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

RWJ BARN BUS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT, AND CREATION OF A NEW LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BREANNA.

>> HE'LL LO ARKS AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

IT'S THE FINAL FULL DAY OF CAMPAIGNING.

POLLS OPEN AT 6:00 A.M.

TOMORROW BUT THEY WON'T BE AS BUSY AS IN THE PAST BECAUSE MORE THAN 200,000 VOTERS HAVE CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN THE STATE'S FIRST EVER EARLY IN- PERSON VOTING PERIOD.

THAT OPTION ENDED YESTERDAY AND JUST UNDER HALF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY VOTED BY MAIL.

SO WHO'S VOTING AND HOW?

STATE DATA SHOWS MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY DEMOCRATS HAVE USED ONE OF THE EARLY VOGT METHODS COMPARED TO REPUBLICANS AND OVERALL MORE THAN ONE IN TEN REGISTERED VOTERS HAS CAST THEIR BALLOT.

A NEW RUTGERS EAGLETON POLL SHOW OF REGISTERED VOTERS, 50% WILL VOTE OR HAVE VOTED TO REELECT GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY WHILE 42% HAVE OR WILL VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN CONTENDER JACK CHITARELI AND THAT POLL GIVING MURPHY AN EIGHT POINT LEAD.

FOR THOSE VOTING FOR MURPHY, DID HE DELIVER ON THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES HE MADE?

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE LOOKS AT PROMISES MADE AND HOW EFFECTIVE HE'S BEEN IN THE EYES OF VOTERS.

>> IN FOUR SHORT YEARS, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY HAS GONE FROM THIS AWKWARD GUIDE FIGURE TO THIS SLIGHTLY LESS AWKWARD DAD FIGURE.

BEYOND THE FOOT WORK, IS THE BIG DIFFERENCE OF ANY BETWEEN THE POLICIES AND THE POLITICS BETWEEN PHIL MURPHY OF 2017 AND PHIL MURPHY TODAY.

>> PHIL MURPHY 2017 WAS IN AWE AND HE NEVER HAD ANY EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT BEFORE AND HE GOT HIS FEET WET IN 2017, AND I THINK THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN MORE THAN HE EVER EXPECTED IN MY WAYS, LEAST OF WHICH IS COVID.

>> THE 2017 MURPHY COULD NOT HAVE NOT PREPARED FOR COVID AND WHERE COVID HURT THE GOVERNOR MOST IS AMONG THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WHERE LOCKDOWNS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERCE WERE NOT POP POPULAR AT ALL.

>> I DIDN'T THINK HE'D BE TERRIBLE FOR BUSINESS BECAUSE OF CONVERSATIONS WE HAD BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED AND HIS BACKGROUND AT GOLDMAN SACHS.

HAS HE BEEN TERRIBLE FOR BUSINESS?

HE HAS NOT BUT NOT AS PROACTIVE FOR BUSINESS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AS WE'D LIKE.

>> THAT'S PRETTY HIGH PRAISE FOR SOMEONE AS FAR TO THE LEFT AS MURPHY.

IT'S ON THE LEFT WHERE MURPHY HAS MADE THE MOST AND KEPT THE MOST PROMISES.

PAID SICK LEAVE, FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MINIMUM WAGE, MILLIONAIRES TAX, ET CETERA.

>> HE WAS ABLE TO ADOPT THE PROGRESSIVE AGENDA BECAUSE HE WAS THE OUTSIDER AND TAKE ON THE ENTROPHINNED INTEREST OF THE PARTY AND MORE ON THE PART, HE DELIVERED.

HE'S NO LONGER THE OUTSIDER AND HE'S BEEN MORE TEMPER ON HIS PROPOSALS BUT WE ARE BETTER OFF WITH A SECOND TERM OF FILL MURPHY THAN GOING BACK TO THE YEARS OF CHRIS CHRISTIE, >> HE GIVES MURPHY CREDIT FOR HIS POLICIES BUT SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION MUST STEP UP TO LEAVE ON KEY ISSUES AND PRISON REFORM.

>> WE HAVE REDUCED THE PRISON POPULATION IN OUR STATE BY 42%.

THAT'S REMARKABLE.

NOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THE WORST RACIAL DISPARITIES IN OUR PRISONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

>> MURPHY HAD TO BALANCE A BOISTEROUS PROGRESSIVE END TO THE PARTY WITH A MORE CONSERVATIVE END AND [INAUDIBLE] RAN AGAINST MURPHY IN THE 2017 PRIMARY AND JERSEY'S GOVERNOR MAY BE POWERFUL ON PAPER BUT THE LEGISLATURE CAN HAVE A TIGHT LEASH.

>> BECAUSE THE POWER IS ONLY THERE IF YOU COME IN WITH THIS ENORMOUS PERSONAL MANDATE OR YOU HAVE WONDERFUL RELATIONS WITH YOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP.

>> AND IT'S THERE WHERE ANOTHER 2017 PRIMARY OPPONENT SAYS MURPHY HAS EVOLVED THE MOST.

>> HE'S BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY UNIFIED THROUGHOUT THESE AFTER SOME STUMBLING IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT DID IN JOHN CORSLINE.

HE WASN'T ABLE TO KEEP THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TOGETHER AND THAT'S THE KEY TO GETTING REELECTED IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THAT BRINGS US BACK TO FANCY FOOT WORK.

CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE FORCED PHIL MURPHY TO LEARN A LOT OF NEW MOVES IN FOUR YEARS.

IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS NOW WHETHER THEY WANT TO PUNCH HIS DANCE CARD FOR ANOTHER FOUR.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> AND WITH JUST HOURS TO GO TILL TUESDAY'S POLLS OPEN, JACK CHITARELLI IS MAKING HIS FINAL PLEA TO VOTERS THAT HE SHOULD BE GOVERNOR TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE MOMENTUM HE'S BUILT OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND SHOOK MORE HANDS AND HEARD THOSE FINAL CONCERNS FROM FOLKS AROUND THE STATE TODAY.

BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO GET HIM OVER THE GOAL LINE?

BRENDA FLANNIGAN HAS THE STORY.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GET OUT AND VOTE.

>> REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER JACK CHITARELI WOOED VOTERS AT A DINER, WHICH IS A STOP FOR RED AND BLUE CANDIDATES WITH LESS THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE POLLS OPEN ON ELECTION DAY AND HE'S GOT PRECIOUS LITTLE TIME LEFT TO CLOSE AN EIGHT POINT GAP REPORTED IN THE LATEST RUTGER'S EAGLETON POLL.

UNDECIDED VOTERS THINK HE'S PERSONALABLE PERSONABLE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HIM AS A GOVERNOR?

JIMMY JOWSKI I DON'T KNOW.

>> I SAID A 7 OUT OF 10.

I'LL DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON JACK AND SEE HOW I FEEL ABOUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

>> HIS BARN STORM THE STATE LOOKING TO SHORE UP SUPPORT AMONGST RELIABLE RE7 VOTERS AND OVERCOME THE MASSIVE 1 MILLION VOTE MARGIN OF REGISTERED NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS.

>> ENTHUSIASM APPEARS TO BE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND THAT HAS ESSENTIALLY HELPED JACK.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE'S ENOUGH OF IT.

NOW IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO FIND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED AS YOUR SUPPORTERS AND GETTING THEM TO THE POLLS.

>> CAMPAIGNING IN DEEP OCEAN COUNTY AND HIT DINERS IN BURLINGTON AND ATLANTIC TOO AND PEOPLE SAY HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY REPUBLICAN VOTES.

>> FOR SOMEONE LIKE JACK, YOU NEED TOURAINE THE REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS AND UNIFY THEM AND BRING THEM OVER AND MOTIVATING THE BASE AND PUSH ON HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE AND HIGH TAXES IN THE STATE AND HAVING VOTERS FOCUS ON THAT WILL REALLY HOPE JACK AT THE END.

>> HIS BASE KEEPS BRINGING UP DIVISIVE ISSUES LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOL SEX EDUCATION TEACHING GENDER IDENTITY.

>> TRANSVESTITES AND DRAG QUEENS AND HOMOSEXUALITY AND STUFF OUR CHILDREN DON'T NEED TO HEAR AT THIS TIME.

