>>> LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.

>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WEDNESDAY AFTER MEETING A MAJOR MILESTONE, THE STATE'S VACCINE ROLLOUT IS HITTING A SNACK.

CVS HEALTH WAS SET TO BEGIN REGISTRATION FOR THE FIRST DOSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS VEXING TODAY BUT HAD TO PUSH OFF THE START.

INSTEAD, YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THURSDAY THE 11th TO SIGN UP ONLINE WITH THE FIRST SHOTS AVAILABLE FRIDAY THE 12th.

CVS A SAID THE VACCINE WILL BE ADMINISTERED AT 27 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE BUT WILL NOT KNOW WHICH STORES WILL HAVE THEM BECAUSE THE STORES WILL CHANGE WITH THE AVAILABILITY AND AT ALL 27 LOCATIONS WILL BE UP AND RUNNING.

SO FAR, MORE THAN 1 MILLION VACCINATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ACROSS THE STATE AND ROUGHLY 240,000 RESIDENTS ARE FULLY IMMUNIZED.

WHO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PRIORITY GROUPS IS STILL UP FOR DEBATE.

A GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT IS BUILDING FOR TEACHERS TO GET UP ON THE LIST.

THE STATE OF NEW YORK CHANGED VACCINE RULES TO ALLOW EDUCATORS WHO WORK IN NEW JERSEY TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS.

WHAT ABOUT HERE?

95 DISTRICTS AND COUNTIES ARE OPEN FOR FULL IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION BUT WOULD HIRE VACCINE RATES IN OUR SCHOOLS GET THEM BACK TO CLASS?

>> IT IS A DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN ON REMOTE SINCE THINK GIVING THANKSGIVING.

PARENTS ARE PUSHING FOR SCHOOLS TO REOPEN.

>>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY ARE LEANING TOWARD GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

I DO BELIEVE IT IS A MISTAKE.

>> DO YOU THINK THE REOPENING SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL MORE TEACHERS ARE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED?

>> ABSOLUTELY!

THERE IS NO DOUBT IT IS A DANGER TO OUR MEMBERS NOT TO BE VACCINATED.

WE HAVE ALREADY LOST TWO OF OUR MEMBERS THIS YEAR TO THE VIRUS.

THE DANGER IS REAL.

THE DANGER IS APPARENT.

THE DANGER HAS OCCURRED.

I DO NOT BELIEVE LOSING ONE MORE A TEACHER IS A CAUSE WE WOULD BE WILLING TO BEAR.

>> SOME TEACHERS UNDER 65 ARE HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS QUALIFY BUT MANY COULDN'T GET AN APARTMENT.

DID IS LUCKED OUT WITH A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WORKS AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL GOT HIM AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS WEEK.

KELLY IS WAITING FOR THE DAY SHE IS ELIGIBLE.

>> I AM FRUSTRATED.

I AM STARTING TO FEEL LIKE IT IS BECOMING A PART-TIME JOB.

QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T HAVE THE TIME.

>> SHE SPENT HOURS SEARCHING A VACCINE OPENING EVERYWHERE.

>> WE ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF EXPOSURE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STAY SAFE BUT WE ALL UNDERSTAND WE TAKE A RISK COMING INTO WORK EVERY DAY.

>> SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATES DISTRIBUTE VACCINES.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO GO.

JUST DELIVER THEM TO SCHOOLS AND GET TEACHERS VACCINATED AND KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOL FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THAT WILL ENABLE PARENTS WHO OBVIOUSLY RETURN TO WORK.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE STATE IS GETTING A NEW BAD BADGE, THEY SAY IT IS NOT CLOSE TO ENOUGH.

>> HAVE ABOUT 116,000 TEACHERS.

WE HAVE FOOD SERVICE WORKERS THAT ARE STILL UNVACCINATED.

THAT IS ANOTHER 250,000 PEOPLE.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINES FOR EVERYONE.

>> REPRESENTATIVES JOSH GRAHAM HUNTER GOT HEIMER AND TOM MALINOWSKI RECENTLY WROTE A LETTER TO THE CDC ASKING TEACHERS BE PRIORITIZED IMMEDIATELY.

