>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BYNJM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY POLICY HOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

>>> AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

FROM NJ PBS THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I AM RAVEN SANTANA IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> EVEN THOUGH 77% OF RESIDENTS ARE VACCINATED IN NEW JERSEY, WE ARE STILL LAGGING IN BOOSTER SHOTS.

JUST OVER HALF OF ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS ARE BOOSTED.

IN AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO GET THE SHOTS, THE STATE IS LAUNCHING BOOST NJ.

THEY ARE RUNNING POP-UP CLINICS AROUND THE STATE TO REACH MORE PEOPLE.

ANOTHER WAY TO GET MORE RESIDENTS VACCINATED IS THROUGH MANDATES.

TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR UNVACCINATED WORKERS IN HIGH- RISK LIVING SETTINGS LIKE PRISONS AND DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS, TO GET THEIR FIRST SHOT.

THEY HAVE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY MARCH 30 AND NEED TO GET BOOSTED WHEN ELIGIBLE AS WELL.

OR THEY COULD FACE LOSING THEIR JOBS.

THE FIRST TWO BOOZE COMES AS LONG-HAUL SYMPTOMS ARE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT AMONG THE YOUNG ADULTS WHO SURVIVED A MILD CASE OF COVID-19.

CHILDREN WITH THE LONG-HAUL COVID-19 SYMPTOMS MAY SUFFER A BIGGER IMPACT THAN ADULTS.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS ON A GROUP USING MEDICATIONS DESIGNED TO TREAT OTHER CONDITIONS.

>> I WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH TACHYCARDIA OR FAST HEART RATE AND SEVERE NAUSEA.

TRUCK THOSE WERE JUST THE BEGINNINGS OF HER LONG HAUL COVID SYMPTOMS.

THEY PLAGUED HER WEEKS AFTER SHE CONTRACTED THE VIRUS.

>> WHEN I STOOD UP I WOULD GET DIZZY AND THEY WOULD HAVE MEMORY LOSS.

I HAD BRAIN FOG AND COULD NOT EVEN READ A TEXT MESSAGE ON MY PHONE.

TRUCK SHE STARTED TO FEEL MUSCLE SPASMS IN HER BACK AND CHEST.

SCIATICA AND LOSS OF FEELING TO HER FINGERS AND TOES.

THE SYMPTOMS CAME ON SO HARD AND FAST THAT SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE ER DURING WORK, WEEKS AFTER HER INFECTION.

>> MY BODY WAS HYPERACTIVE AND HE COULD NOT RELAX, NO MATTER WHAT I DID.

I DID NOT SLEEP FOR WEEKS.

>> THIS ACTUALLY ENDS UP SHOWING UP LATER ON.

>> Reporter: THE DOCTOR TREATED HER.

>> IT IS TYPICALLY IN YOUNGER POPULATION AND WHO GOT THE DISEASE MUCH MILDER.

IT IMPACTS QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE YOUNGER ONES OF THOSE THAT ARE MORE ATHLETIC AND MORE ACTIVE.

TRUCK IT IS HARD TO PINPOINT ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE THAN A DOZEN THAT CAN PRESENT, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS DON'T ALWAYS CONNECT THEM BACK TO COVID-19.

>> SOME ARE COMMON LIKE BRAIN FOG, INCREASED ANXIETY, PALPITATIONS, CHEST PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH.

>> Reporter: YOUNGER KIDS CAN SEE A WIDE RANGE OF SEVERITY AS WELL FROM CHRONIC COUGH TO SEVERE FATIGUE OR WORSE.

>> I HAVE GOTTEN EMAILS FROM PARENTS WHEN THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE STUDY DESCRIBING CHILDREN WHO ARE PRETTY NEARLY DISABLED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ABILITY TO EITHER CONCENTRATE OR EXERCISE.

SO, THIS IS A REAL CONCERN.

IN SOME CHILDREN IT IS LIFE- CHANGING.

IN OTHERS IT IS ANNOYING.

