Briana: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," the state's Attorney General filing a civil rights complaint against three more schools, challenging what he calls unlawful LGBTQ gender policies for students.

>> what they are doing is illegal.

We will not let it stand.

Briana: Also, order in the courts.

The state Senate confirms eight new judges, but plans summer sessions to tackle the remaining vacancies.

>> Our process works.

It is cumbersome and onerous, but it is the best process I have seen so far.

Briana: And, a Russian court denies the release of Evan Gershkovich, officials calling it outrageous, but not a surprise.

Rate hike.

Auto companies looking to raise your car insurance, some even asking for a double-digit increase.

>> We cannot estimate the impact because that number will be unique to New Jersey.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" starts now.

>> Funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided by NJM Insurance group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

New Jersey Realtors, the voice for real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

And By the PSEG foundation.

♪ ♪ >> From NJ PBS, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Thank you for joining us this Thursday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

New Jersey's Attorney General hitting three school districts for their new policies involving LGBTQ students.

Tonight filing civil rights complaints against three regional boards of education.

Challenging allegedly unlawful policies approved by the districts this week.

They require teachers to notify parents of a student asks to officially go by a different name, gender pronoun or use a different bathroom in the school.

The state is also requesting temporary restraining orders from Superior Court to stop the boards from implementing the policies while the civil cases go through the courts.

The complaints allege the new guidelines will irreparably Harb transgender, non-binary and some gender nonconforming students alleging outing those students poses serious mental health risks and threatens a physical harm to them.

The latest front in an ongoing culture war pitting the Murphy administration against some New Jersey parents fighting for parental rights arguing they are being cut out of the conversation.

Attorney General Matt Platkin first filed a complaint against Hanover Township schools for a similar policy and says his office is holding a hard line on the issue.

>> These policies that target people on sexual vial -- sexual orientation or gender will not stand.

They will stigmatize and hurt children who are identifying as openly gay or LGBTQ+ or having gender identity issues and that will put kids at risk of time we are seeing a mental health crisis among our youth.

I would ask every board considering this to understand what they are doing is illegal, and most importantly, is hurting our kids.

Briana: Another showdown in Trenton, this one between progressive groups and the state.

A coalition dubbed "for the many," gathered outside the Statehouse steps demanding legislative leadership stop "handouts to wealthy corporations," asking leaders to support working families.

The coalition includes make the road New Jersey and New Jersey policy perspective and others.

The group alleges working-class New Jerseyians are left out of the budget come up pointing out the end of the state's corporate tax and the corporate tax relief program which they argue make it more affordable.

But the wealthy are benefiting the most, they say.

>> There is supposed to be a big surplus the state is spending on what they say are generational investments, but instead seem to be handing big tax cuts to big corporations.

We saw another bill fast tracked to more film and TV tax credits.

We need to stop corporate tax cuts.

We need schools, transit, affordable housing.

Briana: Advocates of open government up in arms over a proposed overhaul of the state's open public records act which some say will make an already difficult process of access to public information even harder, while backers contend it has become burdensome on open towns and is in need of change.

The bills were supposed to be up for discussion today, but got pulled last-minute.

Another sign of how he did though debate has become.

Brenda Flanagan reports.

>> They regard me as a pain in the you know what because I go after things and speak out it.

Brenda: He is a libertarian and open government advocate, files numerous requests under OPRA, compelling clerks to file data about all sorts of issues.

He opposes a package of bills he believes would curtail OPRA access.

>> It is crucially important that citizens have access and media, so they can report on what the man behind the curtain is doing.

>> A lot of government documents and systems were not designed to handle the research being asked for, for many requests.

Brenda: Mark Pfeiffer says OPRA has been around for years.

Many -- the four-page package would enact several controversial reforms like extending deadlines from seven days to 10 days, limiting the number of OPRA request, and banning anonymous filings.

Critics exploded over a proposal to change the abuse process when OPRA requests are denied and shift the burden of attorney fees which currently get paid by the losing side.

>> This is an atrocity.

It is shocking anyone would introduce it.

Brenda: They convince judges to have access to police dash cam videos, police reports, and got paid when they won cases.

Proposed reforms would reroute records and cause a two-year backlog.

Losers would not automatically pay bills, so lawyers would no longer take cases on a contingency basis.

>> The average person who needs a record, or the media that cannot afford to pay attorneys, they will not be able to hire lawyers.

>> They are understaffed and under resourced.

I do not think anyone disagrees.

What is frustrating is when the courts overturn the decision and because of attorney fees, taxpayers are footing the bill.

>> We have attorney fees that charge up to $500 an hour.

These awards are paid for with property taxpayer dollars.

Brenda: He says another proposed reform would require OPRA to disclose commercial intent like data on licensed dog owners to create a potential customer list.

The sheer volume of data overwhelms clerks.

>> There has to be some type of restriction on the amount of commercial requests.

That is one of our biggest points.

>> As soon as a government agency talks about challenges complying with OPRA, they will get rained on by the press.

Brenda: Backlash includes a Hoboken concern over the bill package.

