Sen. Bob Menendez Pleads Not Guilty To Bribery Charges; Student Mental Health Week: Night 4

MetroFocus: The Podcast

METROFOCUS & NJ PBS / NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS SPECIAL REPORT: SEN. BOB MENENDEZ PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO BRIBERY CHARGES

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey and his wife, Nadine, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to bribery charges. Federal prosecutors allege the Senator took bribes of cash and bars of gold in exchange for his political influence to aid Egypt’s government and do favors for local business people. Mr. Menendez is refusing to resign, although the number of Democratic Senators calling for him to step down continues to grow - including Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). Joining MetroFocus to discuss the case and what happens next is the anchor of NJ Spotlight News on NJ PBS, Briana Vannozzi.

METROFOCUS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH WEEK: NIGHT 4 - “TEEN RACE OF HOPE”: SPOTLIGHTING THE STIGMA AROUND YOUTH DEPRESSION

All this week, MetroFocus is bringing you stories on mental health from a variety of perspectives. We'll hear families, students, and doctors discuss this urgent issue and explore emerging solutions. Tonight, the state of teen mental health across the nation is urgent. More than one in three high school students reports feeling persistent hopelessness, a 40% increase since 2009, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death for adolescents. To raise awareness of these issues, as well as raise money for research into depression, more than 275 teenagers and their families in May took part in the first “Teen Race of Hope,” a 5k (3.1 mile) run along the West Side Highway in New York City. Joining MetroFocus to discuss the race, as well as what is next in the efforts to understand and treat depression, are: Hayden Lucas, a New York City high school student who came up with the idea to hold the “Teen Race of Hope” and served as Chief Student Ambassador for the Race; and Louisa Benton, the Executive Director of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation.