Announcer: Major Funding for "NJ Spotlight News" is provided in part by NJM insurance group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

And by the PSEG foundation.

Briana: Cease fire delay as Israeli leaders waiver on voting for an agreed he still, New Jersey's Palestinian community grapples with the toll the war has taken.

>> A lot of us feel numb.

I can't even describe the feelings of numbness we feel.

Because we are 50 -- because for 15 months, we stood here and we advocated for our community.

Briana: Plus, LGBTQ+ activists respond to controversial comments made by one powerful state lawmaker over banning trans athletes.

>> Any type of discrimination is not OK, it's just not.

It's not the law.

Briana: Also, racism scandal.

More light on the discrimination crisis in one Newark school.

At the end of the day, and a lot of the students felt like their voices were not being heard in the school leaders were not handling these issues as well as they could have.

Briana: Governor Murphy announced he wants cell phones banned in schools.

Many district leaders agree.

>> They have become a distraction.

They can negatively impact a student's mental health.

We need to stress anxiety -- they can lead to stress, anxiety, even suicidal thoughts.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ Announcer: from NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News, with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us on this Thursday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few of today's top headlines.

First, more Americans are surviving cancer, but rates of the disease are showing up more frequently in women and young adults.

The American Cancer Society's report out today finds overall cancer deaths are down 34% in the last three decades, that is thanks to factors like early detection and better treatments.

But that's not true across the board.

Death rates are rising for certain types, like pancreatic, oral, uterine, and liver cancers.

Mortality rates for black and Native Americans are double and triple that of white people.

Another troubling new trend is emerging.

Cancer rates are rising on lot -- among women under 50.

And young women are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease as young men, with breast and thyroid cancer driving that increase.

Six of the 10 most common cancers are also on the rise, including uterus and colorectal among young people.

Medical experts say the data represents a significant shift for an illness that was long considered a disease.

Of aging.

After a more than half a century in public office, President Joe Biden last night bid his final farewell to America.

In a poignant overall office address to the nation, the president touted his accomplishments like the COVID-19 recovery, and historic investments in infrastructure, lowering prescription drug prices and ushering more gun safety legislation over the finish line.

Noting the impact of those policies may not be felt for years.

But he also delivered a stark warning about the threat from unchecked abuse of power and wealth and what he described as an emerging oligarchy taking root in the country, and a tech industrial complex he said risks undermining the very fabric of American life.

That invoking the farewell address of Eisenhower's warnings about the rise of a military-industrial complex when he left office in 1961.

And in what appeared to be a slide at President-elect Trump, Biden called for amending the Constitution to make clear that no president is immune from criminal liability, and called on the American people to protect democracy.

Pres.

Biden: I want to warn the country of some things that have given me great concern.

And this is a dangerous consternation of power in the hands of a very few ultra wealthy people.

The dangerous consequences, if there abuse of power is left unchecked.

Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America, extreme wealth, power and influence, that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms.

And the fair shot for everyone to get ahead.

Briana: President Biden only briefly highlighted the Cease Fire and hostage release deal reached by Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, which hours later, hit a major snag.

A key party in the Israeli government threatened to quit if they don't return to war after the first phase of the Cease Fire.

Linning Hamas for reneging on parts of the agreement, delaying the vote, and putting the whole deal in limbo.

At the same time, the Israeli military launched a strike on Gaza City that killed at least 45 people, according to the God of -- the Gaza civil defense.

It appears Israel's cabinet will meet to vote tomorrow morning.

The multiphasic Cease Fire is the first real hope that the remaining Israeli hostages will be released, and the 15 month bloodshed that has killed nearly 50,000 Palestinians will finally come to an end.

Here in New Jersey, home to large populations of both Jewish and Arab Americans, they are welcoming the news with optimism and anxiety.

Some saying it is far from time for celebration after such unimaginable suffering.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports.

Brenda: Even as Palestinians in Gaza cheered the Cease Fire and family as a felt renewed hope, Israel's cabinet hit pause and then rescheduled its vote to approve the agreement.

Deep mistrust followed the politics and simmering resentment threatened to wreck the deal.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's largest Palestinian communities.

>> Palestinian Americans ourselves, we are trying to figure out how to navigate this.

A lot of us feel numb.

Brenda: At a community center in Clifton, they dared to hope but also looked back in anger.

Many lost family members and loved ones in the war, including Dr. shame à la, a Palestinian physician.

>> In the news of the Cease Fire finally broke, I released the breath I had unknowingly held for months.

Relief washed over me in waves of disbelief and gratitude.

The unimaginable will happen.

The violence.

, and I am alive to witness it.

