>> Major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" funded by the 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 Blue Shield Association.

And by the foundation.

Briana: The big beautiful spending bill passes the house.

It still needs Senate confirmation but the impact will be felt across the state.

Two Israeli Embassy staffers are gunned down in D.C. as the struggle for humanitarian aid to Gaza continues.

>> Talking about a deprivation in food and health care, inability to perform basic functions in your life because you can't move.

You are debilitated from a lack of any human resources you would need.

Briana: Also parts of I-80 reopened last night after racing coal disrupted traffic on the roads and at local businesses for several months.

>> We had COVID beat the hell out of us, the sinkholes beat the hell out of us.

Briana: Your election ballot for the June 10 primary is going to look a lot different this year.

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 on this Thursday night.

We begin with a few of the top headlines of the day.

First, a major victory for President Trump and GOP Congress leaders after House Republicans early this morning narrowly passed the president's sweeping tax and spending cuts package.

The legislation contains many of President Trump's campaign promises like extending his 2017 tax breaks, eliminating taxes on tips and setting aside billions for border security.

At the 215-214 vote did not come easily.

President Trump reportedly conveyed to holdouts that they could face primary challenges for opposing the bill.

According to a state analysis of the legislation, New Jersey stands to lose $3.6 billion in Medicaid funding.

Those cuts along with new requirements for adults on Medicaid we eliminate coverage for at least 360,000 people.

There is also a new requirement that will cost counties roughly $80 million more for a food assistance program, but it increases the cap on state and local tax the known as salt from $10,000 to $40,000 for homeowners in high tax states.

The state delegation voted along party lines with all three Republican lawmakers voting in favor.

Now the bill heads to the Senate for what is expected to be a better battle.

Also tonight, a federal investigation into police misconduct in Trenton is over.

The U.S. Department of Justice this week announced it is dropping lawsuits and investigations into police departments in seven other cities in the U.S., including the state capital and will retract findings of any constitutional violations by police in those cities.

The DOJ under President Biden released a report in November finding a pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing at the Trenton Police Department.

Following a year-long investigation into that agency.

It included excessive use of force, stopping and searching pedestrians and drivers without probable cause, and making illegal arrests.

The Trenton Mayor and police director reiterated this week that the department has already carried out most of the recommendations in the DOJ report and will continue to reform policing practices.

Officials in the Justice Department called the Biden administration reform effort a quote, failed experiment of handcuffing local leaders and police departments.

We are heading into the memorial day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer and kicking off the summer tourism season.

State environmental officials and scientists gathered this morning for the annual state of the shore address, highlighting our clean beaches, clear waters and plans to keep visitors informed of water quality wherever they choose to unwind.

Weekly sampling of water quality at Ocean Bay and River beaches will be done through September and lick goers can check daily updates for any issues with algal blooms.

In the Louisiana today, the National Weather Service released its forecast for hurricane season, which begins on June 1.

The forecast predicts an above average season for the Atlantic with as many as 13 to 19 named storms expected.

Six to 10 of those are likely to be hurricanes.

Forecasters are warning of three to five major hurricanes.

They are pointing to warmer than average water temperatures as one of several factors that could make for a turbulent season.

Two Israeli embassy employees were shot and killed Wednesday night outside a Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

Authorities say the couple who were on the verge of getting engaged were leaving a networking event for young Jewish foreign-policy professionals organized by the American Jewish committee.

According to police, the suspect is a 30-year-old man from Chicago who chanted free Palestine as he was being arrested.

The FBI says they are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime and act of terrorism.

President Trump the shooting, calling it antisemitism.

The attack comes as is -- as Israel faces pressure over a humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid a ramped up military campaign.

Israeli officials lifted a nearly three month blockade on food, medicine and other essentials.

Today that aid including baby food began trickling in, but the U.N. committed Terry and chief said it was a quote, drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed by the roughly 2 million Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

-- is among the Palestinian Americans in New Jersey who have been advocating for an end to the war.

And more committed Terry and aid.

he is the head of the state's Muslim coalition but he is also -- but he has also lost nearly 40 members of his family, killed in Gaza in Israeli airstrikes.

Thank you so much for coming back on the show.

Let me ask you first about what you've been able to hear, from folks on the ground, about whether they've been able to gain access to any of the aid that has made it through the crossing within these last 12 hours or so.

Sami: we have been in contact with my family.

Very little aid is getting to anybody.

Even at the highest points, you are talking about a small percentage of people that will actually get what they need.

The rest are left to fend for themselves.

Talking about deprivation in food and health care, inability to perform basic functions because you can't move.

You are debilitated from a lack of any human resources you would need.

Briana: I know the U.N., the Israeli prime minister said they were looking to focus on the most needy families, but do you have any idea how they are making that discrepancy?

I know you have said and many have said it is borderline famine.

Sami: I would not call it borderline famine.

I would call it all out famine.

It is a complete lack of water, food, anything that would be sustaining life.

There is literal starvation.

To the point that my family cries to us and says why don't they just kill us at this point?

We can't survive.

It is the slowest possible death you can inflict on somebody.

Briana: What do you say to them when you hear that over the phone?

Sami: We cry together.

We try to make the most of it.

They are very God believing people so they know that God has a plan and they know that once finality meets them, they believe that patients will be rewarded.

It is excruciating, it is a nightmare that's been going on for more than a year and a half.

There has never been relief.

I know the news channels move past every moment and go to the next new cycle but for my family, it just keeps happening step we had over 40 people killed so far, many people dismembered in my family.

The youngest was not even a year old.

My uncles have been killed and my cousins.

People who had just been married.

It is affecting every facet of life and it is a complete and utter failure of the world to stop this.

My cousin was giving birth to a baby with no epidural on the side of the street.

Talk about limbs being missing and no surgery available or if the surgery is there, there is no anesthesia.

I want the folks at home to know that this is real, this is happening, happening to humans like you and I. Briana: It is a dire situation that you are describing.

I wonder what you make of comments that the Israeli prime minister reportedly said last night, this is a quote, Israel would only end the war if Hamas surrenders, Gaza is demilitarized and we implement the Trump plan, I believe he was referring to what President Trump had laid out back in February which included expelling Palestinians from the territory.

What is your reaction to that?

Sami: That is what the plan has been.

It is ethnic cleansing.

It is an expulsion of indigenous people from their land.

You can listen to that and Yahoo!

-- Netanyahu's other quotes.

They want Gaza to be clear of Palestinian's.

Our own president says they want to make it the Riviera of the Middle East and kick out those people.

Where do the Palestinians go?

Briana: President Trump has since walked back but how much faith do you have in the U.S.'s ability and this administration's ability to intervene in a more weaning for way?

Sami: The United States has the ability to do a huge intervention if it so pleased.

Right now, they've only made some steps towards that.

I have faith that our government will make that turn.

People are now seeing the genocide for what it is and they are starting -- the public pressure is starting to mount, but I do think it is going to take a little more time for us to get there and that his time my family does not have.

Briana: Thank you so much for your time.

Sami: I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Briana: In our spotlight on business report, at long last, traffic is flowing again on Route 80 in Morris County.

The state DOT opened two eastbound lanes late Wednesday night after more than two months of closures for sinkhole repairs.

Construction is still going on the westbound side in that same section, but local business owners tell Ted Goldberg this was a critical first step.

>> It's going to be a brand-new world for us.

Reporter: After months of bad news and worse traffic, people in Wharton found relief when two eastbound lanes of I-80 finally reopened.

>> We had COVID beat the hell out of us, the sinkholes beat the hell out of us and the locals are coming in.

Reporter: After seeing traffic parted near his pub.

>> It would take me an hour and a half to get here on Friday night.

To get here in 16 minutes today was a godsend.

Reporter: What are you going to do with this extra time?

>> I'm going to work.

Reporter: More than 800 businesses have applied for grants from the state economic development Authority which has set aside 5.5 million dollars for affected businesses within five miles of the closures.

>> Only enough to help pay my payroll and take care of that.

Nothing that would change our lives.

I was down $25,000 the first quarter, almost 10 grand just for April.

>> Everything is helpful but most importantly is getting the roads back open.

Having these lanes is a great start.

Reporter: Two of the 300 or so businesses that have been approved.

The co-owner and his customers noticed fewer cars and trucks outside today.

>> It definitely is a big difference.

We are back to where it used to be, so it is nice to see things are starting to flow.

We definitely have seen a lot of faces we haven't seen in months.

It is nice to see our regulars start to come back, and endure less traffic.

>> Usually the traffic is backed up way down past the street that goes out.

Reporter: David Sullivan is happy to be back after traffic kept him away.

>> I would need an extra 40 minutes coming into work.

When they said they were going to open it up last night, something was going to happen because they said it three or four times already.

Reporter: Do you feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel?

>> I hope so.

Reporter: Other customers fought through the traffic for their favorite breakfast.

>> I like the food and the service.

I have a bagel.

Just come enjoy my breakfast.

Reporter: A few people told me that for the first time since this whole mess started, they finally have some optimism of the department of transportation timetable.

All lanes of I-80 are scheduled to reopen in late June, provided there are no setbacks between now and then.

>> Even up until next -- until yesterday, I was asked, it is really opening now?

I will see it when I believe it.

Reporter: This is only woman praised how -- responded to this crisis, and low-interest federal loans.

>> This was a lifeline for so many small business owners and in many ways, maybe a silver lining to COVID is that we learned how to swiftly respond.

>> Generally the feedback has been ready positive.

It has been a tough time so we are not expecting a parade.

Reporter: Tim Sullivan leads the EDA which approved $2 million so far in grants.

There is another $3.5 million up for grabs and now businesses in parts of Sussex County are eligible to apply.

>> It was originally pivoted off of the governor's emergency declaration.

A clear case was made, that the business impact was a little broader than that.

>> I don't imagine anyone in this area will complain about traffic again after this is over.

Reporter: The mayor of mine Hill is one of several local leaders grateful for the work done by the department of transportation over the last few months.

>> People that commute to the school, teachers were like holy cow, I didn't sit for an hour and 10 minutes to take a 25 minute ride.

Reporter: Grants range from $1000 up to $15,000 for companies trying to attract foot traffic.

Now with less car traffic to hold them back.

>> Support for the business report is provided by Riverview Jazz, presenting the 12th annual Jersey City Jazz Festival.

May 27-31.

Information is online.

Briana: The state is in the midst of one of the most hotly contested primary elections in years, with 11 major party candidates running to succeed Governor Murphy and all 80 seats in the assembly up for grabs.

But the upcoming June 10 primary is also a first in New Jersey history, without the so-called County line battle system -- ballot system which research shows has helped party losses for decades by allowing them in effect to hand pick their party nominee.

Now it's gone and the race is more or less anyone's to win.

David Cruz reports.

Reporter: We are about to find out a lot about the impact of the death of the party line in New Jersey.

It is the first year where neither major party is using the line, and already we've seen some changes, says -- whose research helped fuel the court challenge.

>> I would say the two most notable impacts so far are the fact that so many both Democrat and Republican candidates, including legitimate candidates with a shot at winning, choosing not to go for an endorsement.

That would have been unheard of before.

And then the other impact is just the number of people running for the legislature.

So we have more than twice the number of people running as we did two years ago.

Reporter: But it takes more than more candidates to make a democracy.

Are voters curious enough to come out and see what the ballot fuss is about?

If you haven't yet, it is easier to use, says the New Jersey Institute for social justice.

>> The way that the races will be organized is the office will be clearly marked at the top of that particular section.

There should be a box, but the names of the candidates running for that office will be listed directly underneath that particular office.

Reporter: And candidates will be randomly selected, so you could have the party endorsement and be the last name on the list, and vice versa.

A guaranteed top spot is a big advantage to lose, but the new rules also allow slogans.

The county party slogan can say, endorsed by the county party, for whatever that may be worth.

>> County organizations are not worth nothing just because the line has gone away.

They still have the expertise, the know-how, the tools.

They are still going to use them.

They know how to win in their neighborhoods and towns.

You have to build a better mousetrap.

