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FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN WITH BACKLASH OVER THE STATE'S BEAR HUNT.

NOW IN ITS SECOND DAY, FOLLOWING A COURT ORDER SIGNING WITH THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION OVER CONCERNS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE CONTROVERSIAL CRACK THIS IS MAKING A RETURN AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS.

ANIMAL-RIGHTS GROUPS FOUGHT TO PERMANENTLY STOP THE HUNT AND HAD A SYMPATHETIC EAR IN GOVERNOR MURPHY, WHO CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE THAT, IF ELECTED, THE 2020 HUNT WOULD BE THE LAST IN HIS ADMINISTRATION, AND FOCUS WOULD SHIFT TO NONLETHAL MANAGEMENT.

NOW THOSE ACTIVISTS CIRCLING HIM OUT FOR CHANGING COURSE.

TED GOLDBERG HAS THE STORY.

>> THIS 290 POUND BEAR BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST HARVEST IN NEW JERSEY'S BEAR HUNT.

THE FIRST FULL DAY OF THEIR SEASON WAS A BUSY ONE FOR HUNTERS, MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME AFTER A COURT DELAYED THE START OF THE HUNT UNTIL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

>> MONDAY, THE OPENING-DAY, IS DISPROPORTIONATE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF BEARS THAT ARE HARVESTED.

THE REASON FOR THAT, IN PART, IS BECAUSE PEOPLE PLAN FOR OPENING DAY.

THEIR SEASON RUNS CONCURRENTLY WITH OUR TRADITIONAL DEER SEASON.

SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT IN THE WOODS THE FIRST DAY.

>> Reporter: THE DEP SAYS THE STATE HAD TO BRING BACK THE BEAR HUNT BECAUSE NONLETHAL METHODS LIKE OUR TRAPS WERE NOT EFFECTIVE ENOUGH IN REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE.

>> WE KNOW THERE IS A HIGH CORRELATION BETWEEN NEGATIVE BEAR HUMAN INTERACTIONS AND DAMAGING NUISANCE REPORTS AND THE BEAR POPULATION.

AS THE BEAR POPULATION GOES UP, WE EXPECT, BECAUSE THEY ARE CORRELATED, THAT INCIDENT LEVELS WILL GO UP.

WE HOPE TO BRING THE BEAR POPULATION DOWN AND REDUCE NEGATIVE BEAR-HUMAN INTERACTIONS.

PART OF THAT IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE NONLETHAL APPROACHES TO BARE MANAGEMENT.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY BROUGHT BACK THE BEAR HUNT BY EMERGENCY RULE, CITING THE SPIKE IN DAMAGE AND NUISANCE REPORTS.

ANIMAL ADVOCATES ARGUE THAT THE NUMBER IS NOT AN OUTLIER COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS AND THAT HUNT DO NOT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BEAR-HUMAN INTERACTIONS.

>> WHAT WE SAW THAT CREATED THE ALARM IS THAT BETWEEN JANUARY AND OCTOBER 21st OF THIS YEAR, WE SAW 237% INCREASE IN DAMAGE AND NUISANCE REPORTS, COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME FROM LAST YEAR.

>> WHEN WE STOPPED HUNTING ON STATE PROPERTY FOR THREE YEARS, COMPLAINTS WENT DOWN.

THEY WERE DOWN.

SECONDLY, COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN HIRED DURING HUNTING YEARS.

AFTER FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF HUNTING, COMPLAINTS WERE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

WHERE WAS PUBLIC EMERGENCY?

>> Reporter: SUSAN RUSSELL WORKS WITH THE ANIMAL PROTECTION LEAGUE OF NEW JERSEY.

ONE OF THREE ANIMAL-RIGHTS ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT SUED TO STOP THE HUNT.

SHE QUESTIONS WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A BEAR EMERGENCY AND SAYS NEW JERSEY SHOULD FOLLOW OTHER STATES AND USE MORE NONLETHAL MEASURES.

>> THEY COULD HAVE PROPOSED THIS PLAN AND GOING TO THE NORMAL COMMENT PERIOD.

THEY DID NOT.

THIS IS THE PERFECT STORM BETWEEN MURPHY'S POLITICAL AMBITIONS AND A VERY SMALL BUREAU OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN TRENTON.

