>> tonight on NJ Spotlight news, rallying for parental rights.

>> we must save our children.

>> education cultural wars outside the Statehouse in Trenton.

Plus, Governor Murphy makes his choice for New Jersey's highest court.

>> today I vow to work harder than I have ever worked.

>> will this latest nomination stall in Trenton?

Also, the childcare crisis.

>> they are begging us to take their children and we cannot because we do not have the teachers to care for them.

>> a report details how many childcare centers are struggling to keep doors open.

Holding the line in New Jersey.

>> no wages, no pages.

>> writers hit the picket lines in Maplewood, fighting for a fair contract with Hollywood studios.

NJ spotlight news Starts Right now.

>> funding is provided by the members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

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♪ >> from NJ PBS, this is spotlight news.

>> thank you for joining us this Monday night.

A rallying cry tonight from parents, families protesting outside the Statehouse in Trenton today.

Urging lawmakers to vote in favor of what they are calling parental rights.

Giving parents ultimate say in what their children are exposed to in New Jersey's public schools.

By pushing back against the states sex Ed curriculum, teaching critical race theory and vaccine requirements.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports, critics say the term is being used to describe -- disguise a right-wing agenda that marginalizes LGBTQ students and undermine school district.

>> we cannot stop, we cannot relent, we must save our children.

>> headlined as a parental rights demonstration the Statehouse rally drew conservatives to speak about their mission.

They want to wrest control away from government agencies that set education and health standards.

Everything from vaccination schedules to the sexual education curriculum.

>> the sexual exploitation of your children is right here in black-and-white, done by your state Board of Education by Bill and Tammy Murphy.

>> the health and sex Ed controversy is the Trojan horse.

No educator with a sound mind would believe that drag queen story our is appropriate.

>> speakers opposed bills preventing transgender care from other states and called for absolute school choice so parents could refuse to pay for public school.

>> you are the steward of that money and when the Legislature refuses to do that, you need to take them out.

And I do not mean to dinner.

I mean retire them.

Vote them out.

>> the rally featured conservative media stars including Roxbury moms who are being sued by their school library and for defamation in a battle over book banning.

Over and over again, speakers pointed to the ballot box.

>> the schools belong to us.

We needed to fix the school board.

We need to fix who is making these decisions.

>> among the speakers, town committeemen Dominic, who is facing a recall effort for his extreme statements.

>> the longer that people of faith stay out of this arena, the worse that it is going to be.

There is a vacuum of leadership.

And we need to get involved.

>> the anti-woke agenda is designed to promote grassroots political activism but it also helps Republican candidates furnish conservative credentials.

>> there are about four Republican primaries in districts across New Jersey right now out of 40 districts, where conservatives are trying to beat out more moderate Republicans.

For nominations.

So I suspect that part of the calculation is let's rile people up.

>> incumbent senator Ed is one of those Republicans from jerseys third District campaigning for the June 6 primary with Gloucester County Republican candidate Nick to Silvio.

Door sees --Durr sees votes here.

>> you're seeing people who have shied away from the last elections with anger and apathy toward the whole thing.

And now because of its involving families, they are going to get involved.

>> we want this to be a grass roots movement, not a campaign stop.

>> the event was not supposed to be political but many speakers reminded the crowd about getting political commitments.

Felicia rallied in 2015 to keep the religious extension -- 2019 to keep the religious exemption policies.

>> the war is far from over so I am here today to remind you that there is nobody coming to rescue you.

>> at the Statehouse, Brenda Flanagan, NJ spotlight news.

>> the long run of shakeups with states up in court could finally be over.

Governor Murphy today made his nomination for the last remaining seat on New Jersey's highest court, tapping former public defender and immigrant rights advocate Michael Noriega to replace Barry.

If confirmed the Democrat from Union County would be the third Hispanic member in the history of the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz reports.

>> on the day he was announced as a nominee for the state's highest court, Michael Noriega recalls his first day in court as a public defender.

