>> Funding for NJ Spotlight News provided by the members of the New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

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And New Jersey realtors, the voice for real estate in New Jersey.

More information online at NJrealtor.com.

>> tonight, New Jersey's efforts to ban e-cigarettes with kids appears to be working.

A new study shows teen vaping is on the decline.

Justice for Victoria.

Family and friends of Victoria Lee gather, seeking accountability and an apology.

>> our community needs assurance that those involved in this tragedy will not respond to 911 calls while the investigation is ongoing.

>> raising awareness.

Ms. New Jersey teams up with Andrea Cass to bring attention to food disorders.

>> there's no reason any teenager should be seeing an ad for diet pills or how to get skinny.

That is not something they should be focusing on.

>> digging in Princeton to find artifacts that will tell the tale of the city's bag -- biggest Revolutionary war battle.

NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> from NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: good evening and thanks for joining us this Friday night.

We begin with a few key stories we are following.

Teen vaping is on the decline.

Underreport Feinstein's are far less likely to use e-cigarettes than they were just a few years ago.

The data from the CDC and FDA finds youth vaping levels fell to the lowest in a decade.

According to the national youth tobacco survey, at the peak of 2019, more than 5 million students across the country were using e-cigarettes.

Now about 1.6 million students or 6% currently use the products.

That's a 70% drop during that time and it was largely driven by high schoolers ditching vapes.

Advocates see it as a sign of progress.

Many attribute the change to legal steps the FDA took in partnership with the Department of Justice to curb use.

Since 2023, the FDA issued more than 1000 letters and civil penalties.

New Jersey was the first state in the nation to ban the sale of all flavored e-cigarette products including bubblegum and fruit flavors that were accused of being marketed for teens.

Tonight, longshoreman preparing to strike at New Jersey's busy ports.

A move that has the potential to cripple the supply chain.

The International Longshoremen's Association is threatening to strike if a new contract agreement isn't reached by October 1.

The union represents 45,000 workers at major container ports from Texas to Maine including here in New Jersey and New York, the busiest in the nation.

Formal talks have raised an impasse with the Longshoremen's Association and the U.S. maritime alliance wrangling over pay demands, automation, health care, and retirement benefits.

The union is asking for a significant pay hike, around 77% over the life of the new contract.

They want a share of profits that terminal companies have been bringing in since cargo volume has remained high after the pandemic.

Any work slow down stoppage would backup goods ahead of the holiday season and the U.S. presidential election.

About half a dozen nursing homes along with the trade group representing them are suing the state over staffing mandates, claiming worker shortages.

According to New Jersey monitor, the lawsuit filed by the health care Association of New Jersey alleges the $1000 daily fines imposed on nursing homes that fail to meet the requirement are unconstitutional.

Writing, there aren't enough workers in the system after many left the field surrounding the pandemic.

Governor Murphy in 20 signed a bill creating minimal staffing requirements New Jersey's nursing home which were ravaged by the coronavirus.

Mandating that long-term care facilities need to have at least one certified nursing aide for every eight residents on the dayshift, 10 on the evening shifts, and 14 on the night shift.

A report found the industry's workforce is shrinking, citing low pay, lack of opportunities for growth, and the cost of training.

The Fort Lee community is still reeling from the July fatal police shooting of Victoria Lee.

She was shot and killed by local police in her apartment in the midst of a mental health crisis.

Andy Kim today led an emergency community safety Summit in the borough to talk about strategies that could improve on public safety, aimed at helping locals heal, especially members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community who have said they are fearful to call law enforcement in the wake of the tragedy.

The roundtable included community organizers and city leaders along with members of AAPI New Jersey.

Congressman Kim met privately with the family of Victoria Lee.

>> I think there needs to be as much transparency as possible and accountability that comes after that.

Victoria Lee's family deserves that kind of response from the state.

Also we need to have assurances that Fort Lee is going to respond in a way to try to avoid this type of tragedy going forward.

Briana: many of those same organizers and community members attended a rally in Fort Lee Thursday night, hoping to keep attention on the death and continue their demands that the officers involved be held accountable.

Vowing to keep the pressure on until justice is served.

Brenda Flanagan has the story.

