>> Funding for NJ Spotlight News provided by the members of the New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

New Jersey realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information on light at NJREALTOR.COM.

And Orsted, committed to the creating American-made energy.

Briana: An economic stalemate.

The labor report shows the number of jobs added to the economy but the Trump Administration's Custer federal funding led to record-breaking layoffs.

Plus after President Trump announced 10% tariffs on all foreign imports to the U.S., New Jersey residents and local businesses brace for impact.

>> Even the stock market is showing him this is not the way to go.

Creating this instability is not healthy for our economy.

Briana: Grades are in for New Jersey schools and students are still struggling.

From learning loss post-pandemic.

What is next for Senator Cory Booker after his now famous record-breaking Senate speech?

Our senior lyrical correspondent looks back on covering the political stuntman.

>> He really had a homerun this time.

What the follow-up is to that is a great question.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

Briana: Good evening and thank you for joining us this Friday night.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with top headlines.

First a surprise jump in hiring.

The U.S. jobs report out today for March shows 228,000 jobs added last month despite thousands of federal government layoffs.

Far more jobs added then economists were predicting offering a bright spot as stocks and the global economy reel from President Trump's tariffs announced.

The health care sector had the most growth since prior months and hourly earnings increased, but the unemployment rate also inched up, now at 2.4%.

Economists say that while the labor report and economy appear to be resilient, it is only a snapshot in time.

Data was collected before the latest trade war moves by the White House and markets are almost certain to enter uncertain terrains.

Stocks have been in turmoil with the worst single trading day since the depths of the pandemic, sparking fears of recession across Wall Street.

Also tonight, grading our schools.

The state released report cards for each of New Jersey's nearly 2500 public schools showing how they did performance wise during the 2023-24 school year.

Districts did well overall, with students among the top performers in the nation, scoring higher on the SAT than a year ago and taking more AP courses then peers in other states.

But students are struggling to recover from pandemic learning loss and rates of absenteeism remain higher than pre-pandemic.

About 15% of New Jersey students were chronically absent last year, meaning they missed more than 18 days within the school calendar.

Prior to COVID that number hovered above 10%.

But the state does better than most schools nationally on that front.

Bullying, vandalism and behavior warranting suspension is on a slow decline.

Yet overall higher than years past.

Progressive activist gearing up for a big weekend of protests.

There are now more than two dozen groups mobilizing across the state to take part in Saturday's hands off national day of action with about 1000 others scheduled around the country.

They are taking aim at President Trump's policies in the Department of Government efficiency spearheaded by Elon Musk as they/federal spending and government workforce.

Organizers say the mass effort is a show of force against what they are calling a brazen power grab by the administration.

Among issues they plan to protest our proposed or expected cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, veteran services, abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and the courts.

Most events are scheduled between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Among plant locations, Atlantic City, Princeton, Red Bank and Toms River.

As mentioned, the stock market continued to take a beating today with all major indexes taking a nosedive.

Indirect response to President Trump's new 10% tariffs on all foreign imports and I Heyer rate on 60 countries that are significant trade partners with the U.S., including China, India, the U.K. and European Union.

The new policy is rattling Wall Street, industry and consumers who are watching us foreign nations retaliate with their own new taxes on U.S. goods, a move economists they will undoubtedly raise prices for folks at home, at least in the short term.

Brenda Flanagan reports.

>> That will hurt everybody, not just here them a but the whole country.

Brenda: Folks shopping for food feel shellshocked after Donald Trump launched a barrage of tariffs sparking a global trade war that analysts figure could cost the average American family up to $4000 a year.

>> They are really trying to come excuse the language, screw us out of income and livelihood.

>> Any increase in the supermarket, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, that would be concerning.

Your budget can only stretch so far.

Brenda: As U.S. companies pay extra taxes on imported goods, they will pass the pain onto consumers.

Nike sneakers from Vietnam, videogame consoles from Japan, frozen shrimp from India, iPhones from China.

But also basic stuff, says Yale budget labs.

>> We are estimating the price of clothing will go up 17%.

It is also going to impact food, the price of rice will go up double -- double-digit.

Brenda: New Jersey imported the six most out of the 50 states.

A deeply diverse population.

