>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ONE OF THE WORLD MOST WANTED TERRORISTS IS DEAD.

AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI WAS KILLED OVER THE WEEKEND HE WAS SECOND IN COMMAND TO THE BETTER KNOWN OSAMA BIN LADEN.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE WAS TRACKED TO DOWNTOWN KABUL, AFGHANISTAN.

THE CIA USED TWO MISSILES KILLING HIM ON A BALCONY OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT KILLING ANY MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY OR NEARBY CIVILIANS.

AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI'S DEATH MEANS ALL TOP LEADERS OR OTHER DEAD OR CAPTURED.

WHILE PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THE OPERATION DELIVERED JUSTICE, IT ALSO RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AL QAEDA'S ROLE AND SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ IS WITH ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE STRIKE.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE PROGRAM HERE.

THIS IS TAKING PLACE 21 YEARS AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS THAT AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI PLANNED AFTER U.S. NAVY SEALS KILLED OSAMA BIN LADEN.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE?

>> THE DEATH OF AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI IS A BIG BLOW TO AL QAEDA.

IT SHOWS EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF BEING IN AFGHANISTAN AS WE WERE, WE HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL, IN AFGHANISTAN OR ELSEWHERE, TO TRACK DOWN THOSE TERRORISTS WHO COMMIT ACTS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS A TREMENDOUS BLOW TO AL QAEDA, I SALUTE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR CARRYING IT OUT.

IT SHOWS THAT WE CAN STILL REACH INTO COUNTRIES, INCLUDING A PLACE LIKE AFGHANISTAN, TO PURSUE OUR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS.

>> WHAT DOES IT SAY TO YOU SENATOR, OR SIGNAL TO YOU THAT THIS TERRORIST LEADER WAS LIVING IN A SAFE HOUSE IN THE CAPITAL CITY, A WEALTHY AREA, IN A BUILDING WITH LINKS TO THE TALIBAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE U.S.

PULLED TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN?

>> IT GOES TO PROVE THE DEAL WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE WITH THE TALIBAN, WAS A LIE.

BECAUSE, YOU CANNOT HAVE THE LEADER OF AL QAEDA BE LIVING IN KABUL, AND SUGGEST THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS HAPPENING.

YOU KNOW, IT CONFIRMS THAT AL QAEDA'S SAFE HAVEN IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN AFGHANISTAN.

IT ALSO CONFIRMS TO AL QAEDA OPERATIVES THAT THEY ARE NOT OUT OF OUR REACH.

>> WOULD YOU GO SO FAR AS TO CALL IT A VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE, THE SECRETARY HAS SAID?

>> SLOWLY.

WHEN I HELD HEARINGS AS A CHAIRMAN ON OUR AFGHANISTAN POLICY AND SUBSEQUENT WITHDRAWAL, ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID WAS YOU CANNOT ACCEPT THE TALIBAN'S WORDS THAT THEY WOULD NOT PERMIT TO BE A SAFE HAVEN OR THOSE SPECIFIC WORDS.

THEY DID NOT PACIFICALLY ANNOUNCE AL QAEDA.

THAT WAS CLEARLY, TO ME, WHERE THEY STOOD AND HOW WE SHOULD OPERATE WHICH IS WHY I CALLED FOR TALIBAN TO NOT HAVE A SEAT AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

I THINK THEY HAVE TO BE TREATED AS WHO THEY ARE, NOT ONLY IN VIOLATING COMMITMENTS AS IT RELATES TO AFGHANISTAN AS A SAFE HAVEN AND ALSO IN VIOLATING THE RIGHTS TO WOMEN THAT ARE BEING OPPRESSED RIGHT NOW, WHICH THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHANGE.

AND SO MUCH MORE.

>> DOES AL QAEDA PAST THIS IN THEIR LEADERSHIP, SENATOR, AS YOU MENTIONED HE WAS NUMBER 2 TO OSAMA BIN LADEN.

DO THEY MOVE PAST THIS?

WHAT THREAT DO THEY POSED TO THE U.S.?

>> WELL, LOOK SO LONG AS AN IDEOLOGY SUCH AS AL QAEDA EXISTS, IT IS A DEGREE OF THREAT.

WILL SOMEONE RISE?

I WILL ASSUME SO AGO NOT EASILY, AND NOT WITH THE SAME GRAVITAS AND NOT WITH THE SAME ABILITY TO BRING AL QAEDA TOGETHER, I DON'T THINK.

AND SO, WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT.

>> SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ JOINING US, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.

>>> WITH NEW HIGHLY CONTAGIONS VARIANCE CDC GUIDANCE ON WHEN TO TEST OR RETURN TO PUBLIC LIFE APPEARS TO BE CAUSING MORE CONFUSION.

IT IS STILL 5 DAYS OF ISOLATION FOLLOWED BY 5 DAYS OF WEARING A WELL FITTING MASK, BUT A TEST, RAPID OR PCR IS RECOMMENDED.

SOME EXPERTS SAY PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RECENT REBOUND CASE MAY BE THE BEST EXAMPLE AS TO WHY IT IS TIME FOR THOSE GUIDELINES TO CHANGE.

OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT IS REPORTING.

IT FEELS LIKE A FREE-FOR-ALL.

>> Reporter: THAT IS THE REACTION FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF COVID ON SATURDAY.

>> I AM FEELING FINE, I AM FEELING GOOD.

>> Reporter: FOLKS FELT CONFUSED.

HOW COULD PRESIDENT BIDEN TEST POSITIVE AGAIN?

HE TOOK THE MEDICATION FOR 5 DAYS UNDER CDC GUIDELINES, HE WAS GOOD TO GO WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE ANOTHER COVID TEST.

HE TESTED ANYWAY AND GOT TWO CADETS.

BUT THEN BIDEN WAS HIT WITH WHAT HEALTH EXPERTS CALL A COVID REBOUND.

>> NOTE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE PRESIDENT, IT RAISES MANY ISSUES.

LIST OF ALL THE GUIDANCE DOESN'T SEEM APPROPRIATE FOR THIS NEW VARIANT.

>> I WAS NOT SURPRISED BY THE REBOUND INFECTION, I HAVE A CHANCE TO STUDY THIS AND I HAVE HEARD ABOUT A LOT OF REBOUND INFECTIONS.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE IS THAT PEOPLE MAY HOVER AROUND THAT INFECTIVITY POINT, FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> Reporter: LESLIE CANTOR WITH RUTGERS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAID COVID VIRUS, ESPECIALLY OMICRON, CAN LINGER IN THE BODY LONGER THAN THE CDC'S 5 DAY GUIDELINES SHE GOT COVID IN MAY AND KEPT CHECKING STATUS WITH A HOME ANTIGEN TEST.

SHE WAS STUNNED.

>> I WAS TESTING POSITIVE 10 DAYS AFTER MY FIRST POSITIVE TEST.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT TESTED POSITIVE AFTER 9 DAYS.

SCIENTISTS ANALYZING HOW LONG PEOPLE REMAIN INFECTIOUS AND LOOKED AT 66 PATIENTS AND FOUND THOSE WITH THE DELTA STRAIN SHED CURABLE VIRUS.

THOSE WITH THE OMICRON EVEN UP TO 8 DAYS.

DOCTORS REPORT REBOUND IN UP TO 5% OF CASES FOLLOWING MEDICATION.

A RESEARCHER SAID THAT IS BECAUSE THE DRUG DOESN'T ACTUALLY KILL THE COVID VIRUS IT JUST SUPPRESSES VIRAL REPRODUCTION >> ONCE PATIENTS STOP TAKING THE MEDICATION -- >> Reporter: THAT IS WHY THE VIRUS SURGED BACK TO DETECTABLE LEVELS AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN FINISHED HIS TREATMENT.

SO SHOULD THE CDC EXTEND THE GUIDANCE AND ASK FOLKS TO ISOLATE LONGER?

OR RECOMMEND A NEVER NEGATIVE ANTIGEN TEST?

>> IF YOU ARE POSITIVE, PLEASE STAY HOME FOR 10 DAYS.

THAT IS THE WINDOW, THAT IS REALLY THE WINDOW.

WHY ARE WE PLAYING AROUND WITH THE 5 DAYS WHEN WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE CONTAGIOUS?

>> PESTS ARE AVAILABLE, THEY SHOULD TELL PEOPLE THEY SHOULD TEST OUT, BEFORE THEY GO OUT IN PUBLIC AND POTENTIALLY SPREAD ILLNESS.

>> Reporter: THE CDC SAID IT IS UNREALISTIC TO BELIEVE EVERYONE CAN DO THAT AND STILL RECOMMENDS FOLKS WEAR A MASK AFTER 5 DAYS OF ISOLATION, TESTING OPTIONAL.

DR. DAVID SAYS THAT SHOULD WORK CITING PANDEMIC POLITICS.

>> WE ARE NOT AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN MAKE DRAMATIC CHANGES BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE FULLY COMMITTED TO THIS BEING OVER.

>> I JUST DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE NECESSARILY RECOMMENDED BY THE CDC, WHAT HAPPENS IS, IF YOU RECOMMEND IT AND 90% OF PEOPLE DON'T DO IT ANYWAY, HOW GOOD IS THE RECOMMENDATION?

>> Reporter: I AM BRENDA FLANIGAN REPORTING.

>>> THE ADMINISTRATOR HAS $1 MILLION TO SPEND IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID AND IS SOLICITING INPUT FROM GROUPS ON HOW THE STATE SHOULD USE IT, HOLDING THE FIRST OF TWO VIRTUAL HEARINGS THIS WEEK, COLLECTING WRITTEN COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

NEW JERSEY GOT ROUGHLY $6 BILLION IN TOTAL FROM THE FEDERAL RELIEF FUND MUCH OF THE FIRST ROUND OF SPENDING WHAT DO THINGS LIKE TRAUMA CENTERS, USED HEAVILY DURING THE COVID- 19 CRISIS, OR UNTIL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE HIT HARDEST BY THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

ONE COVERED TODAY'S SESSION, SAYING A LOT OF THE SAME HELP IS NEEDED.

>> REALLY, ACROSS THE BOARD THERE IS STILL NEED DESPITE THE STATE ALLOCATING $4 BILLION IN PANDEMIC AID ALREADY, WE STILL HEAR ABOUT A LOT OF NEEDS IN NEW JERSEY COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT, UP UNTIL THIS POINT, MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED, IN TERMS OF WHERE SOME OF THE FEDERAL AID IS GOING.

>> A NUMBER OF ANTI-PARENTS -- ANTI-VIOLENCE GROUP ARE LOBBYING FOR $10 BILLION TO HELP KEEP WHAT ARE KNOWN AS HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, LIFE.

LIVES IN NEWARK, JERSEY CITY AND PATTERSON, HAVE BEEN CREDITED WITH REDUCING SHOOTINGS ANOTHER CRIME, BY INTERVENING IN CONFLICTS, BEFORE IT TURNS VIOLENT.

WITHOUT DEDICATED FUNDING FROM THE STATE, PROGRAM LEADERS SAY THEY WILL CEASE TO EXIST.

TED GOLDBERG HAS THE REPORT.

>> INVEST IN US >> Reporter: PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS WANT NEW JERSEY TO INVEST IN THEM, AND THEY ARE DEMANDING A VERY SPECIFIC NUMBER.

AS FEDERAL DOLLARS DWINDLE FROM THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT, PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THAT WITHOUT $10 MILLION FROM THE STATE, PROGRAMS WILL STOP AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER ASK TODAY, $80 MILLION.

DO I HEAR $80 MILLION?

>> Reporter: PROTESTERS RALLIED FOR LONG-TERM FUNDING AS WELL, WITH IDEAS FOR WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD COME FROM.

>> IT WILL COME FROM OPIATE SETTLEMENT MONEY ECHO NOW, GIVE US THE BAD.

AT THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE SAYS IT IS QUOTE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, TO SECURE FUNDING, THE HOSPITAL-BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, WHEN THE CURRENT FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE ADJUSTED.

IN THE INTERIM, WE ARE WORKING WITH EACH OF THE NINE PROGRAM SITE TO PROCESS EXTENSIONS TO ENSURE THE PROGRAMMING WILL NOT SHUTDOWN ON OCTOBER 1st.

PROTESTER CITY MONEY IS VITAL FOR COMMUNITIES TO SURVIVE.

>> WE NEED THAT MONEY, WE ARE IN THE IMMUNITY, IN THE HOSPITAL, ON THE STREETS, WE ARE TRAINED TO GO BACK TO THE CITIES AND SAVE OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE RALLYING NOW, WE ARE DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

>> Reporter: TERRENCE WAS SHOT TWICE LAST YEAR.

AFTER HE RECOVERED, HE WANTS TO PAY IT FORWARD.

>> PATTERSON HILL CAME TO MY BEDSIDE AND THEY HELPED ME TURN MY LIFE AROUND.

I STARTED A TURN WITH THE PROGRAM AFTER I WAS RELEASED IN THE HOSPITAL.

MY VIOLENT TURNED TURNED INTO ME HELPING OUT AND MENTORING, I AM IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND GRAMMAR SCHOOLS WITH KIDS, TALKING.