IT WILL NOT HELP ADOPT THE METHODIST IN COLORADO, WYOMING, AND MONTANA.

THESE ARE PLACES WITH LOTS OF BUECKERS.

>> Reporter: THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DISAGREES AND ARGUES THAT THE HUNT MAKES IT LESS LIKELY THAT BEARS WILL INTERACT WITH PEOPLE, PROPERTY, AND PET >> SOME OF THE BEARS THERE TAKING IN THE HARVEST ARE NUISANCE BEARS.

THEIR MARKS.

THAT'S WHAT THE CHECK STATIONS PROVIDE.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COLLECT THE DATA.

>> ANIMAL-RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE APPEALED TO NEW JERSEY'S SUPREME COURT AND THEY SAY A RULING SHOULD COME SOON.

FOR NOW, THE HUNT IS ON THROUGH SATURDAY.

IN SUSSEX COUNTY, I AM TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> MUCH OF THE TOUGH ANTICRIME LEGISLATION THAT WAS EMBRACED BY BOTH THE LOCAL PARTIES DECADES AGO REMAINS A HOT BUTTON ISSUE TODAY WITH CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS POINTING TO THAT STANDS FOR INCREASING INCARCERATION RATES, NAMELY AMONG BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH.

IT IS WHY THE SAME GROUPS ARE TAKING ONE OF THE STATES SENIOR DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS TO TASK FOR A NEWLY UNVEILED PACKAGE OF RHYME BILLS.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> WHAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF FUELING ANOTHER ERA OF MASS INCARCERATION.

>> I CAN ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH TRYING TO INCARCERATE MORE PEOPLE.

>> DEPENDING ON HOW YOU TALK TO, A RECENT LEGISLATIVE ANTICRIME PUSH WITH AN EMPHASIS ON AUTO THEFT CRACKDOWNS IS EITHER A RIGHTFUL RESPONSE TO AN UPTICK IN AUTO THEFT AND OTHER CRIMES OVER THE TWO PANDEMIC YEARS, OR POLITICIANS RESPONDING TO PUBLIC POLLING DATA, AS OPPOSED TO ACTUAL CRIME DATA.

>> I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SIX THEY'RE LOOKING AT BUT THE SUBURBAN MAYORS THAT I HAVEN'T --HAVE TALKED TO, THEY SEE AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF CAR THEFTS.

IF WE ARE FIGHTING OVER STATISTICS, THEN THAT'S ONE THING.

I AM FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE IN THEIR TOWNS AND PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE.

>> Reporter: IN PRESS CONFERENCES LEADING UP TO THE MIDTERMS AND IN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS SENSE, BILLS TARGETING AUTO THEFT RINGS AND OTHER CRIMES REFLECT A NEW FOCUS FOR LAWMAKERS, CITING PANDEMIC ERA STATISTICS, WHICH ARE REBUTTED BY REPORTS OF DOUBLE-DIGIT DROPS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

>> WE SAW THE WORST CRIMINAL JUSTICE RHETORIC DURING THIS MIDTERM ELECTION THEN WE HAVE IN DECADES.

THIS TOUGH ON CRIME, '90s MENTALITY THAT LED TO FOLKS SAYING THE WORD SUPER PREDATOR IN THE MID-90s.

BACK AND ADD IT IN FULL FORCE IN OUR STATE.

IT IS THE VIOLENT CRIME IS UP IN NEW JERSEY.

IT IS ACTUALLY DOWN.

I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WHEN LAWMAKERS ARE COMING UP WITH IDEAS, THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY LEANING INTO THE DATA AND NOT JUST LEANING INTO FEAR MONGERING AND THE RHETORIC OF POLITICAL ADS.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, SAYS SENATOR PULSAR LOW, WHO HAS PUT UP SEVERAL BILLS FOR SENATE CONSIDERATION.

>> THE SENATE PLANS TO HAVE A HEARING JUST FOCUSED ON AUTO THEFT.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT PUTTING -- IT'S ABOUT CRACKING DOWN ON AUTO THEFT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS ANOTHER PRONG OF HIS ANTICRIME APPROACH IS A MUCH-NEEDED REVIEW OF THE 2014 BELT LAWS, WITH SOME CLAIM OPEN THE DOOR FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS.

