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NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

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

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

MORE ACCUSATIONS OF BULLYING ARE SURFACING AT CENTRAL REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL WHERE A 14-YEAR-OLD STUDENT DIED BY SUICIDE TWO DAYS AFTER BEING ATTACKED BY'S IN THE HALLWAY AND A VIDEO OF THE ASSAULT SPREAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

MORE STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE SPEAKING OUT SAYING THAT KUCH WAS FAR FROM ALONE IN FACING SEVERE BULLYING.

ALL CLAIM A PERVASIVE CULTURE OF BULLYING AND VIOLENCE WAS KNOWN AMONG DISTRICT OFFICIALS BUT THEY FAILED TO ACT.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: PROTESTERS RALLIED IN FRONT OF CENTRAL REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR 14-YEAR-OLD ADRIANA KUCH.

THE TEAM COMMITTED SUICIDE FEBRUARY 3rd, DAYS AFTER A VIDEO OF HER BEING ATTACKED AT SCHOOL BY CLASSMATES SPREAD OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHE WAS NOT THE ONLY BULLYING VICTIM HERE.

A WEDDING TO BRIANA O'BRIEN.

>> THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME.

BUT I REACHED OUT TO SOMEONE FOR HELP INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH WITH IT.

AND I FEEL BAD FOR EVERYONE THAT IS FEELING LIKE THIS.

THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT TEARS.

>> Reporter: TEARS STREAMED DOWN HER FACE AS SHE STOOD WITH PROTESTERS IS MORNING.

SHE SAYS CLASSMATES BULLIED HER, TOO AND SHE, TOO COMPLAINED TO ADMINISTRATORS TO NO AVAIL.

>> THEY NEED TO BE BETTER OR BE FIRED.

>> I'VE SEEN COUNTLESS FIGHT VIDEOS.

THE WHOLE NINE.

>> ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

>> YEAH.

NEED TO COME UP WITH A WORKING CHANGE.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING DOES NOT WORK.

>> Reporter: BROWN IS FAMILY TRANSFERRED HER TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.

IN OLIVIA'S CASE, THEY HIRED A LAWYER AND SUED THE DISTRICT ALLEGING THAT THE TEEN WAS BULLIED RELENTLESSLY AT CENTRAL REGIONAL.

>> THERE IS A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE FOR THESE AND SAYS WERE ACCEPTABLE BY ADMINISTRATION.

IT CREATED A VICIOUS CYCLE OF JUST NOT ONLY BULLYING, BUT PREMEDITATED PHYSICAL ASSAULTS AND CONTINUED CYBER BULLYING AND STOCKING AND CONTINUED THREATS AFTER THE FACT.

ALL OF WHICH, THE SCHOOL HAD KNOWN ABOUT.

>> DEDICATED SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR VIDEOS OF FIGHTS TAKING PLACE IN THE SCHOOL.

THAT WERE UPLOADED TO A PARTICULAR SITE.

A REPOSITORY OF FIGHT VIDEOS, LIKE A FIGHT CLUB GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL.

>> A LOT OF KIDS HAVE STORIES ABOUT BEING BULLIED AND GOING TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THEM DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

>> Reporter: BULLYING AND HARASSMENT INCIDENTS ON THE RISE AT CENTRAL REGIONAL AREA THIS CASE SPOTLIGHTED WHAT THE NEXT CALL THE ADMINISTRATIONS CIRCLE THE WAGON DEFENSIVE POSTURE, WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO AN ABRUPT RESIGNATION LAST WEEK.

>> THEY DON'T TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT'S WHERE THE WEAKNESS IS.

WE NEED CHANGE.

I'M UPSET THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS ABLE TO RESIGN, GET HIS PENSION AND WALK AWAY FROM THIS.

>> THE ALLEGED ATTACKERS HAVE BEEN CRIMINALLY CHARGED.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE DISTRICT.

RADIO SILENCE.

