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Joanna: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News -- Trump on trial.

A jury in the historic hush money case is set to decide the fate of the Former President.

>> This is the first time a Former President and a presidential candidate is being criminally prosecuted.

Everything is unprecedented.

Joanna: Plus, educators go door to door encampment to promote the city's free preschool program, where now there are more open seats than students.

Nyemah: education has a price tag on it, and it is important to let everyone know that this is free.

It is a free program, so get your kids involved.

Joanna: Also, the state is creating a community-based crisis response teams and nobody dies by the police in a mental health crisis.

And for venting -- preventing addiction in young athletes.

Former NFL player Ray Lucas is helping.

Ray: I'm paying it back.

In addiction, you have to pay it back.

You can't get what I got and not share it.

Joanna: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News, with Briana Vannozzi.

Joanna: Good evening and thanks for Briana Vannozzi joining us, I Briana Vannozzi am Joanna Gagis in for Briana Vannozzi on this Friday night.

Just as an announcement is made that a jury panel is confirmed, a man outside set himself on fire only 50 feet away from the courthouse.

NYPD responded quickly and that man is in critical condition.

The incident may change security areas outside of the courthouse.

Inside the court, things continued after 12 jurors and six alternates were finalized.

The jury selection has many of us wondering just how impartial jurors can actually be in this case, given the high-profile nature of the defendants and whether it was possible to weed out any hidden motives that jurors may have it has also led to concerns about the safety of these jurors, as the Former President continues to defy a gag order placed on him.

Trump: That gag order "unfair" this morning.

Prosecutors are to lay out their case against the Former President on Monday, and this jury now carries the burden of deciding the fate of Donald Trump and whether he can be the first U.S. president to face jail time.

I'm joined now by former federal -- federal prosecutor Chris to talk about it.

Great to have you with us, as always.

We see a jury panel confirmed and arguments could start as early as Monday.

Is this the speed you would have expected the jury admonished process admonished members of Chris: I thought it would take anywhere from one week to two weeks, so it is a lot faster than I anticipated, but I guess the court and the the media for judge of the media for nuclear are doing a good putting out job at exceedingly facilitating putting out the review of each of the juries.

They have a jury in the box, that is a great start in less than a week.

Joanna: It has felt pretty quick.

The judge has admonished members of the media for putting out identifying features of the jurors.

I'm not going to do that.

We see a mix of backgrounds, attorneys, educators, therapists.

Do you feel confident that the prosecution, that the defense attorney has done that?

Chris: Part of their duties is to listen to the evidence and considerate, remain fair and partial Bencic judge the case only on the evidence presented.

I have to presume that the criminal justice system is going to work.

Our system is the best one in the world, and you've got to believe that each of those drivers, what they told the court, what they told the parties representing both the defendant, Mr. Trump, President Trump, and of course the city, that they are going to ring true to the oath that they are going to take.

Hope springs eternal.

Joanna: We did see one jury -- juror size the judge.

Is that par for the course in the court proceedings?

Should the judge have intervened if one side or the other wants to dismiss?

Chris: The judge kind of controls the courtroom like a referee.

He can decide whether or not he wants to do something like that.

I don't see anything offensive or improper about that.

I think the real challenge is you're trying to size of each of the jurors, you want to size them up and ensure that they are going to review that evidence faithfully and impartially.

Joanna: Arguments could start on Monday.

The judge has not ordered the prosecution joy to defy who their witnesses may be, and they make a good case, that Trump has been tweeting about the witnesses, so it could come as a surprise about the defense.

How unconventional have these court proceedings been so far?

Do you expect them to be -- to continue to be unconventional?

Chris: By the very nature of a, that this is the first time that a Former President and presidential credit is being criminally prosecuted, everything is unprecedented, yes.

They are kind of breaking new ground as they go forward each day.

It is a standard practice to expose a witness list, but it is not mandated or required under New York State practice, so is Gresh Mary on part of the attorney's office, if they chose not to do that, so the judge does not really have a role in whether he can enforce that.

Joanna: This could be the first time we see a Former President who faces criminal charges who is found guilty.

What could that look like for him if he is found guilty?

Chris: Penalties can range from -- range from a heavy fine to incarceration.

In practice, there's not a lot of case precedents on a prosecution like this.

