>> Funding for "NJ Spotlight News" provided by members of the New Jersey Education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

New Jersey Eealtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at njrealtor.com.

And Ørsted, committed to the delivering clean, reliable, American-made energy.

Briana: tonight on "NJ Spotlight News," tension on the rails.

All eyes on New Jersey transit as the clock ticks down to an engineer strike that could lead to train riders extended.

>> I was hopeful when I went down to Washington and I'm still hopeful we will get something done before the deadline.

Briana: New Jersey takes center stage at the U.S. Supreme Court as they hear oral arguments on the Trump Administration's attempt to end birthright citizenship.

>> This case is about birthright citizenship but it is about whether the rule of law and the constraints on the executive, and as Justice Jackson said, whether the president can act like a king.

Briana: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has his day in court for allegedly trespassing at Delaney Hall last week.

>> We cannot arrest people simply because they disagree with us.

We cannot target people because their political views are separate from ours.

Briana: NJ decides 2025.

Will an endorsement from President Trump secure gubernatorial hopeful Jack Ciattarelli in the Republican nomination or not?

"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 Thursday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with some of today's top headlines.

The state is bracing for what could be the first rail strike in decades.

New Jersey transit leadership and he hads of the agency's locomotive engineers union are locked intense negotiations as they try to look at your for salary increases for members before a midnight deadline tonight otherwise the brotherhood of local engineers say they are prepared to walk off the job, leaving some 100,000 daily train riders stranded and another 250,000 commuters who use MJT's light rails and buses affected in some shape or form.

New York transit pushed record of service advisory to customers, urging them to get to their destinations no later than midnight.

The agency told anyone going to the Shakira concert tonight at MetLife or Friday to find alternate travel plans.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the latest.

Brenda: The trains kept rolling as contract talks continued over wage disputes with NJ transit engineers f the union posted a countdown towards the midnight deadline while nervous rail riders rushed to beat the clock.

With hours left to avert a strike, the transit agency warned customers on social media to complete travels and arrive at their final destination no later than 11:59 p.m. tonight.

Online responses ranged from "praying you guys come to an agreement" to "make a deal already to pay those people."

Wages remain the sticking point.

Embers of the brotherhood of locomotive engineers and trainmen picketed outside a board meeting last night.

Negotiators extend more than six hours Wednesday trying to resolve the wage dispute in talks that started on Monday involving the National Mediation Board in Washingtonn.

>> I was hopeful when we went down to Washington and I'm still hopeful we will get something done before the deadline.

Brenda: Union leaders reached a deal with NJ transit in April but members overwhelmingly rejected the offer.

They are pushing for more, pointing out engineers here earn almost 20% less than counterparts in Amtrak and LIRR> >> We, the locomotive engineers of New Jersey transit, or asking for a fair and competitive wage, a wage that is close to what locomotive engineers at every other railroad in our area already earned.

>> I am sick and as a person.

We reached -- I am Sukhumi optimistic as a person.

We reached a deal once before and I think we can do it again, as long as we remember this principle -- it has to be fair for the employees, but also has to be fair for the taxpayers and the riders.

Brenda: NJ transit says it cannot afford wage parity with New York without raising fares and taxes.

But the tone from both sides has sounded less acrimonious.

This scenario looks a lot like events leading up to 2016's 11th-hour agreement between engineers and transit, talk that involved Governor Christie.

>> We averted a strike and the damage it would do to our economy.

Brenda: Governor Murphy said he is also hands-on.

>> Kris is our front guy but he and I are talking constantly.

I personally, we as a group are deeply involved in this.

Brenda: If talks break down and the train stopped, commuters can ask is ramped up service via the path and onboard fairies, but they will not cross-honor tickets NJ transit has arranged extra buses for them four parking rides starting Monday -- four park-and-rides starting Monday, and riders can sign up for private charters like box score.

>> It is a good work from home moment if this seeps into the workday on Friday or early next week.

Brenda: The last of some 14 unions to settle with NJ transit, the agency has expressed concerns that so-called "me too" provisions could compel raises to match the engineers.

Talks are complicated, and also involve retroactive pay.

>> Hopefully we can keep things calm and calm down and we can continue the cordial relationship we have at the bargaining table.

>> I think if we can all focus on the task at hand, which is to get to a fair and affordable agreement, we can avert a strike.

That is what I am trying to do, and I will tell you one balance that is what Tommy Haas is trying to do as well.

Brenda: Governor Murphy's office has promised an update this evening.

