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

WE MAKE THINGS WORK FOR COMMUNITIES.

AND, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANNA VANNOZZI >> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS SNOWY FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY.

THE WILD WINTER STORM CONTINUES BARRELING THROUGH OUR AREA, BLANKETING THE STATE WITH IN INCHES AND FEET OF SNOW.

AND THE WORST IS YET TO COME.

ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR MURPHY WHO DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY SUNDAY NIGHT IN PREPARATION FOR THE STORM, SENDING OUT FLEETS OF ROAD CREWS, SHUTTING DOWN ALL MASS PUBLIC STATION, CALLING ON RESIDENTS TO DO SOMETHING WE HAVE BECOME ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH DURING THIS PANDEMIC, STAY HOME.

IF YOU ARE OUT AND YOU DON'T NEED TO BE, STATE OFFICIALS ARE ASKING YOU TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE HIGHEST WE'VE SEEN IN ROUGHLY FIVE YEARS.

UP TO 27 INCHES IN SOME PARTS OF NORTH JERSEY, NOT EVEN A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE APPOINTMENT GIVES YOU PERMISSION TO BE OUT ON THE ROADS.

ALL SIX OF THE STATES VACCINE SITES SHUT DOWN TODAY AND WILL REMAIN CLOSED TOMORROW.

APPOINTMENTS, THOSE WILL BE RESCHEDULED DELAYING THE PROCESS ALREADY FRAUGHT WITH HURDLES.

SO, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO GET OUT?

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY UNDERSTATE OF EMERGENCY.

3900 PIECES OF A CLEMENT DEPLOYED UP AND DOWN THE STATE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING 24 HOURS ON THIS STORM.

WE ARE IN EARLY YESTERDAY.

WE HAVE 65 PRE-POSITIONED TOWING ASSETS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN QUICKLY ADDRESS DISABLED VEHICLES.

>> THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, FORECASTING UP TO 24 INCHES IN NORTH JERSEY.

15 INCHES IN CENTRAL JERSEY, AND 9 INCHES IN SOUTH JERSEY.

SNOW TOTALS STATE HAS NOT SEEN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

ONE JERSEY CITY SHOWER THANKED MOTHER NATURE FOR BUSINESS.

>> MY HANDS AROUND MY GOT HEAT PACKETS.

BRING IT ON.

>> Reporter: NEWARK AIRPORT HAD ALREADY CANCELED ABOUT 75% OF TODAY'S FLIGHTS.

>> LOCKED THE DOOR, SAT ON THE COUCH, AND STAY HOME UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

THIS IS A HUGE STORM.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY TRANSIT SUSPENDED BUSES, RAIL, AND ACCESS LINK SERVICE SYSTEMWIDE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY.

AND, ROADS IN PLACES LIKE SOMERVILLE, BLOOMFIELD, AND JEFFERSON WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE BY AFTERNOON.

>> IT'S NOT EASY.

>> AT 11:00 A.M., GOVERNOR MURPHY CONFIRMED NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPERS HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED TO 340 ACCIDENTS AND NEARLY 300 CALLS FOR HELP.

>> THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TRAVEL RESTRICTION ALONG OURS HIGHWAYS THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE YESTERDAY, WHICH INCLUDES TRACTOR-TRAILERS, MT STRAIGHT CDL PLEATED TRUCKS, ANY PASSENGER VEHICLES, TOWING TRAILERS, MOTORCYCLES.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, BOATS, AS WE USUALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.

THAT ORDER REMAINS IN PLACE.

AND A REMINDER THAT THIS RESTRICTION DOES NOT APPLY.

TO THE TURNPIKE PARKWAY OR ATLANTIC CITY EXPRESSWAY.

>> MURPHY WARNING EVERYONE THE WORST IS YET TO COME.

>> REALLY BEGINNING NOW.

AND, TONIGHT BEFORE THIS SYSTEM PUSHES AWAY FROM US, WE THOUGHT ORIGINALLY TOMORROW MORNING IT LOOKS INCREASINGLY LIKE TOMORROW NIGHT.

>> WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 350 TO 400 OUTAGES RIGHT NOW.

NORMALLY THAT IS A BLUE SKY, BUT LET'S NOT DWELL ON FALSE HOPES, HERE.

WHILE YOU STILL HAVE POWER, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHARGE ALL OF YOUR DEVICES.

