>> Funding for and a spotlight is presented by members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great and WJ Barnabas health, let us be healthy together.

>> The New York mayor tosses his hat into the ring for New Jersey governor, making a surprising announcement.

>> You can stand here and say I want to be a governor of the state of New Jersey.

♪ >> U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Murphy takes her stand, a staunch critic of a proposed gas powered plant and challenging her husband's wavering support of the plan.

>> I stand together with you and I oppose the plant.

>> A councilman hits the streets making deliveries calling for increased ebike.

>> Our e-delivery is on the sidewalks and it is a an accident waiting to happen.

>> Shining a spotlight on social and economic challenges.

>> More than half of the maternal deaths or after a woman gives birth and a lot of them come in the first six weeks.

NJ spotlight news starts now.

>> >> From NJ studios this is NJ Spotlight with Briana.

Briana: The New York mayor is putting the rumors to rest, in a fiery speech honoring Black history month on Monday he told a cheering crowd that he wants to be the next governor of New Jersey.

There has been talk among political circles for years that Baraka was eyeing a run.

Or know anticipated he would drop the bombshell mid speech without a formal campaign launch.

>> You too can stand here and say I want to be a governor of the state of New Jersey.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ Briana: Catching even his most fervent supporters of Gara there including Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman who joined him on stage.

Baraka is a former high school principal who served as the mayor of the largest city for a decade.

If elected he will be the first Black governor in New Jersey history.

Voters have to first decide if they want to put another Murphy in office, First Lady Tammy Murphy's bid for a Senate seat is kicking it up a notch as she looks to set herself apart from her husband who has been putting her at odds with the governor about a power plant, a proposal the administration has allowed to move forward but Tammy Murphy now opposes.

David Cruz reports.

>> The first lady wanted to make a couple of things clear today.

She was here not as first lady but as a candidate for U.S. Senate it, highlighting a policy position.

Two, to say -- >> I stand together with you and I oppose the plant in this space.

>> The sewage commission power plant in the iron back community is a controversial proposal to build a backup facility to the existing structure here as a way to protect against power failures like the one that created an environmental mass in Newark doing superstorm Sandy.

People have been fighting the plans for years.

>> We hope and hope is a stubborn thing that may be, a small neighborhood, the largest city with a mighty heart can defeat a fourth power plant in the times of climate change.

>> As a matter of politics, today's event put distance between the first lady and the governor who has been dragging his heels on the issue and giving more reasons to be fourth and against it.

Despite her reminding us that she was here as the U.S. Senate candidate, and not as a first lady, reporters wanted to know how the Senate candidate with the most access to the man with the most influence on the issue was using it or or not using it?

>> You have extraordinary access to the governor who has an important role to play here.

Is it your contingent that your purposefully not speaking to him about it?

You not want to share those conversations with us now?

>> I am again, I will say this, this is one person, an independent thinker who is coming to you and saying from my vantage point we have to reassessed this.

I am not speaking for the governor.

>> But have you talked to him about it?

>> I am talking to other people about this.

This is not something that I would -- I am not here to stand up and speak for the administration.

If that is your question, with all due respect, that is the end of the conversation.

>> The company had no comment, the first lady is the highest profile opponent of the proposal and Environmentalists here were applauding her boarding the f -- joining the fight.

The individual who represents the group, Tammy Murphy was here as a candidate for office, not as a policymaker.

>> It is helpful.

It is helpful when there is a political capacity that is also married to the governor of the state of New Jersey.

I think the governor will end doing the right thing.

>> It could be seen as a good thing for a Senate candidate to so far has been getting criticized for her proximity to the governor.

Even if she is still working on how best to articulate, how find the line is, that she is trying to walk.

NJ Spotlight news.

Briana: The first shot to weigh in on a multibillion-dollar plan to replace the port authority's Midtown bus terminal.

The Manhattan facility is slated to get a total overhaul, expected to give the 200,000 commuters who travel through it each weekday better access to mass transit.

The first and only in-person hearing was not without detractors, especially those hoping to live next door to the construction.

>> This is antiquated beyond a state of good repair.

>> Even Port Authority employees argue that its main bus terminal in New York City needs to be replaced.

