>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

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

FROM NJPBS.

THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY SIGNED AN EXTENSION OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS.

THAT'S SET TO EXPIRE RIGHT AFTER THE MASK MAN DATE WILL END IN SCHOOLS.

MANY PARENTS ARE COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL THEY CAN SEND THEIR KIDS OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT A MASK.

BUT THAT WON'T APPLY TO KIDS WHO TAKE THE BUS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STILL REQUIRES MASKING ON ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY, THE RULES GOVERN SCHOOL BUSES AS WELL.

AS PARENTS CONSIDER WHAT THE NEW NORMAL IN SCHOOLS WILL LOOK LIKE, SOME HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR KID'S SAFETY.

THE NUMBER OF NEW COVID CASES HAS BEEN TRENDING DOWN.

ALTHOUGH TODAY THEY JUMPED TO 2600 NEW CASES.

UP FROM 1800 YESTERDAY.

AND WHILE ABOUT 77% OF ELIGIBLE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS HAVE NOW COMPLETED THEIR PRIMARY VACCINATION SERIES.

THE VACCINATION RATES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FAR BEHIND ADULTS.

WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN BY AGE, THE RATES GET LOWER THE YOUNGER YOU GO.

HAS THE NEEDLE MOVED AS FAR AS IT'S LIKE TROY GO WHEN IT COMES TO THE LITTLE ONES GETTING THEIR SHOTS ?

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN HEARD FROM SEVERAL PARENTS ABOUT THEIR STANCE ON THE ISSUE.

GOVERNOR MURPHY'S DROPPING SCHOOL MASK MANDATES AND HE'S PARTLY BANKING ON MORE KIDS GETTING VACCINATED TO RAISE COVID IMMUNITY RATES IN NEW JERSEY CLASS ROOMS.

BUT FOR MANY PARENTS, THAT'S JUST NOT ON THE FRONT BURNER.

>> WE STILL WANT TO GET THEM VACCINATED.

BUT THE RUSH ISN'T THERE, YOU KNOW.

>> MOM SAYS IT'S A TOUGH CALL.

HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD JUST RECOVERED FROM COVID AND SHE'S STILL WRESTLING WITH GETTING HIM VACCINATED EVEN THOUGH HER OLDER KIDS DID GET COVID SHOTS.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUMP AND GET HIM VACCINATED RIGHT AWAY.

WE THINK IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO WAIT IT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

AND SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT IN THE SPRING AND SUMMERTIME FRAME.

>> I DON'T WANT MY KIDS TO GET SICK OR ANYONE ELSE TO GET SICK.

I'M SIX MONTHS PREGNANT.

SO I DON'T WANT TO GET SICK.

SO IT'S -- IT'S SCARY.

>> LAUREN ANDERSON CAN'T WAIT TO GET HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, ARIEL, VACCINATED.

BUT FOR STEPHANIE, WHO SAYS SHE FOLLOWS A HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE, IT'S A HARD NO.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT CHOOSING TO GET VACCINATED.

WE DID HAVE COVID IN OUR HOUSE ALL READY THIS PAST WINTER.

>> HER THREE KIDS ALL READY HAD COVID.

BUT THESE THREE NEW JERSEY MOMS PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH KIDS AND COVID SHOTS IN NEW JERSEY.

RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 60% OF 12 TO 17-YEAR-OLDS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

BUT ONLY ABOUT 29% OF FIVE TO ELEVEN-YEAR-OLDS.

PARENTS CONCERNS -- >> WE HAVEN'T HAD A LONG ENOUGH TIME PERIOD TO OBSERVE HOW EFFECTIVE THE VACCINE IS.

BUT ALSO AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHETHER THERE ARE SOME SIDE EFFECTS OF THE VACCINE.

>> RUTGERS RESEARCHER CATHERINE SAYS NO EVIDENCE TO DATE SUGGESTS SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS FOR KIDS.

IN A RECENT SURVEY CALLED COVID STATES PROJECT, SHE DISCOVERED PARENTS OF OLDER KIDS FEEL MORE CONFIDENT THEY GET CHILDREN VACCINATED.

68% OF 12 TO 18-YEAR-OLDS.

BUT THAT DROPPED BELOW 60% FOR FIVE TO ELEVENS.

