Briana: Tonight, abortion rights nearly a year after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

The debate continues as New Jersey tries to make abortion more accessible.

>> Patient volume has increased.

Briana: Plus, prosecuting 14-year-olds.

Lawmakers seek to mandate a minimum age for children to be criminally prosecuted and punished.

>> Those as young as 5, 6 or 7 could be arrested, charged and prosecuted.

Briana: Exploring hate, a local community grappling with a string of anti-Semitic attacks and an innocent family caught in the crosshairs.

>> This is not real.

This cannot be happening.

Briana: Leaving a legacy.

>> I want to be remembered as somebody who did their job day in, day out.

Briana: The New Jersey secretary of agriculture is retiring after 14 years of service and reflects on his career.

"NJ Spotlight News" starts right now.

>> Funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided by members of the 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, sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪ [sound of typewriter typing] >> This is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Joanna: Thank you for joining us.

It has been nearly a year since the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, guaranteeing a woman's right to an abortion in the U.S. And since then New Jersey has stepped up efforts to make abortion accessible, not only to New Jersey residents, but two people in other states where abortion has been banned.

Senators have introduced a bicameral bill called the right to contraception act.

The legislation would codify and strength in the right to contraception into federal law, it is a right the U.S. Supreme Court recognized more than 50 years ago but recent action in Republican led states is scaling back access.

Senator Cory Booker joined Planned Parenthood today to talk about New Jersey's full and improving access to reproductive health care.

Our Senior correspondent attended the event and has more.

>> What we are doing is essentially reversing the hands of time.

And not at the benefit of women, not saving more lives.

>> Dr. Matthews still struggling with the aftermath of overturning abortion rights, catapulting the nation into social chaos.

14 states banned or severely restricted procedures to terminate pregnancies over the past year, reducing abortions by 5400 a month on average, one study showed.

Georgia's cut off is six weeks.

>> Now we are seeing bans constantly, left, right and center at stages that make no sense.

At six weeks, do you know you have mist your period in six weeks?

>> People are coming here because they cannot receive care in their home state.

>> Jackie Cornell says that New Jersey rushed to enact stronger abortion protections after the court overturned roe, but it is a sanctuary state that has legal shields across prosecution.

Cornell says one terrified patient brought her boss from Texas.

>> It is because the boss scheduled meetings the day before and after in New Jersey to create an alibi about why this person was here with them.

>> The anti's are coming at it from every angle imaginable.

We do not know what is around the corner but we will continue to provide services that we are committed to providing to whoever comes to us.

>> Rosalyn Rogers Collins says her Planned Parenthood clinics have hired more staff to cope with the rising number of patients, from 19,000 to about 23,000 this year.

They come from 10 states and New York City.

>> They are taking bridges and tunnels, leaving their homes because there's such an influx of patients coming in from other states.

>> Collins spoke at an action fund rally in Bloomfield, where supporters warned the attack on women's rights is just the beginning.

>> We have a fight and it will not be easy, but I am passionate about the issue.

>> Legal and legislative challenges continue.

Most notably over a drug commonly used in medication abortions.

It's now ironically a so-called poison pill in the farm bill that would outlaw sending abortion legislation in the mail, but Senator Cory Booker says that is DOA.

>> There is no way it would garner 60 votes, that kind of effort to restrict access to health care to women, to endanger them.

>> Meanwhile, the Supreme Court let ledger continued to be sold by mail for abortions at 10 weeks of pregnancy, as an appeals court hears the case to roll that back.

Senator Booker is reintroducing a bill in giving more access to contraceptives.

And I'm Brenda Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: We sat down to talk all things New Jersey politics, from the controversial state and NJ program, which has caused friction between the governor and assembly speaker, to the latest with NJ transit, and where New Jersey is now on the corporate business tax that will expire at the end of the year.

Here is part of that conversation.

>> We have seen reporting that suggests your team and the assembly speaker RC Moore I do I on state and J.

An analysis found that it was well-to-do seniors who would benefit the most from that program.

You mentioned that weeks ago, that you had a concern about that.

What has changed in your mind about that program?

>> First of all, David, we enjoy a great relationship working together.

When you start with a relationship like the one we had, it is shared values.

We are laser focused on affordability.

The budget would be, in the past six years we would've delivered 18 tax cuts to the middle-class and seniors, so this is something we share.

If we can find a way to amp up affordability for our seniors, we are open to that.

We do that already, by the way.

And I think the anchor program already covers 90% of senior homeowners and renters.

If we can get that number a little bit higher or give them more, and we could do it in the context of fiscal responsibility, I am certainly open-minded.

We can never go back to the battle days when we had a pile of money and we immediately spent it.

Then it started to rain and we were looking for that money and it wasn't there anymore.

That is something we have to avoid.

Within that parameter, we are open to finding ways to deliver even more affordability.

David: Do I hear you say you are not there yet?

>> Listen, it is June.

It is mid-June.

You know how it works.

We are a week from the clock.

We are working feverishly into we will continue to do so.

David: We have viewer questions.

Transportation and environment high on people's minds.

It says here you are "squandering an incredible opportunity to lead on transportation in the last salvageable moments of the climate crisis in the densest state in the Union by trickling down on fossil fuel infrastructure."

This is about the Turnpike extension through Hudson County.

Too much emphasis they say on cars and not enough on mass transit.

Are you still behind the Turnpike extension?

>> The premise of the question is ridiculous.

[LAUGHTER] Let me say that.

Look at every American state over the past six years, and I guarantee the facts prove this out.

We have the number one environmental record of any American state since we got into office.

Am I still for the expansion?

Yes.

Because in a very few years the cars going through that expanded Turnpike, the highway, will be electric.

This is like saying you have a fear of a horse and buggy economy.

Those days are behind us.

Whatever this person said about trickling down, you have got to give me a break.

We have the biggest offshore wind program in America, the strongest environmental justice law in America.

We still have to call balls and strikes at each one of these plants and projects as they come up in the context of the law.

Briana: You can watch the full interview with the governor on Chat Box on Saturday and on Sunday morning.

And on Reporters Roundtable, David talks to one of the most influential advisors on the governor's team, George Honing.

It will be Saturday at six clock p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Should a child under 14 be subject to criminal arrest, prosecution and punishment for illegal activity?

That is a question the United Nations recently took on and their answer was no.

The you has called for all countries to set a minimum age of 14 for a child to face criminal responsibility, citing the science of brain development that shows kids younger than 14 experience trauma in juvenile detention.

New Jersey is one of 24 states that has no age minimum.

As Ted Goldberg explains, several state lawmakers want to change that.

>> Calvin Bass says he was 10 when he first ran in with the law.

After a few arrests, he said the threat of prison was not a deterrent.

>> I was nervous because I was young and I heard a lot of bad things.

Once I went through the first time of being incarcerated, it became a rite of passage for me.

I went through it, I knew what it was.

A new bill would have kept him out of juvenile detention for 10 years.

A new bill would set the age of criminal response ability at 14.

New Jersey is one of 24 states that does not have a minimum age for children to be arrested or prosecuted as a criminal.

>> From 10 years old, four years difference, you are no longer in adolescent, you are a teenager.

So you can think a little bit.

>> It is consistent with the recommendations from the United Nations based upon the rights of the child, and it is consistent with the most common minimum age of criminal responsibility internationally.

Ted: The bill's sponsor says it does not mean kids are let off the hook, it just means their punishment would be doled out in a family court setting.

>> The path to rehabilitation does not go through the stigma of the permanent label, even if sealed, of delinquency.

And it does not put kids into juvenile detention settings.

>> Cognitively, they do not reach cognitive capacity until they are at least 14.

And actually between 14 and 16.

With regard to their judgment, executive functioning that allows them to make good decisions.

Ted: Criminal justice advocates say if New Jersey does not pass the law, it could lead to more troubled kids becoming career criminals.

>> It causes economic hardship, physical harm and it disrupts the mental and spiritual wellness of our young people.

>> The harm attached to having to be fingerprinted, photographed and going through the arrest process are enormous.

Ted: While Bass is happy about the bill, he thinks the state should do more to help rehabilitate minors when arrested and do a better job of helping the former incarcerated get back into society.

>> If we could do more evaluations, mental evaluations, of the young people that's going into juvenile detention halls and setup certain programs, you know, maybe academic programs, vocational programs, and get the opportunity to evaluate young individuals.

>> What we really need to see run parallel to the legislation are significant investments in things like restorative justice and violence interruption hubs.

Investing in safe housing for our young people and their families.

Ted: Originally the bill set the minimum age at 12, but it was bumped up in committee to 14.

Briana: After undergoing construction, a family home in Toms River was close to completion when it was burned to the ground in an arson attack.

It was part of a crime spree, according to the Attorney General.

This family is not Jewish but the perpetrator thought that they were, as he was caught on camera painting swastikas as part of the crime spree.

Now this family is getting support from a new coalition of residents and from the Orthodox Jewish community, this part of our series exploring hate, that focuses on extremism and racism.

>> This is not real.

This cannot be happening to us.

All of our hard work.

>> Brenda cannot believe her eyes.

This Manchester Law is where her almost finished dream home stood, but last week, in let still feels like a nightmare, it was torched to the ground.

>> Then I felt like who or why.

>> It was part of a crime spree that included anti-Semitic graffiti placed at more than a dozen houses.

The suspect was arrested and charged with 36 criminal counts.

She says her home was targeted because the suspect believed a Jewish family would be living there, but her family is not Jewish.

>> I had to get off social media because when the reports came out, people were saying we were making it up.

That we were paid actors.

>> But the situation is all too real for her and her family, that poured everything they had into building their home.

>> It is sad because this is not what should be happening in 2023.

You know?

You do not expect somebody to go around burning houses.

It is crazy.

When you read the story you are like, there is no way this is real.

>> Members of the community are stepping up to help.

>> Last Friday we had dumpsters here, we had everything ready to go.

>> And Fryer did not hesitate to offer support.

Having family that lived through the Holocaust, he says any sign of hate is unacceptable.

>> This is America.

We have the right to our freedom and religion.

And somebody can burn something down because he think that is a synagogue?

That is disgusting.

Poor family.

That is not even Jewish.

And their house being burned down, it is disgusting.

>> Franca says the tragedy has brought neighbors together.

>> There has been some certain segments of the community for various reasons.

And that is all, that is all being resolved, ironically through this.

People are coming together in people's hearts are opening up.

And we want people to believe in the town.

The mayor wants people to believe in the town.

And do the right thing and get us all together.

And rebuild this house.

>> She says she is grateful.

>> I am determined in rebuilding because it is not just about me, it is showing people that bad things happen but better things can come.

And that God has everything under control.

And more importantly, for my parents.

>> More than $5,000 has been raised so far through a Gofundme.

Members of the community say they will continue to show support until the family is finally in their home.

I'm Melissa Rose Cooper.

Briana: Nearly 1.2 million New Jersey residents are awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court on whether student loans will be forgiven.

That decision is expected to come down any day, either upholding or reversing the student loan forgiveness program.

It could erase up to $20,000 of debt for individuals earning less than 100 when $5,000 a year and married couples earning less than $250,000.

One third of those who would be affected in New Jersey are young adults, 25-33 years old, and less than a third are about 39-45 years old.

In total, New Jersey holds a little more than $33 billion in debt without forgiveness programs, which was challenged before it started.

Student loan repayments will presume on August 21 after a after a three-and-a-half year hiatus.

Tonight, Chris Smith and Andrew have blamed mammal deaths on the offshore wind project.

