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

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

>>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

SPAM AT THAT EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE BEGAN TONIGHT WITH A SCATHING NEW ALLEGATION FROM NEW JERSEY'S CONGRESSWOMAN IN A 13 MINUTE LONG FACEBOOK LIVE ADDRESS, SHE SAID SHE WITNESSED UNIDENTIFIED CONGRESS MEMBERS LEADING GROUPS OF VISITORS THROUGH THE CAPITAL THE DAY BEFORE THE VIOLENT MOB ATTRACT THE BUILDING.

SHE SAW IT AS A RECONNAISSANCE FOR THE NEXT DAY AND IS SPEARHEADING OVER 30 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AT THE CAPITAL COMPLEX.

IT MAY HAVE ENABLED THE ATTACKS THAT LED TO FIVE DEATHS.

SHE DESCRIBED THE CHORES ON JANUARY 5th AS QUOTE UNNOTICEABLE AND CONCERNED DEPARTURE FROM PROCEDURES LIMITING THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE CAPITAL.

SO CONCERNING, THEY WERE REPORTED TO THE SERGEANT AND ARMS THAT DAY.

SHE REVEALED ALLEGATION AS PART OF HER EXPLANATION FOR SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION URGING VICE PRESIDENT PENCE TO INVOKE THE 25th AMENDMENT FOR TRUMP'S INCITEMENT OF THE INSURRECTION.

>> NOT ONLY DO I INTEND TO SAY THE PRESIDENT IS REMOVED AND NEVER RUNS FOR OFFICE AGAIN AND DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED MATERIALS, I ALSO INTEND TO SEE THOSE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO HAD GROUPS COMING THROUGH THE CAPITAL THAT I SAW ON JANUARY 5th, A RECONNAISSANCE FOR THE NEXT DAY, AS MEMBERS OF CONGREGANTS WHO INCITED THE VIOLENT CROWD.

THOSE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT ATTEMPTED TO HELP OUR PRESIDENT UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY, I'M GOING TO SEE THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND IF NECESSARY ENSURE THEY DO NOT SERVE IN CONGRESS.

>> THE FBI HAS WARNED STATE GOVERNMENTS OF PLAN PROTEST OF ALL 50 CAPITAL STARTING THIS WEEKEND LEADING TO INAUGURATION DAY, PART OF A STRING OF AN ANTIGOVERNMENT ACTION STEMMING FROM LAST WEEK RIOT.

THEY TELL US THEY ARE AWARE OF AND PREPARE FOR WHAT THEY ARE CALLING PEACEFUL ARMED DEMONSTRATIONS BUT THE RISE OF HOMEGROWN EXTREMISTS NOW POSE A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC THAN ANY OTHER POTENTIAL TERROR PLOT.

I'M JOINED BY THE DIRECTORS OF OFFICE HOMELAND SECURITY, DIRECTOR MAPLES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE HAVE HAD A WEEKS WORTH OF INVESTIGATION SINCE THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL.

HAVE YOUR OFFICE GATHERED ANY INTELLIGENCE ABOUT GROUPS WITH TIES TO NEW JERSEY, BORN AND BRED IN NEW JERSEY THAT TOOK PART IN THE INSURRECTION?

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH US?

>> I WILL START TUESDAY IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ARE RECEIVING ABOUT THREATS TO THE STATE CAPITAL AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHATTER BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CREDIBLE THREAT AGAINST NEW JERSEY AT THIS POINT BUT WE ARE DEDICATING FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT OCCUR IN NEW JERSEY.

AS FAR AS OTHER GROUPS, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXTREMIST GROUPS THAT WERE TIED IN IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK, SEVERAL WERE NAMED LIKE THE NJ EMA J, THEY WERE THERE, ONE WAS CALLED THE SONS OF LIBERTY NEW JERSEY, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL GROUPS WE NOW THAT HAVE TIES TO NEW JERSEY AND WERE PRESENT LAST WEEK?

