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

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

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

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

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

LONG COVID IS TO BLAME FOR THOUSANDS OF DEATHS.

A NATIONWIDE STUDY BY THE CDC FINDS DEATHS PREVIOUSLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE CORONAVIRUS WERE ACTUALLY LINKED TO LONG-HAUL COVID.

THE LINGERING SYMPTOMS THAT SOME PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH FOR WEEKS, MONTHS, AND EVEN YEARS AFTER RECOVERING FROM THEIR INITIAL INFECTION.

THE DATA RELEASED TODAY SHOWS MORE THAN 3500 AMERICANS HAVE DIED AT LEAST IN PART TO LONG COVID RELATED ILLNESSES.

THOSE DEATHS REPRESENT A TINY FRACTION.

LESS THAN 1% OF THE ROUGHLY 1 MILLION FATALITIES CAUSED BY THE VIRUS.

IT EMPHASIZES THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF IGNORING ONGOING SYMPTOMS.

RESEARCHERS SAY THAT NUMBER IS LIKE THE AN UNDERESTIMATE OF THE TRUE TOLL OF LONG-HAUL COVID.

THE STUDY ALSO FINDS ALMOST 80% OF THE DEATHS OCCURRED IN NON-HISPANIC WHITE AMERICANS, AND BLACK AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR JUST OVER 10% OF LONG COVID DEATHS.

THE VIRUS IS STILL AMONG US.

JUST SHY OF 1900 NEW CASES BEING REPORTED TODAY ACROSS THE STATE.

MORE THAN 35,000 TOTAL DEBTS STATEWIDE SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC 2.5 YEARS AGO.

GOVERNOR MURPHY AND HEALTH COMMISSIONER JUDY PERCY KELLY IRVING URGING THE PUBLIC AND ESPECIALLY YOUNG KIDS TO GET THE LATEST BOOSTER, OFFERING STRONGER PROTECTIONS FROM OMICRON AND ITS SUB-VARIANTS AS THE STATE CONTENDS WITH THE SO-CALLED TRIPLE >>.

A SURGEON COVID, FLU, AND RSV CASES.

FEW RESIDENTS ARE HEEDING THE WARNING.

WE ARE JOINED NOW THE LATEST.

I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THE NEWS TODAY FROM THE CDC.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT LONG-HAUL COVID?

IT HAS REMAINED A MYSTERY TO MOST FOLKS IN THE HEALTH SPACE.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

WE DON'T REALLY --ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT SYMPTOMS CAN RANGE FROM PERSISTENT TIREDNESS, WHICH IS ALWAYS SOMETHING HARD TO PUT YOUR FINGER ON.

IT COULD JUST BE THE HOLIDAYS.

CRAZY BRAIN FOG.

I HAVE READ A STORY OF A WOMAN WHO FORGOT THE STEPS INVOLVED IN BRUSHING HER TEETH.

IT CAN BE THAT BAD.

DEBILITATING.

LIKE IT TAKES AN HOUR TO SEND AN EMAIL.

I THINK WHAT LITTLE WE DO KNOW IS THAT AS MANY AS ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE DO END UP WITH LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED THE MOST WHILE THEY WERE SICK.

IT COULD BE MONTHS AFTER, WEEKS AFTER, EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAD A MILD CASE.

THERE IS A LOT THAT WE DO NOT KNOW.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWING MORE, PROBABLY.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE GOT A LOT OF EPIDEMIOLOGISTS.

AND GOVERNOR MURPHY IS PUSHING FOLKS TO GET THE LATEST BIVALENT BOOSTER THAT IS AVAILABLE.

WARNING ABOUT THIS URGE THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE UPTAKE IN NEW JERSEY?

>> IT'S NOT GREAT.

IT'S BETTER THAN THE NATIONAL BUT IT'S NOT GREAT.

YOU GOT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ORIGINAL SERIES, THEY SET THE GOAL OF 70% BASED ON THIS SCIENCE.

YOU GET UP TO THAT KIND OF A NUMBER AND YOU BEGIN TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY IMMUNITY.

WE KNOW THAT ONLY 17% OF PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION TAKEN THE NEW BOOSTER.

THAT RANGES FROM AS LITTLE AS 6.5% FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.

UP TO 36 FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.

YOU KNOW, ON THE GOOD NEWS SIDE, 80% OF NEW JERSEYANS HAVE HAD AT LEAST THE ORIGINAL SERIES.

THAT DOES WANE OVER TIME.

ON THE OTHER HAND, ON THE GOOD NEWS SIDE, THERE IS NATURAL IMMUNITY.

IT NOT A PERFECT SHIELD.

NO ONE OF THESE THINGS ALONE IS GOOD ENOUGH IF YOU ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT COVID ENTIRELY.

IT IS A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

THE NEW VACCINES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.

>> I AM THINKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

THE ELDERLY AND THOSE IN NURSING HOMES WHERE COVID REALLY TORE THROUGH THOSE PLACES.

>> I DID THE MATH AGAIN.

IT IS MORE THAN ONE QUARTER OF THE DEPTHS OF THE STATE.

NEARLY THREE IN 10 DEATHS HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN OR WORKED IN THOSE HOMES.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER.

NEW JERSEY IS DOING BETTER THAN THE NORM.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 51% OF RESIDENTS AND 39% OF STAFF IN NURSING HOMES HAVE BEEN BOOSTED OR ARE UP TO DATE ON THEIR VACCINATIONS.

IT MAY NOT ONLY BE THE NEW BOOSTER.

THAT IS BETTER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, BUT ADVOCATES SAY IT IS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

ON THE OTHER HAND, OPERATORS POINT OUT THAT THE DEATH RATE HAS JUST PLUMMETED.

AT ONE POINT, IT WAS MORE THAN 20% OF THE PATIENTS WERE BEING LOST FROM NURSING HOMES.

NOW IT IS DOWN TO CLOSE TO 3%.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS IN THAT.

COVID IS STILL DANGEROUS.

>> A LOT TO CONSIDER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS.

>>> FOR MORE INSIGHT ON THE LAGGING BOOSTER RATES, CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

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

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> VOTES ARE IN, BUT THE WINNERS OF THE TRENTON RUNOFF ELECTION FOR TWO CITY COUNCIL SEATS ARE STILL UNCLEAR, THANKS TO LOW TURNOUT.

A MERE HANDFUL OF VOTES SEPARATING THE CANDIDATES PICK IN THE SOUTH LORD, THE WINNER APPEARS TO BE JENNIFER FIGUEROA KENTON BERG WITH 309 VOTES.

IN THE NORTH, JENNIFER WILLIAMS IS HANGING ONTO A NARROW 11-VOTE LEAD OVER HER OPPONENT, AL GROH DON WARD.

THOSE ARE UNOFFICIAL AS MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE COUNTED IN THE COUNTY CLERK CERTIFIES THE TALLY TOOK IT IS A SHAKY AND GREAT TUMULTUOUS YEAR IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ELECTION IN TRENTON CITY.

THE PROCESS OF SEEKING A NEW CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN AS MUCH A REALITY SHOW AS THE ONE PUT ON THE COUNCIL IT IS ABOUT TO REPLACE.

THIS WEEK, RUNOFFS FOR THE NORTH AND SOUTH WARD COUNCIL SEAT, THE APPARENT WINNERS, JENNIFER FIGUEROA KENTON BERG IN THE SOUTH AND JENNIFER WILLIAMS IN THE NORTH.

THE RESULTS ARE STILL UNOFFICIAL.

BUT THEY WOULD JOIN THE NOVEMBER WINNERS TO FORM A QUORUM WHEN THE COUNCIL CONVENES IN JANUARY.

>> THE GOOD NEWS, IF THERE IS GOOD NEWS HERE, IS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT A MORE REASONABLE COUNSEL GOING FORWARD.

LOOKING AT A COUNCIL THAT IS AT LEAST SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH THE MAYOR AND GETTING THINGS DONE.

MOVING THE CITY FORWARD.

THE ONLY THINGS THAT THE CITY OF TRENTON COULD NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

>> AND THAT'S A START, AGREES THE MAYOR, WHO EMERGES VICTORIOUS IN NOVEMBER AFTER A BRUISING FIRST-TERM.

