>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

>>> FROM NJPBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THE CONVICTION OF FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER, DEREK CHAUVIN IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IS BEING CALLED ONE STEP TOWARDS RESTORING TRUST IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

NOT JUST BY ADVOCATES AND ANALYSTS, BUT I POLICE LEADERS ACROSS NEW JERSEY AND THE NATION.

SOLVING THE ROOT PROBLEM AND HEALING WILL TAKE MUCH LONGER.

MOURNERS MARKED ANOTHER EMOTIONAL DAY GATHERING FOR THE FUNERAL OF DANTE RIGHT HE WAS FATALLY SHOT BY A POLICE OFFICER NOT FAR FROM WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED IN MINNESOTA.

FLOYD'S FAMILY WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE FUNERAL.

THIS, AS THE STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL INCLUDING NEW JERSEY'S RELEASED A NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS AGENDA TODAY.

URGING LAWMAKERS TO EXPAND VICTIMS RIGHTS, AND AND DISCRIMINATION, AND SURE MORE SPEEDY HELPFUL CRIME VICTIMS.

PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF LACK, BROWN, AND UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS THE RECENT NATIONAL EVENTS CAUSING A RIPPLE EFFECT IN THE WAY LEADERS LOOK AT POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

SO, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS.

>> GUILTY.

>> IT REALLY BROUGHT ME TO TEARS.

>> Reporter: IS GUILTY OF ALL THREE CHARGES.

A VERDICT KREG STANLEY HAS BEEN WAITING NEARLY A YEAR TO HEAR SINCE HE SAW THE VIDEO OF GEORGE FLOYD BEING KILLED.

AND THAT IS WHY HE CAME OUT TO THIS RALLY IN NEWARK ROUGHLY 24 HOURS AFTER A JURY CONVICTED FOR MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN OF SECOND-DEGREE UNINTENTIONAL MURDER, THIRD- DEGREE MURDER, AND SECOND- DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER.

>> THAT'S CRAZY THAT SOMEBODY CAN BE FILMED WITH THEIR KNEE ON SOMEBODY'S NECK, COMMITTING MURDER, AND I CRIED BECAUSE THE JURY FINDS THEM GUILTY.

THAT IS A PROBLEM.

>> SINCE 2005, ONLY SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF MURDER.

AND SO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY VERDICT THAT WAS ISSUED AND HOW THAT IS A REPRESENTATION OF LEGAL JUSTICE.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT JUSTICE, BECAUSE GEORGE FLOYD IS NOT HERE TODAY.

>> THE CHAIRMAN OF PEOPLES ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS RALLIED DOZENS IN THE STREET AND CALLED THE NEW JERSEY LETTUCE LEADERS TO SEIZE THE MOMENT OF A GUILTY CONVICTION COME AND PASS A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD BILL, ESSENTIALLY, IT WOULD GIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THE ABILITY TO REVIEW POLICE OPERATIONS AND CONDUCT.

>> EVEN AS THE GUILTY VERDICTS WERE COMING OUT, A POLICEMAN IN OHIO SHOT A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOUR TIMES IN THE CHEST.

EVEN AS THE FORD TRIAL WAS GOING ON.

DAUNTE WRIGHT WAS KILLED.

WE NEED COMMUNITY CONTROL OVER THE POLICE, ALL TOWNS, ALSO EASY TAPLEY'S REVIEW REPORTS.

>> WAS DONE A LOT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERFORM.

AM I OPEN-MINDED TO MORE?

ABSOLUTELY.

POLICING IS A OPEN PROFESSION.

IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO HELP PEOPLE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE EMPATHY FOR OTHER PEOPLE, YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN THE POLICING PROFESSION.

>> PRESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY BELIEVES COMMUNITY MEMBERS IT SHOULD ALSO BE PART OF THE POLICE SELECTION PROCESS.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN CHARACTERISTIC TRAITS THAT PEOPLE DISPLAY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES PRIOR TO BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER THAT SHOULD BE RED FLAGS.

THERE IS EMPIRICAL DATA TO SHOW THAT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WE SHOW THAT WHEN COMMUNITY POLICE RELATIONS ARE HIGH, CRIME RATES ARE DOWN.

>> IN CANTON, A COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL IS WAS CREDITED WITH HELPING TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIMES BY 40%.

