>> From NJ PBS studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Brianna Vannozzi.

>> Hello and thanks for joining us tonight.

>> Hello and welcome to "News at 10."

A few stories we'll get into later in the broadcast.

The government shutdown is officially over.

Congressman Rob Menendez joins us to talk about what's next for Democrats.

Then patients are fuming as one health care provider abruptly shutters offices across the state.

We'll talk with some families trying to figure out where to go for health care.

And later, jazz is back at NJ PAC.

We'll talk with Grammy award winning bassist Christian I'm joined by Christian McBride about the lineup at the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.

But first, a few of today's top headlines.

The longest government shutdown in U.S.

history came to an end after Congress passed a bill that President Trump signed late last night to fund and reopen the government.

The bill passed because eight Democratic senators broke with party ranks to pass the bill.

Both of New Jersey's Democratic U.S.

senators voted against it.

All three of our Republican congressional delegates voted in support, while eight of our Democratic delegates voted against the measure.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman was absent for the vote.

And Congresswoman Mikey Sherrill rose to give her final floor speech in the Congress, denouncing the bill and informing her colleagues that she will submit her resignation next week as she prepares to become governor.

But even with the bill's passage, it'll take some time to get the government back up and fully running after 43 days of closure, including processing back pay for all the federal workers who went without a paycheck.

A provision in the bill guarantees they will receive those funds.

But most significantly, the bill doesn't give Democrats what they were demanding, which was an extension of the tax credits for Americans who have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

Those credits are set to expire on December 31st, and health care premiums are expected to spike significantly.

The spending measure itself also expires in just a few months on January 30th, which means lawmakers will need to come back to the table once again to try to agree on how to fund the government.

And the federal judge presiding over Congresswoman LaMonica McIver's federal assault trial has denied her motion to dismiss two of the three charges against her.

McIver's been charged with forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers during the arrest of Newark Mayor Raz Baraka in May, while the two were engaged in an oversight visit of Delaney Hall.

Now, McIver's defense team argued last month that the charges were politically motivated by the Trump administration and that her involvement in the scrum outside the immigration detention facility was part of her oversight authority, while Judge Jamelle Semper rejected that argument, saying she -- quote -- "engaged in conduct unrelated to her oversight responsibilities and congressional duties."

The congresswoman issued a statement today saying she's -- quote -- "disappointed in this -- today's decision" and that, "From the beginning, this case has been about trying to intimidate me, stop me from doing oversight, and keep me from doing my job.

It will not work.

This case is not over."

Judge Semper is still deciding whether to dismiss a third criminal charge against McIver.

And an illegal sports gambling ring busted in New Jersey.

Charges were announced by the state's attorney general, Matt Platkin, today against 14 people tied to a multimillion-dollar sports betting ring operated by members of the Lucchese crime family.

More specifically, those charged are members and associates of the Perna Enterprise, an organized crime operation in Essex and Bergen counties.

According to the AG, student athletes were operating the sportsbooks with approximately $2 million in suspected gambling transactions made between 2022 and 2024, all of that under the direction of Joseph Perna, known as Little Joe.

Here's what Plotkin had to say about it at a press conference today.

REP.

JOSEPH PERNA (R-NJ): In New Jersey, if you break the law, we will pursue you.

We will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

I don't care who you are or how powerful you think you may be.

The so-called good old days, back rooms, are over.

Yes, it's 2025, and organized crime may look differently.

>> There may be new technologies, they may operate in different ways, but our commitment to enforcing our laws is unwavering.

>> Coming up, the shutdown may be over, but the fight is far from done for Democrats.

We'll talk with Congressman Rob Menendez about what's next in the battle over health care costs.

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

Did Democrats just lose their fight to keep subsidies for Americans insured by the Affordable Care Act, or has the fight just begun?

Congressman Rob Menendez joins us now to share his take on the government reopening and where negotiations go from here, as New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance projects health care premiums will spike by about 174 percent for the average family.

Congressman, great to have you with us tonight.

Thanks so much for taking a minute.

Obviously, there was a vote held last night to reopen the government.

You voted no on the bill.

Tell us why.

Sure.

Well, one, thanks for having me.

The reason I voted no on the bill, it doesn't do enough for New Jerseyans.

We've seen this administration, this Republican Congress, really make an affordability crisis worse, and that's everything from housing to health care to the price of groceries.

They presented no solutions to the American people.

So, you know, government shutdowns are tough.

