>> Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is presented by NJM, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Briana: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News" homelessness is on the rise in New Jersey.

A 24% increase as the state struggles to meet the demand for affordable housing.

Also with just two weeks remaining until the election, how might the gender gap influence this consequential race for the White House?

>> It's a harder thing to do but she does seem to do it.

Briana: Plus a recent study reveals a concerning rise in breasts cancer.

A young woman is using TikTok to share her cancer journey.

>> I felt like I need to share with people that it is possible, it is happening, and it happened to me.

Briana: And a milestone era, the unveiling of a 100th mural installation.

>> Art has a tremendous capacity to bring people together.

It is very important to promote public arts because they help revitalize and strengthen communities and helps give us a sense of place and belonging.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us this Tuesday night.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

A few key stories were following.

First, more people are living on the streets in New Jersey.

I knew into account report that gives a point in time snapshot of homelessness in the state finds that -- a between 4% -- at 14 percent increase statewide compared to the previous year.

The survey was taken on the night of January 23, 20 24, showing total, 12,680 men, women, children were experiencing homelessness.

The highest rate far away was in Essex County.

The data also revealed 46% reported having a disability, 22% were kids under the age of 18, and 20% were adults over the age of 50.

There were also high concentrations of what is known as being chronically homeless.

The numbers highlight the need for affordable housing in New Jersey, pointing out the rise and homelessness has become a year-over-year trend and while that number continues increasing, the vacancy rate for rentals across the state consistently drops.

Also tonight, an update on multiple wildfires burning in the state.

Crews are still working to contain the so-called microwave fire in Rockaway Township, Morris County.

The New Jersey four-star service says the blaze is now 85% contained after burning through roughly 77 acres.

Jacobs Road is still closed off with engines in hand crews on scene.

Leaves and wind have been a pain point threatening to add fuel to the fire.

The fire remains under investigation.

And while there is a wildfire advisory for the smoke affecting residents in Burlington and Ocean Counties.

Joint base firefighters are using back burning strategies to burn fuel ahead of the main body of the fire to prevent the spread but the fire is expected to remain within the confines of the base.

You jerseys four-star service is assisting at this point that there may be local road closures and limited visibility due to the smoke.

All of New Jersey remains under stage three fire restrictions it's put limits on the types of fires you can burn outdoors and under a drought launch.

National Democrats are planning a last-minute media blitz for Sue Altman in her attempt to unseat Republican Congressman Tom Kane Junior in the seventh district.

The largest Super PAC is spending $4 million on TV and digital ads in these final two weeks before the election.

The last-minute ad buy is the first major investment by national Democratic group on Altman's behalf.

It comes after the state's largest teachers union jumped in with a half-moon dollars to help the effort.

The race is considered one of the most competitive both in New Jersey and in the nation this election cycle.

Almost all congressional incumbents are favored to recapture their seats in November but polls show the battle between Altman and Kane is tight.

Cook political report recently shifted the writing from a tossup to liens Republican Privette of Monmouth University Paul out last week put Altman well within the margin of error to win.

Meanwhile the voting gender gap is growing ahead of the election.

Polls show Vice President, Harris is struggling to win support from men, while Former President Donald Trump has the same problem with female voters.

Political experts say the gender gap is now at an all-time high and that matters in a race for tens of thousands of votes across a few key swing states could determine the outcome of the election.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan takes a look at what is driving voters choices.

>> Whether it's Kamala Harris cracking open a Miller beer on a late-night TV appearance -- >> Cheers.

Renda: Or Donald Trump with muscles added in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, candidates are buffing up their macho owner finds to prove they deserve the oval office.

This election features a giant sized gender gap and traditional masculinity is a critical issue for Trump says one poster.

>> 84% say they will support Trump in this election.

Brenda: He says it's tougher for Harris, who has to find a middle ground, masculine enough to prove she can lead without being , quote, threatening.

It's complicated.

>> Is like Fred Astaire and gender Rogers.

-- Ginger Rogers.

She has a harder thing to do, but she does it.

>> Men are more focused on the economy and Trump has promised jobs and tax cuts.

Gender and stereotypes drive expectations says a lobbyist, a Harris supporter.

