♪ this is NJ Spotlight news.

>> Thank you for joining us this Wednesday night.

Community members rallied for hours at a city Council meeting Tuesday night packing the council chambers and frustration over the embattled Police Department and the lives they say have been lost at their hands.

Most recently, anti-violent interventionist who was killed after a standoff after an apparent mental health crisis.

Last night was led by families of victims who have died with encounters with police.

The Attorney General's office will assume control over the department while others say it is not nearly enough.

A senior put a correspondent has the story.

>> Effective immediately, my office has assumed control of all functions of the Patterson Police Department.

>> This week's announcement of state intervention into the Police Department has reverberated around the streets of the city and the ground has started to shift.

Activists and some elected officials are now suggesting that more change needs to come.

>> We are still here because it's our community and we are going to stay here.

And rebuild and take back the city.

>> This person promises demonstrations like what happened last night.

He says up until now the Attorney General's office has been part of the problem.

Dating changes like bringing the police based arrived together program to the city.

>> Not including the community, not involving the community and not listening to us.

You have signaled you are not listening to us because Black Lives Matter Patterson and others across the state say that we do not agree with the arrive together program, we do not want that program here in Patterson.

What we want is a nonpolice response to mental health crises.

A mental health crisis does not need police officers.

It needs mental health professionals and we have been saying that since the beginning.

For you to come here and say you are winter bring that program shows us we went to get the same thing whether these white men are out-of-towners going to try to control us and dictate to us what we need.

>> Meanwhile, the mayor who had said he was adamantly against federal intervention into the Patterson PD grudgingly accepted the state takeover.

The heat is clearly on him now.

Seen as siding with police.

The us versus them environment with the city, Pro Cop is being seen as anti-community.

The Mayor's counsel opponents are seeing an opportunity prompting a failed attempt at a no-confidence vote at this week's city Council meeting.

>> This board -- this man deserved a vote of no-confidence.

He should not be able to speak at this right now.

That's the reason why we are all here.

That is the reason why there is no justice in the city.

He is the mayor, I feel like he is public relations for the city and not the mayor.

It's time for him to face the community, face the people and to use his position to serve the community and he refuses to.

>> To come here tonight to address the people.

The Attorney General have come here to shut this whole operation down.

>> The mayor still has control over the council votes but he is facing growing anger in the community while the council continues to battle itself jockeying for positions as voices of outrage, Patterson continues to percolate.

Struggling to keep the peace while it waits for some justice.

>> Nashville residents are gathering tonight for a visual morning the three children and three adults killed by shooter at a private Christian school on Monday.

A deadly rampage the police say was killed out by a 28-year-old assailant under care for an emotional disorder heavily armed with guns that were legally purchased.

Along with a manifesto to carry out even more events at the school, but was stopped short confronted and killed by police.

Police say the killer targeted the school but believe the victims were shot at random.

The massacre is among 130 mass shootings this year alone in the U.S federal data show gun violence is now the leading cause of death among young children in America.

That impact is wide reaching for more on that I'm joined by Michael anestis the executive director of the New Jersey gun violence research center.

Michael anestis thank you for joining us although I have to say I don't look forward to these talks because it often means that we've had yet another tragedy in our nation.

I'm thinking about the fact that you and I have had many discussions over gun violence being the leading cause of death among young children in America.

I'm wondering how the needle is moving in terms of the data you collect are the situations growing more dire.

>> I think that the situations are continuing to be dire um I don't want to create a grim picture that we're doomed to some horrific epidemic but the reality is we're already well past the point where there's too much gun violence of all forms.

and so we're not in a position where we can say we're effectively addressing any form of gun violence Nationwide.

>> you've issued numerous reports that despite all of these mass shootings it still accounts for just one percent of deaths caused by guns we've have this absolute tragedy at an elementary school in Nashville just this week does it rise to the occasion of declaring a public health emergency.

>> I think it Rose to that occasion many years ago in fact I I don't think this is anything but overdue to call it that.

as you noted these tragedies represent about one percent of gun violence and yet think about how often we'd have this conversation about those situations.

that doesn't mean these situations are rare it means gun violence is omnipresent as a researcher can you point to what or why is causing um deaths among children to rise so quickly is it simply proliferation of Guns is it that simple.

>> That's the the largest factor where there's more firearm access there's more firearm injury and death does that mean the firearm explains all aspects of every tragedy of of course not.

But what's unique about the United States other than our rate of gun violence is our rate of gun access um and that's not me arguing against the Second Amendment it's an acknowledgment that when you bring something into the community that comes with risk you see more of those risky outcomes.

>> well what do we know just about the exposure to this trauma for children.

>> I myself am a suicide researcher and what we know is that folks not just the folks who are close as the individual who dies but folks who knew of them or encountered the story can consider themselves survivors and be really sort of emotionally impacted by that so that same idea applies here children in New Jersey have been safer than children across most parts of the country right but they hear these stories and that's going to impact the way they think and feel.

>> I know you're passionate about the research but when we see that teen suicide side rates are on the rise some by using a firearm others not another mass shooting in our country that is now long plagued with them what does that say to you.

>> I mean it says that you know it's not unique that the United States has a lot of suffering but it means that you know we're in a moment where a lot of folks are sort of acting upon that suffering in ways that either hurts themselves or hurts someone else and we can't reduce that to zero and nothing we're going to do is going to make it go away completely but there are a lot of things we can do that can make things become a lot less common things that all of us across all sides of this sort of political Spectrum can agree upon it just requires people to take actionable steps forward to actually cause that change so you and I aren't having the same conversation you know two years from now about a tragedy that looks just like Nashville.

>> Is the United States unique in the fact that we are a wealthy developed nation and yet our children are more likely to die by gunfire uh than by any other cause.

>> It's not an overstatement at all to say we're unique there we we do not have higher rates of mental illness suffering we have higher rates of gun violence and Firearm injury and death.

>> Thank you as always.

The career criminal charged in a murder for hire scheme was sentenced to 16 -- 16 years in prison.

He will serve time for his role in the plot in which up legal consultant paid him and another man in 2014 to kill a long time associate who was found stabbed to death in his Jersey City apartment that was also set on fire.

He pleaded guilty one euro ago to the charges.

His accomplice was sentenced just last month to 20 years behind bars.

The U.S. District Judge called the scheme depraved in delivering the sentence today.

The murder all unraveled after he admitted to the plot and entered the plea agreement with federal agents that sent political circles into a tailspin.

He was well-known for his political fundraising including for clients.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in June.

The CDC is warning of a new public health care threat.

Drug-resistant and potentially deadly fungus that has been rapidly spreading through U.S. health care facilities.

Its origins stem from our area.

Studies show it is rising at alarming rates with the most severe illness in people with weakened immune systems.

>> We have to get this onto people's radar.

>> The researcher says a potentially deadly fungus spreads by contact with contaminated medical equipment and contact with surfaces where it can remain for weeks.

People can catch it and spread it without getting sick themselves.

>> You can touch someone and spread it from a bed rail to another patient.

It will colonize the patient's skin so you will see it there and you see this among our sickest patients.

>> Particularly for a patient who is sick or immune compromised, it can get into the bloodstream.

That's when it becomes dangerous or deadly.

>> The doctor says it is highly drug-resistant.

The CDC map shows the fungus expanded from a hotspot in 2016 spreading moderately until right before the COVID pandemic in 2019.

That's when the fungal infection took off.

2022, the U.S. logged 5700 positive tests and 2400 clinical cases.

In New Jersey, cases clustered in the Northeast region and last year totaled 94.

>> It seems to be an outbreak meaning cases are expanding in ways that are unpredictable.

Mainly exclusively in health care settings.

>> During the pandemic, we were probably being more vigilant for airborne diseases and not for other infections.

>> Researchers in one study showed the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the transmission and health care facilities.

Infections and positive tests spiked highest at New Jersey long-term acute care facilities.

440 compared to 100 at acute care hospitals and 62 at skilled nursing facilities with ventilators between 2017 and 2020.

It affected mostly older folks average age 70.

>> It seems to infect those very L -- very ill and hospitals or long-term facilities for long time.

Think therapy, rehab.

Those are the places right now where we currently screen for this.

>> The doctor says facilities should test and group together patients who are colonized or infected.

They can remain contagious once the fungus colonizes a patient or a health care worker, it can live on their bodies indefinitely.

>> There are no effective regimens for this.

Once someone is colonized in a facility, they will remain in isolation until the time they leave.

Certain areas of institution are reserved for those waiting for the results to come back.

Or if someone is deemed to be positive, they are cohort together to ensure it is not spread.

>> It's out there, we have to be cognizant.

There are things we can do to be more proactive.

>> He co-authored a study that included health care studies need improved tools and a new class of medicines to tackle the fungus.

>> We need better diagnostics and more drugs.

That is the bottom line.

>> Veterans are starting to see changes brought about by the newly signed PACT Act.

The law expands health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pets and other toxic substances.

V.A.

today held events across the state to connect with those eligible while marking the poignant anniversary.

50 years since the end of the Vietnam War.

Ted Goldberg is standing by at one of those locations.

>> The PACT Act made it easier for America's veterans who have served over the last five decades and the V.A.

is hoping to hook up veterans with the health care they need.

The V.A.

gave health screenings to veterans today who are eligible.

The ones exposed to agent orange and burn pets.

>> There are some cancers more prevalent among us who have been exposed to burn pets.

We have to do screenings earlier and when we have signs, we need to address them as soon as possible so we can get the best treatment options.

>> when I was at Columbia Presbyterian for three months fighting leukemia and I put in a claim for that which is caused by benzene and agent orange as a hematologist and oncologist at Columbia say, I got denied.

We have a claim back in.

That to me is very upsetting because I only had a 4% chance to live.

>>6 when I came back I started having to problem with my joints right away.

Then PTSD and all of that.

Ever since then, I have had issues.

I get sick, it hits my lungs I always get an infection.

It has been that way ever since.

A lot of questions have not been answered.

I'm looking for answers.

>> these veterans served in the Middle East.

>> here in New Jersey, we have 100,000 eligible veterans not enrolled and we want them to come get their services they have earned that they deserve, get cleanings done early.

Any issues whether it's a primary care issue then they can get referred for additional screening and services.

>> This was a wonderful thing.

It's wonderful to stand up and get applauded for Vietnam.

When I came home, there was no applause.

It was horrifying.

>> They didn't get the recognition that a lot of us received only came home.

We want to be really extra special and mindful of how we do that for them today.

To highlight PACT Act and can do for them as far as additional benefits and eligibility for services.

>> there was gas all over the place.

There was mustard, all over the place.

It was detected.

Division the same day the same days division declared those tests were faulty.

I have a PDF all of the activity it's declassified.

We will see what happens.

>> Auntie of Vietnam veterans came here on a notable day.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the last American troops leaving Vietnam.

Only now finding solutions to their decades of suffering.

>> In our spotlight on business report, a long-awaited showdown today on Capitol Hill.

Senator Bernie Sanders and other federal lawmakers got a chance to grill the former Starbucks CEO who appeared under threat of subpoena.

Allegations that his company has been breaking labor laws as it fights a nationwide unionization efforts.

Bernie Sanders cited the CEOs personal wealth and whether that allowed him to skirt the law.

Nearly 300 Starbucks stores have voted to unionize including four here New Jersey.

Starbucks has yet to sign a contract with one.

The company closed some unionized locations and fired some workers involved in the organizing.

He has -- Are you aware that judges have ruled that Starbucks violated federal labor law over 100 times during the past 18 months, far more than any other corporation in America?

>> Starbucks Coffee Company unequivocally and let me set the tone for this early on has not broken the law.

>> Turning to Wall Street, here's how the markets closed today.

Several top Democrats are adding to the calls for more information surrounding string of whale deaths along the Atlantic coast.

Two U.S. senators sent a letter this week to the national oceanic and it atmospheric administration present for transparency on the federal investigations into the deaths adding concerned that one of the species could face extinction.

This winter, 30 dead whales were documented along the East Coast.

At least 10 washed up on New Jersey beaches.

Yesterday another Marine man a porpoise washed up in Ocean County.

The issue has become a fierce partisan divide.

They have called for a moratorium on the work despite there is no evidence supporting the connection.

Finally tonight, do not procrastinate if you have upcoming travel plans.

The State Department warns the agency is facing unprecedented demand for passports.

500,000 applications per week putting the government on track to break the record high number issued last year.

It seems Americans have the travel itch with the worst of COVID-19 behind us.

That means expect delays.

>> If you have less than one year on your passport and you have any idea you might travel, go get it renewed.

>> with more people beginning to feel comfortable traveling, the union County Clerk says there is a big influx in the number of passport applications.

>> Usually it is about 100 per week in the Westfield office and it is way above that as well as here in Elizabeth.

>> New Jersey is not alone.

Antony Blinken confirms the State Department is seeing an unprecedented demand for passports across the country.

>> We are getting 500,000 applications per week for passports.

That is the percent-40% above last year.

FY22, we issued a record number of passport books, 22 million.

We are on track to break that.

>> The increase is leading to significant delays in processing and delivery.

This County Clerk says her office gets about 20 complaints per day.

>> On of the biggest complaints is it is very hard to get somebody on the phone and the federal government.

People are waiting for a long time to reach someone or they are hung up on.

People are very distressed because obviously, people are thinking about travel plans and they are not getting either their passport or the assistance they need.

>> normally, routine service is about eight weeks.

Now the federal government is saying routine service will be 10-15 weeks.

Expedited service is normally 4-8 weeks.

Now they are saying 7-9 weeks.

They have increased the time for which you need to have before a trip in order to get the passport back and have it in place in order to travel abroad.

Normally, you would not need it unless you are leaving the country.

>> travelers are turning to Facebook groups to voice their frustrations.

Some say they had been waiting for six months and still no passport.

>> Unfortunately, as the passport agency, we cannot help people once the passport leaves our office.

We are just helping with processing.

All of the issuance of passports is done by the federal government.

People are first-rate because he can't get through the federal government.

We are not even allowed to call on their behalf.

>> County Clerk's say the best advice they can give to people is to apply for a passport as early as possible since many countries don't accept passports that expire within six months.

If you find yourself in an emergency, there are limited amount of state agencies that can create the passport on the spot, but you must show proof of need and clerks worn appointments are very difficult to get.

>> That is all we have for you tonight.

Don't miss this week's edition of chat box with David Cruz.

He talks with the New Jersey city Mayor about the state of the city address this week where he touted his accomplishments and speculation over a popular -- possible gubernatorial run 2025.

That's tonight on the YouTube channel or wherever you stream.

A reminder, you can now listen to NJ Spotlight news anytime via the podcast.

Make sure to download it and check us out.

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