>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND OR STEP, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM RAVEN SANTANA, RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE INVADED UKRAINE ON WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED THE DARKEST DAY IN EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR II AS PUTIN ORDERED A LARGE-SCALE MILITARY ATTACK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE FIRST UNPROVOKED FIRST ACT OF WAR ON A SOVEREIGN EUROPEAN NATION IN MORE THAN 80 YEARS AS DOZENS OF TROOPS IN UKRAINE AND SEVERAL CIVILIANS REPORTED THAT IN THE FIRST HOURS OF THE CONFLICT.

UKRAINIANS ARE FLEEING THE CAPITAL OF KYIV AS THE PRESIDENT VOWS TO DEFEND THE COUNTRY AND CALLS ON CITIZENS TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST RUSSIAN FORCES.

PUTIN SAYS INTO THE COUNTRY THAT INTERFERES WILL BE MET WITH CONSEQUENCES YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN IN HISTORY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS THAT U.S.

FORCES WILL NOT ENGAGE IN CONFLICT IN UKRAINE BUT ISSUED NEW SANCTIONS.

>> PUTIN IS THE AGGRESSOR .

PUTIN SHOWS THIS WAR .

NOW, HE AND HIS COUNTRY WILL BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES.

TODAY, I AM AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL STRONG SANCTIONS AND NEW LIMITATIONS ON WHAT CAN BE EXPORTED TO RUSSIA.

THIS WILL IMPOSE SEVERE COST ON THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY BOTH IMMEDIATELY AND OVER TIME.

WE HAVE PURPOSELY DESIGNED TO THESE SANCTIONS TO MAXIMIZE THE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON RUSSIA AND TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES.

>> UKRAINIANS ARE NOW SEEKING SAFETY AND SHELTER.

A CURFEW HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN KYIV AND SUBWAY STATIONS ARE BEING USED AS BOMB SHELTERS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES EXPECTING TO SEE 1 MILLION REFUGEES.

20 HOUR WAITS ALONG THE BORDER WITH POLAND AS UKRAINIANS TRY TO ESCAPE THE VIOLENCE.

IN RESPONSE TO THE ATTACK, PROTESTS HAVE ERUPTED AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING IN RUSSIAN CITIES WHERE THOUSANDS HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS.

A UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION OF PRESIDENT PUTIN HAS BEEN ISSUED BY EUROPEAN ALLIES, THE NEW JERSEY CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS ALSO CONDEMNING THE INVASION AND CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE SAYS -- >> THE ANSWER IS SEVERE SANCTIONS.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT THE SANCTIONS WILL HURT RUSSIA, HURT THEIR LEADERS AND THEIR ECONOMY.

THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

REPORTS THIS MORNING THAT THE RUSSIAN STOCK MARKET WAS NEAR COLLAPSE.

I WILL BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOST SEVERE SANCTIONS AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT, ULTIMATELY, THIS WILL BE PUNISHING TO RUSSIA.

>> JOINING ME TOO!

THE SITUATION AND THE IMPACT HERE IN NEW JERSEY IS FORMER TIME MAGAZINE SENIOR REPORTER PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT ST. PETER'S UNIVERSITY, ALAN SANDERS.

COULD WE BE IMPACTED BY THIS WORK IN JERSEY?

IS IT JUST A RISE IN GAS PRICES OR WILL WE SEE OTHER IMPACTS TO THE ECONOMY OR MILITARY?

>> CERTAINLY, OIL AND GAS PRICES WILL BE AFFECTED AND THAT IS WORRISOME FOR THE UNITED STATES.

IN THE WAR SITUATION CREATES COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISRUPTION AND THIS HAS THE IMPLICATION OF AFFECTING OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.

ONE IN PARTICULAR IS SWEET, UKRAINE IS A PRODUCER OF WHEAT AND THE FOOD PRICES RELATED TO WHEAT COULD RISE.

OF COURSE THERE IS THE DANGER OF CYBER ATTACKS AS THOSE COULD DISRUPT ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL MARKETS.

ANY WAR SITUATION, ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS THINGS LIKE OIL AND GAS, CREATES A GREAT UNCERTAINTY AND THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THE STOCK MARKET DO A DRAMATIC DROP TODAY.

BECAUSE ECONOMIC FACTORS WILL BE IMPACTED, ALL KINDS OF ECONOMIC AND FACTORS WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE WAR SITUATION IN EUROPE.

