>> Major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" provided in part by NJM insurance group and the PSEG foundation.

>> Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News ," questions around Tammy Murphy's fitness to run for office.

A former campaign staffer on how the first lady faced sexual assault allegations.

>> there are ways to be supportive of the administration.

I did not see that from the governor or Tammy Murphy.

>> Plus, Palestinian Americans in New Jersey continue to grieve losses in Gaza.

>> I want to hear my uncle's voice.

I want to hear my cousin's voice.

I have not in five days.

I do not know if they are alive or not.

We don't know.

>> Push for a cease-fire as pro-Palestinian students receive death threats and calls for expulsion from school for their peaceful support.

>> Students expressed concerns about free speech because they believe their speeches being treated differently because of the message they are conveying, expressing support for Palestinians.

>> a $100,000 settlement between Bridgewater Township and a black teenager.

An incident at a local mall that went viral.

"NJ Spotlight News" begins now.

♪ >> From NJ PBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Raven: Think you for joining us tonight.

First Lady Tammy Murphy's Senate campaign has hit the ground running with endorsement and invents and little push back to her campaign except for tough words from her opponents like representative Andy camp.

Tonight the first lady is experiencing the first major pressure early in her campaign.

Katie Brennan, former volunteer who settled with the campaign over allegations of rape by a staffer says Tammy Murphy is unfit to run.

Brennan claims the first lady did nothing to support or comfort her when she came forward with allegations and she is not an ally of women.

Senior correspondent David Cruz spoke with Brennan and how her comments could impact support for the first lady's campaign.

>> this is how most of New Jersey got to know me, as Mrs. Murphy, the first lady.

Serving in this role is the honor of my life, but more about that later.

David: Any candidate would envy her position, most already endorsing her, huge financial resources and a built-in platform to keep her issues and herself in the public eye.

If you look closely, there is drag affecting campaign takeoff, high-profile women with former ties to the Murphys giving voice to those they say still cannot speak up.

Katie: Given the political structure in New Jersey, it is extremely difficult for folks to say how they really feel.

David: Katie Brennan, former volunteer whose sexual assault charges rocked the early days of the governor's administration says Tammy Murphy does not deserve support from women.

Something she says she knows firsthand.

Katie: There are ways to support survivors and to support the administration simultaneously.

The late great Sheila Oliver, when she was lieutenant governor, the day my story broke, she called me.

Not only did she call me, she sent security to HFMA to make sure I would not be harassed and would be protected.

There are ways to be supportive of the administration and survivors.

I did not see that from governor or Tammy Murphy.

David: a former member of the campaign leadership team had this recent assessment of Tammy Murphy.

You do not consider her an ally to women?

>> No.

I consider her a massive enabler of her husband and the men around him who did everything they could do harm women.

David: The first lady has a record on her work for women's health but also the administration's handling of the State women's prison and on conditions the Murphy-owned women's soccer team.

She has ignored Riginsky and had this to say about Brennan's comments -- we vowed to never let a situation like that happen again on our campaigns or in our workplace.

We created systemic change on Phil's reelection campaign and the same on this campaign.

>> Throughout his administration and election campaigns, governor and Mrs. Murphy have offered themselves out as a partnership, a two-for-one deal.

It is how they pitched themselves to voters and the state.

It is legitimate to ask where Mrs. Murphy has stood on major questions they have faced during his time in office.

Katie: Tell me how you are uniquely qualified and your credentials show that out of all of the people in New Jersey, all the women in New Jersey, it is you we should be voting for.

David: The Murphy campaign insist the first lady has wide support among women, who make up a major part of podium -- party activists and voters.

To those whose opposition to Tammy Murphy for whatever reason feel free to speak their minds, that will be the assumption going forward.

I'm David Cruz, "NJ Spotlight News."

Raven: New Jersey's finance watchdog has voted in favor of joining a Republican state committee lawsuit against dark money group jersey freedom.

Republicans accuse the group of sending mailers and ads to boost phantom candidates meant to siphon votes away from Republicans actually running.

As Ted Goldberg reports, it is also attracting unlikely support from progressive third parties.

>> All in favor say aye.

>> aye.

>> Any objections?

It passes unanimously.

Ted: After a half of closed-door discussion, New Jersey's election law enforcement commission is involved in the Republican State committee lawsuit against the dark money group jersey freedom.

The lawsuit attracted unlikely allies like the working families party.

>> Today you are sending a clear and decisive message that every group seeking to operate in our elections must be held accountable into the same standards.

Ted: They will join as an amicus party, experience and knowledge without advocating for a particular side.

The GOP lawsuit says they violated campaign finance laws and ran phantom candidates in an effort to siphon votes away from Republican candidates who were legitimately running.

>> Once the mailers started hitting he said, I do not want anything to do with this and jumped out of the race and supported me.

>> When organizations spend vast sums of money for misinformation and confusion to election day decisions, that is a problem.

>> Millions of voters went to the ballots to determine control of the New Jersey Legislature in November.

We believe that jersey freedom made a mockery of election laws and threatened to weaken our democracy.

Ted: one senator won by 14 points despite facing off against a phantom candidate, but others played a wole -- role in some GOP candidates losing.

>> Anybody can start a group to support whoever they want, but to support somebody not running, to hide where the money was coming from, that is a concern for democracy generally and that is why we are pursuing litigation to make sure it does not happen again.

>> organizationour -- our organization believes when an electorate can vote without interference we can achieve the democracy that best serves the interests of the people of our state.

Ted: Advocates were happy to see this lawsuit against jersey freedom which has its next court date on January 10.

Antoinette Miles says we should expect more dark money in the future.

>> More shadowy dark money groups will pop up in future elections.

They will take it as a signal to engage in these tactics moving forward, if actions are not taken.

Ted: The senator says state lawmakers may need to tweak finance laws in the future.

>> There are other disclosures we require, independent expenditures, so people know where the money is coming from.

That is something we should be looking at in the legislature.

Ted: Jersey freedom spent hundreds and thousands of dollars before a judge froze their spending in early November.

We reached out to jersey freedom for comment and they did not respond.

Ted Goldberg, "NJ Spotlight News ."

Raven: two school districts in Bergen County the latest to abolish a controversial policy that would prevent schools from outing transgender and non-binary students to their families.

It has been a polarizing issue in schools this year and some push for LQBTQ+ student protections and others advocate for parental rights.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis has reaction and whether or not there will be legal or legislative response to overturn that.

>> Motion carries.

Joanna: the Board of Education Thursday repealing policy 5756, state guidance that grants protections for transgender students.

The Franklin links Elementary school board of Ed repealed there is on the same day.

The Roxbury board voted to keep theirs for now.

In Westwood, familiar argument was heard before the vote.

>> I do not know how a rational person can think it is good to keep a parent in the dark about the health and well-being of their child.

Which the language in the policy allows.

>> We know you will vote to pass this regardless how many speak out against it, so we won't.

We have already spoken at the polls and the message was loud and clear, the community does not want this.

You can pass whatever policy you would like because we will be back in January to speak two aboard we know will listen and we cannot wait.

Joanna: High school senior pointing out three voting were just ousted in November's election.

Lauren Albrecht says though their voices are loud, parents rights groups remain in the minority in New Jersey in repealing these policies leaves educators, school districts and LQBTQ+ students more vulnerable.

>> The removal of 5756 does not indicate a school should implicitly be outing a student, there is a law against discrimination.

But removal of 5756 puts school staff and teachers, counselors, anyone with contact with students, in a rough position, so there are not guidelines to navigate this nuanced situation.

Joanna: Sean applauds the appeal and says we could see more districts move in this direction in the new year.

>> It is a first step to making sure students are notified of their students gender identity, well-being, and schools are in partnership with parents and educating the next generation.

Parents feel schools are not with them on this issue.

