>>> 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.

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

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M BREANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH NEW INFORMATION ON THAT ONE CHUCK CORONAVIRUS VACCINE FROM JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

AND ANALYSIS BY THE FDA FINDS THAT THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, AN IMPORTANT STEP IN GAINING EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION OF THE DRUG, WHICH COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS SATURDAY, THE DAY AFTER A PANEL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET.

THE REVIEW FINDS THE SHOT A 72% EFFECTIVE IN THE U.S.

OVERALL.

85% EFFECTIVE AGAINST SEVERE DISEASE AND MOST CRUCIALLY, A COMPLETELY PREVENTED HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH.

SAYS IT INTENDS TO GET THE VACCINE OUT IMMEDIATELY ONCE HE GETS THE GREEN LIGHT, MEANING A THIRD OPTION COULD BE JUST THE DAYS FROM ENTERING THE PIPELINE IN A NATION DESPERATE FOR MITOSIS.

>>> ACROSS THE STATE TODAY, AND THEN ONE.7 MILLION SHOTS OF EARL HAVE BEEN PUT IN ARMS.

MORE THAN 566,000 WERE SECOND DOSE IS.

A LITTLE OVER 6% OF THE STATES OVERALL POPULATION HAS RECEIVED BOTH DOSES AND ARE FULLY IMMUNIZED.

>>> IF A LOCAL POLE IS ANY INDICATION, PUBLIC OPINION ON THE WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE MAY BE SHIFTING.

ACCORDING TO RESEARCH COMMISSIONED BY THE NEWARK- BASED NONPROFIT PROFIT READY, 71% OF THOSE SURVEYED SAID THEY HAVE RECEIVED OR WILL GET A SHOT WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE.

THAT IS UP FROM 60% IN NOVEMBER.

THERE IS STILL A BIG RACIAL DISPARITY AND DISTRIBUTION.

THE ONLINE SURVEY ASKED NEARLY 1000 REGISTERED VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE WHERE THEY STAND IN THE VACCINE PEER QUITE VOTERS WERE SLIGHTLY MORE LIKELY TO SAY THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE SHOT AND BLACK VOTERS AT 62%, BUT THEY WERE ALSO THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO SAY THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINE.

THE LARGEST GAINS AND WILLINGNESS TO GET THE VACCINE CAME FROM HISPANIC AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

>>> IT'S UNCLEAR IF THE RISE OF NEW COVID-19 STRAINS IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON THOSE OPINIONS.

AS OF TODAY, 55 CASES OF THE HIGHLY CONTAGIONS B.1.1.7 OR UK VARIANT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN NEW JERSEY.

IT IS STILL THE ONLY STRAIN STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY HAS BEEN DETECTED HERE, BUT CAPACITY TO TEST FOR THAT OR ANY OTHER STRAIN IS LIMITED, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW PREVALENT THEY ARE, AND HOW QUICKLY THEY COULD BE SPENDING.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>>> IF WE IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO ARE INFECTED, WHAT STRAINS ARE THEY BEING INFECTED WITH.

BACK DR. ROBERT PIUS SAYS A PILOT PROJECT RECENTLY TOOK COVID POSITIVE SAMPLES COLLECTED AT ITS TEST SITE, AND DID SOME PRELIMINARY COVID SEQUENCING, LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT STRAINS OF THE CORONAVIRUS, PERHAPS THE SOUTH AFRICAN OR ARE STILL STRAINS, OR THE UK STRAIN WHICH HAS ALREADY TURNED UP AND 55 CASES, AND A DEATH.

HE REPORTS INTERESTING RESULTS.

>> WE HAVE SOME EVIDENCE THAT SOME OF THE STRAINS THAT WE SEE CIRCULATING THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, THAT WE DO HAVE WITHIN THE UNION COUNTY AREA.

NOW IT IS PRELIMINARY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.

WE ARE WAITING TO GET THE FULL DATA BACK TO CONFIRM THAT.

>> Reporter: HE'S COLLABORATING WITH RECORDS TO DEVELOP A ROBUST GENOME SEQUENCING PROGRAM.

