>> major funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided in part by 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 Blue Shield Association.

And by the pseg foundation.

>> tonight, firefighters are battling a fire in Berkeley Township, the late-night glaze yet to be contained.

Also, NJ decides 2024 permit it's one of the most closely watched races in the nation.

A deeper look at the battle between GOP incumbent Tom Kane and Democratic challenger Sue Altman.

>> Just as much as Harris enthusiasm is going to help Altman, any disdain towards Trump is going to hurt Kane down ballot.

>> The Murphy administration takes action to stop discrimination in the housing market.

>> We see that families of color benefit less financially from homeownership, and appraisal discrimination is a major contributor.

BRIANA: And how to combat the teacher shortage.

Some lawmakers are backing a residency work around a possible fix.

>> I think there are a lot of folks we could attract living in Pennsylvania or New York.

>> NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

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

BRIANA: Good evening and thank you for joining us.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few key stories.

Crews are trying to contain an erratic forest fire in Ocean County that broke out Monday night in the pine walled section of Berkeley Township.

The state forest fire service dubbed it for pit wildfire because of its location on the border of Beachwood and Berkeley , by exit 77 on the Parkway.

Officials said the fire spread to nearly 190 acres but was 50% contained.

It is near Central regional middle and high school but authorities say no structures are in harm's way and no roads have been closed.

Cameras caught a thin layer of smoke hovering in the air just outside the perimeter of the fire.

According to the state, fire crews continue to secure and reinforce containment lines by mopping up hotspots alongside the perimeter.

Smoke is still affecting neighboring communities but has been gradually decreasing through the day.

Because of the fire is still under investigation.

Also tonight, new developments in the case against South Jersey democratic powerbroker George Norcross, who in June was indicted on corruption charges that include racketeering and running a criminal enterprise.

Lawyers for Norcross were in a Trenton court today to figure out scheduling for bringing the case to trial but instead filed a motion to dismiss.

Norcross's lead defense attorney Michael Critchley is filing the arguments and the rest of the defense attorneys have until October want to submit their own arguments for each codefendant.

On top of the indictment, Philly-based developer Carl drain off filed a civil suit against Norcross and his brother Phil Norcross, asking the court for more than $50 million damages.

In June, the state Attorney General unsealed a 111 page indictment accusing Norcross of overseeing an enterprise replete with threats, intimidation, and corruption, claiming the powerbroker conspired with allies to leverage control of the Camden County government to steer redevelopment work and billions in tax breaks to investors he had ties with.

And punish anyone who didn't fall in line.

Norcross and his codefendants pleaded not guilty, calling the case a political attack.

An update on a story we have been following.

A new wrinkle in the case of the Sayreville councilwoman shot and killed last February.

Defense attorneys for the man charged with the councilwoman's murder now say investigators recovered two different threats of shell casings outside her townhouse complex where she was shot.

According to NJ advanced media, defense attorneys said ballistics from two different weapons showed two shooters work involved.

So far only one man has been charged with murder and weapons offenses.

The state has maintained he was the lone shooter permit Bynum last year pleaded not guilty and intends to stand trial.

One year after the fatal police shooting of Andrew Washington, Jersey City leaders today opened a new Public Safety de-escalation training center, a facility the city says is the first of its kind in the state to help with tactical training and more techniques to prevent serious or fatal injuries.

Washington was killed while experiencing a mental health episode.

As Ted Goldberg reports, not everyone in the community is convinced a new training center is the best approach.

Ted: Leaders say that the Public Safety training facility will do much more than just train police.

>> the community wants transparency and this community will bring back.

Ted: This converted warehouse will teach you de-escalation trading to Jersey City police and police from other communities that could come here.

>> Training is important but has to be tied into how officers are behaving every day.

We have to account for what we are doing and trained to get better at it.

>> We are so happy to provide de-escalation services, which are top priority for the officers and staff in our city that is located within Jersey City, which we have not had for a long time.

Ted: The building features a pistol range with targets holding objects like guns and phones, teaching police how to react in real world scenarios.

The mayor says the training will be a big help for a city that has seen fewer homicides the last couple of years.

>> We had the lowest homicide rate last year, lower than any city east of Texas, and this year trending even lower.

For a city of this size to have single-digit homicides speaks volumes about the work that JC PD has done.

Ted: The mayor says the de-escalation techniques taught here are more important than ever, especially as New Jersey communities grapple with how to respond to mental health emergencies.

>> Mental health issues are at the forefront of the conversation, both in here and nationally, as it should be.

We track that in Jersey City very closely and we track use around mental health issues.

Ted: This facility is opening about a year after Jersey City police shot and killed Andrew Washington, amen experiencing a mental health episode.

's family said, we welcome the news that Jersey City officials are making changes to their tactics.

The announcement of the new de-escalation trading center is an implicit acknowledgment that Andrew Washington would be alive today if the police had responded appropriately to his family's call for help.

The mayor says plans for the building were drawn up before the shooting and that use of force subject to injury is fairly rare for 911 calls in Jersey City.

>> .25 of 1% of those calls.

To give a little perspective on how small that is and how diligent the JC PD is on that.

But we are always looking for ways to do better and are in constant conversation with the Attorney General.

Ted: One of the AG's recommendations has not been accepted -- arrive together, a program that there is health professionals with police for certain 911 calls.

The Director of Public Safety safety James Shea says part of the reason Jersey City is not on board is how the program has been marketed.

>> The public believes it will be an alternative instead of the police when the truth is they will not respond until the police security scene, just like is happening now.

>> They will always wait until JC PT.

Arrived together will not replace that.

It will replace officers in calls where there is no risk to an officer, which we agree is a great thing.

You can see from the call response we have that the risk factor is low.

Ted: Jersey City is applying for a state grant for $2 million that would expand state services under a law named for Drew Washington.

I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: It is September and that means political candidates are entering the final stretch of the 2024 general election.

New Jersey's seventh congressional district race is considered one of the most closely watched in the nation.

Between Tom Kane Junior and Democrat Sue Altman.

The Cook political report is rating it a Republican tossup.

Democrats see the district as their best chance to gain a seat for the party.

Brenda Flanagan takes a look at this tightening race.

>> I'm going to vote, yeah.

Brenda: For the Republican?

>> I'm going to keep it for myself.

>> I'm pretty moderate, have to look at both candidates closely.

Brenda: Voters are playing it close to the best in New Jersey's only house race that's a horse race, pitting Tom Kane Junior against challenger Democrat Sue Altman.

The district is considered a tossup, according to Cook political report, although registered Republicans do outnumber Democrats.

That might explain why Altman's first campaign add features lifelong Republicans trashing her opponent.

>> I gave the guy a chance.

>> Junior is nothing like his dad.

He has a secret antiabortion agenda.

Brenda: The top of the ticket is also driving decisions.

Some analysts call this an unprecedented change election with Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden.

Kane has endorsed Donald Trump, and that mattered to a couple of lifelong Republicans we encountered.

Its Kane versus Altman.

>> Generally I will vote Democrat all the way down.

>> I'm leaning unfortunately away from the Republican Party at the moment.

And will probably be going with the Democrat.

>> Just as much as Harris enthusiasm is going to help Altman, the distaste or disdain towards Trump is going to hurt Kane down ballot.

We are talking about a numbers game, all about turnout.

Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Kane's first campaign add Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Brenda: Presented him as a corruption fighter who helped toss indicted colleague George Santos out of office.

>> Just last year, I voted to expel a member of my own party for violating the law.

Now I am supporting a bipartisan bill to stop members of Congress for trading stocks.

Brenda: The ad does not even mention Altman, although his campaign responded to her today, saying Sue Altman is desperately trying to distract from her record as a serial antagonist who has called for defining the police and supporting Bail for convicted cop killers.

Voters will reject her extreme visions.

>> I'm not in favor of defund the police.

It was a silly ##Bama from the middle of the pandemic.

I believe in a comprehensive safety program that includes all stakeholders.

Brenda: She sat down with Briana Vannozzi, who asked about her progressive stance as the former head of New Jersey's working families party.

In 2019, Altman got dragged out of a Trenton hearing when she opposed George Norcross, who has since been indicted and pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges.

BRIANA: Would you consider yourself a radical?

>> God no.

It's not radical to hold to account somebody who has been indicted.

>> We know that Altman was branded as this progressive originally, and in order to win she is going to have to go towards the middle.

