>> Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided by NJ M insurance group.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and -- >> Tonight, calls for unity to lower the temperature of our overcharged political climate after the attempted assassination of armor President Trump.

>> The rhetoric that has been spewed, it is both parties, we have to dial it back.

>> A mid-summer election.

Voters in district 10 had to the polls to replace a late Congressman.

>> The feeling of Governor Murphy on house leaders was -- and house leaders was this has to be done in case we need that vote.

We don't want New Jersey to miss out.

>> Soaring temperatures as a heat wave grips the Garden state.

>> It keeps coming at us.

This is the second warmest June on record.

We are on pace for top 10 for the month of July.

>> Republicans call for accountability after NJ transit's travel issues.

>> This is people's livelihoods or health if they can't get to a doctor's appointment or to and from work.

>> NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

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

>> I'm Joanna Gagis.

Briana Vannozzi is off tonight.

The nation is reeling after the attempted assassination of former President Trump outside Pittsburgh Saturday.

President Biden made a special address to the nation denouncing political violence and calling for unity from all of us to take stock on where we are as a nation and lower the temperature of our politics.

The attempted assassination raised safety concerns like how the shooter had access to an elevated position close to the former president, but it calls into question the tone and tenor of today's overly charged political climate and the impact this could have on each candidate.

All of this has the Republican convention kicks off today in Milwaukee with Trump toning down his remark and making the announcement that J.D.

Vance will be his vice presidential running mate.

I have here with me the New Jersey Democratic state committee chair and a State Senator.

Great to have you both with us.

Senator, I will start with you.

We know Trump has been rewriting his speech for the RNC.

How have the events from this past weekend impacted and perhaps reshaped the messaging this week?

>> I would hope it is directed towards public policy, certainly there are enough issues out there without having to get into this personal stuff.

You can see what happens when you get into personal stuff.

Some people take it personally and sometimes bad things happen.

Joanna: So you think the former president has been too focused on personal matters, personal attacks?

>> I think all sides.

This includes the Biden campaign and the Trump campaign.

They have been to focused on individuals and personalities as a -- opposed to public policy.

Joanna: And you believe that is what we will see and hear in the coming days?

>> we would hope so.

You mentioned President Trump has rewritten his script.

It is different than the one he planned.

We hope it is a good thing.

Joanna: Chairman, up until this weekend we have seen a fever pitch since the debate, calls for President Biden to step aside.

Has he addressed the nation, calling for everyone to cool down, has this weekend shifted the focus away from that for Democrats?

And perhaps secured the president's position as the candidate?

>> I hope so.

This past weekend has been a wake-up call for us all on both sides of the aisle.

Joe mentioned that.

The rhetoric that has been spewed, and it is not one particular party, it is both parties, we have to dial it back.

When folks have language that becomes explosive and they begin to impact others that cause them to move in very tragic ways, we lost one person, two people were injured.

Former President Donald Trump was injured.

This is America, and we have to have a level of discourse that is respectable come of it deals with the issues that Joe mentioned, public policy, what we all can do on either side to make America the dominant country in the world.

And I think we have gotten lessons learned, unfortunately, from tragedy.

This incident, which was way beyond what we would like to see in terms of civility.

Joanna: I hear you both saying the same thing.

It is interesting, we are seeing this moment of folks coming together.

This morning we saw two candidates for governor in New Jersey on either side, Steve Sweeney and John Brehm neck, saying -- calling for unity and some of the rumblings of blame as people accused President Biden of the shooting, saying there was language used in his speech that caused this.

We are seeing former President Trump put out a statement on truth social that is using some of that language we are so used to seeing from him.

Senator, is this a short-lived moment of unity in this charged political climate?

>> I hope this is the beginning of a process where both sides can come together.

Let's focus on the issues that are important to the American people.

There are quite a few that we differ on as far as the approach we have to take to solve those issues.

If we come together and work on that, I think the American public in the long run will benefit.

Joanna: Chairman, some folks are calling Trump a national hero after Saturday, calling him a martyr.

Others say this all but guaranteed is win.

President Biden has had to switch his strategy, pulling back ads from the air.