THE NUMBERS ARE EACH OF WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

>> Reporter: FEDERALLY FUNDED STUDY IS LOOKING AT COVID AND LONG HAUL COVID AND IT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND SEVERAL OTHER PARTNERS, FAMILY PHYSICIANS, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS AND NUMEROUS CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS.

SPECTER TEAM IS RECRUITING SEVERAL THOUSAND CHILDREN INTO A STUDY TO BOTH EXPLORE HOW LIKELY IT IS THAT CHILDREN GET LONG COVID AND WHAT IT MEANS WHEN CHILDREN GET LONG COVID.

>> THE STUDIES RANGE FROM THOSE THAT HAVE HAD MILD SYMPTOMS AND THOSE WITH ALL SYMPTOMS OF LONG COVID.

PARTICIPANTS WILL BE UP TO THE AGE OF 25.

A COVID-19 INSTITUTE IS DOING ITS OWN RESEARCH INTO TREATMENTS THAT WORK WELL AGAINST THE VIRUS.

>> A LOT OF THIS MIMICS ABOUT SOME OF THE DISEASES WE ALREADY KNOW LIKE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.

IT HAS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS TO LONG-HAUL.

>> DOCTOR LAZO DID PRESCRIBE A MEDICATION FOR ME THAT I HAVE NOT USED BEFORE AND IT IS USUALLY USED TO TREAT GOUT AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS I STARTED TO FEEL BETTER.

>> THEY STILL WANT TO LEARN WHO IS AFFECTED AND WHY AND WHAT TREATMENTS ARE MOST EFFECTIVE.

THE STUDY WILL BE ONGOING FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

LAZO SAYS COVID-19 CANNOT COME FROM COVID-19.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM AT JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IS WORKING ON A SOURCE OF BACK OUT BACKUP POWER THAT WOULD KEEP SERVICES RUNNING DURING MAJOR STORMS.

IT IS A PIECE OF RESILIENCY WORK THAT IS BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT AS CLIMATE ARE CHANGING.

IT ALSO CALLS FOR BUILDING A NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT AND IT WAS PULLED IN RESPONSE TO HEAVY CRITICISM FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

NOW THOSE OPPONENTS WERE THE NEW EFFORT COULD LEAD TO THE SAME RESULTS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATES BRENDA FALCO SAID THEY THOUGHT THEY -- REVISED PLANS IN KEARNEY.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LOBBIED HARD TO BLOCK A GAS PLANT.

GOVERNOR MURPHY APPARENTLY AGREED ASKING NJ TRANSIT IN THE FALL OF 2020 TO COME UP WITH A GREEN OR BLUE PRINT.

NJ TRANSIT PROMISED A REIMAGINED MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PROJECT.

BUT A GAS POWERED PLANT STILL DOMINATES THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM DEVELOPERS.

>> IT IS SHOCKING AND DISAPPOINTING THAT THE WORD SOLAR IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THE RFP.

AGAIN, IT IS A PROPOSAL FOR A GAS PLAN.

>> IT WILL MAKE A BAD SITUATION WORSE.

IT IS INCREASING EMISSIONS AND WE NEED TO DECREASE THEM.

>>> ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE CONCEPT.

IT IS DESIGNED TO KICK IN AND KEEP TRANSIT RUNNING DURING MASSIVE EVENT.

WITH CLIMATE CHANGE INTENSIFYING STORMS LIKE I DO, THEY REVISE THE CLEAN ENERGY GOAL AND WANT TO CUT EMISSIONS BY 2030.

BUT THE NJ TRANSIT PLANS FOR THE KEARNEY SITE WILL NOT HELP.

>> THEY ARE VERY TILTED TOWARDS FOSSIL FUELS.

IT CALLS FOR A CENTRALIZED LOCATION AND THE BEST RENEWABLE OPTION AT THAT SITE IS SOLAR AND THAT IS DISTRIBUTED, NOT CENTRALIZED.

>>> THE RFP SAYS NJ TRANSIT IS COMMITTED TO CONVERTING TO 100% RENEWABLE CLEAN ENERGY COMPONENTS BY 2050, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENERGY MASTER PLAN.