AND ONLY ABOUT HALF FOR KIDS UNDER FIVE.

ASSUMING PFIZER'S TWO-DOSE REGIMEN FOR YOUNGEST CHILDREN WINS EMERGENCY FDA APPROVAL.

MONTCLAIR EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE, PREDICTS -- >> WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OR SO OF THE VACCINE BEING AVAILABLE, THERE'S A RUSH FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT IT.

AND THEN IT WANES VERY QUICKLY.

A LOT OF PARENTS HAVE SAID WELL, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK COVID IS DANGEROUS TO MY CHILDREN.

AS IT IS TO OLDER ADULTS.

SO MY KIDS DON'T NEED TO BE VACCINATED.

>> PSYCHOLOGISTS EXPLAIN PARENTS FEAR FEELING TREMENDOUS GUILT.

>> IF I MAKE THIS CHOICE TO GET MY CHILD VACCINATED AND SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, THEN THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I AFFIRMATIVELY DID.

>> SHE SAYS MANY PARENTS WOULD RATHER NOT MAKE THAT CHOICE.

MORE OVER POLITICS HAS INCREASING LIPO LARRIZED THAT DECISION.

80% OF DEMOCRATS WOULD VACCINATE THEIR KIDS.

AROUND 60% OF INDEPENDENTS.

BUT ONLY 54% OF REPUBLICANS.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER DRAG ON VACCINATION RATES.

>> IRONICALLY, I THINK PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON ANTI-VIRALS WHICH ARE ALSO VERY NEW TO COME TO THE RESCUE RATHER THAN VACCINES BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE TREATMENT IS PREFERRED OVER PREVENTION.

>> SO SHE SAYS GOVERNOR MURPHY SHOULDN'T COUNT ON BIG SPIKES IN KID VACCINATIONS.

IT'S ALSO A MATTER OF HOW LONG THE SHOTS WOULD LAST.

WILL HER KIDS NEED BOOSTERS ?

AND REN?

>> I WILL VACCINATE MY SON IN THE FALL, ESPECIALLY IF WE GET A NEW VARIANT.

>> SHE'D FEEL MORE MOTIVATED IF COVID SHOTS WERE MANDATED FOR KIDS.

BUT THAT'S A POLITICAL THIRD RAIL TRENTON LAWMAKERS SEEM UNLIKELY TO GRAB ANY TIME SOON.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> NEW JERSEY HAS SPENT AT LEAST $9.5 MILLION TO TEST PUBLIC WORKERS THROUGH THE STATE'S VACCS OR TEST RULE ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY LAST FALL.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO WNYC.

ABOUT 26% OF STATE WORKERS ARE STILL UNVACCINATED.

BUT THAT NUMBER VARIES BY DEPARTMENT AS WNYC'S NEW JERSEY REPORTER, KAREN, JOINS ME NOW TO EXPLAIN.

>> KAREN, BREAK DOWN FOR US WHERE TAXPAYER DOLLARS HAVE GONE IN TERMS OF TESTING OF UNVACCINATED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

>> WELL, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A LEDGER THAT SHOWED HOW MUCH EACH DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY SPENT TO PAY THEIR PRIMARY TEST PROGRESS VIEDERING PROVIDER.

GOVERNOR MURPHY INSTITUTED FOR POST WORKERS IN MID OCTOBER.

SOME AGENCIES THAT STOOD OUT.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WITH 1.8 MILLION.

LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY WITH 1.9 MILLION.

AND THIS MAKES SENSE.

THESE ARE BIGGER DEPARTMENTS.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALSO SPENT SOME OF THEIR FUNDS ON TESTING RESIDENTS IN COMMUNITY HOT SPOTS AND IN LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND STATE POLICE.

>> I NOTICED DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATE.

JUST EXPLAIN KIND OF WHERE WE SEE THOSE DISPARITIES.

>> YEAH, SO WHAT WE LOOKED AT IS WE LOOKED AT THE LEDGER OF PAYMENTS AND COMPARED THOSE NUMBERS.

AND WE DID FIND A CORRELATION.

WHICH WAS, IF YOU HAD FEWER TOTALLY COMPLETELY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES, YOU WERE SPENDING MORE TO VACCINATE THE STAFF -- SORRY, MORE TO TEST THE STAFF THAT WASN'T VACCINATED.

AND SO YOU DID SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITH THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATE AMONG ALL AGENCIES OF THE DEPARTMENTS AT 41%.

AND THAT'S 41% OF ABOUT 8000 EMPLOYEES.

BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ACTUALLY USES A DIFFERENT TESTING PROVIDER.

THEY GO THROUGH THEIR MEDICAL PROVIDER AT RUTGERS.

SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO OBTAIN THAT COST BREAK DOWN THAT WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DOES TESTING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY WHERE THEY'VE BEEN TESTING EVERYBODY.

WHETHER YOU'RE VACCINATED OR NOT.

SINCE MAY OF 2020.

AND THEY'RE TESTING PRISONERS AS WELL.

AND THEY'RE TESTING CONTRACTORS.

SO THE DOC DID GIVE US AN ESTIMATE OF $68 MILLION THEY'VE SPENT ON TESTING.

BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE IN THIS POOL OF TESTERS.

VACCINATED AND NOT VACCINATED.

SO IT WAS HARD TO EXTRAPOLATE A FIGURE TO MAKE A FAIR APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.

>> WHAT WAS THE TIMEFRAME?

CAN WE EXTRAPOLATE FROM THAT WHAT THIS WILL COST THE STATE IF IT CONTINUES ON AN ONGOING BASIS, TESTING IN THIS WAY.

>> WE LOOKED AT RECORDS FROM OCTOBER TO FEBRUARY.

3.5 MONTH PERIOD.

IT'S ABOUT 3 MILLION ROUGHLY.

YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE SPENDING EVERY 30 DAYS OR SO.

AND I THINK THESE NUMBERS MAY GO DOWN AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED.

AS THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE GETTING VACCINATED.

I MEAN THE STATE OVER ALL HAS A PRETTY HIGH VACCINATION RATE OF 74% FOR ALL OF ITS STATE WORKERS.

BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A COST THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE, RIGHT?

I MEAN WHEN WE GIVE PEOPLE THE OPTION TO TEST OUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S COSTLY.

>> BIG NUMBERS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, KAREN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC NEW JERSEY'S PRISONS HAD THE HIGHEST COVID DEATH RATES OF ANY IN THE NATION.

THAT LED GOVERNOR MURPHY TO LAUNCH A PROGRAM CALLED PUBLIC HEALTH CREDITS.

WHICH ALLOWED INMATES WHO ONLY HAD A YEAR OR LESS LEFT IN THEIR PRISON SENTENCE TO BE RELEASED EIGHT MONTHS EARLY.

AND BACK IN NOVEMBER 2020, 2000 SUCH INMATES WALKED FREE IN A SINGLE DAY.

THE NUMBER REACHED 5000 BY THE TIME THE PROGRAM ENDED THIS PAST OCTOBER.

BUT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARATION, THE PROGRAM WAS REACTIVATED AND TODAY, 260 MORE INMATES WERE RELEASED.

RAVEN SANTANA WAS THERE TO GET REACTIONS AND TO SEE HOW THESE PRISONERS ARE BEING SUPPORTED ONCE THEY'RE OUT.

>> OBVIOUSLY VERY EXCITED.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ADDICTS DON'T UNDERSTAND.

AND THE ANXIETY THAT COMES WITH IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SCARY FEELING TO COME OUT HERE AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE ONE BAG AWAY FROM DYING.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF ANXIETY.

>> MICHAEL IS ONE OF MORE THAN 260 INMATES THAT WERE RELEASED FROM PRISONS AND HALF WAY HOUSES EARLIER TODAY UNDER GOVERNOR MURPHY'S PUBLIC HEALTH CREDIT PROGRAM.

THE PROGRAM WAS PROMPTED AFTER NEW JERSEY'S PRISONS AT ONE POINT HAD THE HIGHEST COVID DEATH RATE IN THE COUNTRY.

ALLOWS INMATES TO BE RELEASED 18 MONTHS EARLIER.

5000 INMATES RECEIVED EARLY RELEASES IN THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE PROGRAM.

AND THE INITIATIVE WAS REVIVED WHEN GOVERNOR MURPHY DECLARED ANOTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN JANUARY.

