♪ Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided in part by NJM ANNOUNCER: Insurance Group serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

>> Tonight, reports that the largest military base in the statePlus, Congressman Gottheimer it makes a trip to help negotiate the release of the last American hostage held by Hamas, Edan ALexander.

>> we had to remain hopeful.

The hope is mandatory and it's up to our new negotiating team to reshuffle the cards.

>> Also a preview of what is expected from Governor Murphy's final budget address tomorrow, will there be any release for your wallet?

>> Especially since a big election year for them.

There is no chance that they cut anything of value right now.

Briana: Stand three years since the first Russian bombs were dropped on a crane, New Jersey's Ukrainian committee reacts to all that has been lost and the life they have been forced to create here.

>> For these three years being in limbo, it's a bit frustrated with the situation and what is happening, it's not too much hope.

Briana: "NJSpotlightNews" begins right now.

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

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us tonight, I am Joanna Gagis.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

First, New Jersey's largest military base is among those being considered by the Trump Administration to detain undocumented immigrants.

According to a bombshell report by the New York Times over the weekend, the White House is making plans to use military sites across the U.S. to help with mass deportation efforts.

Burlington and Ocean counties has a base that is a potential location for the detainees, as the federal government is strapped for beds to hold immigrants.

According to the report, the administration is developing a deportation hub in Texas that would serve as a model for others.

New Jersey's base would serve as a satellite facility along with bases in nine other states including upstate New York, California, and Colorado.

Previous administrations have held undocumented migrant children at military bases as an emergency backup, that's when the government as good a shelter system reached capacity, and this move would be a drastic escalation by the White House to militarize immigration enforcement.

Governor Murphy's office is not commenting on the plan.

Also tonight, a lithium-ion battery is to blame for a massive fire in Camden Friday night, that ignited a metal recycling scrap yard into slims and caused 100 families in the city to voluntarily evacuate.

According to a Camden spokesperson, emr shredding facility was wrongly setting a battery which was concealed in scrap metal, setting off a fire with plumes of smoke in the sky that could reportedly be seen 15 miles away.

No injuries were reported and fire crews had the blaze under control by 1:00 a.m. Saturday, but the scrapyard suffered extensive damage and will need major repairs.

In a statement, EMR said the company has never accepted batteries for disposal or recycling, and repeated calls for the state government to regulate batteries.

The company covered the cost of meals in hotels for residents near the facility.

But neighbors have complained about the site for years, citing conditions of the property.

In the first case of bird flu at a New Jersey protein market has been confirmed.

The state agriculture department says it was discovered in a live bird market in Union County, but will not divulge the name or location.

It came after samples taken last week Detective a virus known as H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza.

This is the first positive case for domestic poetry here since 2023.

State officials say the market was immediately closed and disinfected to prevent the spread of the disease.

And it will remain quarantined before restocking with new poultry.

Nationwide, 65 people have been infected with the bird flu that one person in Louisiana died from the disease.

But the outbreak has prompted millions of chickens across the country to be killed to contain the virus, causing a nationwide bat shortage.

It's has been confirmed in wild birds in line and Salem Counties, and presumed in birds found in nearly a dozen counties.

But state veterinarian Dr. Patel says the risk to humans remains low.

>> We are also actively doing surveillance in the other lies bird markets to make sure that if there are any additional cases, we stay on top of the disease-controlled.

Of course we continue working with our sister state agencies, with the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection, in a collaborative effort to control the disease.

Briana: After 16 months of war between Israel and Hamas, 5 Americans are still being held hostage in Gaza, but only one of them is still alive -- is very American at Tenafly native Edan ALexander, who was taken captive on October 7 23 as a member of the Israeli military just 19 years old.

Now at 21, the Tennis lie high school graduate is at the center of negotiations between U.S. and Middle East officials over the next phase of the society of Congressman Josh Gottheimer has been out among the most vocal federal leaders demanding the release of all hostages and, in particular Edan, whose family are his constituents.