This family imports coffee beans from the home farm in Columbia.

>> This will bring up prices because as small business owners or a restaurant for, -- restauranteur, we operate on margins, percentiles.

Labor has to be a certain percentage to be successful, to just be able to pay rent.

Brenda: In Jersey City Riverview wind and spirits -- wine and spirits have imports.

They will eat some of the price increases, but -- >> It is definitely going to hurt us as a small business focusing mostly on affordable, everyday wine for my community.

And diversity and cultural experience.

I have seven employees.

Am I going to be able to keep them on payroll?

>> This is a very scary and uncertain situation we are in because we are part of a global manufacturing network.

Brenda: She heads case medical manufacturing in Bloomfield and imports machinery and raw materials from China, Mexico, Canada, Italy and Denmark.

She has downshifted plans to expand in such a volatile marketplace.

>> We are not going to be hiring another production marker, or another engineer.

We are going to basically have to cut back on our growth.

Brenda: Businesses fear tariffs and trade wars could disrupt global operations.

It certainly tanked to the U.S. stock market by more than 2000 points over the last couple days.

Folks on fixed incomes watched 401ks plummet.

>> It will be catastrophic.

The stock market took a bad hit today, going down like never before.

Brenda: Trump argued tariffs will raise $600 billion a year in revenue and force companies to reinvest in American manufacturing in the long run.

>> Markets will boom, the country is going to boom and the rest of the world wants to see is there any way they can make a deal.

>> Even though experts tell him this is not the way to go, even in the stock market, it is showing him this is not the way to go, that creating this instability is not healthy for our economy.

Brenda: Democrat Congresswoman Bonnie Watson fears a trade war will create instability and drive up inflation even as the Trump Administration cuts jobs and slashes billions in federal aid.

A business leader would've preferred a more targeted approach.

For example, tariff exemptions for critical imported items.

>> Let's have recognition of the things we cannot get here in America, that we must get from abroad, that are part of the supply chain and go back and pull tariffs off of that because that will help the impact.

In the longer term, we need a comprehensive approach.

Brenda: She supports the administration's pro-business taxcutting policies, but even the president's supporters feel nervous over universal tariffs.

>> I'm worried about it like a lot of people would be.

I just want to see, give it a chance for a couple months.

Brenda: He says may be Trump will strike a bargain.

So far several other nations have counterattacked with their own retaliatory tariffs.

I'm Brenda Flanagan "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: Officials in Middletown have a new proposal to balance the school district's budget, save schools from closing and teachers from being laid off.

The Township will buy 10 acres of property owned by the district using tax money from the open space trust fund and absorb costs for school police officers.

That in combination with administrative cuts and increased taxes should be enough to close Middletown's $10 million budget gap.

But they are not the only district spacing money troubles.

As Joanna Gagis reports, several other schools are eyeing mass layoffs as they teeter on a fiscal cliff.

>> If you're a superintendent this time of year you're working the numbers from every angle, trying to come up with a balanced budget.

For many districts around the state, the numbers don't add up.

>> After using our 2% cap increase we are mandated to by the department of education, we will be $22.3 million short.

Joanna: They finally sign increase in state aid after being on the losing end for seven years.

They are facing double-digit deficits in the millions again.

Plainfield has seen consecutive increases but the superintendent says it is not enough.

>> Our school district did see an increase in state aid of roughly $11.8 million.

Our salaries and benefits have increased by little more than $12 million going into the 2025-26 school year.

That is eaten into the increase to state aid.

Joanna: Both the superintendents say they cannot be any more lean with budgets, having already made painful cuts.

Both are considering options that could impact taxpayers.

>> A state loan to fill in the difference, the returning of aid that seems to overshot Toms River based on the formula, and/or allow us to exceed the 2% cap and raise taxes by 16%.

And that is coming off the heels of a year where we already were mandated by the state to raise our taxes 10% for $13 million.

Joanna: They are also asking residents for a tax increase to avoid staff layoffs.

>> That proposal is to impose the 2% tax levy increase, which would net us a little over half a million in increased revenue, but also to utilize a portion of what is considered bank cap.

To the tune of roughly $9 million.

For every year a school district does not impose the tax levy, what could have been collected in taxes is Put away in a bank fund.