MEANWHILE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STARTED DOING THESE TESTS JUST LAST MONTH, BUT IT IS DONE FEWER THAN 200 AS OF LAST WEEK, WITH ABOUT 100 MORE SENT TO THE CDC.

SOME SCIENTISTS SAY THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO TREAT PEOPLE COME UP VACCINATE PEOPLE, TRYING TO GET BACK TO A WAY OF LIFE THAT WE ARE USED TO, AND DOING THAT WITH THE LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PANDEMIC IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> I CAN'T OVER EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR SURVEILLANCE, IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM, AND THEN MITIGATING THE PROBLEM AND STOPPING TRANSMISSION.

>> Reporter: DR. DAVID PERLIN SAYS THAT THE STRAINS OF SWIRL THROUGH POPULATIONS AS THE VIRUS NATURALLY MUTATES, AND SOME CAN BE MORE INFECTIOUS OR RESISTANCE.

THEY RECENTLY IDENTIFIED A SPECIFIC MUTATION CALLED E4 80 4K IN AN OUTBREAK THAT INVOLVED MORE THAN 70 CASES AT A NEW JERSEY RESIDENTIAL ACUTE CARE FACILITY LATE LAST YEAR, BUT HE PROVIDED ONLY A FEW DETAILS.

>> IT'S NOT A SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT OR A BRAZILIAN VARIANT.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE EVOLVED, SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, AND IN NEW JERSEY ARE OUTBREAK WAS VERY WELL CONTAINED EARLY ON.

WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IT, PUT OUT THE SO-CALLED FIRE.

BUT THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS AT CDI HAVE CONDUCTED 2500 GENOMIC SEQUENCE HE TEST.

IT PARTNERS WITH QUEST DIAGNOSTICS TO EXPAND QUEST TEST CAPACITY.

THE E4 84 MUTATION HAS NOW BEEN FOUND IN 2000 CASES WORLDWIDE, AND APPARENTLY CAN MAKE THE VIRUS RESISTANT TO SOME TREATMENTS.

THAT NEEDS RESEARCH, BUT CDI FOUND THE MUTATION BECAUSE IT TESTED.

>> IT CAME OUT FROM OUR ABILITY TO DO SURVEILLANCE AND SEQUENCE WITHIN OUR NETWORK, AND IT REALLY DOES HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO DO THIS ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

>> WE GET SOME CLUES ON WHAT TO DO FROM COUNTRIES SUCH AS GREAT BRITAIN, WHICH ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE TESTING.

>> Reporter: DR. STANLEY WEISS AGREES, NEW JERSEY NEEDS A STRONGER GENOME SEQUENCING PROGRAM PEER, AND HE TESTS SHOULD BE DOING?

>> NONE OF US KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER.

IT IS CLEAR THAT IT IS FAR MORE THAN WE ARE DOING NOW.

>> WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.

WE DO THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE DOING WHAT WE THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE NOTED THEY ARE LOOKING TO PRIVATE AND UNIVERSITY LABS TO HELP INCREASE TESTING CAPACITY, BUT GAVE NO TIMELINE.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ACCORDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS, THOSE VARIANTS, IF FURTHER SPREAD, DO POSE A THREAT TO THE STATES DECLINING CORONAVIRUS RATES.

TODAY REPORTING 2600 NEW POSITIVE TEST AND ANOTHER 57 MORE LIVES LOST.

AS THE STRAINS MUTATE THEY ALSO PUT SOME OF THE STATES MOST VULNERABLE INDUSTRIES AT HIGHER RISK.

THINK NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS.

NOW WITH MONTHS OF DATA AND MISTAKES MADE DURING THE PANDEMIC BEHIND US, ADVOCATES WANT TO KNOW WHY THE STATE IS NOT HOLDING BOTH OF THOSE HEALTHCARE EMPLOYERS TO THE SAME STANDARDS.

RAVEN SANTANA HAS HER STORY.

>>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC INITIALLY HAD, OBVIOUSLY NURSING HOMES WERE AT THE FOREFRONT, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION AND POLICY ATTENTION AROUND NURSING HOMES.

