>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NJ AND INSURANCE GROUP, AND BY THE PSE G FOUNDATION.

>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS AN ICE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME, I'M RAVEN SANTANA, AS THEY PREPARE TO LIFT MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS, A NEW COVID VARIANT THAT HAS BEEN DETECTED COULD DAMPEN THE PLANS TO RETURN TO NORMALCY, OVER 1900 NEW CASES TODAY, THAT IS DOWN FROM 2500 ON THURSDAY.

THE DIP WAS A POTENTIAL SIGN THAT OMICRON COULD BE DOWN FROM ITS PEAK.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE LEADING HEALTH OFFICIALS SAID THE U.S. IS MOVING CLOSER TO THE POINT THAT COVID-19 IS NO LONGER A CONSTANT CRISIS.

THE COMMENTS COME AS THE CDC IS POISED TO PUT OUT UPDATED GUIDANCE GIVING MASK WEARING A BREAK.

MEANWHILE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS THE OMICRON SUB VARIANT IS STARTING TO DOMINATE IN SOME ASIAN COUNTRIES AND SOME SCIENTISTS SAY IT COULD SLOW OMICRON'S DECLINE.

COULD THIS NEW VARIANT PUT A CRIMP ON THE DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY OF OMICRON OR IS IT JUST THE LATEST IN ALL LONG LINE OF VARIANCE WE WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH.

>> Reporter: WE NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY LEVEL OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT, ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE ALL SAYING WE NEED TO LIVE WITH IT AND WE ARE DONE.

EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE, VERY WARY OF A DISTANT HIGHLY MUTATED COUSIN OF THE NOW DOMINANT OMICRON COVID STRAIN, IT IS LURKING ACROSS 47 STATES AND LAB STUDIES SHOW IT IS 30% TO 50% MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN OMICRON, THE CDC ESTIMATES AS OF LAST WEEK , BA2 GENERATED 6% IN THE NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY REGION, SAYS NEW JERSEY STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST.

>> IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL CREATE MUCH OF AN ISSUE LATER, IT IS CIRCULATING AT SUCH AN LOW- LEVEL RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STILL AT THE BEGINNING OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT BA2 IS GOING TO BE LIKE, IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT WILL HAVE.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE ALL WANT TO KNOW, AND ARE WE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE IN THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER WHEN WE WERE RAMPING UP FOR OMICRON AND WE HAD THIS HUGE SURGE ?

>> Reporter: BA2 SPARKING DEEP UNCERTAINTY, IN A NATION THAT FEELS COVID WEARY AND READY TO DITCH THE MASKS AND JUST COEXIST WITH THIS VIRUS, EXCEPT BA2 IS SO HIGHLY MUTATED, IT'S REALLY NOT THE SAME THAT STARTED THIS PANDEMIC, AND IN PRINCIPLE IT COULD DESERVE ITS OWN LETTER, GREEK LETTER, WE WILL SEE.

IT DEPENDS HOW PREVALENT IT IS.

IN COUNTRIES LIKE DENMARK, IT IS BASICALLY THE PREDOMINANT VIRUS, AND NOW IN INDIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

BA2 IS CALLED THE STEALTH VARIANT BECAUSE IT LACKS A COMPONENT THAT IS EASY TO TEST FOR, HE NOTICED BA2 HASN'T YET SHOWN UP IN THE 17 HOSPITALS COMPRISING THE HACKENSACK MERIDIAN SYSTEM, BUT HOSPITAL SYSTEMS LAGGED BEHIND COMMUNITY SPREAD.

THAT HAPPENED WHEN OMICRON FIRST STARTED TO SPIKE.

>> WHEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE CDC WERE REPORTING THAT OMICRON WAS 90% WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR HOSPITALS IN THE EARLY PART OF DECEMBER, WE ONLY SAW DELTA, ONLY A SMATTERING OF OMICRON AND THAT STARTED TO RAMP UP.

>> Reporter: AN UNPUBLISHED REPORT OUT OF JAPAN SAYS IT IS LESS RESPONSIVE TO FIRST-LINE ANTIBODY COCKTAILS, THE CURRENT STANDARD FOR COVID TREATMENT, PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED DO APPEAR BETTER ABLE TO EVADE SERIOUS ILLNESS OR HOSPITALIZATION.

IN NEW JERSEY DESPITE POCKETS OF VACCINE RESISTANCE, THREE QUARTERS OF ELIGIBLE FOLKS ARE VACCINATED ALTHOUGH ONLY HALF ARE BOOSTED.>> THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, IN GENERAL I THINK WE ARE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW WAVE, WE ARE IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE.