They say the new facility projected to cost $10 billion will make life easier for New Jersey's commuters and travelers into the city.

>> We are unable to allow for charging stations or double-decker buses which reduces congestion.

All of these shortcomings will be addressed and provided for in the new bus facility.

Buses come in from the Lincoln Tunnel and they circulate along local city streets.

That creates a lack of dependency for the commuter and it creates congestion in the local neighborhood, and we will be remediating that through the new ramp structure.

>> Today the Port Authority held its only in-person public hearing for anyone who wants to share their opinions on the ambitious new project.

There are three more virtual hearings between now and the end of the public comment period.

Nancy Sharon praised the planned facilities saying it looks easier to get around than the current 73-year-old station.

>> I was glad to see that there was an intent into the accessibility.

I am a senior citizen now and my husband is also a senior citizen.

He has difficulty walking and walks with a cane.

>> She has suggestions for the Port Authority and she was not alone.

>> Terminals without seating is a real difficulty for people who cannot stand for long periods of time.

So, please think about it.

There is no way my husband could sit on the floor the way a younger person could do it.

If he sat on the floor, he would not be able to get up.

>> It would be nice to have a website for this process that led us to know what kind of disruption we can expect and for how long.

>> It is a modern facility that is being shoehorned into the Midtown area.

>> A regional planner does not see it that way.

>> We see this as a big, beautiful, ambitious proposal that really represents a lot of what this region needs.

>> She says the $10 billion project will only get more expensive with time.

The current plan doe not encourage people -- does not encourage people to use mass transit.

>> The wayfinding is terrible in the Port Authority bus terminal.

>> A crucial part of the plan is the direct ramp from the bus terminal to the Lincoln Tunnel.

>> You get stuck in traffic in the tunnel, normal traffic.

You get stuck in traffic literally because the buses are backing up in the terminal.

The traffic that backs up in the terminal itself is maddening.

You are so close.

It makes you want to hop off the bus and you cannot do that for a number of reasons.

>> If you want to share your thoughts on this project the Port Authority is taking public comment until March 18th.

Briana: This time of year prospective college students are typically awaiting financial aid offers from their schools of choice but, colleges and universities across New Jersey and nationwide are facing delays in receiving student financial information from the U.S. Department of education free application for Federal student a.

Better known as FAFSA.

Due to obligations of a rollout of a new form that open in December.

The delays and glitches are so widespread many colleges are now postponing enrollment deadlines to rein in the chaos.

Education and welfare writer is with us to discuss what it means for New Jersey's students.

Hannah, walk me through what this new application is and why the U.S. Department of education chose to roll it out this year?

>> The Department of Education released the better FAFSA which is supposed to be a more streamlined form with fewer questions that will hopefully allow people to get through the form faster.

They were supposed to release it a year ago.

They needed a bit more time and it seems like there are some delays with the extra buffer.

Briana: What kind of glitches were they coming up against?

Are students able to apply at all?

>> Typically the form is available beginning in October, this year it was not released until the very end of December.

That was a soft launch that had some glitches.

It was not until January and in the winter when people were really able to fill out the form.

There are still some students who cannot fill out the online form at all.

Just students whose parents do not have a Social Security number.

>> Is this affecting freshman?

Or is it affecting students who are heading into their second or third or last year and have typically relied on that financial aid package?

>> The concerns are primarily surrounding freshmen who need to make this college decision.

They may not have their financial aid offers in front of them when they have to decide which school they want to go to if I know is the right time for them to pursue college at all.

Briana: What schools have you spoken to in the state who are now saying we are going to pump the brakes on enrollment?

>> I reached out to the largest schools in New Jersey, Rutgers, the largest, they are going to be postponing when their applications are due and also when the enrollment deadline is June 1.

Montclair State University is also delaying to June 1 and others say they are monitoring the situation and may delay.

>> I am sure that there will be.

How many students are we talking about?

Who typically use this?

What does it mean when there is a month taken off of that timeline?

>> Nationally, about 17 million students fill this out every year and so far, the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education has a sitting at around 4 million.

Briana: A significant drop.

>> Is much lower than in previous years.

