>> Major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" is provided in part for NJM insurance group.

ANCHOR: Tonight, the Supreme Court hearing arguments on the abortion pill mifepristone, will the court limit abortion access in New Jersey and across the country?

>> This is the first major abortion case to be back in front of the Supreme Court since Dobbs and since the Supreme Court declared it was getting out of the business of abortion.

We are here a couple years later with a case in front of them.

It has huge implications in the country.

ANCHOR: Governor Murphy renews the transportation trust fund, guaranteeing infrastructure funding for the next five years.

Also, thousands of bleeding control kits distributed to houses of worship in the state amid a nationwide rise in hate crimes directed at religious communities.

>> We hope no one ever has to use one of these kids but the reality is well law-enforcement enforcement is diligently trying to for these -- thwart this, we need to make sure people are prepared.

Anchor: And Newark's mayor opening a center to connect young people with educational and career opportunities.

>> This serves as an opportunity to rally young people up, to give them options, to not allow them, a situation to be a destination.

Anchor: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News."

Anchor: Thanks for joining us this Tuesday night.

The fate of the abortion pill mifepristone rests in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Justices today heard oral arguments on whether to restrict access to the widely used drug, which is the most common method of abortion in the country.

At the center of the dispute, group of antiabortion doctors and organizations challenging the food and drug administration's more than two decade old approval of mifepristone, and increased access to the pill, including making it available by mail.

A majority of the justices today appeared deeply skeptical about a nationwide band and questioned whether they could bring the lawsuit, the most significant abortion case before the High Court since 2022.

If the court signs with the plaintiffs, it would mean access to mifepristone would be limited even in states like New Jersey where access to abortion has been codified in state law.

Reporter: Hundreds gathered again before the U.S. Supreme Court to protest a crucial abortion access case less than two years after the conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade.

The court could rollback easy telemedicine access to mifepristone, an FDA approved drug used in two thirds of abortions last year in the U.S. >> People impacted will always be people marginalized to can't travel to access care and need access to medication to access abortion in their areas and this may prevent that from happening.

Reporter: Mifepristone is widely regarded as safe and effective.

During COVID, the FDA elect rules requiring an in office visit to get the drug and made that permanent in 2021.

Mail orders soared, but seven doctors sued, claiming when patients came into the ER with complications, it forced them to provide abortion health care against their conscience.

>> It causes complicity harm being involved in elected abortion.

These doctors must scrape out a women's uterus and this court has recognized harms like that.

Reporter: But attorneys argued valid studies show a very small increase in complications and several justices noted the law already offers individual doctors the right to refuse cases that violates their conscience.

>> You are saying because we object to be forced to participate in this procedure, we are seeking an order preventing anyone from having access to these drugs at all.

I guess I'm trying to understand how they can possibly be entitled to that given the injury they have alleged.

>> I agree and I think it's relevant to standing.

There is the profound mismatch here.

>> This case seems like a prime example of turning what could be a small lawsuit into a nationwide legislative assembly on an FDA rule or other government action.

Reporter: Justice Barrett questioned whether prescribing the drug without a doctor visit could miscalculate how far along a pregnant seen -- pregnancy had been.

>> The FDA had voluminous evidence to support their conclusion in 2021 and there's been no contrary evidence introduced.

>> No requirement about an ultrasound or detecting fetal heartbeat or anything like that even before the doctor could go on the women recounting their last Mitchell period?

>> Yes, that goes all the way back to the initial approval.

Reporter: There was also a challenge to the FDA methods and statistics.

Justice Alito hammered the lab attorney.

>> We don't think that question is up in any way in this case.

Reporter: The drug has been marketed by mail to states who have enacted abortion bands.

Alito asked whether that violated the Comstock act, a so-called dead law that for him it's mailing contraceptives, or state statutes.

>> Does your company think what the FDA has done preempts state laws that prohibit the dispensation of mifepristone within their borders?

>> We've not taken a position on that issue.

>> This is not a case about Comstock, it's a case about the FDA, the decisions the FDA made.

Reporter: This records law attorney says the court continues to question federal authority, but it got little traction today.

The focus remains on mifepristone.

>> Are going whether we should rollback the changes we've made over time to make it more accessible.

Reporter: The case reverberates across political lines as the U.S. heads toward a raucous election where abortion tops many campaign debates.

Senator Cory Booker tweeted -- >> This Congress needs to act to protect the right of access to lifesaving abortion.

If this Congress does not act, we must get new congresspeople that will.

Reporter: The court is expected to rule on the case in June.

I am Brenda Flanagan.

Anchor: The pot of money that pays for maintaining New Jersey's transportation ever structure gets to live for another five years.

After Governor Murphy today signed a bill renewing the state transportation trust fund.

In order to keep it in good standing, the administration will raise that that -- gas tax by about two cents per year and charting a new fee for electric vehicle owners.

We have the details.

>> This is now the law of the land.

Reporter: Business as usual for Governor Murphy today, celebrating the comparatively easy lift that became the effort to reauthorize the transportation trust fund.