♪ Reporter: a crowd of protesters carried signs calling for justice for Victoria Lee come the 25-year-old Korean American woman shot and killed by Fort Lee police July 28 after her parents called 911 for an ambulance to help her during a mental health crisis.

>> open the door!

we are going to break the door!

drop the knife!

>> when we call 911, our lives shouldn't be on the line.

Reporter: at busy -- advocacy groups have asked that they clarify their roles, explain how officers should treat family members after a police shooting, reveal how many cops have completed the state order de-escalation training, and put the officers involved in the death off of active duty especially Tony Pickens Junior who pulled the trigger.

>> our community needs assurance that those involved in this tragedy will not respond to 911 calls.

While the investigation is ongoing.

>> the tragic death of Victoria Lee has shattered the community's trust in the Fort Lee authorities.

It's time for Fort Lee authorities to be held accountable, rebuild trust, and prioritize the safety of all residents.

Reporter: Victoria's father spoke briefly.

>> [INAUDIBLE] Reporter: he's expressed anguish and demanded apologies from Fort Lee officials.

So did the crowd at a city council meeting last night.

Speakers voiced concerns in the Korean Asian community.

>> the concerns have led to the erosion in public trust.

I've heard from several folks, especially those who speak limited English, who are older.

They are now afraid and hesitant to call 911 or seek any service or assistance from our government.

>> Imus public -- responsible for public trust.

That's my job.

That's my paramount responsibility.

I assume responsibility for that.

Reporter: the mayor told the audience he met with community leaders earlier that day and planned more meetings.

He said the shooting itself remains under investigation by the office of the Attorney General.

As for suspending officer Pickens, he explained he's off the street.

>> you were told by the chief himself that he's not on active patrol.

That was the phrase.

We can't take a step to do what you ask.

Administratively suspend him.

We wouldn't do that.

We don't have the power to do that.

Reporter: the mayor bristled at suggestions he needed to apologize to the family and the community.

>> I want to see a formal apology.

[APPLAUSE] >> I issued a three-page press release two or three weeks ago that expressed my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and to all the families that were involved.

Reporter: he did promise to provide videos to inform residents of 911 response protocols.

He will establish a committee to improve relations between the Asian community and police.

And will try to expedite Fort Lee's enrollment in the states arrive together mental health response program.

>> we are going to be standing here and we are going to be working with other communities who have had to travel down this road too many times.

To make sure we are changing things not just in Fort Lee but across the state.

Justice for Victoria!

>> justice for Victoria!

reporter: the police department had no comment.

Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: some 750,000 people in our state will combat an eating disorder in their lifetime.

That according to the strategic training initiative for the prevention of eating disorders.

To combat those troubling statistics, the current Ms. New Jersey has teamed up with Democratic assemblywoman Andrea Katz to raise awareness about the mental health condition and rally support abound a pair -- around a pair of bills aimed at mitigating factors that can contribute to developing the disorder.

They join me now.

♪ Welcome.

I'm glad that we could get you on the show to talk about this.

Elizabeth, why did you decide to pursue this topic?

it sounds like it's near and dear to your heart.

>> it's extremely near and dear to my heart.

I started my community service initiative simply because I've had a long and hard personal struggle on recovering from an eating disorder.

When I came to the other side of the journey, I knew that I wanted to be first-hand in helping others that are struggling and get them to the other side.

Briana: there's a pair of bills that have been introduced.

What do they include?

what are these bills?

>> so the first would open an office of disordered eating prevention within the Department of Health.

That would be able to bring some much-needed attention to the subject, as well as to look for grants to be able to help programs receive the funding that they need to get this -- support to the folks who need it.

Briana: there's another bill which I find really interesting because it has to do with social media, which in recent years, so much more research has come out about the impact of social media, particularly on adolescent girls.

What does that bill entail?

>> that would prohibit social media companies from targeting their algorithms and adds to young people who are the ones with the eating disorders.

Briana: why was that a key component for your both -- you both?

>> my day job has been a stay-at-home mom.

I like to legislate and have my governments come from my personal experience.

I have two teenage daughters who are beautiful and wonderful and smart.

I see what they are starting to see on social media.

I know that if they are experiencing these images, other young girls are as well.

Young men as well.