She has to go towards the moderate voter.

Brenda: NJ Spotlight News invited Kean for an interview but got no reply.

While the reproductive rights issue has mobilized some voters, affordability remains a top concern.

Money also matters to the candidates.

Altman has yet to score an infusion of campaign cash from national Democrats.

Neither have yet attracted much money from outside groups.

There is a pool of unaffiliated and undecided voters to be won.

>> Everyone makes promises to get elected and no one follows through.

I feel like nobody follows through on what they promissory what they are campaigning for or what their passion is to fight for.

Nobody is following through.

Brenda: Vote by mail ballots go out later this month, a compressed campaign schedule, so candidates need to make their move and impress voters now, then sustain that momentum through the November finish line.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: Election day is still two months out but voters are already casting ballots in the special election for the seat in the 10th Congressional District, the one vacant after the death of Congressman Donald Payne Junior in April.

Today is the third of nine days of early voting with polls open 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The matchup is between LaMonica McIver and Republican Carmen Bouguereau commit there are also two independent candidates.

The winner will serve out the remainder of pain Junior's current term but the candidates will face off again in November for the term beginning January 2025.

There are important dates coming up for voting in the general election.

The voter registration deadline is October 15 and the state will begin sending out vote by mail ballots in just another week.

You can find more information on our website under the NJ decides 2024 to have.

We continue to drop episodes of our NJ decides 2024 election podcast, where we go one-on-one with candidates running for Congress this November.

All 12 U.S. House seats are up for grabs and one senate seat.

It's a chance to meet the candidates and hear why they think they deserve your vote.

Today congressional district three drops, the seat vacated by Andy Kim, who is running for Senate.

Democratic assemblyman Herb Conaway is taking on Republican Rajesh Mohan.

Check it out by downloading the NJ decides election exchange podcast wherever you listen.

In our spotlight on business report, cracking down on discrimination in the housing market.

Acting Governor Tahitian away on Monday signed a new law aimed at preventing racial bias in home appraisals by requiring antibias training for all real estate appraisals.

And it makes the discrimination illegal.

Studies have shown homes in black and brown neighborhoods get undervalued compared to those owned by white homeowners or in communities considered largely white.

It has contributed to the racial wealth gap not just in New Jersey but across the country.

For more, I am joined by Laura Sullivan, director of the economic justice program at the New Jersey Institute for social justice.

Good to see you.

This law was signed because research has shown that racial bias can skew appraisals.

What role do you see that playing in the sheer fact that black and brown residents own less homes in New Jersey and nationally?

>> Absolutely right.

Appraisal discrimination is a major contributor to the disparities in both who owns a home and the value of homes in our state and the nation more broadly.

Our research has shown that homeownership contributes to the racial wealth gap.

Homeownership is one of the largest contributors to the racial wealth gap, because most families in the United States build wealth through homeownership.

In New Jersey we have about a 35 percentage point gap between homeownership rates of white families and black and Latino families.

Three quarters of white families in New Jersey own their homes compared to 40% of black and Latino families.

We have this major gap, but we also have gaps in the financial benefits of homeownership.

When families are able to become homeowners, because of appraisal discrimination, barriers to fair lending, and other factors, families of color benefit less from homeownership.

Appraisal discrimination is a major contributor to that.

BRIANA: How will this new law prevent that from happening?

Does it give homeowners any teeth to go after appraisers who undervalue their properties?

Laura: Absolutely.

We think this law is an important step.

It shows New Jersey is going to combat appraisal discrimination.

In combination with the Attorney General's directive, announced in January, New Jersey is taking important steps to combat appraisal discrimination and make sure this practice ends.

BRIANA: Does it bring penalties?

We have had things like this in the past which are largely symbolic, you know, don't do this.

Are there penalties homeowners can bring upon appraisers or the companies they work for?

Laura: The Attorney General has been working hard on enforcement and also public education.

We really think that in combination with public education, so folks can identify when they are facing appraisal discrimination, is crucial.

Imagine you are going to sell your home and you are a family of color and it comes in lower.

How would you know it's lower than the true value of the home?

I think it's important that folks are able to identify that and can report those experiences to the division on civil rights, who can then investigate and do enforcement.

