>>> 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 PSE&G FOUNDATION, AND BY THE BILL MERCHANT ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, AND SMART HEAT NJ.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BREANA VINOD SAY.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, AND FOR BREANA VANNOZZI.

WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE LATEST COVID-19 VARIANT, BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT WE DON'T KNOW.

OMICRON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED NOW IN 19 STATES AND 50 COUNTRIES, ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT DELTA REMAINS THE DOMINANT VARIANT, AND IT IS ON THE RISE.

IN NEW JERSEY, OUR RATE OF TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO MOVE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

IT IS AT 1.34 TODAY, UP FROM 1.26 YESTERDAY.

THE STATE REPORTED NEARLY 2800 NEW COVID-19 CASES, AND ANOTHER 29 DEATHS.

>>> MEANTIME, WE MAY NEW SOON FIND OUT IF OMICRON IS BECOMING MORE PREVALENT IN NEW JERSEY.

THE UNION COUNTY COVID-19 PARTNERSHIP LAB HAS EXPANDED ITS TESTING PROTOCOLS TO DETECT THE OMICRON VARIANT.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN GOT AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE TESTING.

>> Reporter: IN THIS SMALL LAB, KANE UNIVERSITY IS DOUBLING DOWN ON HIS HUNT FOR COVID STRAINS DRIVEN BY THE SUDDEN ARRIVAL OF OMICRON UNIVERSITY, THE NO SWAB SAMPLES COME FROM TEST SITES AROUND THE CAMPUS AND UNION COUNTY, AND THEY ARE PREPPED FOR GENOMIC SEQUENCING HERE.

BEFORE OMICRON, THEY WOULD JUST TEST RANDOM SAMPLES AND STORE THE REST, BUT NOW IT IS SEQUENCING EVERY POSITIVE TEST IT GETS.

>> Reporter: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START LOOKING FOR OMICRON?

>> WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE VIRUS.

THERE IS INTERNATIONAL CONCERN ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS MIGHT YOU KNOW, GLOBALLY, AND THE NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY AREA IS AN OBVIOUS LIKELY TARGET FOR INITIATION OF SPREAD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE IT WITHIN THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK AS WE START TO SEE MORE COMING IN TO THE LAB, AND THE SEQUENCING RAMPS UP.

>> Reporter: AFTER THE PREP PROCESS, RESEARCHERS END UP WITH A SMALL VIAL SITTING AT THE FILE, AND EVEN SMALLER DROP FROM 40 DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THEY ARE LOADED INTO A SPECIAL DETECTION KIT THAT BARCODES THE SAMPLES.

>> 40 DIFFERENT BARCODES.

EACH OF THOSE BARCODES IS IN TURN COMPRISED OF ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT LITTLE FRAGMENTS, AND THEN THE SOFTWARE WILL PUT THOSE FRAGMENTS BACK TOGETHER TO GIVE US THE ENTIRE GENOME SEQUENCE COVERAGE.

>> Reporter: LINE GRAPHS DISPLAY RESULTS, AND RESEARCHERS CAN CHECK FOR DIFFERENT STRAINS.

THE DELTA STRAIN DOMINATES ALMOST 99% OF NEW JERSEY'S COVID INFECTIONS.

IT TAKES ABOUT 3 DAYS TO RETURN RESULTS, AND DATA THAT USED TO BE SCRUTINIZED MOSTLY BY UNIVERSITY STAFF WILL NOW BE POOLED WITH GOVERNOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

>> NOW THAT WE ARE DOING THIS IN A PROACTIVE WAY, WE WILL BE SENDING IT TO UNION COUNTY INTO THE STATE REPOSITORY, AND THE FEDERAL REPOSITORY AS WELL.

>> Reporter: THIS LAB COULD EASILY SEQUENCE 300 POSITIVE SAMPLES PER WEEK, AND UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE READY TO EXPAND OPERATIONS IF THE STATE REQUESTS.

>> WITH THE NEW INTRODUCTION OF OMICRON, WE SHOULD BE TESTING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE NOW, SO THAT WE CAN GET ON TOP OF IT, AND SEE IF WE CAN CONTROL IT THROUGH CONTACT TRACING, QUARANTINE AND CONTACT TRACING.

>> Reporter: DR. MARTIN BLASER NOTES THAT OMICRON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED NOW IN AT LEAST 19 U.S. STATES, INCLUDING NEW JERSEY, AND 50 COUNTRIES.