So I just wanted to make sure that we were able to help our young folks here in the state of New Jersey.

Briana: Elizabeth, you are nodding your head.

That seems to resonate with you.

The social media component.

>> yes absolutely.

I am 22 years old.

I'm involved in an organization that's extremely -- we are very in with social media.

It's a great thing but it can be a very bad thing.

The fact that an assemblywoman is willing to take on such an important bill, to really hold the social media companies accountable for what they are putting out to the youth is extremely important.

So I'm in full support of this bill.

Briana: when you are in a role like Mr. New Jersey -- Ms. New Jersey or competing, you are forward facing.

From what we know about eating disorders, it's an internal struggle.

How did you overcome that?

especially having to put yourself out there on a stage no less.

>> I get this question a lot as Ms. New Jersey.

There's a lot of people who ask me, doesn't this make it worse for you?

for me, it doesn't.

I find the good in everything.

I have a lot of young girls and boys looking up to me.

This hold me accountable.

The other thing that helps me get to the other side as my friends and family.

If it wasn't for the people who stood behind me and told me it's OK, we will figure this out together, I would not be in the situation I am now.

My outcome would've been worse.

It's the organization and my friends and family that helped me get to where I am right now.

Briana: bills haven't -- have been introduced at the federal level to target the social media companies.

What specifically are you looking to have happen with the algorithms?

you are looking to have them limit the age group because they can reach.

Is that the target here?

>> we know that our youth are more vulnerable.

We won't be seeing these ads.

There's no reason that a teenager should be see -- seeing unadvertised pills.

You could be searching for fitness topics, pointing you toward eating disorder subjects.

That is not something we want to have happening to our kids.

Briana: anyone on Instagram has likely come across that.

Where do you go from here?

you have forged a great partnership and friendship.

Where do you hope to take this message and what is your message?

>> my messages that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

And there's people like assemblywoman Katz that have the authority and power to possibly pass a bill like this.

The fact that we have created a partnership and a friendship is truly incredible.

Two women that come together that are willing to make a greater good for the world to get I think it's incredible to see, for young girls like myself and also moms, that two people can come together and make a change.

Briana: assemblywoman?

>> I hope that our kids know that we are here to help.

We are here to forge these unlikely friendships and relationships and paths to get them the help that they need so that there's hope.

We are doing everything that we can on this end to give our kids the tools that they need.

Briana: thank you both so much for coming on the show.

>> thank you so much.

>> support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

♪ Briana: tonight, all 16 towns are speaking out against the Murphy administration's proposal for stricter rules on coastal development.

The proposal would expand the scope of special coastal flood areas and require elevating or flood proofing structures built in the zones.

The whole goal is to ensure that coastal areas in New Jersey will be able to adapt as climate change drives see levels higher and feels intense storms.

The local officials in Cape May as well as multiple Republican state lawmakers from short districts believe sea level rise won't be as severe as scientists have warned and worry the new rules will be an expensive burden to any future economic development.

The Department of Environmental Protection is holding a pair of virtual public hearings on the real rules.

That will be this month.

>> support for the business report is provided by Riverview Jazz, presenting the first annual Jersey City Latin Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 14 in Jersey City.

Performance schedule and further details can be found online.

Briana: finally tonight, a mission to unearth centuries-old artifacts.

Researchers are combing Princeton Battlefield State Park looking for any bits of history that can tell the tale of the battle of Princeton or what life was like during revolutionary times.

It's part of an effort called Washington's legacy which aims to improve the state park and battlefield grounds ahead of our countries 250th anniversary.

Ted Goldberg gives us an up close look at some of the unique treasures already uncovered.

♪ >> it's a Jackson Pollock look of flags.

Reporter: Flag Day at the Princeton Battlefield where archaeologists are finding lots of American history.

>> we are beginning to pick up artifacts in areas that nobody had looked before and we are identifying battle related material.

Reporter: the Battle of Princeton was a pivotal win for the Americans during the Revolutionary war.

This archaeologists as the last few weeks have unearthed some cool stuff from almost 250 years ago.

>> we are identifying lines of case shot or canister iron balls about announce -- announce or so in size that are being fired into the infantry line.

The fact that we are picking them up tells you that there are infantry formations standing in this field.

