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And by the PSEG Foundation.

♪ >> Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," from extreme drought in the southern part of the state to extreme cold in the north, some areas getting as much as a foot of snow.

>> although we know is that today's rain and high-elevation snows is liquid gold, and much, much welcome.

Briana: Plus, Trenton community leaders react to the scathing report, finding a pattern of abuse by its own Police Department.

>> We feel that we are accountable and look to working with the Department of Justice.

We are not going to hide anything or sweep anything under the rug.

Briana: Also, millions are expected to travel this holiday week, but many are getting a jump start thanks to a hybrid work schedule.

>> The hybrid work schedule certainly comes into play because people have realized they can work from a destination.

Briana: And Passaic County this week celebrating graduates of , its recovery court program and innovative approach to rehab, for folks with nonviolent drug-related offenses.

>> It's hard at first, but once you get through it, as long as you do what you're supposed to do, it gets easier as you move through the phases.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ Announcer: From NJ PBS studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Brianna Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us on this Friday night.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few of today's top headlines.

First, it's a tale of two extremes, part of the state today were hit with a surprise 7 to 10 inches of snow.

Highland Lakes, in a high elevation area of Sussex County, picked up a full foot, according to the National Weather Service.

As a result, dozens of schools were closed or delayed in northwestern New Jersey today.

Elsewhere, part of Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties also got a nice dusting.

Central Jersey is getting the much-needed rain, while South Jersey hasn't seen a drop today.

In fact while people in the , north shovel out their driveways and cars, all of South Jersey is still under an extreme drought warning.

Forecasters say the inch or so of rain that's fallen since Thursday is not enough to make a dent in a severely dry weather we have been experiencing for the past few months.

>> we are running 10 inches to 12-inch deficits over the last three months.

And two inches up north, and not even an inch or close to an inch when he gets out of the one corridor isn't a buster.

Indent?

Yes.

If we had normal precipitation during the winter season with a couple of months above normal, we would be OK for the most part , filling our reservoirs, filling our aquifers as we get to next spring.

So we don't have to make up 10 inches on top of the normal precipitation expected in the months ahead.

But we need quite a bit more than what this last event just provided.

Briana: Also tonight, just as temperatures are dropping, gas bills are said to get more expensive.

The state Board of Public Utilities approved rate hikes for two gas companies.

New Jersey natural gas, which has about half a million customers, will raise rates roughly 16% for a typical winter heating bill.

While Elizabethtown gas Company, which serves about 300,000 people, will roll out a roughly 6% hike.

The increases come as gas utilities face the need to upgrade their infrastructure for safety and to stop climate -polluting leaks.

They do offer multiple programs to help people struggling to pay their bills, including a moratorium on shutoff during the winter.

The commissioners also recently approved almost $4 billion worth of efficiency programs to try and help people save energy and money.

>> We oversee how these rates have been going up and we understand how the impact ratepayers significantly, and to the extent possible, we would encourage everyone, for so many reasons -- economic, environmental, to really cut back on their energy use wherever and whenever possible.

It is doable.

You can save more than these 10% increases if you cut down the thermostat and turn the lights off and not leave every TV on .

I am speaking about my house in particular.

[LAUGHTER] I think the opportunities are there for consumers to save money where rates are going up, so.

Briana: And as Thanksgiving approaches, grocery stores, nonprofits, and local governments are working to feed the rising number of people in New Jersey who are food insecure.

Stop & Shop today launched its annual Turkey experts program, donating 1000 Thanksgiving turkeys to fulfill NJ.

That's the food bank's serving Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Workers distributed the donated turkeys this morning during a drive-through event for the community.

According to fulfill, visits to the Pantry network are up.

Get this, 79% compared to last year.

Roughly 1 in 10 kids in their service area faces hunger.

The pantry distributes enough food for 1.2 million meals every month.

It's not just in the shore region either, across New Jersey, pantries are reporting a spike in food insecurity, which means households don't have the access to or enough of the food they need for an active and healthy life.

It is estimated about one million Garden State residents fall into that category.

Experts attribute it historically high food prices to the historically high food prices rising costs for rent and housing.

Fallout continues tonight in the state's capital city after a scathing federal report from the DOJ on Thursday accusing the Trenton police of violating civil-rights through a pattern of excessive force, unlawful searches, and arrests.

The allegations come after a year-long federal investigation into reports that city officers routinely made illegal arrests and used unnecessary brutality.

The DOJ report also recommended more than two dozen changes to be made within the department.

Now that it is out there though what happens next?

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the latest.

[shouting] detain him.

Reporter: Cases like this one where police arrested and pepper-sprayed resident who later died of respiratory failure in June 2020, prompted the federal report that found cops here use excessive force and unlawfully stop, search and arrest people.

>> You need him to calm down.

