>> Major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" is provided in part by NJM insurance group, serving the needs of businesses and communities for more than 100 years, and by the PSEG foundation.

>> Rain is expected midweek, but is it too little too late?

Renewed fight with congestion pricing all but inevitable, state and federal leaders are threatening more legal challenges on behalf of commuters.

>> We stop the congestion tax once, we will stop it again.

>> Also, race for governor.

10 major candidates officially in the running.

Who are the early favorites with the election almost a year away?

>> All of our top figures are finding this an irresistible race to jump at.

>> And protecting student rights.

The state is making its final appeal to block some school districts from disclosing a student's preferred gender identity.

>> Every day that these policies exist in hundreds of New Jersey school districts, everything is OK, the world is not on fire.

>> "NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ >> From NJ PBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: good evening and thank you for joining us.

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

A pair of wild fires burning in the southern half of the state are now 50% contained.

According to the New Jersey Forest fire service, the big rusty fire in Burlington County and the wildfire in the area of the lake would country club are being worked on aggressively.

Each spread to more than 35 acres.

Among the thousands of course that have burned just over the last several weeks.

Fire danger is considered very high across the state, fueled by dire drought conditions.

Some long overdue rainfall is expected to hit the area Wednesday night into Thursday.

The National Weather Service is forecasting anywhere from a half inch to just over an inch of rain.

Experts say that is far from what is needed to make up for this historic stretch of severely dry conditions which has hit drinking water sources especially hard.

The Manasquan reservoir is more than half empty right now.

In fact, when combined, all of the reservoirs in the Northeast part of the state are far below normal, averaging about 60% full.

Interim Senator George Helmy, the only Arab-American serving in the U.S. Senate is issuing a plea for Palestinians in Gaza.

On Monday he delivered a speech on the Senate floor decrying the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, asking members of Congress to do more to reduce the scale of suffering.

The son of objection immigrants, he recently visited Jordan to get a closer look at how the Israel-Hamas war is affecting civilians in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank into see what eight efforts are underway.

He said he discovered a quote, defect O blockade by Israel, preventing life-saving supplies from entering the West Bank and Gaza.

He toured warehouses that were quote, stuck to the brim while children and families just miles away died of starvation and questioned whether Israel's actions had violated international humanitarian law's.

>> All human beings regardless of political persuasion or ideology should be devastated by the widespread human suffering on all sides.

But I have some real hard questions about what is causing the scale of suffering in Gaza and the West Bank and why we are seemingly unable to alleviate it in any significant way.

Briana: Get ready to pay more at the tolls.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority approved another 3% increase, the fourth since 2020.

When the Authority gave itself the ability to automatically hike tolls by 3% a year through a process called indexing, it means the average commuter will pay an average of extra $.16.

A spokesperson for the authority says if you travel to and from work on the Turnpike for 250 days next year, you will pain additional $80.

The vote to approve the budget, two point $7 billion comes after the national motorist Association called on Governor Murphy to veto the raise like he did last year, essentially putting a pause on the hike.

Critics say the governor is ignoring the message sent from voters during the presidential election that Democrats are tone deaf to economic concerns of the middle class.

The tolls are adding insult to injury for some commuters who are still coming to grips with the MTA's decision this week to greenlight congestion pricing, charging most drivers an extra nine dollars in January if they enter lower Manhattan.

The plan still needs final federal approval, but Congressman Josh Gottheimer, a staunch critic of the plan is not waiting.

Gottheimer Is doubling down on his legal challenges.

>> We stop the congestion tax once, we will stop it again.

Game on.

>> Congressman Josh Gottheimer is continuing to criticize congestion pricing.

One day after the MTA approved a charge in early January, Gottheimer spoke next to the George Washington Bridge, which could see a lot more traffic from people trying to save a few bucks.

>> Not a nickel of this will do anything for mass transit or families in New Jersey.

Nothing to help the health effects of the smog and pollution going into Fort Lee.

>> The MTA has argued the toll is needed to cut down on traffic and pay for improvements citywide.

