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JOANNA: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, the U.S. Department of Education opened an ethnic discrimination investigation at Rutgers new work.

Meanwhile the university suspends their chapter of students for Justice in Palestine.

>> what you see is a nationwide campaign waged by Israel advocacy organizations and elected officials to charter target and shutdown down students for justice in Palestine.

JOANNA: Plus, a coalition of Justice groups is calling for candidates in the U.S. Senate race to help end the party line on primary ballots.

>> we respect their internal party processes, we just think that campaigning or electioneering should stop at the voter's ballot.

>> If your child wants their own social media account, they may need parental consent.

>> completely irresponsible in the way they conduct themselves in terms of engaging and addicting miners to the use of it in very calculated ways.

>> "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

BRIANNA: good evening and thanks for joining us.

We begin with a federal investigation being launched at Rutgers University in New York.

The U.S. Department of Education on Monday opened an ethnic discrimination investigation according to Politico NJ, which was first to report the investigation.

Rutgers joins a list of universities under federal scrutiny since the Israel Hamas war began in October and many schools has faced termination for its response to rising cases of antisemitism.

The Department of ed declined to comment and isn't specifying on the nature of the investigation, but the move follows a wave of fallout at Heather higher education companies including the ouster of University of Pennsylvania's president, and backlash against the presidents of Ivy League schools.

New Jersey congressional members sent letters to Rutgers and other state colleges expressing concerns and requesting plans to address anti-Semitic incidents.

Meanwhile, the Rutgers New Brunswick campus became the first public higher Ed education to suspend the student for Justice in Palestine chapter this week, accusing members of violating several university policies.

As Melissa Rose Cooper reports, the actions are intensifying a fierce debate around free speech hate speech on college campuses.

♪ >> The human rights element of what is going on in Palestine right now.

That shouldn't be categorized as anti-Semitic.

Ted: Yet this communications director of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on Islamic relations says that is exactly what is happening following Rutgers New Brunswick 's decision to suspend the organization students for justice in Palestine.

In a letter, the office of conduct indicates the suspension is a response to multiple complaints of gatherings and events that have caused people on campus to feel unsafe.

Members are accused of disrupting classes, a program, meals, and students studying.

>> It doesn't seem justifiable that they would suspend a student group for civil disobedience, when civil disobedience is part and parcel of the college experience.

So it's a little shocking, it is worrying and it feels very McCarthy asked.

Reporter: Members of the organization are calling on records to suspend, maintaining their actions have included peaceful protest.

Today the organization releasing a statement saying in part, " None of the allegations are substantiated by date, testimony or discussion of incident."

According to the letter, the allegations reflect complaints by other students, faculty or staff, which may mean no more than a speech disagreement.

Nothing in the letter indicates how the allegations, "Pose a substantial and immediate threat to the safety and well-being of others."

>> It is shocking and appalling.

It appears to be a targeted suspension based on viewpoint discrimination.

.

Reporter: The chapter in the university is one of the latest to be suspended in the country.

Brandeis, Colombia and George Washington, all private universities, recently suspended sjp chapters at their campuses.

This professor at Rutgers University-Newark says act like these violate everyone's First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

>> Many of the students who are part of students for justice in Palestine are part of minority communities.

They are Muslim students, Arab students, Palestinian students in these groups are under heavy pressure due to a broader sense of bigotry and especially Islamophobia that is sweeping America right now.

And I think to take this sort of action and further stigmatized members of those communities at this time potentially does place them in harm's way.

Reporter: which Alex Guedes is could also mean harm for some Jewish students since, some of them are involved in Palestinian advocacy groups.

He believes it is important to distinguish between anti-Semitism, and criticism of our government.

>> And understand why some students might feel attacked, because for the first time in their life, they are hearing that Israel is an apartheid or colonial state.

These are deeply uncomfortable words, as if you are a Jewish student who has never heard that, who would never there to think that, their community is supporting these actions.

And so, they think it is anti-Semitism.

They are also told is anti-Semitism by the mainstream Jewish community.

But we need to disentangle that and recognize that we need to be able to criticize the actions of governments no matter if they are Jewish, Muslim or Christian.

Reporter: Members of sjp are demanding records immediately reinstate its chapter, as well as issue a public apology.

Rutgers maintained it is committed to providing an inclusive environment and allowing an exchange of ideas, as long as everyone is safe.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

JOANNA: Meanwhile President Biden held his first in-person meeting with the families of Americans being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, including the family of an 18-year-old and a school graduate.

The Biden administration estimates there are eight remaining hostages including seven men and one woman, and it is vowing to bring each one home.

Today's meeting at the White House comes after pressure has been increasing on the president to restrain Israel's attacks on Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry says those strikes have killed more than 15,000 Palestinians since the start of the war.

President Biden has fiercely supported Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas which killed more than 1200 Israelis on October 7. .

But on the fundraiser on Tuesday, President Biden bluntly about the conflict, saying " indiscriminate bombing is causing the country to lose international support."

More police oversight could be coming to New Jersey, but only in certain towns.

Lawmakers this week advanced a bill that would increase accountability for cops who are in trouble by creating local civilian complaint review boards and granting them subpoena power.

As Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports, advocates had to make concessions on where those boards will exist in order to get it passed.

>> To have subpoena power is power.

Reporter: assemblywoman Angela McKnight is thrilled to see a bill that she's championed move out of committee this week that would create Civilian Complaint review boards, or ccrbs.

They would have the right to investigate alleged police misconduct and give them subpoena power, which advocates have long said is key to the group process success.

>> In New Jersey they have them, but they don't have subpoena power.

And a ccrb without subpoena power is needed.

It is powerless.

Reporter: previous versions have been introduced going back to the 1960's.

But this bill face major challenges and was modified to include key changes.

Rather than ccrb's allowed in four of the states, they will be used in four of New Jersey's largest cities -- New York,, Paterson, New Jersey city and Trenton.

The rollout will be a 5-year pilot program and the CCBS will now have to wait 120 days to start an in investigation allowing for police Internal Affairs to investigate an incident first.

>> They are not to be a replacement for the police.

We need the police.

I love police.

What we are doing is allowing them 120 days to start the investigation.

After 120 days, the ccrb will be able to conduct their investigation and it will be running concurrently.

We are just letting them do their own due diligence within 120 days.

Reporter: Larry has long advocated for civilian complaint review boards with subpoena power.

He is running against Senator Menendez for his U.S. Senate seat, and says these changes were an important compromise to finally push the bill through committee.

But he is not happy with the 120-day delay.

>> It makes the review board look like a junior partner to internal affairs.

This is problematic.

The whole reason people want police review boards is to enhance police accountability.

And if the major controls still remains with the police department, some feel that accountability would be, to some degree, compromised.

Civilian review board members would be appointed by mayors and where to undergo training before they serve, but the police union say this training compares to that of their internal affairs unit, and oppose the bill altogether.

>> Providing a civilian review board with subpoena power ultimately get to be almost the fourth bite at the apple to go after police officers who have been alleged -- when you look at the internal affairs process which is overseen and can be taken over by the county prosecutor, in his instances, you have got situations that go to the attorney general by law that are investigated by Grand juries.

Reporter: Rob Nixon from NJ EVA says the Attorney General's List of reforms to police oversight have been sufficient to hold officers accountable.

>> when an officer has gone through all that, they have been punished and given suspension or given time off, and now, you are going to go and bring in civilians who might not be happy with that result and want to have the do-over, we would ask, where is the officer's do process right?

Reporter: with such strong feelings on either side the road is still long for this bill that needs to get through a full assembly vote next week and then make its way through the Senate , all before this legislative session expires.

I'm Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

JOANNA: A new statewide group of progressive organizations is calling on candidates in the 2024 U.S. Senate race to help and the party line on New Jersey primary ballots by taking a public stand against the way they are designed.

Fair Ballot Alliance NJ says the current method used in 19 out of the 21 counties in the state is unfair, because it gives preferential placement to candidates who have the backing of County parties grouping them in one row or a County .

I asked the Executive Director of action together New Jersey, and a member of the Alliance, why they are seeking a challenge.

Think you so much for joining me.

Let me ask you first, what prompted this move for all these organizations to get together and essentially call on candidates to take a stand?

GUEST: it started with the indictment, the latest indictments of Senator Menendez, and then Andy Kim jumped on and announced he would run for Senate, then Tammy Murphy came out.

But I think what triggered it, the triggering point was when immediately after her announcement, she got the endorsements from the five major Counties.

And I think a lot of us were alarmed at how quickly the race seems to have been SEWN UP.

It was a matter of days.

JOANNA: Remind us, what does the research show?

New Jersey is unique in this ballot design.

What does the research show about the effect of a County line ballot?

Guest: So the county line ballot for Senate and congressional races, there is a 38-foot advantage this research was done by a professor at Rutgers.

