>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

THERE COULD SOON BE A VACCINE FOR KIDS AGES SIX MONTHS, TOO YEARS OLD.

PFIZER HAS ASKED THE FDA FOR EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION OF ITS VACCINE AFTER STRUGGLING TO FIND THE RIGHT DOSAGE THAT OFFERS SUFFICIENT IMMUNITY FOR THE ENTIRE AGE GROUP.

REPORTS SAY IT WILL BE TWO DOSES AND MAY BE.

THE MARYLAND-BASED COMPANY NOVAVAX HAS ALSO APPLIED FOR EMERGENCY VAPORIZATION FOR ITS VACCINE THAT USES A MORE TRADITIONAL APPROACH THEN PFIZER AND MODERNA.

A FOURTH VACCINE OPTION COULD BE MORE APPEALING TO THOSE STILL HESITANT ABOUT THE NEW VACCINE TECHNOLOGY.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY, MORE THAN 6.5 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THE SHOT AND JUST OVER A THIRD OF THOSE HAVE GOTTEN THE BOOSTER.

CASE NUMBERS CREPT BACK UP FROM YESTERDAY'S ONE-MONTH LOW WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN 2400 NEW CASES REPORTED TODAY AND 115 NEW DEATHS.

IF THE VACCINE BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR THIS YOUNGER AGE GROUP, WILL IT BE WELCOME NEWS TO MOST PARENTS?

AND WILL IT IMPACT THE NUMBERS WE ARE SEEING IN THE STATE?

WITH ME TO TALK IT THROUGH IS PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AND SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER, DR. MEG FISHER.

>> WHAT WOULD THIS VACCINE FOR FIVE AND UNDER MEAN FOR THAT POPULATION AND FOR THE STATE?

>> A VACCINE FOR CHILDREN FIVE AND BELOW IS JUST WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW.

WE KNOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET PEOPLE FIVE AND ABOVE PROTECTED BY USE OF THE VACCINE WITH THE BELOW FIVE POPULATION STILL LEFT UNPROTECTED.

AND THIS WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET EVERYONE PROTECTED OR AT LEAST DOWN TO SIX MONTHS.

>> HOW GREAT OF A RISK DOES COVID-19 WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT POST TO THIS AGE GROUP OR THIS POPULATION?

>> WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INFECTED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

THE OTHER DAY, WE HAD UP TO A MILLION CHILDREN AND INFECTED IN JUST A SINGLE DAY.

MOST OF THEM ARE NOT GETTING SICK.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG CHILDREN DRASTICALLY WENT UP WITHIN THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

FORTUNATELY, THOSE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE STARTING TO DROP.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT VARIANT WILL BE OR WHAT THE NEXT THING THAT COMES ALONG WILL DO TO CHILDREN AND TO OTHERS.

>> QUICKLY, HELP US UNDERSTAND STUDIES THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT TYPE ONE DIABETES IN CHILDREN CONNECTED WITH COVID.

>> WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF BOTH TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO DIABETES IN CHILDREN.

WE THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH AUTOIMMUNITY.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THIS VIRUS TENDS TO MAKE PEOPLE MAKE ANTIBODIES AGAINST THEMSELVES AND IN DIABETES, THE ANTIBODIES CAN BE AGAINST THE CELLS IN YOUR PANCREAS THAT MAKE INSULIN.

SO THIS CAN LEAD TO A TRIGGER FOR TYPE ONE DIABETES AND SOMEONE WHO WAS MAYBE GOING TO GET IT AT SOME POINT LATER IN THEIR LIFE.

OR PERHAPS IT WOULD MEAN EVEN A PERSON WHO WASN'T SO GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED TO END UP WITH DIABETES.

>> DR. FISHER, THE DOSING FOR THIS PARTICULAR AGE GROUP SEEMED A BIT HARDER TO GET RIGHT THEN WITH OTHER CLINICAL TRIALS FOR OTHER AGE GROUPS.

EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED WITH SOME OF THE DOSING STUDIES.

>> SURE.

WHAT WE STARTED WITH FOR ADULTS WAS A 30-MICROGRAM -- AND THEN THE 5-11 GROUP DROPPED DOWN TO 10 MICROGRAMS.

AND THAT WORKED WELL IN THAT AGE.

