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Briana: Tonight, sanctuary city crackdown.

Trump Administration singles out cities and towns around New Jersey, accusing them of standing in the way of federal immigration enforcement.

Plus, fighting for Medicaid as Republicans in Congress push for cuts to the program.

Governor Murphy weighs the impact they will have on the state.

>> None of the three people who voted yes never say you know what, I don't -- didn't realize where this was headed.

Briana: With the primary election less than two weeks away, the gubernatorial candidates are on the attack.

>> There was reluctance to go negative, but you are seeing now in acknowledgment from some of the candidates as they still have room to go to make up going into election day.

Briana: And putting a spotlight on black revolutionary war history.

A new effort to spread the story of Black soldiers that fought in Princeton.

>> Their courage and sacrifice and what they did here, the details of their service, we want to bring that to life, make that parts of the fabric of American history.

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.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

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

First, the federal government is targeting hundreds of so-called sanctuary towns, including dozens in New Jersey.

A directive of the Department of Homeland Security released Thursday lists 500 jurisdictions the Trump Administration says are deliberately standing in the way of immigration and oarsmen -- of immigration enforcement and blocking deportations in order to "protect dangerous criminal aliens."

The list names New Jersey as a whole and within its three counties, Burlington, Cumberland, and Warren, along with 18 towns ranging from Asbury to Camden, Lynden, and Plainfield.

That includes the four cities initially sued by the Justice Department last week over there immigration policies.

The Trump Administration says it is sending out formal notices to those jurisdictions deeming them in defiance of the government, giving the White House authority to use any enforcement they see necessary to make the towns comply.

When asked today about the order, Governor Murphy said New Jersey is following the laws of the land.

>> We cooperate with the feds all the time.

The irony here is I'm not sure any state cooperates more with the feds than we do.

But we are picking you out and we are going after you if you are a criminal.

We are not going after you if you are jaywalking.

We are going after you if you are a criminal.

We are as hard on that is probably any state.

Briana: Also, long-awaited relief is on the way for thousands of drivers who have been stuck in detours for months.

Two westbound lanes of I-80 in Warren are on track to reopen late tonight.

The Department of transportation says paving and stripping are complete.

Crews spent the day installing guardrails and barriers to separate live traffic from the ongoing median work.

They reopened stretch will use the shoulder and right lane with reduced speed limits to 45 miles per hour.

Eastbound Flames will also be limited to 45 miles per hour as drivers past read that construction area.

-- pass through that construction area.

Drivers are being urged to slow down, stay alert, and expect continued work in the area until all lanes fully reopen.

That is not scheduled until June 25.

And it's been a hectic 24 hours for businesses and investors who are dealing with tariff whiplash and what it means for their bottom line.

Late Wednesday, a federal court threw out a major piece of President Trump's trade policy by blocking his use of tariffs under emergency powers.

It was a blanket 10% levy on most important goods with steeper rates for some countries.

Hours later, an appeals court reversed the decision, letting the tariffs continue for now, adding to growing economic uncertainty both here in the U.S. and globally.

For the latest on the ruling and when consumers might start to feel the effects, I am joined by a finance and economic professor at Rutgers business school as part of our spotlight on business report tonight.

Good to talk to you.

It goes without saying there have been a lot of changes with tariff policies.

Which ones specifically does this affect?

Are they all in play at this point?

>> I think they are all in play at this point, particularly since agreements have only been with respect to two countries, and I do not think that is going to stick, so consequently, yes, everything is in way, and we are getting all those different rulings -- these different rulings from the U.S. Court of International Trade.

There was a stay put on it, so the markets were happy yesterday, but there was a reversal in that policy, the stay.

So we still have so much uncertainty dealing with what is going to really happen.

Briana: It is interesting that you mention the markets, because they are looking to post a really good month overall for May, yet talk consumers, to investors and businesses specifically, and it is a little bit of a different picture.

How are businesses preparing to deal with this?

This will cause disruptions regardless of the legal rulings, right?

They are on, they are off, they are back on again.

Parul: Yes, indeed.

If you look at the data, businesses tried to be a little bit preemptive.

