Tonight on NJ Spotlight News: A USDA employee takes the stand in the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez to testify about the Halal meat export monopoly prosecutors allege Menendez helped arrange in exchange for lucrative bribes; Four Hoboken council members ask the Attorney General to investigate Mayor Ravi Bhalla, accusing him of engaging in backroom deals that personally benefited him; A new report by Rutgers University shows a majority of Latino and Latina students are attending what could be considered segregated schools while facing a number of other barriers; A four-year battle between a warehouse developer and a rural NJ town ends after NJ leaders use state money to purchase and preserve farmland in Warren County; NJ Spotlight News mental health writer Bobby Brier discusses how NJ is trying to address chronic homelessness as part of our multimedia series: The Change Project.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News …SHOW ME THE MONEY… the cash and gold bars the senior senator is accused of accepting in bribes makes its appearance in court today; PLUS, will it be Governor Murphy’s LASTING LEGACY? He’s expected to sign the controversial open public records reform bill by week’s end; Also, AVERTING A SCHOOL FUNDING CRISIS…districts in the state are getting a lifeline to help offset massive budget cuts; And, a SEARCH FOR SHELTER in Ocean County, as organizations work to support a camp of several dozen seeking shelter in Toms River.

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News: Opening arguments begin in the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez after a jury is seated; Briana Vannozzi talks to attorney and former federal prosecutor Brian Whisler about two key pre-trial motions made by Judge Sidney Stein in the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez; A doctor and a pharmacist from New Jersey are trapped in Gaza after traveling to the area to give emergency medical aid; Princeton students agree to end their hunger strike after meeting with the university's administration; Recovery and addiction treatment advocates voice their concerns about a series of bills that would reform how treatment centers operate and services are provided; Equal Space, an inclusive co-working office and incubator, opens its new office in Newark catering to multicultural and LGBTQ+ business owners.

Jury selection continues in the corruption trial against Senator BOB MENENDEZ ….If you are a “news junkie” or have Springsteen tickets you are excused; Plus, a second wave of pro-Palestinian students continue their HUNGER STRIKE as Princeton University orders its encampment to be taken down; Also …a “radically” revised NJ public records BILL is on its way for Governor Murphy’s signature and some are saying it’ll be much tougher to access public records; And, IN THE RUNNING…Ed “The Trucker” Durr tosses his hat in the ring for the gubernatorial race.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…It is DAY ONE of  Senator Bob Menendez’s federal corruption trial. Jury selection is well underway. Menendez facing 16 counts including bribery; Plus, ROLLING THE DICE  … Casino workers sue the state to enforce a stricter SMOKING BAN; Also, Dozens of Rutgers students WALK OUT of graduation showing solidarity for the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza; And, Educators and literacy groups team up to teach MEDIA LITERACY to help students decipher information in this digital age.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…STANDING IN SOLIDARITY …More than a dozen Princeton faculty join students in their pro-Palestinian hunger strike; Plus, as campus protests continue across the country, activist and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hamm and Republican Gubernatorial hopeful Senator Jon Bramnick weigh in…Also, Senator Bob Menendez's federal bribery trial begins Monday, what can we expect his defense strategy to look like, as prosecutors lay out the corruption case against him

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…IN THE HOT SEAT …. Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway grilled today by state lawmakers on his handling of pro-Palestinian protests and antisemitic incidents; Plus, OVERHAULING OPRA…the state’s Open Public Records Act takes center stage in Trenton where advocates remain fearful of limiting  government transparency; Also, a POLITICAL POWER GRAB? The state’s highest court is denouncing a proposal over WHO GETS TO PICK New Jersey’s judges; And, the SUMMER SHORECAST is out …will Atlantic City businesses heat up or cool down.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…A counter-protester at a Pro-Palestinian encampment is arrested at Rutgers-Newark. Former Congressman Tom Malinowski weighs in on the impact these nationwide protests are having; Plus, BOOK BANS, a school librarian is facing renewed attacks as parental rights advocates  fight to remove a book that explores sexuality; Also, LABOR FIGHT…Union nurses hit the picket line to criticize what they are calling unfair contract negotiations; And, SAVING MAM, Princeton high school students look to preserve an indigenous Mayan language by inventing an AI-powered robot.

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News: Briana Vannozzi speaks to Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, about escalations in the war between Israel and Hamas and a possible ceasefire; Governor Murphy and other lawmakers criticize Rutgers University for striking a deal with students on the New Brunswick campus as students at the Newark campus extend their encampment; Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way announces the expansion of free mental health services for New Jersey college students; Briana Vannozzi talks to Chalkbeat reporter Jessie Gomez about a new contract signed by the Newark Board of Education to install new AI-powered security cameras; Congressman Frank Pallone hosts a roundtable on protecting Americans' privacy online.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…Just a week before the start of Senator Bob Menedez's federal bribery trial, his defense team lashes out at prosecutors, accusing them of revealing sensitive personal information; Plus, the son of the embattled Senior Senator squares off against Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla in their first debate, trying to hold onto his seat as that race narrows; Also, unrest continues on New Jersey’s college campuses … Rutgers University defends its deal to end their encampment, while pro-Palestinian Princeton students enter their fourth day of a hunger strike; And, Governor Murphy calls for a special election to fill the vacancy following the death of Congressman Donald Payne Jr.