I think that is just an insurmountable advantage that someone can have.

And as a coalition, we believe that parties can do whatever they want.

They can endorse the candidates, they can run ads, do GOTV, all of that for their candidates.

We respect the Democratic and Republican party, because we are working cross-partisan, we respect their own internal party processes.

We just think campaigning or electioneering should stop at the voters' ballot.

BRIANNA: Are their candidates signaling that they will support this?

Guest: So far, the camp of Andy Kim has come out in support.

On the Republican side, Greg Mallett has come out in support as well.

So we have one on each side and we hope to hear more.

BRIANNA: We talked a lot about the benefits for candidates.

Do you anticipate that you are going to be able to get some movement here?

Just given the amount of money that they can pull in having the county endorsements, but also having those power bosses behind them?

Guest: we have never seen as much coverage of this issue as we have now, and personally at action together, we are using this very unique time in New Jersey's history where we have got the setting senior senator of New Jersey under indictment -- sitting senior senator of New Jersey under indictment, and also the wife of the sitting governor, there would be an overlap, they would both be in office together if she were to be elected.

We are using this unique opportunity to really get out and one, educate voters about how they can vote and not have to vote down the line.

How to prevent over votes.

Secondly, to get rid of the line and go with an office bloc display, just like all other states in the nation.

BRIANNA: Uyen Khuong is the executive director of action together and her organization is member of this new alliance.

Thank you so much.

Speaking of political elections, make sure you chat in to this make sure you tune into "Chat Box".

David Cruz goes one-on-one with Steve Sweeney in his first on-camera interview about his anticipated decision to run for governor.

That is tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. on the NJ Spotlight News Youtube channel.

A national debate over how to protect teens from Big Tech is taking centerstage in Trenton as lawmakers move on the bill that would put restrictions on teens social media use by requiring parents' permission to sign up for social media accounts.

If the proposal becomes law, New Jersey would join a small list of states with similar requirements.

But as Ted Goldberg report, the bill faces challenges.

TED: when it comes to young people using social media, assemblyman Conaway says there are tons of issues.

>>.

>> The situation is that a crisis level.

The government has been feckless in addressing this problem and it often is for the states to take action.

Reporter: the bill sponsored by Conaway would require social media companies to prove parents gave the okay for minors to sign up for social media sites.

The bill would also ban, quote, "direct messaging between the account and any other adult user that is not linked to the account through adding on the social media platform."

>> As people age, certainly they should have access to more and more information.

But a 13-year-old?

I don't think so.

.

A lot of parents are to be in the position to make that judgment for their families.

REPORTER: Social media companies would be on the hook for using third-party apps to verify ages, similar to how mortgage companies use government-issued IDs to do that.

>> There are platforms to do that that can identify who you are if you are trying to seek federal or other benefits.

>> All of those steps are unnecessarily infringing on the right to free speech, and that is the primary purpose of social media, right,, to go out there and express yourself.

Reporter: The ACLU is concerned that this bill would interfere with free-speech, and policy Council Joe Johnson wonders how to handle online harassment, without stomping on First Amendment rates.

>> I think that is the million-dollar question.

I don't think there is an easy answer.

>> Kids are used to people not having 10 responses to something, but 100, 1000, or more.

Reporter: According to the latest data from pew research, one-third of teens say they use social media nearly all the time.

Conaway says there needs to be a response to that, and parents need more power to Monitor and control teen use.

>> there is not a technology in the world that doesn't bring down sides.

We need to address this.

>> abs brakes on your car, or whether it is inspections to make sure the car is picked up a written on the highway.

It is impossible to imagine why we shouldn't be holding this new technology to the same levels of public safety standards.

>> It is shameful that this kind of law is needed.

Reporter: He is on the state's anti-bullying task force, and he says the problem lies with social companies exploiting young people.

>> Completely irresponsible in the way they conduct themselves in terms of engaging and addicting minors to the use of it in very coveted ways.

Reporter: Green said it is good to see more regulations aimed at these companies, but he is worried about what might happen to people who really need social media, like people in marginalized communities.

>> These social media sites are an important way for them to reach out to others in that community, and obtain support.

So, there is that valid concern.

>> Youth often don't have that voice to be able to go out on the sidewalk, to be able to go into the school and say, "This is how I feel."

Because often times they don't have a voice.

.

Being able to go on social media platforms is very important to find companionship.

Reporter: Assemblyman Conaway's Bill moved out of committee earlier this week and he says he expects the Senate to take up the bill later this week.

for NJ Spotlight news, I'm Ted Goldberg.