Consumers also were trying to be preemptive in terms of accelerating their purchases prior to the imposition of these tariffs.

They did stop and some decent amounts, but at the same time, how long can this go on?

A lot of the firms, from what I have read, are not engaging in investments.

They don't want to increase their hiring.

They do not want to get committed into producing more when they are not certain about what their sales are going to be looking like down the line.

Briana: What about supply chains?

I know we are not even in June yet, but a lot of folks have to start making plans for the holidays and to get those orders in for items that do come in from out of the country.

What is that looking like?

Parul: That is looking very uncertain as well.

As we know, supply chains are very intricate linked -- intricately linked around the globe, so a lot of immediate inputs that are needed for some production processes, that is coming to be, if you are facing higher and higher tariffs, and it kind of fairies all over the place, and this kind of an uncertain environment is causing firms to clamp down and reduce their hiring.

A couple of students, they are getting their job offers rescinded as well.

Forecasters in general, this is a very uncertain time period for trying to look into our forecasting models and come up with a number that we think is going to stick.

But on balance, I think what we are all looking at, and we have seen it all over the place, and that is that inflation is going to ratchet up, economic growth is going to suffer, and as a macro effect, confidence in the U.S. economy has diminished to a point that consumers do not wish to commit too far down the line, especially if they are not certain about their job aspects.

Briana: What about the confidence in terms of the U.S. being a global leader and our position within other world leaders who have been looking to make deals with the U.S. to potentially lower the tariffs that they would see?

All the back-and-forth, I imagine that affects the U.S.'s ability to negotiate on certain items.

Parul: Right, that's why we are saying that this is such an uncertain environment.

We had the ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade which was very -- raised a lot of optimism that tariff rates would in fact be limited.

But as a macro effect, when we are looking at all of this vacillation back-and-forth, back-and-forth, and threatening different actions, it is just simply going to be quite a bit of a downward pull on the economy.

Although some of the numbers we have been getting on inflation, sectors have improved, the expectation is U.S. inflation could ratchet up to between 4% and 5%.

U.S. economic growth is going to suffer greatly, and the recession odds among consumer groups, among forecasters, are that there is a 60% chance that the United States could slip into a recession.

With respect to your earlier question about the global positioning of the United States, yes, this is not a good sign for us, and other countries stand to gain from the U.S. losses such as China and other countries in Europe and also in Asia.

Briana: But, of course, this is not the final say.

We will hear back from the appeals court in about a week.

It could then get kicked to the Supreme Court.

Parul, thank you so much for your insight.

Parul: Thank you very much.

>> Support for the business report is brought to you by Riverview Jazz.

Presenting the Jersey City Jazz Festival May 27 through 31.

Event details are online at JerseycityjazzFestival.com.

Briana: The Murphy administration took another swipe at GOP Congress members who voted in favor of federal legislation that will slash Medicaid funding.

Hosting a roundtable in Representative Crist Smith's district today to highlight how many residents could lose their health coverage under the Republican bill.

Murphy previously held a similar event in Congressman Tom Kane Junior's district.

New Jersey stands to lose $3.6 billion in annual Medicaid funding, and today constituents who will take a hit shared what that loss will mean for them.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports.

Brenda: Governor Murphy convened a roundtable of government staff and Medicaid recipients who fear deep cuts to critical health care outlined in the budget bill just approved by the house.

Murphy kept insisting this meeting just focused on people.

Gov.

Murphy: This is not a political event.

This is a government event.

We are gathered to figure out how to do the right thing.

Brenda: But politics did bloom large.

Lakewood is a booming town where many growing families depend on Medicaid.

The governor delivered often better broad size on the partisan votes on the bill.

Gov.

Murphy: It is incredibly sad that they chose to vote for this.

For the life of me, I don't understand how they could, given the impact on the lives that this bill will have, including folks at this table.

Brenda: Murphy said New Jersey could lose $3.6 billion, nearly a quarter of its Medicaid budget, throwing health care coverage in peril for some 306 2000 people.

He noted no state could make up all the projected budget cuts.

Roundtable participants described the impact.

Laura Williamson's daughter, who has bipolar disorder, lives in a residential care facility.

Without Medicaid -- >> These are unstable children besides, if we are not getting them to the point where they are now stable, you are putting mental health on unstable teenagers on the street.

Brenda: For an advocate with cerebral palsy, Medicaid covers the 20 47 care he needs to survive.

>> While we live in the greatest country in the world, we should not have to worry -- bag or bury about proper coverage.

-- b= o -- beg or worry about proper coverage.

>> this is what Republicans voted for.

Brenda: She initially got coverage from Chris Smith, one of the Republicans who joined the party.

>> We are going to have spending cuts, but for example, in Medicaid, we cannot hurt those that are in nursing homes, the disabled, working poor, real people, our people.

Brenda: Congressman Jeff Van Drew also argued deeper cuts could spell political trouble for his party, so he supports the president's goals.

>> We have to work with a scalpel and of a sledgehammer.

He does not want a mean bill that hurts people, but we can also stop the stupid spending that was going on, and there was tons of it.

Brenda: Congressman Tom Kane said the bill stop the illegal immigrants from stealing taxpayer-funded benefits.

By reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, we can ensure this vital program is there for future generations.

But Murphy called the argument dog whistles.

Gov.

Murphy: Nobody who voted yes, including the three folks in our House delegation, can ever say, you know what, I did not realize this was where this was headed.

Brenda: The president's big budget bill was headed for tweaks in the Senate, were both sides are arguing for changes and politics is very much in play.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: The state's candidates for governor are in a critical moment of the hotly contested race.

Less than two weeks to go before voters choose their party's nominee.

And the challengers are pulling out all the stops, including ramping up attack ads against the apparent front runner up into the democratic election, Congresswoman Mikey Cheryl.

She's got the backing of the establishment and a lot of the support that goes with it, making her a prime target for negative ads that may sway voters minds.

>> Turn on any TV or device think you are likely to see one of these ads.

>> Time of the same old political machine?

As mayor, Steve Fulop took on the political machine and corporations.

>> Senator Sweeney is correct.

>> I like what Senator Sweeney said.

>> Given his opponents agree.

Steve Sweeney is the only candidate running for governor on day one.

>> With six Democratic candidates still in the race, many have turned their sights fan their ads toward Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill.

>> She is abandoning Congress just when we need her to stand up to tie our -- up to Trump.

>> sherrill made a killing during the stock market -- in the stock market during the pandemic and was fined for not disclosing.

>> Congressman Brian says he is surprised we have not seen more attack ads.

>> I thought this election was going to get negative earlier on, honestly, even as early as January or February.

I think the most interesting part of this is how they have stayed away from it.

Honestly, there is a reluctance to go negative, but I think what you are seeing now is an acknowledgment from some of the candidates that they still have room to go to make up coming into election day.

>> The latest polls, including one put out by a company run by New Jersey pollster Patrick Murray, found that Congresswoman Sherrill's lead has widened over the two others running is the most progressive candidates.

>> In our pulling, we see Mikie Sherrill ahead of the rest of the pack overall with a significant margin.

Because in large part that progressive Lane being split.

>> It is no surprise the attack ads targeting her were paid for by Baraka and a PAC supporting full up -- Fulop, and as far as changing people's minds, here is Murray's take.

>> One of the things we did see in our pulling is that Mikie Sherrill was stream to -- was deemed extremely trustworthy even among voters not supporting her.

The question is how strongly that quality is attached to her, and that determines whether the attacks will be successful.

>> The dichotomy when you are a leader is how much of your time do you want to spend explain things and how much do you want to go out and make your case to voters.

I think it is a tricky balance.

I think they've handled it pretty well.

For the most part, you want to be talking about yourself and your positives and why you are the right candidate other than trying to explain away all these attack ads.

>> The representative's commute patients director is taking the second approach.

>> They are drawing at straws.

We are getting the truth out there, putting out Mikie's positive vision on how she's going to lower costs, deliver for families, and how she is the best candidate in the Democratic side and the one who can beat Jackson really -- Jack Citarelli.

