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

RWJ BARNABUS 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 BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

TONIGHT, THE NATION IS MOVING CLOSER TOWARD A THIRD CORONAVIRUS VACCINE AS A SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS ADVISORY PANEL BECOMES CLOSER TO APPROVING JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S THE VACCINATION FOR USE.

ONCE IT DOES, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS THE STATE EXPECTS AN INITIAL SHIPMENT OF 70,000 DOSES WHERE THEY GET DISTRIBUTED IS STILL BEING DECIDED.

THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING IT A GAME CHANGER WITH NEARLY 1.9 MILLION SHOTS NOW IN ARMS, 630,002ND DOSES, ASIDE FROM BEING JUST ONE SHOT, JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S VACCINE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE SAME ULTRACOLD STORAGE.

THE FDA ANNOUNCED THE PFIZER VACCINE IS NOT AS SENSITIVE TO HEAT AS FIRST THOUGHT.

THE AGENCY APPROVED A MORE FLEXIBLE FREEZER STORAGE CONDITIONS FOR THE VIALS.

BOTH JOHNSON & JOHNSON AND PFIZER'S SHOTS WOULD BE EASIER TO GET TO HARDER TO REACH COMMUNITIES.

>> THEY SEEM TO BE RUNNING THINGS VERY SMOOTHLY HERE.

>> Reporter: HER GRANDPARENTS BOTH RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> LUCKILY MY AUNT IS GREAT AND WAS ABLE TO SIGN THEM UP FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS.

>> Reporter: -- >> PRETTY GOOD I AM PROUD OF THEM.

>> Reporter: WHAT THESE STRANGERS HAVE IN COMMON IS THEY ARE BOTH HERE TODAY WITH THE HELP OF FAMILY, WHO HELPED TO BOOK AND DRIVE TO THE SITE.

TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESS ARE BARRIERS FOR MANY IN THE VULNERABLE POPULATION.

>> WE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CARS OR DON'T HAVE THE COMPUTER ACCESS YOU NEED TO UTILIZE OUR SITE.

OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS ARE PICKING UP THAT CLIENTELE AND SETTING UP ADDITIONAL SITES WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK THERE.

>> THIS VACCINE IS GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HARDER TIME TRAVELING TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> Reporter: RIGHT NOW, THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IS BEING VIEWED FOR AN AGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

IT COULD GET APPROVAL AS SOON AS THIS WEEKEND.

IT IS ONE DOSE ONLY INSTEAD OF TO BETTER SPACED SEVERAL WEEKS APART.

>> UNLIKE THE MODERNA AND PFIZER THAT HAVE TO BE KEPT AT THESE INCREDIBLY COLD TEMPERATURES, J AND J CAN BE STORED IN A MEDICAL FREEZER.

IT'S OUT OF ANY LOCAL PHARMACY WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO INVEST IN THESE DEEP FREEZE CONTAINERS OR STORAGE SYSTEMS.

WE COULD SEND THEM TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMEBOUND AND VACCINATE THEM AT HOME.

WE CAN HAVE THIS GO AROUND IN MOBILE UNITS MORE EASILY THAN WE CAN WITH MODERNA AND PFIZER.

>> SHOULD THIS APPLICATION BE APPROVED AS IT APPEARS IT MAY, WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT AN ADDITIONAL SHIPMENT OF ROUGHLY 70,000 DOSES TO BE DELIVERED TO US NEXT WEEK.

>> THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR HUDSON COUNTY SAID THIS.

>> WE JUST NEED THE DOSES.

IF WE HAVE A DAY WHERE WE DO 1400 PEOPLE, WE COULD THEORETICALLY SWITCH TO A PROCEDURE WHERE WE ARE GETTING ALL 1400 PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>> IN TERMS OF OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINES, THIS IS VITAL.

>> IT WAS 85% BUT EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING SEVERE ILLNESS.

MUCH LIKE PFIZER AND MODERNA, OUR GOAL IS TO PREVENT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH, SO J&J IS RIGHT UP THERE.

>> ADMINISTRATORS HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING TO BRING THE VACCINE DIRECTLY TO ELDERLY RESIDENTS.

