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♪ Briana: Tonight on NJ Spotlight news, tropical storm Debby douses the state with high wind and rain.

Most of New Jersey for most of the day soak under a tornado and Flood Watch.

>> only so much room roomful of these rivers can handle.

So, when we start talking 4, 6, 8, inches of rainfall and over a large area, that is when we start worrying about river flooding.

Briana: Plus, replacing Bob Menendez.

Who is on the shortlist to fill the shoes of the senior senator.

We go one-on-one with someone who knows a thing or two about being tapped for the seats.

>> I think whoever has this opportunity is going to is going to look back at it as one of the highlights of their career.

Briana: Also, rent control battle.

The Hoboken Council unanimously rejects efforts to weaken their rent control regulation.

Leaving it up to the voters to decide.

>> Ultimately we believe housing is a human right, and that our laws should be skewed to making sure people stay in their homes and aren't paying exorbitant rent in one of the most expensive cities to rent a home in the U.S. already.

And going for gold.

Briana: New Jersey athletes taking center stage on the podium.

There is a chance they will strike gold again.

NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ ANNOUNCER: from NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News, with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening as thanks for joining us this Friday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

New Jersey finally got a taste of tropical Storm Debbie today as forecasters extended a nearly statewide tornado watch through this evening.

A wind advisory also remains in effect, with the National Weather Service thing wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour could be recorded.

Forecasters have been keeping a close eye on North Jersey areas like Bergen, Essex, Morris, Warren and Sussex Counties, but also in the central region of the state as the storm tracks further west.

Periods of heavy rain -- the area throughout the day which is why a Flood Watch remains in effect for counties renting from Camden to Somerset and Sussex until early Saturday morning.

Flooding could become a problem, since the state was pummeled with rain at the last few days.

For the latest, I am trained by State climatologist Dave Robinson.

Good to talk to you on a day like this.

We have been ramping up for Debby, it's felt like all week.

A lot of us were confused when we had the heavy rainfall earlier in the week that was not in fact Debby.

Today, was the hardest of it.

Did we dodge a bullet here?

Guest: we dodged a bullet for the most part stock in New Jersey.

The storm went further to the West once it got a peer into the middle latitudes, and the heaviest rain has fallen in Pennsylvania up into New York and even into eastern Canada.

We are very fortunate, as you mentioned, we had the heavy rain earlier in the week.

Was it a precursor of worse things to come?

No, but it actually set up the pattern that helped direct Debby up from the southeast to the northeast.

But it was just a little bit further west than originally expected.

Briana: Noelle is forecasting a active hurricane season.

We are getting closer, I guess, to the peak of it, it runs from June to November, but what are the factors that contribute to it being an active season?

Guest: there is one potential they are starting to look at for next week that would go into the Caribbean and such, so we will really be very attentive for the next couple of months.

It has to do with the fact that we have very warm surface temperatures where the storms originate, and that is where they get their fuel.

We have an active weather pattern coming off the African continent, and that helps to get the atmosphere spinning.

We also have what we call a La Niña event starting to come into play, and that helps to quiet the atmosphere in the tropical areas, it allows the storms to percolate.

So there is a lot of factors contributing to this outlook of a very active season.

One that has already been fairly active at that.

Briana: Yeah.

So put that in perspective for us, what does an active season look like?

How many storms potentially?

GUEST: They are talking anywhere to the upper teens to the low 20's in terms of numbers of storms, five to 10 storms more, Maine storms than normal.

A few extra stronger hurricanes than normal.

Other active pattern suggested.

But we have a long ways to go.

We have gotten off to a pretty strong start.

But this becomes the active period now -- it really peaks about the first and second week of September, then, as we saw with Sandy back in 2012, it can go to late October.

Briana: What are you watching for?

What are you concerned about?

We were inundated, drenched with rain earlier this week.

We know that more is coming.

NOAA say it will be an active season, get ready.

What do you watch for from your perch?

GUEST: We were fortunate that early this week that we have been dry in mid-to-late July.

So the rivers were able to handle it.

The soils were dried and these folks after rain.

What I have been concerned about is these precursory storms early this week, followed by a tropical storm, or just a major tropical storm by itself.

Only so much rainfall these rivers can handle.

So when we start talking 4, numeral 6, 8 inches over a large area, that is when we start worrying about river flooding.

In the short-term, police worry about flash flooding that we saw earlier this week on a localized scale, but it is the repetitive nature of these wet periods.

People may remember Irene back in 2011 August, it was preceded by a very wet August and that was thus the cherry on top.

