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Anchor: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," the president of Rutgers stepping down as political division spikes on college campuses.

A new poll shows Harris holding her lead with American voters.

>> She got a huge jump in enthusiasm when she announced and she is holding onto that and it's a sign how divided our electorate is.

Anchor: Also, hateful rhetoric from the Trump campaign shakes the Haitian immigrant community.

>> The campaign has created a maelstrom of xenophobic rhetoric with blatant lives that have caused tremendous amounts of harm to specifically those migrants in the Springville, Ohio community and here in New Jersey.

Anchor: And closing loopholes that allowed potentially dangerous hemp products to be sold with no oversight.

>> The biggest win for families and communities in the state of New Jersey is and on -- an unregulated product because of loophole will be removed from the shelves.

Anchor: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

Anchor: Good evening and thank you for joining us this Tuesday night.

We begin with key stories.

The records president announced today he will resign from his decision in June following several turbulent years on the job, ending his five-year contract where he became the state universities first black president, taking the reins in July 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.

He told the Star ledger the political climate surrounding universities right now ultimately drove his decision, saying in today's a statement, "this decision is my own."

His tenure was marked by a faculty strike last year, a no-confidence vote, and recent student protests calling for divestment from Israel.

He also testified before Congress about anti-Semitism on campus.

Holloway, who was previously a U.S. historian and professor of African-American studies, says he plans to take a year's sabbatical to work on long-standing research projects and then return to Rutgers as a full-time faculty member.

Also tonight, new reporting finds a transit riders faced their second-worst summer of Hell since Governor Murphy took office.

According to number crunching, there were 1820 cancellations reported just between June 1 and August 31.

That outnumbered those in the same three month period during every other year in Murphy's tenure except for the summer of 2020.

According to the report and the rail agency, most of the cancellations were driven by problems with Amtrak, which owns the tracks and releases them to New Jersey transit.

But mechanical issues and a rising number of unpreventable stoppages were also at fault for disruptions.

These are things like weather related or power outages.

State and federal officials the summer came down hard on Amtrak for failing to keep its infrastructure updated.

New Jersey transit is in the process of replacing its aging fleet of train cars.

Into the latest Monmouth University poll on the U.S. presidential race shows that Vice President Kamala Harris holds a slight edge over Former President Donald Trump.

With just under half of registered voters, 49% said they definitely or probably will vote for Harris in November while 44% will definitely or probably support Trump.

Those numbers are virtually unchanged, up just one point from the last poll in August after here is was named to the top of the ticket.

It doesn't show wide enter gaps when it comes to the candidates and specific issues.

More women trust Harris on policies dealing with abortion while Trump leads Harris significantly in the number of men who trust him more on immigration.

For more on the survey and what it means now that we are just 50 days out from the election, I am joined by Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University polling Institute.

Patrick, good to see you.

I found this but interesting for a couple of reasons.

The leading one, the fact that enthusiasm among Democrats had spiked after Harris entered the race and this poll finds the voter support needle is not really moving after the performance in her debate.

Patrick: There are two ways to look at it, she didn't get a huge jump from the debate.

We saw that performance and the verdict was pretty clear on her winning that.

By the same token she got a huge jump in enthusiasm when she announced and she's holding onto that.

I think it's a sign of simply how divided our electorate is.

We are in our changes politically and there's not a lot of movement to be had and that's always been the story since Donald Trump came on the scene.

I think there was some expectation because of the shift in enthusiasm when Harris replaced Wyden as the Democratic candidate -- replaced Biden as the Democratic candidate that there would be another jump with the debate and there wasn't because we are kind of back to normal wear big events only move the needle very little.

In such a way it is too sensitive for polling to pick up on exactly how that is.

Anchor: And not enough to be outside the margin of error, right?

Patrick: Right, right.

That's the key, I think she probably picked up about a point overall.

The real question we have is who will show up to vote.

Did she get more voters who are already thinking I want to vote for Donald Trump, but what is the point, what will government do for me?

Is she lighting a fire under them to get them to say maybe it is important to vote.

