>> Tonight, taking on Trump.

Former Governor Chris Christie throwing his hat in the ring to run for president.

Can he out Trump Trump?

>> The path for Christy is going to be interesting.

We know that he is going to be a great campaigner, but he is not popular.

>> Murder solved?

An investigation leads to an arrest in the killing of a Sayreville councilwoman.

>> We had been praying that there is some breakthrough in the case.

Consuelo: >> The Navy expects -- accepts responsibility for her son's death.

>> Congress needs to step in for independent oversight.

The Navy should be acting a lot sooner than later.

>> What is in and what is out of the debt ceiling deal?

Lawmakers had to a final vote with the clock ticking.

>> the house is narrowly controlled by Republicans, the Senate by Democrats.

Another type vote is shaping up.

>> Announcer: funding for NJ Spotlight News provided by the members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

Our WJ Barnabas health.

Let's be healthy together.

Committed to the creation of a new long-term sustainable clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪ >> It is a presidential deja vu.

Good evening and thanks for joining us this Wednesday.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

Chris Christie will announce his 2024 bid for the White House at a town hall event scheduled for next Tuesday in New Hampshire.

A state that flat out rejected him during his 2016 presidential run.

After dropping out of that race, Christie became a close ally of Donald Trump has since turned into one of the presidents harshest critics.

The two are now once again on a collision course for the White House.

The campaign news comes days after Christie's allies formed a Super PAC to support his presidential ambitions despite national polling indicating he is at the bottom of the pack of GOP contenders.

David Cruz reports.

>> Sit down and shut up.

>> Once upon a time, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was the GOP gold standard for telling it like it is.

In 2016, Christie's style and chances for the White House were hijacked by an even more pugnacious character.

>> Now the poor guy, you have got to see this guy, I don't know what I said, I don't remember.

He's going, I don't remember.

Maybe that's what I said.

>> The rest is history.

Christie was the first to the bigger bully, only to soon find himself on the outs.

Nowadays, he has used his platform on ABC News to remake himself as the most vocal critic of the Former President.

Even as he prepares to announce another run for president, Christie is polling as he did in 2016.

Single digits.

But that's not even the worst of it, says Patrick Murray of the Monmouth >> University polling Institute.

>>We know he is a good campaigner, he is just not popular.

In this last poll, we pulled 10 current and potential candidates .

Over the past four months, we have probably pulled 20 contenders.

Chris Christie is that the only one with significant negative ratings from Republican voters.

These are the people he's got to appeal to ticket the nomination.

Two to one unfavorable.

There is no group within the publican party he has a net favorable rating with.

>> The latest Monmouth poll puts Donald Trump ahead of the pack, even ahead of the presumed favored alternative, Ron DeSantis.

Christie sets to return to New Hampshire next week to formally announce his candidacy, his close advisers are laying out a simple strategy.

Punch Trump in the face as often as possible.

>> When he takes on Donald Trump , you are going to finally see somebody who can go toe to toe.

He is the Mike Tyson of the Republican Party.

Let's see if Trump can take a real hit from Chris Christie.

>> State Senator Bram Nick has been a Christie insider for years and has been New Jersey's premier anti-Trump Republican.

He dismisses the polls and says the transient Chris Christie should not be taken lightly.

>> Chris Christie remembers everything you ever said.

He will bring it back.

If you between the eyes.

Hit you again before you know he tied your shoes.

>> This notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing is not true.

>> There it is.

The memorized speech.

>> It will make for great popcorn moments.

We do need somebody who is in it who has that capacity.

Whether or not he ultimately ends up being the nominee were not, he has an absolute place that I think is needed.

It puts things on an even playing field.

>> Christie's supporters admit it is a long shot candidacy.

Especially when Trump is bad, it is good for him.

His base is solidified, but not expanding.

Christie thinks there is a lien on which someone who could tell the Donald where to go could take a long drive.

Briana: One of the states most progressive activists wants to take back a congressional sleep -- seat loss to Republicans.

Sue Altman who leads the working families alliance announced today she is running to unseat Tom Kane Junior in the seventh district, labeled in Kane as a career politician and Donald Trump apologists.

The seventh district was redrawn last year to favor Republicans, helping Kane defeat -- by just 3% of the vote.

Altman's candidacy was largely expected after Malinowski announced he won't attempt a return to Congress.

The seventh district is being heavily targeted by national Democrats who are arguing the seats to help reclaim control of the house.

There is a bit -- a break in the case of a shooting about Sayreville councilwoman.

Police have charged a 28-year-old Virginia man for the murder of Eunice Ford after she was gunned down outside her home on February 1.

Evidence uncovered by investigators shows the two knew each other from church, but not much else.

A motive is still unknown.

As Ted Goldberg reports, the family is left with more questions than answers.

>> they had been praying that there is some breakthrough in the case.

Their prayers were answered.

>> After nearly four months of silence, authorities have arrested a man and charged him with murdering Eunice June 4.

>> I hope today is the beginning of the healing process and also the beginning of a sense of justice for you and Eunice.

>> the murder has shaken the community and no arrests will bring back the late councilwoman.

I do trust that justice will be found through the -- through the criminal justice process.

>> The suspect is a 28-year-old Virginia native who was arrested yesterday morning.

He is awaiting extradition to the Middlesex County adult correctional facility before a pretrial detention hearing in the Superior Court of New Jersey.

He is accused of shooting her multiple times outside of her home on February 1.

>> This was an extensive case with painstaking police work every moment.

>> The prosecutor's office say they can prove he was in the neighborhood just before and after the shooting using a combination of eyewitness testimony on cell phone data.

It is likely Bynum and Eunice Dwumfour knew each other because he was listed as a contact in her phone which was recovered at the crime scene.

Attorney John Wisniewski says the family was not familiar with the suspects name when authorities told him about the arrest.

>> there's a lot to unpack here.

As little as the family received today and all of you received about the name of the accused and where he was from.

He yawned that for the family, there are many questions now as to why he did Target Eunice and what was the motivation.

Those are all unanswered.

>> I want to thank the major crime section of the Middlesex County prosecutor's office.

The police department, FBI, New Jersey state police who worked arduously day and night so that we can bring justice to the late councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour.

>> I am happy for the family that they have some direct resolution.

I am proud of our police force who never gave up.

>> Dan Buchanan is a former Council President.

He never worked directly with Dwumfour, but says he met her a few times and called her a councilwoman with a bright future.

>> It is scary when it happens in your community.

But, something terrible -- when we have adversity, something like this, both sides of the party come together.

>> Democratic leaders from her district since Lesch sent us a statement which reads, this is welcome news to the community and we are confident justice will be served.

We hope this will bring some measure of comfort to the family.

>> An update on a story we have been reporting for over a year.

The U.S. Navy is accepting responsibility for the death of Seale candidate Kyle Mullen, who died after completing the notoriously grueling Hell week training in February of 2022.

The Navy acknowledged having "wholly inadequate care and failures across multiple systems that lead to a high number of candidates being put at risk of serious injury.

It is validation that Kyle's mother Regina has known in her gut for more than a year.

But it does not bring him back.

Regina Mullen joins me now.

It is good to see you.

I just want to know what you felt when you were briefed on this report from the Navy's investigation.

>> It unfortunately validated all that I was saying.

That part I guess was positive.

Some changes still need to be addressed further and more elite standard.

It is concerning to me that some of the people that cleared my son's health are still in positions out there, potentially putting future candidates at risk for death.

That is very concerning to me.

I was extremely upset that right now no one is in trouble.

What they put out to the public in those letters, that is not punishment.

They are just transferred.

In the real world, the civilian world, if anyone misdiagnosed a murder, and many are permanently injured for life at a young age, if that happened someone would be in jail.

Medical licenses pulled.

Dismissed from their careers.

That is not happening as of yet and that is very disturbing to me.

The SEALs investigated themselves and couldn't do it because then the big Navy had to step in.

Now they are saying it is going to go the legal and back to the SEALs to punish.

I want that process to stop.

Congress really needs to step in or independent oversight.

The Navy right now should be acting a lot sooner than later to indict military court-martial.

There is enough evidence on everybody involved from the top.

From the admiral to all of the instructors, and the medical team.

Briana: This report was egregious on a lot of levels, not the least of which is the fact that it cites these medics who were supposed to intervene, they not only did not intervene, they sometimes participated in the abuse and they were not trained.

What is your confidence level that accountability will come to be here?

>> Zero.

If it goes back to the SEALs, nobody should try to be a SEAL whatsoever.

They do not care.

Briana: You have had an ally in Congressman Chris Smith, which is now vowing to have some congressional oversight.

What can you tell us about what you believe he will do to intervene from what congressional members can do.

>> I believe he needs a congressional hearing.

There is also this under -- other investigation called a GAO investigation, that is outside the military.

That needs to be done.

That congressional hearing, because it is just me being a grieving mother, there are first-hand testimonies.

I flew a man in who gave testimony to the Chief of Staff of the chairman of the armed services committee and I would like to know when they are going to start doing something.

If our military is not going to hold people accountable, severely, not just a letter in their file and down the road to become an admiral, this will continue.

It got out of hand because no one has ever been held accountable.

There needs to be court-martial spirit there needs to be demotions or discharges.

And it needs to not be later, it needs to be now.

What message are they sending to the public that they cannot do their job?

They cannot hold people accountable?

Why would anyone join?

I don't know.

Briana: Regina Mullen, thank you for your time.

I am going to leave with something you have shared with me that your son used to live by, be better.

I am sure that is the message you would like to give to the Navy right now.

Do better.

Be better.

>> Yes.

Thank you.

Briana: Thank you so much.

>> Thank you very much.

Briana: In our spotlight on business report, a hard fought debt Bill is getting a crucial house vote tonight.

The plan suspends the debt ceiling and limits federal spending in a package agreed to by President Biden and Kevin McCarthy.

It needs bipartisan support with just days to go before hitting a June 5 deadline.

That is when the U.S. Treasury says the government will run out of money.

The compromise package falls short of the spending cuts requested by hard right members of the Republican Party.

Progressive members are frustrated with the president for making any concessions, including a new deal imposing work requirements for federal programs like food stamps.

The centrist bipartisan problem solvers caucus, which Congressman Josh Gottheimer cochairs, today endorsed the legislation.

Our budget and finance writer John Reitmeyer tells us despite the opposition, the deal is expected to pass.

>> the pressure is to get a vote in the house this evening.

Within the next few days, the Senate.

In favor of this debt ceiling increase and spending reduction package in order to avoid triggering the types of consequences that would come if we do reach the June 5 date without an agreement.

That could be the government either not paying bills, not covering a debt payment.

Both of which, a number of lawmakers have said is not desirable.

Briana: A landmark court ruling Tuesday cleared the way for opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma to settle thousands of legal claims tied to the opioid epidemic.

The ruling from a federal appeals court in New York also protects members of the billionaire Sackler family who own the company from current or future lawsuits.

Under the plan, the Sackler's will give up ownership of Purdue, enabling up to becoming -- enabling it to become a new company with profits being sent to a fund to treat and prevent addiction.

Penn -- family members will pay their own cash over time.

Roughly 750 $1 million going to individual victims of the opioid crisis and their survivors.

Payments are estimated to range from about $3500 to $48,000 for the Sackler family and a lawyer for the victims praised the decision while some activists have called for members of the family to be prosecuted for crimes.

Wall Street investors are on edge with the pending debt seal deal.

Here is how the markets closed.

♪ Briana: Schools may be preparing to close their doors in a couple of weeks.

