>> On strike.

Hundreds of journalists demand better pay and new leadership.

>> We will do whatever it takes to get what we deserve.

>> Plus, your voice your vote.

New Jersey legislators gear up for tomorrow's primary election day.

>> People should go out there because these are important races.

>> Foods on the ground, local advocates tackle the opioid epidemic going door to door.

>> They are trying to stem the impacts of the opioid epidemic.

>> The debt ceiling calls for new snap benefit requirements but will it push more people to food pantries?

>> They took a good chunk out.

>> "NJ Spotlight News" begins now.

>> Funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided 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.

New Jersey Realtors, the voice for real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

And By the PSEG foundation.

♪ >> From NJ and PBS.

>> Good evening and welcome.

I am Joanna Gagis.

Hundreds of workers at the country's largest newspaper chain staged a strike.

In New Jersey, they only the Asbury Park press and North Jersey media group.

Journalists are demanding new leadership and are calling for a vote of no-confidence for the CEO who they say has destroyed local newsrooms.

Ted Goldberg is that the strike and has more.

>> What we want?

>> We have made a little bit of headway on small issues but anything remotely important, the company has stonewalled us.

>> It is not often you see a work stoppage stop the press, but that is what is happening for several unionized papers in New Jersey and other states.

Reporters hope a one-day strike will help them with negotiations.

>> We want to be able to live in New Jersey.

>> Mike Davis is a reporter.

>> I make a little over $47,000 a year.

>> He is one of the reporters gathering in White Plains to try and bring attention to the CEO.

These walkouts are happening.

>> The company is failing.

>> He has cut his salary to $3.5 million.

About one third of us can qualify for low income housing.

>> We have had people in my company with the company for 40 years who make under $40,000.

If I was not married, I would be living at home with my mother.

>> Reporters tell me tomorrow's papers will have a lot fewer local stories and if the environment does not get better, there could be more strikes.

>> We need to be able to do whatever it takes to get what we need and deserve.

>> They have to be afraid we will hold our work and when they run out of the prefab content, they are left with nothing.

It could turn into a prolonged thing and I hope it does.

It shows them we are serious.

>> They sent us this statement.

"Our goal is to preserve journalism and serve our immunities as we continue to bargain in good faith to finalize contracts that have equitable wages and benefits for employees.

Joe is the assistant director at Montclair.

He says newsrooms slimming down is a national trend.

>> We have seen news got across the country while large corporations continue to conduct mergers, stock buybacks, massive loans.

>> The labor shortage could mean fewer local stories are told.

>> There are raging wildfires and high temperatures, it's also vacation time.

It's the summer.

That is a lot of stories that will likely be covered.

>> Under the current proposal, he will be taking less money because the salary would not change.

In White Plains, I am Ted Goldberg.

>> All of the legislative seats are on the ballot tomorrow.

If you are looking for a riveting day, you probably won't find it here.

The infamous party line is likely to hold the line for those who have its backing.

Our senior writer and Colleen editor joins us now.

It's not the most exciting primary season in New Jersey, but right now the GOP has some closely watched races.

Two Republicans stand to pick up some seats?

>> That is what they think and that is why some are so close.

Down in the third District you have the man who famously unseated the Senate President two years ago facing a challenge from his own assemblywoman.

That is a really interesting race.

More money, the backing of the party, probably has the advantage.

Joanna: It's interesting because she ran on the ticket in 2021.

What is the tone?

Where's Jean the competition -- we are seeing the competition to be most conservative.

>> She wants to be the most conservative as well.

She is saying he is too far out there.

She is saying he is not the right person and he could lose with the Democrats on alert because they know, they did not know two years ago they had to look at this race.

Joanna: Tell us about district 24.

>> That is where you have the two tickets for fighting to be the more conservative.

The endorsed candidates are the ones you would think probably have the advantage, but the other two have recognition.

They have been really nasty trying to out throw mud at one another.

Joanna: Industry 27, the matchup between senators.

Just today Governor Murphy endorsed Cody, the party line holds strong.

What do you expect and what are the implications?

>> This should be the biggest race we are looking at that it's been so quiet.

On the one hand, you could say did Murphy come out because she is in trouble or that it was a strategic thing?

