>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

>>> RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>> AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY NJM AND -- ORSTED AND PSEG.

CREATED TO THE CREATION OF A LONG-TERM CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>>> THE FIRST U.S. CASE OF THE OMICRON VARIANT HAS NOW BEEN CONFIRMED.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

THE CDC SAID CALIFORNIA HEALTH OFFICIALS IDENTIFIED THE CASE AND AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RETURNED FROM SOUTH AFRICA ON NOVEMBER 22nd.

DR. FAUCI AT THE WHITE HOUSE REPORTING THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS FULLY VACCINATED HAS MILD SYMPTOMS AND IS IMPROVING.

>> WE KNEW IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE FIRST CASE OF OMICRON WOULD BE DETECTED IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND AS YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN SAYING IT IN MY COLLEAGUES ON THE MEDICAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN SAYING IT.

WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROTECT PEOPLE.

GET VACCINATED IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY VACCINATED.

GET BOOSTER IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS WITHIN MRNA OR TWO MONTHS WITH J&J.

AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ABOUT GETTING YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED MASKING AND INDOOR CONJUGATE SETTINGS.>>> THE CDC HAS ALSO LAUNCHED A BIO SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM AT NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO TEST FOR THE NEW OMICRON STRAIN.

PASSENGERS ENTERING THE U.S. FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA WILL BE TESTED WHEN THEY LAND IN NEWARK AND AT THREE OTHER MAJOR AIRPORTS.

JFK ATLANTA AND SAN FRANCISCO.

AS THE BIDEN APPLICATION DEBATES FURTHER TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.

MERCK'S ANTIVIRAL PEELS ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING PRESCRIBED FOR COVID 19 TREATMENT IN AMERICA.

AFTER AN FDA ADVISORY PANEL VOTED YESTERDAY TO ENDORSE THE MEDICINE.

THE BOAT WAS NONBINDING BUT CLEARS THE PATH TO EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION FOR THE DRUG.>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR THE NATION'S HEALTHCARE WORKERS WAS BLOCKED.

BY A FEDERAL JUDGE IN LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY.

THE MANDATE WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT NEXT WEEK.

SO FAR NEW JERSEY MORE THAN 6.2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

STATE OFFICIALS REPORTED 20 NEW DEATHS.

AND 2471 NEW CASES TODAY.

>>> TUNE IN TO CHAT BOX TOMORROW NIGHT.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVE KRUSE TALKS WITH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER JUDY -- ABOUT CONCERNS OVER THE OMICRON VARIANT AND ITS IMPACT ON NEW JERSEY AS WELL AS THE LATEST ON COVID 19 NUMBERS IN THE STATE.

AND THE OUTLOOK FOR 2022.

WATCH FOR WHEREVER YOU STREAM ON THURSDAY AT 6:30 P.M. ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR TWITTER OR FACEBOOK PAGE.

>>> 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.

>>> ALL ICE WERE ON THE SUPREME COURT TODAY AS THE JUSTICES DEBATED THE FUTURE OF THE LANDMARK ABORTION CASE ROE VERSUS WADE.

THE CASE ARGUED BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT TODAY HAS NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS.

IT INVOLVES A MISSISSIPPI LAW THAT BANS MOST ABORTIONS AFTER 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

AND CHALLENGES WHAT ROE VERSUS WADE ESTABLISHES AS FETAL VIABILITY.

WHEN A FETUS CAN SURVIVE OUTSIDE THE WOMB.

THE DECISION WHILE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL JUNE COULD DIRECTLY IMPACT 26 STATES IF ROE VERSUS WADE IS OVERTURNED.

NEW JERSEY IS NOT ONE OF THEM BUT THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THIS CHANGE IN WOMEN'S HEALTH RIGHTS WILL NO DOUBT BE FELT WITHIN THE STATE'S BORDERS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN EXPLAINS.

>> >> Reporter: WITH THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE AN ABORTION HANGING IN THE BALANCE EMOTIONAL PROTESTERS RALLIED OUTSIDE THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT IS JUSTICES INSIDE SHARPLY QUESTIONED SOLICITORS.

