>> Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, the Marine memo Deaths hearing continues today.

>> Our inability to get it under control.

>> Democrats get their turn to explore the science behind what is causing these massive creatures to wash up on our shores.

Here in the spotlight with me as the FIFA World Cup is unveiled.

The state attorney general tries to block the school district from disclosing student gender to parents, saying it out students and puts their mental health at risk.

Allergists are causing -- calling it a pollen store.

The sheer amount in the air has exploded, making allergies insufferable for many.

>> For two weeks, people become more miserable.

>> NJ Spotlight News starts right now.

Briana: The debate continues as the Jersey shore take center stage in Trenton.

Good evening and thanks for joining us.

A Summer Lee Democrats held what they are calling a science-based hearing as marine mammals wash up along the Jersey shore in recent months.

Some Republicans claim the increasing will Deaths is linked to offshore wind farms.

Democrats point instead to the volume of vessels coming in and out of ports, rising ocean temperatures and food sources closer to the beaches.

Today's meeting comes two weeks after GOP leaders held their own hearing.

Our reporter says the tube sides are not getting any closer in agreement.

>> We are very distressed over the increase in large marine mammals washing ashore.

Reporter: Today they look for answers as to why so many are stranded in New Jersey since December 1.

Some have blamed the Murphy administrations offshore wind development.

>> Do think there is an opportunity to take a step back and figure out what is affecting them?

>> The idea that we do not know, we do know.

The changes to the environment in which these mammals exist is what is causing them.

Reporter: There is a shifting underwater menu for Wales.

Wales follow feed but that puts them in the path of increasing port traffic and big ships.

>> We are seeing the mortality of whales in many instances because of ship strikes.

Reporter: Republicans wanted to know whether underwater seismic surveys played a role in will Deaths and they question the scientific basis.

>> It is a little hard for us to just assume that Israel.

I hope at some point that we have a scientist who can confirm your affirmation.

Reporter: One researchers said how whales live and eat off the coast requires more study as their interaction with people increases.

>> If this trend continues there will be an increase in strandings in our waters.

Reporter: The head of jerseys marine mammals straining center which examines six of the nine dead whales said they are awaiting lab results, which could take months.

>> The final cause of death has not been determined.

To assign blame before the data is in would be premature.

Reporter: The committee heard testimony from an expert on whether the offshore wind energy surveys could cause whale death's due to seismic noise.

>> None of the sources use [INDISCERNIBLE] Have any chance of causing the mortality depth -- death.

Reporter: That answer did not satisfy everyone.

>> We need to take a step back and see what is going on in our oceans.

And not just assume.

We have testimony that says they are waiting six months and 10 months to get information back.

>> Today was about gathering facts, making sure we have the equipment necessary to make decisions.

Reporter: Today's testimony did not appear to change the mind of anybody on the committee.

They will review the data and hold more hearings if necessary.

Briana: It is being billed as the biggest event our region has ever hosted and this morning Governor Phil Murphy joined New York City Mayor Eric Adams to celebrate being tapped as the host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The two states are slated to hold at least eight World Cup games.

MetLife Stadium in North Jersey is in the running to host the championship.

[APPLAUSE] Reporter: New Jersey's World Cup games have a logo and a look, unveiled at Times Square with a little help from New York CD Mayor Eric Adams -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Michael Strahan.

>> Are world renowned culture and the story sports history.

I cannot think of a better place for an event as prominent as the World Cup.

>> It is about the legacy.

It is about the excitement that will build especially among young people, not just 2026, but 2026 on for decades to come.

We hosted games in 1994 and 1999.

>> The biggest stage on the globe.

Reporter: While New Jersey get second billing, the Garden State will host all of the regions World Cup qualifier games in 2026.

For New Jersey natives, it is a big opportunity to watch world-class soccer across the Hudson River.

>> I was a year old when the last World Cup came around at the Giants Stadium at the time.

To have it come back when I Mabel to afford to go to games is an incredible feeling.

>> I like having the spotlight on the stage and having people come and see all the diversity that New Jersey has to offer.

