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>> Tonight, the party is over for the state's party line.

A federal appeals court sealing the deal to block the county line ballot system for June's Democratic primary.

>> It seems like continuing to fight this battle is futile, but maybe people will continue it.

>> Congestion pricing payback?

The MTA says money will come back to New Jersey to offset the environmental impacts of increased highway traffic.

>> We don't the -- we don't want the emissions, the cars, the money is secondary.

>> Desperate for services, a new domestic violence report shines a spotlight for the need for essential services for domestic violence survivors.

>> Over 90% of homicides are related to domestic violence.

People are shocked when they hear that.

>> More than just lending books, the monk Larry library is now lending help, hiring a social worker to meet the needs of the community.

>> People are coming in and out all the time, and they are asking for services.

>> NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

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

with Briand a Vannozzi.

>> Good evening and thank you for joining us this is -- this Thursday night.

I am Joanna Gagis.

The party line is as good as dead in New Jersey, at least for Democrats.

Yesterday, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling to abolish the line which gives priority to candidates who have the backing of party leadership in each county.

Case was first brought by Congressman Andy Kim, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Bob Menendez.

The appellate decision is significant because the U.S. Supreme Court is not likely to take up this case and it will have an immediate impact on New Jersey voters as they had to the polls for the primaries in early June.

Here to explain what it means and who will not be affected by it is senior writer and projects editor, Colleen O'Day.

Great to sit down with you.

We know the Camden County Democrats challenged the court ruling to abolish it.

What does that mean for all of the other counties in New Jersey?

Colleen: There are other counties that would have liked to have jumped in.

It'll sex county put in an amicus brief.

In certain counties more than others, Camden County is one, Middlesex is another, Hudson is probably another, the party bosses, the party chairman don't want to give up the power that they have had which is that when you make this endorsement and you have this county line, which does seem to have an influence on some voters, that is some strength.

Joanna: That does the appellate court ruling for Camden County now indicate to all of the other counties they don't have a shot here?

Colleen: I think it does.

Because certainly, the judges decision, both the U.S. District Court and the appellate judges, said that there is a high likelihood that Andy Kim and the other plaintiffs will ultimately win the case.

It seems like continuing to fight this battle is futile.

Maybe people will continue.

I don't know.

Joanna: We know the Democrats are the only ones who brought a challenge to the line.

.

What about Republicans?

Are they beholden to this rule -- two these rules?

Colleen: this is one of the crazy things.

I was talking with some general folks who say this is not fair.

How come one party has one bout and the other has another ballot?

I think that is a point taken.

In this case, the Republicans were not part of the suit initially.

There are some Republican candidates who would like to get rid of the line as well.

That is going to happen this year.

It certainly doesn't look like it.

Given in two days, the tube -- the ballots have to get mailed out.

Joanna: County clerks could do away with a line if they chose to.

The Colleen: that for the Republicans.

She said, why bother having two separate looking ballots for folks?

That does not seem right.

She did that.

That was part of this state lawsuit that was brought by Republicans saying, hey, Republican officials, hey, you didn't have the authority to do that.

She does.

That was the decision there.

Joanna: We have seen some candidates come out in support of doing away with the line.

Andy Kim who brought the first challenge against the line.

We have seen Steve Phillips say he would be in support of no line.

Politico reported that Congressman Josh Gottheimer worked hard to keep the line.

He said he would welcome any party county line support.

What happens now to the holdouts, those who really want to get that county line support?

Colleen: I think certainly, there -- they can continue to pursue the case.

This is only a preliminary injunction.

This case will continue to move through the courts.

A Josh Gottheimer or someone like that could seek to intervene.

We did hear that he may be helped Middlesex County find the lawyer that put in their amicus brief.

He could continue with that.

And certainly for a Josh Gottheimer, if it is a candidate who was hoping the county line would help them, they may want to continue to do that, because no line could hurt them in the gubernatorial election.

Not that he has announced yet but everyone thinks he will be jumping into that race.

It could hurt him next year.

Joanna: Unity that my next question we have a crowded gubernatorial race for 2025.

Three candidates, two more coming.

Two announced on the Republican side, one more likely coming.

