>> In rocks Perry and emotional school board meeting for parents stand divided over the being -- banning of more books.

>> Children are being exposed to pornography, that is the issue here.

>> A Russian judge retains a journalist for three more months.

It could be longer.

>> We recognize this could be a long road.

>> The push for liquor license reform.

The restaurant industry ways in.

>> If you can't use the license, in four years, let the town try to sell it.

>> Violating privacy a new proposal to upgrade Newark's school security system includes AI technology.

Community members are sounding the alarm.

>> There is a concern over how the technology could be used or misused.

>> NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

>> Funding for New Jersey spotlight news and independent icing -- New Jersey realtors the voice for real estate and New Jersey more information is online at NJ realtor.com.

And by the PSEG foundation.

From NJPBS this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: LGBTQ books ignite a heated battle between parents.

Thanks for joining us this Wednesday night I'm Briana Vannozzi.

Hundreds turned out to the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night or tensions searched addressing LGBTQ+ topics.

Voices from both sides spoke out during the marathon meeting that lasted well past midnight.

The board was set to vote on a motion that will temporarily pull some of the books in question off the shelves.

The event Mayor Duckett controversial playing out across the nation.

Parents calling for more rights as police stand guard to keep the peace.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports.

>> The point is being -- children are being exposed to pornography.

>> A Board of Education meeting 80 speakers signed up to debate banning books at the high school library.

Protesters waved signs showing illustrations calling at pornography and demanding the bird order them off the shelves.

>> Children's books all have explicit curtains and stomach turning descriptions of minors engaging in oral, and kink.

>> It is pandering obscenity to a minor.

It is it sexual exploitation of a tiled.

>> Right to read advocates argue kids need books that discuss more than one point of view.

>> Access truth, and support.

Please reject any and all proposals that would give them anything less.

There is no LGBTQ agenda there is no trans agenda other than keeping our children alive.

>> I up for the poor to uphold the rights of families and students here and not to be bullied by vocal minority.

>> The six hour hearing drew cheers, jeers.

She fought to block books from being fanned last fall and she sued students for -- parents for toxic stages the library and defended her decision to keep >> on the shelves.

>> That is what a school library is for.

The books are there so students can find complete information, not just one side of the story.

No one is sneaking around the library looking for books with pictures in them for fun.

They have phones for that.

>> It is a way they can learn about themselves, about the people around them, and about how the world is.

Maybe if you created a better environment with your children, they would be able to have these discussions with you.

>> The special committee has already decided to return one challenged book gender queer to library shelves.

The other one," let's talk about it" is about the library -- behind the librarian's desk.

Determining whether the books can remain in circulation, how to define that, -- >> Questionable content contributes to the story or the theme.

>> The policy stormed overview but after midnight one board member voted to take nine more books off the shelves.

>> The books that have these explicit images, but them to the side temporarily with the community do its thing.

Let's finish what we set out to do but in the meantime let's have these off to the side.

>> Board policy requires asked to be formally challenged and nobody had bothered to challenge those books.

The motion failed 6-4.

I'm Brenda Flanagan NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: The pressure is intensifying to strike a deal on the debt ceiling limit.

But major differences between Republicans in the house continue.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reiterating the two sides are still far apart blaming Democrats for increasing spending while they were in the majority.

The speaker believes they will strike a deal by the chin first deadline.

The GOP sticking point is pairing spending cuts with any increase in the debt limit.

A University poll finds half of Americans side with the president saying the U.S. debt ceiling should be raised without strings attached.

25% say it should be tied to a package of spending cuts.

42% of adults agree the U.S. will suffer economic problems if the nation defaults on its that.

A Russian court on Tuesday extended the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter by three months.

The 31-year-old New Jersey native was arrested on March 29 on espionage charges during a reporting trip to Russia.

The Russian government has yet to reveal what, if any evidence it has.

His employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges.

He's the first U.S. correspondent to be detained for allegations of spying since the Cold War.

His parents who are -- were allowed in the courtroom.

Only a handful of reporters were given permission to enter the courthouse.

Follow the case closely and he joins me now.

Thanks for joining me from Lynn.

I'd love to get your take on the proceedings yesterday are we expecting an extension here?

You know how the court systems work there.

>> We absolutely were.

This is a case that's been brought by the FSB, Russia's domestic intelligence agency.

