>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY THE 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 A NEW LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, GOVERNOR MURPHY'S CHOICE FOR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS JUST ONE HURDLE AWAY FROM BEING CONFIRMED TO THE POST , THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HELD A SPECIAL SESSION TODAY VOTING TO RELEASE MATT PLATKIN'S CONFIRMATION TO THE FULL SENATE, HE HAS ALREADY SPENT SIX MONTHS ON THE JOB IN AN ACTING CAPACITY AND LAWMAKERS TODAY SAID HIS WORK IN THE ROLE WENT A LONG WAY IN AFFIRMING THEIR SUPPORT.

THE 35- YEAR-OLD IS BEING CALLED A RISING STAR IN THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY.

HE WAS ONE OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S EARLIEST AND CLOSEST CONFIDANT DURING HIS CAMPAIGN GOING ON TO SERVE AS HIS CHIEF COUNSEL.

BUT HIS FULL CONFIRMATION IS LIKELY TO FACE MORE SCRUTINY OVER THE HANDLING AND MISHANDLING OF SOME CONTROVERSIAL STATE ISSUES.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS FROM THE STATEHOUSE.>> MY VOTE IS YES, GOOD LUCK.

>> Reporter: THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VOTED 22 MOSTLY ALONG PARTY LINES TO RELEASE MATT PLATKIN'S NOMINATION AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AFTER MONTHS OF DELAY AFTER THE DEMOCRAT INVOKED SENATORIAL COURTESY TO BLOCK GOVERNOR MURPHY'S NOMINEE.

PLATKIN WEATHERED SOME WEATHERED CONTENTIOUS QUESTIONS BUT BOTTOM LINE, HE HAS ALREADY BEEN SERVING AS ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR SIX MONTHS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I STRIVE TO DO IS TO BUILD A TEAM OF BOTH DIVERSE AND INCREDIBLY TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHOSE EXPERIENCE AND JUDGMENT I RELY UPON, WHO AGAIN CAN SUPPLEMENT AREAS OF EXPERIENCE THAT I MAY NOT PERSONALLY HAVE.

>> Reporter: HE FACED WITHERING CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICAN SENATOR MIKE DOHERTY OVER HIS LACK OF CRIMINAL LAW EXPERIENCE, ALSO CONDEMNING HIS ADVICE AS FORMER CHIEF COUNSEL TO GOVERNOR MURPHY ESPECIALLY MURPHY'S CONTROVERSIAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT WAS AN OVERREACHING POWER GRAB BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THAT BASICALLY STOMPED OUT, STAMPED OUT THE OTHER TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, HAVING NOTHING TO SAY.>> I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT DESPITE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES, AND ORDERS THAT THE GOVERNOR ISSUED WERE STRUCK DOWN , BY STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF LITIGATION.

>> Reporter: PLATKIN ENCOUNTERED PUSHBACK ARISING FROM HIS ACTIONS IN THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS, A LEGISLATIVE SELECT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE SCANDAL REPORTED THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION SERIOUSLY MISHANDLED THE CASE AND CRITICIZED THEN CHIEF COUNSEL PLATKIN FOR OPTING NOT TO TELL MURPHY ABOUT THE COMPLAINT.

>> YOU DIDN'T ADVISE GOVERNOR MURPHY ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR MONTHS AND MAYBE LONGER.

>> THERE ARE THINGS CERTAINLY WE WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY WITH HINDSIGHT AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAID THEN THAT I WOULD SAY AGAIN TODAY IS I WOULD HAVE TOLD THE GOVERNOR OF THIS SPECIFIC OBLIGATION.

>> Reporter: ANTIABORTION ADVOCATES TESTIFIED IT, THEY FOCUSED ON PROGRESSIVE ISSUES LIKE HIS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS STRIKE FORCE FORMED IN THE WAKE OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION OVERTURNING ROE.

>> THEY WILL EMPLOY THE FULL FORCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROTECT ABORTION THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY.

>> THE OFFICE IS BECOMING MORE OF A POLITICAL POLICY PROMOTION SPOT THAN TRUE LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Reporter: BUT PLATKIN EARNED APPROVAL ACROSS A SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY ADVOCATES, HE HAS ALSO FOLLOW THE PATH OF HIS PREDECESSOR , GRAY WALL TO FIGHT GUN VIOLENCE, COMBAT POLICE BRUTALITY AND CHAMPION THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> WE HAVE VERY AGGRESSIVE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SEEKING THE COMPENSATION OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW JERSEY FOR A TERRIBLE LEGACY OF DAMAGES THAT WERE FOISTED UPON THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE BY IRRESPONSIBLE CORPORATIONS.

>> I HAVE CONTINUED THAT WORK COME ADJUST IN MY TIME, WE FILED TWO NATURAL NATIONAL DEFENSE CASES.

>> HE SUED MONSANTO OVER PCBS, ALSO POINTED TO THE NEED TO FIGHT RISING CRIME RATES WHILE STILL WORKING TO IMPROVE POLICE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> SOMETIMES I HEAR FROM UNION CITY POLICE AND OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY HOW THEY FEEL BASICALLY HANDCUFFED SO TO SPEAK, I'M BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS AND RISING CRIME IS NO DOUBT A PROBLEM.

MANY OF THE VICTIMS ARE VERY POOR, IN HUDSON COUNTY, WHO WERE VICTIMIZED BY THESE CRIMES, THERE ARE MINORITIES BEING VICTIMIZED BY THESE CRIMES.

>> THE WAY THE PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROTECT THEM.

>> PLATKIN HEADS TO THE FULL SENATE FOR A FINAL VOTE BUT THE SENATE PRESIDENT SAID THAT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL THEY RECONVENE THIS PAUL.

I'M BRAND BRENDA FLANAGAN.

>>> LAWMAKERS ARE TACKLING THE VACANT JUDICIARY, USING THE SENATE TO CONSIDER THE NOMINATION OF FOUR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES, THE FULL SENATE CONFIRMED THE FOUR FOR POST TO THE COURT, BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME CONTROVERSY.

THE SENATOR WENT AFTER THOMAS PALMER FOR HIS PAST SOCIAL MEDIA POST, WHICH ESPOUSED CONSERVATIVE LEANING IDEOLOGIES.

POPE STAINED, SAYING THEY WERE OVERLY PARTISAN FOR SOMEBODY BEING CONSIDERED TO THE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGESHIP, THE SECESSION WAS A BIG STEP FORWARD BUT STILL NOT ENOUGH TO PUT A DENT IN THE UNPRECEDENTED SHORTAGE OF 63 TRIAL COURT VACANCIES.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY IS BACK ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRIP CIRCUIT, VISITING ISRAEL THIS WEEK, MARKING HIS FOURTH TRIP THERE SINCE TAKING OFFICE.

HE WILL SPEND FOUR DAYS MEETING WITH BUSINESS GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATIONAL LEADERS, PROMOTING HIS ADMINISTRATIONS WORK TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITHIN THOSE SECTORS AND THE INNOVATION ECONOMY.

WE HEARD THEM SAY THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE, BUT THE VISIT TO ISRAEL WILL STRICTLY CENTRAL NEW JERSEY ISSUES, THE GOVERNORS TRAVELING WITH DELAWARE'S DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, JOHN CARNEY, NOW POLITICAL INSIDERS ARE SPECULATING THE JOINT VISIT BOLSTERS MURPHY'S RESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TELLS ROI NJ HE PLANS TO JOIN WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DURING HIS LAST 3 YEARS IN OFFICE, HE PREVIOUSLY TRAVELED TO GERMANY, IRELAND, INDIA AND ISRAEL, SELLING THE STATE AS AN ECONOMIC PARTNER FOR COMPANIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

>>> DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS ARE ON THE VERGE OF A HISTORIC WIN, IN AN OVERNIGHT SESSION INTO SUNDAY, THE SENATE PASSED A SWEEPING $740 BILLION CLIMATE HEALTHCARE AND TAX PACKAGE.

STRICTLY ALONG PARTY LINES, KNOWN AS THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

MAKING ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN HISTORY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND LOWER THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

THE BULK OF THE SPENDING MORE THAN $360 BILLION IS EARMARKED FOR PROGRAMS TO BOOST CLEAN ENERGY AND TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE .

THE LEGISLATION ALSO GIVES MEDICARE THE POWER TO NEGOTIATE PRICES FOR CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR SENIORS AND USES THOSE SAVINGS TO HELP PAY FOR A THREE-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

IT ALSO RAISES REVENUE THROUGH A NEW 15% MINIMUM TAX ON LARGE CORPORATIONS FOR THE LEGISLATION NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE, MEMBERS ARE PLANNING TO RETURN FROM SUMMER RECESS FOR ABOUT FRIDAY TO PASS THE BILL AND SEND IT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DESK.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER IS URGING HIS COLLEAGUES TO MAKE A SWIFT BOAT AND HE JOINS ME KNOW.

SENATOR, LET'S START WITH THE NEWS OUT OF THE HILL OVER THE WEEKEND, THIS IS A MASSIVE SPENDING BILL, HOW DOES IT TRANSLATE FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND IN PARTICULAR I'M THINKING ABOUT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS HERE.

>> THE FIRST THING PEOPLE SHOULD REALIZE IS THIS IS THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WHICH BRINGS IN MORE REVENUE THAN IT IS EXPENDING BECAUSE IT IS FINALLY CLOSING THESE LOOPHOLES OF THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS OF AMERICA, EXPLOITING TO PAY LITTLE TO NO PACS IS YOU KNOW WE HAVE A FAIR SYSTEM, WE ALREADY BROUGHT DOWN THE CORPORATE TEXT TO 20%, BUT THIS WILL ENSURE THEY PAY ZERO IN TEXAS, PART OF IT WILL GO TO INFLATION REDUCTION BUT THE OTHER PARTS WILL GO TO THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND THESE ARE COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP AMERICA TO REDUCE ITS OVERALL CARBON FOOTPRINT 40% BY 2030.

AND FOR THE AVERAGE NEW JERSEY AND, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS, IT'S GOING TO DO THREE KEY THINGS.

FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY IS, IT IS GOING TO LOWER YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS, IT WILL LOWER THE OVERALL ENERGY COST AND FINALLY, FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEYANS, WHO ARE USING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, IT IS GOING TO LOWER YOUR OVERALL HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES.

THESE ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS FOR NEW JERSEY AT A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE OUR STATE IS BEING BRUTALIZED BY EXTREME WEATHER, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THESE STORMS OFF THE COAST.

>> THE CLIMATE ASIDE, I WANT TO STICK WITH THE SAVINGS PART OF IT, WILL PEOPLE SEE THOSE CHANGES THIS YEAR?

WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS STRUGGLING WITH TIGHTER BUDGETS, THE GOP, THE BIGGEST STICKING POINT HAS BEEN THAT THIS INFLATION REDUCTION ACT DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO CURB INFLATION.

WHAT WILL PEOPLE SEE IN THE SHORT TERM?

>> I AGREE, WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE AND I WISH WE COULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IT BUT THE BILL ALONE, I LOVE SOME OF THE ECONOMIST THAT MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WERE USING TO CRITICIZE WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

PEOPLE LIKE THE FORMER HEAD OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY WHO WAS REALLY DOGGING SOME OF THE PAST BILLS, THIS ONE HE CELEBRATES, AND CITED BY REPUBLICANS, THIS IS A BILL THAT WILL ACTUALLY REDUCE OVERALL INFLATION.

SO WE ARE SEEING NOT ONLY A BILL THAT ECONOMIST ACROSS THE BOARD ARE SAYING THIS IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING, IT MAY NOT DO AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN, AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE SOME OF THE THINGS ALLOWED PEOPLE TO ESCAPE TAXES WERE BEING PULLED OUT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CLOSING THE POOL, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN US GET THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX REDUCTION RESTORED.

BUT THAT ASIDE, IF YOU ARE AN AVERAGE NEW JERSEY END, SOMETHING IS COMMON SENSE WILL KICK IN IN A FEW YEARS AS LETTUCE ALLOW MEDICAID AND MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES, THAT IS GOING TO LET AMERICA USE ITS LEVERAGE TO LOWER THE COST OF THESE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR SO MANY AMERICANS.

I MEET PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WHO TELL ME MY DEDUCTIBLE FOR MY MEDICATIONS IS $200, $300, THOSE MONTHLY CHARGES ADD UP YOUR >> NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT, THIS IS BEING VIEWED AS JUST ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE WIN FOR DEMOCRATS, YOU HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING YOU DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN A CONGRESS THAT HAS BEEN AS PRODUCTIVE IN RECENT YEARS AS THIS CONGRESS.

HOW DOES THIS CHANGE THE PLAYING FIELD FOR THE MIDTERMS NOW?

>> AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS SEEN THROUGH A PARTISAN LENS AND I KNOW WE HAVE AN APARTMENT ELECTION COMING UP BUT I'M PROUD TO JOIN HANDS, REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE AND INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

WE ARE ABLE TO GET 10 REPUBLICANS TO GO ALONG WITH 10 OF US TO DO A GREAT BILL.

>> LET ME SHIFT GEARS, YOU ARE BACK HOME IN NEW JERSEY DOING YOUR SUMMER ROAD TRIP AS YOU ARE CALLING IT, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE DONE THIS.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GET FROM THIS?

>> WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO VISIT 21 COUNTIES AND JUST HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF THE INCREDIBLE THINGS GOING ON.

THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST STOP, MEETING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, OCEAN COUNTY, SHOWING THAT THE WORK THEY HAVE INNOVATED, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRAMATICALLY LOWER THE CALLS TO POLICE TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH CARE, TO NEED SOME KIND OF SUPPORT AS THE POLICE AND THE SOCIAL WORKERS I MET WITH TODAY ARE SAVING LIVES AND LOWERING THE DEMAND ON POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHO OFTEN ARE INTERVENING WITH SITUATIONS THAT ARE REALLY DANGEROUS, NOW THEY ARE DOING PROACTIVE WORK TOGETHER.

>> SENATOR CORY BOOKER, THANK YOU SO MUCH, HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THIS PART OF THE STATE SOON.

>>> MONKEYPOX INFECTIONS ARE ON THE RISE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN NEW JERSEY.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS REPORTING 243 CASES OF THE VIRUS THROUGHOUT 15 COUNTIES.

WITH THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS IN THE HUDSON, ESSEX AND BERGEN, THOSE IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO NEW YORK CITY WHICH IS STILL THE EPICENTER OF THE OUTBREAK IN THE U.S.

THE CDC IS RECOMMENDING VACCINATION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED AND THOSE AT HIGHER RISK OF BEING EXPOSED.

NOW THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DECLARED IT A NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, STATE LEADERS ARE EXPECTING A BIGGER TURNOUT OF THE AVAILABLE VACCINES.

RESIDENTS ARE STILL REPORTING HAVING A HARD TIME TRACKING DOWN THE SHOTS.

AS OF LATE LAST WEEK, THE STATES RECEIVED ABOUT 5500 DOSES, ANOTHER 14,000 ARE IN THE PIPELINE.

IN JERSEY CITY, THE HIGHEST FOUNDATION IS OPERATING ONE OF THE STATES FIVE CURRENT MONKEYPOX VACCINE CLINICS AS SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AND PREVENTION, AXEL TORRES MARRERO SAYS DEMAND IS A FAR OUTSTRIPPING SUPPLY.

HE JOINS ME NOW.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION HAS BEEN LIKE AT THE VACCINE CLINIC, WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SEEING ON THE GROUND AS FAR AS DEMAND.>> WELL, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IS THAT THE DEMAND FAR OUTSTRIPS THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PRODUCT OF THE VACCINE.

WE HAVE DONE OUR VERY BEST WITH PARTNERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN JERSEY CITY TO ENSURE THAT THE VACCINE GETS OUT TO THE MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO EITHER HAVE EXPOSURE OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

>> HOW MANY FOLKS HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO VACCINATE SO FAR?

>> AT THIS POINT, THE FIRST VACCINATION IS REQUIRED TO BE FULLY VACCINATED, THE FIRST WE HAVE AT LEAST 600 INDIVIDUALS BUT ON A DAILY BASIS WE COULD AT LEAST 300 CALLS, PEOPLE TRYING TO ACCESS THE VACCINE WHETHER IT IS IN HERE OR NEWARK OR OTHER PLACES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS GOING TO THE CITY, TO NEW YORK TRYING TO GET THE VACCINE.

BUT AGAIN, THE DEMAND FAR OUTWEIGHS WHAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF PRODUCT, AND WE HAD 600 INDIVIDUALS WITH THE FIRST VACCINE.

>> I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE MESSAGING AND IF YOU ARE SEEING FOLKS COMING INTO HYACINTH, IF THERE IS STILL CONFUSION AROUND IT, WE HAVE SPOKE WITH SEVERAL FOLKS ON OUR BROADCAST ABOUT THE MESSAGING TO THE GAY COMMUNITY AND BEYOND THAT, ARE THERE A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS?>> THERE ARE, AND I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL FAULT LINES.

BY THEM NOT ASSIGNING IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE, I THINK AGAIN, A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WERE CAUGHT BY SURPRISE, I THINK THE MESSAGING FROM PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WAS SLOW TO GET TO THE RIGHT INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO I THINK THAT THE LARGER LGBT COMMUNITY WAS ACCESSING INFORMATION FROM THE CDC OR FROM STOUT STATE HEALTH SITES.

SO WORD-OF-MOUTH WAS THE FIRST CONTACT OF INFORMATION FOR FOLKS SO WE HAD TO DO A LOT OF LEVEL SETTING IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL INFORMATION AROUND WHAT CONSTITUTES EXPOSURE.

AND HOW YOU CAN BE EXPOSED TO MONKEYPOX.

HAVING SAID THAT, YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THAT THE MESSAGING HAS SLIGHTLY CHANGED.

SO THERE HAS BEEN A MIX, ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING, OF A PANIC AND THAT HAS PROBABLY LED TO THE HIGH DEMAND.

ONCE WE HAVE MADE, ONCE WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A MACRO APPROACH AND SAY HOLD ON A SECOND, LET'S GET THE MESSAGING RIGHT, THEN I THINK THE COMMUNITY THEN WILL SETTLE DOWN AND UNDERSTAND, THESE ARE AVENUES WHERE I PROTECT MYSELF, IN TERMS OF THE ILLNESS.

>> YOUR CLINIC BEING ONE OF COURSE.

VERY QUICKLY I WANT TO GET TO WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE ABOUT THE SPREAD OF MONKEYPOX, YOU ALL ARE SEEING THIS FIRSTHAND.

>> I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO THE RIGHT INDIVIDUALS TO FIRST AND FOREMOST DO SELF PROTECTION IN TERMS OF ASSESSING YOUR OWN RISK .

AND THEN ENGAGING IN DECISIONS BASED ON THAT.

YOUR OWN PERSONAL RISK, AND ALSO THE INFORMATION AT HAND.

AND SECOND, TO MAKE SURE THE VACCINE IS WIDELY AVAILABLE.>> REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS THAT YOU MADE, THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH US TONIGHT.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT, STATE SENATORS HELD A DUO VOTE TODAY ON A BILL TO GIVE TEMPORARY WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY MORE PROTECTIONS.

THE LEGISLATION WAS APPROVED IN JUNE DURING THAT MARATHON VOTING SESSION AHEAD OF THE BUDGET.

BUT A CLERICAL ERROR REQUIRE LAWMAKERS TO CAST THEIR VOTE AGAIN.