I am Brenda Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: Other headlines we are following tonight.

A high-stakes hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court and New Jersey is at the center of it.

Justices are weighing whether to allow President Trump's restrictions on birthright citizenship to temporarily take effect in the country as they consider whether those changes are constitutional.

According to the 14th amendment, anyone born in the U.S. is guaranteed citizenship regardless of the immigration status of their parents.

The high court's decision won't just affect the status of the birthright citizenship, but also whether judges have the power to block any of the president's policies and executive orders, which have emerged as important checks on the administration's efforts to remake the government.

During oral arguments today, New Jersey solicitor General Jeremy Feigenbaum argued on behalf of Democratic-led states challenging the president's order and offered a middle ground, suggesting the court could lay out criteria that helps lower courts decide when nationwide injunctions like this one are needed.

Justices appeared to be divided on whether lower courts have gone too far.

Meanwhile, outside the Supreme Court demonstrators from immigration advocacy groups protested the order, joined by multiple attorneys general including Matt Platkin, who is leading the case against Trump.

Atty.

Gen. Platkin: Contrary to what the United States is saying, citizenship doesn't turn on or turn off when you cross state lines.

Babies born in Philadelphia are subject to the same rights and privileges as babies born in New Jersey.

It was astonishing to hear the United States government tell the nine justices of the Supreme Court that they weren't sure whether they would follow binding court featured in.

-- co urt precedent.

Briana: Rage against the Turnpike in Jersey City last night.

Protests against the plaintiff Turnpike expansion, a country as a project that will spend more than $10 billion to widen the highway across Newark Bay and through communities to the Lincoln Tunnel.

The Murphy administration has said the expansion is needed to meet demand, but opponents warn it will harm local neighborhoods with air pollution.

Steve Fulop, who is running for governor, led the rally.

The demonstration comes after the Coast Guard found that replacing the Newark Bay Bridge, a key part of the project, would have no significant environmental impact.

That finding is a critical step for the bridge replacement.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka appeared in federal court this morning for a status conference following his arrest last week outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center that was contracted to open to go by the Trump administration.

ICE agents took Baraka into custody on trespassing charges.

The mayor has said and released video footage to back his claim that he was at the site to support three of New Jersey's Congress members holding a press conference.

Alleging private owners of the facility blocked inspections and did not get necessary permits to open, which the Department of Homeland security has denied.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis was at the hearing today and joins us from outside the Newark courthouse where she says Baraka was met with hundreds of his supporters.

Joanna?

Joanna: That's right, and it was quite a scene earlier today.

I'm outside the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark, where as you said earlier today, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka appeared for what is called a status conference.

What that basically is is the two sides in the case decide and agree on the rules and how things will play out.

The two sides here, we have the federal government represented by U.S. attorney -- interim U.S. attorney Alina Habba, who was here in the courtroom.

The defense, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who as you said was arrested last Friday by HHS officials he was joined by three attorneys, three different firms representing him.

It was what they asked for.

They asked the judge to file a motion to dismiss this case.

They said the HHS officers who detained Mayor Baraka had no jurisdiction to do so.

They are also saying that evidence will show that the mayor was not trespassing, as the federal government has alleged.

They say there is video evidence that will show that the mayor was invited inside the gates of Delaney Hall, that he was arrested after he had exited the gates.

They say the trespassing charge is void.

They believe that will be evidentiary in their evidence, the video that they intend to show.

And they say they believe the mayor was targeted they say that comments made by the federal government both before his arrest and after show that he was targeted.

In response to that, the judge asked was he the only one arrested that day.

They said yes.

We could see the judge not, d, considering what they were saying.

Both sides need to share all evidence with each other.

I'll tell you, I haven't seen anything like it when the mayor exited the courthouse today.

He was thronged by hundreds of supporters, chanting shouting, cheering him on.

He gave a fiery speech to the press, to those watching, to the federal government, to those who charged him in this case.

Here is what he had to say.

Mayor Baraka: I feel like what we did was completely correct.

We do not violate any laws.

We stood up for the Constitution of this country, the Constitution of the state of New Jersey.

We believe that I was targeted in this.

I was the only person arrested.

I was the only person identified.

I was the only person that is here this morning going through this humiliation for these people.

The real bizarre thing about all of this is we are fighting about a document that was created hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

It's called the Constitution of the United States.

[Cheers] Which gives everybody due process, no matter who you are, no matter what language you speak, no matter what your background is, what your gender is, or who you decide to love.