>> Reporter: AT THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC, LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS, MANY OF WHOM WERE IN NURSING HOMES, COMPRISED A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS FROM COVID.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SAFETY NETWORK, TO DATE, THERE WERE MORE THAN 7800 RESIDENTS WHO SUCCUMBED TO COVID AT THE STATES NEARLY 600 LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

>> NURSING HOMES HAVE ALL BEEN REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO STOCKPILE AT LEAST ONE MONTH'S WORTH OF PPE.

>> Reporter: ANDY AARONSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY SAYS THAT AFTER EXPERIENCING COVID'S HEART WRENCHING TOLL ON LONG-TERM CARE PATIENTS, HE NEW PROTOCOL, PROTECTIONS, AND THE PROCESS IN WHICH THEY REPORT NEW CASES NEEDED TO CHANGE.

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE RECORDING TO BE ACCURATE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AS FAR AS TESTING OF STAFF, THAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES RIGHT NOW.

NURSING HOMES HAVE BEEN TESTING STAFF TWICE PER WEEK FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

HOSPITALS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS.

>> Reporter: LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES HAVE NOW BEEN MADE TO REQUIRE REPORTING TEST RESULTS TO THE STATE, LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE NOT HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION BUT UP WITH US WAS THE ISSUE OF HAVING DATA POSTED THAT COULD BE USED IN WORKERS COMP CASES.

BUT AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE WORKER LIVES.

>> Reporter: DEBBIE WHITE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATES LARGEST UNION FOR NURSES AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND IS ANGRY THAT A BILL DESIGNED FOR COVID HEALTHCARE WORKER TRANSPARENCY WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED.

THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT CALLED FOR DAILY COLLECTION OF DATA THAT IS REPORTED ON THE STATE COVID-19 DASHBOARD WAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED.

SHE SAYS THE ONE THAT WAS SIGNED RECENTLY INTO LAW CALLS FOR A BIMONTHLY COLLECTION THAT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED PUBLICLY.

>> THE BILL WOULD NOT HAVE POSTED SPECIFICS ABOUT HOSPITALS LARGEST AND AGGREGATE.

AND IF IT'S POSTED FOR LONG- TERM CARE, WHY SHOULDN'T IT BE POSTED FOR HOSPITALS?

AND HOSPITALS DON'T WANT THE DATA FOR HOSPITALS ON THE DASHBOARD BECAUSE --WHY WOULD THEY LOBBY SWORD AGAINST THAT?

AND WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY WANT TO HIDE?

>> WE HAVE A PANDEMIC TASK FORCE AT THE HOSPITAL THAT IS COMPLYING WITH ALL OF THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NEWARK SAYS THAT BECAUSE HOSPITALS HAVE SUCH SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER AMOUNTS OF PATIENTS AND STAFF APPEAR TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STEEP REDUCTION OF RISK WITH THOSE PRECAUTIONS, YOU HAVE TO WEIGH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RISK WHICH IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF AT OUR INSTITUTIONS TO TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS MUSSO THAT IS A DIFFICULT BALANCE AT EVERY HOSPITAL CEO HAS TO MAKE.

OF COURSE, EVER VIOLATING CDC PROTOCOLS.

>> Reporter: KATHY BENNETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THE REPORTING OF EMPLOYEE DEATH DATA INTO USEFUL MANNER IS COMPLICATED BY A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, INCLUDING THE PRIVACY INTERESTS OF THOSE IMPACTED.

PROPERLY IDENTIFYING THE SOURCE OF INFECTIONS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO BALANCE THESE COMPETING INTERESTS IN ORDER TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION IN A HELPFUL AND COPPERHEADS OF MANOR.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> IS THE RATE OF INFECTION CONTINUES TO SLOW, MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REVISITING IN PERSON LEARNING PLANS.

NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE SET TO HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM IN APRIL, BUT TEACHERS ARE STARTING TO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID-19 AND ARE MANDATED TO GET TESTED BEFORE THEY RETURN THEIR.

THE NEWARK TEACHERS UNION IS MAKING A STRONG REQUEST OF STUDENTS, AND IT COULD BECOME A FLASHPOINT IN REOPENING.