>> I argued my first case before the court after a 10 minute conversation with my client.

He told me that day that the reason that he had violated probation was because his grandmother had died.

That was also the first time I lost a legal argument on the record in court that day.

The judge correctly pointed out that this clients same grandmother had died on two previous occasions.

[laughter] >> and he was not accepting this excuse.

>> the real-world experience made Michael Noriega the kind of nominee that appealed to the Murphy administration.

In search of a Latino nominee who closely reflect the states diversity, the importance of issues affecting immigrants and working-class people.

>> after finding opportunity himself he has dedicated his life to standing up for others.

Not just in his career, but in his spare time.

For seven years he provided pro bono present Tatian to young victims of human trafficking facing deportation.

Some of them were only children.

And he is currently the Board President of the wellness Institute, a nonprofit in new work helping victims of human trafficking, domestic abuse and other forms of violence.

>> adding someone with that perspective, given the number of criminal matters before the court I condone the breadth of the perspective that the court has.

>>'s nomination if approved would bring the court up to a full complement of seven justices.

Michael Noriega would be Murphy's third pick for a court whose reputation is for balance and collegiality.

>> Governor Murphy has made a number of appointments.

They have all been outstanding in my view.

So it is a strong legacy for the governor and from what I have gathered, Governor Murphy has really taken this appointment power, so to speak, very seriously.

He has chosen wisely, he has been thoughtful and careful about his Nominees and I think that shows in the quality of the folks that he has nominated.

>> Murphy knows a little bit about the consent part of the advise and consent process of judicial nominations.

A great nominee can be scuttled or held up by Senatorial courtesy or even win.

Michael Noriega has been a partner in the law firm headed by Senator John, who spoke highly of the nominee at today's event.

He notes that the Senate Judiciary committee of which John is a member is chaired by a senator from Union City where Noriega was raised.

>> it helps that the Senate president has given his blessing to Mike, he has met with him and he told me today that he supports him.

Senate President, probably a good endorsement.

>> one senator who could block the nomination via Senatorial currency, Joe Cryan represents his current home in Union County P he cannot be reached for comment today and has yet to meet the nominee.

I am David Cruz, NJ spotlight news.

>> this next story will come as no surprise to parents of little ones.

New Jersey's childcare industry is significantly struggling to recover from the pandemic.

Even as more parents return to the work force.

A new report from Rutgers University finds the need for childcare is growing but workers and programs are at an all-time high.

Melissa Rose Cooper reports.

>> it is hard because were talking to parents and they're begging us to take their children.

And we cannot because we do not have the teachers to care for them.

>> a major issue that Cindy Shields senior director of YMCA childcare services says continues to plague childcare centers.

Since the pandemic providers like the YMCA have been having difficulty properly staffing classrooms.

>> in Middlesex County as a whole, childcare centers are reporting about 10 fewer children per center and 75 fewer centers are reporting that they are serving less children because they do not have the staff.

I have empty classrooms, empty centers I have not been able to reopen.

>> childcare centers across New Jersey are facing similar issues according to a new report from the Rutgers Center of woman at work, providers are struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels despite overall employment recovering by the third quarter of 2021.

>> childcare industry has faced staffing and retention issues for years in the pandemic made it worse.

>> Deborah is Executive Director for the center of women in work.

Research shows 26% decrease in the number of center-based child care facilities between 2019 and 2020.

Home-based providers expansive 38% drop and they are still declining.

>> that is something we might want to pay attention to because of family-based child care, those childcare providers located in the community and the neighborhood and tend to serve parents who have less standard work hours.

Who may need early care or care later in the day.

So we find it interesting that that part of the childcare industry has not recovered and continues to decline.

>> members of the industry blame the shortage on a lack of compensation with many teachers making roughly 18 to $19 an hour.

>> pre-pandemic early childhood was in a crisis, workers were already struggling with lack of decent wages, lack of benefits.

Families wears struggling with the -- were struggling with the cost of childcare, so the pandemic accelerated a path that the industry was already on.