IT SPREADS TWICE AS FAST AS DELTA.

>> IT'S NO SURPRISE IF WE SHOULD HAVE MORE CASES REPORTED EVERY DAY IS THE AMOUNT OF TESTING GOES UP.

HER BACK DR. EDDIE PRESIDENT SAYS WHILE SOUTH AFRICA FIRST DETECTED THE OMICRON VARIANT, THE STRAIN SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD, NEW JERSEY RAMPED UP ITS LAB CAPACITY TO CONDUCT MORE GENOMIC TESTING AS VARIANCE MULTIPLIED MONTHS AGO, AND CAN NOW SEQUENCE 7% OF POSITIVE TESTS.

>> YOU DON'T NEED TO TEST EVERY SPECIMEN.

ONCE YOU KNOW IT IS HERE, AND ONCE YOU KNOW THAT IT IS PROBABLY MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN OTHER VARIANCE, THEN THERE IS NOTHING ADDITIONAL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO, EXCEPT TWO, AGAIN, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN VACCINATED TO GET VACCINATED, THOSE WHO CAN GET BOOSTERS, GET BOOSTERS.

>> Reporter: COVID ANTIBODY TREATMENTS SHOWED IN LAB TESTS IT COULD BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST OMICRON, BUT SCIENTISTS ARE STILL STUDYING THE VARIANT TO GAVE ITS SENSITIVITY TO VACCINES.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS SAY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED STILL RUN THE BIGGEST RISK.

>> WE HAVE TO TAKE REALLY STRINGENT STEPS TO PROTECT PEOPLE, BECAUSE SOMEBODY WHO IS UNPROTECTED IS NOT ONLY A RISK TO THEMSELVES, BUT OF RISK TO THEIR FAMILY, AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: RESIDENT BIDEN SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL REACH OUT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA TO PUSH VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTERS, A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TARGETING 100 MILLION AMERICANS.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, PATTERSON HAS SET A RECORD FOR HOMICIDES.

LAST THURSDAY'S FATAL SHOOTING OF A WOMAN WAS THE 28th HOMICIDE IN THE CITY THIS YEAR, AND SADLY, PATTERSON IS NOT ALONE.

THIS TREND OF INCREASED VIOLENCE IS ALSO BEING SEEN IN OTHER BIG NEW JERSEY CITIES, LIKE NEWARK AND TRENTON.

ALYSSA ROSE COOPER LOOKS AT WHAT IS BEHIND THE RISE IN CRIME, AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE.

>>> YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BETTER ABOUT THE KILLING, THE GUNS ON THE STREET.

>> Reporter: ERICA DAVIS HAS OWNED HER HOME FOR OVER 10 YEARS, BUT THE CONTINUED GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY HAS HER WORRIED ABOUT HER SAFETY, SO SHE IS MOVING TO TEXAS NEXT MONTH.

>> IT'S CRAZY.

FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS, LAST MONTH WITH THE GIRL GETTING SHOT, AND ANOTHER GIRL GETTING SHOT LAST WEEK, IT IS JUST SHOCKING.

>> Reporter: PATTERSON SAW HIS 28th HOMICIDE IN 2021, AFTER A WOMAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED LAST WEEK.

IT IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THE CITY HAS SET A RECORD IN HOMICIDES.

THERE WERE 27 PEOPLE KILLED IN 2020, THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN THE CITY SINCE 2014.

>> OUR COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING A VOLATILE AND VIOLENT TIME.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR EXPRESSED HIS CONCERNS WITH THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.

LIKE MANY MAJOR CITIES, PATTERSON IS ALSO SEEING ITS SHARE OF SHOOTINGS, BUT THE CITY IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO REDUCE IT.

>> WE HAVE SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNDERWAY, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEIZE OVER 200 GUNS.

NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE HIRING 25 NEW POLICE OFFICERS, AND WE ARE ALSO GOING TO ANNOUNCE NEXT WEEK THAT WE HAVE A NEW ACADEMY CLASS STARTING IN JANUARY, AND THAT IS 31 POLICE OFFICERS.

>> USING DATA, EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING, USING THE CEASE-FIRE MODEL, AND USING THE STREET CRIME UNIT, WITH ALL OF OUR UNITS, AND NARCOTICS, AND THE REST COMBINED, WHEN I HAVE THOSE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, 40% REDUCTION.

WE WILL BE IN THE AREA OF 439 POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE HIGHEST IN A DECADE SINCE THE LAYOFFS.

4 PATTERSON IS NOT THE ONLY CITY IN NEW JERSEY FACING CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO GUN VIOLENCE.

THERE HAVE BEEN 54 MURDERS IN NEWARK IN THIS YEAR, ONE MORE THAN THE CITY SOUGHT IN ALL OF 2020.

MOST OF THEM, THE RESULTS OF FATAL SHOOTINGS.

>> THE LEGAL SALES OF GUNS IN THIS COUNTRY EXPLODED EVERYWHERE IN MARCH OF 2020, AND THAT HAS NOT RECEDED.

THIS YEAR, WE HAVE COVERED DOZENS OF GHOST GUNS, WHICH ARE FIREARMS THAT YOU CAN BUY OVER THE INTERNET IN KIDS, AND THEN ASSEMBLE THEM ONCE YOU RECEIVE IT IN THE MAIL.

I DON'T HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS AND ARE NOT TRACEABLE, SO WHILE WE HAVE RECOVERED OVER THREE DOZEN HERE, NOW, GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW MANY ARE BEING USED IN CRIMES IN THE CITY THAT WE AREN'T AWARE OF YET.

>> LAST YEAR WAS A RECORD- BREAKING YEAR FOR GUN VIOLENCE, GUN DEATHS, AND WE KNEW WE WOULD BE RIGHT HERE AT THE DOOR, BREAKING THAT RECORD 6 MONTHS AGO, BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE.

I THINK IT WAS A NINE OR 10% INCREASE IN THE FIRST SIX BACK MONTHS OF 2021, WHICH SIGNALED THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO BE RIGHT ON THE DOOR OF BREAKING THAT NUMBER FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS AROUND 44,000 GUN DEATHS, TO INCLUDE SUICIDES.

THIS YEAR WE ARE AT THE DOOR OF ALMOST 42,000 MILE WITH THE BETTER PART OF DECEMBER TO GO.

>> Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST 800 SHOOTINGS IN THE STATE SINCE APRIL 15.

182 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATES MAINTAIN MORE RESOURCES NEED TO BE INVESTED IN COMMUNITIES PLAGUED BY VIOLENCE.

>> WE SEE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING, IDS, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.

THERE IS SO MUCH HURT FROM THE PANDEMIC.

>> IF YOU TRAIN RESIDENTS AS PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND DE- ESCALATION STRATEGY OR A TRAUMA INFORMED LENS, THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEALTH MODEL, MEANING THAT YOU WOULD EQUIP THOSE CLOSEST IN PROXIMITY TO DO THE INTERVENTION, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

>> Reporter: THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AGREES.

A SPOKESPERSON ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING APART WE CAN'T END GUN VIOLENCE UNLESS WE INVEST IN THE PEOPLE WORKING ON THE GROUND TO MAKE THEIR COMMUNITIES SAFER.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE LEADING EFFORTS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE TACKLING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WAS A THREE- PRONGED APPROACH THAT ELUDES TREATING THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE, KEEPING WEAPONS AWAY FROM THOSE MOST LIKELY TO HARM OTHERS, AND TAKING SWIFT ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW.

ADVOCATES SAY THEY RECOGNIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN STOP GUN VIOLENCE, BUT ARE HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE RIGHT RESOURCES, THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM ALYSSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S TOURISM INDUSTRY IS ON THE REBOUND, ACCORDING TO NEW FIGURES FROM THE STATE.

OVER THE SUMMER, HOTELS SAW INCREASED BOOKINGS, AND BEACH TAG REVENUES WERE UP AS WELL.

ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS HAVE ALSO SEEN THEIR REVENUES INCREASE, THEY WOULD LIKE TO HANG ONTO MORE OF THEIR PROFITS.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN MAY DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH A BILL THAT WOULD AMEND THE CASINO PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TEXAS, OR PILOT LAW.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ TAKES A LOOK AT THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST CHANGING THE PILOT LAW, AND THE IMPACT IT COULD HAVE ON ATLANTIC CITY.

>> Reporter: A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES IS A DEAL CITIES MAKE WITH DEVELOPERS, OR IN THE CASE WITH ATLANTIC CITY, AN INDUSTRY.

