>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS FROM FOR MORE THAN 100 HUNDRED YEARS AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

FROM NJ PBS.

THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> CONCERNS ARE GROWING AMONG HEALTH EXPERTS.

THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO CONTAIN THE MARKET BREAKS OUTBREAK IS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY CLOSES.

THE SOLE SUPPLIER OF THE VACCINE IS SAYING IT'S UNSURE IF IT CAN MEET DEMAND AND SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE U.S.

MANUFACTURER TO MAKE ADDITIONAL SUPPLY.

BUT THOSE DOSES WON'T BE READY UNTIL DECEMBER.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IS RAISING ALARMS AS WELL SAYING CASES HAVE GROWN BY 20% THIS WEEK ALONE.

IN THE U.S.

THERE ARE JUST OVER 14,000 CONFIRMED CASES.

HEADING INTO THE WEEK IN NEW JERSEY IS CLOSING IN ON 400 STATEWIDE BUT WILL THE NEW ACTIONS BY THE WHITE HOUSE ENOUGH TO CONTAIN THE OUTBREAK HERE?

HER SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IS A STOPGAP MEASURE TO STRETCH SCARCE VACCINE SUPPLIES.

BY MONDAY EVERY ONE OF NEW JERSEY'S 11 CLINICS ADMINISTERING MONKEYPOX VACCINATIONS WILL NO LONGER GIVE THE REGULAR ONE SHOT PER BILE THOSE DEEP INTO THE ARM.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MAKING 360,000 MORE VIALS OF VACCINE AVAILABLE BUT TO QUALIFY HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY NEW JERSEY MUST REDUCE EACH DOSE TO 1/5 THE NORMAL AMOUNT OF VACCINE.

GORDON STATE EQUALITIES IS OKAY WITH THAT.

>> WOULD NEED TO MAKE SURE THE VACCINES ARE GOING TO PLACES THAT NEED IT MORE THAN OTHERS LIKE NEW JERSEY WHO HAS YET TO RECEIVE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF MONKEYPOX VACCINES AND THAT MEANS LOWERING THE DOSAGE SO MORE PEOPLE CAN GET SHOTS IN ARMS AND WE CAN SLOW THE SPREAD.

I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP.

>> LINKS WILL NEED TO GET FIVE SHOTS FROM EACH VIAL AND THEY WILL NOW GIVE SHOTS INTRADERMALLY JUST UNDER THE SKIN.

THAT'S NOT EASY ONCE MONTCLAIR EPIDEMIOLOGIST STEPHANIE SILVEIRA.

>> YOU'RE ASKING FOR PERFECTION TO GET THE EXACT NUMBER OF DOSES AND TO ADMINISTER THEM PERFECTLY.

THE CDC IS UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL PRESSURE TO PROVIDE SOMETHING.

WE WERE AGAIN CAUGHT ON OUR HEELS.

WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING AND WE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF VACCINES.

>> 1.8 MILLION DOSES IS GOOD BUT THAT DOES NOT GET AS TO THE NUMBER WE NEED TO GET IN THE ARMS OF ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE POTENTIALLY AT RISK.

BUT STILL GOOD.

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Reporter: RUTGERS SAYS USING SMALLER DOSES DOES MULTIPLY VACCINE AVAILABILITY BUT CRITICS ARE ALSO CONCERNED THE CDC SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THE SWITCH IS A SMALL STUDY AND SHOWED THAT WHILE 1/5 INTRADERMAL DOSES OF MONKEYPOX VACCINES WORKED, THEY WERE 60% EFFECTIVE COMPARED TO 88% FOR THE REGULAR DOSE SILVEIRA SAID THE CDC MUST MAKE THAT CLEAR.

>> BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT THAT.

WE CANNOT PRETEND THE INTRADERMAL DOES IS AS EFFECTIVE AS THE SUBCUTANEOUS BECAUSE SO FAR THE DATA DOES NOT INDICATE THAT BUT IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE MORE PEOPLE WITH ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY TODAY REPORTED 391 TOTAL CASES OF MONKEYPOX, ACCESS TO SHOTS REMAINS PROBLEMATIC ACROSS INITIAL LINES WHILE WHITES ACCOUNT FOR 25% OF NEW JERSEY CASES COME UP 41% GOT AVAILABLE VACCINATIONS.

MEANWHILE BLACKS AND HISPANICS MAKE UP 60% OF CASES BUT GOT 36% OF VACCINATIONS.

>> THERE IS DISPARITY ACROSS RACE.

SO YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE VACCINATED.

>> PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MEANS TO TRAVEL FURTHER AND WAIT IN LINES LONGER ARE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> Reporter: SILVEIRA SAID TRANSPARENCY IS ONE KEY TO THE CDC REGAINING TRUST.

THE OTHER IS OUTREACH ANYONE CAN GET MONKEYPOX BUT IT'S MORE PREVALENT AND GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LAUNCHING A PILOT PROGRAM COMMITTING 50,000 DOSES TO PRIDE EVENTS IN THE GAY, BY, AND GAY COMMUNITY.

TAKING MEDICINE TO THE PEOPLE.

>> BY DISRUPTING THIS NOTION THAT MEDICINE ONLY HAPPENS IN HOSPITALS.

THAT CARE ONLY HAPPENS IN HOSPITALS AND I LIKE THAT BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS IT WILL GET INTO THE ARMS OF FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING OR DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

>> THE MONKEYPOX VACCINE IS CURRENTLY TWO SHOTS.

WANT TO ENSURE WE ARE DOING THIS IN A SMART WAY WHERE FOLKS ARE ABLE TO GET THE FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE AND WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE FOLKS FOR THEIR SECOND DOSE.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE THE STUDENTS HEADING BACK TO COLLEGE, SPORTS AND DORM LIFE, PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS URGE PEOPLE TO BE CAREFUL OF SHARING TOWELS AND HUGS.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AN ECONOMIC BOOST IS COMING TO THE CITY OF PATTERSON.

TODAY GOVERNOR MURPHY JOINED MAYOR ANDRE SAYER AND CONGRESSMAN BILL PASCALE TO ANNOUNCE $54 MILLION IN NEW AND EXPANDED INVESTMENTS TO THE CITY.

OF THAT, $3 MILLION WOULD GO TO EMERGING EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES PARKED $1 MILLION TO RENOVATING THE PATTERSON MUSEUM AND $5 MILLION TO SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE THE STREET AND THERE WERE A PROGRAM AIMED AT CURBING THE INCREASING VIOLENCE AMONG PATTERSON YOUTH.

ALSO ON THE LIST, INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES NEAR PATTERSON'S GREAT FALLS, ELECTRIFYING CITY VEHICLES, AND THE MUCH- ANTICIPATED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HENCH LEFT THE STADIUM.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID THIS IS IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING PATTERSON BACK TO ITS ONCE FORMER GLORY.

>> AS WELL MENTIONED, PATTERSON IS A WONDERFUL AND PROUD CITY.

DISTINGUISHED WELL BY ITS HISTORY FROM THE GREAT FALLS TO HENCH LIST STADIUM.

BUT IT IS THE PEOPLE OF PATTERSON WHO TRULY DEFINE IT.

HARD-WORKING PEOPLE.

PROUD PEOPLE.

PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO HAVE COME TO THIS LITTLE PART OF NEW JERSEY TO HELP WRITE OUR CONTINUING AMERICAN STORY.

SO MUCH OF NEW JERSEY'S HISTORIC ECONOMIC POWER WAS GENERATED RIGHT HERE IN PATTERSON.

I AM PROUD NOW TO PROVIDE THESE INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND EVOLVE AND SUCCEED TOGETHER.

>> THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL SIGNED BY JOE BIDEN LAST YEAR INCLUDED $15 MILLION TO REMOVE LEAD SERVICE LINES BUT A NEW REPORT FINDS JERSEY WILL RECEIVE THE SECOND LOWEST AMOUNT OF MONEY PER LEAD PIPE IN THE NATION INCLUDED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING.

ACCORDING TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP THAT PUBLISHED THE REPORT, NEW JERSEY HAS AN ESTIMATED 350,000 LEAD SERVICE LINES AND IS GETTING JUST OVER $48 MILLION THAT WILL AVERAGE OUT TO $138 PER PIPE, SECOND LOIS TO OHIO AT $109.

THE DISCOVERY HAS LED SOME OF NEW JERSEY'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO URGE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CHANGE THE ALLOCATION FORMULA AND IN A LETTER TO THE EPA CALLING THE FUNDING AND ABSURD DISPARITY AND UNACCEPTABLE.

>>> A NEWLY FORMED LARGE SANDBAR IS THREATENING THE MARINE TRAFFIC IN THE MANASQUAN INLET SHIFTING SANDS HAVE CREATED A BRAND-NEW SANDBAR WHICH ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A BEACH DURING LOW TIDE ON THE POINT PLEASANT SIDE OF THE INLET IS CAUSING REDUCED WATER DEPTH AND OTHER AREAS AND CREATING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR BOATERS AND SOME OF FISHING BOAT CAPTAINS FEAR THE WIDENING SANDBAR COULD CREATE NAVIGATIONAL ISSUES.

TED GOLDBERG IS AN MANASQUAN WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS MET TODAY TO DETERMINE WHETHER DREDGING IS NECESSARY.

>> Reporter: WHEN DAVID GOLDMAN FAILS OUT HE IS WORRIED ABOUT FINDING FISH AND KEEPING HIS PASSENGERS SAFE THROUGH MANASQUAN INLET.

>> WE LEAVE AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT AND MORNING TO GET THE EARLY BYTES AND THERE COULD BE FOG SOMETIMES SO WE ARE GETTING PINCHED AND PINCHED CLOSER AND CLOSER AND IT'S INLET.

IT SHOULD BE DEEP.

THERE SHOULD BE ROOMS FOR TWO BOATS TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

>> Reporter: WATER IS NOT AS DEEP AS HE WOULD LIKE THANKS TO A LARGE SHOALS THAT ARE HARD TO SEE WITH THE NAKED EYE.

>> IT'S ALMOST A GUARANTEED ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: ON RADAR IT'S EASIER TO SEE THE SHOALS WHICH CONTINUE TO GROW EVERY DAY UNLESS THEY ARE DREDGED.

DURING LOW TIDE THEY FORM A LARGE SANDBAR.

>> SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN AS THE SOUTHSIDE SHORES UP MORE AND MORE.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN DAYLIGHT ON LOW TIDE BUT WHEN THE TIDE IS COMING IN A BIT, THE SHOAL IS STILL THERE BUT NOW IT'S HIDDEN.

>> Reporter: HE WANTS SOMEONE TO DREDGE THE INLET AND NEUTRALIZE THE SHOALS FOR SOMEONE GETS HURT.

>> I USE MY RADAR AND ELECTRONICS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT A VESSEL THAT WILL BE IN MY PATH EITHER WAY.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FLY THROUGH THAT INLET AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME OR ANY TIME TO MAKE A SPLIT-SECOND DECISION.

OTHERWISE YOU ARE CRASHED IN ONE JETTY OR ON A BOAT.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE BECAUSE SHOALS DON'T FORM AND THEN ON FORM.

IT'S JUST GOING TO KEEP GROWING AND BUILDING AND SPREADING ACROSS.

>> Reporter: HE HOPES THE COAST GUARD AND THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SURVEYING HERE AGREE WITH HIM AND WILL DREDGE THE AREA.

>> GET THE BOAT HERE AND LET'S GET THIS DONE.

>> THEY SEE THE SHOWING AT LOW TIDE AND THE CITY PEOPLE ARE GOING DOWN THERE BUT THERE'S ALSO A PROBLEM THAT POTENTIALLY STRETCHES ACROSS THE MOUTH OF THE INLET.

SOME OF THE SAND THAT IS THERE NOW WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE IN PREVIOUS SURVEYS THEY DID >> Reporter: CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH AND POINT PLEASANT EACH MAYOR MET WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS EARLIER TO DISCUSS THE SURVEY OF MANASQUAN INLET.

EMPHASIZING THE NEED TO DREDGE THE INLET AND ITS CANALS.

>> FROM THE POINT PENS IT BLEACH STANDPOINT THE COMMERCIAL AND RELATIONAL FISHING IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE HOPING THAT DEPENDING ON THEIR JUDGMENT THEY WILL MAKE THAT JUDGMENT HOPEFULLY VERY SOON AND ISSUE THAT SO IT'S MARSEILLE.