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THOSE GROUPS, OUR REPORTER DUG INTO THEM A LITTLE BIT AND FOUND COMMENTERS ON THEIR SITES, SOME OF THEM WERE URGING VIOLENCE AT THESE PLANNED DEMONSTRATIONS, PROTESTS AT STATE CAPITALS, SOME URGING PEOPLE TO QUOTE DRAG OTHERS OUT OF THE STATEHOUSE" HANGED THEM.

IS THIS THE TYPE OF CHATTER YOUR OFFICE IS GATHERING?

>> CERTAINLY, THOSE TYPES OF COMMENTS, THOSE ARRESTS, THERE HAVE BEEN BULLETINS AND ONLINE POSTINGS ABOUT THE NATIONAL DAY OF VIOLENCE ON THE 17th AND 20th, SO WE ARE PREPARING FOR ALL MANNER OF VIOLENCE, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE IF WE CAN, IF SOMEONE WERE TO PROTEST, IT REMAINS PEACEFUL.

>> YOUR OFFICE HAS RECOGNIZED DOMESTIC EXTREMISTS AS A MAJOR THREAT FOR MANY YEARS NOW.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING NOW?

>> YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, A TOP-TIER THREAT LAST FEBRUARY IN 2020, UNPRECEDENTED STEP OF RELEASING AS SUPPLEMENTAL, OUR OFFICE HAS NEVER DONE AND WE DID THAT IN SEPTEMBER.

THE REASON WAS YES BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT EXTREMISTS, BUT WE HAVE THIS BOILING CAULDRON, A WITCHES BREW, BUT IS STARTING IN THE SPRING, A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 AND THE CRISIS AND THE ONGOING PANDEMIC, THAT REALLY LED US INTO THE SUMMER UNREST INTO THE ELECTION SEASON AND INTO THE TESTING OF THE ELECTION AND THE RESULTS, WHICH YOU ARE SAYING NOW.

THE REASON WE PUT THAT ASSESSMENT OUT THERE, IT HAS ALL CONVERGED INTO THIS THREAT, THERE IS A LOT OF PUBLIC PEOPLE YOU ARE SEEING ONLINE, A LOT MORE OPENNESS ABOUT THE HATE AND THE THREAT.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION, WHEN HE WATCHED, AS WE ALL DID, THESE VIOLENT ATTACKS DESCEND UPON THE CAPITAL?

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING AS HE WATCHED?

>> I NEVER THOUGHT FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I ACCEPTED MY APPOINTMENT I WOULD HAVE TO DELIVER A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR THAT THE CAPITAL WAS BEING OVERRUN BUT THERE I WAS, DELIVERING THAT MESSAGE BACK SO I THINK IT WAS, AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, JARRING, IT HAS TO BE, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT ISN'T WHEN YOU SEE THOSE TYPES OF IMAGES PICKETS AND ALMOST SURREAL MOMENT.

AS YOU NOW, THERE IS NO SHOCK FOR US, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE DRIVING FORWARD, WORKING THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE WORKED NONSTOP SINCE THEN WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM AND MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AT THE STATE LEVEL AND MAKING SURE WE ARE SECURING OUR SPOT.

>> HEADING INTO THE INAUGURATION IN SUBSEQUENT DAYS, WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN.

>> RIGHT NOW, IT REMAINS WHAT IT IS, WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

AND IS A LOT OF THE HOMEGROWN VIOLENT EXTREMISM, IS TO BE INSPIRED BY ISIS AND AL QAEDA, NOW WE SEE IT WITH MY DOMESTIC ACTORS, THOSE GROUPS CAUSING A LOT OF CONCERN AND HAVE BEEN, THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN STRONGLY HIGHLIGHTING FOR THE PUBLIC FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND THAT IS THE REASON.

>> THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, YOU STAY SAFE, OKAY?

>> AS THE STORY CONTINUES UNFOLDING AND AUTHORITIES MONITOR DEVELOPING THREAT LEVELS, DAVID CRUZ WILL HAVE THE LATEST WITH HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR, JARED MAPLES, TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. AT THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

SEND QUESTIONS OR ASK LIVE DURING THE STREAM.