>> The proposed Cease Fire comes after more than one year of unspeakable suffering, underscoring how long the world allowed genocide without meaningful intervention.

The Cease Fire, when it takes effect, is a relief, but it is 466 days too late.

Brenda: For anguished families of an estimated 100 hostages, some of them dead, the Cease Fire sparked joy but anxiety.

Seven hostages are American, including 21-year-old Idan Alexander held by Hamas.

His father explained the uncertainty.

>> It was very emotional, long coming.

We have been so close before.

And finally, the parties managed to pass it over the finish line, and we are really grateful.

Brenda: But they have seen agreements fall apart before and so, Alexander urged diplomats meeting Indo hot to work quickly.

>> We really encourage the parties that are still in Doha, to not wait 15 days to start to negotiate for this effort -- the second phase.

Do it tomorrow morning.

Don't waste the time.

It has been too long, 15 long months.

And we have to keep pushing.

Brenda: Political reaction, while most officials welcome the news of this fragile Cease Fire, they warned that most difficult part -- the most difficult part is yet to come.

In his farewell address, the president noted -- Pres.

Biden: this plan was developed and negotiated by my team, and it will be largely implemented by the incoming administration.

That's why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed, because that's how it should be.

Working together as Americans.

Brenda: On social media, the President-elect boasted the epic cease-fire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November, and plowed as national -- his national security team will work closely with Israel and our allies to make sure Gaza never again becomes a terrorist safe haven.

Both the current and incoming administration sent envoys to hammer out the truce, starting with phase one explained at -- by a spokesman.

>> Humanitarian assistance will surge into Gaza.

The fighting.

.

The people of Gaza who have endured and suffered through so much pain and suffering will finally be able to start rebuilding their lives.

Brenda: As phase one unfolds, Israeli forces will withdraw but remain on the border, more able flow into Gaza and 33 hostages, women, children and the elderly will be exchanged for prisoners held by Israel.

Phase two includes a permanent end to hostilities with a final hostages and prisoner exchange and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The last phase remains in reconstruction in Gaza.

>> It is up to us to challenge ourselves to stand in solidarity and action with our brothers and sisters on the ground.

Brenda: Getting the Cease Fire signed will be just the start of a long, complicated and painful road to recovery.

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Congress this week passed a bill banning transgender student athletes from competing in women's and girls sports at schools.

By amending title IX so that sex is "recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth."

The legislation hence for a vote in the Senate and comes as a growing number of states have passed similar laws, banning trans -- trans athletes from participating.

More Democrats have signaled a willingness to shift on the issue, following President elect Donald Trump's election.

Advocates in New Jersey say those concerns were reinforced after recent comments surfaced from State Senator Paul silo, a top Democrat who in an interview last month, stated males should not be participating in women's sports at any level.

A senior correspondent -- as senior-level correspondent Joanna reports, it is raising high concerns from some activists.

>> Males cannot be participating in women's sports, whether it is at the rec level, the high school level or collegiate level.

Joanna: He made that comment during an interview addressing the issue of transgender athletes playing in women's sports.

It has drawn a mix of reactions, support from Republican colleagues in the Senate -- >> I was pleasantly surprised he said so.

Joanna: And dismay from LB GT Q advocates -- LGBTQ advocates.

>> Any type of discrimination is not OK.

It's just not.

It's not the law.

It's not the policies of the New Jersey state interscholastic athletic Association it is not in line with the New Jersey law and discrimination.

Joanna: It has been the lot since 2009 in New Jersey.

Transgender women in sports have been a tennis ball, bouncing back and forth between administrations.

It goes back to title IX, the original civil rights bill prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any school or education program that receives federal funding.

That law was originally written to protect women in employment, education and sports.

The Obama and Biden administrations added LGBTQ people to it through department of and Executive Order.

The Trump Administration rolled it back.

>> Since 2009, this policy has been in place with zero complaints of any kind.

So what has changed in early 2025?

The only thing that has changed is the politics and incoming Trump Administration.

Joanna: And a new bill that passed the House Tuesday called the protection of women and girls in sports act.

It would amend title IX to recognize a person's sex as based solely on a person's gender at birth, and would mean any school that allows a person whose sex is mailed to participate in an athletic program or activity designed for women or girls would risk losing federal funding.

Republican Senator Mike has to introduced a similar bill in New Jersey and is hoping to gain support from Senate budget committee chair Paul Sare low.

>> Title IX was to create a level playing field for females and their chosen sport.

And allowing biological males to compete against biological females is simply unfair.

My party is consistently accused of not following the science.

