>>> FUNDS BE NOR NJ BY THE MEMBER OF THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RJB BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER AND CREATED TO CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> FROM NJPBS THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M JOANNE GAGUS.

THE STATE IS MOVING TOWARDS NORMALCY.

STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS ON MARCH 7th A WEEK SHY OF THE TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SCHOOLS SHUTTING DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID.

CHILD CARE FACILITIES WILL LOSE THE MASK MANDATE.

IT COMES AS THE NUMBERS IN NEW JERSEY CONTINUE TO TREND DOWNWARD.

CLOSE TO 1500 NEW CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY AND 15 MORE DEATHS AND THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION IS UNDER ONE.

IT IS THESE IMPROVING NUMBERS AND THE HIGH VACCINATION RATES MORE THAN 3/4 OF RESIDENTS THAT LED PHYSICIANS AND SCIENTISTS TO JOIN IN THE GOVERNOR'S CALL TO END MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER THINGS ROLLED BACK.

>> THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGE MANY THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH THIS THING AND A HUGE STEP BACK TO NORMALCY FOR OUR KIDS.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY WILL RESCIND THE CONTROVERSIAL MASK MANDATE FOR BOTH SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE CENTERS ON MARCH 7th AND ENDING SOME 18 MONTHS OF FURIOUS DEBATE.

MURPHY'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 251 REQUIRING MASKS FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES IGNITE ADD SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FIRE STORM.

AS THE OMICRON SURGE END IN SCHOOLS AND STATE WISE THE GOVERNMENT EXPLAINED.

>> WE CAN TAKE THIS STEP BECAUSE OF THE DROP IN HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM OMICRON AND THE EVIDENCE PROJECTING A CONTINUED DECLINE OVER THE COMING WEEKS.

WE ARE HAVING GROWTH IN VACCINATIONS.

>> 43% OF NEW JERSEY KIDS ARE VACCINATED AND ONLY 27% OF CHILDREN FIVE THROUGH 11 ARE VACCINATED.

IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH TO LIFT THE MANDATE?

HEALTH EXPERTS LIKE DR. MEG FISHER SAYS POLICIES NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE BUT SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE INFECTION RATES AMONG KIDS.

>> I AM NOT READY TO GIVE AWAY A PROTECTIVE MEASURE.

>> THE DOCTOR ADVISES THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER AND SAYS THE CDC AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC RECOMMEND MASKS FOR SCHOOL SETTINGS.

NEW JERSEY STILL HAS CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED COVID COMPLICATIONS AND DR. FISHER SAYS COVID IS STILL A SERIOUS THREAT TO KIDS ESPECIALLY LONG COVID.

>> CHILDREN WITH BRAIN FOG, FATIGUE, ACHES AND PAINS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO LEARN AND THEY CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL.

>> IN VIEW OF LOW OMICRON RATE, LOW COVID 19 RATE, IN VIEW OF HIGH VACCINATION RATE, IN NEW JERSEY AND GENERAL AMONG ADULTS AND RISING VACCINATION RATES IN CHILDREN, I THINK THEY ARE COMING TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN REALLY CONSIDER REMOVING THE MASK MANDATE.

>> MURPHY SAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO CONTINUE REQUIRING MASKS.

THE GOVERNOR WILL RENEW THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY BY 30 DAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT MASK MANDATES ARE IN PLACE UNTIL MARCH 7th.

THAT COULD DISAPPOINT ADVOCATES LIKE TINA PETERSON WHOSE KIDS GO TO TOM RIVERS SCHOOL.

>> IF WE ARE ABLE TO DID IT MARCH 7th THEN I BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT TODAY.

I JUST FEEL THAT MARCH 7th ALMOST IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

THE NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED.

THEY ARE CONTINUING TO SO I THINK THAT IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT WE ARE IN A PLACE TO SET THESE KIDS FREE AT THIS POINT.

>> I AM SO THRILL ABOUT THAT.

THE DECISION IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I THINK THAT PARENTS CAN -- HAVE BEEN PUT WITH THEIR SCHOOL BOARDS AND THEIR DECISIONS TO BE MADE TOGETHER.

>> DR. WALSH WORKED WITH OTHER HEALTH EXPERTS TO COMPILE A TOOL KIT CALLED THE URGENCY OF NORMAL WITH SCRIPTS THAT PARENTS CAN BRING TO SCHOOL BOARDS DEBATING MASK OPTIONS, SHE IS SENDING IT TO HER KIDS' SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> I AM ASKING FOR MASK OPTIONAL AND MY FRIENDS ARE DOING THE SAME THING.

>> NEW JERSEY'S LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE STATEWIDE SCHOOL MASK MANDATE CAN BE RELAXED ASSUMING CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE.

THE GOVERNOR NOTED MANY HAD BEEN WAITING TO HEAR IT AND NOT PARENTS LIKE DIANNA FLY WHOSE KIDS AREN'T MEDICALLY COMPROMISED.

>> YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE NOW HURT BY IT.

AND FOR THEM COVID IS REAL.

AND IT CAN HARM THEIR KIDS.

UNFORTUNATELY WITHOUT MASKS MY CHILDREN WILL NOT RETURN IN PERSON.

>> ARGUMENTS OVER MASKS HAVE SHUT DOWN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND A LAWSUIT CALLING MASK UNCONSTITUTIONAL GOT SLAPPED DOWN BY A FEDERAL COURT.

THE MANDATE FUELED AN ALREADY TOXIC POLITICAL DISCOURSE THAT WILL LAND IN THE LAP OF INDIVIDUAL SUPERINTENDENTS WHEN MURPHY'S MANDATE EXPIRES.

>> THE SCHOOLS WILL TAKE QUICK DISCIPLINE ABOUT THOSE THAT BULLY ANYONE THAT CHOOSES TO WEAR A MASK.

>> WE WILL NOT PUT UP WITH THAT.

>> NEW JERSEY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE GUIDANCE AS THEY TRY TO FEEL THEIR WAY THROUGH THIS ISSUE.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ONCE THE GOVERNOR'S MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED IT WILL BE UP TO SUPERINTENDENTS TO DECIDE WHAT REGULATIONS WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THEIR OWN DISTRICT.

AS WE HAVE SEEN SOME HAVE KEPT MASK MANDATES IN PLACE EVEN WHEN THE GUIDANCE WAS RELAXED.

THAT IS HAPPENING IN NEWARK AND THE MASK POLICY WILL REMAIN BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE DISTRICT PROTOCOL.

JOHN MOONEY IS MAKING CALLS TO GET REACTIONS FROM OTHER LEADERS ON WHERE THEY STAND AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT MAKING COMPLICATED AND OFTEN UNPOPULAR DECISIONS.

JOHN MOONEY, THE GOVERNOR HAS LIFTED THE MASK MANDATE BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN WE WILL SEE MASKS DROPPED ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS STATEWIDE.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM SUPERINTENDENTS?

>> I MEAN THE ONES THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AND IT IS A LIMITED SAMPLE BUT CERTAINLY I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANY OF THEM THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE MOVING TOWARDS RELAXING THESE RULES IN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS.

THERE IS A GENERAL FEEL THAT IF STUDENTS ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR DAY OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS WITHOUT MASKS AND EVEN SOME INSIDE OF SCHOOLS WITH SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULARS IT IS TIME TO RELAX THE RULES IN THE CLASSROOM AS WELL.

THERE IS A LITTLE TIME TO WORK THIS THROUGH AS YOU REPORTED THERE IS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THIS WOULD ACTUALLY GO INTO EFFECT THERE IS SOME THINGS TO DEAL WITH IN TERMS OF WHAT THE QUARANTINE RULES WOULD BE.

WILL THOSE NOW CHANGE?

WILL THEY BE RELAXED?

THAT IS TO BE DETERMINED.

THOSE HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED YET AND THE GOVERNOR SAID THOSE WOULD BE COMING IN THE COMING WEEKS.

BY AND LARGE I THINK THERE IS FEW SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THESE MANDATES STILL IN PLACE ON MARCH 8th.

