Announcer: Major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" is provided in part by 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 the Association.

And by the PSEG foundation.

Briana: Tonight, boardwalk closed.

One Jersey shore town tries to tamp down on rowdy crowds by imposing earlier closing times after a chaotic start to the summer.

Plus, Trump travel ban 2.0.

Reactions in the state to the latest round of travel restrictions imposed on a dozen or so countries.

>> For America to close its doors at a time when these countries are needed the most, need the helping hand the most, it is particularly cruel.

Briana: With the primary election days away, campaign spending is hitting record highs, especially by independent groups supporting the candidates.

>> These are groups that are not supposed to be coordinating with campaigns.

And there have not been any allegations yet that that has happened.

But boy, it looks like they are right up to the line in a few cases.

Briana: And a new report says New Jersey schools are isolating students with disabilities far more than any other state by excluding them from general education classrooms.

NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ Announcer: from NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News," with Briana Vannozzi.

>> Hello and thanks for joining us.

I am Joanna Gagis.

Briana Vannozzi is half tonight currently begin with a few top headlines.

After a troubling Memorial day weekend in Seaside Heights, local leaders would like to close the boardwalk early on popular holiday weekends moving forward.

Borough Council is proposing a measure that which shutdown the boardwalk at 10:00 p.m., the same time as its curfew for minors.

The boardwalk currently closes at midnight during the week, and at 1:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The proposed change comes after chaos on and around the boardwalk Memorial day weekend.

The Township officials say it ended with more than 80 arrests, some adults, some minors, and three people stabbed.

Seaside Heights leaders are considering a measure to ban backpacks on the boardwalk, unless they are being used for what officials call reasonable purposes.

Say this can help prevent stolen items from being hidden or contraband from being brought onto the boardwalk.

The mayor says if enforced correctly, the new measures could reduce the kind of problems the short town faced in recent summers.

And if the Council approves, the new rules would be an effect for this Fourth of July weekend.

Governor Murphy signed a law making it a fourth degree criminal charge to incite a brawl.

Police and local leaders say that will give them more teeth when responding to pop up parties and other unruly activity.

Also tonight, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and 18 other attorneys general have their first day in court after suing the Trump Administration for an executive order that would override the state's voting laws.

Under the Constitution, states have the authority to create their own laws for how and when votes can be cast.

New Jersey allows early in person voting and allows mail-in ballots to be cast until 8:00 p.m. election night.

Those ballots have six days to be counted.

The Trump Administration under interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Hoffa sought to change those laws.

By Executive Order, New Jersey voters would have to show proof of citizenship to vote, and no absentee or mail-in ballots received after election day could be counted.

The order withholds federal funding from any state not in compliance with the measures.

While pursuing states say the Executive Order violates the Constitution which gives no authority to the executive branch and overseeing election laws, but the Justice Department argued the president has the authority to direct officials "to carry out their statutory duties" empathy only potential voters it disenfranchises site -- disenfranchises are noncitizens.

President Trump announced a travel ban from 12 countries this week that he says pose a threat to America.

The ban is set to take effect Monday.

It is creating confusion and concern among some immigrant communities already here.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan got feedback from a few of those folks today.

>> Total shock, there was a wide range of emotions that came over.

Brenda: He is a councilman and son of immigrants who became U.S. citizens.

He says news of the recent Trump travel ban reportedly imposed for security reasons on nationals from Haiti and 11 other nations, rocked his close knit community.

>> It's cruel, it's unjust.

It is extremely problematic.

Because of what's going on in this world.

A lot of these countries, they are destabilized.

They are militarized.

Brenda: Haiti suffered a state of emergency since March of last year.

The U.S. State Department issued a level four do not travel advisory citing "kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and limited health care."

The new Trump travel ban states, Haiti lacks essential youth -- a central authority with law enforcement information necessary to ensure its nationals do not undermine the national security of the United States.

That is aligned with the president's overall concern.

Pres.

Trump: the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas.

We don't want them.

>> It causes fear and anxiety.

And the chilling effect I mentioned earlier.

People are afraid to travel, afraid to move.

Brenda: He is with the Council on American Islamic relations.

He recalls how the first Trump Administration spark a firestorm of airport protests and court cases with it so-called Muslim travel bans.

This one is wider in scope and yet -- >> We still see the very xenophobic, anti-Muslim bend to this ban.

This obviously is the bias we are calling out.

