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>> Tonight, one-on-one with Senator Cory Booker from IVF, the Senate race, his decade-long Senate mentor facing federal charges.

Sen. Booker: this is someone who I have only seen the best of the best in my service with him.

It was difficult for me to read the facts.

>> With the Menendez trial temporarily suspended, we recap, does it prove quid pro quo?

>> Menendez says write the names of everybody in this pocket, at that point he said I will look into this for you.

If you connect the dots it becomes a quid pro quo.

>> Tackling crime, it is not just boardwalk rowdiness, the amount of people committing carjackings and burglaries.

We ride along with the University Hospital trauma team in Newark as they answer the call.

>> Things like shootings, stabbings, assault increase.

You will see an increase in overdose responses.

>> NJ Spotlight News begins now.

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

Briana: U.S.

Senator Cory Booker has had extra weight on his shoulders lately with the continued bipartisan occurring on Capitol Hill with legislative items like protecting access to reproductive rights and IVF procedures.

At times as the loan Senate vote representing the Garden State.

While Bob Menendez stands trial on federal bribery and corruption charges.

David Cruz spoke one-on-one with Booker today about how he's tackling the litany of challenges ahead.

David: Cory Booker, it has been a while.

Sen. Booker: I do national, I always have to bring my a game for you.

David: You have been away for a while.

Let's talk about yesterday, the outrage expressed by you and fellow Democrats about this vote on IVF.

Sen. Booker: This is one of my bills.

To do three things, secure the right to IVF, it allows many families in America to have children.

It's expensive.

It should not be the purview of people who have the wealth and means to obtain it.

Number three, to support our military families who often get exposed to conditions that make it hard for them or unable to have children.

They should be able to freeze their big source -- their eggs or sperm.

It was blocked in the United States Senate.

It got two Republicans to come out and support.

David: Throughout this tumultuous year, you had to distance yourself from a friend and mentor, I know that is not just talk, you were one of the last two really call for Senator Menendez to resign.

He's facing a lot of serious charges.

Could you talk about what that was life?

He is your friend.

Sen. Booker: Imagine working side-by-side with somebody for a decade.

Bob Menendez was one of the more brilliant Senators down there.

I knew nothing of what he has been accused of in the indictment.

When you read the indictment, it is shocking and almost hurt.

I wasn't the last person, I was a key person.

A lot of my colleagues were like we are not going to do anything until we see what workers going to do.

Friday I came out and asked for his -- him to step down the next business day.

It was very emotional.

More than I thought.

I believe these offices we hold we are not entitled to.

He deserves his day in court.

It was time for him to step down.

New Jerseyans could look that the trust and importance of the office could go on.

David: Was there a conversation?

How was that?

Sen. Booker: Some of the most important conversations of my life.

Someone who I have only seen the best of the best in my service with him.

It was difficult for me to read the facts that were laid out.

David: As a result of that you had political reaction to that.

You have Tammy Murphy, the party line decision, Andy Kim emerging from all of it.

What is your sense of what has happened over the past 10 months or whatever?

Thomas Jefferson said revolution is pretty good once in a while.

Isn't that kind of impact that the line decision will have?

Sen. Booker: I was the outsider against the established party.

I would've never been elected if there was a party line.

Our elections were nonpartisan.

Here I am thinking Andy Kim is making good points.

I have worked with Tammy Murphy a lot.

I don't think people appreciate what the first lady has accomplished.

She has really been the leader on so many key issues.

Andy Kim is a history maker.

There was never in the history of America been a Korean American.

The ultimate outcome of all of this I think will be good.

As our legislature and party leaders grapple with this, what is the fairest and best way to conduct this?

David: It changes everything going forward?

Sen. Booker: I wouldn't say everything.

Parties play a role.

David: It's a big difference now if you could get four or five people it will not be the party choice here and everybody else over there.

You imagine more people will run?

Sen. Booker: I will always support whatever system is the most fair.

I will tell you this right now, a lot of people complain on our international level.

We have a Democratic primary with like 78 people running for president.

Isn't there somebody that could get you all in a room?

There is prose that the party plays a lot of times in vetting and interviewing.

A lot of the party lines are given by open elections.

David: Some, I wouldn't say a lot.

Sen. Booker: Some do it that way.

The people who are always paying attention to the issues and the rank and file members.

We need to create a system that people can't call foul that a few people in a back room are picking the nominees, nobody wants that.

I don't want to demean the Republican or Democratic party in our state who often provide a good vetting and clearance as we move forward as the state of New Jersey.

The parties have a role, Andy Kim was 100% right.

I wouldn't be sitting here if I had to go through what he was complaining about in this process.

David: He's a conspiracy theorist, polar opposites, you are slightly more bombastic.

