>> major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" is provided in part by 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 PSEG foundation.

>> tonight on "NJ Spotlight News ," ice confirms Delaney Hall is open to process and detain arrested immigrants, despite legal challenges from Newark's Mayor.

>> We are going to do what's necessary to make sure the laws are followed.

>> More flight cancellations and delays at Newark airport.

Staffing shortages causing major airlines to cut back on flights.

Also, transportation leaders in the hot seat in Trenton, pushing for more funding as New Jersey transit faces a looming engineer strike.

>> 300 72 members of a union of my colleagues somehow think it is fair to get a $55,000 pay raise.

Well, I just don't think it is right.

>> And NJ decides 2025.

We are profiling each of the Republican candidates ahead of Wednesday's gubernatorial conversation.

Tonight, former assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli.

"NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ >> from NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

>> thanks for joining us.

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

First, it is Newark versus the federal government.

The mayor and immigration advocates slammed immigrations and customs enforcement and demanded answers from Geo group, the private prison company that owns Delaney Hall.

It is opening and holding detainees despite a pending lawsuit from the city, arguing that ice renovated the 1000 bed facility without proper inspections or permits and claimed Geo group blocked city officials from getting inside.

Ice has confirmed it began housing immigrant detainees on May 1 but won't say exactly how many.

The federal government entered into a 15 year, $1 billion contract with Geo group in February to reopen Delaney Hall as part of the Trump administration's efforts to ramp up deportations.

Today Geo group claimed to have a valid certificate of occupancy issued by Newark and to be in compliance with health and safety requirements.

The owner called Mayor Baraka's comments a politicized campaign by a sanctuary city.

Baraka countered the prison owner is following in the path of the president, obscuring the law.

>> We are afraid and opposed and alarmed by them setting up a detention center where they violate people's rights and house them in a building they won't allow us access to.

Transparency is gone.

We don't know what's going on, how many people they have.

We don't know if there is code violations.

The courts don't seem to be acting strong enough and quick enough.

Briana: Tonight, debt collection begins for millions of student loan borrowers whose accounts >> link went.

For some it will mean their wages can be confiscated and the Treasury Department can withhold tax refunds and federal benefits.

The Department of Education said last month the agency is trying to protect taxpayers from shouldering the cost of federal student loans.

New data from the credit bureau Trans Union shows delinquency rates are at an all-time high.

Out of 43 million borrowers who owe money, just over a third have made regular payments.

People with higher credit scores face the greatest risk.

Trans Union calculates those in the super prime category can see an average drop of 175 points as a result of defaulting.

That makes it even harder to get a future loan.

Collection on overdue loans were put on hold March 2020 because of the pandemic, then the grace period was extended multiple times under the Biden administration and ended in October.

A second person charged with arson in connection with the Jones worth wildfire in Ocean County that spread to more than 15,000 acres and is the state's second-largest buyer in the last two decades.

It is 90% contained.

Authorities arrested a 17-year-old suspect part of a group that allegedly set wood pallets on fire in the wilderness area, then left while the flames were still burning.

Police already charged a 19-year-old man with arson for his role in the incident.

According to police reports, Joseph Kling used his truck to pick up a dozen wooden pallets and brought them to the woods with a group of others to start a bonfire.

The group abandoned the gasoline-soaked fire to search for a friend who had a dirt bike accident nearby.

According to evidence, the group came up with a plan to blame the blaze on Mexicans in the woods.

At a detention hearing, attorneys for kling said he didn't intend to set the fire or destroy property.

Brown stock lifted at Newark Airport but travelers still dealing with massive delays and cancellations due to air traffic controller shortages and equipment issues, complicated by bad weather and runway construction.

The CEO of United airlines which owns most of the hangers, warrant today it's unlikely the problems will be resolved soon and is urging folks to take advantage of travel waivers allowing them to change their flight dates and collections -- connections.

Ted Goldberg reports.

Ted: People flying in or out of Newark got a nasty surprise Monday morning.

>> Due to the FAA air traffic controller staffing and the number of flights into and out of the airport is limited.

Hope you enjoyed your stuff.

Ted: Jordan Derry got this text from United just after his flight landed from Toronto.