AFTER TWO HOURS OF CONTENTIOUS ARGUMENT ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE COURT'S NEW CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY SEEMED POISED TO NOT JUST UPHOLD MISSISSIPPI'S LAW BANNING ABORTION AFTER 15 WEEKS, BUT POSSIBLY READY TO OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE ENTIRELY PRECIPITATING A SEISMIC SHIFT IN AMERICA'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.

>> WE BECOME A COUNTRY WHERE EVERY SINGLE STATE IS TO MAKE ITS OWN DECISION ABOUT WHETHER ABORTION IS LEGAL.

AND ACCESSIBLE IN THEIR STATE.

THAT BECOMES THIS INCREDIBLE PATCHWORK THAT WOMEN AND OTHER PREGNANT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE.

IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TERMINATE PREGNANCIES.

>> Reporter: THAT IS THE POINT MISSISSIPPI SOLICITOR GENERAL ARGUED IS A DECISION THAT ISN'T ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION AND SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE STATES.

>> THEY HAVE NO BASIS IN THE COMFORT CONSTITUTION.

PURPOSEFULLY LEAVES TO THE DETERMINATION OF MILLIONS OF HUMAN LIVES.

IF THE MATTERS RETURNED TO THE PEOPLE THE PEOPLE CAN DEAL WITH IT.

THEY CAN WORK.

THEY CAN COMPROMISE AND REACH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.

IF WE DON'T DO THAT WE WOULD JUST HAVE ALL THE SORT OF DAMAGE AND AT SOME POINT IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE COURT TO SAY ENOUGH.

>> Reporter: JUSTICE KAVANAUGH CLARIFIED THAT FURTHER.

>> YOUR ARGUMENT THE CONSTITUTION SILENT AND THEREFORE NEUTRAL ON THE QUESTION OF ABORTION.

IN OTHER WORDS THE CONSTITUTIONS NEITHER PRO-LIFE OR PRO-CHOICE ON THE QUESTION OF ABORTION.

BUT LEAVES THE ISSUE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OR PERHAPS CONGRESS TO RESOLVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> WE ARE SAYING IT IS LEFT TO THE PEOPLE.

MANY ABORTIONS IN CERTAIN STATES I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD THINK WOULD BE MOVING TO CHANGE THEIR LAWS ANYMORE RESTRICTIVE DIRECTION.

ABOUT A DOZEN STATES HAVE PASSED LAWS TO BAN ABORTIONS SHOULD THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE AND ANOTHER 14 WOULD LIKELY BAN IT AFTER THE RULING.

DURING ARGUMENTS JUST THE SODA MAYOR WARNED THAT REVERSING A FUNDAMENTAL WATERSHED DECISION LIKE ROE VERSUS WADE ABSENT ANY MAJOR CHANGES IN SOCIETY CRITICALLY HARMED THE COURTS TRADITIONAL RESPECT FOR LEGAL PRECEDENT.

CHARGES OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE.

SHE QUOTED MISSISSIPPI POLITICIANS.

>> THE SENATE -- WE ARE DOING IT BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW JUSTICES ON THE SUPREME COURT.

WILL THIS INSTITUTION SURVIVE THE STENCH THAT THIS CREATES?

IN THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION THAT THE CONSTITUTION AND ITS READING ARE JUST POLITICAL ACTS.>> I DON'T SEE HOW IT IS POSSIBLE.

>> 50 YEARS OF WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

50 YEARS OF DECISIONS.

SAYING THIS IS PART OF OUR LAW.

THAT THIS IS PART OF THE FABRIC OF WOMEN'S EXISTENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THAT PLACES US IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SITUATION.

>> Reporter: ABORTION LEGAL SUPPORTED BY CASE LAW IN NEW JERSEY WHERE PROVIDERS ARE BRACING FOR A FLOOD OF PATIENTS IF IT SHOULD FALL.

IT ALREADY STARTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> AT THAT POINT WE SAW AN INFLUX IN OUR NEW JERSEY CLINIC.

PATIENTS TRAVELING FROM AS FAR AS TEXAS.

