>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> THIS IS "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK FOR JOINING US.

I'M BRIANNA VENOZI.

GOVERNOR MILLER MADE HIS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE TODAY SINCE VOLUNTARILY QUARANTINING A WEEK AGO AFTER LEARNING A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY TYPESSED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

MURPHY DID NOT TEST POSITIVE, AND WAS SPORTING A NEW LOOK, TWO MASKS INSTEAD OF ONE.

AT AN UNRELATED EVENT IN NEW ARK, MURPHY CALLED IT THE NEW NORMAL FOR NOW, DOUBLE MASKING BASED ON STRONG ADVICE, BUT REMOVING IT TO ANNOUNCE NEWLY CONFIRMED POSITIVE TESTS.

JUST OVER 3,100 TODAY, AND 31 MORE LIVES LOST.

THOSE NUMBERS APPEAR TO HAVE EVERYONED OUT SINCE THIS WEEKEND WHEN AN ELECTRONIC LAB REPORTING ISSUE CAUSED A BACK LOG, REDUCING SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, ESPECIALLY AMONG ASYMPTOMATIC CARE YEARS IS GET TO GET ANOTHER BOOST THANKS TO A NEW COVID-19 TESTING CENTER OPENING THIS WEEK INSIDE NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS IT'S A WELCOME LAYER OF DEFENSE, AS VACCINES REMAIN TOUGH TO GET, AND NEW STRAINS OF THE VIRUS EMERGE.

>> I JUST HAPPENED TO WALK OFF THE PLANE, AND THIS WAS RIGHT HERE.

>> Reporter: TY WILKINS SIGNED UP WITH THE NEW EXPRESS CHECK COVID TEST CLINIC THAT OPENED JUST YESTERDAY IN TERMINAL C'S BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA AT NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

.

ILL. WILL KINS WANTED A TEST.

>> I'M GOING TO BE AROUND MY GRANDMOTHER, AND MY YOUNGER THEMES.

I JUST WANT TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE.

>> IF WE'RE GOING TO WIPE THIS OUT, THE MORE KNOWLEDGE PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE A CARRIER, THEY HAVE IT, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: MANAGER LAYLA TAGLIERI SAYS THE CLINIC OFFICER THE STANDARD TESTS, BUT CAN PERFORM TWO DIFFERENT RAPID TESTS, ANDTIGEN AND MOLECULAR.

I VOLUNTEERED FOR A MOLECULAR TEST, WHICH VOLUNTEERS YOUR NOSE GETTING POXED AND SWABBED.

A SMALL MACHINE PROCESSES THE SAMPLE, AND YOU GET AN ANSWER WITHIN 20 TO 30 MINUTES.

AND THE RESULT IS NEGATIVE.

EXPRESS CHECK PRINTS OFFICIAL PAPERWORK THAT CAN CLEAR PASSENGERS FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO COUNTRIES THAT DEMAND PROOF AIR TRAVELERS ARE COVID NEGATIVE.

THE CDC REQUIRES THAT FOR PASSENGERS FLYING INTO THE U.S. FROM ABROAD, AND WHILE THE RAPID TESTS AREN'T AS RELIABLE AS PCRS, THE ABBA CAN GIVE FALSE NEGATIVE PRACTICE, THEY CAN IDENTIFY THE ESTIMATED 50% OF COVID INFECTED PEOPLE WHO SHOWED NO OUTWARD SIGNS OF ILLNESS.

>> IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE IT, YOU'RE GOING TO SPREAD IT TO EVERYBODY YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH MORE THAN LIKELY.

>> Reporter: CDC OFFICIALS SAY ADDITIONAL SCREENING COULD HELP DETECT ASYMPTOMATIC CASES, BUT THEY STOPPED SHORT OF MAKING DOMESTIC PRE-FLIGHT COVID TESTING MANDATORY AFTER AN OUTCRY FROM AIRLINE INDUSTRY OFFICIALS.

HOWEVER, THE AGENCY DOES STRANGELY RECOMMEND AIR TRAVELERS, BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL, GET TESTED FOR COVID BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER FLIGHTS.

REACTION?

