>> funding for "NJ Spotlight News" provided by the members of the New Jersey education foundation, making public schools great for every child, and RWJ Barnabas health.

Let's be healthy together.

>> tonight, historic hate crimes.

The Israel-Hamas war sparking fears in the Garden status incidents against Jewish and Muslim communities surge across the U.S.. >> since October 7, we have seen a tremendous spike in bias incidents right here in New Jersey, just antisemitic but also anti-Muslim as well.

>> Also violence in the West Bank.

>> Every day is a fresh new help .

>> The war is spilling into other Palestinian communities and impacting families in New Jersey.

Thus, New Jersey facing yet another teacher shortage.

Local districts rolling out new initiatives to recruit and retain educators.

>> The advantage is that they already understand what teaching is about.

They are working in the program.

They see it.

They have a love of working with children.

This is a natural next step.

>> And climate warning.

A new environmental report warns of the costly impact of climate change in the U.S. as temperatures and sea levels continue to rise.

>> We got to keep and I on things because if we are not careful, the decisions we make right now could let things really run amok in the future.

>> "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is " NJ Spotlight News."

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

Tens of thousands of people, including from New Jersey, today descended on the nation's capital, marching through Washington, D.C., in one of the strongest displays of solidarity with Israel's war against Hamas, now entering its sixth week.

Demonstrators are also calling for the release of 200 40 hostages captured by the militant group during the surprise October 7 attack.

President Biden quickly address reports that Hamas may release up to 70 women and children being held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day truce with Israel.

The president saying he has been talking with the people involved every single day and believes a hostage exchange will happen but would not provide details.

Today's rally comes after large protests both here in New Jersey and nationwide condemning the Israeli military for creating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the Palestinian death toll climbs beyond 11,000 people with hospitals crumbly and -- crumbling and little to no food and fuel left.

Demonstrators on the national mall today say they are underscoring the right Jewish communities around the world to remain the from hate and violence.

Local and federal agencies in New Jersey have in reporting a significant spike in antisemitic and Islamophobia incidents since the war began.

For the latest on that, I'm joined by FBI Newark's special agent in charge.

Special Agent, thank you for joining me.

We had the FBI Director come out and say that anti-Semitic incidents in particular have reached historic levels.

Why exactly is that?

>> I think what is happening in Israel and Gaza right now is bringing everyone's emotions to the edge, if you will, two of the Middle East and that just brings everyone to a certain level of hate, and the FBI tracks that, which I do through local, state, and federal reporting.

Since October 7, we have seen a tremendous spike in bias incidents and hate incidents right here in New Jersey.

Not just antisemitic, but also anti-Arab and anti-Muslim as well.

Probably 75/25 split between those that are antisemitic and those that are anti-Muslim.

>> If we look at that data, would it jive with what we saw the Anti-Defamation League put out?

They said something like a 400% increase since war broke out October 7.

Care represents Muslim Americans and said somewhere around a 200% spike.

These are really big numbers.

Does that seem to be in sync with the date of the FBI is collecting?

>> It is.

We are seeing since October 7 a few hundred percentage points increase.

>> Are these incidents from, let's say, homegrown extremists?

Are these incidents spurred by foreign groups?

I mean, what do they look like?

>> When the war first happened, when October 7 first happened, our number one concern in the FBI was foreign terrorist organizations using that as a way of inspiring those extremists and radicalizing those individuals in order to now commit act of violence, if it's against U.S. interests abroad or here in the United States, so that is, of course, a concern.

That leads to a larger concern of the lone wolf actor.

His is difficult for us to identify, to investigate, and disrupt because that individual might look to attack soft, familiar targets, might have access to weapons, and most importantly, may not discuss that plan with anyone or be in communication with anyone else or highlight what he or she is planning on doing, so we have concerns in that regard.

>> what is the FBI doing to tackle this?

In New Jersey, there was another incident where a synagogue had anti-Semitic graffiti painted on it in recent days.

How does the FBI tackle these hate crimes when they arise?

>> Hate crime is just that.

It is a federal violation, and the FBI looks into it as a maximum potential sentencing and we look at incidents which might be considered hate crimes, which is exactly that, hate in the addition of a crime.

>> Can you share some examples of what we have seen?