THE J&J APPROVAL WOULD MAKE THAT PLAN MORE VIABLE.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS, WE SHOULD BE BRINGING THE VACCINE TO THEM, AS OPPOSED TO MAKING THEM FIND A WAY TO TRAVEL AND RISKING THEM TO FURTHER EXPOSURE ON THE WAY THERE.

>> A THIRD VACCINE POTENTIALLY OPENING UP POSSIBILITIES FOR MORE PEOPLE.

I AM LEAH MISHKIN FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT" NEWS.

>>> TODAY, A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE JOINED THE GOVERNOR'S VIRTUAL BRIEFING.

HE SAID IT WILL BE NO EASY TASK TO CHANGE THE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN OUR COUNTRY.

IN NEW JERSEY, 4% OF ALL VACCINES ADMINISTERED HAD REACHED BLACK RESIDENTS.

TODAY, THE GOVERNOR EMPHASIZED A COMMITMENT TO REACH RESIDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES LIVING IN GROUP HOMES ALONG WITH THEIR SUPPORT STOP STAFF.

BUILDING TRUST AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC WILL BE AN ONGOING CHALLENGE.

>> WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES EXPRESS DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COMPETENCE IN SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF THE VACCINES.

>> THE WORK IS HARD, WE HAVE TO DO IT THOUGH.

THE SUCCESS OF OUR COUNTRY, THE SUCCESS OF NEW JERSEY REALLY DEMANDS THAT WE ADDRESS INEQUITY.

>> AS WE WAIT FOR MORE DOSES, NEW THREATS OF A SURGE IN COVERT CASES LOOM DUE TO THOSE WORRISOME VARIANTS BEING DETECTED EVEN AS CONFIRMED POSITIVE TESTS REMAIN SOMEWHAT STABLE.

STATE LEADERS REPORTED 3100 POSITIVE CASES AND ANOTHER 41 -- 46 LIVES LOST.

STATE LEADERS ASSUME THE TROUBLESOME NEW VARIANCE DETECTED IN NEW YORK IS ALSO HERE.

THERE IS A SMALL RICE BUT EVEN AS THE RISK TIGHTENS, FLU CASES ARE AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.

WEEKLY CDC DATA SHOWED 30 NEW CASES OF INFLUENZA WERE DETECTED LAST WEEK ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT PEAK FLU SEASON.

HAVE WE AVOIDED THAT DREADED POSSIBILITY OF A TWIN PANDEMIC, AND HOW HARD WILL IT BE TO PUT OFF THE PANDEMIC?

WE ASKED DR. MARTIN BLAZER.

I FEEL LIKE IT WASN'T LONG AGO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE THREAT OF A "TWIN-DEMIC".

>> THERE IS ALMOST NO INFLUENZA IN UNITED STATES THIS YEAR.

IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO ZERO.

THIS IS AN INFECTION IN WHICH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BECOME INFECTED.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS DIFFERENT?

THE ANSWER IS COVID AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

INFLUENZA IS LESS TRANSMISSIBLE THAN COVID.

ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING TO PREVENT COVID TRANSMISSION IS ALSO PREVENTING INFLUENZA TRANSMISSION.

BECAUSE IT'S LESS TRANSMISSIBLE, IT IS MORE EFFECTIVE.

THERE HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY NO INFLUENZA IN THE UNITED STATES THIS YEAR, WHICH IS A SURPRISING FEATURE.

MAYBE IT IS A SILVER LINING OF HAVING SO MUCH COVID.

>> WE WILL TAKE WHATEVER WHEN WE CAN GET.

I GUESS, I WONDER, WHAT SOME OF THOSE SAME FACTORS LIKE HANDWASHING AND MASK WEARING BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE, IF OR NOT ALSO IN OUR BUBBLES THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN FOR A YEAR?

>> GOING FORWARD, ONCE COVID IS MOSTLY BEHIND US, OR BEHIND US, BEHAVIOR IN THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO CHANGE.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WEARING MASKS WHEN THEY ARE SICK AND THEY WILL BE WASHING THEIR HANDS MORE DURING FLU SEASON.

HOPEFULLY MORE PEOPLE WILL GET MORE FLU VACCINE AS WELL.

ALL OF THESE THINGS SUPPRESS THE SPREAD OF THE INFECTION.

WE CAN SEE THIS REALLY CLEARLY.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS TALK OF ANOTHER COMEBACK OF THE CORONAVIRUS, THESE VARIANTS.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW YORK VARIANT THAT SOME L HEALTH EXPERTS ARE CALLING WORRISOME.

