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AND BY RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

AND PSEG.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THANK YOU, FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED AND DYING FROM COVID-19 IN NEW JERSEY IS RISING AS THE CDC SAYS THE OMICRON VARIANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY HALF OF ALL COVID-19 CASES NATIONWIDE.

THE STATE REPORT ANOTHER 12,000 CASES AND 48 TO CONFIRMED COVID- 19 CASES.

AS OF LAST NIGHT THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED WITH SUSPECTED COVID-19 CASES AND THAT IS A 46% INCREASE.

IN RECENT DAYS, THE MAYORS OF AREAS CITIES HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

AND NEW MASK MANDATES ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE IN SEVERAL CITIES.

NEW WORK, SOUTH ORANGE AND MOTT CLEARED NOW HAVE MASK MANDATES.

THERE ARE NO UPDATES ON IF THE GOVERNOR MURPHY WILL PUT IN PLACE A STATEWIDE MANDATE.

THERE IS A RECOMMENDED ISOLATION PERIOD FOR THOSE THAT TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 DOWN TO FIVE DAYS AND THAT IS DOWN FROM 10, IF THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC AND WEAR A MASK AROUND OTHERS.

THE CDC SAYS A QUARANTINE PERIOD IS OKAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE EXPOSED FOR THE VIRUS AND THOSE THAT ARE BOOSTED MAY NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE AT ALL.

TO FIND OUT MORE BEHIND THE THINKING I SPOKE WITH DOCTOR STEPHANIE SILVEIRA, AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY.

THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE IN CODE TERMS OF CUTTING QUARANTINE TIMES IN HALF.

WHAT IS THIS BASED UPON?

>> THEY ARE BASING IT ON THE DECISION THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE INFECTIOUS ABOUT 1-2 DAYS BEFORE SHOWING SYMPTOMS AND 2-3 DAYS AFTER.

SO THAT BRINGS YOU TO A TOTAL OF FIVE DAYS.

AT THAT POINT YOU WERE OUT OF ISOLATION IN TERMS OF YOUR BODY BUT YOUR NOSE AND THE MOUTH THE TUESDAY IN ISOLATION SO YOU NEED TO KEEP THE MASK ON.

>> SO DOES THIS CHANGE THINGS AS FAR AS GETTING ESSENTIAL WORKERS BACK TO THE JOB?

IS IT SAFE?

>> I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

IF WE DO NOT HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS, THAT MAKES THE ENTIRE SYSTEM UNSAFE.

SO THERE IS A PILOT BETWEEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE INFECTIOUS AND WHEN THEY CAN BE SAFE.

WE ARE AT A SERIOUS RISK OF RUNNING OUT OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND ALSO STAFF.

WHAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS HOW CAN WE REDUCE TRANSMISSION SO THAT WE DO NOT GET TO A POINT WHERE HOSPITALS ARE OVERLOADED.

>> IS WEARING A MASK STILL THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT?

YOU MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A MASK AROUND PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, FOR INSTANCE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO REDUCE THE RISK OF TRANSMITTING IT WITHIN YOUR HOUSEHOLD IF YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED OR TEST POSITIVE, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS WEAR A MASK.

AND WE NEED TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT THIS.

THAT MEANS WEARING A MASK THAT IS TIGHT FITTING OVER THE NOSE AND UNDER THE CHIN.

WE SAW AN INCREASE WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE WEARING IT OVER THE CHIN BUT NOT OVER THE NOSE.

>> SO DO WE NEED TO THINK OF WIDESPREAD MANDATES?

>> I REALLY THINK WE DO.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WEAR EITHER TWO CLOTH MASKS OR A PAPER MASK AND THE CLOTH MASK OVER IT.

OR IT TIGHT FITTING N95 MASK.

THAT IS OF THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO BE GOING IN IN THE SHORT TERM.

>> BACK TO THE CDC RECOMMENDATIONS, IN TERMS OF THE ISOLATION PERIODS BEING SHORTENED, WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF TESTING BEFORE ENDING ISOLATION?

WILL THIS LEAD TO CONFUSION FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT SURE HOW LONG THEY SHOULD ISOLATE?

SHOULD THEY GET A TEST OR NOT?

>> I WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE GUIDANCE BE FIVE DAYS WITH A NEGATIVE TEST.

THEY SAY IF YOU HAVE NO SYMPTOMS OR IF YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE RESOLVING AND I THINK THAT IS TRICKY.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE NO SYMPTOMS OR TO BE FEELING A BIT BETTER?

THAT IS NOT A HARD AND FAST RULE.

WE DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT TESTING AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW SO WE HAVE TO WORK ON THE HONOR SYSTEM, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> IT IS GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU AS ALWAYS DOCTOR.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> SCHOOLS ARE GRAPPLING WITH WHAT TO DO AFTER THE BREAK.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY IS EXTENDING THEIR BREAK IN THE HOPES OF FLATTENING THE CAMPUS POSITIVITY RATE.

LEADERS IN K-12 SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY DECIDED THAT THEY WILL GO REMOTE FOR A FEW WEEKS AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR.

JOANNA I CAN GUESS REPORTS THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT INCREASING CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> WE SAW AN UPTICK AND WE SAW CASES GO FROM 35 UP TO 42 ABOUT 125 AND THEN THE THIRD WEEK OF DECEMBER, WE SAW EVEN MORE OF AN INCREASE.

>> Reporter: AND THAT IS WHY THE DISTRICT ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD GO REMOTE FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS BEER >> AND THEY WILL STAY OUT UNTIL JANUARY 10 IF THEY GET CLEARANCE TO RETURN.

>> MANY PEOPLE CONCURRED WITH THIS BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE CAN USE TO DO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT I AM GOING TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOLARS ARE SAFE.

>> Reporter: STAFF COVID-19 CASES HAVE RISEN BY 60% AND STUDENTS BY 33%.

THAT BRINGS THEM TO 10,000 CASES IN THE NUMBER OF KIDS HOSPITALIZED HAS TRIPLED A.

THEY THINK THAT DISTRICTS SHOULD HAVE MORE OF A CUSHION BEFORE OPENING DOORS.

>> ADVICE I THINK IF WE HAD ONE WEEK OF REMOTE LEARNING AND WE WERE ABLE TO EASE BACK INTO THE FULL DAY -- AND THIS MAY NOT BE A POPULAR THING TO SAY -- WHEN THE BIGGEST AREAS OF IT EXPOSURE IS EATING.

>> Reporter: THE IDEAL SCENARIO WOULD BE HALF DAYS UNTIL NUMBERS COME DOWN.

SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS DAY LAUNCHED A TESTING PROGRAM NOW WHERE STUDENTS AND STAFF CAN STAY IN SCHOOL WITH A NEGATIVE RAPID TEST.

>> IF THEY IMPLEMENTED IN THE WAY THAT THEY SAY THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED.

MEANING IT WILL NOT LAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE SCHOOL NURSE.

IT WILL BE WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT, WHICH WE NEED DESPERATELY.

I THINK IT COULD BE HELPFUL IN LIMITING LOST TASHA UNNECESSARILY LOST SCHOOL DAYS.

>> Reporter: NEW GUIDANCE, FROM THE CDC YESTERDAY THAT LIMITS ISOLATION TIME TO FIVE DAYS IF SYMPTOMS IMPROVE AND QUARANTINE TIMES ARE ALSO LIMITED TO FIVE DAYS.

>> SYMPTOMS IMPROVING, TO ME, IS VERY SUBJECTIVE.

WHAT DOES SYMPTOM IMPROVING MADE TO ME AS A NURSE?

VERSUS A PARENT THAT WANTS TO GET THEIR CHILD BACK IN SCHOOL?

THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

TRUCK THE CDC CHANGE GUIDANCE, AND EVEN FOR THOSE THAT ARE POSITIVE, WITH THAT HAVE CHANGED OR PLANNED PLAN?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THIS WAS NOT A DECISION MADE IN ISOLATION.

BUT RATHER, IT WAS MINDFUL OF THE SEASON THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.

IT IS MINDFUL OF WHAT IS GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO WAIT.

WE SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH IN THE CITY OF PATTERSON.

AND WITH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT GUIDANCE THEY PUT OUT.

>> Reporter: SCHAFER SAYS THAT IS THE GUIDANCE SHE WILL FOLLOW BUT PARENTS, THEY ARE SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> I GIVE KUDOS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR SENDING OUT THE MESSAGE ONGOING REMOTE AS SOON AS SHE DID.

I THOUGHT I WOULD GET INFORMATION BEFORE GOING REMOTE ON WHAT THE SCHEDULE COULD BE LIKE.

SO I CAN BE PREPARED AS A MOM AND A WORKING MOM.

I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GO OVER IT WITH HIM ON THE LAST DAVID HE IS FOUR YEARS OLD.

>> Reporter: A NEW YEAR AND A NEW GROUP OF STUDENTS GOING REMOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM A MAN.GENGHIS.

>>> AS OF MID DAY THERE ARE 90 CANCELLATIONS AT NEWARK AIRPORT, ACCORDING TO FLIGHT AWARE.

