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>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> THE NATION IS CELEBRATING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY AS POLITICAL TENSIONS REMAIN AS FRAUGHT AS EVER.

THIS THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH IS DEDICATE TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WHO LED A CAMPAIGN OF NONVIOLENT PROTEST IN HIS QUEST TO END DISCRIMINATION AND RACIAL SEGREGATION DURING THE MID-CENTURY.

IN THE 40 YEARS SINCE PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SIGNED THE HOLIDAY INTO FEDERA LAW, IT HAS TRANSFORMED TO A DA OF EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE.

AT THE CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION IN ENGLEWOOD, VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING GOVERNOR PHIL MURTHY LENT A HAND TO HELP AREA CHILDREN AND HONOR DR. KING'S TIES TO THE GARDEN STATE AND THE PEOPLE HE INSPIRED.

CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> Reporter: THEY CAME TO HONOR AN ICONIC ON A DAY DEDICATED TO SERVICE IN A PLACE WHERE SERVICE IS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE.

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH OF ENGLEWOOD HAS THE ANNUAL DAY O SERVICE AND THEY PACKED THE ROO FOR A SNACK PACKING, IRREGULAR EVENT HELD BY THE CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION, PROVIDING MEALS FOR THOSE SUFFERING FOOD INSECURITY AROUND THE STATE.

FO MANY TODAY, INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTTHEIMER AN GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, THERE WAS A SPECIAL FOCUS ON EDUCATOR AND ACTIVIST THEODORA SMILEY LACEY WHO WORKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH DR KING BEFORE SHE CAME TO BERGEN COUNTY AND FOUGHT FOR FAIR HOUSING AND HELPED INTEGRATE SCHOOLS HERE.

>> WHEN YOU ARE WITH A GIANT LIKE MRS. LACEY, WE HAVE TO BOW DOWN AND GIVE HER THE HOMAGE SH DESERVES.

>> Reporter: NOW 90, SHE SPOKE TO THE AUDIENCE OF BOYS AND GIR SCOUTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND NEIGHBORS ABOUT KING'S DEDICATION TO SERVICE AND HOW I WAS HIS GREATEST MOTIVATION.

>> MARTIN LUTHER KING TAUGHT ME THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE SERVICE.

SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL THAT HE WROTE, AT THE END OF HIS LIFE, HE DID NOT WANT TO BE REMEMBERE FOR HIS HIGHLY EDUCATED EXPERIENCE OR THE SEVEN BOOKS THAT HE HAD WRITTEN OR THE AWARDS HE RECEIVED, INCLUDING THE NOBEL PRIZE.

HE WANTED TO B REMEMBERED THAT HE TRIED TO GIV SERVICE TO HUMANITY AND THAT HE VISITED THE JAILS.

HE TRIED TO GIVE CLOTHING AND TO FEED THE HUNGER.

>> Reporter: AT 28, DR. KING FORMED THE SOUTHERN LEADERSHIP CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE.

YOU CAN BE VERY YOUNG AND GIVE BACK AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE OLD.

YOU CAN START AT ANY AGE.

THEODORA LACEY, SHE DID THE SAME THING AND START GIVING BACK IN YOUR EARLY 20s, AND A VERY PUBLIC WA TO HELP ORGANIZE THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT AND IN THE '30s, INTEGRATING NEW JERSEY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> SHE'S AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK LOUD IN ORDER TO BE FORCEFUL.

YOU CAN B QUIETLY ELEGANT AND STILL MOTIVATE , ENCOURAGE AND MOVE PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: SHE DID IT AGAIN TODAY.

KIDS OF ALL AGES SHARING A TASK WITH PURPOSE AND DOING SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE PLEASED THE MAN HIS LIFE AND LEGACY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER TODAY.

>> IT'S A THEME REPEATED MANY TIMES TODAY AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD OR YOUNG YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE FROM.

>> Reporter: EVERY SINGLE ACT O KINDNESS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, RESONATES AROUND YOUR COMMUNIT AND ULTIMATELY AROUND THE WORLD IN ENGLEWOOD, I'M DAVID CRUZ, N SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IN PATERSON, MORE REFLECTIONS OF DR. KIM WITH TH LOCAL CHAPTER OF BLACK LIVES MATTER AND THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA COMMUNITY WHERE DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND CLOTHING AND TOYS AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS IN REACHING OUT TO THE UNHOUSED AND ANYONE IN NEED OF RESOURCES.

THE GROUP IS MORE IT IN A PRINCIPAL KING PREACHED.

VIOLENCE CAN BE CONTRACTED WITH LOVE, HOPE AND HEALTH.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> Reporter: RESIDENCE IN PATERSON GETTING MUCH NEEDED HELP ON THE STEPS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY PART OF THE DAY OF SERVICE IN HONOR OF THE LATE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WE CAME TOGETHER AND COLLECTED DONATIONS AND TOYS AND CARE PACKAGES AND WINTER COATS AND A LOT OF LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE LIBRARY.

>> Reporter: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ IS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER AND WITH ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY.

THEY'VE BEEN COLLABORATING FOR THE STAY OF SERVICE FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

>> NOT A LOT OF RESOURCES WITH A LOT OF HOMES IN THIS POPULATION.

AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY , THIS PART IS LOWER INCOME AND WE TRIED TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR THE PEOPLE AND EVERYONE ELSE.

>> IT MEANS A LOT.

