>> major Funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided by NJM Insurance group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

And by the PSEG foundation.

Briana: Senior senator slammed a second indictment and accusing him of accepting bribes.

>> It as to the level of voter distrust and frustration and the public perception.

This is a big case.

Raven: Races to watch and 2024.

Allies are on the Menendez Senate seat but the fate of Congress hangs in the balance with every congressional seat up for grabs.

>> It will depend on who the Democratic candidate is, and how hard Democrats work to get the word out.

Raven: an imam dies after being shot in Newark.

The housing market, rising mortgage rates and limited inventories grading challenges for potential homebuyers.

>> When interest rates go below 5%, if they do, you will see a blizzard of listings hit the market like we have not seen in an incredibly long time.

Raven: NJ Spotlight News starts now.

♪ >> From NJPBS Studios this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana.

Briana: Thank you for joining us, I am Raven and for Briana.

Bob Menendez drop late yesterday and he accepted -- alleging that he accepted money aiding the government of qatar.

It continues into 2023.

This builds on the case against Menendez filed last September and it comes out a judge denied his request to postpone the trial until early July.

To make matters worse, David Cruz reports, it is scheduled to begin May 6, a month before the June primary.

>> Senator Bob Menendez's strategy to delay his trial, something a judge denied last week may want to take into consideration the steady drip of superseding indictment's which make it impossible for Menendez to change the subject.

Even though the filing did not result in any new formal charges, an attorney with the Justice Department for 17 years says that is not the point of this superseding indictment.

>> The purpose from a legal standpoint is to reinforce what is already alleged in the original indictment.

Technically, the purpose of a superseding indictment is often to leverage a pressure or position against a defendant.

It is clear that thus far, the senator through his counsel has maintained his innocence.

At least in the public square.

And so, prosecutors are often trying to leverage their decision by adding more charges.

I think that is what you are seeing.

>> The new indictment charges Menendez for working for the Qatari government which he allegedly hooked up with a developer and codefendant in exchange for gold, cash, and alleged and the latest filing, luxury watches.

>> The more that is put out in the ether about who this individual is and in the eyes of the prosecutors, I think the more the prosecutors will be helpful to their case.

>> A death by 1000 cuts.

As far as the public view, here we go again.

Just cannot get out from under it.

It becomes even more overwhelming.

It adds to the level of voter disgust and voter frustration and the public perception that this is a very big case.

Which of course it is.

>> The new filing alleges Menendez was going on in an corrupt fashion into 2023, after it was known that the senator was under investigation again.

As 2024 dawns, the campaign to replace Menendez has not made his reelection plans known publicly will intensify.

Tammy Murphy posting yesterday in part one thing is crystal clear, we need new representation and voices in Washington.

Andy Kim also condemned the new allegations as the latest example of a broken political system.

While union and community activist Patricia Campos, the latest to join the race just this morning says that Menendez has been a successful senator, but can no longer do the job under these circumstances.

>> He was a leader for so many key issues for us but at this point we need effective leadership and he is no longer an effective representative for New Jersey.

That is why we need to have a real primary election in which New Jersey voters get to choose who they think is the most effective representative for their concerns.

>> Menendez's Attorney called the latest allegations of distorted and desperate saying that the prosecution has no evidence of guilt to present.

A jury will have to decide that but in the meantime, in the court of public opinion, it has been a terrible holiday season for Menendez as the prosecution makes it clear that they are planning to keep the pressure on.

I am David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Raven: There is no doubt Senator Menendez's legal woes are making his race the want to watch.

The people running against him is getting more deep and competitive after campos Foster had in the ring, a strong voice in the Latino community, one of Menendez's voting strongholds.

This is as New Jersey's congressional Congress is back on the ballot in 2024.

Only no date wants me to break it all down.

-- Colleen O'Day joins me to break it all down.

So much to watch in the 2024 political season.

What can we expect?

>> We will have some interesting primaries which is is something that we may have.

That is something we are looking out for in the beginning of the year.

Probably, the biggest I think everybody where we think everybody knows about by now is the U.S. Senate seat.

Senator Bob Menendez, in a lot of trouble.

A new per superseding indictment came down again last night, new charges, federal corruption, charges, right now he has not yet decided or he has not announced whether he is running again.

We have got four candidates.

Tammy Murphy, everyone is talking about that she has gotten the party line in a lot of counties.

The first candidate to jump in is Congressman Andy Kim.

He is saying do not think you are going to take this from me.

He is confident.

You have Lauren Sam appear from Newark.

A really organized -- a good organizer.

Patricia Campos Medina jumped in to the race, a well-known Latina, she is a labor organizer, it is quite a field.

Raven: I do not think anybody saw that coming.

I do not know if anybody saw that coming and I am interested to know what you think?

How she is going to change the race?

>> Senator Menendez has talked about his support among Hispanics.

She is obviously you and she is well known in the community.

She has a known among women's group.

She has the potential to pull away or convince Menendez not to jump in if he is still considering it.

Perhaps to pull some support from Tammy Murphy.

One of the argument that has been made is we have never had a woman senator in New Jersey.