>> IT WAS MEANT TO KEEP THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND DRUG ADDICTION OUT OF JAIL.

WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF DOING THAT.

IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO KEEP THOSE WHO ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS, THOSE WHO BREAK INTO YOUR HOME, OUT OF JAIL.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO BREAK INTO YOUR HOME, REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED IMMEDIATE BAIL.

>> Reporter: THE CHANGE HE HOPES TO SEE IN THE COMING YEAR IS BEING BOLSTERED BY A BIPARTISAN ECHO CHAMBER OF A LAWN.

REFLECTING REPUBLICANS EARNS AND MAYBE IN OUR ELECTION DAY IS ALWAYS COMING ENVIRONMENT, POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM.

DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IT TOOK A FULL MONTH BUT THE MIDTERM ELECTION CYCLE IS FINALLY OVER.

AFTER SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK, THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, REPEATED REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER AND FORMER FOOTBALL STAR HERSCHEL WALKER IN THE GEORGIA RUNOFF, SECURING DEMOCRATS WITH A TRUE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

IF THE ONES NEEDS TO THE GOP 'S 49.

MAKING GEORGIA A BATTLEGROUND IN 2024.

DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING HERE IN THE GARDEN DATE, WATCHED THIS RACE CLOSELY.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER AND TOM MALINOWSKI TWEETING ABOUT THE VICTORY WHERE TURNOUT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

IN NEW JERSEY, STATEWIDE TURNOUT LAST MONTH WAS LOWER THAN EVERY OTHER MIDTERM ELECTION EXCEPT ONE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS WITH ABOUT 40% OF REGISTERED VOTERS CASTING A BALLOT.

THE HIGH WATERMARK FOR THE STATE WAS 2018 WHEN 55% OF VOTERS FLOCKED TO THE POLLS.

LARGELY MOTIVATED BY ANTI-TRUMP SENTIMENTS.

>>> ANOTHER LONG-AWAITED RESULT IS OUT TODAY.

IT WIDE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES FROM LAST SPRING FOR NEW JERSEY'S K-12 STUDENTS.

ADVOCATES, LAWMAKERS, EVEN PARENTS HAVE BEEN PRESSING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO RELEASE THE DATA IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND LEARNING LOSS THAT AFFECTED STUDENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC TO COURSE CORRECT.

THIS AFTERNOON, THEN BUILD THOSE RESULTS.

OUR EDUCATION WRITER IS HERE WITH THE DETAILS.

JOHN, LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

WHERE DO NEW JERSEY'S STAND TWO YEARS OUT FROM THE PANDEMIC?

>> IN TERMS OF STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS, WHICH ARE GIVEN EVERY YEAR, BUT WERE NOT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THEY ARE THE GAUGE THAT THE STATE USES TO EVALUATE SCHOOLS.

AND TO A DEGREE, STUDENTS IN TERMS OF LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH.

NO DOUBT THERE WAS SOME REGRESSION.

I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS IN THIRD GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS, FOR INSTANCE, WHERE HALF OF THE KIDS WOULD HAVE HIT PROFICIENCY TWO YEARS AGO.

IT IS DOWN TO 40%.

SIXTH GRADE MATH, WHERE 40% IT PROFICIENCY TWO YEARS AGO, IT IS NOW DOWN TO 31%.

IN GENERAL, IT WAS ABOUT A 10% DROP IN PASSING RATES.

IT'S PROFICIENCY RATE.

NOT A MATTER OF PASSING OR FAILING BUT THAT IS OFTEN HOW THEY ARE USED.

IF THOSE WHO ARE SAYING WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF LEARNING LOSS, THIS FITS THE PATTERN.

IT HAS BEEN SEEN IN OTHER STATES, AS WELL.

THERE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A DROP IN PERFORMANCE.

NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISING GIVEN THAT WE HAVE BEEN THREE PANDEMIC AND THE DESTRUCTION MAY HAVE, BUT LET'S PUT SOME NUMBERS ON IT.

>> MATH IS ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE STOP'S LAGGING A BIT IN NATIONWIDE TEST.