IN A STATEMENT POSTED LAST WEEK IT HAD THE DISTRICT IS EVALUATING ALL CURRENT AND PAST EVALUATIONS -- ALLEGATIONS OF BULLYING AND IS BEING ASKED TO REVIEW THEIR ANTI-BULLYING POLICY.

>> THE POLICY IS FULL IF IT IS NOT ADHERED TO.

THE WHOLE WAY IT WAS HANDLED, I DID NOT LIKE IT READ >> THESE FOLKS AND POSSIBLY HUNDREDS MORE WILL TURN OUT FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO DEMAND ANSWERS FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE KIDS.

IN BAYVILLE, BRENDA FLANAGAN, TRANS EX.

>> TEEN GIRLS ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN UNPRECEDENTED RISE AND THE RECITAL BEHAVIOR.

A CDC SURVEY RELEASED TUESDAY FINDS NEARLY 30% OF HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS OLD NATIONWIDE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE.

THAT'S DOUBLE THE RATE FOR BOYS OF THE SAME AGE.

MORE THAN HALF SAID THEY FELT PERSISTENTLY SAD OR HOPELESS.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE EVEN HIGHER FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS AND HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY RISING OVER THE LAST DECADE.

THE REPORT COMES AS FEDERAL LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING LEGISLATION TO HOLD ONE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CONNECTION TO YOUTH DEPRESSION.

FOR MORE INSIGHT, I'M JOINED BY GARY NELSON.

THE DIRECTOR OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

GARY, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE SPACE, WHAT DOES A REPORT LIKE THIS REALLY ALARMING NUMBERS HERE, SAY TO YOU ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN PARTICULAR >> IT IS REALLY SAYING THAT THEY ARE IN CRISIS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FACING.

I KNOW FOR MYSELF, ON THE GROUND, SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON, IT'S BEEN EVERYTHING WITH COPING WITH LOSS, DEALING WITH DEPRESSION, DEALING WITH PEER TO PEER RELATIONSHIPS.

DEALING WITH INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS.

A LOT OF THOSE HAPPEN, TO, AND FAMILY PROBLEMS AT HOME.

ALL OF THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER AND HAVE MADE THIS HUGE CRISIS WHERE EVERYONE IS HAVING A TOUGH TIME, TO BE HONEST.

>> ARE WE JUST PAYING MORE ATTENTION NOW?

WAS THIS RULING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS?

THEN YOU ADD SOMETHING LIKE THE ISOLATION OF THE PANDEMIC AND IT SORT OF TIP IT OVER THE EDGE, I WOULD IMAGINE RID >> I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN BREWING FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WAY THAT IT IS CREATED THIS BUBBLE OR CREATED THIS IMAGE OF BEAUTY OR STUDENTS AND GIVING UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.

THEY ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA MOST OF THEIR DAY AND COMBINE THAT WITH THE PANDEMIC.

IT REALLY MESSED UP OUR KIDS' SENSE OF SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO THEIR PEERS.

IT HAS CREATED THIS BIG MASS THAT WE ARE NOW SEEING THE END RESULTS OF.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE?

CLEARLY, THERE ARE PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU RUN IN BURLINGTON COUNTY.

HOW ELSE CAN THIS BE COUNTERED?

WHEN THE NUMBERS, I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST TRAGIC, REALLY, TO SEE THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERING ATTEMPTING SUICIDE, DEALING WITH DEPRESSION AND AGGRESSION.

WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> I BELIEVE THE NUMBER ONE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES AND LOOK AT A VERY NUANCED APPROACH AND DEAL WITH IT COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY.

WHAT I AM SEEING IS STUDENTS REALLY RESPOND TO SOMEONE JUST BEING THERE.

IT IS NOT EVEN NECESSARILY THAT YOU HAVE TO DO NICOLE COUNTS LYNN OR YOU HAVE TO HELP THEM WITH CERTAIN THINGS.

SOMETIMES YOUR PRESENCE AND SOMEONE THAT SAYS I'M GOING TO BE HERE AND LISTEN TO YOU, A LOT OF TIMES I'M ABOUT THAT ENOUGH JOBS FEEL LIKE THEY CAN COPE WITH THINGS.

