>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED, COMMITTED TO A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS.

FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER.

COULD FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN JAIL.

SECOND DEGREE MURDER, THIRD- DEGREE MURDER, AND SECOND DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER.

THE JURY DELEGATED FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS AS THE NATION WAITED ON EDGE.

FLOYD DIED LAST MAY AND THE REST CAPTURED ON VIDEO.

CHAUVIN KNEELED ON FLOYD'S NECK FOR ABOUT 8 1/2 MINUTES.

RETURN NOW TO HANDS OF MORE PANDEMIC REOPENING FROM THE MURPHY MENSTRUATION.

THE GOVERNOR EARLIER TODAY REVEALED HIS TEAM HELD A LENGTHY MEETING ON WHAT THE STEPS COULD LOOK LIKE WITH CASES TRENDING DOWNWARD FOR NOW, ROUGHLY 2300 YOU POSITIVE TESTS AND 40 ADDITIONAL DEATHS REPORTED TODAY AND MORE FULLY VACCINATED RESIDENTS BY THE DAY AS WELL ACROSS THE STATE.

MORE THAN 61 MILLION DOSES HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED IN ROUGHLY 2 HALF-MILLION PEOPLE ARE COMPLETELY IMMUNIZED.

THIS AS THE STATE HITS ONE WEEK AS IT PAUSED USE OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE BASED ON CDC AND FDA RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEY SAY THEY WILL NEED TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE VACCINE AFTER EIGHT CASES OF RARE BUT SERIOUS BLOOD CLOTS IDENTIFIED IN THE U.S. A DECISION ON THE FUTURE OF THE SINGLE-DOSE SHOT COULD COME AS EARLY AS FRIDAY.

THE COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AND DISCUSS WHETHER TO CONTINUE USING THE SHOP.

HE WAS TO GET VULNERABLE HARD- TO-REACH COMMITTEES VACCINATED.

WITH HAPPENING NOW.

A SENIOR CORRESPONDENT FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> I ALREADY GOT MINE RIGHT HERE.

THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

>> THEY SERVE FREE MEALS TO FOLKS ON THE STREET.

THEY SET UP A CLINIC WITH ST. JOSEPH'S LAST MONTH AND GAVE J&J COVERT SHOTS TO 150 PEOPLE BEFORE THE THREAT OF SEVERE REACTIONS PUT THAT ON TEMPORARY HOLD.

>> IT'S TOO LATE NOW BECAUSE I ALREADY HAD IT.

I DID NOT HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

MINE WENT SMOOTH.

>> I'M GOOD.

GOOD TO GO.

>> WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE START BACK UP AGAIN.

>> THE FACILITY HALFWAY HOUSE RESIDENCE TO GET THE TWO DOSE MAGENTA VACCINE BUT WITH THE TRANSIENT DAY CLIENTS J&J JUST WORKS FOR THEM.

>> THAT'S THE VALUE OF THE VACCINE, HAVING PEOPLE ABLE TO GET THAT DAY, DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE COMING BACK AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE EVERY DAY BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL COME BACK THE NEXT DAY OR WE CAN SCHEDULE THEM.

>> ONLY 4% OF MORE THAN 6 MILLION SHOT ADMINISTERED IN NEW JERSEY HAVE BEEN J&J.

THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE INCLUDING OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR LIKE THIS CLINIC IN SAINT MATTHEWS CHURCH.

>> WE STILL NEED J&J.

IT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES.

WE STILL NEED IT AS IT RELATES TO EQUITY.

>> EVEN A SINGLE SHOT CAN BE TRAUMATIC BUT THE VISITING NURSES WHICH HELPS RUN THE PROGRAM SUBSTITUTE MODERNA AND NOT MISS A BEAT.

>> WE GET THOUSANDS A WEEK COMPARED TO A FEW HUNDRED OF J&J IN THE PAST.

OPERATIONS WERE LARGELY BASED ON MODERNA.

>> VISITING SENIORS OR HOMEBOUND OR DISABLED PERSONS AND IT JUST MAKES IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WANT TO VISIT PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES WHEN THEY WANT TO GET THE ONE SHOT AND DONE.

>> ALSO SUBSTITUTING MODERNA VACCINE TO IMMUNIZE HOMEBOUND RESIDENTS SO NOW THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE A SECOND TRIP.

HE'S GOT UNUSED J&J SHOTS SITTING ON ICE WAITING FOR THE FEDS TO MAKE A DECISION WHICH HE HOPES COMES BEFORE THE VACCINE EXPIRES.

>> RECEIVED 2000 VACCINES OF J AND J AND ON MONEY WE ADMINISTERED 110 TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS.

AND THE REST WE HAD TO PUT IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO HELP SHELF LIFE OF ABOUT ONE WEEK.

AND SO, HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO BE OUT IN THE FIELD THIS WEEKEND, ANNA.

>> LIKE PROGRAMS THE VACCINE IS TO CONTINUE IN THE U.S., IT MIGHT BE A TOUGH SELL TO SOME FOLKS.

>> I HEARD TOO MANY BAD THINGS ABOUT IT.

>> RIGHT NOW IT IS IN LIMBO.

>> AND LOOKING INTO IT AND TRYING TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

>> IF THE PAUSE GETS LIFTED >> THAT WILL INCREASE THE SKEPTICISM AGAIN.

GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD UP THAT CONFIDENCE.

>> THEY SAY IT WILL POSE A CHALLENGE.

I'M BRENDAN FLANAGAN.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNING A NUMBER OF MEASURES INTO LAW INCLUDING SEVEN BILLS AIMED AT STRENGTHENING PROTECTIONS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVALIST.

AMONG THEM, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SET ASIDE MORE RESOURCES FOR MANAGING CASES, INCREASED TRAINING FOR PROSECUTORS AND ESTABLISHING A THREE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HARM CAUSED BY SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THEY WILL CREATE A CLEAR PATH FOR LGBTQ VETERANS TO GET DISCHARGE PAPERS.

PRIOR TO 2011, THEY COULD BE DISCHARGED FOR GENDER IDENTITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

THE STATUS CAN BE CHANGED TO SHOW THE NUMBERS WERE DISCHARGED HONORABLY AND WILL NOW HAVE ACCESS TO BENEFITS.

ON THE HEELS OF RECENT HIGH PROFILE MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOUBTING THE PROPOSALS AS A TOUGHEST IN THE NATION GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORT.

SOME OPPONENTS QUESTION JUST WITH A MEASURES TARGET AND HOW MUCH POLITICS ARE AT PLAY.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> NOW ALMOST DAILY, TODAY INCLUDED, NEWS OF ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING.

A GUNMAN OPENING FIRE AT A SUPERMARKET, A SCHOOL, A FEDEX PLANT AND A HOUSE PARTY OR A PARK, LEAVING DEATH AND COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION IN THE WAKE.

>> IT'S VERY HEARTBREAKING.

>> NICO IS WITH A DIFFERENT CENTER WHICH HAS WATCHED ALONG WITH THE REST OF US IN ALARMING INCREASE IN MASS SHOOTINGS.

SINCE THE MASS SHOOTING IN ATLANTA OVER ONE MONTH AGO, MASS SHOOTINGS IN PHILADELPHIA, BOULDER COLORADO, MEMPHIS, CHICAGO, VIRGINIA BEACH, DALLAS, SEATTLE, AND IN ALL MORE THAN 45 MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> I THINK THE PUBLIC FOR THE PAST YEAR HAS LARGELY BEEN A HOME AND NOT IN THE PUBLIC SPACES THAT WE HAVE BEEN FOR SO LONG.

GUN DEATH RATES IN THE HOMICIDE RATES HAD NOT DROPPED AS SIGNIFICANTLY BUT THE ABILITY FOR THERE TO BE MASS SHOOTINGS SEEM TO IN PARTICULAR WE ARE USED TO OBVIOUSLY WEREN'T AS COMMONPLACE AS THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN.

>> YOU CAN PROBABLY EXPECT MORE EXPERTS BECAUSE PANDEMIC OR NOT, EVEN IN NEW JERSEY THE STATEMENTS SOME OF THE TOUGHEST GUN LAWS IN THE NATION.

STILL TRYING TO TIGHTEN THE REGULATIONS EVEN FURTHER.

THE GOVERNOR SAID NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE OF MASS SHOOTINGS WHICH ARE THANKFULLY VERY RARE HERE BUT BECAUSE CITY STREETS REMAIN DRENCHED IN THE BLOOD.

>> OVER THE LAST YEAR GUN CRIMES IN THE CITIES HAVE SKYROCKETED AND A NUMBER OF GUNS IN NEW JERSEY HAS ALSO INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

>> MURPHY WOULD REQUIRE FIREARM SAFETY COURSES.

THE LOBBIES AND ACTIVISTS ARE UP IN ARMS AS IT WERE.

THE HEAD OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT SOCIETY HERE HAD THIS TAKE ON MURPHY'S PROPOSALS.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY IS ADVOCATING FOR MORELOS TO STRIP AND PUT BLACK FATHERS IN PRISON, MEANWHILE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE FACT OF THE MATTER THAT THERE ARE MANY MALE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM GROWING UP AND COMMITTING CRIMES.

>> A KIND OF BLOWS MY MIND A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT OPPRESSING BLACK PEOPLE, IT'S LIKE HOW YOU EXPECT TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN YOU DEFAULT TO THAT KIND OF RHETORIC?

THAT IS A RHETORICAL QUESTION.

I DO NOT NEED AN ANSWER TO IT.

>> LOOK AT THE FACT OF THE MATTER, THE 1960S, IT'S ON RECORD.

I CAN SEND YOU THE ACTUAL LITERATURE WHERE THERE ON RECORD IN THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY HEARING SAYING ALL BLACK PEOPLE IN THE CITIES ARE BUYING GUNS WE NEED TO STOP THIS.

IS COMING INTO OUR SUBURBS.

YOU DOMESTICATE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND DISCRIMINATORY THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR A PERMANENT TAKING DAYS OFF OF WORK.

>> HARD TO GET PEOPLE ON COMMON GROUND WHEN THEY SEEM TO BE ON DIFFERENT CONTINENTS.

THE FACT REMAINS, IF YOU LIVE HERE OR HERE THE GUNFIRE YOU AND THIS WILL BE SHORT AND POINTED.

AND DOMESTIC DISPUTES WITH SO MANY GUNS AROUND, IT'S EASY TO SETTLE A SCORE AND MUCH HARDER TO FIND POSITIVE RESOLUTION.

>> IT'S NOT A MONOLITHIC ISSUE WE HAVE HERE, THINK IT'S ACTUALLY A MULTIFACETED ISSUE.

BUT I THINK ANY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES IF ARE GOING TO REDUCE PARTICULARLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF GUNS THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREETS AS WELL.

>> I DON'T HAVE SANDY HOOK BUT I DO HAVE IS TO-YEAR-OLD KIDS THAT ARE SHOT BY STRAY BULLETS.

I HAVE 63-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHERS WHO WERE KILLED ON THEIR PORCH.

I HAVE YOUNG MEN WHO DIED IN FRONT OF BARBERSHOPS.

WHO LOSE THEIR LIVES ON DIRTY STREETS AND SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF PUBLIC HOUSING BUILDINGS.

I HAVE FAMILIES WHO MOURN THE DEATH OF THREE OF THEIR SONS IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF AUTOMATIC RIFE ITS RIFLES AND WEAPONS.

>> MASS SHOOTINGS ARE RARE BUT AS THE MAYOR PUTS THAT YOU HAVE 57 PEOPLE SHOT IN A YEAR, THAT IS A MASS.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AGREED THAT A NATIONAL LAW WHICH INCLUDED UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND OTHER MEASURES WOULD HELP.

THAT SOLUTION SEEMS AS FAR OFF AS EVER.

I AM DAVID CRUZ.

MJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THE MEDICAL OFFICER RULED IN THE DEATH OF CAPITAL POLICE OFFICER AND SAID HE SUFFERED STROKES AND DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES AFTER RESPONDING TO THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DID NOT NOTE EVIDENCE OF HIM SUFFERING ALLERGIC REACTION AFTER HE WAS SPRAYED WITH A CHEMICAL IRRITANT BY TWO PROTESTERS.

THE AUTOPSY ALSO FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL INJURIES THE EXAMINER SAID ALL THAT TRANSPIRED DURING THE JANUARY 6 RIGHT QUOTE PLAYED A ROLE IN HIS CONDITION.

HE WAS A SOUTH RIVER NEW JERSEY NATIVE AND SERVE 12 YEARS ON THE CAPITAL POLICE FORCE BEFORE HIS DEATH.

>>> IS NO FORMAL PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE ONE BAR PUBLIC AND LAWMAKERS ALREADY PREPARING TO BANNED THE USE OF COVID-19 VACCINATION PASSPORTS.

STATE SENATOR INTRODUCED A BILL MONDAY THAT WOULD BLOCK ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ENTITY, BE IT A BEACH, SCHOOL OR BUSINESS FOR ASKING FOR SOME OF VACCINATION STATUS.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE TALKED ABOUT SHOWING PROOF OF VACCINATION TO GAIN ENTRY AT CERTAIN VENUES.

BUT SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES SAY THAT COULD LEAD TO DISSEMINATION AT WORK OR IN PUBLIC SETTINGS BASED ON YOUR STATUS.

SENATOR JIM HOLDS OFF JOINS ME NOW.

>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THE GOVERNOR INDICATED HE HAS NO PLANS TO MAKE A SO-CALLED COVID VACCINE PASSPORT A MANDATE IN THE STATE.

WILL GIVE YOU CAUSE OF CONCERN TO GET OUT AHEAD AND PROPOSE THIS BILL.

>> I READ A DIFFERENT RESPONSE.

I KNOW KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS ACCURATE.

THE INFORMATION I HAD WAS THAT HE WAS OPEN TO CONSIDERING THAT IT WAS A NONSTARTER.

YES, IT'S POSSIBLE.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, I THINK THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, SIX OR SEVEN STATES HAVE ALREADY PASSED LEGISLATION, PROHIBITING THE SO-CALLED PASSPORT.

WHEN YOU START TO THINK ABOUT PUTTING IN A REQUIREMENT THAT MY OPINION WILL RESULT IN HIS TERMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE, THEN, IT'S TIME TO PUT IN THE BILL.

IT IS A BLUE STATE.

IF IT'S NOT POSTED, IT WILL GO NOWHERE.

WE FEEL IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO PUT IT INTO EXPRESS THE THOUGHT OF SO MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS ANYWAY.

THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE TOLD THAT YOU WILL HAVE THIS SHOT, YOU WILL HAVE A PASSPORT, OR YOU WILL BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE FUTURE.

>> IS AN ISSUE OF INFRINGING ON PERSONAL RIGHTS?

A COUPLE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES BEING ONE, ALSO HAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT LOOKS SIMPLY AT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES BLOCKING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FROM USING THIS.

IS IT AN ISSUE ON INFRINGING ON PERSONAL RIGHTS?

>> I THINK IT'S ALSO AN INFRINGEMENT ON INDIVIDUALS ABILITY TO CONTROL THEIR OWN HEALTH DECISIONS AND THOSE DECISIONS WITH REFERENCE TO THEIR CHILDREN, ET CETERA ONLY I GOT MY SHOTS.

I MADE THE DECISION THIS IS THE RIGHT THING FOR ME.

>> HAVE YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THE SAME AS WELL.

>> WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO BE INOCULATED OR THEY WANT TO BE.

THAT'S THEIR DECISION.

>> WE HEARD THE CASE BEING MADE ABOUT TWO TIERS OF CITIZENS VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED IN THIS ISSUE OTHER INSTANCES SEE HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS TRAVELING, SPORTS VENUES, BIG CONCERT HALLS AS AN ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION IN THE CAR.

>> TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE ARE SAYING, FORCE INVOLVED IN DIRECT IF YOU DON'T GET IT, YOU CAN'T DO DO X, Y, AND Z. I CONCERN IS WHEN WE TAKE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THE MAINSTREAM OR THE MAJORITY, THEY ARE SAYING I DON'T WANT TO BE FORCED TO MAKE A MEDICAL DECISION BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> THINGS ARE COMING ON, APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR TIME.

IT'S BEEN A ROCKY FEW WEEKS FOR JOHNSON & JOHNSON, BUT YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DRUGMAKERS RECENT EARNINGS.

RHONDA HAS OUR REPORT AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA.

>> EVEN WITH J&J COVID-19 VACCINE ON PAUSE, THE SHOT HAS MADE A TON OF MONEY FOR THE COMPANY.

J AND J TODAY REPORTED $100 MILLION, FIRST-QUARTER SALES OF ITS OF A 19 VACCINE.

THAT DISCLOSURE WAS MADE IN ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS REPORT WHICH ALSO SHOWED THE NEW BRUNSWICK EBONY REVENUE AND EARNINGS BEAT EXPECTATIONS.

J&J SAID THERE WORKING TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN ITS VACCINE.

CONGRESS IS ADDRESSING A BIG BARRIER TO THE GROWTH OF NEW JERSEY'S LEGAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS.

THE HOUSE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW BANKS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CANNABIS COMPANIES AND STATES RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS LEGAL.

THINGS HAVE AVOIDED DOING BUSINESS WITH CANNABIS COMPANIES OVER FEAR THAT THEY WOULD VIOLATE FEDERAL LAWS.

THAT'S FORCE COMPANIES TO SCRAMBLE FOR FINANCIAL OPTIONS THIS BILL CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF NEW BANKING REGULATIONS AND SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION AND HEADS NEXT TO THE SENATE.

AS BUDGET HEARINGS CONTINUE IN THE STATE LEGISLATION, ONE TRENTON TANK SUGGESTED A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS AS A WAY TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY.

SENIOR POLICY ANALYST AND NEW JERSEY POLICY PERSPECTIVE ADVOCATES MOVING TOWARDS MULTIYEAR REVENUE SPENDING PROJECTIONS.

>> JUST NEED TO PAINT THE PICTURE WITH THE NEED TO BE IN NEW JERSEY IN 3 TO 5 YEARS LANDS.

SAME WITH THE SPENDING.

WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO NEED AND LONG-TERM.

WE ARE KEEPING UP WITH INCREASED COSTS.

>> THIS IDEA OF MULTIYEAR FORECASTING WAS BROUGHT UP IN A RECENT, ALSO CALLING FOR A STRONGER RAINY DAY FUND.

BARRING MORE THAN $4 MILLION.

>> THE STATE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAS POSTED A BILL TO ALLOW RETIRED TEACHERS TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW THEM WITHOUT HAVING TO REENROLL IN THE PENSION SYSTEM.

WE RETURN WITH YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> JOIN RHONDA ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 21st, TOMORROW, AND THE ROUNDTABLE LOOKING AWAY EMPLOYEES ARE TRANSITIONING TO A POST COVID WORKPLACE.

THE EVENT IS ONLINE ONLY AT 4:00 P.M. AND YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE THE LATEST.

TO SIGN UP HAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> RESILIENCY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STATE MODEL IN ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL AND CASINO OWNERS ARE PREPPING FOR SUMMER LIKE THEY WOULD ANY OTHER YEAR.

READING THE RESORTS IN ANTICIPATION OF NOW FULLY VACCINATED CROWDS HEADING TO SHAKE OFF A YEARS WORTH OF CABIN FEVER.

INCREASING OPERATIONS WITH A MASSIVE HIRING PLAN.

700 JOBS UP FOR GRABS.

PERHAPS A GLIMMER OF BETTER TIMES AHEAD.

JOHNNA REPORTS.

>> THAT'S ALL YOU CAN GIVE ME.

I BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> IS A COMMON STORY THIS PAST YEAR, RESIDENT OUT OF WORK AS A PANDEMIC CAUCUSING A CAPACITY AND TRAFFIC DAILY HOUSE GRADUATING IN A FEW WEEKS AND SHOULD HAVE A JOB ALREADY.

>> I WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK AT TROPICANA LAST YEAR BUT THAT WAS LIKE A WEEK BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

THAT KIND OF HURT A LITTLE BIT TO LOSE THAT.

>> I'M A LITTLE SHORT ON RETIREMENTS I NEED TO MAKE EXTRA CASH.

>> THEY LINED UP.

RESUMES IN HAND.

>> I SAW THE AD IN THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER THAT THERE WOULD BE A JOB FAIR.

I'M RETIRED LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK.

>> THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO HOSTING A JOB FAIR TO HOST 700 OPEN POSITIONS.

>> I APPLIED TO BE A DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST AND THEN I SAW THE AD FOR THE JOB FAIR ON INSTAGRAM.

>> TODAY IS BASICALLY NOW COME OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS.

HARD ROCK HAS EXPERIAN'S REVENUE GROWTH EACH AND EVERY MONTH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

YOU CAN FEEL IT PICKING UP YOUR.

IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BUSIER.

>> IS A PROMISING SIGN FOR THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WAS SHUT DOWN FOR MONTHS EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC AND HAS STRUGGLED TO COME BACK EVEN AFTER CASINOS WERE ALLOWED TO REOPEN A 25% CAPACITY IN JULY.

UP TO 50% IN RECENT MONTHS.

INDUSTRY OVERALL LOST 80% OF ITS PROFITS IN THE LAST YEAR.

SOMEHOW, THE HARD ROCKS MANAGED TO STAY OUT OF THE RED.

>> SEEING THE VOLUMES INCREASING AND BEING OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE THAT WAY, WE NEED TO HIRE ADDITIONAL BOOKS.

>> MANY WERE HIRED RIGHT ON THE SPOT.

>> I MET THE MANAGER WENDY.

SHE WAS SUPER NICE AND INTERVIEWED ME AND I TOLD HER I LOVE TEAMWORK AND POSITIVITY THAT SEEM TO BE WITH THE VIBE WAS ALL ABOUT.

SHE SAID I WOULD BE A GREAT MATCH.

AND SHE HIRED ME.

JUST LIKE THAT.

>> A NEW JOB IS NOT THE ONLY GOOD NEWS FOR THE PEOPLE HIRED TODAY.

>> ATLANTA CITY MAYOR ANNOUNCED A TAX CUT FOR RESIDENTS AFTER THE CITY SAW A 23 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET WINFALL.

>> WE LOST $80 MILLION AND STILL PRODUCED THE RESIDENCE A 5.46 TAX DECREASE.

>> IF I .46 DROP IN THE MUNICIPAL TAX RATE.

IT WILL NOT PAY THE RENT BUT IT'S PROOF THAT THE CITY IS DOING BETTER THAN IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO.

>> EMILY HAPPY TO SEE EVERYTHING COMING BACK.

I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

>> THE MAJORITY OF THE POSITIONS ARE SEASONAL MEANING THEY WILL RUN FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER.

SOME RETURNING TO FULL OR PART- TIME POSITIONS IF THIS COMEBACK REMAINS STRONG.

IN ATLANTA CITY I'M JOANNA, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> A DOES A FOR US AND I WE WILL HAVE JERSEY REACTION ON THE THREE GUILTY VERDICTS IN THE CHAUVIN TRIAL TOMORROW.

CATCH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT ON THURSDAY.

HE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE IMPACT AND REPERCUSSIONS IT WILL HAVE A NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS THE NATION.

WATCH LIVE IS A PHONE 30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

I'M BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS ARE WATCHING, WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN A 100 YEARS.

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS, BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSECE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME AN ESL TEACHER TO GIVE MY STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE, THE CHANCE TO BECOME AND BE AN AMERICA.

MY NAME IS JULIA... AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN NJEA MEMBER.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE 24/7 PROVIDER ON OUR APP, OR YOU CAN USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT WITH AN RJB BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.