900 ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED ON TOP OF THE THOUSANDS CANCELED SINCE CHRISTMAS EVE.

AIRLINES WERE FORCED TO DROP FLIGHTS AS PEOPLE CALLED OUT SICK DURING THE BUSY TRAVEL SEASON AND TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

>>> NEW JERSEY LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE STILL ALLOWING VISITORS.

THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS AND STAFF HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST TWO DOSES OF THE VACCINE SO THERE IS HOPE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS.

BUT AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS, THERE ARE CHALLENGES.

>> Reporter: IT TOOK A FULL YEAR FOR THE STATE TO RELAX RESTRICTIONS AT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

LIMITED VISITS RESUMED IN MARCH AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES REQUIRE FACILITIES TO ALLOW VISITATION AT ALL TIMES FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

BUT, WITH THE NUMBER OF CASES ON THE RISE AGAIN, THERE IS CONCERN THAT CASES COULD MOVE BACKWARDS.

>> THERE IS A FEAR OF ANOTHER SHUTDOWN.

THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE IF THERE IS NOT A SHUTDOWN.

AND THAT THINGS WILL NEVER EVER BE ABLE TO RETURN TO PRE-COVID- 19 FREEDOM AND ABILITY FOR LOVED ONES TO VISIT THEIR FAMILY.

>> AT MY PARTICULAR LOCATION, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD VIRTUALLY NO COVID-19 CASES OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE RECENT SPIKE IN THE COUNTY.

WHICH LED TO A SPIKE IN OUR FACILITY.

SO, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THREE CASES IN THE BUILDING IN TERMS OF RESIDENCE OUT OF A POPULATION OF 200.

THAT SEEMS PRETTY SMALL BUT IN RELATION TO EVERYONE ELSE, IT CAUSES HEADACHES.

>> Reporter: LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES REMAIN OPEN FOR VISITATION HOWEVER, THEY ARE FACING A NEW SET OF CHALLENGES AS STAFF MEMBERS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO COVID-19 AND FORCING MANY INTO QUARANTINE.

>> ONE PEOPLE CALL OUT SICK OR THEY SHOW UP AND THEN THEY TEST POSITIVE, THERE IS NOT THE BACKUP SUPPLY OF STAFF TO FILL THOSE SHOES.

SO YOU END UP WITH FACILITIES THAT ARE SHORT STAFFED ON SHIFT.

IT BECOMES HARDER AND HARDER TO TAKE CARE OF RESIDENTS, AS YOUR STAFF SHORTAGES BECOME MORE EXTREME.

>> THE INCREASE IN OUTBREAKS IS CAUSING SOME DISRUPTION IN TERMS OF ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNAL DINING FOR RESIDENTS.

THAT IS UNFORTUNATE AND A THROWBACK TO WHERE WE WERE IN THE SPRING OF 2020.

IN TERMS OF THE MORE THE MORTALITY RATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING.

>> Reporter: THAT BIT OF GOOD NEWS IS ATTRIBUTED TO HIGH VACCINATION RATES.

AS OF YESTERDAY, 93% OF RESIDENTS AT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES OR CONSIDER VACCINATED.

ABOUT 87% OF STAFF ARE ALSO FULLY VACCINATED BUT ONLY ABOUT 40% HAVE GOTTEN THE BOOSTER SHOT.

>> IT IS PROBABLY SIMILAR TO THE RESISTANCE THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING WHEN IT CAME TO THE INITIAL ROUND OF GETTING THE VACCINE P ARE BUT WE FULLY EXPECT THAT THE STAFFING NUMBERS AND BOOSTERS WILL GO UP .

>> WE CAN NEVER GO BACK TO A SHUTDOWN AND THE ISOLATION THAT ONCE EXISTED.

BECAUSE OF THEIR HEALTH IS TIED TO THEIR ABILITY TO SEE THEIR LOVED ONE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS NOT COMPROMISED AGAIN.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES SAY THEY RECOGNIZE THAT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE FACILITIES, CONTINUE.

PEOPLE ARE BEING WORN TO TAKE EXTRA MASKS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY STAYS SAFE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> A MOTHER HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF MURDERING HER FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON AND HER CASES BEEN OVERTURNED.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST WELL- KNOWN CRIMINAL CASES IN NEW JERSEY.

TODAY THE STATE SUPREME COURT, AND COLD 4-3 DECISION, STATED THAT NO REASONABLE JURY COULD FIND, BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, THAT SHE PURPOSELY OR KNOWINGLY CAUSED THE DEATH OF TIMOTHY.

