>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED.

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

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

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

HEALTH OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE OMICRON VARIANT.

THE CBC IS WEARING A WAVE OF COMIC-CON CASES ARE COMING AFTER REPORTING A SEVENFOLD INCREASE IN U.S. CASES IN THE PAST SEVEN DAYS.

IN NEW JERSEY, WE STILL HAVE JUST TWO CONFIRMED CASES OF THE VARIANT, BUT THE CDC SAYS OMICRON IS SPREADING AT HIGHER RATES IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, SAYING IT COULD REPRESENT 13% OF ALL CASES.

THE NEW VARIANT IS ESTIMATED TO ACCOUNT FOR 3% OF INFECTIONS NATIONWIDE.

NEW JERSEY REPORTED 100 FEWER NEW COVID CASES TODAY, JUST OVER 3500, WHEN COMPARED TO YESTERDAY.

BUT, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ALSO REPORTED 47 ADDITIONAL OUTBREAKS.

LINKS BY CONTACT TRACING TO IN SCHOOL TRANSMISSION, AMONG STUDENTS AND STAFF LAST WEEK.

THOSE NEW OUTBREAKS LED TO 273 CASES.

NOT MUCH CHANGE NOW WITH VACCINATION NUMBERS.

6.34 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED, ONE SEVEN 4 MILLION HOWEVER HEAVED ROOSTERS.

STATE OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THAT THAT NUMBER WILL INCREASE AND HELP COMBAT THE RECENT RISE IN POSITIVE CASES, AND TODAY, THEY HELD WHAT WAS CALLED BOOST NJD.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN, WENT TO VACCINATION CENTER TO SEE WHO WAS LINING UP FOR BOOSTERS.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU GET COVID HOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE OVER YOU PERSONALLY.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PROTECTED.

>> ROBIN DICKERSON WORKS IN THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BUT SHE WAS NOT CONVINCED SHE NEEDED A THIRD COVERAGE UNTIL TODAY WHEN THE CLINIC PROMOTED BOOST NEW JERSEY DAY.

>> THAT WAS MY INKING, YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED A BOOSTER IF THE FIRST TWO SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD ENOUGH.

BUT, I REALIZE THAT YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THINGS ARE CHANGING SO FAST THAT I BETTER RECONSIDER.

>> I BELIEVE, IS KILLING PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M ON BOARD.

>> SEVERAL FOLKS HERE ADMIT IS GUY RUNNING SKYROCKETING COVID CASES AND THIS WITH THE SPREADING OMICRON VARIANT OVERCAME THEIR INITIAL RELUCTANCE TO GET BOOSTED, THEY ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES.

>> ENROLLING IN A FOR MOM.

>> FOR YOUR MOM QUESTION MARKS >> EXACTLY.

SHE'S GETTING HER BOOSTER THIS SATURDAY BUT I GOT TO GET IT FIRST TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

>> THIS IS TOO SCARY.

>> SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN NEW JERSEY TO GET A COVA CHARTERING A BIG PUBLIC RELATIONS EVENT WITH THE GOVERNOR PRECISELY ONE YEAR AGO.

STATE HAS GIVEN ALMOST 15 MILLION DOSES OF VACCINE SINCE THEN.

>> ONLY SENT ON FULLY PROTECTED.

I CAN TAKE CARE OF MY PATIENTS WITH ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE AND CERTAINTY THAT I AM NOT, NEAR CERTAINTY, RIGHT QUESTION MARK THAT I WON'T GET SICK.

>> ABOUT HALF OF OUR ADMISSIONS FOR COVID-19 RIGHT NOW ARE PATIENTS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED, BUT NOT YET BOOSTED.

AND SO, WE HAVE A TASK AHEAD OF US, TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT BOOSTING IS NECESSARY TO KEEP FOLKS SAFE, AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT UPTICK IS WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

>> STUDIES SHOW IMMUNITY PROVIDED BY JUST TWO COVA CHARTS DECREASES AFTER SIX MONTHS.

BUT, ONLY 37% OF 4.7 MILLION ELIGIBLE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS HAVE GONE BOOSTED YOUR DR. ANTHONY FAUCI TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT EXTRA DOSE OF PFIZER OR MATERNAL OFFERS SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTION.

>> ARE BOOSTER VACCINE REGIMENS WORK.