It would be difficult for me to envision if there is a conviction that it would carry some jail time, especially for a Former President.

It requires unanimity on the jury.

It just takes one juror to disagree to hang that juror, or alternatively, all the jury members could agree that the District Attorney's Office has not made their case, so it is up in the air.

Joanna: They show is, Chris, great to have you on, as always.

U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez will now have a one-week delay for the start of his bribery trial.

Lawyers agreed an additional week would aid in trial separation, so the judge moved to start date from May 6 to May 13.

The senator and his wife have been charged in a bribery scheme that include gold bars, cash, a luxury vehicle that were allegedly traded for political favor.

Last week, the judge agreed to split their trials and daily -- and delayed Nadine Menendez's trial until July because of an undisclosed health issue.

Each one of us could be one prescription away from an opioid addiction.

That is the message from former NFL player Ray Lucas who spoke today at a conference in Atlantic City, put on by a partnership for a drug-free New Jersey.

Lucas shared his story of overcoming addiction after leaving the NFL.

As Ted Goldberg reports, one of the pitiful -- he warned of the pitfalls that can phase other young athletes struggling with pain.

Ray: You can bring anything you want to me, I will step right to you, but I am afraid of a little circle, pill, I will run for the hills.

Ted: When Ray Lucas played in the NFL, pain came with the career.

Ray: You do what you have to do to stay on the field.

During the training, you are in danger.

Ted: After playing for Rutgers and playing professionally, he got addicted almost immediately after retiring.

Ray: I had a serious back injury.

By fused together, four screws, they took three completely out.

I've had seven foot spinal fusions.

Ted: His latest out was the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.

He was speaking for the partnership of a drug-free New Jersey, focusing on young athletes who are becoming addicted to opioids.

Ray: It is scientifically proven that adolescents are more likely to become addicted than a grown man.

I was a grown man, and it happened like that.

Angelo: Use athletes are at a greater risk of injuries -- youth athletes are at a greater risk of injuries, and as a result, they are more likely to become addicted.

Ted: Narcan is more available.

Frank: It is the leading cause of death for young Americans between 18 and 45.

If you break that down per day, over 112,000 Americans die in, that is over 300 a day are dying.

Melanie: I'm very much a holistic person, but I completely disagree with how people doctors prescribe opioids.

It is killing so many people.

I feel him as a physical therapist, it is very holistic after using this.

Ted: Melanie is a student who came here with her classmates.

When told that a lot of young people get addicted after dental treatments, she has personal experiments -- experience with that.

Melanie: I had my wisdom teeth taken out.

My doctor prescribed opioids, but being I was a minor, my mom would not let me.

Because she said no, I did not end up taking it.

Instead I took ibuprofen, and I had no pain because I was taking ibuprofen.

Andrew: Your doctors, when they prescribe you in opioid, because they really do not understand the risks and benefits, and your mom, by telling you not to take that prescription may have saved your life.

Ted: There was some good news from today.

Brandeis University Professor Andrew Kolodny says in recent years, fewer infants are born with opioid dependency.

It has leveled off since the pandemic paired as for Lucas, he says he will continue speaking out.

Ray: I am paying it back.

In addiction, you've got to pay it back to you cannot get what I've got and not share it.

I was convinced my whole life not to ask for anything.

My saying now is, when you ask for help, that is courage.

Ted: And Lucas will keep speaking out.

In Atlantic City, I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.

>> Support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Joanna: Called the community crisis response pilot program.

Melissa Rose Cooper spoke with community groups around the state about what this means for their crisis response teams.

Liza: New Jersey is leaving the state nationally, and we will continue that to directory.

Melissa: Lisa Chowdhury applauding Governor Murphy and Plotkin's announcements that they will be donating for the community response team pilot program, the initiative a result of legislation signed earlier this year which was named after two killed while experiencing mental health crisis.

Liza: this legislation will help.

We want to avoid incidents like what happened last year from ever happening again, and this plan provides critical funding.

This legislation will provide additional resources to support individuals and communities, benefiting services.

Melissa: The A.G.'s office noting the program will complement other resources already in place to ensure some are handled appropriately, like Arrive Together, which is operational in all counties.

Tiffany Wilson, adding in the announcement, "the addition of community partners to the currently available response options provides another pathway to needed resources while reducing burdens on law enforcement agencies and improving public safety and health outcomes."

Tracey: It is imperative that the governor, the A.G., the mayor, council folks in these cities address these issues that face our communities, and we have to start imagining what real Public Safety looks like.

Here in America, we criminalize everything.

We criminalize immigration, we criminalize mental health.

When we look at the number one institutions in this country that are housing mental health patients, it is prisons.

Melissa: Tracey Syphax says those closest to the problem also tend to be closer to the solution.

Tracey: When you look at Najee Seabrooks and how he died, that street team up in Patterson where they had an opportunity, that standoff lasted over four hours.

They had an opportunity to call in the people that Najee worked with, his counterparts, his street team, they had an opportunity to call them in and quell that situation, and they did not, and the end result is that he's not with us anymore.

Having the opportunity now and recognizing, through just that alone, you know, having folks that are capable of dealing with mental health issues but having those who know our community is very helpful also.

Melissa: It will give up to $2 million for a competitive grant process.

Several counties can apply.

But social advocates say this is just the first step.

Racquel: It is still a mere drop in the bucket compared to what is going on with other law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

We want to see supporting the increase of funding, resources , training for those who are doing this incredibly important and sacred work.

Melissa: Advocates say they want it to be a fixed item in the state budget, so that the crisis response team results can be seen well into the future.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Melissa Rose Cooper.

Joanna: Full-day pre-k is a key part of the Murphy administration in this year's budget, and many are working to expand their budget as the money comes in.

For Camden, free preschool is available for three-year-olds and four-year-olds, but not enough parents are aware of it.

Raven Santana went door-to-door in neighborhoods, informing families about this early education opportunity.

Raven: Camden City School District Superintendent Katrina McCombs and more than 50 volunteers hit the streets to promote enrolling three-year-olds and four-year-olds in the district's free full day preschool program.

Katrina: We have them posted in Spanish and English, we have social media that we keep alive and shine a light on it, there's nothing like knocking on the door and having a personal human conversation with the parent who may not know anything about early childhood.

Raven: The state's universal public preschool programs are school programs that have a certified teacher and aides.

There are limited class sizes and a curriculum to the New Jersey curriculum and learning standards.

It is also inclusive to special needs children.

Ini an effort to make sure families were taking advantage of the programs, members of the school boards and early childhood begin canvassing any and every door around the Maguire Gardens Apartments, located in the East Camden area.

Markeeta: We have about 1000 plus we are looking to fill for next school year.

Our main round has already opened and closed, so we have quite a few applicants have who have already registered for our program for the next four years, so we are looking for a few hundred more, about 500 or 600 more.

Raven: Volunteers I spoke with, as you can see behind me, who have continued to knock on doors throughout the afternoon, stressed that the process is so quick and easy, that they want it to remain with parents or guardians, to help them complete the enrollment process on site.

Do you think this is the way to go for people around here?

Kia: Yes.

Raven: Why so?

Kia: Because some people be applying and be on the waiting list for a long time and stuff like that, and they've got jobs, and they want to get they kids in school or try to find a job.

Raven: Will you be taking advantage of it now?

Kia: Yes.

Nyemah: COVID has done a number on us, and some don't you, you know, education has a price tag on it, and it is important to let everyone know that this is free.

It is a free program.

Get your kids involved.

It is free, and we want to make sure the information is used for it.

Raven: Camden is one of 230 8 New Jersey districts that receive funding for preschool programs.

According to the annual State of preschool report, 58,000 children are currently enrolled in those programs.

The report says New Jersey rent 21st in the nation for preschool enrollment for four-year-olds and fourth for three-year-olds.

Governor Murphy has set a goal for universal pre-k for all three-year-olds and four-year-olds by 2030.

Steve: Our report shows that it has bounced back from the pandemic.

Across the nation, we had new highs.

Raven: Steve Barnett is codirector of the nationalization of research at Rutgers University.

Barnett says universal pre-k is not as a game changer for parents and students, it is also good for the economy.

Steve: Percentage of four-year-olds, three euros -year-olds enrolled, new highs for spending, including spending per child, new highs for quality standards, so that is great news, and we should be congratulating our states for bouncing back from the recession.

Of course, that was very uneven, right?