>> IF I DIDN'T HAVE AN ID, IF I DIDN'T HAVE FOOD, IF I DIDN'T HAVE SHELTER, IF I DIDN'T HAVE A JOB, IF I DIDN'T HAVE MONEY IN MY POCKET, WHAT WOULD I DO?

AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE LIKE THE SUPPORT OF A CHURCH OR A COMMUNITY OR MOSQUE, I MEAN WHAT WOULD I DO?

YOU HAVE TO SURVIVE.

>> FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR JIM McGREEVY IS CHAIRMAN OF A NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT HELPS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED FIND JOBS AND HOUSING.

McGREEVY JOINED STAFF TO MEET AND HELP RELEASED INMATES WITH BASIC NECESSITYIES.

WE'RE WELCOMING PEOPLE AS THEY COME OUT.

GIVING THEM A BACKPACK WITH UNDERWEARS, SOCKS, TOILETRIES, AND CONNECTING THEM TO SERVICES.

>> YOU JUST HAVE TO FILL UP THIS PART HERE.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE PEOPLE CLOSE TO US.

THOSE FOLKS AND THEP HEM HELP THEM WITH THEIR ID AND NEW JERSEY STATE BENEFITS.

NEW JERSEY HAS 13,000 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.

REENTRY WORKS.

BUT IT ONLY WORKS IF WE HAVE HAND IN GLOVE.

>> STAFF SAYS A MAJORITY OF THOSE BEING RELEASED DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

WHICH IS WHY THEY SAY HAVING ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF RESOURCES IS CRITICAL TO THEIR TRANSITION.

YOU HAVE TO THINK A LOT OF THEM DUE TO ADDICTION ENDED UP IN PRISON.

AND THEY BURNT A LOT OF BRIDGES.

THEY HAVE TO BUILD BACK RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN ORDER FOR THE FAMILIES TO SAY YOU CAN COME HOME.

BECAUSE MAYBE THEY DON'T THINK THAT PRISON DID IT FOR THEM.

>> REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS VOICED THEIR OPPOSITION CALLING THE GOVERNOR TO TERMINATE THE EARLY RELEASE.

INCLUDING STATE SENATOR, JOE, WHO SAID THE GOVERNOR WAS USING THE PANDEMIC AS A COVER FOR TURNING CRIMINALS LOOSE.

BUT McGREEVY ARGUES THAT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

CALLING THE RELEASE A SECOND CHANCE OF LIFE.

>> OUR RECIDIVISM RATE IS VERY LOW.

OUR REINCARCERATION RATE IS MUCH LOWER.

UNDER 10%.

REENTRY WORKS PROVIDED PEOPLE ARE IN A REENTRY PROGRAM AND ARE FULLY ENGAGED.

IT'S ALMOST AS IF WE'RE PROVIDING STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE, CONSISTENCY AND CONSTANCY.

>> I'M LIVING PROOF.

IF YOU GIVE YOWS A CHANCE, KEEP THE FAITH, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> CALVIN WAS RELEASED AFTER SPENDING 38 YEARS IN PRISON.

TODAY HE WORKS AS A VOLUNTEER TO HELP AND ASSIST THOSE WHO MAY FEEL HOPELESS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.

>> IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT, THAT ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO FORWARD, OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO RELAPSE AND GO BACK TO THE FAMILIAR THING THAT YOU ONCE DONE THAT GOT YOU LOCKED UP.

>> THE AGENCY WILL SPEND THE NEXT NINE MONTHS CLOSELY ASSISTING THOSE WHO WERE RELEASED AND CONTINUE TO TRACK THEM FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

UNDER THE NEWLY REACTIVATED PROGRAM, JERSEY COULD SEE MORE INMATES RELEASED SOON.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>> FOR MORE ON THE INLET PRISONER RELEASE PROGRAM, CHECK OUT REPORTING AT NJNEWS.ORG.

MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE IN CRISIS.

MANY ARE BACK ON CAMPUS AFTER COVID CLOSURES LAST YEAR.

70% OF STUDENTS SAY THEY'RE DEALING WITH MORE MENTAL HEALTH AND FINANCIAL STRESS THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND THE TOLL IS GREATER ON MINORITY STUDENTS WHO LOST JOBS DURING THE PANDEMIC AT HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

THE FINDINGS COME FROM A QUESTIONNAIRE CONDUCTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT SURVEYED 15.5000 COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM 60 DIFFERENT HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

THE OFFICE PLANS TO USE THE DATA TO DETERMINE HOW TO BETTER SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH INCREASED STUDENT SERVICES.

HAVE CHARTER SCHOOLS FALLEN PREY TO POLITICS ?

THAT'S THE ALLEGATION MADE BY SOME AS THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION ONCE AGAIN BLOCKED THE EXPANSION OF SEVERAL CHARTER SCHOOLS.

ONE IN THREE STUDENTS ATTENDS A CHARTER SCHOOL IN NEWARK, THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY.

AND ADVOCATES SAY THERE'S NO REASON TO STOP THEIR GROWTH.

ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE HIGHER RATES OF SUCCESS THEIR STUDENTS TEND TO V. BUT OTHERS SAY FUNDS FLOWING TO THE CHARTERS MEAN LESS MONEY FOR DISTRICT SCHOOLS.

MAKING IT HARDER FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO SUCCEED.

MELISSA COOPER TAKES A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE ISSUE.

>> PLEASE OVER TURN THE DECISION THAT YOU GUYS MADE.

BECAUSE WE NEED SCHOOLS LIKE THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> DANIELLE PLEADING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CHANGE ITS MIND AND ALLOW THE ACHIEVERS EARLY CHEJ PREP CHARTER SCHOOL IN EXPAND BEYOND THE NINTH GRADE.

HER DAUGHTER IS SET TO GO INTO THE TENTH GRADE.

BUT THE STATE'S DENIAL IS CREATING A MAJOR SET BACK.

>> I'VE BEEN IN MY MIND THINKING OF OTHER OPTIONS.

AND HONESTLY, I REALLY CAN'T THINK OF ANY.

BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE.

AND I DO HAVE AN OLDER CHILD, WHICH IS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL.

I TAKE EDUCATION VERY SERIOUSLY IN MY HOUSEHOLD.

SO I WANT MY CHILD TO GET THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE.

SO THEREFORE, I KNOW, PERSONALLY, I CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT TWO KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL.

>> CHARTER SCHOOL ADVOCATES SAY THE STATE'S RECENT DECISION TO DENY SEVERAL CHARTER'S EXPANSION REQUEST PUTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY PARENTS IN A SIMILAR SPOT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SITED REASONS FOR THE DENIALS.

SOME STUDENTS WERE ACADEMICALLY LOW PERFORMING.

WHILE THE STATE AND OTHERS HADN'T HIT THEIR ENROLLMENT CAPS.

LAWSUITS WERE FILED CHALLENGING THE EXPANSION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID SCHARA AGREED WITH THE STATE'S DECISION.

>> BASICALLY THE DEPARTMENT FOUND TWO CHARTERS HAVE SIGNIFICANT ABILITY TO EXPAND NOW.

WHICH THEY RECEIVED SOME YEARS AGO AND HAVEN'T USED IT UP.

IN ONE CASE, THE NORTH STAR CHARTER SCHOOL HAS OVER -- IS CLOSE TO 1000 APPROVED EXPANSION SEATS IF YOU WILL.

THEY CAN HAVE ANOTHER THOUSAND CHILDREN.

AND THEY HAVEN'T USED IT.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT ANYONE'S COMPLAINING ABOUT.

THESE DECISIONS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE JUST ISN'T THE DEMAND FOR THIS KIND OF EXPANSION.

>> BUT ADVOCATES SAY THE STATE'S DECISIONS DON'T TAKE A LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PICTURE.

>> CHARTER SCHOOLS DO NOT GET FACILITIES MONEY.

AND IT TAKES TIME TO FIND THE RIGHT BUILDING.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ON WAIT LISTS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT DEMAND.

IT'S ABOUT FACILITIES.

IT TAKES TIME TO GET THE TEACHERS IN PLACE.

TO GET LEADERSHIP IN PLACE.

TO GET THE FACILITIES UP IN ORDER TO SERVE STUDENTS WE'VE NEVER BEEN HELL NO CHARTERS.

>> HE ADDRESSED THE CRITICISM AT A PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY.

STATING HIS ADMINISTRATION APPROVED ALL REQUESTS FOR CHARTER RENEWAL.

AND APPROVED SEVERAL SCHOOL'S REQUEST TO EXPAND.

>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE FOR A MOMENT HAVE SAID WE'RE NOT ABOUT LABELS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DATA THAT WE ALL MAKE THESE DECISIONS ON ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S CHARTER, DISTRICT, MAGNET, PRIVATE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THAT WE'RE ALL READING FROM THE SAME SET OF FACTS.

>> THE NEW CHAIR OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SAYS HE WANTS TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWAL PROCESS IS I WANT TO SEE MORE PUBLIC TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE AT RED BANK WHERE THE CHARTER SCHOOL WAS RECENTLY RENEWED FOR FIVE YEARS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL THERE HAD CONCERNS.

ALL THEY COULD DO IS REALLY BOTH SIDES FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND COULD JUST SUBMIT PAPER.

BUT THERE WAS NO ABILITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY PROBLEMATIC AND CAN MAKE THE PROCESS BUREAUCRATIC.

>> CHARTER SCHOOL ADVOCATES WILL APPEAL DENIALS IN HOPES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL HEAR THEIR CONCERNS.

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

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE PAYING MORE THESE DAYS FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER IS HERE TO EXPLAIN HOW PRICES CONTINUE TO SURGE.

SHE HAS THAT PLUS ALL THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH INFLATION?

>> JOANNA, THERE'S NO LET UP TO SKY HIGH PRICES THAT ARE IMPACTING BOTH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

CONSUMER PRICES ROSE MORE THAN EXPECTED OVER THE PAST YEAR.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST READING OF THE CPI.

THAT'S AN INDEX USED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO TRACK THE PRICE OF PRODUCTS.

INFLATION SERVED 7.5% ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

IT'S THE HIGHEST READING IN NEARLY 40 YEARS.

THE COST OF BASICS LIKE FOOD AND SHELTER ARE STILL RISING.

THERE WAS A BIG JUMP IN ENERGY COSTS AND CAR PRICES.

IN FACT, USED CAR PRICES HAVE RISEN MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

UP MORE THAN 40% OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THE STATE WILL SOON ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR A NEW ROUND OF FUNDING FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE SUSTAIN AND SERVE PROGRAM.

THAT PROGRAM PROVIDES ORGANIZATIONS WITH GRANTS TO PURCHASE MEALS FROM NEW JERSEY RESTAURANTS IMPACTED BY COVID- 19.

IS THE ORGANIZATIONS THEN DELIVER THOSE MEALS ALT NO COST TO RESIDENTS IN NEED.

THE STATE IS ALLOCATING 10 MILLION COLE DO LARS OF FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY FOR THIS LATEST PHASE OF SUSTAIN AND SERVE.

AND IT'S EXPECTED TO START TAKING APPLICATIONS ON MARCH 1st.

THE HEAD OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ISABELLA GUZMAN IS MARKING BLACK HISTORY MONTH BY STATING THAT THE SBA IS COMMITTED TO BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES WHO CAN'T OBTAIN CAPITAL AND OTHER RESOURCES.

IN NEW JERSEY, THERE IS SOME HEAD WAY ON THAT FRONT.

ACCORDING TO JOHN HARMON WHO LEADS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

PARTICULARLY AROUND THE CORPORATE SECTOR IN NEW JERSEY, BANKS, CORPORATIONS, ARE MAKING OUTREACH THAT IS VERY SUBSTANTIVE.

IN OTHER WORDS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN INTRODUCE BLACK BUSINESSES TO RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND INFORMATION TO ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR SUCCESS.

>> HARMON BELIEVES MORE MOVEMENT IS NEEDED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

HE'D LIKE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STATE CONTRACTS AWARDED TO MINORITY FIRMS.

FINALLY, NEW JERSEY WILL BE RECEIVING MORE THAN $15 MILLION TO HELP BUILD OUT ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.

CONGRESS MAN FRANK PALLONE ANNOUNCED THE FUNDING AMOUNT TODAY.

