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Briana: Tonight, the big game is right around the corner, but history is already being made with 68 million people projected the place bets.

>> it is not an exaggeration that this will be the biggest Super Bowl ever for betting.

Briana: She is now the -- presumptive Democratic nominee.

She is looking to unseat a Republican.

>> And a purple district, we need all hands on deck.

I'm happy to work with county organizations to get this seat back.

Briana: Combating learning loss.

New legislation to address performance gaps that began during the pandemic.

>> Let's get away from the cycle of insanity of doing things the same way with the same outfit.

Briana: Ahead of the 2026 World Cup final, New Jersey gets to work preparing for the international spectacle, which is estimated to generate $2 billion but comes at a cost.

Reporter: This is costing tens of millions of dollars already.

There is not a legal agreement with New York at this point to confirm that they are going to pay back.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

Briana: Good evening and thank you for joining us this Friday night.

Whether you are into football or not, the Super Bowl has the potential to be the most-watched in history.

According to a Seton Hall University sports poll, three quarters of those surveyed say they plan to tune in for the big game.

That number has grown every year since 2021.

This could be in part because of interest in sports betting.

Analysts are predicting record-setting gambling on the game.

New Jersey residents to online sports betting is a big part of that estimate.

So too is the Taylor's effect.

-- Taylor Swift affect.

Anticipation is building for how much economic activity the game will bring.

Reporter: Players are going to play and abettors are going to -- bettors are going to bet this weekend.

Whether they wager on who wins the game are on if taylor gets engaged to travis, some 68 million Americans will put their money down.

>> This is not an exaggeration to say this will be the biggest Super Bowl ever for betting.

Reporter: He expects fans to wager millions in legal bets.

Bets on the Super Bowl could top 23 billion dollars, up from $16 billion last year.

What is driving the search?

Accessibility.

>> Sports betting in general has been growing as states legalize the practice.

Reporter: New Jersey legalized sports betting in 2018.

It is now permitted in 38 states.

With the Super Bowl located in Las Vegas, experts forecast nearly 13% of legal bets will come from Nevada, followed by New York with about 12%, New Jersey with almost 10%, and Pennsylvania with 7%.

The rest divided amongst other states.

Atlantic City casinos have a weekend long party plan.

>> Today is Friday and we are already very busy building up what is happening here at our resorts.

It will be really exciting.

Reporter: He predicts a 10 to 15% bump in wagers.

With apps, folks can place bets on their phone while sitting on the sofa.

>> It is almost like a 90% to 10% split in favor of online sports betting.

It really does increase the volume because it makes it so much easier.

It is a huge contributing factor to the overall growth of sports betting in the U.S. Reporter: Most oddsmakers currently favor the niners.

Taylor Swift's romance with Travis kelce has spawned a Sideline of prop bets.

>> It is illegal to wager on outcomes that are not related to the game directly.

You cannot place a bet on whether Taylor Swift is going to eat a hot dog or how many times she will be on camera.

I would bet that people in their Super Bowl parties are going to have different pools about what will happen with Taylor Swift.

>> The main thing is to bet responsibly and to know what your limits are.

Expect to lose whatever you bet.

Reporter: She says after the Super Bowl, calls for help always fight at her hotline.

They are mostly young men 18-24.

>> Since the onset of this in 2018, calls to our helpline have increased.

It is a growing problem.

Reporter: She advises to have fun but set a limit on how much you can afford to lose or on Taylor Avenue Travis -- and travis.

Briana: A former news reporter is jumping into the race for U.S. Senate, joining two other Republicans in a large field of candidates looking to take this seat held by Bob Menendez.

In a campaign video released online today, zdan is seen at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona calling for a and in illegal -- and end in illegal border crossings.

Zdan joins others in the GOP primary.

A Republican has not been elected to the U.S. Senate in New Jersey since 1972.

A first-term Republican congressmen is working to hold onto his seat.

