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BRIANA: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, breaking news.

Remembering Donald Payne, Jr..

The 6-term congressman has died after suffering a cardiac episode.

A fierce advocate for lowering prescription drug prices and cancer screening.

>> he was special.

I don't know.

You know to be difficult to find someone like him.

BRIANA: Plus, President Biden signing a massive 95 belittling military aid package.

>> is a hued package.

That is a lot of money for a lot of equipment.

Some of it sophisticated, some of its standard.

It comes at a time when Ukraine badly needs it.

BRIANA: Also, the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments on emergency abortion access in states that ban it with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill rallying in support of reproductive rights.

The Federal Trade Commission banning employers from enforcing , non-compete agreements.

>> The primary argument is that non-compete agreements restrict ability of workers to move on.

Perhaps to higher paying, and suppressed wages, which hurts the economy overall.

BRIANA: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ Announcer: From NJBS studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

♪ BRIANA: Good evening and thanks for joining us this Wednesday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with breaking news.

New Jersey Congressman Donald Payne junior has died the sixth Congressman best 6-term Democratic representative from Newark suffered from cardiac episode on April 6 stemming from complications tied to his diabetes.

According to reports, he remained unconscious In an intensive care unit at Newark, Beth Israel Medical Center ever since.

Payne became a congressman in 2013 after winning a special election to fill the seat of his late father Donald Payne, Sr. who was the first black congressman in New Jersey history.

Donald Payne previously served , Jr. as the Newark City Council president and as an Essex County freeholder.

During his time in Congress who pushed to lower prescription drug prices and introduced the test for lead act to protect children from lead contaminated water.

He's also been an advocate of cancer prevention and screening.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

He was 65 years old.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz has reaction from local, state and federal leaders .

Reporter: Is a sign of the South Ward of Newark, born to a man who became a historic figure in New Jersey.

Donald Payne, Jr. is being remembered today as a humble public servant who rarely sought the limelight but who carried the progressive banner from the streets of Newark to the halls of Congress.

>> He was a very humble, genuine man, loved his children, was very proud of them, and for him to step into the congressional seat and serve out the legacy that his father started, it was the biggest owner of his life, and he carried that with him every day.

DAVID: but Essex County Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones, who first met Don Payne Jr. during the Donald Payne, Sr. campaign for Congress, remembers that Payne Jr. was reluctant to succeed his father when senior died in 2012.

>> A lot of us at that time, we were encouraging him.

And it was difficult because he was dealing with grief for his dad.

And he wasn't looking for the next step.

He was looking -- he was very close to his father.

And that was a big blow to him.

And a lot of folks didn't understand that at the time, he just needed to deal with his own personal healing.

Reporter: A former tollbooth worker and county educational services coordinator, Donald Payne, Jr. had risen by then to the presidency of the Newark City Council and the then County Board of Freeholders.

>> He wasn't one to always look for the accolades or the press clips or being in front of a camera.

>> I heartbroken to hear the am passing of my dear friend Donald Payne, Jr., said Bonnie Watson Coleman, a fellow member of the delegation today.

Like myself, Don came from a family legacy of public service and Davonte over discussions of our trailblazing fathers.

I cherish the 10 years I had the honor of working with Don.

Essex County executive t Joe Divincenzo Went to school with Don Payne senior and was a longtime friend and political ally of Don Payne junior.

How much were they are like and how much were they different?

>> They were twins.

Same thing.

What they stood for.

The entire payne family was about the same thing.

It wasn't about money, not about that, not about where you live, it was about doing the right thing.

They always told me it was about the principal.

That is what they did, they did the right thing.

He lived his life to the fullest.

He and his great wife, Beatrice, he has three great kids.

I feel bad for each one of them, but I know they will go on and continue your legacy too.

Dave: It was my great honor to work side-by-side with Donald, said Governor Murphy today, and "we will hold his memory close to our hearts as we build upon the Payne family's deep legacy of service.

Payne had suffered A cardiac episode recently after years of several health issues.

>> He handled it with grace and dignity and he used them to fight for people going for the same health challenges with diabetes and issues that your body is confronted with with diabetes.

David: There is a process for succeeding Payne, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Party leaders will choose someone for the fall general election, which today, is far away from the minds of the friends of Donald Payne, of which there were many.

David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: Shipments of weapons and military equipment are en route to the Ukraine military tonight after President Biden signed a $95 billion aid package supporting military operations in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

It comes after months of wrangling and debate over how involved the U.S. should be it foreign wars.