>> I heard some black ministers say there's too many pantsuits, winter you going to put on a dress?

>> She believes traditional views of the U.S. president restraint ache was masculinity do shape opinions among young black men.

>> I sit in my barbershop and I listen to some of the brother sitting around me and they are like, yes, Trump is a straight talker, I like the way he talks.

I asked in the question, are you listening to what he is saying?

>> Polls show the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe continues to galvanize women voters.

One third report they can't vote for a candidate who is not aligned with their views on abortion.

>> This issue is going to be on the ballot.

It's on the ballot.

>> But it is even more fundamental than that.

Trump projects a tough law and order stance, promises to protect women and deport millions of immigrants.

It's red meat for the MaGA crowd who want to revert to America's patriarchal past.

>> Responding to the mail grievance on the white mail grievance that has come with the progress of women, with the racial progress we have seen, and him saying, no, we need to restore these kind of traditional notions of both gender and the balance of power, including at the presidential level.

>> Is so divisive, even some husbands and wives say they do not want to share their election choice on election day.

Briana: A religious nonprofit group and New Jersey is taking the state attorney general to court.

First choice women's resource Center, a self identified pro-life nonprofit, filed a lawsuit in federal court to block estate subpoena from the AG's office as it investigates the nonprofit for potentially violating the anti-consumer fraud laws, claiming the center it misled patients and steered them against having abortions.

The center has denied it and is accusing the state of trying to get its hands on sensitive patient documents and internal records.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports.

Joanna: A legal battle is raging between you jerseys Attorney General in a crisis pregnancy center with five locations across North and Central Jersey called first choice women's resource centers.

>> This is a case of unlawful harassment by the New Jersey Attorney General against pregnancy centers.

He has engaged in selected enforcement based on speech because he's kind of shown his cards that he is in favor of abortion clinics.

>> Lincoln Wilson is interning with the Christian law firm that is representing first choice in a federal lawsuit.

The suit came after the Attorney General opened an investigation into the pregnancy centers business practices and issued a subpoena for its records and other documents, including its sponsor list.

Wilson argues that was unlawful.

>> It violates the First Amendment protections of association.

The classic case was when the Alabama Attorney General went after the NAACP parts membership list and the Supreme Court said it was a harassment campaign.

>> He says you see the same thing here in this case.

>> He wants 5000 donor names.

He has not shown any good reason why he needs it.

He has shown he publicly opposes pregnancy centers and he is trying to minimize their work.

The First Amendment says you have to be at a high standard for that sort of request.

>> He issued a consumer alert over crisis pregnancy centers in the state, warning that do not provide abortion care or referrals to abortion care and they try to convince pregnant people not to have abortions.

He cautioned that CPC's may appear to be reproductive health care clinics but do not provide contraception or other reproductive health care and that some delay initial appointments to delay access to abortion care.

The director says they have never advertised anything other than what they do.

>> On every page of our website with clearly state we do not perform are referred for abortion.

Whenever anyone calls us, we say the same thing.

We are careful to advertise the services that we provide and not advertise the services we do not provide.

We provide free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds to medically confirm pregnancy, material assistance, parenting programs after abortion supporting care.

>> First choice does have an entire section on their website dedicated to abortion information, including all of the different abortion methods available in New Jersey and the cost associated with them, even though this information is not provided upon entering the center.

The AG's office won't offer comment on pending litigation but when the suit was first filed, Michael Simon said under long-standing New Jersey law, nonprofits operating in our state cannot engage in deception about the work they do and New Jersey law provides the Attorney General clear authority to investigate nonprofits that may be violating those requirements.

As for theirRest of sponsors -- >> The Attorney General's theory is that first loss -- first choice is this leading its donors and he wants the names of every donor who attended a first choice benefit dinner who gave a gift of stock.

He says all these people did not know they were giving to a pro-life organization when they did that.

>> To that point, were you clear with all of your donors as to what and who they were supporting?

Are you clear with them consistently?

>> We are absolutely clear with them about what they are supporting.

It's interesting, because most of our donors here about us through their church, which would also have a similar pro-life viewpoint and stance.

