>> HELLO, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE NOW KNOW THAT OMICRON MAKES UP THREE QUARTERS OF ALL NEW COVID CASES HERE IN THE USA, PUTTING IT ON A DOMINANT STRAIN OVER DELTA.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSED THE NATION TODAY TO SHARE HIS PLANS FOR HOW HE WILL HELP TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF THIS MOST TRANSMISSIBLE PERIOD.

HE SAID WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED, BUT NOT PANIC.

HE PROMISED 1000 MILITARY PERSONNEL TO HELP HOSPITALS.

10,000 MORE VACCINE SITES, BUT THE KEY TO THIS FIGHT IS TESTING, WHICH HE INTENDS TO HELP PEOPLE DO AT HOME.

>> ANNOUNCING TODAY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURGES ONE HALF BILLION.

NOT MILLION, BILLION WITH A B.

ADDITIONAL AT-HOME RAPID TESTS WITH DELIVERY STARTING IN JANUARY.

WE WILL BE GETTING THESE TESTS FOR FREE.

DELIVERING THEM TO YOUR.

>> HERE IN NEW JERSEY, WE HAVE HAD DAY SIX OF MORE THAN 6000 NEW CASES.

TODAY, CLOSER TO 7000.

THIS, IS 34 MORE DEATHS WERE RECORDED.

THE PRESIDENT URGED EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

NEW JERSEY'S VACCINATION RATE IS CLOSE TO 6.4 MILLION, JUST OVER A QUARTER OF THEM ARE BOOSTED.

IS RAISING HIS NUMBERS ARE SENDING PEOPLE OUT IN DROVES TO GET TESTED, TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THEIR SYMPTOMS ARE ACTUALLY SOMETHING WORSE.

IF THAT EXPOSURE IS NOW AN INFECTION OR WHETHER IT'S SAFE TO SEE THEIR RELATIVES FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

AND WHILE WE WAIT FOR THOSE AT HOME TESTS TO GO OUT, THE PRESIDENT PROMISED THAT MANY ARE FINDING --AT THE LOCAL PHARMACY.

FOR HOURS AT A TIME.

THIS IS NO LINE TO SEE SANTA.

>> I'VE BEEN TO A COUPLE CASES ON SATURDAY.

I WENT TO A PLACE AND ENDED UP WAITING FOR FOUR HOURS.

WE HAVE BEEN TESTING LIKE THREE PAYMENTS A DAY.

I PLAN TO THE MY FAMILY THIS WEEK.

I WENT TO GET TESTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M OKAY AND THEY ARE OKAY.

>> COLEMAN WAS SUCCESSFUL AT ONE OF THE 3 MEGA SITES WHERE THERE WAS NO LINE.

JUST A STEADY FLOW OF PEOPLE LIKE HERSELF.

OFF WALKING TO GET TESTED AS PART OF THEIR HOLIDAY SAFETY PLAN.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU WANTED IT.

>> I'M GOING TO VISIT MY COUSIN DOWN IN SOUTH NEW JERSEY.

AND SHE HAS A SMALL BABY THAT IS UNVACCINATED.

SO WE ARE GETTING TESTED JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS SAFE.

WE ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

>> I AM PLANNING TO SEE FAMILY, AND GO ON A TRIP.

SO I WENT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

MIMIC WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING IT, IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS.

15 MINUTES.

IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU --YOUR HOLIDAY.

>> AS FAR AS GETTING RESULTS.

ANYWHERE BETWEEN 24-46 HOURS.

I'M WORKING DIRECTLY WITH -- DIRECTLY WITH THE LAB TO SEE HOW WE CAN EXPEDITE THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY BRINGING TEST KITS TWICE A DAY.

WE ARE BRINGING AT 1:30 AND ALSO AT 7:00 WHEN WE CLOSED.

SO WE ARE SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS, MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE RESULTS BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

>> JOE --IS THE ENTIRE TESTING PROCESS TAKES A FEW MINUTES AND INCLUDES THREE STEPS.

PICKING UP YOUR TEST, TAKING INTO THE CAR TO COMPLETE BY SUBMITTING IT WITH THE CAPSULE AND DROPPING IT OFF AT THIS DROP OFF BOX.