>> ANY OTHER IMPACTS THAT PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT OR WE COULD SEE IN THE COMING WEEKS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL OCCUR IS IT WILL IMPACT THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.

IF WE GO BACK TO A COLD WAR KIND OF SITUATION IN WHICH THE WEST IS UNITED AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION, AND RUSSIA AND ITS ALLIES, THAT MEANS ALSO CHINA, THAT WILL MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE A COLD WAR POLITICAL MENTALITY WHICH COULD LEAD TO INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDING, THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE SPENDING THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR SOCIAL PROGRAMS.

>> THE U.S. HAS BEEN WARNING OF THIS INVASION FOR WEEKS AND THE U.S. AND EUROPEAN ALLIES HAS TRIED TO PREVENT THIS WITH DIPLOMATIC TALKS AND NO INCREASED SANCTIONS.

WHY DID THOSE EFFORTS FAILED OR WAS THIS INVASION INEVITABLE?

>> I THINK THE INVASION WAS INEVITABLE.

PUTIN HAS BEEN PURSUING FOREIGN-POLICY GRIEVANCES AND THIS IS THE MOST DRAMATIC EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THE ONLY WAY TO STOP PUTIN WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR A DIRECT MILITARY INVENTOR INTERVENTION BY THE UNITED STATES AND NATO WHICH WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO.

WHAT THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR ALLIES HAVE IMPOSED HEAVY COSTS ON RUSSIA WHICH WILL TAKE TIME AND PATIENCE.

BUT THERE WAS REALLY NO POSSIBILITY OF MILITARY CONFLICT BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES IS UNPREPARED AT THE MOMENT.

THE UNITED STATES CANNOT ENGAGE IN A MAJOR MILITARY WAR.

AND THE CASUALTIES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A NUCLEAR ESCALATION IS SO MUCH OF A NIGHTMARE THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY SO THE WEST GOOD THREAT AND SANG OPTIONS.

>> WHAT COULD THE HUMAN TOLL BE?

>> AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THE RUSSIAN MILITARY GOES AND HOW DEEP IT GOES INTO UKRAINE.

THERE WILL BE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.

OF COURSE, MR. PUTIN WILL HAVE BLOOD ON HIS HANDS AND WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE MORAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT THIS WILL PRESENT.

ALSO, ANOTHER IMPACT THAT WILL OCCUR IS THERE WILL BE REFUGEES.

MANY UKRAINIANS WILL TRY TO FLEE AND THE IMMEDIATE SOURCE OF ESCAPE IS THE BORDERING STATES, MANY OF WHICH ARE NATO ALLIES.

ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY THAT HAS BEEN SENT TO OUR NATO ALLIES IS TO HELP WITH THE IMMIGRATION -- NOT THE IMMIGRATION BUT THE REFUGEE SITUATION.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP ONLY WHEN REFUGEES CROSS THE BORDER AND WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

CERTAINLY, THERE WILL BE MAJOR REFUGEE IMPLICATIONS WHICH WILL MEAN RESETTLEMENT AND MONEY WILL HAVE TO BE SPENT TO TAKE CARE OF THE REFUGEES.

OF COURSE THERE WILL BE ALL THE HORRIBLE SITUATIONS WITH THE BLOODSHED IN UKRAINE WHICH COULD IMPACT THE ARMED FORCES AND UNFORTUNATELY INNOCENT CIVILIANS.

>> A LOT OF UNKNOWN SITUATIONS AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD OF COVID IN SCHOOLS, THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATED ITS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MASKING AND QUARANTINES, THIS IS AHEAD OF MARCH 7th WHEN NEW JERSEY STOPS THE MASK COMMITTEE AND LEAVES IT UP TO SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO KEEP OR LOSE THE MASKS .

WHAT ARE THE NEW GUIDELINES AND WHAT THE PARENTS AND STAFF THINK OF THEM?

WE HAVE A REPORT.

>> THERE IS NO GUARANTEEING THAT IT WILL NOT CAUSE ANOTHER OUTBREAK, HOWEVER, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU TRY.

>> I HONESTLY THINK IT IS A PREFERENCE AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE LEERY, JUST HAVE THE KIDS WEAR MASKS.

ME, I THINK IT IS GREAT.

>> Reporter: AS MARCH 7th APPROACHES, PARENTS ARE GETTING USED TO THE IDEA OF MASKS COMING OFF OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS EVEN IF SOME ARE STILL A BIT APPREHENSIVE.

>> THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED WITH ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS TO SEE IF WE REALLY ARE AT THIS PANDEMIC'S END.

>> WE WILL STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH KEEPING MASKS FOR THE CHILDREN AND STAFF, JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THE NUMBERS GO UP A LOT I THINK IT IS GREAT WE ARE HEADING INTO A DIRECTION WHERE WE CAN NOT HAVE MASKS, BUT WE ARE STILL A LITTLE BIT HESITANT ON THROWING THEM UP IN THE AIR AND GETTING RID OF THEM AS OF MARCH 7th.

>> Reporter: THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

>> WE WILL BE MASK OPTIONAL.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

>> Reporter: IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE BECAUSE THE GUIDANCE OFFERS MANY SCENARIOS FOR WHEN MASKS SHOULD GO BACK ON LIKE WHEN COMMUNITY SPREAD HITS ORANGE OR RED DURING AN ACTIVE OUTBREAK OR WHEN A STUDENT HAS BEEN EXPOSED AND IS IN SCHOOL THROUGH THE TEST TO STAY PROGRAM.

IT RECOMMENDS THAT STUDENTS BE SPACED THREE FEET APART WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

ALL OF THE NEW GUIDELINES STILL CREATE CONFUSION FOR DISTRICTS AROUND HOW THEY QUARANTINE ONCE THE MASK COME OFF.

>> IF THE CHILDREN ARE STILL SEATED APART AS WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE, THEN THERE WOULD NOT BE A CLOSE CONTACT, IT WOULD ONLY BE PEOPLE WITHIN THREE FEET OF THE CHILD WHICH SHOULD NOT BE ANYONE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS NOT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION CHILDREN LINED UP IN HALLWAYS WHERE THEY CANNOT DISTANCE OR HAVING LUNCH WHERE BEST INTENTION IS TO KEEP THEM SEPARATED BUT THEY DO CONGREGATE.

>> BEST INTENTIONS ARE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WE WANT THE CHILDREN SEPARATED AS MUCH AS THEY CAN BE.

AND WHERE THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT THERE IS HIGH TRANSMISSION RATES, AS OUTLINED IN THE GUIDANCE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SCHOOLS SHOULD CONSIDER GOING TO THE MASKING AGAIN.

>> WE CANNOT SOCIALLY DISTANCE OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS SINCE THE BEGINNING, THEY EAT TOGETHER WITHOUT MASKS EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: THEY WILL NOT QUARANTINE?

>> WE WILL MOVE TOWARDS THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA RECOMMENDATION FOR SCHOOLS THAT STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE QUARANTINE BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE UNLESS THEY ARE SYMPTOMATIC.

>> Reporter: THE GUIDANCE REMAINS FIVE DAYS AT HOME, FIVE ADDITIONAL DAYS FULLY MASKED AT SCHOOLS IF SYMPTOMS IMPROVE.

BUT THEY TAKE ISSUE WITH WHO WOULD HAVE TO BE QUARANTINED, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE EXTREMELY HIGH RATES OF STUDENT VACCINATIONS IN HIS DISTRICT.

>> ONE OF THE SURPRISES IN THE GUIDANCE HAS BEEN THE INSISTENCE THAT WE QUARANTINE STUDENTS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED BUT NOT BOOSTED.

WE FELT, AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, TRYING TO BROADEN THE QUARANTINE PARAMETERS AND LEADING TO MORE STUDENTS STAYING HOME WHEN THEY DO NOT NEED TO STAY HOME BECAUSE THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, JUST WAS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS AND THEIR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

REPORTER MIKE HE BELIEVES MANY MORE DISTRICTS WILL FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE AND DO AWAY WITH MASKS AND QUARANTINING ALTOGETHER BUT SOME HEALTH EXPERTS ARE CONCERNED THAT, AS SCHOOLS ON THE PUBLIC SHIFT AWAY FROM MITIGATION STRATEGIES, THEY WILL BE HARD TO GET BACK WHEN NEEDED.

>> I AM CONCERNED WHETHER PEOPLE WILL QUICKLY PIVOT BACK TO THE PREVENTION MEASURES THAT WE KNOW WORKS SO WELL.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL.

