ANNOUNCER:'s major funding provided in part by NJM Insurance Group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

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More information online at njrealtor.com.

And by the PSEG foundation.

>> Tonight the drones drama continues with additional settings reported in the weekend.

Residents and state officials continued to demand answers.

Plus, lawmakers have reached an agreement on the revamped design of New Jersey's primary ballot.

>> After six or seven hearings and meetings after meetings, that we are at a not perfect, but definitely moving in the right direction.

>> Also, second chances.

Governor Murphy announces part of his or her full clemency for over 30 individuals creating, as he says, a more fair and equitable justice system.

>> this will provide me with the surge of energy to be able to continue to beat the drum of hope for individuals in need.

>> As Santa pockets of the phrase big day, operation 23 and gives him a hand.

A massive toy donation for those who may not have much under their tree this year.

"NJ Spotlight news" begins right now.

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

♪ >> Hello and thanks for joining us.

I am Joanna Gagis info Briana Vannozzi.

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

drone sightings continued First, throughout the weekend, expanding outside of New Jersey to other states along the East Coast.

They continue to stupefy residents and government officials alike, with still no clear answers as to what they are, who is learning them and why they are here.

The lowest from both coasts said in a press conference today that the federal government and military do no more than they are sharing with the public, though he wouldn't comment on whether he has had a security briefing on the matter.

On Friday, activities at the New York Stewart Airport temporarily shut down the runways.

That airport is run by the Port Authority of New York and New jersey.

A spokesperson for PSEG confirmed reports of drones flying over two nuclear-generating stations here in the state, Salem and Hope Creek also on Friday.

This weekend Department of , Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed there is no question people are seeing drones, after several high-level officialsquestion whs are actually manned aircraft.

Mayorkas said the federal government is, quote, on it, that they have deployed additional resources to the New Jersey State police, but he said they need additional authority from Congress to allow state and local authorities the ability to counter the drone activity themselves.

Republican Congressman Chris Smith announced new legislation he is introducing in Congress to address the issue, by politicians on both sides of the aisle in New Jersey are unhappy with the White House response.

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Bramnick calling it unacceptable.

Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter commander, this morning announced a five point plan to locate and track the drugs and communicate information to the public.

New Jersey Assemblyman Brian Bergen continues to call for the drones to be shot down.

Also tonight, there could be higher standards to meet for those who claim a tax break for owning farmland.

The Senate growth committee advance legislation last week that would create a new commission made up of nine members called the farmland assessment review commission.

The nine members would determine what level of farm activity is required in order to claim the farmland preservation tax benefit.

It would require that a property be used specifically for agricultural or horticultural purposes.

It would set standards for the total sales of crops or livestock required, and it outlines the number of acres needed to receive the benefits.

Those tax breaks first began in the 1960's to preserve farmland as land values around the state started increasing.

No legislators are concerned it is being misused, and lacks transparency.

Several prominent New Jersey residents have taken advantage of the program, including President-elect Donald Trump for his blood blister golf club, as well as from the New Jersey Governor Chris take, and then now resigned head of NJ Transit Kevin Corbett.

The sponsors of the bill, have bipartisan support in the Senate but the bill, hasn't seen any movement in the assembly since it was first introduced in September.

Another New Jersey and has been tagged as ambassador for the Trump Administration -- Bedminster resident and businessman Edward Walsh has been nominated as ambassador to Ireland.

He previously led the New Jersey schools development Authority from 2010 to 2018 and a former Governor Chris Christie, and he is head of several companies.

He also served as a delegate to the Republican national convention and according to Trump, his skills as a golfer, twice winning the club championship in Bedminster, are a very good asset for the ambassador of Ireland to have.

.

A few weeks ago Trump nominated Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France.

In 2004, Kushner was persecuted by the U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and served more than a year in prison for six counts of filing false tax returns, retaliating against a witness, and making a false statement to the federal Election Commission.

Trump has called him a business leader, philanthropist and dealmaker who will be a strong advocate representing our country.

After a high-profile court case and testimony on how to remake New Jersey's ballot design, lawmakers have finally come to a decision.

A bill out of the committee would require ballots to have an office block style.

But the bill allows candidates to run together, and to use slogans that some challenge, are the very thing the court ruling meant to prohibit.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan was at the committee vote and has more on what our primary ballots will look like.