HE SAID YESTERDAY, THEY PROVIDED 5000 TESTS AT THIS LOCATION HE SAID TODAY COMING EXPECTS TO SURPASS THAT NUMBER.

>> PEOPLE WANT TO GET TESTED PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAY.

MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE.

THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

ALSO, THERE IS A REAL CONCERN OUT THERE THAT AS WE ARE SENDING TO CLOSE THINGS DOWN, PEOPLE GET NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.

>> MEANWHILE, THE NEED FOR AT- HOME TESTS IS IN EQUAL DEMAND.

>> WE HAD 100 CASES COME IN ON SATURDAY.

APPROXIMATELY AROUND 11:30 IN THE MORNING.

THEY WERE SOLD OUT AT 11:55.

OH 100 WORK ON.

WE HAD AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF TESTING KITS THAT WE COULD HAVE ORDERED AS OF LAST WEEK.

AND THEN, A FEW DAYS AGO, I GOT A NOTIFICATION FROM MY SUPPLIER, THEY COULD ONLY GIVE YOU UP TO 48 TESTS PRETTY.

I GOT A NOTIFICATION THIS MORNING THAT YOU CAN COME YOU CAN ONLY GET 48 TODAY.

AND THEN GOING FORWARD, WE CANNOT GIVE YOU ANY MORE BECAUSE THE STATE ALLOCATED IT FROM THEM.

THE STATE SEES ALL OF THEIR REPORTS.

ALL OF THEIR SUPPLY.

>> AND YOU CAN RECEIVE ONE OF THE KIDS BY REQUESTING IT ONLINE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

ACCORDING TO --THE RESULTS ARE AVAILABLE 24-48 HOURS AFTER A SAMPLE ARRIVES AT THE LAB.

>>, THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN EXPLODING IN SCHOOLS WITH NEARLY 7000 STUDENTS AND STAFF TESTING POSITIVE THIS WEEK AND 80% INCREASE FROM TWO WEEKS AGO.

BUT FOR EVERY POSITIVE CASE, THERE ARE COUNTLESS MORE KIDS WHO HAVE TO STAY HOME BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED A CLOSE CONTACT.

NEW JERSEY HAS SHORTENED QUARANTINE TIMES TO JUST SEVEN DAYS WITH A NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

BUT THE TIME AWAY FROM SCHOOL IS CAUSING MAJOR DISRUPTIONS TO THE LEARNING PROCESS.

EVEN FORCING SOME SCHOOLS TO FULLY REMOVE YOUR JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THESE IMPACTS AND WHAT OPTIONS SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE, CHUCK SAMSON.

WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER IN YOUR DISTRICT IN FREEHOLD IN TERMS OF STUDENTS HAVING TO QUARANTINE?

>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN A KICK IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE TO QUARANTINE.

AND IDENTIFY AS CLOSE CONTACTS.

SO WE HAVE A FEW HUNDRED STUDENTS QUARANTINING AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

>> WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS?

A FEW HUNDRED OUT OF HOW MANY?

MIMIC WE HAVE ABOUT 10,000.

500 STUDENTS ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

CURRENTLY, WELL OVER 200 STUDENTS -- >> OF THOSE 200 THAT HAVE QUARANTINE, HOW MANY DO YOU KNOW THAT ACTUALLY SEX?

HOW MANY ARE DIRECT CONTACTS?

>> MOST OF THEM ARE IDENTIFIED AS CLOSE CONTACT.

THE VAST MAJORITY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.

WE HAVE SEEN VERY LIMITED IN SCHOOL TRANSMISSION WHERE WE HAVE SEEN SOME --FROM OUT OF SCHOOL PARTIES AND GATHERINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> PARENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATORS I THINK ARE ALL FEELING THE STRAIN WHEN STUDENTS HAVE TO BE HOME.

IT'S DISRUPTION TO THE LEARNING.

IT'S DISRUPTION TO LIFE.

WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO A TEST TO STAY MODEL.

SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS SAID HE WILL EXPLORE IN A PILOT HERE IN NEW JERSEY WHERE STUDENTS COULD TEST TO STAY IN SCHOOL IF THEY WERE A CLOSE CONTACT?

>> WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MONTHS NOW, SOME FORM OF TESTS TO STAY.

OBVIOUSLY, THE MOST RECENT CDC GUIDANCE SORT OF ALIGNS WITHOUT.

WE HAVE BEEN KNOCKING ON DOORS FOR MONTHS HERE.

AND YES, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT 100%.

>> AND JUST, YOU'RE FEELING THIS MORE THAN ANYONE.

EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING.

WHEN THE STUDENTS ARE HOME.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE LEARNING.

WAS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND REALLY, THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT ON THESE KIDS AS WELL.

>> SO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THIS SCHOOL YEAR IS A SHARP INCREASE IN SUICIDAL IDEATIONS.

NUMEROUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND WE ATTRIBUTE THAT CERTAINLY TO SCHOOL CLOSURES.

KIDS NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL, PERIOD.

SO WHEN YOU'RE HOME ON REMOTE LEARNING, THERE ARE CERTAIN, YOU'RE LOGGING INTO YOUR CLASSES, BUT YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY ISOLATED.

THAT WORKS FOR CERTAIN SCHOOLS.

SOME STUDENTS BY THAT ENVIRONMENT.

OTHERS REALLY STRUGGLE.

FOR THOSE LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT STRUGGLE, WE WANT TO KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL.

>> DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS GOING BACK TO THAT TEST AND STAY MODEL?

DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS THAT THOSE TESTS WOULD BE RAPID ANTIGEN?

THEY'RE NOT VERY RELIABLE.

AND YOU COULD HAVE KIDS WERE STAYING IN SCHOOL WHO ARE COVID POSITIVE.

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE DISTRICT WILL GO ABOUT THAT.

A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS ARE TALKING ABOUT VERY DIFFERENT MODELS.

SOME WOULD REQUIRE THOSE TESTS THAT ARE NOT VERY RAPID.

THE PCR IS IN LAB EAST.

THERE'S A LOT YET TO BE DETERMINED ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS DRIVING SCHOOL LEADERS.

SO YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SEE A 1.2 OR 3% POSITIVE RATE FROM IDENTIFYING CLOSE CONTACTS, THAT'S TELLING US EVERY SCHOOL, STUDENTS THAT ARE QUARANTINED, ONLY ONE IS TURNING UP POSITIVE.

SO WE WANT TO GET THOSE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

CITING DISTRICTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPLORE THESE TESTS TO STAY MODELS.

TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS THE GOVERNORS GUIDANCE TO LAUNCH.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNORS GUIDANCE WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE THAT WILL BE LOOKING FOR SOME FORM OF TEST TO STAY.

ON THEIR OWN, OR WITHOUT THEIR GUIDANCE.

CHUCK SAMSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY ADDITIONAL GROWTH IN HEALTHCARE COSTS WITH 5% IN 2023.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL IS TO CUT THAT NUMBER BACK TO 2.8% GROWTH IN 2027.

ALL EYES ARE ON TRENTON YESTERDAY IS A LEGISLATURE CONVENED FOR THE LAST VOTING SESSION BEFORE THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

IT'S BLOCKED FROM ENTERING THE STATE HOUSE.

STALLING THE PROCESS WITH EACH AND EVERY BILL THAT CAME UP WITH THE BOAT.

IN THE END, THEY GOT THROUGH MOST OF OUR.

PASSING THINGS LIKE A BILL TO CODIFY SAME-SEX MARRIAGE INTO LAW OR 12 REQUIRE TELEMEDICINE VISITS.

SO WHAT ELSE PAST AND WHAT STALLED.

COLLEEN, WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE A WHOLE SEGMENT ON HOW THEY WERE PASSED IN THE STATE HOUSE.

WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION THAT WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AT THE END OF THE SESSION.

TALK ABOUT SOME KEY BILLS THAT WERE MOVED FORWARD LAST NIGHT?

MIMIC YES, I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING PROBABLY LIKE 200 BILLS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THEM BOTH HOUSES HAVE PASSED A STRONGER ANTI-BULLYING LAW FOR SCHOOLS.

WITH HAD A LOT IN PLACE FOR A WHILE.

THIS ONE MAKES IT A BIT TOUGHER.

IT'S MORE ONUS ON THE SCHOOL OFFICIALS.