They are basically the most powerful security service in the country.

These courts in Moscow are essentially a rubberstamp proceeding, especially when the FSB is involved.

The way these cases typically go, you have a pretrial period that could take many months and then every few months, you have the court providing an extension or approving an extension for how long that person is being detained.

That's what happened yesterday.

Evan was ordered capped in jail for another three months.

Briana: Your outlet reported that journalists or inside the courthouse but not in the actual courtroom.

How are we to discern what's really happening one so much of this has been cloaked in secrecy?

>> I mean, you know, the proceeding is absolutely cloaked in secrecy as you know.

Evan is charged with this absolute, or he is being investigated for this absolutely ludicrous charge of espionage.

The way these cases work in Moscow is that they are carried out completely behind closed doors.

And so we still don't have any information on what evidence, if any, they are trying to present.

For this idea that Evan was carrying out espionage.

In that case, it's, as you say, there's very little information but at the same time I think we all understand what's going on here.

He was taken as a hostage by the Russian state.

So it's really important that we kind of keep talking about this and keep paying attention to this.

Briana: We have been doing our part from here in New Jersey but you are a friend of Evans.

Yes, I understand his parents were there yesterday.

The first time they have seen him since he was detained in March.

How did he seem?

>> Unfortunately, we don't know.

There hasn't been any information from the Journal that we heard on specifically kind of what we were able to get from the proceeding yesterday.

As you say, they were taking place behind closed doors.

It's true, his parents were there.

My colleague from the New York Times Roger Cohen who was -- is in Moscow right now was able to speak to them.

Evans law was wearing a free Evan pin as Roger described in his article.

It is really important in this really awful time that at least his parents were able to be there yesterday.

Briana: I'm curious what we should expect to happen from here.

Of course, the Russian government is still refusing consular access to Evan.

How long could this play out and what is the Biden administration doing?

>> Well, this could play out a very long time, unfortunately.

As you know, Evan faces 20 years in prison under this espionage as chelation -- accusation.

The pretrial and trial period could take as much as a year or even more.

Obviously, he was arrested on March 29 so we are just over two months or not even two months into this right now.

And, so, you know it could be a very long process.

As we've heard over and over from Russian officials if there were to be any kind of prisoner exchange that gets Evan released, it will only happen after he is convicted.

Of course, -- Briana: That could take time.

>> And they almost always end in convictions.

The Biden administration is really engaged.

I think that's been very heartening for everyone involved in everyone who cares about what happens to Evan.

You know, we obviously hope that that continues even as we recognize that this could very well be a long road.

Briana: Moscow bureau chief with the New York Times thank you so much for joining me.

>> Thank you for having me.

Briana: Think U.S.

Surgeon General -- on what many parents have feared for years issuing a warning that social media use is a main contributor to depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

The advisory called on social media companies and policymakers to share with parents the managing of the platforms.

There were about 100 studies legal think social media use with poor mental health in youth saying the sites spread extreme and appropriate and harmful content to adolescents.

Up to 95% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 said they're on the platforms according to the report about a third say they are almost constantly engaged.

The warning comes as rates of teen depression and hopelessness have skyrocketed.

Today marks one year since the Uvalde Texas school massacre or 19 students into teachers were killed by a gunman.

The rise of school shootings across the U.S. has spurred a push for more safety measures and in Newark District leaders are planning to use artificial intelligence and an elaborate security system for the public schools.

It would go way beyond traditional systems currently being used in most districts.

That's got community advocates concerned about student and staff privacy along with over policing.

Jesse Gomez reported the story and it joins me to explain.

Great to get a chance to talk to you.

This reporting was excellent.

Tell me first with the security system entails.

People here AI and it really, lines run wild.

>> New York Public schools plans to replace its outdated system with what they are calling the next generation surveillance platform.

Specifically, they are looking to replace the outdated camera system and install more than 7000 cameras districtwide which is roughly one for every five students.

What's different about this specific system is Newark is looking to include cameras with artificial intelligence capabilities to recognize people and objects like cars, or guns.

Provide higher quality imaging.

Something Newark says has been lacking for decades now.

The current security system is inefficient because it doesn't have enough storage and doesn't have remote access to live feeds which apparently the problem.

What's important to note is the district hasn't launched the proposal process, which means it doesn't know what company is going to purchase the cameras from.

