, many states have failed to attract teachers of color.

A new report finds in Newark black and Latino students make up 90% of the school's population, black and Latino teachers make up just over half of the staff.

Across the state it is even worse.

Department of Education data shows Hispanic students make up 33% of the population yet have a percent of teaching staff, while white teachers to make up 82% of staff.

Jesse Gomez recently sat down to talk about these numbers and segregation in New Jersey schools, a matter that is before the state Superior Court now.

>> It is good to see you again.

It is interesting that you chose the state's largest school district.

Also a pretty diverse at district.

What overall did you find about the disparities between the staff and the students?

>> So it is 2023, and schools across New Jersey are still figuring out how to diversify their student body.

So after analyzing student and teacher demographics and student-teacher data, we found that schools in Newark are down the middle serving mostly black and Latino students.

But again, the racial and cultural makeup of those teachers varies.

Other cities across New Jersey as they cripple through this may not have the same demographics as in Newark, but throughout Newark schools there is a majority of white teachers.

At 20% of schools have majority white teachers, and other cities in New Jersey have even lower portions.

Like an Latino teachers account for just about half of the staff in Newark public schools, but we are seeing the population of Latino students has grown at a rate that far outpaces Latino teachers in Newark.

>> When they had that underrepresentation, what do we know about how it impacts relationships between students and teachers, which we know can be invaluable throughout a student's life?

But also their scores, their grades, and their ability to place in college, in AP courses, things like that?

>> Experts have said that having teachers that represent the racial and cultural makeup of students is unofficial, and it is one component of creating better learning environment for students.

Although it is one component, research has shown it leads to better attendance, better student performance and overall motivates students to stay in class.

I spoke with a Newark public school alum who is pursuing teaching.

Her parents immigrated from Brazil in the 1990's, and I asked her what were some of the challenges you face?

She said her parents who spoke Portuguese found it hard to navigate the school system, but she remembers her second grade teacher, who was one of the few teachers she encountered that spoke Portuguese and was able to communicate with their parents, have a relationship with them, keep them up-to-date on our progress, and that was a big burden taken off of Melissa's shoulders, because at the time she had to be the one transiting for her parents and relating the school information to her parents in their native language.

It helps overall relationships between teachers, families, and the school.

>> Powerful that has impacted the trajectory of her life that she will go into the profession.

Very quickly, because in a district like Newark where things like attendance and student performance have been a real struggle, what is being done and to retain and attract, recruit these teachers when we know there is a correlation?

>> Currently in Newark, it was previously under state control the past 25 years.

It has made big strides in creating partnerships that allow these sort of pipelines from student to the teaching profession.

>> Jesse Gomez, great reporting.

Host: check out the full article and entire segregated series that includes reporting from a dozen other newsrooms across the state by heading over to NJ Spotlight News.org.

New Jersey is full of important and compelling American history, including many Revolutionary war battle sites, but in upper freehold residents are fighting to protect a part of that history, the environment, and tell.

They are trying to stop a proposed warehouse from being built.

Ted Kolbert spoke to people about what they are trying to do to keep the warehouse out of their community.

>> Is a sham where people say ra ra American Revolution, and you did nothing to preserve it.

>> The possibility of a warehouse has locals up in arms, much like Washington shoulders when they pursued British troops here at more than 250 years ago.

>> Washington was training troops, and he decided to drill them, but he could not get too far east, because he would have been concerned about being outflanked, and there are accounts of them firing at the British as they marched.

After they encamped, they contact them here.

>> That led to the battle of Monmouth a few days later.

People say putting a warehouse on historic land would not just be an affront to history.

It would mean a much more polluted community.

>> They are talking about 108 loading docks.

That will generate by conservative estimates carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, 2500 tons of pollutants into this community every year.

>> Residents say leaders have not taken necessary steps to protect his land from development.

>> Clearly there was a problem with the five people on the Township committee.

You have to open your mouth's and tell us why you will not take any proactive steps.

>> They stopped by an upper freehold Township committee meeting to air their grievances about the proposal.

Since it was not a planning board meeting, a committee member and the mayor had to step up before public comment, since they are either on the planning board or have close family there.

Township Attorney Dennis Collins gave a warning before public comments started.

>> You may be creating a situation where you are helping the developer get something that he may not otherwise get.

>> Collins confirmed a warehouse application has been filed with the planning board.

