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

Serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association.

New Jersey realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information online.

And by the pseg foundation.

Anchor: Tonight, Israeli forces sees the Rafah order crossing, closing a major route for humanitarian crossing.

>> Any deal that would release the hostages but also allow Hamas to claim a victory is unacceptable to the Israeli side.

Anchor: Student protests continue across the globe.

At records, and encampment enters its sixth day.

>> We want to be on the right side of history, against genocide and apartheid and make sure the University that we fund with our tuition and taxpayer money is going to the community.

Anchor: Also, Congressman Frank alone seeking to safeguard Americans privacy from Big Tech companies as TikTok sues the federal government.

And student surveillance.

Newark public schools will install over 7000 AI cameras to combat the rise in youth violence.

>> They say these cameras will help make schools safer.

Anchor: NJ Spotlight News against right now.

♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

Anchor: Thank you for joining us this Tuesday night.

President Biden today issued a clarion call for Americans to fight the rising tide of anti-Semitism across the U.S., calling this a moment of crisis for the Jewish community during a somber, closely watched speech addressing the Holocaust Memorial ceremony at the capital , linking the horrors of the Holocaust to the October 7 attack on Israelis carried out by Hamas.

These remarks come at a pivotal time in the war in Gaza, with Israel carrying out intense strikes overnight that killed entire families and dozens of Palestinian civilians and children.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began more than seven months ago as a fierce mount over a full-scale invasion of the southern city of Rafah, which has been vital for getting humanitarian aid into Gaza at a time when those on the ground say northern Gaza is exterior sing full-blown famine.

It also it puts negotiations with Hamas on edge.

Israel has not accepted a proposed deal but is engaging in talks, making the situation more delicate.

I am joined by the Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for responsible statecraft.

Good to see you.

Israel has not accepted the terms of this proposed cease-fire but is engaging and talks.

What does that mean exactly?

What does that look like?

>> I think what it means more than anything else is the Israelis are very wary of being portrayed as the ones standing in the way of an agreement, which has been revealed to be the case in the last 48 hours because Hamas did agree to a draft of the proposal which would include the release of all of the hostages.

But it would also include an end to the fighting and what is becoming clear is under no circumstances would the Netanyahu government agree to end the war until Hamas is completely defeated, which of course seems extremely unlikely to be achieved, which means the war will keep going.

Anchor: Is that, would you say, the main sticking point when these negotiations have happened the past?

It seems like the sides have gotten to this point and negotiations get tripped up on the same subject.

Trita: It has very much been part of the challenge, which is how many hostages for how long of a Cease Fire.

Again, the explicit aim of the Israeli government is the total defeat of Hamas, which means any deal that would release the hostages but also allow Hamas to claim some sort of victory is unacceptable to the Israeli side.

I think a larger, deeper problem, frankly, is the hostage release and Cease Fire has been connected to each other in negotiations.

It essentially means as long as hostages are not released, Israel's indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is justified, and it is not because it is a violation of international law.

This is part of the reason why the you in resolution that was passed disconnected the issues.

Reality is this has led to a situation where we neither have the release of the hostages more a Cease Fire.

Anchor: I'm curious how the airstrikes that have been carried out in Rafah, near the crossing on the Gaza side, may or may not have an effect on the talks ongoing.

It is not yet the ground invasion that has been anticipated but it also does not take that off the table.

Does that put this in a more precarious situation?

Trita: It certainly does because we are already starting to see new images of horrific, horrific damage and death caused by these airstrikes and I think we've reached a point where for the first time we are seeing the Biden Administration hinting at limiting arms sales to Israel as a result of the frustration they are having with the Netanyahu government not agreeing to this exchange they have been negotiating.

Anchor: Is there a role for the general international pressure that's been escalating.

I'm thinking about campus protests led by students and that movement.

Does not have a role here?

Trita: I certainly think it does.