AGAINST OMICRON.

AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NO NEED FOR A VARIANCE SPECIFIC BOOSTER.

>> NEW JERSEY HEALTH OFFICIALS PREDICT ANOTHER BIG COVERT SPIKE NEXT MONTH.

WHAT'S REALLY CONCERNING, SEVERAL MODELS FORECAST A POTENTIAL CRUSH OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.

JOSIE HAS GOT 1750 COVERT PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL TODAY, BUT MODELS SHOW THAT THAT COULD DOUBLE BY MID-JANUARY IF CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE, EVEN TRIPLE IF RATES OF INFECTION KEEP INCREASING.

>> WITH WANING IMMUNITY AND INCREASED HOLIDAY TRAVEL AND GATHERINGS, IT IS CRITICAL FOR EVERYONE TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROTECTION AGAINST THIS VIRUS.

>> THAT IS WHY NEW JERSEY IS PUSHING BOOSTERS AT A CITY LIVE WALK-IN CLINIC IN NEWARK, THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS IS PICKING UP.

>> THEY SAY I WANT TO GET MY BOOSTER SHOT I WANT TO KNOW NOT BE SICK.

I WANT TO BE CAREFUL.

MORE PEOPLE AT MY WORK ARE GETTING SICK.

>> I'VE HAD ENOUGH BUT AS WE HAVE THIS INCREASE IN POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES, IT'S JUST TIME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

>> COVID IS ALREADY SHUTTING DOWN SOME UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES INCLUDING CORNELL AND PRINCETON WERE FINAL EXAMS WILL CONTINUE ONLINE.

NYU WILL REQUIRE STUDENTS RETURNING FOR A SECOND SEMESTER TO BE BOOSTED.

BOTH NEW YORK CITY AND PHILADELPHIA HAVE REIMPOSED STRICT INDOOR MASKING REGULATIONS FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY IS WATCHING COVERT HOSPITALIZATION RATES.

>> YOU CANNOT COME CLOSE TO OVERRUNNING OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

THAT IS WITHOUT QUESTION.

SEVERITY, NUMBER OF CASES, AND SEVERITY OF RAKE THROUGH CASES.

IT'S A PARTICULAR AREA THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> BOTTOM LINE, HE SAID?

IT USED TO.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE IS CONDUCTING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION INTO A STANDOFF EARLIER THIS MONTH BETWEEN STATE TROOPERS AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AT THE STATEHOUSE.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS WHILE THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER COMMENT.

THE STATEHOUSE SHOWDOWN OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 2nd, WHEN A GROUP OF GOP LAWMAKERS REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE STATEHOUSE'S COVID-19 POLICY THAT REQUIRED THEM TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION, OR NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS BEFORE ENTERING.

TROOPERS INITIALLY BARRED THEM FROM GOING INTO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, BUT EVENTUALLY, THEY DID LET THEM IN REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS FILED A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE POLICY, BUT A JUDGE DISMISSED THE REQUEST TO HALT THE RULE WHILE THE CASE MOVES FORWARD.

EMOTIONS RAN HIGH AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING LAST NIGHT IN WALL TOWNSHIP.

LAST MONTH, SEVEN STUDENTS WERE REPORTEDLY SUSPENDED FOR 10 DAYS AS PART OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO AN ELECTED HAZING INCIDENT INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.

THREE COACHES WERE SUSPENDED, AND THE MONMOUTH COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS STILL INVESTIGATING.

AT THE BOARD MEETING, ONE STUDENT EXPRESSED ANGER OVER A CULTURE SHE BELIEVES PERSISTS AND HAS LED TO HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, A LOT OF THE STORIES SHARED AT THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE, K-12 AT THE SCHOOL, I CAN SAY I AM DISAPPOINTED TO BE A PART OF THIS.

AND I AM DISAPPOINTED IN ALL OF YOU AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL RESIGN, SPECIFICALLY MRS. SERGIO.

I DO NOT WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN.

>> A STUDENT AT THE TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL EXPRESSING OUTRAGE DURING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING LAST NIGHT, ACCUSING SCHOOL OFFICIALS OF NOT ADDRESSING STUDENT COMPLAINTS.