IT ALSO PROMOTES AN AGREEMENT TO SELL EXCESS ENERGY TO AMTRAK AND ADVISES DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPERS TO SUBMIT.

THE KEARNEY MAYOR DISAPPROVES.

>> IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING, TO SAY THE LEAST.

IT SOUNDS LIKE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT WANTS TO GO INTO THE BUSINESS OF SELLING ENERGY AND THAT IS NOT WHAT ITS MISSION IS.

>> Reporter: HE WANTS COMMUNITY DIALOGUE WITH NJ TRANSIT.

PRINGLE DID MEET WITH THE AGENCY.

>> WE HAD A STAKEHOLDER MEETING YESTERDAY AND THEY ARE DOUBLING DOWN.

THEY ARE NOT GIVING AN INCH AND THEY ARE BIASED AGAINST SOLAR.

SOMEBODY ABOVE THEIR PAY GRADE NEEDS TO REMIND THEM WITH THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.

>> Reporter: NJ TRANSIT SAYS THEY HAD BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT THEIR DESIRE TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF RENEWABLES AND CLEAN ENERGY COMPONENTS, AND THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLING FOR DESIGNS THAT MEET THE GOVERNORS MASTER PLAN.

>> SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I SAID TO NJ TRANSIT, YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND MAKE THIS THING AS GREEN AS IT CAN BE.

WE ARE IS COMMITTED TO A CLEAN ENERGY ENVIRONMENT AS MUCH AS ANYBODY IN AMERICA WENDY TO GET THE RESPONSIBLY.

>> Reporter: NJ TRANSIT WILL HOLD A COMMUNITY MEETING ON FEBRUARY 24.

I AM AT BRENDA FLANAGAN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> VIDEO OF POLICE BREAKING UP A FIGHT BETWEEN BRIDGEWATER AT BRIDGEWATER COMMONS MALL HAS GONE VIRAL.

IT IS HOW POLICE RESPONDED THAT HAS PROMPTED AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION.

THE ALTERCATION SHOWN ON INSTAGRAM SHOWS THE TEENS, ONE WHITE AND ONE BLACK, ARGUING BEFORE THEY START PUSHING AND PUNCHING EACH OTHER.

WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, OFFICERS PINNED THE BLACK TEENAGER TO THE GROUND AND HANDCUFFED HIM.

THE WHITE TEENAGER WAS ALLOWED TO SIT ON A COUCH.

THE FEMALE OFFICER PUTS HER KNEE ON THE BACK OF THE BLACK TEENAGER DESPITE THE FACT HE DOES NOT APPEAR TO RESIST.

THE MAYOR IS DISTURBED BY THE DISPARATE TREATMENT THAT HE SEES.

THEY SAY BOTH BOYS INVOLVED ARE BANNED FROM THE SHOPPING MALL PROPERTY FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THE BRIDGEWATER POLICE HAVE ASKED THE SOMERSET PROSECUTORS OFFICE TO ASSIST IN THE INVESTIGATION.

>>> A BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE SEEKS TO GET COPS TOGETHER FOR REGULAR ROUNDTABLES WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THEY WANT TO FOSTER CONVERSATIONS THAT LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN HOW POLICE SEE THEIR JOBS AND HOW PEOPLE SEE POLICE RELATIONS.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> Reporter: THERE IS MORE COMMUNITY INTERACTION THAN EVER.

COP SET COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND BLOCK ASSOCIATIONS.

JEFF FELDMAN FROM SOCIAL WORKERS NEW JERSEY SAYS THAT A BILL THAT WOULD MANDATE POLICE FROM THE LOCAL TO THE STATE LEVEL WITH AT LEAST TWO PUBLIC ROUNDTABLES WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE IS A GOOD START.

>> THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DOING THINGS LIKE THESE ROUNDTABLES ALTHOUGH THEY MAY BE ARE NOT OFFICIALLY CALLING THEM THAT.

MEETINGS NEED TO HAPPEN.