AND IT'S UNCERTAIN TO ME HOW BIG THAT NEXTWAVE IS GOING TO BE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BLIP OR IS IT GOING TO BE A MODEST SIZE WAVE?

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH COLD WEATHER AND PEOPLE LARGELY INDOORS AND NOW YET WITH ANOTHER VARIANT.

AND WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO BEHAVE IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO USE THE PUBLIC HEALTH PREVENTION MEASURES THAT WE KNOW WORK.

>> Reporter: THE CDC HAS ITS EYE ON BA2 EVEN AS THEY WORK TO REVISE COVID RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A BREAK FROM MASK WEARING AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO REACH FOR THEM AGAIN SHOULD THINGS WORSEN.

>> Reporter: THEY ADVISE GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, AND WITH BA2, MAYBE KEEP YOUR MASK ON A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED FOR ALL POLICE OFFICERS TO HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE, IT REMAINS UNCLEAR HOW SOON THEY MAY BEGIN SUSPENDING THE THOUSANDS THAT DID NOT COMPLY.

43% OF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, THAT MEANS MORE THAN 4000 EMPLOYEES ARE STILL NOT FULLY VACCINATED.

BY THURSDAY, THE STATE ISSUED MORE THAN 500 NOTICES OF NONCOMPLIANCE TO CORRECTION OFFICERS IN THE STATE PRISON.

ON WEDNESDAY THE GOVERNOR SAID HE IS CONFIDENT THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH STAFF TO CONTINUE TO OVERSEE THE STATES PRISONS WHICH HOUSED ABOUT 12,000 INDIVIDUALS.

FEARS OF AN IMMINENT RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE ESCALATED TODAY AS REPORTS OF RUSSIAN BACKED GROUPS IN EASTERN UKRAINE CLAIMING TO BE ATTACKED BY UKRAINE FORCES.

SOMETHING UKRAINE'S LEADERS CALLS A FALSE FLAG THAT RUSSIA WOULD USE TO JUSTIFY AN INVASION.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH NATO ALLIES TODAY TO DISCUSS THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO ANY RUSSIAN ADVANCEMENT.

MEANWHILE CONGRESS IS WEIGHING HOW TO RESPOND, WITH OUR SENIOR SENATOR, BOB MENDEZ IN INTRODUCING TOUGH SANCTIONS SHOULD RUSSIA INVADE.

ALSO ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK HE WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION LOOKING TO STRENGTHEN U.S. COLUMBIA RELATIONS.

OUR CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT WENT ON THE RECORD WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ.

>> BOB MENENDEZ, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, LET'S TALK ABOUT UKRAINE FOR A SECOND, HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND, WHAT IS THE SITUATION?

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

IT IS MORE DIRE.

WE HAVE SEEN MORE RUSSIAN TROOPS AMASSED AROUND THE BORDER OF UKRAINE.

SOME ESTIMATES BY OUR GOVERNMENT UP TO 190,000 NOW.

WE SAW A BRIDGE BEING BUILT BY RUSSIA OVER BELARUS THAT COULD LEAD INTO UKRAINE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.

WE HAVE SEEN CYBER ATTACKS ON UKRAINE'S MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AND CENTRAL BANK.

WE SEE FALSE FLAG OPERATIONS, THOSE ARE WHEN THE RUSSIANS THEMSELVES ATTACKED THEMSELVES FOR THE SAKE OF ULTIMATELY SAYING THERE IS A REASON FOR THEM TO HAVE TO GO AND INVADE UKRAINE, WHICH OF COURSE THAT IS WHY WE CALL IT A FALSE FLAG BUT THOSE ARE HAPPENING.

WE ARE SEEING IN THE EASTERN PART OF UKRAINE THE SEPARATISTS THERE, SAYING THEY ARE LEAVING BECAUSE OF SHOUTING BY THE UKRAINIANS WHICH IS NOT TRUE.

SO, WE SEE ALL THE MAKINGS OF VLADIMIR PUTIN'S EFFORT TO CREATE A REASON TO INVADE WHEN IN FACT THERE IS NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

AND UKRAINE POSES NO THREAT TO RUSSIA.

>> SO DO YOU AGREE WITH THOSE WHO ARE SAYING AN INVASION IS IMMINENT?