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News: Protestors at Rutgers reach a deal with the administration to end their encampment as protesters at Princeton launch a hunger strike to force a conversation with school leaders; NJ Spotlight News budget and finance writer John Reitmeyer explains how a Christie-era law triggered a divestment debate for the Murphy administration; Law enforcement along Route 1 in Central Jersey team up to launch a traffic safety initiative as fatal crashes rise in the Garden State; David Cruz sits down with Republican US Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw after his team releases its first TV ad of his campaign; A New Jersey teen connects with a Ukrainian refugee to create a children's book about the search for her cat after Russia invaded her country; Governor Murphy sets a special primary and special general election to fill the seat of the late Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…As police crackdown on campus protests across the county, Rutgers students head into day four of their encampment facing a crackdown deadline of their own;   Plus, amid growing unrest…The U.S. House of Representatives moves a bill defining antisemitism to help universities enforce anti-discrimination laws;  Also, EARLY DETECTION of breast cancer can save lives, so initial screening will now begin at age 40 for all women; And, a FINAL FAREWELL….public officials, colleagues and family pay their respects to congressman Donald Payne Jr.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…Hundreds of student activists from Columbia University were removed and arrested last night after the NYPD stormed its campus but PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS continue  including one just outside Rutgers Law School; Plus, students across the country are calling for their universities to ‘DIVEST FROM ISRAEL’ … what do those calls really mean? Also, in a historic shift, the D.E.A is inching toward RECLASSIFYING CANNABIS as a less dangerous drug , what it could mean here in a state where it’s already legal; And, hundreds line up to pay their final respects to Donald Payne Jr. as he lies in state here in Newark.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…Thirteen arrests at Princeton University as students continue their sit-ins and protest of the war in Gaza; Plus, students at Eastern Regional High speak out in solidarity, accusing their administrators of censorship after several were suspended for a planned pro-Palestinian walk-out; Also, the state looks to POWER UP… approving another round of offshore wind projects, but Jersey shore mayors are pushing back; And, BIRD FLU WARNING…concerns here in the Garden State after cases of the virus are confirmed in several states across the county.

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News: Rutgers University students set up an encampment on campus to call for the school to divest from Israeli companies as college protests continue to escalate across the country; Small business owners worry about the impact of a potential ban of TikTok; Dozens of social justice groups are pushing the NJ legislature to pass a bill that would end the state's practice of prohibiting those with criminal convictions from serving on juries; The Centre Pompidou museum project in Jersey City is in jeopardy after the NJ EDA sent a letter to the Jersey City Redevelopment Authority threatening to pull state funding; NJ Spotlight News introduces its next video in our "Gotta Know Jersey" series to help the public better understand New Jersey's budget process.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…More protests supporting both Palestine AND Israel pop up at colleges nationwide, as students at Princeton University occupy the campus for a second day; Plus, Congressman Donald Payne Jr.’s death  leaves a vacant seat in Congress, what is the succession plan at a critical time in the nation’s capital? Also, check your mailbox, the FIRST newly designed mail-in ballots *without* the party line layout are arriving; And, if you’re planning a trip to midtown Manhattan this summer …. start saving your money... the congestion pricing toll begins June 30th.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…PROTESTS AT PRINCETON … Two students are arrested after building a "Gaza solidarity encampment,"with a roughly a hundred other supporters amid growing campus protests nationwide; Plus, REMEMBERING DONALD PAYNE JR., Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman pays tribute to her late colleague and friend; Also, PROTECTING LGBTQ STUDENTS, Advocates are calling on school districts to readopt a policy aimed at protecting transgender students; And, PRE-K FALLOUT…Private Child Care centers are on edge, worried about losing children as the state expands universal pre-k programs.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…Breaking News … REMEMBERING DONALD PAYNE JR … the six-term congressman died today after suffering a cardiac episode … a fierce advocate for lowering prescription drug prices and cancer screening; Plus, President Biden signing a massive 95 BILLION dollar military AID PACKAGE to allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan; Also, the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments on emergency ABORTION ACCESS in states that ban it  …with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill rallying in support of reproductive rights; And, the Federal Trade Commission banning employers from enforcing NON COMPETE agreements.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…Business advocates are PUSHING BACK on the proposed CORPORATE TRANSIT FEE. Which would force multi-million-dollar companies in the state to ante up in order to rescue NJ Transit. Plus, attention WIC recipients … New Jersey is trying to become the FIRST state to offer online ordering and home delivery of groceries, baby formula and other daily needs; Also, NJ GOES HOLLYWOOD, the state ramps up efforts to make towns in the state FILM READY; And, CELEBRATING PASSOVER…Jewish communities here in NJ gather with heavy hearts for their first seder since the Israel-Hamas war broke out.

Tonight, on NJ Spotlight News…PLASTIC POLLUTION in the state is the focus in Trenton on this Earth Day;  As state leaders continue to combat the impacts of climate change here in the garden state searching for a more SUSTAINABLE FUTURE; Plus, two years in the recreational cannabis business is CASHING IN with some seeking to grow weed at home; And, calls for ‘HOUSING NOT HANDCUFFS’ are heard in Newark today as the U.S Supreme Court hears oral arguments on whether removing the homeless from public property is “cruel and unusual punishment.”