EVER CONTRIBUTING WRITER PATRICK WHILE IS HERE TO EXPLAIN.

>> Reporter: THE UNION IS ASKING FOR THE DISTRICT TO TEST ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS FOR COVID-19 WHEN SCHOOLS BEGIN TO REOPEN IN APRIL, AND THEIR REASONING IS THAT TEACHERS HAVE TO TEST NEGATIVE BEFORE THEY RETURN TO SCHOOLS FOR BUT RIGHT NOW STUDENTS DON'T HAVE TO.

THE CONCERN IS THAT SOME STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE THE VIRUS, BUT NOT SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS.

SO THEY COULD POTENTIALLY SPREAD IT IN SCHOOLS ONCE THEY ARE BACK IN CLASSROOMS.

>> CAN THE DISTRICT MANDATE THAT, AND WE HEAR FREQUENTLY FROM THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS THAT TESTING STILL HAS TO BE A BIG PART OF THIS TO BE THAT THE PANDEMIC, SO WHY NOT?

>> THERE ARE DEFINITELY BENEFITS TO TESTING ON A REGULAR BASIS AND DOING IT UNIVERSITY, SO INCLUDING ALL STAFF MEMBERS AND STUDENTS.

THERE IS SOME RESEARCH THAT IT CAN REDUCE INFECTIONS BY A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, WHEN COMBINED WITH OTHER MEASURES LIKE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO DRAWBACKS, LIKE IT CAN BE REALLY EXPENSIVE.

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED POOL TESTING, WHERE YOU PUT ALL OF THE SAMPLES TOGETHER AND TESTED AT ONCE.

THAT CAN BRING DOWN THE COST, BUT EVEN THEN, IT WOULD BE ABOUT SIX DOLLARS PER STUDENT.

THAT WOULD STILL ADD UP TO ABOUT $216,000 PER WEEK JUST TO TEST STUDENTS IN NEWARK.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF LOGISTICS INVOLVES.

YOU HAVE TO GET PARENT APPROVAL TO TEST, PPE, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO REPORT THE RESULTS.

AND QUARANTINE PEOPLE WHEN THEY TEST POSITIVE.

THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO TESTING ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> I GUESS IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF IT IS AN UNREASONABLE ASKED, BUT WE HAVE SEEN MASSIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE IN NEW YORK CITY DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NEW YORK CITY TESTS ABOUT 20% OF STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE OPEN FOR IN PERSON.

CHICAGO IS STARTING TO TEST STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN AREAS THAT HAVE HIGH INFECTION RATES.

AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS HOPING TO WRAP UP TESTING IN SCHOOLS AS PART OF ITS PUSH TO REOPEN SCHOOLS WITHIN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK IT IS STARTING TO GAIN TRACTION, AND THAT THERE IS MORE FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABLE.

MIGHT BE EASIER.

>> MONEY IS ALWAYS THE KEY.

PATRICK WAUGH, GREAT REPORTING.

THANK YOU.

>>> FOR MORE ON WHAT ROLE STUDENT CORONAVIRUS TESTING COULD PLAY IN NEWARK AND STATEWIDE, CHECK OUT PATRICK WAUGH'S FULL STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> THE PANDEMIC LOOMED LARGE DURING GOVERNOR MURPHY'S BUDGET ADDRESS ON TUESDAY.

HE LAID OUT A $44.8 BILLION SPENDING PLAN, ABOUT $4 BILLION MORE THAN LAST FEBRUARY'S PROPOSAL, WITH THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS DECLINING.

A BIG CHUNK OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TOWARD REBUILDING THE STATE, BUT IDENTIFYING PANDEMIC SPECIFIC SPENDING FOR THE COMING BUDGET YEAR IS PROVING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN EXPECTED.

OUR HEALTHCARE WRITER LILO STAINTON HAS THE LATEST.

IT'S A PRETTY BIG BUDGET HERE, SO WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT LINE ITEMS ARE GOING TO GO TOWARD THIS PANDEMIC?

>> Reporter: RIGHT.

