NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi

NJ Spotlight News April 6, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News Demands are mounting for the release of the Wall Street Journal reporter and New Jersey-native detained in Russia. It’s been one week since Evan Gershkovich…who grew up in Princeton… was taken into custody by Russia’s Federal Security Bureau while reporting on a story for the outlet… and accused of spying for the U.S. Government. His friends and family are actively doing their part to bring him home, Anchor Briana Vannozzi talks to Jeremey Berke, a close friend of Evan’s from college and former roommate; Meanwhile there’s been a greater effort here in the state to help those getting back on their feet AFTER serving time in prison. By helping the formerly incarcerated find employment; Plus, Governor Murphy this week sent a strong message to the LGBTQ plus community. You are welcome and safe in New Jersey. Signing an executive order protecting gender-affirming health care. It’s welcome news for the community as other states begin restricting those same rights; AND a reminder that if you see it… you can be it. Despite the rising number of women entering medical professions, surgical specialties are still largely male-dominated. So, female neurosurgeons are inspiring other young women to walk the same path.
 

NJ Spotlight News April 5, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News former President Donald Trump lashed out last night following his historic arraignment in a lower Manhattan court where he pleaded NOT GUILTY to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Many saw the speech as a campaign moment…blurring the lines between his court battles and political opponents. Will this help or hurt his 2024 run; New Jersey is now a “safe haven” for transgender people. Governor Murphy making it official this week by way of executive order. Directing all state departments to protect both adults and minors…including health care professionals and patients…from punishment for seeking, receiving, or providing gender-affirming health care; Drivers in the state have been alerted to the upticks in car thefts statewide. And while progress has been made on that front, organized crime rings are still getting away with swiping cars from the streets and shipping them overseas right through the Port of Newark; And the Virtua Health Proton Therapy Center is officially open. It took three years and roughly $45 million dollars to build but is now giving cancer patients access to an advanced treatment… a little closer to home.

NJ Spotlight News April 4, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News - Breaking News- Arrest and arraignment day for former President Donald Trump. A historic event, the first former US President ever to face criminal charges. It prompted unprecedented security measures and a chaotic scene outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan, Senior Correspondent Joanna Gagis is on scene and Saint Peter’s University professor emeritus of political science Alain Sanders breaks down the 34 count indictment and what it all means; Governor Murphy was one of several governors who met virtually today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the ongoing war and pledge continued bipartisan support to the country; Lawmakers are getting into the thick of the state budget process with the first departmental budget hearing today in Trenton. First up is state Attorney General Matt Platkin. Whose office has lately taken a “tough on crime approach.” And according to New Jersey’s top law enforcement officer keeping that up comes with a price; And the game may have been in Houston, but Jersey was in the house last night!! UConn head coach Dan Hurley giving a BIG shout out to his hometown JERSEY CITY after the Huskies clinched the NCAA men’s championship title.
 

NJ Spotlight News March 3, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News another unspeakable tragedy.  An 11-year-old Burlington County girl’s death by suicide now being made public by a grieving mom, who desperately wants to prevent another child’s mental health crisis. Raising familiar questions about what’s driving this alarming nationwide rise in teen suicide and how much responsibility should rest with schools to prevent it; Governor Murphy has signed into law a controversial bill critics say will strip the state’s campaign finance watchdog – ELEC - of its independence; Inflation may be to blame for a lot of the high prices we’re seeing, but that’s not the only factor in New Jersey’s rising rent costs. The state is short hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units; AND plastic utensils are now in the crosshairs of environmental advocates, who are pushing a bill to ban disposable cutlery AND condiment packets.
 

NJ Spotlight News March 31, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News former President Donald Trump is expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in a Manhattan Courthouse following his indictment by a New York grand Jury. Bergen Record’s columnist Charlie Stile breaks down the political implications for Jersey’s GOPers and a potential Trump run in 2024; And today is Transgender Day of Visibility, marches and rallies across the country and here in Trenton. And while the Garden State hasn’t seen any explicitly anti trans legislation, supporters don’t want what happened in Kentucky and Iowa happening here; There’s been little improvement at the state’s lowest-rated nursing homes over the past year – and some facilities have been providing poor care to residents for nearly a decade now according to a new report out from the state comptroller’s office today; AND New Jersey’s youth are dealing with a mental health crisis and  lawmakers in our state say social media is to blame, and they’re joining states from around the country in introducing legislation to make these sites accountable.