>> We will invest billions of dollars into New Jersey's transportation trust fund so we can keep our transportation system in top shape.

This funding will cover the cost of maintenance and repairs for everything from roads and highways to bridges and tunnels to railroads and runways.

Reporter: Your tax dollars at work, roughly two cents per gallon the next five years, and new fees on electric vehicles.

Worth every penny says this assembly speaker.

>> You can tell a lot about the importance of the decision, first of all when the governor shows up and then when TV cameras show up.

That's what it is today, a big deal.

We have business and labor coming together, Democrats and Republicans coming together, people across the state coming together to recognize how important this is for the future of New Jersey.

>> One of the ridiculous pieces coming out of the Murphy administration.

We wanted to get it done so we didn't interfere with the budget process.

That is BS, it should have been part of the budget process.

Being part of the budget process is an asset, not a bug, it's a ridiculous line of tortured rationale.

It could have waited until the end of budget season.

There is no urgency.

This is happening urgently because they want to get it done quickly for the public has a chance to get their head around it, you another tax increase.

Reporter: For the governor it was his first appearance before the press since his wife dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate.

Didn't seem like the first and he wanted to talk about but you have to ask.

>> If you can characterize the conversations with the First Lady regarding her recent decision?

>> Not our private conversations, you won't be surprised by that.

I'm not her manager but I'm proud of her, she went into this for the right reasons.

She worked her tail off.

Very few people in this business put party over self and that's what she did.

Incredibly proud.

Reporter: She's also heard some of those starting to use the term lame-duck to describe him.

>> I was gratified they didn't come from you.

If you looked up my schedule right now, you would laugh at that statement with me.

We have a lot more road to cover and I'm running around the state today, yesterday, tomorrow, you name it.

Reporter: With some weight off for shoulders, the governor appears gear up for a budget season that could see choppy waters.

No place for a lame-duck.

I'm David Cruz.

Anchor: New Jersey is on track to set new records for bias incidents according to preliminary data from the state office of Homeland security, which earlier this month issued a report showing anti-Muslim, anti-air of and antisemitic incidents are on the rise.

Officials say there is no specific threat right now but they want soft targets of domestic terrorism be prepared for the worst, providing houses of worship in the state with the so-called bleeding kids.

Packages of medical supplies to help victims in the event of an active shooter.

Organizations tell us they hope they never have to use the kits but they are grateful for the tools and training should they needed.

>> It is sad we have to in this world, at times we have to do that.

But I think you want this to not happen but it does happen across the nation into the whole world at large.

Better to be prepared.

If you can save a life that is important.

Reporter: The secretary for the Board of Trustees at this mission in Oakland emphasizing the need to be able to help if a victim -- if there is a victim.

>> In Wisconsin, there was an incident and people died.

It is important in the case of mass casualty, somebody is bleeding, if somebody is taking care of in a few minutes, stop the bleeding, the chances of survival are good.

Reporter: He's happy to have taken part in one of the states first training sessions teaching houses of worship how to properly use bleeding control kits.

The program is part of the New Jersey counterterrorism and preparedness missions.

>> We help them procure target hardening material and training and sources, we provide security briefings, we conduct risk assessments and provide specifically active shooter response training.

The bleeding control kit is just a facet of these efforts with what we are doing what houses of worship across the state.

Reporter: More than 7000 kids will be distributed to about 6400 places of worship across New Jersey as part of the program.

There are no specific threats at this time, but the preparedness division director says the goal is to be proactive instead of reactive.

>> We hope no one has to ever use one of these kits, but while law enforcement is trying to diligently thwart these events, we need people to be prepared and we want to equip houses of worship to help mitigate.

Reporter: Statistics show domestic extremists and homegrown violent extremists carry out 16 attacks on soft targets like churches, schools and transit systems, between 2018 and 2022, resulting in 60 deaths and 66 injuries.

>> I think the threat has always been there but more people are recognizing it.

Reporter: The chief security officer for the Jewish coalition of New Jersey says every second counts.

>> Law enforcement has one job to do and it has to be safe for the medical task force to come in behind them.

That little gap in between, that's where the bleeding control kits for the people on the scene that can do the intervention and save lives.

You can save yourself, because part of the training is applying turn kids to yourself.

Reporter: Even though the temple hasn't faced significant threats, this man is glad the kits are available.

One less worry so worshipers can pray in peace.

I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

Anchor: The South Orange Maplewood school district in hot water again, this time for landing on a growing list of public schools and universities under federal investigation for alleged discrimination.

According to NJ.com, U.S. Department of Education's office for civil rights launched a probe last week.

No word on whether the investigation is focusing on anti-Semitism or Islamophobia, for example, but it comes roughly a week after the district caught heat for sending out a document about Ramadan that was accused of being inflammatory and containing anti-Semitic language.

The school system has had other recent incidents of alleged bias.

The principle of Columbia Heights gold was arrested earlier this month on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, which allegedly involved a black female student.

In December, police investigated anti-Semitic threats written on a girls bathroom stall in the same high school.