We never want to have one.

But we also can't allow this administration to continue hurting the people that we represent.

So in my opinion, health care, the extension of the ACA tax credits were a tangible thing that we could deliver for New Jerseyans to deliver relief in the affordability crisis that they're having.

Republicans refused to engage it beyond a commitment to a vote in the Senate on it.

And that wasn't enough for me.

So I was a no.

I'm here to deliver results for every individual that I represent, the 8th Congressional District, and we'll continue to fight for them.

Obviously here in New Jersey there was unanimity from the Democratic side.

All the congressional representatives voted no.

Two of our U.S.

senators also voted no.

How do you feel about those senators who did vote yes?

We know that eight Democrats broke from the party.

You know I mean that's that's for their constituents to decide.

I'm glad that both of our senators voted no because I think that was the right vote on this.

Listen we're dealing with an administration that was willing to put a lot of pain on the American people.

Just take snap alone.

In every prior government shutdown snap has been fully funded.

This administration decided not to.

We're talking about people's hunger ability to eat.

And they chose not to fund snap.

Then when that was challenged in court and we won they appealed the ruling.

Then when states sent out snap benefits the administration said the states need to claw the snap benefits back and if they didn't the states would be penalized.

So they were willing to go that far to get Democrats to give them the votes they need to move this forward.

That's who we're dealing with this administration.

They are cruel, they lack empathy and ultimately I believe that is why those eight Democrats decide to support this Republican bill to get the government back open and to stop this suffering that so many people were feeling.

We could be right back here again in just a few months.

This bill only takes us to the end of January and so it kind of begs the question is shutting down the government really the best way to negotiate right now especially considering the fact that Democrats didn't get what they wanted even after 43 days of a government shutdown.

Well listen we're using every tool available to us.

And again it's not for Democrats.

Right.

This is not about the Democratic Party.

This is about getting relief for the American people.

That's what every fight we have in Congress is about, and we will use every tool available to us.

Trust me, being in a shutdown was really tough for so many people in our district.

I'd be at food distribution centers and seeing the increased number of people.

I would talk to fairly qualified health centers.

It causes a lot of pain, but not as much pain as this, the Trump administration and House Republicans are causing the American people.

A trillion dollar cut to Medicaid, the largest cut in SNAP's history, defunding Planned Parenthood, every single issue they are making life harder for the American people.

We had an affordability crisis going into this administration.

What did they do?

They imposed wide-ranging sweeping tariffs that have made things more expensive, including the coffee that all of our constituents drink, right?

So they are not providing relief, and if they refuse to do so, then we will do everything we can to get that relief to the American people.

So, no, I don't want to shut the government down again.

I want this administration and House Republicans to stand up for their constituents.

But if they don't do so, then we will bring the fight to them.

LISA DESJARDINS: Let's talk a little bit about the Affordable Care Act tax credits that you were fighting for.

We know that the average premium could increase by about $2,800 a year.

What are you hearing from constituents?

Are there concerns that people might not end up having health care insurance, might not carry insurance anymore because they simply can't afford it?

Yeah, we have a health care crisis.

We have a broken health care system, you know, and the ACA was meant to cover a universe of people that weren't on Medicaid or Medicare or private insurance.

It served that role well.

And the ACA tax credits allow people who are, you know, either small business owners or between jobs have access to health care coverage so they can get the health care that they need.

And so, yeah, a lot of New Jerseyans are going to be in a really difficult situation where they're having to make a decision without those tax credits whether they have health care.

So that's not a situation we want anyone to be in.

We want people to have access to not just affordable health care, but quality health care.

The ACA gives people the opportunity to do so.

And so I'm worried that people are going to go without health care coverage, which means there's going to be greater demand on our safety net hospitals, on our emergency rooms, because people too often, if they don't have health care, will try to get through whatever illness they have.

But if it's too serious, where do they go for health care is an emergency room.

So you're going to see greater pressure there.

It all puts greater pressure on our health care system.

And I think the last point I'd make that's really important is, people may not be on the ACA, but when less people are covered by insurance, the pool of people shrinks.

And that generally leads to increased premiums, not just for people on the ACA, but for people on private insurance as well.

So you're going to see the cost of health care skyrocket for all New Jerseyans.

And that's why we fought so hard on this.

We want to deliver tangible results to all of our constituents.

We will continue to fight for that.

LISA DESJARDINS: Just a couple seconds left.

