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Briana: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News", the state takes on AG Platkin following an ongoing investigation into racial profiling.

Plus state of dissatisfaction, a new Rutgers Eagleton poll finds most New Jerseyans are unhappy with how the state government's handling affordability and cost-of-living.

>> This is going to inevitably be in the spotlight over the next several months.

This is really the burning, number one issue on New Jerseyans mines, and especially when we talk about independence.

Briana: Also, health calls for ploys are set to skyrocket next year.

>> Our members and the working people of New Jersey are drowning in health care costs.

They cannot afford it.

Briana: In soccer fever, Governor Murphy and other leaders announce the return of an iconic team to play right here in Jersey.

>> Our city, state, our country has scored a goal.

It's argue be the most famous soccer club in U.S. history.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

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

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us on this Thursday night.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with the few of today's top stories.

First, a federal judge has again blocked President Trump's order to end birthright citizenship.

Meaning the citizenship status for babies of undocumented immigrant parents is protected for now.

The U.S. District Judge from New Hampshire today granted class-action status to a lawsuit challenging the order, brought on behalf of a pregnant immigrant, two immigrant parents and their infant by the ACLU.

But the ruling applies to immigrant children nationwide.

The New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin led the initial multistate effort defending birthright citizenship, and the ruling comes just after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to rule on the merits of that case and instead limited the ability of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions against the president's policies.

While also leaving the door open for challengers to bring class-action lawsuits.

The judge's order includes a seven day stay to allow the trump administration to appeal.

Also tonight, there is dissension in the ranks of the New Jersey state police.

Three unions representing troopers are suing Attorney General Matt Platkin to block his investigation into whether police intentionally cut back on traffic stops in response to claims of racial profiling.

As first reported by NJ monitor, the unions are arguing the investigation is retaliatory and unconstitutional, claiming that state police is already under strict oversight.

They want a judge to dismiss subpoenas issued by Platkin's office.

The class follows the 2023 report showing troopers disproportionally stopped and use force on black and Hispanic drivers.

Last year an investigation by the New York Times discovered traffic stops dropped significantly during the eight months after unions warned troopers their stops would be looked at more closely.

Unions denied wrongdoing.

In June, several lawmakers introduced a bill to remove the state police from the Attorney General's oversight, just as union leadership filed an initial complaint against the Murphy administration for what they called continuous attacks.

And one of the Jersey shore's most notorious spots for traffic jams has one town pleading with the feds for help.

Highlands Barro has been a few hundred thousand dollars on police overtime for traffic control, dealing with the summer crowds waiting to get into Sandy Hook.

The National Park has just one entrance and each car entering has to stop at a manned to pay a fee.

Traffic regularly backs up over the bridge and into Highlands.

The mayor there is now urging residents to contact the National Park Service with their concerns and complaints and claims the borough hasn't been able to get help from the Park service for years.

Local leaders have pitched a few possible solutions over time, like installing an easy pass system at the entrance, but Park officials say they try to similar idea, creating a lane for season pass holders.

The problem was, those folks filled up the park and caused it to be closed to daytrippers, which caused even more bottlenecks from drivers having to turn around.

A heads up for state lawmakers, New Jersey voters are not happy with the way government is handling just about every major issue here.

A new Rutgers Eagleton poll out today finds most people, 85% of those surveyed, are dissatisfied with the way leaders are managing the cost of living and affordability in New Jersey.

Residents archly feel the same when it comes to taxes, that's an area where frustration hasn't changed much over the last decade.

Only the topics of health care and crime got close to 50% satisfaction by those polled.

The data comes as the Republican State committee is going through a leadership change, voting unanimously Wednesday night to elect cell Jersey attorney Glenn Paulson as the new chairman.

As Democrats try to convince voters that their party should hold onto the governor's office for a third consecutive term.

For more on the pole and what it means heading into November, I'm joined by actually counting, director at the Rutgers Center for polling.

Thanks for coming on.

Given all that, what have you seen that could be driving this increase in dissatisfaction when it comes to these affordability issues?

