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Briana: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News -- The Menendezes are back on trial, this time Nadine Menendez, the international bribery scheme.

>> On the government side, they've already been through this once commanded is a little bit easier, I think, to present the case against Mrs. Menendez, because she was doing a lot of the communication with the c- conspirators.

Briana: Plus, no criminal charges brought against the police officer who killed not G C Brooks -- anti-violence protest not GC Brooks.

Plus, dealing with a detour.

>> There are a lot of businesses on The Other Side of Wharton, and it takes 25 minutes to get here during the lunch rush because there's too much traffic on the roads, so staying on this side of town.

Briana: And the desegregation school lawsuit hangs in the balance.

Some are opting for a new school choice program.

Hannah: This is a way students can attend other public school for free, so it is not vouchers for public school -- private school, they would be attending other school district.

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 this Tuesday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few of today's top headlines.

First, the federal bribery trial of Nadine Menendez begins today for jury selection began for the wife of former U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez.

The couple and three New Jersey businessmen were indicted in 2023 for a wide-ranging corruption scheme.

Menendez was found guilty on all counts and just two months ago was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

That was for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars in exchange for his political influence and for acting as a foreign agent to Egypt.

Nadine Menendez faces similar production charges -- corruption charges, but her case was postponed after she went through breast cancer and a long recovery period following surgery.

And in what appeared to be a Hail Mary today, the former powerful Democratic Senator posted a message, tagging President Trump on social media, writing that his wife Nadine was being forced by the government to go to trial, and spite having reconstructive surgery, "just days ago," and slammed the work of the Southern District of New York where the trial is taking place by calling prosecutors "cruel and inhumane."

for more on that and what we know about jury selection, I'm joint but a former federal prosecutor.

Chris, thanks for coming on the show.

I want to ask you about this social media post from Bob Menendez.

He tagged the president, essentially, you know, took issue with the work of the Southern District, said that they were forcing his wife to go to trial when she had not even fully recovered yet.

A lot of folks are seeing this as may be Hail Mary from the senator.

How else should it be interpreted?

Chris: Well, I don't even think the president -- I would be surprised if the president or his designees even respond to that.

In practice, the president is supposed to stay out of federal prosecutions like this, and I'm sure that is what is going to happen here.

Is it a Hail Mary?

I don't know.

But everybody recognizes the term "speedy trial," right?

It typically is involved by defendants.

If you look at the statute, it is a right to the United States as citizens as well, so that speedy trial right applies to some level as it would a defendant commanded in this case and it has been hanging out there for a long time, in terms of the adjournment, Ms. Menendez's trial has happened on a couple of occasions.

The case has to happen at some point.

I don't think it will make any difference here.

Judge Stein made it clear they are going forward.

Briana: Yeah.

The judge agreed to separate their trials to begin with and then agreed to continue postponing the case well Nadine underwent a medical help that she needs for her breast cancer.

So as you mention, we've been down this road with it being postponed.

Interesting take, though, just about the speedy trial part of it it lets remind folks what charges Nadine with is up against, and the fact that during her husband's trial, defense attorneys really used this blame it all on the wife strategy.

As I mentioned, the trials are separate, so does that factor in here?

Chris: Yeah.

It does.

And I will tell you why, because the charges, as you recall, the ones that pertain largely to Ms. Menendez involve conspiracy to commit extortion, receive things of value and return to help facilitate her husband's official inflows as a senator come as a member of the Armed Forces committee.

It was Mrs. Menendez who have relationships with these other co-conspirators.

What you have by the presentation of the last trial is, from the government side, they've already been through this once, and it is a little bit easier, I think, to present the case against Mrs. Menendez, because she is the alleged intermediary who is doing more of the communication with the co-conspirators, there's more tangible evidence against her, emails, text communications, and otherwise.

The cooperating defendant is going to testify more directly about his involvement with Mrs. Menendez.

In terms of the defense strategy, it kind of helps that there's a little bit of a playbook for them, because I'm sure they've requested the trial transcripts, the testimony presented by the witnesses, by the government, so you kind of get an idea of which way the government is going to go.

I think it will be a little more targeted and more direct, to demonstrate her role in the conspiracy, which, as alleged, is that she is an intermediary that facilitated these bribes schemes.

Briana: So you are saying because she had the go-between role, the receipt some of the paper trail will be a bit more damaging than what we saw during the trial for Senator Menendez?

Chris: I think so, and there were less medications directly with Senator Menendez.

But with Mrs. Menendez, she was the one receiving direct things of value.