Sen. Booker: People are loving it, this is the state of New Jersey, you can't have two nice guys representing New Jersey.

You need somebody more mean that will flip you off.

Andy and I may have different styles but we are cut from America.

We don't need bomb growers, people that are pitting Americans after American, the degrading talk that seems to be en vogue.

Andy and I will be an effective pair in Washington because we make friends and build coalitions across aisles and line.

You get us in a room, we are different energies but we both have the same kind of spirit, especially as a political leader.

David: Thanks for coming on.

Sen. Booker: Thanks for having me.

Briana: Senator Menendez trial has added -- at an unexpected pause.

One of the codefendants in the case tested positive for COVID-19.

This comes as the prosecution turned its focus to key witnesses.

Including one of the witnesses who pleaded guilty and some of the top law enforcement leaders sharing salacious and at times amusing details into the alleged bribes between Menendez, his wife, and three businessmen.

Brenda, it is really nice to have you here so we could recap where we are at.

So much has been presented.

What would you say is sticking with the jury?

Brenda: Five weeks of testimony so far.

If you look past the Pat -- look past the last five weeks something the jury won't be able to forget is they had the two top cops from New Jersey in their courtroom.

Talking about the former Attorney General and the sitting U.S. attorney, what is remarkable is both of them told them that they were asked by Senator Menendez to give special consideration to criminal cases.

That carries a lot of weight when you get that kind of testimony that these cases involved people who evidence shows Dave gold bars, cash, a Mercedes-Benz, we are talking connecting the., it is being done by people who are top of the food chain.

Briana: Those were stunning moments thinking about those men walking into the courtroom with Senator Menendez sitting there.

What did the defense team have to say when they made those allegations?

Brenda: Menendez's defense has essentially said he is providing constituent services.

Something not out of the ordinary.

It is something the senator does for people.

There should be no inference that it is a bribe.

Business as usual is not the way it is described.

The former New Jersey Attorney General went to a meeting in his office with an attorney, assistant U.S. attorney.

He was aware to what happened when there was an ask to focus on the particular case involving the star witness for the prosecution.

Gray wall said we cannot do that.

He shut it down.

As the two of them were walking out, that's when the assistant attorney general turned to him and said that was gross.

The prosecution made him repeat it.

That's the kind of thing that sticks with a jury.

When you are talking about the case involving a U.S. attorney, he indicated it was very important to Menendez that he take a close look at a case involving Fred Daibes, a developer who is codefendant in this trial.

The support to nomination hinged on what he could do.

Briana: There is a juxtaposition there with who is really the star witness, José Uribe.

He is smeared as someone who might be lying on the stand.

Not having a good recollection of the events.

As opposed to the law enforcement leaders, what did Jose Uribe have to say?

Brenda: The night he visited Menendez at the home he shares with his wife, as he walked up the driveway, there was a Mercedes-Benz that they were financing for Nadine.

He sat down on the back patio and said I need your help with this case, what could you do?

The senator reached over, gets a little bell and rings it.

That apparently summons his wife to the backyard with a piece of paper.

Everyone in the courtroom thought he rang a bell to summon his wife?

That was something we all thought was odd that the jury will remember.

Subsequently he said write the names of the people involved in this case.

He put it in his pocket.

At that point he said I will look into this for you.

If you connect the dots it becomes a quid pro quo.

Briana: Trial is expected to resume on Monday.

Thank you for that.

It's more than just rowdiness on the boardwalks.

Some you'll -- lawmaker says arise in juvenile crime needs immediate attention.

Citing involvement in illegal activities like carjacking, theft, burglary.

The work on new solutions on improving public safety and whether the traditional criminal justice system is the best option.

Ted golden reports.

Ted: Governor Phil Murphy and law enforcement have painted different pictures of how the summer started.

>> There were three very serious incidents.

This was a huge Memorial day.

>> The law has tied our hands.

The public deserves to not wait until after things have gotten out of control for the police to make arrests.

Ted: A few reports of chaos changes the narrative on how police should operate with chaos.

>> Body cameras, we welcome accountability and believe it is important.

Many officers are losing their job because of mishandling and encounter with the youth.

Ted: The judiciary committee had a meeting on how to handle crimes committed by minors.

The state switched from a largely money based Bail system to a risk-based assessment.

>> Nobody wants to leave a young person who commits a minor offense with a permanent record, if they will do things like engaging in-home evasions.

>> If there is no deterrent, no consequence, there will be no change in behavior.

>> Kids are more vulnerable to pressure and impulses than adults are.

We talk about things like enhancing penalties or letting kids know this or that.

We act as if kids are thinking about any of that when they go out of the house.

Ted: New Jersey's Beller firm -- bail reform is said to handcuff law enforcement by some.