>> I think it's really important that people remember that while there are a lot of people getting back to work right now and here in early education we cannot take our foot off the gas pedal and we need to keep reminding society that early education is not back to pre-pandemic situations by any stretch of the imagination.

And we know more now as a society about how important early education is and how vital the workforce is, so we need to continue to be talking about how we elevate and compensate the workforce so that they can be invested in their work.

>> the economic development Authority is advocating $75 million to help put childcare centers as part of the facilities improvement program.

Advocates say funding is needed to make sure that childcare is accessible and affordable for everyone.

For NJ spotlight news I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

>> with the congestion pricing proposal nearing the finish line lawmakers are bowing to fight to the end.

Senator Bob Menendez introduced an act that would impose sanctions against the state of New York if the plan goes into effect.

The proposal won a key federal proposal and could begin as early as next spring.

Exact costs are not said but it's estimated to cost up to $23 a day if they enter Manhattan below 60th Street.

On top of existing tolls.

Advocates say it will cut down admissions with the money going to improve the sewage system.

-- the subway system.

Critics from this side of the Hudson say this will have a disproportionate impact on it New Jersey commuters without providing any money for the Garden State public transit system.

>> if you try to line your pockets at the expense of the Garden State, you best believe I will be standing there.

My bill slams the brakes on this congestion plan.

I introduced it to make sure that we create change for New Jersey's families and businesses.

So this is a no win for our state and we are going to turn that around.

>> meanwhile, the ongoing federal corruption probe into Bob Menendez appears to be widening with another round of subpoenas served late last week.

Including the office of Nick, who as confirmed by his staff person, is a political player just reelected to his ninth term as the mayor of North Birgit.

He has been under investigation for months over whether he and his wife improperly accepted gifts and cash from the owners of a meat business in Edgewater.

The scope of the probe is unknown according to NBC New York, which first reported the story.

Some new questions being raised by investigators relate to Fred, in Edgewater based developer whose projects developed the waterfront.

He pleaded guilty last year to taking part in an insider loan scam at Mariners Bank.

The food and drug administration is officially easing restrictions that will allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood.

The federal agency says it will now recommend an individual risk-based survey for all donors, regardless of their sexual orientation.

It ends a policy that began in the 1980's designed to protect the blood supply from HIV by banning men who have sex with men from donating.

Critics have long said the guidelines were discriminatory.

The rule was updated twice during the last several years but still included limits.

Requiring those individuals to abstain from sexual contact for certain amounts of time before giving blood.

For more context I am joined by Dr. Perry, Dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, who spent decades researching HIV and the AIDS epidemic.

This is a long-awaited announcement.

What does this mean as a whole, both for the community, LGBTQ and just for the need for blood which we have seen a shortage of of late?

>> I think first and foremost, we know there is a blood shortage.

We should be able to get blood from any person who is able to give blood.

And so this change in policy, this recommendation for this change in policy is welcomed in that regard.

But here is what it means for gay and bisexual men.

For like 40 years gay and bisexual men have been prevented from donating blood in any meaningful way.

It has created a level of stigma and discrimination for a community that quite frankly has done a good job in managing HIV.

What it also does is it makes blood donation about behavior and not about a person's characteristics.

Can you imagine if we had a policy in the United States that said you cannot donate blood because you are Asian?

You cannot because you are a woman?

We would not tolerate that.

But this new policy says look, if you are a person who is at risk sexually because you've had multiple partners or a new partner and you don't know that person's status.

By partner I mean sexual partner.

We have to reconsider you for blood donation and that does not matter if you are gay, bisexual, straight, queer, any of those identities make no difference.

It is about behavior, so that is an advancement that aligns perfectly with science.

>> it is interesting, right?

Because for years the American Medical Association has said that this limit on the donors was not necessary, that proper screening exists, of course it was put in place back in the early days of the AIDS epidemic.

And yet, the FDA was slow to make this new recommendation.

Why was that?

Was it discriminatory as you are saying?