IT GUARANTEES THE CITY A STREAM OF INCOME, AND ALLOWS THE INDUSTRY, CASINOS, TO KNOW WHAT THEIR BILL WILL BE EVERY YEAR, BUT THE STATES CASINO INDUSTRY HAS BEEN SO VOLATILE, AND THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATION SO TENUOUS, THAT A STATE TAKEOVER AND A NEW PILOT PROGRAM WERE PUT IN PLACE IN 2016.

>> 5 YEARS LATER, THE CASINO INDUSTRY HAS ALSO REBOUNDED, AND IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, CASINOS REPORTED 30% MORE IN THEIR PROFIT THAN THEY DID AT THE SAME TIME IN 2019.

INTERNET GAMING AND SPORTS WAGERING ARE SIGNIFICANT REASONS FOR THIS GROWTH.

>> Reporter: THAT IS FORMER ATLANTIC CITY MARITIME GUARDIAN, NOW AN ASSEMBLYMAN DIRECT, TESTIFYING AT A SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING THIS WEEK, HOPING TO SWEETEN THE PILOT POT FOR THE CASINO INDUSTRY.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE BILL WOULD REMOVE INTERNET GAMING, AND SPORTS WAGERING, THE TWO HOTTEST REVENUE STREAMS FOR THE INDUSTRY, FROM THE PILOT FORMULA, AND THAT IS NOT SITTING WELL WITH THE FORMER MAYOR.

>> WHILE ENJOYING RECORD- BREAKING REVENUES, AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE PILOT LIFESPAN, CASINOS WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE FORMULA TO ALLOW THEM TO KEEP MORE OF THEIR PROFITS.

>> Reporter: DEFINITELY NOT THAT SIMPLE, SAYS SWEENEY, WARNING GUARDIAN AND OTHERS AT THE INDUSTRY, WHICH SAW FOUR CASINOS CLOSE IN 2014, COULD FACE A SIMILAR DILEMMA TODAY.

>> WE ARE RISKING FOUR CASINOS CLOSING.

I AM GLAD THE MAYOR RECOGNIZED THIS.

WE MADE SOME MISTAKES IN THE PILOT BILL.

WE CREATED SOME BIG CLIFFS.

IF WE DON'T FIX THEM, YOU RUN THE RISK OF CLOSING FOUR CASINOS.

>> Reporter: SWEENEY, WHO SAT IN ON THE SESSION TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, WAS NOT NAMING ANY NAMES, AND THE CASINO INDUSTRY WAS NOT REPRESENTED AT THE HEARING, WHICH LEFT SOME SENATORS WITH QUESTIONS WANTING.

>> I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, CONSIDERING WHAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO UNDERTAKE TODAY.

>> Reporter: ANALYSIS FROM THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES SAYS THE NEW PILOT WILL COST THE CITY, COUNTY, AND SCHOOLS ABOUT $55 MILLION IN TOTAL ANNUAL LOST REVENUE, AND AN ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT PROJECTED TENS OF MILLIONS OF ANNUAL SAVINGS FOR THE CITY'S INDIVIDUAL CASINOS, BUT SENATOR VINCENT POLISTINA SAYS THE BILL SHORTCHANGES ATLANTIC COUNTY.

>> IF THE BILL STAYS AS IS, MY VOTE IS NO.

THERE IS SOME CONSENSUS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN BUILD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

I THINK AS YOU HAVE SEEN, THE SENATE BILL, SENATOR SWEENEY'S BILL, HAS THE PILOT SET AT $110 MILLION.

THE BILL IN THE ASSEMBLY SETS THE PILOT AT $125 MILLION.

I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH THAT LOWER RANGE AND UPPER RANGE, AND I THINK WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHICH WOULD BE PALATABLE TO EVERYBODY.

>> Reporter: JOE LUPO, WHO RUNS THE HARD ROCK AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE CASINO ASSOCIATION, WROTE IN AN OP-ED IN THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY THIS WEEK SAYING, VIRTUAL GAMBLING HAS BEEN GOOD, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS HAS BEEN STATED, LEADING TO WHAT HE CALLED A GREAT MISPERCEPTION AROUND THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

THE MONTHLY REPORTING OF REVENUE COMBINES ONLINE AND LAND-BASED GAMING REVENUES, THUS CREATING A NUMBER THAT DOES NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE INDUSTRY.

