>>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

PSEG FOUNDATION, MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY.

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

>> TANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT I AM JOANNA GAGIS, IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> FOR MANY, COVID-19 FEELS LIKE IT'S CLOSING IN AROUND US, MANY HAVE HAD DIRECT CONTACT HER RECENTLY CONTRACTED THE VIRUS AND TODAY MARKS THEY FIVE MORE THAN 6000 CASES BRING IN THE NEW STATE TOTAL TO MORE THAN 1.1 MILLION.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTIONS, MORE THAN 1900 PEOPLE ARE SEEKING CARE THERE.

SO FAR MORE THAN 6.3 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED 1.9 MILLION HAVE BEEN REALLY BOOSTED IS ALMOST 40% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BOOSTER.

THE LATEST SURGE OF PUTTING A STRAIN ON OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

SOME WHO HAVE SHOWN UP FOR VACCINES FIND NO SHOT WHEN IT'S THEIR TURN AND THE LINES FOR TESTING FEEL REMINISCENT OF THOSE EARLY DAYS OF COVID-19 WITH HOURS LONG WAITS.

BREAKTHROUGH CASES REPORTED THIS WEEKEND, U.S.

SENATORS CORY BOOKER AND ELIZABETH WARREN, BOTH ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED AND ARE EXPERIENCING MILD SYMPTOMS.

WITH OMICRON ON THE RISE, PRESUMED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 13% OF THE CASES HERE IN NEW JERSEY, MODERNA ANNOUNCED ITS BOOSTERS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE NEW VARIANT, SIGNIFICANTLY RAISING ANTIBODIES TO FIGHT IT UP.

OMICRON TRANSMITTED AS A FASTER RATE THAN DELTA AND EVEN SYMPTOMS ARE MORE MILD HEALTHCARE'S THUMBS ARE ALREADY SEEING THE NUMBERS CLIMATE COULD SOON BE OVERWHELMED IF THE NEW VARIANT TAKES OVER.

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR LIFE AS WE KNOW IT?

IS NEW JERSEY STARING DOWN ANOTHER SHUTDOWN OR HAVE THE VACCINATED BEEN ABLE TO STAVE OFF THE SEVERITY OF THESE SPIKES?

RAVEN SANTANA TAKES A LOOK AT THE LATEST.

>> THE ONE THING WE CANNOT ALLOW TO HAPPEN IS OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS CAPACITY TO BE OVERRUN.

>> Reporter: AFTER THE RECENT NUMBERS CONTINUE TO INCREASE AT A SPEED HE IS STILL UNWILLING TO REQUIRE INDOOR MASK MANDATES UNTIL HOSPITAL START TO REACH CAPACITY.

>> INDIRECT TRAGEDIES OF FOLKS REFUSING TO GET VACCINATED, THEY ARE THE ONES GETTING SICK AND HOSPITALIZED AND IS PUTTING ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON HEALTHCARE STAFFING.

>> AS I WATCH EVERYTHING PLAY OUT, FEELS LIKE MARCH 2020 ALL OVER AGAIN.

WE ARE PREPARING FOR THIS HUGE WAVE TO HIT US.

AND WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS VERY CLEAR, A VAST SPREAD OF THE DISEASE THROUGH OMICRON, WE HAVE ONGOING DELTA AND WE ARE SEEING EVERY NUMBER GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WE ARE SEEING INCREASED INFECTIONS, INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND INCREASE IN DEATHS.

>> Reporter: RUTGERS DR. PERRY HALKITIS SAYS THAT ENACTING A REQUIREMENT FOR INDOOR DINING SHOULD BE A WAY TO PREVENT A SURGE NOT CONTROL IT AFTER IT HAPPENS.

>> NO VACCINE, NO ENTRY.

WHEN WE STOPPED PEOPLE CIGARETTE SMOKING IT WAS THE SAME THING, NO SMOKING.

IN NEW YORK NEW YORK CITY PEOPLE GO TO RESTAURANTS AND HAVE TO SHOW THE VACCINATION CARD I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WEEK CANNOT INVOKE THE SAME RULES HERE IN NEW JERSEY?

>> I DO WANT TO GO TO ANY OF THE DOZENS OF WONDERFUL RESTAURANTS AND ENJOY A WONDERFUL MEAL ONLY TO FIND OUT FIVE DAYS LATER THAT EVEN THOUGH I AM OKAY, SOMEONE IN THE ROOM WASN'T AND OBVIOUSLY SPREAD ONE OF THESE VARIANTS TO ME.

I DON'T WANT TO GET SICK.

>> Reporter: JENNIFER AND IS NO LONGER WILLING TO DINE IN DORA NEW JERSEY AS SHE FEELS THE STATE'S TOLERANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION IS SHRINKING.

>> WE DON'T HAVE VACCINATION PASSES IN NEW JERSEY, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OUR FELLOW DINERS HAVE TAKEN PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CARRYING THIS HORRIFIC VIRUS.

>> GETS CONCERNED JUST NOT THE TYPE OF RESTAURANT WE HAVE WE HAVE VERY SMALL STAFF AND IT IS TIGHT SO LET'S HAVE A VACCINE LET MANDATE.

>> Reporter: RUTHIE'S BARBECUE AND PIZZA LOCATED IN MONTCLAIR IS POPULAR WITH KIDS WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS NEARBY.

THAT'S WHY THEY DECIDED TO PUT A VACCINE MANDATE IN PLACE OF THEIR OWN.

>> WE GET THE PUSH BACK AND DON'T WANT TO SHOW A CARD AND SOME CAN BE A LITTLE BELLIGERENT AND ARE NOT WELCOME BACK HERE.

THIS IS OUR HOME WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE COMFORTABLE HERE.

THIS IS HOW WE CHOOSE TO DO IT.

THAT IS NOT BEEN THE MAJORITY BY ANY SHAPE OR FORM.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE QUITE PROUD TO SHOW THEIR VEXING CARDS AND THEY GET IT.

>> Reporter: THERE IS STILL A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT.

A NEW STUDY HAS SHED LIGHT ON HOW THE VARIANT METED AND SPREAD.

>> IT IS HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE AND IS ALSO ABLE TO EVADE ANTIBODIES WHICH WERE GENERATED BY PRIOR INFECTION OR VACCINATION AND EVEN THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES, FOR EXAMPLE REGENERON.

>> Reporter: AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT RUTGERS OF CHEMICAL BIOLOGY AND CORRESPONDING AUTHOR OF THE STUDY, HE SAYS THE MORE LINES OF DEFENSE YOU HAVE THE BETTER CHANCE YOU HAVE AND NOT CONTRACTING THE OMICRON VIRUS.

BUT BASED ON THE SCIENCE IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE TAKING A BOOSTER IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE, IF THEY CAN BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES AGAINST OMICRON AND OUR LOVED ONES.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEAN TIME OF THE MAYOR IS WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE A MOVE.

HE IS ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES MUST WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES WHILE INDOORS AT ANY PUBLIC FACILITY IN THE CITY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> MORE AND MORE PUBLIC EVENTS ARE CLOSING.

THE LIGHTS WENT DOWN AND 10 BROADWAY SHOWS THIS PAST WEEKEND AND RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL WHO SHOULD ON HIS FAMOUS CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR FOR THE SEASON.

NEW YORK CITY IS OPENING 23 MORE TESTING SITES AS THE LINES GROW LONGER AND LONGER.

MEANWHILE THE WHITE HOUSE AS APPOINTED A NEW REGIONAL DIRECTOR TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AS PART OF HER ROLE.

SHE IS HELPING TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK ALONG WITH FEDERICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SHE JOINS ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EACH DO TO STAY SAFE DURING THIS LATEST SURGE?

>> WHAT ARE WE SEEN WITH THE RISE OF COVID-19 IN THE REGION EVEN IN THE LAST WEEK AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS DRIVEN BY OMICRON?