>> THESE ISSUES DO NOT JUST APPEAR OVER TIME, THEY ARE TAUGHT, THEY ARE FORMED, AND THEY HAVE BEEN NURTURED AND CREATED BY A CULTURE THAT THE SCHOOL HAS CREATED WITHIN US.

WE HAVE TOLD THE STUDENTS THAT THEY WILL NOT GET CUT BASED OFF OF THEIR STATUS.

BUT THE SCHOOL WILL TURN AWAY FOR THE KIDS THAT NEED HELP.

I'VE SEEN BOYS THAT HARASSED ME AS WELL AS MULTIPLE OTHER GIRLS GOING BACK TO SIXTH GRADE WALK THROUGH THESE HOLES CLEAN.

THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY GIRLS THAT HAVE GONE TO YOU AND SAID I AM BEING HARASSED, I NEED HELP.

AND THE SCHOOL HAS DONE NOTHING.

>> THE ACCUSATIONS WERE PRESENTED IN FRONT OF THE BOARD ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER CLAIMS OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.

RECENTLY COMING TO LIGHT.

SEVERAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE REPORTEDLY SUSPENDED FOR 10 DAYS LAST MONTH AS PART OF A HAZING INVESTIGATION INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.

THREE COACHES WERE ALSO REPORTEDLY SUSPENDED AND TWO OF THE TEAMS GAMES WERE CANCELED.

THE MONMOUTH COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE NOW HANDLES THE INVESTIGATION, AS WELL AS LOOKING INTO MULTIPLE CLAIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT THE SCHOOL.

THE SUPERINTENDENT, TRACY HENDREN REITERATES SCHOOL OFFICIALS INABILITY TO DISCUSS THE INCIDENT.

>> I BELIEVE I MUST STRESS THIS, BECAUSE IN RECENT ARTICLES, THE DISTRICT INABILITY TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MAY BE INTERPRETED BY SOME AS SOME TYPE OF NEFARIOUS CONDUCT.

THE BOARD, SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATORS AND ME ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DISCUSS ANYONE'S CHILD IN PUBLIC.

I ASK THAT EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE MEDIA REMEMBER THAT THE MATTER AT HAND INVOLVES CHILDREN.

RECURRING NEGATIVE HEADLINES AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ARE NOT HELPFUL AND ARE CONCERNING.

>> IN THE WAKE OF THE OBLIGATIONS, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE SEVERAL NEW HIRES, INCLUDING THE ACTING ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TO REPLACE A SUSPENDED FACULTY.

BOARD MEMBERS DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALLEGED INCIDENTS.

>> THAT ANYBODY WOULD SWEEP SUCH A THING UNDER THE RUG IS RIDICULOUS.

WE ARE PARENTS, WE ARE CITIZENS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE INVESTIGATION WILL BE DONE SOON BY THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND WHEN IT'S DONE, WE HOPE ALL THE FACTS COME OUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW THE FACTS AS WELL.

>> WE ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THE MISTAKES THAT YOU'VE MADE AND THE CONSEQUENCES I HOPE WILL COME.

>> THE MONMOUTH COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SAYS IT'S TAKING THE ALLEGATIONS SERIOUSLY BUT IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY SOURCE OF DETAILS AS IT INVOLVES MINORS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> A CONGRESSMAN, JOSH GOTTHEIMER JOINED THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, JONATHAN HOLLOWAY ON MONDAY EVENING IN NEW BRUNSWICK TO SPEAK AT THE SCHOOLS HELLO CENTER.

IS A SPEECH FOCUSED ON THE NEED TO PROTECT JEWISH STUDENTS FROM ANTI-SEMITISM ON CAMPUS.

THE CONGRESSMAN CITED AN APRIL INCIDENT IN WHICH A JEWISH FRATERNITY AT RUTGERS WAS VANDALIZED AND ARGUED THAT TO GET THE SCHOOL AND BOYCOTT FROM ISRAELI COMPANIES ARE ROOTED IN ANTI-SEMITISM PRINT >> WE HAVE JUSTICE.

AND SUPPORT TO STUDENTS IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AT RUTGERS AND NEW JERSEY.

IN THE COUNTRY.

IF WE STAND TOGETHER, SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AGAINST, I BELIEVE THAT OUR BEST DAY WILL ALWAYS BE UPON US.