This week, they got a small victory with the U.S. Government accountability office agreed to investigate the mammal deaths and impact of the wind energy efforts on the fishing industry.

A new lawsuit has been filed against the Department of Environmental Protection and the company running the ocean wind project.

Orsted is an underwriter of "NJ Spotlight News."

The group bringing the suit, including protect our coast NJ, say that they acknowledged of the impacts of the project when it was approved.

Here's how the markets closed for the week.

>> Support for the business report provided by the Chamber of Commerce southern New Jersey, working for economic prosperity by uniting business and community leaders for 150 years.

Membership and event information online at chambersmj.com.

Briana: Join Raven Santana this weekend.

She will highlight the contributions of veterans in the business world and barriers they face when trying to launch a new business.

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. on NJ PBS.

Doug Fisher was first appointed as secretary of agriculture in 2009 by the then Governor.

And after 14 years of service, he is retiring.

He sat down to look back at his storied career, including the role's office played in addressing food insecurity, especially during the pandemic, and the growing threat of climate change on the fishing industry.

>> It is great to talk with you.

14 years, three administrations technically you have worked through.

Why is now the time to step down?

Sec.

Fisher: I decided this was the time.

I'm at this age and I decided that this was time.

There is no off switch.

It was I have felt I had made my mark.

>> You spent much of your career in state government as an assembly member, prior to serving as secretary.

Did you see yourself in this role back then in the legislature?

Sec.

Fisher: I didn't.

although I was chairman of agriculture, so I could see myself doing it but it was not something I was absolutely aspiring to.

The farming community asked me if I would be interested.

They had done lobbying.

They talked about saving the Department of agriculture at that time in Trenton.

So I see myself in it now.

>> How much did it change, your role, during the pandemic and after when you see the spike in food insecurity and hunger and the issues around that?

Did your attitude have to shift?

Sec.

Fisher: We were very proud of the fact we were in the trenches, making sure our food banks were able to get food they needed, not only from the federal government but the state government.

It was important for us to make sure that that conduit of food flowed at a time when there was so much need.

And to continue to look at food security is an issue.

It did not just end with Covid.

>> In fact, in many ways it got worse.

Sec.

Fisher: Exactly.

Food insecurity is a top priority of the administration and our department, as well as the legislature.

So, we are working hard to see where we can once again augment the opportunities, not just for food banks but food insecurity programs across the state.

>> We are living in the changes of climate now.

What would you say the department is going to have to look at to really key in on the problems we are facing when it comes to climate change?

Sec.

Fisher: First of all, there was client denial in the AG community.

Not just in our state, but across the country.

And I think as farmers are now being affected and understanding ways they had not thought about it, clearly everybody knows now that climate resilience is important.

The way that the state can help is by using resources to help with carbon capture and make sure that farmers have adequate tools to keep the rising tides and loss of arable land.

There is any number of policies we can do at the state level to help our farming community.

>> What are you most proud of that you have accomplished, how do you want to be remembered?

Sec.

Fisher: I want to be remembered frankly as somebody who did their job day in, day out, and tried never to miss a beat.

In the public, where he served in the farming community and in so many areas that a lot of people do not know the Department of agriculture works in.

But I guess -- >> That is true.

They think of it as like -- Sec.

Fisher: They think it is jersey fresh.

Some of the things we are doing right now are really important and I am glad after 10 years we have the special occasion events legislation done.

As I leave, we are doing soil protection.

It is a good thing that allows us to make sure we maintain our lands for purposes of agriculture.

Talking about dual-purpose solar.

It is hard to say when somebody says what is your legacy, because I think my nature is to keep moving forward and not look back as much.

I will reflect more when I am out of here.

>> Secretary Doug Fisher thank , you for your time and service.

And for coming in to chat.

Briana: That will do it for us.

Download the podcast so you can listen to us at any time.

From the entire team, thank you for being with us.

Have a great weekend and we will see you on Monday.

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