>> WE ARE SEEING CASES EVERY DAY, PEOPLE ARE GETTING OMICRON AND DELTA WE DON'T KNOW THE PORTION, WE KNOW PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE THAT EVERY INTERACTION COULD BE AN EXPOSURE AND FAST PROTECTION YOU HAVE IS TO BE FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.

>> ONLY TALK ABOUT VACCINATED VERSUS UNVACCINATED AND WHETHER IT IS DELTA OR OMICRON WHAT IS THE SEVERITY IN TERMS OF ILLNESS?

>> MULTIPLE TIMES MORE SEVERE MORE LIKELY HOSPITALIZE OR PASS AWAY PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROTECTION OF ANY VACCINE VERSUS NO VACCINE.

IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IF YOU GET EXPOSED TO COVID-19 IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.

TODAY IS THE DAY TO GET VACCINATED FOR EXPOSURE COULD HAPPEN TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT DISPARITY, WE ARE SEEING CASES THE PRESENT MUCH MORE LIKE A COMMON COLD EVEN A VERY SLIGHT FLU FOR THOSE REVACCINATED.

>> AS WE TRANSITION TO OMICRON CASES WE EXPECT MORE AND MORE WE SEE MORE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS.

WILL DELTA WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT MANY BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS BUT WITH OMICRON WE ARE.

WE ALSO SEEING THE VACCINE AND THE BOOSTER PROVIDE EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF PROTECTION AGAINST ANY ILLNESS THAT COULD LEAD YOU IN THE HOSPITAL OR PUT YOU ON A VENTILATOR.

>> WE ARE NOW SEVERAL DAYS INTO 6000 CASES IN NEW JERSEY ANYONE GOING TO GET TESTED BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE DIRECT EXPOSURE EARTH THINK THEY MAY BE POSITIVE , NOW HAVE TO STAND IN THOSE LINES THAT WE ALL REMEMBER EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

IF OMICRON TAKES OVER AS THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT TO COULD BE FOUR TIMES MORE CONTAGIOUS.

DO WE HAVE THE TESTING CAPACITY TO HANDLE WHAT COULD BE COMING OUR WAY?

>> WE DO HAVE THE TESTING CAPACITY BUT WE NEED MORE.

WHAT WE ARE SEEN AS A POSITIVE TEST RATES GOING UP AND UP THE MEANS WE ARE TO BE TESTING MORE PEOPLE MORE MORE FREQUENTLY IN A COMBINATION OF THE PCR TEST PEOPLE ARE GETTING ON THE AT- HOME TEST.

IF YOU CAN GET ANY AT-HOME TEST NOW, HAVE THEM IN YOUR HOUSE SO THE MINUTE YOU HAVE EITHER AN EXPOSURE OR SYMPTOMS YOU CAN TEST YOURSELF AT HOME.

IF YOU NEED TO CONFIRM THAT FOR A FLIGHT OR YOUR DOCTOR, THEN YOU CAN LOOK TO THE LINES AROUND YOU TO SEE WHERE THAT TEST IS AVAILABLE.

I ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FIND OUT ALL THE PLACES WHERE THEY ARE TESTING AROUND BEFORE THEY NEED IT.

>> FINALLY, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE BE DOING IN TERMS OF PRACTICING, MASKING, SOCIAL DISTANCING OF THE HOLIDAYS ARE APPROACHING.

>> WE KNOW WHAT TO DO HERE THIS IS THE SAME THING SINCE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

YOU WANT TO DECREASE THE RISK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET EXPOSED TO COVID-19.

IT'S BE A COMBINATION OF BOOSTERS AND BEHAVIOR.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MASKING IN PUBLIC SPACES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE OBVIOUSLY VACCINATED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S CUT NO CONTACT, IF PEOPLE ARE POSITIVE YOU GO BACK TWO DAYS TO CONTACT EVERYONE WHO WAS EXPOSED SO THEY TOO CAN GET TESTED.

>>> ONE OF THE LAST DAYS OF VOTING FOR THE SESSION IN TRENTON IT SHOULD'VE BEEN A DAY WHEN LEGISLATORS SCRAMBLED OUT THERE SAY ON BILLS THAT HAVEN'T YET HAD A VOTE.

BUT THE STATE HOUSE WAS THE BUS TODAY WITH CONFLICT NO OVER LEGISLATION BUT OVER VACCINATION, MANY REPUBLICANS ANGRY OVER NEW POLICIES THAT REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINE OR A NEGATIVE TEST INTO THE STATE'S CAPITAL.

WELL POLITICIANS HASHED IT OUT ADVOCATES GATHERED TO SEE IF ANY PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE ON KEY ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THEIR DAY IN THE SUN, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, VOTING ISSUES, POLICING ISSUES, TO NAME A FEW.

DAVID CRUZ WAS THERE TO SEE IF LAWMAKERS WERE ABLE TO DO A JOB THEY CAME FOR OR POLITICAL INFIGHTING COULD POSSIBLY LEAVE LEGISLATION TO LANGUISH IN THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE LAME DUCK.

>> THE PENULTIMATE LEGISLATION IS LIKE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

SENATORS HOUSE HUSTLING AND BUSTLING TO GET BIG BILLS PASS BUT THIS PRE-CHRISTMAS SESSION, SECOND IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF PROVIDING MORE THEATRICS THAN USUAL.

>> GOT A ONE A SHOCK, I DON'T WANT SOMETHING UP MY NOSE AND I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT IT DONE TO MY KIDS.

ALL I KNOW IS PHIL MURPHY RUNS AROUND SAYING YOU'RE KILLING PEOPLE.

I HAVEN'T KILLED ANYBODY BUT WE KNOW PHIL MURPHY'S POLICIES KILLED 1000 PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S ERIC PETERSON, SPEAKING TO THIS CROWD OF DEMONSTRATORS AGAINST VACCINE MANDATES.

THEY WERE GATHERED OUTSIDE THE STATE HOUSE WHERE SECURITY MEASURES MEANT EVERYBODY GOT CHECKED FOR VACCINATION PROOF AND SCREEN FOR SIGNS OF ILLNESS.

IT'S NO WONDER CAUCUSES STARTED LATE AND WENT LONG PUSHING BACK SESSIONS IN BOTH HOUSES.

>> DEMONSTRATIONS I HAVE NOT AGREEMENT WITH BUT CERTAINLY SYMPATHY FOR, THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SPEAKING ABOUT A MAJOR CONCERN TO THEM, I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND THAT IS NOT THE GOOD EFFORTS THAT THEY ARE MAKING BUT RATHER THOSE PEOPLE WHO TURN TO EXPLOIT THEM IN ORDER TO SHOW DISCORD, IN ORDER TO SHOW AN OUT OF TOUCH GOVERNMENT.

>> YOU DID SEE SOME REPUBLICANS LIKE WEBER WHO IS NOW THREATENING TO SUE THE STATE OVER THE STATE HOUSE ENTRANCE POLICY, APPEARING ON FOX NEWS AND OTHER SIMILAR OUTLETS.

>> THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE THAT A LOT OF THIS IS DRIVEN BY THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL AGENDA THE WANTS TO DRIVE A WEDGE ON THE ISSUE OF VACCINATION.

NOBODY HAS INCLUDED ME IN THAT PLAN WHATSOEVER SO I WOULD'VE THOUGHT I WOULD'VE BEEN INCLUDED IN THAT.

>> HERE WE ARE, WE ARE IN THE BUILDING AND DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK THAT THEY SENT US HERE TO DO.

>> FOR THE MOST PART THE REPUBLICAN DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN CONTAINED TO THE LOWER HOUSE ALL THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THEIR ASSEMBLY COLLEAGUES.

SOME OTHERS, INCLUDING THE OUTGOING ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE MESSAGE THEY ARE SENDING.

