>> semi on NJ Spotlight News, on the offensive, former president Donald Trump returns to New Jersey and unleashes just hours after pleading not guilty to 37 federal charges, calling the crimes against him fake and fabricated.

Esther Trump: On November 5, 2024, justice will be done.

>> the U.S. House passes a unanimous bipartisan resolution, demanding the release of New Jersey native and journalist who has been sitting in a Russian jail for 77 days.

Plus, the community is celebrating the anniversary of its first ever LGBTQ+ primary care facility, providing safe and inclusive health care.

>> from the minute they walk in the door, they are welcomed and feel like they belong.

>> accelerating the states eco-friendly electric schoolbus program.

Lawmakers push for funding to get kids to school more efficiently.

>> this should be the last generation that has legacy of being stuck on diesel fuel buses.

>> NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

>> Funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided by NJM Insurance -- the New Jersey education, making public schools safe.

Our WJ Barnabas health, let's be healthy together.

And Orsted, committed to the creation of a new long-term, sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪ >> from NJ PBS, this is NJ Spotlight News with Breonna Vannozzi.

Briana: Former President Donald Trump delivered a blunt message to Americans Tuesday night while speaking outside his Bedminster golf course, calling his 37 count federal indictment "the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country."

Adding, "the day will go down in infamy."

Trump lashed out hours after pleading not guilty in a Miami courtroom after a historic arraignment before a small, but mighty crowd of supporters and raised $2 million during the event.

The 2024 GOP front runners first major fundraiser of his campaign.

He also vowed it retribution, giving a glimpse into just how divisive the road ahead will be.

Our Senior correspondent reports.

Mr. Trump: I did everything right, and they indicted me.

>> Donald Trump radiated indignation in his Bedminster Golf club, capping a historic day in U.S. politics is the first chief executive ever charged with federal crimes, 37 counts.

The twice impeach former president delivered a bitter half-hour speech laced with lies and insults, followed by $100,000 per person fundraiser.

Mr. Trump: the horrific violations of my rights by Cricket Joe Biden is unthinkable.

So bad for our country.

>> The indictment includes photos, tapes and notes making what even Republicans called a damming case that Trump unlawfully kept and possibly shared classified government files in violation of the Espionage Act, but Trump insisted he did nothing wrong.

Mr. Trump: the Espionage Act has been used to go after traders and spies, it has nothing to do with a former president legally keeping his own documents.

>> What I saw last night was a former president throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what would stick and what would not stick.

Obviously that's in the court of public opinion that he's trying to influence now.

>> This defense lawyer says Trump's assertion he's being unfairly targeted compared to other officials who also held onto government files doesn't match reality.

He called Trump's predicament self-inflicted.

>> if he just complied and didn't force the government to execute a search warrant, which proved that he lied about printing everything.

Had he implied, he would've never been indicted.

That's why they did not indict former Vice President Pence in the same goes for Hillary Clinton.

>> meanwhile, trumps finance supporters gathered on a Bedminster Street quarter to show their support for their favorite candidates their campaign for the Oval Office.

>> there's no bad evidence against him.

He hasn't broken laws.

There's no evidence of breaking the law.

>> he is being persecuted by a fascist regime that calls itself the Democrat party.

He's in trouble and we want him to know, we are grateful.

We've got your back.

>> What's happening within the party is making him stronger as a potential nominally -- nominee, while it's making him weaker as a general election candidate because this stuff doesn't fly with anybody except his core supporters.

>> Which are Nixon left the White House after Watergate but Trump said he would govern even from prison and he faces other possible indictments in connection with the January 6 insurrection in Georgia vote counting.

>> Since the last election, he has been on a one-man crime spree.

If he's the nominee and candidates down the ballot are required to make excuses for all of this, we could see a backlash to the likes of which we have not seen since Watergate for Republicans.

>> the level of polarization is going to be taken to a whole new factor, whole new level and it's frightening, we are really going into uncharted waters.

>> Trump vowed revenge that if he's elected he would hire a special prosecutor to investigate President Biden and obliterate the deep state.

His supporters see him as the victim.

>> they see all these cases not as separate disparate things, but as part of a multipronged offensive to take him out.

>> he said Trump is working a well-worn playbook, deny, delay and hit back harder.