>> I DO.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T AMASSED 190,000 TROOPS, ESPECIALLY WHEN SUNDAY IS THE DAY WHICH ULTIMATELY THESE MANEUVERS ARE SUPPOSED TO END, AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU WOULD BE WITHDRAWING, NOT ADDING TROOPS.

YOU DON'T BUILD BRIDGES INTO UKRAINE FOR PURPOSES OF COMMERCE.

YOU DON'T ULTIMATELY DO CYBER ATTACKS AGAINST THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE.

YOU DON'T DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD INDICATE YOU SEEK A ROAD TO A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, INSTEAD OF ONE OF CONFLICT.

>> THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE SAYING IT COULD RESULT IN A STANDOFF THAT COULD LAST FOR WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS.

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> WELL, PUTIN HAS A LOT OF OPTIONS, JUST AMASSING THESE TROOPS UNDER THE CONSTANT THREAT AND PRESSURE OF THE UKRAINE AFFECTS THIS ECONOMY.

PUTIN CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE CYBER ATTACKS AGAINST DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF RUSSIAN SOCIETY, THE ECONOMIC SECTOR TO THE GOVERNMENTAL SECTOR.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO INVADE IN ORDER TO CREATE ENORMOUS HARM TO UKRAINE.

SO HE HAS THOSE OPTIONS AS WELL.

AT SOME POINT, IF THIS CONTINUES FOR A LONGER TIME EMMA WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ACTIONS DO WE TAKE JUST BECAUSE OF THE THREAT THAT RUSSIA POSES VERSUS THE INVASION?>> LET ME SHIFT GEARS FOR A SECOND, THIS WEEK YOU LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE TO CREATE A STRONG STRATEGIC OWNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND COLUMBIA WHY COLUMBIA?

>> WE ARE CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLUMBIA THIS YEAR.

COLUMBIA IS AT THE HEART OF LATIN AMERICA.

IT HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE A GREAT ALLY THAT SHARES OUR VALUES.

IT HAS PLAYED A SECURITY ROLE WITH US IN THE HEMISPHERE AND BEYOND.

IT HAS FOUGHT IN THE PAST AND CONTINUES TO FIGHT ELEMENTS OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKING THAT EXIST AT A MORE ALARMING RATE AT ONE TIME BUT STILL HAS ELEMENTS OF IT.

IT HAS TAKEN OVER 2 MILLION OF VENEZUELAN REFUGEES THAT ARE FLEEING FROM THE MADURO REGIME IN VENEZUELA.

AND SO IT HAS ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A COUNTRY THAT WE WANT TO BE DEEPENING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH.

WE HAVE A $50 BILLION ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH COLUMBIA IN TERMS OF TRADE SO WE WANT TO DEEPEN THAT, WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN THEIR INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE IT STANDS TO OUR OWN BENEFIT IN TERMS OF OUR SECURITY IN THE HEMISPHERE INTO COUNTERACT THE INFLUENCES OF RUSSIA AND CHINA IN THE HEMISPHERE OF OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.>> BOB MENENDEZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>>> NEARLY 400 JERSEY COPS FACED MAJOR DISCIPLINE LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO A REPORT RELEASED THURSDAY.

THE REPORT SHOWS NEW JERSEY'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS GOT IN TROUBLE FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS RANGING FROM AN OFFICER POSTING A VIDEO OF A CIVILIAN DRIVING HIS CAR IN AN UNSAFE MANNER AND POSTING IT TO INSTAGRAM, TO LEADING A LOADED GUN IN A McDONALD'S BATHROOM.

NEARLY 3/4 OF THOSE DISCIPLINED WEREN'T FIRED, AND INSTEAD RECEIVED SUSPENSIONS, AND OTHER PUNISHMENTS ACCORDING TO NJ MONITORS REVIEW.

THE REPORT WAS ISSUED UNDER A 2021 DIRECTIVE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISCONDUCT AND TRUST WITHIN COMMUNITIES.

IT COMES AFTER TWO BRIDGEWATER POLICE OFFICERS ARE RECEIVING MAJOR BACKLASH FOR THE WAY THEY HANDLED THE FIGHT BETWEEN TWO TEENAGERS, ONE WHITE AND ONE BLACK.

THE BLACK TEENAGER IS BEING SEEN HANDCUFFED AND THE OFFICER IS PLACING HER KNEE ON HIS BACK.

DESPITE HIM NOT APPEARING TO RESIST.

THE WHITE TEENAGER IS ALLOWED TO SIT ON THE COUCH AND SEEN WITHOUT ANY HANDCUFFS.

