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♪ >> FROM NJPBS, THIS IS "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS," WITH BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

BRIANNA: GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS MONDAY.

I'M BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS.

THE STATE IS, PEOPLE OF PATTERSON'S TROUBLED POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL MATT PLOTKIN SAID THE ORDER IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY DUE TO, QUOTE, "A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN FORCE MCKINLEY CITY.

THE REFERENCE TO YEARS OF CONTROVERSIES AND SCANDALS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING AT LEAST EIGHT OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CORRUPTION PROBE, AND THE HIGH-PROFILE POLICE KILLING OF 31-YEAR-OLD NAJI C BROOKS DURING AN APPARENT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS EARLIER THIS MONTH.

REACTION HAS BEEN COMING IN FROM ACROSS THE STREET.

GOVERNOR MURPHY UPLOADED IT IN A STATEMENT SAYING, "IT HAS BECOME CREATORS A DEEP LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WILL ASSUME CONTROL OF ALL POLICE FUNCTIONS INCLUDING INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER WAS IN PATERSON FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND HAVE THE DETAILS.

MELISSA: THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONFIRMING IT IS HIS DUTY TO MATURE THE RESIDENCE OF PATERSON FEEL SAFE THAT HE HOPES THE CHANGES WILL HELP IN THE PROCESS.

>> EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY MY OFFICE HAS ASSUMED CONTROL OF ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS OF THE PATERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MELISSA: MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY UPLOADING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE IS EXERCISING HIS POWER TO TAKE OVER THE PATERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER THE DEATH OF NAJEE SEABROOKS FOLLOWING IT FOR HOURS PLUS STANDOFF WITH POLICE.

THE AG SAYING THAT HIS DEATH ALONG WITH YEARS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT HAVE CREATED A, QUOTE, "CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE."

>> UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, CAN'T DELIVER ON MY DUTY TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF PATERSON, AND TO KEEP OFFICERS SAFE WHO ARE SWORN TO PROTECT THEM.

THAT CANNOT CONTINUE.

SO SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE.

AND IT WILL CHANGE, STARTING NOW.

MELISSA: ATTORNEY GENERAL PLOTKIN IS BRINGING IN A NEW OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE PATERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MAY.

IT WILL BE A 29 YEAR VETERAN OF THE NYPD, AND IN 2015 HE WAS BROUGHT IN TO BUILD POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN STATEN ISLAND FOLLOWING THE POLICE KILLING OF ERIC TURNER.

A NEW MAJOR WILL OVERSEE THE APARTMENT IN THE INTERIM.

>> RESIDENCE IN THIS CITY AND IN EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR STATE MUST FEEL THAT THE OFFICERS CALLED ON IN TERMS OF EMERGENCY AND STRESS WILL HELP PROVIDE THE SOLUTIONS COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED AND DESERVE, NOT ESCALATE SITUATIONS OR EXACERBATE VULNERABILITIES.

OFFICERS IN THE CITY AND OFFICERS IN EVERY AGENCY AND DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE STATE MUST ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO FOSTER INNOVATION AND CRIME REDUCTION, NURTURE A POLICE CULTURE BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF INTEGRITY AND RESPECT, AND ENSURE THE OVERALL WELLNESS OF OUR OFFICERS.

MELISSA: THEY AG ALSO ANNOUNCED THREE ACTIONS THAT SEEMS TO BE IN RESPONSE TO THAT C BROOKS KILLING, BRINGING A PROGRAM THAT PAIRS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH MY ENFORCEMENT TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES, RELATING STATEWIDE USE OF FORCE TO INCLUDE PROTOCOLS FOR BARRICADED INDIVIDUALS -- C BROOKS WAS BARRICADED IN THE BATHROOM WHEN POLICE ARRIVED -- AND FORMING A WORKING GROUP TO WORK ON HOW POLICE INTERVENTION IN SHOULD WORK.

ACTIVISTS SAY THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK WITH SEABROOKS DURING HIS STANDOFF WITH POLICE OFFICERS.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

CHANGE IS LONG OVERDUE.

>> I AM ENCOURAGED THAT SOMEONE IS TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON.