That doesn't mean the student mental health crisis disappears for the summer.

Advocates warned the break could cause more barriers to adolescents getting what they need.

Suicide prevention workers are spreading the word about resources available to families and teens to maintain their well-being while school is out.

For more I am joined by the clinical director at the Society for the prevention of teen suicide.

Susan, we are coming to the end of mental health awareness month.

I am wondering what you think people should know about student's well-being once school is out.

>> thank you for asking.

Most people think summer is a time where students are going to have a more relaxed, carefree time.

Hopefully that is the case.

But the one thing I think people should know about summer is that it comes with other pressures.

It comes with sometimes the pressure on teenagers to drink, vape.

They may feel like they need to fit in, in areas that may not be of their best interest.

It is a lack of structure for a lot of teens.

Structure, kids thrive on.

Briana: While at school there is a mentor the student trusts and suddenly they are not there every day.

>> That is a great point.

We work with kids all the time and that is what they tell us.

They miss their counselors, their teachers.

They are used to seeing them every day and yes, they have that connection that is really meaningful to them.

We even say to counselors at school, if you are worried about a child, if they have a lot of risk factors, may contact over the summer.

Reach out to them.

Connection really matters for our kids.

Briana: What other resources are available for students during these summer months?

>> I encourage kids to know about the second-floor youth helpline.

It is a service that is not -- it is there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And they can call to just talk, talk about anything that is going on.

It doesn't have to be a crisis.

They can call for any reason.

Crisis text line is another way of empowering kids to text and reach out to adults.

The idea is that they are never alone.

Summer, as much as it can create a lot of activity, it can create a sense of isolation and being alone.

Briana: What is your main concern when you head into summer break?

Given the rise we have seen in teen depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, the whole gamut.

>> Was one of my greatest concerns is, is that kids may indulge in alcohol, drugs, things that decrease their inhibitions and can increase risky behavior.

I think that is a factor that I worry about.

I also worry about the loss of connection with a trusted adult.

That is really important.

That is where all adults have to keep their eyes on kids this summer and ask, are you OK?

Briana: Reach out.

Very important advice.

Thank you so much for your time.

>> Thank you for having me.

Briana: Another health crisis impacting the state that we continue to report on is that of black maternal health inequities.

Senior correspondent -- dives into the issue of the next episode of her story.

♪ >> Throughout history, we have heard his story, now we hear her story.

The unique perspectives of women in New Jersey.

>> I came in thinking this had to do with access to health care.

The fact of the matter is that the inequities in health care are the defining piece.

If you are going to call it out, it is systemic racism.

Our black mothers in New Jersey are nearly seven times more likely than white mothers to die from maternity related complications.

A black baby is three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first birthday.

We are in 2023 and that is unacceptable.

Briana: In addition to the first lady, she talks to medical professionals looking to close the gap in maternal and infant mortality along with women and families who share their personal stories of loss.

Her story airs tomorrow night at 8:00, right here on NJPBS.

Make sure you tune into Chat Box tomorrow night with David Cruz.

He talks with Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Sean Latourette about the plan to revitalize Liberty State Park in Jersey City and the latest research on recent whale deaths.

That is Thursday at 6:30 on YouTube or wherever you stream.

That is going to do it for us tonight.

A reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us.

We will see you tomorrow.

♪ Announcer: 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.

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

More information online at NJrealtor.com.

>> 2023 president of New Jersey realtors.

Whether it is helping a family find their new home or securing space for business owners, New Jersey realtors have been helping clients achieve their dreams for more than a century.

No matter what your unique needs are, there is a realtor for you.

Find yours at NJ.

realestate.

>> Life is unpredictable.

Health insurance shouldn't be.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has provided affordable health plans for New Jersey residents.

We have served generations of New Jersey families and businesses and are committed to driving innovations that put you at the heart of everything you do.

Our members are our neighbors, friends and families.

We are here when you need us most.

Horizon, proud to be New Jersey.

♪