Reporter: Her Jersey roots made her a soccer fan eight years ago.

>> I remember being on Twitter during the final.

She was scoring all these goals.

That was what got me into soccer in general.

Reporter: The Murphy administration estimates these games will bring $500 million into New Jersey.

>> We think we will get at least eight games.

That is eight super Bowls in six weeks.

Just extraordinary.

And every single ticket will be sold.

Reporter: That is a lot of super Bowls, but what is one more?

The site for the World Cup finals has not been announced yet.

MetLife Stadium could be a strong contender.

>> There will be no better place to host the final been at MetLife Stadium.

>> I have seen Jets games and Giants games shut off Route three.

To see that amount of people in MetLife, to note that is going to be in the parking lot potentially is crazy to me.

>> There is such incredible soccer happening here all the time.

Hopefully that parlays into an interest into the Reporter: Teams here.

Reporter:East Rutherford is one of 16 World Series to host World Cup games in 2026.

For the is not expected to choose a site until the fall.

And Times Square come I am Ted Looper.

Briana: A federal appeals court seems likely to restrict access to the abortion pill mythos persona.

-- mifepristone.

Precedent for answers over why the FDA allowed it to be sent directly to patients by mail and prescribed by medical professionals other than a doctor.

The Fifth Circuit is hearing an appeal that would suspend FDA approval of the drug.

That Access remains legal under a temporary order from the U.S. supreme court Governor Murphy said his administration is considering bulk ordering the drug.

>> We are going to leave every option on the table.

I am proud to say New Jersey is a state that protects the raw predictive freedoms in the right -- the right to abortion.

That hearing yesterday was disgusting.

We will leave all options on the table.

Briana: The Murphy administration is taking up school district to core overall policy involving LGBTQ students.

Attorney General Matt Platkin filed the civil rights complaint against Hanover Township School District, requesting an emergency court order to stop a policy requiring teachers to disclose a student's gender identity and social orientation to parents -- sexual orientation to parents.

He says the policy violates the state Law Against Discrimination.

Governor Murphy tweeted his support, saying the guidelines out students and risked their safety.

The Hanover Board of Education issued a statement defending the policy, saying students are not being targeted based on a protected status, Bout requires staff to notify parents and administrators when they become aware of anything that could impact a student's well-being.

More than 100 school districts statewide are staring down funding cuts, casualties of the school funding formula which calculates how much state aid is given to districts.

Governor Murphy last month moved to restore some of the money those schools are slated to lose, but as our Senior correspondent reports it will not be enough to avoid budget cuts.

>> Catastrophic, devastating.

>> It is carnage.

Reporter: Not words you want to hear when describing the school budget.

The comparisons drawn by these superintendents sound downright gruesome.

>> The school year is going to be looking at -$13,000 -- $2 million.

-- $13 million.

Reporter: Nobody seems to understand how the funding is determined because it does not take into account something called adequacy which was a key element of the school funding formula.

>> Over the five years, the schools has lost over $40 million in state funding and is under adequacy.

Not to mention we have cut over 250 jobs.

>> There is a formula that was designed to determine adequacy, meaning how much should a district spend based upon the characteristics of the district.

They decide that part of the format that talks about spending has no part in the distribution of funds.

If it was, districts that are already 170% of adequacy would not have gotten more money.

Reporter: The state constitution guarantees every student is entitled to an efficient education, but these districts say they will no longer be able to provide that.

>> It will allow us not to perform our obligations to our community.

>> The biggest setback will come to the 250 children who have lost busing for LAT -- here.

Reporter: The superintendent says they are considering a plan to restore the rides, but would require families to pay for them.

>> We eliminated all busing and attune a half-mile radius.

-- in a 2.5 mile radius.

Not maintaining our infrastructure needs.

Reporter: They're calling for the legislature to take a closer look at how the money is allocated and to restore funding before the school year 2024-2025.

>> They are just not understanding what is actually happening and the ripple effect to damage and the students lives.

I have to believe the issue is a lack of understanding because it is too hard to believe that an entire government body would choose this outcome.

>> We feel there is an inequity here.

Reporter: A similar cry to 12 decades ago that a student's education should not depend on their ZIP Code and the reason why the school funding formula was created in the first place.

Briana: A new poll finds most a residence believe the U.S. Supreme Court was on the wrong side of history last June when it ruled in the Berlin case which allowed more flexibility to carry guns.

61% disagree with the decision.

A majority support upper gun laws.

58% believe states should be allowed to restrict guns in public places.

The poll is being released just two days after a federal judge cited with gun rights groups suing New Jersey over new restrictions put on gun owners.

The poll also finds most people support the states new laws, especially the requirement for firearm training and banning guns and so-called sensitive places.

Be sure to check out Reporters Roundtable tomorrow morning.

He continues the concealed carry conversation and speaks to Brian Bergen about a recent decision to block most of the states new gun carry law.

A panel of local reporters break down all the big political headlines of the week.

That is Friday at 10:00 a.m.

In our spotlight on business a scathing report from the office of the state comptroller on the financial crisis at New Jersey State University.

The investigation finds and JC you was having financial problems long before the school's Board of Trustees declared a fiscal emergency last June due to years of declining enrollment and heavy spending.

The report finds administrators could have turned things around but instead chose to give the board about Jake -- a budget in a way they knew was unlawful.

The report says trustees lacked training, they do not have oversight.

A spokesperson maintained in a statement the report proves no funds were misappropriated.

The fight to save the a.m. dial on your dashboard is intensifying.

State lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill requiring automakers to keep a.m. radio in their vehicles.

It calls on the national Highway safety administration to hold manufacturers accountable.

They cite public safety concerns and they note AMC historic role of getting information out to the public during emergencies and natural disasters.

It can transmit longer distances than FM radio.

Automakers have dropped a.m. citing it as an obsolete technologies.

Here is how the market is closed today.

-- the markets closed today.

Make sure you check out NJ Business Beat this weekend.

We visit Asbury Park to learn what it has to offer this summer.

That is Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. Briana: Some of New Jersey is in the middle of a pollen storm.

The yellow dust from trees has exploded, covering everything from your car to the sidewalks, your eyes, the inside of your nose.

It is causing downright misery this season.

If it feels you are experiencing more severe conditions than years past that is because you are.

An allergy expert joins me.

I have been waiting to talk to you.

All I can say is that myself, my coworkers are suffering so severely from allergies.

What is happening right now in New Jersey?

>> Right now, we are probably at the peak of the allergy season, where we are in the pollen storm area.

We have had pollen counts into the thousands primarily from trees.

That makes up the pollen storm.

This is due to the excessive amount of rain we have had recently which provided nutrients for the trees, which actually pollen a first in New Jersey.

As the tree pollen comes down, which it is, and the storm is starting to decrease, but once it starts, you can whether the storm so to speak about it.

People become more miserable and it is not going away.

Even with pollen counts Going Down their symptoms are bothering them on a daily basis.

They are not functioning as well as they could be.

Briana: I am shocked I am able to say here without having an allergy attack.

Why are we seeing it get worse and worse every year?

>> It is not getting worse every year.

There is a trend.

There has been changes in weather patterns regarding climate.

Climate is over a period of time.

There has been a change.

It has been an earlier pollinating season.

It is now getting earlier and later so we are getting exposed to more pollen.

Briana: How long will this allergy season last?

Will they be different from past years?

When can we expect relief?

>> The pollen season is starting to decrease, but then we have grass.

It is not at the same concentration.

Trees are in the hundreds of thousands of pollen grains per cubic foot of air.

Where is grass pollen is from 10 to 100.

It is a light dusting.

That will be more noticeable in June.

We have another week or so of tree pollinating and then it will fade into lower levels.

But grass pollen is starting to kick in and will rise in June.

Briana: So you are telling me I am not going to get relief.

Thank you for the not so good news, but very important information there.

>> You are welcome.

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

You can now listen to NJ Spotlight News via podcast wherever you stream.

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

Have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow.