The anticipated AirTrain project at Newark Liberty International Airport has exceeded its initial budget by $1.45 billion, bringing the total cost to $3.5 billion.
On Thursday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved a significant funding increase of over 70% for the AirTrain EWR project. Originally budgeted at $2.05 billion, the project aims to replace the outdated train system that serves more than 30,000 daily passengers at the busy metropolitan airport.
The expanded budget accounts for inflation and setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as outlined in a statement from the agency. Additional factors, such as heightened risk contingencies for large-scale infrastructure endeavors and supply chain disruptions, have further inflated the costs.

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The recount of Pennsylvania’s Senate race has stirred controversy, drawing criticism from various political factions. Lawsuits and accusations of unsportsmanlike behavior have emerged in response to the unfolding events.
The Associated Press declared Republican Dave McCormick the winner of the race on November 7, marking a significant victory by unseating Democratic incumbent Bob Casey, who was seeking a fourth term.
Defending its call, the AP stated that although the race was close, the remaining uncounted areas lacked sufficient support for Mr. Casey to change the outcome.
As of November 17, Mr. McCormick held a lead of fewer than 20,000 votes, with 99% of the votes tallied. Mr. Casey has yet to concede, pushing the race into a recount process.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz is currently consulting with senior defense officials to evaluate the situation regarding the hostages held by Hamas, according to his office.
Earlier today, the Shin Bet announced that its director, Ronen Bar, convened a joint session with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, who is overseeing the IDF’s efforts related to the hostages.
In a brief statement, the Shin Bet noted that the meeting was centered on “advancing the efforts to return the hostages.”
Channel 12 reported that Katz received a particularly somber briefing from these security leaders regarding the dire condition of the hostages, who have been in captivity for more than 400 days.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence that the ongoing war with Russia would “end sooner” under Donald Trump’s leadership as the next US president.
Zelensky described his recent phone conversation with Trump, following his electoral victory, as a “constructive exchange.”
While he did not disclose whether Trump proposed specific terms regarding potential negotiations with Russia, Zelensky confirmed that nothing Trump said conflicted with Ukraine’s stance.
Trump has consistently emphasized his priority to bring an end to the conflict—which began in February 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine—and to address what he calls the strain on US resources caused by extensive military aid to Kyiv.

Dear Matzav Inbox,
Recently, I overheard a conversation where someone referred to their group as “anshei shlomeinu.” Actually, it was “anshei shlomeini.”
Now, maybe I’m oversensitive, but that term bothers me. Actually, it really bothers me. Because it screams, loud and clear: “We’re in, and you’re out.”
Let’s think about this. In a generation where Klal Yisroel is under attack from every direction—spiritually, physically, and emotionally—how can we afford to talk like this? How can we afford to put up walls between one Yid and another? By using the term “anshei shlomeinu,” it feels like you’re saying, “This group of Yidden is mine, but everyone else? Not really my problem.”

The Be’er Sheva District Court has found Yuval Kahan and Aviv Bar-David, leaders of the Bnei Zion Premilitary Academy, guilty of negligent manslaughter in the deaths of ten individuals and negligent injury in the cases of two others. The charges stem from their accountability for the Tzafit River tragedy, where ten academy students lost their lives.
The court ruling noted: “There remains reasonable doubt that Yuval internalized Aviv’s messages about entering Tzafit. Yuval was disconnected from the group for 13 hours. The first time he spoke with Aviv after their conversation was after the disaster.”

The IDF announced on Sunday evening the tragic loss of Captain Yogev Pazy, 22, from Giv’ot Bar, and Staff Sergeant Noam Eitan, 21, from Chadeira, during military operations in northern Gaza.
Captain Pazy served as a platoon commander in the Nachshon Battalion (90) of the Kfir Brigade, while Staff Sergeant Eitan was a soldier under his command in the same battalion.
Captain Pazy was related to former IDF Chief of Staff MK Gadi Eisenkot (National Unity), being the son of Eisenkot’s wife’s sister. This devastating news adds to the losses Eisenkot has already endured, having lost both a son and another nephew earlier in the war during ground operations in Gaza.

J. Ann Selzer, the famous Iowa pollster whose latest state poll got the 2024 presidential election results wildly wrong, will no longer do election polling. Selzer, 68, wrote in a Des Moines Register column that she would pursue “other ventures and opportunities,” though she didn’t outline what those would look like.

Donald Trump, the President-elect, is assembling what former House Speaker Newt Gingrich describes as “the most reform-oriented Cabinet” in decades. Gingrich anticipates fierce resistance from leftist groups and even some establishment figures, especially over Trump’s selection of Pete Hegseth as defense secretary.
“I’m watching President Trump create the most reform-oriented Cabinet in my lifetime,” Gingrich stated during an appearance on “The Cats Roundtable” on WABC 77 FM-N.Y. on Sunday morning.