I have heard from folks anecdotally who are feeling nervous about going to their places of worship, be they Jewish or Muslim, feeling like they may be targets.

What can you tell us to that end?

>> I would say you still have to live your life.

We are not at the point where people should be building bunkers in their own yard in order to become shut-ins.

You still have to go to religious services and beyond, but keep in mind that there is a spike in these types of bias incidents, and you have to be more vigilant when it comes to those things.

>> To see something, say something.

That's what we have come to now.

Thank you so much for your time.

Conflict in the Middle East is not isolated to Gaza.

Violence has been escalating against Palestinians in the West Bank.

New Jerseyans with family that say their loved ones have been facing increasingly deadly situations, including the cousin of a Jersey City councilman, recently killed by an Israeli settler just outside his village.

Human rights groups say his death represents the many layers of this war.

Our Senior correspondent reports.

>> Every day is a fresh new hell.

>> Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, stories of violence have increased dramatically, and recently, those stories have hit home.

A Jersey City councilman's 40-year-old cousin who was a father of four, was shot and killed in his own olive grove.

>> He was out with his family harvesting olives.

This is the olive harvesting season for Palestinians.

Essentially, he was accosted by several settlers, and one of the settlers shot him in the chest and killed him.

>> This woman woke up in her home to learn that her 20-year-old cousin had been shot and killed on his olive grove in West Bank.

Quality was shot in the back.

His body was dragged by the soldiers, according to my cousins who were also there, and paramedics were not allowed to get to him for over two hours until he bled out and passed away.

>> Since the attack on Israel on October 7, the Israeli government has been arming Israeli settlers in the West Bank, a region of land Israel has occupied since the six-day war of 1967.

The Israeli government has since established settlements on that land, only some of which are recognized by Israel and international law, as a means to establish its control over the region.

Palestinians say they have experienced dehumanizing role in the region ever since.

>> Palestinians get arrested with no trial or charges.

They can be put in prison for a year, two years, three years, and let go.

We are not given reasons.

We don't have any system to seek out what is going on or to seek out any help.

We are under the control and forced and at the mercy of whatever Israeli soldiers or the Israeli occupation wants to do to us.

>> They say these recent charges on all the groves are yet another way to hurt Palestinians economically.

>> This is how they survive.

They create all of products.

>> Not only are they not allowed to pick the olives, the settlers who are illegally there are coming in and taking them.

They are picking up olives.

A lot of olive trees have been set on fire and you are talking about trees that are 200, 300, 400, 500 years old passed down from generation to generation.

>> A group of nongovernmental human rights organizations called on the government to stop the wave of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank that they say are being supported by the Israeli government arming the settlers.

The group said in a recent op-ed government ministers and other officials are backing the violence and in many cases, the military is present or even participates in the violence, including in incidents where settlers have killed Palestinians.

Palestinians in New Jersey are calling for an end to the occupation of the West Bank and want to see elected officials to support a cease-fire in Gaza.

>> Palestinians need to be given human rights.

Once we are on equal footing, then we can talk about a more permanent solution.

>> The solution is simple, and end to the occupation of Palestine.

We stand up for human rights and truth and what happened on October 7, the terrorist attack, is absolutely tragic, and I feel for my Jewish brothers and sisters, and I reached out to them to make sure their family members and they were OK, but what has proceeded since is absolutely an affront to humanity and is a stain on our moral conscience.

>> And they say a scar on their hearts that will not heal any time soon.

>> The Middlesex County man who last week prompted an FBI manhunt for his involvement with the January 6 attack on the U.S. capitol appeared in court this week.

The 47-year-old is accused of spraying police officers with a chemical irritant during the 2021 assault.

He is charged with big long list of offenses, including assault on a federal officer, which carries a maximum print and sentence of eight years.

In federal court, a judge ordered him to be held without bail until trial.

The FBI released photos during the hearing that allegedly show him spraying that liquid and revealed after his arrest, agents discovered weapons, firearms, and ammunition in his home, car, and a storage unit.

All, though, are assumed to be purchased legally.

The former National Guard surrendered after fleeing his home as authorities tried to serve him and arrest warrant.

For years, apprenticeships have helped serve the net -- train the next generation of plumbers, welders, and electricians, and now could help solve New Jersey's problem attracting new teachers to the profession.

Montclair State University is offering one of New Jersey's new urn as you learn programs, giving paraprofessionals and teachers aides a clear path to becoming certified teachers.

While never having to step away from the classroom.

>> a new partnership between Wayne Township schools and Montclair State could help address the shortage of teachers in Wayne.

>> Would have to resort to hiring teachers from other districts which does not necessarily make it very popular .

>> Superintendent Mark Hoback is not running a popularity contest, but he says hiring teachers from other districts is how Wayne makes up for fewer young people going into teaching.

>> There's concern about pay.

Over the past few years, there has been a lot of turmoil associated with public education, so I think there's a lot of students that hear and see things that make them say, you know what?

I think of going to do something else for a living.

>> With it under attack especially during the pandemic, people are looking at a lot of displeasure over that period of time.

His is not an easy job.

You need dedication.

You need to be able to want to do it.

>> The new program will allow paraprofessionals or teacher assistance to work toward their teaching certification while keeping their jobs.

The program will take two or three years and is the first teacher apprentice certification program in New Jersey back by the U.S. Department of Labor.

>> The advantage is they already understand what teaching is about.

They are working in the program.

They have a love of working with children.

This is a natural next step.

>> It is tapping into a population of students, adult learners, who might not have completed their bachelor's, who are working in school settings, who want a pathway into a career in teaching, but tis is not available.

>> The acting associate deans as Montclair's history in teaching makes it a great school for this kind of program.

>> There an incredible investment in what mentoring means.

Mentoring is not just having someone assigned in the classroom.

It is also us go into the classroom to support the student.

>> Other Garden State schools have similar programs to address the shortage of teachers.

At Ramapo College, the TA to teacher program helps teachers assistance complete a degree in teacher education in one year or stay two years and earn a Masters in special education.

>> That's the hook of the idea, that you can be something, that you can change your life as a paraprofessional.

You are not stuck in that job for 20 years.

Collects when someone like that comes across your desk who is dual certified with a Masters in special education, those are huge, unique components for us as educational leaders.

We need those types of kids.

>> My Clara still in the process of finalizing details for its first-class of new teachers.

They gave out a survey to Wayne Township employees, gauging interest in signing up.

Collect that survey collected 90 names, so clearly the demand is there.

We have to go through those applications and interest to make sure it is a good complement to the goals and criteria and expectations of the program.

>> It would definitely fill a number of vacancies we have for special education.

>> While the first year of the program is focused on folks at Wayne Township, that could change in the future and expand to other districts as places like Montclair try to make it easier for people to become teachers while holding onto their day jobs.

>> In our spotlight on business report, environmentalists want to know why the state is investing in diesel if officials believe the future is electric.

Clean energy advocates today rallied against New Jersey transit's recent decision to buy 750 new diesel buses, despite a years-long push to electrify the agency's fleet, along with well-known data showing the transportation sector is New Jersey's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

>> For hours, a steady stream of diesel buses pulled into NJ transit's main depot in Camden.

Eight electric buses do operate in Kendre Miller -- Camden city, part of a pilot program introduced in late 2022, but that is the extent of NJ transit's entire electric bus fleet.

A group of green energy advocates pushed the agency to amp up the pace.

>> Can and should not be the only city in New Jersey that has access to electric buses.

>> A cardboard cutout of Governor Murphy who signed a law requiring 10% of NJ transit's new bus purchases be zero emissions by next year, 50% by 2026.

>> We did not expect an overnight transition to electric buses, but eight electric buses is not enough.

One depot housing electric buses is not enough.

>> we are in a climate crisis.

We are in a public health crisis.

Every bus driver and every bus rider knows the smell of diesel pollution, so let's not forget about the health impacts of not moving toward electric future.

The mandate and the Murphy administration passing into law in early 2020.

>> NJ transit is replacing its aging bus fleet but buying diesel buses.

Last week, the board approved spending $686 million to buy another 750 diesel buses, 200 more than it had put out for bid with an option to buy up to 1300.

>> These buses have a life expectancy of an additional 12 years, so that's 12 more years at least of dirty fossil fuel buses on the road.

>> It looks bad.

>> but NJ transit maintains these diesel buses meet the highest EPA emissions standards.