THIS LAW IS GOING TO POLITICIZE THAT PROCESS AND MAKE IT SO ALL MUNICIPALITIES ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE ROUNDTABLES.

THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, FOR POLICING TO BE EFFECTIVE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A REPORT.

>> WE HAVE SOME AMAZING POLICE OFFICERS AND AMAZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

COMING TOGETHER AT A ROUNDTABLE TO DISCUSS DIFFERENT TOPICS, THAT RIGHT THERE JUST OPENS UP FOR MORE BRIDGING OF THE GREP AND MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE ROLES.

>> Reporter: SPONSOR ANGELA McKNIGHT SAYS IN A PERFECT WORLD, THE ROUNDTABLES WOULD TURN INTO LESS RECOUNTING OF COMPLAINTS AND MORE OF A FOUNDATION FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ISSUES LIKE CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS AND POLICING REFORM.

LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS INCIDENT IN BRIDGEWATER LAST WEEK.

A SCUFFLE BETWEEN TEENAGERS, ONE BLACK AND ONE WHITE, ENDED UP WITH TWO WHITE POLICE OFFICERS HUFFING THE BLACK TEENAGER AND LEAVING THE WHITE TEENAGER UNRESTRAINED.

IT IS AS GOOD OF AN EXAMPLE AS ANY OF THE DIVIDE THAT EXISTS.

THE GOVERNOR TODAY IS ADDRESSING THE VIDEO.

>> AT THE BRIDGEWATER MALL, I SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT, ALTHOUGH THE INVESTIGATION IS GATHERING FACTS, THAT I AM, I AM DEEPLY DISTURBED BY WHAT APPEARS TO BE A RACIALLY DISPARATE TREATMENT IN THE VIDEO.

I KNOW PAT WOULD JOIN ME IN SAYING AND WE UNDERSCORE WITH EMPHASIS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE ONE HAND AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE ON THE OTHER.

>> Reporter: IT IS HARD TO SEE WHAT MANDATING TWO MONTHLY MEETINGS BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND POLICE WOULD LEAD TO IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS.

BUT THEY SAY IT BEATS SETTLING FOR NONE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM DAVID CRUZ.

>>> A STUDY OUT OF RUTGERS IS A CECILY THE USE OF CANNABIS A YEAR AFTER IT WAS LEGALIZED.

THE GOAL IS TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF LEGALIZATION AND IDENTIFY SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

THEY WANT THE RESEARCH TO HELP ENSURE LEGALIZATION LIVES UP TO ITS SOCIAL PROMISES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR MINORITY COMMUNITIES AS TIME GOES ON.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE MARIJUANA , OKAY.

BUT IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO USE IT OKAY.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED EITHER WAY.

>> Reporter: CHARLES IS DOING HIS PART PART TO MAKE SURE IT THAT THE USE OF MARIJUANA DOES NOT LEAD TO SOCIAL INEQUITIES.

THEY HAVE BEEN ANALYZING, AT RUTGERS, THE IMPACTS OF CANNABIS USE.

>> THERE IS NO PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION ON MARIJUANA USE.

WE USE A LOT OF SECONDARY DATA.

THE NATIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE CENTER HAD A LOT OF DATA THAT TALKED ABOUT WHAT MARIJUANA USE LOOKS LIKE IN NEW JERSEY TODAY.

WE LOOKED AT THREE SPECIFIC AREAS.

EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHAT WE FOUND IN GENERAL IS THAT MARIJUANA USE IS AMONG AGES 12-17 HAS BEEN GOING UP.

>> Reporter: BUT WHAT IS ESPECIALLY DISTURBING ARE THE LARGE GAPS IN RACIAL DISPARITIES.

>> I WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DATA SET AND OBSERVED THAT BLACK PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN 2019 12,572 TIMES OUT OF THE TOTAL OF 28,000.

THAT IS ROUGHLY 43% OF ARRESTS FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION COMPARED TO WHITE PEOPLE.

AND BLACK PEOPLE REPRESENT 15% OF THE NEW JERSEY POPULATION.

LACK PEOPLE WERE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED IN POSSESSION THAN WHITE PEOPLE.

TRUCK WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, THE REPORT FOUND THAT BLACK STUDENTS WERE SUSPENDED TWICE AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER GROUP.

>> JUST THINKING ABOUT THOSE GAPS OVER TIME AND THE ACCUMULATED DISPARITIES OVER THE NUMBER OF YEARS, YOU CAN REALLY BEGIN TO FEEL WHAT THAT IMPACT COULD BE ON GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS.

AND SO, THE CORNELL CENTER IS DOING OTHER WORK THAT MONITORS THESE RATES AND WILL PRODUCE OTHER REPORTS.

THEY WANT TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE NATURE OF THESE DISPARITIES.

THERE IS A MAJOR CHANGE IN LEGALIZATION THAT COULD REALLY ALTER STUDENT BEHAVIOR.

>> THIS STUDY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE THE LAW WAS PASSED.

EVERY STATE THAT HAS LEGALIZED MARIJUANA, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA OVER YEARS, HAS A REPORT THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

WE NEED MORE REVENUE.

AND MARIJUANA IS BEING SOLD IN THE BLACK MARKET RIGHT NOW.

WE WANT TO INCREASE THE TAX BASE BECAUSE IT IS BEING SOLD ANYWAY BUT, ALSO KNOW THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

THIS IS REALLY A STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF MAKING SURE THAT BOXES ARE CHECKED AND PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION.

>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS STATE SAY MORE STUDIES NEED TO BE DONE TO FIGURE OUT AT THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IS LINKED TO THESE DISPARITIES.

SO THAT SOCIAL EQUITY IS ACHIEVED.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM AT MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> UNDEVELOPED LAND IN THE STATE IS IN SHORT SUPPLY SO OFFICIALS WANT TO TAP INTO ABANDONED PROPERTIES THAT MIGHT NEED SOME CLEANING UP.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER JOINS US WITH THE DETAILS AND THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> THERE IS NOT MUCH UNDEVELOPED LAND BUT THEY ARE WORKING TO MEET THE NEEDS.

THEY WANT POSSIBLY CONTAMINATED AREAS TO BE CLEANED UP AND PUT BACK TO USE.

THEY PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF OVER 500 LOCATIONS FOR INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS TO REVIEW.

AS WE HEARD FROM NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS CONTRIBUTING WRITER, JOHN HURDLE.

>> MANY OF THESE AREAS ARE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

THE HOPE IS THAT NEW INDUSTRIES THERE WILL IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES >> Reporter: LEARN MORE BY READING HIS ARTICLE ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS ARE FIGHTING A PROPOSAL TO BUILD AN AMAZON SHIPPING HUB AT THE NEWARK AIRPORT.

BUT HE SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO STOP THE DEAL.

AT A VIRTUAL FORUM, THE MAYOR SAID HE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROJECT.

>> BUILDING A BUILDING THAT DOES NOT PAY TAXES TO THE GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS ON PORT AUTHORITY PROPERTY SO THEY ARE NOT PAYING REAL ESTATE TAXES.

AND THE INCREASED TRUCK TRAFFIC HUMMING INTO THE CITY OF NEWARK IS A CONCERN.

>> ACTIVISTS THAT OPPOSE THE AMAZON HUB SITE POTENTIAL POLLUTION AND LABOR ISSUES.

SENATOR JOE PRYOR SAID HE WOULD SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ON THE STATE LEVEL TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS.

>>> THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION IS RELEASING $10 MILLION IN FUNDS TO HELP FAMILIES WARD OFF FORECLOSURES.

MANY FAMILIES HAVE STRUGGLED TO MEET THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS DUE TO LOSS OF A JOB OR INCOME DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE MONEY WILL BE ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT THE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION ACT.

THAT IS A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE.

$10 MILLION IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND FROM THE STATE.

SOME WILL BE USED TO ACQUIRE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED.

NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCKS TRADED ON WALL STREET TODAY.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS PORT PROVIDED BY ROMAN UNIVERSITY.

