Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, joins David Cruz on Chat Box to talk about the plan to revitalize Liberty State Park and to protect the park from privatization and commercialization. LaTourette also discusses the latest research on whale deaths off the Jersey Shore and the outlook for water conditions during the summer.

And Bryan Beninghove, jazz musician and the executive director and founder of the Jersey City Jazz Festival, talks about the lineup for this year’s festival, which takes place June 3-4. The festival will feature over 100 artists on three stages, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the event.

Watch Chat Box live on NJ Spotlight News and the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel, Facebook page and Twitter account Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., and on NJ PBS Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.