BRIANNA: In our Spotlight on Business Report, interest in New Jersey's medical marijuana program is so low, regulators are slashing the price to enroll by 80%.

Registration costs are $10 every two years, down from $50 for most patience.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission says enrollment has been rapidly declining since New Jersey launched a recreational marijuana market in 2022.

But while medical sales are dropping, adult sales continue to grow, 10% each quarter.

And that is not the only battle state regulators are up against.

For more on that, I am joined the executive director of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission Jeff, Brown, thank you for giving us.

A few minutes of your time.

.

Let me talk to you about membership in the medicinal program.

How low is the roster?

where did it start, and where does the state stand today?

Guest: when we talk about where we started, it goes back to 2018 when we started to reform the medicinal cannabis program uh under the leadership of Governor Murphy.

At the time the administration took over, there were only 17,000 patients enrolled in the program and only five dispensaries.

We grew the rolls over time by expanding the marketplace to 130 patients at our High Point.

Since we have launched recreational sales, we have started to see the rolls decrease gradually over time.

We are now in the Maid 90,000, about 95,000, just under.

One of the things we did at our last board meeting, was the board approved reduction of fees to enroll in the medicinal cannabis program from $50, or $20 if you qualified for the card.

Now it is $10 for everybody.

Then in early 2024, we will be releasing free digital I.D.

cards.

Everybody who is OK with a digital I.D.

card will be able to enroll for free at no cost.

Anyone who wants a physical card, will just pay $10.

BRIANNA: Is the cost to enroll largely what your commission has heard is the biggest barrier for people not enrolling, because, of course, there have been criticisms from the start of the industry until now that just the sheer cost of the medicinal or recreational marijuana is so high that people don't want to go to the hurdles of enrolling.

Guest: We hear from patients that the cost of medicinal cannabis is high.

We have seen those prices start to come down.

Some of the benefits of being in the medicinal cannabis program, there are 48 dispensaries across the state that serve patients.

Patients get prioritized in dispensaries where there is both medicinal and recreational use, which include patient-only hours, designated parking spots and priority lines.

There is no state tax on cannabis, it has been eliminated on medicinal cannabis, while there is a state sales tax on recreational cannabis as well as an excise fee.

We also hear from patients that the cost from doctors and health care providers can be prohibitive in some cases.

BRIANNA: Across the river in Pennsylvania, the lowest price him additional patient.

There is $18 for an out.

Here in New Jersey, it is $40 announce.

Aren't we losing folks to surrounding states and their purchase power is going there?

Guest: We are sympathetic about the price of medicine being as high as they are.

They have come down in New Jersey significantly.

We shared data, I think the cost of an ounce for medicinal cannabis is around $300 in New Jersey and we expect that to come down more.

As the market develops and there is more competition, prices will drop and we will see that happening now and that will only continue as more businesses get operational both to serve medicinal patients, and to serve adult-use consumers.

BRIANNA: Jeff Brown, Executive Director of New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Thank you so much.

Guest: Thank you for having me.

BRIANNA: Stocks soared today on Wall Street following the Federal Reserve's final policy meeting of the year, holding its key interest rate Steady which is between five point 25%-five .5%, and signaled it will likely cut interest rates three times in the new year.

Here is how the market closed today.

>> Support for the business report is provided by Rowan University, educating New Jersey leaders.

Partnering with New Jersey businesses, transforming New Jersey future.

BRIANNA: Finally, in the historic first, representatives from nearly 200 countries agreed to a new climate deal in Dubai today at the COP28 climate summit,: On the nations around the world to transition away from the chief cause of climate change -- fossil fuels.

The agreement comes after two weeks of painstaking talks at the annual summit, but vague language, some advocates warn, could allow loopholes for countries to take little action.

The bill.

Requiring the world to phase out fossil fuels like oil and gas.

Major oil exporters like Saudi Arabia and Iraq push back against the proposal, and instead, the proposal calls on countries to contribute to global efforts to reduce emissions in ways they see fit, including paving the way for fossil fuels to reach net-zero by 2050.

Climate experts say the breakthrough couldn't come soon enough, taking place at the end of the hottest year in recorded history.

That's going to do it for us tonight, but don't forget to download the NJSpotlightNews podcast so you can listen anytime.

I am Brianna Vannozzi.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News team, thanks for being here.

We will see you back here tomorrow night.

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

And by the PSEG Foundation.

♪