>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

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

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

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

AS OF TODAY, FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE NO LONGER NEED TO WEAR A MASK WHILE OUTDOORS.

UNLESS THEY ARE IN A CROWDED AREA WITH STRANGERS.

THAT NEW GUIDANCE, FROM THE CDC.

IT ALSO INCLUDES ACTIVITIES LIKE RUNNING, WALKING, OR BIKING OUTDOORS AND DINING IN SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER HOUSEHOLD, EVEN IN CERTAIN SMALL GATHERINGS THAT INCLUDE A MIXTURE OF VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED RESIDENCE.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE CDC IS CALLING IT ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS THE NORMALCY OF POST-PANDEMIC LIFE, URGING ALL AMERICANS TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR A SHOT, SAYING MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES PEOPLE ARE JUST LONGING TO GET BACK TO ARE NOW MUCH SAFER FOR THE FULLY VACCINATED.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID TODAY THAT THE NEW FEDERAL RULES ALIGN WITH THE STATES STANCE, WHICH IS MAINTAINED THE REQUIREMENTS A MASK OF OUTDOORS IF YOU CANNOT SOCIALLY DISTANCE.

EVEN AS NEW CONFIRMED CASES CONTINUE TO DROP OVERALL, THOUGH UP SLIGHTLY SINCE YESTERDAY, ROUGHLY 1900 NEW POSITIVE TESTS AND 60 ADDITIONAL DEATHS ARE BEING REPORTED.

OTHER STATES ALREADY BEGAN EASING MASK REQUIREMENTS.

NOT IN NEW JERSEY.

THOUGH, IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, THE STATE WILL TAKE A BIG STEP TOWARDS EASING OTHER RESTRICTIONS.

ALLOWING HIGHER CAPACITY LIMITS FOR BOTH INDOORS AND OUT.

A SIGN THAT THE STATE IS TURNING A CORNER.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> I AM LIKE RIGHT!

MY GIRL IS GOING TO BE SO EXCITED.

>> Reporter: WEDDING COORDINATOR CARLA FRIDAYS GIRLS ARE HER CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM DANCING AT THEIR OWN RECEPTIONS LIKE THIS PRE- COVERED CELEBRATION.

BUT, JERZY IS EASING THOSE REGULATIONS NEXT MONTH, AND CARLA IS OVER THE MOON THRILLED.

>> BECAUSE WHAT IS A WEDDING WITHOUT HAVING A DANCE FLOOR AND HAVING DANCING?

IF YOU LIKE IT MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE OF A DIFFERENCE.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY HAVE DANCING AND NOT BE IN TROUBLE.

>> Reporter: KARLA SOSA COVID RULES PUSHED COUPLES TO POSTPONE OR DOWNSIZE 80% OF HER BOOKINGS LAST YEAR, BUT AS OF MAY 10th, DANCING IS BACK ON THE MENU AT PRIVATE CATERED EVENTS, THOUGH NOT AT BARS OR NIGHTCLUBS AFTER GOVERNOR MURTHY ACTED TO FURTHER EASE COVERED RESTRICTIONS.

THE RELAXED REGULATIONS ALSO INCREASED INDOOR CAPACITY FROM 35 TO 50%.

UP TO 250 PEOPLE WILL FOR CATERED WEDDINGS, PROMS, FUNERALS, AND PERFORMANCES.

TASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, STILL REQUIRED.

>> I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE THESE RESTRICTIONS EASE UP, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SO EAGER TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND CELEBRATE, AND THEY CAN STILL DO IT AT A SAFE, YOU KNOW, LEVEL.

NOW IT'S JUST ON A BIGGER SCALE.

>> BEEN ASKING FOR GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE FOR PROBABLY ALMOST 2 MONTHS.

>> SUPERINTENDENT CRAIG HUTCHINSON SAYS LIKE MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS NEW JERSEY, HIS WILL NOW SCRAMBLE TO ARRANGE GRADUATIONS UNDER THE RELAXED RULES FOR LAST YEAR, THEY HOSTED A DRIVE-BY COMMENCEMENT, BUT THIS YEAR'S GRADUATION WILL BE OUTSIDE AND LARGER WITH LIMITS EXPANDED FROM 250 TO 500 PEOPLE STARTING ON MAY 10th.