>> IF YOU'RE ON A FLIGHT, IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE MANDATORY.

YOU'RE TRAVELING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YOU'RE IN CLOSE, TIGHT SPACES.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONNECTING FLIGHTS.

>> IT'S A WASTE OF TIME, BECAUSE THEY CAN BE INFECTED AND NOT SHOW UP YET.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ENOUGH EVIDENCE THEY'RE 100% ACCURATE.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO WERE NEGATIVE TEST POSITIVE.

AND SO ARE WE USING SECURITY THEATER OR MAKING PEOPLE SAFER?

>> HAVING TESTING OR WAYS TO OBVIOUSLY FILTER OUT PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INFECTED IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFE WAY TO GET PEOPLE FLYING AGAIN.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL IRV IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED HUB, AND SAYS AIR FILTRATION IS EXCELLENT ON BOARD U.S.

AIRLINERS, BUT WITH UNITED'S FLIGHTS CURRENTLY OFF BY 40% DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEY PREDICT 14,000 LAY OFFS IF CONGRESS DOESN'T EXTEND A THIRD CHUNK OF FEDERAL FUNDING, $14 BILLION TO HELP AIRLINES MOOT PAYROLL.

THEY'RE BETTING ON COVID VACCINATIONS TO ULTIMATELY RESCUE THE INDUSTRY.

>> JUST A MATTER OF THE SPECIAL OF PEOPLE GETTING INOCULATED, AND WHEN WE WILL SEE RECOVERY.

SO GETTING THESE FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT JUST ALLOWS US TO BRIDGE THAT TIME UNTIL A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ARE INOCULATED.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW IT'S EASIER TO GET TESTED THAN VACCINATED.

THIS IS THE SECOND POP-UP TEST CLINIC.

THE OTHER ONE'S AT TERMINAL B.

IT'S NOT FREE AND INSURANCE ONLY COVERS THE PCR TESTS.

THEY'RE OPEN 7 DAYS, FROM 8 TO 6.

>>> ASK MEDICAL EXPERTS, AND THEY'LL TELL YOU WE NEED TO BE WATCHING MORE THAN TRANSMISSION RATES AND NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW TRENDS OF THIS PANDEMIC.

HOME-GROWN VERY I DON'T WANTS OF COVID-19 ARE ON THE RISE, SEVEN SO FAR, AND THIS WEEK, NEW STUDIES EMERGED SHOWING THAT VERY I DON'T WANT FIRST FOUND IN THE UK IS NOT ONLY MORE CONTAGIOUS, AS FIRST THOUGHT, BUT ALSO LIKELY MORE DEADLY.

IT'S JUST ONE OF MANY CONCERNS EPIDEMIOLOGISTS HAVE AS WE RACE TO GOT MORE SHOTS IN ARMS.

AS OF THIS MORNING, ROUGHLY 1.4 MILLION TOTAL DOSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT ACROSS THE STATE.

MORE THAN A MILLION FIRST SHOTS, AND 386,000 SECOND DOSES.

THOSE SUITS OF HOPE ARE NOT REASON ENOUGH TO LET UP ON COVID-RELATED RESTRICTIONS.

ACCORDING TO RUCKERS UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY DR. STANLEY WEISS, HE SAYS NEW VARIANTS THREATEN OUR PROGRESS.

DR. WEISS IS WITH US TO EXPLAIN.

>> IT WAS A MONTH AGO SCIENTISTS SAID IT WAS A REALISTIC POSSIBILITY THIS UK VERY I DON'T WANT COULD BE NOT JUST MORE CONTAGIOUS, BUT MORE DEADLY.

THEY'VE SINCE UPGRADED THAT.

WHAT'S CHANGED?

>> THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR DATA, THAT THERE WERE MORE DEATHS THAN THEY HAD EXPECTED WHEN USED AS THE DENOMINATOR FOR THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE INFECTED WITH THAT STRAIN.

AND SO, THEREFORE, FINALLY, THEY DID NOT LOOK TO THEM AS THOUGH THERE WAS MORE DISEASE.