>> WE HAVE BEEN MAKING VERY GOOD FOR PROGRESS 50 MILLION PEOPLE OR MORE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

WHEN YOU ADD THAT TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED IN THE UNITED STATES, COVID RATES HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN AND SHOULD BE GOING DOWN PRECIPITOUSLY.

THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THERE ARE THESE, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VARIANTS THAT ARE PRESENT.

THERE'S THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANCE, THE CALIFORNIA VARIANT, THE NEW YORK VARIANT, AT LEAST FOR NOW, ALL OF THESE SEEM TO BE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.

I GUESS IT IS ALSO NOT SURPRISING, THAT IS HOW THE VIRUS EVOLVES.

IT EVOLVES TO TRANSMIT BETTER AND BETTER.

WE ARE SEEING SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF THIS IN WHICH THEY HAVE COME UP IN PARALLEL.

THERE ARE ALREADY CASES IN NEW JERSEY OF THE ENGLISH VARIANT AND THE NEW YORK VARIANT.

I EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE MORE.

>> DO THESE VARIANTS THREATEN OUR TIMELINE OF RETURNING TO NORMALCY, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET MORE DOSES OF THE VACCINE IN THE PIPELINE?

J&J MIGHT BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

>> AS ALWAYS, IT'S A RACE BETWEEN GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS POSSIBLE, AND THE VIRUS GROWING AND SPREADING.

THESE NEW VARIANCE INCREASE THE GROWTH AND SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

IT MAKES IT HARDER.

I AM HOPING WE CAN STILL WIN THAT RACE AND KEEP SUPPRESSING THE VIRUS.

>> DR. BLAZER, ALWAYS GREAT TO TALK TO YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY MADE TUITION FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE A PERMANENT PROGRAM AND PLANS TO ADD ANOTHER $27 MILLION TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM DURING HIS LATEST BUDGET PROPOSAL.

THE PROBE GRAHAM LAUNCHED IN 2018 AND IS NOT AVAILABLE AT EVERY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE STATE.

IT COVERS THE COST OF TUITION FOR TWO YEAR ASSOCIATES DEGREES.

IT'S DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAD TO SKIP OR DRAG OUT THEIR PATH TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> THESE GRANTS ARE MORE THAN LIVING UP TO THE WORD OPPORTUNITY ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST YEAR.

SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY HAS BEEN THROWN INTO THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, THIS PROGRAM HAS INSURED THAT THEY CAN REMAIN ON TRACK.

THE TASK IS TO ENSURE THAT THIS EDUCATIONAL LIFELINE IS NEVER CUT IN ANY FUTURE ADMINISTRATION.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.

>> A DECADE-LONG BAN ON THE CONTROVERSIAL PRACTICE OF FRACKING IN THE DELAWARE BASIN COMMISSION IS NOW PERMANENT.

IT COMES AFTER BITTER LAWSUITS, THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND THE COMMISSION'S DECISION LED BY THE GOVERNORS OF ALL FOUR STATES DRAINED BY THE RIVER FOR NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, AND DELAWARE.

IN THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE HAILING IT AS A HISTORIC VICTORY.

JOHN HURDLE IS WITH US NOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S AHEAD.

JOHN, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS STORY FOREVER.

IS THIS IT?

THIS IS THE FINAL DECISION?

>> THIS DECISION HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

THE DRBC HAS HAD A DE FACTO MORATORIUM ON FRACKING IN THE DELAWARE RIVER BASIN SINCE 2011.

DURING THAT TIME, THEY MADE A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.

A LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC OBJECTORS AS WELL.

WE LEARNED THAT AT YESTERDAY'S MEETING, THEY HAD RECEIVED ABOUT 9000 PUBLIC COMMENTS DURING THAT TIME.

THE GOVERNORS WHO MADE THE DECISION YESTERDAY ALL VOTED IN FAVOR OF A PERMANENT BAN ON FRACKING.

NO DOUBT, THEY WERE RESPONDING TO SOME EXTENT TO THE PUBLIC PRESSURE.

ONE OF THEM, NEW YORK STATE, HAD ALREADY BANNED FRACKING WITHIN ITS BOUNDARIES IN 2014.

IT WAS THE EASIEST AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.

OF COURSE, THE GOVERNORS ALL HAVE AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOALS, AS DOES GOVERNOR MURPHY.

THEY HAVE BEEN KEEN TO SHOW THAT THEY WERE FACING A BLOW AGAINST THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY.

>> THERE ARE CRITICS SAYING THIS WAS A MISGUIDED DECISION.

>> BUSINESS GROUPS SAY THAT THE NEW JERSEY'S INDUSTRY HAS BENEFITED OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO FROM CHEAP NATURAL GAS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN OBTAINING FROM PENNSYLVANIA, AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT BANNING FRACKING IN THE BASIN AT THIS POINT WOULD PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER FUTURE SUPPLIES OF LOW COST NATURAL GAS.

>> BIG DECISION.

JOHN HURDLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FOR MORE ON THE DECISION AND A DEEPER LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON FRACKING ON THE ENVIRONMENT, CHECK OUT HIS FULL STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> ESTATE IS ALREADY HEADING FOR RECOVERY.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS DETAILS AND THE TOP BUSINESS NEWS.

>> NEW JERSEY'S EMPLOYMENT SITUATION CONTINUES TO IMPROVE.

THE NUMBER OF WORKERS A FILING NEW UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS WITH THE STATE FELL AGAIN WITHIN THE LATEST WEEK, DROPPING TO THE LOWEST WEEKLY TOTAL IN NEARLY A YEAR.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE CLOCK IS TICKING TOWARD THAT MID MARCH EXPIRATION OF EXPANDED FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

THE COVID-19 RELIEF BILL WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS WOULD KEEP PAYING OUT THOSE EXTRA BENEFITS THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST.

WINTER WEATHER IS PUTTING A DAMPER ON HOME SALES IN NEW JERSEY.

>> ROBERT WHITE SAYS, QUOTE, SALES WERE UP 17% LAST MONTH.

>> SINGLE-FAMILY, CONDO, TOWNHOUSE, EVEN ADULT COMMUNITIES, THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT NOW IS THE LACK OF INVENTORY.

>> THE NUMBER OF HOMES FOR SALE HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, THAT HAS PUSHED UP PRICES.

THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE FOR ALL PROPERTIES WAS $370,000 LAST MONTH AND NEARLY 20% INCREASE IN THE PRICE IS IN WE WERE SEEING A YEAR AGO.

THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS WILL BE LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS.

THE NEW FISCAL YEAR PLAN INCLUDES A SIGNIFICANT PAGAN -- SIGNIFICANT LAWMAKERS WILL I LIKELY BE ASKING ABOUT THAT WHEN THE HEARINGS GET UNDERWAY.

>> ARE WE SPENDING THIS IN A WAY THAT'S APPROPRIATE, AND SECONDARILY, WITH A LOT OF REPUBLICANS BUYING IN, I THINK THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT SHOULD BE SPENT DOWN AT ALL OR EXPENSE TO THE LEVEL THAT IT'S BEING PROPOSED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY.

>> FIND OUT MORE BY READING JOHN'S STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> AMAZON HAS MADE MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT ITS EXPANSION PLANS FOR NEW JERSEY.

LATER THIS YEAR, IT WILL OPEN FIVE NEW DELIVERY SITES IN CENTRAL JERSEY.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, IT OPENED A NEW DELIVERY STATION IN LINDEN.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW STOCK TRADING WRAPPED UP THIS WEEK.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, AND THESE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> THIS WEEKEND, JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER AS SHE TAKES A DEEPER LOOK AT THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS AND BREAKS DOWN THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WITH THOSE IN THE KNOW, INCLUDING THE STATE TREASURER.

WATCH IT ON NJ PBS.

>>> IN BERGEN COUNTY, THE BATTLE TO SUCCEED RETIRING STATE SENATOR LORETTA WEINBERG IS SHAPING UP TO BE A INTENSE FIGHT.

DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE PREPPING FOR CONTENTIOUS RACISTS DUE TO A NUMBER OF RETIREMENTS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

MICHAEL ARON GOES ON THE RECORD WITH BEN DORGAN, DIRECTOR OF THE ROMAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY AND CITIZENSHIP TO EXPLAIN HOW THE ELECTIONS COULD SHAKE OUT.

>> SOME RETIREMENTS IN THE STATE SENATE HAVE CREATED A COUPLE OF INTERESTING SITUATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

LET'S START WITH LORETTA WEINBERG IN BERGEN COUNTY.

WHAT'S THE FIGHT AND HE WAS FIGHTING?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT DISTRICT 37, IT IS PROBABLY THE MOST DEMOCRATIC SUBURBAN DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

DEMOCRATS ARE CLEARLY GOING TO MAINTAIN OF THE STATES ASCENDANCY.

GORDON JOHNSON, AFRICAN- AMERICAN, FORMER POLICE OFFICER, AND VALERIE VENIRE HUDDLE, A BUSINESSWOMAN LEAVING A LONG LEGACY OF POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP, AT LEAST MANY OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE SEEMINGLY CITED WITH JOHNSON AND THAT HAS GIVEN HIM A CERTAIN -- THAT HAS ELEVATED HIM IN THIS RACE SO FAR.

HE WILL PROBABLY GET THE LINE WHICH IS THE PREFERRED BALLOT POSITION, THE PARTIES ENDORSED COLUMN OF CANDIDATES.

RIGHT UNDERNEATH BILL MURPHY WHO IS RUNNING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY UNOPPOSED WILL BE GORDON JOHNSON.

>> THAT HAS BECOME PRETTY BITTER UP THERE.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH SEEMING TO GET KIND OF SOUR.

>> IT HAS BEEN.

IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER.

THIS IS AN INTRAPARTY FIGHT.

THIS IS A FAMILY SQUABBLE.

THESE SEATS IN SAFE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS IS GOING TO OPEN UP A LOT.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR MOVE, THIS IS IT.

>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 16, WHERE KIP BATEMAN ANNOUNCED HE IS LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE AFTER A MANY YEAR CAREER?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AGAIN, OF THE 40 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, MOST ARE SAFELY DEMOCRATIC OR SAFELY REPUBLICAN.

THERE ARE THREE IN DISTRICT 16 WHICH IS A BIT OF SOMERSET COUNTY AND A BIT OF MERCER COUNTY, IS ONE OF WHAT WE CALL THE SPLIT DISTRICTS.

IT'S GOT DEMOCRATS REPRESENTING IT IN THE ASSEMBLY AND IT HAS A REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR.

KIP BATEMAN WHO IS ANNOUNCING THAT HE IS RETIRING AFTER A LONG CAREER IS GOING TO FACE A BIG CHALLENGE ANYWAY IN THIS NOVEMBER.

HE HAS NOW DECIDED TO STEP ASIDE.

THERE WILL BE AN OPEN SEAT.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE RALLYING AROUND ANDREWS ZWICKER WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY.

THE PROBLEM BEGINS REPUBLICANS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BRING BACK [ INAUDIBLE ] WHO HAD A TWO- YEAR ONE TERM STINT ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO.

>> QUICKLY, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 2 DOWN DOWN IN THE ATLANTIC COUNTY?

>> THIS RACE IN DISTRICT 2 IS PROBABLY GOING TO COST BOTH PARTIES ABOUT $2 MILLION.

THAT IS HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE SPENT ON THIS PIVOTAL SWING DISTRICT FOR THIS ONE STATE SENATE SEAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR WALKING US THROUGH THE TOP THREE RACES IN THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> FINALLY, TONIGHT, WE LEAVE YOU WITH A STORY ABOUT BLACK HISTORY AS AMERICAN HISTORY.

HELPING TO CREATE TRAILBLAZING INFLUENTIAL BLACK LEADERS, MAKING HISTORIC LACK CHANGES, PUSHING FOR INCLUSION IN OUR STATE AND COUNTRY.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS.

>> I WANTED TO INFORM ABOUT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF GIRL SCOUTS FOR YEARS.

>> Reporter: COOKIES CAN OFTEN BE THE FIRST TO COME TO MIND WHEN SOMETHING ABOUT THE GIRL SCOUTS.

>> GIRL SCOUTS WAS FOUNDED IN 1912 AND DATING BACK TO 1913, AFRICAN-AMERICAN GIRLS WERE INVOLVED FOR THE GIRL SCOUTS, ALTHOUGH AT SOME POINT, IN MANY SOUTHERN PLACES, WAS KIND OF SEPARATED, WE HAVE ALWAYS STRIVED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN INCLUDED.