>> I THINK WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR FUTURE, FAMILIES AND ECONOMIES IS SO MANY PARENTS ARE TRYING TO WORK AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR STUDENTS AT THE SAME TIME.

FOR ALL OF THOSE PIECES WE HAVE TO GET OUR KIDS VACCINATED.

>> TEACHERS ARE NEXT UP AT THAT BUT NO INDICATION OF WHEN THIS WILL CHANGE.>>> IS IT LEGAL TO PUT A PRESIDENT ON TRIAL AFTER HE HAS LEFT OFFICE?

THAT QUESTION IS ON DEBATE.

PROSECUTORS SPENT FOUR HOURS IN OPENING ARGUMENTS ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY.

TRUMP INSISTS HE IS NOT GUILTY OF STARTING -- OF INCITING --.

EACH SIDE HAS UP TO 16 HOURS TO PRESENT THEIR CASE.

DEMOCRATS ARE EXPECTED TO PRESENT THE VIDEO URGING TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST AN ELECTION HE CLAIMS WAS STOLEN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE FIRST IN U.S. HISTORY TO BE IMPEACHED TWICE.

HE IS THE ONLY TO BE TRIED IN SENATE AFTER LEAVING OFFICE.

ARGUMENTS WILL BE FOLLOWED WITH QUESTIONS FROM SENATORS.>>> THE TRIAL JUST ONE ITEM.

THE LETTERS AND CALLS FROM IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES ARE POINT IN.

THERE ASKING I.C.E.

INFORMANTS TO RELEASE SOME CLIENTS AND FOLLOW TO CURB ARRESTS AND DEPORTATIONS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDED DAVID CREWS HAS HOURS STORY.

>> ADVOCATES ARE HOLDING OUT HOPE THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL REPRESENT A STARK CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS.

WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION PREPARES A LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY AND PROVIDING A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR MILLIONS, SLOWING THE RATE OF DEPORTATIONS BY REDIRECTING ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS WILL BE THE FOCUS OF NEW GUIDELINES EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED THIS WEEK.

>> THERE WILL BE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT WILL BE LIMITED THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> THEY OUTLINED THIS MEMO AND THEY SEEK TO REFOCUS THE AGENCY'S PRIORITIES.

THEY ARE SAYING DUE TO LIMITED RESOURCES, DHS CANNOT RESPOND TO ALL IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS OR REMOVE ALL PERSONS UNLAWFULLY IN THE UNITED STATES.

DHS MUST IMPLEMENT CIVIL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BASED ON SENSIBLE PRIORITIES AND CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.

RENAL ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES WILL BE NATIONAL SECURITY, BORDER SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> THE BIGGEST IMMEDIATE EFFECT IS AFTER FOUR YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE A BREATH.

WITH THE NEW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO FEEL A BIT MORE AT EASE.

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

>> I.C.E.

WITH A BUDGET OF OVER $8 MILLION IS A BEHEMOTH OF AN ENFORCEMENT AGENCY UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2002.

ITS DISCUSSION HAS BEEN MOST DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S UNCHECKED.

A STATEMENT FROM THE AGENCY SAYS IT IS NOW IMPLEMENTING THE CIVIL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES DIRECTED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO FOCUS LIMITED RESOURCES ON THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY, BORDER SECURITY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE AGENCY ADDS IT IS NOT PROHIBITED FROM APPREHENDING AND OBTAINING INDIVIDUALS FROM UNLAWFULLY BEING IN THE U.S. AND FROM OUTSIDE OF THE SPECIFIC PRIORITIES.

>> UNDER THE NEW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES HE IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR DEPORTATION AND DOES NOT FIT UNDER THE NEW PRIORITIES THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

HOWEVER, I.C.E.

CONTINUES TO HOLD HIM IN I.C.E.

DETENTION.

SINCE THE MEMO THAT LAID OUT THE NEW PRIORITIES WAS ISSUED, I.C.E.

HAS ATTEMPTED TO DEPORT HIM THREE SEPARATE TIMES.

>> THE MESSAGE FROM ADVOCATES IS DON'T LET UP.

>> THE CHANGES ARE HARDLY SET IN STONE.