Now is the time.

You have another option in Patricia.

Raven: With all of the congressional races back on the ballot for 2020 four, what are the races closely watched?

>> A couple of races in the congressional primaries as well, two assembly members opposing one another.

They both represent the seventh district in the state legislative district.

Up in the eighth District in Hudson County, where Rob Menendez, the son of the state Senator is facing a challenge from the son of the Republican Mayor.

But has the potential to be a close race.

For Menendez has support from the Hudson County political establishment.

Raven: A lot can change.

>> A lot can change.

It is possible his father's name takes some support from him.

We do not know.

The big race once we get to the general election and is in the seventh district.

Tom Kane is the freshman Republican, he defeated the Democrat and 2022.

The district is tending to lean Republican ever since -- Raven: Redistricting played a huge part in a lot of this.

>> That is why kane his in but if you look at the numbers from 2020, Joe Biden, he would have won that district had it is today -- had been as it is today.

Will Joe Biden help Democrat unseat kane?

Raven: Ayers in a number of towns are pushing back against the arrival of hundreds of migrants bussed from Texas.

Those migrants stopped in the Garden state en route to New York City.

Mayors and Edison and Trenton are saying they are frustrated claiming that they do not have the resources to support them.

Even for just a stop.

As Ted Goldberg reports, lawmakers say their need to be less finger-pointing and more work on how to solve the controversial issue.

>> Putting migrants as ponds on buses did not -- pawn on buses and did not inform those in the corridor.

>> Mayors not happy being surprised by buses of migrants crossing through their city over the weekend.

On orders from Governor Greg Abbott, with almost all of them taking trains into New York City.

>> The towns do need to be prepared, to make sure that the immigrants get on to where they are going, that all parties are notified.

>> Edison does not have the social services, resources that would be required to attend to the migrants.

>> Sam Joe she is one of five mayors with migrant buses stopping in their municipalities.

>> We have to be practical about this and that is really what the basis of my whole position is, the federal government needs to decide what position they will take.

>> This is a wake-up call for Congress to get back to work.

>> We need a federal strategy to slow this down and turn off the faucet.

>> Eric Adams might want to turn off the faucet, but he could be in hot water for issuing an executive order limiting when migrant buses can enter the city.

The mayor says that is why migrants are coming through New Jersey.

>> The executive order is not backfiring.

>> Another is begging to differ, his city saw it passing through the junction and heats in a statement that reads perhaps that Adams's orders are greeted unintended consequences of their is a loophole in the system.

We will monitor the situation closely.

>> Will modify procedures and processes to push back on what Governor Abbott is doing.

>> After migrants passed through, Colleen Morrison sent a statement that reads in part assuming that these passengers were indeed migrants from Texas, I find it deplorable that they are being shuffled around like cattle.

This is a humanitarian crisis in which the governors of all affected states, the White House, and Congress, need to find a solution.

She has been praised and criticized for earlier interviews where they referred to the asylum-seekers as illegal immigrants and said they had no place in Edison.

>> I am a first generation here and I cannot tell you the overwhelming positive response I have gotten throughout my entire units his apology.

-- through my entire municipality.

>> Asylum is a legal right in the united states.

>> Amy Torres since she is disappointed by the tone some politicians have taken in calling the migrants illegal immigrants and says no laws are broken when they pass through New Jersey.

>> There nothing that says that noncitizens cannot buy a ticket for the bus or they cannot rent a motel room.

>> These are needy people and we need to treat them with the humanity that is supposed to be a manifestation of America.

>> Bonnie Watson Coleman has thoughts on Texas busing migrants over the past two years or so.

>> The governor of Texas, it is offensive to me.

>> Mayors criticizing Congress for not doing enough on immigration an issue were Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing, default is on the other party.

>> The House of Representatives has rejected all of the improvements, all of the resources that need to be placed in the border.

>> Jeff sent a statement which reads in part Governor Murphy has continued to show a complete lack of leadership in the state of New Jersey and has opened the door for our state to become overrun by illegal immigration.

We are all border states now.

The mayors tell me that they think more buses will stop by in the future, making sure this issue is not going away anytime soon.

For NJ Spotlight News, and Ted Goldberg.

Raven: In New York mother who was shot outside of -- a nw eark imam who was shot outside of his -- he was pronounced after 2:00 p.m.. City officials they police responded to a shooting at the mosque.

It was at South Orange Avenue and Camden Street.

The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.

Law enforcement age and are warning of a surge in hate crimes.

The governor said in a statement that there was no evidence of motive for the shooting as a Wednesday afternoon.

He acknowledged the violence and the heightened fears a and the Islamic community.

He will work to keep houses of worship safe.

Patterson is the latest city toning a drop in violent crime in 2023.

Murders, shootings, sexual violence, and aggravated assault are all down compared to 2020 2.

Shootings dropping by 25% and the number of murders in 2023 stand at 17 compared to 28th for the previous year.

The announcement and reduced crime comes 10 months after the state Attorney General took control of the city's police department in March.

The state AG said at the time there was a crisis of confidence in a law enforcement.