>> Reporter: TUCKER, A GIRL SCOUT AMBASSADOR WAS ACCEPTED INTO A MEDIA ROLES PROGRAM FOR THE ASSOCIATION.

SHE DECIDED INSTAGRAM WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO SHARE AND POST INFLUENTIAL BLACK LEADERS AND HISTORICAL CHANGES IN THE GIRL SCOUT MOVEMENT.

>> I DID A LARGE FOCUS ON INTEGRATION AND WORKING WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AT THE TIME.

IF YOU LOOK FOR THIS WEEK, I WILL BE DOING A POST ON SOME OF THE FIGURES IN POP CULTURE WHO WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN GIRL SCOUTS.

>> TUCKER SAYS HER PASSION COMES FROM HER MOTHER AND TROOP LEADER WHO WAS ONCE A GIRL SCOUT HERSELF.

>> AS CATHERINE DID HER RESEARCH AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRST INTEGRATED TROOPS AND IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY COULDN'T INTEGRATE TROOPS AND THEY WERE IN THE SEGREGATED SOUTH, HOW THEY STILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT GIRL SCOUTS THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

>> TO FIND BLACK HISTORY IN GIRL SCOUTS, THERE'S A LOT.

TO FIND GIRL SCOUTS IN BLACK HISTORY, THERE ARE ALSO A LOT.

>> THERE ARE GIRL SCOUTS OF EVERY DIFFERENT RACE.

WHEN IT COMES TO REPRESENTATION IN GIRL SCOUTS, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SHOW THAT AND SHARE THAT.

>> Reporter: MEET LIBBY NEVER IS AND 12-YEAR-OLD CHARLOTTE, THE TWO SISTERS FROM MADISON CREATED THE TOWN'S FIRST DIVERSE LIBRARY WHICH IS STOCKED WITH BOOKS WRITTEN BY AND ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IT'S A GOOD DIFFERENT.

SHARING STORIES LIKE ALL LITTLE LIBRARIES DO, EXCEPT WE WANT TO SHARE STORIES OF DIVERSITY AND SHARE STORIES OF PEOPLE THAT MAYBE MIGHT NOT BE HIGHLIGHTED IN OTHER LIBRARIES.

>> THE GIRL SCOUT SILVER AWARD IS THE HIGHEST HONOR FOR GIRL SCOUTS IN SIX THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.

THEY HAVE TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND TAKE ACTION TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

>> THE GIRLS WERE PINNED WITH THE GIRL SCOUT SILVER AWARD.

SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN 200 DONATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS TO KEEP OR DONATE TO HELP DIVERSIFY OTHER LIBRARIES, HONOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

>> NORMALLY WE RESTOCK THE DIVERSITY LIBRARY EVERY OTHER DAY.

THIS IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH BOOKS AND MAYBE IF WE GET MORE DONATIONS AND MORE BOOKS SENT IN.

>> I AM HOPING PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THE LEAD AND GET SOME INFORMATION AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND FEEL UPLIFTED EVEN IF THESE ARE STORIES YOU ALREADY KNEW.

IT'S LOVELY TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE.

>> Reporter: WHILE GIRL SCOUTS HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF INTEGRATION AND TOLERANCE, ALL THREE GIRLS REMIND PEOPLE THAT BLACK HISTORY CONTINUES TO BE PART OF THE GIRL SCOUT MOVEMENT.

>> GETTING TO SEE AND LEARN AND SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME MAKES YOU THINK WELL, I CAN DO THAT TOO.

>> HISTORY TEACHES YOU TO DEVELOP YOUR VALUES, AND WHEN YOU DEVELOP THOSE VALUES AT A YOUNGER AGE, IT HELPS YOU TRANSITION AND LEARN EVEN MORE AND GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO BUILD UPON AS YOU GET OLDER.

>> FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM READING SANTANA.

>> YOU CAN CATCH UP ON ALL THE BIG STORIES OF THE WEEK AT REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE ALONG WITH CHAT BOX, THAT AIRS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M. THAT IS IT FOR US THIS WEEK, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI, FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND HORIZON BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF BLUECROSS AND BLUESHIELD ASSOCIATION.