Actually: A lot has happened in the past 10 years alone and this is something we have asked about periodically with government satisfaction, even some issues that are supposed to be better -- a feather in the state governments cap are not doing as well as they used to, such as education.

That is something New Jersey is typically known for.

What is not a surprise, as you mention, are the numbers on cost of living and affordability.

These are the top two issues New Jerseyans have told us are on their minds, especially going into the governor's race.

Briana: I hit on a couple of the areas, what were some of the other topics in and around affordability issues and beyond?

Ashley: transportation infrastructure, state budget, state budget up a little bit since we last asked about this.

That's probably really the only highlight in terms of where these trends have gone over the past several years.

The taxes and cost-of-living thing is something that is not new, but especially with cost-of-living, New Jerseyans are even more dissatisfied than they have been in the past.

This is going to inevitably be in the spotlight in the next several months.

This is the burning, number one issue on New Jerseyans mines, and especially we talk about independence.

The dissatisfaction is widespread.

It's just a matter of degrees.

Some Democrats are more likely to be satisfied than Republicans, Republicans are more likely to be dissatisfied.

A group of independents in the middle are the ones to watch.

Briana: More so than Democrats, less negative than Republicans.

How might that change or shape the messaging, the strategies heading into the gubernatorial race this fall?

>> They are going to be key for either candidate here.

We obviously are facing what will be a competitive race.

Independents are key for either candidate to cross that finish line.

A candidate needs not only their party base but they will need to persuade, and of course the bottom line is turn out these voters in the in.

These economic issues, it depends on how the candidates decide on their messaging, how they want to frame affordability and what kind of messaging and framing works best, especially with that key voting block.

Briana: What do history and polling tell us when Birchers -- when voters are virtually split are negative on big issues like that, whether it translates into an anti-incumbent election?

Does it spell bad news for Democrats?

I'm not asking you to speculate, but they are in charge of both branches.

>> I think that's hard to say, but we should also rebind -- rewind back to 2021.

That's when those economic issues came front and center.

This has typically been one of those issues that Republicans, not only nationally, but also New Jersey, have done much better on.

This is an unprecedented here, like everything else in the last decade.

We have a competition of national and state level politics.

Have a second term under President Trump, and we have dire financial situations, both nationally and statewide.

There is so much going on here, as well as historical trends.

There is so much that can affect this outcome.

Briana: What does that mean for someone like Mikey Cheryl who's trying to do the impossible and get it -- get Democrats to hold onto the seat for the third time, when you mentioned the figures that will loom large over this election?

>> She could really carve out a different strategy for Democrats , that is more about affordability.

Traditionally that has been what counts in the state and that is been what wins.

Both candidates, he depends on which candidate's message comes across more when it comes to cost-of-living and pocketbook issues.

Briana: Always good to talk to you, thanks for the context.

Hundreds of thousands of public workers could be dealing with steep increases to their health care cost next year, if the state moves forward with the recommendation made by the Treasury Department this week.

It calls for double-digit increases for all health plans, hitting local government workers the hardest, followed by school employees and state government staffers.

The reporting to a recent Kaiser family foundation report, the spike mirrors that in employer health benefit plans throughout the Northeast.

Unions representing public workers are speaking out, saying their members were prepared to pay more, but not this much.

Senior correspondent Inda Flanagan has the latest on the Fallout.

>> Are members and the working people of New Jersey are drowning in health care cost per your they cannot afford it.

Brenda: He says public workers simply cannot pay the jaw-dropping hikes in health care premiums proposed to kick in next year.

Recommended increases range from a whopping 36.5% for county and local workers to almost 30% school employees, to 21% for state workers, including Gallagher's 35,000 active CWA members.

>> The union understands that health care costs have gone up.

Brenda: For years, inflation has driven up the price of doctor visits, hospitalizations, and prescription drugs, including pricing new weight loss meds like Wegovy.

A police union citing one example, an officer earning $105,000 a year paying $17,000 in premiums for family health coverage on average, would face a 36% rate hike.