IF YOU WALK TO THE PARKING LOT LICENSE PLATES FROM A NUMBER OF SURROUNDING STATES.

INCLUDING PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE.

MARYLAND NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> FOR SO MANY ALREADY HERE IN NEW JERSEY THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ABORTION CARE.

BUT THEY CAN'T ACCESS IT.

WHETHER BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL BARRIERS OR REGULATIONS.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES WARN JERSEY NEEDS LEGAL PROTECTION.

THEY PROMOTING A BILL CAPO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT THAT WILL CODIFY ABORTION RIGHTS AND ACCESS.

>> IF ROE V WADE IS DIMINISHING ANYWAY OR WORSE YET COMPLETELY NULLIFIED THE ENTIRETY OF THAT CASE LAW COMES DOWN LIKE A HOUSE OF CARDS IMMEDIATELY.

IN NEW JERSEY.

>> Reporter: RIGHT TO LIFE SEES THE PROPOSED LAW IS A POTENTIAL FIREWALL.

>> THEY ARE TRYING TO RESTRAIN FUTURE LEGISLATURES FROM EVER PASSING ANY LAWS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE.

AND BY THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE.

AND PREVENT THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY FROM EVER HAVING A SAY ON ONE OF THE MOST MOMENTOUS ISSUES OF OUR LIFETIME.

>> Reporter: THE BILL CONTAINS CONTROVERSIAL PROVISIONS INCLUDING MANDATED INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ABORTION.

HIS FUTURE IN THE LAME-DUCK LEGISLATURE REMAINS UNCERTAIN ALTHOUGH SPEAKER CREEK CAUGHLIN SAID IN A STATEMENT HE WILL WORK WITH HIS LEGISLATIVE COLLEAGUES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS CRITICAL PROTECTION.

THE SUPREME COURT IS NOT EXPECTED TO ROLL UNTIL LATE SPRING.>>> STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE APPROVED A MAJOR SPENDING PLAN FOR BOTH PANDEMIC RELIEF AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.

MONEY WILL NOW BE MADE AVAILABLE TO HELP FUND HOSPITALS EVICTION PREVENTION EFFORTS AND EVEN A BIG PORT IN SOUTH JERSEY.

THE TOTAL SPENDING ADDS UP TO ABOUT $700 MILLION AND THE MEASURE WAS APPROVED IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES.

OUR BUDGET AND FINANCE RIGHTS ARE BREAKS DOWN WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING FOR US.

>> JOHN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LESS THAN 30 MINUTES SEEMS KIND OF FAST.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MEETING AGENDA THERE WERE NEARLY 20 DIFFERENT ITEMS UP FOR CONSIDERATION YESTERDAY.

LAWMAKERS MOVED QUICKLY THROUGH THE AGENDA AND APPROVING A LOT OF THIS SPENDING.

IF WE TAKE A STEP BACK THESE PROPOSALS WERE REALLY FIRST MADE PUBLIC LAST WEEK RIGHT AROUND THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

AND SO AT A TIME WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY WERE PROBABLY VISITING WITH FAMILY AND DOING HOLIDAY SHOPPING OR NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THE STATE WOULD BE SPENDING ITS RESOURCES ON.

AND SO DEFINITELY MOVED QUICKLY FROM JUST BEING MADE PUBLIC TO GETTING ON THE MEETING AGENDA.

AND THEN ALSO MOVED QUICKLY THROUGH THAT MEETING EVEN AS SOME LAWMAKERS ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS SPENDING ITEMS.

>> REPUBLICANS REFUSE TO APPROVE THE SPENDING SIDING TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS.

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPEED THAT WE SAW THIS ALL MOVE THROUGH.

AND ALSO ASKING FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHY SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT WERE PUT ON THE AGENDA MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE FOR FUNDING PERHAPS AGAINST MAYBE OTHER ONES THAT MAYBE THEY WANTED TO SEE ALSO ON THE AGENDA.

NO ONE FROM THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION ATTENDED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY INFORMATION ABOUT CRITERIA THAT WAS USED TO EVALUATE THE SPENDING ITEMS.

