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AND, BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

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

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

NEW JERSEY NOW HAS ITS FIRST SET OF RULES REGULATING THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LAW MARKET.

IT COMES NINE MONTHS AFTER VOTERS APPROVED LEGALIZING THE INDUSTRY BY 2 TO 1 MARGIN AND 6 MONTHS AFTER GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED LEGISLATION TO BOTH LEGALIZE AND CANONIZE THE DRUG.

THE STATE CANNABIS RADIO TRADE COMMISSION TODAY RELEASED INITIAL RULES THAT SET UP THE MARKET FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

TWO DAYS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, PUTTING NEW JERSEY ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEGINNING RECREATIONAL SALES FOR ADULTS 21 AND OVER.

LEAH MISHKIN WAS FOLLOWING THE MEETING AND JOINS US NOW.

SO WHAT ARE THE NEW RULES BY THE COMMISSION?

>> THE CRC BASICALLY LAID OUT THE ENTIRE FRAMEWORK FOR HOW THIS MARKET WILL BE REGULATED.

EVERYTHING FROM LICENSING FEES TO SECURITY, TO WHAT AUTHORITY MUNICIPALITIES WILL HAVE.

THERE ARE 565 TOWNS IN NEW JERSEY AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BY SATURDAY WHETHER THEY WANT IN ON THIS INDUSTRY, OR NOT.

SO, MUNICIPALITIES CAN IMPOSE UP TO 2% TAX.

THEY CAN LIMIT THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF BUSINESS LICENSES.

THEY CAN DECIDE LOCATION, AND HOURS OF OPERATION.

EXCEPT FOR DELIVERY SERVICES.

AND, THEY CAN SET THE DISTANCE FROM SCHOOLS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP.

NOW, LET'S MOVE TO LICENSES.

THERE ARE SIX CATEGORIES.

CULTIVATION, MANUFACTURING, WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION, SALE AND DELIVERY.

THE COMMISSION HAS LIMITED, NEW CULTIVATOR LICENSES 237 DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS TRIP THERE'S NO HARD CAP ON THE NUMBER OF MICRO-BUSINESSES.

A MICRO BUSINESS, EMPLOYS 10 PEOPLE OR LESS.

AND, APPLICATIONS ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PRIORITIZED TO IMPROVE SOCIAL EQUITY.

>> IN TERMS OF PRIORITY, REVIEW AND LICENSE AWARDS, THESE ARE GOING TO BE FOR THREE CATEGORIES OF BUSINESSES, PRIMARILY.

FIRST, SOCIAL EQUITY AND BUSINESS APPLICANTS, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE OWNERS HAVE LIVED IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AREAS, WHICH ARE, IS A TERM THAT IS DEFINED IN THE RULES.

IT IS AN AREA WHERE THERE IS LOWER THAN AVERAGE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOMES, AND HIGHER THAN AVERAGE RATES OF UNINSURED.

AND, THEY HAVE TO, THOSE INDIVIDUALS ALSO HAVE TO CURRENTLY BE AT OR BELOW 80% OF THE STATEWIDE INCOME.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME, OR SOCIAL EQUITY BUSINESS IS APPLICANTS CAN BE 51%.

SORRY, OVER 50% OWNED.

INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PASSED CANNABIS RELATED CRIMINAL OFFENSES.

THE SECOND GROUP ARE DIVERSELY OWNED BUSINESS APPLICANTS.

THIS IS AN UMBRELLA CATEGORY.

THAT COVERS STATE CERTIFIED MINORITY.

WOMEN AND DISABLED VETERANS OWNED BUSINESSES.

AND THEN LASTLY, ALSO RECEIVING PRIORITY IN APPLICATION PROCESSES OR IN TAX ON BUSINESSES.

THESE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ARE EITHER OWNED BY, LOCATED IN, OR EMPLOYED SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN IMPACTS OWNS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE A MICRO BUSINESS, YOU WOULD PAY AN ANNUAL FEE OF $1000.

VERSUS A LARGE CULTIVATOR, WHICH WOULD PAY UP TO $50,000.

NOW, THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKELY TO SELL RECREATIONAL POT WOULD BE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES.

AND THERE ARE RULES FOR THEM TOO.

>> ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO ENSURE THAT PATIENTS ARE CONTINUALLY PRIORITIZING TAKING CARE OF EVEN AS PERSONAL USE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS SALES ARE ROLLED OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

SO, ATC SAID EXPAND THE RECREATIONAL MARKET WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVE ACCURATE PATIENT BEFORE BEING LICENSE WITH RECREATIONAL BUSINESS.