IN THE MEMO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, MATT PLATKIN CALLS IT A DETRIMENTAL PUBLIC TRUST IN THE POLICE.

REMINDING OFFICERS IT IS AGAINST DIRECTIVES FOR OFFICERS TO CONSIDER A PERSON'S RACE OR ETHNICITY AS A FACTOR IN HOW THEY ARE TREATED.

ON MONDAY, GOVERNOR MURPHY APPOINTED LAURA DURAND AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS.

SHE SERVED AS ACTING DIRECTOR FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE WHERE SHE LED THE ORGANIZATION'S COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATIONS.

DURAND WHO WORKED FOR THE CAA IS ALSO THE FIRST FEMALE DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE'S HISTORY , SO WHAT IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO NEW JERSEY AND WHAT ARE HER PRIORITIES IN THIS NEW ROLE?

LORI DURAND SAT DOWN WITH ME TO DISCUSS THAT AND MORE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR BIGGEST PRIORITY IN THIS ROLE?

>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

I'M VERY HUMBLED AND PROUD TO BE SERVING IN THIS JOB, AND ALSO EQUALLY AS PROUD WITH THE FACT THAT I'M THE FIRST FEMALE DIRECTOR HERE, AND WITH THAT, I FEEL A BIT OF A RESPONSIBILITY TO INSPIRE OTHER YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS TO PERHAPS WANT TO PURSUE CAREERS IN INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IN MY PREVIOUS BACKGROUND FOR THE CIA, I CAME AT A TIME WHEN THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF WOMEN IN THIS TYPE OF WORK, I BENEFITED FROM MY GENERATION OF WOMEN BEFORE THAT AND I'M HOPING NOW THAT WHEN I DEPARTED CIA, THAT IT WAS MORE THE NORM RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION.

BUS BUT WITH REGARD, WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON BEING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE, BUT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, THE TWO THINGS WE ARE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW, ONE IS WE ARE WORKING WITH DHS ON BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES.

WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON CYBER SECURITY ON THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST CONCERNS WHEN IT COMES TO CYBER SECURITY HERE IN NEW JERSEY?

>> RIGHT NOW, IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR US.

WE ARE STILL FOLLOWING THINGS JUST LIKE WE WERE PRIOR TO ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED WITH WORLD EVENTS.

IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR US.

BUT RIGHT NOW, FOR CYBER SECURITY IN GENERAL, WE ARE INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CYBER SECURITY THREATS THAT HAPPENED ON THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL WHICH IS WHY WE ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON MERGING ALL THIS TOGETHER WITH WHAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING FOR THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND ALSO TRY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE TO OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS ALSO, AGAIN, CYBER AS WELL AS THE COUNTERTERRORISM ISSUES WITH OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED NEW JERSEY SHIELD, AN INFORMATION OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT WE CAN SHARE INFORMATION WITH PRETTY MUCH ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE THAT TO HELP THEM.

TO HELP THEM BE MORE RESILIENT AND SECURE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY CREDIBLE THREAT TO THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

BUT IF WE WERE TO CATEGORIZE WHAT WOULD BE THE TOUGH THREAT, IT IS DOMESTIC EXTREMISM, EXTREMISTS WHO ARE CAPITALIZING ON THE ANTIGOVERNMENT SENTIMENT.

THIS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH WHAT OUR PARTNERS AT THE FBI ALSO BELIEVE IS A TOP THREAT.

>> FOLLOWING THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF RIGHT- WING EXTREMISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY ACTIVITY IN NEW JERSEY AND HAS IT ESCALATED?>> AT THIS POINT, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY INCREASE WHATSOEVER WITH REGARD TO PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THOSE IDEOLOGIES.>> AND HOW IS THE STATE TRACKING AND ADDRESSING ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES?

>> THE WAY THE STATE IS TRACKING THAT IS WITH A DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHICH IS IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT WE FOLLOW HERE, WHAT WE DO IS WE REVIEW SOME OF THE MATERIAL THAT THEY GET, TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF TERRORISM.

BUT THE ONES WHO TAKE ACTION ARE THE ONES IN THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ROLE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.>>> A FUND FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS COULD SOON RUN OUT OF MONEY COME IN THE STATES AS POTENTIAL PAYOUTS FROM THE EXCLUDED NEW JERSEY FUND HAVE ALREADY EXCEEDED ITS CURRENT $40 MILLION MAX.