We want them to work together.

Joanna: Another points out these school boards are in lame duck session and points to what measures they can past.

>> They are not supposed to be taking measures like revising or removing a policy.

That was a decision of the Commissioner of education in the state of New Jersey.

Joanna: He says legal action could be taken if they sue because the school board are only repealing policies that protect transgender students and there could be legislative response.

>> There is a bill that would codify 5756.

But it is sitting out, no action has been taken.

Joanna: Is legislative response the answer?

Should the state be requiring districts adopt these policies?

>> Home rule is the rule in our state.

The issue is compliance with laws.

The problem with a district that does not comply is the district gets sued.

Whether it is a private lawsuit by a plaintiff who feels they have not been protected, or a lawsuit filed by our Attorney General, the basic result is, it takes money away from teaching kids.

Joanna: And it spends taxpayer dollars on legal costs rather than funding already tight school district budgets.

Something he thinks is likely to happen is more districts move to repeal policies.

Joanna Gagis, "NJ Spotlight News ."

Raven: Opinions at home shifting toward the war in Gaza.

A new poll from the New York Times and Siena College showing a majority disapprove of President Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict and a slim majority say Former President Trump would be better suited to handle the conflict.

This after Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit to Israel signaling renewed support for the war efforts, though he says protecting Palestinians in Gaza is both a moral duty and strategic imperative.

Despite the death count for Palestinians nearing 20,000, Israel today raiding one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza's north and bombarding with airstrikes.

The push for a cease-fire here at home has only grown louder.

Melissa Rose Cooper spoke with families in jersey who are not only mourning the loss of loved ones, but fear for those only barely surviving.

>> I want to hear my uncle's voice.

I want to hear my cousin's voice.

I have not in five days.

I do not know if they are alive or not.

Melissa: She experiences every day not knowing if her loved ones in Gaza will see another morning.

>> Our family are still alive.

Have no water, no electricity, no food or medicine because of blockade.

We all know they need food.

We all know they need medication.

We see it, we hear it.

You hear it in our voices and you see it, but we are not letting it in.

We as humans are making decisions on when these Palestinian people get to live or not.

We are standing here and letting it be.

Melissa: She and other members of the Palestinian community calling on President Biden and officials to demand immediate cease-fire.

>> Please save what is left of my family and other Palestinian families who have been just asking for one thing for 75 years, freedom and equality.

>> The Council on Islamic relations, our chapter since October 7 has been reaching out to each elected official in New Jersey, calling on them to support a cease-fire before the death toll had reached 20,000.

Long before that even calling on elected officials to support a cease-fire, we have called Senator Menendez, Senator Bucky, every single representative.

We have met with them.

Melissa: Family say they are losing more and more members of the community by the minute.

>> My cousin, her 12-year-old sister, and my other cousin who is a doctor were all killed by Israeli shelling and snipers.

She was the most beautiful little Palestinian girl who loved things like K-Pop and Billie Eilish.

Her and her sister's only crime was trying to get water when they were shot and killed by Israeli snipers.

My elderly uncle who was 70 years old sitting in his apartment was also shot and killed by Israeli snipers.

Melissa: Mohammed struggling to hold back tears after an Israeli airstrike killed 120 members of his family yesterday alone.

>> This is my cousin, she is an accountant.

She has a sister who was a dentist, a sister who is an engineer, and a brother who was a lawyer.

She got killed and she has two orphaned daughters, that is them.

Full of life, very joyful, all gone.

>> Just two days ago I received a message from my other brother.

One of my nephews was taking his wife, bringing them to the hospital with her mother to deliver the baby.

They were stopped by an Israeli bulldozer.

They stopped the car and guess what they did?

They made the bulldozer go all over the car and the people, they smashed everybody in the car, everybody was smashed in the street.

Who can live like that?

How much do we have to take?

How long do we have to be silent and have called for cease-fire?

Melissa: The families are expected to meet with an assemblyman to call for his support in the cease-fire as they continue to push for peace in Gaza.

Raven: Some New Jersey highschooler say they have been at the receiving end of death threats and calls for expulsion from school for simply walking out of school to show support for Palestine.

Organizers helped walkouts with around 100 participants at each.

Now they face consequences they contend are more severe than cutting class for other reasons and they say there are more limitations placed on Pro Palestine speech than other types of speech in their schools and communities.

We have reaction from students and she joins me to discuss.

Tell me, what threats are these students receiving?

Hannah: On the most extreme end, some are receiving death threats.

These are from people online, via text message, WhatsApp, unnamed people.

They have also received calls for them to be doxxed, which would be their information, name, address shared online without their permission.

Calls for them to be suspended or expelled from school.

Raven: When we think of this type of pushback, it is not just from their peers.

Some of these consequences are also by school administrators.

Hannah: Most is not from peers.

A lot of adults in the community on different Facebook groups or online who founded the students' numbers and are texting them threats.

Raven: Adults?

Hannah: Yes.

Most of the pushback is from adults, not students.

Within the schools in West Orange the school did push for the protest to be delayed.

They say that was to promote student safety and make sure they could have an adequate amount of security on hand.

Students also say pushbacks they are facing from schools after the protests have occurred are more severe than students who cut class for other reasons such as past protests or if you are dismissing class because you do not want to be there that day and left early.

Raven: It is important to clarify that ages of these students because they are minors.

Hannah: Most I spoke to were under 18, they are just teenagers standing up for what they believe in, facing consequences and pushback as a result.

Raven: I read in your article one student said, if this was a pro-Israel walkout, I feel like it would not be postponed or had any pushback.

Are some schools allowing pro-Israel protests and not pro-Palestinian?

Hannah: There have not been any pro-Israel protests similar to these pro-Palestinian protests I covered.

No school walkouts I am aware of.

But there have been community protests normally led by adults in which students are participating.

It is hard to compare the two because one is happening on school grounds and the other is more of a community event.

Raven: Do students feel this is a violation of free speech?

Hannah: Students have expressed concerns about free speech because they believe their speeches being treated differently because of the message they are conveying, that they are expressing support for Palestinians, that it is treated differently than 2018 when students walked out as part of the March for our lives or Black Lives Matter, or other causes.

Raven: What is being done to students being threatened?

How are schools handling this?

Hannah: The school said they are committed to protecting students a the and I know local police apartments are investigating threats.

They are taking them seriously.

Raven: So there are consequences for people doing this.

Hannah, thank you.

Bridgewater Township has reached a proposed settlement more than a year after police came under scrutiny for the response to a fistfight between a Black and White teen.

The scuffle shows Z'Kye Husain, a Black teen, pinned down and handcuffed by police while the White teen was shown seated on the couch.

Protest after allegations of racial bias surfaced.

Neither teen was charged, but the mall band both boys for three years -- banned both years for three years.

Asking for more than $100,000.

The family has agreed to appear in court for a settlement hearing.

In our spotlight on business report, a major offshore wind project off the Jersey coast has taken a big step forward.

Federal regulators announced the Atlantic Shores South project, part of a development, not likely to jeopardize the existence of whales, sea turtles or fish.

Feds acknowledge marine life will experience some adverse effects.

Atlantic Shores South will be built off Atlantic and Ocean Counties, the closest turbines 10 miles from shore.

Construction is expected to begin next year and could be online by 2027.

It will generate 1500 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 700,000 homes.

Opponents of offshore wind have attempted to tie recent whale and dolphin deaths to the developments but scientists say there is little evidence to back those claims.

Wall Street markets continue to rally.

Here is how they closed today.

♪ Raven: That will do it for us.

Don't forget to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast to listen anytime.

I'm Raven Santana.

For the team, thanks for being with us.

We will see you back here tomorrow night.

>> New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child and RWJBarnabas Health.

Let's be healthy together.

>> Have some water.

>> Look at these kids.

What do 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.

♪