(upbeat music) - From NJ PBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Brianna Vannozzi.

- Hello and thanks for joining us on this Tuesday.

I'm Brianna Vannozzi.

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

Just a month to go in the closely watched gubernatorial race, we look at how nominees Mikey Sherrill and Jack Ciatarelli are faring with voters.

And later, a long time coming, construction begins on overhauling Newark Airport's air train system, but when will it be completed?

And later, reckless, that's what some parents and educators are calling cuts to mental health programs in a school district with a painful history of students dying by suicide.

We'll get the latest.

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

Today marks two years since the October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, including Americans, and igniting a war in Gaza that has since taken more than 64,000 lives there.

Communities across the state are marking the somber anniversary with vigils and remembrance events.

Congregation Beth El in Voorhees is one of 1,000 synagogues and churches across the country planting 1.2 million Israeli flags to honor those killed in the attack.

It's part of the Flags for Fellowship project.

In Tenefli, the hometown of Edan Alexander, families honored victims and prayed for those still missing.

Alexander, of course, spent nearly 600 days in Hamas captivity and was believed to be the last living American hostage before being released in May.

He met today with President Trump at the White House, coinciding with new peace talks aimed at freeing the remaining hostages.

Meanwhile, Congressman Josh Gottheimer this week unveiled a new bill that would create a school curriculum teaching students about the attack and the history of anti-Semitism.

That bill has bipartisan backing, but pro-Palestinian groups are calling it an attempt to shape the narrative and ignore their suffering.

Well, also tonight in Cranford, the deaths of two 17-year-old girls is sparking urgent calls to reform New Jersey's stalking and restraining order laws, particularly when both the victim and offender are minors.

High school students Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas were struck and killed while riding their bikes last month by a 17-year-old driver who's been charged with their murders after prosecutors allege he intentionally hit them.

The Niotis family says they reported harassment and other disturbing behavior by Vincent Batteloro for months, including livestream threats and stalking.

But under current state law, restraining orders generally don't apply when both parties are minors.

Families have to instead file criminal complaints, which is a harder path when it comes to online threats or digital stalking.

Now a petition with over 3400 signatures is urging lawmakers to lower the legal age for protective orders to 15. arguing the law needs to catch up to the reality of digital abuse among teens.

A long running battle over Sunday morning beach access in Ocean Grove is nearing a critical decision.

The small shore town rooted in Methodist tradition has barred beach access from its boardwalk every Sunday until noon.

The state says that violates public access laws.

In 2023, the DEP ordered the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to unlock its chained ramps or risk $25,000 a day fines.

But a judge ruled this summer the association was within its rights, saying the closures were an expression of faith, not a disruption to public access, since beachgoers could still enter from neighboring towns.

Well, now State Environmental Commissioner Sean LaTourette has until November 10th to uphold, reject or revise the ruling.

It's the second deadline extension as tensions remain high.

The final decision could set a precedent for how New Jersey balances public access with private religious rights.

And coming up four weeks out from election day, where does the gubernatorial race stand and what should voters be watching for in the days leading up?

We'll get the latest next.

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.

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Well, New Jersey's race for governor has entered its final month and the stakes are high.

Democratic nominee Mikey Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciatarelli are preparing for their last scheduled debate taking place Wednesday night as early voting continues and campaign strategies intensify.

New numbers show a competitive race in both fundraising and voter outreach.

Our senior political correspondent David Cruz joins us now with a look at where things stand and what to watch in the final weeks.

David.

Brianna, silly season is not an officially designated period of any campaign, but like with lots of stuff that you can't define, you just kind of know it when you see it.

And with just four Tuesdays left until election day, we can officially say now that silly season is upon us.

It's been a few weeks now, really, of these tightly edited soundbite assaults intended to literally take things out of context.

We saw Democrat Mikey Sherrill do it with a clip of Republican Jack Ciarilli on the sales tax a few weeks ago.

And so here's the latest out-of-context clip making the rounds.

You'll see the edited version first and then the full version.

This is on pork roll versus Taylor ham of all things.

Thank you.

Who eats pork roll?

Not me.

I think that's gross.

Oh, you know what it is.

I've had this fight multiple times.

Nobody wants pork roll.

Taylor ham or pork roll, what do you call it?

Come on.

You're from Wayne.

I call it Taylor ham.

Yeah, thank you.

Who eats pork roll?

Not me.

I think that's gross.

Oh, you know what it is.

I've had this fight multiple times.

Nobody wants pork roll.

Let's be clear.

Both are pretty gross.

But this is really part of a strategy from Republicans and Jack Cittarelli to continue this narrative that somehow Mikey Sherrill, originally of Virginia, is somehow just not Jersey enough.

That's definitely what the argument that the Cittarelli campaign is trying to make.

But in the process of chopping it up the way that they've selectively edited it, does the authenticity problem become a problem for them?

And let's face it, this campaign, nobody's pure on this because this entire campaign has been about Mikey Sherrill saying that Jack Ciannarelli is going to raise sales tax by 10%, which is selective editing there.

And his whole argument against Sherrill is that she says that if you're a good person, you're going to pay higher electricity rates.

That's a selective edit.

So, you know, nothing about this campaign is well-informing voters or better informing voters.

We're all about, you know, taking a sound bite, blowing it out of proportion on both sides.

And I think voters are winding up dumber in the process, less well-informed.

MICHAEL GREENSTONE, Former U.S.

Secretary of State: Micah's point is well taken there.

Voters do need to work harder now to get at the truth behind a lot of these selective soundbites.

But Dan Cassino of the FDU poll says there's kind of a nefarious goal behind all this negative advertising.

DAN CASSINO, FDU Poll: The reason you run negative ads is not to persuade voters.

No one's going to see a negative ad on "Mikey Sherwin" and go, well, I guess I will vote for Chittor, really, then.

Those voters simply don't exist.

Rather, what it's supposed to do, negative ads are supposed to make voters say, I guess I don't like either of these people.

You know what, I'm just going to stay home.

They're not going to vote at all.

Their job is to selectively demobilize party electors.

So maybe you like Cheryl, you see a bunch of negative ads, you go, well, I guess I don't like her anymore, and I don't like anybody, so I'm going to stay home.

The Cheryl campaign is doing the same thing about Chittarelli.

So this is really an attempt to drive down turnout among your opponent's voters.

And it's one that is probably going to work.

Nasty elections do result in lower turnout.

And we all know these mid-term elections, these off-year elections in New Jersey, already have incredibly low turnout to start with.

Dan notes that recent polling has been all over the place, suggesting volatility still, at least among those who haven't made up their minds yet.

Voting, we should note, is already underway, just over 160,000 ballots, mail-in ballots, having been cast.

That's around 18 percent of the ballots that were sent out, and has been the case in the past, more Democrats than Republicans are voting by mail.

Meanwhile, millions being spent by the candidates, the parties and other groups.

Colleen O'Day has a good piece on this at NJSpotlightNews.org.

But the money?

Sherrill's taken in $6.9 million, plus $9.7 million in public financing.

Cittarelli, $6.6 million raised, $9.6 million in public funds, still a month to go to raise lots of funds.

In this last month of the race, barring some last minute actual October surprise, the campaigns are stressing that they have the momentum heading down the stretch.

The momentum continues to be on Jack's side.

Look at the crowds that we're getting.

Look at the endorsements that we're getting.

Look at the support that we're getting.

You've had national news outlets report that the Democrats are in panic over Mikey Sherrill because her campaign is flailing.

They're dealing with ethics scandals and they are, again, as typical, nowhere to be found.

Her ground presence for the last month has been second to none.

I mean, she's been literally in Cape May, and four hours later, three hours later, she's in Hudson County, you know, with, you know, a thousand people.

Her ground game, her communications, you know, her message, her message is connecting now.

Truth is often the first casualty of war and politics.

With 28 days to go now, good luck avoiding all those ads.

But also, if you think this is an important election and you haven't voted yet, there's still enough time to arm yourself with unbiased information.

Brianna, it's still possible.

All right.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz reporting for us there.

In our Spotlight on Business report tonight, a major upgrade is finally on track at Newark Airport.

After years of delays and rising costs, the Port Authority today broke ground on a new air train system, overhauling a decades-old line that shuttles tens of thousands of passengers every day.

It's long been criticized as outdated and overburdened.

As Raven Santana reports, the project comes with a steep price tag and years of construction ahead.

After years of delays and debate, it's finally happening.