>> well I think the result of that, the timing, the slowness, the sluggishness of the FDA is just and indication of historic artifact around HIV.

And for those of us who are old enough to remember, this disease, AIDS was called gay related immunodeficiency.

Over the last 40 years the stigma, the name, the blame has not gone away.

So the FDA realizes the political environment that it is in.

It realizes there is a generation of people who still think about AIDS as a gay disease and they had to be thoughtful in rolling this out.

So while I have -- I wish it was faster, I do have some compassion for the FDA and the political forces they have to face in order to make these decisions.

>> Dr. Perry, thank you so much for joining me.

>> always an honor to be with you.

>> support for the medical report is provided by horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

>> Hollywood picket lines have made their way to New Jersey.

Striking members of the writers Guild of America are picketing today outside Columbia high school in Maplewood where renowned directorate is shooting a Hulu series this week.

Protesting union makers are trying to shut down the chute in support of the ongoing writers strike that includes 11,000 workers.

We report.

[haunting sounds --honking sounds] >> we are not trying to mess up a test, there's an active film said and they have to call cut and start over because that car honked and that is why we are here.

>> call it creative sabotage or a call to arms for the writers Guild of America.

Comedian Chris says the ongoing writers strike has no end in sight, so writers will encourage people to mess with filming.

>> the writers Guild has asked them to talk about a dozen things and they have only addressed three, so it is clear for these people, money talks.

So the workers are out here trying to say the sooner we can shut off the flow of the money, the sooner we can get your product to dry up, the sooner you have to take us seriously.

>> any television or film production, we will show up with our pickets and we are trying to delay, pause, or shut down productions because we have the support of other Teamsters and unions.

>> union members and allies picketed at Columbia high school in Maplewood.

Part of the school is hosting students taking AP exams and another part is an active film set for a new Hulu show.

Writers have successfully shut down film shoots to bring attention to their demands.

>> we are really looking for a fair deal.

To put it simply, we are asking for roughly 2% of the earnings of these companies.

Which we think is more than fair given how much they profit off of our work.

>> I hosted a cable show for three years, I've had a screenplay deal and two years ago I lost my health insurance because I could not get union work.

I cobbled together six different full-time things right now.

The people out here are not marching because they are part of some elite sect and they want to stay that way.

We are just cobbling together mortgages and insurance.

>> one of the biggest issues facing the union is how networks handle residuals and whether or not writers get more money based on if their work gets views on the streaming platforms.

>> I hosted a talk show on HBO Max.

No matter how much it gets watched I did not get another dime.

That's kind of weird.

By the standards of TV if that aired on a television network I would get money.

>> streaming creates an incentive for producers to try to drive labor costs down.

>> Susan Sherman is a distinguished professor at the Rutgers Department of Labor studies and employment relations.

She remembers the last writers strike most 16 years ago.

And she think the current strike could cause a lot more damage, even after wreaking havoc on late-night talk shows.

>> I think they understand they are looking at a long strike.

Before there is even an impact.

That is going to be felt outside of as you said it late-night.

>> some have criticized writers for interrupting AP tests with incessant honking.

His response?

>> we are honor bound to disrupt the film set.

Were not trained to mess with your kids but you should call the board and say wire we paying 25 grand a year in taxes and you're turning our kids education into a film set?

>> pickets will continue in New York City and in Jersey City where Netflix is shooting Eric, a new show with Benedict Cumberbatch.

In Maplewood, Ted Goldberg, NJ spotlight news.

>> turning to Wall Street, here is today's closing trading numbers.

♪ >> support for the business report provided by the Chamber of Commerce southern New Jersey.

Working for economic prosperity by uniting business and community leaders for 150 years.

Membership and event information online at chamber S NJ.com.

>> and that is going to do it for us tonight.

A reminder though, you can listen to NJ spotlight news any time via podcast wherever you stream, so make sure you download it and check us out.

For the entire NJ spotlight news team, thank you for being with us.

Have a great evening and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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