AND THEN THEY WERE TESTING CHILDREN BELOW FIVE AND THEY DROPPED IT TO A 3-MICROGRAM DOSAGE.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT VACCINE STUDIES IS THAT THESE ARE NONINFERIORITY STUDIES.

SO YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT EVEN WITH THE LOWER DOSAGE, YOU STILL GET A COMPARABLE IMMUNE RESPONSE.

IT MAY TURN OUT THAT PEOPLE ARE WELL PROTECTED LOWER BUT AT AN INFERIOR VACCINE.

WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IS FIGURE EXACTLY WHAT DOSAGE WILL GIVE THE NON- INFERIOR RESPONSE FOR CHILDREN.

CERTAINLY, TWO DOSES LOOK LIKE IT WILL BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT A THIRD DOSAGE WOULD BE NEEDED.

THAT IS WHAT THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT PFIZER IS GATHERING WILL TELL US.

>> WITH A FEW SECONDS LEFT, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO PARENTS WHO ARE STILL HESITANT TO GIVE THEIR VACCINE TO THIS VERY YOUNG GROUP?

>> WHAT WE KNOW IS COVID-19 HAS CAUSED OVER 1000 DEATHS IN CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON KILLERS.

WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHICH CHILD IS THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO GET INTO TROUBLE.

SO PLEASE, TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR CHILDREN PROTECTED AND THE BEST PROTECTION WE HAVE IS VACCINATION.

>> DR. MEG FISHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> HEALTH EXPERTS WARNED THAT THE RISK OF COVID-19 INFECTION ARE EVEN GREATER DURING PREGNANCY AND THEY HAVE URGED PREGNANT PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

SO FAR, THE STATE HAS SEEN ABOUT 12,000 NEW JERSEYANS INFECTED WITH COVID-19 DURING GESTATION AND SOME HAVE NOT SURVIVED IT.

YET THE CHALLENGE OF VACCINATING THE POPULATION REMAINS.

OUR HEALTH WRITER JOINS US NOT TO DISCUSS THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SITE.

>> WE KNOW THE RATES OF MATERNAL AND FETAL DEATHS IN NEW JERSEY ARE ALREADY SO HIGH.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN YOUR REPORTING ABOUT THE RISKS FOR COVID WITH PREGNANT PEOPLE AND FOR THEIR UNBORN CHILD?

>> THERE ARE, AS MOTHERS KNOW, ALWAYS A RISK TO THEM AND THE BABY.

FOR MOMS THEMSELVES, RISKS OF BEING HOSPITALIZED ARE DEFINITELY INCREASED IF YOU HAVE COVID WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT.

THERE IS A 70% INCREASE IN DEATH APPARENTLY, WHICH WAS SHOCKING TO ME TO LEARN.

THERE IS ALSO A RISK TO THE BABY.

HIGHER CHANCES OF PRETERM DELIVERY.

IT WENT FROM ABOUT 10% AS THE NORM.

WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT 13% IN NEW JERSEY AMONG WOMEN GIVING BIRTH YOU HAD COVID-19.

STILLBIRTH.

BLEEDING AND OTHER ISSUES.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO BOTH MOM AND BABY.

>> THESE ARE STAGGERING NUMBERS YOU ARE REPORTING.

EVEN WITH THAT INFORMATION, IT SEEMS THERE IS A DISCONNECT WITH ACTUALLY GETTING IT TO PEOPLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE SO TO SPEAK ON GETTING THE SHOTS.

>> ONE THING I SHOULD POINT OUT IS THAT ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF WOMEN ARE NOW GETTING SHOTS.

BUT JUST OVER 40% OF PEOPLE PREGNANT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

AND THAT IS REALLY SHOCKING.

AND AMONG ASIAN WOMEN, IT IS ALMOST 60%.

BLACK WOMEN, CLOSE TO ONE OUT OF FOUR.

SO THAT IS REALLY WHERE A LOT OF THE ADVOCATES I TALKED TO FOR MY STORY ARE FOCUSING EFFORTS.

THEY HAVE MADE REAL EFFORTS.

WE COULD HEAR FROM ONE OF THEM NOW IF YOU WANT.

THEY HAVE MADE REAL STRIDES TO GET THE WORD OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING VACCINATED.