>> YOU DON'T WANT ANY SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOL.

>> NO, I'D LIKE THE SCHOOL TO STICK WITH MATH AND SCIENCE AND HISTORY.

THERE'S SO MUCH OTHER STUFF THAT THE TEACHERS CAN TEACH THE KIDS AND LEAVE ALL THE OTHER STUFF TO US AS PARENTS.

>> I THINK YOU SHOULD TALK TO PARENTS ABOUT THE KIND OF QUESTIONS THEIR 5 YEAR-OLDS ARE COMING HOME WITH BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT READY FOR THAT LESSON PLAN AND IT'S MAKING A LOT OF PARENTS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND WHEN THE ELECTION IS OVER, LET'S SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE EXPERTS AND WITH PARENTS.

I'LL TELL YOU A LOT OF PARENTS FEEL LIKE THEY'VE LISTEN LEFT OUT AS THE CONVERSATION SPECIFIC TO PUBLIC CURRICULUM.

>> THEY CONDEMNED THE POSITION STATING LGBTQ INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM ISN'T JUST IMPORTANT BUT IT'S ESSENTIAL TO THE HEALTH, WELL BEING, AND EDUCATION OF NEW JERSEY STUDENTS.

IN A VERY BLUE STATE THAT'S ONE OF SEVERAL SOCIAL ISSUES ON WHICH CHITARELLI WALK ADD VERY FINE LINE AS HE WORKS TO GET OUT THE VOTE.

>> I DON'T THINK EITHER SIDE CAN CONVINCE ANYMORE VOTERS AND THAT TIME HAS PASSED.

WHAT IS THE FOCUS FOR BOTH CAMPAIGNS AT THIS LATE STAGE IS TURNOUT.

WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS THE CRUNCH TIME OF KNOCKING ON DOORS, MAKING PHONE CALLS, DRAGGING PEOPLE TO THE POLLS IN ORDER SO THEY ACTUALLY VOTE.

THAT'S THE FOCUS AT THIS POINT.

>> I'M BRENDA FLANNIGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> WITH ALL OF THE LEGISLATIVE SEATS UP FOR GRAB TUESDAY IN THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE TO FLIP 13 TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE LOWER HOUSE AND SIX FOR THE UPPER HOW MANY TIMES BUT WITH DEMOCRATS FAR OUTNUMBERING REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE, THAT'LL BE A HEAVY LIFT.

AND ACCORDING TO THE LATEST RUTGERS EAGLETON POLL, MOST VOTERS ARE UN-AWARE THAT ELECTIONS FOR THE OFFICES ARE EVEN ON THE BALLOT.

WHICH SEATS ARE SAFE AND WHERE COULD EITHER PARTY SCORE AN UPSET?

NJ NEWS CORRESPONDENT HAS BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH.

COLLEEN, HOW MANY LEGISLATIVE SEATS ARE UP FOR REELECTION RIGHT NOW AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE IN CONTENTIOUS RACES?

>> SO, WE'VE GOT ALL 120 SEATS ARE UP.

THERE ARE 40 IN THE SENATE, 80 IN THE ASSEMBLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY DISTRICTS ARE DRAWING ONLY A FEW THAT ARE CONTENTIOUS AND WE'VE GOT THREE DISTRICTS.

TWO IN SOUTH JERSEY, ONE IN CENTRAL JERSEY.

THE SECOND, WHICH IS THE SECOND AND EIGHTH AROUND BURLINGTON COUNTY AND THEN THE 16th, WHICH IS IN SUMMERSET AND A BIT OF MIDDLE SET AND PRINCETON AND THOSE ARE THE THREE DISTRICTS.

>> THOSE DISTRICTS ARE SPREAD OUT AROUND THE STATE.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGING RIGHT NOW THAT REPUBLICANS ARE DRIVING TO TRY AND FLIP THOSE SEATS.

>> THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THAT PHIL MURPHY IS A KING.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT KING MURPHY, WE WANT SOMEBODY IN THERE TO KIND OF CHECK HIM SO IF YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE, THEN THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GIVE, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR MURPHY WHAT HE WANTS IF HE GETS REELECTED.

SO WE NEED REPUBLICANS IN CHARGE, WE NEED REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE TO CHECK THE GOVERNOR'S POWER AS WELL AS TO DO THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS USUALLY SAY, WHICH IS SMALLER GOVERNMENT, MORE CONSERVATIVE VALUES, YOU KNOW, SPEND LESS MONEY AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

>> COLLEEN, OF THOSE RACES, WHICH DO YOU THINK ARE DRIVING THAT MESSAGING HOME IN A WAY THAT'LL BE SUCCESSFUL?

AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE REVERSE, WHERE COULD DEMOCRATS POTENTIALLY PICK UP MORE SEATS?

>> YOU KNOW, SO FROM WHAT WE'RE HEARING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE EIGHTH DISTRICT SEAT, WHICH DON HOLDS, MAYBE THE MOST IN TROUBLE AND AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT BY THESE OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT GROUPS TO TRY AND PUSH OUR CANDIDACY AND SHE WAS A REPUBLICAN A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND SWITCHED TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND I THINK IT WAS THE WAY AND IN THE 16th DISTRICT DESPITE THE FACT THAT HAS BEEN A REPUBLICAN SEAT WITH KIP BEATMAN AND ANDREW IS WELL KNOWN AND SEEMS TO HAVE MOMENTUM BEHIND HIM AND HE'S RUNNING AGAINST A FORMER CONGRESSMAN LIKE PAPUS WITH NAME RECOGNITION AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY THERE AND IT FEELS REALLY CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL TAKE THE SENATE SEAT AS WELL AS HOLD ON TO THE ASSEMBLY SEATS.

>> THESE ARE NOT RACES THAT TEND TO TURN OUT A LOT OF VOTERS ON THEIR OWN.

THIS IS AN OFF YEAR ELECTION AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT GENERALLY IN THE OFF YEAR ELECTIONS AND WHAT DO WE EXPECT FOR THIS YEAR?

>> WE REALLY DON'T KNOW THESE YEARS TEND TO BE LOW TURN IN ELECTIONS.

FOUR YEARS AGO THERE WAS A 38% TURNOUT AND SO FAR ABOUT 11% OF FOLKS AND IT'LL BE HIGHER THAN 38% OR IT'LL JUST BE A LIGHTER TURNOUT TUESDAY AT THE POLLS.

WE'LL FIND OUT TOMORROW.

>> WE CERTAINLY WILL.

COLLEEN OIDIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JOANNA.

>> REMINDER TO JOIN US HERE ON NJPBS TOMORROW NIGHT FOR NJ DECIDES 2021 ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE AND THAT'S TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 AT 10:00 P.M.. WE'LL BRING YOU THE MOST UP TO DATE RACE RESULTS AND ANALYSIS FROM ALL THE MATCHUPS ACROSS THE STATE.

ALWAYS HEAD TO OUR DIGITAL NEWS SITE NJ NEWS.ORG FOR HOW AND WHERE TO VOTE TO SEE CANDIDATE PROFILES AND GET DISTRICT BY DISTRICT ANALYSIS AND ELECTION DAY RESULTS.

>>> THIS WEEKEND THE FDA SAYS IT NEEDS MORE TIME TO REVIEW MODERNA'S SHOT FOR KIDS AGE 12- 17 DUE TO THE RISK OF MYOCARDITIS BUT PFIZER'S SHOT FOR KIDS AGES 5-11 COULD BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO REACHING ARMS.

A CDC ADVISORY PANEL WILL MEET THIS WEEK TO REVIEW THE DATA AND CDC COULD SIGN OFF AS SOON AS WEDNESDAY.

THE FDA AUTHORIZED THE SHOT AND HERE IN NEW JERSEY, 6,060,000 PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED AND SEVERAL YOUNGER KIDS ARE ALREADY GOTTEN THE SHOT AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE RUTGER'S UNIVERSITY CLINICAL TRIAL.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS ON HOW THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT'S NEXT.

>> I WANT THEM TO BE VACCINATED SO WE CAN RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE.

>> ZACHARY IS THRILLED TO KNOW HIS THREE KIDS ARE ONE STEP CLOSE TORE BECOMING VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

>> THEY HAVE A TIGHT GROUP OF FRIENDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEY PLAY WITH TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THEIR HOUSES KNOWING ALL THE KIDS ARE VACCINATED IS A HUGE THING.

>> WAGMAN AND HIS WIFE PLACED THEIR THREE CHILDREN AGES 18 MONTHS TO 8 YEARS OLD IN PFIZER'S PEDIATRIC TRIAL AT RUTGER'S RWJ MEDICAL SCHOOL.

>> WE WANTED THAT EXTRA PROTECTION FOR THEM AND THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE EVERYONE AROUND US FEEL A BIT SAFER AND THEY WERE GOING INTO SCHOOL FULL- TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

IT CERTAINLY ALLEVIATED STRESS EVEN TO JUST KNOW THEY HAD LIKE A TWO-THIRDS CHANCE OF BEING VACCINATED.

>> PRETTY SOON, 760,000 CHILDREN ACROSS NEW JERSEY COULD BE ELIGIBLE TO GET A COVID VACCINE.

THE FDA APPROVED PFIZER'S SHOT FOR 5-11 YEAR-OLDS LAST WEEK AND KIDS IN THAT AGE GROUP WILL GET ONE-THIRD OF THE DOSE GIVEN TO ADULTS AS LONG AS CDC GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT AFTER ITS REVIEW TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY.

YOUNGER CHILDREN COULD BEGIN GETTING THEIR FIRST DOSE BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK.

NEW JERSEY ORDERED NEARLY 204,000 PEDIATRIC VACCINES AND IS DISTRIBUTING THEM TO MORE THAN 200 SITES.

>> THE STATE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR MONTHS AND GET AS MANY PEDIATRICIANS TO BECOME PROVIDERS AND THEY COULD BE GIVEN THE VACCINE AND WE KNOW ONE OF THE EASIEST AND BEST WAYS TO GET HEALTHCARE TO CHILDREN IS THROUGH THE SCHOOLS.

WE'RE TRYING TO SET UP A WHOLE VARIETY OF SCHOOL BASED CLINICS AND KNOW WHEN WE USE 12-17 YEAR- OLDS IMMUNIZED.

>> NOT ALL PARENTS WERE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THEIR KIDS VACCINATED AND ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY FROM THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, THEY'RE DIVIDE ABOUT A THIRD EAGER TO GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED AND A THIRD SAY THEY'LL NOT GET THEM THE SHOT AND ANOTHER THIRD SAY THEY'LL WAIT AND SEE BEFORE GETTING THEIR KIDS VACCINATED.

>> CHILDREN MAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF OUR POPULATION AND IF WE ARE TO ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY, WE NEED TO HAVE THEM VACCINATED TOO OTHERWISE IF THEY REMAIN SUSCEPTIBLE FOR THAT COVID-19 CAN INFECT, THEN THEY WILL THEN BE THE CARRIERS OF INFECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> IT'S JUST ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO BEING SAFER, FEELING SAFER, GETTING THEIR LIVES BACK TO NORMAL.

>> HER 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER MAYA TOOK PART IN THE TRIAL.

SHE SAYS THE VACCINATION WILL RETURN SOME FREEDOM TO HER DAUGHTER'S LIFE.

>> HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT SHE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE -- THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF THEIR MASK AND SEE THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SHE KNOW WHAT IS HER TEACHERS LOOK LIKE WITHOUT THEIR MASKS ON.

>> 134 KIDS HAVE ENROLLED IN THE PEDIATRIC TRIAL SINCE JUNE.

DOCTORS REPORT POSITIVE FINDINGS WITH KIDS ONLY EXPERIENCING MINOR SIDE EFFECTS LIKE A SORE ARM OR FEVER.

FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PEDIATRIC TRIAL ARE EXPECTED TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN GOT THE VACCINE OR PLACEBO WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS IT'S ALREADY STARTED DISTRICTING THE VACCINE SO THEY CAN BE AVAILABLE AS SOON AS THE CDC APPROVES THEM.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE-COOPER.

>>> RHONDA HALF HER HAS THE LATEST FROM DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ALL THE OTHER SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS HEADLINES TONIGHT.

WHAT CAN YOU 'TILES, RHONDA?

>> JOANNA, A VACCINE MANDATE FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES ODDER OARED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A STEP CLOSE TORE BEING IMPLEMENTED.

FOLLOWING A REVIEW, DETAILS ABOUT THE MANDATE WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER IN A FEW DAYS.

YOU'LL RECALL PRESIDENT BIDEN PROPOSED BACK IN SEPTEMBER THAT ALL COMPANIES WITH AT LEAST 100 EMPLOYEES REQUIRE VACCINES OR WEEKLY TESTING OF THEIR WORKERS.

COMPANIES HAD A LOT OF PEST QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE MANDATE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND HOW THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TRACK COMPLIANCE AND IT'S EXPECT THAT HAD MORE COMPANIES WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH MANDATES ONCE DETECTED.

19 STATES SUED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OVER VACCINE MANDATED FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS AND IN NEW YORK CITY, ABOUT 9,000 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES REPORT ON UNPAID LEAVE AFTER REVEUSESSING TO COMPLY WITH A -- REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH A VACCINE MANDATE THERE.

HELPING COVER BUSINESS RELATED COST INCURRED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND GRANTS UPWARDS OF 50,000 AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE COMPANIES WITH FIVE EMPLOYEES OR FEWER TO COVER EXPENSES LIKE PPE, CHILD CARE, OR PAYROLL ASSISTANCE.

BUSINESSES ARE ELIGIBLE AS LONG AS THEY DID NOT ALREADY RECEIVE OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR THE SAME EXPENSES AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS MUST NOT EXCEDE A CERTAIN INCOME REQUIREMENT.

>>> A NEW REPORT SHOWS CONTINUED STRONG DEMAND FOR WAREHOUSE SPACE IN SOUTH JERSEY.

NJ SPOTLIGHT JOHN HURDLE DESCRIBES WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE MARKET.

>> THAT TRANSLATES TO RISING RENT AND FALLING VACANCY RATES AND KIND OF A SUPPLY SQUEEZE.

>> NEW WAREHOUSES ARE GOING UP IN BURLINGTON COUNTY AND DEVELOPERS ARE ALSO MOVING INTO CAMDEN AND GLOSTER COUNTY AND FIND OUT MORE BY READING THE STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

.

I'M RHONDA SCHEFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR STOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NJTIA NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE ON TOURISM DECEMBER 1 AND 2 AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IN ATLANTIC CITY.

INFORMATION ON NJTIA.ORG.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSED WORLD LEERS IN GLASGOW, SCOTTLAND, TODAY FOR MAKING THE CASE FOR CUTTING CARBON EMISSIONS GLOBALLY.

HE EMPHASIZE THAT HAD THE U.S. COULD CUT THEM IN HALF BY 2030 AND REACH NET EMISSIONS BY 2050 ASK TRYING TO PULL OTHER COUNTRIES ALONG LIKE INDIA AND CHINA WHOSE PRESIDENT DID NOT ATTEND THE SUMMIT AND BIDEN'S PLAN CALLED PREPARE WOULD PROVIDE $3 BILLION TO HELP COUNTRIES MANAGE THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT PLAN NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESS SO DOES HIS BROADER BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN, WHICH DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS STILL HAVE YET TO AGREE ON.

THEY'VE BEEN SCRAMBLING TO REWRITE THE BILL THAT WAS SCALED BACK SIGNIFICANTLY LAST WEEK IN THE HOPES OF VOTING ON IT TOMORROW.

T NOT A FAR CRY TO SAY THE CHILD CARE SYSTEM IN NEW JERSEY IS BROKEN.

CHILD CARE WORKERS MAKE FAR TOO LITTLE TO GET BY YET MANY FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE PRICE FOR CARE AND THE BURDEN FALLS HARDEST ON MOMS DRIVEN OUT OF THE WORK FORCE TO CARE FOR THEIR KIDS.

ADD IN A PANDEMIC AND THE PROBLEM SNOWBALLS.

BUT STARTING TODAY, THE STATE IS INVESTING MORE THAN $80 MILLION INTO THE INDUSTRY TO HELP KEEP GOOD PROVIDERS AND THEIR STAFF?

PLACE.