The school district has the ability to recoup or reclaim those funds for up to three years.

Joanna: Those funds were never collected and if approved, taxpayers will see a 36% increase or about $850 a year.

Some blame it on the caps, 3% on any cuts the district could face and a 6% caps on any increases.

A senator is introducing a bill to end the caps on increases and referring to Governor Murphy says -- >> We have to slavishly abide by school funding exactly as it is written.

We argued no, you don't.

We should be reworking this.

He said no.

Now that some of those districts have had the full brunt of the cuts over the last seven years, and due to get increases now he wants to cap their increases.

Absolutely horrific.

Joanna: A chair of the committee said he too would be in favor of removing the cap -- but would have to see how to pay for it, which is hard to know with federal cuts.

The Trump Administration announced $80 million in Covid dollars cut from 20 districts.

>> It is troubling.

Kingsboro is a school that has had aid fluctuations the last few years which is really hard on them.

We are going to try to fight that.

Joanna: One area where oh Scanlon and Murphy agree.

>> It is bad.

These are largely capital projects.

There is no state including New Jersey that can make up for either the cuts we have seen or the potential cuts.

Joanna: Bracing for more cuts only embrace it -- increases concern across the board.

Briana: In our spotlight on business report, turning malls into neighborhoods.

In Bergen County a major development underway using property adjacent to big shopping centers to build new, affordable and luxury housing.

Real estate experts say it is the way of the future as towns find they need to get creative to meet housing demand and keep local economies thriving.

Reporter: Garden State Plaza could break ground on new apartments later this year as shopping malls statewide that the pivot.

>> It is less of a pivot and more of an addition.

Reporter: He works for Westfield, the mall's developer.

He says COVID did not kill malls, but sped up the process to change their business model.

>> Even prior to COVID the mall was looking at those getting stronger versus others that are good pieces of real estate but meant to be something else.

Reporter: The first fully approved phase for the Garden State Plaza would bring 575 apartments onto the property.

>> For a place like Paramus, we believe it could be a new town center for them.

Part of the project is crating an acre and a half town green that provides the knitted connection between the first phase of the project and the mall itself.

Reporter: He imagines the apartments will attract young professionals and people looking to downsize while still being near highways and buses.

>> This has been a destination of choice for many years.

I think what we are creating will only strengthen that loyalty.

There'll be many more things for people to explore and hang out.

Reporter: Meanwhile a few miles north, an apartment complex to Paramus Park has done more than Ray ground.

>> We are off -- break ground.

>> We have poured the foundations.

What is going up now, you will see framing on The Other Side.

Reporter: He works for Russo property management, owner of an apartment building scheduled to open around 300 apartments next spring.

His pitch for renters is similar to what is happening at Garden State Plaza's.

A bunch of amenities within walking distance including a mall.

>> The mall landed here for a reason.

It makes for great location for health care, residential, apartment homes.

We think with our apartment homes, there are a lot of jobs being brought to the area.

It makes sense.

>> Once they get home they can leave their car parked in their building and walked downstairs and they have the mall as an amenity and the town green, retail.

Reporter: At Garden State Plaza 15% of the apartments will be affordable housing.

While Vermella will be 4.5% affordable housing.

>> This is the way of the future and how affordable housing will get built.

Reporter: He is the director of exclusionary zoning regulation.

>> We have existing resources in places like Paramus where we are focusing on mall redevelopment.

Paramus is not redeveloping the mall, but the parking lots and turning them into something productive where we will build structured parking and housing.

>> It is underutilized parking only used a handful of days a year.

It will bring new energy to the site.

It will help people think about our properties differently.

Reporter: Unless they fight it in court, Paramus has to add a thousand units of affordable housing over the next decade.

Despite court battles involving a dozen Minas abilities, he says most municipalities are not fighting mandates for affordable housing, stemming from a state law signed this year.

>> We have more participation at this point in the process than any other in Mount Laurel.

We have 440 municipalities participating, an increase of almost 100 from the last cycle.

Reporter: The history of Mount Laurel goes back to 1975, the year before Paramus Park opened.

Garden State because I has three other phases of construction planned with more housing possibly to come.

In Paramus, I'm Ted Goldberg, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: U.S.