One candidate does not even have a campaign website.

It is odd that it has been so quiet.

We lose a strong African-American woman in the Senate.

There are not enough women or African Americans in the Senate.

It is safe to say by the end of the cycle we will have fewer women.

Joanna: Let me talk about voter turnout, primaries are historically low.

>> Probably one half a million people will vote altogether.

Early voting finished yesterday.

We have had more than 200,000 mail-in ballots.

Every polling place is open.

COVID rules are gone.

People should go out there because these are important races.

It is on the sample ballot that got sent to your house.

There are places where you can look for online.

I would say, please go out and vote.

Joanna: Put advice, thank you as always.

Be sure to head to nj spotlightnews.org.

As rising sea levels lead to more intense storms in New Jersey, the water systems are increasingly endangered.

Today, Governor Murphy and Bob Menendez, Frank Pallone and a State Senator announced new federal funding coming to the area that will fix broken pipelines.

As Brenda Flanagan reports, it is nearly a drop in the bucket of the real amount needed.

>> There is a real risk it could rupture.

If it did, things would get ugly.

>> Governor Murphy issued that order for Monmouth Beach.

It processes 11 million gallons of raw sewage daily.

Every flush and shower for 90,000 people across a dozen towns and military bases.

The corroded pipeline needs to be replaced.

>> If it fails, it takes about three months to put a bypass in.

That would allow about 800 million gallons of sewage before we have a chance to replace it.

>> We have to make sure our sewer plants are up rated.

>> The sewage plants got another weak point, the main pumping station got slammed by Superstorm Sandy.

New pumps are needed at an elevated site that is less vulnerable to flooding.

>> We are looking ahead to the undeniable reality at rising seas, stronger storms.

>> Bob Menendez and others joined the governor to announce $20 million in FEMA funding that will help finance a new pump station and sewer main.

The current pipe will be replaced by a new fiberglass pipe buried 100 feet deep in a new underwater tunnel as part of a broader plan to make the infrastructure more resilient.

>> 10 years ago we saw firsthand the vulnerability.

After Sandy, not a single plant was fully operational.

As a result, an estimated billions of gallons of water entered the waterways.

>> To upgrade them all would cost an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion but Superstorm Sandy raised multiple red flags says a gatekeeper.

>> The investment in clean water infrastructure is critical, especially because in the U.S., a lot of infrastructure has been neglected for a long time.

>> The total cost?

$85 million.

FEMA money will cost about one quarter of it.

In Monmouth Beach, I am Brenda Flanagan.

Joanna: A massive gas power plant -- local residents and climate activists rallied against a proposal that would put the new gas plant right next to the existing power plant.

Residents are calling on the Murphy administration to step in, saying the proposal goes against the environmental justice law and they said it would emit times of toxic pollutions into the air.

The protest is part of a week of actions by the environmental activist group who is calling on the governor to stop fossil fuel projects they say conflict with his own clean energy goals.

Some good news.

The two forest fires we were following have been fully contained.

As of Saturday, the wildfire in Medford was contained without damaging homes as was feared and by Sunday, the forest fire which stressed the cross ocean and Burlington County's was also contain.

Stab are still on the scene and will be monitoring the area until they see significant precipitation which does not look likely until later this week.

As the opioid epidemic continues to take lives, one campaign is focusing on boots on the ground.

This effort is led by statewide organizations that are meeting addicted people where they are.

Our mental health writer is with me to tell us more about the campaign he has been following.

Good to talk to you as always.

Tell us about this campaign and how it is changing the face of opioid treatment.

>> The campaign is a grassroots effort started in 2019 by a number of organizations including the New Jersey organizing research project.

What they are doing is trying to stem the impacts of the opioid epidemic by getting rid of it while trying to end the stigma.

Another primary goal is to make sure some of the people most directly impacted are the ones who are able to stand up and speak out so they will be able to make sure that the funds are not misappropriated in counties like Ocean and Monmouth.

Joanna: We are seeing more efforts to reach people where they are, to push into communities.

This is a door to door effort.

>> This is something they have been doing for weeks, primarily on weekends with what they are calling overdose rescue kits.

Essentially what they include are almost a first-aid packet full of help including Narcan and all testing strips.

As we know, as I losing and Fentanyl are showing up in drug supplies and are the primary reason for overdose deaths across the country.

These kits include things like a fact sheet about what to look for and these door-to-door campaigns are not only handing out kits and some of the hardest hit areas, it's also to let people know of these funds that are coming their way and to make sure they have the ability to really advocate for the things they need.

Joanna: From your reporting, what can you tell us about the challenges that are unique to South Jersey?

What is unique about folks in South Jersey, including access to transportation?

>> That is the main key a lot of people I have spoken with have touched upon.

The lack of access to transportation, transportation deserts are really knuckle in these situations.

For somebody looking to get clean in recovery, they may have access to something like a New Jersey transit bus but what they may not have access to is a car or reliable transportation.

A lot of times advocates are calling for mobile units.

The vans that go out to rural and underserved areas to provide medication to meet people where they are rather than people having to go to the services themselves.

Joanna: Excellent reporting.

>> Support for the medical report is brought to you by Blue Cross Shield.

Joanna: Tonight, it could be a breakup for the ages.

It looks like Madison Square Garden and Penn Station are not compatible anymore according to a new report put out by MTA, Amtrak and NJ transit, saying the garden puts severe constraints on the station.

MSG's operating permit expires in July and a planning commission will hold a hearing next Wednesday to determine whether it should be extended.

Representatives from Madison Square Garden said they were disappointing -- disappointed in the report.

Here is a look at how the markets close this Monday.

>> Support for the business report, provided by the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, working for economic prosperity by uniting business and community leaders for 150 years.

Membership and event information online at ChamberSNJ.com.

♪ Joanna: The Covid pandemic made hunger and food security a critical issue in New Jersey, and in response Federal lawmakers scaled back some requirements for receiving snap benefits.

As Melissa examines, some fear it could leave more people and families without food.

>> You don't get a lot of help as a single parent and you have no choice.

>> Brenda has lived in Trenton all her life.

She is raising her it-year-old granddaughter but is finding it tough to meet ends meet.

>> I receive help from the government.

You pay rent and have nothing left.

UNIDO know you can get.

>> A struggle tens of thousands of families are facing after a temporary increase they went into effect at the start of the pandemic earlier this year.

In February, Governor Murphy signed into law snap benefit.

>> It helps a lot with what I get.

They do a lot for you.

As long as they get a meal three times a day.

>> One of the long time programs serves thousands of people each month.

>> We welcome everyone to receive a monthly allocation.

It includes cereal, milk, juice.

>> A court officer says since the federal government reduced snap benefits, there has been a 30% increase seeking an increase in the pantry.

Now, she fears the need will be more.

>> It will go up to 50% increase because of the snap benefits, people still looking for jobs.

In the summer months.

>> This pantry is not just a plate of food.

This pantry is knowing that we are here to provide this help.

The security gives them comfort, knowing they have a place where they will be welcomed and not judged.

>> It continues to make a huge impact.

>> More help than anything.

Salvation is my friend.

I thank them for all they have done for me.

>> An act of kindness making sure no family goes hungry.

Joanna: That is going to do it for us tonight.

A reminder, download the podcast so you can listen anytime.

I am Joanna Gagis.

Thank you for being with us and we will see you tomorrow.

>> The members of the New Jersey education Association.

Making public schools great for every child.

Let's be healthy together.

And Orsted, committed to the creation of a new long-term, sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪ >> NJM Insurance group has been part of New Jersey for over a century.

We support communities through the giving program, supporting arts and nonprofit organizations that serve to improve the lives of children, rebuild communities and help create a new generation of safe drivers.

We are proud to be part of New Jersey.

NJM, we have got New Jersey covered.

>> I'm grateful I'm still here.

>> We went to celebrate our first anniversary.

>> With the new kidney, I have strength.

>> I am exploring new places.

>> Nobody thought of going to be here.

>> I am looking forward.

>> We are transforming lives.

>> They gave me my normal life back.

It's a blessing.

>> Let's be healthy together.

>> Orsted will provide renewable offshore wind energy.

Jobs, education, supply chain and economic opportunities for the garden state.

Orsted.

Committed to the creation of a new, long-term, sustainable clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