Elected officials and leaders from the Port Authority are breaking ground on a long-awaited new air train at Newark Liberty International Airport, a project with a $3.5 billion price tag.

"50 million people come in here every single year.

50 million people see Newark Liberty and this is what they're going to see, a new terminal A, a new terminal B, Newark Access, a new air train."

It's been a decade since the Port Authority first announced plans to replace the original air train built almost 30 years ago.

The system currently moves tens of thousands of passengers every day between terminals, parking lots and rental car centers and connects directly to NJ Transit.

The airport couldn't operate the old one, which you can see and again, which the chairman recited the history of, way past its design life, way past due to be replaced and it will be replaced.

It's kind of heartbreaking and I'm not really sure if that's the right word to use, but to access our award-winning, world-class, brand-new, beautiful Terminal A with the existing Airtrain Newark.

Time and again I've heard how crowded the current Airtrain is and how challenging it is to use, especially if you're traveling with a group and, heaven forbid, if you're bringing luggage with you.

It's no wonder, in 1996, when the original Airtrain Newark opened, this airport served fewer than 30 million annual customers.

And last year, we served just about 49 million customers, and a forecast is continuing for that number to grow annually, year over year, highlighting just how important this new rail service will be for our customers.

The new system will run about 2.5 miles and officials say it'll move more people faster and make getting around the airport easier.

We're designing not just a transit system but an experience with spacious platforms, intuitive dynamic signage, natural light and local art throughout the three new stations that will be built.

The new fleet will feature seven five-car trains, each holding 135 to 160 passengers with luggage more than double the current capacity.

Most importantly is the connection that will occur off of Freeling Heights and Avenue where people can drive there, drop their family off, they can walk upstairs, get on the air train and get to Terminal A, B or C. The 50,000 people the new air train can accommodate matters.

It is a piece of our commitment to making Newark a world-class airport.

We all know that Newark Liberty is a vital hub for travel and for all the economic opportunity, jobs and community growth that comes with it.

This airport connects people to families, businesses to markets and workers to livelihoods.

We know that traveling is the price point is getting to where it's completely out of control.

We should not have uncomfortable spaces with our families moments before we're going to go on a vacation.

Bathrooms should be clean.

Changing rooms should be available.

Accessibility movement around getting in line to get food, whatever it is.

And you're beginning to see that transformation construction for the new air train Newark system will begin this year and slated to be up and running by 2030.

The Port Authority is promising a smoother, faster connection between Newark's terminals, parking and NJ Transit stop.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Raven Santana.

Support for the Business Report is provided by the Newark Alliance presents the 2025 Housie Fest, featuring the vibrancy of Newark's Arts and Education District and Housie Street.

Housie, a neighborhood built on hustle and heart.

The 2025 Housie Fest schedule is available at housienwk.com.

One of the state's largest high school districts is drawing sharp criticism after cutting two key programs that provided in-school mental health services for decades.

The changes at Hunterdon Central come despite a troubling history of student suicides and growing statewide efforts to expand mental health care in schools.

Some teachers and parents there say the new program being used in its place falls dangerously short.

Mental health writer Bobby Breyer has been covering the decision and the fallout and he joins me now with the latest.

Bobby, good to see you.

Let me just start with some of the basics here.

Can you walk us through what the school board voted to end and why?

Sure.

Bri, what we know right now is that the school board cut two separate programs.

One of those is a school-based youth services program with a program called the 100 in Behavioral Health.

That's an organization that had partnered with the school for over 30 years to provide school-based support, mental health support to students during the school day.

The reasons that I got from the administration for that cut were essentially that they couldn't come to a contractual agreement.

They cited programmatic concerns and some other reasons that they didn't -- weren't able to get into in their responses to me.

That was the most I was able to get from them.

But, in addition to that, the school board itself voted 4-3 during an August board meeting not to renew a separate mental health program with Care Plus New Jersey, as we know that's that Paramus-based nonprofit.

That would provide more intensive mental health support to students in the school and had been doing so for the past five years.

Originally, the school board members, in citing issues with that, said that it was a cost concern.

They kind of walked some of those issues back in this most recent school board meeting.

But we're also seeing the school board in the school district itself trying to make up for and fill this void that many people have said is a major concern.

And as you said given the history of suicides in the school.

