>> Tonight on NJ Spotlight news, millions of New Jerseyans and face alarming air quality is Canadian wildfire smoke continues to engulf the East Coast.

>> Unfortunately this is our new reality.

>> Professional games are postponed due to this unprecedented wildfire smoke.

>> Wildfires will probably continue.

If the weather pattern sets of just right, we could see smoke again.

>> Plus, at the state house legislatures work to quantify Governor Murthy's executive order to put New Jersey on the path to 100% clean electricity by 2035.

>> All of this to help combat the climate crisis.

>> Also, a divided house.

State legislators debate property tax cuts for seniors.

Governor Murphy signals he is not on board.

An gun makers.

The governor's public nuisance law is debated in federal court.

>> New Jersey should stop trying to blame law-abiding manufacturers and distributors of guns for the actions of criminals.

>> "NJ Spotlight news" starts now.

>> Serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

Verizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

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

More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

From NJ PBS, this is "NJ Spotlight News."

>> Good evening, and thank you for joining us.

For the last two days commitment jerseys guys have looked like a theme from a sci-fi movie.

The yellowish haze blanketing the sky is the result of Canadian wildfires, hundreds of miles away.

Air quality index greetings in some towns in New Jersey today were not just unhealthy, but veered into hazardous territory, meaning pollution levels posed a risk not only to vulnerable residents, but the general public as well.

The poor quality is forcing schools and sports programs to cancel outdoor activities.

Some K-12 schools are closed today.

A handful of New Jersey colleges went remote.

The toxic air is impacting travel, with the FAA delaying flights at Newark airport due to low visibility and speed restrictions enforced on some bridges.

State health and environmental officials are urging residents to stay indoors and limit strenuous activity throughout the evening or wear masks if they must venture outside, especially with people with underlying health conditions.

Today the governor reiterated those warnings at a news conference, where our check Goldberg has the latest.

>> I was on with the Canadian authorities last evening and the scale of this is extraordinary.

They said they had a 10 million acres burning, that that number was going to go up to 12 million.

Ted: The Canadian wildfires in our nearly double the size of the entire state of New Jersey, casting an orange haze over the garden state over the last couple of days.

Yesterday's air quality was New Jersey's worst in 43 years, which is as far back as federal records go.

They canceled pro sports games, grounded flights, and caused health issues statewide.

>> What we are seeing is people complaining of shortness of breath, particularly for those -- with asthma, COPD, those kind of things.

Ted: Catherine specializes in human knowledge at Robert Wood Johnson medical school.

She recommend people stay indoors or wear an N95 mask if they have to go outside.

>> I smelled it in my office yesterday.

They get in and they get in your lungs and they can get into the rest of your body.

>> You are breathing in microscopic particles called particle pollution.

When that gets into your body, for your lungs it is like taking a piece of sandpaper and rubbing it on your lung tissue.

These are particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter.

A human hair is 60, 70 microns thick.

The aggregate effective millions of these particles are causing visibility problems.

Ted: They are also sending more people to the hospital.

>> We noticed 143 individuals seeking care for asthma-related problems, which is the highest number we have had on average in the last two months.

Ted: New Jersey's air quality was slightly better today compared to yesterday, but leaders say it could take a few more days for the haze to dissipate, depending on wind and the weather.

Governor Murphy says events like the Canadian wildfires make it more important for people to embrace greener technology.

Gov.

Murphy: unfortunately this is our new reality, that disturbing orange haze in the sky, the burning in our throats, those are clear winning sense that that status quo cannot continue.

>> The best available science indicates that events like this are likely to increase, so we must work to be aware and ready to respond while we all do everything we can to reduce the impacts of climate change.

>> The widespread nature of this air quality event and the intensity of it is unprecedented.

To put it in context, the hazardous level of the a QI, maroon color, for us, not just New Jersey but for most of the U.S., this doesn't happen.

Ted: Governor Murphy says people should visit airnow.gov for updates on air quality where they live.

Raven: With intense wildfires blazing across Canada blowing smoke hundreds of miles away here in Jersey, questions are being raised about the role climate change plays and what is all happening and how changes to our environment may allow future smoke events like this one to occur again.