>> Reporter: EVEN IF THE COAST GUARD AND THE ARMY CORPS AGREED TO THE PROJECT, IT'S A TEMPORARY FIX PICK >> THE WHOLE STATUS ON THE WATER AND A LOT OF THE NORTHEAST.

WE ARE ALL ON THE WATER.

THEY SHOULD MAYBE ALLOCATE SOME FUNDING TO A COUPLE MORE DREDGE VESSELS SO THEY CAN BE PERMANENTLY FIXED IN OUR SHORES AND INLETS SO PEOPLE WILL BE SAFE AND HAZARDS CAN BE PREVENTED.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE ARMY CORPS HAS NOT COMMITTED TO DREDGING THE WATERWAY YET, THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO FUTURE SURVEYS TO SEE IF THE SITUATION GETS WORSE.

IF IT DOES IN THE ARMY CORPS DOES AGREE TO DREDGE THE WATERWAY IT WOULD BE WELCOME NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO USE THE WATERS LIKE CAPTAIN GOLDMAN.

TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> JERSEYS HIGHWAYS CONTINUE TO BE INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS AFTER NEW DATA RECORDED A 14 YEAR HIGH IN TRAFFIC FATALITIES LAST YEAR AND IT APPEARS THE TREND IS CONTINUING.

PRELIMINARY DATA FOR 2022 SHOWS UTILITIES HAVE INCREASED 13.7% FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH COMPARED WITH THE SAME.

TWO A YEAR AGO.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REPORT INCREASED THIS WEEK.

BY THE INCREASE?

ACCORDING TO SOME EXPERTS MOTORIST WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF EMPTY HIGHWAYS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND EXCEEDED THE SPEED LIMIT HAVE NOT SLOWED DOWN AS MORE CARS RETURN TO THE HIGHWAYS.

THE AGENCY SAYS THE NUMBERS ARE MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND CITED OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE INCREASE INCLUDING FAILURE TO WEAR SEATBELTS AND DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.

>>> AND A SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY A HOME, THIS COULD BE A GOOD TIME TO PURCHASE.

NEW DATA SHOWS THE COMPETITION TO BUY A HOME IS STARTING TO EASE HOMES IN JULY SO FAR HAVE RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF 2.8 OFFERS, DOWN FROM 3.4 IN JUNE AND DOWN FROM 4.5 A YEAR AGO.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL TOURS WHICH SAW SALES OF PREVIOUSLY OWNED HOMES UPON NEARLY 6% IN JULY COMPARED WITH JUNE.

SOME EXPERTS SAY WE ARE IN THE HOUSING RECESSION.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS IN THE STATE?

THE PRESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY REALTORS ROB WHITE JOINS ME TO BREAK IT DOWN.

>> ROB, ARE WE IN A HOUSING RECESSION?

>> YEAH.

NO.

WE ARE NOT.

THE MARKET IS STILL VERY STRONG.

WHILE THE NUMBERS AREN'T PERFORMING THE WAY THEY DID IN 2021 BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND RISING INTEREST RATES AND LACK OF INVENTORY, WE ARE STILL VERY STRONG.

HOUSES ARE MOVING QUICKLY.

THEY ARE STILL SELLING ABOVE ASKING PRICE.

THEY HAVE MULTIPLE OFFERS ON THE TABLE.

WHILE THE INTEREST RATES HAVE RISEN, FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS ARE STILL OUT THERE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOME PRICES.

THEY HAVE RISEN DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS BUT WILL THESE PRICES CONTINUE TO CLIMB OR ARE THEY LEVELING OUT?

>> I THINK YOU WILL SEE A SHIFT IN THE MARKET SO YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SOME PRICE ADJUSTMENTS OR PRICE IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE, YOU WILL SEE THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF INVENTORY AND THAT INVENTORY THAT'S SITTING ANYWHERE FROM 30 DAYS AND BEYOND JUST MEANS THEY ARE PROBABLY PRICED TOO HIGH.

THEY WERE REACHING FOR THE STARS AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN SO THEY ARE EITHER GOING TO GET PRICE ADJUSTED OR THEY ARE GOING TO COME OFF THE MARKET.

>> FOR EAGER HOMEBUYERS WHO ARE LISTENING, IS COMPETITION TO BUY A HOME IS STARTING TO EASE IT ALL?

>> YEAH.

LITTLE BIT.

FIRST PART OF THE YEAR AND THROUGHOUT 2021, YOU SAW ALL BUYERS GOING UP AGAINST 20, 30 DIFFERENT PEOPLE BIDDING ON THAT HOUSE.

TODAY, MAYBE IT'S 7 TO 10 SO THEY DO STAND A BETTER CHANCE OF A WINNING BID DEPENDING ON THE TERMS.

>> SO IS IT A GOOD TIME TO BUY OR SELL?

>> IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT TIME TO BUY AND SELL.

EVEN WITH RISING INTEREST RATES, IT'S STILL A GREAT TIME BECAUSE REAL ESTATE IS STILL YOUR BEST INVESTMENT ON THE LONG-TERM.

MOST HOMEBUYERS ARE IN THEIR HOME ANYWHERE FROM 7 TO 10 YEARS BEFORE THEY MOVE.

MANY ARE IN THERE MUCH LONGER.

DURING THAT TIME THEY WILL REAP THE BENEFIT OF THAT ASSET INCREASING IN VALUE OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> WHAT IMPACT DOES THIS HAVE IN TERMS OF MORTGAGE RATES?

>> FROM A MORTGAGE PERSPECTIVE WE'VE SEEN RATES AS HIGH AS 6% THIS YEAR.

THEY HAVE DROPPED AND RIGHT NOW HOVERING SOMEWHERE AROUND 4.875% TO 5%.

AGAIN, THAT MORTGAGE MONEY IS STILL CHEAP.

EVEN IF YOU GO BACK TO 2017 OR 2018, WE WERE IN THAT 4.5 TO 5% RATE MARGIN.

THE MORTGAGE MONEY IS STILL VERY CHEAP AND THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT SEE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS STOPPING OR RUNNING BECAUSE THE RATES CAME UP.

THEY BASICALLY ADJUSTED THEIR WANT AND NEED A LIST AND LOOKED IN AREAS IN THE STATE WHERE THE COST OF LIVING WAS A LITTLE BIT LESS.

TAXES WERE A LITTLE BIT LESS PICK >> SO WE ARE NOT IN A HOUSING RECESSION AND IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO BUY.

YOU HEARD IT FROM ROB FIRST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND GIVING OUR VIEWERS SO MUCH GREAT INFORMATION.

>> THANKS HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND >>> RETURNING TO WALL STREET.

HERE'S HOW THE MARKETS CLOSED FOR THE WEEK.

>>> AUGUST 15th MARKED ONE YEAR SINCE THE UNITED STATES OFFICIALLY PULLED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND THE TALIBAN TOOK HOLD OF AFGHANISTAN.

FORCING MORE THAN 75,000 AFGHANS TO FLEE THEIR COUNTRY.

11 13,000 WERE TEMPORARILY HOUSED AT A MILITARY BASE IN SOUTH JERSEY DURING OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME AND A FEW HUNDRED EVENTUALLY RESETTLED IN NEW JERSEY.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER SPEAKS WITH AN AFGHAN FAMILY NOW LIVING IN THE STATE ABOUT ADJUSTING TO LIFE IN THEIR NEW COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY THINK IS HAPPENING BACK HOME.

>> I MISS AFGHANISTAN VERY MUCH.

THAT'S MY HOMELAND.

>> SYED KAMAL FIGHTING TO HOLD BACK TEARS AS HE THINKS ABOUT HIS BELOVED AFGHANISTAN.

KAMAL AND HIS FAMILY FLED THE COUNTRY A YEAR AGO WHEN THE UNITED STATES OFFICIALLY PULLED OUT AND TALIBAN TOOK CONTROL.

>> AFGHANISTAN IS WHERE I WAS BORN.

MY FRIENDS.

MY FAMILY.

WHEN I TALK WITH THEM, MANY TIMES, I CANNOT STOP CRYING.

I CANNOT STOP TEARS.

>> Reporter: A POPULAR SINGER BACK HOME, KAMAL USES HIS PLATFORM TO SPEAK AGAINST THE TALIBAN MAKING HIM A TARGET.

>> I WAS TELLING THEM THAT YOU ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY.

THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT PATH.

PLEASE.

DO NOT KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE.

DO NOT KILL INNOCENT WOMEN.

PAY ATTENTION TO WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

PAY ATTENTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS.

CHILD RIGHTS.

>> Reporter: KAMAL TURNED TO THE U.S. FOR HELP AND NOW HE AND HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN CALL NEW JERSEY HOME.

KAMAL SECURING A JOB WITH A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, PFIZER.

>> I'M VERY HAPPY NOW.

I'M FREE.

AND I'M LIVING IN A PEACEFUL AREA.

PEACEFUL COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 13,000 AFGHAN EVACUEES WERE TEMPORARILY HOUSED AT McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE THROUGH A RESCUE MISSION KNOWN AS OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME.

HUNDREDS RESETTLING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

AFGHAN GOES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUND IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO HELP AFGHANS BUILD A NEW LIFE.

>> ARE THOSE WHO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND COME TO THE UNITED STATES, WE WILL HELP THEM IF THEY NEED HELP IN GETTING TO THE UNITED STATES.

SO SOME WE HAVE HELPED ARE IN PAKISTAN.

THEY ESCAPED THE TALIBAN AND WENT TO PAKISTAN, IRAN, AND WE HELP THEM THROUGH THE VISA PROCESS.

WE HELP FIND A SCHOOL FOR THEM.

WE ARRANGE FOR THEIR TRAVEL, FOR THE FAMILY, SO THEY CAN LEAVE THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT AND BE SUCCESSFUL HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Reporter: THE GROUP ALSO ASSIST WITH HELPING AFGHANS WHO FLED ENROLL IN SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND GIRLS.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A RADICAL CHANGE IN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

THAT SAID, THE DESIRE FOR EDUCATION THAT THOSE WOMEN AND GIRLS FEEL HAS NOT BEEN AWARDED EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN'T GO OFFICIALLY TO SCHOOL COME IN MANY CASES, AND THEY ARE LIVING IN A REPRESSIVE REGIME.

THEY ARE STILL VERY ANXIOUS TO GET AN EDUCATION.

>> Reporter: ONE LESS WORRY FOR KAMAL WHOSE DAUGHTER IS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN THIS YEAR AND HAS DREAMS OF BEING A PILOT.

>> SHE TOLD ME THAT MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY UNCLES AND MY FRIENDS ARE STILL IN AFGHANISTAN AND I WANT TO BRING THEM OUT FROM AFGHANISTAN.

I CRIED.

I CRIED BECAUSE HER LITTLE HEART AND HER THINKING IS ONLY TRYING TO SAVE HUMANITY.

SHE IS 5 YEARS OLD BUT SHE IS THINKING TO SAVE HUMANITY.

>> Reporter: AND EVEN THOUGH KAMAL IS THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY FROM HIS NATIVE LAND AND MANY OF HIS LOVED ONES, HE ALWAYS KEEPS AFGHANISTAN NEAR TO HIS HEART.

NEVER GIVING UP HOPE THAT HE WILL SEE HIS HOMELAND AGAIN ONE DAY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WE WENT TO TELL YOU ABOUT AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS SPECIAL.

KAMAL WISSINGER CORRESPONDED JoANNE GAGAS PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON ISSUES AFFECTING NEW JERSEY WOMEN.

ANCHORED BRIANA VANNOZZI SAT WITH HER TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRST EPISODE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SERIES.

I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHEN I SAY THAT PICKED YOU DIVE INTO SOME PRETTY DICEY TOPICS.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE SERIES PREMIER?

>> YEAH.

THANK YOU.

IT'S CALLED "HER STORY" AND THAT WAS THE POINT.

AS WE LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY THERE WAS REALLY NO SHORTAGE OF STORIES AND THINGS HAPPENING IN THE NEWS TODAY THAT IMPACT WOMEN AND WE WANTED TO HEAR NOT JUST FROM THE POLICYMAKERS, WHICH I THINK WE COVER QUITE A BIT ON THE NEWS SIDE.

WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM WOMEN.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THINGS LIKE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT HAPPENED.

WE WANTED TO KNOW HOW IS THIS IMPACTING NEW JERSEY WOMEN?

IN THE FIRST EPISODE OF "HER STORY" I SAT THERE WERE TWO WOMEN WHO SHARED REALLY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THEIR CONSIDERING AND CHOOSING OR NOT WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> HOW DID YOU COME TO THAT DECISION?

>> I CAME TO IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

I REALLY WANTED TO GO TO A UNIVERSITY.

THAT WAS MY GOAL.

AND I KNEW THAT IF I WAS PREGNANT, I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE THAT UP BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE CHILD AND I WAS ALSO GOING TO BE STUCK IN THAT RELATIONSHIP AND I COULD NOT DO THAT.

I CANNOT DO IT TO MYSELF.

I STILL KNEW THAT I COULD NOT DO IT SO I MADE THE DECISION THE MINUTE THAT I GOT THE POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST.

>> HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU WERE FIRST PREGNANT?

>> I WAS 23.

>> DID YOU FEEL READY TO BE A MOM AT THAT TIME?

>> NO.

I DID NOT.

>> LOOKING BACK, HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY REGRETS WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PREGNANCY?

>> NO.

>> DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY LIFE NOW?

>> NOW I MARY.

I DID NOT MARRY THE FATHER OF THE CHILD.

WE HAD ACTUALLY SPLIT UP WHEN I WAS THREE MONTHS PREGNANT.

I WAS A SINGLE MOM FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS AND I MET MY NOW HUSBAND AND I HAVE ANOTHER SON NOW, PAUL.

HE IS A 4.

AND JUSTIN IS GOING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL.

HE WILL BE A TEENAGER ON HIS NEXT BIRTHDAY.

>> IT'S REALLY POWERFUL STUFF AND OF COURSE THESE WERE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE THAT NEED TO BE HAD, YES?

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOPICS IN PARTICULAR WHERE PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

IT STILL IS VERY MUCH IN THE SHADOWS.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING OTHER THAN ACTIVIST MOST PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE SITTING AROUND A DINING ROOM TABLE AND HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT.

BUT SPEAKING OF ACTIVISTS, WE CERTAINLY HAVE PEOPLE BOTH PRO- ABORTION AND ANTIABORTION HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND WE WANTED TO HEAR THOSE VOICES AS WELL.

WHO WAS CELEBRATING?

WHO IS DISMAYED AT THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION?

WE TALKED TO THOSE FOLKS AS WELL.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT WAS A GUT PUNCH.

AND KNOWING WHAT WE HAD GONE THROUGH.

I MEAN, I WAS THERE PRE-ROE V. WADE SO BEFORE THE 50 YEAR RULING HAPPENED AND I KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT GET A SAFE ABORTION AND I KNOW HOW WE FOUGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS, FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AND TO SEE THAT JUST BE TAKEN AWAY WITH A STROKE OF A PEN BY A SUPREME COURT THAT REALLY DOES NOT GET IT.

DOES NOT GET THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHICH I'VE ALWAYS FELT SHOULD PREVAIL.

AND MOST PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY SUPPORTED ROE V. WADE AND STILL DO.

>> YOU'VE BEEN AN ACTIVIST FOR QUITE A WHILE.

IN FACT, YOU WERE IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT WHEN THE DOBBS DECISION CAME THROUGH OVERTURNING ROE.

WHAT WERE YOU FEELING IN THAT MOMENT?

>> I WAS ABSOLUTELY ELATED.

I WAS SO EXCITED.

I THINK FOR SO LONG WE WEREN'T SURE WHETHER ROE WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE REVERSED.

MY ALWAYS KIND OF REALLY HOPED AND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BUT SO MANY PEOPLE EVEN IN THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT, THEY SAID, IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE IT COME INTO FRUITION.

IT WAS AN AMAZING AND HISTORIC MOMENT.

>> THIS IS A REALLY SERIOUS AND PROMINENT TOPIC.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE REST OF "HER STORY"?

>> WE ARE GOING TO DELVE INTO AS MANY ISSUES AS POSSIBLE THAT AFFECT WOMEN.

EPISODE TWO WILL LOOK AT WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARISE THAT WOMEN UNIQUELY FACE THAT MAYBE THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS DON'T.

AND THEN THE SKY IS THE LIMIT BECAUSE THERE REALLY IS NO SHORTAGE ON ISSUES AND TOPICS THAT AFFECT THE WOMEN HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> WE CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN CATCH THE SERIES PREMIER SATURDAY AUGUST 20th AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY AUGUST 27th AT 10:00 A.M. ON NJ PBS AND THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE WILL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

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.