>> officers pulled him across the front porch, slammed his face down on the steps, and pepper-sprayed him in the face while handcuffing him.

Body-worn camera footage of the encounter later discredited the officers' claim that the man presented a threat.

>> This conduct is egregious.

Unacceptable, and unlawful.

Reporter: The department's report reference multiple cases, including a 16-year-old seized by the throat and jammed against the car hood.

And folks illegally stopped and frisked.

And it described a pattern of brutal conduct and brazen culture, but ascribed it to Port Reading.

>> -- ascribed it to poor training.

>> strengthens police officers do not receive the training they need including in crucial areas like use of force and legal rules for stops and searches.

Reporter: the report included a list of recommended improvements including departmentwide training, supervisors included enhanced accountability to , identify violations and take disciplinary action, better data collection to document police actions, and instruction on de-escalation techniques.

>> they have pledged to work with us on the reforms necessary to address these issues.

So today marks a new chapter just to.

>> The same old routine script is not going to work with us at the NAACP.

What we want to see is a lot more changes.

Reporter: Social justice advocates expressed deep concern that the DOJ signed no formal consent agreement compelling Trenton to meet specific metrics.

Also, this cooperative relationship with the feds retains the same police command structure.

It doesn't go far enough, advocates say.

>> I would like, realistically, an apology from the mayor.

From the police director.

I am glad you all are cooperating with the Department of Justice, but the community needs healing, and they need answers.

>> What we are seeing are not just actions of a few rogue beat cops.

What we are seeing is essentially added to reflect leadership.

>> the buck stops here.

And what we do recognize is that our officers need training.

We need resources for that, and we need more supervision.

Reporter: But Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora offered no apologies and he said no staffing changes are under consideration neither, pending a meeting with DOJ officials.

>> We feel that we are accountable and we look to working with the Department of Justice.

We are not going to hide anything or sweep anything under the rug.

But where there is action that needs to be taken, we will stand by that.

We are looking for specifics, and specific officers who were involved.

We can't take any action until we actually see the incidents that they are talking about.

Reporter: But will the DOJ even be able to rigorously monitor reforms in Trenton or in a dozen other cities where it has probed allegations of police abuse?

The President-elect proposes investigations of local policing, and that worries the ACLU's Jim O'Sullivan -- >> There is a very good chance that with the newer administration coming in, that federal consent decrees don't happen anymore.

That they pullback in New Jersey and don't even complete this investigation.

Reporter: Sullivan says state lawmakers need to step up and police the police.

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Airports are already packed with holiday travelers.

The Thanksgiving rush is starting early this year with nearly 80 million Americans expected to travel next weekend alone.

The Port Authority is sending out early warnings to expect longer wait times at TSA and baggage checks, along with higher traffic on the roads.

AAA says the bulk of people heading out will go by car, so, pack your patients.

As a Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports, the flexibility of hybrid work schedules is allowing people to squeeze the most out of the holiday.

>> AAA is expecting the most 2 million New Jersey residents to travel this year, and that is record-breaking travel.

Reporter: Normally, at record-breaking travel means for Spirit-crushing lines at airports, and traffic on roads.

It is those roads that might give you the hardest time this week.

>> 90% of those that are traveling are going by car.

So that is 1.8 million New Jersey residents that are driving.

That's not even account for our neighbors in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York that will be using New Jersey as a through state.

So the roadways are going to be busy.

This Reporter: Year travel experts are also seeing another trend that could help ease the travel delays.

>> the hybrid work schedule certainly comes into play because people have realized they can work from a destination.

Which is one of the reasons AAA has expanded their holiday forecast time TY: this year.

So, the time period this year is from Tuesday to the following Monday, which is two days longer than what we have done in the past.

Reporter: People like this college student at Stevens Institute of technology, who is heading out today and coming back next Friday.

>> I am missing Monday and Tuesday, but I will just do my classes online.

Reporter: So you will entirely miss a lot of that holiday travel, it seems.

>> Thankfully.

Reporter: Was that.

>> The plan yeah.

Reporter: This resident had the same idea when he came back to his former hometown from his new residence in the Dominican Republic.

>> Gets a little more complicated with the flights during the holiday, it is more expensive.

I had booked this pretty early, so.

Reporter: Does that mean a longer stay for you?

>>, I would say,, yeah.

Reporter: For these travelers, a quick Thanksgiving trip to Disney will get them there and back before the actual holiday.

>> We needed a vacation, so we decided to just book a quick three-day trip, that's it so.

Reporter: When are you coming back?

>> Sunday.

Reporter: so what we see today are the people try to get out ahead of the crowds.

But you know failure to plan is a plan for failure.

Don't be that person.

Travel is expected to be at its peak on Sunday, and the port authority is recommending that you check in with their air travel times for real-time updates throughout the weekend.