IT WAS A LITTLE TRICKIER THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR, THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION MADE IT EASY FOR US.

THERE WAS BASICALLY A CHART THAT HAD ALL OF THE FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND LISTED.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THERE FOR SCHOOLS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

GET ADDED UP TO ALMOST $2.4 BILLION.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT IN THE BRIEFING MATERIALS THIS YEAR AS WELL.

THE GOVERNOR REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC.

SPENDING THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE MORE NUANCED.

THERE IS $250 MILLION AND MORE FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE, SOMETHING THAT BECAME CLEARLY CRITICAL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

$150 MILLION PLUS FOR EDUCATION, AND SOME FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

SMALLER ITEMS LIKE $10 MILLION TO HELP THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WITH ITS I.T.

SYSTEM.

$26 MILLION FOR CULTURAL EVENTS.

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC RELIEF.

STUFF ACROSS THE BOARD TO KIND OF HELP THE INDUSTRY AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BECOME EITHER HURT DURING THE PANDEMIC, OR NEEDED MORE RESOURCES BECAUSE OF THE OVERWHELMING NEED, BASICALLY.

>> THAT DOESN'T OF COURSE INCLUDE MONEY THAT WE COULD BE GETTING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MORE MONEY.

>> Reporter: EXACTLY.

THAT IS THE INTERESTING PART.

THE STATE HAS GOTTEN $5.6 BILLION SO FAR, AND THEY HAVE SPENT EASILY THE $2.4 BILLION, PROBABLY MORE, BUT THERE IS AT LEAST, I THINK IT IS A $3 TRILLION PACKAGE UNDER DISCUSSION IN WASHINGTON NOW.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ODDS ARE ON THAT, BUT CLEARLY THERE IS FUNDING FOR NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY WAS VERY HARD HIT BY THIS.

WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THE LOSSES.

THAT IS MORE REVENUE.

THIS IS A BIG BUDGET WITH LOTS OF NEW ITEMS, AND NO TAX INCREASES.

IT COULD BE EVEN SWEETER, I SUPPOSE.

>> WE LILO STAINTON THERE FOR US FOLLOWING THE MONEY.

THANK YOU.

>>> THAT BUDGET PRESENTATION CAME ON THE HEELS OF ANOTHER BIG MILESTONE FOR THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION, LEGALIZING ADULT USE MARIJUANA.

THIS WEEK WE WILL TALK TO THE MAIN SPONSOR OF THE BILLS BEHIND THE PROGRAM, SENATOR NEXT TERRY LIVE THURSDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. ON "CHATBOX".

I WILL FILL IN FOR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

THEN WE TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT THE GUIDELINES AND CLASHES AROUND SCHOOL REOPENING.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS, SO SEND THEM INTO CHATBOX@NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

WATCH IT ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> HIGHER EDUCATION IS GETTING A BOOST THANKS TO THE LATEST ROUND OF FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS, WITH TWO NEW GRANT PROGRAMS THAT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WILL USE TO HELP MAKE SURE STUDENTS MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE AND EARN THEIR DEGREE, WHILE ANOTHER FOCUSES ON ELIMINATING HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY ON CAMPUS.

DOES THE GOVERNOR'S MASSIVE BUDGET PLAN DO ENOUGH TO HELP BUSINESSES SLAMMED BY THE PANDEMIC?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS REACTION TONIGHT I'M A AND THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> Reporter: BUSINESS GROUPS IN THE STATE ARE REACTING TO THE NEARLY $45 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY FOR THAN ASK NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

THEY ARE PLEASED TO BUDGET CONTAINS NO NEW TAXES OR FEES.

THEY ARE GETTING THE ADMINISTRATION CREDIT FOR INCREASED SPENDING ON EDUCATION, INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALSO APPLAUDS THE STATES INVESTMENTS HIM ABOUT PRESIDENT AND CEO TOM BRACKEN TAKES A PLANNED $6.4 BILLION PENSION PAYMENT IS TOO HIGH.