WHY MAYBE ONE WAS SCORED HIGHER THAN ANOTHER IF THEY WERE EVEN SCORED.

REPUBLICANS WITH THAT INFORMATION LACKING AT THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE BEING ASKED OF VOTES ON SPENDING, THEY CAST EXTENSIONS ON THE RECORD INSTEAD OF A YES OR NO VOTE.

>>> LET'S BREAK DOWN HOW THEY PLAN TO SPEND THIS $700 MILLION.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE BOTH SMALL AND LARGE SCALE PROJECTS GETTING FUNDED.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THERE ARE REALLY TWO BUCKETS OF FUNDING THAT WERE VOTED ON YESTERDAY APPROPRIATIONS OUT OF WERE VOTED ON.

ONE OF IT ONE BUCKET IS THE STATE'S SHARE REMAINING SHARE OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC EIGHT.

THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WAS PASSED MONTHS AGO BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEW JERSEY RECEIVED $6 BILLION.

BACK IN MAY.

AND IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF APPROPRIATING ALL OF THAT MONEY.

WE'VE GOTTEN MONEY APPROVED YESTERDAY FOR THINGS LIKE HOSPITALS IN NEW JERSEY.

EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT WILL RECEIVE SOME MONEY.

THAT IS ABOUT 260 MILLION.

THERE WAS ANOTHER $435 MILLION APPROVED BUT THAT MONEY COMES OUT OF THE TOTALLY DIFFERENT BUCKET.

THAT IS STATE MONEY THAT LAWMAKERS PUT ASIDE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO PAY DOWN STATE DEBT BUT ALSO TO FUND LARGE- SCALE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE TO BE FUNDED.

THE IDEA IS YOU CAN SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BORROWING COST IF YOU PAY FOR THESE PROJECTS ON WHAT IS KNOWN AS A PAY-AS-YOU-GO BASIS RATHER THAN HAVING TO ISSUE BONDS.

>>> PART OF THE CONFUSION WAS WHY SOME PROJECTS WERE MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE VERSUS OTHER ONES.

>> AND I THINK THAT CONFUSION REMAINS TODAY.

AND SO WE ARE STILL ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE DEMONSTRATION AND LAWMAKERS TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT PROCESS ARE THEY USING TO EVALUATE.

THESE ARE BIG POTS OF MONEY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THERE IS STILL MORE SPENDING THAT WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN AS THE STATE HAS YEARS REALLY TO SPEND DOWN THE PANDEMIC AID AND ALSO THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR DEBT RELIEF.

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS AND HOW THESE ARE BEING EVALUATED.

THAT WE ARE STICKING ON GOING FORWARD.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT REPORT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>>> FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDING FROM NEW JERSEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS COULD BE IN JEOPARDY.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS SENT A LETTER CALLING ON THE STATE TO RESTORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CUTS TO THE STATE AID FOR CERTAIN DISTRICTS.

NEW JERSEY IS REQUIRED TO HOLD FUNDING STUDY FOR ITS POOREST DISTRICTS WHEN IT ACCEPTED TO AN A HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FOR SCHOOLS.

EDUCATION WRITER AND FUND FOUNDING EDITOR JOHN MONIQUE JOINS ME TO EXPLAIN.>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO TELL US WHY IS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYING THAT NEW JERSEY CANNOT CUT STATE AID FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT THIS YEAR AND STILL ACCESS FEDERAL FUNDING?

>> IN PROVIDING THIS PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDING TO DISTRICTS AND STATES AS A WHOLE, WAS MEANT TO SUPPLEMENT THE PROGRAMS THEY ARE DOING NOW.

NOT TO REPLACE EXISTING FUNDING.

THERE IS THIS THING THEY CALL MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.

STATES WERE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE EFFORT THEY WERE PROVIDING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IF THEY ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THIS ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT GIVES THEM ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN NEW JERSEY IS UNDER OUR SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS AND JERSEY CITY IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST ONE IN THIS PAPER THAT SEE THEIR EIGHT REDUCED OVERTIME.