IN THEIR MORE RECENT AND SEAL, THEY'VE REVISED THAT TO SUGGEST THAT THERE MAY BE INCREASED DISEASE AND MORTALITY FROM THAT STRAIN.

THE OTHER STRAINS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE, IF ANYTHING, MORE WORRYSOME, I THINK, TO MANY OF US, BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT SOME OF THOSE ARE LESS AMENABLE TO PROTECTION BY OUR NEW SYSTEM THAT'S DRIVEN BY SOME OF THE CURRENT VACCINES.

>> OTHER STRAINS, DR. WEISS, LIKE THE SO-CALLED AFRICAN VERY I DON'T WANT, WE KNOW NOW TODAY THERE WAS A CONFIRMED CASE FROM A PATIENT IN CONNECTICUT NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE.

THAT PATIENT HASN'T RECENTLY TRAVELED, ACCORDING TO REPORTS.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU, AND HOW WORRIED SHOULD WE BE?

.

>> WE FEEL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

THE EVIDENCE ACTUALLY HAS BEEN CLEAR TO MANY OF US FOR WEEKS NOW THAT THAT SOUTH AFRICAN STRAIN IS BEING SPREAD BY WHAT WE CALL COMMUNITY SPREAD.

NOT SOMEONE WHO'S HAD CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO'S HAD TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE CAN ASSUME THAT THE SOUTH AFRICAN VIRUS IS HERE.

IT'S PROBABLY IN MANY LOCATIONS.

WHEN WE HEAR REPORTS, IT'S JUST BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY.

WE SHOULD ASSUME THAT'S ALREADY HERE.

>> WHAT'S YOUR TAKE THEN ON WHAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF THESE VACCINES, AND JUST THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING SHOTS IN ARMS NOW?

>> IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH A FULL SET OF DOSES.

THAT WILL HELP MITIGATE THE SPREAD BY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUSCEPTIBLE.

BY DECREASING HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INFECTED ACTIVELY WITH THE VIRUS, AND HENCE THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE VIRUS TO MUTATE AND TO GIVE US NEW VARIANTS, SOME OF WHICH COULD GIVE US UPGRADE.

FOR NOW, WE CLEARLY HAVE TO HAVE EVERYONE REMAINING WITH PROTECTIONS, AND I'M CONCERNED MANY OF THE CONCERNS, INCLUDING IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY HAVE BEEN LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS AT A TIME WHEN THINGS SEEM TO BE GETTING A LITTLE BETTER.

I THINK THAT'S PREMATURE.

IT'S STILL RAPIDLY SPREADING.

WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THESE VARIANTS, AND I THINK THAT THOSE VARIANTS ARE HERE AND SPREADING, THAT THEY'RE AN INCREASING RISK.

SO WE NEED TO BE AS CAREFUL AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

EVERYONE IS VERY TIRED OF THIS PANDEMIC.

WE'RE FRUSTRATED AT WHAT WE CAN'T DO.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PERSIST WITH THOSE RESTRICTIONS A LITTLE BIT LONGER SO WE CAN TRY TO FIND HOW TO GET AHEAD.

.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO GET YOUR INSIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

.

>>> ADD ANOTHER NAME TO THE LIST OF REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS.

PHIL RIZZO IS ANNOUNCING HIS BID FOR THE NOMINATION.

ACCORDING TO HIS BIO ON THE CITY BAPTIST CHURCH WEB SITE, RIZZO IS A MORRIS NATIVE AND SPENT MOST OF HIS CAREER WORKING WITH HIS FAMILY IN REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.

HE'S A FREQUENT MURPHY CRITIC, CALLING FOR BUILDINGSES AND SCHOOLS TO REOPEN, AND ACCORDING TO HIS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, A STAUNCH ADVOCATE OF DONALD TRUMP.

HIS CAMPAIGN IS FOCUSING ON RECLAIMING THE PROSPERITY OF NEW JERSEY.

RIZZO WILL COMPETE AGAINST JACK CITORELLI.

>>> ALSO ON THE GOVERNOR'S PLATE THIS WEEK, THAT LINGERING MARIJUANA CLEAN-UP BILL.