Mr. Trump: Republicans all, you must finally get tough.

>> He could murder somebody and I would still vote for him.

I would still vote for that man.

Briana: construction crews are already working around-the-clock to rebuild the side the site of the I-95 collapse in Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania's governor today confirmed demolition of the southbound lanes, which were found to be unsafe after the collapse of the northbound side, will be completed by Thursday.

Then the area will be backfilled and paved to allow drivers to return to the roadway with three lanes on each side of the highway.

The state will then work to build a permanent bridge, replacing the collapsed section.

Officials declined to give a timeline on the project's completion but expect it to disrupt shipping and put pressure on costs along the East Coast.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is also confirming remains uncovered from rubble at the scene of the incident belong to Nathan Moody.

The New Jersey truck owner and operator who was driving the tanker that crashed and caught fire, the cause of the crash is under investigation.

Late Tuesday Congress unanimously passed a resolution demanding the release of the New Jersey native and Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained by the Russian government in March on espionage charges.

He pleaded not guilty, the Journal in U.S. government maintained the charges have no merit.

Russian authorities have yet to publicly provide evidence to support the allegation.

The Congressional resolution demands he have unrestricted access to U.S. consular officials during his imprisonment, underscoring their support in efforts to free him.

Wall Street Journal's editor in chief applauded the move, bowing, we will not rest until he is free.

Friends, family and other supporters gathered last night at Citi Field during the Mets /Yankees subway series, displaying signs reading, free seven.

This June marks the one-year anniversary of the pride primary care center in Marlton.

It's a facility aimed at filling a health care gap for the LGBTQ+ community, a need that has grown over the years as individuals report experiencing fear or discomfort with other doctors who aren't familiar with their health issues.

That can lead them to avoid care altogether, according to experts.

As was reported, doctors at the facility say the practice is booming and expanding.

>> It's amazing to walk in here every day and know that I'm going to be seeing patients that I relate to and that will feel like they have finally found a provider that understands them.

>> A welcoming feeling he says is proof they made the right decision to work at the primary care.

The facility offers primary care services for patients, which includes addressing the needs of the LGBTQ's community.

Since opening last June, doctors have treated nearly 600 patients.

>> We often see the same things we would see in any other practice, we also sometimes see STI's that have been not treated or that may be someone just was exposed, but they finally found a place that they can come and be comfortable explaining how they might've been exposed and feeling that they are not going to be shunned or made to feel different.

>> what a great opportunity to be in a place that is inclusive and welcoming to queer people.

>> Dan Cox has been coming to the facility for the fact -- past year.

Before becoming a patient he says seeking treatment could be challenging.

>> There are times when you bring something up and the doctor, nurse, whoever it is either isn't aware, or you could tell you caught them offguard, so then immediately, at least myself being more reserved, it puts my guards up, and then makes it a little bit more -- not painful, but emotionally your ally, I don't know if I can be formable with this person right now because I don't know if they are having a moment of judgment.

>> Patients in our community are afraid to seek care.

They are often excluded in verbiage, they are forced to educate their providers about their specific needs, so to have a practice like this where we already understand what the patient is going through, how to best serve them, it just gives patients in our community is safe space to come and receive the care that they would like to receive.

>> as someone who has experienced these same issues with their own treatment, this doctor says they understand firsthand how important having a facility like this is.

>> I've seen many doctors I have felt uncomfortable or less comfortable and that's probably a big part of why went into the type of medicine that I'm in.

I've learned to give the answers that I felt the physician or provider needed, even if it wasn't necessarily politically correct, I would give them the answers that I thought would help them learn how to be more competent in LGBTQ care.

Glacial lifers, a couch -- gastroenterologist will see patients at the clinic and plans are in the works add additional specialties and services making sure all members of the LGBTQ community get the care they deserve.

For NJ Spotlight News, I Melissa Rose Cooper.

Briana: mental health professionals have been warning about lasting negative effects of anti-LGBTQ policies on young people.

As school boards across the state consider Rules some opponents say could out students based on their gender identity, supporters say protects part -- parental rights and children but there is growing concern about the emotional toll it will take.

This mental-health writer is with me now to explain.

Good to see you, there has been a lot of talk about the policies at large, but not as much about what could actually transpire years down the road for the kids who are facing this right now.

What did your reporting find?