For the and more, the Rutgers climate Institute director joins me.

Anthony, how does something like this happened?

Anthony: it has taken an unusual, nation of things.

-- combination of things.

First of all, we have had forest fires in Eastern Canada.

Generally speaking these wildfires tend to happen in places that are drier, more in the western part of North America.

But because of an unusually dry weather pattern in Canada, we have had fires in Québec about 600 miles north of us.

We have also had a weather pattern that has brought that smoke directly south into our area.

Raven: So, Anthony, what I want to focus on is really how climate change is contributing to the wildfires and impacts on our region.

Will we see more of this in the future?

Anthony: climate change does make conditions more conducive to wildfires, because the increase in temperature makes it easier for the fuels that are responsible for these fires to dry out.

So, in a warmer climate, we will have more wildfires.

That doesn't necessarily mean that events like this one will become commonplace here in the eastern United States, because we expect to still see wildfires more common in the western part of the United States.

Raven: Anthony, what type of wildfires are able to create this?

How big does this have to be?

Anthony: Well, right now what we have are a large number of fires in Canada.

So, altogether they are covering a relatively large area, even though the it is not one gigantic fire.

But we have had just the right kind of weather pattern in a very persistent weather pattern that has taken the smoke from those fires, allowed it to move south into New Jersey, to remain relatively close to the ground.

That is why it got so smoky yesterday.

Raven: Well, it's interesting because you mentioned weather patterns.

I want to focus on that for a second.

It seems like this was almost the perfect storm.

Why was this able to happen, and what do we know about how air currents might be changing due to climate change?

Anthony: The source of this pattern is not something that we can completely put our finger on.

However, what we can say is that the same pattern that produced warm and dry conditions over much of Canada during the month of May, making things conducive to wildfires, brought that smoke southward into New Jersey.

The pattern has been slow moving.

It has been locked in for a period of time.

And that has enabled this to happen.

There is some research that suggests that these slow-moving weather patterns will be more common as a result of climate change.

But in my view, the jury is still out on that scientifically.

Raven: I know that you don't have a crystal ball, and there are some things that remain unknown, but how can we stop this?

How can we slow this down?

How can we prevent another event like this happening in the future?

Or can't we?

Anthony: Well, I think a lot of what we see is beyond our control.

However, when we talk about the conditions being more conducive to fires because of a warming flight, that is -- warming climate, that is something that is within our control.

Efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions into the atmosphere will enable the climate to warm less than it would if we continue to emit greenhouse gases at the rate we have in the past.

Raven: Anthony, thank you for joining me to discuss this and break it all down.

Anthony: My pleasure.

Raven: And as the impacts of climate change are being felt in New Jersey, environmental advocates and state legislators gathered at the Statehouse to reach New Jersey's clean energy goals.

Governor Murphy signed an executive order in February that puts the state on a path to 100% empowered by 2035.

Now advocates and lawmakers are urging the passage of legislation that would empower that order.

A bill introduced into the state Senate in August accomplishes some of that goal, but activists opposed the measure in its current form in part because they want more aggressive deadlines, with bolder targets for developing solar and wind power as well as emerging technologies like geothermal and wave power.

But not incinerators -- those controversial facilities are eligible for renewable energy incentives, and advocates want that policy changed.

>> What we are looking for in this legislation, there is a draft bill that was introduced, there is going to be amendments.

This is the legislative process.

We want to make sure that the 100% clean energy is exactly that, clean.

One of the provisions in the legislation refers to incinerators as kind of qualifying for the definition of clean energy.

In the smoke today is a reminder that when you burn something, it is not clean.

And so we don't think that should fit in the definition of clean energy.

Raven: In a virtual town hall Wednesday afternoon, Senator Cory Booker and several members of the state's agriculture industry discussed the Farm Bill, a package of federal legislation on the food policy that is revised every five years.

Booker focused on increasing support for family-owned farms and expanding access to food assistance programs like SNAP.