I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT THERE WERE ISSUES AT 111 BROADWAY.

ONE IS LISTENING NOW AND I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND NOBODY HAS BEEN BELIEVING US.

THE USE OF FORCE, WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE, POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.

IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT WE ARE HERE AND WE HAVE TO BEG FOR THEM TO COME TO INVESTIGATE IT, BECAUSE IF YOU LET THEM TELL IT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COVER EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL.

IF YOU LET THE MAYOR TELL YOU, EVERYTHING IS GREAT IN PATERSON.

MELISSA: IN RESPONSE TO TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, THE MAYOR SAID HE PREVIOUSLY WELCOMED THE AG'S OFFICE ASSISTING, BUT HE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS HE KNOWS CHANGE WILL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT HE IS COMMITTED TO MAKING THAT HAPPEN, IN RESIDENCE SAKE, THEY WILL MAKE SURE HE KEEPS HIS PROMISE.

BRIANA: THERE ARE MORE CALLS FOR THE HEAD OF NEW JERSEY'S ELECTION LAW-ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION TO RESIGN AFTER A NEW ROUND OF EMAILED'S WERE MADE PUBLIC THAT ADVOCATES SAY ATTACK THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, AND REVEALED RACIAL BUDGET IS.

IT COMES AS THE COMMISSION IS SET TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ALLEGATIONS.

AND JUST AFTER THE SENATE PASSED A BILL GIVING THE GOVERNOR THE ABILITY TO REPLACE COMMISSIONERS WITH HIS OWN PICKS UNCHECKED.

DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

DAVID: WHEN THE ELECTION LAW-ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION MEETS IN A SPECIAL SESSION TOMORROW, THEY WILL NOT OFFICIALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANY PENDING ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS.

INSTEAD, THE MEETING WILL DISCUSS CHARGES OF ANTI-LGBTQ BIAS ON THE PART OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEFF BRENDEL.

IT IS ALSO PROBABLY GOING TO SIT UNTIL HE OR NOT, THE FIRST STEP IN AN EFFORT BY THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION TO GET UNPRECEDENTED, UNCHECKED CONTROL OVER A COMMISSION THAT LOOKS INTO THE ROLE OF MONEY, DARK, INDEPENDENT, CONFLICTED, AND OR LEGITIMATE, IN POLITICS.

BUT FIRST, THERE IS A NEW BATCH OF FEMALES THAT HAVE PROMPTED GARDEN STATE EQUALITY TO GO FROM SILENT ON THE MATTER, TO CALLING FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN.

>> THE CONTENT OF THE EMAILED SHOW THAT ELEC'S IS STEEPED IN BIASES WHICH HAVE NO PLACE IN CIVILIZED SOCIETY.

DAVID: THE EMAILS UNCOVERED BY A PUBLIC OPEN RECORDS REQUEST SHOWS BRENDEL SHARING EMAIL MEALS AND IN SOME CASES ADDING COMMENTS TO STORIES ABOUT GAY AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

"ARE YOU COMING OUT?"

NEW LINCOLN OR WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY BUT WE CAN CELEBRATE COMING OUT TODAY?"

HE WRITES IN ONE EMAIL ABOUT THE OBSERVANCE OF THE DAY.

"WE ARE TRULY LIVING THROUGH INSANE TIMES," HE WRITES IN AN EMAIL ABOUT IT TRANS EN ROUTE WHO IMPREGNATED TWO OTHER FEMALE INMATES.

HAVE WE IT TO TRANSLATE FROM WHAT HE SAID IN THESE EMAILED POLICIES OR PROCEDURES OR PRACTICES AT ELEC?

>> HE HAS NOW INFECTED THE WORKPLACE WITH PARTISAN POLITICS BY SENDING THESE EMAILS.

WE HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW FAR-REACHING THE IMPACT OF THESE EMAILED HAVE BEEN.

DAVID: THIS ATTORNEY IS REPRESENTING BRENDA, WHO IS SUING THE GOVERNOR FOR TRYING TO STAY.

HE SAYS BRINFLE HAS WRITTEN MORE THAN 20,000 IN MALES DURING THE PERIOD IN QUESTION AND THAT THOSE UNCOVERED DON'T PROVE ANYTHING TAG A SENTIMENT.

ALL HE DID IN THOSE EMAILS WAS HAVE MILD CRITICISM OF WHAT NEARLY EVERYONE WOULD AGREE ARE EXTREME POLICIES.

IN THIS LATEST ROUND OF FEMALES IS BECAUSE THEY ARE -- A POLITICALLY-CONNECTED LAW FIRM DECIDED TO MAKE A REQUEST AND FOUND SIX OR SEVEN EMAILS OF THOUSANDS THAT HAPPENED TO TOUCH ON SOME LGBTQ ISSUES.

NONE OF THIS IS AN TIGRAY.

>> ONE THING I NOTICED WAS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF EMAILED'S FROM BREITBART AND TOWNHALL AND FAR-RIGHT WEBSITES, EMAIL'S BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

I WENT TO THOSE WEBSITES AND THERE IS A HUGE OBSESSION THERE WITH TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

SO I FIRED ANOTHER REQUEST FOR KEYWORDS WITH TRANSGENDER AND SOME OF THE WORDS THAT THOSE WEBSITES USED AND THAT IS WHEN THESE ARE EMAILED KEPT COMING BACK.

DAVID: GRIFFIN SAYS THE AIM IN FINDING THESE ENABLES IS SIMPLY TRANSPARENCY AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE BEING USED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO JUSTIFY GIVING THE GOVERNOR UNRESTRICTED CONTROL OVER THE ELEC BOARD AND BY EXTENSION, BRINDLE'S FATE?

>> THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES IN MY MIND.

I DON'T THINK THE TRUTH SHOULD BE SUPPRESSED BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE THE WAY ONE GROUP MIGHT USE IT IN ONE WAY AND ANOTHER GROUP MIGHT USE IT IN ANOTHER WAY.

DAVID: THE ELEC BOARD MEETS TOMORROW IN TRENTON AT WHICH POINT BRINDLE IS EXPECTED TO ADDRESS THEM AND A HEARING WILL BE MADE ON THE CHARGES.

THE OTHER STUFF ABOUT THE GOVERNOR TAKING OVER THE ELEC BRI BOARD MOST OF THE ASSEMBLY WHERE IT IS SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE ON THURSDAY.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

BRIANA: THAT TURMOIL IS UNFOLDING WITHIN ELEC JUST AS TODAY KICKS OFF THE DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES TO FILE IF THEY WANT TO RUN FOR STATE ASSEMBLY OR SENATE.

THIS YEAR THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF OPENINGS IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH VOTERS AND CANDIDATES TO MAY ELECT A LEGISLATURE THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE NEW JERSEY.

SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECT EDITOR COLLEEN PO'DEA JOINS ME NOW AND SHE HAS THE LATEST.

THIS IS A MASS EXODUS FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT DO WE KNOW AS WE GET TO THE DEADLINE TODAY?

COLLEEN: MUCH OF IT IS DUE TO THE REDISTRICTING THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

EVERY 10 YEARS, WE REDRAW THE DISTRICT BOUNDARY LINES TO ACCOUNT FOR POPULATION CHANGES.

THIS TIME AROUND IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING REDISTRICTING IN THAT SOME REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS VOTED TOGETHER INSTEAD OF ALONG PARTY LINES.

THERE WERE INSTANCES WHERE TWO DEMOCRATS WERE PUT INTO THE SAME DISTRICT, OTHERS WHERE REPUBLICANS WERE FLIPPED INTO ONE ANOTHER'S DISTRICTS.

BRIANA: BRIANA: SO THAT PUSHED SOME OF THESE MEMBERS TO RETIRE?

COLLEEN: EXACTLY.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND HAVE HAD AN EASY TIME IN YOUR DISTRICT AND SUDDENLY YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU ARE NOT WELL KNOWN, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND RAISING A LOT OF MONEY FROM IT MAY BE FEW HAVE NOT HAD TO DO THAT IN THE PAST, AND MEETING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO TRY TO KEEP YOUR SEAT.

THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO RETIRED THAT DID NOT CITE AGE SPECIFICALLY BUT THERE ALSO CITE TRYING TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THEIR 70'S AND OLDER WHO ARE RETIRING.

BRIANA: SO HOW MANY VACANCIES TOTAL, AND EITHER WAY, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT A VERY DIFFERENT LEGISLATURE CAN'T FALL.

COLLEEN: SO FAR WE KNOW OF 19 INCUMBENTS WHO ARE NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION AT ALL.

THERE ARE A FEW ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ARE TRYING TO MOVE UP TO THE SENATE?

THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE WAS LIKELY IN THE 27TH DISTRICT WHERE YOU HAVE MIA GAIL THE SENATOR WHO WAS REDISTRICTED INTO THE SAME AREA AS SENATOR CODY OR GOVERNOR KELLY.

SO ONE OF THOSE IS GOING TO LOSE AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE AT LEAST 20 OPENINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH WHEN YOU HAVE A LEGISLATURE OF 120, THAT IS A BIG CHUNK.

BRIANA: A LOT OF NEW BLOOD.

WHAT COULD WE SEE SHIFT?

YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE DEMOGRAPHICS, SHARE THOSE WITH US.

COLLEEN: SO THE LEGISLATURE IS OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE MALE, 69%.

NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THE STATE LOOKS LIKE.

IT'S LIKE A QUARTER OF THE STATE POPULATION.

SO THE LEGISLATURE REALLY NEEDS TO CATCH UP IN TERMS OF EMAIL AND IN TERMS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

HISPANICS AND ASIAN IN PARTICULAR.

THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER PRESENTED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT POLITICS CONTINUING TO BE IN MANY PARTS OF THE STATE AN OLD BOYS NETWORK.

SO WHETHER THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DIVERSE CANDIDATES COMING UP, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BRIANA: CARLINO DAY FOR US, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU CAN GET A MORE DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE BY CHECKING OUT CARCOLLEEN.

A.

MASS ERECTED ISRAEL SPARKED BY PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU'S DECISION TO FIRE HIS DEFENSE MINISTER AFTER HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST NETANYAHU REPORT JUDICIAL OVERHAUL LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD GIVE ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENT AND PARTIES IN POWER MORE CONTROL OVER THE NATIONS JUDICIARY.

PROTESTERS IN TEL AVIV BLOCKED THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND BONFIRES.

THESE -- POLICE CLASHED WITH DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRIVATE HOME IN JERUSALEM.

THE SITUATION HAS GROUNDED FLIGHTS, CLOSED BANKS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

IN NEW JERSEY, DOZENS OF DEMONSTRATORS, MOSTLY IN ISRAELI, RARELY IN TEANECK AND INGLEWOOD.

NEW JERSEY HAS STRONG TIES TO ISRAEL -- GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS MADE SEVERAL TRIPS THERE SINCE TAKING OFFICE.

AND ONE OF THE STATE'S BIGGEST NONPROFITS, CHOOSE NEW JERSEY, JUST OPENED A NEW OFFICE IN TEL AVIV.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE PACKED INTO THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE TODAY AS IT HELD ITS FIRST HEARING OF THE SEASON.

AND ONCE AGAIN, SCHOOL FUNDING WAS A HOT TOPIC, AS MORE THAN 150 DISTRICTS BASED CUTS IN THEIR STATE AID THIS YEAR.

SCHOOL LEADERS SAY THAT WILL LEAD TO LAYOFFS, BIGGER CLASS SIZES AND FEWER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

THE CUTS ARE THE RESULT OF A FUNDING FORMULA PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO FIX INEQUITIES IN THE STATE'S PAID, BUT DISTRICT THAT HAVE FACED MULTIPLE YEARS OF AID CUTS SAY IT HAS DONE ANYTHING BUT.

I WAS CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

REPORTER: THERE WILL BE NOW OVER 200 POSITIONS CUT AND ALMOST 30 WITHIN DOLLARS IN LOST STATE AID.