>> IT WAS NOT OBVIOUS OF YOUR TRADITIONAL CELEBRATION AND WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO BE IN PERSON, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE PICTURES RATHER THAN A DRIVE BY, AND WE ARE GLAD THAT THE GUIDANCE MATCHES WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT QUITE FRANKLY.

>> AS FOR THE PROM, TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

>> INITIALLY, WE HAD PLANNED FOR AN INDOOR PROBLEM HOPING THAT THE CHANGES WOULD OCCUR.

WE ACTUALLY, TWO WEEKS AGO MOVED THE PROBLEM INSIDE TO A DIFFERENT VENUE OUTSIDE.

>> THERE, IT WILL STAY.

MEANWHILE, OUTDOOR DINING REMAINS UNDISTRACTED INDOOR BARS AND RESTAURANTS STILL GOT NO RELIEF FROM CURRENT REGULATIONS.

MURPHY IS APPARENTLY WAITING FOR COVID INFECTION RATES TO DROP FURTHER.

CRITICS FIELD.

>> I HOPE TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD OPEN UP THE ECONOMY COMPLETELY.

>> STATE SENATOR SAYS WITH JERSEYS RESTAURANTS AND BARS ARE SUFFERING UNDER CONTINUED RESTRICTIONS, THE GOVERNOR IS NOT MAKING A STRONG ENOUGH CASE TO JUSTIFY KEEPING STRICTURE OCCUPANCY CAPS AND THE DANCING BAN IN PLACE, THERE.

ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO OTHER STATES.

>> WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA RATE.

WE HAD THE MOST DRACONIAN LOCKDOWNS THAT THERE IS IN THE COUNTRY, AND YET, SO YOU GOT TO ASK, YOU KNOW.

YOURSELVES, YOU KNOW.

DO THOSE MEASURES ACTUALLY WORK?

>> MURPHY SEEMS DETERMINED TO SLOW NEW JERSEY'S REOPENING.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR FUNERAL HOMES.

>> IT IS AN AWKWARD SITUATION WHEN YOU HAVE TO TELL SOMEBODY TO GO TO A FUNERAL HOME THAT THEY CANNOT COME IN BECAUSE WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE.

>> SO, HE RELEASED THAT LIMITS ON ATTENDANCE AND MEMORIAL SERVICES WILL ALSO EASE ON MAY 10.

>> PEOPLE USED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO VISITATIONS AND IT IS STILL GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

>> FROM MARKING THE END OF LIFE TO CELEBRATING THE START OF LAST TOGETHER, NEW JERSEY IS SEEKING A PATH FORWARD TOWARDS A POST COVID REALITY.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THE POST COVID REALITY WILL ALSO INCLUDE A LOT MORE RESIDENCE.

THE RESULTS OF THE U.S. CENSUS COUNT ARE IN AND SHOW NEW JERSEY'S POPULATION ADDED HALF 1 MILLION MORE PEOPLE TO SQUEEZING THEM IN.

SURPASSING 9 MILLION TOTAL.

IT IS HIGHER THAN WHAT THE U.S. CENSUS EURO EXPECTED, THAT MEANS THE STATE KEEPS ALL 12 OF ITS CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AFTER LOSING ONE A DECADE AGO, ALONG WITH OUR 14 HOUR TALL COLLEGE VOTE.

THAT GROWTH IS IN CONTRAST TO THE TOTAL COUNT ACROSS THE U.S.

WHICH SHOULD HAVE SLOWED DOWN SINCE AVASTIN IN 2010.

IN FACT, IT THE LOWEST SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN THE 1930s.

IT SEEMS TO POKE A HOLE IN THE THEORY THAT HIGH TAXES AND COST OF LIVING ARE DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE STATE.

MEANWHILE, OUR NEIGHBORS IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE AMONG SEVEN STATES THAT WILL LOSE A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AFTER THE COUNT.

NEW YORK MISSED THEIR MARK BY A COUNT OF JUST 89 RESIDENCE.

>> THE STATES GROWTH MEANS FEDERAL LAWMAKERS WILL NOT HAVE TO FIGHT OVER A DISTRICT SEAT IN NEXT YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTION AND THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF WORK TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN FROM FIGHTING FOR NEW JERSEY'S SHARE OF INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY IN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AMERICAN JOBS PLAN, TO OVERHAULING DONE REFORM AND IMMIGRATION LAWS.

NEW JERSEY'S SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR, BOB MENENDEZ JOINED ME TO DISCUSS PLANS FOR TACKLING IT ALL.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

I WANT TO START WITH PRESS CONFERENCE YOU HAVE WITH SENATOR BOOKER TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN SECURING NEW JERSEY'S PORTION OF THAT MONEY.

WE'VE SEEN A SHIFT IN THE TONE, AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH YOU ARE VERY CLOSE TO PUSHING FOR THE PROCESS KNOWN AS RECONCILIATION TO GET THERE.

>> WELL, WE ARE STILL IN A EFFORT TO HAVE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.

AND, THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE.

AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED ON INFRASTRUCTURES FROM MY DAYS FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON MY TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, NORMALLY WE COULD GET PARTISAN AGREEMENTS.

BUT SO FAR, REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES SEEM TO BE FAR SHORT FROM THE TYPE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL SHIFT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF MAKING A TYPE OF EISENHOWER INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

I SAY PRESIDENT EISENHOWER BECAUSE HE OPENED UP THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND UNIFIED THE COUNTRY AND HAD ENORMOUS ECONOMIC SCHEDULE.

SO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT BUT IF IT FALLS SHORT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DEFINITIVE ACTION THAT CAN MAKE US MORE PROSPEROUS FOR THE FUTURE, AND IMPROVE THE AIR QUALITY THAT WE ALL READ AND SPEND LESS TIME IN TRAFFIC, AND DEAL WITH SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES MORE BROADLY DEFINED THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

>> HOW HARD ARE YOU LEANING ON THE PRESIDENT, IF AT ALL TO CONSIDER THAT SAME PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION?

YOU ALL, THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS HELD A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT JUST WITHIN THE LAST WEEK.

>> YES, WE DID.

IT WAS A GOOD MEETING.

THE PRESIDENT GAVE US OVER AN HOUR, ALMOST AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND THERE ARE MANY ISSUES DISCUSSED.

YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE QUESTION OF HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS, ACCESS TO CAPITAL EQUITY ISSUES, HEALTHCARE ISSUES.

BUT YES, IMMIGRATION IS ONE OF THEM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CANNOT GET AN AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD LIKE RECONCILIATION THAT BUDGET PROCESS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THE MAJORITY VOTE AS A AVENUE FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM.

WHICH, WE THINK WOULD LOCK ENORMOUS POTENTIAL FOR THE NATION.

ULTIMATELY FINDING A PATHWAY FOR THIS PEEP HOLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED TO MAKE THEMSELVES RIGHT WHERE THE LAW PAY THEIR TAX IS, LEARN ENGLISH, AND BECOME FULLY PART OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT USING THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS AND WHETHER IT MIGHT SORRY THE APPETITE OF YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO MOVE AHEAD ON OTHER REFORMS LIKE GUN- CONTROL LEGISLATION, BEING TOP OF MINE.

>> WELL, LOOK.

THEY USE RECONCILIATION TO PASS IN NEARLY $2 TRILLION TAX CUT TO THE WEALTHIEST IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE LARGEST CORPORATIONS AND YOU KNOW, IT DID NOT SOUR OUR WILLINGNESS TO TRY TO WORK WITH THEM ON OTHER THINGS.

THERE IS STILL SUCH A HOLD ON SO MANY OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ON REASONABLE GUN SAFETY MEASURES.

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

WE JUST CANNOT HAVE A UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECK FOR ALL PURCHASES OF GUNS.

YOU HAVE TO GET A LICENSE TO DRIVE A CAR BECAUSE IF IT IS DRIVEN WRONGLY, IT CAN BE A DEADLY WEAPON.

THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK TO GET A LICENSE TO BUY A GUN.

>> SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, GOOD TO TALK TO.

>> TO TALK TO, THANK YOU.

>> ANECDOTALLY, RESIDENTS KNEW IT TO BE TRUE.

THE DATA FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE CONFIRMS THE NUMBER OF ANTI-ASIAN BIAS INCIDENTS SURGED ACROSS THE STATE LAST YEAR, RISING BY NEARLY 75%.

