>>> FUNDING FOR N J SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING OUR SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RJW HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTEAD, COMMITTED TO A LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> FROM NJPBS.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY DELIVERS HIS FIFTH STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TODAY GIVEN BEFORE A STATE HOUSE CHAMBER PACKED WITH LAWMAKERS AND DIGNITARIES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

LAYING OUT HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF NEW JERSEY AND TAKING A VICTORY LAP OVER PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

HIGHLIGHTING EFFORTS TO MAKE THE FUTURE MORE AFFORDABLE AND FOCUSING ON HYPER ISSUES LIKE REBUILDING THE STRETCH OF BOARDWALKS IN NEED OF REPAIR ALONG THE JERSEY SHORE AND REVAMPING THE STATE'S OUTDATED LIQUOR LAWS.

A MOVE MURPHY BELIEVES WILL GIVE RESTAURANTS STILL RECOVER COVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC TO BOOST THEIR PROFITS.

IT WAS A LESS PROGRESSIVE SPEECH THAN WE'VE SEEN FROM THE GOVERNOR IN YEARS PAST DEDICATING A CHUNK OF TIME TO ADDRESS CRIME AND THE RISE OF AWE THOUGH RISE OF AUTO THEFTS IN THE STATE.

APPLAUDING A FIRST IN THE NATION NOLOXONE INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHT S. >> WITH THE CLOSE OF 2022 WE ENDED THE FIRST YEAR OF PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE NEW JERSEY THE STRONGER AND FAIRER STATE WE KNOW IT MUST BE TO SUPPORT OUR FUTURE AMBITIONS.

AS WE START 2023 AND EMBARK ON YEAR SIX OF OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS JUST THAT.

WE ARE STRONGER, AND WE ARE FAIRER.

WE ARE MOVING CONFIDENTLY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, FORWARD.

>> BY SURELY FOSTERING A STRONGER, MORE AFFORDABLE AND GROWING NEW JERSEY IS WHAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HERE WERE ELECTED TO DO.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OUR NAMES ARE FOLLOWED BY A LETTER D OR A LETTER R THIS IS WORK TO WHICH WE ARE ALL COMMITTED.

LET'S NEVER FORGET THAT IN THE GRAND RANKINGS OF THINGS, WE ARE PARTISANS FOURTH, ELECTED OFFICIALS THIRD, NEW JERISANS SECOND AND AMERICANS FIRST.

AFFORDABLE FOR EXAMPLE, TOGETHER WE CREATED THE ANCHOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM.

A HISTORIC $2 BILLION INVESTMENT IN DIRECT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

THIS IS MONEY LITERALLY THAT'S GOING BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF ROUGHLY 2 MILLION NEW JERSEY MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING HOMEOWNERS, SENIORS AND TENANTS, HOUSEHOLDS IN WHICH BY THE WAY WELL MORE THAN HALF OF OUR RESIDENTS LIVE.

AND TODAY, WORKING WITH THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE SPEAKER, AND TREASURER LIZ MOYO I'M PROUD TO GIVE THEM AN EXTRA MONTH TO DO SO.

SO FOLKS, FOLKS GO TO ANCHOR.NJ.GOV.

THAT'S ANCHOR.NJ.GOV AND APPLY FOR YOUR RELIEF BY FEBRUARY 28th.

I NOTED OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO END THE EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE.

THAT INFECTS TOO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND NOT JUST IN OUR STATE BUT THE COUNTRY.

STRONG GUN SAFETY LAWS IN 2022 WE SAW SHOOTINGS GO DOWN 26% AND GUN HOMICIDES GO DOWN 17% BUT MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO LIVING AMIDST ANOTHER PERSISTENT WAVE OF WAR THEFTS FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER CAR THEFTS WERE DOWN 13% FROM THE SAME FOUR MONTHS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND TOGETHER -- >> [ APPLAUSE ] >> AND TOGETHER WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DRIVING THESE NUMBERS DOWN BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THERE IS MORE WORK WE CAN AND MUST DO.