>> I AM CONCERNED THAT WHEN MEMBERS DON'T WANT TO SHOW THEIR VACCINE CARD THAT THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO PERCEIVE THAT AS REPUBLICANS DON'T BELIEVE IN THE VACCINE SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON I'M SHOWING MY CARD.

SECOND, THERE MAY BE A VALID CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE BUT WHILE THE COURT IS DECIDING THAT IN MY JUDGMENT, WE SHOULD BE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT I SAID TO MY MEMBERS, SOME AGREE TO DISAGREE BUT I THINK THE IMAGE OF US CHALLENGING STATE POLICE WILL BE PERCEIVED AS PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST VACCINE AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> ABOUT SEVEN REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WERE IN THE CHAMBERS.

THE REMAINING WENT REMOTELY AND WERE ADMONISHED TO KEEP THE ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS MOVING DESPITE THEIR DESIRE TO SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN.

AS THE AFTERNOON WORE ON EVEN MOVING MINOR BILLS SLOWED TO A MOLASSES LIKE CRAWL WITH NOW JUST ONE MORE SESSION TO GO.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> SUPERFUND SITES ARE CONSIDERED THE MOST POLLUTED PLACES IN THE NATION AND NEW JERSEY HAS MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

NOW SEVEN OF OUR SITES WILL BE CLEANED UP AS PART OF A $1 BILLION NATIONAL EFFORT TO REMEDIATE 49 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THE SPENDING ON FRIDAY AS PART OF THE RECENTLY SIGNED BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

THE SITES THAT WERE CHOSEN HAVE HAD CLEANUP PLANS DRAWN FOR YEARS BUT HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT INCLUDES THE SITE IN FAIRFIELD THAT A CONGRESSWOMAN TOWARD ON FRIDAY.

ABOUT 26,000 CUBIC YARDS OF CONTAMINATED SOIL REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH CLEAN SOIL.

AN EFFORT THAT WILL REQUIRE CLOSE MONITORING TO ENSURE THAT AIR QUALITY FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA REMAIN SAFE.

THE JERSEYS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS ALREADY MOVED ABOUT 5000 TONS OF CONTAMINATED SOIL FROM THOSE SITES.

>> THESE SITES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS AND IT IS MONUMENTAL.

FOR TOO LONG DEALING WITH THE HAZARDOUS BURN SUPERSIZE, HEALTH RISK DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS, TO HAVE THIS CLEANED UP IS CRUCIAL ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS NOT JUST A MOTTO AND A TRAIN AND RAIL BRIDGE, TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES NEW JERSEY DID WELL THIS NATION.

WE REALLY BROUGHT THIS NATION INTO THE MODERN ERA AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE ALSO HAVE CLEANUP SITES AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

>> THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IS THE LARGEST SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION IN NEW JERSEY THANKS AND LARGE PART TO THOSE DIESEL POWER HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS WE SEE ON OUR HIGHWAYS.

NOW A NEW RULE WILL HELP TO GET THOSE DIRTY TRUCKS OFF OUR ROADS.

THE ADVANCED CLEAN TRUCK RULE WILL START TO SHIFT MEDIUM TO HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS SOLD TO THE GARDEN STATE TO ELECTRIC WITH THE GOAL OF REACHING 55% ELECTRIC TRUCKS BY 2035.

NEW JERSEY IS THE FIRST STATE TO DRIVE THIS EFFORT WHICH MIRRORS CALIFORNIA'S PHASEOUT OF DIESEL TRUCKS.

IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES WHO SPEND DECADES DECRYING THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC THROUGH RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

>>> DESPITE COVID-19 LEVELS IN NEW JERSEY VACCINE MANDATES FOR EMPLOYERS AND NEW JERSEY HAVE BEEN DELAYED.

RHONDA, WHAT IS THE LATEST IN THE LEGAL WRANGLING'S OVER VACCINE?

>> LARGE COMPANIES WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO IMPLEMENT VACCINE MANDATES ON THE WORK PLACE EVEN AS THERE IS THE ONGOING LEGAL CHALLENGE TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ORDER.