President Biden says these protests have no impact on his thinking on this and I friendly don't think that is true because he is seeing his own reelection prospects slipping in the polls and a key reason for that -- not the only but a key reason is the manner in which he is angering his own supporters who got him elected four years ago with this approach to Gaza, that has allowed Israel to kill more than 34,000 people, continues to arm them, while it is increasingly clear that even if the hostages are released, Netanyahu will not sign on the dotted line.

He does not want to end the war.

Anchor: Always great to have your insight, thank you.

Trita: Thank you for having me.

Anchor: Governor Murphy today criticized Rutgers University for its response to pro-Palestinian protesters on campus, agreeing to meet eight out of their 10 demands.

Murphy argued the administration dealt with the group differently than complaints from Jewish students about anti-Semitism.

Meanwhile demonstrations continue at Rutgers new work, where students are requesting the University to do more than divest from Israel but also reinvest in the new work -- newark community.

>> We want to be on the right side of history, against an assigned an apartheid and make sure the University that we fund with our tuition and the taxpayers money is going to the community and students, going for a good cause.

Reporter: For the past week, students at Rutgersnewark have been taking part in this encampment to serve Pope -- show support for Palestine.

The people in this and Kamman are not only calling on Rutgers to divest from Israel, they also want the school to reinvest in the Newaark community.

>> We want members of the community to go to school for free, we want medical and dental services for the residents, and the one I'm most passionate about is we want Rutgers to give some properties back so we can start a community land trust and build free housing for the residents of Newark.

Reporter: Anthony helped organize this and can't meant.

As a lifelong new work resident, he says the battle for affordable and quality housing is shameful, leading to other issues.

>> You wonder why we have in increase in violence and homelessness.

You wonder why we have economic genocide going on.

If people have home instability, hail canned -- how can the city ever be stable?

Reporter: This comes as students at the New Brunswick campus wrecked of days of protest.

A spokesperson for the University confirms the president will help to Washington -- head to Washington later this month to discuss how they handle the protest.

This as wreckers has faced -- as wreckers has faced concerns by lawmakers.

>> It's great the students at New Brunswick were able to organize around that but we also here in Newark wanted to point out that New Brunswick isn't the only Rutgers campus.

It's not possible for them to negotiate for all students and all faculty and all communities affected I wreckers.

-- by Rutgers.

We support them and their ongoing communications with the president and Board of Governors but we also have something to say as part of that community as well.

Reporter: A spokesperson for the Rutgers campus issued a statement saying our highest priority is the safety of our students, faculty and staff.

The protest on campus remain peaceful.

As an anchor institution in Newark and committed collaborator with many community partners, Rutgers Newark is earnestly engaging in dialogue over the concerns expressed.

As the protests interest second week, protesters say they are committed to change and will stay as long as it takes.

I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

Anchor: Mental health help is just a click away for New Jersey college students, with an announcement today by the Murphy administration that it is expanding a free 24/7 Digital mental health services program.

It was rolled out during the pandemic to great success.

The goal is to reach more college students in need of support and fill gaps where campus services fall short.

>> Young people have been facing a mental health crisis for some time from the rise of social media, to increase academic pressures.

The impact of the pandemic and much more.

Reporter: 70% of college students have reported heightened levels of stress and anxiety according to the office of the Secretary of higher education.

Today, the Lieutenant Governor announced the Murphy administration expansion of funding for free counseling on New Jersey college campus called uwill.

>> It provides 20, 365 Tele therapy, crisis connection and wellness programming at 45 institutions.

9 is part of -- Reporter: It is part of a funding allotment given to the office of higher education to expand the state partnership with UWill through 2025.

It's already been offered at several campuses over the last year.

>> In just over year, almost 11,000 students have registered for the platform and more than 33,000 sessions have been held.

61% of the students understood on the platform indicated they had never previously made an appointment with a therapist or mental health counselor at their institution.

Reporter: Despite the record number of mental health calls that came from Mount Clare students this year, the president sees it as a sign that stigma around mental health is no longer what it was.

>> You wouldn't have that happening if students were ashamed or shy about raising their hand and asking for help.

That is awesome.

Reporter: An indicator of future success as several speakers pointed to the statistic that student struggling with mental health is twice as likely not to graduate.

>> This is about student success, this is about graduation rates, this is about the future of New Jersey.

Reporter: An opportunity to take on the realities around inequity in the space.

>> It's important to recognize the mental health challenges that have set people of course have disproportionately affected communities of color and others who are underrepresented.

>> It feels amazing.

It is so exciting for me to know I have these services when I need them and they are free, they are super accessible as well.

I know I can call up someone or go online if I need someone at any point during the day, at 11:00 p.m. after class or 7:00 before work.

>> It's important hearing what this does and that it will be available for students throughout the duration.

.

Of the Murphy administration Reporter: The a similar woman has introduced a bill that would continue funding the program after the Murphy administration ends.

She believes they will prove the program works.

I am Joanna Gagis.

>> Support for the medical report provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Anchor: When Newark public school students head back to classrooms in the fall, they will notice a new high-tech addition to their buildings.

More than 7500 cameras equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities meant to keep schools safer.

The Newark Board of Education approved a $12 million contract late last week to have the new surveillance installed this summer.

It's part of an effort to combat the rise in youth violence through the city.

But security experts warn the systems don't always deliver on promises.

Jesse Gomez reports for a content provider partner enjoys me with her latest reporting.

Thanks for coming on the show.

Talk to me about why the district felt the need to have such a sophisticated surveillance system put in place.

Jessie: We've been keeping tabs on this since last year when the district initially said they wanted to place cameras with artificial intelligence capabilities in their schools.

They say the cameras will help make schools safer and ultimately they are planning to overhaul what they are calling an updated and inefficient system with this new high-tech system that includes artificial intelligent cameras and capabilities that will also work with sensors to detect vaping and abnormal sounds like gun sounds and things like that.

Anchor: What does the school district community think about it?

Parents and other folks who need to buy in?

There have been reports over the years, especially from the ACLU, that raise concerns about privacy and monitoring students in ways that could potentially be harmful to them.

Jessie: Yeah, so on the ground we haven't heard much traction on the cameras but what we know is on the ground, advocates and city leaders have called for more measures to reduce youth violence across Newark, not just in schools.

Last week at the school enacted a youth curfew and that was something the mayor said was in response to an uptick in youth violence.

We saw shootings outside two high schools, one in November, where 815-year-old was shot and drive by, and another in March where two students were shot outside Westside high school.

There is concern growing in the community about putting better measures in place to reduce violence among youth and also help reduce crime to use as well.

Anchor: What has the school district about what it plans to have its own regulations in place on where these cameras are installed and what exactly they are monitoring and to make sure the privacy issues don't come up?

Jessie: The school district hasn't been very forthcoming especially when it comes to this project but what we know through resolutions and board meeting number stations is board members and the district is on board that the new cameras will not invade or create an invasion of privacy for students, staff or anyone else who works in the building.

They also said the cameras will not be placed where they aren't authorized or where there aren't concerns with privacy such as bathrooms.

That's where they say the sensors will come into play, they hope the centers will the tech to vaping and other noises.

Anchor: You mentioned the citywide curfew.

Obviously the cameras.

What else is the public school district and the city investing in to tamp down on this rise in violence?

Jessie: At the district level, over the years they have placed a number of security measures to beef up security issues.

They've installed metal detectors, done training to school resource officers, invested in more training.

Things like that.

Also drug and alcohol policies that the district says there security guards are already aware of.

These measures are supposed to reduce all of these issues of violence among schools and at the city level we are seeing a new re-engagement center in place where if youth are found outside curfew hours on the street will be taken to.

We see these ongoing efforts happening across the city in public schools.

Anchor: jessie, thank you for sharing your reporting with us.

TikTok is suing the U.S. government, claiming the new federal law forcing the Chinese based app company to sell or be banned from the country's unlawful and violates the first amendment.

