>> Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided in part by NJM insurance group.

And by the PSEG Foundation.

>> Tonight, COVID-19 cases and respiratory illness are on the rise after the holiday season.

New Jersey is now a hotspot for the new COVID variant.

>> Certainly, holiday associated travel will always be a risk.

I think we are still a bit extra vulnerable this year.

>> Plus, crisis at the border.

Migrants on buses from Texas travel through New Jersey.

Hundreds dropped off here on their way to New York.

Also, family ties.

The towns of Paulsboro and Gibbstown will have a brotherly touch as two brothers are sworn in as mayors.

>> I've had more people reach out.

They look at you as you will be the leader of this community.

You will be the driving force.

That is really what I want to do.

>> And a wage increase.

Workers get a raise as the state's minimum wage reaches its highest level, more than $15 an hour.

>> This is a huge win for communities.

>> "NJ Spotlight news" begins right now.

♪ >> This is "NJ Spotlight news" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Thank you for joining us.

Joanna: Happy New Year.

It is officially 2024 and many of you are back to work, back-to-school and back to the Germans.

The CDC says the region is very high for COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses.

There's also a new COVID variant that is nominating the new cases, although that comes as some good news, it is not as severe as previous variants.

Brenda Flanagan has more on all the germs we are bringing into the new year.

>> You are sitting on a train to Manhattan to go see the tree and you are think to yourself, wow, a third of this train is coughing.

Brenda: David figures many folks traveling over the river and overpack flights shared than more than hugs.

'Tis the season for respiratory viruses to flourish.

>> We are seeing a lot of cases.

Brenda: respiratory virus infection rates are surging across the nation especially down south and very high in the New Jersey-New York City metro areas.

Helping drive that spike in New Jersey, influenza.

New Jersey has seen a rapid rise in cases of influenza type A with more than 1000 cases reported over 6700 flu cases statewide in the week end December 23.

>> We know when it hits, it will hit fast.

That is what we've seen in the past years.

Holiday associated travel will always be a risk.

I think we are still a bit extra vulnerable this year.

Brenda: Why?

An apparent slump in vaccination rates for both flu and COVID.

And the viruses can seemingly attack in tandem, explains Stephanie Silvera.

>> if you are sick, you are more susceptible to other illness.

We are seeing this compounding, this potential for the dual epidemic.

Brenda: New Jersey's COVID rate shows a holiday spike with more than 7400 cases reported the week ending December 30.

Partly responsible, a new COVID variant which the CDC identified in almost 60% of Jersey and New York City's most recent cases.

It is highly transmissible, but apparently less severe.

>> In the United States, the number of cases that have been typed to by JN1 have been increasing.

Impact in terms of hospitalization and death and illness are two different things.

Brenda: The World Health Organization calls at low risk, adding while there's a rapid increase in JN.1 infections and likely increase in cases, available limited evidence does not suggest that the associated disease severity is higher as compared to other circulating variants.

>> The good news is it is not 2020 again.

And there is a lot of immunity in the community, both due to natural infection and vaccine, the combination.

People are getting COVID, but they are not as sick on average as they would be before, much less sick.

There are fewer hospitalizations.

Brenda: The CDC reports respiratory viruses account for 8% of emergency room visits.

The latest New Jersey hospital census, with 62 of 70 facilities reporting, showed more than 1140 COVID patients, 124 of them in the ICU as of yesterday.

Not surprisingly, many hospitals across the state have reinstated mask requirements and that is not a bad idea in crowded venues, the public health experts say.

They also urge it is not too late to get vaccinated.

>> Americans are eager to pop pills, but not as eager to take vaccines.

Brenda: He says vaccine resistance does present.

I'm Brenda Flanagan.

Joanna: Several buses carrying migrants from the southern border stopped in New Jersey this weekend.

According to Secaucus Mayor, the migrants appear to be simply passing through the state on their way to New York City.

The stop in New Jersey was a work around to getting them to their final destination after New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued an executive order requiring bus companies to alert city officials with their passenger manifestoes and drop off locations and times.

The mayor says the passengers were then assisted by travel guides who help them purchase tickets to the city.

Congressman Jeff Van Drew demanded the Governor Murphy and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary confirm whether any more busloads of migrants will be relocated to New Jersey, saying "Governor Murphy must make it clear that New Jersey is not a sanctuary state and that illegal migrants are not welcome in South Jersey."

A spokesperson for the governor has said they have tracked several migrants and are coordinating with federal and local partners on the matter.

A federal judge has denied the request to delay U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez's trial start date.

His legal team requested they be given to extra months to sort through the millions of pages of evidence provided by the prosecution.

He is charged with bribery, excepting gold bars and cash from Egyptian businessmen in exchange for political favors and a charge of acting of a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt.

Menendez has denied the claims and his legal team sought to delay the start of his trial from May to July, but U.S. district court judge Sidney Stein says while the amount of evidence certainly is voluminous, it is less than the defense claimed.

So, what if anything does this denial indicate about the judge's attitudes around this case?

I am joined by the former Assistant U.S. attorney for New Jersey who can offer some insight.

Great to have you back on.

When we last spoke, you indicated this was a pretty common practice, to request a delay even by two months.

That this seemed like a fair request considering all the evidence the defense had to work through.

Were you surprised to see Judge Stein deny this request?

>> Yeah, I was greetedtw s. Two months is not much of a delay.

I was surprised the continuance was not granted.

At the same time, I am told the Menendez team and the other defendants were on notice and were provided discovery fairly early, so the government must have a strong position on wanted to go forward at the earliest possible date.

Joanna: Judge Stein shot a hole through the defense's claim.

They said they had 735 terabytes worth of documents, 15 million pages.

I believe the 15 million stands but it was only three terabytes as the judge pointed out in her response.

Does that change anything substantively in terms of what the defense still has to accomplish in order to be ready for trial?

>> It is always when you are defending a case, you want to be completely familiar with the materials turned over by the government.

These teams, it is not just one or two lawyers, it is probably a team of lawyers that is working on reviewing it.

They crystallize what might be relevant and what isn't.

The fact it was not as great of a discovery dump as initially the defense stated probably made a difference in the court's ruling.

I also think, although I will never know, I think there's a general interest especially on the part of the DOJ on wanting to try a case closer towards the election timeframe.

I bet there is an interest in resolving it sooner rather than later.

Joanna: You cannot deny there is some political implication here.

If this were postponed, it would be after the primaries, which would put the trial squarely in the election season.

Do you think there was a political play here and do you think the judge sees this as a political play?

>> I know that DOJ has an internal policy of trying to avoid the bringing of charges, the announcement of charges -- it is usually 90 or 120 days of an election.

These charges are pending, so I don't know if it entered the equation in the court's assessment on whether or not to go forward and I would be speculating if I tried to guess.

I do know it is probably in the interest of all parties not to have an election -- sorry, a prosecution going on for a sitting incumbent senator right around the time of the primary and certainly the general.

We don't know yet what Senator Menendez will do, if you will announce he will run for election.

It is full steam ahead from the government position.

Joanna: The judge did point out that both parties agree to the start date when the initially met and did know how much evidence there was at that time.

I'm curious from your perspective, does this indicate that all how the judge perceives this case?

Do you read anything more from her denial?

Chris: No, I don't personally read into it other than you bring up a good point that the parties were on notice that the time of scheduling -- if there was going to be objection raised, you might have done it back then before agreeing to the usual trial schedule.

I don't read anything in particular.

I think every federal judge has an interest in making sure their docket is n expeditious.

Also at the same time, ensuring that the defense can allow and prepare an effective defense to be able to go forward.

The judge is trying to balance that and it seems like she struck that balance.

Joanna: Great insight as always.

Thank you.

Chris: Thank you.

Joanna: You could say it runs in the family for brothers John and Vince, who are each starting a term as mayor this week in neighboring towns.

John was sworn in today and Vince will be sworn in tomorrow in Greenwich.

So, how will their brotherly bond impact their role as leaders?

David Cruz caught up with them to find out.

David: So, on my right -- >> That is Gibbstown.