Gottheimer just returned from Qatar, where he had one primary goal, bringing you down.

The Congressman and Edan's Father, join me now for the latest.

Congressman, Adi, thank you both for your time today.

I want to start with you, given how fragile the next phase of the cease-fire deal appears to be, how hopeful are you that Edan will be among the hostages released?

Guest: it is really fragile and the deal never was perfect the way it was constructed, moving from the first phase to the second.

But we have to remain hopeful.

Hope is mandatory.

It is really after our new team, our new negotiating team, to reshuffle the cards, and to get this negotiations for the second phase started.

Briana: What's your take on how these negotiations are going?

I mean, your family has, if I could take the liberty to say, has become an emblem of that hope and strength.

This of course, is a deal that , was put out there many months ago that we are see him play out.

And what is your take on how this is going and how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled it?

Guest: To be exact, this deal was put together back in December of three, more than a year ago.

Now with regards of President Netanyahu, really, right now, our only urge to him and the only message we would like to convey, is to maybe extend the first phase, get as many as possible, people out.

I would say that.

Let's get everybody out in one shot.

All for all.

Let's end this war.

Briana: What was your reaction time, Adi, this we can when we learned that Israel would lose six hundred Palestinian prisoners, given the nature of how the hostages were released?

What was your reaction to it that might do to the future of Edan being brought back home?

Guest: I was disturbed that once.

But from my understanding, negotiation is about releasing those prisoners for the remaining 4 bodies of the hostages.

Hopefully you'll see in the coming days this lease being executed.

And I am hopeful that we are not of collapsing this deal again.

Briana: Congressman, this was an unannounced trip you.

Can you walk us through you met with, and if you have any confidence that Edan will be brought home in this next phase?

Guest: I do.

Listen, my primary objective for going to Qatar and meeting with the family start for the senior negotiators of the Qatari government and, of course, are official from the ground, have one objective, to get Edan home.

We need to do everything we can to make sure the process goes forward with her he comes home in phase one, or in phase two.

But the bottom line so we have to keep the process going.

We will leave the American behind.

Edan is the last American there and have to bring him home.

And frankly there should be nothing stopping us from working this every hour of every day until that happens.

Briana: Do you think, Congressman Sock that the Trump Administration and is ready leaders are doing enough, at this point?

Guest:?

Guest: We have to keep pressure on everybody all the time and until Edan and the other hostages and any Americans who unfortunately are no longer alive, until all of them are home, we have to keep the pressure on.

That is what I think, from all parties by the way, and that includes keeping the pressure on this administration, on the leadership in Qatar, which is why I was very, very, and is ready to ship.

Briana: It appears that this phase of the cease-fire is going to end at the end of this week, Congressman.

What can you tell us about what you have learned in about any concerns for whether or not phase two will begin at all?

Guest: Based on my conversations -- I can get into the specifics of this day I am limited in what I can discuss, but I will say that based on the discussions I had, I'm optimistic that we will keep forward in both finishing Phase 1 and making sure that, as Mr. Alexander said, though that may include being more home in phase one, which I am hopeful for, or moving to phase two.

These are difficult discussions.

They were always going to be difficult and we knew that.

The key is to keep everyone at the table and working in these discussions.

They just had meetings in the last days.

We have to keep those conversations going.

I am working back from my end and engaging our government.

It is why I was in Qatar, right, to make it clear that our expectations stay at the table, that they keep working with all the parties and we keep moving forward here and none of us rest until Edan's home.

Briana: Adi, there was that we do in November that was proof of life that your family and the public was given.

Has there been any communication at all between your family and your son since he was taken on October 7?

Guest: Absolutely zero communication with them except for the last phone call on October 7 when Edan called my wife, his mom, saying terrible stuff and it looks like World War III here.

And he felt protective.

But then after that post he served on the force surrounded by so many terrorists, he had to surrender.

The last sign of life we had from him is actually this, sked video that was released on Thanksgiving weekend.

Briana: I imagine, Adi, that the closer you get to Edan's release, the harder it gets.

How are you and your family continue to keep the strength?

Guest: clearly on that video that was released, he asked for the family to be strong.

So, we took a lot of strength from this video, first because it was a same in life we have to keep fighting for our boy.

Briana: , Congressman, how far will you willing to go to make sure this happens?

Guest: The reason I got on the plane to Qatar this weekend is because of -- not only is Edan ALexander an American, at -- 21-year-old boy who was just an American good kid.

How could you not do everything -- I am a parent too and they wake up every day and think about what the Alexander's are going through and you hear the strength.

They are just incredible people.

I can't say enough of just how moved I am by them and how much strength they give me to wake up and do what I'm doing every single day and not back down for a second.

So I will never stop fighting until he is home.

I can't wait for him to come home.

And we will get him home.

We are not going to stop fighting.

That's what we do, we keep fighting for all Americans and would never leave anybody behind.

That means whatever it takes, I will do it.

Briana: Thank you both for your time.

Governor Murphy on Tuesday will reveal his final state spending and revenue plan, the budget address coming at a time when most residents are being bombarded with rising costs that have added to ongoing affordability concerns.

And as the state stairs down in more than $3 billion deficit, saddled with possible cuts in federal aid from the Trump administration.

Progressive activists are calling on the governor to fund more social services amid the at people in D.C., wow, some --, while some Republican lawmakers are threatening lawsuits if Murphy and Democrats use money for so -- called pork barrel spending projects.

Political correspondent David Cruise has a preview.

Reporter: on the eve of Governor Murphy's final budget address, there's a general sense that this spending plan might be the governor's most challenging.

He has already asked his department heads to trim their spending plans.

Add to that, talk of cuts to Medicaid on the federal level?

The end of COVID money?

A structural deficit, even a federal shutdown.

KAI: this is a worrying about.

Reporter: Peter Chatain, with and policy perspective, says the administration could be flirting with disaster if it isn't careful with this budget.

>> This budget, you can go into your surplus, right, but it's not a rainy day yet and we are raiding the rainy day fund.

And as we see at the federal level, there are threats coming.

Even a small cut in Medicaid would be, you know, billions lost in funding to the state, and we can't afford that.

And if we are spending down on surplus instead of saving up more, right, we will not have enough to cover the gaps that are left by the chaos in Washington.

Reporter: NJSpotlightNews' budget and finance writer John Reitmeyer, says this budget season, there are more unknowns than there are knowns.

>> there is a lot of uncertainty swirling around this budget that has nothing to do with Saito the four corners of the month itself, because things are happening with the economy, as we see a new administration pursue policies like tariffs on foreign imports.

On the mass deportation of part of our workforce.

That all has an impact on economic output and productivity , as well as at the state level, how much tax revenue is collected.

Reporter: From this will get more clear as April comes along and the treasury sees how much they have collected in taxes.

What Congress does and what the federal administration does is less predictable, at which Republicans on the state level say is all the more reason to pull the reins tighter on spending.

But while popular cash giveback programs like state NJ could face public pressure, critics say cuts to those programs seem unlikely, with the entire assembly up for election this fall.

>> they are not going to cut them all.

No, no, no, they still have surplus left to blow and they will do that first.

Especially since it is a big election year for them.

No chance that they cut anything of value right now.

They are going to just bleed down the surplus.

>>.

>> We generally have a problem in New Jersey where the appetite for spending -- and this happens under both political parties running the government -- we have an appetite for spending that outpaces the appetite for taxes and how much courage they have two tax residents at a level needed -- Reporter: To have the things you want.

Like a fully funded pension system.

Or fully funded schools.

Or transit that works and has a steady funding source.

And tax relief.

And health care.

And more, all things voters say they like, all of which are funded by one tax or another voters say they don't like.

, which It's the conundrum that makes budget season so frustrating and so critical.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: And join us tomorrow for the governor's budget address -- I will be with a team of reporters live from the assembly chamber at the Statehouse to bring you the speech, along with reporting and analysis to break it all down.