>> SCOTT HAMMER'S VISIT TO RUTGERS COMES AFTER A RECENTLY RELEASED A SURVEY FROM THE ANTI- DEFAMATION LEAGUE, FOUND INCIDENTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM ON THE RISE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AROUND THE NATION.

JOANNA GAGIS HAS OUR STORY AS PART OF EXPLORING HATE , OUR ONGOING SERIES OF REPORTS ON ANTI-SEMITISM, RACISM, AND EXTREMISM.

>> WHEN I'M ON CAMPUS, I DON'T FEEL SAFE.

>> AARON SAYS HE HAS EXPERIENCED ANTI-SEMITISM IN MANY FORMS DURING HIS TIME AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY IN NEWARK, SO MUCH SO THAT HE HIDES HIS TRADITIONAL HEAD COVERING.

AND, HE IS NOT ALONE.

>> YOU SEEN ATTACKS ON STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.

WE'VE SEEN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM SPACES BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.

>> A NEW SURVEY RELEASED BY THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE OR ADL FOUND THAT NEARLY A THIRD OF ALL JEWISH STUDENTS NATIONWIDE EXPERIENCED ANTI-SEMITISM DIRECT THE AND THE NUMBER GROWS TO 43% WHEN YOU ADD THOSE WHO HAVE WITNESSED IT.

>> MORE THAN 40% OF JEWISH STUDENTS HAVE EITHER PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE 2020 OR 2021 SCHOOL YEAR, OR HAD WITNESSED SOMEBODY BEING THE VICTIM OF ANTI-SEMITISM.

>> MOST OFTEN, IT IS IN THE FORM OF COMMENTS OR SLURS ONLINE OR IN PERSON ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, AND IS OFTEN REPEATED BEHAVIOR.

BUT, AT RUTGERS NEWARK, SOMETIMES IT IS PHYSICAL, AS HE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL.

>> I HAVE ANOTHER STUDENT TOWARDS ME AND TRY TO REMOVE MY PEOPLE.

AND, THAT'S WHY OTHER STUDENTS SAY I WAS FRIENDS WITH HIM AND KEPT THE PERSON AWAY.

BUT, THERE ARE OTHER STUDENTS ON CAMPUS THAT ARE FREE TO WEAR THERE STARS OF DAVID'S OUT THE NECKLACES OUT.

>> WHAT'S UP AND ASSIST AND NATIONAL GROUPS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN RECENT YEARS BUT THERE'S A GROWING ANTI-SOMATIC MOVEMENT AMONG PROGRESSIVES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE NOW SYMPATHIZING WITH PALESTINE.

SAYS ADL SCOTT RICHMAN .4 YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE PART OF PROGRESSIVE CAUSES.

>> OUR STUDENTS WANT TO BE PART OF FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

WANT TO BE PART OF, YOU KNOW, THE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS OR THE LGBTQ ORGANIZATION.

BUT, VERY OFTEN ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO CHECK THEIR ZION IS IN.

THEIR SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL OUT THE DOOR WITH BEFORE THEY ALLOW A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

AND THAT'S JUST WRONG.

>> THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLEL INTERNATIONAL, A JEWISH STUDENT GROUP THAT BRANCHES IN MORE THAN 500 SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY, SEVERAL HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

AND, IT WAS NOT JUST THE OFFENSES THAT WERE SURPRISING.

>> PERHAPS EQUALLY AS INTERESTING IS THAT WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT WHAT THOSE STUDENTS DID ABOUT THAT ANTI- SOMATIC INCIDENT, 75% OF THEM SAID THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

THEY DID NOT REPORT IT, THEY DID NOT REPORTED TO ADL, THEY DO NOT REPORTED TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY SIMPLY KEPT US THEMSELVES.

>> HE SAYS HE DID REPORT THE CLIMATE AND WHILE HIS CAMPUS IS NOW WORKING TO CREATE A SIMILAR TO THE ONE ON THE RUTGERS NEW BRUNSWICK CAMPUS, HE SAYS THE CULTURE STILL FEELS UNSAFE TODAY.

>> ARE YOU AFRAID WHEN YOU'RE ON CAMPUS?

>> I DON'T IF I HAVE THE SUPPORT ON CAMPUS TO NOT BE APPROACHED AND BLAMED FOR THE PALESTINE HOTLINE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> IN A STATEMENT, THE UNIVERSITY SAID RUTGERS STRONGLY VALUES AND SUPPORTS STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.