Joanna: The federal suit is requesting an end to the AG's subpoena.

Sides are confident the courts will rule in their favor.

For "NJ Spotlight News" I am Joanna Gagis.

Briana: Doctors are urging women who may be at high risk for breast cancer to schedule a screening.

After new report found breast cancer rates are rising in the U.S. and even more sharply among younger women.

Rates increased 1% each year from 2012-2021 and that may not sound like a large number, but it means one in every 50 women will develop invasive breast cancer by the age of 50, according to the authors of the report.

The steepest jump is for young women in their 20's, whose rate jumped by more than 2% each year.

Hoboken resident was diagnosed last year with stage two breast cancer at the age of 27.

Now she is using her social media accounts as a platform to spread the word, and she joins me now.

It's so great to have you here.

We should note you are in remission, yes?

>> Technically, yes.

Briana: Did you have any signs or symptoms?

What made you go get screen in the first place when you are so young?

>> Actually, my boyfriend found alum, which is typical for women my age because we are not doing self exams, we are not getting screened.

My fiancé found it and I just thought there was no world where it was a possibility for me.

So I kind of put it on the back burner for a month or so.

I finally got it checked out by my gyno, and she thought it was just a fiber, like a benign breast lump.

But then I just felt like something was wrong.

A month later I just was like, I need to get this checked out again.

Briana: Your intuition kicked in there.

>> Yes, it was just like a mental awareness thin.

I could not get it out of my head.

So I got it checked and it was breast cancer.

I will never forget when I got the call.

Briana: What was that like, when you were diagnosed?

>> It was such unfamiliar territory.

I heard the word and really thought my life was over, first and foremost.

It was just like a complete shock.

I felt like life is I knew it was just over.

After I got my appointment with my surgical oncologist and I learned more about how far medicine has come, I was more comfortable, I guess, but still, I was just in shock that this was happening to me, and was even like a possibility.

Briana: Because when you say that, you are otherwise healthy, and was there any family history where their's would be an inkling in your mind?

>> No, that was another thing, there was just no way.

Cancer in general was something I was unfamiliar with, let alone breast cancer.

It was just like -- I can't even explain the kind of fog that went over me when I heard the news.

It was just like, am I dreaming?

Briana: It doesn't seem real.

Then you go on your TikTok, under social media.

As you are going through your journey, that's a pretty vulnerable thing to do.

Why did you decide to go public with something like this, something so personal?

>> The first video I posted about it was on TikTok, maybe a week after I found out.

Think it was because mostly I felt like if it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone.

And I needed to share that.

The rates were rising, it was within the realm of possibility.

Because I think if I had waited any longer, it would've progressed, and my diagnosis, my prognosis would've been way worse.

So I felt like I needed to share with people that this is possible, it is happening, and it happened to me.

Briana: You went through chemo.

How many rounds?

>> Eight rounds.

Briana: That takes a big toll on you.

What do you want other young women to know, what is your message?

>> For women who are diagnosed and have rest cancer, I wanted to share my journey to remind them, you aren't what happen to you.

You still are you.

It's not what happened to you, it's how you react to it.

Just because you got a horrible diagnosis or whatever it may be, you don't have to lose yourself in that, because that's what I was really worried about.

But for women who have not been diagnosed yet, I just wanted to show them that this is happening.

I wanted to put a face to it so it's not just a blank statistic.

Real people are being affected by this, and not to be scary, but it could happen to you, if it could happen to me.

That was really important for me to share because when I first found my lump, I put it off or maybe two months because I was just like, there is no way.

Briana: We wish you the best of luck with your health.

Thank you for sharing with us, and good luck from here on out.

Eve got a whole life ahead of you.

>> Thank you so much.

Briana: Inner spotlight on business report, offshore wind was a hot topic during last November's election.

A new survey finds it is not a key ballot issue for most residents.

Stockton University poll finds offshore wind projects aren't a high priority for New Jersey voters, even among those who support the industry.

52% of voters somewhat are strongly favor installing wind turbines off New Jersey's coast, but only 17% said a candidate's position on offshore wind would influence their vote in a meaningful way.

That number was higher for coastal residents, about 28% paper -- about 20%.