The bill overwhelmingly passed the Senate last night with a bipartisan 79-18 vote, after the House approved the package Saturday.

In signing the legislation, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine, the president today called it a good day for World Peace.

Ukraine recently stepped up calls for help on the West as Russia makes significant gains in its invasion.

But the approval of the aid is also facing significant backlash in the U.S., because it includes 26 billion dollars to fund Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.

A Monmouth University poll out today finds public opinion on the package is divided, with 40% of Americans in favor, and 35% the post.

Also sandwiched in the bill is legislation that could eventually lead to the banning of tiktok in the U.S., giving Chinese parent company ByteDance for a few nine months to sell it or be banned from app stores.

Ukraine for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today showing his gratitude on social media rating simply, "thank you, America."

But is it too little, too late?

In this war, we turn to Alan Sanders, Professor of political science at St. Peter's University.

Great to talk to you.

I am curious if this is a package to Ukraine specifically is more of a morale boost, or is this enough money and weapons to shore up Ukraine's defenses and undoubted to make some progress this year?

Guest: It certainly is a morale boost, but it is also substantively important, it's a huge package, $60 million is a lot of money for a lot of equipment, some of it sophisticated and some of its standard and it comes at a time for Ukraine badly needs it.

BRIANA: Although we should note the last aid package was around $75 billion.

It's a bit less, but I guess the question is how quickly it can get to the front lines, right, and how much good it can do there.

GUEST: That is a good question, President Biden has said he will start shipping equipment so if some of it will get there.

Other equipment will take longer to get there.

But morale, as we pointed out, is also important.

It means that the Ukrainian forces know that reinforcements are coming and therefore they will be willing to fight excessively and understand that they are not alone and anymore.

BRIANA: Predictability of supply has been a a big issue for Ukraine.

There is a major offensive pressure is planning for this summer, June or July, uncertain at this point.

Is this going to put holes in Russia's ability to invade?

I mean, what are they up against right now, just how far behind the eight ball is Ukraine?

GUEST: They are on the defensive right now.

Russia has huge amounts of equipment and money they are willing to commit to this.

They are facing an adversary that is very much so more powerful.

But remember we are trying to defend your own territory, you have the advantage of knowing the ground and also having the support of the local population.

So Ukraine faces immense arts, nonetheless, this will be a huge boost you know that as you pointed out the summer months are the months when the conflict grows up even further because the weather permits that.

So this aid comes at a key moment when the weather is turning in a way that will allow for battlefield combat to progress, so it is important for Ukraine to have all the equipment it needs.

BRIANA: Thinking about the presidential election in November and it did is reelected, what that would mean for Ukraine, and consequently, if your group will step up to help Ukraine fill in some of its shortfalls.

GUEST: Europe is committed to the defense of Ukraine and it will step up.

But the reality is that the Europeans are much more disorganized.

They talk a lot and a lot less than what they talk about, that is part of the problem of the European states individually.

If Trump get reelected, yes, it will mean trouble for Ukraine, because now Trump has an isolationist wing of the Republican Party.

BRIANA: Making his remarks today, President Biden says there were atrocities, violations of international law, being committed by Russia and pointing out that that is why it's important to get this funding over to Ukraine.

But is that not the same argument being made by members of Congress like Bonnie Watson Coleman, members of the Senate who voted against the package strictly because it contains money for Israel who is accused of doing the same?

GUEST: Well, it is accused of doing the same.

But whether it is actually doing the same is up for debate.

The Israelis are facing a war of national security.

The enemies, Hamas and Iran at all the other enemies surrounding Israel have said that they want to wipe Israel off the map.

When we are facing adversaries of that type, you are going to take very aggressive countermeasures.

Whether some of those have exceeded, conventional standards, we will have to wait and see.

BRIANA: Officer Alan Sanders, thank you so much.

GUEST: My pleasure, take care.

BRIANA: The United States Supreme Court today took up a key case in the national abortion debate on whether Idaho's near total abortion ban conflicts with the federal law protecting patients in medical emergencies.

The decision could affect other states that have put abortion bans in place.

And while New Jersey isn't one of them Democratic Congresswoman , Mikie Sherrill has signed on to a friend of the court brief with other congressional Democrats imploring the court to uphold the law.

Raven Santana reports.

[Protestors chanting] >> Pro-life is a lie, they don't care if people die.