THE 10th WORKER BILL OF RIGHTS PASSED LATE THIS AFTERNOON ALONG A TIGHTER ORIGIN AND WILL REQUIRE STAFFING AGENCIES TO PAY TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES THE SAME COMPENSATION AS PERMANENT WORKERS IN THAT POSITION.

THE MEASURE ALSO REQUIRES WORKERS TO BE COMPENSATED IF THEY SHOW UP AT A WORK SITE BUT ARE SENT HOME.

IT ALSO PUTS IN PLACE PROTECTIONS AGAINST WAGE THEFT AND DISCRIMINATION COMMONLY REPORTED AMONG NEW JERSEY'S 130,000 TEMPORARY WORKERS, MANY OF THEM IMMIGRANTS WHO BILL ADVOCATES SAY ARE BEING USED AS CHEAP LABOR IN THE STATE.

BUT, BUSINESS LOBBYISTS AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE GOP DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

THE ANGIE AND JAY BIA IS PUSHING BACK ON THE BILL AS BEING BURDENSOME, AND SAY THE STATE ALREADY HAS WAYS TO PENALIZE SO-CALLED BAD ACTORS.

>>> BURIES THOSE AT THE STARBUCKS ARE BACK AT WORK TODAY AFTER STRIKING OVER THE WEEKEND, IN PROTEST OF WHAT THEY CALL UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES.

THE HOPEWELL STORE YOU WILL RECALL WAS THE FIRST LOCATION IN NEW JERSEY TO UNIONIZE AND WORKERS SAY STARBUCKS HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE UNION OR BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH.

EMPLOYEES WROTE A LETTER TO CORPORATE LEADERS FRIDAY BEFORE STRIKING, SAYING THEY ARE FED UP WITH CUT WORKING HOURS AND DELAYS IN BENEFITS AND RAISES.

AMONG THEIR REQUESTS, THE GROUP IS ASKING FOR CONSISTENT HOURS AND SCHEDULING, THEY GOT THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR MURPHY BEHIND THEM, THE GOVERNOR TOOK TO TWITTER SATURDAY TO PUBLICLY BACK THE WORKERS SAYING HE WAS STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM, ADDING THEIR STRIKE IS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE COFFEE CHAIN.

>>> CHECKING IN ON WALL STREET TODAY, HERE'S A LOOK AT THE MARKETS CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEW JERSEY, WORKING FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY BY UNITING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ONLINE, AND BY THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

HELPING TO BUILD A STRONGER FAIRER NEW JERSEY ECONOMY.

>>> WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL IN NEWARK IS PLANTING SEEDS OF HOPE THROUGH A ONE ACRE URBAN GARDEN THAT TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, AGRIBUSINESS AND NUTRITION.

ONCE COMPLETED, IT'LL BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST URBAN FARMS IN BRICK CITY WITH A GOAL OF PRODUCING ABOUT 1000 POUNDS OF FOOD THIS YEAR ALONE.

FEEDING THE STOMACHS AND MINDS OF THE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE ALL TYPES OF HOT PEPPERS BEHIND YOU, JAPANESE EGGPLANT.

WE HAVE CUCUMBERS ARE HERE, ALL TYPES OF WILDFLOWERS.

WE HAVE BERRIES DOWN THERE.>> LOOKING AT THESE, YOU MIGHT FORGET YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEWARK IN THE FRONT YARD OF A SCHOOL, HERE AT WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL, GARDENING IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE MISSION OF THIS BUSINESS FOCUSED SCHOOL.

>> WE ARE DOING FARM TO TABLE, SO THE BEST THING WAS TO CREATE AN URBAN FARM, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MONETIZE THIS AREA >> THE PRINCIPAL IS TEACHING HIS BABIES, HIS STUDENTS HOW TO SELL THE CROPS THEY GROW.

ONE WAY, BY BOTTLING THEIR OWN HOMEMADE HOT SAUCE.

>> FOR ME, I BELIEVE IT IS GETTING MY KIDS READY FOR THE HUNGER GAMES, IF WE HAVE THE WORLD SHUT DOWN AGAIN, MY BABIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, THEY KNOW HOW TO GROW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHOWING THEM HOW TO MONETIZE THIS.

IF I SHOW THEM HOW TO BE ENTREPRENEURS, IF THEY OWN PEPPERS AND HOT SAUCE AND BARBECUE SAUCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND SELL IT ON A FOOD TRUCK OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THEN I THINK I KNOCKED OUT ONE OF LIFE'S BIGGEST GOALS WHICH IS GETTING TO A LIVING WAGE AND BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR.

>> THERE IS A LOT MORE YOU CAN TEACH A CHILD ABOUT LIFE THROUGH GARDENING, ONE CONCEPT IS COMPOSTING.

>> DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, I COLLECT THE FOOD WASTE FROM THE MATERIA AND I RECYCLE IT HERE, THIS WILL BE TURNED INTO COMPOST FOR THE GARDEN.

>> DO THE KIDS UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY ARE THROWING AWAY THEIR LUNCH THAT IT IS GOING TO END UP IN THE GARDEN?

>> THOSE TWO GREEN BINS THAT HAVE ALL KINDS OF SIGNAGE, AND IN THE LUNCH ROOM, WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF SIGNS, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SEPARATE THEIR WASTE, THE PLASTIC AND THE FOOD, SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE CAFETERIA.

THERE'S MONITORS FROM EACH SCIENCE CLASS, THEY WILL LOOK OVER THE BINS.>> EVERY STUDENT IS GETTING THAT UNDERSTANDING OF GARBAGE TO FARM, BACK TO THE TABLE.

AND IN A FOOD DESERT, THEY ARE LEARNING CRITICAL LESSONS ABOUT HEALTH AND WELLNESS.>> IT IS A WIDER VIEW, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT NUTRITION AND GOING ORGANIC, I TALKED ABOUT THAT WHEN I WAS ON THE SHOW.

SO I'M BIG ON BEING ORGANIC NOW AND SHOWING THE KIDS, WE TALK ABOUT HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS AND FOOD IS THE MAIN WAYS IT IS GETTING INTO OUR BODIES.>> AND THAT SHOW HE MENTIONED WAS THE ELLEN DeGENERES SHOW, HE MADE A SECOND APPEARANCE BACK IN FEBRUARY AFTER SHE GAVE THEM $110,000 TO LAUNCH THE FARM, IT IS NAMED AFTER HER AND COMES COMPLETE WITH A MURAL OF HER FACE.>> I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU BUT ALSO I FEEL LIKE MY LGBT COMMUNITY IS UNDERREPRESENTED, SO PUTTING THEIR ICON ON THE WALL, MORE IMPORTANTLY, PUTTING THE BACKSPLASH FOR THIS AMAZING URBAN FARM THAT WE HAVE HERE.

>> Reporter: AT SOME POINT, THIS ASPHALT WILL BE DUG UP, THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE CONTAMINATED ANDY GREENE HOUSE WILL BE PUT IN SO THE STUDENTS CAN LEARN HOW TO FARM EVEN IN THE WINTER.

>> A LOT OF THESE KIDS MIGHT GROW UP IN AN APARTMENT, SO THIS IS BRAND-NEW TO THEM.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THIS, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU GET TO SEE THE PROGRESS OVER TIME, IT'S NOT LIKE YOUR MATH CLASS WHERE YOU ARE JUST DOING STUFF ON PAPER.

>> LITERALLY, YOU CAN SENSE IT, IT IS LIKE EVERYTHING CHANGES, THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

>> Reporter: THOSE MOMENTS WHEN THE EDUCATIONAL SEES THEY PLANTED FINALLY BLOOMED.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING, BUT MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM TO KEEP UP ON ALL THE LATEST NEWS.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI , FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.>> MGM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD NEW JERSEY AND INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.>> MGM HAS BEEN SERVING POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS BUT JUST WHO ARE MGM POLICYHOLDERS?

THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR, AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

MGM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJBARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE, YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR APP.

OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH A RWJBARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT, YOU HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE, SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.