>> WE HAVE YET TO SEE HOW THESE NEW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES WILL PLAY OUT ON THE GROUND.

>> AND HAS REQUIRED MASSIVE INTERVENTIONS TO STOP THE DEPORTATION FLIGHTS.

>> ON PAPER IT MAY LOOK LIKE IMMIGRANTS CAN BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF.

UNTIL I.C.E.

EXPERIENCES A RESTRUCTURING AND A GENUINE CULTURE SHIFT, NOT A LOT WILL REALLY CHANGE.>>> THE CALLS FROM LAWMAKERS WERE CRYSTAL CLEAR.

ADVOCATES AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS DEMAND GOVERNOR MURPHY SUSPEND STATE CORRECTIONS COMMISSION MARK S HICKS.

IT FOLLOWS THE ALLEGED BEATING OF SEVERAL INMATES AT THE WOMEN'S FACILITY JANUARY 11th IN WHICH THREE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WERE CHARGED FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE ALLEGED VIOLENT AND DISTURBING ATTACK.

LEGISLATORS SAY THAT ALERTED THE D.O.C.

ABOUT ONE OF THE OFFICERS LAST AUGUST BUT THE DEPARTMENT FAILED TO ACT.

THE ALLEGED ATTACK IS JUST THE LATEST IN A PATTERN OF ABUSES DESPITE LEGISLATIVE REFORMS SPURRING FROM A 20/20 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION AT THE FACILITY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DIDN'T RETURN OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT IN TIME FOR THIS BROADCAST.

TODAY, SENATOR LORETTA WEINBERG SAYS GOVERNOR MURPHY CAN TAKE ACTION.

>> MAKE SURE THE WOMEN IN THE CARE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ARE KEPT SAFE AND FREE FROM RAY- BAN BEATINGS.

THIS HAS GONE ON TOO LONG AND IT IS PAST TIME FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION TO ACT.

>> WITH ALL THE UNCERTAINTY OF THIS PANDEMIC, YOU CAN ALWAYS RELY ON ONE CONSTANT IN NEW JERSEY, PROPERTY TAXES.

THE LATEST FIGURES ARE IN AND TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE WAS TO HAVE THE HIGHEST PROPERTY TAX BILLS IN THE NATION.

SINCE WE ONLY KNOW HOW TO GO BIG IN JERSEY, DATA REVEALS ANOTHER RANKING.

THE AVERAGE BILL CLIMBED ABOVE $9000 FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> SAFE TO SAY THIS IS NOT A FIRST ANYONE IS PROUD OF ESPECIALLY WHEN A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE REALLY STRAPPED FOR CASH.

>> THAT IS FOR SURE.

WHERE GETTING CLOSE TO THE 9000 MARK IN 2019.

THESE NEW NUMBERS SHOW WE WENT WAY PAST IT.

OVER $9100 THE YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASES A LITTLE LESS THAN 2% WHICH MAY BE GOOD IN A SENSE THAT THE YEAR BEFORE THE RATE OF GROWTH WAS A LITTLE HIGHER.

IN A YEAR AS YOU SAID WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HURTING, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS OR MAYBE SEE THEIR HOURS CUT BACK.

THIS ONE IS ADDED ON.

IT IS PAYING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> >> WHAT DOES THAT SAY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AHEAD OF US?

>> NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN SETTING RECORDS FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAXES.

I GUESS WE CAN TAKE SOME SOLACE IN THE FACT THAT WE DO SEE THE RATE OF GROWTH SLOWING ANNUALLY AND FROM THE BIGGER PICTURE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIVE YEARS BEFORE 2010, PROPERTY TAXES WERE GROWING OVER THE WINDOW BY ALMOST 25%.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DATE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A 2% CAP ON LOCAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASES PUT IN PLACE.

OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN PROPERTY TAXES GREW YEAR OVER YEAR WITHIN RIGHT AROUND THAT 2% MARK.

FOR A FIVE-YEAR WINDOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT CLOSE TO 10 OR 9% GROWTH VERSUS WHAT WE WERE SEEING LEADING INTO WHEN THE CAP WAS ENACTED.

>> JOHN, VERY QUICKLY, ANY BIG CHANGES UNDER THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION AND WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THIS SALT DEDUCTION STAYING AT $10,000?

>> FOR NOW THE FEDERAL CAP ON STATE AND LOCAL TAXES THAT INCLUDES PROPERTY TAXES AND STATE INCOME TAXES.

THAT IS $10,000.

IF YOU ARE THE AVERAGE NEW JERSEY HOMEOWNER YOU ARE ALMOST AT THE CAP WITH YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILLS.

WE WILL SEE IF CONGRESS WORKING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT HAS AN APPETITE TO LIFT THE CAP.

IT WILL HELP A LOT OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.

ONE THING THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY DID IN HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE IN 2018 WAS INCREASE THE STATE'S INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT WENT FROM 10,000 TO 15,000.

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF BREATHING ROOM BETWEEN THE AVERAGE BILL AND THE $15,000 STATE TAX DEDUCTION AT THIS POINT.>>> ALL RIGHT.

JOHN, THANKS.

GREAT REPORTING.

>>> MORE MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET FOR THOSE TAXES AND LESS MONEY COMING IN WITH THE SHRINKING ECONOMY.

IT MEANS UNPAID GAS AND ELECTRIC BILLS ARE PILING UP.

WHAT IS THE STATE DOING TO HELP?

WE HAVE DETAILS AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS NEWS.

>> WITH THE THOUSANDS OUT OF WORK AND STRUGGLING TO PAY BILLS, CONSUMER ADVOCATES ARE PUSHING FOR THE STATE TO EXTEND ITS MORATORIUM ON UTILITY SHUT OFF.

RIGHT NOW, THE MORATORIUM IS SET TO EXPIRE MARCH 14.

THE BOARD OF UTILITIES HELD THE FIRST ISSUE YESTERDAY HERRING FROM STAKEHOLDERS WHO SAY RESIDENTS HAVE FALLEN BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS AND IT IS UNCLEAR HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEM.

IT IS ESTIMATED THE AMOUNT OWED BY NEW JERSEY CUSTOMERS COULD TOTAL $600 MILLION.

ADVOCATES ARGUE SOME SORT OF FORGIVENESS PROGRAM MAY BE NEEDED.>>> THERE IS A SENSE OF FRUSTRATION IN FAIRLAWN WHERE A NABISCO PLAYED WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN RESULTING IN HUNDREDS OF LAYOFFS.

THE PLANS OWNER WAS NOT OPEN TO ANY OFFER TO KEEP THE FACTORY OPEN.

>> THIS WAS A CONSOLIDATION ISSUE.

THEY WERE LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE.

NO MATTER WHAT WE SAID IN TERMS OF HELPING THEM REINVEST AND REBUILD, IT IS A PLANT THAT GOES BACK 60 DECADES IN NEEDS REPAIRS AND UPDATING.

REALLY, WE CAN GET THEM TO STAY.

>> REDUCING THE TAX BURDEN IS KEY TO ATTRACTING NEW COMPANIES TO THE STATE.

HE IS ONE OF THE LAWMAKERS WHO INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO REPEAL THE SOLID CAP.

>> SOME 7000 CITIBANK CUSTOMERS IN NEW JERSEY WILL BE GETTING A REFUND FOR OVERCHARGES ON THEIR CREDIT CARDS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED A MORE THAN $1 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH CITIBANK THAT WILL RESULT IN CUSTOMER REFUNDS AVERAGING $159.

THIS AFTER AN INVESTIGATION FOUND CITIBANK FAILED TO PROPERLY LOWER CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATES FOR THOSE CONSUMERS WHO WERE ENTITLED TO REDUCTIONS.>>> COVID-19 HAS CHANGED COMMUTING PATTERNS IN THE STATE WITH SOME PEOPLE SPLITTING THEIR TIME BETWEEN WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING FROM HOME.

IN RESPONSE, AND J TRANSIT HAS INTRODUCED A NEW TICKET.

IT IS CALLED FLEX PASS.

IT IS A TICKET BEING SOLD AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE.

>>> HERE IS A CHECK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING J.