Reforms were introduced in a committee of chairs instead of the expected assembly, state and local government committee.

The debate has been postponed likely until the lame-duck session, when critics will brace for a fight.

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

Briana: One item not postponed at the Statehouse this week, the confirmation of eight more judges the state courts.

The Senate Judiciary committee approving the nominees in an effort to tackle New Jersey's high judicial vacancy rate.

There are 68 currently with another 13 anticipated by the end of the year.

The Chief Justice said it could operate between 25 and 30 vacancies.

I asked the state Senate president next Qatari -- Nick Scutari.

A big day for you moving ahead with several confirmations for judgeships.

Where do we stand in terms of the vacancy dubbed a crisis?

Sen. Scutari: I think the number is artificially different than in the past.

We should not ask how many vacancies we have, we should ask him any judges we have.

We have far more judges than we have had in the past because we created 21 additional judgeships.

The vacancies are not a numbers in the past.

Briana: You have percentages in the midst of a break, holding up some civil cases.

Sen. Scutari: There is no doubt there are openings and we are working diligently to fill those at the governor's office.

We can only confirm people that are nominated.

As they are nominated, they come to us for confirmation.

That means advise and consent and their role starts at that time.

Additionally, we give judges the chance to bring back retired judges on recall.

In order to fill these gaps.

We allow that to remain.

Briana: How likely is it you will have to come back during the summer to wrap up more confirmations?

Sen. Scutari: We will most likely come back in July to consider additional nominations after we have screened them.

Next Friday is not the end, it is the beginning, to some degree.

Briana: What is the pace at which you need to do this or how frequently do you plan on having to get together throughout the summer to move through more of the Nominees?

Sen. Scutari: It is not the fact we have to meet to confirm them, but the homework we do in advance, the time to consider these nominations.

The governor's office has as much time as they want, than they are nominated and receive senatorial confirmation.

After we have done our due diligence.

Just because they come to us on a Friday does not mean it will be ready Monday.

We need to take the same amount of time they do to make sure these folks are viable as candidates for Superior Court judges.

Briana: Is it time to look at revamping that process, given the timing you are given to vet a nominee?

Sen. Scutari: I have been encouraging the governor's office to let us know about potential nominees in advance so we can begin the vetting process earlier.

We often find things about nominations they do not know.

Sometimes those nominations have been withdrawn and that starts the process all over.

The only way we can improve the process is by getting involved in the vetting process earlier.

Other than that, the process works.

We have one of the finest judiciaries in the country.

Our judges do not run for election.

We cannot fathom a judge running to be elected and reelected.

It is onerous but it is the best process I have seen.

Briana: Thank you for your time.

Sen. Scutari: My pleasure.

Briana: a Wall Street reporter and New Jersey native Evan Gershkovich will remain in a Russian prison until at least the end of August.

A Moscow court rejected his request to be released.

He was arrested in late March while reporting in Russia and accused of espionage, charges Gershkovich, the Journal and U.S. government have denied.

He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Russian authorities have yet to offer evidence.

Gershkovich's parents, who are Soviet immigrants, traveled to Moscow for the hearing, and were in the courtroom.

Evan could be seen smiling and chatting with them briefly through the glass box.

His mother saying her son shows strength and resilience under the circumstances.

Top White House official Tom Kirby called it outrageous but not a surprise, adding the Biden Administration has not been given consular access.

Another win for the organized labor movement.

Fed up doctors associated with Rutgers University reached a tentative deal on contracts after almost a year of negotiations.

Unionized resident physicians and fellows at Rutgers New Jersey medical school have a new work agreement that includes wage increases, a $1300 per year education stipends, a meal stipend and on-call pay increases.

According to the union, doctors make as little as $15 per hour while working 80 hour work weeks.

It also includes a workforce to cover physician's mental health coverage.

That was a sticking point in negotiations.

Many rallied on campus during a unity break three weeks after other unions decided to strike over separate contract demands.

A spokesperson for the University says they will not have a comment until the agreement is ratified by full union membership.

The union says it is aiming to ratify the contract by 4:00 p.m. Friday.

In our spotlight on business report, it is about to get more expensive to drive a car in New Jersey.

Dozens of auto insurers are requesting new rate hikes from the state this year.

Some in the double digits.

Ted Goldberg reports on what is driving the increases and what you can do to save money.

Ted: If you have noticed car insurance getting more expensive in New Jersey, you're not alone.

>> 1.3 million New Jersey drivers are singing average increase to their premium of $130.

Ted: Many New Jersey drivers getting messages from their insurance companies letting them know rates could be rising.

Allstate has asked regulators to raise rates by 29% and Geico has asked for 26%.

>> The severity and frequency of accidents has increased and the cost of insurers for vehicle replacement parts, rising autobody repair costs.

Ted: He works with an industry funded nonprofit.

He says inflation plays a role.

Even though it has eased a bit.

Barry points out other factors like the jump in stolen cars.

The National insurance crime Bureau says more than one million cars were stolen in 2022.

The worst years since 2008.

>> It is often times a total loss.

Now you're paying a couple thousand dollars per year for auto insurance, but if you have theft, we are talking a total loss.

$25,000 claim to the auto insurer.

Ted: There is a more state law demanding more liability coverage.

In New Jersey, drivers used to need $15,000 for a person involved in an accident.

They said people fell through the crack send were not covered.

Now they need $25,000 in liability coverage.

She says those numbers are only going up.

>> The statute that raised the statute that raised minimum limits in January raises them again automatically in January 2026 from 2550 to 35000.

The number will be unique to New Jersey across the country.

We have no experience to estimate what financial impact that will have on drivers.

Ted: O'Brien says price hikes are away from -- for insurance companies to make up lost time during the pandemic.

>> There was a freeze on rentals, premium rates for insurance.

This has a cumulative effect of pent up rates.

If your insurer is not adequately pricing the product they are selling you.

Ted: What can be done?

Barry says if shopping around does not provide savings, you could take other steps.

>> May be take a defensive driving course.

You could do it online, it lasts three years.

If you have a student driver and their grade point averages 3.0 or higher, that will entitle you to a discount.

There are low mileage discounts.

Ted: You have time before the rates rise.

They are pending until approved by the state Department of banking and insurance.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I am Ted Goldberg.

Briana: New Jersey's legal weed industry is getting a checkup and has a clean bill of health.

Sales from medicinal and recreational cannabis brought in $180 million.

The update comes ahead of a legislative hearing tomorrow looking at the status of the 18 month old market.

The commission says the state has collected $9.5 million in sales tax for the first quarter and received more than 2000 applications to operate legal weed stores.

They approved 1300.

Though most are conditional, meeting applicants still need to get a municipality to support their application.

Cannabis applicants continue reporting trouble with predatory lenders and accessing capital.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell testifying today on Capitol Hill.

He expects more rate hikes this year, as there is a long way to go to fight inflation.

Here is how the markets closed.

♪ >> Support for the business report provided by Newark alliance, and outdoor festival in downtown at Halseyfest.

Briana: Be sure to join Raven Santana for the business B.

She will highlight agricultural industry including the top crops from the Jersey state, how produce makes it to the schools, and the legacy of Black farmers in New Jersey.

That is Saturday morning at 10:00 on our spotlight YouTube channel.

♪ Briana: Lawmakers looking to a new approach for nonviolent offenders in the state, diverting those who qualify from serving jail time to instead entering a statewide mental illness program.

It operates like a recovery court and those who graduate have their charges expunged.

The success rate is undeniable.

>> We are looking for as many ways as possible to keep people who should not be involved in the criminal justice system out of the system.

Especially when it appears there is an underlying mental health reason that may be the root of the problem.

Melissa: That is why he supports efforts to create statewide mental health diversion program.

Members of the assembly appropriations committee approved a bill to allow people diagnosed with mental illness who have committed nonviolent, petty offenses, to be Elavil -- to be eligible to receive mental health services instead of jail time.

>> We are duty-bound to recognize that when we can.

If there are avenues to divert people, we have to consider those, as we have for at least a decade.

Melissa: Essex County is one of several across New Jersey where mental health programs already exist.

>> I have had so many times the victim said they need help, not jail, we need help.

The mental health program is a response to the community.

Not everybody can go to jail.

There are instances where people have valid mental health issues.

That has been documented.

We have the victim involved in the process.

Melissa: The assistant Essex County Prosecutor says the program has proven to be a success.

Less than 1% of graduates became re-offenders.

>> Most people out of jail go back to the same community they lived in.

Why send them to jail if we can get help and have that family reunited, and they become productive parts of society?

That is the ultimate goal of the criminal justice system, for the person to come back and be a productive member of society.

Melissa: According to a report released by the prison initiative last year, over 40% of people in state prisons have been diagnosed with at least one mental health condition.

Yet only 1/4 receive professional health.

This would provide more mental health diversion programs throughout the state.

Melissa: Years ago when you said someone had a mental health issue, it was taboo.

People talked about it secretly because they did not know how to deal with it.

Society has advanced now that we have tools to help people all -- people.

It should not be a secret or insignia of shame.

It is an illness like any other.

We have no control over who has a mental health illness.

They can now be treated and affectively so people can get well.

Melissa: The assembly committee approved a measure to respond to mental health crises.

Both bills are now pending a full assembly vote.

For "NJ Spotlight News," I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

Briana: That will do it for us tonight.

Be sure to tune into the season finale of Reporters Roundtable with David Cruz.

He kicks off the show with Michael Rasmussen.

They are talking 2024 and Chris Christie's chances in the presidential election, the proposed state budget, guns, and more.

Then a panel of local reporters break down this week's political headlines.

That is Friday at 10:00 a.m. on the "NJ Spotlight News" YouTube channel.

You can still download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast to listen anytime.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great evening.

We will see you here tomorrow.

♪ >> The members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJBarnabas health, let's be healthy together.

Orsted, committed to the creation of a new, long-term sustainable, clean energy future , for New Jersey.

>> 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.

Online at us.orsted.com.

♪