In this case, we absolutely want to follow the science and the most basic building block of human beings as DNA, and we want to follow the DNA, whether you are a biological male or biological female.

>> What are you saying to folks who say that someone who is born biologically as a male has an unfair advantage, especially in a competitive sport, against someone who is born a female?

>> You are trying to make this argument about biology.

Which studies have shown that generally speaking, trans people don't necessarily have any kind of physical advantage when it comes to a lot of different sports.

Joanna: Amy Miller referring to this report, citing evidence that trans women who have undergone testosterone suppression have no clear biological advantages over sis women in elite sports.

And if they transition before puberty, there are no biological differences at all.

Testa refers to the controversy around a anti-trans activist after she tied for fifth place, against Leah Thomas it trans athlete who competed as a male.

>> And had an unfair result in the NCAA's.

This is a prime scholarship athlete at the height of her sport, the pentacle of her physical prowess, who should be getting the gold-medal in her college mates and she is losing to a biological male.

Joanna: Riley Gainesville Konta advocate for the trans athlete ban, but has a much harder time ever getting out of the Senate.

Around the country, countless women's groups, including the women's sports foundation founded by Billie Jean King, support the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports and say title IX protects them from discrimination.

>> We have teenagers that are harming themselves.

To be trans in this climate right now is so incredibly difficult.

It is a basic human right.

Because I have heard story after story of transgender youth who are just in utter despair.

We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to protect our youth, regardless of how -- of their gender.

Joanna: We reached out to the Senator for his thoughts and whether he would support Senator Testa's bill.

He was not available.

With a second Trump Administration about to begin, it's clear this match just heating up.

I'm Joanna Gagis.

Briana: Governor Murphy got a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle this week after calling for a cell phone ban in schools during his annual state of the state address.

That same date, lawmakers and the Senate unanimously passed a bill requiring New Jersey's Department of Ed to develop a statewide cell phone and social media policy for schools.

Some districts have already restricted phone use during school hours, citing concerns about youth mental health.

As Ted Goldberg reports, momentum is building for the ban, yet not everyone is sold on the idea.

>> We will help establish phone free schools.

Ted: Governor Murphy's anti-phone attitude might have drawn the most widespread applause during his State of the state speech.

>> Honestly, is it any surprise that the rise of smart phone usage has coincided with a growing youth mental health crisis?

Of course not.

Ted: Proposals to keep phones out of schools are gaining momentum, but the Ramsey school District is way ahead of them.

Since coming back from January, high school students must keep their phones in these pouches during morning and afternoon classes, or face having their phones confiscated.

>> There was not as much peer-to-peer human interaction.

We have seen a big impact in our PE classes.

Teachers are seeing that kids are engaged again.

Ted: The superintendent says the district bought about 850 pouches for $30 a pop.

It took a few days for the high school to figure out the workflow.

>> Counseling department reported back that we had some kids that were, I don't know if the word is withdrawal, because I am not a clinical -- a clinician that would make that diagnosis.

But yes, that has subsided.

>> So phones and smartphones are part of our everyday life and need no for students, it's like their most prized hers ocean.

Ted: This is the senior director of advocacy for the New Jersey school board is -- Association.

>> They become a distraction, they can negatively impact a student's mental health leading to stress, anxiety, depression, even suicidal thoughts.

Ted: He has praised a Senate bill that would direct the states Department of Education to set a standard for restricting the use of smartphones, smart watches, and AirPods for New Jersey's 580 plus school districts.

Jonathan: different communities do have different needs.

And the nuances of this issue certainly demand local voices inform local decisions.

>> I'm optimistic that this bill will move.

Ted: Cody Miller sponsored the bill, which unanimously passed the Senate earlier this week.

>> Our teachers will be able to teach course materials without having unwanted interruptions and distractions in the classroom.

Ted: Richard Mazza leads the states Association of school administrators.

Richard: Parents do not have access to their kids in an emergency.

Ted: He has her opposition to these kind of bans.

Richard: You have children who may have medical needs.

Ted: Ramsey allows a Velcro pouches for diabetic students, and Ramsey's chief of police wrote a letter saying phone bands keep kids safer.

Brian light wrote focusing your attention on a cell phone only diminishes awareness, and increases the debilitating effects of tunnel vision.

Assemblyman Miller says the department standards will not requires 2 -- require schools to buy pouches.

>> We have budget issues and it will be difficult to find ways to find funding to do this.

As a school board member, we always, whenever there was an unfunded mandate, it became a problem for us because we would have to take money away from instruction.

Ted: He says the Department of Education must listen to schools who already have phone bans in place and they should not offer a solution to the district district -- to the different districts statewide.