He is facing a challenge from a progressive activist who this week came the presumptive Democratic nominee after the only other remaining candidate dropped out of the race.

She joins me now.

Welcome to the show.

It is really good to see you.

You have had a long career of activism in New Jersey.

How do you carve a path for yourself in a moderate district like this?

Sue: I think it is very easy.

Most of the work we did was against corruption in New Jersey, which now unfortunately is pretty well documented.

Briana: You are referencing the tax incentive breaks?

Sue: take your pick.

I am referencing what we know happened with Senator Menendez and what he is under indictment for.

New Jersey corruption is having a moment in the sun right now and it is a good thing for all of us.

My work at working families was predominantly pro-democracy and anticorruption work.

That message will resonate across party lines this November.

Briana: This is a district that leans favorable toward Republican voters.

Not all are on -- in line with your views.

Sue: we challenge you to name what those are.

What I did was work very hard for workers, the environment, women's rights, reproductive choice.

These are all things that most people in this district believe in.

People care about the environment in this district.

They care about affordability.

Things are too expensive right now.

They are afraid about extremism and the Trump led Republican party.

From my standpoint, the things I worked for, I am proud of.

Briana: There is a convention coming up in Hunterdon County.

Are you pursuing the organization line?

Sue: I cannot wait for the Hunterdon County convention.

I have deep roots in this district.

I grew up in Clinton.

The Hunterdon County Democrats are fighters committed to the cause.

Briana: You will pursue the organization?

Sue: there is no primary.

I'm the last candidate standing.

The Hunterdon County and Warren County Democrats and all of the Democrats are part of the coalition we need to win.

We got labor endorsements, 18 or 20 local leaders who endorsed us.

And the local county organizations including Hunterdon County.

Briana: How do you reckon that with your involvement with a lawsuit that is in federal court to abolish the county line?

How do you reckon pursuing that support when it is something you have called in the past truly indefensible?

Sue: my position on that is well documented.

It is a system that is antiquated and has deserved the scrutiny that this primary is giving it.

I am the last candidate standing.

In a purple district, we need all hands on deck.

I am happy to work with county organizations to fight back and win this seatback.

The lawsuit is happening.

My candidacy will not affect that at all.

Briana: There have been increasing calls for people to join the Cease Fire resolution in the house.

Some have signed onto that.

Some have urged a Cease Fire.

Where do you stand?

Sue: it is an awful tragedy.

The situation in the Middle East breaks my heart.

What happened on October 7 was a terrorist attack.

Hamas is a terrorist organization.

It is heartbreaking to think they used sexual violence against Israeli women.

It is awful and heartbreaking.

What is happening in Gaza is awful and heartbreaking.

I think of the women there who have no political power and that makes my heart break.

So far I have not called for a cease-fire.

I think the situation is very complex over there.

It is not so simple that a cease-fire will stop the violence.

This is a deep-seated problem.

We need to pursue peace.

This underscores why we need to reelect President Biden.

Briana: Thank you so much.

Sue: thanks for having me.

Briana: The war in Gaza is sparking a level of youth activism that seen in years.

Students from a number of high schools and colleges across the state are taking part in what has been called the New Jersey students day of action to amplify demands for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Students marched around 3:00 p.m. today from their schools to designated locations, including City Hall, parks, and Starbucks.

It is the latest in a string of movements by activists.

In New Brunswick on Thursday, community members from dozens of organizations gathered at the Monument Square to mourn the thousands of Palestinians who have been killed in the war.

They called on the Congressman who represents the area to cosponsor a Cease Fire resolution.

So far, Democratic lawmakers are the only house members from New Jersey to sign on.

We have reported on the extensive learning loss brought about by the pandemic and remote learning.

A top lawmaker in Trenton once to work with teachers to reverse its impact.

The Senate majority leader this week introduced a bill package aimed on improving literacy and closing achievement gaps.

Some educators are not on board.

Our Senior correspondent reports.