THE BRICK TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AMONG 150 IN THE STATE THAT HAVE FACED YEAR OVER YEAR FUNDING CUTS SINCE SENATE BILL TO WAS PASSED IN 2018 AS TWO CREATED ECHO COMMISSION TO DETERMINE ESTATE.

WORKING OFF OF THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA.

>> THEY WILL SET A BUDGET ESSAY FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT AND THEY WILL FIGURE OUT A COMMUNITY PROCESS WEALTH.

REPORTER: TOMS RIVER AND JERSEY CITY COMMISSION TO NAME A FEW, SHOULD HAVE A HIGHER SHARE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING.

SO THE STATE MADE MASSIVE CUTS TO THEIR FUNDING.

CUTS PHASED IN OVER SEVERAL YEARS, THIS YEAR BEING NUMBER SIX.

BUT THE SUPERINTENDENTS SAY THEIR NEGATIVE EFFECT OF THOSE CUTS IS DEVASTATING.

>> WE HAVE CUT 100 TOLL OF POSITIONS.

I HAVE CUT 15% OF MY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

OUR CLASS SIZES HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

>> WE ARE OVER 30 IN OUR ELEMENTARY CLASSES, SOME ARE 34.

REPORTER: THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THE STATE IS ARRIVING AT THESE NUMBERS, THEY SAY.

>> THIS YEAR WE ANTICIPATED A 2.1 MUBADALA REDUCTION.

THE GOVERNOR'S INITIAL BUDGET HAD US AT $6.7 MILLION.

>> WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED.

WE CAN LOOK AT WHATEVER CALCULATIONS THAT STATE COMES UP WITH, BUT NOT KNOWING HOW THEY GOT TO THE SKULL IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

REPORTER: THESE EDUCATIONAL LEADERS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO THE STATE'S FORMULA FOR HOW IT IS CONCLUDING THOSE CUTS, LEAVING SEVERAL DISTRICT TO BAND TOGETHER IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE.

>> THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED IN THE STATE AND IT CAN'T BE EXPLAINED HOW THEIR WEIGHT, HOW THEY ARE DETERMINED EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

REPORTER: NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE CUTS COMING FROM S2 DON'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE 2% PROPERTY TAX CAP THAT MUNICIPALITIES CAN INCREASE OR ADDITIONAL SCHOOL FUNDING.

OTHERS SAY IT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION AFFECTING COSTS EVERYWHERE EITHER.

>> IF THEY ARE NOT SPENDING ON THE ADEQUACY BUDGET THAT THE STATE PRESCRIBED, AND THEY CAN'T RAISE THEIR TAXES TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CAP, PLUS IT WOULD BE POLITICALLY FEASIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO RAISE A BUDGET THROUGH TAX REVENUE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET WHAT THE FORMULA IS MEANT TO DO, TO SUPPORT EVERY KID THROUGHOUT THE STATE REGARDLESS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY LIVE IN?

REPORTER: A BILL SPONSORED BY THREE SENATORS IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD REDUCE THE CUTS EACH DISTRICT IS FACING THIS YEAR BY ABOUT 66%.

IT HELPS, BUT -- >> IT MAKES IT FROM SEVERELY CATASTROPHIC TO LESS CATASTROPHIC.

THE NEW PROPOSED LEGISLATION PASSES, WE WILL BE AT APPROXIMATELY $2.3 MILLION IN REDUCTIONS.

>> FOR US, IT IS ABOUT THE FURTHER S2 IS ACTIVE, THE FURTHER AWAY OTHER SCHOOLS GET FURTHER AWAY FROM ADEQUACY, WHICH THE STATE SAYS WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS.

REPORTER: THERE ARE COMMON FOR A NEW APPROACH TO THE FUNDING FORMULA THAT ACCOUNTS FOR INFLATION, AND CREATES A TRANSPARENT DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THESE NUMBERS ARE BEING CALCULATED, SO THEY CAN PROVIDE A THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT EDUCATION.

FOR NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

BRIANA: THE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK, BUT THAT IS NOT STOPPING PANIC BUYING IN THE PHILLY-TRENTON AREA.

CUSTOMERS ARE CLEARING SHELVES OF BOTTLED WATER AFTER A CHEMICAL SPILL ON SATURDAY A FEW MILES UPSTREAM OF THE DELAWARE RIVER.

STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY THERE CLOSELY MONITORING WATER QUALITY.

SO FAR, NEW JERSEY, PHILADELPHIA AND BUCKS COUNTY WHERE THE ORIGINATED, ARE NOT AFFECTED.

OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT 8000 GALLONS OF A LATEX MISSION SOLUTION SPILLED INTO THE CREEK AFTER AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE AT A CHEMICAL FACILITY IN BRISTOW, PA.

ACCORDING TO NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER, THERE IS NO IMPACT TO THE'S.

BUT THE COMPANY IS ISSUING A WATER CONSERVATION ORDER FOR CUSTOMERS IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY TO HELP WITH THE REGION'S OVERALL WATER SUPPLY.

THERE IS MORE HELP FOR HIGHER ED ON THE WAY.

NEW JERSEY'S U.S.

SENATORS BOB MENENDEZ AND CORY BOOKER TODAY HELD AN EVENT WITH KANE UNIVERSITY'S LEADERS ANNOUNCING A NEW ROUND OF FEDERAL FUNDING HEADING TO THE STATE'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

JUST OVER $18 MILLION TOTAL.

HIGHER AT OFFICIALS RECENTLY TESTIFIED DURING STATE BUDGET HEARINGS ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE AID TO PAY FOR THINGS LIKE STAFF SALARIES.

BUT THIS MONEY IS BEING SET ASIDE FOR INVESTMENTS AND PROGRAMS NEXT CYBERSECURITY, S.T.E.M.

RESEARCH, NURSING AND MEDICAL PROGRAMS, AND FREE APPRENTICESHIPS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

KANE UNIVERSITY IS SLATED TO GET ABOUT $4 MILLION FOR PROJECTS THAT WILL INCLUDE RENOVATING THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH LABS, ALONG WITH A NEW HIGHER ED PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE AREA.

>> THIS IS FINDING THAT A LONG WAY TOWARDS SUPPORTING CRITICAL INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS.

IT WILL FURTHER EFFORTS IN THE AREAS OF CYBERSECURITY, WHICH WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF SUCH NEEDS TODAY.

IT WILL FURTHER S.T.E.M.

RESEARCH, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FREE APPRENTICESHIPS, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, NURSING AND MEDICAL PROGRAMS, AND MORE.

IT WILL MAKE OUR STATE MORE COMPETITIVE, BREAK DOWN BARRIERS OF ACCESS FOR STUDENTS, AND IT WILL INCREASE EQUITY AT A TIME THAT WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO EXPAND PIPELINES FOR COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY DENIED THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

BRIANA: ON WALL STREET, HERE IS HOW THE MARKETS CLOSED TODAY ♪ .

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, WORKING FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY BY UNITING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR 150 YEARS.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT CHAMBERSNJ.COM.

BRIANA: ONE MORE JERSEY CINDERELLA RUN IN THE NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CAME TO AN END.

THE PRINCETON TIGERS DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO PULL OUT A SWEET 16 VICTORY, AND WE ALL BELIEVED THEY COULD, BUT THEY CAME UP SHORT AGAINST CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY.

THEY WERE THE BELOVED UNDERDOGS IN THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT AND AS TED GOLDBERG TELLS US, FANS AND THE TEAM ARE STILL RIDING HIGH.

TED: PRINCETON'S REMARKABLE RUN IN THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT FALLS A ROUND SHY OF WHAT ST. PETER'S ACCOMPLISHED LAST YEAR ALSO AS A 15TH SEED.

IT ENDS IN THE SWEET 16.

>> WE WERE IN THE 50'S BUT WE ARE AT 21 TONIGHT.

THIS HAPPENS EVERY 60 YEARS.

NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS, I WILL BE DEAD.

TED: PRINCETON FAITHFUL CAME OUT TO KENTUCKY TO CHEER ON THE TIGERS, AS THEY MADE THEIR FIRST SWEET 16 IN ALMOST 60 YEARS.

>> I REALLY WANTED TO SEE IT.

I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER SEE IT AGAIN.