ALSO MAKING THAT INVESTMENT INTO MORE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES THAT ACTUALLY DO THE WORK.

HAVING THEM BASED INSIDE OF THE SCHOOL IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.

THEY SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH THE STUDENTS AND THEY REALLY LEARNED THEM, THEIR FAMILIES, HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH THINGS INSIDE OF SCHOOL, AND THEY GET TO ADDRESS IT RIGHT ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

>> WHICH HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AS OF LATE.

WHAT ARE RED FLAGS THAT FAMILY MEMBERS, PARENTS CAN LOOK FOR?

BECAUSE TEAMS ARE MOODY AS IT IS.

IT CAN BE TOUGH TO SPOT SOME OF THIS.

>> PARENTS CAN LOOK OUT FOR SIGNIFICANT CHANGES INSIDE THE CHILD.

IF YOU SEE A CHILD INTERACTING A LOT AND TALKING A LOT AND NOW THEY ARE SUDDENLY ISOLATING.

THEY LOOK SAD ALL THE TIME.

ANYTHING THAT IS KIND OF OUT OF THE ORDINARY FROM WHAT YOU'VE SEEN FROM THEM.

THOSE OF THE THINGS TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

PARENTS KNOW THEIR CHILDREN BEST.

WHEN SOMETHING IS OFF, MAKE IT A POINT TO JUST BE OPEN AND LISTEN TO WHAT THE CHILD IS SAYING, RATHER THAN GOING AND TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.

SHOW THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO JUST SIT AND LISTEN TO THEM BEFORE AUTOMATICALLY THROWING THEM INTO COUNSELING, SAYING THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

JUST LISTEN.

>> GARY NELSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US YOUR INSIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

TARMAC AN AMBITIOUS PLAN FROM THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCING HE INTENDS TO REACH 100% IN ENERGY IN THE STATE 15 YEARS EARLIER THAN HIS INITIAL TARGET.

THE GOALS WERE OUTLINED DURING A SPEECH AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WHERE GOVERNOR MURPHY VOWED TO HIT HIS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROMISED BY 2035 INSTEAD OF 2050 AND REQUIRE ALL NEW VEHICLES TO HAVE ZERO OMISSIONS BY THE SAME TIMEFRAME.

THOSE ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AND WHAT THE STATE HOPES WILL BE AN AGGRESSIVE MOVE TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORT.

>> AM PROUD TO LIVE IN A STATE WHERE WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO INTERSECTS THE SOLUTIONS WITH HEALTH LINK EDDIE, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

>> Reporter: INSIDE THE RUTGERS CAMPUS, THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS ESTABLISHMENT WAS GATHERED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY GOVERNOR MURPHY ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.

PROUD OF THEIR PARTNERSHIP.

OUTSIDE, GRASSROOTS, LOCAL, AND STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS WERE SINGING A DIFFERENT SONG.

>> PLANET HAS A PROBLEM.

GOT TO SOLVE A --??

>> THE GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO ISSUE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND MAKE FORMATIONS.

HE TAKES TO TWITTER TO TWEET ABOUT IT BUT THE COMMUNITIES FACING THE FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS ARE NOT BUYING THE HYPE AND THEY NEED REAL, CONCRETE ACTION FROM THE GOVERNOR TO DENY THESE FOSSIL FUEL PROJECT.

>> IT'S THE BIG CONTRADICTION FROM THE GOVERNOR, SAYS DEMONSTRATORS HERE.

WIND IS WONDERFUL AND SOLAR IS SWEET FOSSIL FUEL BURNING PROJECT, SEVEN MAJOR ONES FROM NEW BRUNSWICK TO KEARNY TO NEWARK WILL CHOKE OUT FOR COMMUNITIES WHERE BLACK OMAR BROWN, AND IMMIGRANT KIDS ARE ALREADY SUFFERING ILL EFFECT.