>> I spoke to a number of advocates and mental health professionals, as well as students, and they really spoke about the fact that right now, in either adolescence or preteen years, kids are going through so much in so many emotional challenges just by the very nature of growing up.

To add to this for LGBTQ young people to have policies in place that essentially, as many folks had said makes them feel kind of unsafe in school environments, just adds to the already high amounts of anxiety and depression that they've already been experiencing.

Briana: bring us up to speed, if you can, on where that mental health crisis stands for LGBTQ youth.

>> certainly, it still in a crisis though there are a number of people statewide and nationwide looking to stem that issue.

National civil rights organizations like the human rights campaign came out with what they called a state of emergency for LGBTQ people.

Noting that over 500 bills had been passed -- excuse me, had been introduced in state houses nationwide which were deemed to be anti-LGBTQ.

That could be from a pronoun listing to also improper gender identity and curriculum censorship.

So, these are things that are ongoing.

Of course we know that the New Jersey Attorney General and their office has a lawsuit that is still ongoing in Superior Court against Hanover Township Board of Education with a hearing coming next week related to these very issues.

Briana: give us more context.

You describe it in your piece you had a quote about it being mental gymnastics for these students.

Essentially having to navigate who is safe to tell, what's safe to tell, where they can speak about their true identity.

What type of pressure is that putting on youth?

>> the pressure is enormous right now, unfortunately.

Before we had the pandemic.

This was an issue that was at the crux for many LGBTQ young people, essentially if they don't feel as though they have a safe space and a school to go towards a counselor or a therapist to lend a helpful year and if they don't have that they can't go home to an affirming house.

Essentially they are feeling stuck and if they don't know of any resources, that's when the crisis gets to a tipping point and unfortunately we are starting to see that nationwide with the high numbers of suicidal idea ideation among LGBTQ young people.

Briana: really important.

Thank you.

To read more of Bobby's reporting, head to NJ Spotlight News.org.

The state isn't just embracing the use of electric vehicles for commuters and businesses, it's also pushing a three year program to test them out for our schools.

Electric school buses are being rolled out in one central Jersey district, seeing how a cleaner, quieter ride will improve the environment and our health.

Ted Goldberg reports.

>> Public schools has a long history of excellence in academics, athletics, but I'm especially proud that we are always looking to adopt innovation in prudent ways.

East Brunswick is about two years from having electric school buses as part of its fleet.

The new buses look ready similar to your standard diesel power bus, except for the big battery and the lack of an exhaust pipe Elting out diesel smoke.

>> The most vulnerable population are the schoolchildren that take diesel buses each and every day across New Jersey.

This should be the generation -- this should be the last generation that has the legacy of being stuck on diesel school buses that emit toxic fumes.

>> I'm excited for my son to get to school at some point and hop on an electric school bus and not ever have to deal with diesel emissions.

>> This will be the first generation of children who are going to experience a bus with no diesel fumes.

>> Last summer state lawmakers approved a bill authorizing the DEP to spend $45 million over three years to create a program that introduces electric school buses and charging infrastructure.

This assembly and says it's an investment in the future.

>> Climate change is happening, and we need to fight and fight for the future, the future of our children.

>> Everybody knows this is not the future, it should be the present, we have to put this in place and protect our environment.

It's been an honor to be a part of it.

>> state and federal funds led to the order of 200 electric buses.

A small portion of New Jersey's estimated 15,000 buses that bring kids to school every day.

Senator Patrick says the point of the pilot program is to figure out the kinks before electric school buses become more widespread.

>> This particular program is being put in place so that we can really find out, get facts rather than hypothesize, get facts as to how it's working, if it's working efficiently, if there's challenging.

>> Grant funding is a great way to kickstart adoption of electric school buses and address those cost barriers.

>> Cost.

As are significant.

A new electric school bus because $400,000, more than twice the cost of your typical diesel bus.

It takes a decade for districts to breakeven it -- even on their investment but the East Brunswick mayor says it's work the way.

Greg say produces jobs, and most importantly, since we are standing here in front of an elementary school, teaches our children what it's like to be environmentally sensitive and concerned about the earth that they will inherit some day when we are all LongGone.

>> Is part of the law, half of the new buses will go to low income urban or environmental justice communities, places that have been adversely affected by pollution.