WE ARE NOT WILLING TO HAVE PATIENTS WAIT LONGER FOR THEIR MEDICINE, BECAUSE OF THE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS.

SO WE WILL BE EXTREMELY STRICT.

>> Reporter: SO, WHEN CAN YOU ACTUALLY BUY RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN NEW JERSEY QUESTION MARK THE COMMISSION NOW HAS 180 DAYS.

OR ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

THAT IS ONE YEAR FROM WHEN GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED LEGISLATION TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL POT.

BRIE, BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO?

THANKS.

AS SHE MENTIONED, THE PUSH FOR LEGALIZATION IS ALSO ASKED TO TO MAKE GOOD ON A DECADE-LONG PROMISE TO BRING ABOUT RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

THE ACLU OF NEW JERSEY SAYS THAT IS WHERE THE FOCUS NEEDS TO REMAIN, WITH DATA FROM THE ORGANIZATION SHOWING IN 2018, BLACK RESIDENTS WERE ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION AT A RATE OF THREE AND HALF TIMES HIGHER THAN WHITE RESIDENTS, DESPITE SIMILAR USAGE OF THE DRUG.

THE CHAPTERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS ASKED IF THE NEW RULES GO FAR ENOUGH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THESE RULES AND RELATIONS TO COME OUT.

BASED OFF OF WHAT YOU ARE TODAY, DO THEY GO FAR ENOUGH TO ADDRESS BOTH SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL EQUITY?

>> WE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE REGULATIONS FOR A LONG TIME.

AS YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT WE DID TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS IN NEW JERSEY HAD RACIAL JUSTICE AT ITS CORE, AND WE WERE HOPING THAT THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION, KEEP THAT IN MIND AS THEY DID ITS WORK.

AND, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THE RIGHT INTENTIONS IN MIND.

IT IS LIKE YOU KNOW, THE EQUITY APPLICANT STATUS IS SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH NOTING.

IT'LL PRIORITIZE FOLKS ARE COMING FROM IMPACT ZONES, OR FOLKS WHO HAVE CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS IN THE BACKGROUND.

IT CERTAINLY HELPFUL THAT THE FEES TO ENTER THE INDUSTRY ARE NOT BARRIERS, AND THEY ARE REASONABLE.

BUT OF COURSE, THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

RIGHT?

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT RACIAL JUSTICE IS AT ITS CORE, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IN THIS PROCESS.

AND HOPEFULLY, THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION REALIZES THAT THIS IS NOT A ONE AND DONE DEAL.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO EVOLVE AS THE INDUSTRY TAKES YOU.

>> YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE ORGANIZATION LIKE?

THIS HAVE GONE A STEP FURTHER?

YOU MENTIONED THE DIVERSITY ON BUSINESSES.

THAT'S HOW THE CRC CATEGORIZED IT.

AS FAR AS PRIORITIZING THOSE LICENSES.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT GO?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE PLACES.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THE CRC SET A TONE FOR MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH LICENSING STRUCTURES RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE SOME AND USE THE POLITIES THAT ARE INTENDING ON MAKING A MORE DIFFICULT TAX WITH MARIJUANA OR CANNABIS IN THE COMMUNITIES, AND THE CRC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO AMPLIFY EQUITY MESSAGING ALONG THE WAY.

IS ALSO AN ISSUE AROUND ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

WE KNOW THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND NEW JERSEY HAVE LESS ACCESS TO WEALTH THEN BY COMMUNITIES.

AND, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AT LEAST STRIVE FOR A MORE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

>> I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU VERY QUICKLY ABOUT THOSE IMPACT ZONES.

THE CRC OUTLINED TODAY.

YOU KNOW, AREAS WITH OF COURSE, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

OTHER FACTORS OF THE LACK.

IS THAT WHERE THIS NEEDS TO BE TARGETED QUESTION MARK THIS HAS BEEN SO MUCH A PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN TALKING ABOUT EQUITY.

>> I THINK WHAT WE DID WAS TARGET THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WE KNOW HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT INTERACTIONS WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE HAD ECONOMICALLY IGNORED FOR DECADES.

AND, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

OTHERWISE, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE IS A MOSTLY WHITE INDUSTRY LED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE BACKED BY MEGACORPORATIONS, BUILT ON THE BACKS OF CRIMINALIZED PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> TONIGHT, AND ILLEGAL GUN TRAFFICKING RING IN CAMDEN COUNTY IS BUSTED.

>>> ACTING NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW BROCK SAYS THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN BY LOOKING AT THE STOLEN MOTORCYCLES AND ATVs BUT ENDED WITH THE INDICTMENT OF 11 ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE CRIMINAL NETWORK.

A TOTAL OF 20 WEAPONS SEIZED, INCLUDING TWO ASSAULT RIFLES AND EIGHT UNTRACEABLE SO-CALLED GHOST GUNS.

THE OPERATION GRAB AND GO IS THE LATEST IN THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO CRACK DOWN ON VIOLENCE BY INTERSTATE GUN TRAFFICKING.

ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, CRIMINALS TAKE A VANTAGE OF A LOOPHOLE IN FEDERAL LAW ALLOWING FOR GHOST GUNS WHICH ARE SOLD IN PARTS AND ASSEMBLED AFTER THEIR PURCHASE.

SO, NOT TECHNICALLY FIREARMS AT THE TIME OF SALE AND NOT SUBJECT TO RULES THAT APPLY TO OTHER GUN PURCHASES.

>> WE HAVE SEEN HOW WEAPONS OF WAR ARE BLUNTING THE STREETS OF CAMDEN.

AND, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CUTTING THEM OFF ON THE SUPPLY LINES.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY, WE ARE CONFRONTING A DILEMMA FACED BY A NUMBER OF NORTHEASTERN STATES.

WE'VE GOT STRONG, ROBUST GUN SAFETY LAWS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO KEEP THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPONS AWAY FROM THOSE WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO USE THEM.

BUT, INCREASINGLY, CRIMINALS ARE LOOKING OUTSIDE OUR STATE TO JURISDICTIONS WITH THOSE.

TO OBTAIN THE FIREARMS THAT THEY NEED TO COMMIT CRIMES.

>> JUST ABOUT ANY POLITICIAN, THEY WILL LIKELY TELL YOU THEY PAY NO ATTENTION TO POLLS.

BUT, THE CANDIDATES IN THIS YEAR'S GUBERNATORIAL RACE MAY TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SURVEY OUT BY MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY THIS WEEK, PUTTING INCUMBENT GOVERNOR, PHIL MURPHY AND OF HIS GOP RIFLE, JACK CHIARELLI.

BUT, THE RACE IS STILL FAR FROM OVER.

SO, WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE?

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> PHIL MURPHY DOES NOT GET IT.

MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE HE'S NOT FROM NEW JERSEY.

MAYBE BECAUSE HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND NEW JERSEY.

BUT, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.

HE IS NOT NEW JERSEY.

KNOW THE BATTLE CRY JACK CHIARELLI IS HOPING THAT WILL RESONATE WITH ENOUGH VOTERS TO CLOSE THE 16 POINT GAP HE IS TRAILING BEHIND MURPHY IN THE RACE FOR NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR.

MURPHY HAS 52% OF REGISTERED VOTERS BACKING HIM TO JACK'S 36%.

>> MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.

TAX EQUITY WHERE THE WEALTHIEST PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, AND THE MIDDLE CLASS GETS A BREAK.

>> Reporter: IT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME RING TO IT, BUT VOTERS LARGELY DO APPROVE OF MURPHY'S PERFORMANCE, ESPECIALLY ON THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE OF OUR TIME.

>> THE TOP ISSUE FOR VOTERS RIGHT NOW IS THE PANDEMIC, AND MURPHY IS GETTING GOOD MARKS ON THAT, AND SO, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO KNOCKING OFF OF THAT.

>> HE'S APPEALING TO PARENTS ANGRY ABOUT THE GOVERNORS MASK MANDATES GOALS, PROMISING TO REPEAL IT, ALONG WITH SOME GUN RESTRICTIONS, AND HE SAYS HE WILL MAKE NEW JERSEY A BETTER PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

BUT, THAT LAST ONE IS A HARD ONE TO HOLD AGAINST MURPHY.

THE MANKIW ALSO FINALLY HAVE A GROWING ECONOMY.

IS, PEOPLE GOING BACK TO WORK.

PEOPLE WHO DON'T USE LAPTOPS ARE GOING BACK TO WORK.

AND, THAT IS HAPPENING ON HIS WATCH.

SO HE GETS THE CREDIT FOR IT.

>> THIS CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT ONE ISSUE THAT IS ON THE MINDS OF EVERY HOMEOWNER IN THIS STATE ARE AT AN ISSUE THAT PHIL MURPHY NEVER TALKS ABOUT, AND THAT HIS PROPERTY TAXES TREATS YOU LIKE THE OTHER ISSUE WAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY IN NEW JERSEY IS PARTICULARLY PROPERTY TAXES.

WE ALWAYS COMPLAIN THAT OUR TAXES ARE THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

BUT, THEY HAVE NOT GONE UP ASTRONOMICALLY, OR PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THEY'VE GONE UP ASTRONOMICALLY UNDER PHIL MURPHY.

>> Reporter: MURPHY'S CAMPAIGN TOLD US THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY IS FOCUSED ON MEETING THE STATE FOR PANDEMIC AND HOLDING A STRONGER NEW JERSEY THAT WORKS FOR EVERY FAMILY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THEY ARE VOTING, THE POLLS POINT TO SIGNIFICANT TRENDS BY RACE AND ETHNICITY WITH MURPHY LEAVING 85% TO 5% OF LUNG BLACK VOTERS.

AND 69% AMONG LATINO, ASIAN, AND OTHER VOTERS.

CHIARELLI IS LEADING 49% AMONG WHITE VOTERS DID BUT, THIS ELECTION HAS SHOWN ONE MORE CHANGE IN NEW JERSEY POLITICS.

THE DISAPPEARING ACT OF SWING VOTERS.

>> IT USED TO BE THAT REPUBLICANS RUN STATEWIDE AND DID WELL IN CENTRAL JERSEY.

CENTRAL JERSEY, JACK SHIRLEY'S BASE, THE PEOPLE THAT HE COMES FROM THAT WOULD NATURALLY BE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD SEE, YOU KNOW, GO TO HIM.

FOR REPUBLICANS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

THEY'RE ALL DEMOCRATS NOW.

>> THERE ARE MORE THAN 1 MILLION REGISTERED DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.

1 MILLION.

13 YEARS AGO, THAT NUMBER WAS LESS THAN 300,000.

SO, THE STATE IS BECOMING BLUER.

>> AND THE WAY IN WHICH REPUBLICANS HAVE TO APPEAL TO VOTERS HAS ALSO CHANGED, SAYS MARIE.

>> DONALD TRUMP HAS CHANGED THE EQUATION WE USED TO HAVE WORK THE PUBLIC AND COULD RUN AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF REPUBLICAN.

NOW, EVERY REPUBLICAN IS A TRUMP REPUBLICAN.

WHICH MEANS YOU'VE GOT TO, IN ORDER TO HOLD ONTO THE REPUBLICAN VOTE, YOU GOT TO APPEAL TO YOUR BASE.

BUT THAT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO APPEAL TO ALMOST ANYBODY ELSE.

>> IF GOVERNOR MURPHY WIN, IT'LL BE THE FIRST TIME A DEMOCRAT WAS REELECTED IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

>> WHAT MAKES JACK CHIARELLI A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE CAN CHRIS CRISTI IN 2009.

>> INTERESTING THINGS WE ARE SEEING COMING OUT OF THE CAMPAIGN AS THEY ARE TRYING TO PAINT PHIL MURPHY IS OUT OF TOUCH.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CHRIS CRISTI DID WITH JOHN CORZINE BACK IN 2009.

THE DIFFERENCE THERE IS THAT VOTERS IN 2000 AND WERE INCLINED TO THINK THAT JOHN WAS OUT OF TOUCH.

PHIL MURPHY, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL HIS RICHES AND HIS VILLA IN ITALY, THAT'S NOT RESONATING WITH FOLKS, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS SAYING DOES HE SEEM TO UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT WITH THIS PANDEMIC THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

AND THE ANSWER TO THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY IS YEAH, HE GETS IT.

>> BUT THEN HE SAYS TO EXPECT THIS DOUBLE-DIGIT GAS TURBINE UNTIL NOVEMBER.

AND WITH A RAGING PANDEMIC, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO SHIFT THIS RACE.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AFGHAN CITIZENS ARE STAGING ANTI-TALIBAN PROTESTS IN THE KABUL AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES RALLYING AGAINST THE INSURGENT TAKEOVER IN A RARE DISPLAY OF RESISTANCE.

WAVING NATIONAL FLAGS ON THIS AFGHANISTAN INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM BRITISH RULE.

THE TALIBAN ALSO CELEBRATING CALL BY DECLARING VICTORY OVER THE U.S., ANNOUNCING CURFEWS IN AREAS OF PROTEST, SENDING GUNFIRE INTO CROWDS.

TENS OF THOUSANDS ARE STILL LOOKING TO ESCAPE, FACING VIOLENCE FROM THE TALIBAN TO CHECK IT'S IN AREAS NEAR KABUL'S AIRPORT, AS THEY TARGET AFGHANS WHO HELPED AMERICANS AND AMERICAN-LED PROJECTS, INCLUDING WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCATES.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER SPOKE WITH ONE NEW JERSEY MAN WHO SPENT MORE THAN A DECADE HELPING DOZENS OF YOUNG AFRICAN WOMEN PURSUE AN EDUCATION, AND A FORMER STUDENT, SAYS HER LIFE IS FOREVER CHANGED.

>> I DID NOT HAVE ANY ROLE MODELS, AND EVERY TIME I LOOKED AT MY MOM AND MY SISTERS, AND THE WOMEN AROUND ME, JUST DID NOT WANT TO LIVE LIKE THAT.

>> SASHA CAME TO THE U.S. FROM HER NATIVE COUNTRY OF AFGHANISTAN FOR A BETTER LIFE WHEN SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD.

SHE DOES NOT WANT HER FACE TO BE SHOWN BECAUSE SHE STILL HAS FAMILY LIVING THERE AND FEARS FOR THEIR SAFETY.

>> IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO BE ABLE TO BE ME, TO BE FREE.

AND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A PATHWAY FORWARD FOR MY FUTURE.

>> SASHA WENT TO SCHOOL, GOT MARRIED, AND IS NOW WORKING ON HIS SECOND MASTERS DEGREE.

A SUCCESS SHE SAYS IS BITTERSWEET.

>> FOR THE LONGEST TIME I HAD, I HAD THOUGHTS OF LIVING HERE, LIVING A GOOD LIFE AND LIVING A VERY TERRIBLE LIFE.

>> SASHA SAYS THAT THAT CHANGED ONCE SHE WAS ABLE TO HELP BUILD A LIBRARY BACK HOME AFTER RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE AFGHAN GIRLS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUND.

A NEW JERSEY-BASED GROUP THAT HOLDS PRIMARILY AFGHAN GIRLS AND WOMEN GET AN EDUCATION.

>> HISTORICALLY, AFGHANISTAN HAS HAD A VARIED CULTURAL EXPERIENCE.

THERE ARE PERIODS OF TIME WHEN WOMEN ARE ABLE TO HOLD JOBS, SUCH AS LAWYERS, JUDGES, BE EQUAL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

BUT, IN MORE RECENT TIMES, WHEN THE TALIBAN WERE THERE, WOMEN WERE VERY REPRESSED.

TREATED LIKE PROPERTY THAN PEOPLE.

>> AND THE FEAR THAT AFGHAN GIRLS AND WOMEN WILL ONCE AGAIN BE REPRESSED IS BECOMING ALL TOO REAL, SINCE TALIBAN FORCES ARE NOW BACK IN CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY.

>> THEY ARE A GROUP OF AFGHANS, MANY WHO HAVE SPENT THE LAST 20 YEARS WITH AMERICA'S PRESENCE IN COUNTRY.

AND, DURING THAT TIME, PROMISES WERE MADE TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS, WOMEN, TO BRING ABOUT A CULTURAL CHANGE, THAT MANY OF THE STUDENTS I WORK WITH SIX SO BADLY.

AND, THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, MEN AND WOMEN.

TOWARD THIS NEW MISSION OF THE FUTURE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHIN MOMENTS, THE WHOLE PROMISE SEEMS TO BE TERRIBLY AT RISK.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, MEMBERS OF THE TALIBAN PUBLICLY PROMISED THAT WOMEN WOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL WITHIN THE CONFINES OF ISLAMIC LAW.

BUT, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY DEALS YET ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THAT MEANS.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY NAIVE OF PEOPLE TO THINK THAT THE TALIBAN, THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY GIRLS AND WOMEN ALLOWED TO HAVE A LIFE.

IT HAS ALREADY, THINGS HAVE ALREADY CHANGED.

YOU KNOW?

THE WAY THAT THEY ARE TREATING THE SISTERS.

THE WEATHER ADDRESS, THE WAY THEY WALK DOWN THE STREETS.

>> I THINK THE SITUATION IS ALMOST WORSE AND THAT ONE, THEY ARE MORE ASSOCIATED WITH TERRORIST GROUPS THAN THEY WERE IN THE PAST.

AND TWO, WE NOW HAVE A GENERATION THAT IS 20 YEARS OF TIME YOU KNOW, THE UNITED STATES WAS THERE, WE HAVE A GENERATION THAT HAS GROWN UP WITH A PROMISE AND AN OPPORTUNITY DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE.

AND NOW IT'S ALL AT RISK.

>> AND FOR AFGHANS IN THE U.S., LIKE SASHA STATED THEY ARE THANKFUL TO BE HERE, THEY HOPE AND PRAY THAT ONE DAY, THEIR LOVED ONES STILL IN AFGHANISTAN CAN STILL JOIN THEM.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> PERHAPS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO GET A TEMPERATURE CHECK ON TRENTON IS THE UNOFFICIAL SCORECARD RELEASED BY >> AT THE END OF EACH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HE KEEPS TABS ON THE POLITICAL LOBBYING THAT DOMINATED THE LAST CYCLE.

ISSUES RELATED TO COVID-19 ARE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

SEVERAL OTHER AREAS ARE ALSO BROUGHT OUT INTENSE LOBBYING.

OUR BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER, JOHN REITMEYER EXPLAINS ON OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT.

WHAT PIECES OF LEGISLATION OR ISSUES GENERATED THE MOST LOBBYING LAST YEAR?

>> YES.

IT WAS THE TWO STATE BUDGETS THAT HAVE BEEN ENACTED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO AS THE STATE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH COVID.

SO, THE ONE THAT DREW THE MOST ATTENTION FROM LOBBYISTS WAS THE STATE BUDGET THAT WAS ENACTED AROUND ALMOST THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

IF YOU REMEMBER, WE WERE IN THE THICK OF COVID, THE BUDGET WAS ACTUALLY DELAYED BY SEVERAL MONTHS, BECAUSE THE TAX DEADLINE WAS DELAYED, INTEGERS HE WAS PREDICTING REVENUE LOSSES.

THE STATE WENT AHEAD AND BORROWED MONEY AT ONE POINT TO TRY AND OFFSET THOSE REVENUE LOSSES, WHICH NEVER MATERIALIZED.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED, AND LOBBYISTS DEFINITELY WANTED TO WEIGH IN.

IT'S WORTH NOTING AT THE SAME TIME LESTER, BECAUSE OF COVID, BUDGET HEARINGS THAT WE USUALLY HAVE IN PERSON WERE DONE VIRTUALLY, AND IN SOME CASES, PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE CANCELED ALTOGETHER AND WITH US LATER WENT TO COLLECTING ONLY WRITTEN COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND SO THEY MET BUT MAY HAVE ACTUALLY MADE IT MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LOBBYIST BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE THOSE REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES TO SAY WHAT YOU WANTED IN FRONT OF LAWMAKERS LAST YEAR.

>> HOW DOES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MEASURE THE AMOUNT OF LOBBYING?

>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THEY HAVE A COUPLE WAYS, ASSESSING THIS.

YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE SOMETHING LIKE A LOBBYIST REACHING OUT DIRECTLY TO A LAWMAKER, OR REPORTING TO A LEGISLATIVE AIDE TO SAY HEY WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO VOTE THIS WAY ON A BILL OR WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO SPONSOR A BILL EVEN.

OR IT CAN BE JUST KINDNESS THAT BLAST EMAIL THEY GET A LIST OF ALL THE LEGISLATORS EMAIL ADDRESSES AND SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO ALL OF THEM IN ONE SHOT, AND SO, THERE WAS A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY TRACKED THAT.

AND THEN HIS REPORT THAT JUST CAME OUT, IT SORT OF LOOKS ALL THE DIFFERENT CONTACTS THAT LOBBYISTS MADE WITH LAWMAKERS LAST YEAR, WHETHER IT WAS ON THE BUDGET, OR SEPARATE PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND SOME CENTERPIECES DID END UP PRETTY HIGH ON THE LIST.

INCLUDING BILLS RELATED TO TELEHEALTH, STILL OUTSTANDING BILLS.

AND ALSO, BILLS RELATED TO WORKER'S COMPENSATION, THERE'S ABORTION -RELATED BILLS THAT IS STILL IN THE LEGISLATOR.

ALL OF THEM WERE HIGH UP ON THE LIST ON BILLS THAT ARE THE MOST ATTENTION FROM LOBBYISTS.

>> QUIGLEY, JOHN, WHAT IS A REPORT LIKE THIS TELL US?

SOME OF IT IS NO SURPRISE, THE BUDGET TYPICALLY GETS THAT TYPE OF ATTENTION.

COVID OBVIOUSLY WAS FRONT AND CENTER.

WHAT DOES IT TELL US, THOUGH?

>> I THINK IT TELLS US YOU KNOW, WHAT IMPACT POTENTIALLY LOBBYING CAN HAVE BECAUSE IN SOME CASES, SOME OF THESE BILLS THAT ARE HIGH ON THE LIST OF CONTACTS ARE ALSO BILLS THAT HAVE YET TO BE ACTED ON.

SO, IF YOU'RE A LOBBYIST TRYING TO STOP THAT FROM BECOMING LAW, THIS COULD BE A SIGN THAT THEY'VE HAD SOME SUCCESS IN SOME CASES.

>> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU, JOHN REITMEYER, THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME, SAME HERE.

>> TURNING TO WALL STREET, HERE'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS.

>> PRESSURE IS MOUNTING FOR MORE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TO GET THE COVID BEEN 19 VACCINATION.

HOBOKEN AND NEWARK ARE ALREADY REQUIRING THE SHOT.

NOW, MAINE TOWNSHIP, ITS MAYOR, SENDING A LETTER TO ALL 400 OF ITS MUNICIPAL WORKERS.

ADVISING THEM TO GET VACCINATED BY MID-SEPTEMBER, OR RISK LOSING THEIR JOB.

IT IS A STICKING POINT PARTICULARLY AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT, MANY HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO GET THE SHOT, DESPITE ENTIRE DEPARTMENTS BEING HARD-HIT BY CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

AND EVEN AS ADULTS OVARIAN CONTINUES RAPIDLY SPREADING.

TODAY MORE THAN 1600 AND POSITIVE CASES ARE BEING REPORTED IN 10 MORE DEATHS AS THE STATEWIDE HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS SURPASS 900 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAY.

NOW, THERE'S NO OFFICIAL STATE COME FOR THE VACCINATION RATE AMONG NEW JERSEY'S 38,000 POLICE OFFICERS.

BUT ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE HEAD OF THE STATE TV ESTIMATES THAT NUMBER TO BE AROUND 40%.

NOW, THAT'S IN LINE WITH MOST OTHER POLICE FORCES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND HE SAYS MANY OFFICERS REMAIN SKEPTICAL OF THE FDA'S EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION RATHER THAN APPROVAL FOR THE VACCINES.

STATEWIDE, MORE THAN 5.4 MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK, OR GO TO SCHOOL IN NEW JERSEY ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

AS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPEARS TO ADMINISTER THIRD DOSES, OR BOOSTER SHOTS BY MID- SEPTEMBER.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

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

>>> TALK ABOUT HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.

THE JERSEY BOYS, FROM TOMS RIVER ARE ONCE AGAIN LOOKING TO MAKE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES HISTORY.

THE YOUTH BASED TEAM WAS A POWERHOUSE IN THE 90s.

YOU PROBABLY RECALL WHEN TODD FRAZIER, THE FORMER WRECKERS AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STAR LED THE GROUP TO WIN THE SERIES TITLE IN 1998.

NOW, 25 YEARS LATER, HIS NEPHEW, CARSON IS HELPING TO BRING HOME ANOTHER WIN FOR THE TEAM.

THE GROUP OF 12 GIRLS PLAY THEIR FIRST ROUND GAME TODAY AGAINST HASTINGS NEBRASKA.

MARKING THE RETURN OF THE TOURNAMENT AFTER 2020s WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

TODD FRAZIER, WHO IS JUST BACK FROM HELPING TEAM USA WHEN THE SILVER MEDAL AT THE TOKYO OLYMPICS OF COURSE THE AMONG THOSE CHEERING THE BOYS ON.

NOT TOO CLOSE UP BECAUSE THE ATHLETES HAVE TO REMAIN IN A BUBBLE FOR COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOL.

AND WE WILL ALL BE HERE ROOTING THEM ON TOO.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED.

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