Does this issue end up being an effective tool for Democrats as they head into the midterms next year?

MICHAEL MANNOZZI, The Washington Post: Yes, listen, I mean, I think people are angry.

I think people are struggling.

And what Democrats want to do is provide relief, provide solutions, make -- address the issues that people are facing on a daily basis.

I think people rightfully want government to work for them.

That is why I raised my hand when I ran for the first time.

That's what me and my team do every single day, is to try to provide tangible solutions to the people we have the privilege of representing.

And so I think that is the task for all of us.

Democrats are in the triple minority.

Republicans control the House.

They control the Senate.

They control the White House.

They have the ability and the tools to deliver this relief to the American people, and they refuse to do so.

It is insane to me that people are struggling and the president's building a $300 million ballroom at the White House.

It's insane to me that people are struggling to put food on their table.

And we are - the Trump administration is giving a $40 billion bailout to Argentina.

That is insane to me.

That is not what the American people are demanding.

And with this administration, with their enablers in the House and the Senate, I believe that they will send a clear message like they did in 2025 in the governor's race.

They'll send another clear message in 2026.

They're ready for Democrats to lead the charge forward.

All right.

That's all the time we have.

Congressman Rob Menendez, thanks for taking a few minutes to talk to us.

Thanks so much for having me.

Thousands of patients who see their doctor at an Optum medical office were shocked to find out last week that about 90 clinics across the state will close at the end of this month.

Optum, which is owned by UnitedHealth, filed warn notices with the Department of Labor in October announcing 572 workers would be laid off.

In some communities, like Hoboken, parents are reeling, trying to figure out where to take their kids for pediatric care.

Raven Santana spoke with several of them as they reacted to the news.

The abruptness of it and not even finding out the right way from the actual provider to me is just, it does not sit well.

So Optum, you need to do better.

Longtime Hoboken resident Amber Nugent is among the thousands of families across New Jersey scrambling to find new doctors.

of the nation's largest and a subsidiary of United it will close nearly 90 m the end of the month, cit the needs of the people w and evolving market dynami Louisi, whose Children ha since birth.

They're gonna notice to sort of get all of our ducks in a row and get our records and figure out our next move.

And it's in sick season, like flu season, cold season, like all this is starting all the holidays and they're, and they're just shutting down with like no warning.

And I think that's what irritated everybody and myself.

According to warn notices, the company will leave nearly 600 employees out of work between February and March of 2026 and patients statewide scrambling for primary care, pediatric and specialty providers.

And in Hoboken, parents say the insult came before the injury after they found out on Facebook and not from their doctors.

"I was tagged in a social media post.

That's how I found out that Optum was closing all the pediatric offices in town.

A town that has I think 12,000 Children.

Louise ha since 2009 and has brought now nine and six to Optum location.

Fine.

You're tr Maybe keep one main locat the doctors and that and rent at one location.

I do feasible, but but somethi sudden say 29 days we're new doctors for your Chil and may be staying put But families I spoke with already done and they say has caused confusion and I'm one of many that are the biggest word would be so disappointed.

I mean, like this with little to no advance warning and no for the family.

So I thin everybody is just extre I don't think opt in fri about what the family's have been opt in patients was equally blindsided, e by speaking with staff at So I walked into the offi and I said, is this true?

sure if I believe this.

A believe as you are.

Publi it will keep pediatric se a statement saying in the these changes have on tho we serve.

We've been mov of support for pediatric and have decided to conti Well, we know that we alr issues that people are wa to see a primary care prov care providers aren't even So you may have long wait provider.

C. O. O. For Ne Quality Institute.

Tyler Maner says patients need to act fast to protect their care.

Get get those refills, get refills of your prescriptions and then get access to your medical records.

Just in the event that medical records are lost, you want to make sure that you have access to those records and that you're bringing them to your new primary care provider's office.

Optum says a transition team will help answer questions and refill prescriptions for the next six months, but most of its 90 offices will still close by the end of November and behavioral health services will be discontinued.

Statewide for NJ Spotlight News, I'm Raven Santana.

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.

Well, the TD James Moody Jazz Fest is in full swing, offering two weeks of legendary artists playing at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

The festival's also a chance for viewers to witness the intersection of music, poetry, and social justice issues.

Brianna Vannozzi recently caught up with Christian McBride, the Grammy Award-winning bassist, composer, educator, and festival advisor, to discuss this year's lineup.

