>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY MJM INSURANCE GROUP.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

AND BY THE FIELD MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VENOZI.

>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I'M IN FOR BRIANA VENOZI.

NEW JERSEY REACHED ITS HIGHEST ONE DAY TOTAL OF COVID CASES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

9711.

IT'S BEEN A FULL WEEK OF 6000 NEW CASES A DAY.

THIS AS HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO CLIMB WITH 2100 AS OF TODAY.

FOR THOSE UNABLE TO AVOID INFECTION, PFIZER HAS BEEN GRANTED FDA APPROVAL FOR ITS ORAL ANTI-VIRAL PILL THAT CAN BE TAKEN AT HOME BY ANYONE AGE 12 AND UP.

THEY EXPECT TO PRODUCE CLOSE TO 200,000 COURSES OF THE TREATMENT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE DRUG IS 89% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATION.

BUT AS THIS SPIKE CONTINUES, SOME MAYORS ARE NOT WAITING FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY TO TEIGEN COVID RESTRICTIONS IN THE STATE.

AND ARE TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

MAPLEWOOD, SOUTH ORANGE, AND MONTCLAIR HAVE JOINED WITH NEWARK WITH AN INDOOR MASK MANDATE.

AND THE MAYOR SAID HE'S READY TO ENFORCE AN INDOOR VACCINE REQUIREMENT IF THE NUMBERS THERE REMAIN HIGH.

THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY ANNOUNCED TODAY, IT WILL CLOSE ITS CAMPUS FOR THE THREE-WEEK WINTER SESSION IN JANUARY.

AND CITY MD ANNOUNCED 19 LOCATION CLOSURES DUE TO STAFFING CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY THE RISING COVID NUMBERS AND THE CRUSH OF PEOPLE SEEKING TESTING.

THREE OF THE 19 LOCATIONS ARE IN NEW JERSEY.

IN WAYNE, JERSEY CITY, AND RAREDON.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAVE VIMP TOMS OR NEED A TEST?

RAVEN SANTANA HAS THE LATEST.

>> BASICALLY, WHEN THE PREDICTIONS CAME OUT.

THEY HAVE THE SORT OF THE LOW, THE MIDDLE AND THE HIGH-RISK MODELS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON TRACK TO BE ALL READY PASSED THE MODERATE RISK.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE HIGH- RISK IN TERMS OF PARTICULARLY ICU AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW PRETTY DISTURBINGLY HIGH.

WE'RE ON TRACK BY MID JANUARY TO HAVE ABOUT 1500 PEOPLE IN THE ICU.

ABOUT 7 TO 1000 ON VENTILATORS.

AND THE BIG CONCERN IS THE LACK OF HOSPITAL BEDS.

WE'RE ON TRACK TO RUN OUT OF HOSPITAL BEDS AS WELL AS THE STAFF CAPACITY TO MANAGE ALL OF THIS.

>>> MONTCLAIR EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. STEPHANIE SAYS COVID TESTING LINES LIKE THIS ONE AT CITY MD IN NEWARK WON'T BE AS LONG AS THE LINES FOR HOSPITAL BEDS NEEDED IN THE ICUs IF CASES IN JERSEY CONTINUE TO TREND IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

SHE'S ALARMED BY THE RATE THE NEWEST VARIANT IS SPREADING THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION IS HIGHER THAN DELTA.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WHO IT'S CAUSING MILDER ILLNESS OR NOT.

BUT IF YOU INCREASE THE DENOMINATOR.

EVEN IF RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE HAVE SEVERE ILLNESS, MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK WILL MEAN MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED AND POTENTIALLY ARE GOING TO DIE.

>> WHICH IS WHY SHE SAYS TESTING AND KNOWING YOUR COVID STATUS IS CRITICAL.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT.

AND WHETHER THEY WAITED A FEW HOURS OR A FEW MINUTES, ALMOST EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH SAID THEY DID NEED TO WAIT FOR THE RESULTS FROM THEIR COVID TESTS TO CHANGE THEIR PLANS THIS HOLIDAY.

THE LONGEST I WAITED WAS EIGHT HOURS.

I'M NOT SCARED OF POTENTIALLY GETTING COVID.

IT'S MORE LIKE PROTECTING THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.

THAT'S IT.

JUST TO BE AWARE.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLANS ON BEING AROUND ANYBODY FOR THE HOLIDAYS BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE SO HIGH.

IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY HAS COVID.

LIKE LITERALLY.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO CHILL OUT AND STAY HOME WHERE IT'S SAFE.

>> IF YOU TEST POSITIVE -- >> IF YOU GET A POSITIVE TEST, THAT MEANS THAT YOU ARE INFECTED AND YOU SHOULD BE ISOLATING YOURSELF.

YOU NEED TO KEEP AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

HOW LONG?

YOU NEED TO BE ISOLATED FOR TEN DAYS, A MINIMUM OF TEN DAYS FROM THE TIME OF THAT POSITIVE TEST.

>> IF YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED, STATE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH ADVISER DR. MEG FISHER SAYS -- >> FIRST OF ALL WE WANT TO KNOW ARE YOU VACCINATED OR NOT?

IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED AND YOU'RE EXPOSED, THAT'S THE HIGHEST RISK.

WE WANT YOU TO BE TESTED FROM THREE TO FIVE DAYS AFTER YOUR EXPOSURE, SOONER IF YOU GET SYMPTOMS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS, BUT YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WITH COVID, YOU SHOULD BE TESTED WITHIN THREE TO FIVE DAYS.

IF THE TEST COMES BACK NEGATIVE, THEN YOU SHOULD FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT YOU SHOULD STILL BE QUARANTINING.

KEEPING YOURSELF AWAY FROM OTHERS FOR A MINIMUM OF SEVEN DAYS.

>> IF YOU'RE VACCINATED BUT YOU'RE SHOWING SYMPTOMS, NOW WHAT?

>> BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN IMMUNIZED, YOUR SYMPTOMS FROM COVID MAY BE PRETTY MILD.

SO YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD GET COVID TESTED.

IF THE COVID TEST COMES BACK NEGATIVE, YOU STILL SHOULD CONSIDER THAT YOU COULD HAVE INFLUENZA.

WE KNOW THAT WE ARE AT A HIGH LEVEL OF INFLUENZA IN NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW.

>> WITH COVID CASES NEARING 10,000 TODAY.

BOTTOM LINE FOR EVERYONE -- >> EVERYBODY GET VACCINATED AND GET YOUR BOOSTER.

THE ONE THING I WILL ADD IS IF YOU HAD ONE OF THE ONE DOSE J AND J VACCINES AND IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS, YOU NEED A SECOND DOSE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY AT THIS POINT CONSIDERED ALMOST UNVACCINATED.

>> FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>> STUDENTS IN PATTERSON WON'T RETURN FROM THE HOLIDAY BREAK TO THEIR CLASSROOMS.

THE DISTRICT JUST ANNOUNCED IT'S GOING REMOTE UNTIL TUESDAY JANUARY 18th DUE TO THE RECENT COVID SPIKES IN THE REGION.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID YESTERDAY THAT STATE OFFICIALS WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP SCHOOL IN PERSON.

ESPECIALLY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE LEARNING LOSS HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.

EVEN STILL NEWARK, THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO PREPARING FOR A POSSIBLE SWITCH TO REMOTE AFTER THE BREAK SENDING STUDENTS AND STAFF HOME TODAY WITH THEIR SUPPLIES.

IF THEY DO GO VIRTUAL, COULD IT ONLY FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES THESE STUDENTS HAVE FACED SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC?

CATHERINE CORREA, BUREAU CHIEF OF NEWARK JOINS ME NOW TO TALK IT THROUGH.

CATHERINE, WITH PATTERSON ALL READY ANNOUNCING PLANS TO GO REMOTE, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT NEWARK WILL FOLLOW SUIT ?

>> THEY'RE NOT INDICATING HOW LIKELY IT IS.

BUT BASED ON THE NUMBERS WE'RE SEEING IN NEWARK, IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

A STRONG POSSIBILITY THE DISTRICT REPORTED LAST NIGHT AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING THAT POSITIVE CASES TRIPLED BETWEEN THANKSGIVING AND TUESDAY.

THEY WERE AT ABOUT 200 CASES AMONG STUDENTS BEFORE THANKSGIVING.

AND THEY WERE ABOUT 750 POSITIVE CASES BETWEEN THE THANKSGIVING BREAK AND THIS WEEK.

SO -- >> PLANNING AHEAD.

THERE'S A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK.

IS IT WISE NOW THAT THEY'RE KIND OF GETTING AHEAD OF THIS?

>> YEAH.

I TALKED TO THE TEACHER'S UNION PRESIDENT THIS MORNING.

AND HE SAID THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS TIME AROUND AND THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING REMOTE AND BACK MARCH 2020 IS THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW DAYS TO PREPARE.

THEY ARE SENDING STUDENTS HOME, TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF IN- PERSON SCHOOL OR BEFORE THE BREAK STARTS.

AND THEY'RE SENDING STUDENTS HOME WITH DEVICES.

THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CONNECTIVITY AT HOME.

SO I THINK THE PREPARATION IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING.

>> WE'RE SEEING THIS MOVEMENT TOWARDS REMOTE IN URBAN DISTRICTS.

BUT WE'RE REALLY NOT SEEING IT AS MUCH IN MANY SUBURBAN DISTRICTS WHERE IN FACT SUPERINTENDENTS ARE HOLDING ON TRYING TO KEEP THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

WE SEE A MACKENZY AND COMPANY REPORT THAT CAME OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK SHOWING UR BEEN STUDENTS NATIONALLY, AND WE TAKE THAT HERE IN NEW JERSEY, IN OUR LARGEST CITIES, THEY'RE TRENDING ABOUT 12 MONTHS BEHIND THEIR SUBURBAN PEERS IN TERMS OF ACADEMIC SCORES IN TESTING.

IF THESE CITIES GO REMOTE AND OTHER MU POLICE THE PALTIES STAY IN-PERSON, DO WE JUST WIDEN THAT LEARNING LOSS GAP?

>> I THINK THAT CONCERN IS VERY REAL, ESPECIALLY IN NEWARK.

WHERE WE'RE SEEING, BASED ON SCORES FROM THE FALL AND SCORES FROM LAST SPRING THAT IT'S TRENDING, AND IT'S FOLLOWING NATIONAL TRENDS IN THAT LOW INCOME, BROWN AND BLACK STUDENTS, ARE REALLY FALLING BEHIND.

THEY FELL BEHIND DURING REMOTE LEARNING AND THEN THEY'RE STRUGGLING AS THEY'RE COMING BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE START STRONG TESTS, WE SAW THAT ABOUT 81% OF FOURTH GRADERS LANDED IN THE LOWEST SCORE RANGE IN THE MATH TEST.

SO I THINK THAT'S A VERY REAL CONCERN AND SOMETHING THAT TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE TOP OF MIND.

>> GIVEN THE FACT THAT SO MANY STUDENTS FAIR VERY WELL WITH THIS VIRUS, DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S A MISTAKE TO GO REMOTE AT THIS POINT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOR ME TO SAY, I THINK THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO -- I THINK THERE ARE MANY PARENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE LIKELIHOOD OR POSSIBILITY OF THEIR CHILD GETTING CORONAVIRUS.

AND SO I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO JUGGLE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, HEALTH AND THEIR CHILD FALLING BEHIND.

>> CERTAINLY SOME TOUGH DECISIONS TO HAVE TO MAKE.

CATHERINE CORREA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IF YOU CAN'T SEEM TO KEEP YOUR CASH IN YOUR WALLET, YOU MIGHT HAVE RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS TO BLAME.