I JUST DID NOT GET A SENSE OF THAT AT ALL FROM THOSE THAT I SPOKE WITH TODAY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN THOUGH SOME HESITANCY EVEN AS STATE GUIDELINES AND THE MASKS BECAME OPTIONAL LAST SPRING WHEN WE GOT IN THE WARM WEATHER MONTHS.

WE DID SEE HESITANCY IN URBAN DISTRICTS WHERE RATES OF DEATH WERE HIGHER AND MORE FAMILIES WERE AFFECTED BY SEVERE COVID ILLNESS.

DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE AN AREA LIKE CAMDEN AND TRENTON AND NEWARK AND PATTERSON HESITANCY ABOUT LIFTING THOSE MASK MANDATES?

>> I THINK YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT AND I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE -- THERE IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A CLOSE EYE ON POTENTIAL OUTBREAKS.

NEWARK HAS MASK MANDATES FOR A LOT OF THE SETTINGS IN THE CITY.

I THINK THAT THERE IS JUST -- FOLKS ARE MORE THAN ONES THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING BACK TO A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A NORMAL CLASS AND A NORMAL COURSE OF STUDY GOING ACROSS.

I THINK THERE IS JUST A REAL EAGERNESS TO GET BACK TO THAT.

PART OF IT IS TAKING THOSE MASKS OFF.

NOW THERE IS SOME WHO ARE WONDERING WHY WOULD THE CDC SAYING WHAT IT HAS BEEN SAYING NEW JERSEY IS NOT STAYING WITH THE THAT.

YOU KNOW NEW YORK IS STILL HAVING THE MASK MANDATE IN PLACE.

THERE'S SOME REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT VACCINES OF KIDS.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE OBVIOUSLY LOWER AND IN THE CASE OF YOUNG KIDS NOT AT ALL.

BUT YOU KNOW I THINK THERE WAS GENERALLY A FEELING OF RELIEF.

I WOULDN'T CALL IT CELEBRATION BY ANY MEANS BY SUPERINTENDENTS BUT SOME RELIEF THAT THIS IS ONE LESS HURDLE THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE QUARANTINE ROLL BACK.

YOU COULD HAVE A CLASS WIPED OUT BY COVID IF IT SPREADS IN A CLASS.

DO THEY NEED TO CHANGE IN TANDEM?

>> I THINK THEY WILL HAPPEN.

I THINK THERE WILL BE RELAXATION OF THE QUARANTINE RULES.

THOSE ARE THE BIGGER IMPEDIMENT THAN ANYTHING ON SCHOOLS IS THE NUMBER OF KIDS AND STAFF THAT HAVE HAD TO GO HOME UNDER THE QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS.

THEY WERE RELAXED TO FEWER DAYS AND THEY ARE STILL OUT THERE.

IF MASKS ARE COMING DOWN I THINK YOU WILL SEE RELAXATION ON HOW LONG KIDS WILL BE OUT AND MOVE TO A SITUATION THAT IT IS JUST A TESTING -- A TEST TO STAY REQUIREMENT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE A LOT OF DISTRICTS ARE HEADED ALREADY.

I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A PREFERRED ROUTE FOR A LOT OF THEM.

>> WE'LL BE WATCHING.

JOHN MOONEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES FOR EDUCATORS DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN COMBATING LEARNING LOSS.

>> MANY STUDENTS IN URBAN COMMUNITIES ARE NOW TRACKING ABOUT A YEAR BEHIND STATE STANDARDS AND SOME STUDENTS IN SUBURBAN DISTRICTS ARE NOT FAR BEHIND.

NEW JERSEY SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR BOB MENDEZ HELD A ROUND TABLE IN CARNEGIE WITH CONGRESSMAN BILL PASCAL AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOOKING AT THE CHALLENGES THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT.

THEY LOUDED CAMPEY TO HIRE NEW STAFF AND LAUNCH NEW BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM AND TO HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY THEY NEEDED TO LEARN REMOTELY.

>> WE HAVE A LONG AND CHALLENGING ROAD TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS AND GET STUDENTS BACK TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

BUT THANKS TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE THE TOOLS AND FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO -- THEY NEED TO RESET AND BUILD BACK BETTER.