CHIEF GABE RODRIGUEZ SAYS WHEN HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER HE WOULD KNOCK ON PEOPLE'S DOORS JUST TO SAY HELLO.

THE COMMUNITY THANKED HIM BECAUSE HE TOOK THE TIME.

HE SAYS TO GET TO KNOW THEM, AND NOT JUST SHOW UP AND BAD TIMES.

>> WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE AND PROTECT PEOPLE, AND NOT HARM PEOPLE.

SO, WE TELL OUR OFFICES TO SLOW THINGS DOWN, AND WE TRAIN.

THIS IS A DAILY THING WE DO HERE.

IN TRAINING, AND DE-ESCALATION.

IF SOMEONE HAS A WARRANT AND THEY GET AWAY, IT'S OKAY.

WE ARE GOING TO FIND THEM ANOTHER DAY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO USE FORCE AND TO USE MORE FORCE.

>> DEREK CHAUVIN IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED IN EIGHT WEEKS.

>> BEFORE WE CELEBRATE, WE NEED TO HEAR HOW MUCH TIME HE ACTUALLY WILL GET, NOT HOW MUCH TIME HE CAN GET.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT THAT I SAW PRACTICALLY ALL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALL POLICE OFFICERS BIND TOGETHER AND BREAK THEIR BLUE LAWS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WITH VERY FEW THAT WERE SUPPORTING THIS MURDER.

HOPEFULLY, WE LEARN TO KEEP OUR GUNS IN OUR HOLSTERS, WHERE THEY BELONG, AND WE WILL PROCEED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

>> THERE ARE CURRENTLY BIPARTISAN TALKS IN WASHINGTON TO PASS POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION.

THE WHITE HOUSE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL ADDRESS IT IN HIS FIRST JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS EACH.

I AM LEAH MISHKIN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IS A BIG WIN FOR JERSEY CITY PARENTS AFTER FACING PUBLIC PRESSURE AND FIERCE BACKLASH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BEGIN IN-PERSON LEARNING FOR SOME STUDENTS STARTING NEXT WEEK.

BUT, THE DECISION DID NOT COME ABOUT A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.

PARENTS TEND TO PROTEST THIS MORNING AFTER BEING TOLD OVER THE WEEKEND, SCHOOLS WOULD REMAIN VIRTUAL UNTIL SEPTEMBER, BLAMING STAFFING SHORTAGES.

THAT RALLY TURNED TO A CELEBRATION TODAY, IN HIS LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT, THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS PRE-K THROUGH THIRD GRADE STUDENTS CAN RETURN FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES STARTING ONE WEEK FROM TODAY AS PART OF A HYBRID SCHEDULE FOR HALF DAYS ONLY.

ALL OTHER STUDENTS CAN HEAD BACK STARTING MAY 10th.

TODAY, PARENTS WERE THRILLED WITH THE REVERSAL, BUT FELT FRUSTRATED OVER COMMUNICATION FROM THE DISTRICT AND QUESTIONED THE PART-TIME PHASED- IN APPROACH.

>> IT WAS DISBELIEF.

MOMENTARY EUPHORIA, FOLLOWED BY SHOCK, FOLLOWED BY JUST, A WHOLE HOST OF EMOTIONS.

BECAUSE, WHILE THIS ACHIEVED WHAT WE ASKED FOR, THE WAY IT WAS DONE, AGAIN, WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE PATTERN OF THIS DISTRICT.

NO COMMUNICATION.

>> ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, OUR FAMILIES LEARNED AT THE SAME TIME.

HOW IS THIS TENABLE?

AND, NOW?

WE HAVE EVEN MORE QUESTIONS.

BECAUSE WE STILL DON'T HAVE A REOPENING PLAN.

>> FOR MORE CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM FROM THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION TONIGHT THAT THE THIRD WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC IS BEGINNING TO WANE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY WEEKS, THERE ARE FEWER THAN 2000 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED DUE TO COVID-19, AND THE NUMBER OF NEW POSITIVE TEST AND STEADILY BELOW 3000.

YET, 31 MORE LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST.

MEANWHILE, THE DEMAND FOR VACCINES IS DROPPING.