>> The Federal Reserve today opted to hold interest rates steady after 10 consecutive increases.

The decision was right -- widely expected after the long run of rate hikes up which the central bank's benchmark rate up by five percentage points in just a little over a year.

It was the most rapid series of increases since the 1980's.

All of it and attempt to tamp down higher than normal inflation, but officials signaled this pauses only temporary with two more rate hikes projected for later this year.

Giving the Fed time to see how central bankers move over the past year are affecting the economy in real time.

On Wall Street, markets reactant to the decision of major stock indexes sinking into the red immediately after the Fed's announcement, here's how stocks ended the day.

It's not a new concept, but it's just now being launched in New Jersey, hospitals at home.

Safe, high-quality hospital level care to patients in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

Their homes.

Advocates for older adults have long pushed the idea and as Joanna reports, it could be a game changer for the future of geriatric care.

>> I like to be home.

You know where everything is.

Quick sitting in her comfortable chair, Betty is actually a patient at virtual hospital where her care is provided right here in her house through a new program launched last year called hospital at home.

>> it was the perfect answer when we needed an answer.

>> Karen Smith is her daughter when her mom developed a urinary tract infection along with Covid earlier this year, she had to be admitted to the hospital, where her dementia made one night stay extremely stressful and dangerous.

>> she became more disoriented, she was requiring oxygen, she tried to get out of bed.

She pulled out two IVs.

That was just one night.

The next day the doctor offered this and we jumped on it.

>> The care at home meant she could be monitored 20 47 using a band on her arm that sends her vitals right to the health care team.

Along with twice daily visits from a nurse in regular telehealth appointments with her doctor.

>> they are much more comfortable in their home setting and we have seen incredible responses in terms of how quickly they are recovering compared to the brick-and-mortar treatments.

They are able to sleep much better at home, get that rest they need to improve quickly, mobility is tremendous compared to being in a brick-and-mortar hospital where you are kind of afraid to get out of bed because an alarm Aiko off and all you want to do is get to the restroom.

>> and they can be close to family for support.

This Dr. launched the homecare program that started when the U.S. Department of Health allowed hospitals to offer at-home care to certain Medicaid patients as a result of the COVID pandemic.

An effort to keep more vulnerable patients out of the hospital.

They've now learned that approach is improving outcomes in a multitude of ways.

>> wheel lemonade infections with older patients.

We are able to -- we are able to eliminate infections.

With older patients we create a safer environment.

Patients with dementia get confused.

We have eliminated that.

>> Smith believes being home gave her mom a sense of control over her healing when she had to be readmitted due to a leg wound.

>> every day she was moving better, she was sleeping in her own bed, she knew everyone, everyone was coming in and out and visiting her.

She didn't feel sick.

She felt like she had control over it, to a degree.

>> as promising as a result have been, right now insurance coverage is only available to Medicare patients.

There's a bill that could expand it.

>> the bill expands that health insurers coverage for hospital home care, it also provides environmental health, the opportunity to create regulations with hospital home care.

So I think that's a benefit for the residents of New Jersey.

>> the bill moved out of the health committee for the Senate and assemblies.

As the backing of health care systems that say this model is the future of health care in the state.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Joanna.

Briana: make sure you tune into Chat Box with David Cruise where he will talk to Governor Murphy about his priorities as he hits the halfway point in his second and final term as governor.

That's Thursday at six: 30 p.m. on the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel or wherever you stream.

A reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News team, thanks for being with us, have a great evening, we will see you here tomorrow.

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

Horizon Blue Cross of New Jersey and independence of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

New Jersey realtors, the voice for real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at NJRealtor.com.

And By the PSNJ foundation.

♪ >> 2000 23 president of New Jersey realtors, whether it's helping a family find a perfect home or securing space for small business owners, New Jersey realtors have been helping their clients achieve their dreams for more than a century, no matter what your unique needs are, there is a New Jersey realtor for you.

Find your realtor.

>> Life is unpredictable, health insurance shouldn't be.

For over 90 years, they have provided quality affordable health plans to New Jersey residents.

We have served generations of New Jersey families and businesses and are committed to driving innovations that put you at the heart of everything you do.

Our members, our neighbors and our families.

We are here when you need us.

Horizon, proud to be New Jersey.

♪