MEANWHILE, FOR THE STATE, WHICH STILL RUNS MUCH OF ATLANTIC CITY'S GOVERNMENT, THERE IS NO IN LIEU OF, IT IS JUST TAXES.

IT GETS TO KEEP ALL OF THE MILK IT GETS FROM THE CASH COW.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IN TODAY'S A SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, WE MAY SEE MORE MOVIES AND TV SHOWS MADE IN NEW JERSEY.

LAWMAKERS ARE DEBATING EXPANDING THE STATE'S FILM TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, A BILL MOVING THROUGH THE STATEHOUSE WOULD INTENSE THE TAX BREAKS OFFERED TO MOVE THE NTB PRODUCTION COMPANIES FILMING HERE.

AMONG THE CHANGES INCLUDED IN THIS BILL, THE ANNUAL CUMULATIVE CAP ON TAX CREDITS WOULD INCREASE FROM $10 MILLION TO $30 MILLION.

THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATES THAT SINCE THE FILM TAX CREDIT PROGRAM WAS REINSTATED MY IT HAS GENERATED MORE THAN $420 MILLION IN OVERALL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR THE STATE.

FIND OUT MORE BY READING JOHN REITMEYER'S REPORT ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

NOW, LET US TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE TRADING DAY ENDED ON WALL STREET.

>>> MIDDLESEX WATER IS CHANGING ITS WATER SUPPLY TO SOME 300,000 CUSTOMERS IN SIX TOWNS AFTER HIGH LEVELS OF A TOXIC CHEMICAL WERE FOUND IN THE WATER.

SOME RESIDENTS SUED THE UTILITY AFTER IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CHEMICAL, KNOWN AS PFOA, WAS ABOVE THE STATE HEALTH STANDARD.

PFOA IS KNOWN AS A FOREVER CHEMICAL.

FOR MORE ON THAT AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, WE TURN TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRIBUTING WRITER, JON HURDLE.

>> Reporter: I WANT TO START FIRST WITH AN EXPLANATION.

WHAT IS A FOREVER CHEMICAL, AND WHY DO RESIDENTS BELIEVE THEY WERE AT RISK?

>> THESE ARE A SERIES OF MAN- MADE CHEMICALS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1940s.

THEY HAVE BEEN USED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS, NOTABLY IN TEFLON, AND OF THE CONCERN ABOUT THEM NOW IS THAT THEY ARE LINKED WITH A VARIETY OF SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SOME CANCERS, DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, AND SO THEREFORE THEY ARE NOW SUBJECT INCREASINGLY TO REGULATION BY STATE, INCLUDING NEW JERSEY.

IN SEPTEMBER, MIDDLESEX WATER TESTED ITS WATER FROM ONE, FROM A WELL FIELD, AND FOUND THAT IT EXCEEDED A LEVEL THAT HAS BEEN A VERY STRICT HEALTH LIMIT SET BY NEW JERSEY, AND THEREFORE IT SENT OUT, IT WAS REQUIRED TO SEND OUT A LETTER TO, INITIALLY, ABOUT 29,000 CUSTOMERS, SAYING THAT THEIR WATER ACTUALLY EXCEEDED THAT STANDARD, SO THAT CREATED A LOT OF CONFUSION AND ALARM AMONGST CONSUMERS.

>> Reporter: THEN THERE WAS A LAWSUIT, SO NOW WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT.

WHAT IS MIDDLESEX WATER REQUIRED TO DO UNDER THIS AGREEMENT?

>> MIDDLESEX WATER IS REQUIRED TO SHUT OFF THE CONTAMINATED WATER, WHICH IT ALREADY HAS DONE, AND TO SUPPLY ITS CUSTOMERS JUST FROM TWO OTHER SOURCES WHERE THE WATER COMPLIES WITH STATE STANDARD.

>> Reporter: IS THAT A SHORT- TERM OR LONG-TERM FIX?

>> IT IS A SHORT-TERM FIX, BECAUSE THE COMPANY IS BUILDING A NEW TREATMENT PLANT THAT WILL BE CAPABLE OF CUTTING THE PFOA LEVEL DOWN TO THE LEVEL THAT THE STATE REQUIRES, AND THAT PLANT IS DUE TO COME ONLINE AT SOMETIME IN MID 2023.