U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT SAID THE RULES WILL NOT BE IN FORCE UNTIL FEBRUARY GIVING COMPANIES ADDITIONAL MONTH TO ROLL OUT THEIR PLAN.

THE VACCINE MANDATE APPLIES TO COMPANIES WITH 100 EMPLOYEES OR MORE.

LAST FRIDAY, A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT ALLOWED THE MANDATE TO PROCEED REPUBLICAN STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL AND OTHER GROUPS SAY THEY ARE GOING TO FILE AN APPEAL TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

SENATE DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON WILL PRESS FORWARD WITH THE MASSIVE SOCIAL SPENDING BILL KNOWN AS BUILD BACK BETTER.

TODAY CHUCK SCHUMER FOUND THE SENATE WILL VOTE ON THE BILL IN EARLY JANUARY EVEN AFTER WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR JOE MANCHIN ANNOUNCED HE WOULD VOTE NO ON THE LEGISLATION AT HIS AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.

HIS VOTE IS NEEDED TO GET THE BILL THROUGH.

IN A LETTER TO HIS SENATE COLLEAGUES, CHUCK SCHUMER SAID THE SENATE WILL CONTINUE VOTING ON REVISED VERSIONS OF THE BILL.

>>> THE RECENTLY APPROVED FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WILL PROVIDE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO NEW JERSEY AND A LITTLE-KNOWN POLICY CHANGE COULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD HELPING NEW JERSEY AND OTHER STATES PAY FOR MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

UNDER THE CHANGE, STATES WILL HAVE A LONGER TIME PERIOD IN WHICH TO PAYBACK LOW INTEREST FEDERAL LOANS FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

THE REPAYMENT PERIOD WILL GO FROM 35 YEARS TO, IN SOME CASES, UP TO 75 YEARS.

>> ANYONE WHO HAS A CAR PAYMENT OR HOUSE MORTGAGE KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO PAY OFF YOUR DEBT THE PAYMENTS ARE USUALLY SMALLER FOR A STATE LIKE NEW JERSEY WHICH ALREADY HAS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DEBT HIGH ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE COST WHAT THIS COULD DO, EFFECTIVELY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT THE STATE HAS TO SET ASIDE EACH YEAR FOR PAYING BACK THESE LOANS.

>> NEARLY 287,000 PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY SIGNED UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE TO REVIEW THEIR POLICIES THROUGH GET COVERED, STATE HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE THAT NUMBER IS A 26% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR WHILE PREMIUMS ARE RISING FOR THE NEW YEAR THE STATE SAYS 90% OF ENROLLEES WILL QUALIFY FOR SOME ASSISTANCE.

FRAT WALL STREET UNNERVED TODAY BY THE RISE OF CASES WITH POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS.

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

>>> THEY SAY BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

FOR CANDID PHOTOGRAPHER BEAUTY IS ABOUT REPRESENTATION AND HOW HE CAPTURES THE CITY HE CALLS HOME IN A SINGLE PHOTO.

HIS LATEST PROJECT, CAMDEN IS BRIGHT NOT BLIGHT RINGS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE AND NEW MEANING TO A CITY NOT OFTEN KNOWN FOR FAVORABLE STORYLINES.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER SAT IN ON ONE OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS TO GIVE US AN INSIDE PEEK AT THE SERIES THAT IS GIVING CAMDEN A NEW LOOK.

>> Reporter: GETTING TO SHOW OFF SOME OF HER BEST LOOKS TODAY.

HER HAPPINESS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA'S IMAGE SHE WANTS PEOPLE TO SEE WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT HER HOME CITY OF CAMDEN.

>> IS JUST LIKE THAT'S WHO WE ARE, THAT'S WHO WE TRULY ARE.

>> ARE CITY SOMETIMES HAVE NARRATIVES THAT ARE NEGATIVE.