WE WON'T HOLD OUR BREATH, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE LEGISLATURE IS THE CLOSEST YET TO GETTING THIS MEASURE THROUGH A FULL VOTE AND ON TO MURPHY'S DESK, BUT THE FINAL VERSION IS ANYTHING BUT DONE.

EVERYONE AFTER GETTING DECENT MARKS DURING MONDAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING, NOT ALL LAWMAKERS ARE SOLD ON HOW THE BILL ADDRESSES PENALTIES FOR UNDERAGE USE.

IT'S THE LYNCH PIN FOR GETTING THIS MARKET OFF THE GROUND.

DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IN THE ONE-STEP FORWARD, TWO-STEP-BACK WORLD OF MAKING CANNABIS LAW IN NEW JERSEY, TODAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE STEP FORWARD PART OF THE EQUATION.

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CONSIDERING A SO-CALLED CLEAN- UP BILL TO BILLS ALREADY SITTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THE INTENT?

TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE NEW CANNABIS LAWS WILL IMPACT MINORS, A SMALL DETAIL THAT HAS STALLED THE PROCESS OF GETTING A CANNABIS INDUSTRY STARTED.

>> I REACH OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S PEOPLE, AND THEY SAY THAT, WELL, THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY STILL BE WORKING ON NOW?

>> I DON'T THINK -- WELL, WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING IT PASSED.

IT WILL BE VOTED ON BY BOTH HOUSES ON THURSDAY.

THE HOPE IS ALL THREE ARE SIGNED ON THURSDAY.

>> GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WON'T COMMENT ON PENDING LEGISLATION, BUT SOURCES SAY A BILL THAT HAS SOME ENFORCEMENT, IN THIS CASE, WARNINGS AND SMALL FINES ONLY AFTER A THIRD CONTACT FOR CERTAIN UNDER 20-YEAR-OLD OFFENDERS IS WHAT THE FRONT OFFICE WANTS.

SCALARI SMILES WHEN ASKED IF THIS FIX IS THE FINAL FIX NEEDED TO MOVE TO THE LEGAL CANNABIS QUESTION.

>> I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF MYSELF, AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYBODY THE IMPRESSION THAT I AM.

WE'VE GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL, AND I DON'T -- HAVING DONE THIS FOR A DECADE, I KNOW WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF FITS AND STARTS.

SO I TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.

I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A BOLD PREDICTION WHEN I'M NOT CERTAIN OF THE OUTCOME.

>> CHANGES THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE FINES ALTOGETHER WERE EXPECTED TO BE PRESENTED AT TODAY'S HEARING, AND THERE'S STILL PLENTY IN THIS BILL AND THE OTHER CANNABIS BILLS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES THAT LOT OF LAWMAKERS DON'T LIKE.

THE FACT REMAINS THAT EVERYONE AFTER VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED LEGAL CANNABIS, THOUSANDS OF REDIRECTS HAVE BEEN MADE THIS YEAR, MOSTLY INVOLVING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

.

>> I THINK THERE IS A TON OF FEAR, A TON OF STIGMA ATTACHED TO CANNABIS THAT'S REALLY ROOTED IN SOME RACIST KIND OF POLICY AND POLITICS THAT GOES ON, AS YOU SO WELL KNOW, DECADES.

THIS HAS BEEN AROUND, AND IS REALLY CORE TO THE PROVISION OF CANNABIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

.

>> SO I THINK THAT LINGERS.

>> WITH INVESTORS WAITING FOR NEW JERSEY TO UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE MARKETPLACE, IT CAN BE EASY TO OVERLOOK THE REASON SO MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS SAY THEY SUPPORT LEGAL CANNABIS, SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> WE CARE ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN KIND OF THE ENTRY POINT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY THE BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS WHO ARE OVERWHELMINGLY POLICED.

SO TAKING AWAY THAT TOOL AND THAT REASON FOR ARRESTS, WE'RE HOPEFUL IT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT AND REDUCING ARRESTS.

>> AND THAT, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO SOME LAWMAKERS, IS GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO TAKE THEIR TIME TO PASS THE BILL THAT RIGHTS WRONGS SYSTEMS IT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES.