He made an address last night.

How does he shift his strategy so he can attempt to win the race?

>> I don't think the strategy changes.

The focus becomes a pause on how we communicate going forward.

Abraham Lincoln, the night he was assassinated, had a Scripture written into his jacket and that Scripture was, one country, one destiny.

That should be our mission across all political spectrums and civility should always be the order of the day.

Joanna: I appreciate you both coming on.

This is the kind of discourse that I think you were both talking about.

Thank you very much.

>> thanks, Joe.

Good seeing you.

>> you too, chairman.

Joanna: The trial of Bob Menendez has been deliberating since Friday, weighing evidence provided by the persecution against the narratives of innocence offered by the defense teams.

They have to reach a unanimous decision on the 18 charges levied against Menendez and his codefendants.

There is speculation the longer they deliberate, the less likely we are to see a guilty verdict.

That is speculation considering how much the jury has to sort through after nine weeks of testimony.

On the scene through it all is our Senior correspondent, Brenda Flanagan, who has updates on today's deliberations.

We know the jury sent a few notes to the judge.

What can you tell us?

Brenda: The jury has sent the judge four notes so far.

Two of the requests were simple.

They wanted a computer cable and they wanted to take a fresh air brake on the terrace and the judge said sure.

Then the questions got more complicated.

At 11:00 this morning, they sent a question, does not guilty verdict on a simple count, a single count, rather, require unanimity?

The judge answered them, your vote, whether guilty or not guilty, must be unanimous as to each count and each defendant.

At 2:00 they sent another note.

They asked for clarification on counts 11 and 12, bribery counts .

They involved Senator Menendez and his codefendant.

Jurors wanted to know could that include the Senator intervening in the New Jersey federal prosecution case against Davies.

The judge explained, yes it could, then he gave the jury additional directions.

We don't know if this jury is going through the verdict sheet count by count, but those were counts 11 and 12 out of 18.

Joanna: That could be an indication they are getting close.

Do you know if they asked to review any of the evidence yet?

Brenda: They haven't, but the judge has said he is open to bringing in anything they want.

He said he would even bring the gold bars and bags of cash back into the courtroom.

That was initially viewed by them in the opening arguments from the prosecution.

He said he would bring it back if they wanted to see it.

They can choose to hear any of the testimony read back.

The judge asked, please be specific.

We have been doing this for nine weeks and some of the testimony is very long.

Joanna: What happens if Senator Menendez is found guilty?

Brenda: If he is found guilty, he faces 20 years.

He is 70.

It is a safe bet he will appeal.

The defense has been objecting throughout the trial to set the stage for an deal, but the Constitution says a convicted felon can run for reelection and serve out the rest of his Senate term.

The only caveat is if his Senate colleagues decide to expel him but that would take a two-thirds majority vote.

Joanna: Pretty jarring to think of convicted U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez continuing to serve.

Brenda, great insight as always.

Thank you.

Brenda: Thank you.

Joanna: We will have live coverage of the jury decision when the verdict comes down.

Turn to the NJ Spotlight News YouTube journal where -- channel .

You can turn on notifications to know exactly when we are live.

All eyes are on a November election that could define the political future of our country.

Here in New Jersey, voters in the 10th Congressional District will head to the polls this week to choose a replacement for the late Congressman Donald Payne Junior.

It is a crowded election that will be held tomorrow and the winner will go on to a special election in September.

As Ted Goldberg reports, the winner will only fill the seat through the end of the year and it could change in November.

TED: Mid July's beach season but this year, it is election season .

A crowded field is running for the 10th congressional seat in New Jersey to finish the term of Donald Payne Junior, who died this year.

>> the feeling of Governor Murphy and House leaders was, this has to be done in case there is a close vote, in case we need that a vote.

We don't want New Jersey to miss out, for New Jersey to be the reason why the House of Representatives is in paralysis.

TED: The favorite is Lamonica MacGyver, running on a record as Cine -- city Council president.

>> we have the only land bank in New Jersey where we can sell homes to New York residence for one dollar.

We have done work around public safety.

Our ability to implement the office of violence prevention.

>> an amazing amount of money this woman has raised in 5-6 weeks.

I have not seen the likes of this in a long >> time.

>> Payne's death led to an unusual special election.

He won the Democratic primary posthumously.

For the new election, the 11 candidates campaign for just a few short months.

>> I wouldn't use the word chaotic.

It has been a different experience for me.

We have had literally seven and a half weeks to get out there, talk to as many voters as we can enlarge spaces.

TED: Whoever wins tomorrow will get the Democratic nod in a heavily Democratic district for the remaining three months of the term.

For the next two year term, Democratic county committees will decide the nominee Thursday.

They don't have to pick whoever wins tomorrow.

>> there was never an expectation that it would be easy.

There was an expectation that it would be fair.

>> Some candidates are not happy, like former Councilwoman Brittany Claybrook's.

>> Some are saying it publicly, does not matter who wins tomorrow.

>> It is a transparent process.

That will be up to the County committee.

Those are individuals with their own minds to be made up.

And the candidate of their choice will be exercised on the 18th.

TED: Candidates have had similar pitches to voters, painting themselves as doers rather than dreamers.

>> Housing is a problem read I'm in urban manner by trade.

I have done the work.

>> a lot of these guys and girls talk about what they want to do and I'm actually doing it.

A lot of them, it is within their careers and that is the reason why they are doing certain things.

They are getting paid to do it.

I'm coming from a volunteer basis in terms of my nonprofit.

TED: The candidates are facing another opponent, low turnout.

We don't usually see elections in July and tomorrow's special election only faces this race.

>> it is the middle of July.

It will be hot tomorrow.

It is not a normal thing to be voting in the summer.

>> Folks are enjoying their summer.

People have voter fatigue.

TED: The pick will face the Republican for the congressional seat and the winner takes office for his or her full term in early January.

Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: New Jersey is bracing for temperatures inching towards the triple digits.

Not even the wet weather this weekend could cool down the garden state and these patterns are bringing lingering consequences for New Jersey in the form of drought conditions and poor air quality.

Dave Robinson joins me to discuss what we can expect.

Great to see you again.

We have another heatwave going on right now.

The heat index is supposed to reach 104.

What can you tell us about the weather?

Dave: It keeps coming at us.

The second warmest June on record and we are on pace for a top 10 warmth at least for the month of July.

The only good news I can give out today is that unlike recent weeks, we see at least a temporary end in sight for the extreme heat and humidity.

The end of this week into next weekend, it will be no more normal July weather.

Joanna: What should we expect?

Dave: Mid to upper 80's for highs away from the coast.

Nights in the 60's, may be hugging the coast in the low 70's.

Lower humidity.

Just more comfortable, I guess you could say, after a very persistent pattern of warmth with very few breaks in recent weeks.

Joanna: We are not there yet.

There is a heat advisory in place right now.

We saw OSHA put out a warning for workers, take frequent breaks, make sure they can take breaks in the cool.

Any other tips for folks working outside or folks who are vulnerable?

Dave: This will be a tough three days.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be the height of this and with it, as you mentioned, the levels of humidity will be there as well.

So we can to our bodies of heat very effectively.

If you are in the sun, it is particularly the worst.

Get shade.

Take frequent breaks.

And hydrate yourself.

That is water.

It is not alcoholic beverages, it is not carbonated beverages, it is drink a lot of water.

Your body will lose water pretty quickly even in a humid climate.

But very quickly, here is the key, you can get in trouble very quickly whether you are healthy or not, you can get in trouble with the heat index so high that the actual thermometer reading is so high.

Joanna: That puts focus -- folks at risk for stroke.

There are also air quality concerns.

Dave: That is always a problem when you get a stagnant air mass and this kind of weather.

You get high pressure and the air sinks and worms around you and it doesn't mix up the area enough to sweep away the pollutants produced in workday New Jersey.

So we will have to watch for that occurring.

And we are at the time of year when the sun is pretty high in the sky and that acts as a catalyst for these chemical reactions.

That makes a bad situation worse.

You pump out the chemicals into a stagnant environment and then you heat them up with the sun and they become even worse.