THE HIGH COST OF HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE IS ACTUALLY OUT PACING THE GROWTH OF THE LARGER ECONOMY.

IT'S AN ISSUE GOVERNOR MURPHY IS TACKLING HEAD ON.

SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER EARLIER TODAY TO LAUNCH AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL EXAMINE WHY COSTS ARE SO HIGH.

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

THE PROGRAM WILL START COLLECTING DATA AND ISSUING REPORTS NEXT YEAR AND THEN AIMS TO LIMIT ANY ADDITIONAL GROWTH IN HEALTH CARE COSTS TO JUST 3.5% IN 2023.

BUT ULTIMATELY THE GOAL IS TO CUT THAT NUMBER BACK TO 2.8% GROWTH BY 2027.

EVERY TEN YEARS THE LINES OF NEW JERSEY'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE REDRAWN AND THIS MORNING, AFTER MONTHS OF POLITICAL PETITIONING BETWEEN TWO MAJOR PARTIES, JUSTICE JOHN WALLACE GAVE THE TIE BREAKING VOTE TO THE DEMOCRATS.

SELECTING THEIR MAP FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

SENIOR WRITER COLLEEN O'DAY JOINS ME NOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE NEW LINES MEAN FOR EACH PARTY AND THE 2022 ELECTION.

COLLEEN, AFTER BOTH PARTIES HAD A CHANCE TO PRESENT THEIR VERSION OF WHAT A MAP SHOULD LOOK LIKE, WE NOW HAVE AN APPROVED CONGRESSIONAL MAP HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

JUST EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW THAT DECISION WAS REACHED.

>> SO IT HAPPENED LIKE IT HAS IN THE PAST, THE DEMOCRATS PUT FORTH A MAP, THE REPUBLICANS PUT FORTH A MAP, AND FORMER JUSTICE JOHN WALLACE CHOSE FROM BETWEEN THEM.

HE CHOSE THE DEMOCRAT'S MAP.

HE SAID BECAUSE TEN YEARS AGO THE REPUBLICANS HAD GOTTEN A CHANCE TO DRAW THE MAP.

HE SAID THAT THE TWO SUBMISSIONS WERE REALLY -- THEY MET ALL THE OTHER CRITERIA.

AND SO THAT WAS THE WAY THAT HE MADE THAT DECISION.

IT WAS A REALLY QUICK MEETING.

IT TOOK LESS THAN 16 MINUTES.

AND THEY WERE IN AND OUT.

>> CERTAINLY REPUBLICANS ARE A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WITH THAT DECISION.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

AND WHAT CHANGED IN NEW JERSEY?

SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICTS 7 AND 3?

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU KNOW, DISTRICT 7 IS WHAT WE HAD BEEN HEARING ALL ALONG THAT TOM, THE DEMOCRAT WHO CAME IN IN 2018 WOULD KIND OF BE THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE.

THAT HIS DISTRICT WAS CHANGED SO THAT IT BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE REPUBLICAN.

IT NOW WILL TAKE ON ALL OF WARREN COUNTY.

WHICH WE KNOW IS, YOU KNOW, A REPUBLICAN BASTIAN IN THE STATE.

AS WELL AS PART OF SUSSEX COUNTY.

RIGHT NOW IT HAS A LITTLE WARREN COUNTY AND NO SUSSEX COUNTY.

THAT -- WHAT THAT DOES IS, IT DEFINITELY MAKES IT MORE REPUBLICAN, AND THAT WAS DONE IN PART TO MAKE THE ELEVENTH DISTRICT, WHICH IS MIKEY CHERYL'S DISTRICT MORE DEMOCRATIC SO THAT MIKEY'S DISTRICT MOVES NOW FURTHER EAST AND GETS RID OF SUSSEX COUNTY WHICH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN IS A REPUBLICAN AREA.

>> DOES THAT OPEN THE DOOR THEN FOR SENATOR TOM CANE JR. TO TAKE OVER IN DISTRICT 7?