>> This is a very exciting time.

There are very few opportunities to pass a policy that will have such dramatic impacts on the climate, the environment.

>> At yesterdays for our meeting, the MTA approved congestion pricing to begin on January 5.

Supporters say we should expect better subways and trains as a result.

>> A lot of the outer boroughs have infrastructure that is needed such as elevators.

They've been requesting elevators for the three train on 1 45th Street for ages and have gotten nothing.

>> Today I'm ready for change.

I'm ready to see more elevators, long do track improvements, signal modernization and a fleet of electric buses.

>> On the other of the Hudson, leaders aren't so enthused.

>> On a Saturday or a Sunday, you can't go through my town without spending an hour, and we are only two and a half miles long.

>> The mayor of Fort Lee has condemned congestion pricing, saying the world's busiest bridge will get even busier.

>> With an additional 25% traffic which is what is projected through congestion pricing, we are going to be at a complete standstill.

Ambulances aren't going to get to where they need to be, police are not going to get where they need to go.

>> Families in New York and New Jersey are continuing to be squeezed by higher costs.

The MTA announced their plans to go full-screen -- full steam ahead.

-- and police like those behind me.

>> Gottheimer has been officially running for governor since Friday.

He is trying to stop New York's plan on two fronts.

He has cosponsored a bill in Congress that would withhold federal dollars from the MTA if congestion pricing goes forward and he has written a letter to the Department of Transportation asking them to step in.

>> The Department of transportation should not rush a plan of this magnitude through without any feedback from people on how this tax will affect them and communities in the tri-state area.

With all the smog the congestion tax will cause and the changes it'll have on traffic patterns, we must know the full impact of New York's new plan.

>> Gottheimer says New York's new plan is so different that it warrants a 60 day review period.

>> A 17% reduction of cars going into south of 60th Street by the proposal.

They have changed that to 10%.

That is a material change.

A 10% reduction is what they are saying.

That is a seismic material change.

>> Gottheimer says if the federal government cannot stop congestion pricing, he will step in if elected governor which would open several cans of worms and further complicate things for New Jerseyans trying to commute and travel into the city.

Briana: Now the Democratic Congresswoman -- now that Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherill has launched her campaign for governor, the election cycle is in full swing.

The state firefighters union endorsed her.

She is also aspect to get the backing of key party leaders in metal sick -- in Middlesex and Morris counties.

While she enters as one of the leading candidates, Sherill is also the sixth major Democrat who joins the race alongside four major Republicans.

A crowded field where at least according to a recent poll, few New Jerseyans know who they are or have an opinion of them.

Our senior political correspondent reports on who is running and how some are planning to use this week's annual league of municipalities conference as a launching pad to help voters get to know them.

>> On the opening day of the 109th league of municipalities conference, executive director Mike Cerra is a man on the run, ducking into a side room of the exhibit hall to talk about this year's edition which he says will see over 16,000 participants.

City Council members, county commissioners, clerks, zoning officers and this year, most if not all of the 10 major candidates for governor.

>> Through the course of the week, I imagine most of them are going to be here.

>> Laying groundwork, campaigning, movers and shakers?

>> Meeting local leaders on site, some of the candidates are kind of new and they have not introduced themselves to a statewide audience and this is probably part of the beginning of an ongoing larger process but I imagine they are trying to lay the groundwork for the next six months and for two candidates, the next year.

>> With so many candidates, along with a few others who will contend, conference attendees are bound to run into someone running for governor.

Some like Republican John Bramnick come here every year and work the conference like a politician.

Party hopping, hosting and panel participating.

>> There are a lot of different events, so tonight, I have an event which is a party at the board gotta, then I have a couple meetings and then there is a mayor who has an event at the hard rock, and this afternoon I'm actually doing a panel for people who are attending the convention on laughter in leadership.

>> Other candidates like Steve Fulop will be at a press conference and an afternoon event with leaders of the LGBTQ community today, take a more hit and run approach.

