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FROM NJ PBS.

THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> I'M JOANNA IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

SOME CHANGES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF COUNCIL.

IF CONFIRMED BY THE STATE SENATE, HE'LL REPLACE.

HERE'S WHAT PLATKIN HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE NOMINATION TODAY.

>>> AS ATTORNEY GENERAL MY HIGHEST PRIORITY WILL ALWAYS BE KEEPING OUR RESIDENTS SAFE.

THIS MEANS IN PARTICULAR, AND IN PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW, BRINGING ALL NECESSARY RESOURCES TO BEAR TO PREVENT VIOLENT CRIME.

UNDER MY LEADERSHIP THE OFFICE WILL ALSO PLACE GREAT PRIORITY ON PROTECTING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.

WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR TOO MANY, THE TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE IS BROKEN.

WE WILL REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO REPAIR THAT TRUST.

>> HE'S RECEIVED AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM STATE AND NATIONAL LEADERS, INCLUDING U.S.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER ALONG WITH SEVERAL ADVOCACY GROUPS.

BUT IT'S NOT GOOD NEWS FOR SOME.

PLATKIN SERVED AS CHIEF COUNCIL TO THE GOVERNOR'S FIRST GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN.

AND MISHANDLED ALLEGATIONS BY KATIE BRENNAN.

SHE SAID SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY ANOTHER CAMPAIGN MEMBER.

THE REVIEW FOR PLATKIN CAME FROM A REPORT COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AFTER BRENNAN'S ALLEGATIONS BECAME PUBLIC.

PLATKIN WAS NOT ACCUSED OF WRONG DOING IN THE MATTER.

BRENNAN RELEASED A STATEMENT AGAINST THE NOMINATION SAYING THIS DECISION IS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING AND SENDS A TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

NEW JERSEY DESERVES AN AG REPRESENTING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ETHICS, WE CAN DO BETTER.

WILL ANY OF THIS MAKE HYPERS AGAIN AS HE GOES THROUGH SENATE HEARINGS?

I'M JOINED BY SENIOR WRITER, COLLEEN O'DAY WHO CAN SHED LIGHT FOR US.

COLLEEN, MATT SERVED AS THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS.

BUT HE ALSO CAME UNDER FIRE FOR HIS HANDLING OF THE KATIE BRENNAN SCANDAL.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, MATT PLATKIN WAS TOLD ABOUT THE ALLEGATION THAT, ALVAREZ HAD SEXUALLY ASSAULTED KATIE BRENNAN.

KATIE WAS A VOLUNTEER ON THE CAMPAIGN.

ALVAREZ WAS A CAMPAIGN STAFFER BACK IN 2017 WHEN MURPHY WAS FIRST RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

NOW, MATT PLATKIN SAYS HE DID NOT TELL THE GOVERNOR AND HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T TELL THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE HAD UNDERGONE SOME SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING THAT HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THESE THINGS SHOULD BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

HE SAID HE DID PASS THE INFORMATION ALONG TO THE ETHICS COUNCIL OR THE ETHICS OFFICER AND THAT, YOU KNOW, HE DID WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO, NOW HE SAID IN HINDSIGHT, PERHAPS HE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY BUT HE THOUGHT HE HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING.

>> SHE CALLED THIS DISAPPOINTING SAYING SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT DESERVE BETTER.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT STATEMENT, THAT HER POSITION WILL HAVE ANY TRACTION AS HE GOES THROUGH THE SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS.

>> YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY COULD.

BECAUSE THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO SAT ON THAT COMMITTEE THAT LOOKED INTO THE MATTER.

NOW, SENATOR WINEBURG WHO REALLY WAS I THINK THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THAT HAS RETIRED.

SO SHE'S NO LONGER THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER WOMEN, KRISTEN CORADO I BELIEVE WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE WHO MAY CERTAINLY BE CHAMPIONING, YOU KNOW, KATIE'S POSITION.

SO IT MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE DECREASE OF WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR HIM TO BE -- TO RECEIVE THE NOMINATION TO BE APPROVED.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION TOO.

I MEAN IS THAT POSSIBLE?

YOU HAVE SENATOR THERESA RUIZ WHO IS NOW THE MAJORITY LEADER.

SHE REPLACED SENATOR WINEBURG.

SHE PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT SHE'S VERY HAPPY THAT SOMEONE FROM HER COUNTY OF ESSEX WAS NOMINATED.

AND SHE WOULD VOTE FOR HIM BUT SAID SHE THINKS HE'LL GET A FAIR HEARING IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'D LIKE TO HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT A MALE VERSES FEMALE KIND OF DECISION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS SOMETHING CERTAINLY THAT WOMEN HAVE BEEN MORE, IN THE LEGISLATURE, HAVE BEEN MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

>> SO DO YOU THINK HE WILL MAKE IT THROUGH?

>> YOU KNOW, I STILL WOULD HAVE TO SAY HE PROBABLY WILL.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT 24 DEMOCRATS EVEN IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE GOING TO ALL VOTE AGAINST HIM, WHICH WE'VE SEEN REPUBLICANS COME OUT SAYING THEY SUPPORT HIS NOMINATION.

SO I THINK IT MIGHT GET TOUGHER THAN IT WAS.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK HE WOULD BE LIKELY TO GO THROUGH.

>> FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, GRAY WALL MADE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE ASCII PILLAR IN HIS TENURE.

DO YOU BELIEVE HE'LL SEE THE SAME FROM MATT PLATKIN.

>> I THINK SO.

WE HEARD HIM SAY TODAY THAT HE WANTS TO PUSHBACK FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

HE'S GOING TO SUPPORT CIVIL RIGHTS.

I'M JUST NOT SURE IF HE'S GOING TO BE WILLING.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE WILLING TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES HAVE REALLY BEEN LOOKING FOR.

>> COLLEEN O'DAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FOR MORE INSIGHT INTO THE PLATKIN APPOINTMENT.

COLLEEN O'DAY WILL FILL IN FOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

SHE'LL HAVE ALL THE WEEK'S POLITICAL HEADLINES.

INCLUDING THE GOP PRIORITIES AND THE PUSH TO LIMIT THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS.

THAT'S TOMORROW AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YouTube CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

SHOULD THE STATE GIVE TAXPAYER MONEY TO ITS WORST RATED NURSING HOMES.

THAT'S THE QUESTION AFTER A REPORT FROM THE STATE COMPTROLLER SHOWED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF YEAR GOING GO TO 15 ONE-STAR RATED LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES DESPITE FAILING TO IMPROVE CARE FOR RESIDENTS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

NOW THE STATE SAYS IT'S TIME FOR THOSE HOMES TO FACE CONSEQUENCES.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> I'M WORRIED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> BARBARA IS CONCERNED FOR HER BROTHER, LOU, A LONG TIME PATIENT AT THE NURSING HOME IN ANDOVER THAT MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES FOR STACKING PATIENT BODIES IN A SHED DURING THE COVID WAVE.

RENAMED WOODLAND BEHAVIORAL AND NURSING CENTER IT'S THE LARGEST OF 15 FACILITIES IDENTIFIED IN A NEW COME TROLLER'S REPORT AS CHRONIC UNDER PERFORMERS.

EXPOSING MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES TO UNNECESSARY RISKS AND RESULTS IN TAXPAYER FUNDS BEING USED FOR CARE THAT'S SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW AVERAGE.

>> TO THINK OF MY BROTHER SITTING THERE IN THAT SITUATION AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE PLACE THAT THESE PEOPLE OWN OR RUN, IT'S HORRIBLE.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.

IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS WAY.

>> WHEN THE SAME FACILITIES HAVE POOR RATINGS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, HOW CAN YOU REACH ANY OTHER CONCLUSION THAN THAT THEY ARE ACCEPTING THIS.

THIS IS PART OF THE BUSINESS MODEL.

THIS IS THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN LONG-TERM CARE.

>> JERSEY'S LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN COMPILED THE REPORT WHICH STUDIES FACILITIES BASED ON THE GRADING SYSTEM ESTABLISHED BY MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.

IT FOCUSED ON 15 THAT RECEIVED THE LOWEST ONE-STAR RATING FOR AT LEAST SIX OF THE PAST EIGHT QUARTERLY REVIEWS IN 2020 AND 2021.

MORE THAN HALF REMAIN ONE STAR TODAY.

>> THAT MEANS THE STATE REGULATORS, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAVE FOUND SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IN YOUR FACILITY YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

IT MEANS THAT YOU'RE NOT STAFFING PROPERLY.

IT PROBABLY MEANS THAT YOU DONE HAVE ENOUGH RN STAFFING.

IT PROBABLY MEANS THAT YOU HAVE HAD SOME DEFICIENCIES IN A ARE CONSIDERED WHAT THEY CALL HARM.

MEANING THAT COULD CAUSE DIRECT HARM TO RESIDENTS.

>> THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCE FOR BEING A ONE STAR.

>> ACTING COMPTROLLER KEVIN WALSH SAYS TOGETHER THESE FACILITIES, ALMOST ALL FOR PROFIT, RECEIVED MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN PUBLIC MEDICAID FUNDING EACH YEAR.

WITH SOME FACILITIES OFTEN OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE SAME PEOPLE.

THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THE STATE USE THAT FUNDING AS LEVERAGE TO FORCE HISTORICALLY POOR PERFORMERS TO IMPROVE WITHIN TWO YEARS OR FACE CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD INCLUDE LOSS OF MEDICAID MONEY.

>> THE STATE IS NOT USING THE LEVERAGE BECAUSE THEY CAN EARN THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY WHEN THEY RECEIVE A ONE AS THEY CAN WHEN THEY RECEIVE A FIVE.

SOME OF THE 15 HAVE RECEIVED AMONG THE LOWEST RATINGS BACK TO 2013.

AND WHAT WE'VE SAID IS THAT WHEN PUBLIC FUNDS ARE BEING USED, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING USED WELL.

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED GIVEN WHAT I SAW THREE YEARS AGO.

AND WE ALL KNOW STAFFING IS A BIG CHALLENGE.

>> DARRYN'S MOM ROSEMARY SPENT 30 DAYS AT FOREST HAVEN SHORTLY BEFORE ITS RANKING FELL FROM THREE STARS TO ONE.

IT'S NOW CALLED FOREST MANNER AND IT'S ON THE COMPTROLLER'S LIST.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE NURSING STAFF IT WAS JUST NOT NEARLY ENOUGH OF THEM.

NOT ENOUGH AIDS.

NOT ENOUGH NURSES.

YOU COULD TELL THAT THEY WERE -- THEY WERE OVER WORKED.

>> LOOK, WE DON'T SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE POOR QUALITY OF CARE.

>> INDUSTRY SPOKESMAN, ANDY, SAYS THE COMPTROLLER SHOULDN'T HAVE USED THE FIVE-STAR PEER REVIEW SYSTEM TO GAUGE OVER ALL PERFORMANCE THAT SOME FACILITIES ARE DOING BETTER.

BUT THE RATINGS SIMPLY HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP.

AND HE SAYS THE INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE MEDICAID FUNDING.

NOT LESS.

>> WE TO EXPECT THE FACILITIES THAT ARE ONE STAR TO IMPROVE.

MANY OF THEM DO.

MANY OF THEM ARE TRANSFERRED TO NEW OWNERSHIP THAT TURNS THEM INTO MUCH BETTER FACILITIES.

FACILITIES THAT PERFORM POORLY ON SURVEYS.

THE STATE HAS MECHANISMS TO DEAL WITH THOSE.

AND THE STATE USES THOSE MECHANISMS.

THOSE FACILITIES RECEIVE PENALTIES.

THEY'RE FORCED TO GET BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FINED ANDOVER 220,000 FOR LACK OF COMPLIANCE IN APRIL 2020.

IT REMAINS A ONE-STAR FACILITY AND LIKE OTHER LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES RECENTLY RECEIVED NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO HELP HANDLE THE OMICRON SURGE.

>> ALL I CAN DO IS REACH OUT AND TALK TO HIM AND SEE HOW HE'S DOING.

SO THE WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

>> ONLY TWO FACILITIES IN THE COMPTROLLER'S REPORT REPLIED TO REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

STEVEN GROVE CALLED IT OUTDATED AND SAID WITH THE ARRIVAL OF NEW MANAGEMENT WE EXPERIENCED A DRAMATIC TURN AROUND AND ARE CONFIDENT THE IMPROVEMENT WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE RESULTS OF THE NEXT SURVEY.

COMPLETE CARE AND FAIR LAWN SAID IT'S BEEN CONTINUALLY IMPROVING UNDER OUR CURRENT MANAGEMENT AND RECENTLY ACHIEVED A TOP SCORE OF FIVE- STAR RATING IN QUALITY MEASURES.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ALL OF THE STATE'S 21 COUNTIES HAVE SIGNED ON TO A NATIONAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH NEW JERSEY BASED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, JOHNSON AND JOHNSON.

THREE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTORS, MCKESSON, CARDINAL HEALTH, AND BERGEN ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE SETTLEMENT AFTER IT WAS DETERMINED THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE COUNTRY'S OPIOID CRISIS.

ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE THAT HAVE POPULATIONS OVER 10,000 OR HAVE FILED RELATED LAWSUITS SIGNED ON.

THE TOTAL SETTLEMENT IS ROUGHLY $26 BILLION WITH MONEY GOING TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NATIONWIDE.

THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, ANDREW BLOCK ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT A TOTAL OF MORE THAN $641 MILLION IS COMING TO NEW JERSEY'S COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHICH WAS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AVAILABLE.

MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY SAY THEIR RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED BY AN ANTI TERRORISM GROUP THAT'S ILLEGALLY SURVEYING THEM.

MUSLIM LEADERS SAY THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN A POST 9/11 WORLD AND THEY WANT IT TO STOP.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> STOP ALL THESE TYPES OF BAD ACTIONS.

DON'T WATCH PEOPLE.

COME AND SIT DOWN WITH PEOPLE.

TALK WITH PEOPLE.

MY ADVICE TO THEM, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TO SHOW, HATRED.

SHOW LOVE.

>> A MESSAGE FOR ANYONE SHARING HATEFUL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY.

HE SAYS FOR TOO LONG, MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND STEREOTYPES AS TERRORISTS.

ESPECIALLY AFTER 9/11.

A NOTION THAT'S FAR FROM THE TRUTH.

>> ISLAM IS LOVE, MERCY, AND FORBID EVIL.

STANDING FOR EACH OTHER.

STANDING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TREATED UNJUSTLY.

IT IS OUR JOB TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.

>> BUT DESPITE THE CALL FOR UNITY.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SAY ANTI-MUSLIM GROUPS ARE TRYING TO HURT LEADERSHIP WITH FALSE NARRATIVES.

THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS ACCUSING THE INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT ON TERRORISM OF PAYING PERFORMANCE TO CONDUCT SURVEILLANCE ON PROMINENT MUSLIMS AROUND THE NATION.

CARE RECENTLY FIRED THE DIRECTOR OF ITS OHIO CHAPTER AFTER IT WAS REVEALED HE WAS AN INFORMANT FOR THE IPT.

>> IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO BE HONEST.

WE WERE VERY MUCH AWARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IS BEING SPIED ON.

WHETHER IT'S BY FBI OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

IT'S UNFORTUNATELY THE REALITY THAT MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SINCE 9/11.

>> CARE NEW JERSEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS IT'S UPSETTING TO SEE GROUPS LIKE THE IPT TRY TO DISCREDIT MUSLIMS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH.

BUT THE GROUP DENIES THIS IS THE CASE.

IN A STATEMENT IPT'S FOUNDER CALLED CARE A HATE GROUP.

SAYING IN PART, WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN INDIVIDUALS' RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AND BELIEFS THE IPT NEVER SPIED ON THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY NOR ON AMERICAN MUSLIM LEADERS AS CARE ALLEGED.

WE HAVE INVESTIGATED INDIVIDUAL LEADERS, SUCH AS MUHAMMAD KATANANI.

WE DO INVESTIGATE THE RADICAL AGENDA PURSUED BY CARE AS WELL AS EXTREMIST AND BIGOTED COMMENTS MADE BY SIMILARLY MILITANT ISLAMIST ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS, WHICH IS IN THE SAME PUBLIC INTEREST AS EXPOSING THE RADICAL AGENDA OF WHITE SUPREMACIST ORGANIZATIONS.

>> THEY TRIED VERY HARD TO UNDERMINE OUR WORK, RIGHT?

TO TRY TO QUOTE UNQUOTE EXPOSE US FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING WHAT WE'RE NOT, RIGHT?

MAYBE ACCUSING US OF BEING A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

OR BEING RADICAL ISLAMIST GROUP.

THEY FAILED MISERABLY IN ALL OF THIS.

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF TRYING TO INVESTIGATE AND SPY ON US, THEY FOUND NO QUOTE UNQUOTE CARE TO QUOTE UNQUOTE EXPOSE US.

I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO OUR WORK AND THE ETHIC OF THE ORGANIZATION.

THAT WE STAND COMMITTED TO FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND WE HAVE NO SORT OF SECRET AGENDA.

>> WE KNOW WE'RE EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS GAINING MORE STRENGTH, IS GAINING MORE PROMINENCE.

IS GAINING ACCESS TO THE LEVERS OF POWER.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THESE GROUPS ARE OUT THERE.

THEY'RE FEARFUL OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE US.

OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE CARE.

OF THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

OF ACTUALLY GAINING REAL POWER.

>> ISLAMIC ADVOCATES SAY THEY'RE CALLING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE IF THE IPT'S ACTIONS VIOLATE THE LAW.

HE CONTINUES TO HOPE ALL COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND FIND PEACE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT HAS DISMISSED A LAWSUIT FROM THE STATE GOP CHALLENGING THE PROCESS BY WHICH A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP WAS CHOSEN.

THE LAWSUIT ALLEGED THAT THE TIE BREAKING VOTE THAT CAME FROM RETIRED STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, JOHN WALLACE WAS QUOTE ARBITRARY AND CONTESTED THE REASONING BEHIND THE MAP THAT HE CHOSE.

WALLACE EXPLAINED THAT HE SELECTED THE DEMOCRAT'S MAP BECAUSE BOTH PARTIES HAD APPLIED THE PROPER STANDARDS TO THEIR MAP AND THE REPUBLICAN'S MAP HAD BEEN CHOSEN DURING THE LAST REDISTRICTING PROCESS TEN YEARS AGO.

BUT THE COURT'S DISMISSAL OF THE SUIT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROCESS IS NOT A LEGAL ONE.

BUT IS AN INTENSELY POLITICAL ONE.

AND THAT ALL THE RULES GOVERNING THE PROCESS WERE FOLLOWED INCLUDING BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES AGREEING ON JUSTICE WALLACE.

IT ALSO SAID THAT THE COURT CAN'T HAVE ANY ROLE IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS UNLESS THE MAP IS UNLAWFUL.

IF YOU'RE TIRED OF ROLLING UP YOUR SLEEVE FOR A COVID SHOT.

YOU MAY LIKE TO KNOW THAT A NEW NASAL BOOSTER COULD SOON TO AVAILABLE.

SEVERAL COMPANIES ARE STUDYING THE VARIATION OF THE BOOSTER ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE NOSE NOT A NEEDLE.

THIS DELIVERY METHOD COULD OFFER EVEN GREATER PROTECTION AGAINST THE CURRENT COVID VARIANT WHICH ENTERS THE BODY THROUGH THE NOSE AND THRIVES IN AIR WAYS.

RATHER THAN SENDING ANTIBODIES INTO THE BLOODSTREAM, THE NASAL BOOSTER WOULD COAT THE NOSE, MOUTH, AND THROAT WITH VIRUS FIGHTING AGENTS TO POTENTIALLY STAVE OFF INFECTION IN THE FIRST PLACE, IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW STRONG THE IMMUNITY IS OR HOW LONG IT WOULD LAST.

CLINICAL TRIALS ARE UNDERWAY GLOBALLY AND SOME EXPERTS SAY IT COULD BE THE NEXT BIGGEST STEP IN STOPPING THE SPREAD.

THIS AS THE STATE REPORTED JUST OVER 3500 COVID CASES TODAY.

AND AN ADDITIONAL 111 DEATHS.

AND WHILE 90% OF ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS HAVE AT LEAST ONE VACCINE DOSE, ONLY 76% HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PRIMARY SERIES.

SENATE REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCING A CAMPAIGN TODAY CALLED GIVE IT BACK.

ASKING RESIDENTS TO TELL GOVERNOR MURPHY WHAT HE'S TAKEN FROM THEM.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER, STEVE, SAYING HE'S TAKEN MONEY, HE'S TAKEN POWER, AND HE'S TAKEN RIGHTS, CHOICES, AND FREEDOMS.

THIS AFTER DRAFTING A BILL THAT WOULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME A GOVERNOR COULD DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY OR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

YESTERDAY WE SPOKE WITH THE BILL SPONSOR, REPUBLICAN SENATOR, DECLAN, NOW THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR WHO'S ADDED HIS NAME TO THE BILL SO FAR, SENATOR VINGOPA JOINS ME NOW.

WHY DID YOU SIGN ON TO THIS BILL THAT WOULD LIMB THE AMOUNT OF TIME A GOVERNOR CAN DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY OR A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY?

>> IT'S A GOOD BILL.

THE CONTENT OF THE BILL IS GOOD.

AND REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY, THERE'S GOOD LEGISLATION AND I INTEND TO SUPPORT IT AS I HAVE IN THE PAST.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THIS IS GOOD LEGISLATION?

>> WE'RE A COEQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD HAVE A SAY I THINK.

60 DAYS IS MORE THAN FAIR.

AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE COEQUAL.

WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW GOVERNORS USE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

IN SOUTH DAKOTA, ISSUING EXECUTIVE ORDERS AGAINST A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

AND FUNDING FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE CENTERS.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE COEQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND THIS BILL, WHETHER IT WAS INTRODUCED BY A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OR A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, IT WOULDN'T MATTER TO ME.

I WOULD SUPPORT IT REGARDLESS.

>> IF THIS BILL HAD BEEN IN PLACE, DO YOU BELIEVE ALL READY, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE VOTED TO EXTEND OR TO RESCIND THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS LAST YEAR, BUT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> THAT'S HARD TO TELL.

I'M NOT SURE.

IT'S HYPOTHETICAL.

I CAN ONLY TELL YOU ON THE CONTENT OF THE BILL AND MOVING FORWARD, IT'S NOT ABOUT THIS GOVERNORSHIP.

IT'S ABOUT FUTURE GOVERNORSHIPS AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S AN EQUAL CHECKS AND BALANCES SYSTEM.

>> REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID UNDER THIS CURRENT SYSTEM THAT THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> I THINK THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, YOU KNOW, FROM MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, I QUESTION WHY THEY DENT INTRODUCE THE STORY AND CHRIS CHRISTIE'S GOVERNORSHIP WHEN HE HAD A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IN LOCK STEP.

AND THEY WENT THROUGH ALL THEIR SCANDALS AND ISSUES THAT THEY WENT THROUGH.

AND GOVERNOR CHRISTIE HAS AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF POWER.

THERE'S HYPOCRISY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WHILE.

FOR ME, THIS IS GOOD POLICY, AND THE CONTENT OF THE BILL IS REASONABLE.

GIVES THE GOVERNMENT UNILATERAL POWER FOR 60 DAYS.

I THINK THAT'S BEYOND FAIR.

DO YOU HAVE DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES WHO WILL SIGN ON WITH YOU?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I SIGNED ON.

SENATOR IS A PRIME SPONSOR.

HE CALLED ME.

HE ASKED ME.

HE'S THE MAIN SPONSOR.

SO I LEAVE THAT UP TO HIM.

>> AND IF YOU DO, AND IF YOU DONE, DO YOU BELIEVE THIS BILL WILL GET A HEARING?

>> I HOPE IT DOES.

IT'S A GOOD BILL.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING IN THE BILL THAT ANYBODY COULD REALLY CRITICIZE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE TYPE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE MERIT OF THE POLICY.

NOT THE POLITIC.

>> WELL SAID, SENATOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A HOUSE, GOOD LUCK.

THE YEAR END HOUSING MARKET NUMBERS ARE OUT.

AND PRICES WERE UP, UP, UP.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE FIGURES AND ALL THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES OF THE DAY, RHONDA, WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE?

>> JOANNA, NEW NUMBERS CONFIRM NEW JERSEY'S REALESTATE MARKET WAS RED HOT THROUGH THE END OF 2021.

ACCORDING TO NEW JERSEY REALTORS, HOME PRICES SOARED DUE TO STRONG DEMAND.

AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN NEW JERSEY REACHED $435,000.

THAT'S A 14.5% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.

THERE WERE FEWER HOMES FOR SALE IN 2021 COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO INVENTORY WAS TIGHTER.

AND THAT HELPED PUSH UP PRICES.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NEW JERSEY IS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS EXISTING HOME SALES ARE ON PACE TO HIT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL IN 15 YEARS.

JERSEY CITY HAS LOST AN APPEAL OVER WORKER PAY.

THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT HAS REJECTED THE CITY'S REQUEST TO HEAR AN APPEAL OF A LOWER COURT DECISION.

ORDERING JERSEY CITY TO PAY WORKERS DOUBLE TIME PER HOUR.

THE WORKERS ARE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 245 AND THE CASE SPECIFICALLY CENTERS ON WHAT THEY WERE PAID DURING A NOR'EASTER IN MARCH 2018 WHEN A STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED.

JERSEY CITY DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY RESPOND FOR COMMENT.

A BILL TO GET ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES ON THE ROADS OF NEW JERSEY WAS CLEARED OUT OF THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TODAY.

THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES THE STATE DEP TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM PROVIDING $15 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR.

THE BILL IS SUPPORTED BY BOTH BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

>>> NEW YORK STATE MAY OVER TAKE NEW JERSEY IN SUPER BOWL SPORTS BETTING.

A REPORT BY PLAY U.S.A.

ESTIMATES THAT THE BIG GAME WILL GARNER $1 BILLION IN BETS FOR U.S. SPORTS BOOKS.

WITH $160 MILLION IN BETS PLACED IN NEW YORK WHERE MOBILE SPORTS BETTING WAS RECENTLY APPROVED.

NEW JERSEY COULD SEE $130 MILLION IN BETS, ERIC RAMSEY IS A MARKET ANALYST AT PLAY U.S.A. AND PLAY NJ.COM.

WE THINK MAYBE 25% OF THE HISTORICAL NEW JERSEY TRAFFIC, THE BETTING TRAFFIC IS ACTUALLY NEW YORK BETTERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS DAY WAS COMING.

I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY CALL IT A THREAT.

BUT WE KNEW THAT NEW JERSEY WAS EVENTUALLY GOING TO LOSE CUSTOMERS BACK TO NEW YORK WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

SPHEEK HERE'S A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS ON WALL STREET.

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

MAKE SURE YOU TURN INTO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THIS WEEKEND SHE PUTS THE BUSINESS OF SOCIAL MEDIA INTO FOCUS, LOOKING AT HOW DIFFERENT PLATFORMS CAN BOOST REVENUES AND HOW LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES CAN USE IT DIFFERENTLY.

CHECK IT OUT ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YouTube CHANNEL SATURDAYS AT 10:00 A.M. >>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY OR BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

WHO STEP AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATHWAY IN JERSEY CITY.

AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, A QUICK WEATHER WARNING, SIX COUNTIES ACROSS NORTH JERSEY HAVE BEEN PLACED UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AS FORECASTERS EXPECT AN ICE STORM TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION LATER TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW.

THE MOST SEVERE IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED IN SUSSEX COUNTY WHERE UP TO 4/10 OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE ALONG WITH A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN, SLEET, AND SNOW.

THE STORM IS PART OF A MAJOR SYSTEM IMPACTING MUCH OF THE COUNTRY, SPANNING FROM SOUTH TEXAS ALL THE WAY TO NEW ENGLAND.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS ADVISING DRIVERS TO STAY OFF THE ROADS ON FRIDAY.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>>> 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.

ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, 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.