AND NOW A COUNCIL THAT DOESN'T OUTWARDLY WISH HIM POLITICAL ILL UHRICH >> A LOT OF CHALLENGES REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME.

THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE A LEARNING CURVE FOR ALL OF US.

IT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS A PRIORITY, WE ALL THINK ABOUT THE RESIDENCE OF TRENTON FIRST.

>> THERE HAS BEEN PEACE HERE BEFORE.

ALL THE THINGS THAT LEAD TO VOTER APATHY.

THIS WEEK'S ELECTION WILL NOT BREAK DOUBLE DIGITS IN TURNOUT AND THAT IS CAUSE AND EFFECT, SAYS PATEL OF THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> THEN TURNING AROUND TO THE PUBLIC WHO IS DEALING WITH THOSE CONSEQUENCES TO GO, WELL, WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING MORE?

>> Reporter: PATEL SAYS GETTING RID OF THE PARTY LINE AND MAKING SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION AVAILABLE WOULD OPEN UP ELECTIONS TO MORE VOTERS AND MORE THEORETICALLY COMMITTED CANDIDATES.

>> PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED.

THEY CARE ABOUT JOBS.

THEY CARE ABOUT HOMES.

DO THEY HAVE HOUSING?

THEY CARE ABOUT HER MENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

THEY CARE ABOUT ISSUE AFTER ISSUE.

IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHETHER THEY HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS LISTENING.

>> TRENTON WILL HAVE TO DO SOME SOUL-SEARCHING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

I THINK THEY WOULD BE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING, WHERE THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC RUNOFF ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THEM ALL OUT AT THE SAME TIME AGAIN.

WE WILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR THE NEXT TIME.

>> Reporter: LONGTIME CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT JAMES G SAYS THE PLAYERS, MORE THAN THE GAME, NEEDS TO CHANGE.

>> THE FIRST TIME I HEARD OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING WAS WHEN OBAMA WIN.

AFTER YOU GET A BLACK PRESIDENT, THEN YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE SYSTEMS WORK WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND THE MOTIVATIONS ARE NOT NEFARIOUS BUT WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF TRENTON.

>> Reporter: VOTERS IN TRENTON WILL GET ANOTHER SHOT OF GOING TO THE POLLS WHEN A COURT ORDERED RUNOFF FOR THREE AT-LARGE SEATS WILL TAKE PLACE IN JANUARY.

TESTING THE RESILIENCY OF EVEN THE MOST ARDENT SUPPORTERS OF THE FRANCHISE.

CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS LATEST EXERCISE WILL LEAD TO SOME GOOD.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> JOINING DAVID CRUZ THIS WEEK FOR CHAT BOX, HE TAKES A LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS AND LOW POINTS OF THE YEAR IN NEW JERSEY POLITICS, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND MORE WITH A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

THAT'S TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

>>> MONTHS OF RALLY AND PROTEST BY RENTERS AND ELIZABETH CAME TO A HEAD AS THE CITY COUNCIL MADE A LONG-AWAITED VOTE ON THE RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE, REMOVING THE CURRENT CAP SET AT $20 PER MONTH ON RENT CONTROLLED UNITS, REPLACING IT WITH A 3% CAP INSTEAD.

THE VOTE IS BEING SLAMMED BY TENANT RIGHTS AND IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES, WHO ARGUE THAT THE INCREASE WILL HIT FAMILIES ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND MELISSA ROSE COOPER HAS THE STORY.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: THIS GROUP OF ELIZABETH RESIDENCE: ON THE CITY TO KEEP RENT CONTROL PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.

THEY RALLIED AT CITY HALL LAST NIGHT AS THE COUNCIL PREPARED TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO LIFT THE $20 PER MONTH CAP ON RENT INCREASES FOR RENT-CONTROLLED APARTMENTS, SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>> THE CRIES FOR HELP FALLING ON DEAF EARS AS A MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO REMOVE THE CAP, INSTEAD REPLACING IT WITH A PROVISION ALLOWING LANDLORDS TO INCREASE THE BASE RENT BY 3%.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF TWO MONTHS, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF GOING TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND TESTIFYING TENANTS SHARING THEIR STORIES ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND ELIZABETH.