As alleged she received a Mercedes, mortgage payments, and she was the intermediary communicating with the coke -- co-conspirators on one side and then her husband, a fellow co-conspirator, was going to exercise these official acts.

Briana: Let me ask about jury selection.

It took two days for the Former Senator.

What can we expect for Nadine?

Chris: The southern district judges in particular really know how to facilitate jury selection.

I think they will get a jury in the box fairly quickly.

A lot of the jury questionnaires go out, and they are asking other things with the questions, have you heard anything about this?

So they can get a sense.

Briana: Chris Gramiccioni, thank you.

A state grand jury has decided not to press criminal charges in the against officers in the fatal 2023 police shootings of Nagy Seabrook.

The man was in the midst of a mental health crisis when he called police at his apartment.

An investigation found Seabrook's locked himself inside a bathroom for hours out of fear someone was trying to kill him.

Seabrook's mother, EMS, and negotiators asked him to help out, but crisis negotiators were called and after a fire was started.

After a prolonged stand out body cameras footage eventually showed Seabrook's opening the bathroom door, wielding a knife when the officers fired their gun.

The shooting prompted manager changes to the Patterson police department, including who is in control of the force and reforms to the statewide crisis.

Seabrook's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit earlier this month against Paterson, alleging police escalated the situation instead of diffusing it.

Oral arguments today in one of the ongoing legal battles at Seton Hall University.

This fight is over whether the school has to hand over secret documents detailing its handling of sexual abuse claims.

Seton Hall administrators have refused to disclose the papers which disclose findings from a 2019 internal investigation that concluded the University's current president Monsignor Joseph R Riley knew about allegations of abuse within the school seminary, which he was Dean out at the time, but failed to report them.

404 -- 450 plaintiffs allege abuse.

Seton Hall's attorneys argued they do not need to comply with in order to turn over their internal records, saying they are protected by attorney-client privilege because will help the school respond to internal investigation.

The internal investigation was launched by Seton Hall's Board of Regents after a carnal was disbarred for sexual misconduct he was archbishop of the Newark dioceses.

This is not what New Jersey drivers wanted to hear.

The state DOT says I-80 Eastbound will remain closed for the emergency sinkhole repairs and Morris County for another two months.

The work is taking place between exit 34 and the bridge over route 15 in Morton.

That means commuters will have to continue dealing with the traffic and delays construction has caused.

The update comes days after state officials say the work would only take a few weeks to complete and are coming up with alternatives to the detours that local business owners say are wreaking havoc on their bottom lines and their futures.

Ted Goldberg reports.

Dimos: we need help, and we need help right now.

Ted: The regulars at town Square diner in Wharton are not traveling as much lately because of the traffic Richard: I cannot get out at 4:00.

All the traffic going from route 10 or Dover, 15, 20 minutes waiting to get into traffic.

It has never been that way.

Ted: Massive highway reconstruction after the discovery of a sinkhole over I-80 Eastbound will continue for eight more weeks, forcing drivers to overwhelm roads in Wharton.

Peter: It takes and 25 minutes to get here during the lunch rush, because there's too much traffic on the roads, so staying away from this part of town.

Ted: Normally, how long will that take?

Peter: Two or three minutes.

Sue: we were like, where is everybody?

Violeta: this is the worst time.

Ted: Like any good waitress, Violeta is talkative with guests.

Violeta: I talked to everybody.

And everybody tells me.

Peter: Some businesses are down 50%, 70%.

Thankfully we are not down that much, but this is really significantly impacted main Street and Wharton that needs help.

Jim: it took me 20 minutes to go to the bank and come back.

It took me half an hour, and it is half a mile away.

Ted: He says the traffic has not disrupted business yet, but it has not been good, either.

Jim: my St. Paddy's Day was down probably 20% from last year.

The economy the way it is, too, I'm not hurting, but I know a lot of people are getting devastated by it.

Ted: Last week in a meeting in Roxbury was held to let business owners know about existing funding >> To help them.

I'm not going to take a loan if my business is down 20%.

Peter: The discussions were tied to payroll and business loans at 12% interest rate over five years, which does not benefit us at all.

Dimos: there are programs, but we need cash flow right now, we need some kind of help.

Ted: Last Friday, the state department of transportation said roadwork will continue for at least eight more weeks.

With a temporary crossover in the works.

As part of its statement, they say the goal is to keep tractor-trailers on I-80 and alleviate some of the traffic in local communities.

"We appreciate the public's patience and understanding as repairs continue and thank our local partners and New Jersey State police for their efforts to help manage a challenging situation."

What are some of your initial thoughts?