>> WOMEN NATURALLY TRY TO PROTECT THEIR INFANTS OR BABIES .

KNOWING WE CANNOT PREDICT THE FUTURE, 10, 20 OR 30 YEARS DOWN THE LINE.

HOWEVER, THE BENEFITS OF BEING VACCINATED FAR BELTWAY THE RISK, KNOWING THAT YOU CAN SURVIVE GETTING AN INFECTION AND GIVE YOUR BABY A FIGHTING CHANCE.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT IS THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO GIVE.

>> AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES EXIST THROUGHOUT COMMUNITIES IN NEW JERSEY AND I THINK THE CONCERNS ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HEARD BEFORE.

THERE IS HESITANCY ABOUT THE WAY THE VACCINE WAS DEVELOPED.

THE ROLLOUT AND HOW IT WAS POLITICIZED, THERE IS FAR TOO MUCH MISINFORMATION OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IS HER CONCERNS ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

THEY ARE DEEP-SEATED CONCERNS.

THEY ARE NOT NEW.

THEY ARE COMING UP IN A NEW CONTEXT, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FOR MORE REPORTING ON VACCINATION EFFORTS ARE PREGNANT PEOPLE, GO TO NJSPOTLIGHT.ORG.

>>> REPUBLICANS HAVE LONG DECRIED THE EMERGENCY POWERS ASSUMED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY DURING THE PANDEMIC SAYING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS HAD TOO MUCH CONTROL OVER THE STATE THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AND IT SEEMS NOW THEY HAVE SOME DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT.

THE GOP INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY END THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF EMERGENCY AFTER 60 DAYS UNLESS BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE AGREE TO EXTEND IT.

AND EVEN THEN, IT WOULD ONLY GRANT 30 MORE DAYS.

THE SAME WOULD APPLY TO ANY PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE BILL WAS SPONSORED BY REPUBLICAN SENATOR AND NOW HAS THE SUPPORT OF DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WHO SIGNED ON AS SPONSORS.

THIS COMES AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP CHOSE NOT TO EXTEND THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS IN THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY AND MURPHY RESPONDED BY DECLARING ANOTHER HEALTH EMERGENCY.

>> AS THE STATE PREPARES TO LAUNCH A RECREATIONAL CANNABIS MARKETPLACE, MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES ARE NOT JUST THROWING EXTRA PRODUCTS.

THEY ARE GROWING IMPATIENT.

MANY SAY THEY ARE STOCKED AND READY TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF A NEW CUSTOMER BASE AFTER COMPLETING THE STATE'S APPLICATION PROCESS.

SO WHY HAVEN'T THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT TO START SELLING AND WHAT IS THE HOLD UP?

WE HAVE THE LATEST ON THIS VERY SLOW ROLLOUT OF THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

>> WE NEED TO HOLD TRUE TO OUR CORE VALUES.

ONE BEING EQUITY AND THE OTHER BEING SAFETY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO THIS RIGHT AND NOT JUST FAST.

>> THIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEFF BROWN ADDRESSING A POSSIBLE DELAY OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SALES IN NEW JERSEY.

ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT CENTERS COULD BEGIN SELLING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ON FEBRUARY 22nd, 6 MONTHS AFTER THE CRC ADOPTED RULES AND RELATIONS FOR THE ADULT USE MARKET.

BUT NOW THAT DATE IS IN JEOPARDY.

>> BY LAW, THEY CAN CERTIFY TO THE COMMISSION THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY TO NOT ONLY SERVE PATIENTS BUT ALSO RECREATIONAL CONSUMERS THAT THEY OPERATIONALLY CAN EXPAND TO SERVE NEW CONSUMERS BEYOND THE MEDICAL POPULATION AND THIRD, THAT THEY HAVE MUNICIPAL APPROVALS IN PLACE TO ALLOW THEM TO LEGALLY OPERATE IN THE TOWNS IN WHICH THEY ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING.

WE HAVE RECEIVED EIGHT CERTIFICATIONS FROM ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT CENTERS THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW IS SHARED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.

AS OF LAST WEEK, THE COMPLETENESS, WE WERE REVIEWING THE COMPLETENESS.

MANY WERE INCOMPLETE.

>> BUT ATC'S AROUND THE STATE SAY THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS STILL MISSING.