>> SHE CAN'T CONTINUE TO ASK THE WORK FORCE TO BE IN A MASK TEN HOUR AS DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND NOT EXPECT BURNOUT OR NOT EXPECT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STAFF TO CALL OUT.

>> WIN FRED SMITH JENKINS IS A SENIOR DIRECTOR OF A DAY CARE CENTER CARING FOR CHILDREN 6 WEEKS TO 6 YEARS OLD.

JENKINS SAID IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT STAFF DURING THE PANDEMIC AS MANY WORKERS HAVE CHOSEN TO LEAVE THE INDUSTRY FOR HIGHER PAY.

>> PRE-PANDEMIC, ONE OF MY SITES HAD PROBABLY ABOUT 35 TEACHERS.

WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT 28 TEACHERS FOR CHILD CARE TO COMPETE WITH THE WAGES THAT THE BIG BOX STORES ARE BEING ABLE TO OFFER LIKE AMAZON AND TARGET, THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO RAISE OUR TUITION PRICES AND IT EITHER DIRECTLY AFFECTS PARENTS OR IT INDIRECTLY AFFECTS PARENTS GETTING SUBSIDY AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT THEY HAVE TO PAY TO THE CENTERS.

>> IN AN EFFORT TO HELP CENTERS, JENKINS IS INVESTING $83 MILLION TO INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT RATES BY AN AVERAGE OF 25% FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS SERVING CHILDREN IN THE STATE'S CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THE STATE FUNDED AN INCREASE THAT STARTED ON JANUARY 1 BRINGING WORKERS TO MINIMUM WAGE AND THE STATE'S INVESTMENT FOR THAT WAS NEARLY $6.5 MILLION.

>> IT INCREASES SUBSIDY TO ABOUT $1200 PER MONTH PER CHILD AND THAT'S VERY POSITIVE AND A HUGE INCREASE.

IN 2018 THEY HAD ABOUT A 70% INCREASE TO 2021.

>> IT'S A STAFF THAT'S BEEN UNDERPAID AND UNDERAPPRECIATED.

I THINK FOR TWO REASONS, ONE IS FOR A LONG TIME, CHILD CARE IS REGARDED AS BABYSITTING.

IT'S JUST CARE TAKING AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATE FOR INFANTS, WHICH ARE CHILDREN UP TO 18 MONTHS, THIS INCREASE WILL BRING THAT RATE, WHAT THE STATE WILL PAY FOR SUBSIDY TO AROUND $14,000 A YEAR.

SO WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT THE GOING RATE IS FOR CHILD CARE.

>> WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AT THE PROVIDER LEVEL TO SEE THESE DOLLARS BE DISTRIBUTED.

>> PRESIDENT OF THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LEARNING PATH SAYS FUNDING IS CRITICAL AS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY.

>> BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE REALLY JUST FOCUSED ON BEING ABLE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE ABLE TO WORK IN THE CLASSROOM SO THAT WE CAN GET FAMILIES BACK TO WORK AND THE ECONOMY BACK UP AND RUNNING.

WE'RE ALWAYS A STEP BEHIND AND A DOLLAR SHORT TO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE CAN BE DOING AND VERY THANKFUL FOR HOW FAR WE'VE COME BUT REALLY NOT TAKING OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A LONG DRIVE AHEAD.

>> FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTA THAT.

>> THAT'S IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

JOIN US RIGHT HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:00 P.M. FOR OUR SPECIAL NJ DECIDES 2021 ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE ON AIR AND ALL DAY ONLINE AT NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND WE'LL HAVE ALL THE LATEST ELECTION ANALYSIS AND REPORTING.

I'M JOANNA.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS NOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

RISE IN BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY AND LICENSE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, THE PSG FOUNDATION AND BY THE ME CHANT'S ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMARTLY NJ.

>> NJM INSURANCE COMPANY SERVING POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS BUT WHO ARE MJM'S POLICY HOLDERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS THAT LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS, THE MEN AND WOMEN PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR AND MAKING IT A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, WE'VE GOT TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE AND SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH TELEMEDICINE APP OR USE THE WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH THE DOCTORS.

AS A NEW PATIENT, YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARN BUS HEALTH, LET'S BE