-- in law enforcement.

Abassi says that this is a sign that the takeover is working.

>> A job is not done here.

There is so much more to do.

Crime statistics are great and I think our crime statistics are exceptional.

There is so much to do around policing and maintaining a level of safety here in the city that thankfully we have been able to achieve.

>> The state takeover has caused friction between the state and the city.

Patterson Mayor Andre Saia has been critical of state intervention and today said the city was already reducing crime before the state to control of the police department.

>> This is a win for the city of Patterson but it started way back, way back when we got elected by a resounding margin.

When we said we are going to pursue nonp-policing, whether it be through assisting income or helping people with opiate use disorder.

Will have the same conversation irrespective of state takeover because there were items that we were implementing that took time to make.

Raven: 2023 was a rough year for many folks looking to buy a home with limited inventory.

High prices and ever rising mortgage rates making it a tough sell.

With interest rates starting to come down, sales or except acted to rise -- are expected to rise.

2024 could be a better year for homebuyers.

Brenda Flanagan reports.

>> It was almost comical.

>> Nick talks about trying to buy a house in New Jersey last summer.

The prices.

>> Looking at what the houses were being listed for and finding out that they were going $100,000, under $50,000 over asking.

I was thinking I do not know I will make this work.

>> He succeeded, he got this nice three bedroom last July for only $6,000 over asking price.

It came with a lead paint problem he had to pay another grant to fix.

>> I have a background in architecture so I was not afraid to look at houses that needed a little bit of love and care and some work.

I think if I did not have that background, I would still probably be looking.

>> We have very little inventory.

>> Gloria Monk says Jersey home prices plunged 43% even as prices rose.

A lot of folks are still looking, what can they expect?

Realtor.com forecasted almost 11% drop in existing home sales with prices up 3% and mortgage rates averaging 6.80%.

Rates will probably keep dropping.

>> I am optimistic.

I feel that buyers will have more of an opportunity to come back into the market.

If indeed, the interest rates to come down, it will give them much more buying power.

Hundreds of dollars every month in their pocket once that occurs.

>> I would take a huge bet that you will see more transactions in 2024 than 2023.

>> Berkshire Hathaway believes homeowners who locked in low mortgage rates years ago and delayed selling on the market went nuts will finally feel motivated to list their properties in 2024.

A lot depends on interest rates.

>> When interest rates go below 5%, if they do, you will see a blizzard of listings hit the market like we have not seen in an incredibly long time.

I have told every realtor in our company and all of our offices if rates go below 5%, cancel your vacation because it is all hands on deck.

We will need to be listing and selling an incredible amount of real estate.

>> Self or the market is more fluid -- the South Jersey market is more fluid because there is more room to build but they expect bidding wars to continue.

.

What should homebuyers do?

>> Interest rates are going to fall significantly.

We have already seen evidence of that.

>> Jeff Otto has a recommendation for homebuyers.

He says start looking in February.

>> Identified the house that you would like to purchase, make your mortgage application and hold off on walking in on the interest rate until perhaps March or April or May depending on when you are closing.

Get the benefit of any reductions in interest rates over that period.

>> You can refinanced mortgages, Kherson are locked in at 6.5%.

>> I feel lucky I was able to do this, my heart goes out to people who are still looking.

>> He understands the frustration.

Raven: In our spotlight on business report tonight, breweries and distilleries are getting temporary relief.

The division of: Beverage and has delayed enforcing restrictions days before they were set to take effect.

Breweries and other craft are whole manufacturers have been pushing for an end to the rules which bar then from serving food and limit them to holding 25 events per year.

Legislature passed a bill to lift restrictions.

The governor issued a conditional veto calling for the legislature to tie the rebuild to more comprehensive liquor license reform.

ABC director James says the pause will be extended through January 16th, the final day the governor can take bills in this legislative session.

>> If the governor does not sign the legislation by them it n, the ABC may decide to extend the pause and it can be for another month or six months.

It can revert back to what they intended to a and fourth which was the restrictions.

If they go inforce, I would guarantee it would entirely free as development of future breweries and close some and have folks look to other states to open up breweries going forward.

>> Residence of a public housing housing complex are getting a PAL enduring poor living conditions.

A judge on Tuesday ordered the Atlantic city Housing Authority to give residents of Stanley Holmes ability 25% rebate on all rent paid since the lawsuit was filed in November of two to compensate for the 420 complex's state of repair.

There was a rite of complaints including unreliable heat and hot water, burst pipes, gas leaks, and pest infestations.

The court order does not go as far as attorneys for the residents have sought but larger payouts may be available once the litigation is resolved.

According to Wall Street, here is how the markets closed today.

-- turning to Wall Street, here is how the markets closed today.

>> Support for the business report provided by Rowan University, educating New Jersey leaders and partnering with New Jersey businesses, transforming New Jersey's future.

♪ Raven: That will do it for us tonight, do not forget to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

I am Raven, for the entire NJ Spotlight News team, thank you for being with us and we will see you right back here tomorrow night.

♪ New Jersey Association -- New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

And RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

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♪