Raven: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, indicted again.

Former President Donald Trump is facing criminal charges in the classified documents investigation.

Does this now give former Governor Chris Christie a path to the presidency?

>> Chris Christie has made his whole campaign an attack on Trump.

Raven: Air quality conditions remain unhealthy as Canadian wildfires shift to the south.

Also, Middleton and Marlborough are the latest school districts considering new LGBTQ policies that would reveal gender identity.

Are these policies helpful or harmful?

>> We are not in the business of secret keeping.

We are in the business of serving kids.

Raven: Unionbusting.

A contractor is facing a lawsuit claiming cleaning staffers were fired for union organizing.

>> The fight for worker rights.

Raven: NJ Spotlight News starts right now.

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More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

And By the PSEG foundation.

♪ >> This is NJ Spotlight News.

Raven: Breaking news.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted again.

He was at his golf course here in New Jersey when he received the news.

It is the first time a former U.S. president will face federal charges.

The indictment includes 37 felony counts, including espionage, conspiracy to obstruct, and the willful retention of documents.

The documents detailing the U.S. nuclear program and its potential vulnerabilities to military attack, plus a wide range of intelligence from federal agencies.

Included in the indictment are evidence photographs depicting boxes of documents stacked inside a bathroom, documents even spilled out on a storage room floor.

Jack Smith is the Special Counsel investigating president trumps legit mishandling of classified documents.

>> The men and women of the intelligence agencies dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people.

Our laws that protect national defense information and they are critical to the security of the United States and they must be enforced.

Violations of those laws put our country at risk.

Raven: The charges come as the 2024 presidential campaign is getting underway, with the former president the front runner.

But now with two indictments hanging over him overshadowing any campaign, might this open up a bigger lane for former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who will not be afraid to use this against him.

We are joined by columnist Charlie Stahl.

Trump has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents.

What does this mean for his campaign?

>> That is a really tough question to answer.

You would think that this kind of devastating news would destroy his campaign, it would make him unelectable.

But a recent poll showed that his support actually grew over the first quarter of this year when he was indicted in New York and found guilty in a civil trial on sexual misconduct charges.

It defied the laws of the political universe.

I think what happens with the Trump is that when he comes into these legal troubles, his base circles the wagons and sees themselves as kind of a victim of the liberal, legal political establishment.

The difference with this, the weight of the U.S. government is now saying Donald Trump committed crimes.

This is not just a Manhattan attorney financed by George Soros.

This is the federal government.

Secondly, I think is the accumulation effect, this growing cloud is getting darker and darker.

You have to wonder how sustainable it is, how much those supporters are going to actually hang in there for the long call.

Raven: His fan base is loyal.

What do you think trump's indictment does for Chris Christie's run?

He seems to be the only one willing to go after Trump, and he will no doubt go on the attack.

Will it help Christie?

>> I think in the broad stroke, yes.

He has made his whole campaign an attack on Trump.

he is going to be the one who will prosecute Trump in public.

In the short term, he has to be careful because of the things I mentioned, the sense of the base feeling victimized.

And sharing in the victimization of Trump.

And watching that support grow.

He is going to go a little gingerly on this and wait for the facts to spill out so that he has more of a complete case to make the attack.

For him to go at it right now without a full indictment, he runs the risk of alienating the very people that he is trying to win over.

And that will be tough for Chris Christie anyway because he enters this race deeply unpopular.

Raven: We know Chris Christie has had his challenges, when we think about Bridgegate.

How does this indictment against Trump compare?

>> This is far more significant than Bridgegate.

Bridgegate did not have a clear statute that it was violating.

They had to compose a creative adaptation of federal law.

Here, this is pretty clear-cut.

There is the possibility that he had in his possession documents that were vital to national security.

Closing the bridge was vital to the free flow of commerce on the northeast and that was an important thing, but this has broader implications.

Raven: I am looking forward to those debates.

And to see what happens.

Thank you so much for breaking this all down.

>> My pleasure.

Raven: Hazardous air turned mostly to blue skies today.

In Camden county officials had a cold yellow warning today and they are still struggling with the devastating impacts of Canadian wildfires.

Residents are feeling more optimistic about weather conditions that are expected to improve in the coming days.

Reporter: Seeing the Philadelphia skyline from Camden is not that hard, except for the end of the week that saw New Jersey coated in orange smoke from Canadian wildfires.

>> It is very nice to see that the weather is clearing and you can see at least half a mile from where you are.

Reporter: The health officer says it is now safe for most people to walk around outdoors.

The code Gallo means outdoor activities are not being canceled anymore, but some people should still be careful.

>> Is clearing, but there is still some particulate matter in the air that we cannot see with our eyes.

Everybody should stay indoors out of the environment.

Reporter: Kim Dansk air quality index -- Camden's air quality index was a far cry from what it was in other parts of the county.

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Dodd.

>> We have had this stubborn area of low pressure setting to our northeast and with the counterclockwise flow around low-pressure drawing air from north to south straight down from Québec, that has been sending all the wildfire smoke down from Québec across New York State and New Jersey, kind of a perfect set up to draw that smoke right into our area.

>> There are numerous studies showing that when air pollution reaches high levels, more people go to the hospital for their asthma, for their COPD.

Some of those people who serious outcomes.

Reporter: Health Commissioner Judith Perischilli said statewide ER visits jumped for people of asthma, approaching levels not seen since the winter.

Those impacts are felt disproportionately in places like Camden.

>> People of color and low income are more likely to have asthma and COPD.

Reporter: This pulmonologist agrees.

>> I think the biggest concern is the underrepresented individuals who do not have the ability to be covered with protection.

Those are the people that unfortunately probably have this ongoing exposure.

Reporter: The air quality in Camden is expected to get better over the weekend.

Just in case that does not happen, the city's office of emergency management is given out masks to anybody in the county who wants them for free.

They are also working with schools and senior citizen centers to make sure the most vulnerable populations have masks that they need.

I am Ted Goldberg.

Raven: A suspect has been arrested in connection with a biased crime spree in Manchester Township.

The Attorney General and the Ocean County prosecutor announced that a man has been charged with 36 criminal counts, including biased intimidation over allegations he spray-painted Nazi symbolism on more than one dozen home, fences and elsewhere and that he was targeting Jewish residents.

He is also charged with aggravated arson.

The fire destroyed one home and damaged others.

The suspect is in the medical facility and will be transported to Ocean County jail to await his hearing.

This comes at antisemitic incidents are rising here in New Jersey and nationally.

Meanwhile, there is an increase in attacks against the LGBTQ community, prompting the Biden administration to announce new actions to protect their basic rights and freedoms, including the appointment of a new federal coordinator to address the increase of book bans.

The announcement comes as more school districts are planning final votes on the parental notification policies, which require school officials to inform parents about their child's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Hanover Township past the policy in May.

But he says he will sue any district that puts one of these policies in place.

>> We are at the front line of defense for our children.

As their parents, we need to be aware of any and all issues that impact their well-being.

Reporter: This parent summarize the parental rights movement that is pushing school boards to push controversial policies requiring students' sexual orientation get reported to families.

It defies state guidance that protects the privacy of LGBTQ students.

>> If the school staff is going to keep secrets from us about things affecting our children, then we cannot trust that they have our children's best interests at heart.

>> We are not in the business of secret keeping.

We are in the business of serving the kids needs.

Reporter: She is alarmed that several school boards have scheduled votes on parental notification.

She says counselors already follow a duty to warn law.

>> That requires us to disclose information about a student safety and wellness of somebody is hurting them or somebody is hurting them.

Other than that, everything else is and should be held secret.

>> Being LGBTQ in this current environment is stressful.

For adults, for kids and sometimes it is our families at home that is the biggest threat to our emotional and physical well-being.

Reporter: They will learn that outing kids could have bow or consequences, especially if schools report families who retaliate to child protective services.

>> Forces you to stay in the closet.

And then to have child protective services involved in your family and your life, how does that help a child.

>> A lot of students do not feel safe.

They do not feel safe expressing themselves.

Reporter: This counselor says kids need protection to explore their sexual identity.

>> When there is no safe place to turn, this is where we start to see students with a sense of hopelessness.

Reporter: Back in May, Hanover adopted a policy specifically targeting LGBTQ students.

An Attorney General immediately filed a civil rights complaint.

A judge temporarily blocked the policy and the board revised it this week.

>> The Hanover Township policy committee revised the policy.

Reporter: It requires parents be informed whenever a student discloses an issue or exhibits behaviors that may have an adverse impact on the student's physical or mental health.