>> It is a good opportunity to network with some of the key decision-makers on certain policies.

Trying to get down here early, do a couple of vents like the press conference today and then turn around and head home.

It's a light day for me.

Just work and organizing.

>> The teachers union president, Sean Spiller will have to work on name recognition.

His campaign is well-funded but candidates cannot live on TV ads and mailers alone.

>> Allow me to reintroduce myself?

>> I appreciate the reference.

It certainly is a little different.

I think everyone as we engage in the conversations knows what is on the line.

It's different because of the context of the national election.

I think it is different because the lines and the situation that is going on there.

>> Did we mention it is a crowded field?

Other Democrats running include Steve Sweeney and Congress members Mikie Sherill and Josh Gottheimer.

On the Republican side, former State Senator Ed Dirk, former Assam women Jack Ciattarelli and radio host Bill Stadia.

For some candidates, you miss this opportunity at your own peril.

>> I think for a candidate who comes from a regional base, who doesn't have contacts in central and south Jersey, I think you miss that opportunity for that kind of face time and to show these people a side of yourself that you would normally only see in some political coverage or on blogs, and it is a chance to make more than just an elevator pitch.

>> this year's conference will also feature a conversation with six of those 10 candidates for governor, a taping for NJPBS's Chat Box on Thursday in the morning, so the candidates will need to be sharp, a good reason to keep the traditional political partying to a minimum.

Briana: As the race heats up, most political analysts are expecting highly competitive primaries for both parties with a lot at stake.

New Jersey has one of the most powerful governorships in the country, wielding line item veto power over the budget and future laws among other things.

The candidates in both parties face a challenging political climate, not to mention the first primary fully without the so-called partyline ballot.

What is the path to a victory?

The director of the Institute for New Jersey politics joins us to discuss.

Good to see you.

It feels like you are just here for election night.

Why is it that we see so many candidates jumping in?

Micah: I think the first thing is that this seat has not been open in eight years.

You mentioned it is the most powerful governorships in the country, and it has been a long time since it has been up for grabs.

All of our top figures on the Republican side and Democrat side are finding this an irresistible race to jump at.

The members of Congress who are running see an open opportunity.

They don't have to give up their seats to run.

So there are a lot of reasons why everyone has jumped in.

We saw a little preview of this with Congressman Payne's successor.

This may now be what we see going forward, more people are willing to jump in and take things on.

Briana: What is at risk in terms of getting lost in the shuffle of all the names?

These are all pretty major candidates when it comes to those little circles but there was a poll that found most New Jersey voters don't have any opinion of these folks, nor do they have name recognition.

Micah: In order to get name recognition between now and the primary which is about 200 days away, all of us are still focused on the presidential race that just ended but we have another one coming up quickly.

The thing they are going to have to do is spend money, to build name recognition.

They will have to put ads on TV and in the mailbox and that is something I am confident that with these A-list candidates that we have, they will all be in a position to do that.

I don't think fundraising is going to be an issue.

I think all of them have the basis for taking what they are known for in an area or a district and taking that.

>Briana: Which candidates would you say as far as may be they won't have a county line on the ballot but they definitely have the apparatus and the money behind them.

Are there candidates that are emerging as top contenders?

Micah: That is a good question because in an ideal world, we might have between one million voters at the absolute most who participate in the Democratic primary and less than that for the Republican primary.

With so many candidates in the field, you could win this race with 200,000 votes.

The path is very different for how they get to those votes.

Philip says he can do that as an outsider.

We are thinking in the old way we think of who has what counties.

Baraka is going to do it with people of color across the state.

Clearly Mikie Sherill has a lead when it comes to those four big counties that she has support in.

That's about 175,000 of the votes that voted last time in the primary in those counties.

Just a little bit behind her is Steve Sweeney who thinks he has the South locked up with 125 thousand of the votes from last time, and Gottheimer who has about 50,000 votes and he thinks he is making a strong play on Hudson, so that puts him in the pack as well, although he doesn't get a clear shot out of Hudson.