Sen. Booker: It determines it so much of our agriculture and food policy in our nation.

In just a few months Congress will be revisiting the Farm Bill and updating it for the next five years.

And so it is really important that we organize our time and efforts and strategize and push policies that are going to empower our state farmers, fix our food system, and add to the health and well-being of American families.

Raven: A new proposal would slash property taxes for senior citizens in the state.

The bill had a hearing in the state assembly, but one big hurdle for the bill is Governor Murphy, who signaled that he wasn't on board with the initial plan.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports from Trenton, where some residents are pleading for property tax relief.

>> The issue with me are my taxes.

I mean, my taxes are more than my mortgage.

Brenda: Advocates turned out and it assembly committee hearing to talk about cutting property taxes.

Jersey leads the nation with an average $9,500 tax bill per year, a real burden on seniors and struggling to get by on fixed incomes.

That is what December the speaker says prompted him to propose Stay New Jersey, a plan to cut property taxes in half for New Jersey seniors.

>> They are scared that they will have to move for their grandchildren, their friends, their doctors, the places they have called home.

>> When it comes to actually leaving, it large majority, 83%, say they will likely do so.

Brenda: AARP told the committee that seniors cannot afford to stay here.

>> It is a bold approach to address the property tax burden for older New Jersey residents, and it will make a real difference in people's lives and make New Jersey a better place to grow up and grow old.

Brenda: Stay New Jersey would give seniors 65 and older a 50% credit on property tax bills for the main residence, cap at $10,000 with no income limit on eligibility.

Payments would go straight to municipal tax collectors begetting January 2025.

The state budget would set aside $300 million in 2023 and again in 2024 to help finance what could become a billion-dollar or more annual expenditure.

It does not include renters, and that concerns advocates and lawmakers.

>> The concern I have is the lack of income attached at the exclusion of renters.

>> It is a huge concern.

Over half of Black and Hispanic seniors are renters.

They would be left entirely out of this proposal.

Brenda: The proposer got swift support from the Senate President and many other Democrats.

It's campaign candy in a legislative election year.

But New Jersey's number one Democrat balked.

Governor Murphy has opposed Stay New Jersey in part because it is too expensive and has no income limits.

So Kaufman amended the bill.

Stay New Jersey state the same, but he would extend the senior freeze program including the upgrades Governor Murphy has desired like shorter residency requirements.

Seniors would get a rebate choice.

>> Benefits to seniors would be half of the property tax bill up to $10,000, or the senior freeze plus anchor, whichever one is higher.

Brenda: Murphy's chief of staff's reaction, "while we have serious challenges about the current version of the bill, we share the goal of streamlining the process and delivering work actually to our seniors."

Republicans, who have their own proposal, consider Stay New Jersey a politically motivated fix.

>> This is a bad policy designed for two election cycles.

Democrats get it passed this year and it would be implemented during the gubernatorial cycle two years from now.

Brenda: Both sides say they are willing to discuss some tweaks as they hammer out a new budget.

At the Statehouse in Trenton, I am Brenda Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight News."

Back to you, Raven.

Raven: Thanks, Brenda.

A federal appeals court heard arguments yesterday in a lawsuit brought by a trade group against New Jersey.

The lawsuit challenges the legality of a public nuisance law signed by Governor Murphy in 2022.

It allows the Attorney General to sue gun manufacturers and gun sellers to hold them liable for acts of violence.

Other states like New York, California, and Delaware have public nuisance laws, but whether or not New Jersey maintains its rights to sue Moon to be determined for some time.

We spoke with Lawrence Keane from the group that suited New Jersey.

>> New Jersey should stop trying to blame law-abiding manufacturers and distributors for the actions of criminals.

New Jersey citizens should demand that the Attorney General, Governor, and law enforcement focus on prosecuting criminals and enforcing the laws that exist.

>> New Jersey passed a law that intended to help keep its citizens safe, to all the -- hold the industry accountable for its will in gun violence, and this challenge should not stand in the way of the intent.

We are hopeful that the panel of the Third Circuit sides with a gun safety and the Attorney General's office.

Raven: In our spotlight on business report, the Newark city Council adopted a new ordinance that would limit rent increases to 5% every year in a newly developed buildings that have been exempted from rent control by state law.

As of today, there is not a state law governing rent increases, but local municipalities like Newark can adopted their own regulating the amount of rent increases in the city move the Seville scooper reports and what this means for tenants in the city of Newark.

>> this is ridiculous!

We are talking about people living in the street!

Do you not care?

Reporter: Residents expressing frustration over the high cost of living in the city.

Over one third of renters are spending half their income trying to keep a roof over their head.

>> we know that the median income is about $34,000 to $35,000 for families in our city.

We know that rent control covers about 70% of our units that are currently bills in our city for rental purposes.

So the city is taking steps to keep presidents in their homes -- residents in their homes.

They passed an ordinance limiting rent increases to 5% a year for each apartment not under rent control.

Any landlord who violates the measure faces fines of up to $12,000.

>> I see this as essential to key people who have lived here the lives to continue to afford to live in this city.

We have Lilo to see what they are get -- landlords who see what they are getting in the shack towers and saying, why am I only getting $800?

Let me jack up my rents.

Melissa: advocates say it would help address the affordability crisis that has plagued Newark for years.

>> Renters have no other place to go and you continue to raise rent.

That is the model of institutional buyers.

That is why they come.

They are very forthright and frank about their intentions.

They have a whole slew of investors to whom they have a fiduciary duty to raise rents as size possible.

Melissa: many residents think capping it is too much.

>> Again, gentrifying the folks that are on fixed incomes, and they don't make more than $34,000 a year.

>> Newarkers have been here when nothing else was here.

Our parents, grandparents, aunt and uncles, report our blood, sweat, and tears into the city and the taxes pay your salaries and you lotus with the burden of these developers, and we can't afford to live here.

Melissa: While some people at the meeting agreed that the rent ordinance has good intentions, they say the lack of affordable housing is a major problem.

>> Newark needs more housing, it needs more housing investment, it needs good landlords to come in and make the improvements that the city needs to have done.

By coming in and trying to say that we are going to limit rent increases now at the now subset of properties that are exempt from rent control through the state policy' of encouraging new constructions, policy of encouraging new supply, is going to be counterproductive to the city's needs.

>> At the end of the day all over the city there are new constructions where people are going in and starting up paying one amount, decent paying job, or some don't make enough, and literally there rents are increased at a crazy, unconscionable amount, and this is what the ordinance products.

Melissa: Advocates and members of the city Council agree more needs to be done to ensure housing is affordable, but they hope the ordinance is closer to making it happen.

I'm Melissa Rose Cooper.

Raven: On Wall Street, here is how the markets closed today.

>> Support for the business report provided by Newark alliance, presenting a brand-new anniversary block party and Halsey Fest on June 24 in downtown Newark, online at h alseyfest.com.

Raven: Join me for business beat this weekend.

The challenge is keeping employment and the groups supporting them in the workplace.

That is Saturday morning on our YouTube channel.

♪ Raven: And make sure you check out "Reporters Roundtable" with David Cruz.

With former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie jumping into a crowded presidential field, David talks about Christie's chances for that is on the news, YouTube channel, or wherever you stream.

I'm Raven Santana.

For the entire news team, have a great evening and we will see you here tomorrow.

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

RWJ Barnabas health.

Let's be healthy together.

And ORsted, committed to the creation of a 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.

>> Life is unpredictable.

Health insurance shouldn't be.

Over 90 years, Verizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has provided quality, affordable health plans to New Jersey residents.

We have served generations of New Jersey families and businesses and are committed to driving innovations that put you at the heart of everything we do.

Our members are our neighbors and friends in our families.

We are here when you need us most.

Horizon, proud to be New Jersey.

>> 2023 president of New Jersey realtors.

Whether it is helping a family find a home or securing a space for small business owners, New Jersey realtors have been helping their clients achieve their dreams for more than a century.

No matter what your unique needs are, there is a New Jersey realtor for you.

Find your realtor at nj.real estate/find.

♪