THOSE SCORES WERE RELEASED A MONTH AGO.

MAYBE TWO MONTHS AGO NOW.

HOW DO WE COMPARE IF WE LOOK AT THIS ON A MACRO LEVEL WITH NATIONWIDE SCORES?

I KNOW THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THERE WAS A BIG PUSH TO GET THESE NUMBERS OUT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> IT FITS, VERY MUCH, THE PATTERN.

NEW JERSEY DID BETTER THAN A LOT OF STATES WHEN LOOKING ACROSS STATES.

IT CERTAINLY WAS A REGRESSION IN VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THEM.

THE LATEST SCORES COMING OUT OF THE STATE CERTAINLY BACK THAT UP.

ANOTHER SOMEWHAT STATIC NUMBER THAT CAME OUT THAT WE CANNOT COMPARE A WHOLE LOT WITH, BUT THERE IS NOW A NEW GRADUATION TEST IN 11th GRADE THAT HAD BEEN STALLED FOR A FEW YEARS AND NOW CAN BACK THIS PREVIOUS SPRING.

THOSE NUMBERS WERE NOT TERRIBLY PROMISING.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO PASS IT EVENTUALLY.

BUT FEWER THAN 50% PASS THE FIRST GO AROUND IN ENGLISH AND IN MATH.

NOTHING TO COMPARE TO.

IN 2019, THEY DID NOT GIVE THIS TEST.

IT WILL CERTAINLY RAISE CONCERNS GOING FORWARD.

>> THERE IS STILL A LOT TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF SUBGROUPS.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW SPECIAL-EDUCATION STUDENTS DID.

LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE THERE?

THAT IS A BIG PART OF HIS CONVERSATION.

>> THOSE NUMBERS WERE HUGE.

NOT HUGE.

BUT THERE WERE BIG GAPS.

AS MUCH AS 20% BETWEEN DIFFERENT SUBGROUPS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER THOSE HAVE WIDENED.

BUT I AM SURE THEY HAVE NOT NARROWED, UNFORTUNATELY, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I DOUBT CERTAINLY NOT UNIVERSALLY.

THAT WILL BE A BIG CONCERN.

SCHOOLS SERVE ALL KINDS OF KIDS.

WHILE SOME FARED JUST FINE COMING OUT OF THIS, OTHERS CERTAINLY STRUGGLED.

I WANT TO ADD ONE CAVEAT.

THESE ARE JUST TEST SCORES.

NOT WHOLLY EMBRACED BY EVEN EDUCATORS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO MEASURE SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MEASURES.

TAKE IT WITH SOME GRAIN, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF FOLKS CARE ABOUT AND WERE AWAITING THE RESULTS.

>> THAT'S A GOOD AND FAIR POINT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> A RAINY DECEMBER NIGHT DID NOT STOP PRESIDENTS FROM POSTTESTING OUTSIDE CITY HALL OVER AN ONGOING FEUD ABOUT PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS.

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUP MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY AND OTHER ADVOCATES MARCHED THROUGH CITY STREETS, CALLING ON COUNCILMEMBERS TO ADDRESS RENT CONTROL SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHICH WILL REMOVE A $20 PER MONTH CAP ON INCREASES AT APARTMENTS.

OPPONENTS ARGUE THAT IT WILL RESULT IN HIGHER INCREASES FOR THOUSANDS OF TENANTS, AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE IS EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS AND A SURGE IN THE COST OF LIVING.

LANDLORDS ARE ALSO DEALING WITH RISING INFLATION AND HIGHER BILLS, ASKING THE COUNCIL TO INSTEAD APPROVE MORE HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR STRUGGLING FAMILIES.

ELIZABETH CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON THE RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE NEXT WEEK.

>>> IS CONCERNS GROW ABOUT TEEN VAPING, AND e-CIGARETTES FIRM IS SETTLING THOUSANDS OF LAWSUITS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE LATEST PLUS TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> NEW JERSEY IS RECEIVING MORE THAN $33 MILLION AS PART OF A MULTISTATE ELEMENT WITH THE VAPING COMPANY JUUL LABS.

A TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION INTO THE COMPANY'S MARKETING AND SALES PRACTICES REVEALED THAT JUUL'S CAMPAIGNS WERE TARGETING YOUNG PEOPLE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THAT THE SETTLEMENT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM THE HAZARDS OF VAPING AND SMOKING AND INSHORE THAT JUUL CAN NO LONGER PUT PROFITS OVER PUBLIC HEALTH BY USING UNLAWFUL SALE PRICES TO FUEL A YOUTH VAPING CRISIS.

>>> TWO NEW JERSEY NONPROFITS ARE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK AT REMOVING ECONOMIC BARRIERS AND ADVANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

TRENTON HEALTH TEAM, AND ASBURY PARK BASED INTERFACE TO NEIGHBORS, WILL EACH RECEIVE A $200,000 GRANT FROM BANK OF AMERICA THROUGH ITS NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS PROGRAM.

TRENTON HEALTH CEO GREGORY PAULSON SAYS HE WILL USE THE FUNDING TO EXPAND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING WITH FINANCIAL AND SECURITY, HOUSING INSTABILITY, ACCESS CHALLENGES AROUND HEALTHY FOOD MOTHER REALLY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AROUND HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OR ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES AND >> THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TWITTER HAS HAD ITS FAIR SHARE OF CHANGES SINCE ELON MUSK TOOK OVER AND THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS DECIDED IT IS TIME TO LEAVE TWITTER.

IN EXPLAINING THE DECISION, THE DEAN SAID, AS A SCHOOL THAT IS ROOTED IN THE TENETS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY, WE WILL NOT BE PART OF A DIGITAL COMMUNITY THAT IS RIFE WITH UNRESTRICTED AND UNMITIGATED HATE SPEECH AND DISCRIMINATION.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S TRADING FROM WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER.

WE KEEP A LIFE FLOWING.

ONLINE HATS NEWJERSEYAM.COM.

>>> ENDURO EVENTS ARE ONLY LOT OCTOBER TO APRIL USING A SPECIAL FERMENT -- PERMIT.

STILL ENDURO WRITERS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED BY ENVIRONMENTALISTS OF DAMAGING THE HABITAT, DISTURBING WILDLIFE, AND INTIMIDATING HIKERS AND FAMILIES VISITING THE PINE BARONS DURING MOTORBIKE EVENTS AND JASON HAMMEL, PUBLIC LAND ADVOCATE FOR THE LAND PRESERVATION ALLIANCE IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR TO FIND SIGNS VANDALIZED AND MOTORBIKE MARKED IN AREAS THAT ARE RESTRICTED AND HE BROUGHT ME TO LONDON --ONE LOCATION WHERE ENDANGERED PINES NEXT LAY THEIR EGGS.

>> FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THIS HAS BEEN A CRITICAL HABITAT SITE FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES.

WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

CAN SEE PEOPLE THAT WOULD PREFER IT BE AN OFF-ROAD VEHICLE PARKED.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST.

THE STATE AND RESPONSIBLE PARTIES LIKE THE EAST COAST ENDURO ASSOCIATION, TO TRY TO GET THE STATE FOR US TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST POLICY.

>> THAT IS WHY THE EAST COAST ENDURO ASSOCIATION WORKED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES INCLUDING THE HIGHLAND PRESERVATION'S ALLIANCE TO CREATE THIS MAP.

THE GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE FRONTAL IMPACT ON THE TRAILS.

ESPECIALLY SINCE RIDING THROUGH THE WOODS IS A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM.

RED MEANS OFF-LIMITS.

GREEN MEANS FAIR GAME FOR NJM INSURANCE GROUP TRAILS.

>> WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING THE WOODS THAT'S ILLEGAL, I FEEL LIKE ALL PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE WOODS, CALL THE STATE PARK POLICE AND HAVE THEM ARRESTED OR CHALLENGED OR TICKETED.

>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCE SAYS THE PROCESS, WHICH STARTED IN 2014, WAS NOT EASY, BUT THEY EVENTUALLY CAME TO A HAPPY MEDIUM.

>> IT TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS WORKING TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH THE MAP THAT IS NOW BEING USED IN THE COMING YEAR.

>> THE ABRASION BETWEEN OUR EVENTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD.

IT BECAME CLEAR THE BEST SOLUTION IS FOR EVERYONE TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND WORK OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS, WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MITIGATE THOSE?

OUR EVENTS ARE UNFETTERED COMMISSIONS AND COURSES.

>> Reporter: THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT IN A CAREFUL INTERNAL REVIEW, IT INCLUDED 63 MILES OF PRE-EXISTING SINGLETRACK TRAIL ON THE STATE FOR AS MANY MAP.

THE 63 MILES OF TRAIL MAY ONLY BE USED DURING ENDURO EVENTS FOR WHICH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND ISSUED.

CASUAL WRITING ON THESE TRAILS OUTSIDE OF APPROVAL OFFENSE IS NOT PERMITTED.

>> WE FELT THAT WORKING TOGETHER WOULD ULTIMATELY BRING BETTER RESULTS.

MONTGOMERY SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF WRITERS ARE NOT CAUSING PROBLEMS, BUT HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY IN CREATING THESE MAPS.

HE HOPES THAT THEY CAN SPREAD TO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> THEY WERE HELD AS HEROES.

CONGRESS RECOGNIZED THEM WITH THEIR HIGHEST HONOR.

PRESENTING THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO DEFENDED THE CAPITAL ON JANUARY 620 21 WITH METALS.

PELOSI PRAISED THEM FOR STANDING UP FOR DEMOCRACY AND DETECTING FROM THE PRO-TRUMP INSURRECTIONIST TO STORM THE CAPITAL.

AMONG THEM, OFFICER BRIAN SICKNICK, WHO DATED --DIED AFTER BEING ASSAULTED IN THAT JANUARY 6th ATTACK.

THE FALLOUT IS STILL RAW FOR SICKNICK'S FAMILY, WHO REFUSED TO SHAKE HANDS WITH MITCH McCONNELL AND HOUSE GOP LEADER KEVIN McCARTHY.

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SAYING SOMETHING.

BUT NO, THE BEST WAY IS TO JUST IGNORE THEM.

WE HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD BLOW UP LIKE THIS.

WE REALLY DID NOT.

I'M GLAD IT DID.

I THINK IT MADE THEM THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.

JUST SITTING IN THESE OFFICES AND LOOKING AT THE PICTURES OF THEIR FAMILIES BEHIND THEM AND THINKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THEY DO WHEN THEY GO HOME?

WHAT DO THEY SAY TO THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THEY GO HOME?

WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY IS THIS GOING TO BE?

DO THEY REALLY WANT TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY OF THEIR MAKING?

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

DON'T MISS TONIGHT'S EPISODE OF CHAT BOX WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK, HE LOOKS AT LEARNING LOSSES AND TEACHER SHORTAGES POST PANDEMIC.

THEN MY INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER SENIOR CAMPAIGN STAFF FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY WHO HELPED USHER LEGISLATION THROUGH CONGRESS LIMITING THE USE OF NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS IN SITUATIONS WHERE WORK IS HARASSMENT IS ALLEGED.

THAT'S TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS YOUR BACK AND THAT'S WHY IT HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, WE MAKE SURE OUR HEALTH PLANS HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS YOU NEED AND MORE WAYS TO GET CARE VIRTUALLY.

MORE SUPPORT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, TOO.

MORE TOOLS ON YOUR PHONE.

ALL IN A RANGE OF HEALTH PLANS IS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN FIND JUST WHAT YOU NEED AND WE CAN HELP.

BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS THEIR BACK.

NOT JUST IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, ALL THE TIME.

>>> FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, NEW JERSEY REALTORS HAVE BEEN HELPING CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.

THEY LIVE AND WORK IN CITIES, SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES JUST LIKE HERE IN BEAUTIFUL ASBURY PARK RED NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE, THERE IS A NEW JERSEY REALTOR FOR YOUR.

FIND YOUR REALTOR AT NJREALTOR.COM /FIND.

>>> WITH THE NEW KIDNEY, I HAD STRENGTH.

>> TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH INNOVATIVE KIDNEY TREATMENTS, WORLD OF INTERNAL PROGRAMS AND PREMIER CARE AT NEW JERSEY'S HOSPITALS.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY-CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

ONLINE AT US.ORSTED.COM.