The Constitution protects everybody.

Was used set foot -- once you set foot on the soil, whether you are documented or not, the Constitution protects you.

You have a right to identify people based on their nationality, race, or language, and say some people should be treated by the laws of this land and others should not.

This is wrong, it is unjust, it is unpatriotic, it is an American -- unAmerican we can't arrest people similar because they disagree with us.

We cannot target people simply because their views are separate from ours.

We cannot subjugate people and take the mugshots and fingerprints because we believe that somehow they are opposed to our position.

That, latest gentleman, is authoritarianism.

I would tell everybody else that the Constitution also protects the freedom of the press.

Because somehow the founding fathers believed that the press would protect democracy at all costs.

They believe that journalists would protect the Constitution at all costs.

And so it is our duty and our responsibility, all these cameras that I see, all these people, to tell the damn truth.

[Cheers] It is your responsibility.

That is why it is in the Constitution in the first place, because everything should be -- have a light on it.

That's just the reality of it, good or bad.

Good or bad.

Now I know people that I was going to come on here and talk crazy about individuals and speak about this person and that person, but that's not why I am here.

Because these issues are bigger than them.

>> We believe the mayor is not guilty.

Beyond that, he is innocent and he will be exonerated.

Precisely how and when, we cannot determine, but he will be.

Joanna: Mayor Baraka was charged with a class c Misdemeanor, a petty misdemeanor.

Both sides agreed to a timeline all discovery, meaning all evidence, will be shared by next week, May 22.

Any motions happened -- any motions filed will happen by June 12.

This case could go to trial.

If it does, it will happen as early as mid July.

The judge said that is an aggressive schedule, but we could and will likely see a speedy trial if it goes in that direction in the case.

Outside of the district court in Newark, I am Joanna Gagis, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: With just four weeks to go before the primary, a new poll shows two candidates are leading the pack in the race for governor.

According to a Siena College poll released today, Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and former GOP assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli are the favorites, at least among voters age 50 and over who historically have the highest turnout rates in elections.

Sherrill polled at 25% while Ciattarelli lead with 47% of support among Republicans.

President Trump solidified Ciattarelli's frontrunner status, endorsing him in what is now Ciattarelli's third attempt at being governor.

But will the president's backing be enough to move the needle?

Senior political correspondent David Cruz takes a look.

David: For months we have been saying how this endorsement was the key to winning this Republican primary.

And now that it is official that the president likes Jack Ciattarelli, a lot of people including Jack Ciattarelli were talking like it is game over.

Mr. Ciattarelli: the president is endorsing me because I have the best chance to win and mark my words, we are going to win.

David: "Donald Trump endorsed a poll, not a plan," posted bill Spadea.

He says realtors and conservatives will still choose --real jersey conservatives will still choose Spadea.

Republican voters are split on whether a Trump endorsement would sway their vote one way or the other.

Poll director Ashley Koning says yes and no.

>> We had a split of 46-46% on this question, and the candidate in the lead is the one who got endorsement.

This will bolster him among that almost half of Republicans and really won't make a difference among the other half.

If the endorsement went to another candidate besides the front runner right now with Ciattarelli, then it could maybe be a different story for those half of Republicans who say it would make a difference.

David: Better to have advantage not have it, says assemblyman Brian Bergen, a Ciattarelli supporter who said not too long ago that a Trump endorsement was not such a big deal.

Today he is singing a different tune.

>> I think I told you back then that I felt like it was all risk, no reward for President Trump to do it.

But Ciattarelli has demonstrated a clear path as the front-runner, so it was the best possible move by Trump, a smart move.

And it really has solidified Jack Ciattarelli there is no doubt Jack Ciattarelli is going to win the primary with his endorsement.

>> As a general election candidate, he was still going to be labeled with the Trump candidate no matter how far he tried to distance himself from it.

I think his rationale is let's get that endorsement, do whatever we can to solidify our base, and put ourselves in a stronger base position as we head into the election.

David: Democrats, including some fearing a Republican victory in the fall, say the case against Ciattarelli is made stronger with the president's backing.

Rep. Sherrill: I think that makes a lot of sense because Jack Ciattarelli has kissed his butt for a long time to earn the endorsement.

Mayor Baraka: I think Ciattarelli is a Trumpster.

I think Spadea is, too, I just think Spadea has more guts than Ciattarelli so he will see what he means.

David: Mail-in ballots are arriving in mailboxes and early voting is a 19 days.