WHICH IS PART OF AN EFFORT TO BUILD THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL NETWORK OF EB CHARGERS.

NOW, HERE'S A CHECK ON WALL STREET TRADING FOR TODAY.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, OR BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

WE'RE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU .EDU/GAME CHANGER.

AND MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN TO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THIS WEEKEND SHE PUTS THE STATE OF BLACK BUSINESSES IN FOCUS.

HIGHLIGHTING THE PROGRESS MADE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS, THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE GAINING FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

AND HOW OWNERS ARE EMPOWERING EACH OTHER.

CHECK IT OUT ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YouTube CHANNEL SATURDAY AT 10:00 A.M. COULD OFF SHOWER WIND TURBINES BE BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

THAT'S A QUESTION RESEARCHERS ARE EXPLORING AS THEY TRY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF WIND TURBINES ON MARINE LIFE.

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ON THE ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC WHITE WHALE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PUT FEDERAL DOLLARS BEHIND THE RESEARCH AS OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPERS MOVE AHEAD WITH PLANS TO INSTALL 200 TURBINES OFF THE JERSEY SHORE.

CAN THE TWO COEXIST?

JOHN HURDLE JOINS ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.

OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES SOUND LIKE A GREAT THING FOR NEW JERSEY, BUT WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS AROUND THE IMPACT ON WHALES ?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THAT THE OFFSHORE WIND FARMS MIGHT IN FACT INTERFERE WITH THE MIGRATORY ROUTES OF THE WHALES.

OTHER CONCERNS INCLUDE A DISTURBANCE BY, AS A RESULT OF NOISE DURING CONSTRUCTION.

AND THEN THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT THE NUMBER OF RECREATIONAL FISHING BOATS THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY DISTURB THE WATERS WHERE THESE VERY RARE MAMMALS SWIM.

THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT THE -- THAT POPULATIONS OF FISH WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE AROUND THE REFLIGHT CONDITIONS CREATED BY THESE WIND FARMS.

AND THEN -- AND THAT OF COURSE WILL BRING -- WILL BRING RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN.

AND SO THAT'S POTENTIALLY ANOTHER SOURCE OF DISTURBANCE TO THESE ANIMALS.

>> I WANT TO DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE SOUND ISSUE.

AND THE BOOMS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THE TYPICAL SOUNDS OF CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S MAJOR DISRUPTIONS THAT COULD HAPPEN HERE, YES?

>> WELL, YES, I THINK THESE WHALES ARE WHALES IN GENERAL AND PERHAPS THE NORTH ATLANTIC WHITE WHALE IN PARTICULAR ARE VERY MUCH SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE NOISE CREATED DURING CONSTRUCTION.

THERE WILL BE PILES BEING SUNK INTO THE SEABED TO SUPPORT THESE GIANT TURBINES THAT WILL BE BUILT THERE.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THIS WILL -- WHETHER ALL THAT ACTIVITY IS GOING TO CREATE SOME DISTURBANCE.

>> SO JUST QUICKLY, WHAT IS THE RESEARCH BEING DONE AROUND THIS?

DOES IT LOOK LIKE THERE'S A PATH FORWARD?

>> WELL, I THINK THE FACT IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T YET KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HOW ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE THE NORTH ATLANTIC WHITE WHALE WOULD BE DISTURBED OR WOULD BE POTENTIALLY HARMED.

BY THE OFFSHORE WIND -- BY THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY.

AND THE FEDERAL AGENCY THAT CONTROLS THIS IS SAYING THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO DO A LOT MORE RESEARCH INTO THIS.

AND I'M HEARING THE SAME THING FROM A WHALE EXPERT AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

SHE WELCOMED THE NEW FEDERAL INITIATIVE TO LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY, JOHN HURDLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE POLITICAL HEADLINES THIS WEEK, TUNE IN TO REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE TOMORROW MORNING, THIS WEEK SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ TALKS WITH MAJOR ANDRE ABOUT CALLS FOR BAIL REFORM AND DISCUSSES THE NEWLY LIFTED SCHOOL MASK MANDATE WITH A PANEL OF REPORTERS.

THAT'S TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YouTube CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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