WE ARE INDEED ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENT LEADERS ABOUT BRINGING A WHOLE CHAPTER TO RUTGERS NEWARK.

SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE STATE AND NATION NEED TO BE HEARD LOUDER, AND CLEARER.

>> THERE IS NO OTHER MINORITY GROUP ON CAMPUS, EXPRESSING THESE CONCERNS FOR WHOM THIS WOULD BE TOLERATED.

>> SHE SAID A CHANGE CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION TO EXTRACTIONS AT ED McMAHON CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

ONE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR AND FOUR CORRECTION OFFICERS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE DEFENDANT LIST, NOW TOTALING 15.

THE STATE IS ALSO ANNOUNCED ITS HIRED A CONSULTANT TO HELP DETERMINE WHERE TO RELOCATE INMATES FROM THAT TROUBLED FACILITY.

THIS, AFTER GOVERNOR MURPHY ORDERED THAT THE PRISON BE SHUT DOWN.

SENIOR WRITER, COLLEEN O'DAY HAS THE LATEST REPORTING ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS BACKGROUND AND WHAT OPTIONS HE WILL BE EXPLORING.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THIS CONSULTANT.

WHAT IS HIS BACKGROUND?

WHY WAS HE THE RIGHT PERSON TO HIRE?

>> SO, STEVE CORDER IS A MEMBER OF A CONSULTING FIRM THAT WORKS ON BUILDING, NOT BUILDING.

BUT, DESIGNING AND PLANNING PRISONS AND COURTHOUSES, AND HE'S ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE MOSS GROUP COACHES THIS CONSULTANT THAT THE STATE BROUGHT ON A YEAR AGO TO WORK AT EDNA MAN PRISON.

TO KIND OF DO ABOUT THE SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT WERE THERE.

STAFFING, TRAINING, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, SO, THE STATE THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD BE YOU KNOW, VERY WELL QUALIFIED TO DO THIS.

HE'S GOT BACKGROUND IN EDNA MAN AS WELL AS THE PRISON DESIGN BACKGROUND.

>> SO, WHAT BASICALLY ARE THE OPTIONS IN FRONT OF HIM AS HE LOOKS TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHAT TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM FACILITY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT FOLKS HAD MADE, HAD PUT FORTH A NUMBER OF OPTIONS FROM KEEPING THE FACILITY AND JUST MAKING A LOT OF CHANGES THERE, TO CREATING A NEW WOMEN'S PRISON SOMEWHERE, TO BREAKING WOMEN UP INTO SMALLER FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE, SO THEY WOULD BE CLOSER TO HOME AND IT SOUNDS LIKE HE IS REALLY LOOKING AT, IT'S FIRST AND FOREMOST, TRYING TO SEE IF THERE IS NOT ANOTHER FACILITY THAT IS EITHER CLOSED OR HAS A LOT OF ROOM, ANOTHER PRISON.

WHERE THE WOMEN COULD BE MOVED TO THAT.

A CENTRAL LOCATION.

YOU KNOW, THE STAKES PRISON POPULATION IS DROPPED BY ROUGHLY HALF IN JUST THE LAST 10 YEARS, SO THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF EMPTY SPACES IN SEVERAL PRISONS AROUND THE STATE.

>> WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR REACHING THE CONCLUSION ON WHAT TO DO?

>> UNFORTUNATELY NOT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED BACK IN JUNE.

WE'RE HEARING THAT THIS PROCESS IS KIND OF STEERING UP.

WE ARE TOLD THAT THE CONSULTANT IS GOING TO SPEND ABOUT 10 WEEKS EVALUATING FACILITIES AND LOOKING AT OPTIONS BUT THEN, FROM THERE, HOW LONG IS GOING TO TAKE TO CLOSE BUT MOVE THE WOMEN SOMEPLACE ELSE OR OTHER PLACES.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> AND HOW DO WE KNOW IF THAT FACILITY IS CLOSED AND THE WOMEN ARE MOVED!

THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS LIKE WE SAW BEFORE.

>> SO, VERY GOOD QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE GROUP AND I GUESS WHATEVER ELSE IS WORKING IN THE DEPARTMENT IS COMING UP WITH SOME STRATEGIES TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.

YOU KNOW, ADVOCATES HAVE SAID ALL ALONG THAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE CULTURE.