>>> A HISTORIC DEBATE TODAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTED TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR A SECOND TIME.

THIS FOR HIS ROLE IN INCITING THE DEADLY ATTACK OF THE CAPITAL, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR NATIONS HISTORY A PRESIDENT WILL BE IMPEACHED TWICE.

AT LEAST 10 REPUBLICANS VOTED IN FAVOR, MANY OTHERS SAYING THE MOVE IS TOO DIVISIVE SO CLOSE TO HIS FINAL DAYS IN OFFICE, THE SENATE HAS NOT SCHEDULED TO HOLD THEIR TRIAL BEFORE TRUMP LEAVES NEXT WEEK.

THE MOVE COMES AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO CONVINCE THE VICE PRESIDENT AND CABINET MEMBERS TO INVOKE THE 25th AMENDMENT, REMOVING TRUMP FROM POWER.

CONGRESSMAN TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AFTER SHELTERING IN PLACE DURING THE INSURRECTION WITH LAWMAKERS WHO REFUSE TO WEAR A MASK.

HE IS A 75-YEAR-OLD CANCER SURVIVOR.

SHE SAYS HER SYMPTOMS ARE MILD BUT HER ANGER IS SEVERE.

THE CONGRESSWOMAN SPOKE ONE-ON- ONE WITH MICHAEL HILL, EXPLORING HOW REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE SPREADING THE VIRUS AND EMPLOYING THE VOTE FOR IMPEACHMENT.

>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US, PLEASE TELL ME, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD, I'VE GOT COLD SYMPTOMS, A RASPY THROAT, COUGHING, SOME CONGESTION AND FEELING A BIT FATIGUED, BUT CONSIDERING WHAT IT COULD BE, I AM BLESSED AND APPRECIATIVE THAT THAT IS ALL I AM FEELING.

>> WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU CONTRACTED THIS?

>> THE DAY OF THE INSURGENCY, WAS FINALLY MOVING TO A HOLDING ROOM WITH OVER 100 PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM REFUSED TO PUT THEIR MASKS ON, SO I DEDUCE, THAT IS WHERE I GOT IT.

>> WHY DID SOME OF THESE MEMBERS REFUSE TO PUT A MASK ON?

I UNDERSTAND THEY WERE HANDED MASKS BY ADAMANTLY REFUSED TO PUT THEM ON.

>> BECAUSE THEY ARE ARROGANT AND IGNORANT AND BECAUSE THEY ARE TRUMP SYCOPHANTS AND THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY NEEDED THE MASKS FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY BECAUSE THEY ARE WHATEVER, THEY COULD HAVE DONE IT OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF THEIR HEARTS FOR OTHERS AND THEY DIDN'T.

SO NOW I AM POSITIVE AND SO ARE THERE TWO MEMBERS THAT I NOW.

>> DURING THE INSURRECTION, DID YOU EVER FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE, FOR YOUR SAFETY?

>> I WAS FEARING FOR MY SAFETY MORE WHEN THEY TOOK ME TO THAT ROOM WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

I LOOK BACK ON AND I SEE MORE OF IT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SEEING IT ON TV AND WE WEREN'T SEEING IT FIRSTHAND WHEN WE WERE BEHIND LOCKED DOORS, I REALIZED HOW DANGEROUS THAT WAS, HOW THOSE PEOPLE MEANT TO DO EVIL THINGS AND I TELL YOU, I JUST GOT REALLY ANGRY, BECAUSE I SAW THE WAY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE EXISTED WHEN THERE WERE PREVIOUS FULL PROTEST WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER AND I KNEW HAD THOSE PROTESTED BEEN OF COLOR, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOODSHED.

THERE WOULD'VE BEEN A DIFFERENT RESPONSE TO ITS.

AND THAT CONCERNS ME IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THAT SPEAKS TO RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY.

>> WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO THE PRESIDENT AT THIS POINT?

>> I THINK THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY.

SEPARATED FROM HIS OFFICE AND ANY OTHER RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE IMPEACHED BECAUSE I KNOW WE WILL DO THAT AND I THINK WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE AT 12:01 P.M., HE NEEDS TO BE HANDCUFFED.