BUT I REMAIN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW POLITICIZED SOME OF OUR KEY TOOLS HAVE BECOME.

>> Reporter: ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

>>> THE STATE SO MORE THAN 1400 NEW CASES TODAY AND 35 NEW DEATHS AS THE STATE HAS EASED PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS AND ON WEDNESDAY GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID THE STATE WILL BE READY IF ANY OTHER VARIANTS SURGE WHILE KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON A NEWER SUB VARIANT, BA.2 , KNOWN AS THE STEALTH VARIANT AFFECTING A FEW FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND STATES LIKE NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND UNDETECTED IN NEW JERSEY.

COULD IT SPREAD FASTER THAN OMER KROHN OMICRON MIKE AND HOW DANGEROUS IS IT, AND SHOULD BE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN?

OUR HEALTHCARE WRITER JOINS ME TO DISCUSS IT ALL.

NOW THAT THE OMICRON SUB VARIANT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN NEW JERSEY, SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED?

>> SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.

THE SHORT ANSWER IS, NOT YET.

WE DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH.

THERE IS SOME, AS DR. LIFSHITZ, FROM THE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SERVICE TOLD US YESTERDAY, THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE IT CAN SPREAD MORE RAPIDLY, AS MUCH AS I HAVE SEEN, MORE THAN 30% MORE RAPIDLY THAN OMICRON.

BUT, LITTLE ELSE IS KNOWN ABOUT IT.

IT IS NOW THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES, DENMARK, I BELIEVE INDIA AS WELL.

AND THEY HAVE SEEN A RISE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND EVEN DEATH AS A RESULT.

PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO STOP MASK MANDATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

IT IS MORE EASY TO SPREAD NOW AND HARD TO COMPARE THEM.

BUT IT IS REALLY TOO SOON TO KNOW WHAT THIS WILL MEAN.

AS DR. LIFSHITZ SAYS, WE DO NOT SEE HUGE NUMBERS OF CASES YET, IT IS HERE BUT NOT IN A BIG WAY.

>> AS THE STATE IS WINDING DOWN PANDEMIC RESPONSES AND AS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND CASES DECLINE, COULD BE DISCOVERY OF THIS SUB VARIANT SET US BACK?

>> I THINK IT COULD.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW QUICKLY ARE WE WILLING TO RESPOND?

EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE THEY ARE DONE WITH THE PANDEMIC.

FOR SOME PEOPLE, LIKE US WHO ARE HEALTHY AND YOUNG ENOUGH, THAT IS OKAY.

YOU CAN FEEL OKAY ABOUT THAT.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO GET VACCINATED, INFANTS, OR YOUNG CHILDREN, OR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED BY CHOICE, THEY ARE STILL AT RISK.

IF A NEW VARIANT INTRODUCES ITSELF AND STARTS TO SPREAD QUICKLY, AS WE KNOW FROM OMICRON, IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG TO GET BACK INTO THE SURGE SITUATION WHERE HEALTHCARE IS CHALLENGED.

REMEMBER NEW YEAR'S, CHRISTMAS, NOBODY COULD FIND A TEST.

THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN AGAIN IF WE ARE NOT PREPARED.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AND WE WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE SHOULD THAT HAPPEN.

BUT NOBODY HAS SEEN SIGNS OF THAT YET.

>> WITH THE CURRENT VACCINES AND BOOSTERS PROTECT AGAINST THE NEW SUB VARIANT?

>> ANOTHER BILLY GREAT QUESTION AND ONE WE DEFINITELY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH DATA FOR.

WHAT WE SAW WITH OMICRON, BOOSTERS WERE CRITICAL YES IT CAN STILL SPREAD AND NAYSAYERS SAY SHOTS DO NOT WORK, NO, IT SPREADS BUT LARGELY IT WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND KEEP YOU FROM DYING.

UNLESS YOU ARE OLDER OR OTHERWISE COMPROMISED.

THERE ARE ALWAYS GRAY AREAS.

LARGELY, BOOSTERS AND SHOTS PROTECT PEOPLE AGAINST OMICRON, THIS IS A SUB VARIANT , THEORETICALLY, HOPEFULLY, IT WILL WORK THE SAME AGAINST BA.2 BUT WE JUST DO NOT KNOW .

>> THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS THE GREAT REPORTING AND INFORMATION AND JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE TALKING ABOUT HIS CONDEMNATION OF THE INVASION OF UKRAINE BUT ALSO ON THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

HE VISITED ASBURY PARK TO COUNT MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO BUILD OUT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD OFFER CONVENIENT CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS JERSEY.

HOW SOON WILL THAT HAPPEN AND DOESN'T FIT INTO THE CLEAN ENERGY EFFORTS TO CUT GREENHOUSE GASES BY THE STATE?

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS .

>> WE KNOW THE PRICE OF GASOLINE, PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY AND IT POLLUTES AND CAUSES MORE GREENHOUSE GASES TO GO INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND THAT RESULTS IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE IS APPLAUDING FEDERAL EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE USE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

NEW JERSEY WILL RECEIVE OVER $15 MILLION FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW THAT WILL HELP PLACE MORE CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> OVER FIVE YEARS, NEW JERSEY WILL GET ABOUT 104 MILLION DOLLARS.

THIS IS THE FIRST INSTALLMENT.

THE IDEA IS TO BUILD -- IS FOR NEW JERSEY, EACH STATE, TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN BY AUGUST WHICH GETS APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT I THINK BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

SO, WE WOULD START AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, START TO SEE SOME OF THESE BEING PUT IN PLACE ASSUMING THAT NEW JERSEY HAS A PLAN THAT IS APPROVED.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES JOINED THE CONGRESSMAN TO CELEBRATE WHAT THEY SAY IS A FIRST STEP TO CREATING A CLEANER ECONOMY.

EMISSIONS FROM CARS AND TRUCKS ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION IN NEW JERSEY AND THE STATE IS PUSHING TO GET MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND THE GOVERNOR HAS A GOAL OF 330,000 ELECTRIC VEHICLES REGISTERED TO NEW JERSEY BY 2025.

>> NEW JERSEY HAS THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN THE NATION, FOSSIL FUEL BURNING VEHICLES CONTRIBUTE TO THAT, LEADING TO THE EXACERBATION OF HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS ASTHMA AND THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO LIVE IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CITIES.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES SAY THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE IS ANOTHER REASON WHY HAVING AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN NEW JERSEY IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> THE BRENT CRUDE OIL INDEX REACHED $100 PER BARREL.

LAST NIGHT, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2014 AS RUSSIAN FORCES LAUNCH AN ATTACK ON UKRAINE.

I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I AM TIRED OF DEPENDING ON A HIGHLY VOLATILE FOSSIL FUEL MARKET THAT IS COMPLETELY INTERTWINED TO POLITICS AND WAR.

>> Reporter: THIS IS ONE OF THE CHARGING STATIONS IN ASBURY PARK AS THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS AROUND THE STATE AND ADVOCATES SAY NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

>> RIGHT NOW, A MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEY CAR DRIVERS ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING BEHIND AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE BUT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE TO PLUG-IN.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CHARGING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AS EASY AS GOING TO A GAS STATION BECAUSE, ULTIMATELY, WHEN YOU GO TO THE GAS STATION, YOU PAY FOR GAS, YOU ARE PAYING THROUGH THE ROOF AND ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO ONE OF THE LARGEST SOURCES OF CLIMATE POLLUTION IN THE STATE AND COUNTRY, THAT IS THE CARS AND TRUCKS WE DRIVE.

WE KNOW THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE A SUPERIOR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND THE DRIVERS LOVE THEM AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY IT WILL CREATE MORE DRIVES JOBS AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS BUILT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>>> A BIG IMPACT ON THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE HERE WILL BE THE FINANCIAL MARKETS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER JOINS US WITH DETAILS AND OTHER BUSINESS STORIES.

>> Reporter: THE INVASION OF UKRAINE HAS UNNERVED FINANCIAL MARKETS WITH THE STOCK MARKET PLUNGING AT THE OPEN AND OIL PRICES GOING HIGHER, AND INVESTORS MOVING MONEY INTO SAFER ASSETS, INCLUDING TREASURIES ISSUED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

MARKET WATCHERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THE CONFLICT WILL IMPACT THE WORLD ECONOMY.

THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY WOULD BE HURT BY SANCTIONS BUT SANCTIONS COULD ALSO EXACERBATE INFLATION.

WITHOUT RUSSIAN SUPPLIES OF FOOD OR ENERGY, HIGHER PRICES COULD FOLLOW AND THAT WOULD IMPACT OTHER ECONOMIES INCLUDING THE U.S.