YOU KNOW?

THE ATMOSPHERE THERE FOR THAT HAS ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN.

AND SO, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO REALLY CHANGE THAT THEN CHANGE A PHYSICAL FACILITY.

WE DO HAVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOW WEARING BODY CAMERAS.

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD ONE CAMERAS ALL UP OVER THE FACILITY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT CHANGING THE CULTURE THAT HAS KIND OF SAID THIS.

IT'S NOT OKAY.

BUT IT WOULD LOOK AWAY FROM HIM.

YOU DON'T KNOW.

>> COLLEEN, THANK YOU.

>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS TONIGHT, ANY REPORT CLAIMS NEW JERSEY'S PUBLIC WORKER PENSION SYSTEM REMAINS VASTLY UNFUNDED, EVEN AFTER A LARGE PENSION PAYMENT FROM THE STATE, AND STRONG INVESTMENT RETURNS.

AND, THE SYSTEM WON'T BE ABLE TO INVEST ITS WAY OUT OF ITS UNFUNDED LIABILITIES.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO GORDON STATE INITIATIVE, A CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK, WHICH CALLS THE PENSION SYSTEM A DARK CLOUD LOOMING OVER NEW JERSEY IS A COMEDY.

THERE IS NO MAGIC SOLUTION TO FIXING THE SYSTEM, THE REPORT SAYS.

POLICYMAKERS EITHER HAVE TO PAY MORE INTO THE PLANS, OR REDUCE THE BENEFITS THE PLANS PAYOUT.

BUT, THE STUDY SAYS ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ABOUT AND TO MAKE THOSE CHOICES.

THE REPORT ALSO SAYS AN PROMISING APPROACH MAY BE TO INITIATE INCREASED RISK SHARING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS MAKING MOVES TO TAME INFLATION, WHICH HAS BEEN SURGING FOR MONTHS NOW.

THE FEDS SAID TODAY, IT EXPECTS TO START INCREASING INTEREST RATES NEXT SPRING.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS TYPICALLY DONE WHEN INFLATION IS RED-HOT GRID AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS ALSO SHIFTING AWAY FROM POLICIES THAT PUT IN PLACE TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WITH THE ECONOMY GROWING AGAIN AND COMPANIES HIRING AGAIN, THAT EXTRA STIMULUS IS NO LONGER NEEDED, ACCORDING TO POLICYMAKERS.

NOW, HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED TODAY.

>>> FINALLY, TONIGHT, THIS IS THE SEASON OF GIVING.

AND, WHEN NEW JERSEY RESIDENT FELT COMPELLED TO GIVE BACK TO THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO SAVED HER LIFE.

A YEAR AGO, A WOMAN WAS SERIOUSLY ILL WITH COVID, AND RECEIVED TREATMENT AT HOLY NAME HOSPITAL.

SHE RECENTLY REACHED OUT TO THE HOSPITAL AND REQUESTED TO BE REUNITED WITH HER CARE TEAM.

NOW, IT TURNS OUT, SHE IS A FORMER BROADWAY PERFORMER WHO DECIDED TO GET ALL DECKED OUT IN COSTUME FOR THE REUNION, AND SHE WAS DEFINITELY DRESSED FOR THE SEASON.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS.

>>> MOST PEOPLE KNOW HER AS BONNIE PATRICK, BUT THESE DAYS, SHE WANTS TO JUST BE KNOWN AS MRS. CLAUS.

AND, IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS GROUP OF DOCTORS AND NURSES THAT SHE IS ABLE TO SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER.

>> ALL OF YOU SAVED MY LIFE.

>> JUST BEFORE THINGS GIVEN LAST YEAR, SHE AND HER HUSBAND TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVERED.

WITHIN A FEW DAYS SHE BECAME SICK WITH THE VIRUS, AND BOTH OF THE CONDITIONS BEGAN TO DETERIORATE RAPIDLY HERE AT HOLY NAME WHERE THE WHERE THEY FOUGHT COVID.

>> IT WAS HIS HEART.

HE FELT LIKE AN ELEPHANT WAS ON MY CHEST.

AND THAT HIGH FLOW OF OXYGEN ACTUALLY, WHEN THEY GIVE ME THAT IT REALLY STARTED TO TURN AROUND.