That's Tuesday starting at 3:00 p.m. right here on NJPBS, and streaming live on the NJ Spotlight News Youtube channel.

Today marks the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the country's military under severe pressure.

As President Trump pursues a new relationship with the Kremlin.

During a U.N. vote today, the U.S. delegation voted against the resolution condemning Russian aggression, and: For the return of Ukrainian territory.

Signifying a major reversal of U.S. policy by siding with Russia, North Korea, Iran, and 14 other Moscow-friendly countries in the vote.

These and other actions from the lighthouse have the Ukrainian committee on edge, especially in New Jersey's large Ukrainian population, and refugees who have resettled here.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan checked in with some of those residents to see how they are faring three years later.

[chanting] Reporter: Priests.

At a memorial for victims in Bucha, the sight of a bloody massacre of more than 450 civilians when Russia first invaded Ukraine.

three years later, the war rages on.

The death toll here, in the tens of thousands.

For Ukrainians in the U.S. like Oksana.

>> It is surreal.

It is absolutely the matrix, that is the way I see this world right now.

Reporter:.

Reporter: She has a Jersey City support group for Ukrainian were refugees, many granted Temporary Protected Status by Former President Biden, who vowed diplomatic support and arms for Ukraine.

But that ended abruptly with President Trump's, who calls Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and an elected dictator, which isn't true, and promotes a decidedly pro-Russian agenda.

>> Is very s scary.

We are tired, we are strong, and I don't know, we are like in this twilight zone for three years, where we have the strength.

But at the end likes of always have this stone on your chest.

>>>> For these few years being in limbo, it's a little bit frustrated with this situation, what is happening is not too much hope.

Reporter: galina settled in Hudson County with her two daughters.

She visited family in Ukraine back in Bucha in June.

She recalls air raid sirens going off there at 3:00 a.m. >> The scary part is you have to wake up at night and you hear these bombs and you have to hide.

I was just purring, oh my god, Thank God my kids are not experiencing that.

Reporter: Russia launched a record 267 drones yesterday.

The devastation, posted on social by Zelenskyy.

He with the G7 nations, met including Donald Trump, on screen from the Oval Office.

>> President Trump, we would really like to hear from you because, all our people, all our families are worried.

Will there be support from America.

Will America be the leader of the free world?

>> It is like a relation is traumatized.

Reporter: This New Jersey resident travels to to see her family in Ukraine last month.

She said her dad is still making camouflage nets for Ukrainian troops of the fighting drugs on.

>> Let's be honest, Americans don't have their skin in the game.

So it is not that personal for them.

A lot of Americans are misinformed about what is going on than.

Reporter: An eight group notes donations have also declined.

This Port Reading warehouse is used to pack a container a week just with items from New Jersey, but now it needs contributions from across the U.S. to fill one.

Americans now have more fatigue, says the CEO -- more fatigue, says the CEO.

>> We don't collect as much as we use to in 2022 because the tension has shifted from Ukraine.

People are getting tired of hearing about war and destruction.

Reporter: Despite the volatile politics and evolving negotiations, one thing remains constant.

That is hope.

That is what keeps the folks you're going.

>> We stand with Ukraine.

We have been doing and -- doing everything we can to help.

Reporter: They have delivered 3 million pounds of aid to Ukraine since the war began.

It's not easy.

>> There is no direct flights to Ukraine and Northport.

Many of our shipments have to go to Poland or Germany.

We also have another team on that side that has to truck it over the border into Ukraine.

Reporter: Packages of food, clothing, and hygiene products get delivered out of it to the front line towns, as friends and family in the U.S. also Hold On.

>> I'm just praying because I believe that people can't win.

Reporter: Her younger daughter is studying dance.

Her older daughter is applying to college in the U.S..

They are hoping their protected status as refugees here will be renewed.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: That's going to do it for us tonight.

Before you go, a reminder, you can download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen to us anytime.

I'm Briana Vannozzi, for the entire team, thanks for being with us.

Have a great night, we'll see you back here tomorrow.

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