DON'T GET THESE FOLKS STARTED ON THE TURNPIKE EXTENSION PROJECT IN JERSEY CITY.

>> MOST POLLUTANTS COME FROM CHANCE ROTATION, NOT OUR GENERATION AT 41%.

$11 BILLION TO WIDEN A TURNPIKE THAT ENDS AT A FUNNEL INTO THE TUNNEL.

>> Reporter: INSIDE, THE GOVERNOR WAS TOUTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND INTRODUCING NEW MEASURES AT WHAT INTENDED IS BEACH FOR NATIONAL AUDIENCES AS MUCH AS HIS ALLIES IN THE ROOM.

>> THE STEPS THAT WE ARE TAKING TODAY OFF TO BE MEMORIALIZED BY EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SIGNED.

MOVING OUR TARGET FOR A 100% CLEAN ENERGY STATE I HAD MY 15 YEARS FROM 2050 TO 2035.

>> Reporter: INCENTIVIZING AND SUBSIDIZING ELECTRIC NATION OF HOME, HITTING, AND COOLING SYSTEMS AND THE PLAN TO WORK WITH ENERGY COMPANIES AND OTHERS TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO DECREASE DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS.

ALL GREAT ON PAPER, SAY HIS DETRACTORS OUTSIDE.

EVEN THE PART ABOUT THE STATE ENERGY MASTER PLAN AND PUTTING TEETH INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BILL THAT PASSED IN 2020.

BUT THOSE ARE MORE PROMISES THAT RING HOLLOW TO THE SKEPTICS OUTSIDE.

>> THAT WAS THREE YEARS AGO.

WE'VE NOT BEEN ANY FURTHER PROGRESS ON IT.

IF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU, SHOW US, PROVE IT.

STAY TRUE TO YOUR WORD AND HELP US MOVE FORWARD WITH PASSING THE BILL.

>> OUR WORK IS NOT DONE.

WE REENTERED THE GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE AND REJOINED THE COLLABORATIVE MULTISTATE HARDSHIP TO CURB THE CARBON EMISSIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE SET A GOAL OF ACHIEVING A 100% CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY BY THE YEAR OF 2050 AND TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, WE ARE LEANING INTO OFFSHORE WIND WITH ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST AMBITIOUS PROGRAMS.

WE ARE INVESTING HEAVILY IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP GET MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE ROAD FOR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL INCENTIVE PROGRAMS.

>> Reporter: ON ICE THINGS, BUT WHEN THEY WANT TO BUILD A POWER PLANT IN YOUR BACKYARD -- >> PROJECT THE POWER PLANTS NOW.

>> Reporter: THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SYMBOLIC GESTURES.

DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THE SHORT TO CATCH CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ THIS WEEK.

HE GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE JERSEY CITY COUNCILWOMAN IN HER FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE THE JULY HIT AND RUN INCIDENT.

NATIONAL HEADLINES, A LARGE FINE, AND CONTINUOUS CALLS FOR HER RESIGNATION.

SHE TALKS ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND WHY SHE REFUSES TO STEP DOWN.

WATCH TOMORROW ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

>>> THE DEADLIEST EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY'S MODERN HIT HISTORY.

THE DEVASTATING 7.8 MAGNITUDE QUAKE LEVELED ENTIRE CITIES IN TURKEY AND SYRIA.

THE DEATH TOLL STANDS AT NEARLY 40,000.

THE MAJORITY, MORE THAN 35,000 FATALITIES IN TURKEY ALONE.

NINE DAYS LATER, SURVIVORS ARE'S WELL-BEING PULLED, ALIVE, FROM THE RUBBLE, DEFYING ALL ODDS.

MIRACULOUS RECOVERIES INCLUDED A MOTHER AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND TWO BROTHERS WHO RATIONED PROTEIN POWDER BETWEEN THEM TO STAY ALIVE.

THOSE ARE JUST RARE BRIGHT SPOTS IN AN INCREASINGLY DEVASTATING SITUATION.

TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE ARE INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE FEBRUARY 6th EARTHQUAKE AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS BOTH COUNTRIES ARE DISPLACED AND WITHOUT SHELTER OR BASIC NEEDS IN THE BITTER COLD.

IN SYRIA, RESCUE OPERATIONS HAVE SHIFTED TO RECOVERY.

U.N. AID TRUCKS ACROSS THE BORDER INTO WESTERN SYRIA FOR THE FIRST TIME ON TUESDAY THANKS TO A NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION STRESSES RECOVERY NEEDS TO FOCUS ON TREATING A TRAUMATIZED POPULATION.

MEANWHILE, THERE COULD BE A FUTURE WHERE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MACHINES ARE USED MORE WIDELY AND DISASTER RECOVERY.

ANY SURVEY FINDS THAT THE PUBLIC IS GENERALLY'S OPTICAL ABOUT THE USE OF AI.

ACCORDING TO A MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLL OUT TODAY, DESPITE MORE AWARENESS OF AI DEVELOPMENTS, 35% OF RESPONDENTS SAY THEY HAVE COMPARED TO A LOT COMPARED TO 12% A DECADE AGO.

41% OF THOSE SURVEYED SAY THEY BELIEVE IT WILL CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD IN THE FUTURE AND ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE PUBLIC BELIEVE THAT MACHINES WILL HER JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.

SOME MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE FEEL TO YOUR FEEL THE SAME WAY.

A NEW BILL WOULD REGULATE THE USE OF AI IN THE HIRING PROCESS LAST.

THIS OFFER COULD CAUSE BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION WHEN LOOKING FOR WORKERS.

>> Reporter: JOBHUNTING CAN BE HARD ENOUGH ON ITS OWN.

IT CAN BE EVEN HARDER FOR APPLICANTS WHO COULD BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY AI HIRING PROGRAMS.

>> JUST BECAUSE IT IS CODE, A ROBOT, AI DOES NOT MEAN IT IS NEUTRAL OR FREE OF BIAS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, TRYING TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE QUALIFIED OR DESERVE SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: DYLAN WORKS FOR THE ACLU OF NEW JERSEY.

SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT ALGORITHMS THAT MIGHT DO DISCRIMINATING AGAINST PEOPLE DURING THE INTERVIEW AND HIRING PROCESS.

>> IF YOU ACCEPT THAT THERE IS BIAS, WHICH THERE IS, IN OUR EXISTING LABOR ALL WHO WORKS A DIFFERENT COMPANY.

CERTAIN RACES, PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THE RIGHT SCHOOLS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE RIGHT HOBBIES AND FIT IN WITH THE EXISTING WORKFORCE.

IF YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO REPLICATE THAT WORK FORCE AND SAY THAT IS WHO IS QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB NUMBER THAT BECOMES REP GATED IN THE HIRING TOOL.

>> A NEW BILL WOULD REQUIRE COMPANIES TO TELL JOB APPLICANTS IF AI WAS USED TO EVALUATE THEIR APPLICATION.

IT WOULD REQUIRE HIRING SOFTWARE TO UNDERGO A BIAS AUDIT TO ALTER OUT ANY PATTERNS OF DISCRIMINATION.

THE BILL IS IN BETWEEN COMMITTEES RIGHT NOW.

THIS ASSEMBLYWOMAN IS A PRIMARY SPONSOR.

>> THE COMPANY DECIDED THE ALGORITHM SHOULD BE BASED ON THE CV OF THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYEES READ BUT THEN THE ALGORITHM, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY ONLY PUSHED FORWARD MEN.

>> Reporter: JEFFERS SAYS TECHNOLOGY IS NOT INHERENTLY RACIST, BUT DIFFERENT TYPE OF CODE CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION.

>> THAT TECHNOLOGY, FOR THE FAUCET TO START AND YOU CAN WASH YOUR HANDS AND THEN IT WAS SHOWN THAT IT WAS HARDER FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR TO GET THOSE THINGS TO WORK.