>> EVEN AS THE GOVERNOR IS LIFTING THE SCHOOL MASK MANDATE NEXT MONTH LATER THIS WEEK HE WILL ALSO EXTEND THE STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS.

THESE EMERGENCIES ARE A RALLYING POINT AMONG THE STATE GOP THAT SAYS THE GOVERNOR IS RULING WITHOUT THE LEGISLATION INPUT.

MR. POWELL HAS SIGNED ON AND WHERE DO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARTY STAND.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ HAS MORE.

>> YOU KNOW DECLARING AN END TO THE SCHOOL MASK MANDATE GOVERNOR MURPHY SHOWED WHAT HAVING EMERGENCY POWERS MEAN.

YESTERDAY MANDATES AND TODAY NO MANDATES.

IT THAT IS WAY SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

THE GOVERNOR SETTING LIMITS ON THE TYPES AND SIZES OF INDOORS AND OUTDOORS GATHERINGS.

WITH COUGHs ENDED TO PANDEMIC STATUS, LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING BACK.

>> IT HAS COOPTED BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS STRIPPED OF ITS LEGISLATIVE ABILITY FOR A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS AND CREATED WORDS TO GOVERNMENT.

DECISIONS ARE MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITHOUT ANY SORT OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE INPUT OR EVEN THE ABILITY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AS TO THE EFFICACY OF SOME OF THE MANDATES THAT ARE PUT FORTH.

>> HOLLY SHAPEZI IS A COSPONSOR OF A BILL PUT FORTH BY SENATOR SCANLON TO CURVE THE GOVERNOR'S ABILITY TO DECLARE THE STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT HAVE GIVEN HIM CARTE BLANCHE OVER MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER AREAS.

SENATOR JOHN BRAMIC RALLIED AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S POWER WHEN HE WAS IN THE ASSEMBLY MAN LAST YEAR.

>> IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SENATE NICK SACARYO SAID YOU KNOW SOMETHING?

WE SHOULD BE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO THE PUSH BACK IS CLEAR IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME AGO.

I JUST DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE LEGISLATURE OUT OF THE COVID DISCUSSION.

>> ONE DEMOCRAT SENATOR POWELL HAS SIGNED ON TO THE O'SCANLON BILL BUT EVEN WITH THAT IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT A RESPECTED LED COMPROMISE TO THE STATUS QUO WOULD GET FAR.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT CLARIFIED HIS POSITION SAYING THAT REVISITING THE ORIGINAL EMERGENCY HEALTH POWERS ACT OF 2005 MAKES SENSE BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE IMMEDIATELY.

>>> IT IS NOT THAT IT IS NOT RIGHT NOW.

IT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY.

WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON SOME REVIEWS OF WHAT HAS GONE ON.

I WANT TO WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH BECAUSE THEY DID A GOOD JOB WITH WHAT HAPPENED HERE BUT OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DEALT WITH WERE NOT ANTICIPATED.

IT IS NOT A BAD IDEA TO TAKE A HOLISTIC LOOK AT THE ENTIRE APPROACH AND SEE WHERE WE MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

>> ONE SENATOR SAYS THERE IS A REASON GOVERNORS ARE GIVEN BROAD POWERS IN AN EMERGENCY.

>> THE TIMES OF EMERGENCY IN CRISIS THE GOVERNOR IS THEREFORE THERE TO ACT OR SHE IS THERE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE.

LEGISLATURES DOB HAVE TIME TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO SAY HEY, WE ARE GOING TO AUTHORIZE THE FUNDS TO GO HERE AND HAVE THE NATIONAL GUARD REQUESTED.

THERE ARE A HOST OF VERY SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT CAN ONLY BE ADDRESSED BY THE GOVERNOR IN A VERY QUICK PERIOD OF TIME.

I JUST THINK THAT -- I UNDERSTAND THE IMPULSE TO REDUCE THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS.

I GET THAT IMPULSE BUT I THINK WE ARE IN A TIME RIGHT NOW THAT WASHINGTON MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THERE TO ACT ON THE BEHALF OF THE STATES AND WE HAVE SEEN IT.

WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE HAVE THE DELAY AND WONDER WHERE IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT POUR POWER FROM THE GOVERNOR.

>> THE GOVERNOR WOULD DECLARE ANOTHER STATE OF EMERGENCY TO COVER HIS AUTHORITY THROUGH MARCH.

AFTER THAT WE COULD BE IN A WHOLE OTHER PHASE OF THIS HEALTH CRISIS AND THE TUG-OF- WAR OVER POWERS COULD AS A FORMER PRESIDENT USED TO SAY ABOUT COVID, JUST DISAPPEAR.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

N J SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IS GOVERNOR MURPHY APPEARING FOR A PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

HE HAS AN ACT COMMITTEE.

STRONGER PACT ALONG WITH THE STRONGER FORWARD POLICY ADVOCACY GROUP WILL SUPPORT POLITICIANS NATIONWIDE WHO ALIGN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S GOAL OF EXPANDING THE MIDDLE CLASS AND DEFENDING VOTING RIGHTS.

THE TWO GROUPS WILL BE LED BY NEW JERSEY'S FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY THAT WILL SERVE AS CHAIR AND ADVISER DAN BRIAN.

HE WILL STEP DOWN FROM HIS ADMINISTRATION ROLE IN THE COMMON WEEK.

THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT SAID THIS BUT HE WILL TAKE CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION THIS SUMMER AND CURRENTLY SERVING AS VICE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION WHERE HE WILL BE THE NEXT CHAIRMAN.

ONE RISING NUMBER NO ONE IN NEW JERSEY WANTS TO SEE THE PRICE AT THE PUMPS.

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE GAS PRICES AND IN NEW JERSEY THEY ARE $3.50 A GAS.

A MONTH AGO IT WAS 3.38 A GALLON IN THE STATE.

ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY AA.

GAS PRICES RISE AND OIL INCREASING DURING TO WIN PER DEMAND AND TENSIONS BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA.

A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF ENERGY.

AS WE REPORTED THE ISSUES IS WARNING OF DELAYS OF TAX REFUNDS DUE TO A BACKLOG OF RETURNS AND SOME STAFFING CHALLENGES.

BUT STATE OFFICIALS SAY THOSE DELAYS WILL NOT HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF YOUR TAX REFUND FROM THE STATE.

BUDGET WRITER JOHN RIGHTMEYER EXPLAINS.

>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY SAYS IT IS READY AND HAS STARTED PROCESSING TAX RETURNS FOR THE 2021 TAX YEAR SO IN ADVANCE OF THE UPCOMING DEADLINES IN APRIL.

AND THEY ARE STILL ON COURSE TO START SENDING OUT REFUNDS TO TAXPAYERS BY THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH WHICH IS CUSTOMARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY IN.

>> IN THE MEANTIME STATE OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S EXPANDED EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT WHICH IS A TAX BREAK FOR LOWER WAGE WORKERS.

SOME 25% OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS THAT MIGHT QUALIFY FOR THE TAX CREDIT DON'T APPLY FOR IT.

TREASURY OFFICIALS SAY THAT ELIGIBLE TAXPAYERS COULD RECEIVE A CREDIT UP TO NEARLY $2700 WITH QUALIFYING DEPENDENTS OR ABOUT $600 WITHOUT DEPENDENTS.

AT HIS PRESS BRIEFING EARLIER GOVERNOR MURPHY SAY STARTING TOMORROW THEY CAN REGISTER FOR THE STATE'S EMERGENCY RESCUE MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THIS ALLOWS ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC TO RECEIVE FUNDS TO COVER DA LINK WENT MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.

>> AND THERE IS A BILL TO HELP BUSINESSES ALLOCATING TWO-AND-A- HALF MILLION TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES WITH GRANTS.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THE STOCK TRADING TODAY.

I'M RONDA CHAPNER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.

WORKING FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY BY UNITING BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT CHAMBER, SMJ.COM.

>> PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE THE LARGER GROUP IN NEW JERSEY.

THERE WAS A LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR.

HOW IS IT ROLLING?

I'M JOINED BY THE PROFESSOR OF DISABILITY STUDIES AT MON CLAIRE STATE AND CO-AUTHOR OF UNDOING THIS.

DOCTOR, I DON'T WANT TO ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT ABLEISM.

WHAT IS THAT?

SET THAT STAGE?

>> I GUESS THE QUICKEST WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT IS A PERSISTENT DE VALUING OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR THE EXPERIENCE OR THE SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR A FEW POINTS IN WHICH DISABILITY IS UNDERSTOOD TO BE A WHOLLY AND INHERENT CONDITION, SOMETHING TO BE AVOIDED.

FIXED, CURED OR YOU KNOW REMOVED AT ALL COSTS.

>> SO WHY DO WE NEED TO TEACH DISABILITY AND ANTI ABLEISM CURRICULUM IN NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS?

>> I GUESS I LOOK AT THE SHORT ANSWER BECAUSE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES EXIST AND HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED BECAUSE DISABILITY IS A NATURAL FORM OF THINGS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RECOGNIZE A HISTORICALLY OPPRESSED GROUP.

TODAY WE HAVE AMONG SOCIAL JUSTICE EDUCATORS AND GROWING ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO TEACH CHILDREN TO RECOGNIZE GROUP PREJUDICE.

AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE EXISTENCE OF SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION BY IMPLEMENTING IMPROVED CURRICULUM.

>> NEW JERSEY ROLLED OUT A CURRICULUM TO IMPROVE LESSONS ABOUT FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES.

THAT WAS PART OF THE LGTB CURRICULUM AS WELL.

IN WHAT WAY THAT IS CURRICULUM ROLLING OUT AND HAS IT BEEN EFFECTIVE IN YOUR MIND?

>> I CAN SPEAK TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IT.

I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF TIMES UNFORTUNATELY SCHOOLS MAY RESPOND TO THIS.

BY IMPLEMENTING SORT OF THE CHECK OFF THE BOX KIND OF THING.

SORT OF A CHAUVINISMIC WAY OF THROWING IT IN THERE AND OTHER WAYS WHERE THEY DID CONTENT IN EXISTING PLACES IN OUR CURRICULUM.

>> HOW WOULD IT BE BEST TAUGHT?

>> SO THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION ACTUALLY.

WE SHOULD START BY RETHINKING THE WAYS IN WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DOING QUOTE, UNQUOTE DISABILITY AWARENESS IN SCHOOLS.

AND AT WHICH GENERALLY TO DATE HAVE BEEN SORT OF THESE PATRONIZING STIMULATION WHERE WE ASK CHILDREN TO PRETEND LIKE THEY HAVE A DISABILITY FOR A DAY BY COVERING THESE EYES OR GOING AROUND IN A WHEELCHAIR.

AUTISM AWARENESS GENERALLY INVOLVES COLORING OF A PUZZLE PIECE AND WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IF CHILDREN REALLY EVER LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT DISABILITY ABOUT THESE ACTIONS.

INSTEAD WHAT WE MIGHT DO IS START LOOKING AT THE MATERIALS THAT WE ARE USING AND SELECT MATERIALS THAT EMPHASIZE POSITIVE OR NEUTRAL DEPICT HUNDREDS AND NONPATRONIZING PORTRAYALS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE STUDENTS, CHILDREN WITH THE TOOLS TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEMATIC MESSAGES ABOUT DISABILITIES THAT THEY COME ACROSS IN THEIR MEDIA AND THE MESSAGES AND TO BE CRITICAL CONSUMERS OF LITERATURE AND SO FORTH.

MOST IMPORTANT WE WANT TO USE ALL KINDS OF EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND INCLUDE MEMOIRS AN ORAL AND WRITTEN STORIES OF PEOPLE AND CENTER THE VOICES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

WE WANT TO TEACH ABOUT DISABILITY RIGHTS AND DISABILITY CULTURE AND DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND ISSUES OF ACCESS AND ACCOMMODATIONS AND SO FORTH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DR. LAVANI, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT HEAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST NEWS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M JOANNA GAGUS.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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>>> MJM POLICY HOLDERS ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND PIONEERS THAT LEND A HELPING HAND.

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WE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>> RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH HAVE TWO WAYS TO SEE THEM.

AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELE MED APP OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH A SPECIALIST EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.