We think that's going to be really crucial moving forward, that families know when this happens.

We heard from a realtor just after this law was signed that they actually were pleased to see the passage of this law, because they advised their clients of color to depersonalize their homes before appraisals to avoid this kind of this cremation.

BRIANA: It is something we have heard anecdotally.

Laura Sullivan as Director of the economic justice program at the New Jersey Institute for social justice.

Thanks so much.

>> support for the business report is provided by Riverview Jazz, presenting the first ever Jersey City Latin Jazz Festival, on Saturday, September 14 at exchange Place Plaza.

Performance schedule and further details for this open to all event can be found online.

BRIANA: Finally, part two of our look at New Jersey's teacher shortage.

Last night we explored the ways districts are managing, using virtual options with 35 teachers leading a class -- with certified teachers leading a class remotely, or boosting paper educators willing to fill the gaps.

Tonight Joanna Gagis reports on other possible solutions, including bills that could have used the shortage but have stalled in the legislature.

>> We are seeing that the situation with the teacher shortage, a national issue, has been magnified and we are feeling it in this district.

Joanna: Patterson superintendent Lori Newell is struggling to fill 145 teacher vacancies this year.

The shortages affecting districts across the state.

>> If teachers at the high school level are willing to work an extra period, there's extra compensation.

So that is something we are using.

Joanna: The shortage is forcing teachers to get creative, even using virtual teaching options in Patterson and Jersey City, but it has reached a point that Governor Murphy convened a task force to find solutions.

The chair of the Senate education committee cites a recent report from Rutgers University that shows some promising news.

>> The overall number of teachers has remained pretty stable, but there are huge shortages in a specific area, which is the reason we are having so much increased demand.

Joanna: Those areas include special education, science, math, and languages, especially higher grades.

Gopal says the working group and the data have guided recent policy efforts, including gross income tax deductions for educators.

>> We have removed the obstacles as it relates to teacher certifications.

A fee holiday for certification fees, stipends for student teachers, increased funding for high poverty school district minority recruitment program.

Joanna: The president of the state's largest teachers union, and an underwriter of NJ Spotlight News, believes some of the changes to teacher certification requirements will start to have an impact but he believes there is more to do.

>> We have been thankful Governor Murphy eliminated some of the barriers.

We see the residency requirement where we could allow others from nearby states to come in.

These things don't cost anything.

Joanna: Current larva requires a teacher to live in the state to work here.

The Senate passed a bill to change it.

>> There are a lot of people we could attract living in Pennsylvania or New York.

Joanna: States like Pennsylvania have allowed hiring of teachers from New Jersey for a while.

Why do you think this bill is stalled?

I know it did not clear the Senate.

This seems like a pretty easy fix.

>> I don't know.

We are going to continue to lobby.

The bill is for three years, not a permanent situation.

Three years, which I think is very reasonable.

Joanna: Some districts are taking matters into their own hands, trying to bring new educators into the field.

>> We have partnered with different higher education organizations to provide people who may be working as a paraprofessional incentives to go back to school and work on their certification.

Joanna: Spiller says none of it matters without addressing the financial issues teachers have to face.

>> The way health benefits and pensions were eroded.

These were promises to people who don't go into it to make a lot of money, but there was assurance you would earn these benefits over the course of your careers, and that has been eroded to the point where people are not staying in the profession.

Joanna: Teachers can make much more money in other fields.

Gopal said he would advocate for higher pay, but it's also the regard they are shown.

>> We don't all value education and teachers.

It's a cultural shift that really needs to happen.

>> Education has become more political.

We have seen things creep into that space, when you hear about the board meeting at the attacks that were levied against your colleague, your librarian, or someone.

It gets to be a place where that is troubling.

>> That is a huge issue.

I believe it started as early as Len Chris Christie screamed at that teacher 12 years ago or whenever it was.

I have had this fight in the Senate education committee respectfully with the members of the Republican caucus that they need to be pushing up teachers, promoting the industry, not saying that teachers are doing inappropriate things.

That has a very deteriorating effect on the industry.

Joanna: While cultural shifts don't always come easy, these leaders remind us it is a noble profession that touches every industry.

I am Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: That's going to do it for us tonight.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us.

Have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

>> 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 at NJrealtor.com.

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

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♪