>> Reporter: FINALLY, HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE ABOUT SAFE DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES IN NEW JERSEY?

>> WELL, PFOA AND ITS RELATED CHEMICALS ARE FOUND IN MORE PLACES IN NEW JERSEY THAN IN MANY OTHER STATES.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE STATE HAS A LONG INDUSTRIAL HISTORY, AND UNTIL RECENTLY, LAX REGULATION.

THAT IS THE REASON FOR THESE STRICT DRINKING WATER STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED BY THE DEP.

4 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY IS RETHINKING PLANS TO RESHAPE THE PINELANDS CONVERSION DAYS AFTER ENVIRONMENTALISTS RAISED CONCERNS OF CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS.

MURPHY ON FRIDAY PUT FORWARD THREE NOMINEES TO SIT ON THE COMMISSION WHICH IS IN CHARGE OF MANAGING ALMOST 1 MILLION ACRES OF PROTECTED LAND IN SOUTH JERSEY.

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PICK, ELDER MONTERO OF THE CHEMISTRY COUNCIL OF NEW JERSEY, WOULD HAVE REPLACED ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY AT LLOYD.

MURPHY'S OFFICE MET WITH OUTRAGED ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES MONDAY AFTERNOON, AND AFTERWARDS DECIDED TO WITHDRAW MONTERO'S NOMINATION.

THE OTHER TWO NOMINEES, DEVON McCURRY OF OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPER ORSTED, AND LAURA MATOS OF THE PR FIRM KEEP IT, REMAIN.

THE NOMINEES HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE SENATE.

FOR MORE ON THE STORY, YOU CAN READ JON HURDLE'S ARTICLE ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC MADE THE HUNGER CRISIS IN NEW JERSEY EVEN WORSE MAMA BUT IN MARCH OF 2020, THE MEADOWLANDS AREA YMCA SPRING INTO ACTION, AND BEGAN DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO FAMILIES WHO WOULD DRIVE UP IN THEIR CARS TO RECEIVE PACKAGES OF FOOD.

AT TIMES, THERE WOULD BE A LINE OF 300 CARS STRETCHED 1 MILE-LONG, BUT THAT LONGLINE WILL SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST, NOT BECAUSE THEY NEED IS GONE, BUT THE YMCA IS PARTNERING WITH BERGEN COUNTY TO CREATE A PILOT FOOD PANTRY, GETTING FAMILIES OUT OF THEIR CARS AND INTO THE BUILDING TO HELP OFFICIALS BETTER SERVE THEIR CLIENTS MORE HOLISTICALLY.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES HUNGER IN NEW JERSEY THAT FOCUSES ON FOOD INSECURITY, AND ITS IMPACT HERE IN THE GARDEN STATE.

>>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY.

WE LIVE OFF OF SOCIAL SECURITY, SO THIS REALLY HELPS.

>> IT HAS BEEN HARD, BUT THE HELP, IT HAS BEEN HELPING, YES.

>> Reporter: THESE BERGEN COUNTY RESIDENTS CAME EARLY AND LINED UP IN THEIR CARS, WAITING TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY SUPPLY OF GROCERIES THEY OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD.

>> IT IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE VERY FRIENDLY.

THEY GIVE YOU A GOOD CHOICE.

LAST WEEK, BEFORE THINGS GIVING, WE GOT A WHOLE TURKEY, SWEET POTATOES, ONIONS, CABBAGE, CARROTS, ALL KINDS OF VEGETABLES AND PRODUCE THAT YOU CAN FEED YOUR FAMILY ON FOR A WEEK, POSSIBLY TWO.

>> Reporter: DOREEN MATTHEWS IS FEEDING 10 IN HER HOME.

SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT DO THAT RIGHT NOW WITHOUT THIS HELP.

THE WEEKLY FOOD DRIVE IS RUN BY THE MEADOWLANDS AREA YMCA.

IT FILLS UP ITS CLIENTS CARS WITH BOXES OF FOOD, AND SENDS THEM ON THEIR WAY.

>> WENT ON THIS FOR 18 MONTHS.

WE'VE DONE OVER 160 OF THESE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, SUPPLY MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION MEALS TO OVER 100,000 FAMILIES IN THE GREATER BERGEN COMMUNITY.

BOXES OF FRESH PRODUCE, AND ALSO A HAM OR A TURKEY TODAY THANKS TO THE SHOPRITE FAMILIES.

ARE BACK THE LINES ARE LONG EVERY TUESDAY MORNING AND NIGHT WHEN THEY DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD, AND WHILE THE ECONOMY MIGHT BE REBOUNDING, BERGEN COUNTY COMMISSIONER TRACY ZURICH ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SO MANY ARE STILL STRUGGLING JUST TO GET BY.

>> WE SAW 71% INCREASE IN FOOD INSECURITY DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHICH MEANT WE HAD 103,000 OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO FOOD.

THOSE NUMBERS HAVE NOT DECREASED.

WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING SURGES AND ALL OF THE PANTRIES THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE FEDERAL SUPPORT OF GONE AWAY.

>> Reporter: RECOGNIZING THAT THEY COULD BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILIES, THE COUNTY AND THE YMCA HAVE PARTNERED ON A NEW PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHING IN JANUARY THAT WILL SHIFT FROM THIS WEEKLY CARLINE TO A MORE PERMANENT FOOD PANTRY.

>> FAMILIES CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS AND GO THROUGH THE INTAKE PROCESS, AND THEN THEY CAN COME AND GET FOOD THAT IS MORE GEARED TOWARD WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

THAT WILL HAPPEN WEEKLY, BUT THEY WILL BE COMING INSIDE AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS, AND WE WILL ALSO SEE IF THEY NEED ADDITIONAL HELP IN OTHER AREAS.

THEN WE WILL DO ONCE PER MONTH THEY DRIVE THROUGH THAT ANYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO COME THROUGH.

>> AS WE MOVE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE MODEL, AS WE MOVE TO A REAL FOOD PANTRY, WE CAN ACTUALLY INQUIRE ABOUT WHO HAS FOOD ALLERGIES, HYPERTENSION, WHO NEEDS DIFFERENT FOOD SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE IT LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES.

>> Reporter: ROCCO IS LOOKING FORWARD TO STARTING A NEW PROGRAM.

>> I HEARD RUMORS OF IT WOULD CATER MORE TO MY NEEDS.

I AM 70, SO YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER, AN UNMARRIED DAUGHTER WITH TWO KIDS, AND THIS HELPS US OUT A LOT, YOU KNOW.

IT ACTUALLY BROUGHT US CLOSER TOGETHER.

WE ALL EAT ONE BIG MEAL TOGETHER AGAIN LIKE WE USED TO.

>> Reporter: BY BRINGING CLIENTS INTO THE BUILDING, THEY HOPE TO OFFER ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

>> IT REALLY WILL BE A CRITICAL RESOURCE IN CONNECTING PEOPLE, AND THEIR NEEDS, TO THE SERVICES AS WELL.

THAT IS PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR SHELVES, BUT CONNECTING THEM TO WHAT THEY NEED TO LIFT THEMSELVES OUT OF FOOD INSECURITY.

>> Reporter: WHAT SHE CALLS A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALING THE WHOLE FAMILY IN THESE MORE DIFFICULT TIMES.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HAD OVER TWO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE VERY LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, AND WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT, BY ORSTED, AND PSE&G, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG- TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

FUNDING FOR HUNGER IN NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, WORKING WITH OTHERS TO BUILD A NATIONAL CULTURE OF HEALTH THAT PROVIDES EVERYONE IN AMERICA A FAIR AND JUST OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

>>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHY DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME AN ESL TEACHER TO GIVE MY STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE, A CHANCE TO BELONG, AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA, AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN NJEA MEMBER.

>>> I'M VERY GRATEFUL I'M STILL HERE.

>> THAT'S ME AND MY DAUGHTER WHEN WE WENT TO CELEBRATE HER FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

>> WITH THE NEW KIDNEY I HAVE STRENGTH.

>> GAVE ME A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

>> UPS ARE GOING EVERYWHERE AND EXPLORING NEW PLACES.

>> NOBODY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE HERE.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OLDER WITH MY WIFE.

THAT'S POSSIBLE NOW.

>> WE ARE TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH INNOVATIVE KIDNEY TREATMENTS, AND WORLD-RENOWNED CARE AT TWO OF NEW JERSEY'S PREMIER HOSPITALS.

>> GIVEN MY NORMAL LIFE BACK.

IT'S A BLESSING.

>> RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET US BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.