So big problems for people on the respiratory side in particular.

Joanna: I should have said heatstroke, not stroke.

Heatstroke.

But there is a drought, moderate growth levels in southern and western parts of New Jersey.

What is the risk?

What does that mean and what is the risk for agriculture?

Dave: We are teetering on being too dry.

Unless you live in Cape May and western, excuse me, Eastern Cumberland County where they have had a foot of rain in some spots since June 30, but that is isolated.

We are particularly concerned about West Central Jersey, Mercer, northern Burlington County.

And scattered areas around the state, all corners of the state.

With this heat, you are increasing evaporation levels and you would like to see even more precipitation than normal.

We are simply not.

So we are starting to be concerned about water resources.

First, it affects as you mentioned, Agriculture.

The lawns and gardens.

Eventually, if conditions really were sun, you worry about water supply.

Right now the supplies are fine but we have to keep an eye on things.

Joanna: We will be watching carefully.

Thanks for the insight into what is happening, Dave Robinson, climatologist at Rutgers University.

In our spotlight on business report, train delays plan to travelers over the last few months, leading New Jersey lawmakers to pass a state budget that includes a corporate transit fee, which guarantees future funding for NJ transit.

The agency is dealing with crumbling infrastructure and a looming budget deficits.

Republican lawmakers are saying enough is enough.

They are calling for hearings and audits to dig deeper into the agency's financial problems and identify solutions to get it back on track.

Raven Santana spoke to lawmakers about mounting concerns.

>> New Jersey transit has been a mess.

>> This senator is calling for an independent audit of NJ transit after he says not enough have -- has been done to fix the issues plaguing commuters.

>> Part of the problem is, unless you really know what the problems are, how can we address them?

Early on this year, as part of the transportation trust fund package that I introduced, along with Senator Tibor, we had a bill that would have called for an independent audit of New Jersey transit.

Financially and functionally, how New Jersey transit operates.

To continue to throw money at New Jersey transit is a waste.

Raven: His comments come in response to weeks of delays that have left commuters stranded for hours and a 15% fare hike that he says should be used to support immediate and reliable service.

>> The 15% increase, the money ought to be dedicated to putting more routes and more buses on the street until we get this train problem corrected.

This is not a Republican or Democrat issue.

This should not be something people try to score political points on.

You are dealing with people's livelihoods or their health when they can't get to a doctors appointment or they can't get to and from work.

So distinguish between Republicans, Democrats and Independents when folks get on the train.

Raven: This senator called on Kevin Corbett to step down from his role as NJ transit CEO in light of ongoing delays, saying in no world would an organization beget -- be able to continue business as usual while suffering so many failures.

>> There should be an urgency to this that there wasn't.

They did a study in 2018.

No idea what happened to that.

We have not seen the type of communication we need to see about the timelines and the funding.

It is a mess.

Raven: The backlash continues as the senator and an assembly woman, and an assemblyman, who will represent the same district in Monmouth County, are requesting a special legislative hearing to investigate the ongoing issues.

This comes after the New Jersey coastline rail service was suspended in both directions last week after a drawbridge across the river couldn't fully closed due to signal issues.

The bridge is more than a century old.

NJ transit is currently building a new $446 million bridge to replace it.

>> the administration could do what they should have done years ago and challenge Amtrak, challenge the Biden administration to pay more attention to this end of the coastline.

They have done some work in other areas, even in New Jersey.

The legislature could be called back into session at any time.

We all need a break in the summer, but the urgency of this is such that it should happen right away.

Raven: The senator is urging his colleagues in the state legislature to support his requests of scheduling a special hearing immediately.

The Senate President and the assembly speaker both declined to comment.

I'm Raven Santana for NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: Turning to Wall Street, stocks rose to start the week.

Here's a look at how the day ended.

♪ >> Support for the business report is provided by experience the vibrancy of Newark's arts and education district and Halsey, and neighborhood built on heart and hustle.

Visit Halseynwk.com for the HalseyFest schedule.

♪ Joanna: That does it for us tonight.

Before you go, a reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast to listen anytime.

I'm Joanna Gagis.

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great night and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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