>> Is completely unsustainable.

A report said the system has failed.

>> The administration should be leading the charge as far as reforms go, and working with our public workers because they have skin in the game.

The outrageous amounts of money they're having to contribute.

Brenda: And Declan of Scanlan says it is state taxpayers pick up the rest of the.

>> There's no easy answers, because the administration has waited so long to take action.

>> There is plenty of lame to go around.

Brenda: Lobbyists expect significant fallout without a workable resolution before the rate hikes take effect.

>> It could affect day-to-day operations.

It could result in reduction of services, property tax increases, and then we have to look at our employees.

>> When you have alas a fair attitude toward managing a market, this is what will happen.

And it's a problem.

>> Linda heads a nonprofit that advocates for high-quality, affordable health care.

She said many solutions have been repeatedly recommended, but not adopted.

>> It's just that we haven't had the political will, fortitude, bravery, whatever you want to call it, to take action.

Brenda: Among the biggest challenges, keeping towns from abandoning the state health care pool in search of cheaper options, and pushing the state to negotiate far more aggressively for better deals with hospitals and drugmakers.

>> The state can go directly to health systems and say this is the price we want.

>> And it's clear they do not want to fight with the health care industry.

The time has come where we need to do that.

Render: The governor's office says he believes these rate increases are unsustainable for broke taxpayers and workers.

He is willing to work with all parties over the next few months to lower cost.

Meanwhile, an assembly speaker announced Democrats are working on new legislation to stabilize premium costs and implement long desired governance and transparency measures.

This simply will take action later this month, and our goal is to have a solution in place before the rate increases take effect.

O'scanlon remains skeptical.

>> Scary one with the 37% increase and expect people to pat you on the back when it's only a 25% increase.

We won't be doing that, because it is all a disaster.

>> The issue will loom -- loom large with all 80 assembly seats on the ballot this November.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight News".

>> Support is provided by Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Briana: In our spotlight on business report tonight, New Jersey's energy future is on the line and a group of leaders who are in and around the industry held an event this week with Stockton University to help residents make sense of the rising electric eels, while also laying out the thoughts on how the state can balance the need to grow supply while also making it affordable.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports.

>> Never before have utilities been certainly on the front burner of political elections to basically being on the minds of customers so much these days.

Joanna: But when you hear you're facing a nearly 20% increase in your electric bill, that will get everyone's attention, including industry leaders, several of whom gathered for a virtual forum yesterday to discuss this issue.

>> We all agree we need to reduce more electricity in state and make sure there is more power being generated.

>> PJM, New Jersey's Board of Public utilities points to the rise of data centers as a major can shipping factor to the skyrocketing rates.

>> I think it was .85% of the amount of electricity of the entire United States.

So one company is almost 1% of the nation's electricity.

That is primarily driven by data centers, not just chatGTP, but that is the one that everybody knows.

Joanna: PJM has been criticized by how it set market rates and growing concern is the great operator opened its option this week to determine utility rates for next her.

And Wednesday a group of congressional representatives from several states including New Jersey sent a letter asking what factors contributed to the 10 fold in electricity costs and last year's option and how PJM hopes to avoid another hike.

Industry leaders to all agree that New Jersey needs to generate more of its own power.

The question is how.

>> We are not going to have any new power other than solar, battery storage being another potential power source.

We won't have any new power it really here for at least 5-10 years, whether it's nuclear, even whether it is wind, whatever power source we are going to develop, we need to start building that now.

>> What we know is solar energy as a new resource is the least cost.

Solar and storage are the quickest to get online.

So if we need electricity in the next 2, 3, four years, those are the resources that can get on as quickly as possible.

Joanna: A recent poll by Stockton University who convened virtual panel discussion showed the majority of them aquatic and independent voters in New Jersey do support prioritizing renewable energy sources over fossil fuels, while a majority of Republicans preferred the opposite.

The poll also show that most people lame to utility companies for the rise in prices, followed by elected officials and big business.

>> Is not a utility issue.