Briana: I guess we were fortunate that we had the really hot weather without the race.

Let me ask you quickly, no eye has also made predictions about high.

We will have fewer high tide days this year than last.

It got to be a good thing, yeah?

GUEST: It's a good thing.

We had a spike last year, in part, because of coastal storms in the winter, it was what we called an El Niño winter where we had an active storm track and it pushes water to shore.

This year going into a La Niña the storm track tends to be in land and it reduces the high water along the coast.

That is why last year was high, this year is expected to be lower.

There are some other factors, as well, but that is the prime one, where the storms track.

Briana: State climatologist Dave Robinson, thanks as always.

GUEST: A pleasure.

Briana: Speculation still swirling about who Governor Murphy will top-two replace U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez.

And we may have an answer in a matter of days.

Menendez is set to officially resign on August 20, after being found guilty by a jury on 16 counts of bribery and corruption.

As well as acting as a foreign agent.

Several prominent names in the Democratic Party are being floated as potential choices to fill the vacant seat until the newly elected Senate takes office January 3.

But a senior political correspondent David Cruise reports, they will serve a critical role as a full voting member among a divided Congress.

Reporter: Governor Murphy returns from his European vacation this weekend to what will be a very busy fall season for good health the list is the pending U.S. Senate vacancy, effective August 20, less than two weeks away.

And speculation has been percolating, inquiries have been made, and background checks are said to be underway.

The last time this happened was in 2013.

>> Good afternoon.

It is my honor today to let you all know that I intends to appoint New Jersey state Attorney General just gave that to be New Jersey's next U.S.

Senator.

Reporter: Then-Gov.

Chris Christie selected his friend and then-state Attorney General Jeff chiesa to fill the seat.

Circumstances are a bit different here in 2025.

There is an election in a few months Andy Kim is a Democrat ,, and the governor is a Democrat.

>> that is the governor's decision in terms of who fills that role.

If asked, I would accept.

Reporter: but it is complicated.

For at least, not that simple.

Economist says, there is lingering ill will from the Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate,'s, which, Tammy Murphy campaign cash and burned.

>> The governor and his wife, who have never really been through a rock'em, sock'em campaign, all indications are they haven't really gotten over it.

So they will not reward the people who punch them in public.

Reporter: The former Murphy Chief of Staff is a name that has been mentioned prominently.

He is a safe pick if Murphy follows the Chris Christie model, says Charles.

>> The one mind is, I reward a close confidant who basically was instrumental in stabilizing the administration and helping me pass through some of its big-ticket items.

And someone who I trust.

Reporter: State Senator Troy Singleton says he is a fan of the Chief of Staff and would support that appointment, but he says Murphy should be thinking beyond that.

He should be looking at history.

>> Look, I think if we will live our talk about being a true party that is a microcosm of our state, that I think it is incumbent upon the governor to look favorably upon a well-qualified Latina to serve in this role.

Reporter: Singleton is one of scores of signatures on a letter urging Governor Murphy to appoint former U.S. Senate Patricia compass Medina.

She would be the first woman, the first Latina, and the first mom to represent the state in the Senate.

>> Patricia is a natural.

So completely accomplished when it comes to Latino issues, and New Jersey and labor issues nationally.

She is just accomplished.

Reporter: But she was also a Tammy Murphy critic, which may or may not be a disqualifier.

She says she would happily take the gig, but she has not lobbied for it at all.

She knows politics will likely guide Murphy, but she says she would do it the same way again.

>> I took all the political process that in light of certain individuals over others, and that was not a new fight for me to have.

I have been doing this as a leader of an organization that supports women to run for office.

We needed an open process, and a process that wasn't weighted by the line.

Reporter: Insiders say there should be a -- an announcement probably next week.

Meanwhile, the person can't take office until they get sworn in, and they can't get sworn in on this this is in session, which does not happen until September.

David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: The city of Hoboken is poised for a battle between its renters and landlords after the City Council this week unanimously voted down changes to rent control rules.

Instead, voters will be asked to decide through a referendum in November whether it should be made easier for property owners to raise rent prices when apartments turnover.

It's a controversial topic that is rarely agreed upon.

As Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports, it comes at a time when many say housing affordability has reached crisis levels.

>> when you are collecting rents from 1980 and all the expenses still go up -- not just talking about taxes, insurance, gas and electric, you need to be able to keep your building.

I need a lot of repairs right now, so, all the money is going back into the building.