>> EVEN IF YOU CUT THE INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR AND HALF, FROM THE 6.4 BILLION, DATA MAY BE A $5.4 BILLION LEVEL, YOU ARE STILL MAKING AND A MORE MISS PENSION EMPLOYMENT, BUT YOU ARE ALSO FREEING UP DOLLARS FOR A MORE IMMEDIATE AND VERY PRESSING NEED IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS OUR ECONOMIC CRISIS.

>> Reporter: BRACKEN, A MEMBER OF THE NJ PBS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BELIEVES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM THE STATE.

THE STATE TREASURER SAYS FULLY FUNDING THE PENSION SYSTEM IS THE RIGHT MOVE TO MAKE.

>> I KNOW IT HAS BEEN AN EASY THING FOR SOME ADMINISTRATIONS TO GO TO THE PENSION PAYMENT AND USE THAT TO MAKE UP FOR OTHER EXPENDITURES, BUT IT HAS HURT US INCREDIBLY, BUDGETARY EARLY, FOR YEARS AND YEARS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MR. BRACKEN.

I DISAGREE.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT STEP THAT WE ARE TAKING IN THIS BUDGET.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME, BUSINESS GROUPS SAY AS BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS WITH LAWMAKERS KICKOFF, THEY WILL PUSH FOR INCREASED GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCIES TO TRY TO FURTHER CONTAIN COSTS.

IN WASHINGTON, THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON A NEW COVID RELIEF PACKAGE THIS FRIDAY.

THE $1.9 TRILLION BILL INCLUDES HER MONEY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, HEALTHCARE, AND HARD-HIT INDUSTRIES.

THE LEGISLATION ALSO INCLUDES THAT $1400 DIRECT PAYMENT TO AMERICANS.

THE VOTE COMES AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE, JEROME POWELL, SAYS THE RECOVERY HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.

HE HAS BEEN TESTIFYING ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK ON THE ECONOMY.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE TRADING DAY UNFOLDED ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP IS JUST STORIES.

>>> A HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS.

THAT IS HOW SOME LAWMAKERS ARE DESCRIBING WHAT IS TAKING PLACE BEHIND THE WALLS AT THE NMA HAND CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, THE STATES ONLY ALL-FEMALE PRISON, WHERE AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY FOLLOWING A DISTURBING ASSAULT ON INMATES IN JANUARY, AND YEARS OF ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE.

TONIGHT, THERE ARE NEW ALLEGATIONS FROM ONE INMATE WHO SAYS SHE WAS INJURED AGAIN AFTER COMING FORWARD.

THERE IS ALSO A GROWING CHORUS DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER MARCUS HICKS, AND A BIPARTISAN VOTE IN THE SENATE CALLING FOR HIS REMOVAL.

WILL GOVERNOR MURPHY ASK?

LEAH MISHKIN HAS THE STORY.

>>> THEY TREATED ME LIKE I WAS AN ANIMAL.

>> Reporter: TONY BOLTON SPENT 6 YEARS INSIDE OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

ONE INCIDENT THAT HAUNTS HER TO THIS DAY SHE SAYS IS HOW A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER ALLEGEDLY SPOKE TO HER ON HER MOTHER'S DEATH BED.

>> YOUR MOTHER DOESN'T CARE THAT YOU'RE HERE.

WHAT A WAY TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR MOM.

THAT IS THE LAST THING --THAT MY MOTHER HAD, HAD TO HEAR.

ABOUT HER BABY GIRL.

>> Reporter: THE STATES ONLY WOMEN'S PRISON MADE HEADLINE EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FILED CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THREE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS IN AN ASSAULT ON INMATES THAT TOOK PLACE IN JANUARY.

ONE VICTIM WAS LEFT WITH A FRACTURE TO HER RIGHT I.

THE REPORT SAYS ANOTHER WITH A CONCUSSION.

AFTER BEING HIT 28 TIMES WITH A CLOSED FIST.

TUESDAY, THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED NEW CHARGES AGAINST A FOURTH CORRECTIONS OFFICER, WHO THEY SAY WAS ASSIGNED TO RECORD BOTH CELL EXTRACTIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY I WAS DISGUSTED, BUT I WAS NOT SHOCKED.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG.