David: This guy is driving in Gibbstown technically.

We meet the brothers, Vince on the left and John on the right, on freshly paved North Delaware Street where the two towns meet and where the refinery employs many county residents.

The men are mayors of these adjoining small South Jersey towns.

John of Paulsboro and Vincent of Gibbstown, technically Greenwich.

>> We've got more people.

We are bigger areawide.

David: How old are you?

>> I am 57.

>> 61.

David: The brothers are being sworn in this week.

John for his first term and Vince won reelection.

A lot of time, they say the same thing, just slightly differently phrased.

It is a trait that comes from being the two youngest boys in a family of seven.

Keeping one another's confidences and Company.

>> Four boys in one room.

Two of them going through puberty and high school.

Here, John and I are on the bottom bunks.

We are fighting over fans.

You want to have some privacy.

There are three other people in your bedroom in a little, probably this size.

>> Same kind of paneling.

>> Yeah.

David: They would wake you up when they come in.

>> They would step on your bed.

>> Or you got whacked with the pillow.

David: The sons of a butcher and a homemaker, public service has been part of the court of arms.

Whether in the school system or county government.

Politicians are looking for the next office.

They say they are doug in here.

>> I've had more people reach out.

They say you will be the leader of this community.

You will be the driving force.

That is really what I want to do.

I have contacts with assembly and senators.

I think I am just good focusing on the town.

David: While this ain't big city New Jersey, don't be fooled.

These towns have problems they have to deal with, too.

>> We also have a beaver problem.

People laugh but the dams these beavers create are killing us.

David: But seriously, flooding is a big issue here and the brothers plan to keep working towards getting state and federal aid to help maintain and enhance flood prevention efforts.

Something that is easier to coordinate when your brother runs the town next door.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: Hourly workers got a raise to kickoff the new year.

That bum coming from the state's minimum wage jumping up by a dollar on January 1 to $15.13.

It is a boon for workers but as Melissa Rose Cooper reports, as their wages rise, so too does the rate of inflation.

Melissa: Many New Jersey families kicking off the start of the new year with a little more in their pockets as the state minimum wage just increased to $15.13 an hour.

>> This is a huge win for New Jersey workers and all the efficacy groups that work hard to raise the wage.

Melissa: The increase is expected to impact roughly 350,000 workers across the state.

>> Many of these people do work full-time.

Some of them, a little less.

1600 hours.

You are looking at something in the tune of about anywhere from 1100 to $1600 additionally these families will get.

Somewhere between $150 a month.

Melissa: New Jersey is one of several states to boost its minimum wage to at least $15, effective January 1.

Beating up the federal minimum.

As one of Governor Murphy's top priorities, the minimum wage gradually grew from 2018 to $15.13.

>> Included a provision that every year after the dollar increase, it would go up by the rate of inflation.

So last year, the increase went up by $1.13, which is why the minimum wage is now $15.13.

Every year going forward, the increase will go up by the amount of the CPI increase, regardless if there's another change to the actual minimum wage.

Melissa: This year's additional one dollars hike makes it the state's highest ever.

>> The federal rate is an embarrassment so I am open minded.

I'd say we should consider, a meaningful, something towards $18 to $20.

>> There are a lot of workers that don't get $15 an hour.

These are agricultural workers, seasonal workers, tipped workers like restaurant employees.

There's no reason why an honest days work as an agricultural worker should be lower paid than a retail sales employee.

>> Every worker is affected but seasonal and agricultural workers are moving up at a rate a little slower.

Melissa: The effects of the increase being felt among small businesses like Colonial bakery.

>> Our three biggest expenses are payroll, ingredients, and our paper goods.

As one of the biggest expenses goes up, so do our prices.

Melissa: Allison says two summers ago, they were forced to increase prices by about 10%.

They believe the issue is bigger than just paying employees higher wages.

>> I will pay employees whatever you wanted to pay them.

It does not bother me.

It's just that it is not helping anybody.

It is not helping these minimum-wage workers earn anymore buying power because as the minimum wage increases, as my payroll increases, my prices increase.