YOU'VE GOT TO KIND OF STAY WITH THE PENALTIES ARE GOING TO BE.

AND ALSO, INCREASE THE FINES ON PARENTS WHO DON'T CRACKDOWN ON KIDS WHO MAY BE OUR CYBER BULLIED.

THERE'S ANOTHER SCHOOL RELATED BILL THAT TIES INTO GUN LEGISLATION.

IT WOULD CHANGE SECURITY DRILLS THAT STUDENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH NOW UNFORTUNATELY, THESE DAYS, TRYING TO MAKE IT LESS TRAUMATIC FOR THEM.

SO YOU HAVE OFFICIALS EXPLAIN YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING A DRILL.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THE LANGUAGE THAT CHILDREN CAN UNDERSTAND, BASED ON WHERE THEY ARE IN AGE.

AND ALSO, NOT PROHIBIT THE USE OF THINGS LIKE FAKE GUNS, OR THICK EXPLOSIONS.

THAT MIGHT MAKE THIS REALLY TERRIFYING FOR STUDENTS.

BILL IS KIND OF LOOKED IN WITH SCHOOL GUN MEASURES THAT PASSED.

ONE THAT WILL REQUIRE FOLKS WHO ALREADY OWN A FIREARM.

WHEN THEY ENTER THE STATE TO REGISTER HERE THERE ARE SOME OTHER GUN SAFETY BILLS THAT DID NOT MAKE IT YET.

BUT THERE IS MORE TIME BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE ENDS.

>> THERE'S A NEW PILOT PROGRAM COMING OUT OF AC.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> GIFT, SO THE CASINOS HAVE BEEN REALLY PUSHING FOR THIS.

IT WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CASINOS ARE PAYING IN TAXES.

CASINOS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING, LIKE A LOT OF OTHER BUSINESSES THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

BUT THEY WERE STRUGGLING BEFORE THEN.

SO THAT MADE IT THROUGH.

THERE'S ALSO A NEW INCREASED HOTEL TAX THAT MADE IT THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, BOTH GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THE GOVERNORS GOING TO HAVE TO SIGN OR NOT SIGN ALL OF THESE MEASURES.

>> CALLING, WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING TO SEE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL DO WITH REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY MOVEMENT?

MIMIC NO.

WE HEARD AGAIN YESTERDAY THAT THEY ARE STILL TALKING BEHIND THE SCENES.

THEY THOUGHT THAT THE BILL WENT A LITTLE TOO FAR.

CERTAINLY, IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT A VERY BLUE PROGRESSIVE STATE LIKE NEW JERSEY, ABORTION RIGHTS ARE NOT IN THE LAW.

SO IT IS AT LEAST PUTTING THAT INTO LOT SOMETHING THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR LEGISLATURES.

EXACTLY HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE WORDED, WE ARE NOT SURE.

>> AND THERE IS STILL ONE MORE VOTE IN SESSION WHEN WE COME BACK FROM THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

WE WILL BE WATCHING.

COLLEEN OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THINK YOU, JOANNA.

>> FAMILIES FACING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS WITHOUT WATER MAY BE GRANTED ANOTHER GRACE PERIOD.

GOVERNOR MURPHY IS EXPECTED TO SIGN A BILL THAT WILL KEEP THE SERVICES RUNNING THROUGH MARCH 15th.

THAT MORATORIUM IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR WATER SERVICES AND THE CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC.

A SIMILAR EXTENSION ALREADY EXISTS TO AVOID SHUTOFFS DURING THE WINTER.

RESIDENTS WHO NEED HELP PAYING THEIR PAST DUE BILLS NEED TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY.

TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT UTILITY CUSTOMERS NEED TO KNOW.

>> HAS TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE CONTINUE TO DROP, THE ABILITY FOR SOME NEW JERSEY HOUSEHOLDS TO KEEP THEIR HEAT AND LIGHT RUNNING IS CREATING SOME CONCERN.

ESPECIALLY AS SO MANY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> ELECTRIC AND GAS REALLY ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED.

WE ARE GOING INTO THE WINTER SEASON.

WHEN YOU HAVE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND THEY HAD TO USE THE INTERNET, THE ELECTRICITY IS THE INTERNET.