The social media app argues national security concerns aren't a sufficient reason to restrict free speech and is asking a federal appeals court to block the potential ban.

It sets up a court showdown over the responsibility of the attack and the government to protect American data online, which was the topic of a recent roundtable held by Congressman Frank Pallone, who wants Congress to draft legislation that would create more of those safeguards.

Raven Santana has the story.

>> I want to send you a product and review this, and people will give out their information thinking they will get a product or something, but they are just giving out their information and susceptible to data being sent anywhere.

Reporter: Teenagers may be savvy when it comes to using apps on social media, but this 17-year-old at Edison high school and member of a youth advisory Council, says she is confident the same cannot be said when it comes to privacy.

Reporter: These bigger corporations are promising them things and I think the younger generation, people of my generation, are not reading into laws being passed and what is in place to protect them.

I want people educated about what's being passed.

Reporter: She made her concerns her -- heard at a roundtable session hosted by Congress when Frank Pallone.

They were joined by others to talk about accountability for American data online.

>> What we find is not only problems with privacy in terms of social media but also everyone trying to basically gather all your private information, whether it is your Social Security number, your taste in music, whatever it is, and selling it for profit.

Reporter: He is the ranking member of the house Energy and Commerce committee.

The committee is currently considering a proposal to create national privacy protections for American data.

>> There's an overall idea that collecting new data is not necessary and allowing people to erase or delete data.

Reporter: The proposal after President Biden signed a law in April introduced by Pallone to make it illegal for data brokers to sell or otherwise make American sensitive data available to China, North Korea or Iran.

It would force the sale of TikTok to a non-Chinese company but that bill has been that with mixed reaction.

>> Tremendous pushback.

Because all the companies that collect this information want to continue to do so.

This is not going to be easy, easily accomplished.

Reporter: His comments echoed by other members of the roundtable.

>> Social media has become the opiate of the people because they want those 15 minutes of fame or two minutes of fame, everyone wants a photograph to put on the ground and they don't understand the implications of that.

>> It has so many implications, whether protecting youth or looking at the health care records.

Whether the idea of people will need -- believe in the need to opt out.

But most people don't know what that means or how to do it.

Reporter: Cologne and other members at the discussion agree that passing the privacy protection legislation currently in committee could also prevent any future privacy and security issues caused by AI.

I am a Raven Santana.

Anchor: In our spotlight on business report tonight, recreational cannabis sales just soared to historical highs.

Dispensaries across the state sold a record $201 million worth of product in the first quarter of 2024 a and according to new state data, and sales milestone over the 4/20 weekend.

Overall, it shows sales were up by 38% compared to the year before.

The state cannabis regular trade commission attributes that to a shift in consumer behavior away from the black market and toward a safer, regulated one.

There are a lot more dispensaries in the state than last year, 130 in all come into the commission expects sales to continue increasing as more dispensaries open.

On Wall Street, stocks rose for a fifth straight day, lifted in part by lower treasury yields.

Here is where the markets closed today.

♪ >> Support for the business report is provided by Riverview Jess, supporting the Jersey City Jazz Festival.

Information can be found online.

♪ ♪ Anchor: That does it for us tonight.

Don't forget to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

I am Bianna Vannozzi.

For the entire spotlight team, we will see you back your tone iron night -- tomorrow night.

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

RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

And New Jersey realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information online.

>> have some water.

Look at these kids.

What do you see?

I see myself.

I became an ESL teacher to give my students what I wanted when I came to this country.

The opportunity to learn, to dream, to achieve, a chance to be known and to be an American.

My name is Julia and I am proud to be an NJEA member.

>> Very grateful I'm still here.

>> Me and my daughter when we celebrated our first anniversary.

>> With a new kidney I have strength.

>>.

.

New lease on life >> I am exploring new places.

>> Nobody thought I would be here.

>> It's possible now.

>> Transforming lives through innovative kidney treatment, donor programs and world-renowned care.

>> Gave me my normal life back, a blessing.

>> RJ W Barnabas health, let's be healthy together.

♪