>> I MEAN I WOULD CALL THIS A CHRISTMAS GIFT TO SENATOR CANE, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN IT'S REALLY GOING TO BOLSTER HIS CHANCES I THINK IN THE DISTRICT.

I MEAN, YOU SHOULDN'T COUNTY MALINOWSKI OUT, CERTAINLY, BUT IT DEFINITELY CHANGES THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE VOTING PATTERNS TO, I THINK GIVE TOM CANE AN EDGE.

>> AND IN DISTRICT THREE, COLLEEN, WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> IN DISTRICT THREE, THIS DID NOT DISADVANTAGE ANOTHER MEMBER BUT CERTAINLY IT WAS MADE MORE DEMOCRATIC TO HELP ANDY KIM STAY IN OFFICE.

ANDY KIM CAME IN IN THE 2018 BLUE WAVE.

HIS DISTRICT CURRENTLY IS MOST OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, AND PROBABLY ABOUT HALF OF OCEAN.

HIS DISTRICT LOST ALL OF OCEAN COUNTY.

WHICH IS THE MORE REPUBLICAN PART.

IN FAVOR OF MOVING NORTH INTO PART OF MONMOUTH, AND PART OF MERCER COUNTY.

IT ALSO PICKED UP MORE OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, WHICH HAS BEEN THE BLUER PART OF THE DISTRICT.

SO THAT SHOULD CERTAINLY HELP HIM STAY IN AS A RESULT.

JEFF ANDREW'S DISTRICT NEEDED TO GROW IN SIZE BECAUSE IT HAD THE SMALLEST POPULATION GROWTH.

OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

AND CERTAINLY THIS WILL HELP HIM TO STAY IN OFFICE.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GIVEN UP ON THE SECOND DISTRICT.

>> COLLEEN O'DAY, THANKS FOR PUTTING IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR US.

BODY CAMERAS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR SOME U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCE ., OR ICE AGENTS IN NEWARK, THE FEDERAL AGENCY IS LAUNCHING THE PILOT PROGRAM IN THREE CITIES, NEWARK, NEW YORK CITY, AND HOUSTON.

AND THE BODY CAMERAS WILL BE WORN FOR PRE-PLANNED OPERATIONS STARTING WITH ICE SWAT AGENTS.

THE FOOTAGE WILL BE REVIEWED IN CASES WHERE FORCE WAS USED AMONG OTHERS.

THE GOAL IS TO BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE AGENCY.

THOSE HELP-WANTED SIGNS JUST DON'T SEEM TO BE HELPING.

BUSINESS OWNERS IN NEW JERSEY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO FIND AND KEEP STAFF EVEN AS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE STATE REMAINS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

MANY OWNERS ARE LEFT WONDERING WHAT MORE THEY NEED TO DO TO FIND PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER HAS THEIR STORY.

>> I HAVE, WELL, AN ENTIRE FOLDER HERE.

OF NO-SHOWS.

IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

>> RALPH WOLF EARNS THE APPLIANCE STORE.

THEY'RE TWO EMPLOYEES SHORT OF WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

BUT SINCE THE NEED FOR SERVICE AND APPLIANCES HAVE INCREASED, THEY NOW NEED EVEN MORE HELP AND THE SEARCH FOR NEW HIRES IS A STRUGGLE.

>> IF WE WERE COMING TO YOUR HOME, YOU NEEDED US TO SERVICE YOUR WASHER, THE LACK OF EMPLOYEES WOULD EXTEND THE LECT OF TIME IT WOULD TAKE US TO GET OUT THERE.

SO INSTEAD OF WAITING A COUPLE DAYS OR EVEN HAVING SAME-DAY SERVICE, YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS.

>> WOLF ISN'T THE ONLY ONE DEALING WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES.

BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE ARE REPORTING DIFFICULTIES WITH HAVING A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES DESPITE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BEING HIGHER.

>> IT'S THE PERFECT STORM.

WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE ON EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND THESE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED DUE TO THE HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

AND A RECENT STUDY SHOWED MANY PEOPLE SAID WHILE THEY STILL HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THEY'RE NOT IN ANY RUSH TO COME BACK TO WORK.

>> INDUSTRIES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO PHYSICALLY COME TO WORK LIKE RETAIL TEND TO BE IMPACTED THE MOST.

AND WITH INCREASING COVID CASES AROUND THE STATE, THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY IS ALSO HAVING A HARD TIME STAYING PROPERLY STAFFED.

>> IF WE CAN'T PUT OUR CHILDREN IN SAFE CHILD CARE, THEN PARENTS CAN'T GET BACK TO WORK.

AND THIS HAS HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON WORKING WOMEN FOR SURE.

>> AS OF NOVEMBER, THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS AT 6.6%.

THAT'S A DECREASE FROM THE MONTH BEFORE AT 7%.

BUT THE RATE IS STILL HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 4.2%.

>> WE HAD IT ONLY ABOUT 800 JOBS IN JANUARY.

IN SEPTEMBER, AND OCTOBER, WE ADDED OVER 20,000 JOBS.

SO IF WE HAD GOTTEN 20,000 JOBS IN A PRE-PANDEMIC YEAR, WE'D BE DOING A HAPPY DANCE.

BUT ALL THE MATHEMATICS HAVE CHANGED WITH THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE ECONOMY IS DOING GOOD.

BUT WE STILL HAVE OVER 300,000 UNFILLED JOB OPENINGS IN NEW JERSEY.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE 300,000 PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED.

SO WE HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A MISMATCH IN THE LABOR MARKET.

>> A MISMATCH LABOR EXPERTS BELIEVE CAN TURN AROUND WITH TIME.

>> REMEMBER WE'RE COMPARING EVERYTHING TO FEBRUARY OF 2020.

AND IT TOOK US TEN YEARS TO GET TO THE POSITION WE WERE IN FEBRUARY 2020.

WHICH HAS BEEN TERMED A GOLDILOCKS ECONOMY.

NOT TOO HOT.

NOT TOO COLD.

JUST RIGHT.

HIGH LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT.

LOW LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND ABSOLUTELY NO INFLATION.

>> WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BRING RESOURCES TO NEW JERSEY BUSINESS.

WE HAVE ASKED OUR GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE TO USE OUR FEDERAL RECOVERY MONEY IN ORDER TO STIMULATE WORKERS TO COME BACK TO WORK BY WAY OF CREATING NOT JUST INCENTIVES BUT TAX CREDITS TO EMPLOYERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING ECONOMIC LOSSES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> EVEN THOUGH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE WOLF SAY BEING SHORT STAFFED IS A CHALLENGE.

THEY'RE DETERMINED TO PUSH THROUGH AND STAY OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M ALYSSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> NOW HERE'S A LOOK A HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED TODAY.

NEW JERSEY IS GETTING A RUSH OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO CLEAN UP OUR DRINKING WATER.

BUT THE $169 MILLION IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR ALL THE CONTAMINATION THE STATE IS CONTENDING WITH.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, I TALKED WITH SEAN, THE COMMISSIONER OF NEW JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ABOUT WHAT'S NEEDED TO CLEAN UP OUR DRINKING WATER.

>> SEAN, THERE'S FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS COMING TO NEW JERSEY TO FOCUS ON TWO THINGS.

ONE, REMEDIATING LED IN OUR PIPES AND TWO, REALLY DEALING WHERE THIS CONTAMINATION THE P FAS CONTAMINATION IN OUR WATER.

EXPLAIN WHAT MONEY IS COMING TO NEW JERSEY AND HOW IT SHOULD HELP?

>> NEW JERSEY IS GOING TO BE THE BENEFICIARY OF WELL OVER $10 BILLION OF FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

A GOOD AMOUNT OF THAT IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FIVE- YEAR DEPLOYMENT, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT NEW JERSEY WILL RECEIVE $170 MILLION FOR NEW WATER INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND WILL BEGIN PLANNING THE PLANNING FOR THOSE INVESTMENTS IN JANUARY.