>> IN CANTON COUNTY, THE SPOKESPERSON CONFIRMED THEY WERE EXPECTING THE WORST THROUGH THE NIGHT .4 WE HAVE ABOUT 100 SNOWPLOWS ON THE ROAD RIGHT NOW.

SO, THERE WILL BE TREE CREWS AT THE READY TO GET OUT AND TAKE CARE OF ANY TREE BLOCKAGES, ANY TREES THAT MAY COME THROUGH.

>> AND, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

EACH OF OUR VACCINE MEGA SITES IS CLOSED TODAY DUE TO THE WEATHER.

HOWEVER, THE WELLINGTON COUNTY SITES WERE ALREADY PRESCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED TODAY.

ANYONE WITH AN APPOINTMENT AT THE MEGA SITE IN ATLANTA COUNTY, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, OR MORRIS COUNTY HAS RECEIVED A CALL, AND EMAIL, OR A TEXT FROM THE HEALTHCARE PARTNER AT THAT SITE TO BE RESCHEDULED.

>> THE CAMDEN COUNTY VACCINATION CENTER MADE THE CALL SATURDAY TO MOVE ALL 540 OF ITS APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW TO WEDNESDAY.

>> THE RESCHEDULING WAS SIGNIFICANT LIFT FOR EMPLOYEES OVER THE COURSE OF A 10 HOUR DAY.

THEY WERE ABLE TO GET EVERYBODY OVER.

>> SHE SAYS THEY WILL HAVE 1000 PEOPLE TO VACCINATE ON FEBRUARY 3rd, BUT THEY HAVE CAPACITY TO DO 2400.

SO, THEY ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE THE EXTRA SLOTS.

MURPHY, ECHOING THE SAME FOR THE SIGNS.

>> THIS DID NOT CREATE A DOMINO EFFECT.

SO, THAT IS OUR FERVENT HOPE.

I KNOW THE MEGA SITES ARE ALL WORKING TOWARD PARTICULARLY, THE SECOND SHOT RELIABILITY THAT I KNOW IS ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.

>> Reporter: WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SLAMDUNK SNOW DAY FOR ALL SCHOOLS-- >> MANY IF NOT MOST STUDENTS HAVE A DAY OFF TODAY.

>> THIS WINTER STORM PACKING A BLIZZARD LIKE PUNCH REMINDING US ALL TO PREPARE FOR ANYTHING.

I AM LEAH MICHIGAN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

STATE LEADERS ARE WARNING THAT IT WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF NEW JERSEY, BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE STORM.

YOU HEARD LEAH MICHIGAN REPORT THAT SNOW TOTALS WILL RETURN ACCUMULATING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT UP TO 2 FEET EXPECTED IN SOME AREAS.

INTENSE WINDS AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY BE SEEING OUTSIDE OF YOUR WINDOW.

METEOROLOGIST SAY THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A BLIZZARD.

AT LEAST NOT YET.

AND IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE STORM WILL MEET THAT CRITERIA.

BUT WHEN WILL IT END?

AND WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT ONCE IT DOES?

WE TURN NOW TO JOSEPH McKENNA, WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MT.

HOLLY.

>> JOE, THANKS FOR A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TODAY.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE AND WE ARE FAR FROM OVER, WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT, AND WHERE WILL WE SEE THE BIGGEST IMPACT IN THE STATE?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GETTING SNOWFALL RATES OF THREE OR 4 INCHES IN CENTRAL NEW JERSEY AND SOMERSET COUNTY OVER TO MORRIS COUNTY.

AND WE REALLY THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE EPICENTER OF THE HEAVIEST SNOW.

BY THE TIME EVERYTHING IS DONE LATE TONIGHT, WE CAN COME ANYWHERE OVER 2 FEET.

ANYWHERE BETWEEN TWO AND 3 FEET IN THAT AREA.

IT'S JUST DUMPING SNOW IN THAT AREA RIGHT NOW.

>> WHEN IS THE LAST TIME OUR AREA EXPERIENCED A SNOWSTORM OF THIS MAGNITUDE ESTIMATES THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

I MEAN I THINK WE CAN GO BACK TO 2009 OR 2011.

WE CAN GO BACK TO 2007.

CERTAINLY BACK IN 1996.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT UNHEARD OF, BUT CERTAINLY.