They joined Newark public schools, Rutgers and Teaneck school district in the investigation.

A recent federal study crowned New Jersey with an undesirable distinction, as the most dangerous state in the nation for pedestrians.

According to an analogy of -- analysis, pedestrians account for 30% of those killed in the Garden State.

A congressman today announced a new pedestrian safety strategy using roughly $2 million in federal money to build things like crosswalks, pedestrian bridges and safer sidewalks throughout North Jersey.

In Camden County this week, the Attorney General announced a new traffic safety program to prevent deaths along one of the states most dangerous roads, the White Horse Pike, where according to state data, there have been more than 11,000 crashes in the last decade and a half.

We have a report on the planet and why safety officials believe it will help.

Reporter: If you've ever driven or walked along White Horse Pike and thought it seemed like a dangerous road, you are not wrong.

>> Since 2010, there have been over 11,000 crashes on White Horse Pike in Camden County.

Of those, 3894 caused injuries, which included 158 serious injuries and 80 feet Halep is.

-- 80 fatalities.

Reporter: Eight people died last year on White Horse Pike so expect to see more police here.

Thanks to federal funds, the dozen or so police departments along the road will be able to pay overtime so officers can monitor the road.

>> There will be a noticeable increase in police resins along White Horse Pike and we are asking everyone to be conscious of their surroundings, drive safely and carefully, to assist us in accomplishing our goals of safer roadways for residents.

Reporter: According to police, more than half of accidents on the road involve driver inattention or distraction.

So you can expect police to handout tickets but there's also an education component.

>> Distracted driving is a harsh reality we must confront immediately before another life is lost.

>> I have extended invitations to traffic safety partners across the region who are eager to contribute by raising awareness in your community and schools.

>> Potential danger can be avoided by drivers and the dust transit simply by being aware of their surroundings.

Situational awareness is crucial.

We all have times when we are late to work or an appointment or pick up or drop off our kids.

We are all humans.

Reporter: Deaths from traffic accidents are not unique to Camden County.

State data says 621 people were killed across New Jersey last year, a figure that includes people in cars, pedestrians and bicyclists.

>> While this is less than the previous year it is still far too many.

We want the number to be zero.

Drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists deserve to be able to travel safely.

>> We must instill in ourselves and future generations the importance of committing individual attention while driving.

We must educate ourselves and loved ones about the dangers of distracted driving and the devastating impact it can have.

>> As far as the percentage of traffic deaths, about 30% of all traffic deaths are bicyclists and dust transit and yet we spend only a tiny fraction of transportation dollars on breaking news roads Safed are -- safer.

Reporter: This is the director of the bicycle coalition of greater Philadelphia and he is well aware of the dangers of White Horse Pike.

>> There's a tendency for drivers to speed through there .

On the flipside, there are no accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians along the road.

Reporter: He would also like to see physical changes to the road, something not addressed by the new initiative.

>> For it to be sustainable, we need something that slows the cars down and makes it easier for people to walk or bike along and across.

Reporter: The initiative lasts six months.

The Camden County prosecutor says the best way to measure success is simple, whether or not there are fewer accidents and fewer people getting killed on this dangerous stretch of road in the county.

I am Ted Goldberg.

Anchor: In our spotlight on business report, state regulators have made a new commitment to studying how offshore wind of element will impact ocean life.

The Murphy administration on Monday announced $3.7 million in funding for scientific research into the ecological effects of the industry, including studies and to how whales, sea turtles and birds move through the areas where offshore wind projects are currently planned.

Wind energy is a cornerstone of New Jersey's efforts to stave off the worst effects of climate change.

A string of high-profile -- last year became fodder for anti-wind groups but scientists say there are no links to wind of element in whale deaths.

Marcus tried to recover from back to back -- markets tried to recover from back to back losses today.

Here is trading at the close.

♪ In Newark, an opportunity to turn lives around.

Across the city, nearly 4000 youth between 16 and 20 are not in school, and according to city data, another 3000 are at risk of leaving without a high school diploma.

Advocates say a majority have experienced violence or other trauma.

The mayor and other community groups today open what they are calling a re-engagement center to reconnect at risk youth with education programs, leading to a diploma and future career paths.

The new hub will be cared to residents 13 to 24, so even those who have aged out of city schools can he referred to get a GED or similar options.

It will also give school placement and guidance services, social support and wraparound services to help students in and out of the classroom.

>> In education there must be an entry point for everybody and everybody doesn't enter the same space the same way.

We are creating entry points for folks to get into the space they need to be in, and maybe they can't take the stairs, they need to go up the ramp.

Maybe they can't go up the ramp, they need to get a lift.

All of those things we are putting in place in this re-engagement center to make sure young people can access opportunity and education differently, but the destination is the same.

Anchor: That doesn't for us tonight but don't forget to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast so you can listen anytime.

For the entire "NJ Spotlight News" team, thank you for being with us, have a great evening and we will see you tomorrow.

New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

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♪ ♪