A composer, Grammy Award winner, educator, of course, and J-PAC's own jazz advisor, Christian McBride.

Great to see you.

Welcome to the show.

And congrats, by the way, three more Grammy nominations.

This is a big deal, this festival.

What stands out to you?

What should people be looking for?

What's different about it this year?

I don't know about so much of what's different.

I'm just very proud of the fact that we have managed to maintain such a high level of artistry of people who have played at this festival.

From the time I first started, literally every jazz legend you can think of has pretty much played this festival.

Everyone from people like Herbie Hancock and the late Wayne Shorter, the late Chick Corea, to up-and-coming stars Tyreke McDowell, who won the Saravan International Vocal Competition last year, to people like Cyril Amey, you know, contemporary stars like Cecile McLaurin-Savant.

I'm just always happy we've been able to maintain such high artistry.

Yeah I mean you're talking heavy hitters.

This year is no different.

How do you go about Christian curating a mix like this.

Because I mean we've got Jose James Stanley Clark Chuck D. Andrew Day.

You can fill in the blanks.

I mean these are powerful artists.

How do you go about putting them all together.

You keep your eye on what's going on out there in the jazz community.

You know there's always some great musicians out there doing some great things.

And you just have to do your your your work.

You have to you have to be diligent about seeing who the the the today's movers and shakers are in the jazz world.

And you balance that with with the living legends.

You know you mentioned Stanley Clark.

I mean he's been out there doing it for a very very long time and he's still at the top of his game.

So you know somebody like Stanley or somebody like Arturo Sandoval.

You know you're fail safe with those kind of people.

You've called this year's lineup a fusion of music and social justice.

Can you tell us a little bit about how poetry, hip hop and jazz are all coming together on the stage?

This is, we've now done this numerous times.

You know the concert which is called Represent, we did that for the first time I believe three years ago where we had Yassine Bey, formerly known as Most Def, we had Black Thought, we had so many great musicians that come in and play with a band that I put together and we're going to do it again.

I mean I think when you think of the what happens in our community, what happens on the street, what is going on in our world right now, that message can be brought home in such a very powerful way through spoken word, through poetry, through rap, through the music itself.

There are so many ways that you can channel the energy of the angst of our people in today's climate through spoken word, through poetry, through jazz.

And I think that's something that we always want to continue to do at the T.D.

James Moody Jazz Festival.

I want to talk to you a little bit, Christian, about Jazz House Kids.

It's obviously, we're no strangers to it here at NJPBS.

You and your wife have been leading it for 20 years.

But at a time when so many programs in the arts, in music, are on the chopping block, how do you go about this program to make sure that it doesn't just persevere, but that it's thriving?

I think you work harder.

And you are absolutely right.

With so many arts organizations, and the arts in general being on the chopping block, that's basically what it is.

I think you work harder to prove that this is needed.

I don't really see how anyone would look at the work that Jazz House Kids is doing or any other arts organization across the country and think that it's optional.

It is a necessity.

Young minds need to learn how to develop and flourish through the arts.

It really expands the ability to understand other cultures to have empathy to be able to understand what democracy truly is.

So you know in today's climate where as you said the arts are on the chopping block.

Jazz House Kids just commits to to to working harder at our mission.

Yeah.

Well put.

Finally I mean we named a bunch of artists but you yourself and your band are going to be performing at the Jazz Fest.

What's that going to be like for you being with the band and what should folks expect?

Well, you know, I give special thanks to NJPAC because it's the one place where I know I have at least one guaranteed big band show every year.

And in fact, our new album, which is called Without Further Ado Volume 1, is directly associated with NJPAC because since 2012, when I first became artistic advisor for jazz programming, we've invited a bunch of great singers to come and sing with my big band.

My wife, Melissa Walker, who is the founder of Jazz House Kids, obviously she's sang with the band numerous times.

The great Diane Reeves, who we see right there on the screen.

Jeffrey Osborne, the late Al Jarreau, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Fantasia.

So many great singers have had, you know, I've had a great opportunity to work with at NJPAC.

So on November 21st, Antra Day, Jose James and Lettucey will be joining my big band.

And it's going to be a hot night.

We will be cheering you on.

We're all big fans of your music, of what you do as an educator.

Christian McBride, thanks so much for your time.

It was an honor.

Thanks for having me.

That's going to do it for us tonight.

I'm Joanna Gaggis for the entire team here at NJ Spotlight News.

Thanks for being with us.

We'll see you right back here tomorrow.

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