[gavel bangs] Reporter: Lawmakers released at a bill that would abolish New Jersey's so-called County line primary ballot, long wielded as a political tool by party bosses who sometimes banished opponents to so-called ballot Siberia.

Instead, New Jersey voters would find candidates clearly grouped under the office they seek.

But the devil is still in the details, especially over the use of ballot slogans.

>> We are sure there are other things people think need to be considered on this issue.

However, I am proud of our measured approach in addressing something that needed to be solved quickly.

>> I think after six or seven hearings and meetings after meetings, that we are a not perfect, but definitely moving in the right direction.

>> I am also proud that as a committee we made a commitment to post this bill for the public to view and provide your thoughts on before we took action.

Reporter: By the public didn't get an immediate copy of the amendment they were read aloud this morning when the bipartisan Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design convened.

While at the bill of the brackets and asterisks, it does permit candidates to use the same 6-what slogan, and named their party.

That still raises concerns.

>> Candidateas could put "endorsed by Mercer County Democrats."

>> I thought you said you didn't expect them to do that.

>> There is nothing in the bill I could find that prohibit that.

So it becomes a visible queue on the ballot.

Reporter: The bill also let's County Clerk's reject slogans, and candidates can appeal.

But advocates once more.

>> Six words are not an informed electorate.

What we need is a booklet with information about each candidate, and for a website where information can be found.

But then we don't need those six words at all.

Reporter: Trenton lawmakers rush to redraw the primary ballot according to directions from a federal judge who agreed with then Senate candidate Andy and other plaintiffs, that the old County line ballot put an unconstitutional some of the political scale.

The amended bill allows running mates with the same office like two assembly candidates, to associate together on the ballot, and the coveted placement order on each block is still randomly chosen by the County Clerk.

>> Not allowing for computerized draws, essentially allowing clerks to continue to have a box over their heads to shake names off and put them in the ballot.

Those are our issues right now.

Reporter: Meanwhile, the Senate has not convened a similar committee, but assembly cochairs say there has been backdoor discussions along.

>> I think they have had their input with leadership.

>> Yes, I mean -- >> We have had conversations with members, that they think any and all concerns, I think, we addressed.

>> So you think essentially there is going to be a Senate sponsor announced that it will be pretty much what you have got here?

>> That's the plan.

Reporter: Committee cochairs say they expect this bill to be posted for a vote in the assembly this week.

County Clerk's want a final decision by the end of March so they can prepare ballots for the June primary.

At the Statehouse, Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

>> As Governor Murphy's second term nears its end, he is carrying on a tradition of many governors before him have done, pardoning and issuing clemency to a select group of incarcerated individuals.

But he has broken the mold in terms of how many.

While the last seven governors since 1994 have issued a combined total of 105 pardons or competitions, Murphy is at 36.

His decisions though based on a new clemency Advisory Board he created to help him determine of those whose deal time should end.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz has more.

>> These are life-changing, life altering, deeply important profound decisions.

Reporter: in the month when the news of high-profile pardons and clemency seem to suggest they were like the souvenir patterns handed out at Statehouse events, Governor Murphy took pains today to make the opposite point, that the second chances offered by a disposition only he could offer, should only be granted after careful consideration by a body like the clemency board he created earlier this year.

>> The clemency Advisory Board, these guys are not getting paid.

This is hard, hard work.

These are not, you know, to be tweaked a little something here or a little something here?

We are not here to pat ourselves on the back.

>> we are here to highlight that this is just our first in many more steps to come.

As we promised at the beginning of this process, we wouldn't let favor or connections impact our decision-making.

And I am proud to say that we kept that promise.

Reporter: He granted clemency to 36 individuals in all, including 33 pardons and three commutations.

It was the first exercise in his authority and it included veterans and professionals with convictions, most related to drug possession and distribution.

But also, robberies and fraud.

Gloria Wilson is the daughter of dawn Jackson was 99 sentence for killing her alleged abuser was commuted.

>> Today has given me the ability to understand what Perseverance look like, what it means to be resilient through difficult times, and to keep striving no matter what life may throw at youp dawn Jackson is just that.

Resilient, dedicated, and fearless.

She never gave up the good fight.

That's why I stand here today on her behalf.

Reporter: This man was pardoned for in 1991 robbery conviction, and other nonviolent crimes.

He also thanked the Board, and praise the governor.

He works for the state in the reentry program.

>> This pardon serves as an indicator personally letting me know that I am going in the right direction -- forward.