>> a PAC supporting her put out this ad this week.

>> The same playbook lying about Mikie Sherrill for political gain.

The truth, news sources praise Mikie Sherrill's ethical standards, saying she went above and beyond.

>> It could get even muddier in a race that could be anyone's to win, depending on who turns out or sits this one out on June 10.

Briana: And finally, a piece of New Jersey history that has largely been left out of textbooks.

As the state and country get ready to celebrate America's 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary war, the Princeton battlefield society is partnering with a group of students in Trenton to research Black soldiers who fought in the critical battle they are in the outsize role those soldiers played in helping the U.S. gain its independence.

-- critical battle there and the outsized role those soldiers played in helping the U.S. gain its independence.

>> We are hoping today you get a chance to relive some of that.

>> Nearly 250 years ago here, the Continental Army security pivotal victory over British forces at Princeton, marking their third triumph in just 10 days.

During my visit, the president of the Princeton battlefield society, had a trustee, gave me a tour of the site.

They should reenactments of where the battle took place and the farmhouse which stood at the heart of the fighting and was later used as a hospital for wounded soldiers during the battle.

>>.

The Princeton battlefield society, we have begun our 250th -- here at the Princeton battlefield society, we have begun our 250th anniversary efforts, and part of that is to pay attention to the common soldiers, the men without shoes.

The generals get all the attention.

They had the boots, the horses, the cloaks.

The grounds, the men marching in the rings, were frequently underfed, underclothes, and did not have shoes.

Reporter: among the civil soldiers were at least 14 Black men from various states, that little is known about their individual stories or experiences.

>> Their lives, their courage, their sacrifice, and what they did here, the details of their service, we want to bring that to life, to make that art of the fabric of American history, because America's history belongs to all Americans.

In order to tell a full picture of the battle at Princeton, and by extension the American revolution, you need to tell everyone's story in a detailed fashion.

Reporter: to identify these Black soldiers in the vital role they played, the Princeton battlefield society is partnering with a charter school in Trenton serving more than 1100 students in grades K-12 to launch the man without shoes research project.

>> One of the projects we are embarking on is to find them.

Depending on which historian you want to site, as many as 5% to 25% of the American army were Black soldiers.

Some of them were free Blacks, some of them slaves who fought in their masters' places.

But here at Princeton, we know at least 14 men who fought were Black soldiers and one Black Marine.

>> The work is always difficult when you are trying to make somebody alive who it in history is dead.

>> She acknowledges that researching these and identified soldiers will be a challenging task.

However, she notes that the students are eager, engaged, and ready to take it on.

>> my students are always connected because it is black history, point blank, period.

You are looking at 50 plus students, all ages, seventh grade to 12th grade, really different perspectives, different talents coming to the table, and breaking up the project in ways where each student or group of students will get an individual so they will learn and embody than individual.

They will be the expert of one of the 14.

Reporter: Scott is leading the project alongside high school teacher Isaiah Jones.

Towns believes the new research about black soldiers' presence during the battle will help Black students see themselves reflected in American history and recognize their place in its narrative.

>> I see it as teaching the students how to research, access databases, and try to connect this to resources like the Trenton Free Public Library that has tons of resources, and also making sure things are kept in a historic perspective.

Learning the contributions of their ancestors will help them have more pride in American history as well as their own.

Reporter: They hope to set up an exhibit showcasing the students' research in time for Black history month in 2026.

Briana: That is going to do it for us tonight, but make sure you tune into Reporters Roundtable this weekend.

David talks about how the federal budget deal will impact the state budget and beyond.

Plus, a panel of local reporters break down this week's big political headlines.

That is Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. on NJPBS.

En Chat Box, he goes one-on-one with LaMonica McIver about the assault tries his -- the assault charges brought for her after the scuffle outside Delaney Hall, and GOP threats of disciplinary action against her.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

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

Enjoy your weekend.

We will see you right back here on Monday.

>> NJM Insurance group.

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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 is what drives us.

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>> Have some water.

>> 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 Crompton, and I am proud to be an NJEA member.

♪