HERE IS A CHECK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

>> WHETHER IT WAS THE LOSS OF EMPLOYER BENEFITS OR THE NEED TO SAVE MONEY, IT APPEARS THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC IS A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND MORE RESIDENTS SIGNING UP FOR THE STATES ONLINE INSURANCE MARKETPLACE.

75,000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR A HEALTH POLICY USING THE GET COVERED SYSTEM SINCE ENROLLMENT BEGAN IN NOVEMBER.

IF YOU LOOK BEYOND THE NUMBERS WHAT DOES IT REVEAL?

OUR HEALTHCARE REPORTER IS ON IT.

SHE IS HERE WITH THE LATEST.

>> YOU TALK TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THEY WOULD SAY IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE.

>> THEY SURE WOULD.

THE THINGS THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO WITH THIS ARE PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY.

THEY HAVE ALREADY EXTENDED THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD WHICH NORMALLY WOULD END AT THE END OF JANUARY.

THEY HAVE EXTENDED IT THROUGH MAY 15th WHICH THEY ARE CALLING A SPECIAL COVID ENROLLMENTS EXPERIENCE.

THEY SAID IT WOULD BE ABLE TO -- IT WOULD ALLOW THE STATE TO CREATE NEW SAVINGS FOR CUSTOMERS ESSENTIALLY.

THEY DID SOME REVENUE AND HAVE USED THAT TO CREATE SUBSIDIES WHICH ARE HELPING PEOPLE PLAY PAY FOR THESE PLANTS.

FOR THE AVERAGE BILL IN ONE OF THESE TEARS YOU WOULD BE ACTUALLY PAYING $43 LESS A MONTH THAN YOU WOULD HAVE LAST YEAR.

THAT IS CLEARLY GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE.

SO FAR IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING WELL IN THEIR FAVOR.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR RESIDENTS AND STATE AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING COVERAGE AND HAD TO TURN TO THIS TO GET THE POLICY?

>> OF COURSE!

THE WHOLE REASON THEY EXTENDED IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS PANDEMIC WHICH HAS LED TO THE ECONOMIC DEPRESSION OR RECESSION AND AS A RESULT ALL OF THESE JOB LOSSES.

OF COURSE WITH THAT, COMES PEOPLE LOSING THEIR INSURANCE.

THE NEED IS CREATED IN AN UNFORTUNATE WAY.

THESE ARE REALLY HIGH-QUALITY PLANS.

THE COVER ALL OF THE BASIC PREVENTATIVE CARE AND EMERGENCY AND PRENATAL, MATERNAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE THEORETICALLY AND AT A LOWER COST THAN YOU COULD IF YOU WERE JUST SHOPPING AS AN INDIVIDUAL ON YOUR OWN.

THEORETICALLY IT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> GREAT TO TALK TO YOU AS ALWAYS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> WITH COVID INFECTIONS, GOVERNOR MURPHY LEFT THE DOOR OPEN FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF USING MORE RESTRICTIONS.

ROUGHLY 3100 MORE POSITIVE CASES CONFIRMED TODAY AND 92 MORE DEATHS.

TRANSMISSION RATES AND SEVEN- DAY AVERAGES ARE THE LOWEST POINT IN MONTHS.

CAMPUSES ARE NOT TAKING CHANCES.

SOME LIKE MONTCLAIR UNIVERSITY GOING SO FAR AS CREATING A NEW POSITION AT THE SCHOOL, A COVID CONCIERGE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING RESERVED FOR AN UPSCALE BOUTIQUE HOTEL.

IN FACT, IT COULD BE CRITICAL FOR GETTING STUDENTS BACK FOR IN PERSON CLASSES.>>> I FELT REALLY UNSETTLED MOVING BACK AND.

>> AFTER BEING SENT HOME IN MARCH DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, MONTCLAIR'S STATE UNIVERSITY SENIOR ANNIE BURNS FEARED IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> OF THE SEMESTER I THINK WE WILL BE OKAY AND WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

EVERYONE IS PRETTY SAFE GETTING MASKS.

WE HAVE TO GET TESTED COMING BACK TO CAMPUS.

I WAS SCHOOL GIVES US A LOT OF RESOURCES.

>> ROUGHLY 60% OF STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY LIVING ON CAMPUS THIS SPRING.

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE NORMAL.

>> NOT EVERYTHING IS AS POPULATED.

THERE AREN'T AS MANY PEOPLE -- THERE AREN'T AS MANY PLACES TO EAT ON CAMPUS.

>> FAST-FORWARD TO 2021 AND THERE IS A NEW UNIQUE TOOL AS STUDENTS DISPOSAL TO SIMPLIFY THE SEARCH.

>> I WILL BE CALLING THEM THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO TOUCH BASE AND SEE HOW THEY ARE DOING.

>> HOLLY GARRETT IS THE NEW COVID HOUSING AND HEALTH CONCIERGE.

A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR STUDENT QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

>> CHECK WITH THE ROSTER OF STUDENTS IN ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE.

I REACH OUT TO THEM TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS SOMETHING THEY MAY NEED AND THEN I GO BACK AND CONNECT THEM RIGHT AWAY WITH THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT.

IT IS SOMETHING I MAY HAVE TO TAKE TO THE DEAN OF STUDENTS IF THERE IS AN ACADEMIC ISSUE.

>> IF A STUDENT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE REALLY STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONALLY WHETHER OR NOT THEY MAY BE REFERRING TO THE COUNSELING AND SERVICES CENTER.

>> IS CREATING THE PULSE OF THE STUDENTS AND SEE HOW THEY ARE DOING IF THERE ARE ANY PRACTICAL OR SUPPORTIVE WAYS WE CAN HELP.

>> I AM A MUSIC EDUCATION MAJOR.

IT DEPENDS ON BEING IN PERSON SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I AM ABLE TO STAY ON CAMPUS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LIAISON THAT WILL HELP GUIDE PEOPLE.

>> RIGHT NOW, STUDENTS ARE MONITORING THOSE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ON CAMPUS WHILE BENNETT BEING INFECTED.

>> OF COURSE WE WERE A LITTLE WORRIED BEING ABLE TO HANDLE BEING ON CAMPUS WITH COVID.

IS GOING TO BE SAVED?

IS SHE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF?

>> BARRY WAS HELPING HER SISTER MOVE INTO THE DORMS.

>> SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON CAMPUS IN THE FALL BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH COVID SHE DID EVERYTHING ONLINE.

NOW, MOST OF HER CLASSES ARE ACTUALLY IN PERSON.

>> SHE SAYS KNOWING THERE IS A CONCIERGE AVAILABLE FOR FAMILY A SIGH OF RELIEF.

>> I THINK EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD DO THAT ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE IN PERSON LEARNING AND STAYING ON CAMPUS.

>>> THEY TAKE A LOT OF HEAT BUT FORECASTERS HAVE BEEN PRETTY SPOT ON WITH THEIR SNOW PREDICTIONS THIS LAST WEEK OR SO.

THE PARTS OF THE STATE HIT WITH ANOTHER MOVING STORM.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAID IT WILL SPLIT UP TO FIVE INCHES OF SNOW.

THE SYSTEM WILL MOVE OUT JUST IN TIME FOR ANOTHER SNOWFALL THURSDAY NIGHT.

WHILE YOU ARE STAYING OUT OF THE STORM, CATCH CHAT BOX LIVE AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME TO CHAT BOX AT NJ SPOTLIGHT.ORG OR ASK THEY LIVE ON THE STRING.

THAT DOES IT FOR TONIGHT.

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

TAKE CARE.

ROSE COULD GET ICY TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> AND JM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

TSE AND G, WE MAKE THINGS WORK AND, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> HAVE SOME WATER.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF, I BECAME AN ESL TEACHER TO GIVE MY TWO DENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE.

THE CHANCE TO BE KNOWN AND BE AN AMERICAN.

I'M PROUD TO BE A NJEA MEMBER.

IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO OPTIONS FOR YOU TO GET HELP ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGEON CARE PROVIDER ON ANY MOBILE DEVICE.

OR VISIT OUR SITE AND BOOK A VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT ON RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.COM TO TALK WITH A PROFESSIONAL.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEATLHY TOGETHER.