>> Funding for NJ Spotlight News, provided by -- the members of the New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

And RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

Briana: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News" -- A rise in bias incidents here in New Jersey but most troubling says the Attorney General is the surge in crimes taking place in our schools.

>> Right now the most likely location for a bias incident to be reported as our schools.

>> Plus President Biden delivers a fiery state of the union.

How his themes on the economy, reproductive rights and immigration are playing out here in the Garden State.

>> New Jersey is in my opinion not taxed enough, we should do everything we can to fight for lower taxes and more affordability.

A lot of it is the tax credits that are key as he talked about.

>> Also in the running, once and from the White House -- banned from the White House, a challenge to Bill Pascrell.

>> While he is making decisions from the comfort of his offices in .

-- in D.C. and Patterson, he is lost touch with the voters of his district.

>> And repairing and rebuilding over a dozen iconic boardwalks along our shores.

>> The fact that these boardwalks will be built in a more resilient we will mean a lot for generations to come.

>> NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> From NJ PBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight news with Briana Vannozzi.

>> Good evening and thanks for joining us this Friday night.

I'm Joanna G. in for Briana Vannozzi.

Bias incident and hate crimes continue to rise in New Jersey, and the place they are most likely to be reported are K-12 schools.

Those are some of the preliminary findings in a report from the state Attorney General's office that also finds bias incidents jumped 22% last year compared to the previous year.

That would make 2023 the eighth year in a row that reported incidents of bias have increased simply because of a person's race, religion, sexuality or gender expression.

Briana Vannozzi sat down with Matt P. to ask who was being targeted, what's behind the surge and what the state is doing about it.

Briana: Attorney General Platkin, thanks for coming on the show, your report finds bias incidents are continuing to rise.

But which groups specifically are being targeted?

>> thanks, briana.

We are seeing a rise in bias and hate across virtually every demographic group.

Groups with the highest number of bias incidents reported were against the Black community and religious-based against the Jewish community but literally every group is seeing a rise in bias and hate.

I know as a law-enforcement officer and resident of the state that too many people across our state are living in fear right now simply because of who they are and how they look, where they are from, what language they speak, or who they love.

Briana: What factors if any is your office able to point to to attribute to these increases?

>> There are several reasons, and we cite them in the report.

This is a good thing -- We have worked really hard in New Jersey under this administration to increase our outreach to communities, training, and reform our systems of reporting so that people know when they report, we made it easier for them to do so and take it seriously and we respond to each and every single report.

That is something everybody in the public should understand, there is no piece of information that is too small to report.

But we also know that bias is on the rise and we are seeing a number of contribute in factors, whether that's social media or political leaders who are condoning or inciting acts.

Certainly since October, the attacks in Israel and the subsequent conflict has resulted in bias activity against Jewish residents but bias absolutely is on the rise and that concerns me.

Briana: I think a lot of times we picture these events happening strictly in the public, but in fact the report points out that the bulk of these incidents are happening in K-12 schools.

Can you give us some examples?

>> Sure.

I think it's important for everyone to understand right now in New Jersey, the place that is the most likely location for a bias crime or incident to be reported as our schools -- is our schools.

As a parent and law enforcement officer, that is alarming to me.

We've seen a whole range of bias incidents, everything from slurs to bullying, certainly social media, to more serious and violent acts.

We take each and every one of those it seriously but we also need our schools to take it seriously, we have issued guidance to K-12 and institutions of higher education and I have advised them, while this is not something I am looking to do, if they failed to create a safe environment for our kids, if kids can't go to school safely and learn safely and not be targeted because of who they are, then that's cool has potentially violated both -- that school has potentially violated both state and federal law.

They have the obligation to provide a safe environment.

Briana: The on the guidelines, ensuring they follow them, what is the state doing to combating, I'm thinking about districts like in Ocean County where Adriana's family has accused the district of not following up on complaints of bullying, not following up on complaints of other hate crimes that have happened, what is the state doing specifically to combat this?

>> So, we are doing a number of things including targeted trainings, for officials and community members throughout the state.

We work closely with a number of partners to identify places that need that extra touch, to make sure they understand what their obligations are and community members understand how to report incidents.

It is very unlikely -- Almost impossible that the first time somebody engages in a bias act that is violent, it is their first time ever doing something with bias involved.

So what we need to do is ensure that people trust us enough to provide that information regardless of how severe they may view the conduct, so that we can intervene, provide resources, training, sometimes provide mediation to help resolve incidents before they escalate.