Senator Cory Booker grabbed the spotlight delivering the longest Senate floor speech in history, an impassioned 25 hour and five minute plea calling on everyday Americans to fight Trump's agenda.

Long before this epic speech Booker had a knack for drawing eyeballs, almost always to call attention to public issues not otherwise getting noticed.

Detractors called them political stunts.

For those covering the senator since before he was a national name with millions of social media followers, the marathon filibuster was quintessential Booker.

For more I'm joined by our senior political correspondent David Cruz who has been covering Booker for we will not say how many years.

There has been a lot of talk about this.

He is not shy of the limelight.

Is this just who Booker is?

Walk us back through history.

David: It is who Cory Booker is.

Going back to the late 1990's when he staged a hunger strike outside the projects in Newark, to saving a woman from a fire.

There has been that kind of attention-seeking events, or I don't know what you would call them, stunts.

But it depends who you talk to whether or not they are effective.

Nationally, because we also followed Booker when he ran for president, they love that stuff or, they loved that stuff.

While people in Jersey were, we are over it now, I think in the middle of the country and heading west, people think, Cory Booker is so good.

Briana: The do-gooder, he shovels snow when he is Mayor, saves dogs freezing outside and puts them in his car or in a police car.

Those are all things that did build up his reputation, his name, and, whether you like him or hate him, his likability as an everyday person doing good.

David: His brand.

I will say, having covered him for a hundred years, I have never seen him not that way.

Even in unguarded moments.

There are times, we have been in Des Moines, Iowa in the steaming hot basement of a church where anybody would be impatient.

And he was away with his staff in a corner.

Something had gone wrong.

Most politicians would be like -- he was really cool about it.

If ever there was an opportunity for him to be something other than what he was projecting, it was in that circumstance.

I will say I have never seen him not that way.

You have to assume that is the genuine Cory Booker.

Briana: Where there moments that stuck out to you?

I'm thinking back to when he did that snap challenge and posted it on social media.

He got a little backlash because people said, this is how I live my life every day and you are out here getting more followers by doing this.

But his goal was to show people how difficult it was to live on $4 or whatever it was a day that you had as part of the foodstamp program.

Is it just the way he would go about it, and the fact he has a penchant for drawing eyes?

David: He does have a tendency to stay on the stage too long.

After you have wowed the audience, you have to leave them wanting more.

I think sometimes he sticks around too much.

25 hours is a long time to listen to Cory Booker.

But that was clearly something else.

The point was to be there for 25 hours.

Spartacus from a couple years -- Briana: During the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court Justice hearings.

David: He stayed on too long and beat the metaphor to death.

The right, Republicans, cannot stand him.

Briana: How effective is that in meeting -- leading the Democrats through what is an identity crisis moment for them, but also someone who needs to lead the charge if they are going to fight back in this way they say they want to?

David: Even when there is no voice, even a whisper has a positive effect.

I think Democrats have been incredibly quiet.

Within the party there is a sense, can we get a champion, please?

I think Cory Booker saw that vacuum and stepped into it.

I think overall this was very effective for Democrats who I talked to, who, even those who are big Cory Booker fans, felt he really hit a homerun.

What the follow-up is is a great question.

People were wondering if this was the launch of Cory Booker for president.

Not impossible.

Briana: Senior political correspondent David Cruz, thank you.

Make sure you tune into Reporters Roundtable this weekend were David talks to the South Orange Mayor, a Democratic gubernatorial pick for Lieutenant Governor, plus a panel of local journalist talking about all the political headlines of the week.

That is Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. On Chat Box David continues his new series, gubernatorial challengers, talking to candidates for New Jersey Governor.

He goes one-on-one with Republican former radio host David Spadea.

That will do it for us this week.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

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

Have a great weekend.

We will see you Monday.

>> NJM Insurance Group, serving the needs of businesses for more than 100 years and by the PSEG foundation.

>> Public service is what we do at the PSEG foundation through volunteer hours, partnerships and other contributions.

We are committed to empowering communities.

We work hand-in-hand with you, our neighbors, to educate young people, support research, environmental, training and other services throughout New Jersey and Long Island.

Uplifting communities, that is what drives offs -- us.

The PSEG foundation.

♪