Is this anyone's race to win?

Colleen: at this point, it certainly could be.

Steve Sweeney in South Jersey -- South Jersey was counting on the line to cement support.

That may not happen.

Steve Phillips has run as a maverick before.

This could help him.

You have got Mayor baraka.

It really could be anyone's race.

Joanna: Colleen O'Dea all right Colleen O'Dea,, we have to leave it there.

Thank you so much.

It is not often an infusion of cash feels like a loss, but in the fight against congestion pricing, emerging administration may have been dealt a blow.

The MTA has said money from congestion pricing will be coming to New Jersey to mitigate the environmental impacts of traffic that will overflow into the state, and that could complicate the state's legal challenge against the pricing plan.

Senior correspondent Brendan -- Brenda Flanagan has more on this story.

Brenda: Folks living in areas like Fort Lee where T-Rex's exhaust as they cost the George Washington Bridge will apparently get some money from the MTA, designed to offset increased pollution driven by congestion pricing tolls.

At least that is what the agency's CEO acknowledged yesterday.

>> The way all of this is determined as allocations by the number of people who are in areas that are impacted by additional truck traffic.

In New Jersey will get its share exactly on the arithmetic.

>> When he talks about arithmetic, I take that with a grain of salt.

Their ability to manage money and do math and balance a budget over at the MTA is certainly been challenging.

Brenda: Bergen County executive Jim cut Esco joined the federal lawsuit against the MTA seeking a brand-new full environmental impact study that would show how badly trucks seeking to evade those higher tolls will degrade North Jersey air quality.

They claim congestion pricing offers millions of dollars for pollution mitigation in areas like the Bronx, but guarantees nothing for Bergen or Hudson counties.

But Leber said the MTA send updated info to Federal Highway administration officials.

>> We have submitted additional materials to them in recent days and weeks.

They are reviewing them.

That is part of the process.

>> This means nothing to me.

And certainly, if you pennies on the dollar are not going to change our position.

I am advocating on behalf of the people of Bergen County and the people of North Jersey, and even the people of New York.

We will continue down the path and continue to fight.

Brenda: Does the MTA signal it will share revenues with Jersey change the legal landscape?

>> I think that cuts the legs out of New Jersey's strongest claim in the case.

Brenda: John Reichman filed an amicus brief for environmentalists who support congestion pricing.

He says the MTA is following proper steps to obtain final federal approval for its and our mental assessment.

The plan greenlighted last summer includes a list of $45 million in possible pollution mitigation projects like plant roadside vegetation, renovate local parks, and install air filters in schools near highways.

>> I think the environmental assessment always indicated that there needed to be mitigation in Bergen County.

What the environmental assessment did not say was what the amount would be, and whether it would be commensurate with what the Bronx has received.

According to the announcement, it will be commensurate.

>> We don't want the emissions, we don't want the extra cars.

.

The money is secondary.

This is really an issue for folks in New Jersey.

Brenda: Environmental justice advocate Melissa Miles says New Yorkers have a right to cleaner air, but New Jersey towns should not have to breathe the displaced pollution.

The devil is in the details.

>> I don't think that it is New York's decision.

Again, that is where you need to come back to folks who will be impacted and say, OK, one is a you will need?

It may be financial if it may not be.

It be mitigation of the pollution.

It may be both.

Brenda: She says towns need full environmental data, and that New Jersey should abandon car centric projects like a widening the turnpike near the Holland tunnel.

Governor Murphy's office had no comment.

Judges 6 -- is expected to rule on the pricing case in June, the same month the MTA hopes to start collecting tolls.

I am Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: College campuses have become an epicenter for debate and protest over the war in Gaza.

Columbia University's president testified before Congress this week over the school's handling of anti-Semitic remarks and protests from both sides that led to the arrest of student protesters today who refused to leave the campus.

Those protests echo the demands of rockers students asking New Jersey's largest State University to divest from Israeli companies, and from its partner Tel Aviv University.

As Ted Goldberg reports, several of those students made their voices heard during a ruckus board of today.

>> We charge you with genocide!

Ted: clickers students track down a Camden to crush today's Board of Governor meeting.

>> Board of Governors you can't hide!