Violeta: I need to look for a job somewhere else because if , not, I cannot survive here.

>> I'm thinking, for safety reasons, we wanted to be as long as it takes to fix the problem, but at the other hand, I feel sorry for all these motorists who have to leave an hour early, an hour and a half early.

Peter: I know they are building a crossover lane, and it will take at least three or four weeks to build.

So if that is going to be three or four weeks to build, it won't be open in two months anyway?

It's very frustrating, because there are no answers to us.

>> I'm hearing what they think of at least two months of at least two months.

This six months.

Ted: Mine Hill Township is south of Wharton.

He understands the frustration from his neighbors to the north.

The mayor hopes federal money will come in and help rebuild the interstate.

Mayor Morris: I know with FEMA, we file through the county, the county files through the state, the state files through the feds.

so it is not the municipality to federal.

I think they should have a little faith, hang in there.

Violeta: I really hope they resolve everything, and I can stay here many more years, you know?

Ted: The sinkhole that hobbled I-80 is from an abandoned mineshaft, one that lay for many years but is now causing a commotion.

In Wharton, I am Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Democratic federal lawmakers are back in the state today, holding another event to call out the federal government for its latest round of cuts, this time aimed at the Department of Housing and urban development, which helped federal employees based in New Jersey.

It is the latest in a string of press conferences Democrats have held since President Trump took office as the party remains fractured on how to respond, and more voters are voicing frustration with whether the party is doing enough to stand up to the administration.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis reports.

Rep. McIver: You all know better than anyone that these attacks on HUD are wrong.

The finding will create more affordable housing.

Joanna: Three leaders, Senator Andy Kim, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, and Rob Menendez joined the housing and labor groups to protest the latest round of federal cuts announced by the trump administration, this time for HUD, the Department of Housing and urban developments.

Rep. McIver: They have been unjustly terminated because of Elon Musk and Trump's DOGE takeover.

They will not keep our airports safe, our air and water clean, and DOGE's efforts are directly hurting the people in our communities.

This comes as New Jersey faces a housing affordability crisis.

REP. Menendez: 300,000 New Jerseyans rely on federal housing programs to stay in their homes.

It's what makes this state so incredible.

Sen. Kim: What we see as an attack by President Trump, Elon Musk against a public service, against people who are serving this nation, against people who are trying to deliver services to the American people during this incredibly difficult time.

Joanna: As much as Democrats are out here committing to the fight against these federal cuts, polling shows their efforts is are not really resonating with Democratic voters.

Ashley: This is a low point, and in favorability ratings come in this national poll from CNN, we see the Democrats think that their party is going in the wrong direction, Democrats feel the party should work to stop the Republican agenda rather than work with Republicans.

Joanna: On the flipside, Republicans in that poll show high favorability in their party , with 79% taking a positive view of the GOP.

Last week, Senate minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted with Republicans on a continuing resolution to keep the federal government open, saying a shutdown would have been a crisis far worse than anything Democrats are concerned about now.

Sen. Kim: I took a different vote.

I think we need to stand up against the CR, to stand up against what the Republicans are doing.

I know that the Democrats are going to continue to get together and try to think through that broader strategy.

We certainly need to be able to do better.

Joanna: Congressman Menendez has one strategy.

Rep. Menendez: We have a rapid response task force to identify ways moving forward, and we've already seen success in a core group and we will continue to stress there.

Joanna: Do you think the strongest way to fight this and is through the court?

>> We have seen success already, right?

Today's court administration, 24,000 laid out federal workers are going to be returned to their jobs is a great step.

So huge success there as quickly -- is critically important.

But we need to be hitting on all fronts, and we need to continue working on our mobilization efforts, to keep people engaged.

Sen. Kim: We need a new era of public service in this country.

We need a new, "ask not what this country can do for you" kind of moment that the public servants in this building have answer that call.

Joanna: That new era, says Ashley Konig, and look like new moon within the party, similar to what the Republicans had with the tea party.

Ashley: The tea party was mad at Republicans at that time and decided to band together and form its own faction.

I would not be surprised if we see some factions are within the Democratic Party as well.

Joanna: Does that only take a divided kind of broken party and break it even further?

Ashley: Yes and no.

we see this happening the Republican Party as well, certain factions need more leverage than the other, especially going into midterms.

It could really shape what the Democratic Party becomes.

Joanna: What the party becomes, it seems, Democrats are still trying to figure out.

In Newark, I am Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: The Case for expanding New Jersey's school choice program is getting new attention after mediation talks failed in a lawsuit about how to desegregate the state's public schools.

