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>> Tonight, winter weather alerts in all 50 states.

Flooding continues in New Jersey with dangerous storms and lizardlike conditions spreading across the country.

Plus, hearings into the deadly Port Newark fire continue.

Federal investigators searching for what caused the deaths of two firefighters.

Also, heating up, the race to replace New Jersey's embattled senior senator is on.

>> We don't have serious legislators, we don't have people who want to solve problems.

>> Immigration reform and the refugee crisis is a personal issue to me.

I am an immigrant woman.

I came to the United States at 14 years old from El Salvador.

>> And was it a violation of the Crown act?

A referee removes a female student athlete from a game because of her hair.

>> Our student athletes should be able to be their best selves.

They shouldn't have to change themselves to meet whatever standard people think they should meet in terms of what their hair looks like.

ANCHOR: NJ Spotlight News starts now.

♪ Announcer: This is NJ Spotlight News.

ANCHOR: Thank you for joining us this Friday night.

Winter weather alerts in place today for every state across the U.S. with high wind alerts in effect for more than 140 million people in the nation and an intense blast of cold weather making its way across the country to New Jersey.

That is expected to hit later this evening or early next week, but first, more rain.

After a brief reprieve from the wet weather, residents in flood prone area bracing for the latest storm that will bring with it up to an inch and a half of rain and 60 mile-per-hour wind gusts in some areas, especially along the shore, according to forecasters.

They say the rain is likely to be heaviest overnight into tomorrow morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for 16 counties along with multiple other winter weather warnings and advisories for the state.

All this while residents are still sopping up basements and dealing with the flooding from Tuesday's storm.

While certain towns are just seeing the effects of the rainfall today now that the river has crested.

Either way, forecasters agree the weather has been relentless.

Investigative hearings continue into a dockside cargo ship fire at Port Newark last summer that killed two Newark firefighters.

Today's testimony centered on the source of the blaze, a Jeep Wrangler being used to push hundreds of other vehicles on and off the ship.

According to expert was part of a massive vehicle recall.

We have the latest.

>> The only thing we cannot disprove is a mechanical failure that is consistent with the recall conditions described by Chrysler.

REPORTER: The third day of hearings investigating last summer's fire zeroed in on the Jeep that started the fire.

There was testimony that the agency eliminated every other hypothesis as to how the fire started, blaming the blaze on a defect in the engines from overworked wranglers.

>> Causing transmission fluid to expel and contact a hot surface and suddenly catch fire.

REPORTER: The pusher car was part of Ricoh issued by Chrysler.

It stated -- recall issued by Chrysler.

It stated that the transmission fluid might boil over and come in contact with hot engine or exhaust components.

This could cause an under hood fire without warning.

The corrective action was to alter the dashboard to notify drivers.

>> The corrective action was to install a chime that says hot oil but it did not consist of any mechanical changes, strictly a warning light?

>> That is correct.

REPORTER: The Bureau of alcohol tobacco firearms and explosives.

>> We saw a fireball that was consistent.

REPORTER: According to the owners manual, the solution is to let the engine idle.

The Jeep was placed to the side and shut off, so if the Jeep overheat earlier in the day, it might not have cooled off.

>> When you shut a vehicle off, you are no longer using the cooling systems.

The temperature will elevate for a short amount of time.

REPORTER: A day earlier, the shipmaster explained why his crew fought the fire with CO2 and set a fire resistant foam like some suggested.

>> Did you have a discussion with the chief mate about using the foam in initial efforts?

>> No, it made no sense to use that foam.

The foam needs to be sprayed on some surface to create the foam appear it is full of holes for lashing.

REPORTER: He also says he wants to firefighters about their initial approach to fighting the flames.

>> When the fire department asked you to turn back on the ventilation system, it that raise any concerns for you?

>> Yes.

>> Please explain.

>> I clearly asked of them, you are sure?

Because if you're going to start the exhaust system again, the oxygen and the flow of air can start again the fire from the heat.