THIS BRINGS ABOUT LIFE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND A CONNECTION TO PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

>> A CONNECTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE LENS, ERIC MONTGOMERY HAS BEEN CAPTURED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

THE PHOTOS ARE PART OF AN ONGOING PROJECT, CAMDEN IS BRIGHT NOT BLIGHT.

IS HIS WAY OF HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE GOOD HE A CITY HE HAS CALLED HOME SINCE 1999 INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON NEGATIVE STATEMENTS THAT MOST PEOPLE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT.

>> CAMDEN IS THE SLUMS, COUNTRY'S MOST DANGEROUS CITY.

I SEE PEOPLE WITH PASSION AND PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE AND I SEE PEOPLE WHO REALLY CELEBRATE THE ARTS WHETHER THEY CREATED THEMSELVES OR JUST LOVERS OF ART.

I WANTED TO CREATE A PROJECT THAT REALLY DEMONSTRATED THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM CAMDEN WHO REPRESENT CAMDEN AND TO HELP REWRITE THE NARRATIVES OF ALL THE NEGATIVE ENERGY THAT HAS BEEN PUSHED TOWARDS CAMDEN.

>> IS STARTED BACK IN 2019 AND INCLUDES BLACK-AND-WHITE PORTRAITS THAT ARE HUNG IN VARIOUS SPOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

UNDER THE KNIFE EACH ONE STARTS THE PHRASE CAMDEN'S.

>> THIS IS A TRUE STORY PEOPLE OF CAMDEN IS SO HARD FOR US TO HAVE OUR STORIES TOLD THROUGH OUR EYES.

THE STORIES ALWAYS TOLD THROUGH THE EYES OF OTHERS.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE STORY, UNADULTERATED, PURE AND IT IS TRUE.

THIS IS THE TRUEST FORM OF ART I'VE SEEN IN CAMDEN FOR A LONG TIME.

>> HIS FAMILY GOES BACK TO THE 1850S HE WAS EXCITED TO TAKE PART IN THIS PROJECT WITH HIS WIFE AND SON.

>> THIS IS HOME THIS COMMUNITY IS WHERE MY HEART IS, I HAVE WORKED HERE FOR MANY YEARS, THEY HAVE WOVEN THEMSELVES, I LOVE BEING HERE.

>> ED IS A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER HE ALWAYS KNOWS HOW TO CATCH PEOPLE'S BEST SIDE.

JUST GOES INTO THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, WHEN SHE GO FORWARD WITH SOMEBODY I THINK IT ADDS UP TO SOMETHING EVEN GRANDER, BIGGER THAN OURSELVES.

>> WHEN PEOPLE SEE THESE PORTRAITS I WANT THEM TO SEE A FULL REPRESENTATION OF WHAT THE CITY REPRESENTS.

I HAVE CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS TWO YEARS OLD AND AS OLD AS 98 YEARS OLD TO REPRESENT THROUGHOUT THESE HUNDRED PHOTOGRAPHS.

I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT THE CITY REPRESENTS.

I WANT THEM TO FEEL INSPIRED.

I WANT THEM TO FEEL HOPEFUL.

I WANT THEM TO SEE THE PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THE CITY SO MUCH THAT THEY NOT ONLY LIVE HERE BUT THEY HAVE WORDS TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.

>> THE PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY SET TO END IN OCTOBER BUT THE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SO POSITIVE HE THINKS HE WILL KEEP GOING UNTIL THE FULL PICTURE OF CAMDEN IS IS COMPLETE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT HANDOVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE VARIOUS LATEST NEWS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STOAT STATE.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS, THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

THE OCEAN WING PROJECT AND PS E.G.

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

>> MJ AND JM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS IN SERVING POLICYHOLDERS IN NEW JERSEY FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS BUT WHO ARE THE AND JM POLICYHOLDERS?

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDER SKILLED LABOR, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME NJM INSURANCE COMPANY, WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT ANYWHERE.

URGENT CARE PROVIDER ANY DEVICE WITH THEIR APP AND USE OUR WEBSITE TO VIRTUALLY BOOK OF VIRTUAL VISIT EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.