MORE THAN ANY TYPE OF ELECTRONICS.

YOU NEED ELECTRICITY TO USE THAT.

THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE LIGHTS UP HER ISSUES.

THEY HAVE LEGISLATION.

BUT IS THAT ENOUGH.

WILL COVER EVERYBODY?

AND THIS COULD LEAD TO LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS.

>> A MORATORIUM PROTECTING CONSUMERS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHUT OFF FOR NONPAYMENT EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31st.

BUT IS LESSENING, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE BILL, EXTENDING THE GRACE PERIOD FOR WATER INSERT CUSTOMERS THROUGH MARCH 15th.

GOVERNOR MURPHY IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THESE NEW PROTECTIONS INTO LAW.

STATE ROLES ALREADY PROHIBITING GAS AND ELECTRIC SHUTOFFS DURING THE WINTER FOR MANY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.

EARLY FOR MANY, AS --REPORTS NEARLY 100,000 CUSTOMERS ARE IN AS SOON AS NOVEMBER 1st.

THAT'S ROUGHLY $73.2 BILLION STILL OWED.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT MANY CUSTOMERS ARE IN A DIFFICULT FINANCIAL SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE LOST INCOME DURING THIS CRISIS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE THAT WAS UNAVAILABLE TO THEM BEFORE.

THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, A LOT OF THEM HAVE THEIR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS EXPANDED AS PART OF THE COVID PROGRAMS THAT HAVE PASSED.

THERE ARE VARIOUS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY SERVICE FUND.

THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO GET BACK FOR THESE CUSTOMERS.

I WOULD ALSO STRESS THAT THEY ARE, THAT THEY WORK WITH US, THAT THEY GET IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE REQUIRE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT JUST HELPS EXPEDITE THINGS ON OUR SIDE AND EXPEDITES THE FLOW OF MONEY.

I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH.

THEY ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

IF WE DON'T SPEND THEM, WE LOSE THEM.

>> THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES FOR FOLKS AS THE MORATORIUM ENDS.

AND ENSURING THAT EACH CUSTOMER GETS CONNECTED WITH THE BEST ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR THEM IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE AND FOR THE CUSTOMERS IN PARTICULAR TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN MAINTAIN THEIR CRUCIAL GAS, ELECTRIC AND WATER SERVICE.

>> UTILITY COMPANIES SAY THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH CUSTOMERS WHO NEED HELP.

THEY JUST NEED TO ASK.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, AM MELISSA -- >> HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED TODAY.

'S AFTER SERVING 8 TURNS IN CONGRESS, REPRESENTATIVE -- WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION IN THE NEW YEAR.

HE LEAVES AN OPENING FOR OTHERS IN THE STATE WITH NATIONAL POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS.

BUT MANY LEAVE THE DECISION OF WHO WILL BE THE ULTIMATE NOMINEE HANGING IN THE BALANCE LIKE AN ONGOING REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND THE POLITICAL MACHINE BEING CALLED INTO QUESTION.

SO WHO'S THE FRONT RUNNER RIGHT NOW?

AND WHO CAN SURPRISE US?

DAVID CRUISE TAKES AN INSIDE LOOK.

>> IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY.

THE FORMER WEST NEW YORK REFORMER WHO BEGAN HIS POLITICAL CAREER AS THE TORMENTOR OF MAYOR ANTHONY -- OFTEN ENDING IN HIS BEING ESCORTED FROM MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.

BUT THE FORMER MAYOR AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER WHO ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT THIS WEEK IS NOW COMFORTABLY PART OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.

>> THE EIGHTH DISTRICT IS THE MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW?

SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTS THE MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD.

>> THAT'S WHY, HIS SUCCESSOR SHOULD BE A MODERATE.

>> THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN CONGRESS IS, WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE LIGHT --RIGHT IN THE LEFT.

AND BUT HE IS DRIVING THE LEFT.

AND IT IS DRIVING THE RIGHT.

THIS COUNTRY HAS TO BE GOVERNED FROM THE MIDDLE.

>> HE HAS ENDORSED ROBERT MENENDEZ.