PARTNERING WITH THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY FUTURE.

>>> THE U.S. IS EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE AS MUCH SEA LEVEL RISE OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS AS THE NATION SAW OVER THE PAST CENTURY.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT RELEASED BY THE NOAA.

THEY PROJECT SEE RISE FROM 10 INCHES UP TO ONE FOOT.

IN NEW JERSEY WE HAVE IT EXPERIENCED SEA LEVEL RISE TWICE THE GLOBAL AVERAGE AND ARE EXPECTED TO SEE MORE.

SO WHAT DO THE RISING SEAS MEAN FOR THE JERSEY SHORE?

AND IS IT TOO LATE TO STOP THE CHANGE?

I ASKED THE AUTHOR OF A NEW REPORT, THOSE QUESTIONS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING STORY, PERIL AND PROMISE, THE STORY OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>>> WE KNOW THAT NEW JERSEY IS EXPERIENCING SEA LEVEL RISE P WILL THIS CONTINUE?

>> THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SEA LEVEL CHANGE HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH CHANGES IN OCEAN CIRCULATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS REPORT AND OTHERS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE IP CC AND OUT OF RUTGERS, WE ARE MOST LIKELY LOOKING AT SEA LEVEL RISE UP TO 1.4 FEET.

>> AND WHAT TO SEA LEVEL RISE MEAN FOR STORM DAMAGE?

LIKE HIGH TIDES.

WE KNOW THAT IS ALREADY A PROBLEM ALONG THE JERSEY SHORE IN PLACES LIKE JERSEY CITY.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE HIGH SEA LEVEL, IT MEANS TWO THINGS FOR IT REQUIRES A LESS SEVERE HIGH TIDE TO CAUSE IMPACTS.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A SEVERE STORM COMING IN, YOU HAVE MORE IMPACTFUL ISSUES.

SO THE FLOODING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY, AROUND 2000, WOULD HAVE HAPPENED EVERY FEW YEARS.

THIS REPORT REFLECTS IT WILL BE HAPPENING ONE WEEK OR MORE PER YEAR BY THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY.

SO THAT IS MORE FREQUENT.

NEW SINCE FLOODING OR HIGH TIDE FLOODING.

AND THEN WHEN THE HURRICANE SANDY CAME.

WE SAW MORE SEA LEVEL CHANGE.

>>> HOW MUCH, AND CUTTING DOWN GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS HELP?

OR IS THE DAMAGE ALREADY DONE?

>> THE OCEANS ARE RESPONDING TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE WARMING UP.

THESE ARE BIG SLOPE PROCESSES.

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE BENEFITS OF GREENHOUSE GASES TO BE FELT BUT THEY ARE THERE.

OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS, TO BE HONEST, OUR EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS DO NOT CHANGE THE STORY MUCH.

BUT WE WILL START TO SEE SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS OF REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

BY THE END OF THE CENTURY, WE SHOULD SEE A LIKELY LEVEL OF SEA LEVEL RISE OF 3-4 FEET WITH A FULL RANGE OF ABOUT 2-7 FEET.

THAT RANGE INCLUDES THE FACT THAT AS WE WARM-UP THE PLANET MORE, THERE IS GREATER DANGER OF TRIGGERING PROCESSES THAT WE DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND.

AND ALSO IF WE HAVE LOWER EMISSIONS WE ARE LIKELY TO BE TOWARDS THE LOWER END OF THAT RANGE.

>> THANK YOU, FOR JOINING US.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT ON CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ.

HE WILL LOOK AT SEGREGATION IN SCHOOLS .

INCLUDING REMEDIES PUT FORWARD BY LAWMAKERS.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT 6:30 PM .

OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

THANK YOU, FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>>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.

>>> MAJOR SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE MARC HAAS FOUNDATION AND BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM FOUNDATION.

AND THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.

>>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON MORE THAN CLEAN ENERGY.

IT RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES , THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.

THE PSEG FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

INVESTING IN HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN.

SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY.