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Briana: Tonight, new details emerge following that fader River line light rail crash.

The train operator killed was a mother of three.

The family now filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Plus, political parties in the state weighing in after a conversation with Andy Kim and Curtis Pesce.

Neither candidate change voter'' minds?

-- did either candidate change voters' minds?

>> He tried to paint kim is a D.C. insider We saw a fiery exchange.

Briana: A new poll indicates the race between Sue Altman and Tom Kean Jr. is tightening with less than three weeks to go.

>> The fact that the Republicans are pouring out into all this money and the Democrats are missing an opportunity.

Briana: Hurricane relief efforts are still underway by a group of pilots in the state, flying supplies to some of the hardest hit areas.

>> I saw this as an opportunity to help people that needed it.

That is where general aviation can come in.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> From in JPB -- from NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: Good evening and thank you for joining us.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few key stories.

First, crime and safety have become major talking points in political campaigns this election cycle, with candidates maintaining it is a top issue when they talk to prospective voters.

But the latest FBI crime report from 2023 data shows violent crime in the U.S. dropped 3% last year.

Property crime also drops by about 2.5%, while car theft spiked.

But the picture in New Jersey is more complex.

Violent crime, which includes murder, rape, robbery, and assault was up by more than 4% with the state's biggest cities -- Patterson, Newark, and Jersey City -- following that trend.

But authorities point out New Jersey has made significant progress in fighting crime over the last decade, and the FBI database relies on voluntary reporting.

Also tonight, the family of a train operator killed Monday in a collision with a tree on the River line light rail is planning to sue New Jersey transit, claiming the agency failed to keep the tracks clear of debris.

The 41-year-old had been an operator on the line for 20 years.

She was operating a southbound train when it struck a tree that had fallen across the tracks in Mansfield, killing a single mother of three and injuring 23 passengers.

Hailey's sister, who also works as an operator on the line, said employees complained repeatedly about downed trees not being removed in recent years.

The suit may also be filed against Burlington County commissioners and Mansfield Township.

A report on the investigation into the crash will be released in the next 30 days.

New Jersey transit is not commenting on the litigation.

Check your fridge.

You may have one of the meat or poultry products that have recently been recalled due to concerns of Listeria.

Brucepac this week announced a 10 million pound recall of its products, many of which are found in popular grocery stores like Trader Joe's, Walmart, Aldi , and target.

It comes after routine testing by the USDA found traces of Listeria in their ready-to-eat poultry, produced between June 19 and October 8 of this year.

The bulk of the affected food appeared in salads, frozen meals, and other prepackaged goods like sandwiches and wraps.

If you are unsure whether a product you have is included, check out the USDA website.

There is a 320 six page document listing all of the retailers, the brands, and food items containing recalled meat.

Former Governor Tom Kane is wading into the 2024 elections, today formerly endorsing Republican Curtis Bash in his bid to become the new it just the next U.S. senator from New Jersey, going head-to-head with Democratic Congressman Andy Kim.

In his endorsement, Kean called Basch off the kind of leader who would put country over party, the support of one of New Jersey's most beloved political figures comes after our NJ Spotlight News conversation with the U.S. Senate candidates.

It was a civil discussion that also saw a few sharp exchanges.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis the hat by -- Joanna Gagis has the highlights.

Joanna: Civil might be the word you would use to discuss the tone between Andy Kim and Curtis Basch -- Curtis Bashaw last night.

It broke from a typical debate format into a more in-depth conversation.

>> One of my biggest in-depth wins is the out-of-pocket cost for seniors when it comes to prescription drugs, capping at 166 dollars a month, insulin at $35 a month.

We passed the Child tax credit, something that cuts child poverty in half.

>> I have created 1100 jobs.

I have hundreds of people that make way more than $30 an hour because we started an enterprise that works.

Joanna: Asha Bashaw -- Bashaw, running as a moderate conservative, come, ground with Kim -- found common ground with Kim on issues like Israel.

They each took their shots to land body blows.

>> When my party's right, I am going to defend them, and when my party is not right, I am going to stand up to it.

He would not understand how I might be able to stand up to mine because you never stood up to yours, and that is what is different about us.

>> Everyone in this state has seen me stand up for my own party when I think they are doing something wrong.

In the Senate race, I got through a contentious primary, standing up for some of the most -- >> You talk to other insiders and they are not fans of Congressman Kim.

This is a man who Lou up the county alliance system, a man who went tickets the political structure and the governor of New Jersey to become the Democratic nominee.

It could be the Democratic Party could sit on their hands for Congressman Kim because they are so unhappy with him.

Joanna: Kim went after Bashaw on his pro-choice stance after he said this about, biting Roe v. Wade -- about codifying Roe v. Wade into law.

>> I believe a woman should decide her own medical decisions, and I believe we need a federal law to codify that in all 50 states, and that should be worked on in a bipartisan way, and I think that process will bring us to reasonable commonsense reforms.

>> Mr. Bashaw said he think there is a commonsense approach, that we can come together as a country on this issue.

I am not sure what you have seen about how this debate has gone on in our country right now, but it is very toxic and very corrosive.

I do not see how you going down to the U.S. Senate is going to single-handedly change everything we see.

>> Bashaw's appeal is certainly to the Republican moderation and talking to swing voters when you are talking about things like immigration and business growth.

He has tried to paint Andy Kim as a D.C. insider, and we saw a fiery exchange there.

Joanna: That exchange over U.S. support for Israel.

>> I have worked out of the Pentagon, out of Afghanistan.

I have seen the deployment of all types of systems on the armed services committee.

>> That sounds like a D.C. insider talking to us.

>> It's about knowing issues.

>> I understand, but -- >> You keep calling me a D.C. insider.

I find it very offensive.

There are people who have served our country.

I have worked in war zones, risk my life for this country, and I do not appreciate the label.

You are trying to serve in the Senate.

Have some respect for public service.

>> I do.

>> No, you don't.

>> I respect that service.

Any confusion I apologize for, because I do not disrespect it.

Joanna: Both said they separate immigration policy from border security.

Bashaw took aim at Kim over the border wall.

>> Have you been there to see the holes in the wall?

>> I have been working on a lot of national security issues.

>> But you have been to the border and seen it?

>> No, I have not.

>> You have spent six years in Congress.

Joanna: It LED to this reaction from a Maga Republican during a watch party.

>> We had a candidate tonight that was not projecting any strength.

There is a historic opportunity with President Trump being close in the polls in New Jersey to join his platform.

Joanna: He took to X of accusing Kim of urging a North Korean flag on his tie.

Kim urged Bashaw's supporter -- perched Bashaw to condemn that.

Bashaw did so today, calling Kim a patriotic American.

Briana: The race for New Jersey's second Congressional District seat is neck in neck, according to a new poll out today.

It shows externally close margins between incumbent Tom Kean Junior and his Democratic challenger Sue Altman.

Overall it finds voters are more likely to see Kean's political views as more in step with the district's than Altman's, especially when it comes to the economy, crime, and immigration.

46% of registered voters in the district will definitely or probably vote for Kean, while 44% will definitely or probably vote for Altman.

Altman has far out raised Kim during the last -- have raised -- outraised Kean during the last quarter, but not this The one.

national Republican Party is spending heavily in the district on his behalf, and that is not the case for Democrats.

The question is, will it make a difference?

The Monmouth University polling Director joins us now.

Patrick, good to talk to you.

Important to note this is the only independent poll on this district, so these numbers are showing just how tight of a race This is, and it's pretty stark when you look at it, the fact that either of them could potentially take this.

>> Yeah, but we are looking at is a race where there are a lot of factors at play that could push this in either direction.

That is what I am trying to show in our polling at Monmouth, not just this head-to-head was race, but why things are happening the way they are and where they could go.

There is a question of which voters will actually show up, different types of electorates could give a slight advantage to Kean, slight advantage to Altman.

How much will be third-party candidates in this race get?

That could hurt Kean more.

And there is still an undecided voter out there, but not at the presidential level, which means there are presidential voters in this district that are definitely going out to vote but have not made up their mind about the house yet.

They are enough to swing the vote either way, depending on whether they stick straight party or split their ticket.

Briana: Splitting their ticket is what I was thinking of.

The poll finds that Altman leads in key areas, particularly with white educated females, white females with a college education, rather, and on the issue of abortion, but Kean seems to have the edge on some other big fundamentals, the economy being one of them.

Could either of those he got a win?

-- eke out a win?

>> it is fascinating, because while Kean has an advantage on many of the issues voters tell us are important, Sue Altman has a huge advantage on the issue of abortion.

The question is how many of those voters are using that as one of their top issues.

This district has an extremely high number of white college-educated voters, above average among all 435 districts in the country for that demographic.

While Sue Altman is doing better among women and Tom Kean is doing better among men, among all different types of groups, college degree or not, white for not, it is among that white college-educated boater that we see the biggest gender gap.

For women, abortion freedoms, those kind of things are related to -- are really the driving factor, and Altman is doing well.

For men, their top issue is economic growth, and for that they are preferring Tom Kean.

Question is, can Tom Kean solidify that?

Consumer Altman break into that?

Some of it is the issues that are more important.

Briana: As you wrote, there is potential here to make up some ground, and yet from what we are seeing, at least in the latest federal filings, national Democrats are not spending in this district.

Sue Altman has proved to be a pretty darn good fundraiser, but national Republicans are pouring more money in for the race for Kean, giving him an advantage, at least in his campaign coffers.

>> Think about that, the fact that the Republicans are pouring in all this money and the Democrats are not and it is a tied race suggests Democrats are missing an opportunity.

It is not the first time.

National Democrats have a history of not paying enough attention to their base in places where they need them, but also missing opportunities where they could score a win where they were not expecting.

I am thinking two years ago in the Wisconsin Senate race.

That is when they could have won and they would not have to worry as much this year.

This looks like it could be one of those seats that could help them pick up the house control, but they are not spending any effort there.

Briana: Pat, good to check in with you as always.

We will be talking as the election gets closer.

With the election now just three weeks out, NJ Spotlight News has you covered.

Anything you want to know about the candidates running in your district, the issues, we are or how to vote, just had to NJSpotlightnews.org and click on the NJ to sidestep.

Across New Jersey -- the NJ decides to.

Across New Jersey, thousands are enrolled in a program that provides activities for individuals with disabilities, which have proven to be critical in improving mental and emotional well-being, along with developing life skills and providing a chance to socialize.

This week, a nonprofit but its fifth day habilitation site in the state, this one in New Brunswick, and as Ted Goldberg reports, the adults using the adults using the Centre are already feeling more a part of their community.

Ted: reviews are in for the new rehab at the Easter Seals Elting at New Brunswick.

>> I like everything.

[Cheers and applause] Ted: The dayhab currently hosts 12 adults with development and intellectual disabilities, featuring some spooky scenery meant to make people feel at home.

>> If you have a loved one and want to drop them off during the day for different services, you don't want them to walk into a blank, institutionalized sort of center, so we try to make our dayhab sites homey.

Ted: Christina Jones said she heard of her bills -- heard more phone calls after the pandemic asking for a place like this.

This space was previously used for vocational training.

>> Day habilitation is an opportunity for folks who have intellectual disabilities to come into a center where we work with them on goals.

It could be life skills, social skills, depending on their ability and what they are looking to accomplish.

>> We can hang out instead of talk.

It is nice.

Ted: The program had to be reviewed by New Jersey's division of developmental disabilities and given a license from decade.

-- from Medicaid.

>> My own father is suffering from Alzheimer's and goes through a program.

Just to see that ability to socialize, it keeps them with us as much as we can.

Programs like this not only to keep people and make sure that they know they are part of a community.

>> People with disabilities are no different than those without.

They deserve to be able to play and work and live in the communities they come from.

Ted: As cozy as the dayhab looks, the Easter Seals say it is as --say it is just as important for participants to get out into the community.

Participants will go on field trips to places like zoos and aquariums, even local parks to look at foliage.

>> We put together a calendar and take individuals out, so they don't feel that only they can come with each other, people who are like them, but they also belong as part of their community, the New Brunswick area.

>> We used to go to the senior center and garden center, and I cleaned up the whole yard in the garden.

Ted: Was that a lot of for you?

>> Yes.

I always worked hard and I don't get lazy.