AS IF TO PROVE THAT POINT, THEY POSTPONED THE HEARING ON THIS BILL UNTIL TOMORROW.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> MURPHY WAS STARTING TO FALL OUT OF FAVOR WITH CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATES.

WILL TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT CHANGE THAT?

RHONDA SHAFLER HAS MORE ON HIS PLANS AND TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY IS MAKING A BIG FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO CLEAN ENERGY.

TODAY HE ANNOUNCED $100 MILLION WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR CLEAN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, INCLUDING ELECTRIC BUSES AND GARBAGE TRUCKS, AND ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS.

HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN NEWARK TODAY, WHERE WORK ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WILL TAKE PLACE.

NOW, SOME OVER THE FUNDING FOR THIS WILL COME FROM MONEY THE STATE RECEIVED AS PARKING LOT OF A NATIONWIDE POLLUTION SETTLEMENT REACHED WITH THE AUTO MAKER VOLKSWAGEN.

MONEY IS ALSO COMING FROM THE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE OR REGI.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS THE PROJECTS WILL LEAD TO NEW GREEN JOBS FOR THE STATE: HE ALSO SIGNED AND EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE ACTION AND THE GREEN ECONOMY.

>>> TOMORROW MARKS THE END OF AN ERA IN ATLANTIC CITY AS THE FORMER TRUMP PLAZA CASINO IS SCHEDULED TO BE IMPLODED.

JANE BUCKANEVA SAYS STOCKTON UNIVERSITY'S LIGHTI INSTITUTE IS HOPEFUL THE LAND WILL GET A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

>> WHEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, CLOSED FOR SO LONG, THAT REALLY WAS AN EYESORE ON THE CITY.

BUT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE SOMETHING REALLY GREAT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING INTO THE CITY TO SEE SOME SPECTACULAR, YOU KNOW, ATTRACTION THAT COULD REALLY BE A FOCAL POINT OF THE ATLANTIC CITY SKYLINE.

>> THERE'S NO OFFICIAL WORD YET ON HOW PROPERTY OWNER CARL ICON WOULD REDEVELOP THE LAND.

>>> WITH SO MANY NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS CONTINUING TO WORK FROM HOME, LAWMAKERS ARE WONDERING HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT THE STATE'S ECONOMY OVERALL?

OUR TOM WRIGHTMEYER SAYS THEY PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD SET UP A COMMISSION TO STUDY ALL ALSO PARKWAY WESTS OF REMOTE WORK.

>> HOW IT'S AFFECTING, YOU KNOW, WORKERS, HOW IT'S AFFECTING WORKPLACE STRESS, WORKER RETENTION, CHILD CARE ISSUES, AND ALSO HOW IT'S AFFECTING COMPANIES.

>> THERE COULD ALSO BE TAX IMPLICATIONS.

FOR MORE, READ JOHN'S STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> NOW HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE TRADING DAY PLAYED OUT ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SHAPPLER.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

.

>>> THREE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SAY THEY WILL ACT, STILL OUTRAGE BY AN ASSAULT ON INMATES AT NEW JERSEY'S ONLY FEMALE PRISON.

SERETA WEINBURG IS PUSHING FOR A NEW ROLE, PUBLIC ADVOCATE, INDEPENDENT FROM THE GOVERNOR WITH INVESTIGATIVE AND LEGAL POWERS TO LOOK INTO ALL CONGREGANT LIVING SETTINGS.

OUR SENIOR WRITER HAS BEEN DIGGING INTO THE PROPOSAL, AND SAYS IT ALSO COMES AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FAILED TO REACH A SETTLEMENT WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THOSE JANUARY ASSAULTS.

COLLEEN IS HERE NOW WITH THE LATEST.

COOL LOON, THIS INCIDENT, OF COURSE, EGREGIOUS ON THE MAP HERE, BUT WHAT KIND OF AUTHORITY WOULD A PUBLIC ADVOCATE HAVE TO PROTECT INMATES?

>> THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE A BIT OF AUTHORITY.

YOU KNOW, WE WENT BACK IN THE ú70S THROUGH THE 90S, AND THEN BRIEFLY IN THE MID-2000S.