The program allows students in grades K-12 to enroll with a participating school district in neighboring towns for free.

Supporters say it helps the students tap into specialized programs like high-level classes, while critics worry it is a pretense for moving toward a voucher program.

Education and child welfare Hannah Gross is with me now.

Thank you for coming to talk about this.

This has been a discussion in the education world for years.

Why are we seeing a resurgence of it right now?

Hannah: well, there's a major school segregation lawsuit where groups like the Latino action network and the NAACP sued the state of New Jersey, arguing that the schools are too segregated, and students are not getting the education they deserve.

That case went into mediated talks, where the parties were trying to come up with an agreement that they could agree to on how to desegregate the schools.

Those talks ultimately failed, and the case is heading back to court, which could take years.

So people are saying this is a solution that could happen quicker, before we get a court ruling.

Briana: Yeah.

Considering it has already taken several years, and it does not look like it will wrap up anytime soon.

Parents and families are saying hey, we want a solution.

What is the case being made in favor of school vouchers, of school choice programs?

Hannah: Mm-hmm.

I mean, this is a way students can attend other public schools for free, so it is not vouchers for private schools, they would just be attending basically neighboring school districts, or if they are willing to drive a little bit further, district may be in another county or a few counties away.

So it allows for more toys and more diversity by giving students more options.

Briana: You spoke with families, with students about this in particular.

What did they tell you that they liked about having those options?

Hannah: I spoke to two students who attended Glassboro school district, and they both come from prominently white towns and said they liked attending Glassboro because the student body is much more diverse, they are exposed to students and different backgrounds with different perspectives.

Briana: OK, there has also been, for many, years now, been a case that when you lose that student, you lose the money that goes with them.

How would districts absorb that, t and what did opponents tell yu about their concerns?

Hannah: Yeah.

So money from the state follows the student.

As a per-pupil amount from the state, and these local property taxes, money raised that way stays with the local school district, the local districts will have less students and less funding, but you cannot necessarily cut staff or cut facilities if you just lose one student.

Briana: Right, to keep the lights on or keep the heat running, whether you lose one or two students or 30.

Hannah: Yeah.

Briana: So how would they balance that?

There is a concern out there that lower performing districts who might lose more students would then have no way to absorb it.

Hannah: Mm-hmm.

It could require more money from the state, you know, it is a tough budget year, is what the state keeps telling everyone, so there might not be room for that.

But for people who might not want to see the schools desegregated, maybe it is something the state might be paying for that is worth the investment.

Briana: How many districts right now have opted in to using the school choice?

Hannah: For the next school year, there will be 119 choice districts.

Briana: Are they spread around pretty evenly, or do we see them concentrated in certain parts of the state?

Hannah: All counties except for Essex and Middlesex counties.

Briana: Why is that, do you know?

Hannah: The program has been frozen for about a decade, so even if districts in the counties want to join, they have not had a chance to.

Briana: So without many districts who are opting in to being choice districts, does it meet the need?

Are there students who are sitting on wait lists right now who are hoping to be part of this and just cannot?

Hannah: There are more students who are interested in being part of a choice district than there are seats.

Briana: Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Hannah: The most recent data I have is from the 2022-2023 school year, and there were more than 2000 students on school lists then.

Briana: Does it list, Hannah, their primary reasons for wanting to be on it?

As you mentioned, students from South Jersey said we want to go to these schools that have more diverse populations, but is it just programs that are offered, academics, you know, what will be available to them?

Hannah: It's different reasons.

Sometimes it is for academics, like if there is an Academy program, as in one of the schools I spoke to, where you can take college classes as a high school student.

It also might be because your parent or guardian works in another district, and it is easier for them to drop you off at school, closer to work.

There's a ton of different reasons.

Maybe a kid is being bullied, and they want to leave their current district but stay in the public school system.

Briana: Right.

No easy answer, that is for sure.

You can find Hannah's full reporting for this on our website, njspotlightnews.org.

Hannah Gross, thanks for coming in.

Hannah: Thanks, Bri.

Briana: That will do it for us tonight, but before we go, a reminder, you can download our podcast and watch any time by subscribing to the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

You can follow us on Instagram and bluesky to follow up on all the big headlines.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire team at NJ Spotlight News, thanks for being with us.

Have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow night.

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

And by the PSEG foundation.

>> Have some water.

Julia: 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 and to be an American.

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

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

It is an opportunity to create a stronger economy and community.

Together, the process from Orsted will provide American wind power energy for New Yorkers, and for jobs, education, and the local supply chain.

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

♪