The Trump endorsement mistreat now resolved, the next question for Republicans is what will it mean for the recipient of the Golden ticket come June 10.

I'm David Cruz, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: And if you missed our conversation with the Democratic a on Monday, you can find it on our website -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate on Monday, you can find it on a website, njspotlightnews.org, or or on our YouTube channel.

You can watch the broadcast this weekend on NJPBS at 6:00 p.m. Saturday or 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning.

Some of New Jersey's largest and poorest school district in the state are in desperate need of construction funding in order to address issues like overcrowding, aging buildings, and outdated facilities.

That is according to a new education report that was discussed this week during a Senate Budget Committee hearing, which also said two thirds of the state's highest-need district or overcapacity come at a time when the administration is looking to trim the SDA's budget, the school development Authority.

Education writer Hannah Gross is in the studio with more.

Next so much for coming in.

Let's set the stage.

Why does the sSDA in charge of the funding and how much are they asking for?

Hannah: it dates to a state Supreme Court ruling that they were not getting thorough and efficient education required under the state constitution because the facilities were not up to par, which was making it difficult for students to learn.

The state pays for 100 percent of school construction.

Briana: How much money do they typically have to work with, and what is the Murphy administration proposing can be given what we will get into, the problems they need to address?

Hannah: The Murphy administration is proposing $350 million from enough budget source -- an all-budget source f there is $2 billion that the SDA is using to complete emergency projects.

On top of everything already funded, the SDA estimate they need $6 billion or $7 billion to address aging facilities.

Briana: That is a far cry from what they are looking at.

Give us an example of some of the districts brought up in this hearing.

There was another hearing you recently covered about what these districts are up against.

Hannah: One of the districts top of mind is Newark, the state's largest district.

There were 2000 seats overcrowded according to a recent report based on enrollment of the 2023-2024 school year.

Senator Ruiz pointed out in the budget hearing that even since the October count of this year, enrollment has gone up by 1500 students.

That could be kids moving from other parts of the state, may coming into Newark from other countries.

Enrollment is going beyond the estimates used in this report.

Briana: how does the SDA decide which projects get funded first?

Elizabeth was another district mentioned quite a bit.

Hannah: It is a combination of factors.

They look at the square footage per student and if it is meeting state requirements.

They look at how many seats are available and the age of facilities.

But there is other factors like if there is land available where they could construct new schools.

And in some cities where the land is already basically being used up, it can be hard to find places to build new schools.

Briana: Is the legislature -- will the legislature look at tapping other funding sources to get the SDA closer to where they need to be?

Hannah: It's possible.

Senator Ruiz, an influential lawmaker, the Senate majority leader, has been pushing her bonds to be used to increase more funding.

But it is up to the legislature.

Briana: That b-word, nobody likes that b-word when it comes to that stuff the talk about Elizabeth, because per your reporting, they have the highest overcrowding.

11,000 seats they need?

Hannah: 11,000 Tsitsipas all the SDA--11,000 seats across all the SDA district but half of them are in Elizabeth.

There were using 70 trailers, they were using religious schools they turned into public school buildings, they had to take books out of the library's to put students in there and have libraries on cards.

They are getting creative to make sure the students can still get the best education possible.

Briana: Where did they go from here?

Obviously schools are ending this calendar year.

They are looking ahead to the next, were likely enrollment could be even higher.

Where did they go from here?

Hannah: They can ask lawmakers to fight for more money, they can come up with creative solutions on their own within their district.

But it's tough because it is expensive to build new schools.

Briana: Is there political will, from what you gathered from these hearings, to find some of the funding?

Hannah: It is hard to say, with the administration calling it such a tough budget year, if they will be able to squeeze out more money and it will make a dent in this $7 billion total.

Briana: You can read this story from Hannah Gross and other coverage of the SDA and overcrowding in schools on our website, njspotlightnews.org.

Thanks so much for coming in.

Hannah: Thanks for having me.

Briana: That's going to do it for us tonight.

You can download our podcast wherever you listen and watch as any time by subscribing to the "NJ Spotlight News" YouTube channel.

You can follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to stay up-to-date on all the states biggest headlines.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

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

Have a great night.

We will see you here tomorrow.

>> 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 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

And by the PSEG foundation.

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

It's an opportunity to create stronger economies and communities.

Together, the South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind project from Orsted will provide American wind powered energy for New Yorkers and support jobs, education, and the local supply chain.

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