THIS IS NOT JUST START HAPPENING.

>> IT'S REALLY TIME THAT AN OUTSIDE AUTHORITY COME IN TO RUN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

>> Reporter: LAST WEEK, THE STATE SENATE PASSED A RESOLUTION TO FORMALLY REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER MARCUS HICKS RESIGN OR BE REMOVED.

SENATOR LORETTA WEINBERG AND SISSY SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS NO CONNECTION TO THE DEPARTMENT TO AVOID ANY POTENTIAL INFLUENCE FROM WITHIN.

SHE SAID THAT IS JUST THE START.

>> THE CULTURE THERE HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THE TRAINING AND MONITORING OF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.

>> Reporter: THE DECISION TO REMOVE THE COMMISSIONER IS NOW UP TO GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, WHO HAS THE FORMER STATE CONTROLLER INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATING THE JANUARY INCIDENT.

IN ADDITION TO THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION BY THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

>> I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS AUTHORIZED AN INVESTIGATION, BUT I THINK IT IS TOO LONG TO WAIT.

THE TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP, THERE HAS BEEN A UNANIMITY OF OPINION IN BOTH HOUSES, AMONG BOTH PARTIES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GOVERNOR TAKE ACTION.

>> Reporter: THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TOLD US IN A STATEMENT THAT COMMISSIONER HICKS IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF ALL THOSE IN THE STATES CUSTODY, IT HAS SEVERAL MEASURES IN PLACE, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WOMEN OF EDNA MAHAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY INCLUDING INCREASED REPORTING MECHANISMS, FEMALE LEADERSHIP, AND CAMERA SURVEILLANCE TO NAME A FEW.

>> SOMEONE OTHER THAN D.O.C.

NEEDS TO BE IN THERE AS A SAFETY FOR THESE WOMEN TO BE ABLE TO GO TO AND NOT HAVE FEAR OF RETALIATION.

>> Reporter: THE D OC SPOKESPERSON HAS SAYS THEY HAVE HIRED A CONSULTING FIRM.

FURTHERMORE THE DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY RECRUITING, AND ASSISTING.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO SEEKS TO ACTIVELY RECRUIT FEMALE OFFICERS TO HELP.

REMOVING THE COMMISSIONER WOULD ONLY STALL THIS PROGRESS.

>> THE LAST LETTER I HAVE FROM HIM GOES BACK TO APRIL, I BELIEVE, LAST YEAR.

WHEN I CALLED HIM ABOUT PROBLEMS I WAS HEARING ABOUT, AND HE WROTE ME A VERY LENGTHY 3 TO 4 PAGE LETTER, MAKING IT SOUND EVERY PROBLEM HAD BEEN SOLVED.

THAT LETTER IN HINDSIGHT IS WORTHY OF THE FICTION OF THE YEAR AWARD.

>> IT NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN.

IT REALLY DOES.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WITH THESE WOMEN BEING BEATEN AND ABUSED AND BEING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

>> Reporter: SINCE BEING RELEASED IN 2019, TONY BOLTON HAS MADE IT HER MISSION TO HELP HER FRIENDS ON THE INSIDE.

SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES TO LIGHT IN ALL OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS, BECAUSE SHE SAYS THERE IS A WHOLE LOT MORE TO UNCOVER.

I'M LEAH MISHKIN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, WE WANT TO SHARE SOME EXCITING NEWS.

STARTING TODAY, OUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION WILL HAVE A NEW NAME AND LOOK.

NJTV IS BECOMING NJPBS, JUST ANOTHER STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF OUR HISTORY IN THIS STATE.

NOW OUR NEWS DIVISION, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, REMAINS THE SAME.

SO DOES OUR MISSION AND COVERAGE.

BUT OUR STATION WILL ALIGN WITH THE LOOK OF THE NATIONAL PBS ORGANIZATION, AND NJPBS MORE CLEARLY IDENTIFIES US WITH WHO WE ARE.

WELCOME.

>>> MORE AT THE NEW WEBSITE, MYNJPBS.ORG.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, HEAD OVER TO THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PAGE, OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I'M BREANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

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.