>> I THINK THERE IS CONFUSION AS TO WHAT EXACTLY IS REQUIRED IN THE AGENCIES.

MANY HAVE SUBMITTED CERTIFICATIONS AND THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE READY AND HAVE THE NOT RECEIVED CLEAR RESPONSES.

THERE SEEMS TO BE MISCOMMUNICATION.

THE NEXT THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AS POLICYMAKERS IN THE INDUSTRY REALLY NEED TO HAVE ONGOING REGULAR CONVERSATIONS AROUND THESE MATTERS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE TO THE EXPECTATION OF THE REGULATORS AND THE INDUSTRY.

IT IS A NEW INDUSTRY.

SOMETHING THAT INVOLVES A LOT OF THE REGULATION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SAY HAVE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN ORDINANCES AND THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT AROUND EACH TOWN.

SO I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BECOME A NORMAL THING IN ORDER TO GET UP AND RUNNING.

>> THE STATE'S LARGEST CANNABIS SURVIVOR SUPPLIER SPOKE OUT IN A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THE PACKET IS COMPLETE AND IN THE HANDS OF REGULATORS.

THEY ARE READY TO SERVE THE ADULT USE MARKET.

>> WE HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS SUNSET BOARD MEETING AND THEY ARE UNDER REVIEW AND WE ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE INDUSTRY THIS WEEK TO KNOW WHAT THEY STILL NEED TO SUBMIT AN ORDER TO MOVE THOSE FORWARD TO A MORE SUBSTANTIVE REVIEW ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY DO HAVE THE SUPPLY TO SERVE RECREATIONAL CONSUMERS IN ADDITION TO THE CURRENT PATIENT BASE.

>> STILL, SOME MARIJUANA ADVOCATES WONDER IF ENOUGH IS BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE THE MARKET IS DIVERSIFIED.

THIS U.S. REPRESENTATIVE EXPRESSING ANGER THAT NONE OF THE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES WILL APPLY FOR A LICENSE OR WILL BE APPROVED.

A CLAIM THAT THE CRC SAYS ISN'T TRUE.

>> MAKING SURE NEW JERSEY HAS A DIVERSE AND COMPETITIVE MARKET IS PARAMOUNT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND I'M CONVINCED WE CAN HAVE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AND COMPETITIVE MARKETS ON THE EAST COAST.

MAY BE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THE ENTIRE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN AROUND DIVERSITY.

IT HAS BEEN ABOUT DEALING WITH A FOCUS ON LEGACY, BLACK-MARKET DEALERS AND TAKING THEM OFF THE STREET AND CONVERTING THEM INTO TAXPAYERS AND REAL BUSINESSES.

THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

THERE IS A LOT OF OPTIMISM.

FOR STATES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET OVER THE HUMP.

MY HOPE IS THAT WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF THIS.

>> STATE LEGISLATORS CANNOT SAY WHEN THE SALE WILL BEGIN WITH A PLAN TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE INDUSTRY SO THAT IT CAN HAPPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> HOW OLD IS TOO OLD TO STILL BE IN PRISON?

THAT IS A QUESTION THE STATE SUPPORT COURT WILL GRAPPLE WITH.

ADVOCATES FOR AN 85-YEAR-OLD PRISONER SAY HE HAS BEEN A MODEL PRISONER AND HIS HEALTH ISSUES INCLUDING DEMENTIA AND COVID RELATED ILLNESS MAKE HIM A PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR RELEASE AND HE IS NOT ALONE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER AGING PRISONERS IN THE SYSTEM THAT A RULING IN THIS CASE MIGHT IMPACT.

COLLEEN O'DAY HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF AGING INMATES.

NEW JERSEY HAS PROBABLY ABOUT 500 PEOPLE WHO ARE 65 OR OLDER WHO WERE INCARCERATED.

MANY OF THOSE HAVE BEEN IN FOR DECADES.

THERE ARE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

COVID-19 RAN RAMPANT THROUGHOUT THE PRISON SYSTEM LAST YEAR AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER AND TEND TO REQUIRE MORE CARE.

THEY TEND TO BE MORE SICK.

IF YOU HAVE A PERSON OLDER AND LESS LIKELY TO OFFEND AND THEY ARE AILING AND THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE, WHY NOT GRANT IT?