BECAUSE THOSE ALGORITHMS HAVE BEEN BUILT MOSTLY AROUND, I GUESS, WHITE CONSUMERS.

>> Reporter: COMPANIES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A $500 FINE IF THEY VIOLATE PARTS OF THIS BILL.

JEFFERS SAYS THIS IS AN UNREGULATED SPACE.

WHAT PEOPLE NEED IS MORE INFORMATION AND MORE TRANSPARENCY.

>> HAVING SOME SORT OF GUIDELINE SET IN PLACE SO THAT WE HAVE AUDITS FOR EQUITY ON THESE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE USED.

ALSO, TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW WHEN THEY ARE APPLYING THAT IT IS BEING USED.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THE INTENT AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE TOOLS OR THAT THEY ARE NOT IN USE IN A DISCRIMINATORY FASHION.

>> Reporter: ALEXIS BAILEY WORKS FOR THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

SHE SAYS ASSEMBLYWOMAN JAFFER HAS BEEN RECEPTIVE TO SUGGESTIONS FOR AMENDMENTS INCLUDING A POTENTIAL SIMPLIFICATION OF THE BIAS AUDIT AND >> WE'VE ASKED FOR IT TO BE A SUMMARY OF THE REPORT SO IT IS DIGESTIBLE EASILY AND PROTECTS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE COMPANY.

>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS COMPANIES HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO USE TOOLS THAT DON'T EXPRESS BIAS AGAINST JOB CANDIDATES.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT IT'S TOO SOON TO IMPLEMENT A LAW LIKE THIS BUT SHE SAYS IT WOULD BE WORSE TO ALLOW ABLE TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST WHILE JOBHUNTING.

>> SOMETIMES IT IS BEST TO PUT PARAMETERS IN PLACE AND THEN TWEAK THEM THAN TO JUST LEAVE SOMETHING AS CRUCIAL AS EMPLOYMENT OF TWO, WELL, WE WILL FIND OUT LATER.

>> Reporter: IS SIMILAR BILL WAS INTRODUCED AND ACED DATES AND IT MEDY LAST MARCH BUT IT WENT NO FURTHER.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M TED GOLDBERG.

>>> WE HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHETHER RISING INFLATION WOULD IMPACT THE REVENUE COLLECTIONS AND TODAY THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT GAVE US HIM IN.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> REVENUE COLLECTIONS ROSE IN JANUARY BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY SPECS TAX COLLECTIONS TO MODERATE IN THE COMING MONTHS.

FISCAL YEAR TO DATE TOTAL COLLECTIONS ARE UP 3.4% OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

IN JANUARY, THERE WAS A SLIGHT DROP IN INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS, BUT SALES AND CORPORATE BUSINESS TAX COLLECTIONS INCREASED.

MEANWHILE, FOR THE MONTH IN A ROW, TRANSFER FEES DROPPED, REFLECTING A CHALLENGING HOUSING MARKET.

THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION HAS BEEN HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS TO CONSIDER HOW THE STATE SHOULD THEN THE REVENUE MADE FROM LEGAL CANNABIS SALES.

A NEW RUTGERS POLL ASKED NEW JERSEYANS FOR THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHERE THE CANNABIS FUNDS IT SHOULD BE INVESTED.

ASHLEY KOENIG IS DIRECTOR OF THE EAGLETON CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEREST BOWLING.

>> WE FOUND BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND PRIORITY WOULD BE FUNDING EDUCATION, FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES AND 23% THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE REVENUE SHOULD BE EDUCATION.

21% SAID THE SAME ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> OTHER PRIORITIES LISTED BY RESIDENTS ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, TRENDS ROTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FUNDING POLICE, COURTS, AND PRISONS.

ANOTHER POLL RELEASED BY FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY FINDS MOST RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE CHANGES TO THE NEW JERSEY LAW BANNING PLASTIC BAGS.

THE SURVEY OF 808 ADULTS FOUND 40% WOULD KEEP THE MAN AS IS.