EXPERTS SAY THE DISTURBING TREND DID NOT START WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BUT ADDED FUEL TO AN ALREADY GROWING PROBLEM WITH DISCRIMINATION AND THIS NATION'S LONG HISTORY OF RACISM TOWARDS THE ASIAN COMMUNITY.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ WAS PORTS.

>> Reporter: TELL ANY ASIAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER THE NEW STATISTICS FROM A POLICE SAY THAT INCIDENTS AGAINST THE COMMUNITY ARE UP 74%, AND THEY WILL SAY THAT THAT IS TERRIBLE, AND PROBABLY AN UNDERESTIMATION.

CASEY YOKO MOTO HAS SEEN INCIDENTS BIG AND SMALL ALMOST DAILY AND IS 42 YEARS.

RATHER THAN LIVE IN FEAR AND APPREHENSION, HE FEELS ENERGIZED BY THE MOMENT.

>> I WAS BORN HERE, I WAS RAISED HERE.

YOU KNOW, AND WHAT'S THE POINT, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW JERSEY.

SO, IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT I KNOW, IT IS ABOUT NOT QUIET, AND YOU KNOW, IF ANYTHING ELSE, ANXIETY AND FEAR REALLY DOES NOT TEND TO RULE ME VERY MUCH, AND IF ANYTHING, I START OFF ANGRY AND THEN KIND OF BACK OFF IF ANYTHING ELSE.

>> HE REPRESENTS A SHIFT AMONG ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS.

BUOYED BY SUPPORT FROM THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, AND A GROWING POLITICAL IMPACT, THE API RESIDENTS IN NEW JERSEY ARE ORGANIZING AND STANDING UP.

CHALLENGING THE TREND THAT HAS SEEN THEM ESCAPE CODED FOR THINGS LIKE THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

>> I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF ACTIVISM WITHIN THE API COMMUNITY OUT HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND NATIONWIDE, AND NON- ASIAN AMERICANS AND SUPPORTIVE ASIAN AMERICANS, I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS DRIVEN BY THE YOUNG ACTIVISM.

A LOT OF YOUNG AMERICAN CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF BLM AFTER GEORGE FLOYD IN PARTICULAR LAST YEAR.

AND, WHEN ATLANTA CAME AROUND, THEY WERE JUST ANGERED AND SHOCKED AND DISMAYED AND YOU KNOW, THEY HIT THE STREETS THE ORGANIZED.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEYANS HAVE ALREADY COME OUT AND SUPPORTED TO STOP ASIAN HATE.

>> THE SENATE RECENTLY PASSED A BILL AND THAT FIGHTING THE RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY KIM WHO HAS SHARED HIS EXPERIENCE WITH INCIDENTS EVEN AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS SAYS THE PAST YEAR HAS HAD A PROFOUND AFFECT ON HIM.

>> I FEEL DIFFERENT I HAVE IN PAST YEARS.

I FEEL VERY ENERGIZED AND VERY SERVICE FOCUSED AND REMINDED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT REFLECTS IN THE WAY I TALK ABOUT THINGS.

AND HONESTLY, IT'S GIVEN ME A VERY PERSONAL MISSION TO TRY TO STEP UP AND COME AT THIS FROM A LEVEL OF CORRECTING THESE DIFFICULTIES, OR CHALLENGES, OR INJUSTICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LINE THAT CANNOT BE CROSSED.

THAT AT SOME POINT, THERE IS A POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO STAND UP AND START TALKING TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

YOU JUST CAN'T FIT BY AND JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN ANYMORE.

>> THIS IS A DEFINING MOMENT FOR THE API COMMUNITY.

NOW, THE QUESTION IS IS IT GOING TO BE A HISTORIC MOVEMENT TOWARDS SOME TYPE OF PROGRESS, OR WILL IT MAKE BEING RELEGATED TO JUST A MOMENT?

>> THERE IS A MARCH ON WASHINGTON BEING PLANNED FOR JUNE WITH ORGANIZERS HOPING TO ATTRACT 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF A COMMUNITY THAT, AFTER MANY YEARS OF FACING HATE, SUBTLE AND OVERT, IS FINALLY FINDING SOME REAL ALLIES.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> MEANTIME, A MONTH LONG PROCESS TO SET UP A VACCINATION CLINIC AT NEWARK AIRPORT IS FINALLY COMPLETE AND READY TO PUT SHOTS IN THE ARMS OF ALL AIRPORT WORKERS.

