FUNDING FOR SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY NJ INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

IF YOU ARE KEEPING TRACK OF NEWLY REPORTED CORONAVIRUS CASES THIS WEEKEND YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED A DRASTIC DIP IN NEW CONFIRMED TESTS.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT IS A A RESULT OF AN ELECTRONIC LAB REPORTING ISSUE AFFECTING THE COUNT AND MAYBE SKEWING TODAY'S DATA WHICH SHOWS ROUGHLY 1200 NEW CASES AND 14 WERE LIVES LOST.

IN A TWEET THE GOVERNOR SAID THE LABS HAVE BEEN ALERTED AND HAVE BEEN WORKING QUICKLY TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED.

THAT NUMBER IS LESS THAN HALF THE CASES REPORTED SATURDAY.

EVEN WITH AN ADJUSTMENT, ALL SIGNS INDICATE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IS SLOWING.

AND AS IT DOES A MYSTERIOUS COVID-19 COMPLICATION CONTINUES TO TARGET NEW JERSEY KIDS.

THE OVERALL NUMBER OF CASES KNOWN AS MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYSTEM REMAINS SMALL IT IS RISING NEARLY ONE YEAR AFTER THE PANDEMIC EMERGED.

AND ITS DEADLY EFFECTS.

>> KIDS ARE ACTUALLY COMING IN IN SHOCK.

AND CARDIAC FAILURE.

>> Reporter: SHE RECALLS THE FIRST WAVE IN SPRING KIDS SUFFERING FROM A DEVASTATING POST COVID SYNDROME.

THE KIDS SURGEON MAY FOLLOWED APRIL SPIKES AN ADULT COVID CASES, MIDDLE SCHOOL TO TEENAGE CHILDREN SHOWING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT ERS WITH WHAT DOCTORS LATER CALLED MISC.

>> I THINK EVERYONE WAS SHOCKED HOW SICK THEY WERE.

WE ARE A BUSY ICU, AND THESE KIDS WERE AMONG THE SICKEST WE'VE EVER TAKEN CARE OF.

AND WE WERE NOT SEEING THIS IN OUR ADULT COUNTERPARTS.

>> Reporter: CASE RATES SLOWED OVER SUMMER BUT NOW HOSPITALS REPORT A SECOND POST HOLIDAY WAVE OF MISC UNDERWEIGHT WITH SYMPTOMS JUST AS SEVERE AS THE FIRST SURGE INCLUDING HIGH FEVER, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, RED EYES.

WHAT IS THE COVID CONNECTION?

>> MANY OF THE CHILDREN WE ARE SEEING WITH THIS CONDITION HAVE SOME HISTORY OF COVID INFECTION WHETHER THAT IS A POSITIVE TEST FROM A NASAL SWAB, OR A POSITIVE ANTIBODY TEST FROM THE BLOOD.

>> Reporter: OR EXPOSURE TO SOMEONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD WHO HAD COVID.

JERSEY HAS LOGGED 88 CASES SO FAR, 22 SINCE DECEMBER 21 WITH THREE KIDS CURRENTLY IN HOSPITAL BUT ZERO DEATHS.

NATIONALLY OUT OF MORE THAN 2000 CASES, 30 CHILDREN HAVE DIED.

MANY SPENT WEEKS IN CRITICAL CARE RECOVERING FROM WHAT DOCTORS THINK IS A POST COVID OVERREACTION BY THE CHILD'S OWN IMMUNE SYSTEM.

>> IT'S NOT THAT THE VIRUS IS STILL WITH THE CHILDREN, IT'S THE CHILD'S RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS HAS KIND OF GONE BERSERK.

IT HAS GONE OVERBOARD AND HAS ACTUALLY DONE THE MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

>> THEIR CHILDREN WITH MISC WHO MIGHT END UP ON A VENTILATOR, MEANING A VENTILATOR TO BREATHE WITH THEM.

EVERY CASE HAS BEEN A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

BUT CERTAINLY THE SICKEST CASES, IT CAN BE WEEKS BEFORE THEY REALLY ARE BACK TO BASELINE.

>> Reporter: AND HITS KITS OF COLOR HARDEST, HISPANICS COMPRISE 40% OF JERSEY CASES FOLLOWED BY BLACK AND WHITE KIDS AT 23%.

IN THE U.S.

ALMOST 70% OF MISC CASES INVOLVE HISPANIC AND BLACK CHILDREN.

DISPARITIES THAT MIRROR ADULT COVID STATISTICS.

IT IS SOMETHING SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST RECOGNIZE AS THEY MOBILIZE TO REOPEN.

HE NOTES KIDS CAN GET VACCINATED YET.

>> OUR EFFORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE MOST MOBILE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR STATE.

THE SCHOOLS THAT MOST NEED OUR HELP, ENSURING THAT OUR TEACHERS, JANITORS, PRINCIPALS, PARAPROFESSIONALS ARE ALL VACCINATED COUPLED WITH MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN THE SCHOOL SEEMS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: PFIZER, MODERNA AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON WILL LAUNCH VACCINE TRIALS FOR KIDS THIS SPRING.

ASTRAZENECA TRIALS ALREADY INCLUDE CHILDREN AGE 6-17.

FOR NOW DOCTORS ADVISE PARENTS TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON KIDS AND LOOK FOR SUBTLE EARLY SIGNS.

>> NOT FEELING SO GOOD, WANT TO GET UP AND DO ANYTHING.

NOT EATING SO GREAT, DON'T WANT TO PLAY.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

TAKE SUBTLE SIGNS SERIOUSLY.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS YOU KNOW YOUR COULD BEST.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> AS SHE REPORTED, UP UNTIL NOW BABIES, KIDS AND TEENS HAVE LARGELY BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND CORONAVIRUS VACCINE'S.

THAT IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE IN THE COMING MONTHS WITH NEW TRIALS.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA FINDS THOSE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 50 AND 79 HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT 20% EACH OF VACCINES GIVEN SO FAR.

THOSE 80 YEARS OLD AND ABOVE ACCOUNT FOR JUST 10%.

AS OF MIDDAY THE STATE HIT ANOTHER MILESTONE, MORE THAN 1,000,001ST DOSE SHOTS HAVE BEEN PUT IN ARMS.

369,000 SECOND DOSES CLOSE TO 1.4 MILLION TOTAL.

IT IS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS FROM JUST WEEKS AGO.

BUT FAR SHY OF THE 4.7 MILLION ADULTS THE STATE IS AIMING TO VACCINATE BY THIS SUMMER.

DRUGMAKER SAY IT'S NOT JUST THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCT CAUSING A BOTTLENECK, DHARNA IS REPORTEDLY ASKING FEDERAL REGULATORS TO HELP EASE THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY ALLOWING 15 DOSES OF THE VACCINE IN EACH VIOLENCE THAT OF 10.

BUT WILL HELP?

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOINS US WITH HIS THOUGHTS.

IF THE FDA GRANTS MODERNA THIS APPROVAL, WHAT CHANGES FROM HERE ON OUT?

>> WHENEVER YOU HAVE A MULTIDOSE VIAL, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE A LITTLE EXTRA IN CASE SOMEONE DRAWS UP THE WRONG AMOUNT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THEY PUT A LOT OF EXTRA IN.

THEY FOUND THEY DIDN'T NEED NEARLY AS MUCH.

A LOT OF VACCINE WAS BEING WASTED.

NOW WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A SHORTAGE OF VACCINE, THEY DECIDE, OKAY, LET'S RECALIBRATE IT SO WE CAN GET MORE DOSES PER VIAL.

IT IS A SIMPLE AS THAT.

>> COULD ONE OF THE BOTTLENECKS THE MANUFACTURING AND JUST THIS REGULATORY HURDLE?

>> IN FACT, THERE ARE MANY BOTTLENECKS.

YOU IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY BY DEALING WITH THEM ONE AT A TIME.

SO THIS IS LIKE, IF YOU HAD TWO FACTORIES AND NOW YOU MADE A THIRD FACTORY.

BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF DOSES PER VIAL.

>> BETWEEN THIS AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON PRESUMABLY COMING ON LINE IN WEEKS DOES IS GIVE US AND GET US CLOSER TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GOAL TO RAMP UP INOCULATIONS?