Adding that LGBTQ issues alone cannot motivate parental notification.

Several concerned parents chastised the board.

>> The only purpose is for LGBTQ students to be singled out.

It does not offer assistance such as counseling.

It takes an already vulnerable population, outs them and sends them home to their potentially unsupportive families.

Reporter: The Attorney General refused to comment and noted that both sides will meet in court next week.

I am Brenda Flanagan.

NJ Spotlight News.

Raven: In our spotlight on business, more issues at the American dream mall.

Two cleaning workers were fired by a contractor last June and the national labor relations board alleges a was in retaliation for organizing of labor union on behalf of a local union at the entertainment complex.

Labor unions organizing cleaning began last year but last year they filed a petition saying the company continues to be in violation of the national relations act.

A spokesperson declined to comment.

The petition also call for the reinstatement of two workers and erasure of any personal records or files as it relates to the dismissals.

The two workers have not been reinstated as of today.

>> Why workers organize is to try to improve their condition for higher pay and better benefits and better working conditions.

Improving these conditions costs money and the employer does not want to pay for better wages and benefits.

And for people who live paycheck-to-paycheck, being willing to take that kind of stand to win human dignity and respect is an inspiration.

Raven: On Wall Street, here is how the markets closed for the week.

♪ >> Support for The Business Report provided by the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, working for economic prosperity by uniting business and community leaders for 150 years.

Membership and event information online at ChamberSNJ.com.

♪ Raven: Make sure to join me for NJ business beat this weekend.

I will highlight workers with disabilities, the challenges they face in getting and keeping employment and the groups that are supporting them.

That is Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m.. ♪ Raven: The next episode in our film series is online.

It examines the question of does where you live affect how you live?

We profile one person in each of our 21 counties.

We look at the social determinants that affect a person's life.

The latest film introduces us to Salem county's Sue Ann Leighty, executive director of habitat for humanity.

She transforms neglected land into havens of hope for those who need affordable housing, but you need to be able to help build it.

She calls it sweat equity.

Briana: It is great to get an opportunity to talk with you.

It is evident that your vision goes well beyond building homes for your community.

What did you set out to do and what does it look like now?

>> Our habitat is the oldest in the state of New Jersey, so kind of a treasure, and we needed to build more homes.

So when I started 13 years ago, we had an uphill battle.

So we have made changes, but we also realize that it is important to keep people in their homes.

And that is where this ramp program grew from.

Building ramps with wood and getting groups out to participate and do some of the ramp building, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, college groups.

But then we realized we are kind of wasting resources and there is a better way to do it.

So this recyclable ramp program came to be and we now have over 40 ramps in the community.

And there is always a strong need.

We could probably use 10 more today.

Briana: Why was tapping into that so important?

It is one thing to build somebody a home.

It is another to ensure it is accessible, especially for those who are often overlooked in the community.

>> Correct, it is a quality of life issue.

I saw the other day when we were speaking to one of the recipients, something as simple as taking his wife to the diner for Mother's Day was not possible before the ramp went up.

He and his grandson had to carry her out and he is elderly himself.

It is heartbreaking to me.

To think you cannot go outside and get some sun on your face.

To me, they are shut in and unable to really socialize.

Raven: I am curious about what being from Salem County means to you and why giving back has become a cornerstone of your life?

>> This happened 18 years ago.

I left my corporate job.

I loved what I did.

I had learned a lot.

I went to college.

My husband and I have been married for 41 years.

I have been in this community for 43 years.

But until that time when I started to get involved, out delivering Meals on Wheels.

Took pleasure to get to work every day, to know you are changing lives.

Briana: Years after your work with Habitat is done, what will stay with you the most?

>> There are truly magnificent stories of people right now.

One of the homes we built, the mother just celebrated her daughter's graduation from high school.

She is going to go to church time on a full scholarship.

-- she is going to go to Georgetown on a full scholarship.

I see these families flourishing and doing just what I want for my family.

It is a partner family in the true sense.

They do not go away once we hand them the keys.

Briana: Thank you so much for being part of our film series.

>> Thank you.

Raven: You can meet her and the other extraordinary residents at our website.

That does it for us tonight and a reminder to download the NJ Spotlight News podcasts so you can listen anytime.

I am Raven Santana.

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great weekend.

We will see you back here on Monday.

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♪