>> Delays happen, whether it is a travel delay, mechanical issues, staffing issues.

So people need to plan ahead.

It got to the airport early.

But they also need to be informed.

So that means downloading not only their airline app, but also the airport app.

That way, you have the most up-to-date information, so that you can make your decisions well ahead of time.

>> but if you are playing this year, be prepared for a whole other group of travelers, all headed in the same direction.

>> To Toronto.

Reporter: why?

>> to see Taylor Swift.

>> We are going to see Taylor Swift.

Reporter: What are you feeling about that?

>> really excited.

Reporter: because who is really thinking about Thanksgiving at a time like this when Taylor Swift is in the final leg of her people as well tour closing out , in Canada just an hour and a half flight away?

That's where all these mom and daughter duos were headed this morning.

And as this astute Swifty pointed out -- >> I guess some people are going to take off for Thanksgiving.

Reporter: but for those not staying with Taylor on Thanksgiving, those return flights could put them right in the heart of holiday traffic.

>> We are coming back from Toronto on Sunday, so we are anticipating probably delays and just more people.

We're just going to have to roll with it.

>> Hopefully it will not be too bad.

Once we get there, that's important thing.

From the way home, it can take as long as it is to take.

Reporter: Because who cares if you don't make it back for Thanksgiving dinner if you got to see Taylor Swift?

That is something to be grateful for.

Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: If you are planning to get your Thanksgiving food shopping done this week than the recent spike in food recalls may be top of mind.

From organic carrots and ground beef test the frozen waffles and Cosco salmon, foodborne disease outbreaks are effective a range of foods.

E. coli, listeria and other contaminants have sickened thousands of people nationwide and forced a number of wrinkles.

This week the Food and Drug Administration is reassuring the public that the U.S. food supply is still, quote, one of the safest in the world, and despite all the food recalls, they were not in fact unusually high this year.

For more I am joined by a microbiologist and department chair of food science at Rutgers University.

With three decades of experience working in food safety.

♪ So, Doctor, when you think about the most recent spot of recalls, what pathogens are more commonly causing these foodborne illnesses, and what, if anything, do they tell us about vulnerabilities in the supply chain and just how difficult it is to keep food safe?

>> sure.

The most recent organism that has been in the news is pathogenic E. coli, it is the one causing this character outbreak.

And also the slivered onions outbreak.

Also, listeria is important, it was linked to boars head liverwurst.

But salmonella is always a problem, although it's not in the headlines right now.

Briana: So what does it tell us about some of the vulnerabilities in the supply chain?

I mean on one hand he could certainly argue that the guardrails are working.

On the other hand, have folks who are getting sick from eating organic baby carrots.

Guest: sure.

Anytime anybody gets sick it's a tragedy and unfortunate.

The good news is that most baby carrots on the market today are safe.

I had some for dinner the night before last and I probably will have some for dinner tonight.

But you are right, anytime we have a mistake like this for a problem with this crops up, it points out the importance of food safety.

We are still learning more about what exactly caused the carrot outbreak and we probably will not have the full facts for months or weeks.

But when we do, the industry will need to figure out, ok, that is what happened, that's what caused the problem, let's see what we can put in place to stop it from happening again.

Briana: Baby carrots aside, what does it tell us about the challenges that exist to keep food safe?

GUEST: there are challenges.

The challenges for the food industry are getting even harder because the CDC and other public health agencies are getting even better at finding problems thanks to the trilogy like genome sequencing.

They are able to link cases they haven't previously been able to link.

Briana: How does that play into consumer confidence and folks who want to trust that the FDA is doing all it can to keep the food that we are eating healthy and from getting us I think the FDA is doing the best they can.

Same with USDA inspection service, the people in charge of the meat product that caused the listeria outbreak.

They can always use more resources.

They are doing the best they can with what they have.

Briana: OK, let me take it back really quickly, the testing is done, how long -- what is the lag time, Dr., between when the agency flagged these items for a recall, and how quickly they communicate that with consumers?

Because I think that is often on folks' minds?

Guest: Unfortunately, it takes time.

Because the way that the whole genome sequencing technology works is the first thing the agency gets its sequences.

Then they have to say we have 10 people in different states all with the same sequence, so we think they were exposed to the same thing.

Now they have to talk to those people and say, hey, what did you eat last week or the week before and then look for a statistical signal that says you know what, it is the slivered onions on the Big Mac for the quarter pounders, for the baby carrots that you bought.

Then we have to go even further and trace it back to, ok, which may be carrots and ready they come from and then to inspections of those facilities and the farms where they came from.

It's a long process.

Briana: Very long process.

It seems like we have seen a lot of these recalls, but are we about on pace for where we would typically be this time of year?

Are we higher or lower?