>> I landed about 10 minutes ago and I got it seven minutes ago.

Everything went smoothly.

Ted: The combination of bad weather and a shortage of air traffic controllers has led to hundreds of delayed flights at Newark.

>> The first flight was delayed a few times so that was hectic.

The flight was supposed to be on the ground 7:00-ish and we ended up flying at 11:00-ish.

Ted: The shortage of air traffic controllers is a national problem but has hit harder at Newark since there controllers were moved from Long Island to Philadelphia last summer.

>> 20% of the controllers who are not working right now in an already understaffed center handling two major airports, Philadelphia international and Newark Liberty international, is not just not good, it's disastrous.

Ted: Henry is an industry research analyst.

>> Moving these controllers to Philadelphia is long-term going to be good, if the FAA is able to manage this well, and that's a big if.

Ted: The chaos led Governor Phil Murphy to post on x, the flight delays and cancellations at Newark Airport have been completely unacceptable.

I know Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is committed to addressing our nationwide air traffic controller shortage by supercharging hiring.

The past few days have shown us why we need to reverse the decades of staffing decline at the FAA.

>> When there is issues, you see delays, cancellations.

Our airspace is safe because if there are issues, we don't fly.

Ted: Last Thursday, Secretary Duffy spoke about new cash bonuses to keep air traffic controllers from retiring and recruit new ones.

>> We shaved off five months from the hiring process.

It was taking way too long.

If you applied, it could take over a year before you got a seat in the Academy.

A lot of young people would find a different career instead of waiting so long.

>> He is saying we want to cut six months off the training curriculum, that's a concern.

That's why I say we need more clarity into the methodology and details of where and how the training curriculum can be shortened.

Ted: In response to staffing issues, United is canceling 35 flights a day at Newark.

CEO Scott Kirby claimed 20% of Phillies air traffic controllers walked off the job last week and said it's disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark.

Since there is no way to resolve the near term the FAA staffing issues, we feel there is no other choice to protect our customers.

Those customers had varying levels of concern this morning.

What was your concern level?

>> High.

I was hoping to leave earlier.

>> Not very concerned because I know EWR is a hub for United so I thought they would get more preference.

>> I saw every alert that United has sent to me so I was anticipated something happening.

>> I'm concerned about Wednesday because I'm flying home in the middle of the day.

>> It will be concern on Wednesday if we are still getting rain, because we don't fly out until the afternoon, around 1:00.

Ted: The union representing air traffic controllers said, workers in Philadelphia last week temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them.

The controllers did not walk off the job as reported by the media.

The controllers took absence under the federal employees compensation act.

The union expressed support for incentives to fully staff their departments and try to get airports like Newark back on track.

Ted Goldberg, "NJ Spotlight News ."

Briana: The heads of New Jersey's transportation agencies got their turn before the assembly budget committee today as each department faces its own crises.

A looming rail strike at New Jersey transit, major sinkhole repairs on Route 80 for the DOT, and a deadline for Real ID that's overwhelming operations at the state motor vehicle commission.

Can extra state aid help?

Brenda Flanagan reports in our ongoing series under the dome, exploring the state government and its impact on the people who live here.

>> I believe in collective bargaining.

I will stay there till the very last minute, hour, second to get a deal done because I think it's the right thing to do.

Brenda: NJ transit CEO faced budget committee with one foot out the door, headed for contract negotiations to avert a rail strike by locomotive engineers.

That could cost the agency an extra $4 million a day to provide alternate transportation for just 20% of 100,000 rail riders.

Chris chlore argued they cannot afford -- afford demands for wage parity with engineers in New York.

The brotherhood voted down the last offer.

>> 372 members of a union, of my colleagues by the way, somehow think it is fair to get a $55,000 pay raise.

Well, I just don't think it is right.

Brenda: He noted union demands would cost $1.3 million and require a 17% fare hike or 27% increase in the corporate transit fee.

Union officials dispute his calculations and claim their demands would cost about $250 million.

But Chris calore is worried about the current economic forecast.

>> We may be facing a recession.

Certainly the tariffs are punitive at best.

I'm trying to focus on the problem, not the politics, the tariffs and the complexity surrounding tariffs is going to have a huge impact on on-time delivery.