>> We can't build a case against the ringleaders.

>> In multiple incidents, our officers have arrested a juvenile that committed a home invasion for them to just say I will see you tomorrow, boss when an officer deals with a disorderly youth.

We do not have a system in place that would talk about previous interactions, curbside warnings, or even charges that have been dismissed as a result of successful diversion.

Ted: Supporting programs for other offenders might be the one thing people could agree on.

>> We could ensure they don't become adult recidivists.

>> Children who enter into a program are 45% more likely not to reoffend.

Diversion could be more powerful than probation for low-level offenders.

Ted: You could reduce crime by sharing information like in the case of the Kia challenge.

A trend where people learned how to steal certain key is.

Rutgers professor said an informational campaign paid big dividends in Newark.

>> As soon program started, we found a decrease in the number of successful auto theft and an increase into failed auto theft people had upgraded their cars.

Ted: Some bills on the table would increase penalties for home invasions and make them less likely to make bail.

Briana: In our spotlight on business report, stocks pulled back today.

More signs of cooling after a record-setting rally as the latest sentiment survey showed high prices are still a pain point for Americans.

, it hit its lowest level in seven months.

Here's how markets reacted to close the week.

>> Support for the business report is provided by experienced environment and Halsey Street.

A neighborhood built on heart and hustle.

Visit the website for the 2024 Halsey Fest schedule.

♪ Briana: At any moment's notice, University Hospital in Newark has nearly 50 ambulances at the ready for a call.

The kind of preparation the hospital's emergency trauma department is accustomed to during the summer months when traumatic injuries from gun violence or car crashes reach a peak.

The team responded to 130 thousand calls last year alone for service.

Senior correspondent recently went for a ride with the ambulance crew as they responded to some of those near fatal calls.

>> These EMS workers are trying to save the life of a man who overdosed and was found lying on the sidewalk in Newark.

>> You overdosed, we gave you some Narcan.

Reporter: Thankfully it worked.

This case is one of countless that EMS workers and University Hospital respond to on a given day.

As the summer months heat up, so too does frequency and severity of those calls.

>> Our violent encounters go up, things like shootings, stabbings, assault will increase.

We will see an increase in overdose responses.

An increase in our motor vehicle crashes.

There's more people on the road.

An increase in our overall general trauma.

>> Stay on the line, I will tell you what to do next.

Reporter: If this looks like any ordinary response team, it is not.

University Hospital is the only level one trauma center located in North Jersey and its EMS program spend -- spans countless functions.

>> 91 one, EMS rescue operation, those guys are technically trained to do high angle rescue, veal coal -- vehicle disentanglement.

We are the jumpstart program, the New Jersey air medevac program.

Reporter: They have had the -- rescue operations with the fire department.

They know firsthand all that is required to do the job well.

It starts with -- >> Looking at a patient and determining if they are sick or not sick.

Reporter: Then come the external forces they are competing with.

>> Number one is safety.

Situational awareness, we learn that from the very beginning stages.

You have to know what is around you.

If something happens, how do I get out of it.

You have the radio going, seeing if your number is being called.

You have to watch traffic.

Reporter: The high-level operations allows patients to receive life-support before entering the trauma center.

That's where they meet Dr. Fox and his team.

>> A full team that is what we call multidisciplinary into take care of patient who will be either already nervous to have serious injuries or the potential to have injuries.

That team is run by a trauma surgeon, not an emergency position -- physician is one that will be evaluating and making decisions, like the conductor of an orchestra about what patients need.

Reporter: How quickly patients are triage when they arrived here.

They are referred for their next steps of care.

>> If somebody is shot in the face, I will see them with 19.

We will evaluate them, stabilize them, and get the appropriate personnel to see them whether it is a facial surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, spine surgeon, whatever.

>> It certainly could be larger and allow us to absorb even more.

Reporter: With capacity what could this space look like?

>> It could look like a war zone.

It is a controlled chaos.

A weekend during the summertime, you will walk through this trauma bay and it will be full.

There will be patients in basically every nook and cranny that we have.

They are all being monitored and evaluated properly.

Reporter: Crowded but coordinated.

They have a clinic that works with violence prevention team that keeps patients from returning.

At the end of a busy day, they know why they do this work.

>> The gratitude they have makes it all worthwhile.

>> Support for the medical report is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

An independent licensee of the Blue Cross through Shield Association.

Briana: Don't forget to download the podcast and listen anytime.

For the entire news team, thanks for being with us.

Have a great weekend.

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

Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

And by VPN CG foundation.

>> Our future relies on more than clean energy.

It relies on empowered communities, of our schools and streets.

It is committed to sustainability, equity, and economic empowerment.

Helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships, and workforce development that strengthen our community.

♪