33% compared to people surveyed who live farther inland at 55%, according to the pole.

With layoffs looming, union workers from care points three Hudson County hospitals rally today at a park in Hoboken.

Health workers turned out for the demonstration calling on the hospital honors to save jobs.

Care point is reportedly considering bankruptcy and has been in financial distress for some time now.

Potential layoff notices went out to 2600 employees at Hoboken University Medical Center, Christ Hospital and Bayonne Medical Center.

Hoboken and Christ are considered safety net hospitals because they serve a vulnerable population.

People who are largely under or uninsured.

Rally organizers say they have already witnessed layoffs of nurses and staff.

The nonprofit health-care system is moving toward new leadership with Michigan's inside health hospital network.

Care point has also vowed to keep its doors open.

Of the hospital system and union members want the governor's office to step in and helped save jobs.

Tonight, a milestone for Atlantic City's arts and culture scene.

City leaders celebrated the unveiling of the 100th mural commissioned by the AC arts foundation.

For the last seven years, artists have led their talents to the cities creating massive murals with the goal of revitalizing communities in bringing neighborhoods together.

Ted Goldberg spoke to the artist behind mural number 100 and learned how the city inspired her work.

Ted: Atlantic City's newest mural means to honor people who lived there.

>> There always streaming about ways to make the space more inviting, ways to really center Atlantic City and the culture that is here.

And shine a light on the beauty that does exist here.

Ted: This artist painted this mural on the side of a restaurant and planned it down to the very verb tense used in the writing, which reads, "always dreaming, always growing."

>> I wanted the words to have the "ing" and the continuation like we will continue now and forever.

Ted: She met a diverse group of people along the way.

>> It was great to sit in the back and hear the different languages and have some exchange of culture.

I have a Latin background, I have friends from South Asia to Haiti and it's nice together and have food.

>> She says she wants to represent the people who will look at the murals.

>> It is nice to have art that is straight for my sketchbook.

I like to be considered and think of the people in the space who are going to look at this.

A lot to see the work feel seen and represented.

They feel like it was made for them and not the tourist community.

Ted: The representation includes even the insects that bus around the garden.

>> There are a lot of native gardens.

I was literally catching bugs all day.

At first I wasn't going to add the bugs, but then I was like, this is their home, too, so I should add all of them.

>> Is the 100th mural commissioned by the arts foundation since 2017.

Executive Director Michael Atkins says they have made a different citywide.

>> We feel it is important to promote public arts because they help revitalize and strengthen communities.

It gives us a sense of place and belonging.

Ted: People who came to this celebration agree.

>> Sometimes it takes the bad things about the city and puts a beautiful light on it.

We are forcing people to look at the good and talk about it, too.

It's really awesome.

>> I feel like if I stop and see something, I feel like the kids or even stopping and looking at the quotes on the walls.

They may not know who the artist is but the paintings and the murals and the quotes are inspiring.

Ted: She also painted their 99th .

She says it was an honor to do both of them.

>> Is like a full circle for me right now.

10 years ago I was making art here for free, for the fun of it.

I gained so much skills and practice and just different types of growth I've had as an artist.

But now I get asked to do the 100th mural.

It really meant a lot to me.

I was really speechless.

Ted: So how many more murals should we expect to pop up?

>> I'm so glad that we got to 100.

Let's go for another hundred murals next.

Ted: So the next time you are in Atlantic City, keep an eye out from one of these massive pieces of art along the city streets.

What you see in ac might just surprise you.

Briana: That does it for us tonight.

Before you go, a reminder to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast so you can listen to us any time.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks her being with us.

Have a great night.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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

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In New Jersey realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

Or information is online at NJrealtor.com.

>> Look at these kids, what do you see?

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 private a chance to be known and to be an American.

My name is Julia and I am proud to be an NJEA member.

♪ >> I'm Gloria Munns, 2020 president of New Jersey realtors.

Whether it's gathering -- guiding first-time buyers through the home buying process, or securing space for new business.

New Jersey realtors have been helping buyers through transactions for a century.

There is a knowledgeable New Jersey realtor for you.

Learn more at NJrealtor.com/find.

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