You are funding genocide!

Ted: the board not discuss the possibility of divesting from Israel today, but plenty students did.

>> Zionists are terrorists!

Ted: President Jonathan Holloway did respond to the Center for Islamic life being attacked last week in New Brunswick.

>> Kate has no place at rockers.

To that end, we follow up on every follow as we receive them.

We are grateful to the agencies that are helping us in this work.

Ted: some students blamed Holloway for what happened.

>> That hate crime never would have happened if you had not emboldened Zionists by not speaking out against genocide and calling it for what it is.

>> Normalizing relationships, you have all created an environment with -- where the violence against Muslim students abroad has reproduced itself on campus.

Ted: T a you is Tel Aviv University.

According to the and VAT -- endowment justice collective, Rutgers students voted to disassociate with Tel Aviv University -- University.

>> What we see now is students rising up and say, this is our position as a student body and our position is to divest from Israel -- Israeli businesses, to break our contract with Tel Aviv University, and Maria Lee support the Palestinian people.

>> We don't need another shiny building.

We need investments in our students.

We do not need investments in the state of Israel.

We need to divest.

I'm sure that the divestment vote was discussed in your closed sessions.

We took note that that was not part of the open session agenda.

Ted: the closed session meeting lasted for an hour and a half.

The open session was frequently interrupted by students.

Who complained Rutgers was ignoring them in not bringing up the results of the vote.

>> President Holloway and his team, board members, you refuse to look at the community members, you refuse to look at the beloved community that has camped outside your door, camped outside this building, that have asked for you to look at them in their eye.

>> You don't deserve to hold the power that you do because you are abusing.

Ted: student say they will continue coming to these meetings.

And making their presence known to Rutgers administrators.

In Camden, I am Ted Goldberg, "NJ Spotlight News."

Joanna: Domestic violence continues to threaten the health and safety of so many in New Jersey and the victims are most often women and children.

An annual report called the mystic violence counts takes a deeper dive into who is most affected, what services they are most in need of, and worse, what services they can't access in spite of they need.

Raven Santana spoke to some of the folks leading the effort to meet the needs of domestic violence survivors.

>> Over 90% of Hamas and's -- of homicides in Bergen County are related to domestic violence.

I know people are shocked when they hear that.

Raven: Dr. Julie minor is the executive director of the Center for hope and safety located in Bergen County.

The center's mission is to help victims of domestic violence be safe and rebuild their lives.

>> Each year, we answer hundreds of calls.

People calling our hotline, reaching out for help because they are no longer safe in their homes.

At the safe house, in 2023, we provided housing to 296 individuals.

The majority of them are women.

But also many children.

160 of them are children.

Raven: During the survey, 31 out of 39, or 94%, of identified domestic violence programs in New Jersey participated.

Of the 1455 Victim served in a 24 hour period in September, 937 adult and child victims of domestic violence sought safe shelter.

518 victims received services, including transportation, legal support, and therapy.

Domestic violence hotlines received 564 calls, averaging nearly 24 per hour.

The report found almost all unmet requests were for emergency shelters.

Something that Dr. minor says is critical to survivors.

>> Housing is incredibly important.

Many don't realize that financial abuse is tied in with domestic violence.

99% of the time, the victim will be financially abused.

That is aiming main for the abuser to help control the victim, keep the victim within their relationship, within the home.

>> We are working against a housing crisis in New Jersey, which means even when victims do come in for shelter or transitional housing, oftentimes there is little for them at the end of that in terms of permanent housing.

Victims often find themselves staying in our services longer, having to go back to the abusive situation, or in some cases, ending up homeless because there are no options available.

Raven: New-home morality is the coexecutive director for the New Jersey coalition to end domestic violence.

The state level nonprofit organization has a membership of 33 domestic violence programs across the state that provide services to victims and their families.

Marella says when the pandemic ended, so did funding.

>> Now we have to send out and cut back on our services.

We have to put caps on how long somebody can stay with us, or the number of survivors we can serve at one time.

While it may look like the numbers are decreasing, what is actually happening is this is an impacted funding cuts.

Her program is not being able to reach the same number of victims we served in 2022 and 2021.