MORE THAN 20,000 RESIDENTS HAVE APPLIED TO THE FUND THAT PROVIDES ONE-TIME CASH PAYMENTS OF UP TO $4000 PER HOUSEHOLD.

JUST ABOUT 4000 APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED SO FAR, WHILE THE VAST MAJORITY ARE STILL PENDING APPROVAL.

THE STATES PAID OUT MORE THAN $9 MILLION TO DATE BUT THE FUND WILL RUN OUT IF ALL NEARLY 14,000 PENDING APPLICATIONS ARE APPROVED.

DESPITE THIS, THE STATE SAYS IT WILL ACCEPT MORE APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH AND THAT ANYONE WHO IS APPROVED WILL RECEIVE THE BENEFITS.

IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER THE STATE WILL ADD MORE FEDERAL FUNDING TO THE PROGRAM TO MEET THE DEMAND, IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES SAY THE FUND DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE ROUGHLY HALF 1 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE STATE.

>>> NEWARK GETS AN ECONOMIC INFUSION THAT WOULD HELP SUPPORT MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE CITY.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER JOINS US WITH THE DETAILS.

>> MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS IN NEW JERSEY HAVE MORE DIFFICULTY GETTING LOANS AND CAPITAL TO SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESSES, A PROBLEM THAT WORSENED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT A NEW EFFORT IS UNDERWAY IN NEWARK TO TRY TO CHANGE THAT.

J.P. MORGAN CHASE AND THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION HAVE LAUNCHED THE ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR FUND IN NEWARK, COMMITTING $1.7 MILLION IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE CITY'S BUSINESSES.

THE HEAD OF LOCAL PHILANTHROPY SAYS -- >> NEWARK HAS THE RIGHT STUFF, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CITY OF NEWARK, THERE ARE 22,000 SMALL BUSINESSES AND 70% OF THEM ARE OWNED BY ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR.

SO IF WE HAVE SUCH A POPULATION OF ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS CAPITAL IN TRADITIONAL WAYS, THEN SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> NEWARK IS ONLY THE NINTH CITY IN THE U.S. TO HAVE AN ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR FUND.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT TEACHER SHORTAGES FOR SOME TIME NOW AND FEWER COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE STUDYING TO BECOME TEACHERS TO REPLACE THOSE WHO ARE LEAVING.

SO OTHER EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO ENTICE PEOPLE INTO THE TEACHING FIELD.

IN NEWARK, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENTERING A NEWER PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM COULD RECEIVE UP TO $3700 IN INCENTIVES.

READ THE LATEST ON THE TEACHER SHORTAGE AND EFFORTS TO FIX IT ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> AT BANK OF AMERICA IS MAKING A COMMITMENT TO FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY IN NEW JERSEY, IT IS INVESTING $700,000 IN SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT FIGHT HUNGER, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY.

THE INVESTMENT IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE 1.75 MILLION MEALS.

>>> WINTER COULD BE A QUIET TIME IN REAL ESTATE BUT NOT THIS YEAR.

SALES OF PREVIOUSLY OWNED HOMES IN THE U.S. ROSE 6.7% IN JANUARY, THAT WAS STRONGER THAN EXPECTED.

HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED THE WEEK.

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

>>> MAKE SURE YOU TUNE INTO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER THIS WEEKEND, SHE LOOKS AT INCREASING INFLATION RATES, WHY ARE SKYROCKETING AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR WALLET, YOUR HOME, RETIREMENT, AND MORE.

CHECK IT OUT SATURDAY AT 5:00 AND SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:30.

>>> OPERATION ALLIES WELCOMED AT JOINT BASE, HOUSING SOME 11,000 AFGHANS WHO WERE ABLE TO FLEE AS THE TALIBAN TOOK BACK CONTROL OF THEIR COUNTRY IN AUGUST.

TODAY THE JOINT BASE IN BURLINGTON COUNTY IS THE LAST REMAINING MILITARY INSTALLATION IN THE U.S., STILL HOUSING ASK ANY EVACUEES.

FEWER THAN 1000 PEOPLE REMAIN AS THEY WAIT A PERMANENT HOME IN AMERICA.

NATIONWIDE MORE THAN 74,000 AFGHANS EVACUEES HAVE BEEN RESETTLED WITH HELP OF LOCAL RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES.

INCLUDING 722 AFGHANS WHO ARE NOW LIVING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

JOANNA REPORTS, IT HAS BEEN ENTERED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE TO BRING THEM HOME.

>> WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS EVACUATION, EVERYONE CAME ALL AT ONCE.

>> RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES HAVE BEEN WORKING DOUBLE TIME TO PLEASE ALL OF THE AFGHANS EVACUEES THAT HAVE COME OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THEY ARRIVED AT A RATE THAT HAS OVERBURDENED MANY OF THE SYSTEMS IN THE STATE LIKE HOUSING.

>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND HOUSING RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST STARTING OUT.

THEY DON'T HAVE A CREDIT HISTORY, THEY ARE NOT EMPLOYED.

WE HAVE SECURED 53 APARTMENTS FOR NEW FAMILIES, AND THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT, GIVEN THE MARKET.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS PULLING U.S.

TROOPS FROM THE COUNTRY IN AUGUST.

BUT THEIR ARRIVAL COLLIDED WITH HOUSING CHALLENGES HERE AT HOME.

>> THIS ALL WAS HAPPENING AT A TIME WHERE I DON'T HAPPENED AND WE WERE DEALING WITH AN EVACUEE ISSUE HERE IN OUR STATE BECAUSE WE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF FLOODING AND OTHER ISSUES.

LANDLORDS ALSO HAVE EVICTION MORATORIUMS, SO THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT HAVE IMPACTED HOUSING RESOURCES.

>> RESOURCES THAT HAVE DEPLETED DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHICH MAJORLY SCALED BACK THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES COMING TO THE U.S. BY ABOUT THREE QUARTERS.

NOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS NEARLY RESTORED IT AND THAT PLUS THE SUDDEN EVACUATION HAS LED TO MAJOR CHALLENGES FOR RESETTLEMENT GROUPS.

>> THE WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN BRUTAL AND WHEN YOU HAVE A 10 TIMES HIGHER NUMBER THAN WHAT YOU'RE USED TO YOU DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS OPERATE ON A REIMBURSABLE MODEL, SO YOU HAVE TWO RENT 20 UNITS IN A MONTH, YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH $150,000 TO RENT THOSE UNITS.>> THE ORGANIZATION INTERFACE RISE HAS PLACED ITS EVACUEES INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, STATE WHY THE NUMBER IS 722 WHO HAVE BEEN PLACED BUT SOME ARE STILL WAITING FOR A HOME, LIVING IN HOTELS AND OTHER TEMPORARY HOUSING.

AND A SUDDEN LIFE CHANGE HAS LEFT MANY EXPERIENCING TRAUMA.>> MOVING INTO A NEW COMMUNITY, THAT IS EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC FOR THEM AND I THINK THE NEED THAT WE ARE MOST ANTICIPATING IS THAT ONGOING PTSD THEY ARE HAVING, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW , AND WE ARE EXPECTING THAT TO RIPPLE OUT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DIFFERENTLY.

AND WE ARE TRYING TO THINK THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMMATIC AREAS WHERE WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT.

>> SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ORIENTATION CLASSES, CRISIS SUPPORT GROUPS AND MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH.

IRC HAS HAD TWO ADDITIONAL STAFF TO HELP THEIR CLIENTS NAVIGATE TO THEIR NEW LIFE HERE.>> IF THERE ARE EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH THOSE BUSINESSES, HELPING THEM GET FAMILIAR WITH THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ORIENTATIONS FOR THEM, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS SO WE CAN GET THEM INTO THE JOBS.

>> THE BURDEN HAS LED TO OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS STEPPING UP TO FILL IN THE GAPS, LIKE THIS PATTERSON GRAPE-BASED GROUP THAT PROVIDES WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

>> WE ARE PROVIDING EMERGENCY CARE, FOOD, GROCERIES, IF WE DON'T PROVIDE THE SERVICES, THE FAMILIES END UP IN A VERY WEIRD SITUATION WHERE AGENCIES ARE SAYING THEY ARE TOO OVERWHELMED AND ORGANIZATION LIKE OURS DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO FOR ASSISTANCE.

>> THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASKING FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO HELP THESE FAMILIES MAKE NEW JERSEY THEIR HOME.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT AND DON'T FORGET TO CATCH UP ON ALL THE OTHER TOP POLITICAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK ON REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ.

YOU CAN CATCH IT SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00.

ALSO TUNE INTO CHAT BOX WITH DAVID, HE LOOKS AT SCHOOLS DESEGREGATION IN THE STATE.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, STAY SAFE THIS WEEKEND AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG- TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.