WHILE OTHER DISTRICTS ARE SEEING THEIR AID INCREASE SOMEWHAT DEPENDING ON ABILITY TO PAY.

THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX WEALTH ALL KINDS THERE IS A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT FORMULA.

BUT THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS THAT ARE LOSING A.

A COUPLE OF THEM OR THEIR ADVOCATES APPEAL TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SAID WE ARE TAKING IN ALL THIS MONEY YET THEY ARE CUTTING US.

IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC THAT IS ERUPTING TO DO.

UNDER THIS CLAUSE AS I SAID CALL MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, THE STATE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

AND SO NOW WE ARE HAVING THIS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE FEDERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT SUPPORT MEANS AND HOW MUCH LITERALLY THE STATE WILL HAVE TO RESTORE OR NOT.

>> YOU BROUGHT UP JERSEY CITY.

WHY IS THE STATE PLANNING TO CUT AID FOR CERTAIN DISTRICTS?

>> IT GOES BACK TO THEIR SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA WHICH WAS ENACTED LITERALLY I THINK IT IS NOW 12 YEARS AGO AND APPROVED BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT WHICH THERE HAS BEEN A LONG- RUNNING SCHOOL EQUITY CASE IN THE STATE CALLED ABBOTT VERSUS --.

THE SUPREME COURT RULED THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA WAS CONSTITUTIONAL.

SO UNDER THAT FORMULA THERE IS LOTS OF DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT GO IN IN A PLACE LIKE JERSEY CITY WHICH IS SEEN SUCH INCREDIBLE GROWTH.

IN AT LEAST SOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY HAVE THE MONEY ARGUABLY WITHIN THEIR EXISTING POPULATION AND WITHIN THEIR EXISTING FINANCES TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.

THAT IS WHY THEY ARE THE ONES THAT REALLY GET HIT THE HARDEST.

THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS.

CLOSE TO 200 DISTRICTS THAT TOOK SOME CUTS.

80 OR SO OF THEM CONSIDERED LOWER OR MODERATE INCOME.

>> AND JOHN DOES THE STATE STAND TO LOSE ANY OF THAT TO HAVE BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY?

>> THEY ARE NOT ABOUT TO GIVE THAT UP.

IT IS MORE OF A QUESTION OF EXACTLY HOW MUCH ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO RESTORE.

AND THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION MARK RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PASS UP ON $2.5 MILLION.

THEY PROBABLY ALREADY'S STARTED SPENDING IT.

THEY WILL HAVE TO MEET THIS MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.

THAT IS THE QUESTION MARK THAT HOPEFULLY WILL GET ANSWERED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

I HAVE YET TO GET A FULL ANSWER.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR AND THE TREASURY SECRETARY BOTH IN THE HOT SEAT TODAY FIELDING QUESTIONS ABOUT SUPPLY DELAYS.

AND WHAT IMPACT THE OMICRON VARIANT WILL NOW HAVE ON THE NATION'S ECONOMY.

RHONDA SCHEFFLER HAS THE DETAILS IN THE DAYS TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> RAVEN THERE ARE MANY UNKNOWNS ABOUT THE LATEST COVID 19 VARIANT INCLUDING HOW IT MAY IMPACT THE ECONOMY.

THAT IS THE ASSESSMENT OF JEROME POWELL THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THAT EARLIER TODAY IN TESTIMONY BEFORE A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.

>> RECENT RISE IN COVID 19 CASES AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE OMICRON VARIANT HOLDS DOWNSIDE RISKS TO EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND INCREASED UNCERTAINTY FOR INFLATION.

>> GREATER CONCERNS ABOUT THE VIRUS COULD REDUCE PEOPLE'S WILLINGNESS TO WORK IN PERSON WHICH WOULD SLOW PROGRESS IN THE LABOR MARKET AND INTENSIFY SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS.

>> POWELL AND TREASURY SECRETARY JANET YELLIN TESTIFIED BEFORE THE HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE THE TOPIC WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S FINANCIAL RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.

BUT MUCH OF THE QUESTIONING CENTERED ON SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND INFLATION.

YESTERDAY DURING TESTIMONY BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE POWELL ACKNOWLEDGED INFLATION MAY STICK AROUND LONGER THAN THE FED FIRST EXPECTED.

>> MEANTIME THE CHIEF ECONOMIST OF NEW JERSEY BASED ADP SAID IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL IF THE OMICRON VARIANT WILL SLOW THE RECOVERY IN JOBS IN THE COMING MONTHS.

UP UNTIL NOW THE RECOVERY HAS BEEN STRONG.

NEW DATA OUT TODAY FROM ADP SHOWS PRIVATE COMPANIES ADDED 534,000 NEW JOBS LAST MONTH.

WHICH WAS AHEAD OF ESTIMATES.

THERE WAS STRONG HIRING IN THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM BUSINESS WHICH HAD BEEN BOUNCING BACK FROM A FALLOFF DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>>'S SURVEY OF CORPORATE EXECUTIVES TAKEN RIGHT BEFORE WE LEARNED ABOUT THE LATEST VARIANT SHOWED STRONG OPTIMISM.

THE POLL BY THE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE SHOWED CEOS WERE PLANNING TO STEP UP THEIR HIRING EVEN MORE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>>> A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD FOR THE HUDSON RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT.

THE GATEWAY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SAID THE PROJECT HAS RECEIVED FINAL REGULATORY APPROVAL.

THE LAST HURDLE BEFORE CONSTRUCTION CAN BEGIN.

BUT NOW THERE IS A WAIT TO GET BILLIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING IN PLACE.

ONCE THAT ALL HAPPENS CONSTRUCTION IS SUPPOSED TO START IN 2023.>>> TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT WALL STREET'S TRADING FOR TODAY.

I'M RHONDA SCHEFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

COVERING ALL OF NEW JERSEY.

WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO AND SO MUCH MORE.

LOCAL NEWSSTANDS AND ONLINE NJ MONTHLY.COM.

>>> AND BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS HALL OF FAME.

A VIRTUAL EVENT ON DECEMBER 9th AT SIX P.M. MORE INFORMATION ON LINE AT JA NJ.ORG.

>>> IN RECOGNITION OF WORLD AIDS DAY ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IS OFFERING FREE MOBILE HIV TESTING.

THE ANNUAL EVENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO UNITE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV.

SHOW SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH THE VIRUS AND TO COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO HAVE DIED FROM AIDS RELATED ILLNESSES.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 36 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE HAVE DIED FROM AIDS RELATED ILLNESSES AND ONE IN EIGHT PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WHO ARE HIV-POSITIVE ARE UNAWARE THEY HAVE IT.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY HAS OF DECEMBER 2020 THERE ARE MORE THAN 38,000 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS.

WHILE ADVANCES IN MEDICINE HAVE LED TO THE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF HIV TREATMENTS AND IMPROVED CARE FOR THOSE LIVING WITH HIV THERE ARE CERTAIN POPULATIONS WHO CONTINUE TO BEAR MOST OF THE BURDEN.

I SPOKE WITH SHANE JUDGE THE PREP COUNSELOR AT THE BAB PROUD SINCE HER AT ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

WHO EXPLAINED THE IMPORTANCE OF CARE AND HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES.

>> SHANE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US WHAT COMMUNITIES ARE MOST AT RISK?

>> THE COMMUNITY MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN ARE MOST AT RISK FOR HAVING A NO SEX WHICH IS A HIGH RISK MODE OF TRANSMISSION.

AND THEN IV DRUG USERS AS WELL WHO SHARE NEEDLES WITH HIV POSITIVE PARTNER.

ALSO THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION THAT IS THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT RESOURCES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS?

>> THERE ARE A TON OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS.

GO TO THE CDC WEBSITE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THOSE HIV.GOV.

SOME OF THE SERVICES INCLUDED OTHER RYAN WHITE SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR CAN'T AFFORD TREATMENT FOR HIV.

THERE IS PATIENT ASSISTANCE AND EXPANDED ACCESS PROGRAMS.

WHAT THAT DOES IS COVER THE COST OF MEDICATIONS.

THERE IS ALSO ABBREVIATION FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH AIDS.

THIS HELPS THEM SECURE HOUSING AND WE ALSO HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE PROUD SINCE HER WHERE I WORK THAT TAILOR OUR SERVICES TO HIV PREVENTION AND TREATING HIV.

>> WHY IS EDUCATION AND CARE SO CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO ATTENDING THE HIV AND AIDS EPIDEMIC?

>> KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

EDUCATION IS POWER.

A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY HIV TYPICALLY HAVE EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES.

WHEN WE EMPOWER THEM AND GIVE THEM THE KNOWLEDGE TO CARE FOR THEIR OWN SEXUAL HEALTH OR CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES IN THAT WAY IT ENABLES THEM TO BE PART OF THE CARE PROCESS.

AS A HELP PREVENT HIV AND THE SPREAD OF HIV.

>> IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU SAY KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

WOULD YOU SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HIV AND AIDS WHO ARE NOT AWARE?

>> YES.

WE PUSH TESTING.

KNOWING YOUR STATUS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO PREVENT HIV OR TO PREVENT HIV BUT ALSO KNOW TO GET TREATMENT RIGHT AWAY FOR HIV.

THIS WAY WHEN WE HAVE TESTING WE CAN OFFER THE RESOURCES RIGHT AWAY TO HELP THAT PERSON GET INTO TREATMENT.

HAVING THIS ALLOWS US TO COVER ALL OF OUR BASES NOT JUST EDUCATION ABOUT SAFER SEX BEHAVIORS OR SAFER DRUG USE.

ALSO TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES EVEN AFTER HIV HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED.

>> ARE THERE STILL ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PREVENTION CARE AND TREATMENT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES OF SYSTEMIC RACISM MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR SOME PEOPLE TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE.

>> WHY WOULD YOU SAY THESE INEQUITIES AND BARRIERS EXIST?

>> BECAUSE THE EFFECTS ARE EVERLASTING.

THEY GO THROUGH GENERATIONS.

EVEN THINGS LIKE REDLINING WHICH WAS USED TO SEGREGATE RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN THE PAST STILL HAS A FIX TO THIS DAY.

AND THAT STILL MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE OR BE IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO GET TO HEALTHCARE.

OR EVEN AFFORD HEALTHCARE.

IF YOU CANNOT ACCESS THOSE RESOURCES IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO KNOW YOUR STATUS OR TO UNDERSTAND THE WAYS HIV IS TRANSMISSIBLE.

>> THE MEDICAL ADVANCES IN TREATING HIV.

>> FOR TREATMENT FOR HIV THERE IS ANTI-RETRO VIRAL THERAPY WHICH USED TO BE A COCKTAIL COMBINATION OF DRUGS.

NOW IT IS USUALLY JUST A WANTED TO PILL REGIMEN A DAY.

WHAT THIS DOES THIS MEDICATION STOPS THE VIRUS FROM RAPIDLY REPLICATING AND SPREADING TO THE BODY.

IT HELPS KEEP YOUR CELL COUNT HIGH.

YOUR IMMUNE SPIDER CELLS.

SO WE CAN SUPPRESS THE VIRAL LOAD.

EVEN TO THAT POINT WHEN WE SUPPRESS THE VIRAL LOAD ENOUGH IF YOUR VIRAL LOAD IS UNDETECTABLE IT IS THEREFORE ON TRANSMISSIBLE.

WHICH MEANS YOU CANNOT EFFECTIVELY TRANSMIT THE VIRUS.

THAT IS A HUGE MEDICAL ADVANCEMENT.

>>> ARE WE CLOSER TO A CURE?

>> WE ARE.

WE ARE GETTING THERE SLOWLY BUT SURELY.

BEYOND THE CURE HAVING PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH HIV LIVE LONG AND HEALTHY LIVES IS ONE OF THE BEST ADVANCES WE HAVE MADE.

PEOPLE CAN LIVE LONG AND HEALTHY LIVES WITH HIV.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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>>>