Reporter: Sheet rosemary is outnumbered in Hoboken who supports and organize that would change the way landlords can increase rent in their rent -controlled apartments.

>> the ordinance would allow property owners to pay $2500 to de-control of their apartment winning apartments can go to a market rent but only once vacant, and there would be a contribution to the Affordable $2500 Housing Trust Fund.

Every single time.

Reporter: he is the executive director of the group that represents landlords in Hoboken.

He is angry, because the Hoboken city Council voted no on the proposed ordinance they helped to draft.

>> we worked out a set of amendments to the rent control ordinance that was proposed and structured by the Council, and then voted on by the Council which voted 9-0 against the very amendments that they proposed.

Reporter: current law requires that any annual rent increases fart rent-controlled apartments must be capped at 5% per year for existing tenants.

They can impose a 20 5% increase, only when the tenant vacates the unit.

The change was voted down on Monday after a huge crowd showed up to protest the changes.

>> Ultimately, we believe housing is a human right and that our laws should be skewed to ensure that people can stay in their homes that are not paying exorbitant amounts for rent in one of the most expensive cities to rent a home in the U.S. already.

Reporter: As an example, a unit that is rent controlled at $800 a month from it could increase to up to $4000 a month to meet the current market rate.

Jack is with the Hudson County to him a critics Socialists of America, who turned out in large numbers to protest.

The fifth Ward councilman says the City Council heard them.

>> the negotiation, it was not that it wasn't done in good faith.

It was defeated because the people heard what was being presented and rejected it.

Reporter: He said they never liked the compromise ordinance to begin with, but drafted it with the mile Square tax Association, to avoid the issue moving to a ballot measure in November, which is what will happen now that the Council voted it down.

And based on the community turned out he believes they will vote it down too.

He believes it will pass because residents will like the fact that landlords will pay into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

That will raise some place between 10 and $15 million for affordable housing.

>> Right now, the Council is taking the position well, our rent control is our affordable housing.

It's not true.

>> Is to paint with a broad brush to say that we should basically throughout all rent control and have all our units revert to market rates for just 2500 dollars?

Which is less than the average rent in Hoboken?

If you have 1000 units where they pay $2500, lose-lose 1000 below-market rental units in exchange for $2.5 million, which in this housing market, is not going to buy a lot of affordable housing.

>> That actually incentivizes landlords to take out tenants, whether through explicit evictions, or soft evictions, where they stop dealing with other things in the building that they need to deal with.

All of us a vacant unit and the landlord can pay a relatively minimal fee and then pick up the rent.

Reporter: Butler's Mary says she needs that flexibility to maintain her home that is in need of repairs.

>> And have more money to make the bed is better.

All of these buildings are well over 100 years old.

And I am not looking to throw anybody out, I have a tenant with me for 20 years.

Reporter: Both sides are planning to get out there vote before November's elections.

In Hoboken, Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: If there is anyone who knows about the frenetic nature of being appointed to fill in the U.S. Senate seat, it is just she's a -- jeff chiesa, New Jersey for Attorney General, who was tapped by Governor Chris Christie in 2013 to serve as an interim member after Senator Frank Lautenberg died.

It would later be won in a special election by Cory Booker.

CHiesa, a Republican, took the seat held by Democrats for decades and served for less than five months.

But he's described his time in the Senate as both impactful on his life and that of the New Jersey residents he represented.

I asked him for an inside look at what the war was like.

Just, thanks for giving us a few minutes of your time.

I am curious what was going through your head when then-Governor Christie appointed you to fill the open U.S. Senate seat.

GUEST: it was a truly life-changing experience.

I was Attorney General at the time, appointed attorney general, not elected for your fat elected office since high school, which really doesn't count, and I was in the room with him to talk about legal options that morning, and I had no idea that I was likely to be picked.

My wife had an inclination I would be picked, but I did not.

Let evening around 10:00, the governor called me and asked me what I was doing.

I said I was getting ready for bed.

He said he was pulling into my driveway.

He was coming to my house at 10:00 at night to talk to me personally, I knew that was likely what was going to happen.

It was an amazing and overwhelming experience, because I went from watching iconic figures like John McCain and Harry Reid and Orrin Hatch on TV, to three days later, be on the Senate with them.

Briana: And casting critical of both what did you work on, what pieces of legislation during the five months you spent in the Senate?

GUEST: The biggest issue with the immigration bill.

So in June 2013, we had a rare instance -- they had all 100 senators called to their chairs to vote by voice, one by one in front of everybody.

I had been there about three weeks.