SO THIS ADD HAVE CAT WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INSTITUTIONS WHENEVER NECESSARY, TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS, TO TALK TO ANYONE HE OR SHE WANTED OR, YOU KNOW, THE OFFICE, TO TALK TO ANYONE THEY WANTED, TO TALK TO -- REALLY TO KIND OF HAVE CARTE BLANCHE TO OVERSEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE FACILITIES.

>> SO THIS WOULD BE COUNTY JAILS, VETERANS HOMES, BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF CONGREGANT LIVING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HOMES, JAILS, STATE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS.

PUBLIC FACILITIES, NOT A PRIVATE NURSING HOME, BUT ANY STATE-RUN OR COUNTY-RUN GOVERNMENT-RUN FACILITY.

YES, THEY WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GO INTO AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LOOK.

AND FOLKS THERE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE REPORTING ANY PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, FEARING RETRIBUTION.

>> WHY ISN'T THIS HAPPENING ALREADY, COLLEEN?

I MEAN, WASN'T THAT DOJ SETTLEMENT SUPPOSED TO PUT SOME REFORMS IN PLACE TO GIVE A LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, SO WHEN THE CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER TESTIFIED LAST SEPTEMBER AT A HEARING, AND HE REALLY JUST VERY PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED THIS, EVERYBODY GOT EXCITED, AND I THINK EVERYONE JUST THOUGHT, OKAY, WELL, THIS IS HAPPENING, AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT IT.

WE HAD ACTUALLY TRIED TO GET A COPY OF THE SETTLEMENT A COUPLE TIMES, AND WE WERE TOLD IT WASN'T RID YET, WASN'T READY YET, AND SUDDENLY WE FIND APPARENTLY THERE REALLY WASN'T A SETTLEMENT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WHY TALKS BROKE DOWN.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE SENATORS WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW.

>> ALSO VERY QUICKLY, IT DOESN'T JUST END THERE.

THERE'S ALSO TALK OF COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS HERE.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO GET FOLKS INTO THESE FACILITIES AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS, LIKE, FOUR TIMES A YEAR AGAINST PROBLEMS WILL COME TO LIGHT MORE QUICKLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COLLEEN ODIG REPORTING.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> ADVOCATES FOR HEALTH-CARE WORKERS ARE FED UP AFTER WAITING MONTHS FOR A BILL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO SHED LIGHT ON CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS, AND DEATHS AMONG HOSPITAL STAFF.

PUBLIC DATA THAT WOULD HAVE PUT THE SAME BURDEN OF ACCOUNTABILITY ON HOSPITALS AS OUR NURSING HOMES NOW FACE.

BUT UNION LEADERS ARGUE THAT BILL WAS GUTTED ONCE LOBBYISTS GOT THEIR HANDS ON IT.

IT NOW LAX THE MAIN INGREDIENT, TRANSPARENCY.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS >> WHY DID THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION GET AND OTHER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, GET TO HIJACK THIS BILL, AND MORPH IT INTO SOMETHING THAT WAS A SHADOW OF WHAT WAS INTENDED?

>> DEBBY WHITE, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE'S LARGEST UNION FOR NURSES AND HEALTH-CARE WORKERS IS ANGRY, ANGRY THAT A BILL DESIGNATED FOR COVID TRANSPARENCY WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED, AND SAYS THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT HOSPITAL STAFF INFECTIONS AND DEATHS DUE TO COVID.

>> THE ADJECTIVES ARE MEMBERS SAID MOST OFTEN WAS I FEEL DISPOSABLE.

>> Reporter: THE HEALTH-CARE UNION REPRESENTING 14,000 NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH-CARE STAFF RALLIED AND TESTIFIED AND EVERYONE CONDUCTED A MEMBER SURVEY, CALLED EXPOSE AND AT RISK, THAT CHRONIC ED THE FRONT LINE WORKERS' EXPERIENCES DURING COVID TO SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION.