HE NEEDS TO BE ARRESTED AND HE NEEDS TO BE ON TRIAL.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR REPUBLICAN COMMONS LIKE JEFF ANDREA?

>> SHAME ON YOU.

SHAME ON YOU, HOW DISREGARDING AND DISRESPECTFUL YOU ARE OF THE OATH YOU TOOK IN THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE.

SHAME ON YOU, YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN OFFICE, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF SERVING AS A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> MR. VAN DREW TOOK TO THE FLOOR AFTER THE INSURRECTION AND HE CONDEMNED THE VIOLENCE BUT HE STILL SAID HE WAS VOTING AGAINST CERTIFYING THE ELECTION RESULTS.

>> YOU CAN'T SAY HOW AWFUL THAT WAS AND STILL BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME.

WHEN HE GOT UP THERE AND SAID THAT, HE SHOULD HAVE SAID I THEREFORE AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS CALL TO CHALLENGE ARIZONA OR GEORGIA OR ANY OTHER STATE.

BUT HE DIDN'T, BECAUSE HE IS A COWARD.

>> TO HEAR MORE FROM THE CONGRESSWOMAN, INCLUDING HER DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE HORROR AT THE CAPITAL, WATCH THE EXTENDED INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

>>> STARTING TOMORROW, THE STATE WILL EXPAND THE POOL OF RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID- 19 VACCINE, ADULTS AGED 65 AND OLDER PLUS AGES 16 AND 64 WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN NOW GET IMMUNIZED.

IT FOLLOWS GUIDELINE CHANGES FROM THE CDC, PEOPLE IN THOSE GROUPS WILL NEED TO PREREGISTER ON THE STATES WEBSITE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

SO FAR, MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION RESIDENTS HAVE SIGNED UP TO GET THEIR FIRST DOSE.

GOVERNOR MURPHY'S IS ON BOARDING'S RESIDENCE WILL KEEP THE LINES MOVING.

TODAY, REPORTING A NEW RECORD HIGH, MORE THAN 6900 NEW POSITIVE CASES, ANOTHER 95 LIVES LOST TO THE VIRUS.

THAT PUTS THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL JUST SHY OF 544,000, MORE THAN 20,000 FATAL TO FATALITIES.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ROSE FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT DAY, PART OF WHY THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION SAYS THEY ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING THE SHOTS OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS, PERIOD, TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, THE MOST EQUITABLE WAY, BUT TO GET AS MANY SHOTS AND AS MANY ARMS IN NEW JERSEY, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGREEING TO RAMP UP DELIVERIES OF VACCINE, GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCED THE STATE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED THE GROUPS OF PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE SHOT, NOW ALL RESIDENTS AGED 65 AND OLDER, PLUS THOSE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 64 WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS MAY BEGIN TO RECEIVE VACCINATIONS AS OF TOMORROW.

IT ADDS ABOUT 4 1/2 MILLION MORE FOLKS TO THE LINE.

>> BASED ON THE ANTICIPATION, NOT GUARANTEED, BUT ANTICIPATION OF INCREASED DELIVERIES OF VACCINES AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NO LONGER BE HOLDING BACK DOSES, WE ARE CONFIDENT.

>> NEWLY ELIGIBLE INCLUDE 2 MILLION SMOKERS PLUS FOLKS WITH CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE CANCER, HEART PROBLEMS AND TYPE II DIABETES.

IT COULD CLEAR BOTTLENECKS THAT KEEP THE VACCINATION RATES LOWER THAN OFFICIALS WANTED BECAUSE OF RIGID PHASED-IN TIER SYSTEM THAT PRIORITIZE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND FRONT- LINE WRIST SPONSORS.

IT WAS NOT WORKING RAPIDLY.

>> WHEN YOU BOARD AN AIRPLANE, YOU START WITH 1A, 1B, 1C, WENDY, THEY DON'T WASTE FOR THE LAST PERSON OR PERSONS IN ONE A TO GET ON THE PLANE BEFORE THEY BEGIN THE PROCESS OF 1B AND SO ON.

>> WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT DEMAND, THE PHONE STARTED RINGING THIS MORNING AS SOON AS WORD GOT OUT THAT THE GOVERNOR MIGHT EXPAND THE AGE, SO PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO GET VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: MAYOR STEVE PHILIP VISITED THE FIRST OF JERSEY CITY'S VACCINATION PODS OR POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION WHICH IS 500 DOSES ON HAND THIS WEEK, OFFICIALS HERE WANT THE STATE TO DELIVER MORE VACCINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> IN MY OPINION, ANYONE WHO WANTS IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT.

COVID-19 DOESN'T NO BOUNDARIES, NO LIMITATIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SO IF SOMEBODY YOUNG WANTS TO GET IT, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO.

>> WE ARE PARTNERING WITH HOOVER TO GIVE PEOPLE FREE RIDES TO THE PODS AND BACK, SO THAT WILL BE ABOUT 12,000 RIDES.

WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO VACCINATE THE MOST PEOPLE POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: EXPERTS STEPPED UP VACCINATION EFFORTS MUST BALANCE SPEED WITH EQUITY AND NOT RISK LEAVING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BEHIND.

>> MANY SENIOR CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED, THEY WANT TO GET INOCULATED, AND WE ARE READY, WILLING AND PREPARED TO DO IT.

DEMAND IS HIGH, SUPPLY IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE, SO CLEARLY, WE ARE GOING TO ASK FOR AN EXPEDITED AMOUNT THAT IS LARGER THAN WE ORIGINALLY REQUESTED.

>> Reporter: THE CITY HAD TO CLOSE ITS VACCINATION SITES FOR TWO DAYS AFTER IT RAN OUT OF VACCINE COMING OUT PATTERSON OFFICIALS SAID TO MOBILIZE THE VACCINATION PODS AND SET UP IN DIFFERENT WARDS ACROSS THE CITY.

>> AND WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, WE HAVE DOUBT FIVE OR EIGHT STATIONS, 10, 20 STATIONS, WE WILL TURN ANYONE AWAY, WE WILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE INOCULATED.

>> Reporter: I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN.

>>> THE CDC RECOMMENDS TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE NEXT IN LINE, PART OF PHASE 1B AND THE NATIONAL VACCINE PROGRAM BUT THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HAS YET TO ANNOUNCE A DATE TO BEGIN VACCINATING THOSE WORKERS, EVEN AS THE STATE REPORTS 100 SCHOOL OUTBREAKS AND 560 FOUR POSITIVE CASES LINKED TO HIM.

A BIG CONCERN TO SOME EDUCATORS, WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT AND DISTRICTS CAN MANDATE A VACCINE REQUIREMENT BEFORE THEY HEAD BACK TO CLASS.

>> I AM READY TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM FULL-TIME WITH MY STUDENTS AND THEY ARE READY AS WELL.

THEY NEED TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO, WHEN I HEARD WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE VACCINE, I SIGNED UP IMMEDIATELY.

>> Reporter: TEACHERS ARE NEXT IN LINE TO BE VACCINATED, THEY WILL FOLLOW HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

JUST HOW MANY ARE LINING UP TO GET THEIR SHOTS RIGHT NOW?

>> I'M NOT PLANNING ON GETTING THE VACCINE AS OF NOW BECAUSE I AM PREGNANT AND I THINK I HAVE A RISK FACTOR IN IT'S NOT WORTH IT.

>> Reporter: LINDSAY ORTIZ CRUZ ACKNOWLEDGES SHE IS IN THE MINORITY AMONG HER PEERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE OLDER THAN HER.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE I WORK WITH ARE MORE INTERESTED BECAUSE THEY ARE AT A HIGHER RISK.

>> MOST TEACHERS I WORK WITH ARE INTENDING ON GETTING THE VACCINATION.

>> Reporter: DO YOU BELIEVE THE VACCINE SHOULD BE MANDATED AND THAT DISTRICT SHOULD BE ABLE TO REQUIRE TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE COMING BACK IN THE BUILDING?

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT DISTRICT SHOULD MANDATE THAT TEACHERS DO THE VACCINATION, I THINK, BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY, WE HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND IT SHOULD BE UP TO EACH TEACHER TO DECIDE IF HE OR SHE DOES GET THE VACCINATION.

>> I THINK WE BELIEVE EDUCATORS WILL COME OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL, ASSUMING THEY ARE NEXT UP, WHENEVER THEY ARE UP TO BACK, THEY WILL COME OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL TO GET VACCINATED.

WE ARE NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT OF PUSHBACK HERE IN ANY CORNERS INCLUDING AMONG OUR EDUCATORS.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNORS HAVE LEFT A LOT TO GOVERNOR CONTROL, AND SOME SUPPORT VACCINATION MANDATE.

>> THEY ARE WELL WITHIN THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS TO DO THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, SUBJECT TO THE SAME RELIGIOUS AND MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS THAT STUDENT VACCINATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO BUT THEY COULD REQUIRE TEACHERS AS A CONDITION OF COMING BACK INTO THE BUILDING TO BE VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: NO DISTRICTS HAVE ANNOUNCED A REQUIREMENT AS OF YET AND THEY MAY NOT WANT TO.

>> PROBABLY MORE CONCERNED, THE LEGAL CONCERN THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO FACE IS IN REGARD TO UNIONS AND UNIONS PUSHING BACK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD NEGOTIATE OVER RATHER THAN IMPOSING UNILATERALLY ON THE TEACHERS.

>> Reporter: THE HEAD OF THE LARGEST TEACHERS UNION SAID TEACHER SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD AS THE REST OF US.

>> IT WOULD BE WHATEVER IS MANDATED FOR THE NORMAL ADULT POPULATION THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

>> Reporter: NO SUCH MANDATE EXISTS BUT THERE IS HOPE, ESPECIALLY AMONG WEARY PARENTS THAT ONCE ENOUGH TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE VACCINATED, SCHOOLS CAN FINALLY REOPEN.

NOT SO FAST.

>> LET'S REMEMBER, THAT EVEN DOCTORS ARE TELLING US THAT ONCE WE ARE VACCINATED, THE WEARING OF MASKS IS VERY LIKELY TO CONTINUE FOR MAYBE, UP TO ANOTHER YEAR, SAME THING WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING.

>> Reporter: THE UNION IS ADVOCATING THAT ALL THOSE WHO CAN BE VACCINATED, DO.

>> WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING GET THE VACCINE CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY IN GETTING OUR SCHOOLS BACK TO NORMAL.

>> Reporter: JUST DON'T EXPECT NORMAL ANYTIME SOON.

>>> THE RESURGENCE OF THE CORONAVIRUS IS SLOWING DOWN BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WERE HOPING FOR BETTER DAYS AHEAD.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS DETAILS AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORY.

>> Reporter: WHILE GOVERNOR MURPHY SOUGHT REASON FOR OPTIMISM DURING HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS YESTERDAY, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE MORE PESSIMISTIC, THAT IS ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY FROM THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS.

EILEEN KANE IS THE GROUP NEW JERSEY DIRECTOR.

>> THE LATEST FINDINGS SHOW THAT BUSINESS OPTIMISM IS AT THE LOWEST POINT SINCE 1973.

THAT JUST PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE THAT WHAT A LONG 10 MONTHS THIS HAS BEEN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> Reporter: SHE SAID NEW JERSEY COULD PASS RESTRICTIONS HAVE LED TO SOME BUSINESSES BEING ON THE BRINK OF FAILURE.

SHE SAYS LAWMAKERS NEED TO DO MORE TO RESCUE SMALL BUSINESSES.

MANY BUSINESSES THAT RECEIVED PPP LOANS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WON'T HAVE TO REPAY ANY OF THAT MONEY, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT HAS FORGIVEN 1.1 MILLION LOANS FOR A TOTAL OF $100 BILLION.

IN NEW JERSEY, MORE THAN 150,000 SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS RECEIVED FORGIVABLE LOANS, INCLUDING THE SKY-BLUE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

UNEMPLOYED RESIDENTS WERE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE AN EXTRA $300 A WEEK IN FEDERAL JOBLESS BENEFITS EARLY THIS WEEK, BUT WE HAVE LEARNED SOME OF THOSE PAYMENTS ARE DELAYED.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID TODAY THE DELAYS ARE BEING CAUSED BY CHALLENGES AND PROCESSING THE PAYMENTS, SPECIFICALLY LABOR DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES SAY THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH PAYING OUT BOTH THE $600 BENEFIT AND THE $300 EXTRA BENEFIT, BUT IT IS BEING FIXED.

THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS IT STILL HELPS TO GET PAYMENTS OUT THIS WEEK AND NOTES THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENT SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED.

DISTRACTORS THE CITY RESIDENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO TEAR THEIR RENTS OR UTILITIES ARE GETTING SOME HELP.

MAYOR STEPHEN PHILIP IS MAKING 2 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY WITH UP TO THREE MONTHS OF RELIEF.

>>> NOW HERE IS A CHECK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

KLEMME >> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AFTER NEARLY 3 DECADES OF SERVICE, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER IS ANNOUNCING SHE WILL RETIRE FROM HER SEAT AT THE END OF THE TERM.

SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE STATE SENATE IN 2005 AFTER SERVING 14 YEARS IN THE ASSEMBLY.

AT 85 YEARS OLD, SHE IS BUILD A LEGACY AND FEMINIST ICON IN ADVANCING MAJOR POLICIES ON WOMEN AND MINORITY RIGHTS, MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND LGBTQ RELATED ISSUES.

IN 2008, SHE BECAME THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC TENANT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, SHE LED THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT UNEARTHED THE BRIDGED GATE SCANDAL ALONG WITH MISOGYNY CULTURE IN TRENTON, THE PURSUITS OF MJ TRANSIENT MADE HER FEARED AND WELCOMED AT MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS.

WEINBERG HAS SAID SHE WOULD LIKE HER LEGACY TO BE A WHOLE GENERATION OF TROUBLEMAKERS FOLLOWING IN HER FOOTSTEPS.

>> I FEEL OVERWHELMED.

I FEEL EMOTIONAL, BUT I DON'T FEEL COMPLICIT ABOUT MY DECISION.

THIS IS MY TIME.

I HAVE SERVED LONG GEARS AND IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON TO DO THE THINGS I ENJOY DOING, TO HAVE MORE TIME FOR MY FAMILY AND MY GRANDKIDS AND, SO THIS IS THE TIME THAT FELT RIGHT TO ME.

>> WE WISH THE SENATOR WELL.

THAT DOES IT FOR US BUT HAND OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG FOR OUR CONTINUED REPORTING OR FIND US ON ANY OF OUR CHANNELS.

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

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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

AND PSE&G, WE MAKE THINGS WORK FOR COMMUNITIES.

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> EVERY DAY, NEARLY 2 MILLION CUSTOMERS ACROSS NEW JERSEY RELY ON PSE NG TO PROVIDE GAS, AND EVERYDAY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING IT SAFELY, THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS, AND SMILES LIKE ROTTEN EGGS.

IF YOU SUSPECT THE GHASTLY, LEAVE YOUR HOME IMMEDIATELY, THEN CALL 911.

REMEMBER, SMELL, LEAVE, CALL.

PROTECT THE ONES YOU LOVE.

LEARN MORE AT PSE G.COM/GAS SAFETY.

>>> I'M KAYLA AND THIS IS WHAT I WORK FOR, TO TEACH HIM.

TO PROTECT HER.

AND TO TAKE CARE OF ME TOO.

I NEED HEALTH INSURANCE THAT DOES THE SAME, THAT MAKES THINGS EASIER FOR MY SCHEDULE.

SO I CAN FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.

THIS IS MY LIFE AND THIS IS HOW HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WORKS FOR ME.

AND HIM AND HER.