Reporter: hundreds of abortion rights and anti abortion protesters flooded the entrance to the Supreme Court as the justices heard arguments regarding emergency abortion access.

The court is weighing whether emergency medical treatment and Labor Act should cover emergency abortions even in states where the procedure is banned.

The test case comes from Idaho, where the state enacted a law which allows a woman to get an abortion only when her life, not her health, is at risk.

>> what if you need an abortion not because you are going to die, but because you will lose your uterus and therefore no longer be able to have children.

That is the reason under the law where a physician could say OK, we need to do an abortion.

Under Idaho law, you couldn't do that.

Reporter: she is a professor of law at Rutgers Law School.

She says, it boils down to one question -- could the state say we will require women in our state today if they are pregnant and they need an abortion?

>> It's a question of how far states can go.

It's a significant question and one, frankly, that will not just be sorted out of the state level, it will end up in the Supreme Court.

Reporter: The hearing is the latest legal talent that could impact abortion access across the country.

In New Jersey, advocates and lawmakers including Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, a leading advocate for reproductive freedom, are urging the court to uphold the law reproductive health care in the states that are imposing these draconian laws is getting worse and worse and worse because we have a combination of doctors being afraid to provide basic treatment because of these laws that involve criminal time if the state disagrees with the decision the doctor made.

Reporter: The Congresswoman made her remarks alongside doctors and staff that the Barnabas Medical Center where she also gave birth to her daughter.

She says laws like Idaho's are not only putting a heavy burden on women, but they also need to doctors leaving the state, making outcomes even worse for women living there.

>> You also learn to see doctors in the states, and no, I have the Hippocratic oath, so I am not going to practice in a hospital like the one we spoke about today where a woman has a miscarriage in the bathroom or the lobby because they will not process her in.

>> We are not just talking about elective termination of pregnancy, we are talking about women who have failed pregnancies, who have babies that will be nonviable or nonliving if they are carried to term.

Pregnancies that endanger the lives of women where they will have life-threatening bleeding and complications.

Reporter: This doctor is an attending physician in the emergency department of the hospital and she sees firsthand how this emergency care can be the difference between life and death for many months.

>> And that they don't need to wait until they are so critical that it is difficult to take care of them.

Reporter: The lawyer professor believes the decision could come down to where it ends up being all women on one side.

She urges viewers to pay attention to the bigger picture.

>> I hope that people watching these pieces go to the Supreme Court, that they are not just thinking about whether they believe in abortion or not, but they are thinking about who gets to decide what rights any of us has in a whole host of different circumstances.

Reporter: For NJSpotlightNews, I am Raven Santana.

BRIANA: New details on the Murphy administration's place that split up the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and create two separate agencies.

As first reported by Politico, the administration agreed to a new contract with the consultant McKinsey to help guide the overhaul.

As a senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports, the shakeup comes after a bungled pandemic response at state-run veterans' homes that caused hundreds of residents to die.

>> I am cautiously optimistic.

Reporter: It is Jay Boxwell's mission to protect New Jersey veterans, especially those living in state-run veterans' homes where hundreds died of COVID.

So after multiple reports and lawsuits identified glaring errors and mismanagement at the Menlo Park and Paramus facilities run by a New Jerseyans, or DMAVA, he is glad the state hired McKinsey consultants to help restructure the whole system.

>> We hope this will be truly an unbiased look at the operations systems in DMAVA.

There is a lot of programming that they have never justified how those funds are being spent or where the money is going.

Reporter: the $4 million contract with McKenzie will map out splitting DMVA into two separate cabinet level state agencies, military affairs, and veteran services.

Three phases.

One will analyze DMAVA's current operating structure and identify best practices and budget.

Phase two will create operating plans for two new agencies and phase three will design an orderly transition that identifies costs.

With so many Tangled revenue streams, that is important, since Senator Joseph Cryan.

>> one of the things that will aid in that is the color of money.

State money, Federal money, how we maximize those federal dollars?

How we make sure we don't lose them.

Reporter: he is working with other lawmakers including Senator Joe Vitale, to draft the complex legislation required to break DMAVA apart.

It addressed items like war memorials, cemeteries.

Veteran services such as transportation, placing vets offices in almost every county , and crucially, creating an independent veterans advocate.

>> there is a lack of transparency and that is what residents and staff are afraid of, you know, the retaliation, the poor culture of managers, that less against them mentality instead of working for a collaborative effort to serve veterans.