>> What we have been doing has not been working.

Reporter: The Senate majority leader introduced a package of bills aimed at improving education and closing worsening learning gaps.

It has broad support from education organizations.

>> One of these bills addresses universal strainers.

It makes sure we know where every single student is starting off in those earlier grades.

Let's make sure that there is oversight of this effort at large.

One of the bills addresses that.

Let's think about intervention programs in schools.

One of the bills addresses that.

Reporter: The devil is always in the detail.

She says this package as a whole addresses more about education gaps than anything previously introduced.

Making phonics-based education uniform across the state.

>> This bill package gets to what we have been concerned about in terms of literacy and frankly even goes beyond what we had hoped for.

Reporter: A bill within the package would create a learning loss czar, a position she says is needed to analyze where each district stands.

That individual would work closely with the Commissioner of the Department of Education and strategize new ways to meet goals.

>> Professional development, elevating teacher culture and literacy, funding efforts, creating a sort of certificate program that gives them a bone is that space.

Reporter: Last year, the Governor announced a tutoring program for all third-graders, but that has had a slow and bumpy start, proving how difficult it can get -- be to get 600 school district moving in the right direction.

>> There has to be an urgency to implement the rules & bills that need to get signed.

And to work collectively to make sure districts are meeting the expectations.

That is one thing I've always asked the Department of Education, instead of being a beacon of bureaucracy, being a deacon of policy.

Reporter: The New Jersey teachers Association share concerns with this legislation.

They say it does not recognize much of what is going on in classrooms.

They also have concerns that it will impose a one size fits all approach.

They think the state needs to focus on addressing the teacher shortage before mandating more programs and professional development.

As for how much money this package of bills will cost, she says -- >> I do not have a dollar amount.

But I do not want to look at this as an expenditure.

The more we make investments in these, the less headlines you will have of negative outcomes plaguing communities.

I do not understand why there has this been unwillingness to recognize that those things are in tandem.

Reporter: She has also formed a working group of dozens of educational organizations that will meet for the first time next week.

Briana: It is a first of its kind for the U.S. and our state, a regional environmental review of offshore wind energy development for multiple projects in waters off the Jersey coastline.

They are being evaluated as a group because they are so close to one another and the government is hoping to heat up the process to get the projects going after the offshore wind industry had some economic turbulence.

Reporter: People packed into a Toms River hotel to hear about offshore wind from the Bureau of Ocean energy management and have boem hear from them.

>> If there is any additional data we should be seeing.

Any additional mitigation measures that could be considered.

Reporter: BOEM will be releasing an impact statement on these projects.

BOEM says these sites could create energy to power millions of homes.

The busiest part of this open house with the comment station.

>> We get a lot of interest from all variety of stakeholders.

We want to hear from everyone.

>> I wrote that we are destroying the ocean for technology that will be obsolete in 10 years.

Reporter: She was one of many people to come and protest offshore wind.

Despite explanations from BOEM, she is not concerned that these projects are safe for people and wildlife.

>> It is the easiest thing to do.

You will hear what people are actually suffering from in these areas.

Not to mention the sea life.

>> They are going to kill whales and mammals and dolphins.

They called us crazy.

Guess what happened?

Reporter: BOEM MSI construction noises could hurt the fishing industry.

This fourth-generation fisherman does not see it that way.

>> We are out there and we are seeing the absolute industrialization and destruction of our oceans.

Reporter: Environmental groups generally agree with BOEM and say pursuing offshore wind energy would be a boon for New Jersey.

>> Making New Jersey a leader in the country for a new industry.

>> One of the things we are focusing on is there are fact-based scientific information about what offshore wind means.

Reporter: A mom mouth -- monmout ph poll shows that most people support offshore wind energy.

He says the issue is not -- people being not informed or misinformed.

>> The fossil fuel industry has been leading the way with this misinformation.

Basically just lying to people about the facts.