Forward as a public servant instilling hope, selling the idea of change to people who are hopeless and struggling because of past traumas and afflictions.

This pardon to me, will provide me with the energy to continue to beat the drum of hope for individuals in need.

Reporter: It took seven years for the governor to take action on clemency and pardons.

He says it was a process in getting right the first time and best left to individuals with no political motivation to guide their decisions.

I am David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

>> Rutgers University is in the process of hiring a new president to replace outgoing Jonathan Holloway who served as university president since July 2020.

He came on during a global pandemic marked with online learning, and left in the wake of protests and social unrest on his campus and campuses around the country sparked by the war between Israel and Palestine.

It's now the job of the Board of Governors to replace him, but that is proving to be a challenging task of the role of college president has come under intense national scrutiny to the protests earlier this year.

I am joined by Amy Towers, chair of the Rutgers board of governors to help us understand what the process looks like and who the ideal candidate would be.

Guest: Thank you for having me.

>> So what are the characteristics you are looking for?

Guest: Right now we are in the process of listening to campus leaders, students, faculty, other people in New Jersey community, to find out what is important, what are the qualities and characteristics important for the next leader?

But suddenly the board is looking for somebody who has defined leadership experience, who is an excellent communicator, who is willing to embrace our multi-campus environment and see all those differences and diversity as a strength and public together.

We really want to be a unified university.

We have so much great faculty and students, and somebody who can provide an inspiring vision to pull all of that together.

Joanna: During these town halls, are you hearing anything different?

Guest: That's actually what we are hearing.

Every time we meet with people, we have actually heard the analogy that we have all the puzzle pieces on the table, and we just need somebody to bring it all together.

Which is exciting.

Joanna: Is it hard to find that person?

Are you finding that the candidate pool is perhaps a little smaller than it has been in the past?

Guest: We have heard from the search firm that candidate pools are smaller but they are more intentional.

In the past, people may have thrown their hat in the ring to just look at the opportunity of college president.

Now they are being more intentional.

We are not at the point of interviewing candidates yet, but I expect we will have great candidates.

Joanna: We have to talk about the protests we saw takes place at Rutgers and across the country.

How would the board of governors like to see a new president handled those protests if they happen again?

Guest: We would like to see them handled similarly.

We were very proud of the way our administration handled this, in a calm and thoughtful manner.

These are our students.

.

We care about them and we want everybody to feel safe on the campus and we want a leader who can work through and think through thoughtfully and lead through the challenges.

These -- this is not going to be smooth sailing.

There are plenty of people with excellent skills in talking to people and managing the challenge of success.

Joanna: We have seen a real shift in focus towards Social-emotional learning, we see it in lower classrooms.

But it is also playing out in college campuses across the country and here in New Jersey.

Has that required a different skill set now from president to understand that students come with a lot more needs than perhaps colleges were looking to meet in the past?

Guest: That's fair.

It's a great observation.

We use the phrase dialogue through difference.

We believe strongly in that, and we want to support our students and educate our students on how do you have difficult conversations?

How do we work through dialogue through difference?

We have the Miller Center that has been doing this for years, offers our students an opportunity to learn how to do this, and to actively demonstrate the skills in doing that in addition with faculty and other leaders.

So it is a challenge, but I agree with you, that's where we need to be and I believe Rutgers is in that place.

Joanna: Briefly, you touched on the different campuses and that is what makes Rutgers unique, how important is it to have someone who unites all the different campuses?

Guest: Critically important.

We are the state University of New Jersey.

We are proud.

We intend to lead as the state university.

That involves all three campuses and understanding the value and a commitment of different types.

of research different types of faculty, different types of students that all bring a richness to our campus and allow our students to go beyond the campuses and learn with different experiences.

So I think that will be somebody who understands all those strengths and brings them together and of.

Joanna: Course you are hoping to have someone in place by June when President Holloway leaves, Amy Towers, chair of the Rutgers Board of Governors, good luck on your search.

Guest: Thank you so much.

Thanks for having me.

Joanna: In our Spotlight on Business Report, the weight is finally over for business owners hoping to open cannabis consumption lounges.

Some business owners can begin applying -- confirm next week begin opening new lounges.

Those are businesses owned by men or women who had cannabis related convictions or live in economically disadvantaged areas.

Next up, business is owned by minorities, women, or disabled veterans, it will be able to apply on April 2.

All other applicants can apply beginning in July.