I AM HERE TO SUPPORT MY GUYS.

>> I AM SO PROUD OF THEM.

THE SCHOOL IS SO PROUD OF THEM.

THIS IS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL YEAR, SUCH A YEAR OF JOY FOR OUR PROGRAM.

THESE GUYS HAVE DONE SOMETHING NO ONE HAS EVER DONE.

>> WE CREATED GREAT MEMORIES WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT, BEING ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND BE PART OF SOMETHING WHICH YOU HAVE DONE TOGETHER AS A UNIT.

AND OUR BOND IS GREAT.

WE WILL HAVE AN EVEN GREATER BOND.

IT WILL BE SPECIAL AND I'M SURE IT WILL LAST ALL OF OUR LIFETIMES.

TED: IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WERE MORE INSTANT FANS THAN CREIGHTON FANS AND MOST OF THE GAME THERE WERE CERTAINLY LOUDER THAN THE BLUE JAYS' FENCE AS WELL.

THEY WERE NOT GOING TO MISS THIS FOR ANYTHING.

>> WE DROVE 11 HOURS FROM JERSEY.

AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN WE DROVE 11 HOURS TO GET HERE BECAUSE I KNEW I WANTED TO SUPPORT MY BOYS.

>> I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE IT TO THE SWEET 16.

HOUR TEAM PLAYED SO WELL AND THEY LOVE EACH OTHER DEARLY.

I MEAN, I AM SUPER HAPPY WE MADE IT THIS FAR.

THEY PLAYED REALLY WELL TODAY.

I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING!

>> WHAT REALLY SURPRISED ME IS THE AMOUNT OF ALUMNI THAT CAME OUT.

WE WERE WITH CLASS OF 1997 PEOPLE.

IT'S REALLY COOL TO SUPPORT MY PEERS AND ALSO HAVE ALUMNI WHO GRADUATED AND CAME BACK TO SOME WHAT THE SCHOOL.

TED: THIS PRINCETON SQUAD IS ONLY THE FOURTH IVY LEAGUE TEAM TO EVER MAKE IT THIS FAR, CEMENTING THEIR NAME ON THE NATIONAL STAGE DESPITE THIS LAST LOSS.

>> WE WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT THE FANS AND THE ALUMNI AND EVERYBODY THAT HAS COME TO SUPPORT US.

EVERY TIME WE PICK UP, THE SHOTS ARE GOING N THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FORU SUPPORTING US.

>>TS THIS GROUP HERE, WE LOVE OUR SCHOOL AND WE FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE SCHOOL.

WE FELT THE LOVE.

>> ALL I EVER WANTED IN MY FOUR YEARS IN PRINCETON WAS TO WIN ONE MARCH MADNESS GAME.

IT'S MORE THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER WANTED.

I AM SO PART OF THESE GUYS.

>> A NON-SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SHOULD NEVER, EVER, IN A MILLION YEARS, BEAT ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS.

TED: MAKE NO MISTAKE, FANS TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A PRETTY BITTER WAY TO END AN END THE SEASON.

BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK FONDLY ON TWO OF THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN PRINCETON'S HISTORY TAKING PLACE IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO A LOT OF.

ON MEMORIES EVEN IF IT ENDED -- A LOT OF FUN MEMORIES, EVEN IF IT ENDED WITH A LOSS.

TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

BRIANA: THAT WILL DO IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT A REMINDER, YOU CAN LISTEN TO "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" ANYTIME VIA PODCAST WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

MAKE SURE TO DOWNLOAD IT AND CHECK US OUT.

YOU COULD ALSO FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS AND ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG, TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE NEWS FROM THE STATE.

I AM.

THE VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

HAVE A GREAT.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK 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 ARSTED, CREATED TO THE CURRENT -- COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP HAS BEEN PART OF NEW JERSEY FOR OVER A CENTURY.

WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH NJM'S PROGRAM, SUPPORTING ARTS AND CULTURE RELATED AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP TO SERVE THE LIVES OF EDUCATION, REBUILD COMMUNITIES AND CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF SAFE DRIVERS.

PROUD TO BE PART OF NEW JERSEY.

NJM.

WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.

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