>> The Republicans ran an anti-clean energy campaign that did not work because in reality people in New Jersey respond to clean energy.

It was more of a political situation that we were experiencing last year.

Reporter: While most green groups back these plans, green action ocean does not.

>> These are plans for the Northeast.

Reporter: The executive director says the current proposal calls for too many windfarms and that BOEM should start on a smaller scale.

>> These are a massive jungle of concrete and steel.

We are not opposed to the idea of wind but at this scale and speed and scope and magnitude, it is too much too fast.

Reporter: If you want BOEM to hear what you think, they are taking public comments until February 26.

Briana: In our spotlight on business, the state is already getting to work for preparations for the 2026 World Cup final.

Millions are expected to descend upon the region to catch the game.

Early estimates say the event could generate up to $2 billion engine -- an economic activity.

By hosting comes at a cost, and how much is still unknown.

How much of the TAB will New York be picking up?

A statehouse reporter recently talked to us about her reporting on that very question.

Great to have you on.

A lot of the toxins the news that the World Cup final and a few games will be held here is the economic benefit.

You look deeper into the cost.

What do we know so far about what New Jersey will have to shell out?

Reporter: We know that New Jersey has also -- already shelled out a significant amount.

The state sports authority which owns the Meadowlands complex has already been given millions of dollars from the state and has spent up to $16 million of that to modify the stadium and the grounds.

They still have some left.

We are weeks away from a budget address.

Maybe there is more coming.

This is costing tens of millions of dollars already and there is not a legal agreement with New York at this point to confirm that they will pay back.

They said they would so we will see.

But at this point there is not any paperwork to say they have to.

Briana: What is the governor's office said about that?

There is an understanding that New York is also hosting this so there is an understanding that the cost will be split?

Reporter: The governor is quick to point out the partnership he has with New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

There probably is true, it is just a matter of there is no paperwork yet saying they have to.

The governor has stressed that the partnership is not just on financials but in terms of security, police force, and services.

There are a lot of outside factors besides just the actual money coming into the partnership and what New York is supposed to provide.

Briana: Are there any written plans about what the projected costs might be versus the projected revenue?

Do we have anything on paper at this point?

Reporter: Not yet.

The NJSCA has already set out a timetable for the things they have hired people for.

Architects, designers, a firm to convert the field from turf toe grass.

-- to grass.

The underlying costs for those things already exist.

But beyond that, what is supposed to happen in the next 30 months is still to be seen.

With the way that inflation works and the supply and demand, those costs may not be available for some time until the work gets done.

Briana: What should we expect next?

Some kind of breakdown I am guessing in terms of what the projects are that they will need to complete?

Reporter: My understanding is it is a work in progress.

There is a host committee that has been formed that is not necessarily a government entity that is responsible for things like fundraising and securing sponsors.

The governor is adamant that private funding will pay for this.

If this host committee does secure those donations.

That is likely what he is talking about.

But it has not happened yet.

I assume they had to find out what games they had before they could start approaching people about donating money.

Briana: Thank you so much.

Reporter: Thank you.

Briana: Turning to Wall Street, stocks traded in the green today as the S&P hit a historical milestone, trading above the 5000 level this week.

Here is where the markets closed on this Friday -- ♪ Tune in this weekend for a breakdown of the big business of the big game, including how bars and restaurants will cash in.

The record number of gamblers expected to place bets and the real value of investing millions in a big game ad.

♪ That will do it for us tonight.

Make sure to tune in this weekend.

We will talk with a democratic representative about the gridlock in Washington.

A panel of local reporters will break down this week's political headlines.

That is Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. With the news of the World Cup coming to MetLife Stadium, we talked to the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce president about whether the Garden State will be ready for the global event.

That is right here on NJ PBS.

For the entire "NJ Spotlight News" team, thank you for being with us, have a great weekend, enjoy the weather, we will see you on Monday.

>> NJM insurance group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

And by the PSEG foundation.

♪