AS THE ADVOCATES SAY, UNLESS YOU WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, YOUR SENTENCE WAS NOT MEANT TO BE A DEATH SENTENCE IN PRISON.

>> STATE ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITIES HELD A PUBLIC HEARING THIS MORNING OVER SOME PROPOSED RULES THAT WOULD CUT CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS IN THE STATE, A KEY PART TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE CHANGES INCLUDE STRICTER LIMITS ON CARBON POLLUTION FROM POWER PLANTS STARTING IN 2024 AND A REQUIREMENT THAT NEW BOILERS IN LARGE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS BE ELECTRIC RATHER THAN OIL.

MANY SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE PLAN SAYING THAT IT WILL COST TOO MUCH.

ONE ENVIRONMENTALIST ALSO OPPOSED THE PROPOSAL SAYING IT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH BY FAILING TO BAN FUTURE FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANTS BY LEAVING LOOPHOLES OPEN FOR EXISTING FACILITIES.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY SIERRA CLUB SHARED HER TAKE WITH US.

>> AT TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING, I BELIEVE 80 PEOPLE SUBMITTED TESTIMONY AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES.

ALL ASKING FOR THE SAME THING.

LETS MEET CLIMATE GOALS.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN DO THAT.

WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE BECAUSE WE ARE IN A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.

AND SO THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO STEP UP AND WORK ON THIS RULE AND PUSH IT FORWARD AS THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE WAY.

>> A NEW BILL COULD BAN AN INDOOR SMOKING IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE HAVE THE DETAILS AND ALL THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES OF THE DAY.

>> EFFORTS TO GET SMOKING OUT OF CASINOS HAVE BEEN SNUFFED OUT BEFORE.

WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS TIME?

>> ABLE TO BAN SMOKING IN ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS IS PICKING UP ADDITIONAL BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

ONE SENATOR SAYS HE HAS ADDED HIS BACKING TO THE BILL AS A SPONSOR.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD AMEND THE STATE'S SMOKE-FREE RULES.

>> WHEN I STARTED WITH THE GROUP, I REALIZED HOW DANGEROUS SECONDHAND SMOKE IS.

I HAVE A FAMILY.

I HAVE TWO SONS AND A WIFE.

I WANT TO BE THERE FOR THEM AND I'M SCARED NOW SEEING WHAT SECONDHAND SMOKE DOES.

>> THE CASINO ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY HAS SAID THAT PUTTING A BAN ON SMOKING WOULD COST JOBS AND TAX REVENUE.

THE BILL DID NOT WIN FINAL APPROVAL IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BUT GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID HE WILL SIGN A CASINO SMOKING BAN INTO LAW IF PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>> LEGISLATION MOVING FORWARD IN TRITON ENCOURAGES LOCAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO ENTER INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS.

THE IDEA, ACCORDING TO BUDGET AND FINANCE, IS TO TAKE A MORE COORDINATED APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN EXPANDED TAX BASE.

>> WHEN YOU CAN GENERATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A REGION OR MUNICIPALITY, THAT CAN EASE PRESSURE ON PROPERTY TAXES AS WELL BECAUSE IF THE BASE EXPANDS, YOU CAN BRING IN MORE MONEY WITHOUT RAISING RATES WHICH A LOT OF TAXPAYERS WOULD FIND ATTRACTIVE.

>> YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE BY READING THIS STORY ON NEW CAP C -- NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THE MONEY GOES TO MUNICIPALITY'S TO HELP ENCOURAGE THE USE OF MASS TRANSIT AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEAR RAIL AND BUS STATIONS.

>> THE GREAT RESIGNATION IS COOLING OFF A BIT AS PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER QUITTING THEIR JOBS IN RECORD NUMBERS.

IN DECEMBER, 4.34 MILLION PEOPLE QUIT.

STILL A LOT.

WE HAVE HAD MONTHS AND MONTHS OF THESE HUGE RESIGNATIONS BUT THAT NUMBER IS DOWN FROM THE RECORD SET IN NOVEMBER.

MEANTIME, THERE WERE NEARLY 11 MILLION JOB OPENINGS IN DECEMBER.

THAT IS STILL MORE OPENINGS THEN WE HAD PEOPLE TO FILL THEM ACCORDING TO THE LATEST GOVERNMENT DATA.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH AND LEADING THE WAY.

>>> A WORD OF ADVICE FROM THE IRS THIS YEAR.

FILE YOUR TAXES ELECTRONICALLY AND FILE THEM EARLY.

THE AGENCY IS ALREADY REPORTING A BACKLOG IN THE SYSTEM THAT IS STILL WORKING TO PROCESS MILLIONS OF 2020 TAX RETURNS.

PLUS, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS LEFT THE ALREADY SHORTSTAFFED AGENCY EVEN SHORTER HANDED SO THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE PROCESSING OF THIS YEAR'S TAX RETURNS.

AND PATTERSON, COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE CONFOUNDED BY THE CONFUSING TAX FORMS CAN ACCESS A FREE CLINIC TO GET SOME HELP.

RAVEN SANTANA HAS MORE.

>> THE IRS IS HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

>> HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND PATTERSON WHO WANT TO FILE TAXES BUT MAY NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET HELP OR KNOW WHERE TO GO TO DO SO.

>> PEOPLE CAN COME HERE AT THEIR CONVENIENCE AND GET THEIR TAX FORMS FILLED OUT FOR FREE.

>> THIS SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE AT THIS LOCATION AT CITY CENTER MALL STARTING THURSDAY.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TAX CREDITS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOLKS MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE AS MENTIONED, FILING TAXES IS COMPLICATED.

>> THE CLINIC IS THE PRODUCT OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE IRS AND THE UNITED WAY WHO HELD AN INFORMATIONAL SESSION AHEAD OF THE GRAND OPENING.

>> BECAUSE OF THE ADJUSTMENT IN INFLATION, IF YOU MAKE 73 THOUSAND DOLLARS OR LESS, YOU CAN FILE FOR FREE.

>> THIS SENIOR TAX CONSULTANT FOR THE IRS SAYS THAT IN ADDITION TO FILING YOUR TAXES CORRECTLY, THE CLINIC ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO FILE YOUR TAXES SECURELY.

>> YOU COME TO THE SITE AND THEY VERIFY YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND SO THAT YOU ARE NOT THE VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT.

YOU FILE ELECTRONICALLY AND YOU GET YOUR REFUND IN TIME.

>> THE NEW JERSEY MEMBER OF THE TAX WRITING COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE, SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING TAX HELP IF YOU NEED IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE OVERWHELMED.

>> THESE ARE NOT GIVEAWAYS.

THEY ARE WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP.

BUT TO GET EVERY STIMULUS AND TYPE CHILD TAX CREDIT, YOU HAVE TO FILE WITH THE IRS.

FILING TAXES CAN BE VERY INTIMIDATING.

I'M PLEASED TO HAVE TWO IRS REPRESENTATIVES THAT WILL NAVIGATE THE PROCESS AND AVOID REFUND DELAYS.

>> AND THIS CLINIC IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL TO THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE A COMPLICATED TAX RETURN BUT MAY NOT HAVE THE BUDGET TO PAY FOR IT.

>> IT BECOMES EVEN MORE CUMBERSOME WHEN YOU ADD LAYERS.

WHETHER IT IS A STIMULUS CHECK YOU MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED OR EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

OR CHILD TAX CREDIT.

>> FOLKS THAT DO NOT EARN A LOT OF MONEY CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND 400 OR $500 ON A TAX RETURN.

THEY NEED THEIR CREDITS AND REFUNDS TO ACHIEVE IMPORTANT FINANCIAL GOALS SUCH AS PAYING OFF DEBT, BUYING A CAR FOR OTHER THINGS THAT IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.

SO THE SUPPORT OF THE IRS AND CONGRESS TO FUND THESE SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE FREE INCOME TAX A SYSTEM AND PREPARATION FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A NAMEBRAND OR SOMEWHERE ELSE TO HAVE THEIR TAXES DONE.

THIS IS SIGNIFICANT.

>> APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED EITHER ONLINE OR OVER THE PHONE.

NO WALK-INS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FREE TAX CLINIC BY VISITING THE UNITED WAY.

THEY SAY THAT THE CLINIC WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH APRIL.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT GO OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHT.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS.

WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE VERY LATEST NEWS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.