NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi

NJ Spotlight News November 4, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, it's Election night here in New Jersey and voters across the state are making their final choice for the top of the ticket before polls close at 8pm.
 
Will the third time be the charm for Republican Jack Ciattarelli? Or will voters select Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill as the next governor of the Garden State?
 
All 80 seats in the state Assembly are also up for grabs, plus one Senate seat in Paterson. 
 
We also have reporters out across the state at the polls, speaking with voters, and keeping tabs on any irregularities at polling sites.

NJ Spotlight News November 3, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, it’s the final countdown as Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill make their last push out on the campaign trail, what are their strategies to win-over undecided voters before they head to the polls?
 
Plus, early voting numbers are in and it looks like they’ve hit record numbers for a Governor’s race in the state. 
 
Also, as the government shutdown continues, we look at the impact of SNAP cuts on New Jersey residents.
 
And, we get an update from Washington if lawmakers are any closer to a deal before Election Day. 
 
 
 

NJ Spotlight News October 31, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, we bring you a special episode highlighting a new NJPBS digital series called "Painting Community." This segment focuses on the murals that line the streets of Atlantic City and features an interview with Michael Atkins of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. 

NJ Spotlight News October 30, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, the race for New Jersey’s governor is neck and neck just days out from the election. A new poll released today from Emerson College shows Democrat Mikie Sherrill holding on to the lead in a razor thin margin against Republican Jack Ciattarelli, 49 to 48 percent, and just 3 percent voting for someone else or undecided.
 
Plus, ICE raids and detainments happening across the state this week, we’ll talk to an advocate who was on the scene of the recent round up in Woodbridge about what they’re hearing from families.
 
Also, a hospital in crisis - Jersey City’s Heights University Hospital - laying off staff and winding down non-essential services - we’ll look at the impact on the community.
 
And, why is your electric bill so high? We’ll tell you how A.I. may be playing a role and efforts being made to drive costs down.

NJ Spotlight News October 29, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill are hammering their message to voters, we’ll give you the latest on their ground game in these final days of the Gubernatorial race.
 
Plus, state leaders are commemorating the 13th anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. Which devastated the coastline causing billions of dollars worth of damage. The anniversary comes just after Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica, leaving dozens dead and missing in its path through Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
 
Also, we’ll hear from strategists about how they see Election Day playing out.
 
And, we look at an alarming investigation into New Jersey’s health care system that exposes potentially life-threatening barriers to people with disabilities.
 

NJ Spotlight News October 28, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, one week until Election Day, we’ll get you the latest on early voting numbers, campaign spending and potential lawsuits in the closely watched Gubernatorial race.
 
Plus, we look at how New Jersey residents are dealing with federal food assistance benefits running out on November 1st due to the government shutdown.
 
Also, the federal government shutdown is triggering a new flashpoint over immigration oversight. Federal authorities at ICE have stopped allowing on-demand access for members of congress to make unannounced visits to detention facilities.
 
And, health insurance sticker shock, we’ll tell you what you can expect under federal health programs if DC lawmakers fail to pass key tax credits. 

NJ Spotlight News October 27, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, polls are open for the third day of early voting across New Jersey. And already more than 600 thousand voters have cast their ballot, either early in person or by mail.
 
Plus, we’ll take you to one college where students are proving civic engagement is more than a classroom lesson– working to make sure their peers head to the polls.
 
Also, as the government shutdown drags on with no resolution in sight, we’ll look at the impact on federal workers and food aid.
 
And, fans at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park got an unforgettable surprise this weekend. Bruce Springsteen jumped on stage for an impromptu performance at Little Steven, Stevie Van Zandt’s birthday benefit concert.
 

NJ Spotlight News October 24, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, we’re bringing you a special NJ Spotlight News edition of Reporters Roundtable, where Joanna Gagis has a roundup of the key political stories of the week with the help of a panel of local journalists.

NJ Spotlight News October 23, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, some tragic news at the site of a Gateway Tunnel project in New York today, a worker at the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing suffered a fatal injury. 
 
Plus, in the final weeks of the Gubernatorial race, we’ll tell you why a potential endorsement from a powerful group may give Republican Jack Ciattarelli an edge over Mikie Sherrill come Election Day, but why comments by a campaign advisor are causing controversy.
 
Also, a vital hospital in Newark gets a major upgrade, we’ll bring you the latest. 
 
And, voting has begun in New Jersey’s Gubernatorial race, we’ll get you the latest on the mail-in voting numbers and when you can vote in person.
 
 

NJ Spotlight News October 22, 2025

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, the latest poll in the race for governor shows Democrat Mikie Sherrill’s lead is shrinking, we look at one of the defining issues for the campaigns, how the candidates would overhaul New Jersey’s school funding
 
Plus, Amazon is facing more legal trouble in New Jersey. Attorney General Matt Platkin is accusing the retail giant of discriminating against pregnant and disabled workers at its warehouses here in the state.
 
Also, can the state really eliminate all traffic deaths in the next 15 years? We hear from a mother fighting for safer streets after losing her son.
 
And, direct cash – no strings attached. A new program for expecting moms is coming to New Jersey, we’ll tell you how it works.