Raven: Both Marella and miners say they are concerned a decrease in funding allocation for domestic violence could mean a cut in services, counselors, and shelter staff.

They hope this state increases funding as it could mean the difference between life and death for so many domestic violence victims in the state.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Raven Santana.

>> 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.

Joanna:Joanna: In our spotlight on business report tonight, Wall Street is recovering slightly after a four day losing streak.

Here is how the markets closed today.

Make sure to tune into NJ Business Beat with Raven Santana this weekend.

She is focused on New Jersey's transportation future, first looking at how NJ transit and Rutgers are developing AI technology to keep you safe on the track.

Then, why New Jerseyans are giving the governor electric vehicle push mixed reviews.

Watch it Saturday morning at 10:00 on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

♪ Joanna: Libraries have always served as safe spaces for people to access information and support.

But some libraries are taking that support a step further, offering social workers as part of their staff.

As Melissa Rose Cooper reports, the Montclair public library is one of six around the state offering a social worker and is having a big impact.

>> I think libraries are very special places.

They don't hold stigma against people.

They are a place that, when it is cold, they are warm.

When it's hot.

Melissa: Just on the qualities, Mia says it made her want to become a social worker here at the Montclair public library.

For the past month, she has been meeting with patrons helping them connect to various resources from financial assistance, to clothing, while providing a safe space for them to talk.

>> A lot of times, people need a safe place to talk and librarians have other roles.

A social worker can help fill the position of actually helping them with more in-depth time, when a library has to help manage the floor.

Melissa: The Montclair Public Library is one of the latest in New Jersey stacked with an on-site licensed social worker.

It is an initiative that had been in the works for a few years.

>> We had two social work interns from Montclair State University.

The first one was with us in the middle of the pandemic.

We were only partially open and we did not really get a lot of traffic.

But then, we had another intern and that is when things were opening up.

What we noticed as we were getting a lot more people coming in with what appeared to be mental health challenges.

And it was really alarming, actually.

Melissa: In the entrance left, she says it created a big void.

.

That is why she is happy the library was able to bring on a part-time social worker, thanks to a grant from the partner foundation.

>> People are coming in and out all the time, asking for services.

We also put together a binder of services but sometimes, people just needed that professional help.

>> I for a variety of different factors highlighted those needs.

One of them was the Covid crisis that really showed a real difference between people who had easier access to resources and people who have much more challenging access to government resources and other kinds of resources.

I think social workers have been able to demonstrate the need for having a central place in a community that feels accessible to everyone, that everyone can trust.

>> I will tell you that library social work, it is not effective without the library itself.

Melissa: David Perez knows firsthand the significance of having on-site social services available at the library, as the state's first full time library social worker.

He says now more people are recognizing a library can offer more than just books.

>> Libraries are all about meeting the information needs of people.

Of patrons.

With libraries comes a natural space to engage with community.

Then when you add a social worker into that, a person who has a social worker lines, -- le n is able to thrive in this space, public space.

Melissa: There are six libraries staffed with social workers across the state.

Patrons at the library can set up a one on one visit in advance or meet with a social worker on a first-come first-served basis.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

Joanna: Some sad news.

10th Congressional District representative Donald Payne Junior suffered a heart attack on April 6, and despite his press office sending out repeated statements that the Congressman is in stable condition and recovering in the hospital, New Jersey globe has confirmed today the six term congressman has not regained consciousness since the cardiac event.

.

And that he has been on a ventilator for these last 11 days.

In a statement to NJ Spotlight News,'s team said cardiac episode was related to complications from his diabetes.

They added they hoped for a full recovery for the Congressman.

I also send our wishes to Congressman Payne that he recovers quickly and fully.

Many questions remain about his return to the house and the delicate balance of power that remains in the narrowly divided lower chamber.

That is going to do it for us tonight.

.

Don't miss Reporters Roundtable tomorrow.

David crudits talks to Senate Republican leader Anthony Boko about the GOP's take on school funding, Opera, and the court rulings on the party line.

You can catch Reporters Roundtable tomorrow at noon on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

I am Joanna Gagis.

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

Have a great evening and we will see you tomorrow.

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More information online at NJrealtor.com.

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♪