NJ Spotlight News March 30, 2023

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News the clash over what’s causing whale deaths erupted today on the steps of the state capital, where opponents of offshore wind called for an immediate halt of wind farm development until the cause of the whale strandings is determined; A bill passed in Trenton today allowing police officers and firefighters to retire with a reduced pension after 20 years of service regardless of age, the bill appropriately dubbed the “burnout bill;” Rutgers faculty  say they’re “running out of patience” as negotiations over new contracts and higher pay carry into yet another month. Today, their protests spilling over and into a meeting of the university’s top leaders forcing them to walk out; And the city of Paterson could use a bright spot right now. And today in Trenton, they got it.  Full honors and cheers for Eastside High School’s winning boys and girls basketball teams.

NJ Spotlight News March 29, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News a state takeover isn’t enough to ease tensions in Paterson. Community members rallied for HOURS at a city council meeting Tuesday night. Packing the council chambers, all in frustration over the embattled police department saying “we are in crisis”; Nashville residents will gather tonight for a vigil mourning the three children and three adults killed in the school shooting on Monday. The massacre is among 130 mass shootings this year ALONE in the US. Federal data show gun violence is now the leading cause of death among young children in America. Anchor Briana Vannozzi talks to Michael Anestis, Executive Director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center about that frightening numbers;  Veterans here in NJ are starting to see changes brought about by the newly signed PACT Act. The law expands healthcare and benefits for those exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serviing; And don’t procrastinate if you’ve got upcoming international travel plans. The State Department warns the agency is facing “unprecedented demand” and delays for passports.
 

NJ Spotlight News March 28, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News what exactly is happening with the head of New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission, or ELEC? Initial reports were that Governor Murphy was looking to oust Jeff Brindle from, but recently, emails were released showing what some are calling insensitive and inappropriate comments made by Brindle on LGBTQ and racial topics, a hearing today to decide his fate; So, who is throwing their name in the ring to run for the legislature here in New Jersey as many are backing out of the political scene. Well, this year, the legislature is in shake-up mode, with about 20 lawmakers retiring and there’s a large swell of female legislators leaving their posts; Paterson Mayor Sayegh is singing a different tune today after Attorney General Matt Platkin announced he is taking over the city's police department, now welcoming the  “cooperation” to help ease community and police tensions; AND Bed Bath & Beyond is making major cutbacks. The company based in Union, New Jersey, is closing 43 stores, two warehouses and one fulfillment center - and that means layoffs and job cuts. But here’s the catch, the company’s making these cuts just a day before a new law takes effect in New Jersey that’ll require large businesses like Bed Bath & Beyond, with 100 or more workers, to pay severance when they lay off at least 50 people.

NJ Spotlight News March 27, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News BREAKING NEWS the state is taking control of Paterson’s troubled Police Department. Attorney General Matt Platkin today said the order is effective immediately and follows the death of crisis worker Najee Seabrooks at the hands of Paterson police but also there is a   “crisis of confidence in law enforcement” in the city; Calls for the head of New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission to resign are intensifying. After a new round of emails were made public that advocates say attack the LGTBQ community and reveal racial prejudice; Hundreds of people packed into the Assembly Budget Committee today as it held its first budget hearing of the season. And once again, school funding was a hot topic; And one more Jersey Cinderella run in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament came to an end Friday night. The Princeton Tigers were beloved underdogs in this year’s tournament, but despite their latest loss fans and the team are still riding high.

NJ Spotlight News March 24, 2023

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News Antisemitism is hitting record new highs in New Jersey and across the U.S according to a new report released by the Anti-Defamation League. It  finds incidents like harassment, vandalism and assault against Jews are at the highest levels ever recorded since 1979 with New Jersey seeing a 10 percent increase in those hate crimes for 2022;  NJ Spotlight News analyzed use-of-force by the Paterson Police department—and found disproportionate rates against Black and Brown people in comparison to law enforcement in New Jersey as a whole; Federal lawmakers got a chance to grill the CEO of TikTok on Thursday. Spending roughly 5 hours hammering the 40-year-old head of the social media app with pointed…and even combative questions. New Jersey Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone is a ranking member on the House and Energy Commerce Committee which held the hearing and talks to Anchor Briana Vannozzi; And tonight’s the night for Princeton! Another historic Jersey run in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Ted Goldberg reports from Lexington, Kentucky.