He said if a current committee member heard testimony and then joined the planning board next year, they might be disqualified from voting on any warehouse proposal there.

>> That would give the developer a significant ground if he is not happy with the new result to say that the process has been completely tainted.

It is kind of like if we were suing each other, and I got to talk to the judge without you being here to hear what I say.

>> People still let out their feelings.

>> The traffic congestion is going to be horrible.

>> The proposal is about to destroy our property values.

>> That beeping noise, that shrill beep.

I do not care how high they build, what they do to soften the sound.

You will be hearing that all night.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> It will affect not just my house but everyone's.

They are literally in our backyard.

>> If leaders do not buy the land, residents tell me they have other options.

People have seen bald eagles in the area around whether warehouse will go, and if a bald eagle nest is found on the property, federal laws could gum up the works for putting the warehouse there.

Host: the July jobs report is income and the numbers held steady.

187,000 jobs added last month and the unemployment rate at 3.5%.

Here is how the markets reacted to the news.

♪ AI technology is improving every day, and well it offers loads of promise, some see it as a threat to jobs that have been held by humans.

Those concerns may be coming to this industry, journalism and news media.

AI generated news is an emerging field that brings with it both good opinions and concern.

I am joined by the assistant director of products and events at the Center for Cooperative media who looks at the pros and cons of AI news technology.

Thank you for being with us today.

There is an emerging field of AI reporting journalism that is happening.

A company called local lens in the state.

How does his reporting work?

>> Essentially these large language models, these chatbot are scraping public transcripts, a lot of them streamed on YouTube or PDFs in public records and generating summaries and key take away points and things like that with some variations depending on which outlet is deploying them, and the goal at least as it is stated is to provide a starting point for reporters who may not know that history existed or that a conversation was had to, and they can search through these summaries to give themselves a better idea of where to go and what questions to ask and when to follow-up.

That is the purported intent of them.

Host: one of the things that that is key in journalism is fact checking.

What our concerns as it relates to AI to elegy and deposits writing news and fact checking not existing?

>> In the case of local lens, it does not exist at all, and I spoke to the co-founder yesterday and they do not edit the copy at all.

If there is a complaint or someone wants to have them make a correction, they said they will go in and do it if it is bad, which is probably one of the more egregious examples we have seen of these tools being employed in the field of content in journalism specifically, but essentially, with any publication if you were using these tools in an assistive capacity, having it augment the work of reporters, you are still held to the same standards regardless of if you get the text from a freelancer or about.

You have to be able to stand by everything you publish as a news organization, so at that level nothing has changed.

These tools are not meant to generate truth.

They are meant to predict and produce the most likely word or set of words.

That is it.

It is glorified AutoCorrect.

Host: is the average reader, viewer of this news savvy enough to understand that?

it needs to be the reader sometimes it was called about the errors.

>> In the case of local lens, it is entirely on them and they state that on the website.

Everything is generated by a computer.

I don't want to assume the reader does not want to understand what is going on, but I think is more likely they do not have time to investigate the veracity of every statement they read on the Internet, and that was true before the box came around.

Not much is change in that department.

Host: there is a need for more local political news coverage as we see news outlets shrinking.

Where does AI fit in that space?

>> On the one hand, these tools can help journalists and reporters and editors focus less on the boring, monotonous, everyday tasks that are automated people -- automatable.

Hopefully these tools give them more time to serve the communities that they cover.

Of course, when you work for a for-profit company and the person in charge of that for-profit company see that more as a cost-cutting or cost-saving measure, we have seen this before.

It will be another do more with less kind of situation, and that has journalists concerned.

Host: a lot to talk about.

Thank you so much.

That is going to do it for us tonight, but a reminder to down the -- download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great weekend, and we will see you on Monday.

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

RJ W Barnaby -- RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

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

>> Our future relies on more than clean energy.

It relies on empowered communities to alter the safety of our families and neighbors, all of our schools and streets.

The PCS G foundation is committed to sustainability, equity, and economic empowerment , helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships, and workforce development that strengthens our community.

>> Look at these kids?

What did you see?

I see myself.

I became an ESL teacher to give my students what I wanted when I came to this country.

The opportunity to learn, to dream, to achieve, a chance to be known and to be an American.

My name is Julia and I am proud to be an NJEA member.

♪