The whole process has kind of been delayed at every point.

Briana: As a student, you get those offers and you have got to take a finetooth comb to them to look through the different packages and what will be best for you.

That window now is a lot shorter for kids to make these decisions.

>> Regular decision acceptance is normally coming out March or early April and the aid offers are around the same time.

It is seeming like those offers may not be available for students until a bit later which is why some schools are delaying the deadline.

Briana: Is there anywhere students can go for help?

>> They can go to the U.S. Department of Education's website.

The federal student a office.

They can also go to the higher education student assistance authority.

They are offering some personalized support as well as student guidance counselors, that is the best fit where you can talk to someone one on one and get the individual help.

>> Thank you so much.

Briana: A city councilman is taking to heart a promise he made on the campaign trail.

Keeping pedestrians safe from e-bikes.

He took a part-time gig delivering for uber eats, getting a look at what it is like as a delivery worker in the mile Square city.

Joanna has the story.

>> It is our e-delivery happening on the sidewalks.

>> He has traded in a suit and tie for a bike and riding best, he has taken a part-time job as a deliberate rider with Uber eats.

He says it is meant to inform an ordinance he has proposed.

>> We are probably have had zero deaths in seven years, I do not want to have a statistic or we have one death on the sidewalk and on the streets.

>> He campaigned on the promise to prioritize pedestrian safety.

His ordinance would require all e-bikes Deliberate writers to pass a one test to understand the rules of the road or at the sidewalk and they need to purchase a safety vest that would be required when they ride.

>> Not only am I detecting the people on the sidewalk because we can see them in the distance and we can situate ourselves.

Also making it safer for when they are on the streets.

>> For several local groups oppose the ordinance saying it does not get to the root of the infrastructure problem.

Double parked cars that force cyclists onto sidewalks.

>> If there was more loading zones for cars and drivers, and there was a protected bike lane, it would have its own space and you would be safer for everyone.

>> It creates unnecessary barriers to e-delivery which has impacts beyond Hoboken.

>> We do not want to create barriers and incentivize that.

That will help New Jersey and Hoboken get to carbon neutrality.

Carbon neutrality goals.

>> While the city grapples with the organ and there is a bill -- with his ordinance, there is a bill that requires any drivers of bikes or scooters by go up to 25 miles an hour to be licensed and carry insurance.

>> There is no current insurance on the market that could cover this.

That is a big obstacle in and of itself.

>> That is where these opponents find themselves on the same side.

>> I want to know how they will do this with the DMV.

We are struggling with real IDs and we cannot even get into do that and we add a percentage of our people coming with three bikes?

How do we do that?

Thing about what it cost to train our police force?

Think about how towns are set up for this.

>> In a committee hearing, a senator said he does not love the bill and does expect amendments to be made on the current version.

While it is not clear what enforcement would look like, we did speak with one delivery rider who says ticketing would have a big impact on his fellow writers.

>> Enforcement is a big one because I get a ticket and I will tell all of my friends.

Another guy gets a ticket, he tells his friends.

Nobody is on the sidewalks.

>> To get to the heart of the issue, you have to look at why these writers operate the way they do in the first place.

He blames the delivery companies.

>> Their payment methods for workers encourages unsafe riding.

The way that they get paid is based on how much they ride.

What I would like to see is for our local governments to push delivery companies to pay them the right amount.

>> And to pay fees to the city.

>> In Hoboken, NJ Spotlight news.

Briana: In our spotlight on business report a massive credit card company merger is on the horizon.

Capital one is buying Discover financial $435 billion.

Analysts expect the deal to take a big piece of the market currently dominated by the and MasterCard.

The pair have come under fire for the fees they charge to process payments.

They will also make a formidable rival for American Express.

According to capital one's CEO the acquisition of Discover allows both companies to improve their technology and expand their payment networks.

The deal gives the bank access to another roughly 305 million cardholders on top of his existing base of 100 million people.

Consumer advocates are pushing back on the sale saying that it opposes antitrust concerns because of federal regulations require an merger of this size to show how it would benefit the public as well as shareholders.

Turning to Wall Street, stocks fell to start your important holiday week.