Briana: I wonder, based off the national political trends we saw in this last election, put that up and any of this thinking, this conventional wisdom?

Mikie has Middlesex and Essex, typically we would say that gives her an edge, but could we be in for a surprise?

Micah: Absolutely.

The biggest question is how many of those Trump voters stay and participate this year?

Typically they only participate in presidential level elections but others will be making a play for keeping them participating.

How many of those people will participate again?

If they do, Republicans think they have a case to be made.

Briana: Do you expect affordability to be the top issue that emerges?

Micah: It seems to be the lesson everyone got out of the provincial election.

We will see all of those issues that relate specifically to affordability in New Jersey.

Briana: We will be talking more over the next seven months, thanks for coming on.

In our spotlight on business report, Atlantic City airport's only airline is filing for bankruptcy.

After years of financial losses, Spirit Airlines on Monday announced it has filed Chapter 11 and reach to deal with bondholders to restructure its debt.

The budget airline lost more than 200 -- more than $2.5 billion since 2020 and is staring down more than $1 billion in debt repayment.

It also suffered a failed merger attempt with JetBlue and has faced stiffer competition from bigger carriers, but in an open letter to customers, Spirit said they plan to continue flying as normal during the bankruptcy process.

Employees and vendors will continue to be paid and customers will still be able to use frequent flyer points and book flights.

A spokesperson for the Atlantic City airport says officials are closely monitoring the bankruptcy and reassured customers they have not been notified of any changes to travel.

Spirit is the first major U.S. airline to file for bankruptcy protection since 2011.

Finally tonight, school district that have been sued by the state for fighting a policy known as 57 56 that covers transgender rights had their day in court.

Attorneys for the school boards presented oral arguments today against the state Attorney General's office in their effort to repeal the policy that prevents district staff from notifying parents if a student identifies as transgender in school.

The hours long arguments were a highly anticipated moment of the parental rights debate.

>> Why is it that we have to consent or allow our children to be taught things which are against our moral or religious beliefs?

That is not acceptable.

>> Hanover Township resident and former board member Barbara Ames is one of a group of supporters that showed up to a hearing at the Essex County veterans Courthouse in Newark to support her district ditching policy 575 six which protects the rights of strength -- of transgender students.

>> This is not about math, it's not about learning to read, it's indoctrination, it's about what to think, and what to think about your God-given body, that you could be born in the wrong body.

>> Three judges heard the oral arguments from attorneys of four different districts.

They were sued by the state last year after amending policy 5756 two require parents be notified by staff when their children requested among other things, to be called by new pronouns, be identified differently or change their names.

>> When it impacts a student record, a formal record that we are required to keep, then that -- William allow that for some reason with transgender students.

[indiscernible] >> Attorneys from those school districts faced off against the New Jersey Attorney General's office after -- filed a civil rights complaint against the districts, arguing their policy amendment violated the state's law against discrimination.

His office is fighting to prevent the policies from being modified until an strata of proceedings take place before the New Jersey division on civil rights.

They argue these policies for tech transgender students who do not feel safe being outed to their parents or even at school.

>> If estate had a affirmative need to notify, by constitutional Fiat, the private student, depriving a student of their autonomy.

We are assuming the parents want this.

They may not want the state to be coming in and having these conversations.

They may want to tackle these issues on their own terms and the constitutional requirement would frustrate that as well.

>> The thing about original policies, they are quite flexible.

It also requires the school to implore the student for disclosure.

[indiscernible] >> There are over 600 plus school districts in the state of New Jersey and only a handful have tried reversing these policies.

But we know is that every day that these policies exist in hundreds of New Jersey school districts, everything is OK.

The world is not on fire.

>> There was no ruling or decision made at the completion of the oral arguments, but the judges did say they will issue a written opinion quote, in due course.

Briana: That's going to do it for us tonight, but before you go, a reminder to download the "NJ Spotlight News" podcast so you can listen to us anytime.

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

We will see you here tomorrow.

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