IN FACT, THREE MONTHS AGO I STOOD ALONGSIDE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS FROM BOTH HOUSES TO UNVEIL A PACKAGE TO FURTHER TIGHTEN OUR LAWS AGAINST CAR THEFT.

SO I ASK YOU TODAY, WITH HUMILITY TO MAKE PASSING THESE MEASURES A TOP PRIORITY.

IF YOU SEND THESE BILLS TO MY DESK I WILL ENTHUSIASTICALLY SIGN THEM.

JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS WE GOT ONE OF THE BEST POSSIBLE PRESENTS WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY NETFLIX THAT IT WILL CREATE A MAYOR PRODUCTION HUB AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER FORTH MAMMOTH A NEARLY $1 BILLION INVESTMENT.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> THAT WILL CREATE THOUSANDS OF PERMANENT AND AGAIN OVERWHELMINGLY UNION JOBS.

THIS INVESTMENT UNDER SCORES OUR EMERGENCE AS A WORLD CLASS LOCATION FOR TELEVISION AND FILM PRODUCTION.

THE DOZEN SOUND STAGES TO BE BUILT ALONG WITH HOUSING AND HOSPITALITY SPACE WILL LIFT THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND UPLIFT FORT MAMMOTH.

THIS INVESTMENT BY NETFLIX MAKES IT CLEAR FOR ALL NEW JERSEY IS READY FOR OUR CLOSE UP.

I'M CLEARLY AWARE SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT BUSINESSS FROM THE PANDEMIC WERE OUR RESTAURANTS.

AND FEW WERE HARDER HIT THAN THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, MANY IF NOT MOST FAMILY OWNED THAT COULDN'T GET A LIQUOR LICENSE THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING A HEALTHY PROFIT MARGIN.

THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT, OUR LIQUOR LICENSING REGIME IS ANTIQUATED AND CONFUSING.

WE RELY ON A FOUNDATION OF RULES WRITTEN IN THE DAYS SHORTLY AFTER PROHIBITION TO GOVERN A 21st CENTURY ECONOMY.

THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

SO I ASK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN REWRITING OUR LIQUOR LICENSE LAWS TO MAKE THEM NOT JUST MODERN, BUT FAIR.

THE OLD RULES HAVE PURPOSEFULLY CREATED MARKET SCARCITY AND GIVEN UP COSTS TO THE POINT WHERE A LIQUOR LICENSE CAN DRAW 7 FIGURES.

RIGHT NOW THE NUMBER OF LIQUOR LICENSES ALLOWED IS ONE FOR EVERY 3,000 RESIDENTS.

I PROPOSE THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE GRADUALLY RELAX THIS REQUIREMENT AND EXPAND THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE LICENSES UNTIL THE RESTRICTION IS ELIMINATED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE MARKET CAN THEN WORK FREELY.

SOME GOVERNORS BOAST THAT THEIR STATE IS WHERE WOKE GOES TO DIE.

I'M NOT EVERYONE SURE I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS BUT I CAN TELL YOU CONFIDENTLY, NEW JERSEY IS WHERE JUSTICE IS EMBRACED, WHERE COMPASSION IS THE NORM AND WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS ALIVE AND WELL.

GOVERNING IS NOT EASY.

IT IS HARD WORK.

BUT TOGETHER WE HAVE TAKEN ON EVERYTHING THAT'S COME OUR WAY.

WE'VE TAKEN ON EVERY CHALLENGE WITH THAT SAME SWAGGER WE'RE KNOWN FOR AS NEW JERSIANS.

AND NOW IS NO TIME TO STOP AND ADMIRE THE VIEW, ESPECIALLY WHEN A NEW HORIZON REMAINS AHEAD.

MAY GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA >>> REPUBLICANS HAD THEIR SAY.

SENATE LEADER OROHO AND AMAYO JOINTING A PRESS CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SPEECH CRITICIZING MURPHY AS A TAX AND SPEND GOVERNOR.

HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY >> IT'S BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE.

STRICTLY, NOT STRICTLY BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE TAXES ARE TOO HIGH.

NEARLY 200 SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOST MORE THAN $185 MILLION OF FUNDING LAST YEAR.

THAT DOESN'T HELP PROPERTY TAXPAYERS IN NEW JERSEY.

THE GOVERNOR FAILED TO MENTION THAT SECOND QUARTER GGP WAS NEGATIVE.

DOES HE WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT TOO.

OUR PLAN ROLLS BACK INFLATIONARY COSTS ON INCOME TAXPAYERS THAT ARE PAYING MORE THAN EVER.

BY INDEXING THE TAX BRACKETS FOR INFLATION BACK TO THE YEAR 2000 WE CREATE A PERMANENT, BUILT IN THE SYSTEM $1,600 A YEAR CUT IN INCOME TAXES TO A FAMILY EARNING $110,000 A YEAR.

AND THAT'S, REAL MONEY THAT WOULD STAY IN THE POCKETS NOT SOMETHING LIKE ANOTHER THAT COULD DWINDLE AND FADE AWAY IN THE NEXT RECESSION.

SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE COULD RELY ON TO KEEP THE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.

TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE HIGHER COST OF LIVING IN NEW JERSEY.

IT WOULD ELIMINATE THE $50,000 TAX BRACKET FOR JOINT FILERS CREATING A TAX PENALTY INTO THE TAX BILL JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MARRIED AND MAKE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY HAVE TO PAY THAT MANY TAXES.

WE ALSO HAVE A PANDEMIC RELATED LEARNING LAWS IN THE SCHOOL THAT THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION REFUSES TO ADDRESS.

AND MADE WORSE BY SCHOOL FUNDING CUTS THAT LEADED TO MAYO SPOKE ABOUT THE HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ENACTED BY THE DEMOCRAT LEGISLATIVE MAJORITY.

INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON IMPROVING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN READING, WRITING AND MATH, GOVERNOR MURPHY AND DEMOCRATS HAVE CRITICIZED OUR SCHOOLS BY INJECTING THEIR RADICAL IDEOLOGIES THAT END UP MAKING A DISTRACTION IN OUR CHILDREN'S CLASSROOMS.

PARENTS ARE UPSET AND RIGHTLY SO.

THEY FEEL THEY'VE BEEN DENIED A VOICE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND THEY'VE BEEN MOCKED AND CHASTISED BY DEMOCRATS WHEN THEY WANT TO HAVE A SAY.

THOSE PARENTS DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

WE ALSO HAVE SOARING RATE OF CAR THEFT CRIMES.

THAT WAS NOT HELPED BY THE GOVERNOR'S RELEASE OF INMATES.

DESPITE THE ROSY PICTURE THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO PAINT THE STATE OF THE STATE IS NOT GOOD.

AFTER FIVE YEARS OF THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION IN TWO DECADE OF FULL DEMOCRAT CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE THE OUTLOOK FOR NEW JERSEY CONTINUES TO GET WORSE >> JOINING ME NOW TO DIG INTO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH IS SENIOR WRITER AND DIGITAL WRITERS SPECIALIST MICAH RASMUSSEN.

YOUR TAKE ON THIS SPEECH.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT MURPHY I THOUGHT >> IT WAS A DIFFERENT MURPHY.

THIS WAS NOT THE GREAT LIBERAL THAT WE HAVE SEEN OR THE GREAT PROGRESSIVE WITH ALL THESE IDEAS WHO I THINK CAME IN FIVE YEARS AGO, YEAH THIS IS HIS FIFTH SPEECH.

HE CAME IN IN 2018.

AND THAT'S SURPRISING JUST BECAUSE BEING A, HE'S A LAME DUCK NOW.

HE CAN'T RUN AGAIN AS YOU MENTIONED THIS WILL BE THE TIME TO REALLY PUT OUT THERE SOME VERY PROGRESSIVE POLICIES.