IT'S CERTAINLY RARE HERE TO GET THAT MUCH SNOW HERE.

>> HOW MUCH CONCERN IS THERE ABOUT BEACH EROSION, FLOODING UP A SHORT?

WE'RE TALKING OF COURSE ABOUT SNOW ACCUMULATION, BUT FLOODING IS THERE AS WELL.

>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE HAD MODERATE FLOODING THIS MORNING.

NOT ONLY ON THE OCEANFRONT WITH THE BACK BAY.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE HAVE THE STRONG WINDS AS WELL.

WE HAVE JUST UP TO 50 MILES PER HOUR RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, SO.

REALLY, IT'S A TRIPLE WHAMMY RIGHT NOW.

>> JOE, WALK ME THROUGH THE SCIENCE OF THIS, BECAUSE A LOT OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED ARE SITTING HERE SCRATCHING OUR HEADS.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT 2020 TYING FOR THE SECOND WARMEST WINTER ON RECORD, AND YET, HERE WE ARE.

>> YES.

IT'S HARD TO EQUATE ONE INDIVIDUAL STORM OF ANY TYPE OF CLIMATE CHANGE GOING ON, BUT IT DOES KIND OF STEP BACK AFTER TIME AND TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

IT WOULD BE, I GUESS REMISS TO SAY THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE OF THESE STORMS THAT ARE CAUSING HAVOC ALONG THE BEACH AND INLAND.

SO, IT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.

>> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

THIS IS A DISTURBANCE WITHIN THE POLAR VORTEX, CORRECT QUESTION MARK >> USUALLY WE HAVE REALLY THE CENTER OF THE STORM, THE COLDEST AIR COMING OVER US AND THAT IS REALLY NOT WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

OUR TEMPERATURES ARE COLD, THEY ARE NOT BITTER COLD.

AND USUALLY WHEN WE HAVE POLAR VORTEX, IT IS PARTICULARLY AFFECTS NEW JERSEY, WE ARE SEEING A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE NORTH POLE, OR EVEN TO SIBERIA, NOT REALLY THAT RIGHT IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.

WE HAVE DEALT WITH REALLY COLD AIR TO THE NORTH, WHICH IS PROVIDING THE SNOW, BUT I AM NOT SURE WE COULD CONSIDER THIS A POLAR VORTEX.

>> IS IT GIVING US ANY TYPE OF INDICATION OF THE WEATHER PATTERNS AHEAD FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS?

AND THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE WINTER AHEAD OF US?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY WE ARE IN A MORE ACTIVE PATTERN RIGHT NOW.

WE ACTUALLY SEE SOMETHING ON THE HORIZON THAT MIGHT GET US OVER THE WEEKEND, WHETHER OR NOT ST. MARY'S GET IT OR IT WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW, WE WILL SEE HOW THINGS PAN OUT.

BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY IN A PATTERN RIGHT NOW.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE NEXT WEEK, WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THAT PATTERN.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, BUT YEAH.

IT'S AN INTERESTING EVENT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE STORM, COMPLICATING AN ALREADY BUMPY ROLLOUT FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS VACCINE PROGRAM.

800,000 SHOTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT.

HEALTH EATERS ARE HOPING TO VACCINATE ROUGHLY 4.7 MILLION ADULTS RESIDENTS.

STATEWIDE, THE NUMBER OF NEW POSITIVE CASES DOES APPEAR TO BE STABILIZING.

JUST OVER 3100 NEW CONFIRMED TEST REPORTED TODAY.

MORE THAN 626,000 TOTAL WITH 34 ADDITIONAL DEBTS, AND MORE THAN 21,000 TOTAL LIVES LOST TO THIS VIRUS.

THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 DROPPED BELOW 3000 THIS WEEKEND.

THAT THE FIRST TIME SINCE NOVEMBER.

AS OF TODAY, HOSPITALS ARE REPORTING ROUGHLY 2800 PATIENTS.

THE PROGRESS COMES AS MEDICAL EXPERTS WARN HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS VARIANCE THREATENED TO SEND THOSE NUMBERS ASSERTING AGAIN.

DISCOVERING MORE CASES OF THE STRAIN THAT ORIGINATED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

AT LEAST 11 CONFIRMED CASES REPORTED STATEWIDE.

AS SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS, IT IS NOW A RACE BETWEEN THE VARIANCE AND GETTING MORE VACCINATIONS IN ARMS.

>> Reporter: 80% OF THE DEATHS IN NEW JERSEY ARE PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65.

>> Reporter: IN THE FACE OF THOSE FRIGHTENING STATISTICS, BILL AND MICHAEL SPENT WEEKS TRYING TO GET HIS 85-YEAR-OLD MOM A TIMELY COVERED VACCINATION APPOINTMENT.

A FRANTIC ONLINE SCAVENGER HUNT AMONG MULTIPLE STATE COUNTY AND LOCAL SITES ACROSS NEW JERSEY THAT ARE HAMPERED BY TOO LITTLE VACCINE, AND TOO MANY ELIGIBLE PEOPLE, HE SAYS.

>> IT BASICALLY OPENED IT UP TO EVERYONE AND THEIR SYSTEMS COULD NOT HANDLE THE VOLUME.

AND THEY STOP SCHEDULING.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO COORDINATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY IN THE STATE.

ZERO.

RIGHT?

ZERO.

>> NEW JERSEY'S PERFORMANCE FALLS SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VACCINATION EFFORTS BY STATES.

IT HAS ADMINISTERED SOME 65% OF 1.2 MILLION DOSES RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT., BUT HEALTH X WARNED THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS UK COVID STRAIN, NOW CIRCULATING IN NEW JERSEY IS LIKE A LOOMING CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE.

>> ASSERTS THAT IS LIKELY TO OCCUR WITH THIS NEW VARIANCE FROM ENGLAND IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 6 TO 14 WEEKS.

AND, IF WE SEE THAT HAPPEN, WHICH MY 45 YEARS IN THE TRENCHES TELL US WE WILL, WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE WE HAVE NOT SEEN YET IN THIS COUNTRY.

ENGLAND, FOR EXAMPLE IS HOSPITALIZING TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE EVER HOSPITALIZED OUR HIGHEST NUMBER.

WE NEED TO GET AS MANY ONE DOSES IN AS MANY PEOPLE OVER 65 AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

>> CERTAINLY THE SNOWSTORM DOES NOT HELP THE SITUATION TODAY AT ALL.

>> RUTGERS DEAN PERRY SAYS THOUSANDS OF APPOINTMENTS POSTPONED TODAY WILL HAVE TO BE RESCHEDULED.

THAT, ON TOP OF MEGA SITES LIKE MORRIS COUNTY AND ROCKAWAY SHUTTING DOWN OVER THE WEEKEND FOR LACK OF VACCINE.

IN THIS LIFE AND DEATH RACE AGAINST THE VIRUS, HE SAYS WE ARE NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH.

>> WE HAVE TO VACCINATE A LOT MORE PEOPLE, A LOT MORE QUICKLY.

THIS DEPENDS ON GETTING A LOT MORE DOSES.

SO YES, IT IS COMPLETELY A RACE AGAINST TIME AND SOME WAYS.

WE ALSO HAVE TO DO IT QUICKLY BECAUSE IT IS QUITE LIKELY, GIVEN THE VARIANT THAT ARE EMERGING, THAT MANY OF US WHO'VE ALREADY RECEIVED EVEN SOME VACCINATION WILL NEED A BOOSTER IN THE FUTURE TO DEAL WITH THESE ACTUAL VARIANCE.

>> YES, I WOULD GIVE PEOPLE, EVERYBODY ONE DOSE BEFORE THINKING ABOUT THE SECOND DOSE, BECAUSE YOU GET MOST OF THE PROTECTION WITH THE FIRST DOSE.

EVEN IF YOU GET COVID, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THE ICQ.

>> EPIDEMIOLOGIST, MARTIN BLASER, SAYS IT IS CRUCIAL TO STOP THE VIRUS FROM SPREADING BECAUSE EVERY CASE GIVES IT ANOTHER CHANCE TO MUTATE INTO SOMETHING MORE DANGEROUS.

>> THE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTECTED, THE LESS ROOM THE VIRUS HAS TO CHANGE.

SO, IT IS A RACE.

WE WANT TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

RIGHT NOW, THE SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED, BUT I THINK HELP IS ON THE WAY.

AND, JUST TO SLOW DOWN THE VIRAL EVOLUTION SO THAT TODAY'S VACCINE WILL STILL BE WORKING SIX MONTHS AND A YEAR FROM NOW.

>> BILL McMICHAEL GOT HIS MOM AN APPOINTMENT IN APRIL.

>> WHICH IS WHAT IT IS, BUT I JUST AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE HAS TO WAIT SO LONG.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> BUSES INTRA- PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ARE BACK UP AND RUNNING POST-STORM.

WRITERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS.

PART OF THE NEW CD CEMENTED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AIMED AT SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

THE NEW GUIDELINES TAKE EFFECT AT 11:59 P.M. TONIGHT AND INCLUDE ANYONE TRAVELING INTO, OR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY TRAIN, PLANE, TAXI, OR THEORY.

THE RULE COMES EXACTLY ONE YEAR SINCE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED THE CORONAVIRUS A GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY.

COULD A PRE-PANDEMIC ECONOMY BE CLOSER THAN WE THINK?

RHONDA SHECKLER HAS THE DETAILS ON NEW PREDICTIONS AND TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA?

>> FINALLY, THERE IS UPBEAT NEWS ON THE ECONOMY.

A REPORT OUT TODAY FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE IS PROJECTING THE ECONOMY WILL BOUNCE BACK STRONGLY THIS YEAR AS COVID-19 VACCINES ROLLOUTS, AND THE IMPACT FROM THE LAST STIMULUS PACKAGE TAKES HOLD.

BUT, EVEN WITH THIS BOUNCE BACK, THE RECOVERY IN JOBS IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER.

RUTGERS REPRESSOR, JIM HUGHES, DEAN EMERITUS AT THE BOSTON SCHOOL BELIEVES NEW JERSEY WON'T REGAIN ALL OF THE JOBS LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC UNTIL NEXT YEAR, OR THE YEAR AFTER.

>> REMEMBER, IT TOOK US UNTIL 2015, 2016 TO RECOVER THE JOBS WE LOST IN THE 2007, 2009 RECESSION.

SO, EVEN IF IT WERE 2023, THAT WOULD BE RELATIVELY QUICK COMPARED TO THE LAST DOWNTURN.

>> WITH A NEW STATE BUT IS SET TO BE INTRODUCED THIS MONTH, THERE IS A FOCUS ON GOVERNANCE IN TRENTON.

OUR JOB SAYS RIGHT NOW, IMPORTANT BILLS, LIKE THAT MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR TAX INCENTIVE PLAN ARE BEING FAST TRACKED THROUGH THE LEGISLATOR, AND ON TOP OF THAT, SOME BILLS ARE GETTING AMENDMENT AT THE LAST MINUTE.

ADVOCATES SAY THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

>> CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY HAVE BEEN RAISED BY LIBERAL GROUPS, AND BY BUSINESS LOBBYING GROUPS.

GROUPS THAT DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON POLICY AND TREND BUT HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME THAT THE CURRENT PRACTICES, AND HOW GOVERNANCE IS TAKING PLACE NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

>> LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE VOWING TO DO BETTER.

YOU CAN GET MORE DETAILS ON THIS STORY AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

WITH MORE PEOPLE BANKING ONLINE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO THEIR LOCAL BANK RANCHES.

THAT IS ONE REASON WHY TD BANK PLANS TO CLOSE 81 BRANCHES NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING 13 HERE IN NEW JERSEY .

THE BRANCHES WILL CLOSE IN LATE APRIL.

NOW, HERE IS A LOOK AT STOCK TRADING ON WALL STREET TODAY.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> NOT ONE, BUT TWO LONGTIME MEMBERS OF THE SENATE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE ANNOUNCING RETIREMENT AFTER THIS TERM.

MINORITY LEADER, TOM KEAN JR. WILL RETIRE FROM THE 21st DISTRICT AFTER SERVING FOR 20 YEARS IN BOTH OF THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE SEATS.

KANE, THE SON OF FORMER GOVERNOR, TOM KANE IS RUMORED TO BE SETTING UP ANOTHER BID AGAINST CONGRESSMAN TOM MALINOWSKI IN 2022.

MEANWHILE, VETERAN SENATOR CHRISTOPHER BATEMAN WILL ALSO LEAVE HIS POST IN THE 16th DISTRICT, WHERE HE SERVED FOR NEARLY 3 DECADES IN A CAREER KNOWN FOR BIPARTISAN ACHIEVEMENTS.

BEFORE THEY LEAVE OFFICE, THERE IS STILL WORK TO DO.

LAWMAKERS ARE MAKING YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT LEGAL MARIJUANA CLEANUP LEGISLATION, ADVANCING A BILL AND AN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE FRIDAY.

IT LOOKS A WHOLE LOT LIKE THE ORIGINAL VERSION.

THIS, AS OTHER STATE LEGISLATORS STEP FORWARD WITH NEW PROPOSALS.

HAVE THEY FINALLY FOUND A PATH FORWARD THAT WILL RESULT IN THE GOVERNOR'S NATURE?

DAVID CRUZ HAS THE LATEST.

>> YOU THINK THAT WITH AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE FROM VOTERS LAST NOVEMBER, IT WOULD BE EASIER, OR AT LEAST QUICKER FOR LAWMAKERS TO GET ENABLING LEGISLATION PASSED, BUT IT HAS BEEN A TORTUROUS PATH.

ESPECIALLY ON THE SOCIAL JUSTICE FRONT, WHICH IS THE MAIN REASON GOVERNOR MURTHY AND OTHERS THEY THEY SUPPORT LEGALIZING.

IT'S A BILL THAT DECRIMINALIZED CANNABIS ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, WHICH SAYS THAT >> UP TO SIX OUNCES OF MARIJUANA IS DECRIMINALIZED FOR BOTH ADULTS AND YOUTH, MEANING THAT THERE WILL BE NO CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES FOR POSSESSING UP TO SIX OUNCES.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE IS A PROVISION THAT SAYS ANY AMOUNT OF LEGAL CANNABIS, REGULATED CANNABIS THAT IS POSSESSED BY PEOPLE UNDER 21 IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO DISORDERLY PERSONS CHARGES.

>> THAT IS A CONFLICT.

LANGUAGE SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE DOWNGRADED POSSESSION BY THOSE UNDER 21 TO DISORDERLY PERSONS OFFENSES, WHICH MANY IN THE LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS FELT WOULD CREATE TOO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTIONS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOUNG BLACK AND BROWN KIDS, WHICH HAVE PROVEN ALL TOO VOLATILE IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

NEW LANGUAGE IN A SO-CALLED CLEANUP BILL THAT MADE ITS WAY THROUGH AN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY DOWNGRADES THE INTERACTION TO A CIVIL OFFENSE, WITH A SMALL FINE, AND NO ARREST OR INTERACTION WITH THE COURT SYSTEM.

ASSEMBLYMAN BENJAMIN WIMBERLY IS A SPONSOR.

>> INSTEAD OF BRINGING THE JUVENILE IN AND HAVING A PARENT COME GET THEM, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN YOU WOULD SEE DONE AT THE SHORE.

WHEN SOMEBODY'S DRINKING, YOU MAKE THEM POUR THE LIQUOR OUT ON THE SIDE.

YOU SEE A KID SOME WERE SMOKING, PUT THE CIGARETTE OUT.

YOU KNOW, NOT MAKING IT A WHOLE INTERACTION.

WE HAVE TO BRING THEM IN, BECOME PART OF THE SYSTEM.

COUNSELING.

>> THE LAWMAKERS WE SPOKE TO TODAY SAID THEY WERE STILL WAITING TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS OF THE BILL.

BUT, SENATOR RON RICE, THROUGH HIS OFFICE, MOST OF THE EJECTIONS TO CANNABIS LEGISLATION HAVE RUN.

THEY SAID WIMBERLY'S BILL IS JUST A STARTING POINT.

BUT, IT SETTLES FOR WARNING A KID, AND MAYBE CALLING THEIR PARENTS WITH NO REAL HELP TO OFFER THEM.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH, HE SAYS.

>> INTENDS TO MOVE ANYTHING AT THIS POINT UNTIL WE CAN COME BACK, AND SAY LOOK, HERE IS WHAT THE BILL, HERE'S WHAT THE CLEANUP SHOULD REALLY LOOK LIKE, AND WE SAID WE CAN DO MORE LEGISLATION IF WE DO THIS RIGHT, BECAUSE IF WE RESEARCH THE COUNTRY, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT NONE OF THEM ARE DOING ANYTHING.

THEY PICKED THEM UP AND THAT'S IT.