>> Bottom line is instructional time needs to be preserved.

As long as those things can be addressed, we can get back to decreasing the stress put on students by social media, and let them focus on learning.

I think that is the bottom baseline we are talking about.

Ted: The superintendent says he likes the idea of a statewide policy, but he hopes the responsibility for locking up phones does not fall on teachers.

Statewide leaders have time to draft their rules.

They would not go into effect until the first full school year after a bill is signed into law.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Ted Goldberg.

Briana: Newark Public school leaders are once again under fire after a leaked draft report revealed alleged racist and bigoted incidents against black students and teachers at a city school.

The report exclusively obtained by chalk beat Newark shows the administration at the Newark school of Global studies also failed to respond or address the problems, which in some cases only magnified the racial issues there.

.

I spoke with Jessie Gomez, a reporter with chalk beat who broke the story for the latest details.

Thanks so much for coming on the show.

You are able to get your hands on a copy of this report.

It details racial harassment, discrimination.

Give us an example of what these students and teachers were facing.

Jessie: Yeah, a lot has happened in the last couple of years at Newark school of mobile studies.

Over the years and through my reporting, we have heard school leaders and students had experienced racist racial harassment.

We have also heard that students were called racial slurs, religious letters, even anti-gay slur's.

In this report specifically that we were able to obtain, it sounds like the findings were echoing those sentiments that we keep hearing throughout those interviews and my reporting as well.

School leaders responses to the alleged incidents has ranged from students having to write apologies, to suspending some students.

This dude -- the school took approaches to the alleged racist incidents.

At the end of the day, and a lot of these students felt like their voices were not being heard, and the school leaders were not handling these issues as well as they could have.

Briana: What kind of effect has that had on the student body, and on the teachers?

Jessie: When we talk about these issues, we have to remember that the students first spoke up in 2022.

They have now graduated.

They were the class of 2024.

They have gone onto college and moved on to other things.

During their time, especially the events occurring during their junior and senior year, and a lot of them, in the middle of the school year, had transferred out.

A lot of what the report highlights is that Black students at the school of global studies had disproportionate rates from other demographic groups, to teachers at the school as well had resigned.

In the report, we found there was a third teacher that resigned as well.

Over the years, there has been a lot of staff changes, and there has been students who have transferred out.

Briana: Quiet, then, is the Newark public system continuing to block the release of the report, even after all of the public attention and scrutiny and lawsuits filed by the teachers union?

Jessie: That's a great question, and something I've been asking the superintendent and the district for almost two years now.

The superintendent has said in previous years it would remain internal, and it would inform the district strategy on race and diversity.

So far, we have not heard what the strategy is or what changes have been made at the school.

Briana: Does the school district respond to what was included in this report?

What did that look like?

Jessie: They read -- we reached out for comment for this story.

They basically reiterated what they had said in court hearings which is that this document is a privilege draft document, and it is supposed to serve their diversity strategy.

And that it is supposed to inform and have conversations -- the report is supposed to inform them and allow them to have conversations about what the strategy is on race, if any.

Again, those details have remained private for almost two years now.

Briana: Has the mayor's office gotten involved or does it look like there will be an attempt to intervene here?

Jessie: Back when these issues came to light in November 2022, the mayor had hosted a unity town hall a couple months after that, where students who were the ones that spoke out about the races harassment, attended the event and were able to speak more about their own experiences.

Since then, I have reached out to the mayor's office and we have not heard anything more from him or if there was any accountability on his end to the school district.

Briana: Jessie Gomez is with Chalkbeat Newark.

You can read the full story on our website, Chalkbeat and on Chalkbeat.org.

Jessie: Thanks for having me.

Briana: We are dropping the final episode of our podcast series, has or NJ.

This season is focused on toxic for, also known as PFAs.

They became a universal part of consumer products because they repel water, they are stain resistant and incredibly durable.

Those same properties also mean that the chemicals can persist in the environment seemingly forever, and almost everywhere.

That has left regulators and scientists in New Jersey and around the world grappling with how to permanently destroy the chemicals.

Download hazard NJ, episode four, nothing is forever, wherever unison care that's going to do it for us.

Make sure you tune into Reporters Roundtable with David Cruz tomorrow.

He will talk to Jean-Pierre Brutus, senior counsel in the economic justice program at the New Jersey Institute for social justice, about the economic, education and social justice proposals in Governor Murphy's state of the State speech Pierpont's a panel of reporters discussed the political headlines of the week.

Check it out Friday at noon on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us, have a great night, we will see you back here tomorrow.

Announcer: 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, American-made energy.

♪