>> YEAH.

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

OF COURSE J&J COMING ONLINE, IF IT HAPPENS WILL BE BIG BECAUSE OF THEIR TREMENDOUS INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY.

BUT, IT IS A RACE.

AND THE SOONER WE GET THE VACCINE IN, THE BETTER IT IS TO REDUCE THE RUNNING ROOM FOR THE VIRUS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY EMERGING IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, EVERYONE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> WHAT MIGHT CAUSE THE FDA NOT TO APPROVE THIS AND WHY DIDN'T THEY DO THAT FROM THE OUTSET?

IS A CONCERN THERE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS A CERTAIN MARGIN OF SAFETY.

AND EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.

BASICALLY, WHAT THE VACCINE MANUFACTURERS HAVE FOUND IS THEY DON'T NEED SUCH A BIG MARGIN.

IS BETTER TO GET MORE DOSES PER VIAL THEN LET VACCINE BE WASTED.

AND GO DOWN THE DRAIN.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THIS NOTION, WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, THE FACT THAT THIS VIRUS IS LIKELY HERE TO STAY, THAT THESE INOCULATIONS WILL BECOME A REGULAR PART OF OUR LIVES, WHAT WE KNOW NOW ABOUT THAT VERSUS A FEW MONTHS AGO?

>> YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS AGO I THINK EVERYONE THOUGHT MAYBE THIS IS JUST ONE AND DONE.

THE VIRUS WILL GO THROUGH THE POPULATION, PEOPLE WILL GET IMMUNE AND VACCINE AND THEN IT WILL BE OVER.

BUT, WE ARE SEEING THAT THE VIRUS HAS LEGS.

THE VIRUS IS CHANGING IN RESPONSE TO PEOPLE DEVELOPING ANTIBODIES.

THE VIRUS ORIGINATED IN AN ANIMAL, IT WRIT ORIGINATED IN ABOUT.

AND COMING INTO HUMANS, WAS SOMETHING NEW FOR THE VIRUS, IT IS ADAPTING.

AND IT'S CHANGING TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT IN HUMANS.

WE ARE SEEING THAT NOW QUITE CLEARLY.

WHETHER IT WILL BE A FACT OF LIFE FOR THE NEXT FIVE OR 10 YEARS OR STILL WILL BE ONE AND DONE, I DON'T DIG ANYONE EXACTLY KNOWS.

BUT I THINK THE PRUDENT THING IS TO PREPARE FOR THAT POSSIBILITY.

WHICH WHITE MIGHT MEAN THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED NOW WILL HAVE TO GET A BOOSTER SHOT IN THE YEAR WITH A VARIANT OF THE VIRUS CORRESPONDING TO THE ONE THAT IS CIRCULATING.

VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO FOR INFLUENZA VACCINE.

>> BECAUSE THE ONE THING WE DO KNOW IS THAT VIRUSES LOVE TO MUTATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>>> AN UPDATE TONIGHT ON THE PROBLEM FILLED HOTLINE MEANT TO HELP RESIDENTS SECURA VACCINE APPOINTMENT.

IS HIRING.

THE PRIVATE COMPANY MANAGING STAFFING FOR THE STATE CALLCENTER IS LOOKING FOR WORKERS AFTER OFFICIALS PUT THE LINE ON HOLD TO FIX TECH GLITCHES AND BOOST TRAINING FOR OPERATORS.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPENED THE CALL CENTER ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND SAYS THAN 1000 RESIDENTS WORKING FOR THE HOTLINE OR IN TRAINING.

THERE ABOUT 2000 AGENTS TOTAL BUT NOT ALL OF FROM NEW JERSEY.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THE STATE IS REQUESTING THAT THE VENDOR PRIORITIZE STATE RESIDENCE FOR THOSE JOBS.

MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE FILED FOR EMPLOYMENT SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE AGENCY NEEDS TO STEP UP QUICKLY AS OF FEBRUARY 1 BEFORE THE 785,000 CALLS PLACED TO THE CENTER, MANY DESPERATE TO GET THE VACCINE.

>>> SCHOOL LEADERS ARE STILL TRYING TO DIGEST A SET OF PLANS RELEASED LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON BY THE CDC.

A 35 PAGE ROADMAP SOME OF THE CLEAREST GUIDANCE YET FOR SAFETY RETURNING STUDENTS, TO DO IT SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO HIT A NUMBER OF CRITERIA AND MAKE SURE COMMUNITY SPREAD IS LOW.

BUT IT ALSO ADDRESSED A POLITICAL LIGHTNING ROD, VACCINATING OUR TEACHERS.

JOANNA HAS MORE ON WHETHER NEW JERSEY'S EDUCATORS ARE GIVING THE PLAN A PASSING GRADE.

>> I RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT HAS BEEN GRABBING HEADLINES IS THE IDEA THAT TEACHERS DON'T NEED TO BE VACCINATED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE READ PAST THE HEADLINE AND UNDERSTAND VACCINATIONS ARE NECESSARY WHEN ALL OTHER SAFETY MEASURES FALL IN PLACE.

>> THE NEW GUIDANCE RELEASED BY THE CDC ON FRIDAY OUTLINING THE NECESSARY STEPS FOR A RETURN TO IN-PERSON EDUCATION DOESN'T CHANGE MUCH FOR THE ASSOCIATION.

THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN REMOTE SINCE MARCH AND THE UNION HAS REFUSED TO RETURN ITS MEMBERS TO SCHOOL UNTIL BUILDING SAFETY CAN BE ASSURED BY THE DISTRICT.

>> THEY CONFIRMED THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR WITH REGARDS TO VENTILATION AND AIR CIRCULATION, HANDWASHING AND CREATING ISOLATION STATIONS.

UNTIL WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION THE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE ACTUALLY SAFE SPACES.

>> THE NEW GUIDANCE PLACED THE HEAVY EVIDENCE GUIDANCE ON STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN A KEY PART OF THE PLAN.

PROPER MASK WEARING, SOCIAL DISTANCING OF AT LEAST SIX FEET, DISINFECTING OF SURFACES, VENTILATION AND CONTACT TRACING.

THE AGENCY SAYS LOCAL OFFICIALS SHOULD REVIEW THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY SPREAD WEEKLY TO PLAN INSTRUCTION, AND THE VACCINES SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR TEACHERS, BUT NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOLS REOPENING.

>> YOU THINK A WHOLE WHAT CHANGES BASED ON THE NEW GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY?

>> I REALLY DON'T THAT MUCH IS GOING TO CHANGE FOR NEW JERSEY.

FOR A FEW REASONS.

WE ARE STILL IN THE HIGHER RISK CATEGORY IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CASES WE HAVE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCING, PART OF THE REASON A LOT OF SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY HAVE MOVED TO THE HYBRID MODEL IS BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE SPACE IN THE CLASSROOM TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS AT LEAST SIX FEET APART.

>> OR YOUR THOUGHTS AND TEACHER VACCINATIONS NOT BEING A REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOLS TO OPEN?

>> IF WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TO FEEL SAFE, PARTICULARLY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, WE KNOW STUDENTS 11 YEARS AND OLDER TRANSLATED THE SAME AS ADULTS.

WE NEED TO GET THEM ON THAT LIST FOR VACCINATIONS, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED ENOUGH VACCINE.

>> THE CDC DIRECTOR SAID SHE EXPECTS TO HUNDRED MILLION NEW VACCINE DOSES BY THE END OF MARCH.

AND WHILE THERE IS NO MANDATE FOR IN PERSON LEARNING, THE CDC SAID K-12 SCHOOLS SHOULD BE THE LAST SETTING TO CLOSE IN THE FIRST TO REOPEN WHEN THEY CAN DO SO SAFELY.

IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF SCHOOLS ARE OPERATING UNDER SOME LEVEL OF IN PERSON LEARNING.

NEARLY 100 ARE FULLY IN PERSON AND NEARLY 200 ARE FULLY REMOTE.

THE DIRECTOR SAYS EVEN DISTRICTS WITH THE HIGHEST COMMUNITY SPREAD CAN GET BACK TO SOME IN PERSON LEARNING BY USING STRICT MITIGATION STRATEGIES.

LIKE IN NEW YORK WHERE YOLANDA JOHNSON SITS ON THE REOPENING TASK FORCE.

>> WE HAD INCLUDED THE CDC GUIDELINES, LIKE TEMPERATURE TAKEN, FOOT COVERS, STUDENTS SHOULD BE TESTED.

OF COURSE HANDWASHING.

I'M KIND OF OKAY WITH THE CDC GUIDELINES FOR REOPENING SCHOOLS.

>> THE NEW YORK SUPERINTENDENT WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT NEITHER WAS THE MONTCLAIR SUPERINTENDENT.

BUT A JUDGE RECENTLY REFUSED TO REQUIRE MONTCLAIR STAFF TO RETURN TO THE BUILDINGS.

>> WE WERE APPRECIATIVE OF THE RULING BECAUSE IT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ARE SAFETY MEASURES THAT NEED TO BE MET BY OUR DISTRICT.

>> THE UNION IS HOPING THE DISTRICT DROPS THE COURT CASE AGAINST THEM AND THAT THEY CAN EVENTUALLY RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM ONCE MANY OF THE NEW CDC GUIDELINES ARE IN PLACE.

>>> THIS PRESIDENTS' DAY WEEKEND PUNCTUATED BY PLENTY OF ACTION IN WASHINGTON.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HISTORIC SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL PLAYED OUT AS MOST ANALYSTS PREDICTED.

ALONG PARTY LINES WITH REPUBLICANS SECURING ENOUGH VOTES TO ACQUIT TRUMP ON CHARGES OF INCITING A DEADLY ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL BUILDING.

BUT THAT VOTE ISN'T THE LAST LEGAL WORD ON TRUMP'S TIME IN OFFICE.

DAVID TELLS US A FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR IS CALLING FOR A 9/11 STYLE COMMISSION.

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION.

THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PRACTICALLY AND MORALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVOKING THE EVENTS OF THE DAY.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: IF AND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL WERE LIKE ANY OTHER TRIAL, THIS MEMBER OF THE JURY WOULD'VE BEEN ETHICALLY COMPELLED TO CONVICT.

IMPEACHMENT TRIALS DON'T WORK THAT WAY.

MEMBERS OF THE JURY ARE MAKING A POLITICAL DECISION, WHICH MEANS THAT THE ACQUITTAL WAS PRETTY MUCH A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.

BUT, AS MITCH McCONNELL HIMSELF OBSERVED ON SATURDAY, -- >> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS STILL LIABLE FOR EVERYTHING HE DID WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE.

AS AN ORDINARY CITIZEN.

>> Reporter: THAT CAN MEET A FEW THINGS OFF THE BAT.

A FORMER NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> THERE ARE INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON IN GEORGIA OVER THE ON CALL TO THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE WHERE HE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE PRESSURED HIM TO FIND 11,000 VOTES SO HE COULD WIN GEORGIA.

AND ALSO THE NEW YORK CITY MANHATTAN DA IS LOOKING SERIOUSLY AT THE FORMER PRESIDENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.

THIS IS NOT OVER.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IS CONSIDERING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST TRUMP AND THERE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE CIVIL SUITS STEMMING FROM THE RIOTS AT THE CAPITAL.

ALL OF WHICH COULD UNEARTH EVIDENCE THAT HOUSE MANAGERS JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO FIND.

>> I HOPE THAT SOME OF THEM GET TO THE HEART OF EXACTLY, WHAT WAS THE PRESIDENT OR HIS ADVISORS CONTACT WITH THESE GROUPS?

PRIOR TO JANUARY 6.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THERE WASN'T SOME KIND OF BACK CHANNEL GOING ON, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

THERE IS TALK OF FORMING A 9/11 STYLE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS AND I THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

>> A CONGRESSMAN WHO WAS IN THE CAPITAL DURING THE ATTACKS SUPPORTS THE IDEA.

>> WE HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE THAT.

HAD HE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IT WOULD'VE SUSPENDED THE CONSTITUTION.

AND DECLARED HIMSELF A DICTATOR.

>> Reporter: DAVID GREENBERG SAYS A 9/11 STYLE COMMISSION COULD BE GOOD FOR HISTORIANS STUDYING TRUMP'S RISE AND FALL AND HIS ROBUST ASSUMPTION OF PRESIDENTIAL POWERS.

>> JUST AFTER NIXON THERE WAS A KIND OF BACKLASH CONGRESS SAW FIT TO TRY TO RESTRAIN RESIDENTIAL POWER TO A GOOD DEGREE.

WE COULD SEE COMING OUT OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY A SIMILAR PUSH.

THE FLIP SIDE, I WILL ADD, IS THAT THERE ARE ALSO THOSE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WHO DON'T WANT TO RESTRAIN THE PRESIDENT.

THEY FEEL LIKE, WE ARE IN THE SEAT NOW, WE HAVE POWER.

INSTEAD OF TYING OUR OWN HANDS, LET'S DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

>> AS FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS MOST HISTORIANS WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE 45th PRESIDENT OF THE U.S., ONLY THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THAT BOOK HAS BEEN WRITTEN.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ASKED THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE LEGAL LEAD CLEANUP BILL AND HE WILL TELL YOU THERE IS NOTHING SPECIFIC TO REPORT.

BUT NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS HAS CONFIRMED THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS MAY BE CLOSER TO A DEAL THAN THEY ARE LETTING ON.

WITH ANOTHER BILL PROPOSED FRIDAY, ADDRESSING BOTH LEGALIZATION AND DECRIMINALIZATION FOR MINERS.

IT LOWERS THE COST OF FINES FOR 18 TO 20-YEAR-OLDS TO $50 FOR EACH AND GIVES WRITTEN WARNINGS TO ANYONE YOUNGER.

AND WILL ESCALATE WITH EACH OFFENSE.

IT ALSO CREATES A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW UNDERAGE MARIJUANA USE AND ENCOUNTERS WITH POLICE.

IT ALSO DISCOURAGES ARRESTS BY MAKING THE PROCESS BURDENSOME AND TIME-CONSUMING FOR OFFICERS.

THIS AS REPORTS SHOW POLICE ARRESTED MORE THAN 6000 PEOPLE FOR MINOR POSSESSION.

JUST IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS SINCE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED LEGALIZING THE DRUG.

IT IS EXPECTED TO BE VOTED ON TUESDAY WITH AMENDMENT'S POSSIBLE AND COURTS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY.

>>> EVEN IN A PANDEMIC WITH FEWER PEOPLE ON THE ROADS, LOW GAS PRICES HAVE MANAGED TO CLIMB.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST POCKET CHANGE, THE AVERAGE GALLON IN THE STATE IS ABOUT $.15 HIGHER THAN LAST MONTH ACCORDING TO AAA MID-ATLANTIC.

IF YOU FILLED UP TODAY WITH REGULAR UNLEADED, IT WOULD COST YOU AN AVERAGE OF $2.67 PER GALLON, UP FROM $2.52 A MONTH AGO.

YOU CAN EXPECT TO CONTINUE PAYING MORE EVEN HIS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS APPEAR TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE.

IT IS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF RISING CRUDE OIL PRICES AND OF COURSE INCREASING FUEL DEMAND.

NEW JERSEY'S AVERAGE IS ABOUT $.17 HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL WHICH SITS AT AAA PREDICTS THOSE WILL JUMP IN THE SPRING.

>>> FOR ALL THE WISECRACKS NEW JERSEY TAKES FROM THE NOT SO PLEASANT SMELLS CAUSED BY OUR REFINERIES AND FACTORIES, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD AT LEAST ONE IN OUR FAVOR.

THE UNMISTAKABLE AROMA FROM FRESH PICKED COOKIES.

FOR 60 YEARS THE NABISCO PLANT IN FAIR LAWN ROLLED OUT OREOS AND ANIMAL CRACKERS.

LAST WEEK MONDELEZ WHICH OPERATES THE PLANT AND OUT IT IS FACTORY.

LATER THIS YEAR HUNDRED EMPLOYEES.

TOWN, A VOICE THAT.

FAIR LAWN .

WE HAVE TO ASK YOU FIRST, DO NOT PLAN ON EATING ANY OF THESE COOKIES FROM HERE ON OUT.

IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS HAS BEEN SUCH A BIG PART OF IT FOR SOME OF THE PLEASE >> THOSE WORKERS DID KEEP SHOWING UP EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD COVID CASES WITH MONDELEZ.

MONDELEZ BECAME MORE PROFITABLE, PRODUCTION WAS UP AND WHAT THEY GOT WAS A PINK SLIP.

THAT UPSET NOT JUST MYSELF BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE WORKERS.

AS WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND GIVING INCENTIVES FOR MONDELEZ TO STAY, WE THOUGHT WE HAD AN OPEN DIALOGUE BUT THEY SHUT DOWN COMMUNICATION TWO MONTHS AGO AND DIDN'T GIVE US A HEADS UP AND NOTIFY THE EMPLOYEES THEY WERE GOING TO BE LET GO.

>> IF PRODUCTION IS UP WHAT WERE THE REASONS FOR SHUTTING DOWN?

AND SHUTTING DOWN ENTIRELY?

>> THE REASON THEY GAVE IS GEOGRAPHY.

THEY HAD ONE PLANT ON THE WEST COAST IN PORTLAND AND THREE ON THE EAST COAST.

ATLANTA WHICH IS THEIR OLDEST, VIRGINIA AND THEN HERE.

OUR ARGUMENT WAS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE EAST COAST AND WITH PRODUCTION UP, PROFITS UP, THERE SHOULD BE A BIG PUSH TO STAY HERE.

>> WHAT IS BEING PLANNED THEN TO HELP THESE WORKERS.

WE ARE AT A TIME WHEN SO MANY OF US ARE OUT OF JOBS, MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT SINCE HIS PANDEMIC BEGAN, IS THERE HELP?

>> THAT IS A BIG ISSUE TOO.

TIMING COULDN'T BE WORSE.

600 EMPLOYEES HERE IN FAIR LAWN AND ANOTHER 400 IN ATLANTA.

MYSELF AS MAYOR, I HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO A NUMBER OF COMPANIES, LETTING THEM KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT WORKFORCE HERE IN FAIR LAWN.

I JUST WANT TO READ SOME OF THE COMPANIES, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

WE HAVE EASTERN T CORPORATION.

WHITE INK.

NORTHERN COLLEGIATE GROUP AND JOHANNA FOODS JUST REACH OUT TO ME TODAY.

EVEN THOUGH THIS IS ONGOING, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THESE EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTING HR AT MONDELEZ AND THE UNION PRESENTED TO GIVE THIS INFORMATION TO THE WORKERS OVER AT MONDELEZ.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT SITE?

PLANT?

ANY PLANS?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST.

WE ARE TO WORRY.

WERE GOING TO KEEP IT AS AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX HERE IN FAIR LAWN.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PLACES THAT WANT TO DO DISSOLUTION CENTERS, OFFICE SPACE.

IT IS THINGS WE WILL BE EXPLORING.

WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE FROM MONDELEZ WHAT THE TIMELINE IS.

BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT ONCE IT BECOMES AVAILABLE IT WILL GO.

WE ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF DISSIDENTS/BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS MOVING IN.

WE WILL BE OKAY.

OUR FOCUS IS ON THE EMPLOYEES BEING LET GO.

>> YOU SO MUCH, BEST OF LUCK TO THE TOWN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, ANOTHER WEATHER EVENT TO WARN YOU ABOUT.

TWO ROUNDS OF LIGHT SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN AND COLD ROADS ACROSS THE STATE AND WELL INTO THIS EVENING.

IS EXPECTED TO MAKE TRAVEL DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSED POWER OUTAGES.

CHARGE OR DEVICES.

A BAN ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ON MOST HIGHWAYS WENT INTO EFFECT AT 8:00 A.M., TAKE CARE ON THE ROADS IF YOU HAVE TO BE OUT.

IN THE MEANTIME HEAD OVER TO OUR WEBSITE OR ANY SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI, FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

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

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

>> AND NJM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN SERVING POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT, JUST WHO ARE THE POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NON-PROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR.

AND OUR HOME GROWN CHAMPIONS.

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

AND NJM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.