Yeah I mean as you point out in your reporting it's a pretty painful history.

There's a teacher who testified about losing two students to former students to suicide.

So how are these cuts then being viewed through that lens.

What type of reaction did you hear.

Yeah, the main reaction was frustration and ongoing confusion from, you know, teachers, parents and school administrators, as well as residents, people who have had children go through the school or maybe coming into the high school in the years ahead.

And as you mentioned, I spoke with -- and rather, I listened in on this recent school board meeting with this one teacher in particular who had a very interesting take, Alexander Rupp, a drama teacher there.

And as you had said, he had lost two students to suicide early on in his career.

And this is what he had to say during that most recent school board meeting.

These health care initiatives we added, they've helped.

I've seen them help.

And now we remove two.

Now we remove two.

And we can give all the jargon and codes we want, but plain language.

I like that better.

And if it's not broken, don't fix it.

And Care Plus wasn't broken.

We could have kept it and we could have added these positions that they want to bring in, and that would have made us even stronger.

But, instead, we took away two, with the promise of adding one.

That one's not even added yet.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, Bobby, obviously, very emotional testimony there.

What type of services is the school and is the state looking to have sort of replaced some of these in-house services that Hunterdon Central has had?

Sure.

You know, right now the school has now put in its place the NJ4S program.

As we know, that's the statewide program that has aimed to put more mental health professionals, rather more mental health services in schools throughout the state.

That was a program that was developed by Governor Murphy's administration to address the ongoing youth mental health crisis throughout the state.

But in addition to that, the school itself has also tried to approve, most recently, motions in the latest school board meeting for additional outsourced mental health professionals that would look like things like professional service providers that would provide emergency psychiatric screening services.

And, in addition to that, they're still trying to hire one additional school social worker or school psychologist to help what they're saying the most at-risk students.

Now, it's important to note that Care Plus New Jersey was originally providing two counselors.

This would be what many people have called a scaling back, because it would be only one full-time staff member addressing many of these more intensive mental health concerns.

But it comes at an interesting time, when we're seeing a lot of school districts go in the exact opposite direction, really try to beef up a lot of their mental health supports to students in school.

And we're also seeing this in some of the most recent reports from the state itself with their school-to-school, rather bell-to-bell cell phone ban, as well as some of these gubernatorial candidates kind of addressing student safety online and their mental health concerns.

So it's an interesting take from 100 and Central right now.

- Yeah, I mean, and you have reported, and we've reported, supporters of this model argue, listen, this is a way to get a more internalized system in place rather than bringing in outside providers.

Is that enough to justify a move like this?

And does a system like NJ4S, can it meet the complex needs that you are pointing out?

You know, it's interesting, and there's kind of a split opinions on that.

Superintendents of schools that have adopted the program and school employees, some say that has been a great benefit from a preventative standpoint, essentially raising awareness for students' concerns, whether it's bullying prevention or a number of other issues related to student mental health.

But there's a lot of superintendents and school employees who have also said that it doesn't provide enough intensive mental health support.

I spoke to one resident after the most recent school board meeting.

He had serious concerns that NJ4S could fully address the level of mental health concerns from some of these students at 100 and Central.

It should be noted, though, that the state program is only intended to provide brief intervention.

It's not designed to implement these long term comprehensive mental health to address these long term comprehensive mental health concerns.

But it's kind of coming at a time when a lot of superintendents are saying we need more than just the bare minimum here.

We need something that could help students in their most dire need in some of these emergency situations.

So we'll continue to follow this with this upcoming school board meeting from 100 and 7th on October.

But interesting latest developments.

More to come for sure.

You can read Bobby's full story on this and all of his mental health coverage on our website, njspotlightnews.org.

Bobby, thanks so much.

Thanks Breonna.

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.

That's going to do it for us tonight, but a reminder, you can download our podcast wherever you listen and watch us anytime by subscribing to the NJ Spotlight News YouTube channel.

Plus, you can always follow us on Instagram and Blue Sky to stay up to date on all the state's big headlines.

And with Election Day just around the corner, check out our voter guide to get up to speed on the candidates and races on the ballot this year.

Head to the NJ Decides 2025 tab on our homepage.

I'm Brianna Vannozzi.

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

We'll see you right back here tomorrow.

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