There is no cap on the number of consumption lounges allowed in the state smaller, businesses must pay a $1000 annual licensing fee and larger businesses will pay five.

The CRC says these consumption lounges are important because many adults, especially renters, can't use cannabis in their homes at.

Its final meeting, the CRC also announced it would increase its social equity excise fee to 2.5 dollars an ounce.

Biomarker-testing is a process that analyzes blood, tissue and other fluids.

It's an asset in the medical field, used by doctors to identify a range of diseases and the best treatment for those diseases based on a person's individualized case.

They have helped catch cancer, and diagnosed chronic diseases that are harder to pinpoint.

The only problem is this type of testing is not often covered by insurance and patients are left holding the bill.

But a bill is moving through the state legislature now that could change that.

Raven Santana has more on the bill and what it could mean for patients who need it most.

>> I thought You know, I am getting a little short of breath in the gym, [laughs] I am getting old.

It's just the way it is.

I went for just a routine physical and they did a blood test on me and I got some abnormal results.

Reporter: Regina was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the spring of 2021.

It's considered a rare cancer of the bone marrow.

While it is slow-moving, she says without effective treatment they could become a life or death situation.

She says she avoided undergoing a complicated medical procedure and instead received the right targeted therapy thanks to biomarker-testing.

The procedure is used to analyze samples of blood, tissue and other bodily fluids to identify specific genes, proteins and more that can indicate the presence or likelihood of various cancers and other diseases.

>> What biomarker-testing does is identify what that underlying gene is, and based on that, there might be chemotherapies that they know will not work at all.

There might be, you know, maybe it will or will not respond to radiation.

Maybe we can just do surgery at not do anything else because this is a very localized, not aggressive cancer.

Reporter: That's why she testified in support of biomarker-testing being covered by insurance, since currently in New Jersey patients are not guaranteed to be covered.

And she knows firsthand how hard it is to shell out cash for the testing procedure.

>> Made payment from my insurance company have varied.

And it is the same insurance company the whole time.

So the first time they partially paid for it.

The second time, they paid a little bit less.

The third time, they paid a little bit less than that.

The last time I had it, they denied it completely and now I am trying to fight that.

Reporter: Under the bill, sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal, health insurance would be required to cover the testing for patients when it is supported by medical or scientific evidence, remove international barriers.

Senator Gopal has released a statement saying, "Insurance coverage must keep pace with advances in cancer treatment, and by requiring state regulated insurers including Medicaid to cover biomarker-testing, we can improve health outcomes, avoid ineffective treatments, and lower health care costs."

>> Some people have been denied it.

It's like the doctors have to play a guessing game.

People with rheumatoid arthritis could have negative tests and they say o oh, you don't have rheumatoid, but when they get a biomarker-testing, it's very obvious there's something going on there.

Reporter: Peggy was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis over 40 years ago and she credits biomarker-testing with putting her to the treatment that relieved her relentless pain.

>> I was suffering.

I had to stop my career as a teacher.

I could no longer do that.

Biomarker-testing really showed a medicine that would probably work better.

The treatment has worked well for me and for the past 10 years really there has been no progression in the disease.

Which when you have a chronic disease, it means the world.

I mean my quality of life is just so much better now.

Reporter: She says biomarker-testing extends past cancer care, and could be an important tool for those dealing with chronic pain.

>> Biomarker-testing is important particularly to autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular explores this.

Reporter: The bill passed out of the SMB Appropriations Committee with unanimous support.

It now goes to the full chamber for a vote.

On the Senate side, the budget and appropriations committee will consider it before sending it to a full chamber, as well.

For NJSpotlightNews, I'm Raven Santana.

Joanna: Santa is coming to town soon, but before his arrival, operation toy train has been hard at work collecting with a 44,000 toys for boys and girls in need.

The train is run by the Marine Toys for Tots foundation and other organizations, rolled through 48 cities and towns in five different states over the last week.

This is the 16th year that operation toy train has been chugging for charity.

But this year it expanded to include portions of California and New York's capital region, along with his usual stops in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The trains are donated and operate over 250 miles on 10 different railroads.

The expansion this year meant donations far exceeded the goal, proving that even the big guy can use a helping hand to bring extra dry to all the boys and girls this holiday season.

That's going to do it for us tonight.

Before you go, remember to download the NJSpotlightNews podcast so you can listen anytime.

I am Joanna Gagis.

For all of us here, thanks for being with us.

Have a great night and we will ♪ See you tomorrow.

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