To me, it was an issue that made sense for New Jersey.

I was one of 40 Republicans that voted for that bill, 68 votes total, all 54 Democrats, 14 Republicans including people like John McCain and Bob Corker, people I have great respect for.

That what was the one on people's minds the most, still on people's minds today, it came up in 2007, 2013, and it is coming up now.

The other issue I focused on was the Attorney General -- issue that was important to me as Attorney General, human trafficking.

Briana: Sounds like you hit the ground running for someone who took the role as a placeholder.

GUEST: You are one of 100 from the moment you get there.

To give you an example, when I met John McCain the first time, I called him and he said, call me John, you are one of us now.

Out of the gate.

So you immediately understand the gravity of what is going on.

Your meeting with the president.

I met with the then-Vice President in the situation room on Syria.

I dealt with judges, cabinet members.

We appointed Jim quitly to the FBI.

Other cabinet members were appointed.

Judges were appointed.

Yes, you are there for five months, but you have more than 100 books to do.

Briana: Yes, the work is consequential.

Was it difficult, did you feel pressured to vote a certain way, or was it the flip side where you felt more autonomy because you didn't have to worry about reelection?

GUEST: The latter.

Complete autonomy because I just did what I thought was right.

I remember a couple of times coming off the floor and saying hey to my colleagues and they would say to May, it must be great to just go out there and vote the way you think makes sense without thinking about the ramifications of that vote politically.

And that's what I was able to do.

Governor Chris Deegan and me dressed in my judgment.

I assume Governor Murphy will trust who is in his judgment going to do the same thing.

The best way to do the job successfully is to do what is in the state sheep was best interest and in the country she put best interest.

BRIANA: do you have any advice for whoever the potential interim replacement is?

GUEST: Enjoy it.

I left 11 years ago, in November of 2013.

When you are there, it is an intense experience, as any person who has held elected office, it was especially intense for me.

It was amazing to me.

My children were in grammar school at the time, so I had each of them come down for a week.

My son was in eighth grade, my daughter was in fifth grade.

My daughter wanted to go to the zoo, he wanted to meet the senators.

We made those things available as much as we could.

In the end, it is an incredible honor to have that chance.

I still stay in touch.

That has been a lot of turnover since I was there, especially on the Republican side, but there is a lot of quality people still there, and I think whoever has this opportunity will look back at it as are the highlights of their career.

Briana: Jeff Chiesa, thank you so much for chatting with us, of course you bring that special set of credentials to this experience.

GUEST: My pleasure, thank you.

Briana: In our Spotlight on Business Report, New Jersey transit to the rescue.

The agency is launching an emergency bus Service plan for thousands of riders left stranded after Coach USA declared bankruptcy.

The private bus carrier abruptly and most of his counseling service as of August 16 on 20 bus routes that run through Hudson, Bergen County and Passaic counties its.

The fourth time in two years that New Jersey transit has jumped in to save them, but the emergency action comes at a cost.

Budget documents for NJ Transit show it spent tens of millions to continue running routes it took over one others disbanded service, and it is still unclear how the agency will pay for the new emergency service, while staring down its own historical deficits.

Academy bus by the way, will take over the routes in Bergen and Passaic counties while New Jersey transit will handle Hudson.

Officials say the riders will not see changes to routes, schedules or fares.

On Wall Street, stocks closed out a wild week for the markets.

Here is where the trading numbers closed.

♪ And finally to night, jersey has made a name for itself at the 2025 Paris Olympics.

Racking up multiple gold medals, numerous silver and bronze.

Athletes from the Garden State are owning their sport and making history too.

Central Jersey phenom Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone setting a new world record in her signature event, the 400 meter hurdles obliterating her competition to , reclaim her seat as track royalty, crossing the finish line in -- get this -- 50 point 37 seconds.

Morristown native Nic Fink brought home one gold and two silver medals, acing his signature breaststroke.

His teammate Jack Alexy help team USA secure silver in the four times 100 medley relay.

Scottie Scheffler winning the gold in the men's individual golf tournament.

Morgan Pearson dug in to help the Americans rallied the tire Athlon, bringing home a silver medal.

And who can forget team USA Gymnastics -- Hezly Rivera made her Olympic debut this year at just 16, performing in the qualifying rounds to health team USA secure a spot in the team finals, and then bringing home the gold alongside the go-to Simone Biles.

Incredible!

That's it for us tonight.

But before you go, a reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast, so you can listen to us anytime.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us.

Have a great weekend.

We will see you back here on Monday.

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