Reporter: So how could it play out in the gubernatorial primaries?

Jack Ciattarelli seems to have benefited from going all in on getting county party endorsements.

The feeling is that if you add in the Trump endorsement, even random ballot positioning might not be enough to help the other two candidates in the race.

On the Democrat side, where the difference between the top candidates in a field of six could be single digits, positioning could matter more.

Ruben says we may not necessarily be able to pinpoint it to the absence of the line.

But that certainly makes surprises more possible.

>> We have candidates running who are very viable who are not on the line.

If one of them wins, that would be quite dramatic, if they had -- like if Philip won.

They don't have the line in any counties but if Gottheimer or Sweeney -- they don't have the line in many counties so that would also be quite dramatic.

I think the other thing I'm watching for is what is the power of the County organizations without the line?

Reporter: Supporters of the party line defend it as an orderly way to get a good sense of the county party members.

But democracy is supposed to be messy, and it's possible that from out of this coming mess, some kind of new order is possible.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Finally tonight, there is an increasing effort across the state to end what is known as period poverty.

Despite the fact that half the population meant Straits, a considerable number of people are not able to get the products they need.

Several organizations are teaming up to make sure that access isn't a luxury but a necessity.

Raven Santana reports.

>> When you are in a situation where you are looking at your funds and you are choosing whether you buy food for your family, diapers for your child, or period products for yourself, mothers tend to forgo the period products.

Reporter: Three community organizations have joined forces to combat period poverty, the lack of adequate access to menstrual products, education and sanitation facilities.

According to a 2021 study by the period products brand, U by Kotex, period poverty affects up to two in five individuals and the problem is getting worse.

Surveys have shown a steady rise in the number of people who can't afford menstrual products.

>> It is not something you choose.

It is part of the body, there should be help for something like that.

Reporter: In honor of period poverty awareness week, organizations are coming together to raise awareness and advance menstrual health equity by providing free period products.

Kathleen Fernandez, food pantry coordinator at Jewish family services adds that the event is a win-win for clients offering both essential supplies and vital support.

>> Here is the thing I've learned.

Many of our volunteers are men.

Women are too modest to ask.

So they will pull someone to the side and show a picture on their phone, or they will call you to the side and whisper in your ear.

I wish we could break that barrier.

>> If you see the people have this tent outside, and people came to pick up food, it is good.

It is more easy to have the products.

Reporter: The executive director of moms helping moms says period poverty can result in missed days at school and work and can lead to infections, toxic shock syndrome, reproductive health issues, low self-esteem and other serious health concerns.

>> So they don't have to forgo using things, using unsanitary things, using things for too long.

This can lead to a lot of detrimental things.

As well as your mental well-being, about how I'm feeling, am I showing, all of that stuff as a result of this.

We have girls who miss school, women who miss going to work.

>> As much as we love drives and these kinds of events, if you think about it, this is absurd.

We have to rethink how we think in society.

We are thinking with a 100-year-old brain, when there weren't women in all of the spaces they are in now.

Reporter: Executive director of girls helping girls period launched the organization a decade ago after she and her daughters discovered how many girls lacked access to menstrual products.

Since then, she has helped distribute over 5 million period products.

She emphasizes that lasting change will come through legislation.

>> There is now a law that requires there be menstrual products in school bathrooms in New Jersey, in schools that have six through 12th grade.

If you don't see them in your school, please go to your administration.

They have to provide them by law and the cost is covered by the state.

Reporter: Joy says the next step is to bring free menstrual products and elementary -- and education to elementary schools.

She believes that by teaching students about these products at an early age, they will be better equipped to use them safely and confidently.

>> Support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

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

A reminder, you can download our podcast wherever you listen, and watch us any time by's ascribing to the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

You can follow us on Instagram and blue sky to stay up-to-date.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

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

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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

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

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

>> Have some water.

>> Look at these kids.

What do you see?

I see myself.

I became an ESL teacher to give kids what I wanted when I came to this country.

The opportunity to learn, to dream, to achieve.

A chance to belong and to be American.

My name is Julia and I am proud to be a njea member.

♪