It is an energy commodity issue we are facing.

This is the map of PJM that we are part of.

Just so we understand our utilities deliver electricity, they deliver the energy.

It is a pass-through for them.

It is important we understand that.

Joanna: Christina heads the southern New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and she says they want and all of the above approach to energy sources.

>> We should reflect that kind of diversity because there is eight needed and necessary place for every single type of energy company, and that will lead to more affordable energy costs, that energy will be delivered more efficiently, the more diversity we have, and there will be more innovation.

Joanna: The last several months of Governor Murphy's term will be spent investing in solar and storage, there's no telling what the next Governor's energy development priorities will be.

For "NJ Spotlight News" I am Joanna Gagis.

>> The 2025 policy for schedule is available online.

Briana: From Jersey to the grass courts of Wimbledon, of freehold Township, Amanda has bested the top ranked women's player to reach her first ever grand slam final.

That was after winning her semifinal match earlier today.

That was in three sets.

At age 23, she is the youngest American woman to reach the Wimbledon finals since Serena Williams in 2004.

And if she wins, she will become the third American woman to win a Grand Slam tournament this year.

She began playing tennis at the age of five and apparently her older sister was also a standout tennis player.

She was asked about the big win earlier today and told reporters it just doesn't feel real.

Finally tonight, diehard Soccer fans are going to love this.

The famed New York Cosmos are back.

They will be playing right here in New Jersey.

In the 1970's, the team put U.S. soccer on the map, bringing with it some big names, including Brazilian soccer star Pele.

The Governor announced today the cosmos where we turn in March 2026 as the newest member of the United soccer league, just in time for New Jersey's host of the people World Cup.

>> The cosmos are coming back.

>> The storied soccer franchise is returning to the pitch in Patterson.

>> Soccer city USA, let's go cosmos.

>> Is still considered soccer town USA because of its rich history with the sport, but Patterson could soon become soccer city with game slated to start in 2026, two levels below major league soccer.

>> Our city come our state, our country has scored a goal because the cosmos arguably are the most famous soccer club in U.S. history.

We all remember the glory days.

Pele and Giorgio in my case, a former U.S. ambassador in Lynn, Germany.

They helped transform the perception of the sport.

They were a cultural phenomenon.

>> Previous iterations of the cosmos brought events with international stars, but this version seems a little more community oriented.

They will try to build stars from right here in Patterson and the surrounding areas.

>> In the future we are going to have more superstars that will come out of Patterson, North Jersey, who will lead future generations.

What we are building here is a club that is local, but it's about the community.

>> There are so many barriers to kids, particularly in communities like this, and their talent just dies on the vine.

We are going to be working very hard to find those kids, 15, 16, 17 years old, get them into our system, into our club, and play them.

>> A Clifton native who played professionally in Europe and in the Olympics for Italy.

>> Creating a new pathway for these kids to pursue their dreams, to continue to develop, putting in a system in place where kids want to be here, just coming in giving back to my community, to New Jersey, is something special.

>> The cosmos are playing to build a women seem in 2027, continuing the Renaissance of Hinchcliffe Stadium after years of neglect in the silk city.

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

Briana: That will do it for us.

You can download our podcast and watch us anytime by subscribing to the "NJ Spotlight News" YouTube channel.

You can always follow us on Instagram and blue sky to stay up-to-date on loan -- all the states headlines.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great night.

We will see you again tomorrow.

>> NJM Insurance Group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association, and by the PSEG Foundation.

>> Orsted believes that clean energy is more than just a power source.

It's an opportunity to create stronger economies and communities.

Together, the South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind projects from Orsted will provide American, wind-powered energy for New Yorkers, and support jobs, education, and the local supply chain.

Orsted, committed to a clean energy future for New York.

>> Look at these kids.

What do you see?

I see myself.

I became an ESL teacher to give my students what I wanted when I came to this country.

The opportunity to learn, to dream, to achieve.

A chance to belong, to be an American.

My name is Julia, and I'm proud to be an NJEA member.

♪