IN 1991, HIS MOTHER, CLAIMED THAT HER SON DISAPPEARED FROM KENNEDY PARK ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

SHE CHANGED HER STORY SEVERAL TIMES BUT WAS NOT CHARGED.

THE BODY OF HER SON WAS DISCOVERED ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER.

THE MURDER WAS CONSIDERED A COLD CASE UNTIL 2014, WHEN INVESTIGATORS TOOK ANOTHER LOOK AT EVIDENCE THAT THEY BELIEVED TIED TO THE MOTHER TO THE CASE.

THAT YEAR SHE WAS ARRESTED IN FLORIDA.

TWO YEARS LATER SHE WAS TRIED, CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON.

AN APPEALS COURT UPHELD THAT DECISION AND THE SUPREME COURT AGREED TO HEAR THE CASE IN 2020.

>>> THE NEW JERSEY LAME DUCK LEGISLATURE WILL BE HEARING NEW CASES AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOME LAME DUCK BILLS WILL NOT GET PAST.

WILL REPORT ON THE LEGISLATION THAT MAY HAVE TO WAIT TO ANOTHER SESSION.

TRUCK AT TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, LAWMAKERS ARE PART-TIME WORKERS BUT SOME WILL TELL YOU IT IS A FULL-TIME JOB.

WITH MOST OF THE SUMMER OFTEN PLENTY OF HOLIDAY BREAKS, IT IS A WONDER WHY, SO OFTEN, THERE IS A MAD RUSH TO CLOSE OUT LEGISLATIVE ITEMS IN LAME DUCK SESSIONS.

THE 219th LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS KEEPING WITH THAT.

WITH JUST ONE VOTING DAY LEFT BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION, THERE ARE BIG-TICKET ITEMS THAT WILL EITHER SEE A VOTE OR DIE WAITING.

>> THERE ARE THINGS IN POLITICS THAT YOU CANNOT EXPLAIN.

THE RIGHT MOMENT IS THE RIGHT MOMENT AND SOMETIMES THINGS ARE NOT THE RIGHT MOMENT.

YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO SUPPORT IT OR NOT.

>> Reporter: THIS ASSEMBLY MEMBER HAS SEEN HIS SHARE OF THE LAST DAY SESSIONS.

EVEN THE SPONSORS AND COSPONSORS OF BILLS, LIKE THE BILL FOR THE SUBPOENA AND POWERED COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS, MUST SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO THE WILL OF PARTY MEMBERS.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE TENACIOUS.

IS SOMETIMES THINGS ARE BIGGER THAN THAT.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE HERE IN MY OPINION, THERE IS NO REASON THAT SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT UP.

>> Reporter: IT HAS NEVER BEEN POPULAR WITH THE POWERFUL POLICE UNIONS AND SOME OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE SIDES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN NEW JERSEY, THEY ARE NOT KEEN ABOUT IT EITHER BUT IT WOULD LOT SEE IF THIS SEASON.

YOU CAN ALSO PUT THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT IN THAT CATEGORY.

>> IT APPEARS TO BE ON A ROAD THAT IS STILL BEING TRAVELED.

I AM STILL MEETING WITH THE ADVOCATES.

AND WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE.

I AM STILL HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO.

SO THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ASSEMBLY DO AND THAT THE SENATE HAS DONE.

AND HAS PASSED.

THE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT REFORM BILL, AS IT IS KNOWN, WAS PASSED IN THE SENATE TRUCK THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CRAIG KAUFMAN WAS UNAVAILABLE TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY SO IT IS STILL A MYSTERY AS TO WHAT SENATE APPROVED BILLS HIS HOUSE WILL POST AND WHAT BILLS WILL BE POSTED IN ANTICIPATION OF SENATE ACTION.

>> SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD ALMOST 20 MONTHS AGO, WE HAVE SEEN NOTHING IN NEW JERSEY MOVE FORWARD TO ADVANCE POLICE REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY BE KIRK.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF WORDS BUT NOTHING HAS COME TO FRUITION.

>> MANY SAY THIS WAS A CALL TO POCKETBOOK ISSUES.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHOSE KITCHEN TABLE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUT AT MINE, WE TALK ABOUT IF THERE IS A MEDICAL NEED.

I TALK ABOUT IF THERE IS AN IMPACT ON RACIAL JUSTICE.

I TALK ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO COVER, INCLUDING HEALTH INSURANCE.

INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT MEDICAL NEEDS ARE COVERED.

THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT.

IT IS NOT THE WEALTHY THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME ACCESSING ABORTION.

IT IS THOSE THAT ARE MARGINALIZED.

>> Reporter: VOICES THAT ARE MARGINALIZED JUST BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> A SIMILAR SHOWING COULD MEAN TROUBLE FOR SOME OF THE NEW JERSEY 10 DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE.