Anyway, it does not plan to buy any more.

>> Anticipate this will be our last diesel bus procurement.

We are currently pushing forward our procurement process in no less than four additional facilities.

They are in development right now.

>> NJ transit is arguing to sit still buying diesel in order to protect its customers in case the power grid does not meet demand or there are other problems beyond its control.

We did not manage to catch a glimpse of Camden's electric bus fleet today.

Advocates, meanwhile, called for lawmakers to pass a dedicated funding source for NJ transit, which faces a billion-dollar fiscal cliff in 2026.

>> We need reliable capital funds to meet electrification needs and dedicated operating funds to ensure the survival of the agency, which is facing service cuts and fare hikes if lawmakers don't ask.

-- don't act.

>> But Governor Murphy has refused to add a surcharge as a funding source instead of letting the surcharge sunset.

>> Turning to Wall Street, stocks rallied today following a new inflation report showing consumer prices were unchanged from a month ago and core inflation is now at a two-year low.

Here is how the markets closed.

>> Support for "the business report," provided by the New Jersey tourism industry Association.

NJ TIA will host their conference on tourism in Atlantic City.

♪ >> As environmental activists talked about, climate change is reshaping the country, and the far-reaching effects are laid clear in a latest national climate assessment released today by the federal government which points to rising sea levels, heavier rains, and soaring temperatures, each bringing direct and indirect impacts to the lives of New Jersey residents and people across the U.S.

According to experts, there's still time to stop the worst outcomes, but the window of opportunity is closing.

New Jersey state climatologist David Robinson joins me not to discuss the new report.

Good to see you.

Scientists really did not hold back in this report.

What stuck out to you the most?

>> This report -- I really feel that the earlier assessments -- this is the fifth national assessment -- were trying to make the case the climate is changing.

This one says the climate is changing.

We all understand that now, but the take-home point is the decisions we make right now are going to be important for our future, and that has to do with mitigation and adaptation and resilience, so the climate part -- the climate card is right there and presented.

Now let's talk more about what we need to do about it.

>> The U.S. is called out for making some improvement in slowing global warming, but not at the rate, according to this report, that is needed to make a real dent in this or even keep up with what the Biden administration has been proposing.

What do you make of that?

>> It is a very difficult situation.

When you are looking as a scientist and someone who wants a healthy environment, you would like to see things done really quickly, and then reality strikes.

The support is not there.

The financing is not there.

The science is basically they are now, and we have to keep an eye on things because if we are not careful, the decisions we make right now could let things really run amok in the future, and that is not necessarily next year or 10 years from now.

We have seen this with international assessments and national assessments, that decisions we make now will be more impactful the second half of the century.

The die is cast in some respects for the next decade or several decades in terms of climate change in extremes and so on, but the decisions we make now are really important for our children, our grandchildren, and so on.

>> This is also the first time there has been an economic chapter in one of these reports.

Natural disasters have crossed 170 billion dollars in damages.

The president even mentioned New Jersey today as a place where you can bear witness to climate and the changes that it has made in terms of our extreme weather and disasters.

What is the implication for New Jersey?

>> If we don't do something about this and mitigate things somewhat, we are a coastal city -- let's start right there.

The culture, the heritage, our very being as being from New Jersey is the coast, the shore.

So there's issues there with sea level rise, but we are also an urban state, the most urbanized state in some respects.

There we have to worry about environmental justice and equity in our cities, the urban heat islands, impervious surfaces, and we need to think more about greening up more urban areas, so it goes from the coast to our urban areas and out into the rural communities and our farmland in the state that is so valuable to us.

>> Is there a major take away you see for both the Murphy administration and every key player who is shaping New Jersey's climate agenda?

>> I'm biased, of course, as a climatologist, but I think the take-home is that climate situation has to be taken into consideration in every decision that's made, if it's our health, our infrastructure, our cultural amenities, our transportation sector, our ecologic systems.

We cannot ignore the fact that weather and climate play a major part, and with it changing, it has ramifications for the future on all of these different parts of our Jersey system, if you will.

>> Thanks so much for joining me.

>> My pleasure.

>> That does it for us tonight, but don't forget to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast so you can listen any time.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us.

We will see you right back here tomorrow.

>> And JN insurance group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years and by the PSC foundation.