So, it is not like they are gaining more money and also gaining more buying power in the economy.

They're earning more money but the price of everything is going up.

Melissa: The Department of Labor says all minimum-wage workers in New Jersey will be at $15 or above by 2027.

I'm Melissa Rose Cooper.

Joanna: Governor Murphy made some bold promises in the last few years about making New Jersey more affordable and a key part of that plan is property tax relief.

Residents have seen a few rounds of anchor rebates in the last year, with some seniors getting up to $3200 back and that is just the start of what Murphy promised.

There's a senior property tax freeze and more anchor payments for more homeowners and renters, but the fiscal outlook for future rebates is starting to look a little bleaker.

Here with me is John Reitmeyer who always make sense of these complicated tax matters.

John, we know that the average homeowner generally pays about $9,500 in property taxes a year.

The fun part of living in New Jersey.

What can people expect to receive as part of the anchor program as it moves forward, and what can seniors expect to receive as well?

John: Absolutely.

We will have to see when a new budget comes out in February.

And what the next version of a lot of these property tax relief programs will look like, including anchor.

Expect things to stay relatively the same through the new budget that we are waiting on.

Seniors, senior homeowners can make up to as much as $1750 in anchor benefits.

The latest round started in the fall and is continuing even through this week and into next week.

We could see it for the next couple of months even depending on if people got their applications.

And renters at the senior level can get up to $700 from the anchor program.

Both of the benefits, renter and homeowner, have risen quite dramatically as anchor replaced homestead a year ago.

For non-seniors, we are looking at a peak of $1500 for homeowners and $450 for renters.

Joanna: There's is also the Senior Freeze program that the governor had pushed in the legislature.

What did that look like?

John: For the new round of applications that people will be filling out, some of the provisions of Senior Freeze changed which should make it easier for many seniors to qualify for what our reimbursement checks, which is what a lot of seniors ask for to offset their high property tax bills.

The requirements of this program traditionally have been pretty stringent and income limit most notably is increasing which should allow a lot of seniors who may be been locked out previously to get Senior Freeze benefits going forward.

Joanna: When we talk about what the state can afford, we know it is difficult for people to afford to live in New Jersey but the state has allocated a certain amount for this.

What has it cost the state to roll it out and is there enough?

John: That's the big question going forward.

Anchor is about a $2 billion line item in the budget.

The governor and lawmakers have made a big promise looking ahead to the future to fund something they are calling Stay iNJ which would benefit senior homeowners.

We are at a time in the fiscal year, we are starting a new calendar year but halfway through a fiscal year, and the funding questions basically revolve around will the state have the wherewithal to keep spending at this level on property tax relief benefits and may do more in the future?

Revenue collections through the end of November, which is the closest look we have to today, were running behind last year at this point in time by several percentage points.

Going forward towards the end of June, we have to keep a close eye on revenue collections to see if the state will be in that strong position that it's been the last few years to be able to do things like amplify spending on property tax relief.

Joanna: Very quickly, do you think the legislature and the governor back down from this anchor program, back down from the rebates if those gaps remain?

John: It is a good question.

There is so much popularity for property tax relief.

Property tax bills are at a record high so it would be very hard to walk this back, but the numbers may require it And who knows?

Joanna: We will be following it you will help explain it as always.

Thank you.

It is a new year and that means new toll increases on the roads.

Maybe not the good tidings you were hoping for, but you can expect to pay more at toll crossings at the bridges and tunnels run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on the Atlantic City Expressway and at the eight toll bridges operated by the Delaware River joint toll Bridge commission.

The last group is seeing a discount removed that offered a 20% cut to drivers across to those bridges 16 times or more a month.

Here is some good news.

Governor Murphy did not approve a 3% toll hike on the Garden State Parkway or on the New Jersey Turnpike, saying he needs more info before he will sign off on an increase.

On Wall Street, stock start off the year on a sour note.

Here's how the trading day ended.

♪ And that will do it for us tonight before you go, don't forget to download the NJ Spotlight News spotlight so you can listen anytime.

For the entire team, thank you for being with us and we will see you right back here tomorrow night.

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