>> Tonight, historic arraignment.

Donald Trump becomes the first president to ever be indicted and charged with federal crimes.

Chris Christie, calling his actions inexcusable, as the 2024 presidential race heats up.

>> I'm convinced if he goes back to the White House, that the next four years will be back to settling scores.

>> Plus, the Torah had.

The U.S. transportation Secretary visits the collapse of Philadelphia Highway, promising federal funds to expedite the repairs.

Also, the war on Fentanyl.

New Jersey lawmakers push new penalties for Fentanyl related crimes.

Elected leaders argue it could lead to a justified -- two unjustified incarcerations.

>> You are going to lock up everybody.

>> I can't fathom there is any better solution than increasing the penalties here.

>> And lights, camera, action.

South Jersey looking for a piece of the entertainment industry pride, hoping to woo future film projects to the region.

>> It could be nearer to their families and not have to travel.

>> NJ spotlight news begins right now.

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Committed to a sustainable clean energy future for New Jersey.

♪ From NJ PBS, this is NJ spotlight news.

>> Good evening and thanks for joining us this Tuesday night.

The Former President, Donald Trump, surrendered to federal authorities today in Miami.

He was arrested and booked, indicted for the second time.

This one, 437 felony counts related to mishandling classified documents.

Trump plead not guilty as a crowd of supporters waited outside the court room.

Trump's aide and codefendant has also been arrested, fingerprinted and processed.

It will likely be a long and dramatic judicial process for the 20 GOP presidential front-runner, giving his rivals like New Jersey's own Chris Christie plenty to swing at.

Calling his former ally a loser during a CNN town hall Monday night escalating an already heated primary race.

Our Senior correspondent has the latest.

Michael: -- Reporter: In the hearing, Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to the felony indictments against him including espionage against the United States.

The magistrate instructed Trump not to discuss the case with his codefendant or with any witnesses.

Supporters cheered "we want Trump" as the president left the courthouse.

>> These are serious charges.

Really alarming behavior by a Former President, to have been so cavalier with the nation's most classified information.

Reporter: The 37 indictments alleged some of the 30 boxes of documents included information about the nation's defense and weapons capabilities and U.S. nuclear programs.

Jack Smith has called it a matter of life and death.

Trump is still putting together an illegal team to represent him in the case, where he will likely draw comparisons to classified documents found in President Biden and Vice President Mike Pence's offices.

>> There is a very big difference when the government asks for those files back.

They gave them back.

Trump did not.

Reporter: The Republican primary is swinging into full steam.

Chris Christie through his head into the ring last weekend wasted no opportunity to callout the Former President during a town hall last night.

>> People in my own party are blaming DOJ.

How about blame him?

Reporter: As political performances go, Kristi got high marks from New Jersey strategists.

>> It was the Carisma that we all remember from back when he was governor.

Chris Christie is a naturally gifted politician.

>> Chris Christie is already carving out a role for himself no other candidate is playing in the Republican field so far.

He is saying things and being critical of Trump in a way that no one else is.

>> loser, loser, loser.

Now we are going too -- It will be different this time.

Reporter: It is an aggressive tone New Jerseyans are familiar with and it is the first time a Republican candidate has so boldly called out the Former President on the campaign trail.

But will it actually work to pluck supporters away from Trump and toward Kristi?

>> The Trump base is still around that part of the party who will never leave.

So, to Christie or DeSantis or anyone looking for the alternative, the path is there but it is narrower than it was in 2016.

And of Trump continues to push forward, it could get narrower than that.

Reporter: They think Kristi has a hard time convincing any Republicans he has the right candidate.

>> Chris Christie was the first early mainstream Republican to endorse Donald Trump back in 2016 when he dropped out of the race.

He enabled Donald Trump every step of the way.

That's why he never understood what the path is for Chris Christie if he is serious about wanting to be president.

The anti-MAGA people never believed he was one of them because he enabled Christie for so long but the pro MAGA people don't like what he is selling now.

Reporter: He is likely trying to capitalize on a moment while the Former President is indicted by a federal court for the first time ever.

>> I do see evidence Trump's Numbers are going down.

I do see evidence that this latest indictment -- set up indictments, 37 indictments is affecting him.

It's not moving the middle needle for DeSantis.

It is not making him more popular with Republicans.

But it's also not benefiting Cr-- not benefiting Christie.