IT'S A MAJOR REVERSAL AFTER RESIDENTS SPENT MONTHS SCOURING THE INTERNET AND SEEKING HELP TO SECURE APPOINTMENTS WITH DEMAND FAR OUTSTRIPPING SUPPLY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE ROLLOUT BEGAN IN DECEMBER, NEW DAILY VACCINATION NUMBERS ARE DOWN.

JUST OVER 6.3 MILLION TOTAL DOSES ADMINISTERED ACROSS THE STATE AND MORE THAN 2.6 MILLION RESIDENTS, NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE NEEDS TO START BEING MORE PROACTIVE IN GETTING PEOPLE SIGNED UP.

HIS RELUCTANCE TAKING OVER?

OR HAVE WE TURNED THE CORNER?

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> THERE WAS NO LINE I WALKED IN AND SHOWED MY I.D.

AND WAS ABLE TO GO IN RIGHT AWAY.

TWO NO CROWDS AT THE MEADOWLANDS VACCINATION SATURDAY AS DEMAND FOR COVERT SHOTS APPARENTLY DWINDLE STATEWIDE.

NEW JERSEY HAS HIT THE HALFWAY POINT ON ITS WAY TO GETTING 70% OF ADULTS VACCINATED BY THE END OF JUNE WITH THE NUMBER OF NEW COVERT CASES LATELY TRENDING DOWNWARD TO UNDER 3000 DAILY, AND HOSPITALIZATIONS STUDY.

A COUPLE THOUSAND, HAVE WE TURNED A CORNER WAS NEXT >> IT FANTASTIC TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE GETTING OUT HERE TO GET VACCINATED.

I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE WORLD IS FIGHTING BACK AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY.

>> I FEEL REALLY RELIEVED, AND JUST HAPPY TRYING TO GET BACK TO A NORMAL LIFE NOW?

>> I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WE BEGAN TO TURN THE CORNER.

WE ARE NOT AROUND THE CORNER JUST YET.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ALMOST A THIRD OF THE POPULATION WHO IS FULLY VACCINATED.

>> BUT MONTCLARE EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE SILVEIRA EXPLAINED SOME COUNTIES CONTINUE TO LAG IN VACCINATIONS, BUT LEAD IN NEW CASES.

WITH VACCINATION DEMAND SLOWING, SHE AGREES WITH THE STATES REVISED TAXES.

A SHIFT IN STRATEGY.

MEGA SITES IN ATLANTIC CITY ARE NOW OFFERING SHOP TO WALK UPS AND WILL PROACTIVELY REACH OUT DEEP INTO COMMUNITIES.

>> WE'VE BEEN USING THE WORD VACCINE HESITANCY AND I THINK WE GOT THE MOST OF THE HESITANCY.

NOW, WE ARE DEALING WITH THE DEEPLY ENTRANCED IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE THE STUMBLING BLOCK IS >> THIS IS WHERE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, PUBLIC HEALTH COMES INTO PLAY WHERE WE NEED PEOPLE WHO KNOW THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>> JUST REMEMBER HOW BAD IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF PEOPLE WERE NOT VACCINATED.

>> RECORDS DR.

CAUTIONS WITH HIGHLY INFECTIOUS VARIANCE DOMINATING, JERSEY IS STILL ONE OF THE NATION'S TOP COVERT HOTSPOTS IN DEATHS PER HAPPY TO.

>> THIS IS MUCH WORSE THAN BEFORE.

MUCH MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.

SO, THE VACCINATION IS HOLDING THIS IN CHECK.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TURNED THE CORNER.

TIME WILL TELL, BUT THINGS ARE LOOKING MORE HOPEFUL, AND EVERY DAY, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

>> THE MESSAGES ARE MIXED.

THERE IS BOTH GOOD AND BAD GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THOSE THINGS ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

SO, THE STATE IS SLOWLY BUT SURELY REOPENING, ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY FEEL THINGS ARE SAFE.

>> RUTGERS DEAN SAYS HE PLANS TOGETHER WITH VACCINATED FAMILY MEMBERS FOR GREEK ORTHODOX EASTER.

OUTDOORS IS A SAFER THAN INDOORS, BUT SOME VENUES LIKE GYMS AND SUPERMARKETS CAN BE SAFE FOR VACCINATED FOLKS, HE ADVISES.

>> YOU CANNOT GO INTO THOSE ENVIRONMENTS WITHOUT A MASK ON, AND YOU SHOULD FEEL FAIRLY COMFORTABLE GIVEN WHERE WE ARE WITH THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE OR VACCINATION THEY WERE RELATIVELY SAFE.

>> SIGNING APPROVED COVERT MARKERS, JERSEY TOWNS AND BUSINESSES HAVE URGED GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW CONNECTICUT'S EXAMPLE AND PROMOTE REDUCED PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS HERE, ESPECIALLY TO HELP STRUGGLING BARS AND RESTAURANTS.

>> WE NOW KNOW THE REALITY.

THE SHOULD BE A TIME TO CELEBRATE, TO BE OPTIMISTIC AND TO TELEGRAPH AS MANY OTHER DIRECTORS ARE TO FOLKS.

HERE ARE OUR INTENTIONS, WE ARE GOING TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS JUST LIKE CONNECTICUT DID.

I GUESS BY MID-MAY.

>> NO BOLD MOVES BUT PROMISED WHAT HE CALLED SIGNIFICANT GUIDANCE BY NEXT WEEK.

>> WE ARE THE ONLY STATE IN AMERICA THAT HAS NOT LURCHED, IN OTHER WORDS GONE FORWARD AND HAD TO PULL SOMETHING BACK AND WE DON'T WANT TO START THAT NOW.

BUT PEOPLE, OUR BEST GUESS IS WHAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR GRADUATION SUMMER ON THE BEACH AND WHATNOT.

>> I THINK AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, IT GETS MORE AND MORE SAFE TO REOPEN.

SO, IF PEOPLE WANT TO REOPEN SOONER, GET VACCINATED.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE INCREASE OF SHOTS IN ARMS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT TODAY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES ANSWERED THE OUTCRY OF SO MANY FAMILIES RELEASING UPDATED REOPENING REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGREGANT DAY PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

THEY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW CAPACITY LIMITS TIED TO THE COVID-19 ACTIVITY LEVEL INDEX FOR THEIR REGION.

IT IS KNOWN AS KELLY, BASED ON CURRENT KELLY SCORES, PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE COULD OPEN AT 50% CAPACITY.

THE GUIDANCE APPLIES TO ALL DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL CIVILITIES FUNDED DAY PROGRAMS.

IF THE PROVIDER CHOOSES TO REOPEN IN WHAT KELLY CONSIDERS A VERY HIGH OR MODERATE REGION, PARTICIPANTS MUST BE NOTIFIED, AND MADE AWARE OF INCREASED RISK OF VIRUS TRANSMISSION.

THE PROGRAMS HAVE REMAINED SHUT LAST MARCH.

FAMILIES ESSAY WITHOUT IT, THEIR LOVED ONES COGNITIVE CONDITIONS HAVE DECLINED.

MEANWHILE, NEW JERSEY'S COURT SYSTEM IS PREPARING FOR AN ONSLAUGHT OF CORONAVIRUS CONVICTION CASES.

ABOUT 200 NEW THOUSAND FILINGS ARE EXPECTED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT RELEASED BY A SPECIAL COMMITTEE AT THE STATE SUPREME COURT, 50,000 CASES ARE CURRENTLY PENDING, AND THE REPORT SAYS BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS ARE AT FINANCIAL RISK ONCE THE GOVERNOR LIFT THE MORATORIUM ON RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONS.

THE COMMITTEE WANTS THE STATE TO HIRE AND TRAIN LEGAL SPECIALIST, CONNECT RENTERS WITH FINANCIAL HELP AND CREATE A STREAMLINED PROCESS TO SETTLE CASES.

THERE ARE 18 RECOMMENDATIONS TOTAL OUTLINED AND 69 PAGE REPORT WHICH WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE END OF MAY.

NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN HIT HARD BY THE CRISIS.

1 IN THREE RESIDENTS HERE ARE RENTERS.

IS IT A PANDEMIC TURNING POINT?

THE LATEST JOBLESS NUMBERS HIT A NEW LOW.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER IS HERE WITH THE DETAILS AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA?

>>> IN A NONPANDEMIC YEAR, IF I TOLD YOU A HALF MILLION AMERICANS JUST WENT ON UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED GOOD NEWS.

BUT, IN THIS YEAR, UNLIKE ANY OTHER, ECONOMIST SAY THE LATEST WEEKLY JOBLESS ARE ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD SIGN.

FIRST TIME JOBLESS CLAIMS, THE LATEST WILL BE TOTAL 547,000.

THAT WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED AND REPRESENTS A CONTINUED DECLINE.

ONE ECONOMIST SAYS AS MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED IN THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO OPEN UP, THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

OF COURSE, EVEN IF YOU ARE NEW CLAIMS BEING FOLLOWED IN NEW JERSEY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

MANY RESIDENTS ARE STILL TRYING TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER, ROBERT ANGELA WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET HEARINGS YESTERDAY.

HIS KNOWLEDGE TO THE CHALLENGES CONTINUED EVEN AFTER STAFFING WAS INCREASED AND TECHNOLOGY WAS UP RATED.

HE TESTIFIED THAT AN OUTDATED FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS HAMPERING EFFORTS TO GET CLAIMS RESOLVED.

MORE ON THIS STORY, CHECK OUT MY COLLEAGUE JOHN REPORT ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> MORE AND MORE NEW JERSEY COMPANIES ARE RAMPING UP THEIR HIRING.

THE AMERICAN DREAM HAD A JOB THERE TODAY TO FILL 200 OPEN POSITIONS.

SOME APPLICANTS GOT OFF OF JOBS ON THE SPOT.

A LOT OF EMPLOYERS AROUND THE STATE ARE WRESTLING WITH THE IDEA OF WHEN TO BRING REMOTE WORKERS BACK TO THE OFFICE.

DURING AN NJ SPOTLIGHT VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE ON HOW WORKERS ARE TRANSITIONING TO A POST COVERT WORKPLACE, ASK THE HEAD OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION IF AN EMPLOYER CAN MANDATE COVID-19 VACCINES FOR THEIR WORKERS.

>> BOTTOM LINE, BUSINESS CAN MANDATE VACCINES.

HOWEVER, THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD THEY?

AND, WHAT POLICY SHOULD THEY FOLLOW IN DOING SO OR NOT DOING SO TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT RUNNING A FOUL ON ANY ANTIDISCRIMINATION LIST, BECAUSE THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT IS PRESENT.

PARTICULARLY MORE SO NOW ISSUED SUCH AS THE HEALTH PANDEMIC THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING, AND THE RULES ARE CHANGING EACH AND EVERY DAY.

>> SO THEY RECOMMEND THAT COMPANIES RECOMMENDED COVERT POLICIES GET A LEGAL REVIEW.

NEW JERSEY SPORTS BETTING INDUSTRY HAS BROKEN RECORDS IN THE PAST YEAR AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME NEW COMPETITION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR, ANDREW CUOMO THIS WEEK SIGNED A BILL THAT LEGALIZES MOBILE SPORTS BETTING.

EVENTS START RIGHT AWAY.

NEW YORK STILL HAS TO GET THE INDUSTRY SET UP.

CUOMO HAS POINTED OUT THAT NEARLY 20% OF NEW JERSEY SPORTS WAGERING REVENUE HAS COME FROM RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK.

HERE IS A LOOK AT STOCK TRADING TODAY.

ON WALL STREET, I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> THIS WEEKEND, JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER FOR NJ BUSINESS B AND FIND OUT WHY TOURISM EXPERTS SAY THE STATE IS POISED FOR A REBOUND THIS YEAR.

MORE TO OFFER VISITORS THIS SUMMER BEYOND THE SHORE.

WATCH IT ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 10:00 A.M. >>> YOU CANNOT MISS THEM WHEN THEY DRIVE AROUND THE STATE.

THEY SEEM TO POP UP IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WAREHOUSES.

AND THERE IS NO ATTENTION BEING PAID TO WHERE THESE OPERATIONS ARE BEING BUILT AND WHAT THEY DO TO THE RESIDENTS LIVING AROUND THEM.

SENATE PRESIDENT, STEVE SWEENEY PLANS TO INTRODUCE A BILL THAT WILL SLOW THE UNCHECKED DEVELOPMENT OF THESE MASSIVE FULFILLMENT CENTERS AND BUILDINGS THAT NEIGHBORS SAY CHOKE LOCAL ROADS WITH TRUCKS AND CARS, PUTTING US AT RISK OF BECOMING THE WAREHOUSE STATE.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS CONTRIBUTOR JOHN HURDLE HAS MORE.

WHAT IS SENATOR SWEENEY'S PLAN TO EITHER SLOW OR STOP ALL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT?

>> Reporter: WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IS TO GIVE GROUPS OF MUNICIPALITIES A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON WAREHOUSE APPLICATIONS, AND THE WAY THIS BILL WOULD WORK, IF IT BECOMES LAW, IS THAT ONE MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS RECEIVED AN APPLICATION BY DEVELOPER TO BUILD A HOUSE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO INFORM ADJOINING MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA, AND THIS PLAN WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THEIR MASTER PLANS, OR KIND OF CREATE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, THINGS LIKE THAT IN THEIR OWN TOWNSHIPS.

AND, THEN THE BILL CONTAINS MACHINERY IN WHICH THE TWO SIDES WOULD GET TOGETHER AND HASH OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES, AND IF THEY COULD NOT HASH OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES, THEN IT WOULD GO TO A NEWLY CREATED STATE PANEL UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND THAT WOULD HAVE THE FINAL SAY OVER WHETHER THAT PARTICULAR WAREHOUSE APPLICATION COULD GO AHEAD.

>>, CRAZY, BUT WERE TOWNS NOT CONSIDERING ZONING TRAFFIC WHEN THESE APPLICATIONS WERE COMING IN PREVIOUSLY QUESTION MARK >> CERTAINLY THERE WERE CONSIDERING ZONING, BUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT TOWNSHIPS ARE FACING NOW WITH THIS RECENT FLOOD OF APPLICATIONS TO BUILD WAREHOUSES IS THAT IN MANY CASES, THEIR LAND IS ALREADY ZONED FOR WAREHOUSES.

AND SO, EVEN IF, EVEN IF THEY ARE UNEASY WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING A BIG WAREHOUSE IN THEIR TOWNSHIP, AT THE MOMENT, THEY HAVE, MANY OF THEM HAVE A HARD TIME TURNING IT DOWN.

THEY DON'T HAVE A LEGAL BASIS TO DENYING THOSE APPLICATIONS.

>> SO, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AREAS THAT THEY ARE TARGETING, ARE THESE PRESERVED?

UNDERDEVELOPED?

EMPTY SPACES THAT TOWNS ARE ALSO TRYING TO KEEP THAT WAY?

WE TALK ABOUT LOCATION BEING IMPORTANT HERE.

>> IN MANY CASES, THEY ARE SO CALLED GREENFIELD.

PREVIOUSLY UNDEVELOPED SITES.

AND, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS CREATED SUCH OF A WAVE OF OPPOSITION AROUND THE STATE TO THESE WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE SEE THAT THEIR LIFESTYLES ARE BEING, ARE BEING THREATENED BY THESE MAJOR BUILDINGS THAT WOULD GO UP.

AND, WHAT LITTLE OPEN-SPACE THERE MIGHT BE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT'S UNDER THREAT.

>> REALLY INTERESTING REPORTING HERE THANKS SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> TODAY IS EARTH DAY AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS HOSTING A TWO DAY VIRTUAL SUMMIT OF WORLD LEADERS TO ADDRESS THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS MAKING PLANS TO CUT GAS EMISSIONS IN HALF BY 2030.

IT'S AN AMBITIOUS TARGET, AND CALLS ON THE LEADERS OF CHINA, INDIA, AND RUSSIA AMONG THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONTRIBUTORS OF CARBON POLLUTION TO COMMIT TO SIMILAR GOALS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY IS ALSO RELEASING THE STATES FIRST CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE STRATEGY TODAY.

IT OUTLINES 6 PRIORITIES WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT VULNERABLE SELF COMMUNITIES, BUSINESS, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OF COURSE, THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SOME OF WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN A NEW REPORT CARD OUT THIS WEEK FROM THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, REIGNING AIR POLLUTION IN THE STATE.

8 COUNTIES RECEIVED AN F GRADE.

BERGEN WAS THE WORST.

WAS OAK WITH MICHAEL SEAL BACK, THE NATIONAL ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR STATE PUBLIC POLICY AT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION TO FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR NEW JERSEY.

SO OVERALL, HE HAD TO GIVE NEW JERSEY A GRADE, WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR THIS REPORT?

>> SO THIS YEAR'S REPORT REALLY IS A MIXED BAG FOR NEW JERSEY.