Largely, we believe it is unnecessary and unproductive.

What America is now is an improved immigration system.

Brenda: The new band does offer more carveouts for example, it exams some Afghan nationals who cooperated with the U.S. government, like Dr. a reef, who is safely in Toms River.

He wants to bring his mom here to the U.S. >> I can't go back to my country.

I can't meet her over there.

She can't come over here.

If something happens to her, if I can never meet her again, it will break my heart.

Brenda: The travel ban is designed to avoid legal obstacles and expanded to bar nations with immigrants who frequently overstay visas, after agents discovered the suspect in the recent Boulder, Colorado terror attack held a lapsed tourist visa.

He is from Egypt, but Egypt ironically is not on the travel ban list.

It's advising a community to avoid traveling outside the U.S. >> Our fear is the list might change at any moment and any time and that could cause a lot of harm for those who are traveling.

Brenda: He pointed out the ban includes several nations with partial travel restrictions.

Lawsuits are expected that legal scholars are wondering with foreign nationals living abroad, with a have a constitutional right to due process?

>> I think it will present a lot of challenges combined with the fact that the most likely people affected really would not have steady -- >> For America to essentially close its doors at a time when these countries need it the most, need the helping hand the most is particularly cruel.

Brenda: Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has revoked temporary protective status and work permits for thousands of immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela, ordering them to leave the U.S. for nations that are now listed on the new track -- the new list.

The ban takes effect June 9.

I am Brenda Flanagan.

Joanna: Run for their lives as a global organization that walks and runs in support of the hostages still being held by Hamas.

It is to same group attacked in Boulder, Colorado last weekend.

The chapter of run for their lives has been gathering every week since the hostages were first taken in 2023.

Ted Goldberg was at their walk today where there -- they were more resolute than ever, even in the face of growing anti-Semitism.

>> The chapter of run for their lives stood about 100 strong today.

They are continuing to raise awareness for hostages held by Hamas.

Less than a week after a run for their lives group was attacked with Molotov cocktails in Colorado.

>> It was horrifying.

It's scary that people can just March -- can't just March Heath's fully -- march peacefully.

They were not aggressive in any way.

I felt that it was very important for us to show up, to show we will continue marching on each week until all 50 hostages are released.

Reporter: these locks have happened every Friday morning since November of 2023, after a resident was first taken hostage by Hamas.

Then the organizer says the last few weeks have brought around 50 people each time, and he is not surprised turnout doubled today.

>> No, actually care the expectation is attendance would be up.

>> Don't be afraid ever.

It made me more determined to come out and support this work, support the families of the hostages, and support Israel.

>> I have showing up this whole time and I was not going to stop now.

I know the police are here today, and I feel safe.

And I'm going to keep coming.

Reporter: police have sometimes come around for these locks but they were definitely in force today.

The mayor says it was important -- >> What I spoke to the organizers this week, they were concerned about whether there was going to be sufficient security and police, based on what happened in Boulder.

The police chief and I spoke, he made arrangements to have police officers here, to make sure everyone is protected to the extent possible.

>> I think you just have to be cautious these days.

Certainly we have seen things happen in the city, we have had the occasional heckler.

But we continue to show up strong.

>> It's like 1939 out there.

We have to go out and show support, regardless of whether we are afraid or not afraid, whether it's dangerous or not dangerous.

Reporter: A man who allegedly attacked the Walker fate -- Walkers faces 118 criminal charges.

Authorities claim he wanted to kill all Zionist people.

A lot has been a regular and says anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism are not the same thing.

But they can be related.

>> I don't think this is related just to Israel.

This was an attack on Jews.

If you see what happened, the shooting in D.C., that was a Jewish Museum.

I think it is about Jews being attacked here and abroad.

That something we will not stand for.

>> Jewish pride is one of our strongest weapons against toxic hatred.

Reporter: Rabbi David Levy is the state director for the American Jewish committee.

He says leaders need to do more publicly to criticize people who say anti-Semitic things, or who criticize Israel in a way that could be considered anti-Semitic.

>> Society has the responsibility to call out that speech when it is dangerous.

And we need our political leaders to do that, we need the leaders on campus to do that, we need our religious leaders to do that.

Reporter: in the meantime, walkers have no plans of backing down in the future.

>> Always nice to see people are not going to be bow down and scared and they will show up and resist.

>> We are not going to give up, be intimidated.

It is an important call to all of us.

The hostages have to be back.

We are not going to fear terrorists that try to intimidate us.

Reporter: despite the recent release of Ede on Alexander, Hamas still has 56 hostages, about 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.

Until they are brought home, people will still walk in Tenafly, and at events across New Jersey -- New Jersey come the U.S. and the world.

I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: We have a few days until the primary election, and the candidates are full speed ahead with their get out the vote efforts.

They have also pumped all the last of their campaign funds into mailers and ads, trying to sway any last undecided voters.

The election law enforcement commission released the latest numbers that show how much money the candidates and their independent committees have raised and spent.

Here to help it break it down is senior writer and projects editor Colleen O'Day.

So nice to see you.

You recently reported that a total of 155 million dollars has been raised by all of these candidate.

$142 million spent in total.

Help break those numbers down and where we see the largest campaign spending and fundraising.

Colleen: This is the first year that we have seen huge amounts of independent spending in a governor's race.

And that is in part, may be in large part, because of the election transparency act that was passed a couple years ago.

This is the first state election that that has been in effect.

Independent spending has been allowed, but what it did was lay some ground rules.

Some would say very loose ground rules about how this money can be spent.

These are independent groups, groups that are not supposed to be coordinating with campaigns.

There have not been any allegations yet but that has happened, but boy, it looks like they are right up to the line in a few cases.

Joanna: Give me an example of one.

I'm thinking Sean Spiller's campaign where we know there has been a lot of outside spending.

Although like you said, no allegation of any type of coordination.

Colleen: That's right.

The NJEA through Garden State Fork, its PAC, and through two other committees, one that was a pre-primary, pre-2025 committee, and one this year, spent about $46 million.

Given it to committees supporting Spiller.

The is working in New Jersey and they have spent $37 million on Spiller.

That is just one candidate.

I think folks out there have probably seen ads online, on television, perhaps gotten dozens if not close to 100 mailers and mailboxes.

These things just keep coming in and coming in.

They are really pushing for Spiller.

And that's amazing.

The amount of money.

It's more -- it is on par with the amount of public funds that the state has given to all of the candidates that qualified.

Joanna: We should mention NJ EA is an underwriter of NJ Spotlight News.

One we tell about matching funds, we know four candidates reached the max that they could get in matching funds.

Explain what the matching funds is and who was able to receive it?

Colleen: You had to have raised a certain number -- certain amount of money by the end of March.

It was about $500,000.

There were five Democratic candidates and three Republican candidates who raised that much.

From then on, you got a 2-1 dollar match for about every contribution you got.

And then you have tapped on the amount of money that you can spend, with few exceptions of about $8.7 million.

That is why these independent groups are really key to a lot of the campaigns because where a Steve Fulop or Mike or death -- or Mikey Sherry can only spend $3 million, there committees not coordinating can spend millions and millions more on ads, attack ads or Pro candidate as and mailers.

Joanna: Looking at what we know so far about early voting, what are you seeing and is it surprising?

Colleen: It sure is surprising.

So far this year, and the first three days, there have been 61,000 people who have voted early in person at locations across the state.

That is more than voted in all five days last year.

That was a presidential race where you usually expect a higher turnout.

That was about 55,000.

We have also seen about 302,000 mail-in ballots coming in.

That is on the high side for this race, especially a state race.

We usually expect in a state primary about no more than 25% of the registered Democrats and Republicans will come out to vote.

Unaffiliated voters can vote too.

They have to declare for a party.

Most don't want to do that.

It seems like it is best to measure turnout based on Democratic and Republican registration.

So far, 11% of her adjuster Democrats have voted.

That's pretty high.

Joanna: Significant.

Colleen: Yeah.

Joanna: We have been saying we expect this to be low voter turnout, we might be wrong there.

If you would like to see more of Colleen's reporting, head to our website.

Colleen O'Day --Colleen O'Dea, always great information.

Thanks so much.

In our spotlight on business report, a national.

-- national jobs report continues growth in the market amidst a global trade work.

The Labor Department reported 139,000 jobs were added last month which is right about what economists were predicting.

The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%.

The sectors with the highest job growth where education and health as well as leisure and hospitality.

Retail, manufacturing and business services all saw declines in their sectors.

And even though we have seen significant federal job cuts, local and state governments have added positions, nearly canceling out those losses.

Here in New Jersey, another sector has been growing, and that's housing.