Guest: It's hard to say.

Recalls happen randomly.

We have just had unfortunately this random occurrence of three recalls.

I don't think we will see more in the next few months, but I could be wrong.

Briana: Doctor, thanks so much for your time.

Guest: My pleasure.

Briana: Another step in closing the revolving door of the criminal justice system.

This week Passaic County, along with a handful of others, hosted graduation ceremonies for participants in their recovery court programs, which focus on getting people with nonviolent drug-related offenses into treatment and rehab, instead of behind bars, if they plead guilty and enter the program under strict supervision, the court drops the charges.

As graduates tell Ted Goldberg, it is the kind of Loaisiga support they would never get either wise.

Reporter: Passaic County recovery court has produced some happy graduates.

>> Really happy, man.

It feels good.

Reporter: Jimmy is one of 20-plus people to get through this program, that helps nonviolent drug offenders avoid prison.

>> This probation is very intense.

It is hard at first.

But once you get through it, as long as you do what you are supposed to do, it gets easier as you move through the phases.

>> I give up on myself.

I lost the desire to fight.

Reporter: He was struggling with addiction and looking at nearly a decade in prison.

Instead, a series of meetings and treatments helped keep them clean.

>> By helping somebody else, I was helping myself.

We have spiritual classes, one on ones with counselors.

We used to go out to Narcotics Anonymous meetings in different towns.

Reporter: One of the requirements is multiple drug tests each week, which can interfere with holding down a job.

>> So you have to find a boss that is willing to allow you to leave work to take a urine three times a week.

But it gives you structure.

And it just gives you the tools you need to get through.

We are working in the Danville area or something like that, or Morristown.

I am 40 minutes from Paterson and they called me and say, James, you have to commit for a urine.

Now I have to drive 40 minutes.

That is an hour and 40 minutes, so I am missing two hours of a workday and work is not getting complete.

Reporter: They tell me their brutal honesty that is also needed isn't always easy.

>> There is a saying in the rooms at NA, "Keep it simple, stupid."

Reporter: None of these graduates are stupid, and they say this helps them turn around their lives.

>> Being honest with my parole officer even when I didn't want to be.

Being honest and just doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

>> I have two bank accounts.

I have two life insurance policies.

Three years ago, I didn't have none of this.

You know, I am about to get my license back.

>> Recovery court graduation is probably the most special kind of ceremony there is in the entire judiciary system.

Reporter: Wednesday's graduation of the celebration of the hard work that they put in for 2 to five years.

>> incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over.

>> I have seen firsthand, how difficult it is.

And the obstacles that are faced, and the mental anguish and the physical anguish that having an addiction causes and how it impacts your loved ones and your families.

>> What you did is not easy.

And I will pat myself on the back and hope it bounces off to you.

Everybody can't do what you just did.

Reporter: This is a substance abuse counselor who also graduated from this program about 20 years ago.

He appreciates the recovery court, which was renamed from drug court.

>> They were looking at it a little wrong.

They were trying to stop people from using.

Stop addiction.

Know, Teach recovery.

Teach them they can get better and they can move on with their lives.

As soon as we shift from addiction to recovery as soon as that shift takes place, people win more.

Reporter:.

Reporter: The next step for these graduates is to tell their story.

>> When you speak with one person and they acknowledge what you said, you did a good job.

Reporter: With a little help from recovery court in Passaic County.

In Patterson, I am Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Finally tonight, if you want a piece of Gilliam's Wonderland peer history, you can now buy it.

All kinds of memorabilia is up for sale from the shattered Ocean City amusement park, being sold at the "Obnoxious Antique Store."

It's on Route 130 in Burlington.

Items include the weird and bizarre, like those log Flume minor statutes, to iconic Gilliam's pier signs and figurines.

Most of it was the work of the artist who perfected the fiberglass artwork that made Wonderland, Wonderland.

The amusement park closed for good in mid-October after 95 years of creating family memories with its beloved rides and layout.

Now, the cast of characters will find new homes elsewhere.

Two items you will not see for sale though, at the carousel and Ferris wheel.

A developer is pledging to keep them up and running as part of a proposal for a replacement luxury hotel.

That will do it for us tonight.

But make sure you tune into "Chat Box" with David Cruz this weekend.

David has a special one-hour edition from the league of municipalities conference in Atlantic City.

He sat down with several of the major candidates running for governor in 2025.

They talked affordability, immigration, education, New Jersey Transit and a whole lot more.

That's Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. right here on NJ PBS.

♪ I'm Brianna Vannozzi.

For the entire team at "NJ Spotlight News," thanks for being with us.

Have a great weekend.

We will see you right back here on Monday.

♪ Announcer: New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJ, Barnabas Health.

Let's be healthy together.

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

More information is online at njrealtor.com.

♪