Every state did not bounce back in the same way.

Raven: Barnett says more needs to be done to expand universal pre-k across the state.

Volunteers say they plan to knock on doors like today in different parts of the city every Thursday throughout the summer.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Raven Santana.

Joanna: In our spotlight on business report tonight, the debate rages on about how to create more affordable housing in the state, but there is a new movement to create what is called accessory dwelling units or ADUs, think mother-in-law suiet but for a stranger.

As correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports, some towns are passing these ordinances it is a way to get more affordable options in their towns without the controversy of large portal housing units.

Michele: People who don't have money want to have a living space, want it to be nice.

Brenda: Michele turned the first floor of her split-level home into a one-bedroom apartment, thinking maybe family could stay here during visits, but six years later, she is renting it out at below market rates as an affordable accessory dwelling unit, or ADU.

Michele: The people who live -- work here can't live here, because their prices are so high, so we decided to renovate our house.

Marina: These have been used as mother-in-law units, au pair suites, cottages that people had in their back, caretaker cottages.

They have existed for so many years.

Brenda: Architect Marina Rubin helped Michele designed the $30,000 renovation.

She specializes in ADUs, which can be built over garages or elsewhere, and they can be used as a separate, smaller dwelling.

Marina: On the same property as a single-family home, and that means the property is not subdivided, it is one property, and it has two dwelling units.

Moiz: if somebody wanted to have the main house there, they could, and if they have in-laws, grandparents and have the smaller house for them, but in Princeton, you can sell both houses separately.

Brenda: Developer Moiz Tayebaly is building two on the same lot.

The ADU must have a kitchen and a bathroom and no more than two bedrooms.

With a 250,000 affordable housing deficit in New Jersey, ADUs offer what housing advocates call gentle density.

Zoé: Gentle density, like accessibility dwelling units, is density that is not all at once, it gradually creates more housing over time, it does not overwhelmed any infrastructure or schools, and quite frankly, it does not change the visual character of the town anyway.

Brenda: Princeton is one of a handful of New Jersey towns that have adopted ordinances enabling ADUs, but Governor Murphy and law makers want to expand the initiative statewide.

Sen. Timberlake: They are also usually offered at a more affordable rental price than market rate, so they are an opportunity to have affordable housing in the community.

Brenda: Britnee Timberlake is co-sponsoring a bill that would have requirements for accessible dwellings, and requires towns to promote ADU construction to meet affordable housing demands.

The bill is getting some pushback from towns worried about preserving single-family home neighborhoods.

Sen. Timberlake: There are towns with concerns that want to opt out of it, but then what is the point of the legislation?

You can do things to make sure it fits for your community.

Brenda: Governor Murphy's proposed budget includes $20 billion for municipal grants for a statewide ADU pilot project.

The AARP is fully behind the idea, to help retired folks afford to age in place.

Michele is counting on that.

Michele: So that when we are retired, we will be able to, you know, take in a little extra income.

Brenda: For this new ADU, it is expected to list for about $1 million, which, in Princeton, is considered affordable.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Joanna: Turning to Wall Street, stocks slide for a sixth straight day.

♪ Here's how the markets closed for the week.

Make sure to tune into NJ Business Beat with Raven Santana this weekend.

She is focused on New Jersey's transportation future, looking at how NJ Transit and Rutgers are developing AI technologies to keep you safe on the tracks.

And why New Jerseyans are giving the governor's electric vehicle push mixed reviews.

That does it for us tonight.

Make sure you check out Chat Box with David Cruz this weekend.

David looks at the state's climate goals and whether New Jersey is falling short meeting them.

Catch it Saturday night at 6:30 and Sunday morning at 10:30 on NJPBS.

And on Reporters Roundtable, David talks about the GOP's take on the state budget, Oprah, and court rulings.

Then a panel of local reporters break down the week's political headlines.

Watch it Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:00 on NJPBS.

I am Joanna Gagis.

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

Enjoy your weekend.

We will see you back here on Monday.

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>> Our future relies on more than clean energy.

Our future relies on empowered community, the health and safety of our families and neighbors, of our schools and streets.

The PSEG Foundation is committed to sustainability, equity, and economic empowerment, investing in part, helping towns go green, supporting civic centers, scholarships, and workforce development that strengthen our community.

♪