THE COUNCIL CHOSE LANDLORDS OVER TENANTS.

>> Reporter: STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THE COUNCIL'S DECISION TO LET THE $20 CAP.

HE FEARS IT WOULD LEAD TO DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

>> MAINTAINING THE 3% RAISE MEANS THAT RENT WILL BE RAISED MORE THAN $20 AT THIS POINT.

FOR LOW INCOME WORKING-CLASS FOLKS, IT CAN MEAN PAYING FOR GROCERIES AND OTHER LIVING EXPENSES THAT ARE VERY CRUCIAL TO LIFE AND ELIZABETH.

THE FEAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN PAYING RENT VERSUS PAYING FOR GROCERIES AND OTHER EXPENSES RELATING TO THEIR NEEDS.

FURTHER DISPLACEMENT AS RENT GOES UP.

THEY WILL BE PRICED OUT AND HAVE NOWHERE TO GO, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE ARE SEEING AMONGST COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE'VE TALKED TO.

PLACES THAT HAVE A PLACE THEY CAN PAY FOR.

>> THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE FOR RENTERS ACCORDING TO THE LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION.

A PERSON WOULD NEED TO MAKE $31.32 PER HOUR AND MAKE 96 HOURS PER WEEK IN ORDER TO AFFORD A TWO BEDROOM RENTAL HOME.

THAT MEANS A HOUSEHOLD WOULD NEED TO BRING IN AROUND $3000 PER WEEK.

FOR MANY RENTERS MAKING THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE OF $13 PER HOUR, AFFORDING A TWO BEDROOM RENTAL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

>> IT IS DESTROYING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> Reporter: MATT SHAPIRO, PRESIDENT OF THE NEW JERSEY TENANTS ASSOCIATION SAYS THE DECISION ONLY BENEFITS LANDLORDS, WHO ARE NOT THE ONES REALLY SUFFERING.

>> EVERYONE HAS AN ESCAPE VALVE.

HARDSHIP INCREASE.

APPLICATION FOR A HARDSHIP INCREASE.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY APPLICATIONS THEY WERE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND ELIZABETH?

ONE.

IF THE ORDINANCE WAS GIVING LANDLORDS A PROBLEM, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ONE.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 10.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 20.

>> THIS IS ABOUT DIGNIFIED HOUSING.

FUNDAMENTALLY, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO LIVE PEACEFULLY.

AND THE FURTHER WE STRAY FROM YOUR PROTECTIONS THAT HELP RENTERS AND PROTECTIONS, THE MORE THAT WILL HURT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: CONTROL LAWS ARE SET TO BE IN PLACE THROUGH DECEMBER 2024.

HOUSING ADVOCATES CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY IN THE HOPE OF ACHIEVING BETTER PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS IN THE FUTURE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> THE STATE IS FACING A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG TO ENSURE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WATER.

PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LONG BEEN PLAGUED BY COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW OR CSO'S.

AND MORE THAN CENTURY-OLD WAY FROM REMOVING SEWAGE FROM THE WATER IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

TODAY THE VOLUME OF STORM WATER DURING INTENSE STORMS COMBINED WITH SEWAGE, JUST TOO GREAT FOR TREATMENT PLANS TO HANDLE, RESULTING IN BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE BEING DUMPED INTO THE WATERWAYS DURING EVENTS.

A GROWING PROBLEM AS CLIMATE CHANGE WORSENS.

NEW JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SAID THAT THE AGENCY IS ISSUING DRAFT PERMIT TO FINALLY ADDRESS COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS AT TWO LOCATIONS IN NORTH BERGEN AND THE NEARBY GUTENBERG WHERE LEADERS PLAN TO SPEND MORE THAN $25 MILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE ON THE PROBLEM.

PART OF A LONG-TERM'S PRODIGY TO REDUCE OVERFLOWS FROM THE SEWER SYSTEMS.

>> THE CRITICAL ISSUE IS THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH UNDERGROUND TECHNOLOGY THAT IS BRINGING SEWAGE AND STORMWATER TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS THAT CANNOT HANDLE THE FULL AMOUNT OF SEWAGE THAT IS COMMON DURING THE STORM PERIOD.

THE LONG TERM CONTROL PLANS INVOLVED A LOT OF TECH FOR RESEARCH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN BE DONE WITHIN LIMITS TO MEET REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE NAME, THE HUDSON BERGEN LIGHT RAIL WHICH BEGAN OPERATING IN APRIL 2000, DOES NOT SERVE BERGEN COUNTY.

BUT A ROOT TANGLEWOOD HAS BEEN STUDIED FOR YEARS.

NEW JERSEY TRANSIT REVIVES THOSE PROPOSALS BY AWARDING A NEARLY $600,000 FEDERAL GRANT TO STUDY DEVELOPING A NINE MILE EXTENSION OF THE LINE INTO BERGEN COUNTY.

THE MOVE COMES AFTER A STUDY SHOWS THE EXTENSION WOULD POSITIVELY IMPACT THE ECONOMIES OF AREAS BETWEEN NORTH BERGEN IN HUDSON COUNTY AND ENGLEWOOD IN BERGEN COUNTY.

LONGTIME SUPPORTERS SAY THE AREA IS IN DIRE NEED OF MORE MASS TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND WAYS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC.

THE EXTENSION, IF COMPLETED, WOULD CONNECT THE KENELEY AVENUE STATION TO ENGLEWOOD HOSPITAL WITH SEVEN PROPOSED STOPS BETWEEN >>> AFTER A BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED INFLATION REPORT TUESDAY, THE FED HAS A DECISION ON RATE HIKES.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>>> IF YOU HAVE BILLS, THEY'RE GOING UP AGAIN.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS RAISED INTEREST RATES FOR ANOTHER TIME THIS YEAR.

THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL IN 15 YEARS.

THAT MEANS YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PAY MORE FOR ALL SORTS OF CONSUMER LOANS, FROM CREDIT CARDS TO AUTO LOANS AND CERTAIN MORTGAGES.

RATES INCREASED TODAY BY HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT.

LAST AGGRESSIVE THAN PREVIOUS HIKES BUT CONTINUES RAISING RATES THROUGH NEXT YEAR.

TWO GROUPS HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT TO STOP HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY'S REORGANIZATION INTO A NONPROFIT MUTUAL HOLDING COMPANY.

THE SUIT FILED BY THE UNION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES ALONG WITH NEW JERSEY CITIZEN ACTION, WHICH SET THE LAWSUIT SEEKS TO PROTECT MILLIONS OF POLICYHOLDERS IN THIS DATE.

IT RAISES A NUMBER OF CONCERNS INCLUDING WHETHER THE CHANGE WILL LEAD TO PREMIUM INCREASES FOR POLICYHOLDERS.

VERIZON HAS SAID THE REORGANIZATION WOULD BE BETTER FOR IT BUSINESS AND THE STATE APPROVED THE CHANGE LAST MONTH.

HORIZON AND THE STATE DID NOT COMMENT ON THE SUIT TO CONGRESSES CONTINUING HEARINGS ON THE COLLAPSE OF THE CURRENT EXCHANGE FTX.

THE COMPANY'S FOUNDER SAM BRINKMAN-FREED HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON FRAUD AND OTHER CHARGES.

DURING TESTIMONY ON THE HILL, THE NEW CEO USED THINKING-FREED OF EMBEZZLEMENT.

AS HAS BEEN IMPORTED BY OP-ED SECRETS AND OTHER MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE, DONATING $28 MILLION TO A PACKET CALLED PROTECT OUR FUTURE.

ACCORDING TO FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION DATA, THE PACK DONATED $250,000 IN SUPPORT OF A CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN OF NEW JERSEY'S ROBERT MENENDEZ, WHO WON HIS BID TO REPRESENT THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WE REACHED OUT TO MENENDEZ 'S OFFICE BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK AT THE TIME OF THIS BROADCAST.

HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET REACTED TO THE NEWS FROM THE FED.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> WORLD CUP FEVER IS SURGING IN NEW JERSEY AFTER MOROCCO MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST TEAM FROM AFRICA TO EVER ADVANCED TO THE SEMIFINALS.

TODAY TAKING THE DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS IN A HIGH-STAKES GAME AGAINST FRANCE.

NEW JERSEY IS HOME TO A LARGE ARAB AND MOROCCAN COMMUNITY IN PATTERSON WERE NATIVES GATHERED TODAY AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT TO CHEER ON THE HOME TEAM.

TED GOLDBERG WAS THERE.

>> Reporter: AFTER A CLOSE GAME AND A FEW CLOSE CALLS, MOROCCO HAS ENDED ITS UNDERDOG RUN IN THE WORLD CUP.

WHILE NOBODY WANTED A LOSS, PEOPLE IN PATTERSON ARE LOOKING BACK WITH PRIDE ON THE UNLIKELY RUN TO THE WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS IN THE BATTLING THE DEFENDING FRENCH CHAMPIONS.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY DID FOR US.

WE ARE REALLY ENCOURAGED FOR NEXT TIME.

>> UNBELIEVABLE.

THE BEST WORLD CUP AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN ALIVE.

WE HAVE THE BEST PLAYERS IN THIS GENERATION OF MOROCCO.

I FEEL PROUD TO BE MOROCCAN.

I LOVE IT RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S BEEN GREAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT EXPECT MOROCCO TO REACH THAT HIGH, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING HARD FOR THE PAST 20, 30 YEARS.

THAT'S A DREAM BECOME REALITY RIGHT NOW.

>> IT BECAME A HUGE DEAL FOR MOROCCAN IMMIGRANTS LIVING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> MY HUSBAND EVERY NIGHT WAKES UP LIKE A MY GOD, MOROCCO, MOROCCO.

HE WAS DREAMING ABOUT IT EVERY NIGHT.

>> IT'S A BIG GAME FOR US.

WE ALWAYS WATCH SOCCER GAMES WITH THE FAMILY.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WATCHING THIS.

>> IS BIG AS OXYGEN AND WATER.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE SPORT.

YOU FINISH SCHOOL AS A KID.

THE FIRST THING YOU DID IS PLAY SOCCER 15, 20 MINUTES BEFORE YOU GO HOME TO DO HOMEWORK.

IT'S PART OF THE CULTURE.

SOMETHING PEOPLE DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

>> Reporter: THE WORLD CUP GAMES BROUGHT TOGETHER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FOR WATCH PARTIES AT PLACES LIKE THIS RESTAURANT IN PATTERSON.

PALESTINIAN RESTAURANT IN THE MELTING POT CITY, GIVING PLENTY OF PEOPLE A PLACE TO EAT, DRINK, AND FOLLOW THE SILL AROUND THE RUN TO THE FINALS.

>> THE LARGEST ARAB POPULATION IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

WE GOT WORLD CUP FEVER.

>> I GREW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HAVE A LOT OF MOROCCAN ASSOCIATES AND FRIENDS, YOU NAME IT.

>> I AM IN.

I AM PALESTINIAN.

>> INCREDIBLE FOR ALL THE MOROCCANS AND ARABS.

IT'S BRINGING US A LOT OF PRIDE.

SEEING EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER.

>> IT WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME NORTH AFRICAN/ARABIC/MUSLIM NATION WAS GOING TO WIN.

THE FIRST TIME THEY GO TO THE SEMIFINALS.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> FANS IN NEW JERSEY WILL NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL AS FAR FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP BECAUSE IT'S BEING HELD ACROSS 16 CITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.

ONE OF THOSE VENUES IS RIGHT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

CHECK OUT OUR LIVE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS VIRTUAL AROUND TABLE TOMORROW AFTERNOON, TITLED, IS TEACHING IN TROUBLE?

THE PANEL DISCUSSION WILL BE MODERATED BY JOHN MOONEY AND SENIOR CORRESPONDENT JOANNA GAGIS.

WE WILL LOOK AT THE WORRISOME SIGNS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE TEACHING PROFESSION HERE IN THE STATE BUREAUCRATS TOMORROW, DECEMBER 15th AT 4:00 P.M. TO REGISTER, GO TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJREALTOR.COM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US BERKELEY WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

INDEPENDENT LICENSE THE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS TOOK THE BOYS FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS YOUR BACK.

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