Brenda: The union today said blet will present a proposal to MJT today that would bring engineers closer to parity with other engineers working in passenger rail.

A strike would impact NJ transit's budget numbers.

The state Department of Transportation is hoping for federal funding to help address another crisis.

Route 80 has been closed for weeks around exit 34 as workers grapple with filling and sinkholes from collapsed mineshaft.

Repairs cost an estimated $150,000 a day.

Traffic detoured around the construction in east and westbound directions.

It's a mess.

>> We know this is one of the most heavy travel corridors of the state and disruptions caused by emergency sinkhole repairs affect thousands every day.

I want to assure you the New Jersey DOT is working with urgency and doing everything we can to get these lanes reopened quickly.

Above all else, safely.

Brenda: A couple lanes each direction should reopen by the end of May but it will take until the end of June to finish the job.

While the Trump Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has promised federal funding, that's TBA.

Another pressing deadline, May 7, when the TSA will require Real ID to board domestic flights unless you have a valid passport.

New Jersey's motor vehicle commission has been struggling to meet the demand for Real ID appointments.

>> The deadline crept up on many to the point where those who didn't already have a Real ID but needed or just wanted one were all attempting to get one at once.

>> Our constituents simply cannot get an appointment.

You used the word it crept up on us.

When did it come to your attention we were in crisis mode.

?

Brenda: The acting Commissioner said pressure for appointments started building in late February despite the agency having promoted the program for years.

She explained a high percentage of New Jersey residents already have valid passports, which the TSA will also accept for domestic flights.

>> Real ID is not mandatory, so it's hard to determine how many passport holders are going to come into the agency and get a Real ID.

Brenda: She said the agency just added Real ID Tuesdays on top of Real ID Thursdays to offer more chances to sign up.

The legislature has got until June 30 to pass a state budget.

At the Statehouse in Trenton, I'm Brenda Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight News."

>> under the dome is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Briana: We are getting the clearest picture yet of how President Trump and his administration want to spend federal money.

The White House has unveiled a $1.7 trillion budget blueprint that calls for steep cuts for public health, housing, education, and the environment, while boosting funds for areas dear to the president's heart, like Homeland Security and Department of Defense.

Democratic leaders from New Jersey are bowing to prevent the budget from becoming law, but how much power do they have?

Our Washington correspondent Ben Hulac puts the proposal into context.

We know the president has a priority to cut federal spending.

Can you walk us through some of the areas that will take a hit?

And which ones pertain to New Jersey?

Ben: when you are looking at the federal budget in broad strokes, it can be difficult to pinpoint how a program will hit a particular state.

There are four agencies that are getting more money, proposed to get more money -- the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and transportation.

Perhaps there is a big hub for New Jersey for the FAA falls within DOT, and perhaps they are lined up with more funding.

I should underscore this is an opening bargaining chip that the White House sent out last Friday and ultimately it's Congress that will write and pass its own budget.

The president will sign it.

This is kicking off a month-long project -- process and what the administration wants, not necessarily what will happen.

Briana: Obviously is an American first agenda.

We have heard the president say that since his campaign trail.

What does that say about his focus with the spending plan he has put forward?

Ben: The points that stand out are four agencies slated to get more money and the are clearly immigration and national security, or at least that's the message that's emanated from the White House.

Of course funding from this could go toward mass deportations and a hard-line immigration crackdown.

There is money set aside for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

of course was a hallmark of his first term.

I would also point out to viewers that this is separate from the ongoing budget reconciliation talk.

There could be hundreds of billions worth of funding for immigration policy from that process as well.

But none of this is guaranteed.

We are still middle-ish, to coin a term, in the process of reconciliation.

The budget talks basically just started this week.

Briana: Right, the budget hearings are just kicking off.

What about spending for areas like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare?

Does not come through the reconciliation process?

I don't see that outlined here in this budget blueprint.

Ben: It could be affected under reconciliation, all those things you mentioned, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security.

Those are outside the annual spending bill.

For folks at home, you might hear that on the radio or read about it, the spending bill keeps the government running day to day.

Those big projects, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, are separate, funded differently.

That would not be affected.

Congress has punted on a long-term fix for Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid are big points of concern for in particular Democrats during the reconciliation negotiations.