Ted: The rest of the Easterseals building offers vocational training, an opportunity -- and opportunities for activities like yoga.

The dayhab can host up to 40 people each day, up from the dozen full timers they have right now.

>> Actively looking to expand, so we are working with agencies across the state, putting the word out that we are now open and accepting new clients.

As soon as we get new referrals, we do our work to make sure we can bring people on as soon as possible.

Ted: The entire building can accommodate up to 150 people, and as Jones says, Easterseals University can more people and try -- can fit more people and try to improve the lives of individuals in central jersey.

I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

>> 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.

Briana: In business tonight, more bad news for drugstore chains.

CVS announced it is closing 900 stores.

Rite Aid is emerging from bankruptcy and shuttering some 500 locations.

Now Walgreens is also apparently ailing, revealing plans this week that the chain will close 1200 stores nationwide, about one in seven that will disappear over the next three years.

According to the CEOs of the companies, the pharmacies are looking for multibillion cost savings as they try to reconsider their roles.

The chains over expanded during the last few decades as they tried to drive out competitors, putting a lot of mom-and-pop shops out of the business in the process.

Customer habits also change, and so did their spending priorities.

The drugstores have also been pushing their way into primary care and insurance coverage, but at least right now that model is not sustainable yet finally tonight, turning a hobby and to help for those desperately in need.

Dozens of pirates from a -- since of pilots -- dozens of pilots have been scheduling flights in personal planes to bring flights down south to towns that were badly damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Many of the organizers remember the devastation built here by Superstorm Sandy, giving their mission even greater meaning.

Raven Santana has the story.

>> I carried the gentleman with his grown equipment and took him to Asheville, North Carolina, where he surveyed the three mile long mudslide as well as they were concerned that there might be dams that would break.

>> David Williamson is more than -- one of more than a dozen private pilots in Lakewood using his talent for aviation to help those who are now in desperate need for supplies in areas that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene and hurricane Milton.

He is using planes like this to help transport donations.

>> I saw this as an opportunity to help people that needed it.

That is where general aviation can come in, where roads are closed down and remote areas are inaccessible, yet there are small airports there.

You cannot send a 737 in there to deliver stuff for a UPS 747, but a plane like this can get in and deliver much needed supplies.

>> There is a mile of a mudslide.

Roads are gone.

Houses are gone.

We flew over chimney rock.

The pile of debris at the end of that was two or three square miles.

Trucks, trees, houses, sheds, you could see everything.

It was hard for the brain to wrap around.

Raven: Cody has been spearheading the relief efforts since October 1.

He got to see firsthand what the devastation looked like during a recent trip.

He says it all started after he received a call from his sister who lives in an area that was impacted.

>> Originally it was for oxygen tanks for people that were out of power near my sister's Police Department, and then it switched quickly to food, baby stuff, as if somebody had lost literally everything.

Raven: What started as a one-time trip has now erupted into a full-scale operation.

>> From that first little corner of the office there, it grew to filling the office to where it was hard to walk through the office, and that ended up not being enough space, so stuff started to grow outside and then all sorts of volunteers just appeared from my perspective out of nowhere to help sort.

When missions were identified like this airport, we need to take this to this airport, they would have a pallet ready.

An airplane would show up and they would load all the stuff into the airplane and go, based on whatever was that needed to go to that airport.

It was an amazing operation.

Raven: Volunteers say on average they fly out at least once a day, every day, to deliver thousands of pounds of these donations.

>> We have taken mid-50's trips and flights, definitely more than 50.

We have flown between 48000 and 45,000 pounds of supplies, that being diapers my baby food, insulin -- that being diapers, baby food, insulin, at the pins, everything -- EpiPens, everything.

We have been to multiple areas.

There are return trips because they need more supplies.

At some airports have stopped taking supplies because their airports are packed.

But we have found other airports , pastors, and towns that have yet to get stuff, so we have been flying that way.

Now it is down to one or two planes a day.

Raven: So far there have been more than 130 volunteers and about $130,000 spent to support this operation, which he says will continue until their help and donations are no longer needed.

Briana: That does it for us tonight, but before you go, a reminder to 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 will see you back here tomorrow.

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