>> A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK LATER, IN WHICH HE CALLS A MIRACLE, BOTH HER AND HER HUSBAND WERE DISCHARGED FROM HOLY NAME.

THEY THEN SPENT THE NEXT SIX MONTHS RECOVERING STILL, SHE SAYS THAT SHE COULD NOT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT FIRST BEING ABLE TO SAY THANK YOU, IN PERSON TO THE TEAM THAT HAS MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE FOR HER, INCLUDING CRITICAL CARE NURSE, MARILYN MAZZONE ASSURED HAPPY TEARS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TRANSFORM TO WHAT YOU'RE NEEDING AT THAT TIME.

SO, YOU CAN SEE IN HER PERSONALITY, CELEBRATION IS WHAT SHE NEEDED, RIGHT?

SO SOMEHOW SHE WILLED THAT OUT OF US, CELEBRATING WHEN THE OXYGEN NUMBERS GO UP.

>> WHEN SHE IS ON HIGH FLOW OF OXYGEN, WHICH IS A LOT OF OXYGEN GIVEN REALLY FAST, BASICALLY, IT IS ALWAYS CONCERNING.

>> THIS IS UNIQUE.

WHAT WAS THIS LIKE QUESTION SING THE PERSON YOU TREATED LOOKING LIKE THE PICTURE OF HEALTH HERE TODAY QUESTION MARK >> LIKE I SAID, GIVES US PRIDE.

REMINDS US WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

>> WE ALL CHIPPED IN, EVERYONE.

IT WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK, SO REALLY, NO DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN A MANAGER, DIRECTOR.

THE VICE PRESIDENTS.

WE ALL ENDED UP WITH THE BEDSIDE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AND SO, WE REALLY CONNECTED WITH EVERY SINGLE PATIENT.

I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE WE HAD NO VISITORS AT THE TIME.

AND AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF BECAME THE EXTENDED FAMILY.

>> MY KIDS I TELL THEM I MET MRS. CLAUS TODAY.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUPER EXCITED FOR THE GO TO SCHOOL AND TELL THEM YOU SAVED MRS. CLAUS.

>> DO YOU LIKE THIS IS A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

YEAH, I DO.

RIGHT?

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

AND, THIS HAPPENED AND I GOT REALLY SICK AND IT TOOK TIME, SO THAT I COULD REFLECT.

REMEMBER, I WAS IN THE MARKET, AND I JUST HUGGED A COMPLETE STRANGER AND SAID I AM ALIVE, I'M SO EXCITED, YOU HAVE NO IDEA THEY LOOKED AT ME A LITTLE BIT STRANGE.

BUT, I FELT DARNED GIDDY.

>> MRS. CLAUS IT SAYS THAT FEELING, SHE CAN'T SHAKE OFF IS ALL BECAUSE OF THESE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS THAT SHE CALLS ANGELS.

>> I GAVE EACH OF THEM THIS LITTLE ANGEL, RIGHT TO THINK OF THEM, AND TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY TRULY ARE ANGELS ON EARTH.

AND, THAT THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED THEIR CARE, WE ARE THANKFUL EVERY, EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT OPPORTUNITY THURSDAY FOR OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE , EXPLORING AGING IN NEW JERSEY.

OUR HEALTHCARE REPORTER, LILO STAINTON MODERATES AND IN- DEPTH DISCUSSION ON TRANSFORMING LONG-TERM CARE AND BEYOND HERE IN THE STATE.

THAT'S THURSDAY AT 4:00 P.M. TO REGISTER, HAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG .

AND, CHECK OUT CHAT BOX TOMORROW NIGHT WOULD SEE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUISE AS HE RECAPS 2021 WITH SENATOR CORY BOOKER, AND LOOKS AHEAD TO WHAT THE TOP PRIORITIES AND LEGISLATION WILL BE FOR THE NEW YEAR.

WATCH WHEREVER YOU STREAM, THAT IS THURSDAY AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL, TWITTER, OR OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

AND WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, THE PSEG FOUNDATION, AND BY THE CLEAR EMERGENCE ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, AND SMART HEAT NJ.

>> LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FOR EXPLORING HEAT IS PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM AND DAMAGE TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

WITH ADDITIONAL AGER FUNDING FROM EDGAR ROCKINGHAM OR FORD.

THE PETER G PETERSON AND FUND.

AND, PATTY ESCORT KENNER.