They are phoning in on -- they are honing in on what deep cuts to Medicaid could mean for the most vulnerable among us.

That is not special for any state.

New Jersey would be affected just like all other states.

Briana: I know you spoke with members of New Jersey's delegation, Democrats in particular.

What are they saying they would use within their power to try to put a stop to this budget proposal?

Ben: The budget proposal harkens back to the first budget that Mr. Trump outlined in 2017 when he was first president.

Those cuts were not terribly popular.

If you go home to your districts and say, half of the EPA budget and we are still going to have clean air and clean water, that's a hard sell.

That applies across the board.

Ultimately those budget cuts did not work, and Congress as I said will in many ways do its own thing.

There are deep constituencies and areas of focus across the federal bureaucracy.

It is this byzantine and highly complicated organism, this massive economic organism, that goes down to every district.

Democrats, Republicans, independents, a lot of these things on the ground, federal money at home on the ground is very hard to do away with.

It touches people's lives in ways they don't always realize.

Briana: We have to leave it there.

Ben Hulac.

, our Washington, D.C. correspondent.

you can read all his reporting on njspotlightnews.org.

Whoever wins the race to succeed Governor Murphy this year will have to master the art of working with the president, which may not be too difficult for GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli.

The former State assembly man has ramped up allegiance to the Trump administration, which analysts predict will help him during the primary but may haunt him during the general.

We are continuing our series looking at each candidate and their priorities.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz has a deep dive on the jitter rally campaign.

>> as a Republican in blue jersey, Jack Ciattarelli has a fine line to walk.

Last time he lost to Phil Murphy by single digits.

He is seen as the front runner this race, but that could change if the president, who over performed in New Jersey last November, were to endorse someone else.

Or so than ever, Jack Ciattarelli has been cozying up to the president this primary season, despite his less than full throated Trump support in the past.

Mr. Ciattarelli: I supported the president in 2020, again in 2024.

I was with him recently and thanked him for promises cap.

He has put a temporarily hold on wind farms off the New Jersey shore and has been beaten up by Democrats over congestion pricing.

I support the president and all he is doing to keep America and New Jersey safe.

David: Like the old cigarette ad, you have come a long way, baby.

Not so, says campaign manager Eric Harper.

Sometimes he says things just change.

>> Jack and the president had a great meeting.

You have seen reports from that.

Jack is committed to working with the president as governor, particularly when it comes to ending sanctuary state policies.

I'm optimistic we will get the endorsement and feel confident this president's record of securing the border and making New Jersey safer is something we will be talking about.

The issues are in New Jersey.

David: There is equal speculation Trump will not make an endorsement.

With both Ciattarelli and his main rally -- main opponent to the right mostly the same philosophically, it's Ciattarelli who may have the difference maker going for him -- the machine.

Passé on the Democratic side, but in Republican circles the machine, except for the party line, is still the machine.

Ciattarelli has invested in that system and they almost all like Jack.

>> What Democrats are missing and Republicans are not is there is a host of benefits that come with being the organization candidate.

While it's been a criticism, when it is a criticism, we miss that having the support of the people who know how to win in your particular county is a big benefit.

>> It seems to help you to rally so far.

We know in these low turnout, low engagement elections like a primary, it's those who are organized, most interested and engaged who actually turn out to vote.

At least for Ciattarelli, that could be a very smart move.

David: In his third run for governor, Ciattarelli has shown he is not the same candidate he was eight or four years ago.

With a little lean to the right and some sharpening of his message, he is hoping for some third time's the Charm, unless three strikes and you're out.

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

Briana: Tune inBriana: Wednesday live on NJPBS when we will have the first of two conversations with the gubernatorial candidate's, and partnership with WNYC radio whose morning Post Michael Hill will join with David Cruz to moderate the Republican conversation.

That's Wednesday, May 7, 7:00 p.m. here and on WNYC radio.

Also streaming live on our NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

That's going to do it for us tonight, but you can download our podcast whenever you listen, and watch any time by subscribing to the YouTube channel.

You can follow us on Instagram and blue skies to stay up-to-date on all the big headlines.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire team, thanks for being us -- being with us.

Have a good night, see you tomorrow.

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