THE SURVEY RETURNED BY 1,100HP HEALTH WORKERS SHARED THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND THE IMPACT THOSE GAPS HAD ON NOT ONLY THE WORKERS, BUT ON THE CARE THEY PROVIDED, AND ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THOSE REPORTS BY RESPOND INCIDENTS INCLUDED 51% OF HEALTH-CARE WORKERS HAD TO PERFORM DIRECT COVID-19 CARE WITHOUT APPROPRIATE PPE.

AND 78% REUSED THEIR N-95 MASKS, MOST FOR MULTIPLE DAYS, SOME FOR A WEEK OR MORE.

>> WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CAPTURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE FRONT LINES.

THAT LEGISLATION MORPHED UNTIL IT BECAME LAW.

SO WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE HAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED.

>> Reporter: WHITE SAID THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT CALLED FOR DAILY COLLECTION OF DATA THAT'S REPORTED ON THE STATE COVID-19 DASHBOARD WAS CHANGE.

SHE SAID THE ONE THAT WAS SIGNED RECENTLY INTO LAW CALLS FOR A BIOMONTHLY COLLECTION THAT'S NOT REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED PUBLICLY.

>> I DON'T THINK TRANSPARENCY WAS THERE.

I THINK THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS SO OVERWHELMED THAT NURSES WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST.

YOU KNOW, HOSPITALS HATE NEGATIVE PR.

THEY DON'T WANT IT OUT THERE ANYWHERE THAT THEY'RE -- THEY HAD THIS VIRUS UNCONTROLLED IN THEIR FACILITY.

>> Reporter: REGISTERED NURSE CHERYL MOUNT TOOK PART.

SHE SAID BY ALLOWING THE BILL TO LANGUISH FOR MONTH, THEY LOST FUTURE ASSETS TO BATTLE THE PANDEMIC.

>> I READ THIS TRANSPARENCY BILL, AND I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED.

IT WAS JUST STRIPPED.

THIS IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, AND SO IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, IF SOMETHING'S NOT DONE TO PROTECT NURSES AT THE BEDSIDE, YOU'LL HAVE VERY FEW -- >> REPORTER: WE REACHED OUT TO THE BILL'S SPONSOR, WHO WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT RELEASED A STATEMENT, SAYING, "WE WORK WITH DIFFERENT PARTIES INVOLVED TO FIND A BALANCE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT INVADING PRIVACY OR OVERWHELMING HEALTH- CARE ORGANIZATIONS WITH ADDITIONAL WORK.

REQUIRING DAILY REPORTING WOULD DIVERT PERSONNEL AWAY FROM PROVIDING CARE TO SICK PATIENTS.

THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC VIA THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH."

.

>> WHITE SAYS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, HEALTH-CARE WORKERS JUST WANT TO BE RESPECTED AND FEEL SAFE AT WORK, BUT SHE SAYS THAT CAN'T BE DONE UNLESS HOSPITALS KEEP TRANSPARENCY AMONG STAFF.

MOUNT SAYS, WHILE SHE'S HAPPY THAT HEALTH-CARE WORKERS WERE A PRIORITY ON THE VACCINATION LIST, SHE SAID THAT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN MUCH IF YOU STILL FEEL DISPOSABLE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> ELEVEN MONTHS, MORE THAN TWO MILLION UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS FILED, DELAYED CHECKS, WEB SITE HICCUPS, THIS WEEK ROB VASARO ANGELO IS IN THE HOT SEAT ON CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ.

LIVE THURSDAY MORNING AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

GET YOUR QUESTIONS IN EARLY BY, MAILING THEM TO CHAT BOX AT NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG OR JUST ASK THEM LIVE ON THE STREAM.

DON'T MISS IT.

>>> IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHAN UNLESS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> HAVE SOME WATER.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF I BECAME A 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 RUMKEN, AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN MJE MEMBER.

>> RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO SEE A DISORDERLY CONDUCT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR APP, OR CRUISE OUR WEB SITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH AN RWJ BARNABAS MEDICAL GROUP PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION, AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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>>> VIEWER SUBMISSION IS A WORLD THAT RUNS ENTIRELY ON GREEN ENERGY.

LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF ATLANTIC, WURSTED'S PROJECT PROVIDES RENEWABLE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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