-- your shortened holiday week.

♪ Briana: A project takes a deeper look at the social and economic challenges and the inequalities residents are facing from both -- birth from school to find affordable place to live.

Invokes a -- it focuses on the steps that have already led to positive change.

We begin with a topic that has been front and center, maternal health outcomes.

I spoke with Lilo about her piece examining a whole nurse program for new mothers -- home nurse program for new mothers.

New Jersey has embraced this new program to help maternal health outcomes, what is it and what did you find in looking into it.

>> The model is called family connect, it is in place in 19 states and communities across the country and it has been -- it involves a nursing home visit and it is universal so that every new mother who is giving birth and the counties that are in play is eligible for a visit.

It has not matter if you have insurance or if you have immigration status or how much you earn.

Briana: Does that set it apart?

>> Yes and the nurse making the visit is a unique feature but together that, the nurse go to your home and assesses the mother and the baby's health and connects and identifies things they may be missing like like patient services or maybe they need a credit, or maybe they do not have a bus pass -- a create or maybe they do not have a bus pass or postpartum depression treatment.

There is another person on the back end that works to make sure that the gaps in the services are filled so that you do not have people who are calling online and people are not answering and things like that.

Together it is meant to wrap around these families and live them up.

>> Why is that important?

Babies have checkups right away.

One week and every week after.

Mothers do not typically check in until six weeks and a lot happens in those first six weeks.

>> It turns out that more than half of the maternal deaths are after a woman gives birth and a lot of them come in the first six weeks.

About a quarter of them.

What these experts are saying is that if we can get into the home and talk to mom and say that weird headache you are having is actually a blood pressure problem and we should go to the hospital.

You should see a doctor.

Get there.

Those are the kinds of things where moms not being a mom myself, I feel like a fraud saying this but I hear they are very busy when they get home from the hospital with the new baby and it is like overwhelming.

It is easy for people to say my priority is my child right now and whatever it is there is an itch or an infection.

Briana: It will go away and not get it checked out.

What are the results from this program?

>> The results come from the first program which was implemented in 2000 in Durham and in the surrounding communities in North Carolina and one thing that they found is that it cut emergency room visits for mom and baby in half in the first year.

That lasted for the first year.

It also significantly decreased reports of postpartum depression for mom which is a huge issue.

And it also cut in half complaints of child abuse which was a big issue in the community.

It is proof and there are other metrics as well but it has proven to sort of make this difference.

It has not been assessed for maternal mortality impacts but it is pretty clear from people you talk to that there are anecdotes where nurses are saving lives.

The data is still to come on that.

Briana: A ripple effect if they have that connection with a medical provider.

It is new in being rolled out, how is it going?

Are there challenges?

I am thinking Money is an issue in getting these programs to last.

>> This is what is unique about this is we have talked all the time to new programs that are coming online and in communities that are interesting and I promise.

This is going to be statewide.

It is backed by a law which makes it only the second in the country to be this way.

New Jersey started with five counties, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, and Essex.

It will by 2027 B in place in all 21 counties or start to be in place in all 21 counties.

Challenges, funding, they have $35 million of that for the first few years.

Or for the first installment.

Challenging his hiring nurses and nurses are in huge demand and they will need 250 by the program is statewide.

That is many times over what they have so far.

There are particularly black and bilingual nurses which is so incredible, which is so critical if they can trust the person come into the home.

It is private to have a nurse come into your home.

Especially there with a baby.

Briana: At your most vulnerable.

>> They have challenges but the nurses, one of the stories I wrote was about the nurses and they are just the best advertisement for the program, they are enthusiastic about this work.

Briana: Everybody can check out the full report on those nurses, the great work that they do on our website.

>> Thank you.

Briana: That does it for us tonight, do not forget to download the NJ Spotlight podcast you can listen anytime.

For the entire NJ Spotlight news team, thank you for being with us, have a great evening and we will see you back here tomorrow night.

♪ >> njm insurance group, serving the needs of businesses and individuals for 100 years and by the pseg foundation.

>> 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, achieve.

A chance to belong and to be an American.

My name is Julia and I am proud to be an njea member.

♪