>> SO 169 MILLION I BELIEVE IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT.

BUT EXPLAIN WHAT THE TOTAL COST WOULD BE IF NEW JERSEY WERE TO REPLACE ALL OF ITS LED PIPE SYSTEMS.

>> SURE, THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT LED.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING WATER TO PEOPLE TO BEGIN WITH.

AND REMEDIATING THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE THERE.

WHETHER IT'S LED.

WHETHER IT'S SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS OR THE LIKE.

AND SO WHAT WE DO IS WE ASSESS THE NEEDS OF THE STATE IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

NEW JERSEY HAS ABOUT A 30 BILLION-DOLLAR NEED FOR UPGRADING ITS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND WE ESTIMATE AROUND 2 TO 3 BILLION IS FOR LED ALONE.

>> OKAY.

SO OF THAT 2 TO APPROXIMATE BILLION, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE -- 2 TO 3 BILLION, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT TO TARGET FIRST, AND WHERE THOSE MONEYS, THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS ARE GOING TO GO.

>> SURE, SO THE WAY THAT WE GO ABOUT PLANNING THE INVESTMENTS IS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT'S CALLED THE INTENDED USE PLAN.

WE GATHER WATER SYSTEMS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND THE WATER-SEWER DEPARTMENTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS BETTER.

AND TO SEE WHAT PROJECTS THEY WANT TO PRIORITIZE.

AND WE CREATE A RANKING OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN FIRST AND HOW.

AND WE CREATE PACKAGES FROM THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL INVESTMENT, WE CAN CREATE BILLIONS, A FINE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE GOVERNOR'S FIRST TERM, WE WILL HIT $2 BILLION IN PROJECT VALUE BY THE TIME THE GOVERNOR IS IN HIS SECOND TERM, AND THAT IS A PRODUCT OF THE WAY WE LEVERAGE THE FUNDS AND CREATE REALLY LOW INTEREST RATES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WATER UTILITY FUNDS.

>> WITH A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT, IS IT THE SAME PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING P FAS, THOSE CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE INCREASINGLY BEING FOUND IN OUR DRINKING WATER?

>> THERE'S NOT A SINGLE COST ESTIMATE FOR ALL P FAS CONCERNS.

BECAUSE WE'RE STILL INVESTIGATING EXACTLY WHERE THESE CONTAMINANTS ARE.

AND IN FACT, WE ARE PURSUING LAWSUITS AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THEM AND PUTTING THEM INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

LEAVING THE PUBLIC TO CLEAN UP THEIR DRINKING WATER THAT'S BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH P FAS.

WE HAVE OVER 10% OF WATER SYSTEMS IN THE STATE THAT HAVE A P FAS PROBLEM.

AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR TREATMENT, WHERE THAT ARISES, AND WHAT TYPE OF TREATMENT IS BEST GOING TO REMOVE IT.

THAT'S ALL PART OF THE COST EQUATION.

>> FAIR TO SAY IT'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR GETTING OUR DRINKING WATER CLEAN, SEAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

THEIR EYES WERE ALL AGLOW IN PATTERSON AS THE CITY HOSTED A MASSIVE TOY GIVE AWAY AND A VISIT WITH THE BIG GUY.

3000 KIDS EACH RECEIVED A GIFT DONATED BY PROTECTIVE HEALTH GARY.

A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT MAKES N95 MASKS.

AND BY HAZEL CLARK.

THE DAUGHTER OF THE PATTERSON ICON JOE CLARK FORMER PRINCIPAL OF EAST SIDE HIGH.

HE BELIEVED IN GIVING CHILDREN PRIDE.

TODAY 3000 KIDS NO DOUBT FELT PRIDE AND JOY.

THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT FOR YOU TONIGHT.

HEAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

AND CHECK OUT SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN RING PROJECT.

BY ORSTED.

AND PSEG.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON MORE THAN CLEAN ENERGY.

OUR FUTURE RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES.

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 PARKS, HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN, SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.