AND OUTREACH WORK.

>> Reporter: HE HATES TO HEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY LOSE FUNDING.

TOO MANY OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED >> WE WANT MYA, 15 YEARS OLD, TO WALK IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I WAS SHOT IN 1989.

I KNOW THE TRAUMA I HAVE DEALT WITH FOR YEARS.

WE SAY TO THE STATE, WE NEED TO BE FUNDED.

>> I AM TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD.

IT WOULD DEFINITELY DESTROY A LOT OF LIVES, IT WOULD RUIN A LOT OF THINGS.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY IN NEWARK, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THIS PROGRAM WORK TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE YET TO SEE MAJOR RETALIATION, BECAUSE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED HERE IN THE HOSPITAL VIOLENCE INVENTION PROGRAM AND ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> Reporter: THESE PROGRAMS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR WHAT IS CALLED UNOBLIGATED FUNDS, OR LEFTOVER MONEY FROM THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT.

THAT COULD KEEP THEM RUNNING THROUGH NEXT JUNE.

IN NEWARK I AM TED GOLDBERG.

>>> A TOP POLICE LEADER IS TAKING THE REINS OF NEWARK'S PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT.

THE RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL IS THE NEW PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR OVERSEEING 2000 EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND CIVILIAN WORKERS.

THE 54-YEAR-OLD IS THE CITIES FIRST BLACK AND IMMIGRANT DIRECTOR, TO HEAD THE MERGE DEPARTMENT.

HE IS A 24 YEAR VETERAN OF THE STATE POLICE, A MARINE CORPS VETERAN, AND HOLDS A MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, FROM SETON HALL UNIVERSITY.

HE IS STEPPING INTO THE ROLE OF THE UPTICK IN OVERALL CRIME THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST THE FORMER DIRECTOR WHO HELD THE POST FOR 6 YEARS, CONGRATULATED HIM AND SAID HE HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM.

>>> MILLIONS OF VOTERS ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE COUNTRIES CURRENT TWO PARTY SYSTEM COULD SOON HAVE A ALTERNATIVE.

A NEW NATIONAL PARTY, CALLED FORWARD, COCHAIRED BY A FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR, WHO BELIEVES THIS THIRD PARTY IS A VIABLE HOME FOR WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE POLITICALLY HOMELESS MAJORITY.

OUR SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> THE SAYING GOES EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE WEATHER, BUT NO ONE TALKS ABOUT IT.

FORWARD, LED BY ANDREW YANG, AND DAVE JOLLY, SAY THEY AIM TO FIND HIGHER GROUND FOR A STORM TOSSED ELECTORATE BY CREATING A PARTY THAT WILL HAVE A BIG UMBRELLA.

>> TODAY YOU HAVE 50% OR BETTER OF REGISTERED VOTERS, REGISTERED INDEPENDENT.

THAT TELLS YOU THEY ARE NOT HAPPY WITH EITHER PARTY.

OVER 60% SAY WHEN YOU ASK IF YOU WOULD LIKE A THIRD ALTERNATIVE, SAYING YES.

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE.

>> Reporter: YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO CAUTION ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF WELL- INTENTIONED THIRD-PARTY EFFORTS JILL STEIN AND RALPH NADER COME TO MIND.

DEMOCRATS ARE ANGRY OVER NADER'S IMPACT ON GORE VERSUS BUSH, AND ALSO COSTING HILLARY CLINTON THE ELECTION IN 2016.

THIS EFFORT IS NOT ABOUT SPOILING ANYTHING.

>> THERE WILL BE SPOILERS PARTICULARLY FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

AND I SAY LOOK, EVEN IF WE DON'T GET ANYWHERE, BUT WE GET THE TWO NATURE PARTIES TO START TO MOVE BACK TO THE CENTER WHERE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE, WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE ARE 500,000 ELECTED OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE WORKING ON ALL OF THEM.

WE ARE WATCHING ALL OF THEM.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, IT IS ABOUT THE SECRETARIES OF STATE AND THE STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL.

>> ONE SAID THIS IS A STUPID IDEA, WASHINGTON IS FULL OF STUPID IDEAS.

I THINK THE IDEA IS A STUPID IDEA.

>> Reporter: ALAN STEINBERG, A FORMER REPUBLICAN WHO SERVED IN THE EPA DURING THE GEORGE W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION, SAID FORWARD IS DOOMED, GIVEN THE SORT OF EFFORT NEEDED TO HAVE AN IMPACT, EVEN IN STATE ELECTIONS.

A SPOILER IS A SPOILER, HE SAID, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM TWO IN THIS CASE, THAT COULD BE BAD FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> IT WILL TAKE AWAY VOTES OF THE FORWARD VOTERS WHO ARE PRO- DEMOCRACY BUT VOTING FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

AS A RESULT OF WHICH THE DEMOCRATS WILL GET FEWER VOTES,, AND THE FORWARD PARTY WILL ACT AS A SPOILER PARTY WHICH WILL THROW THE ELECTION TO THE ANTIDEMOCRACY REPUBLICANS.

>> Reporter: A BETTER ALTERNATIVE FOR TO A FORMAL THIRD-PARTY AND ONE THAT COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE TO BRING THE DISSOLUTION BACKED TO THE VOTING BOOTH IS FUSION VOTING.

I'M -- AN EFFORT FOR THE WORKING PARTY IS VERY INVOLVED.

SHE IS ONE OF A GROUP TRYING TO SO FAR UNSUCCESSFULLY, GET NEW JERSEY TO ALLOW FUSION VOTING, AGAIN.

>> SO NEW JERSEY USED TO HAVE FUSION VOTING.

WHAT THAT IS, FOR YOUR VIEWERS, IS A THIRD-PARTY, A MINOR PARTY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, RUNNING A CANDIDATE OR ENDORSING CANDIDATES THAT ARE ALSO TYPICALLY ENDORSED BY A MAJOR PARTY, AND THOSE VOTES ARE ADDED UP.

SO, THEN, YOU DON'T SPOIL COUNTRY YOU ARE NOT TAKING AWAY ABOUT YOU ARE NOT CREATING A SPOILER SITUATION.

YOU ARE SENDING A MESSAGE THAT LOOK, WE, THIS THIRD-PARTY, CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES, WE PUT YOU INTO OFFICE.

SIMILARLY, AS A VOTER, YOU GET TO VOTE YOUR VALUES.

>> CAN THIRD PARTIES SPOIL A VOTE?

ABSOLUTELY.

IS THAT ALL OF THE ROLE THEY PLAY?

NO, SOMETIMES THEY PUSH THE PARTIES IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION.

SOMETIMES THEY GET THEM TO GO THE WAY THAT THEY WANT THEM TO GO.

ASIDE FROM SAYING THEY ARE MODERATES, IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT A FORWARD PARTY STANDS FOR.

SOME DEMOCRATS SAY IT IS A GOP HEAVY EFFORT AND NOTICED THE LACK OF BLACK AND BROWN FACES IN THE FOREFRONT.

WHITMAN SAID THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO VOTERS FOR GUIDANCE.

VOTERS WHO SAY THEY ARE AS SICK OF ELECTIONS AS THEY ARE OF THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES, MIGHT REPLY THAT THEY WANT ANSWERS FROM THEIR PARTIES, NOT JUST MORE QUESTIONS.

I AM DAVID CRUZ.

>>> WASHINGTON IS TAKING NOTICE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRUSH.

WE HAVE DETAILS ON A RATIONAL HEARING, PROBING THE SURGING COST PLUS TONIGHT BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> Reporter: IN NEW JERSEY AND ELSEWHERE THERE IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

TODAY MEMBERS OF THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY THAT MORE RENTERS ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY'S SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR MATTHEW DESMOND, WHO RESEARCHES HOUSING AND SECURITY, TESTIFIED THAT LAST YEAR RENT INCREASED FASTER THAN THEY EVER HAD ON RECORD, UP 17%.

EVICTIONS WERE SURGING.

HE CALLED FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE EVICTION CRISIS ACT WHICH WOULD DEDICATE FUNDS TO CREATE A NEW, PERMANENT EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

HE IMPLORED CONGRESS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> WE CAN NO LONGER LOOK AT FAMILIES IN THE FACE, FAMILIES LIVING IN CARS AND GARAGES, AND ATTICS, AND STORAGE SHEDS, IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY ON THE PLANET, AND TELL THOSE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU, BUT WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD IT, BECAUSE THAT IS A LIE.

>> Reporter: ELSEWHERE THE PORT OF NEW JERSEY HAS EXPERIENCED TWO YEARS OF SUSTAINED RECORD CARGO GROWTH AS SUPPLY-CHAIN BOTTLENECKS RELATED IN CARGO SHIFTING TO THE EAST COAST FROM OVERCROWDED PORTS ON THE WEST COAST.

THE PORT NEEDS MORE SPACE FOR ALL OF THE GOODS, TO CAN YOU TO CONTINUE.

THE PORT AUTHORITY WILL IMPOSE A NEW FEE FOR OCEAN CARRIERS TO ENCOURAGE THE REMOVAL OF THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS THAT ARE EMPTY AND BEING STORED ON SITE.

THE PORT AUTHORITY SAID IT IS TAKING PROACTIVE STEPS, AS IT PREPARES FOR THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

A WHOLE LOT MORE STUFF WILL BE IMPORTED TO THE U.S. >>> ITALY, A FOLLOW-UP TO A STORY REPORTED ON YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION WAS FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT PLAYERS DON'T YET HAVE INFORMATION ON THE NEW UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PAYROLL TAX RATE.

A SPOKESPERSON FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SAID TAX RATE NOTICES WILL BE MAILED TO EMPLOYERS BEGINNING AUGUST 19.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S STOCK MARKET ACTIVITY.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> BY MID CENTURY RACES LIKE ATLANTIC CITY AND CAPE MAY ARE PROJECTED TO HAVE UP TO 100 DAYS OR MORE OF HIGH TIDE FLOODING, COMPARED TO THE ROUGHLY 10 DAYS RECORDED IN 2021.

THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION TODAY RELEASED ITS ANNUAL HIGH TIDE FLOODING OUTLOOK AND FINDS THE EAST AND GULF COAST ARE SEEING TWICE AS MANY DAYS OF HIGH TIDE FLOODING COMPARED TO THE YEAR 2000.

ACCORDING TO A NEW FEDERAL REPORT, SUNNY DAY OR SO CALLED NUISANCE FLOODING WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMENT DUE TO YEARS OF SEA LEVEL RISING AND IT HAPPENS WHEN THE TIDE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 2 FEET ABOVE THE DAILY AVERAGE, SPILLING ONTO THE STREET OR BUBBLING UP FROM A STORM DRAIN.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, SHORELINES ARE FLOODED, BASEMENTS ARE FLOODED, INFRASTRUCTURE IS DAMAGED.

THEY PREDICT NEXT YEAR WILL LOOK SIMILAR TO THIS WITH ABOUT 3 TO 7 DAYS OF SUNNY FLOODING, AND BY 2050 DAMAGING FLOODS THAT USED TO HAPPEN FROM SEVERE STORMS ONLY WILL BECOME A MORE REGULAR OCCURRENCE HITTING THE COUNTRY ABOUT 45 DAYS TO 70 DAYS PER YEAR ON AVERAGE.

>>> WE LIVE YOU WITH A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY SOME 245 YEARS OLD.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS WORKING ON A PUBLIC DIG AT RED BANK BATTLEFIELD PARK ON COVERED THE SKELETAL REMAINS OF UP TO 13 INDIVIDUALS.

THEY ARE BELIEVED TO BE SOLDIERS, GERMAN TROOPS HIRED BY THE REDDISH TO FIGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

THEY WERE KILLED IN 1777, IN WHAT HISTORIANS CALL THE GREATEST UPSET VICTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

FEMUR BONES AND SKULLS AND TEETH BURIED IN A TRENCH 4.5 FEET DEEP, A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS FOUND THE REMAINS ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS, INCLUDING PEWTER AND BRASS BUTTONS, AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MASS GRAVE.

PERHAPS THE MOST RARE FIND A 1766 KING GEORGE THE THIRD GOLD GINNY IN NEARLY PRISTINE CONDITION HISTORIANS SAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE MONTH'S PAY FOR A SOLDIER BACK THEN.

RESEARCHERS SAY THEY HOPE THE DISCOVERY BROUGHT PUBLIC AWARENESS OF NEW JERSEY'S SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE WAR AND THE SACRIFICES MADE BY SOLDIERS THEN AND NOW.

>> THE SCENE OF MILITARY ACTION IS A THIN VENEER OF A SINGLE VIOLENT EVENT SUPERIMPOSED ON THIS EVER-CHANGING CULTURAL LANDSCAPE ITS PRESENCE IS DISCERNIBLE AND RECOVERABLE.

OUR EXCAVATION BRINGS THIS REALITY OF A PAINFUL PAST TO THE FOREFRONT.

>>> THAT DOESN'T FOR US THIS EVENING, MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO THE SPOTLIGHT NEWS TO CHECK US OUT ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

FOR OUR ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.