REPORTER: Today's hearing ended by discussing how the fire spread through the ship and how firefighters responded to the flames.

Multiple Newark fire officials are scheduled to testify next week when the hearings resumed Tuesday.

ANCHOR: We are now a little more than four months away from the Senate primary in New Jersey, with increasingly crowded field looking to unseat Bob Menendez.

David Cruz spoke with two candidates, third term congressman Andy Kim, among the first to toss his hat in the ring and has already raked in millions of dollars in campaign support, and aggressive labor leader and educator Patricia compos Medina.

We sat down with them to find out how they tackle the challenges of our state.

>> Should New Jersey accommodate some of these people?

>> What I will first say is all across the country, what we are seeing, this is the result of the failure of the federal government to be able to address the consequence of immigration reform.

That being said, federal government should be able to provide support to cities and states around the country that are facing this.

These are people, we are a nation that will always protect the dignity and decency of people -- at least, that's what we should be doing.

We needed to provide some measure of support.

But the challenge is a lot of states, a lot of cities haven't planned for this, they haven't planned for this level of challenge.

That's what is causing the problem and the squeeze play that's where the federal government -- the squeeze.

That's where the federal government needs to step in.

>> When this administration began, I think the first or second day there was a big announcement about reforms to immigration laws and since then, crickets.

Has this administration failed on that issue?

>> The way I see this is there has been failure for decades on this with presidencies of both parties.

It is compiling and compounding.

That's what I find so frustrating.

Let me tell you something I've learned in five years in Congress.

A lot of the people you hear from the most, sniping and arguing about immigration, saber rattling, as I talk to them it is clear to me that they don't want to solve this problem.

That is what I find frustrating.

People I work with, colleagues of mine that Mont about this all the time, when you try to confront them and say let's see what we can get done, it becomes clear they don't want to solve it because it is such a good political weapon.

>> It is easy to fund raise off of that.

>> Yeah, they want to scare the American people and point fingers and blame.

We don't have serious legislators, we don't have people that actually want to solve problems.

>> Immigration reform and the issue of the refugee crisis is a very personal issue to me.

I am an immigrant woman, I came to the United States at 14 years old from El Salvador.

I was separated from my parents for eight years, waiting for a resolution to their refugee request in the 1980's.

This is an issue I have lived and know personally the impact on families.

I lived through a crisis of refugees in the 1980's.

I have real solutions I've been working for for a long time.

We have to remember this country is founded by immigrants.

We have the ability to invest in a resettlement program for refugees when they have applied for political asylum.

These refugees that came to New Jersey are following the law, they have applied for asylum and are trying to be resettled.

What we need to do is what Congress has failed to do for 30 years, reform our refugee and political asylum laws and immigration laws, and fund refugee resettlement so that when refugees are going to the process of resettlement, the federal government can work directly with states to provide them the support they need to provide services for resettlement.

And frankly, if we don't want refugees to end up in homes or waiting to work, we need to give them a permit to work.

That is something that Congress can do and the Biden administration can do.

While those refugees wait for adjudication, they want to be with their families, provide with their family.

We have practical tools and solutions we can get done.

But Congress needs to act, needs to fund resettlement programs and reform refugee laws.

>> That is not too dissimilar from what some others have said, but the crisis is now.

New Jersey doesn't get any federal funding for resettlement efforts.

But there will be instances where people want to be here, will physically stay here.

What responsibility does the state have for providing help for that?

>> New Jersey is the fourth largest recipient of immigrants in this country.

We are a very diverse state.

We have the resources to provide resettlement.

That doesn't mean we don't need additional help from the federal government or better coordination from the federal government.

ANCHOR: You can watch the full interviews on Chat Box Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:30 p.m. on NJPBS.

En Reporters Roundtable, David talks with Senator to Cody who retired this year after 50 years in New Jersey politics.

One North Jersey school district is filing a bias complaint against the state after referees disqualified a student athlete from playing in a girls basketball game because of her hair beads.