>> we need to make sure we get input that matters.

That is what matters, get it right.

He made mistakes, get it right.

Reporter: meanwhile, DMAVA is also seeking millions to renovate and expand its vulnerable nursing homes by building private rooms and isolation wings, implementing hard lessons learned from both the pandemic, and the scathing lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice.

DMAVA's commanding officer told Senate Budget Committee members -- >> This is part of our effort.

We are investing more than we ever have to support service members, veterans, and their families.

Reporter: That will require both state and federal funding.

The McKinsey report is due in June, and lawmakers hope to unveil legislation not long afterwards.

Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

BRIANA: in our "Spotlight on Business Report" tonight, The Federal Trade Commission just made it easier to leave your job.

Regulators on Tuesday enacted a nationwide ban on new non-compete agreements for nearly all workers.

Making it illegal for bosses to try to force employees to sign either noncompetes in any scenario, and avoiding any existing noncompete contracts.

It will affect an estimated 30 million workers in the U.S., according to the FTC.

They bar workers from jumping to or starting a competing company for a certain period of time.

The new rules will take effect later this year unless a lawsuit filed today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the national tax firm block it from moving forward.

So, what should workers expect?

I'm joined by Rutgers Labor and employment law expert James Cooney.

James, thanks so much for joining the show.

A lot to unpack here, so let me ask you first, what were the arguments made about why noncompetes hurt workers, and by extension, the economy?

GUEST: Certainly, and it is a pleasure to be here.

The primary argument is that noncompete agreements restrict the ability of workers to move on perhaps to higher paying jobs, and suppressed wages which hurt the economy overall.

BRIANA: Do we have any indication about how much money, talking about the stifling of wages, could potentially be cap back into the economy?

I think a lot of us picture senior level executives, but noncompete agreements run the gamut, don't they?

GUEST: I have seen all types of workers impacted by them.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that this route once it goes into effect, will result in over $401 being prompted into the economy over a decade.

So they really take the permission that this will help improve the economy overall.

BRIANA: What are the implications for businesses?

Because the practice has been, listen, this is how our trade secrets stay hours, how we keep our client and customer lists within house.

What is to stop workers from then either starting their own business or sharing that information really jumped to a competitor?

GUEST: Businesses have a legitimate concern on the point, but there are things that already are being done by businesses to take care of those issues.

For example, they can have workers enter into nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement which will protect trade secrets and intellectual property.

But will not be the heavy hammer preventing a worker from moving on to a new job.

BRIANA: So if I am an employee currently bound by a noncompete, what happens now?

Is that null and void?

GUEST: It will be in around six months.

That is when this rule will go into effect.

At that point, employers will be required to tell workers that they will not enforce the noncompete agreement that has been entered into, with an exception for senior executives, people making over $151,000, involved in policymaking.

But for other workers, it will render those agreements essentially null and void.

BRIANA: There are lawsuits filed today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce being one of the filers there.

Do you anticipate those suits having legs?

Is there a potential that the FTC overstepped its authority?

GUEST: I think there actually is a likelihood that they judge my pleasures to be an excess authority.

That will be the argument, for sure, that the Chamber of Commerce is going to make, essentially saying that this agency did not have the authority to do this by way of rules, that this is something that Congress would have needed to do by legislation.

So I think it is a real possibility this rule could be caught up in the court system for quite a while.

BRIANA: James Comey is an attorney, and professor at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, thank you so much.

GUEST: Thank you.

BRIANA: Turning Torro-Flor Wall Street, stocks slipped today over at more interest rate fears.

Here's how the markets closed.

♪ Any of for the -- ANNOUNCER: Support for the Business Report is provided by Junior Achievement of New Jersey.

Providing students with skills and knowledge to explore, choose and advance their career paths for a bright future.

Online at Janj.org.

♪ BRIANA: that does it for us tonight, but make sure you tune into a special edition of ChatBox tomorrow night with David Cruz.

The moderates a conversation with all three Democratic U.S. Senate candidates vying to replace embattled senior Senator Bob Menendez.

That is Thursday at 6:00 p.m. on the YouTube channel.

Therein this weekend, Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10 :00 p.m. right here on NJPBS.

I am Brianna Vannozzi.

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

We will see you back here tomorrow.

ANNOUNCER: New Jersey education Association.

Making public schools great for every child.

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Let's be healthy together.

and New Jersey Realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at njrealtor.com.

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