A TOTAL OF 89% WANT THE LAW TO BE CHANGED OR OVERTURNED COMPLETELY.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING TWEAKING THE BAN.

A BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THAT WOULD INCLUDE RINGING BACK PAPER BAGS FOR A SET AMOUNT OF TIME.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM WALL STREET AND RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE IS THIS REPORT PROVIDED BY IBEW LOCAL 102.

PROBABLY SERVING NEW JERSEY BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102.

LIGHTING THE PATH.

LEADING THE WAY.

>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT OUR LATEST DIGITAL PROJECT CALLED WATER'S EDGE.

THE TRIALS AND TRIBUTARIES OF THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED.

IT'S A MULTIPART SERIES EXAMINING THE TROUBLED HISTORY OF THE DELAWARE RIVER TRANSFORMATION FROM A POLLUTED BODY OF WATER FULL OF SEWAGE AND CHEMICAL WASTE TO A RECREATIONAL DESTINATION FOR THE REGION.

BUT THE TWO WORK IS FAR FROM OVER.

AND NOW NEW THREATS LOOM.

PROBLEMS CAUSED BY DEVELOPMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND RAPID URBANIZATION ARE THREATENING THE WATERSHED, WHICH SUPPORTS THE RIVER AND PROVIDES A WATER SYSTEM TO MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE.

OUR DIGITAL REPORTERS EXPLORED THE DELAWARE RIVER BASIN AND EVEN HOP IN PADDLE BOATS TO BRING YOU THE FOUR REGIONS.

THE HIGHLANDS, FINANCE BARBARA URBAN RIVERBANKS OF CAMDEN COUNTY AND IF YOU GO TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG TODAY, ANDREW LEWIS TAKES US TO THE BAYSHORE REGION.

AND THE BEAR SWAMP WEST.

ONE OF THE NORTHEAST'S MOST ANCIENT, OLD-GROWTH FOREST.

AS SEA LEVELS RISE, SALTWATER IS PUSHING INTO THE SWAMP, THREATENING AND EXISTENCE.

>> I WENT INTO A PARCEL OF LAND ON THE BAYSHORE CALLED BEAR SWAMP AREA AND ITS UNIQUE FOR ITS ISOLATION.

IT'S IN OUR IN FROM THE NEAREST GROVE.

A REMOTE COUNTRY ROAD.

BAYSHORE MARSHLAND.

SOME OF THE OLDEST OLD-GROWTH FOREST IN NEW JERSEY AND ON THE EAST COAST.

SOME OF THE TREES RANGE FROM 300 TO 500 YEARS OLD.

THE LOSS OF THE MARSHLANDS IS AN INCREDIBLE THREAT TO THE FOREST.

AS YOU PROBABLY HEAR ALL THE TIME, AND IT ACTS AS A BUFFER ZONE.

THE MUD AND THE GRASSES SOAK UP WATER.

THEY LITERALLY SOAK UP FLOODWATER DURING HIGH TIDES AND ALSO STORM EVENTS.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE TRENDS ECKSTEIN, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH YOU TOMORROW.

>> NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

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.

>> I AM McMANUS.

2023 PRESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

WHETHER IT'S HELPING A FAMILY FIND THEIR PERFECT HOME OR SECURING A SPACE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, NEW JERSEY REALTORS HAVE BEEN HELPING CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS ARE, THERE IS A NEW JERSEY REALTOR FOR YOU.

FIND YOURS AT NJ.REALESTATE/FIND.

>> WHAT'S THE LIGHT BULB WITHOUT THE FILAMENT?

WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THOMAS EDISON AND THE LIGHTBULB, WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT LEWIS LATIMER.

>> WILL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BLACK AMERICANS.

>> HIDDEN FIGURES.

NOBODY KNEW THAT THEY WERE THE ONES BEHIND THE MATHEMATICS BUT THEY WERE.

>> THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS INVENTED BY AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

ASKED TO THE CHILDREN IF THERE WERE NOT ANY TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THERE WOULD BE LOTS AND LOTS OF ACCIDENTS.

BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.