The South Orange Maplewood school district alleges it was a form of racial discrimination and in violation of New Jersey's Crown act, put in place to prevent incidents like this against people of color from happening.

We have the story.

>> Above everything else, our student athletes should be able to be their best selves.

They shouldn't have to change themselves to meet whatever standard people believe they should meet in terms of what their hair should look like.

REPORTER: The acting superintendent of the South Orange Maplewood school district was in disbelief after learning a student was disqualified from a basketball game last week for wearing beads in her hair.

>> The coach protested a little.

Said this isn't right.

But he told the young lady she could not play a somewhat the referee had said.

He also talked to our athletic director.

He immediately got the rulebook, that a student athlete was disqualified for the entire first quarter.

At the end of the first quarter, our athletic director showed the referee what the rule was come up that the young lady could play, all she had to do was secure the beads.

REPORTER: That's when he says the student could get back in the game, but at that point the damage had been done.

>> The word she gave me was wild.

She said with every thing else going on, it's another one of those things she could not believe.

REPORTER: The school district has since filed a bias complaint with the New Jersey state interscholastic commission.

The crown act was passed in 2013 capture -- after a senior wrestler faced disqualification.

>> I know the embarrassment and the anger I had having to cover my daughter's hair for soccer.

REPORTER: The black parents workshop agrees this may have been due to lack of communication.

>> In sports there are rules around safety and one of the rules, things like jewelry, earrings, nose rings and beads in your hair.

Players are required to cover them before playing.

And for whatever reason, the team coaches and referees did not notice that the student had beads during warm-up.

>> That's white the rule is you have to secure them.

They could come out and create issues.

But you don't disqualify the athlete.

REPORTER: According to the njsi aa, in 2022 the rules were updated that beads are allowed like this as long as they are fastened to the head and are not an issue for players.

The legal counsel alerted New Jersey's division on civil rights and in addition they have contacted everyone involved and is awaiting responses.

Members of the school district say they look forward to the results of the investigation and they hope the incident will teach others the importance of the crown act so something like this doesn't happen again.

I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

ANCHOR: In our spotlight on business report, the state loss of a major offshore wind project doesn't seem to be slowing down other development ideas.

Rutgers University today hosted an event with scientists from the school and other universities across the state to share budding ideas, including creating floating wind turbines and farms as tall as the Eiffel Tower.

Our Senior correspondent reports.

REPORTER: Rutgers researchers want to develop a offshore wind turbines.

The structures ride big waves off Scotland's coast currently.

Records said it will explore -- Rutgers said it will explore designing and testing floating wind turbines, each almost as tall as the Eiffel Tower.

>> This is technology required for facilities that would be deployed in water too deep to have a more traditional foundation.

These are targeted in areas will offshore of New Jersey where the shelf break drops off.

REPORTER: It is of offing technology.

The mono piles are connected to heavily weighted floating platforms that get tied to the seabed with steel cables.

A European developer notes that 80% of ocean wind energy potential is farther offshore, putting them potentially out of sight and away from fisheries.

>> These deeper diplomas would be further offshore beyond issues that might be faced along the coast.

That is one benefit.

>> When Rutgers in the state announced we would have a testing facility advocating the advance of wind energy programs, that is tremendous.

REPORTER: Senator Bob Smith heads the environment and energy committee and South Jersey has fallen behind other states in the pressure develop offshore wind energy, especially after a Danish firm canceled two offshore wind projects here, citing high costs and supply chain problems.

Offshore wind energy opponents cheered.

Meanwhile, windfarms off Massachusetts and New York coastlines fired up this month.

>> Shame on us and shame on Orsted.

Massachusetts is a leader and New York State as a leader only want to be leaders.

We put hundred of millions of dollars in a wind port in the southern part of the state.

>> Offshore wind is an incredible catalyst for economic growth.

Job creation and tens of thousands of family sustaining jobs, business investment, Port development.

We are building an industry here.

REPORTER: Offshore wind is also a big component of Governor Murphy's goal, 100 percent clean energy by 2035.

But the companion legislation is still bogged down by special interests.

Smith says getting it past remains his top priority in this new legislative session.

He sees global warning -- warming as an accelerating crisis.

>> If we don't get our wind energy and together we will not be here.

All the news you are hearing that we have the hottest year in 120 5000 years, it is true.

REPORTER: The records -- Rutgers concept for a floating wind farm, still in the idea stage, funded by a Chancellor's grant.

But four deep ocean wind farms already operate around the world and the U.S. Department of Energy is eager to develop them off of American coastlines.

I am Brenda Flanagan.

ANCHOR: On Wall Street, stocks edged higher today as traders started sifting through the first batch of fourth-quarter earnings.

Here's how the markets closed.

♪ And two in this weekend to NJ Business Beat with Raven Santana, assessing the health of the housing market, including the outlook for prices and mortgage rates as a buyers try to navigate the difficult market.

Watch on NJPBS.

♪ On the iconic HBO mob series "the Sopranos," you're only as good as your last envelope, and in New Jersey, diehard fans are only as good as the trivia and quotes they can spout from the series.

In honor of the show's 20 for the anniversary, local media company offered a tour across North Jersey, featuring stops at landmarks from the show.

We got to hop on board.

>> I would like to propose a toast.

To my family.

REPORTER: It has been 25 years since the first episode of "the Sopranos" graced our screens, yet for fans, the magic of the show has carried on all these years later.

>> This is where it used to be.

REPORTER: This group got to tour several of the filming locations around New Jersey yesterday.

>> About 25 times I've watch from start to finish.

REPORTER: Some of these fans came from the U.K., a testament to the global reach of a show that focused on Italian American wildlife in -- mob life in the early 2000.

It was a groundbreaking concept at the time.

>> I call this the FBI Park because they liked to have meetings with FBI agents.

This alleyway, we see in season two.

>> It was such a time capsule of an era, this fading mob scene that was gone and they are trying to keep it alive and it was on life support.

REPORTER: John is a new fan of the show, prove that the intensive storyline and cinematography stood the test of time to reach a new generation of viewers.

>> The first season, very good so far.

>> Is also been very controversial, not just the ending but throughout the show to push the envelope and really test the limits of TV.

The creator of the show wanted to be a phone maker and you can see, they are more like one hour movies as opposed to a TV show.

REPORTER: John led the tour through parts of Kearny where many episodes were filmed.

>> It was used as a club, they make it up as the Italian Association.

REPORTER: To the infamous club where Tony held court, actually called satin dolls, to an ice cream shot, a nod to the final scene shot here.

>> We were famous before the Sopranos and after we were infamous.

The popularity exploded.

REPORTER: Fans got to share and a slice of that infamy.

>> I can say of been there.

>> We watch the show probably five times in total.

It's got to be my favorite show of all time.

>> Is this the bucket list item, sitting in this booth?

>> Yes indeed.

REPORTER: 25 years later, the ending is still one of the most controversial and talks about TV series endings ever.

Spoiler alert -- people still argue about what happened this booth.

>> I think Tony got shot by the guy who went in the bathroom.

>> I think not but if I watch it again I might have a different opinion.

>> He probably died.

>> I think that was his last supper.

>> There's no way a professional gangster is going to let someone walk in, not notice them and then go to the bathroom.

Tony is still out there.

REPORTER: Sadly, after James Gandolfini died in 2019 but like his character he lives on in the hearts and minds of those who still love "the Sopranos."

ANCHOR: That will do it for us tonight.

Don't forget to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

I am Rhianna Vannozzi.

For our entire team, thanks for being with us, have a great weekend and we will see you back here Monday night.

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

And by the PSEG foundation.

>> Our future relies on more than clean energy.

Our future relies on empowered communities, the health and safety of our families and neighbors, of our schools and streets.

The PSEG foundation is committed to sustainability, equity and economic empowerment, investing in parks, helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships and workforce development that strengthen our community.

♪