HE DIDN'T DO THAT.

JUST A FEW NEW PROGRAMS AS YOU MENTIONED.

I WAS STRUCK BY LESS, I MEAN HE DID TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

HE DID USE HIS TRADEMARK STRONGER AND FAIRER BUT HE REALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME CALLING NEW JERSEY A LEADER.

I COUNTED 17 TIMES PLUS ONE WORLD CLASS WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE NETFLIX STUDIO.

HE REALLY SEEMED TO BE SELLING NEW JERSEY AS YOU KNOW THIS GREAT LEADER AS BETTER THAN A LOT OF STATES HE MENTIONED.

FLORIDA AND GEORGIA IN THAT ONE PERIOD.

HE TALKED ABOUT OUR ECONOMY BEING SO GOOD.

THE LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, THE HIGH GDP, SO IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS MORE OF A, A SPEECH KIND OF TO MAYBE SHOW OFF A LITTLE BIT AS OFTEN HAPPENS IN A STATE OF THE STATE >> MICAH, WOULD YOU AGREE.

A LOT OF TIMES IN THESE SPEECHES WE SEE THE GOVERNOR PAINT BROAD STROKES ABOUT ISSUES AND PROPOSALS.

HE REALLY GOT INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY WITH SOME OF THESE IDEAS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS >> THESE ARE SOME OF THE GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY AND GET UNDER THE HOOD AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MORE VIBRANT.

QUALITY OF LIFE.

PHRO QUALITY OF LIFE.

PROPOWE PROPOSALS THAT WILL MOVE THE NEEDLE.

BOARDWALKS ARE MAIN STREETS IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

CRIME IS AN ISSUE THAT'S IN A LOT OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS MIND.

THIS IS REALLY ONE THAT IS MORE OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE MOST IN THE MIND OF NEW JERSIANS I THINK >> DID HE STRIKE A POINT ON WHAT HE STRAYED AWAY FROM THE CAMPAIGN POINTS HE PUT OUT THERE.

DID HE STRAY OR IS IT THAT THINGS HAVE EVOLVED AND THIS IS WHERE THE STATE NEEDS TO FOCUS >> I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE.

THE ISSUE IS WHICH PROGRESSIVE CAUSES YOU WANT THE GOVERNOR TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

CLEARLY HE FEELS HE'S TACKLING THOSE.

HE FEELS THAT A 1,500 CHECK ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX.

A REBATE ON YOUR PROPERTY TAXES THAT'S WHAT'S HELPING YOUR INCOME >> AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HURT ANYBODY IF THE GOVERNOR HAS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS >> THIS IS THE KIND OF SPEECH YOU CAN WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND.

AND SAY THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN RUN ON THIS YEAR >> COLLEEN EVERY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO IS UP.

THERE'S A LOT HERE THAT I THINK AS MICAH SAYS THEY CAN GET BEHIND WITHOUT SORT OF RISKING POLITICAL WISE >> THAT'S THE POINT.

THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE IS UP THIS YEAR.

WE TALKED ABOUT 2021 AND THE GOVERNOR'S SLIM MARGIN.

THE DEMOCRATS LOST SWEENEY AND HIS ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN THAT DISTRICT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF THAT.

I DON'T THINK HE WANTED TO BE TERRIBLY CONTROVERSIAL TO PUT ANYTHING OUT THERE THAT MIGHT ENDANGER DEMOCRATS IN SOME CLOSE DISTRICTS >> AND HEAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG FOR THE GOVERNOR'S FULL STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH AND MORE ANALYSIS FROM OUR DIGITAL TEAM.

PLUS TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT, I'LL GO ONE ON ONE WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY ON OUR BROADCAST.

>>> WELL THE GOVERNOR TODAY ONLY MADE BRIEF MENTION OF THE STATE'S PROGRESSIVE STANCE ON ABORTION RIGHTS.

BUT JUST LAST WEEK THE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A POT OF $15 MILLION IN ZERO INTEREST LOANS AND GRANTS FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLINICS.

ALL PART OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR CALLS HIS ONGOING EFFORT TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS AFTER THE FALL OF ROE.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT PROPOSAL.

>> WOMEN'S RIGHTS >> ARE UNION RIGHTS >> EVER SINCE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE, WE'VE HAD MORE PEOPLE SEEKING CLINIC CARE.

SO THEY WELCOMED $15 MILLION IN FORGIVABLE LOANS FROM THE MURPHY ADMINISTERS.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD RECEIVED FUNDS FOR SEVERAL CLINICS >> THE RESOURCES TO ALLOW FOR EXTENDED HOURS REALLY DOES HELP TO ADDRESS THE BURDEN PUT ON PROVIDERS GIVEN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY >> THEY HAVE CERTAINLY SHOWN AN INCREASE IN DEMAND SINCE JUNE.

AND THEY ARE PROJECTS CONTINUED EXPAND IN DEMAND >> Reporter: THE LOANS INCLUDE 10 MILLION FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

ABOUT 6 MILLION HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED TO 15 DIFFERENT APPLICANTS AND ANOTHER 4 MILLION IS NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION IN ZERO INTEREST LOAN OF $7 MILLION.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS ALMOST ALL OF THEM ASKED FOR WAS ADDITIONAL EXAM BED OR NEW EXAM BEDS.

WHAT YOU NORMALLY SEE AT CLINICS, SOME ASKED FOR MOBILE VANS >> Reporter: MEAN WHILE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO LACK THE VOTES TO BLOCK THESE LOANS PUSHED THEIR POLITICAL ME MESSAGE WITH AN EYE TO UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE >> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS SHOW HOW EXTREME EXTREME THIS MURPHY ADMINISTRATION IS >> SENATE MINORITY LEADER OPPOSES USES TAX DOLLARS FOR THOSE OUT OF STATE.

HE CALLS IT ABORTION TOURISM >> QUITE FRANKLY THIS IS TRYING TO FIND MORE ABORTION UP TO THE DATE OF BIRTH.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD IF YOU COME TO NEW JERSEY, NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS WILL PAY FOR IT >> Reporter: ALSO OPPOSES ANOTHER 5 MILLION GRANTS NOW BEING OFFERED BY SECURITY BY TARGETING EQUIPMENT AND ADD CYBER SECURITY ASSETS.

MANY CLINICS ALREADY DEAL WITH REGULAR PROTESTERS AND THEY WANT TO ADD BETTER SURVEILLANCE, HARD BARRIERS LIKE BULLET-PROOF GLASS AND MORE GUARDS.

>> ADDITIONAL SECURITY GUARDS OR SECURITY PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT WHEN FOLKS AGAIN ARE WALKING TO AND FROM A PARKING LOT IN THE LATE EVENING.

MONITORING THE FACILITY AND SORT OF BEING WATCHFUL OF WHAT'S GOING ON >> UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE SEEN OUR PATIENTS AND OUR STAFF BE FOLLOWED FROM OUR FACILITIES.

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWED FROM THE FACILITY IN MY VEHICLE.

>> Reporter: ROXANNE SATAKI WILL APPLY FOR A SECURITY LOAN FOR THE FACILITY WHERE PROTESTERS GATHER DAILY.

>> HARASSERS OUTSIDE OF OUR CLINIC OFTEN TARGET BLACK PATIENTS AND STAFF USING ANTI BLACK STEREO TYPES NEARLY EVERY DAY.

AND WE HAVE SEEN THESE ANTI ABORTION PROTESTERS BRINGING IMAGINES TO OUR CLINIC OF THINGS LIKE PEOPLE BEING LYNCHED.

IMAGES OUTSIDE THE CLINIC OF PEOPLE LIKE OUTSIDE OF THE HOLOCAUST TRYING TO DRAW THESE CONNECTIONS.

AND IT REALLY IS CONCERNING AND IT REALLY KIND OF WALKS THE LINE OF HATE SPEECH.

>> SATAKI SAYS THE BUILDING HAS BEEN VANDALIZED TOO.

SHE SAYS BOTH STAFF AND PATIENTS DESERVE BETTER SECURITY, STATE LOAN APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> YOU CAN ADD NEW JERSEY'S CAPITAL TO THE LIST OF CITIES TOUTING A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN HOMICIDE RATES.

ACCORDING TO THE TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOMICIDES WERE DOWN 45% IN 2022.

MAYOR REED GASHORA CREDITING MORE POLICE OFFICERS, LAUNCHING COMMUNITY STREET TEAMS AND OPENING A BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CENTER FOR AT RISK YOUTH FOR REDUCING THE BLOODSHED.

BUT LIKE OTHER MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TRENTON DID SEE A 20% INCREASE IN ROBBERIES DURING 2022.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THOUGH SAYS IT RECOVERED MORE THAN 350 FIREARMS IN 2022 WHICH WAS A 9% INCREASE COMPARED TO THE YEAR PRIOR.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO SAYS, SEXUAL ASSAULT RATES DROPPED BY 23% AND BURGLARIES WERE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FOR THE YEAR.

>>> WELL HERE'S ONE SOLUTION TO CHIP AWAY AT THE STATE'S CRITICAL JUDGE SHORTAGE.

RAISE THE PHAPBD TOEUR RETIREMENT AGE FROM 70 TO 75, RAISE THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FROM 70 TO 75.

THE JUDICIARY VACANCY CREATED A MASSIVE BACKLOG THAT BEGAN DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE COURTS TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN AND WAS MADE WORSE WHEN A RECORD NUMBER OF JUDGES REACHED RETIREMENT AGE LEAVING THEIR POSITIONS.

THERE ARE STILL NOW 65 VACANCIES IN THE APPELLATE AND TRIAL DIVISIONS.

THE STATE THIS YEAR HAD TO CALL IN 77 RETIRED OR FORMER SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES TO HELP CHIP AWAY AT THAT BACKLOG.

SOME CRITICS HAVE POINTED TO THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING TOO SLOW IN NOMINATING JUDGES PLUS THE LENGTHY APPROVAL PROCESS WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE THOSE NUMBERS ARE CONFIRMED TO THE BENCH.

RAISING THE JUDICIAL RETIREMENT AGE WOULD REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL ALONG WITH THE LEGISLATION.

>> WELL TONIGHT FOUR COACHES ARE BEING PERMANENTLY BANNED FROM THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE AND AMONG THEM CHRISTIE HOLLY THE FORMER HEAD COACH OF GOTHAM FC.

THAT'S THE FOOTBALL COACH PARTLY OWNED BY THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY MURPHY.

THE LEAGUE OUTLINING THE PUNISHMENTS THIS WEEK AND ALSO ISSUING LIFETIME BANS TO FORMER COACHES PAUL RILEY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE, AND RICHIE BURKE FROM THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT.

THE ORGANIZATION IS SUSPENDING AND PUTTING RESTRICTIONS ON FUTURE EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE LEAGUE FOR SEVERAL OF INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING A 2 YEAR SUSPENSION FOR GOTHAM'S FORMER GENERAL MANAGER LAHUE.

ALONG WITH FINES THEY RANGE FROM $50,000 THAT'S FOR MURPHY'S CLUB UP TO $1.5 MILLION FOR THE CHICAGO RED STARS.

>>> THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT BE SURE TO HEAD OVER TO NJ NEWS.ORG TO KEEP ONE THE LATEST NEWS IN THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI, FOR THE ENTIRE NJTV NEWS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US >>> MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

AND BY THE PSE & G 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, TO ACHIEVE, A CHANCE TO BELONG AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA TORIANI AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN NJEA MEMBER >> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANY WHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR APP.

OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH OUR PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

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

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

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