AND WE JUST, I CANNOT TOLERATE THAT.

I WON'T TOLERATE THAT.

IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.

>> DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A MAN WHO'S READY TO HELP FAST-TRACK A BILL.

THE GOVERNOR HAS UNTIL FEBRUARY 8th TO SIGN THE BILLS ON HIS DESK, OR VETO THEM.

OTHERWISE, MOST LAWMAKERS SAY ARE IMPERFECT BILLS BECOME LAW.

POTENTIALLY GETTING A BRAND-NEW INDUSTRY OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, AND A SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS FINALLY SIGNED INTO LAW TAKES EFFECT TODAY.

DRAMATICALLY SHIFTING HOW PRISONERS LIVE LIFE BEHIND THE WALL, AND REENTER SOCIETY.

THIS REQUIRES THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO DEVELOP REENTRY PLANS FOR INMATES, BOTH USING THEIR TRANSITION INTO INCARCERATION AND ON.

CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS HAVE HAD MORE THAN A YEAR TO PREPARE FOR THE PROGRAM, BUT ARE THEY READY?

OUR SENIOR WRITER, COLLEEN O'DAY IS HERE WITH MORE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, THIS LAW REALLY DOES TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

>> YEAH, IT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE THAT WHEN SOMEONE COMES INTO THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE THEM START TO FOCUS ON GETTING OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

THIS WAY, IT HELPS TO PRIORITIZE WHETHER THEY DO EDUCATION CLASSES, WHAT KIND OF YOU KNOW, COUNSELING THEY MAY DO.

OTHER KINDS OF REHABILITATION.

ANY WORK.

WHAT HAS PRETTY MUCH HAPPENED UNTIL NOW IS THAT, THAT WAITS UNTIL KIND OF TOWARDS THE END OF A PERSONS SENTENCE.

MORE TOWARDS THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THERE IS THIS REENTRY PLAN THAT GETS DRAWN UP.

AND THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE A PERSON WHO IS IN THERE JUST KIND OF YOU KNOW, AIMLESS, WHEREAS THIS WAY, THEY ARE TAKING CHARGE OF THEIR, YOU KNOW, THERE CORRECTIONAL TIME, AND REPAIRING TO GET OUT.

>> WHAT ROLE WILL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS PLAY IN THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE QUESTION MARKS >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I MEAN, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT IS HELPING TO CREATE THESE PLANS, WORKING WITH INMATES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE GOTTEN NO FEEDBACK FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, SO WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IN FACT THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE.

THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT MOVING SOME PROBATION OFFICERS OVER, OR JUST CREATING THIS NEW OFFICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO KIND OF OVERSEE THIS.

BUT, AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW YET.

>> COLLEEN, ARE YOU HEARING THAT THEY ARE NOT READY AFTER THIS YOUR PREPARATION?

IN QUICKLY, WHAT DID THEY DO TO PREPARE THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY HAVE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE ADVOCATES WHO ARE ON THE OUTSIDE THING THAT THEY DON'T THINK THE DEPARTMENT IS READY.

THEY HAD A YEAR, THEY KNEW THIS WAS COMING.

THIS WAS PENDING FOR EVEN LONGER THAN THAT.

SO, IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.

IT'S OFTEN VERY HARD FOR US TO GET INFORMATION OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> YEAH, THIS WAS IN FACT KICKING AROUND THE LEGISLATOR AND VETOED BY FORMER GOVERNOR, CHRIS CHRISTIE.

COLLEEN O'DAY, WE WILL BE CHECKING BACK IS WHEN WITH YOU SOON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, BREE.

>> FOR MORE ON HOW THIS BLOG WILL PREPARE INMATES, CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

THAT IS IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO OUR HOMEPAGE , OR CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE STORIES AFFECTING THE STATE.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, ENJOY THE SNOW, STAY SAFE.

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

OUR WJ.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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

THEY ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR, AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS.

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

AND JM, WE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

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

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELE-MEDIGAP, OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITHIN OUR WJ MEDICAL PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION, AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

OUR WJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>> THIS DIVISION IS A ROAD THAT RUNS ENTIRELY ON GREEN ENERGY.

LOCATED OFF OF THE COAST OF ATLANTIC CITY, OR STUDS OCEAN WIND PROJECT WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY- CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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