Briana: Attorney General Matt platkin, thanks so much.

>> Thank you for having me.

Joanna: President Biden last night delivered what many are calling an electric state of the union address.

Some saying it was more of a political stump speech laying out his case for a second term.

Not mincing words about the current GOP front runner and Former President, although never mentioning him by name, calling him only my predecessor, accusing him of espousing resentment, revenge, and retribution, and for putting the freedoms of the American people in jeopardy both here and abroad.

The president, poking fun at his own age, saying, I know I may not look like it, but I've been around a while, saying things are more clear for him than ever before, and that he won't lead America with ancient ideas.

All of New Jersey's congressional delegation were present to hear his priorities like immigration reform, securing abortion rights, and of course aid to Israel and Ukraine.

Brenda Flanagan has all the reaction here in the state.

>> The state of our union is a and getting stronger.

Reporter: An animated Joe Biden came out swinging in a fiery and pointedly political state of the Union speech that doubled as a launch for his reelection campaign.

The president declared freedom and democracy under attack both at home and abroad, asking Congress to send desperately needed aid to Ukraine.

Without saying Donald Trump's name, Biden called him out for engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

>> former Republican president -- A former Republican president tells Putin "do whatever the hell you want."

That's a quote.

A Former President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader.

I think it's outrageous.

It's dangerous and it's unacceptable.

Reporter: Biden referred to the Republican presumptive presidential nominee as my predecessor more than a dozen times and called the January 6 insurrection "a dagger to the throat of American democracy " despite loud booze from Republicans.

>> Here is a truth.

You can't love your country only when you went.

Reporter: The president's performance stood in stark contrast to critics' depiction of an 81-year-old president, shambling and unfocused to serve.

>> When he got passionate about whatever issue, when he engaged directly with the Republicans trying to echo him, those were the moments where I think you saw the "strength," or at least that freshness and energy.

Reporter: New Jersey's Republican members did not respond to our requests for comment.

Democrats genuinely uploaded.

>> It was really exciting, then he just laid out a vision for our country that quite frankly reminded us of who we are as a nation.

Reporter: The president listed economic priorities, including a $2000 cap on prescription drugs for folks with private health insurance, $400 a month in mortgage assistance for people struggling to first time buy or upgrade homes, and a 25% tax on America's wealthiest.

That might be a hard sell.

>> New Jersey is in my opinion tax enough.

We should do -- taxed enough.

We should do everything we can for lower taxes and affordability.

Tax credits are that he talked about.

Reporter: Addressing the divisive Israel-Hamas war, he promised to build a sea port in Gaza to expedite humanitarian aid and work for a six weeks expire and bring hostages home, message welcomeda -- a message welcomed by families of those still being held hostage by Hamas.

>> We need aid in there as well as crush Hamas.

It is a complicated mission.

>> We have a responsibility to hold Israel more accountable now to what seems to be an overreaction to what happened October 7.

You are devastating the whole city.

That is wrong.

Reporter: The president demanded a ban on assault weapons and called on Congress to safeguard IVF and abortion rights, under siege since the Supreme Court overturned OVI Wade -- Roe V Wade.

And he warned the justices, women wheeled electoral power -- wield electoral power.

>> As long as Republicans attacked the freedoms of women across the nation, it'll be front and center.

Reporter: Republicans often heckled the president, especially Marjorie Taylor Greene on immigration.

Biden noticed bills have been scuttled by trumpet and the GOP response, Alabama's Senator Katie Britt blamed the president.

>> We know that President Biden didn't just create this border crisis.

He invited it with 94 executive actions.

Reporter: In a highly emotional speech from her kitchen, the Trump supporter called Biden a permanent politician.

>> One thing was quite clear, though, President Biden just doesn't get it.

He's out of touch.

Reporter: Last night's speech certainly set the stage for a rematch.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: First Lady Tammy Murphy gained some momentum last night in her bed to replace indicted U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez, beating her contender, Congressman Andy Kim for the Somerset Carney line by a 2-1 margin.

This one was done by a show of hands instead of a standard secret ballot.

A process that Kim criticizes saying it put pressure on delegates to publicly support Murphy even after he says they promised him the votes.

The Democratic Congressional primary is heating up in district 9.

Mohammed K. announced yesterday he will challenge longtime Congressman Bill Pascrell.

He's faced growing backlash from Palestinian Americans for refusing to call for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

Melissa rose Cooper has more on that race and what it could mean for the ninth district.

>> While Bill is making decisions from the comfort of his offices, he has lost touch with the people of his district.

Reporter: Strong words from the mayor as he announces he is challenging Congressman Pascrell For his seat in the ninth congressional district.

The mayor criticized the Congressman for initially refusing to call for a cease-fire in gaza and now only calling for a conditional cease-fire based on the release of hostages and flow of humanitarian aid.

The mayor says it is proof that Congressman Pascrell Is no longer fit to represent his constituents, many who are Muslim.

>> In 2003, I sponsored a resolution against the war in Iraq.

And I was attacked on it.

Bill supported the authorization to go to war, which he says he regrets later.

A war that killed over one million Iraqis and destabilized the entire region and set it on fire, by allowing the Iranian regime to stick its hands in the affairs of neighboring countries.

Now, Bill refuses to call for an immediate cease-fire, which could have saved over 30,000 lives.

>> Anybody who was at this point -- is at this point going to fight for Palestinian liberation and peace, for Palestinians and Palestinian life, has our vote.

Reporter: She applauds the decision to run for Congress.

While she admits her family has joined many others from New Jersey's Palestinian community in supporting Pascrell Over the years, she says his stands on the war has caused concern.

But she has faith in controversy.

Last year he was disinvited from a White House event because of his inclusion on an FBI watchlist which he was later removed from.

But a communications manager for the Council on American Islamic relations says he is a prominent leader in the community and calls the watchlist a microcosm of the American Muslim experience.

>> We see Muslims being added to these sort of watchlists without due process and without even an ability to reasonably or really contest their placement on these watchlists.

You are not giving a reason why -- You are not given a reason why.

Sometimes you were removed secretly.

And sometimes you are not told what you were removed or added in the first place.

Reporter: Pascrell responded saying -- a correspondent for Pasqual responded saying -- He has always had a good relationship with the mayor including being the first in line to demand an explanation from the Secret Service when the mayor was banned entry to the White House.

>> This is not a fight against the Democratic Party establishment.

Have many friend -- We have many friends and allies there.

This is a movement against a member of Congress who abandon his constituents.

Reporter: Voters will get to select their choice with the ninth congressional seat when they had to the polls in the June primary.

For NJ Spotlight News, Time Melissa Rose Cooper.

Joanna: Some of the Jersey shore's most iconic boardwalks are getting a makeover thanks to $1 million in funding from the state, 18 seaside towns will get anywhere from half a million up to 20 million dollars to rebuild what Governor Murphy has called their wooden Main Streets.

Ted Goldberg visited two of those towns to see how they will put that money to use.

Reporter: Down the short, everything is all right -- shore, everything is all right.

Maybe a little better after $100 million in federal funds will help 18 shore towns build up boardwalks.

>> Will redo the old -- >> We will redo any decking you see on the boardwalk.

Railings that are sort of wobbly, we will redo those.

And do better handicap accessible ramps.

Reporter: Asbury Park got $20 million tied with Atlantic City for the most given to anyone city.

Most of the funds are going to fix up the convention hall complex.

While the breezeway is open, the convention hall and Paramount theater have been closed for a few years now.

>> It's probably the most iconic building I would argue on the East Coast.

Clearly a building people want to see revitalized along with Asbury Park coming back.

Reporter: Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn says the paramount needs to fix its roof while the convention hall has deeper structural problems that will require more money.

She says the paramount is closer to opening and could be huge.

>> Robinson ale House is going to get a ton of reservations that night, other businesses, the candy store, people will stop in and get candy.

The effect of these shows is not just, the paramount is open and 2000 people came to see a show, these 2000 people then bo ught -- bought a towel or a book.

Reporter: Samuel works for the State Department of community affairs, which decided the communities receiving funds from the American rescue plan.

He says 33 communities applied for funds and the state prioritized low income communities.

>> The vast majority are not receiving what they requested.

Part of what we are going through right now is re-scoping the project to tell us how they are going to use the money.

They requested $80 million and they have received $20 million.

What components of the proposals are they intending to fund at $20 million?

Reporter: Part of the rationale for where the money went was helping New Jersey shore towns become more resilient in the face of climate change M stronger storms.

>> The frequency of weather events has continued to grow.

The fact that these boardwalks will be built in a more resilient way I think is going to mean a lot for generations to come.

>> We designed a more resilient boardwalk than what we had.

The same design is still in place and we will expand that.

This is being referred to as a pier, but it's an extension of this design.

It will be more resilient than what we've had.

Reporter: A little more than $3 million is going to be spent to build a pier near Pier Village.

>> The first one was right here in Long Branch right here in this location.

Since 1898, 1828, and it lasted for about -- until about 1854.

Reporter: the new pier will be about 500 feet, smaller than the 800 footer that burnt down in 1987, but it will be ADA compliant.

>> with the pier, the idea is an amenity for visitors and residentss.

We want to go beyond the break of the water so people can appreciate the oceanviews but also fishermen can catch larger fish.

Reporter: The boardwalk preservation fund was signed into law last summer, helping shore towns rebuild and be more resilient in the future.

I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: The job markets saw a boost in February.

275,000 jobs were added.

Health care seeing the biggest gains.

Some good news for what was a volatile week on Wall Street.

Here's a look at how the markets closed.

♪ Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among black women in the U.S., not because black women are more likely to develop cancer, but it's more likely to be detected at a later stage, according to experts.

But here.

in Newark, the numbers are staggeringly worse.

Black women are diagnosed with advanced breast cancer about twice the national average.

So, to combat this, the University Hospital is rolling out a mobile mammography van to screen women right where they are.

Raven Santana has more.

Reporter: Meet the new mobile mammography bus rolling out hope and lifesaving mammograms across Essex County.

>> By having the mobile van, we are able to go to where people congregate and people associate and where people feel comfortable.

Reporter: Ed Jimenez as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the University Hospital.

Hospital partnered with the health care of New Jersey and the Connie Dwyer breast cancer foundation to invest one -- $1.2 million into the mammography bus.

It will deliver preventative health care services to women in Essex County where the rates of late stage breast cancer are the highest in the state.

>> Women that get screening mammograms, some portion of them will have what is called -- what are called findings.

Of people who have findings, roughly 6% will have very advanced breast cancer.

So 6%.

It may sound like a small number or a big number but that is the national number.

For the people we screen, that are the residents of the city of Newark, we are having an 11% finding of severe disease -- nearly double.

Reporter: To combat the troubling statistics, the bus will bring care on the road to more than 4000 residents a year.

The new vehicle is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including private exam rooms and even a registration area.

>> We anticipate it should not be more than 30 to 40 minutes per patient, getting here, completing the check in, and going through the procedure.

We should be able to do at least 25 mammograms on the bus.

The bus is about 45 feet long, 13 feet high.

13 feet wide.

We do take some space.

On the bus we will have of course the typical registration area, you come in and check in.

We do have a full examination room that a doctor can conduct any examination in.

Reporter: She is the mobile health manager for University Hospital.

She stresses that no matter what your situation is, no one will be turned away.

>> We do take insurance, and in terms of those uninsured or underinsured, we have a safe program that if you meet eligibility, that will cover you.

If you don't meet eligibility, you have no insurance, we still have a robust charity care system that we will have women apply to.

Reporter: She says early detection really is the difference between life and death for black women.

>> White women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a higher number, but Black women die of breast cancer at a higher number.

That is a problem.

Reporter: We have -- >> We have a very unique population in Newark.

It also has a very high population of Nigerian descent.

This is important because this particular population has a much higher rate of aggressive breast cancers than any other group in the world.

These women come into the emergency room in their 30's with breast cancer that is already stage 4.

Save the woman, save the family, it is so true.

I would add to that saying society.

Reporter: The bus will now be a staple for the hospital.

The immediate goal is to screen as many women as possible, in turn, spreading breast cancer education, awareness, and support the populations that need it the most.

For NJ Spotlight News,I'm Raven Santana.

Joanna: That's going to do it for us tonight but before you go tune into NJ business to meet with Raven Santana this weekend, taking a deeper dive into the governor's $56 billion budget from the perspective of the business community and she talks with state leaders about the proposed corporate transit fee and the money going to the Murphy administration's climates and affordable housing goals.

Watch it Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. on NJ PBS.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us.

Enjoy the weekend.

We will be back here on Monday.

>> NJM insurance group, and by the PSEG foundation.

Funding and support provided by the following.

>> our future relies on more than clean energy.

Our future relies on empowered communities, the health and safety of our families and neighbors, of our schools and streets, the PSEG foundation is committed to economic environment, helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships, and workforce development that strengthen our community.

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