Looking at state totals, housing inventory was up in May by 25% from the same time last year.

And there were about 16% more homes for sale than last month.

Good news for buyers, average home prices inched down, but only by about 1% from last year.

New Jersey is the leading state in the nation for education outcomes.

We also lead the state in another step that disability advocates are not too happy about.

Students with disabilities in New Jersey spend more time in separate classrooms than in any other state in the country.

That means many don't have the opportunity to learn alongside their typically developing peers in general education classrooms.

That's affording to an investigation by the heck in report, a national nonprofit newsroom focused on education.

The policy director for span parent advocacy network has been fighting for more inclusion and she is here to explain.

So great to have you with us today.

You have been advocating for more inclusion in the classroom for children with disabilities.

Help us understand what you believe the model should look like.

Peg: I don't think we can define one model.

But I think the model has to look like the regular classroom, a seat in the regular classroom is where every student belongs.

Joanna: Let me understand this better.

We know there are a lot of kids who need specialized instructions and sometimes that is replacement, out of the classroom, other times it's recommended that they be fully out of agent Ed classroom and put into a specialty classroom.

How is a district to meet the needs of kids with different learning abilities if everyone is together?

Peg: It's not easy.

And sometimes, it is administratively convenient to send a student out of district and not try to enable those kind of supports and accommodations within their neighborhood school.

That is really what the law requires.

It's difficult with little school districts.

A lot of states that have better models in the Northeast region have bigger school districts and more resources.

So having 600 odd school districts, it might have difficulty.

This is a way where maybe, some of the professional schools can do push it or collaboratives.

To support those students.

But in their community.

Joanna: This is my question, I mentioned in an IEP, individualized education plan, students with different learning abilities are diagnosed with that IEP model for their education.

Why is New Jersey a state that one, doesn't match other states?

As this recent report shows, New Jersey has far more segregated classrooms than other states.

But as you point out, it changes district to district.

Are New Jersey school districts not following state law, federal law?

Peg: The law is pretty clear, and its preference for these restrictive environments.

It does not say just dump a kid and don't worry about it.

It says if it ever supports student services or accommodations are necessary for the student to get meaningful benefits from their education.

That does not have to only be done in a separate silo.

When 1975 when the law, -- the national law said every student gets to be educated, no matter whether the student disability or not, we had already built up this whole cottage industry of separate settings.

Although we educated kids, we believed in New Jersey that traditional settings are not where's student disabilities began.

Right now, it has been juggling the 600 some odd school districts and trying to support them.

It's a huge industry, 30,000 kids go to school in separate settings, whether they are private special ed schools or county-based schools.

It is not easy to -- Joanna: Put that genie back in the bottle.

Peg: Right.

Joanna: Do you think this needs to be a decision where parents are very involved?

Where they are communicating with their school district?

Peg: Yes.

Parents are equal members of the team.

I will tell you, parents sometimes are a driver from wanting a separate setting.

Unfortunately, what we found, especially with our babies, there is very rarely a family that has a young child that can't be supported in their local school district, whether it is a preschool disabled program or kindergarten program.

This is where it starts, where they start sending them out right away, and trying to bring that child back is very difficult.

Joanna: It is a big topic.

Thank you for helping us to break it down.

I know we have just scratched the surface.

Peg Kinsell, thanks so much.

Peg: Thanks, Joanna.

Joanna: Before we leave you tonight, make sure you keep it right here for NJ decides 2025 primary election night coverage next Tuesday, June 10.

We are live starting at 8:00 p.m. with all the results.

We will have reporters fanned out across the state at different campaign headquarters.

And in studio political analysis with Briana Vannozzi, David Cruz, Colleen O'Dea and other analysts.

That is next Tuesday, June 10, also streaming on our YouTube channel starting at 8:00 p.m. until the last race is called.

I'm Joanna Gagis.

For the entire team, thanks for being with us this week.

Have a great weekend.

We will see you back here on Monday.

Announcer: New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

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

More information online at NJrealtor.com.

And Orsted, committed to delivering clean American-made energy.

>> Public service is what we do.

At the PSEG foundation, volunteer hours, partnerships, and other contributions, we are committed to empowering communities.

We work hand-in-hand with you, our neighbors, to educate young people, support research, environmental sustainability, and equitable opportunities, provide training and other services all over New Jersey and Long Island.

Uplifting communities, that's part drives us, the PSEG foundation.