ON ONE SIDE, WE'VE SEEN REALLY DRASTIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.

AND, THE AIR THAT WE ARE BREATHING IN NEW JERSEY, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS MUCH CLEANER.

ON THE FLIPSIDE, WE SEE 8 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE WITH FAILING GRADES FOR OZONE, AND WE SEE BOTH IN NORTH JERSEY AND SOUTH JERSEY AT THE METRO AREAS, WE ARE SEEING FAILING AIR QUALITY.

FOR BOTH OZONE AND PARTICLE POLLUTION.

>> WHAT TYPE OF POLLUTANTS ARE WE TALKING, AND WHEN ARE THEY COMING FROM?

THE NOT SURE, SO WE LOOK AT TWO POLLUTANTS IN THIS REPORT.

WE LOOK AT OZONE AND PARTICLE POLLUTION.

OZONE IS AN INVISIBLE GAS THAT IS FORMED UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE ON THOSE REALLY HOT, STEAMY SUMMER DAYS.

PARTICLE POLLUTION IS A MICROSCOPIC POLLUTANTS THAT WHEN IT IS BREATHED INTO THE LUNGS, IN BOTH CASES, THE POLLUTANT COULD CAUSE COUGHING AND WHEEZING, BUT EVEN MORE SEVERE, IT COULD CAUSE ASTHMA ATTACKS, HEART ATTACKS, AND PREMATURE DEATH.

THESE POLLUTANTS COME FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES.

SO, WE SEE THEM FROM VEHICLES ON OUR HIGHWAYS, WE SEE THEM FROM POWER PLANTS AND INDUSTRY.

BOTH LOCALLY AS WELL AS POWER PLANTS THAT ARE OUT IN THE MIDWEST.

THEY HAVE THESE OLD POWER PANTS THAT THEIR POLLUTION GETS PUSHED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SETTLES OVER OUR REGION.

IT REALLY IS A MIXTURE OF WHAT IS BEING PRODUCED LOCALLY AND WHAT IS PRODUCED HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY.

>> WERE THERE ANY POSITIVE TRENDS QUESTION MARK WHAT WERE THEY?

>> THIS DOES NOT SHOW WHAT THE PANDEMIC HAD US WORKING FROM HOME.

WHAT WE DID SEE, WHAT YOU KNOW, SORT OF ACTED IN THE BEGINNING THAT WE WERE SEEING THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AIR QUALITY.

AND THIS YEAR'S REPORT, THE TREND SHOWS THAT FOUR IN 10 AMERICANS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO UNHEALTHY LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION.

THE TREND SHOWS THAT OUR AIR QUALITY IS IMPROVING, BUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS MAKING IT HARDER TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

WE KNOW THAT THOSE HOTTER SUMMERS, THE HOTTER, LONGER SUMMERS GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THAT OZONE GAS THAT WE TALK TO PYOTE.

BECAUSE OZONE GAS, LIKE I MENTIONED ON THOSE HOT SUMMER DAYS.

IF WE HAVE MORE OF THOSE DAYS THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO COOK UP THE OZONE IN THE OFFICE FOR, WHICH AGAIN IS GOING TO LEAD TO HEALTH EFFECTS FOR OUR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.

>> ARE THERE ANY POLICIES NEW JERSEY ALREADY HAS ON THE BOOKS, OR THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED AND LOOK LIKE THEY WILL BE MOVING FORWARD THAT MAY HELP COMBAT SOME OF THIS FROM WHAT YOU ALL GATHERED?

>> SURE.

SO, YOU KNOW WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO DECREASE CARBON POLLUTION.

SO, ALL THE MEASURES THAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT OUR ALL STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ALL WE CAN DO TO REMOVE OR REDUCE THE OLD, DIRTY POWER PLANTS AND MOVE TO CLEANER TECH KNOWLEDGE HE IS GOING TO IMPROVE THE GRADES.

>> CLEAN AIR, WE ALL NEEDED.

MIKE SEAL BACK, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS A LOT.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE IMPACT OF THE DEREK CHAUVIN VERDICT ON THE REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ.

THAT IS NOT TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

DAVID KICKS OFF THE SHOW WITH ASSEMBLYWOMAN, SHABANA CENTER AND A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS DISCUSSING THE TOP STORIES IN THE STATE THIS WEEK.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU NEVER MISS A SHOW.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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