That's the thing we are trying to keep track of because I think that is the important metric for the Harris campaign right now.

Anchor: It's not necessarily about unaffiliated, independent voters, this is more about whether or not people will make up their mind to even cast a ballot this election cycle?

Patrick: Right.

The media loves asking the question about how do you convince undecided voters but the campaigns are not asking that question because they understand at this point, if you cannot pick between those two at all, you just won't vote.

There's nothing they can do to convince you.

What we are seeing, for example, if we look at the extremely motivated voters right now, Donald Trump is behind by like three points, but if we expand that to the extremely and very motivated, heroes can expand the lead she has right now.

-- Harris can expand the lead she has right now.

She has more room to grow than Donald Trump.

Anchor: Turnout in the blue wall states, in Pennsylvania, a key swing state, that will matter more than ever.

As your pull seems to indicate, it could determine the outcome of the election.

Patrick: Absolutely.

I'm confident, even taking into account the polling error we've had when Trump has been on the ballot, that Harris at this point is ahead in the national vote.

By hemming points I don't know, it could be one or -- by how many points I don't know, it could be one or five points.

In a state like Pennsylvania the races closer, and that close it could come down to 10,000 Democrats forgetting to put the date on their absentee ballot and not getting their vote counted, or a host of other factors.

It is that narrow.

Anchor: Patrick Murray, thank you so much.

Patrick: My pleasure.

Anchor: As Patrick said, voter turnout will make the difference the selection.

Both nationally and for major state wide races at home, including the battle for the U.S. Senate seat, making today's national voter registration day all the more important.

Communities across the state are holding ovens to get out the vote.

20 five New Jersey colleges and universities are participating in this year's annual pallet bowl competition -- ballot bowl competition, a tradition led by and for students to get others more cynically engaged.

Raven Santana is at a university where lieutenant governor is leading the rally.

Reporter: The 2024 ballot the bowl is a pep rally for colleges and universities across the state.

For the seventh year students have gathered with mascots from colleges across the state to make sure those students and get out and vote.

Students were able to enjoy speeches from local leaders, NFL players, and even the lieutenant governor, who has spearheaded the event.

>> In 2020, New Jersey led the nation in youth voter turnout.

[APPLAUSE] Don't let me down!

Do not let me down, let's build upon the ballot bowl 2024 legacy, let's support a healthy democracy and of course good luck to all of the competing teams.

>> This is the first time Wayne Patterson has hosted the event.

We invited students from across New Jersey, staff members and our students at Wayne Patterson.

We have various tables.

Just talking about the importance of voting.

We are still doing tabling.

To get more people to be registered to vote.

Everybody will not be here today but the people who are here today will register to vote and whoever is ready can vote today.

>> The 18 to 29 voting block is the largest growing voting bloc in the country and surprisingly they've been showing up at mid turns -- midterms and cycle elections the last couple of cycles.

They want their voices heard.

The issues are critical to them.

Climate change, student debt, women's rights, LGBTQ and trans rights, the national debt.

Those are front of mind for our students who are also citizens of the U.S. >> I am here because I care about women's reproductive rights.

When I get out there and I'm voting, that's my main focus.

>> I always thought the women who fought for our rights to vote was empowering so I wanted to bring that to the age I am able to vote.

I have the ability and privilege to do that.

>> First year being able to vote, I always wanted to vote, and there is a lot at stake right now.

I feel like it's a good way to show my generation and future generations how important it is to vote and advocate.

We have a voice, why not use it?

>> This is my sixth year in the NFL, I am a Captain for the New York Giants.

[APPLAUSE] On that note, talking about leadership, we talk all the time about greatness and leadership.

In that same line of leadership especially in an election year, the best way to lead is by voting.

Reporter: It's important to remember that today was just the kickoff of the competition.

Students are able to vote through election day.

Students here at William Patterson University are hoping they take the crown for the most registered voters.

I am Raven Santana.

Anchor: Voters in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District will go to the polls tomorrow if they haven't voted already to choose the candidate to replace the late Congressman Donald Payne Junior.

One of the candidates is facing another to serve out the term.

We spoke to them both on our podcast about what they focus on.

>> What I care about is how will we make America or District 10 or any other district thrive again and give a better future to all people?

That's our job as elected officials.

We have two jobs, create a policy that makes the country better and figure out how to get funding to the areas that need opportunities.

People tell me all the time, they call it an urban district.

I am like why do we call it that?

They are not urban districts, they are underserved, that's all they are.

If you keep using negative words, all you do is keep people down.

>> One of the things I try to home in on his we need to do what's right for people, -- and on is we need to do what's right for people.

We should do what is best for them and I think we have to start having conversations more so than this is Democrat or Republican, we need to do what is best for people.

What will help people.

Both sides, people need help.

We cannot deny that.

I think working with Republican comics when I get to Washington by the grace of God, I'm able to say I need you to work with me because this is best for the people.

Anchor: You can hear the full conversation with both candidates plus our latest episode focused on district 12, dropping today by downloading our election exchange podcast wherever you listen.

About 50 demonstrators turned out for a protest in South Hackensack Monday night, speaking out against a real estate event promoting the sale of properties in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

The real estate fair by the company my home in Israel, isn't the first held in New Jersey, but has become especially controversial since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

The West Bank is considered Palestinian territory.

International and domestic policies deem property sales they are illegal.

Israel's leaders claimed the Jewish people have a historic claim to the land.

The New Jersey chapter four American Muslims for Palestine organized the protest, where members said the Jewish religion was being misused to justify selling stolen property, which they called a crime.

Just two counter protesters showed up, alleging demonstrators were preaching hatred toward Jews.

Haitian Americans in New Jersey are demanding a retraction from Former President Donald Trump and his vice president candidate JD Vance for inflammatory comments claiming Haitian immigrants in sprinkled, Ohio are eating their neighbors cats, dogs and other pets.

The infamous and false claims made by the Former President during last week's presidential debate sparked outrage from those in and outside the Haitian community for fueling racism.

The baseless rumors have caused the small town in Ohio to shut schools and businesses because of threats.

New Jersey is home to the fourth largest population of Haitian residents in the country, according to the 2022 census.

The majority live in East Orange and neighboring towns.

What kind of impact is that having on residents here?

I asked the first Haitian-American to be elected to the East Orange counsel for his take.

Thank you for taking a couple of minutes to chat with us.

We know this rhetoric targeted at immigrants and Ohio has resulted in bomb threats, school lockdowns, schools being evacuated, kids being kept home, property damage.

What impact has it had on the community in New Jersey?

>> Thank you so much again for the opportunity.

Over the past several days, the Trump and Vance campaign has created a maelstrom of rhetoric that has caused a tremendous amount of harm specifically to those immigrants in the Springfield, Ohio community and here in New Jersey as the diaspora.

Knew of my constituents and colleagues and family members have deep concern with regard to what potentially is to come based off of these baseless and blatant lies the Trump-Vance campaign are spewing.

More than anything it is emotional.

Because of our history in this country and the things that have taken place back in the 1990's, there was a rally, a rallying cry from the Haitian community with regard to the baseless lies and xenophobic rhetoric centered around the HIV-AIDS epidemic and that Haitians were the originators of this serious disease.

There was a strong fight against it.

This recent attack is taking us back to that place.

It is stirring up a lot of old and hurtful memories.

It is really galvanizing the community to fight and stand against this again.

Anchor: I was going to bring that up.

Some of these tropes and stereotypes are deep rooted in the U.S.. What is different about this?

What is different about these comments, this rhetoric, these attacks?

Bergson: The difference is the source.

The source is a Former President and a current sitting senator who are sworn to protect and uphold the communities which they represent.

For someone in a position of power that Former President Trump and Senator Vance are in, for them to directly be stating these basis claims as opposed to innuendo and/or rumor taking place in the early 1990's, they are actually saying, they are in a position of power and words matter and have meaning.

They rile up certain base groups and that's what the intent is.

To galvanize their constituents.

Anchor: Lend credibility is what I hear you saying.

What do you want elected leaders to do here in New Jersey and at the federal level?

Bergson: We must be proactive.

We know what's coming and we can anticipate what is to come waste off these most recent comments.

We must galvanize our people and protects them through legislation, we must get our people to register to vote, and we must get our people to the polls to ensure this group is never in a position of power again in this country or this state.

Anchor: Thank you so much.

Bergson: It was a pleasure.

Anchor: In our spotlight in Dutch on business report tonight, New Jersey has new roles --in our spotlight on business report tonight, New Jersey has new rules about the marketing and sales of hemp infused substances.

Supporters say it closes a loophole that allowed so-called gas station weed to be sold unregulated, sometimes ending up in the hands of kids.

Others argue this will put the legal hemp industry out of business.

Brenda Flanagan has the latest.

Reporter: Unlicensed New Jersey merchants have one month to clear store shelves of intoxicating hemp infused products including candy flavored Guy Means, smokable flower and popular beverages spiked with THC.

It is required under a controversial law just signed by Governor Murphy as the New Jersey cannabis regulatory commission draws up new rules to license what critics call gas station weed.

>> They get a box of stuff on the shelves and sell it to kids, there's no regulatory process.

First and foremost what we do to ensure public safety?

>> The biggest win for families and communities in the state of New Jersey is an unregulated product, because of a loophole at the federal level, will now be removed from the shelves.

Reporter: A state senator the bill and she says it hemp generally contains a milder cousin of the regulated marijuana now sold at state licensed cannabis dispensaries.

It is supposed to just contain .3% or less of the psychoactive chemical THC so it's been unregulated under federal law.

>> You don't have to even behind closed doors or ask for age demographic, you can sell it in liquor stores or mom-and-pop shops.

Reporter: Not anymore under the new law, which also permanently bans selling products with detectable levels of THC to anyone under 21.

The emergency medicine chair approves.

>> Very often we will see people come in because they've taken an amount they didn't expect, usually too much of course.

They will come in altered.

Especially little kids, they can be unconscious.

But adults too, if you take too much it is disorienting.

Reporter: Governor Murphy sign the measure despite concerns, noting "because the bill would address this present danger I have concluded the wiser course is to sign the bill now and commit to working with the legislature to address the technical issues and other challenges in separate legislation."

Indeed, a court challenge is imminent over will -- over whether the law impedes interstate commerce.

>> This is going to put us at a competitive disadvantage to other states that are still permitting this marketplace.

Reporter: This man represents the hemp beverage industry and he says liquor stores that sell their lucrative drinks worn the new law threatens 100 million dollars of New Jersey sales this year alone.

>> It's obvious to everybody involved that litigation is highly probable.

And at this point, it's going to be the type of lawsuit that is a throw everything and the kitchen sink at it.

>> It doesn't matter where it's manufactured, until New Jersey has a framework that creates a safe way of selling this to a proper consumer, there should be no types of these products available on shelves.

Reporter: Meanwhile, New Jersey-based breweries fear the new regulations could be so prohibitively expensive it will keep them out of the market.

>> There are high security and financial requirements and I think as brewers, we are still looking to get into this industry and one of the things we fought hard for was to make these beverages at our breweries and we have yet to get that rate.

>> I appreciate trying to diversify your product portfolio but just like I'm not allowed to sell alcohol at my stores, they should not be selling cannabis in their stores.

Reporter: Scott says it would not be fair if regulated state dispensaries like his who spent millions on their licenses.

The CRC has 190 days to compose new legislation.

>> Support for the business report is provided by Halsey, neighborhood built on heart and hustle.

Visit the website for the Halsey Fest schedule.

Anchor: That will do it for us tonight.

Remember to download our podcast so you can listen to us anytime.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

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

Have a great night, we will see you tomorrow.

>> 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 and blue shield Association.

And by the PSEG foundation.

>> 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.

♪