MANY SAY THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING WITH MORE THAN 6.7 MILLION SHOTS NOW ADMINISTERED ACROSS THE STATE AND ROUGHLY 2.8 MILLION RESIDENTS NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

THE UNITED AIRLINES HEALTH CLINIC WILL NOW BE ADDING TO THAT DISTRIBUTION AS JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS, IT'S A RELIEF FOR THOSE ON THE JOB.

>> I MEAN IT'S LIKE, IT FEELS SAFER.

YOU FEEL SAFER FOR YOURSELF AND FOR YOUR COWORKERS.

>> IT'S A PIECE OF MINE, IT'S A RELIEF KNOWING THAT THIS IS GOING ON.

>> THIS GUYS ARE GETTING FROM YOU TODAY AS UNITED AIRLINES JUST OPENED A VACCINE SITE RIGHT HERE AT NEWARK AIRPORT.

>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR US.

THE BEST WAY FOR US TO START GETTING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY INOCULATED.

>> Reporter: AFTER TRAINING STAFF, INVESTING IN A FREEZER, AND MONTHS OF WAITING, THE AIRLINE WAS FINALLY APPROVED BY THE STATE TO TURN ITS HEALTH CLINIC INTO A DISTRIBUTION SITE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AT NEWARK AIRPORT.

>> LAST FRIDAY WE GOT A NOTIFICATION THAT WE ARE APPROVED, PFIZER NOTIFIED US THAT THE VACCINE IS COMING.

BY MONDAY, AND TODAY WE STARTED GIVING OUT THE VACCINE.

>> STAFF ARE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL LAST NIGHT.

UNITED HAS BEEN IN THE SAME HOLDING PATTERN AS MANY OTHER SMALL VACCINE SITE, WAITING FOR DOSES TO BE AVAILABLE, AND TODAY'S LAUNCH COMES JUST AS THE EUROPEAN UNION CONSIDERS REOPENING TRAVEL FROM THE U.S. FOR VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.

IT WOULD BE A WELCOME CHANGE FOR AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN DEVASTATED BY GLOBAL SHUTDOWNS.

>> JUST IN OUR AIRPORT HERE, WE WENT FROM 435 TO DOWN TO 16 FLIGHTS AT ONE POINT.

SO, WE'VE HAD A PRETTY DIFFICULT TIME THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

>> EMPLOYEES HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME TOO, OUT HERE WORKING DURING THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I HAVE A FAMILY COMING TO WORK KNOWING THE FACT IT MIGHT BE CONTAGIOUS AND BRING IT BACK HOME.

>> UNTIL NOW, MANY, UNABLE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> I SIGNED UP LIKE FOUR MONTHS AGO AND I'M STILL WAITING.

SO, ONCE UNITED OFFER IT IT TO US, I SIGNED UP RIGHT AWAY.

>> Reporter: TODAY, NERVES GAVE WAY TO A RENEWED SENSE OF HOPE.

>> I FEEL SAFE.

THE PEOPLE NEXT TO ME ARE GOING TO FEEL SAFER BECAUSE WE ARE ALL GOING TO GET VACCINATED.

>> SOME TO GET SHOT DURING THE WORKDAY.

>> TOOK SOME TIME FROM WORK ON A BREAK TO GET IT DONE.

>> OTHERS WITH US DURING.

>> IN CASE I WAS FEELING SICK OR ANYTHING.

>> PATHS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE 48 HOURS OFF AFTER THEIR SHOTS, BUT THESE COMPANY PHYSICIANS ARE HERE, READY TO JAB ANYONE WHO MAKES AN APPOINTMENT.

>> WE SEEN A TOTAL OF 1170 DOSES.

WE ARE PREPARED TO GIVE, FOR TODAY, 168 DOSES.

>> APARTMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY UNTIL UNITED VACCINE SUPPLY RUNS OUT.

IT IS TOO EARLY TO KNOW HOW QUICKLY THEY WILL NEED TO REQUEST MORE DOSES, BUT THEY ARE HOPING THE DEMAND IS THERE.

IN NEWARK AIRPORT, I AM JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AFTER STRUGGLING TO REOPEN FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, THE NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS READY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS STUDENTS ARE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.

SUPERINTENDENT, ROGER LYON SAID IN PERSON INSTRUCTION WILL ASK AND IN ALL SCHOOLS FROM TWO DAYS A WEEK TO FOUR.

ABOUT 80% OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS CHOSE TO HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL STARTING EARLIER THIS MONTH.

THAT NUMBER IS X ACTED TO INCREASE BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDS IN JUNE.

CITY LEADERS SAY MORE THAN 2000 ADULTS WORKING IN THE DISTRICT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AGED 16 AND UP, NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A SHOT WILL SOON BE PART OF A GROWING GROUP.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BATTLED WITH PARENTS AND THE LOCAL TEACHERS UNION OVER REOPENING DATES ALL THAT REMAINS ALL VIRTUAL SINCE LAST MARCH.

THE STATES NUCLEAR PLANTS ARE GETTING A GOVERNMENT BAILOUT AND CUSTOMERS WILL FEEL IT WHEN THEY GET THEIR BILL.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE UPDATE AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA?

>> RIHANNA, WE ARE GETTING ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIES FOR NUCLEAR PLANT.

THE STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES TODAY APPROVED THE UTILITIES REQUEST FOR UP TO ROUGHLY $300 MILLION IN RATE PAY SUBSIDIES TO COVER THE OPERATING COSTS OF ITS PLANS IN SOUTH JERSEY.

THE ACTUAL FIGURE MIGHT BE LESS.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THE PLANTS RUN.

THIS IS A FUNDER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH THOSE SUBSIDIES WILL COST YOU, CHECK OUT MY COLLEAGUE TOM JOHNSON'S REPORT ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

AND AN IMPORTANT DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING FOR NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES IN NEED OF MORE FINANCIAL HELP.

THURSDAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO PREREGISTER FOR THE NEW GRANT PROGRAMS TO BE ROLLED OUT SOON BY THE NEW JERSEY EDA.

PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ANY BUSINESS INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR A GRANT.

TIM SULLIVAN, THE CEO OF THE EDA SAYS SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN SOME STRONG INTEREST.

>> WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE THE REFLECTION OF THE REALITY THAT THE CROWDS ARE PARDON, THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER, THE DATE OF HIS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THIS IS STILL A VERY TOUGH TIME FOR SMALL BUSINESS.

>> BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS UP TO $20,000 WAS THE PREREGISTRATION PROCESS IS COMPLETED THIS WEEK, GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS WILL START NEXT WEEK.

ANOTHER NEW JERSEY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IS GOING TO HELP A COMPETITOR PRODUCE COVID-19 VACCINES.

SANTA FE WILL USE ITS FACILITY IN RICHVILLE TO HELP MODERNA PRODUCE ITS VACCINE OR THAT WORK WILL START IN SEPTEMBER.

SANTA FE IS ALSO CONTINUING CLINICAL TRIALS AT ITS OWN VACCINE CANDIDATE.

CONGRESS TODAY IS TACKLING THE ISSUE OF HOW TO FIGHT COVERT RELATED SCAMS THAT ARE RIPPING OFF VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

DURING TESTIMONY BEFORE A SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE, BONNIE PATTON, THE HEAD OF TRUTH IN ADVERTISING SAID THERE'S BEEN AN EXPLOSION OF FRAUD IN THE LAST YEAR.

NOW, HERE IS A CHECK ON TODAY'S TRADING ON WALL STREET.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE WERE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> BETWEEN WORLD WAR II AND 2011, LGBTQ U.S. SERVICE NUMBERS COULD BE DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF THEIR GENDER IDENTITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

EVEN AFTER THE DON'T ASK DON'T TELL POLICY WAS ENACTED AND RECORDS SHOW TENS OF THOUSANDS WERE.

ONCE KICKED OUT, THOSE MEMBERS FACE HURDLES TO ACCESSING BENEFIT DUE TO THEIR DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE.

NEW STATE LAW IS SETTING A PROCESS TO HELP LGBTQ PLUS VETERANS UPDATE THAT STATUS AND GET THE REVISED PAPERWORK TO PROVE IT, CLEARING A PATH TO THE PROGRAMS INSURANCE AND COMPENSATION SO MANY OF THOSE VETERANS WERE LIVING WITHOUT.

LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS.

>> I WAS A GOOD MARINE AND I LOVE BEING A MARINE.

>> Reporter: JUST 19 YEARS OLD AND THAT THE TOP OF HER CLASS, GINA ENVISIONED A LONG MILITARY CAREER WHEN SHE JOINED THE MARINES IN 1988.

BUT, EIGHT MONTHS IN -- >> THEY DISCHARGED ME FOR BEING HOMOSEXUAL.

>> Reporter: DURING A THERAPY SESSION ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, SHE MENTIONED SHE WAS STRUGGLING WITH HER IDENTITY AND WAS STILL IN THE CLOSET WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> I KNOW AT THE TIME IT COULD MEAN A POSSIBLE SENTENCE, BUT I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE PROCESS.

>> SHE LOST EVERYTHING, HER DREAM JOB, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR ANY HEALTHCARE SERVICES, SHE HAD TO FORFEIT ANY MONEY FOR SCHOOL, AND SHE SAID SHE FEARED COMING OUT TO HER FAMILY.

IT ALL LED TO A DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

>> I ENDED UP SELF-MEDICATING, I ENDED UP HOMELESS.

I WITHDREW FROM MY FAMILY.

I DID NOT CONSIDER MYSELF A VETERAN UNTIL ABOUT 2012.

>> Reporter: A FEW YEARS LATER, SHE STARTED WORKING IN A VETERAN SPACE AND LEARNED SHE MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A DISCHARGE UPGRADE, AND IN 2018, SHE SOUGHT LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP PETITION HER CASE.

IT IS SOMETHING SHE IS STILL WAITING FOR TODAY.

>> I'M NOT EMBARRASSED OF WHO I AM, BUT IT IS UP TO ME WHETHER I DISCLOSE MY SEXUAL ORIENTATION, BUT THAT DOCUMENT DECLARES IT TO ANYONE.

TO GET MY COUNTY VETERANS I.D.

CARD, TO GET MY LICENSE.

>> NOW, GINA AND THOUSANDS OF VETERANS HAVE STATE LAW BEHIND THEIR CASES.

>> I JUST SIGNED A LAW THAT SUPPORTED THE EFFORT TO RIGHT THE WRONG DONE TO COUNTLESS NEW JERSEY MILITARY VETERANS WHO WERE DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THEY WERE MEMBERS OF OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS WILL NOW HELP SERVICEMEMBERS TO GET THEIR DISCHARGE STATUS CHANGE SO THEY CAN RECEIVE ALL THE STATE AND FEDERAL BENEFITS.

ENTITLED TO SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED THIS COUNTRY.

>> WE ESTIMATED ANAPROX 100,000 LGBTQ VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY FROM ABOUT 1993 TO THE PRESENT.

>> 1993 IS ON THE DON'T ASK DON'T TELL POLICY WAS PUT IN PLACE.

>> I HAD FRIENDS WHO SERVED DURING DON'T ASK DON'T TELL WHO WOULD BE FORCED TO SIGN WAIVERS CONFIRMING THAT YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T CRACK THIS ANY HOMOSEXUAL CONDUCT.

>> UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN SERVED OPENLY IN THE MILITARY FROM 2012 TO 2019 BECAUSE PRESIDENT OBAMA REPEALED DON'T ASK THOSE TELL IN 2011.

IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT BIDEN REPEALED TRANSGENDER RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> IT BREAKS MY HEART TO THINK THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR GREAT NATION WERE DENIED THE BENEFITS BECAUSE OF WHO THEY LOVE.

I'M ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL CHANGE THE STATUS.

>> Reporter: GINA URGES VETS TO PETITION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THEY CAN ACCESS THE BENEFITS THEY DESERVE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.

I AM LEAH MISHKIN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WITH THE MASK MANDATES AND EASING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, THIS WEEK'S CHAT BOX SR.

CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ TAKES A DEEP DIVE ON THE SCIENCE AND POLITICS OF REOPENING IN THE PANDEMIC.

WATCH IT LIVE AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

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