LEGISLATION TO PROTECT NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS FROM THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION AT LEAST DURING TAX SEASON WILL BE CONSIDERED NEXT WEEK BY THE SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

THE BILL WOULD INDEX STATE INCOME TAX BRACKETS TO ANNUAL CHANGES IN INFLATION LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES.

THIS BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER EXPLAINS THAT THIS WOULD PREVENT WHAT IS KNOWN AS BRACKET CREEP.

>> THIS IDEA IS WHEN YOUR WAGES MAY GO UP FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WHICH PUSHES YOU INTO A DIFFERENT TAX BRACKET IN SOME CASES, BUT THE PRICE OF PRODUCTS LIKE FOOD AND GAS INCREASE AT A FASTER RATE, SO, YOU ARE NOT BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY.

>> Reporter: IF NEW JERSEY WOULD MAKE THE CHANGE, IT WOULD RESULT IN A TAX BREAK FOR RESIDENTS AND LESS REVENUE FOR THE STATE.

>>> TWO HEAVYWEIGHTS ARE JOINING FORCES TO STRENGTHEN MANUFACTURING IN THE STATE AS THE NEW JERSEY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PROGRAM AND THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION HAVE CREATED A PARTNERSHIP CALLED MANUFACTURING COUNTS TO ADVOCATE FOR MANUFACTURERS IN NEW JERSEY.

JOHN KENNEDY IS CEO OF THE MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PROGRAM.>> THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT MORE INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE.

>> ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES HAS SIGNED OFF ON JERSEY CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT'S PLAN TO INSTALL SMART METERS WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO CURB ENERGY USE AND POTENTIALLY LOWER CUSTOMER BILLS.

>>>AFTER A TUMULTUOUS DAY ON WALL STREET, HERE IS HOW THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OFFERING FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY WITH BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

WE ARE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PAST TRAINING IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU.

>> TUNE IN WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER AS THIS WEEK AND SHE LOOKS AT HOW ROBOTICS POWER THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMY WITH GROUNDBREAKING HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY TO HOW THE YOUNGEST PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY ARE INNOVATING THROUGH ROBOTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CHECK IT OUT SATURDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY URGES RESIDENTS TO STAY OFF THE ROAD AS RAIN, SLEET, SNOW EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN JERSEY TONIGHT.

THE MIXTURE OF SNOW AND ICE WILL IMPACT NORTHERN JERSEY AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE STATE BEFORE IT WINDS DOWN FRIDAY AFTERNOON.THE STORM COMES AFTER THE STATE EXPERIENCED UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER AS SOME PARTS SAW 60 DEGREES ON WEDNESDAY BUT THE BIG SWING IN TEMPERATURE IS ACTUALLY COMMON DURING THIS TIME.

THE PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT RUTGERS SAYS THAT, WHILE WE HAVE HAD A RELATIVELY MILD WINTER, MARCH COULD BE FULL OF SURPRISES.

>> A LOT OF THE SURPRISES ARE NOT SO PLEASANT.

AND WE COULD EVEN HAVE SUBSTANTIAL SNOWSTORMS IN THE EARLY PART OF APRIL.

ALTHOUGH, MOST OF THE TIME, THE SNOWIEST TIME IN NEW JERSEY IS TAPERING OFF BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE MIDDLE OF MARCH.

JUST BECAUSE WINTER HAS BEEN MILD SO FAR, DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL STAY THAT WAY.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US, BUT IF YOU MISSED THE POLITICAL HEADLINES, TUNE INTO THE REPORTER'SROUNDTABLE TOMORROW MORNING WHERE WE GO ONE-ON-ONE WITH JERSEY CITY MAYOR, STEVEN FULOP, TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE MAPS AND CHAT WITH A TEAM OF LOCAL REPORTERS TO COVER THE BIG HEADLINES.

THAT IS TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

I AM RAVEN SANTANA AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US .

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP , SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR 100 YEARS, AND BY THE FOUNDATION.

>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATION, SUPPLY- CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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

ONLINE AT US.ORSTED.COM.

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT WHO ARE THE POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEEP THE GARDEN STATE GROWING.

BUSINESS LEADERS, THE CARETAKERS OF OUR HISTORIC LANDMARKS, AND THE CUSTODIANS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

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

NJM, WE HAD NEW JERSEY COVERED.