>> The Republican field will get Trump the victory just like it did in 2016, he benefits because he has the most loyal, energized base who was not going to leave him.

The larger the field is, the less of a chance frankly to no chance people like Chris Christie or Nikki Haley or these people have.

Reporter: Former President Trump is already using the indictment to his advantage, holding a massive fundraiser back here in Bedminster tonight where he will likely raise millions of dollars.

Anchor: The U.S. Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, today toward the collapse section of I-95 in Philadelphia, where crews are making progress removing the debris from the northbound lanes where most of the destruction happened after a tractor trailer carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline lost control and flipped over on an exit ramp this weekend, catching on fire, destroying a section of a critical roadway for the East Coast.

Officials said a body has been found in the wreckage, but they have yet to announce the person's identity.

Both sides of the highway will have to be removed before they can be rebuilt, meeting I-95 will be closed in both directions for at least a large chunk of the summer, upending hundreds of thousands of morning commutes in the region and disrupting businesses.

The Pennsylvania governor on Monday signed a disaster declaration to free up federal money and make reconstruction of the highway a priority.

Authorities are expected to announce a rebuilding plan tomorrow.

>> We are going to continue to be here every step of the way for as long as it takes with both financial backing and any other technical support that is needed, as PennDOT works to restore this and local officials were to make sure that -- work to make sure that the impasse is managed and absorbed as much as possible.

Anchor: They lifted the state's COVID-19 vaccination requirement for health care workers, bringing to a close the last remaining mandate of the pandemic era.

The decision comes as the federal government also lifted its COVID vaccine requirement for workers and as transmission rates hit historic lows.

The health care settings include long-term care facilities, hospitals, adult medical day care programs, and specialty treatment centers among others.

But individual employers, including those systems, can still require employees to be up-to-date on their vaccine.

Hundreds of health care workers across the state were fired or quit two years ago after refusing to get the original shot.

New Jersey is facing a severe health care staff and nursing shortage.

Some in the industry are hopeful the end of the mandate could bring some relief.

>> 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.

Anchor: As Sentinel drives a majority of overdose deaths in the state, a group of lawmakers want to toughen penalties against dealers of fentanyl, moving a bill yesterday that will make manufacturing or distributing more than five grams of the deadly substance a first-degree crime.

But critics warned that more penalties will hurt the very people lawmakers want to help.

Ted Goldberg has the latest.

>> I can't fathom that there is any better solution than increasing the penalties here.

Reporter: The Senate budget and appropriations committee has advanced a bill that would increase fines and prison time for people caught with certain quantities of fentanyl.

It would be a first-degree felony to make or sell 10 grams.

Which could lead to a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.

>> We want to keep those with mental health and addiction out of jail.

This is targeting people who are selling large -- five grams is a large amount of fentanyl.

Not users, but somebody selling it.

Five grams of fentanyl.

Which will kill people.

Reporter: This bill will also make it a second-degree felony to possess five to 10 grams of fentanyl, which corresponds to a likely prison sentence of five to 10 years.

People testified in Trenton yesterday against the proposed legislation explaining that just because you have five grams on you does not make you a large-scale drug dealer.

>> If we are pulled over on the way home -- >> He wouldn't be because you were not selling it, you are a user.

>> You can't tell the difference.

I would have 10 grams on this.

Under this, it would have been intent to distribute.

>> Five grams is about this, five paper clips, that is not a lot of anything.

Fentanyl is strong, but opioid use comes with a build up of tolerance.

>> The amount I had to use every day steadily increased.

So, what did I do to manage my own supply?

?

I sold drugs?

.

I am in high school.

Right?

As this bill is described, I'm selling fentanyl as a high school student, and would be one of those kingpins.

Reporter: According to state data, more than 3000 people in New Jersey die from drug overdoses last year and more than 1200 people have died so far in 2023.

Fentanyl has increasingly been blamed on overdose deaths over the last few years.

And people like Kelly L. say people who sell drugs on a street level do not have much control over the amount of fentanyl.

>> I didn't know what was in the supply, I was too busy trying to figure out my own way around opiate use disorder.

>> The drug supply is so contaminated, that you are going to lock up everybody.

You are going to lock up everybody who uses drugs, who is a low-level dealer.

Reporter: Activists also call this new bill a continuation of war on drugs policies and say people dealing with addiction will be more afraid to ask for help.

>> They won't call 911 when someone dies because of law enforcement.

They won't seek help because of fear of law enforcement.

This bill compounds the street level fear of law enforcement.

Reporter: Despite the opposition, the bill passed committee without a single no vote.

But a senator said his likely yes vote turned into an abstention, after he heard the pushback.

>> This is probably the first time that I've had my decision changed, based on the testimony of the advocates, and I want to congratulate all of you for the courage of coming forward today.

>> It really is an intellectually disingenuous argument that we are hearing, that we are going to be punishing those who are suffering from substance use disorder.

We are here to penalize those who are dealing death in our communities.

Reporter: There is no accompanying bill in the assembly.

So it will probably take a while for this bill to become law.

Anchor: Progressive groups are pushing back over Governor Murphy's commitment to let New Jersey's corporate business tax expire at the end of the year.

That's when it was always intended to sunset.

What it -- But it's ending means this it will lose out in about a billion dollars in revenue a year, money those same groups say could be put toward struggling New Jersey transit.

Our senior correspondent, Brenda Flanagan, reports the argument is not so simple.

Reporter: They are lobbying this week, handing out flyers that look like train tickets, warning of a surcharge on New Jersey's corporate business tax is allowed to expire at the end of this year, it'll take about a billion dollars out of the state's revenue stream.

And that could potentially drive up transit fares.

Which of course dismay's commuters.

>> Consumers are paying enough as it is for everything.

With inflation going on.

The prices of everything, gas, food.

For a lot of people it is going to be hard to absorb.

>> It should not be on us at this point.

We are already forced to go into work.

Now adding costs to the commute makes life more difficult.

Reporter: A coalition of progressive advocates wants to extend New Jersey's temporary 2.5% corporate tax surcharge on companies that make more than a million dollars a year.

They argue that money could benefit several public needs.

Including the transit agency.

>> New Jersey transit is facing a billion-dollar deficit and that will mean fare hikes for transit riders across the state.

It could also mean cuts to service.

Really important service.

New Jersey has the tools in its toolbox to fill that deficit by continuing to make wealthy corporations pay their fair share.

>> To say that we can't afford to invest in transportation, if we don't have the highest corporate tax in the entire nation by a very wide margin, I think is a little bit disingenuous.

Reporter: He is urging -- Knee surgery business Association says the surcharge pushes the tax up to 11.5%.

The nation's highest.

That gives Jersey a black eye and discourages even major corporations.

>> We don't want to do anything that makes it less likely those corporations choose to continue here or continue to increase their investments and operation here.

Reporter: Advocates have long called for a dedicated funding source to keep NJ transit from going off the budget rules.

Could this tax surcharge help?

>> Is not so simple as saying that NJ transit will suffer losses because the Corporation business tax policy is changing.

It does not work in such a direct way.

Reporter: Our budget and financial reporter explains tax surcharge revenues go going to the state's general fund.

And some of that money doesn't subsidize NJ transit which faces a deep fiscal cliff one federal pandemic aid starts running out in 20 Tony five.

But it's a tenuous connection.

Moreover -- >> This was supposed to be a temporary surcharge.

It was actually extended one time beyond an earlier sunset date.

Reporter: Governor Murphy has resisted efforts for a second extension.

Lobbyists will keep trying to change his mind.

Anchor: The congestion pricing fight is not over.

Despite Monday marking the end of the 30 day public review period, Governor Murphy sent a letter to federal officials asking them to pump the brakes on New York's plan, which will charge drivers up to a $23 fee to enter Manhattan below 60th Street.

The letter sent to the Federal Highway Administration asks for a 30 day extension on the comment period.

Congressman Josh S. aunt Bob Menendez sent a separate letter to the U.S. Department of transportation, urging the agency to do a deeper investigation into the environmental impact of the proposal.

They cited information in New York's environmental assessment predicting higher levels of air pollution in the County and elsewhere, caused by trucks detouring around that congestion zone in Manhattan if the plan goes through.

In our spotlight on business report, U.S. inflation numbers are finally cooling.

But it is still not where the Fed wants to be.

Fresh data out today from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the consumer price index is now sitting at 4%.

That is the lowest annual rate in more than two years.

It is cut by more than half from last year's peak in June when it hovered at 9%.

It will likely take the pressure off the Federal Reserve to continue raising interest rates, as the meet today and tomorrow.

That is the good news.

The bad news -- Core inflation, excluding food and energy prices, that is sitting higher.

5.3%.

Its eased a bit -- It's eased a bit from a year ago but shows consumers are still under fire.

The report also shows some of the sky high food prices for items like eggs are dropping significantly.

But the cost for services continues to rise.

>> The Fed has taken measured responses to try to slow inflation and inflation is something that does hurt the business community and a lot of families out there in New Jersey.

Consistently hurt more members as something that was an impediment to businesses, small businesses.

I think it is good news.

It's good news for maybe we can get into a time where our economy starts to come down a little bit and gets back to a more portable economy that we've seen in recent years.

Anchor: New York-based Aerofarms has filed for bankruptcy protection.

This sustainable leafy greens to chains like Whole Foods.

Despite building the world's largest medical farm that many believed would revolutionize the industry, the company says it and has faced significant headwinds and Wendling investment from investors in recent years.

Investors will pay $10 million for current debts as the company restructures.

Part of the plan includes a change in leadership.

The CEO and cofounder, David Rosenberg, is stepping down.

He will take on a special advisory role.

The CFO will step up to assume the role of president.

Fans and customers, don't worry just yet.

The company says it will operate as usual while the bankruptcy process plays out.

As the TBN film industry grows in the state -- the TV and film ministry grows on the state, South Jersey is pushing itself as a premier destination for productions.

Using resources to attract filmmakers pyramid leaders from the area recently touted the big names they have pulled and and the ones they are still hoping to get.

As they show off all the southern half of the Garden State has to offer.

Melissa Cooper reports.

Reporter: M. Night Shyamalan fans got a chance to see his work again when his latest film hit the big screen earlier this year.

But what moviegoers might not realize is it will start here in South Jersey.

>> It is a real cabin that was built in tabernacle, New Jersey.

M. Night Shyamalan said he loved filming in.

Reporter: They are hoping more production companies will want to bring their projects to the southern part of the state.

Steve G., the executive director for the New Jersey motion picture commission highlighted projects during the upcoming development Council's and the old -- annual forecast at Stockton University.

>> Our team which has found primarily in the Gloucester County will have a screening this month before it airs on BZ plus.

That was filmed here.

-- bet plus.

That was filmed here.

>> The point is that movies work.

They have entertained this nation through depressions and recessions and good times and bad times.

New Jersey always had a place.

Reporter: That is why the Chairman for the South Jersey film corporative is applauding the program which provides tax credits of up to 35% for film and digital media productions.

>> We support a lot of people that want to be in the business.

That get educated in places like this to be part of this, whether it be writing where the technical side.

They had to go elsewhere to work.

This gives us a chance to keep people close to their homes where there can be nearer to their families and not have to travel.

Reporter: Luis Cappelli, saying the industry is a huge win for the community.

>> We have seen hotel rooms, restaurants full.

Very positive economic impact on our region.

Reporter: The growth in the filming industry also means more jobs.

Making the Garden State a great place for setting up shop.

>> And 2017, before the incentive program began, revenue from production and New Jersey stood at about $67 million a year.

Last year, a record year, annual revenue rose to over $700 million a year.

We had well over 1000 100s of any shooting days in the state and 14,000 jobs were created.

Reporter: But assemblywoman Carol Murphy believes more should be done to make sure South Jersey gets as much recognition as northern parts of the state.

>> There's so much down here.

Rich with -- I don't know how else to explain it other than, so much country down here that I think -- this is why I had said this in the studio, there's so much a studio could do down here, used for so many sceneries, used for so many photos down here, pictures and things that they need.

And you know what?

As we start getting deeper into South Jersey, a studio would fit very nicely there because of the property available, the farms.

Understanding the true life of what New Jersey brings.

When we say Garden State, you get the full flavor of what Garden State really means when you are South Jersey.

Reporter: And industry advocates hope will continue to flourish.

Making New Jersey a mainstream film and for years to come.

Anchor: On Wall Street, stocks climbed today on news of cooling inflation.

Hears how the markets closed -- Here's how the markets closed.

♪ >> Support for the business report, provided by Newark alliance, presenting the Brownsville anniversary blood party and Halsey fest.

An outdoor festival in downtown new work.

Online at halseyfest.com.

♪ Anchor: That is going to do it for us tonight.

A reminder to download the NJ spotlight news podcast so you can listen anytime.

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

Have a great evening.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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