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

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

>>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS THURSDAY NIGHT, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> THE WHITE HOUSE HAS A NEW PLAN TO GET MORE MONKEYPOX VACCINES TO THE PUBLIC, ANNOUNCING NEW STEPS TODAY TO BOOST THE SUPPLY, MAKING AN ADDITIONAL 1.8 MILLION DOSES AVAILABLE STARTING MONDAY.

A FAST DISTRIBUTION TIMELINE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO OFFERING MORE RESOURCES FOR STATES, HELPING THE TRANSITION TO A NEW WAY OF ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE THAT WILL STRETCH SUPPLY BY INJECTING LESS OF THE DOSE BETWEEN THE LAYERS OF SKIN, RATHER THAN UNDER THE SKIN.

AND, IN PERHAPS THE BIGGEST EFFORT TO REACH AT RISK POPULATIONS, FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE LAUNCHING A PILOT PROGRAM, PROVIDING UP TO 50,000 MONKEYPOX VACCINE DOSES FROM THE NATIONAL STOCKPILE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE AT PRIDE, AND OTHER LARGE EVENTS ATTRACTING THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.

THE LATEST DATA FROM THE CDC SHOWS MORE THAN 13,500 MONKEYPOX CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE U.S. MORE THAN 39,000 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED WORLDWIDE.

THAT NUMBER IS GROWING IN NEW JERSEY TOO.

377 CONFIRMED INFECTIONS AS OF TODAY.

>>> STATE OFFICIALS RECENTLY CHANGED CRITERIA FOR VACCINE ELIGIBILITY HERE, IT NO LONGER CONSIDERS GENDER OR SEXUAL IDENTITY AS A FACTOR FOR A PERSON TO GET A SHOT.

FALLING IN LINE WITH CDC GUIDANCE THAT WHILE THE VIRUS IS TRANSMITTED PRIMARILY THROUGH SEXUAL CONTACT, IT CAN QUOTE, SPREAD TO ANYONE THROUGH CLOSE CONTACT, OFTEN SKIN TO SKIN.

>> WE WILL MAKE APPROXIMATELY 360,000 VIALS, OR UP TO ONE.8 MILLION DOSES MORE AVAILABLE TO STATES AND JURISDICTIONS.

THIS ROUNDUP JURISDICTION OF THE NEARLY 800,000 VIALS WE RECEIVED IN LATE JULY.

IN ADDITION, AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED, WE ARE ACCELERATING THE DELIVERY OF ANOTHER 150,000 VIALS OF VACCINE THAT WAS INITIALLY SUPPOSED TO COME IN OCTOBER.

IT WILL NOT BE COMING IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH REPRESENTS UP TO 750,000 DOSES UNDER THE NEW FDA EUA.

>>> NEW JERSEY CITY COUNCILWOMAN AMY DUTIES IS BREAKING HER SILENCE, MAKING HER FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT A MARATHON CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT THAT CAME NEARLY A MONTH AFTER HER NOW INFAMOUS HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT, IN WHICH SHE STRUCK A CYCLIST AND KEPT DRIVING WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING TO CHECK ON THEM.

IN THE WEEKS SINCE, THOUSANDS HAVE CALLED FOR HER RESIGNATION AND THE OUTCRY CONTINUED LAST NIGHT.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN WAS THERE.

>> I AM GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AND I FEEL HORRIBLE ABOUT THAT SITUATION, BUT THERE IS A COURT PROCESS.

>> Reporter: SO, AMY DEFIANTLY WERE NOT ANNOUNCED SHE WILL NOT WAS HER SEAT ON THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER MORE THAN 50 SPEAKERS DEMANDED SHE RESIGNED OVER FAILING TO STOP AND WAITING SIX HOURS TO REPORT HER JULY HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT.

HER FIRST COMMENT SINCE THE ACCIDENT CAUSED THE CROWD OFF COURT GUARD.

>> I HOPE NO ONE HERE IS EVER SUBJECTED TO THIS AMOUNT OF TRAUMA.

WHEN THE LEGAL PROCESS IN TRAFFIC COURT IS FINISHED, I WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY AND CAN ADDRESS OUTSTANDING CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS.

IN THE MEANTIME, I AM NOT RESIGNING.

>> DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY NOW BE FEELING, YOU ARE NOT THE VICTIM HERE.

THE VICTIM IS THE PERSON WHO WAS HIT AND DRIVEN AWAY FROM WITHOUT HESITATION.

>> Reporter: SPEAKERS WAITED HOURS AT THE JAM-PACKED COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT GOT JUST THREE MINUTES TO COMMENT AND SHOWED LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR DEGISE, THE WELL-CONNECTED DIANE OF A POWERFUL HUDSON FAMILY.

>> WHAT THE COUNCILWOMAN DID IS SHAMEFUL, EVEN THOUGH I AM WARNED THAT SOME HUDSON COUNTY POLITICIANS HAVE NO SHAME.

>> YOU LEFT A HUMAN BEING ON THE STREET AND DID NOT CHECK TO SEE IF HE WAS OKAY.

THAT IS NOT ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE STEP DOWN TO RESIGN FROM YOUR POSITION, THAT WOULD SHOW ACCOUNT ABILITY.

>> IF YOU ARE WRONG, YOU'RE WRONG.

YOU NEED TO STEP DOWN, STEP ASIDE.

IF YOU ARE WRONG, YOU'RE WRONG.

I SAY THE SAME THING TO YOU AS A BLACK MAN, IF I HAD DID ANYTHING WRONG LIKE THAT, THEY WOULD GLADLY HAVE ME LOCKED UP.

>> THE CYCLE IS DEGISE HIT, ANDREW BLACK, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.

SHE DID NOT CHECK, BUT REPORTED THE ACCIDENT LATER AT A POLICE PRECINCT.

SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER QUESTION HER CHARACTER AND FITNESS TO HOLD OFFICE, BUT DENOUNCED THE MAYOR AND HIS CITY COUNCILS LATE FOR CIRCLING POLITICAL WAGONS INSTEAD OF PRESSURING DEGISE TO QUIT.

>> BY REMAINING SILENT ON THIS ISSUE, YOU ARE COMPLICIT, BETRAYING THE TRUST OF THOSE WHO ELECTED YOU AND OBTAINING HELP HOLDING OF ALLOWING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ACT WITH IMPUNITY.

>> SOMEONE LIKE THAT CAN'T POSSIBLY REPRESENT US, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHO WE ARE.

THAT IS NOT THE JERSEY CITY THAT I KNOW.

AGAIN, BY REQUESTING ONCE MORE THAT COUNCILMEMBER DEGISE PLEASE STEP DOWN.

>> DEGISE, A MAJOR COG IN THE HUDSON POLITICAL MACHINE WAS JUST THE DEPTH DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.

HUDSON'S COUNTY EXECUTIVE SET FRONT ROW IN THE AUDIENCE.

SPEAKERS POINTED TO HER POWER AND PRIVILEGE IN THE WAKE OF MULTIPLE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE A HOBOKEN COP FROM TOWING HER ILLEGALLY PARKED CAR.

>> BUT IT IS NO SURPRISE BECAUSE THE POLITICAL CULTURE IN WHICH SHE WAS RAISED AS ADEPT IN RESPONSE ABILITY.

THE POLITICAL MACHINE THAT GAVE HER THE COUNCIL SEAT AND THE CHAIR BEFORE THAT BEAR NO RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITIZENS OF JERSEY CITY.

>> SHE SHOULD RESIGN BECAUSE SHE REPRESENTS AN IDEA THAT HAS PLAGUED JERSEY CITY FOR GENERATIONS.

THE IDEA THAT IT IS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, IT IS WHO YOU KNOW.

>> Reporter: DEGISE DID GET A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHO SPOKE OUT IN HER SUPPORT.

THEY TALKED ABOUT HER DEVOTION TO JERSEY CITY AND SAID, EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES.

>> PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THE COURT PROCESS WITHOUT PUBLIC SHAMING, ATTACKS AND THREATS.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.

>> AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO HAVE A CHILD FIRST, THEN YOU HANG THEM AFTER THAT?

>> Reporter: DEGISE'S FATHER DECRIED THE EFFECT ON HIS DAUGHTER AND SAID, HE COULD HAVE PACKED THE MEETING WITH QUOTE, A COUPLE OF HUNDRED PEOPLE, BUT CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT.

HE SUPPORTS OUR REFUSAL TO RESIGN, POLITICAL CONFLICTS NOTWITHSTANDING.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EROSION OF PUBLIC TRUST OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

>> HUDSON COUNTY HAS HAD THOSE KIND OF PAST A LITTLE BIT.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN, ANYWAY, LINK AMY'S ACCIDENT WITH POLITICS.

IT TURNED OUT THAT WAY, BUT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT IN THE END.

SHE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED, BUT SHE DID NOT.

>> Reporter: TOM DEGISE TO RETIRING NEXT YEAR, BUT THE CASE IS INDEED WITH POLITICS.

JAMES SOLOMON STATED, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT ONCE AGAIN MY COLLEAGUE HAS CHOSEN HERSELF OVER HER CONSTITUENTS BY FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER ROLE IN A CRY WE ALL WITNESSED AND REFUSING TO RESIGN.

AND WITH POLITICS THIS WEEK, DEGISE'S HIT AND RUN CASE HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE ESSEX COUNTY REMADE COURT WITH NO COURT DATE SET YET.

JERSEY CITY, BRENDA FLANAGAN "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

>>> THERE HAVE BEEN A MASSIVE OUTPOURING OF PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO A PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, A CONTROVERSIAL PLAN TO WIDEN THE EIGHT MILE EXTENSION TO AND FROM THE HOLLAND TUNNEL.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SUPPORTS THE PROJECT, BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE CALLING HIM OUT, SAYING, IT DOES NOT SUPPORT HIS CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS AND THEY ARE MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OPEN IT IS KNOWN.

TED GOLDBERG HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: ANYONE WHO HAS EVER TAKEN THE HOLLAND TUNNEL INTO NEW YORK CITY KNOWS IT IS REALLY CONGESTED.

HOW TO ALLEVIATE THAT?

GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY SAYS, IT COULD HELP TO WIDEN AN EMAIL PART OF THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE THAT LEADS INTO THE TUNNEL.

SEGMENT IT IS QUITE AMBITIOUS AND NEEDED.

>> Reporter: MURPHY ARGUES THAT THE $5 MILLION PROJECT WOULD NOT ONLY RELIEVE THE BOTTLENECK, BUT MAKE NEW JERSEY GREENER BY ACCOMMODATING MORE VEHICLES THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

>> THE COMBINATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, GREEN BUSES, RAILCARS, ALL OF WHICH ARE WORKING SAFELY AND ON TIME, THAT MAKES YOU A LOT CLEANER, BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL NEW JERSEY.

>> LEADERS IN JERSEY CITY AND HOBOKEN DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

THERE CITY COUNCILS PAST UNANIMOUS RESOLUTIONS AGAINST EXPANDING THE TURNPIKE INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> YOU MAKE HIGHWAYS BIGGER, JUST BRING MORE CARS ON THE ROAD.

YOU DON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

WE WILL SPEND $5 BILLION TO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM WHILE MAKING THE LIVES OF MY RESIDENCE WORSE.

>> Reporter: JAMES SULLIVAN SAYS, THE EXPANSION IS BEING FORCED ON HIS CONSTITUENTS WITHOUT HIS THEIR INPUT.

>> I AM DISAPPOINTED, NOT SURPRISED, THAT THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY DECIDED TO IMPOSE THIS IDEA ON JERSEY CITY.

WE KNOW THAT THESE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THINK THAT THEY ARE IMMUNE FROM THE PUBLIC, THAT THEY CAN JUST DO WHAT THEY WANT.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES DON'T AGREE WITH THE PROPOSED PLAN EITHER AND ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO GET GOVERNOR MURPHY'S ATTENTION.

>> HEY GOVERNOR MURPHY, WALK YOUR TALK ON CLIMATE.

>> Reporter: A GROUP OF THEM ARE WALKING 50 MILES IN FIVE DAYS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THIS AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT USE FOSSIL FUELS.

>> JUST VERY HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS CAUSE.

MY KNEE IS HURTING A TINY BIT, BUT I DON'T EVEN FEEL IT.

>> Reporter: THESE WALKERS SAY, MURPHY TALKS A BIG GAME WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEY THINK MURPHY SHOULD SUPPORT HIS WORDS BY CHANGING COURSE ON THE TURNPIKE AND CANCELING PROJECTS THAT THEY SAY WOULD HARM THE ENVIRONMENT IN NEW JERSEY.

>> WE WANT HIM TO WALK HIS TALK, SO WE ARE ENACTING THAT BY PHYSICALLY WALKING FROM SITE TO SITE OF THESE VARIOUS FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS, AND I THINK THAT HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO TALKING TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

>> HE SAYS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, YET, WHEN IT COMES TO THE FOLLOW- THROUGH, PROBLEMATIC.

DEFINITELY PROBLEMATIC.

SOME THINGS ARE DEVELOPING, WE ARE DEFINITELY SUPPORTERS OF OFFSHORE WIND, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT ALL OF THESE FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS, JUST TOTALLY DOES NOT CORRELATE WITH THE TALK.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE STOCKS ON THEIR WALK IS HERE IN WOODBRIDGE AT THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS.

PEOPLE EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE OPPOSED TO POTENTIALLY EXPANDING THE TURNPIKE, INCLUDING AN EMT DRIVER IN JERSEY CITY, WHO THINKS THIS MOVE WILL MAKE HIS CITY LESS SAFE.

>> IT WILL MAKE A RESPONSE TIME FOR US FOR US, MAKE TRAFFIC WORSE FOR THE CITIZENS OF JERSEY CITY.

IT WILL LEAD TO INCREASED TRAFFIC VIOLENCE.

I RESPOND TO A LOT OF CRASHES AS IS.

MORE CONGESTION, MORE IRRITATION FROM TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS WILL ONLY ROASTING THAT.

>> IT IS TERRIBLE.

I THINK THERE IS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING FOR OUR CITIES.

OUR CITIES ARE ALREADY FULL OF TRAFFIC.

WE DON'T NEED MORE.

IF YOU HAVE A BUCKET FULL OF WATER AND ADD MORE WATER, THE WATER WILL SPILL OVER.

HE DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE.

THE HOLLAND TUNNEL IS NOT GETTING WIDER.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, THE EXTENSION IS MERELY A PROPOSAL, BUT INCITING PUSHBACK FROM ALL SIDES OF THE HIGHWAY.

IN WOODBRIDGE, I AM TED GOLDBERG, "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY IS PLANNING TO FILL NEW JERSEY'S OPEN SEAT ON THE BISTATE WATERFRONT COMMISSION WITH A TOUGH, CRIME BUSTING FORMER PROSECUTOR.

THE ADMINISTRATION THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED THE DOMINATION OF JENNIFER DAVENPORT TO FILL A VACANT SEAT ON THE AGENCY TASKED WITH POLICING CRIME AT THE PORTS OF NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK.

THE TWO LABOR COMMISSIONER WAS SET UP IN THE 1950s BECAUSE OF PERVASIVE CORRUPTION ON THE WATERFRONT.

DAVENPORT BRINGS LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE TO THE POSITION AS A FORMER FIRST ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, ACTING UNION COUNTY PROSECUTOR, AND LAWYER FOR NEW JERSEY'S DIVISION OF THE DEA.

BUT HER NOMINATION IS A TURN FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY, WHO WANTS OUT OF THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION SO THE STATE CAN REGAIN FULL AUTHORITY OVER THE PORTS LOCATED IN NEWARK, ELIZABETH, AND BAYONNE.

NEW YORK SUED TO STOP THE STATE'S WITHDRAWAL AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AGREED IN JUNE TO HEAR THE CASE.

>>> FAMILY PLANNING ADVOCATES IN TRENTON TODAY GOT A VISIT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, BRINGING A PLEDGE TO UPHOLD FUNDS AND RESOURCES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO NEW JERSEY CAN CONTINUE MEETING THE GROWING DEMAND FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTIONS.

AS MORE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE NOW TURN TO NEW JERSEY FOR HELP.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS.

>> AT HHS, WE HAVE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OBTAINING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION CARE, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU LIVE.

>> Reporter: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, ADMIRAL RACHEL LEVINE, HOSTED A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH FAMILY PLANNING PROVIDERS AT THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN, CENTRAL, AND SAW THE NEW JERSEY HEALTHCARE CENTER IN TRENTON, ALSO A TITLE X SITE.

>> TITLE X FUNDS SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND FUNDS TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, CANCER SCREENINGS SUCH AS PAP SMEARS AND OTHER CANCER SCREENINGS, AND IT FUNDS FAMILY-PLANNING SERVICES FOR MEN AND WOMEN.

HEALTH EQUITY IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL IN THIS SPACE.

OTHER WORK THAT IS DONE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND MANY OF THE PROGRAMS HAS WORKED FOR LGBTQ I PLUS PEOPLE AND SERVICES FOR THE LGBTQ I PLUS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING IN MANY PROGRAMS GENDER AFFIRMATION SERVICES, WHICH IS REALLY UNDER SIEGE IN MANY STATES IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> WE ARE VERY PRIVILEGED TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR TITLE X, AND ALSO FROM THE STATE.

WE HAVE HAD A VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE HERE IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE THAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDERS, AS WE FACED THIS UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN NEW JERSEY, A SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

>> Reporter: GIVEN THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT OVERTURNED THE DECISION THAT GUARANTEED A LEGAL ABORTION, NEW JERSEY FAMILY-PLANNING WEEK EMPHASIZED BY FEDERAL TITLE X SERVICES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

>> AS NEW JERSEY AND SEXUAL HEALTH REPRODUCTIVE PROVIDERS PREPARE FOR THE SUPREME COURT DECISION, THESE ADDED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE AND TITLE X ARE CRITICAL.

>> Reporter: AND STAFF HERE SAYS, PATIENT CARE SERVICES THAT NEW JERSEY PROVIDES AT PLACES LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS JUST AS ESSENTIAL TO THOSE WOMEN AND FAMILIES WHO ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OUR AFFILIATES, PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN, CENTRAL, SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, WE HAVE EXPANDED THE TRAINING AND WE HAVE NURSE PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMING A SURGICAL ABORTION UP TO 14 WEEKS.

>> SO, I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR WHERE THEY CAN ACT ABORTION SERVICES, AND THEY ARE GOING TO GO--COME TO NEW JERSEY.

THEY WILL COME TO YOUR PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE A ROBUST PROGRAM.

WE HAVE PUBLISHED AND PROPAGATED NEW REGULATIONS IN THE FALL OF 2021 THAT TOOK AWAY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S GAG RULE.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND TITLE X AFTER THAT AND ARE LOOKING FOR FULL FUNDING FROM CONGRESS IN 2023 SO WE CAN FURTHER EXPAND TITLE X SERVICES, WHICH IS SO NEEDED NOW IN THE FACE OF THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION.

ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING, ACCESS TO LONG-ACTING CONTRACEPTION, ACCESS TO OTHER RANGE OF SERVICES THAT TITLE X FUNDS.

>> FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO CHALLENGES AND CHANGES, BUT THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE HARDSHIPS OF THE PANDEMIC ARE FACING A NEW, SOBERING REALITY, STAYING AFLOAT AMID SKY HIGH FOOD PRICES, RISING COSTS FOR RENT, GAS, AND LABOR.

FOOD PRICES IN PARTICULAR HAVE OUTPACED THE OVERALL INFLATION RATE, UP NEARLY 11% YEAR-OVER- YEAR IN JULY, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FEDERAL DATA.

IT MEANS COSTS THAT GET PASSED ON TO RESTAURANTS INEVITABLY GET PASSED ON TO YOU, THE CONSUMER.

TIM McCLUNE IS THE PROLIFIC OWNER OF BARS AND RESTAURANTS ACROSS NEW JERSEY IN HIS NAMESAKE.

HE SAYS, IT FEELS LIKE THE PUNCHES JUST KEEP COMING.

TIM JOINS ME NOW.

TIM, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

YOU WEATHERED THE STORM OF THE PANDEMIC, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR YEARS, WHAT NOW HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST COST FOR YOU TO SHOULDER?

>> WHEN YOU SAID WEATHERING THE STORM, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SANDY FOR A MINUTE, THAT WAS QUITE A TEST TO.

IS EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH KNOW, THAT A LIMIT HAS BEEN THAT FOOD COST IS RISING, BUT SO HAS PAYROLL.

WE HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT THE PAYROLL BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF LOOSE MONEY OUT THERE.

I THINK WE HAVE GOT A PRETTY GOOD LEVEL OF EMPLOYEE LOYALTY, BUT THAT CAN ONLY GO SO FAR.

I DON'T BLAME PEOPLE FOR WANTING TO IMPROVE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE LOST PROBABLY THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS OVERALL WITH PAYROLL AND PROBABLY CLOSE TO THE SAME NUMBER WITH FOOD COSTS.

I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING TO SOME EXTENT IS, WE ARE A CUSTOMER TO OUR VENDORS, JUST AS OUR CUSTOMERS ARE CUSTOMERS TO US.

A LOT OF OUR VENDORS, I THINK QUITE FRANKLY, ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO HOLD COSTS ME BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE ME EITHER.

IT STARTED OUT SEVERE, MAYBE SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT SEEMS TO HAVE SLOWED.

WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> SO, HOW ARE YOU MANAGING THEN TO DEFRAY THOSE COSTS?

I WAS READING RECENTLY ABOUT THE SPIKE IN THE COST OF CHICKEN.

NOW, OF COURSE I SEE THAT WHEN I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, BUT I AM NOT BUYING 50 POUNDS OF IT.

>> AND SOME OF OUR FOOD IS PURCHASED WELL IN ADVANCE, NOT BIAS, BUT BY THE PEOPLE THAT SELL IT TO US.

THEY BUY FUTURE.

IT IS NOT AS SEVERE AS YOU MIGHT SEE IN THE GROCERY STORE, BUT CERTAINLY.

SO, WHAT DO YOU DO?

I THINK THAT THE CUSTOMER ONLY HAS SO MUCH TOLERANCE FOR PRICE INCREASES.

WE TRY TO BE CAREFUL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE HAVE TRIED TO ELIMINATE STUFF THAT WAS SO EXPENSIVE WE COULD NOT DO IT, SO WE JUST TAKE IT OFF THE MENU.

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A JUGGLING ACT.

WE ARE HOPING IN THE FALL, IT WILL SLOW AND EVERYTHING WILL BECOME MORE NORMAL.

EVERY WINTER, HOW OFTEN DO YOU HERE, THERE WAS A FROST IN FLORIDA AND THE COST OF'S JUICE IS GOING UP?

[ LAUGHTER ] NO KIDDING.

IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

>> I WONDER WHAT IT HAS MEANT TO YOUR BUSINESS THIS SUMMER?

THE PLACES THAT YOU OWN, TIM, A TIME WHERE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN, I AM WONDERING IF IT HAS SLOWED DOWN AT ALL?

>> I MORE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN A MONTH OR SO.

THE DEMAND HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, PARTICULARLY IN ASBURY PARK, WE HAVE TWO RESTAURANTS DOWN THERE.

THEY ARE BOTH ON THE BOARDWALK.

THE DEMAND HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER.

WHAT I HAVE NOTICED, THERE IS A BIG CHANGE.

A YEAR AGO, EVERY NIGHT WAS SATURDAY IF YOU HAD OUTSIDE DINING, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ON ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT, WERE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN THEY USUALLY DO AND IT IS THE TUESDAY NIGHT, WHAT HE WANT TO DO?

LET'S GO OUT TO DINNER.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY HAVE SOFT AND, HEADING TOWARD WHERE IT USED TO BE, AND THE DEMAND ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY IS MUCH HEAVIER, LIKE IT USED TO BE.

THE DILEMMA IS THAT WE ARE MUCH MORE WEATHER VULNERABLE THERE.

LAST YEAR, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, IF IT SNOWED A CERTAIN DAY--I MEAN IF IT RAINED ON A CERTAIN DAY, IT DID NOT MATTER.

THIS YEAR, IT MATTERS.

>> TIM McCLUNE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> WE TURN NOW TO WALL STREET.

HERE IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS.

>>> WELL, THE BREAK FROM PERSISTENT HEAT WAVE HAS BEEN A WELCOMED CHANGE, BUT REALLY, THE STATE COULD USE SOME RAIN.

DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE WORSENING FOR SOME AREAS IN NEW JERSEY.

PARTS OF SEVEN COUNTIES ARE NOW UNDER A SEVERE DROUGHT, ACCORDING TO A NEW FEDERAL LAB MAP RELEASED TODAY.

SECTIONS OF SOMERSET, MIDDLESEX, HUNTER, MORRIS, AND ETHICS COUNTIES, AS WELL AS ALL OF UNION COUNTY NOW FALL UNDER THE SEVERE UNION INDEX.

SEVERAL OTHER COUNTIES ARE FACING MODERATE DROUGHT.

THIS DIFFERS SLIGHTLY FROM NEW JERSEY'S THE FOREMAN OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WHICH STILL HAS THE STATE UNDER A DROUGHT WATCH.

THAT IS A DETERMINATION HEAVILY BASED ON WATER SUPPLY LEVELS.

THE GOOD NEWS THOUGH, ACCORDING TO STATE CLIMATOLOGIST, DAVE ROBINSON, WE JUST NEED ONE GOOD SOAKER TO GET US BACK INTO A NORMAL PATTERN.

HE SAYS, THE CULMINATION OF RESERVOIRS FALLING BELOW NORMAL WATER LEVELS, AND AN ESPECIALLY HOT, DRY SUMMER MADE THE SITUATION WORSE.

>> WE ARE GETTING INCREASINGLY DRY HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

PRECIPITATION DEFICITS GOING BACK TO JUNE ARE UP IN THE SIX INCH RANGE.

WE HAVE GATHERED ABOUT FOUR AND HALF INCHES OF RAIN A MONTH DURING THIS SUMMER AND WE'VE BEEN DOWN 25% OR LESS OF THAT IN SOME AREAS.

WE DON'T NEED TO SUBTLY HAVE SEVEN INCHES OF RAIN.

WE DON'T NEED AN IDA COMING OFF OF THE SEPTEMBER 1st AGAIN.

IT IS NOT NECESSARY.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE ARE IN THE SECOND HALF OF AUGUST, AND NOT THE SECOND HALF OF JUNE AND IN THE SITUATION.

WE WILL START COOLING OFF EVENTUALLY.

WITH THAT, OUR PRECIPITATION PATTERN CHANGES FROM ONE THAT IS IT MOSTLY BASED ON HIT OR MISS THUNDERSTORMS.

WE MAY GET A TROPICAL SYSTEM, HOPEFULLY A WELL-BEHAVED ONE, AND THEN WE START GETTING INTO THE SEASON WHERE A NOR'EASTER COULD COME UP, OR MORE STEADY DAYTIME RANGE COULD EVOLVE.

>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, WE WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT AN "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" SPECIAL, "HER STORY" WITH JOANNA GAGIS, PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON MANY SIGNS AND ISSUES AFFECTING NEW JERSEY'S WOMEN.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THROUGHOUT HISTORY, WE HAVE HEARD HIS STORY, NOW HERE HER STORY.

>> THIS NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN WILL HAVE FEWER RIGHTS THAN WE HAVE IF WE CAN'T CODIFY ROE V. WADE.

>> WE WILL BRING A RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES FROM WOMEN ACROSS THE GARDEN STATE.

>> I BELIEVE ABORTION VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS.

>> WE NEED TO FIND A COMMON GROUND.

>> THIS IS "HER STORY."

>> YOU CAN CATCH THE SERIES PREMIER SATURDAY, AUGUST 20th AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 27th AT 10:00 P.M. ON NJ PBS.

>>> THAT WILL DO IT FOR US THIS EVENING, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

BOGO THE ENTIRE "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND ORSTED, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR A GREATER NEW JERSEY.

>>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY, JOB, EDUCATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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

ONLINE AT US.ORSTED.COM.

>>> THIS IS WHAT I WORK FOR, TO BE MY BEST FOR THEM, AND FOR ME, IN BODY AND IN MIND.

I NEED A HEALTH INSURER THAT HELPS ME GET THE CARE FOR BOTH, THAT HAS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS I CAN TALK TO WHEN I NEED TO, BECAUSE WHEN I FEEL STRONG AND SECURE, SO DO THEY.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

THIS IS HOW HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WORKS FOR ME.