Reporter: they are looking to build a visitors center here.

Before that happens, people are using metal detectors to dig up anything interesting that would otherwise be covered.

They have found almost 500 artifacts over the last few weeks to get -- weeks.

>> it hit a target.

You can see how deformed it is.

>> look at this other musket ball.

It is flattened.

It impacted with greater force, possibly fired from a closer distance.

Then you find a broad range of smaller caliber weapons.

That's the American army in 1776.

Reporter: Dana is in charge of metal detecting here.

>> people who get another machine and have a quality machine can greatly increase the success of the search.

Reporter: so you know your machine?

>> I am getting to know it.

It is smarter than I am.

Reporter: he has found all sorts of unique artifacts from the Revolutionary war and after.

Part of a Boy Scout uniform and some cookware.

>> this would be a cattle leg or frying -- frying pan like from a cast-iron vessel.

It may be from the Revolutionary war.

By the character of the oxide and the thickness and so forth, it's been here a long time.

Reporter: some of these objects were found nearly a foot underneath the ground.

Each of them is a miniature history lesson.

>> I'm fascinated with the unexpected.

I'm fascinated with adding or contradicting what has been produced historically about the location of historic events and people and the like.

Reporter: this work is being funded by a 1.3 month -- million-dollar grant from Trenton.

The senator says studies like this are crucial for the upcoming influx of history buffs likely to come by for the nations semi Quinn Centennial or 250th birthday.

>> if Washington and his troops don't win the battle of Princeton, perhaps we don't win the war at all.

We want to ensure that places like Princeton and all of our revolutionary sites have the resources they need to be ready for the 250th.

>> to have those funds available gives you with the -- gives you the ability to investigate a site like this.

Reporter: learn more about 200 years of New Jersey history right under our feet.

NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: that does it for us tonight.

Before you go, we are continuing to drop episodes of our 2024 election exchange podcast.

David Cruz, Cully no date, and I go one-on-one with the candidates running for Congress this November.

All 12 U.S. House seats are up for grabs and one senate seat is on the line.

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

Today, Congressional District eight drops, Rob Menendez and Anthony Valdes.

Here's a preview.

>> the number one issue is affordability.

Is the number one challenge that families in the district are having.

We have a unique district with pockets of wealth.

We also have a working class district.

Too many folks live below the poverty line.

Whether it's housing, health care, child care, elder care.

I think affordability is the number one issue.

It was the number one issue in 2022.

It's the issue I want to talk about.

When I talk to people, people are facing that challenge.

I want to make sure that they know that we are listening and we are doing what we can to provide solutions for their long-term success.

>> we need the same thing the whole country needs.

Lower inflation.

We need more jobs.

We need more housing.

We need crime -- we need Law & Order.

In district eight, I can tell you I live in West New York.

North Hudson.

One of the biggest issues with quality-of-life is parking.

Whether it's West New York, Birkin, city of Hoboken.

Even right here in the arm from.

Parking is a big issue.

Mass transit is a big issue.

Everything is a big issue.

>> how does a congressman impact on those issues?

let's say parking.

>> a congressman, if I were to be elected, I would pretty much secure funds to build parking structures on all existing municipal lots.

Which is being done currently but not at the rate it needs to be.

Briana: you can check it out by downloading the NJ decides election exchange podcast wherever you listen.

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

Have a great weekend.

We will see you right back here on Monday.

♪ >> 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.

By the PSEG foundation.

>> are future relies on more than clean energy.

It relies on empowered communities, the health and safety of our families and neighbors, of our schools and streets.

The PSEG foundation is committed to sustainability, equity, and economic empowerment.

Investing in parks.

Helping towns go Green.

Supporting civic centers.

Scholarships and workforce development that strengthens our community.

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

>> that's me and my daughter when we went to celebrate our first anniversary.

>> with a new kidney, I have strength.

>> I'm still going everywhere and exploring new places.

>> nobody thought I was going to be here.

Nobody.

>> I look forward to getting older with my wife.

>> we are transforming lives programs and world-renowned care at two of New Jersey's hospitals.

>> they gave me my life back.

It's a blessing.

>> RWJ Barnabas health.

Let's be healthy together.

♪