But they have been clear that the intent is to purchase cameras with these artificial intelligence features which expert advocates are raising concerns about.

Briana: We know the teachers union appears to be behind us with some caveats.

What are some main concerns from parents and folks who know how the technology works?

>> experts are sounding the alarm.

Basically they're saying systems like these could potentially pose problems.

Facial recognition features don't work as a lot darker skin tones but we know artificial intelligence are advancing pretty rapidly.

That could be remedied pretty quickly just depending on how advanced and how quickly technology progresses.

There is also concerned that advocates of raising especially over policing her over policing on students.

Some advocates say this could lead to further monitoring and may be penalizing and punishing students first incidents that happen on school grounds since it has the capability of recognizing faces, keeping logs of faces of basically pulling them up if a student appears in one school they can pop up their face through these systems can see where the face pops up in other buildings.

There is a lot of concern over how the technology can be used or misused.

If not properly vetted, does also add another component.

Which is oversight.

There's not oversight at the state and local level on how the technologies are implemented.

They're starting to see that emerging a lot more, especially in the wake of school shootings and concerns over student safety.

These are all big problems that advocates and experts they need to be addressed before these technologies are implemented at schools.

Briana: Has the legislature taking any stance on this?

Is there anything currently in a vault that would set parameters for how this could be carried out?

>> I reached out to Majority Leader Teresa Reeves and Senate commission they both declined to comment on security regulations or technology regulations, especially those emerging in schools.

At the state level we don't see traction on it yet but potentially in the future as more capabilities enter in schools and perhaps as we start to see the effects on the student population we might start seeing regulation.

Briana: Thank you so much, Jesse.

You can see more of Jesse's reporting on our website NJ Spotlight News.org.

On our spotlight on business report cracking open century-old liquor license laws considering a number of bills today that will reform the system which currently caps the number of licenses issued to each town based on population.

Has enabled other licenses to be left dormant for years and advocates say has stifled the ability of the industry to grow.

Melissa Rose Cooper reports from the statehouse.

>> We are looking to create vibrant destination live, work, play communities.

At the end of the day this is about where we are going to group has estate.

>> Addressing legislation that would allow municipalities to transfer and active liquor licenses for use in redevelopment areas.

One FN number of bills being reviewed by the assembly oversight reform and federal relations committee.

>> My priority was to do something about these licenses that warrant being used.

The fact that they exist in that market disrupts the market.

The fact that they go for so many years or this license to do business is being halted.

>> The issue has become a priority of Governor Murphy announcing his plans to make liquor licenses more available.

Right now, towns are only allowed one license for every 3000 residents.

>> As a major Avenue a small community I have one liquor license and it's a historic liquor license.

If that business goes out, I don't get to keep that license.

Our communities and there are a number of them like mine having any sort of a population cap and I was the mayor that's it I could have 15 cannabis licenses.

But one liquor license.

>> I don't know why we have this double standard when it comes to these two sin products.

One we treat like nuclear waste at the other pre-welcome and recognize the economic growth potential it has.

We are restricting growth in communities.

They want to be destination downtowns.

They are welcoming this and we have this one little thing that is stopping us from being able to accommodate growth in places that want at and where it makes most sense.

>> The cost of getting a liquor license also a concern for those of the industry.

>> One or two additional licenses will still sell at the prevailing price.

Releasing a small number of licenses will provide opportunity for those with limited means.

The going price is half a million to bowl over one million in these communities.

>> And other bill up for discussion would allow beverages inside shopping months to soccer Hunwick tricks.

It creates public safety.

>> There is no way to enforce pass offs in an unrestricted, unregulated area such as a food court.

The same goes for overconsumption.

There's really very, it's difficult to tell who is over consuming when they go to a food court.

They can go to six or seven or eight different kiosks.

They get their first 16 ounce draft and then they get another at Annie's pretzels and that they get the next one at a Burger King.

>> It would allow towns to sell unused licenses.

Advocates for reform say while it's a great first step to improving access to businesses one wants want licenses.

It was just up for discussion today with no vote scheduled.

It faces an uncertain path forward.

I Melissa Rose Cooper.

Briana: On Wall Street markets reacted to the prolonged ceiling talks here is today closing trading numbers.

That's going to do it for us tonight.

A reminder you can listen to NJ Spotlight News any time via podcast wherever you stream.

Make sure you download it and check us out.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

Ask for being with us, have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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