I SPOKE WITH THE NJ SPOTLIGHT SENIOR WRITER COLLEEN DAY ABOUT HOW PARTIES ARE GEARING UP FOR 2022.

COLLEEN, WHAT ARE THE LESSONS LEARNED FOR BOTH PARTIES AS THE YEAR WINDS DOWN TO A CLOSE AND PARTIES ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO THE VOTING.

>> Reporter: FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE LESSON IS, DON'T COUNT THE REPUBLICANS OUT.

REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY QUITE MOTIVATED IN THIS LAST ELECTION THAT WE SAW THIS YEAR.

AND FOR THE REPUBLICANS, THE MESSAGES, DESPITE HAVING 1 MILLION FEWER REGISTERED MEMBERS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF FOLKS DO GO OUT AND VOTE.

AND IF YOU CAN COMBINE WITH INDEPENDENT VOTERS SEND UNAFFILIATED VOTERS.

WHO ARE FEELING THE SAME WAY THAT YOU ARE AND WHO ARE FRUSTRATED AND WHO WANT TO CHANGE.

I THINK BOTH PARTIES HAVE A MESSAGE THERE TO MOTIVATE VOTERS IN THE COMING YEAR.

>> IS THERE OPTIMISM FROM REPUBLICANS ABOUT A RED WAVE NEXT YEAR?

>> IT DEFINITELY.

WE SEE, TYPICALLY IN THE MIDTERM AFTER A PARTY WINS THE PRESIDENCY, THAT THE PARTY OUT OF POWER DOES WELL.

SO IN 2018, AFTER TRUMP WON, WE SAW A BLUE WAVE.

THERE WERE FOUR SEATS THAT WERE PICKED IT UP THAT NOBODY EXPECTED.

SO THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DEFEND THOSE AND THAT WILL BE TOUGH, GIVEN THAT JOE BIDEN IS NOW THE PRESIDENT AND A DEMOCRAT.

>> Reporter: SO WHAT OTHER THINGS DO WE NEED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR?

>> SO WE NEED TO WATCH A THIRD WHERE ANDY KIM IS.

HE HAD THIS SOUTH JERSEY DISTRICT THAT STRETCHED FROM BURLINGTON OVER TO OCEAN TO THE ATLANTIC.

THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED NOW.

SO, BURLINGTON, THE MORE DEMOCRATIC PLACE, HAS MOVED UP NORTH TO MONMOUTH AND EVEN TO MERCER.

RIGHT NOW, CHRIS SMITH IS LIVING IN THAT DISTRICT.

HE IS IN, OR THE DEMOCRATS IT DREW THE LINE, HE PUT THEM IN THE THIRD DISTRICT RATHER THAN THE FOURTH.

CHRIS SMITH SAID HE WOULD RUN IN THE FOURTH BUT, IF HE WOULD DECIDE TO TRY TO RUN IN THE THIRD, MAYBE HE WOULD HAVE A BETTER SHOT.. TRUCK SO TO TELL ME ABOUT A BILL INTRODUCED BY STATE SENATOR TROY SINGLETON THAT COULD IMPACT THE WAY WE SEE ELECTION SO WHAT HAPPENS DURING ELECTIONS.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020.

EARLY MAIL-IN BALLOTS BE CANVASSED, AS THEY SAY, WHICH IS OPENED AND COUNTED.

BUT WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING WHAT THAT IS.

AND THEN, FIRST THING, ON ELECTION NIGHT OR ELECTION MORNING, FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS, THE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE AND YOU CAN REPORT THAT RIGHT AWAY.

IT JUST SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE BECAUSE OF THE CONFUSION THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.

>> LOTS TO WATCH FOR NEXT YEAR.

HILL, COLLEEN.

>> THANK YOU, RHONDA.

>>> AT COMING UP, THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC IT DASHES EXCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR A FESTIVAL CHALLENGE GRANT.

THE COMPETITIVE GRANT WILL PROVIDE TO $2 MILLION TO AN ORGANIZATION TO SUPPORT THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF AN ARTS AND INNOVATION FESTIVAL TO BE HELD THIS SUMMER OR THE FALL OF NEXT YEAR.

THIS WOULD BE THE STATE AND NAG- YEAR-OLD FESTIVAL EVENT DESIGN TO SHOWCASE BIRDS.

BOTH NONPROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT GROUPS CAN APPLY FOR THIS EVENT.

>>> HERE IS A CHECK ON THE STOCK MARKET ACTION TODAY.

♪ >> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT HEAD OVER TO THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

THANK YOU, FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.