SON OF SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ WHO HELD THE SAME SEAT IN CONGRESS AND THEN CONFIGURED AS THE 14th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BACK IN THE 90s.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE YOUNGER MENENDEZ COULD EXPECT SUPPORT FROM THE POWERFUL HUDSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION, THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NOT SO FAST RESPONSE TO THAT IDEA.

MOSTLY, FROM THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE HUDSON DEMOCRATS.

HECTOR --UNSUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED SIERRAS IN THE 2020 PRIMARY.

HE SAID THIS WEEK THAT HE'S NOT SURE HE WILL MAKE ANOTHER RUN.

>> NO CANDIDATE HAS DECLARED IN THE RACE YET.

NOT EVEN THE EXPECTED ERROR OF PARENT.

SO THERE IS TIME NOW FOR MOBILIZATION.

AND FOR US TO SORT OF STRAP UP FOR THIS FIGHT.

SO YEAH, IT IS STILL A DEMOCRACY.

YOU KNOW, MR. MENENDEZ MAY ULTIMATELY END UP BEING THE BEST CANDIDATE.

BUT THAT WILL BE FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.

NOT FOR THE MACHINE TO DECIDE.

>> THE QUESTION OF WHETHER A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT CAN WIN A PRIMARY AND MY COUSIN COUNTY HAS YET TO BE ANSWERED.

AS OF 2020 THOUGH, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS NO.

>> --IS A GREAT GUY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY HE WAS SO SUCCESSFUL.

BECAUSE HE NEVER WAS SEEN AS A LEFT-WING NUT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YOU KNOW, HIS BACKGROUND WAS REPUBLICAN.

SO YOU KNOW -- >> RIGHT, BECAUSE HE WAS REPUBLICAN WAY BACK IN THE DAY.

>> HE WAS REPUBLICAN UNTIL HE RAN FOR THE ASSEMBLY.

>> AN OPEN SEAT PRISONS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHALLENGER.

MAYBE NOT A REPUBLICAN IN THIS VERY BLUE DISTRICT.

AND THAT HAS HELPED TO GENERATE A LIST THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE LIKE JERSEY CITY COUNCILMAN JAMES SOLOMON, WHO ALSO LIVES IN THE DISTRICT.

BUT ANOTHER NAME FROM WITHIN THE DISTRICT HAS OTHERS INTRIGUED.

>> THE DISTRICT ACTUALLY BOTH OVER TO THE NORTHWARD OF NEW WORK.

I THINK WE HAVE A PERFECT CANDIDATE.

VANESSA REESE.

SHE WILL GO TO CONGRESS AND ACTUALLY BE A REPRESENTATIVE FOR LATINAS IN NEW JERSEY.

I WANT TO INNOVATE.

>> REESE, WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST LaTINA ELECTED TO CONGRESS HAS NOT MOVED TO THE RUN IN OR OUT.

CALLING SPECULATION THIS WEEK PREMATURE.

ANOTHER FACTOR IS REDISTRICTING.

WHICH COULD ALTER THE PROFOUNDLY LaTINA DISTRICT IN UNPREDICTABLE WAYS.

AS COULD A COURT CASE THAT AFFECTS THE POWER OF COUNTY POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTROL PRIMARY BALLOTS.

THE NEW DISTRICT LINES COULD BE UNVEILED THIS WEEK, GIVING INTERESTED PARTIES PLENTY OF TIME TO SPECULATE AND MAYBE, TO PLAN.

I'M DAVID CRUISE.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WAS ON FULL DISPLAY IN TRENTON TODAY.

EVERY STUDENT AT MARTHA LOU -- MARTIN LUTHER KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECEIVED A GIFT.

A LOCAL FRATERNITY, COUNCILMAN -- WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM A RADIO DJ WHO RAN IN TOY DRIVE THAT LED TO MORE THAN 750 GIFTS COLLECTED FOR THESE KIDS.

PRINCIPAL OLIVIA RUSSO DESCRIBED WATCHING AND LISTENING TO HER STUDENTS REACTIONS AS PRICELESS.

A MOMENT OF PURE JOY TO REMIND US THAT EVEN IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

THE HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS.

WE WILL KEEP YOU UP WITH THE VERY LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN MARINE PROJECT BY --COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.