MIKE LIVES IS THERE FOR THEM IF NO ONE ELSE IS AND SHOWING OUR REPRESENTATION FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE.

NOT ONLY THAT, PEOPLE FROM ANY OTHER TOWNS.

BLM IS ALL OVER.

WE ARE IN CLIFTON AND BLM IS ALL OVER.

IN PATERSON, IT IS NEEDED AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE HERE AND I CHOSE TO BE PART OF BLM HERE IN PATERSON, WHERE IT'S NEEDED.

>> Reporter: THE ACT OF GIVING BACK IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL SINCE DR. KING WAS A MEMBER OF THE HISTORIC FRATERNITY.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE NATIONAL PROJECTS WE DO.

BLACK LIVES MATTER IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOVEMENT IN THE CITY AND WHEN I REACHED OUT, IT WAS LIKE, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO MARK DR. KING'S LEGACY FOR EVERYBODY IN THE PEOPLE.

IT'S BIGGER THAN EVERYBODY.

>> I'VE GOT PAMPERS AND I'VE GOT TOYS FOR MY BABIES.

>> Reporter: BETH NATHAN IS BENEFITING FROM THE DAY OF SERVICE AND IS GRATEFUL SHE WAS ABLE TO FILL UP HER SHOPPING CART WITH MUCH NEEDED ITEMS FOR HER FAMILY.

>> AS YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TIMES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING.

I'M ENJOYING THIS EVENT AND I APPRECIATE IT WHEN THEY DO THIS.

I ALWAYS COME OUT AND GIVE MY SUPPORT.

>> THIS EVENT IS WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY HERE.

BLM DOES MEALS TO EBE EVERY FRIDAY.

EVERYBODY EATS.

IT'S PART OF REPRESENTING MLK.

HE DID A LOT FOR THE PEOPLE AND WE ARE SHOWING HIS WORK IN BRINGING THAT OUT.

>> HAVE YOU EVER HAD A GOOD DREAM WHERE YOU ONE MONEY?

THAT'S HOW I FEEL 10 TIMES.

GIVING BACK AROUND THE PEOPLE IS A WONDERFUL FEELING.

MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION THIS YEAR IS TO DO IT 10 TIMES MORE FOR THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE KIDS AND EVERYBODY.

IT'S A GREAT FEELING, LIKE ACCOMPLISHING A GOAL.

BUYING A NEW CAR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE FEELING.

>> YES.

>> Reporter: THEY HOPE IT WILL HELP CONTINUE TO KEEP THE LEGACY OF DR. KING ALIVE.

I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> DESPITE WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR RECREATIONAL CANNABIS IN NEW JERSEY, DOZENS OF TOWNS HAVE BANNED RELATED BUSINESSES FROM OPENING, CITING TRAFFIC, CRIME AND OTHER QUALITY-OF-LIFE CONCERNS.

WE CALL IT THE NOT IN MY BACKYARD ISSUE.

ONE TOWN IN MORRIS COUNTY LOOKS TO GO A STEP FURTHER, BANNING MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES OF ANY KIND.

CORRESPONDENT JOANNA GAGIS EXPLAINS.

>> JUST TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF RECREATIONAL CANNABIS DOESN'T MEAN YOU SUPPORT IT IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE FEELING OF MEDICINE, A SMALL TOWN IN MORRIS COUNTY THAT WENT FROM TWO-THIRDS IN FAVOR OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA TO REJECTING THE MEDICAL DISPENSARY IN TOWN.

EVEN AFTER THE TOWN COUNCIL OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE ORDINANCE ALLOWING MEDICAL MARIJUANA SALES.

THE COUNCIL NOW IS GOING A STEP FURTHER TO TRY TO REPEAL THAT ORDINANCE AND PASS NEW ONES, ENTERING NO OTHER CANNABIS DISPENSARY CAN OPEN.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE ORDINANCE ON THE AGENDA.

>> THEY BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE APPLICANT , FIRST CHOICE HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND VOTED 6-0 AGAINST IT.

DURING THE PROCESS, THE MADISON COMMUNITY BEGAN A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT LED BY SUZANNE SCHREIBER TO OVERTURN THE ORDINANCE ALL TOGETHER.

>> LOOK AT THE SURROUNDING TOWNS.

NONE OF THEM HAVE APPROVED MARIJUANA.

WE WOULD BE THIS LOAN ISLAND AND IT JUST ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A DRAW FOR THIS TOWN.

>> Reporter: IS THE CONCERN THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME RECREATIONAL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS BEEN 26 DISPENSARIES OPENING IS MEDICAL ONLY IN NEW JERSEY AND 22 OF THEM HAVE NOW EXPANDED TO BE RECREATIONAL AND MEDICINAL.

>> Reporter: IF YOU WERE TO SEE MUNICIPALITIES AROUND TO APPROVE IT, WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR OPINION?

>> NO.

IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR THIS TOWN.

THIS IS A TOWN WITH PARKS AND A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN AND THE SCHOOLS AND THE DOWNTOWN CHARM.

IT'S NOT A PLACE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES OR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES PAY >> Reporter: THE MAYOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IN THIS CANNABIS MARKET, IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MEDICAL DISPENSARIES TO SURVIVE FINANCIALLY WITHOUT EXPANDING TO RECREATIONAL.

>> MEDICAL-ONLY CANNABIS DISPENSARIES ARE NOT REALISTIC.

IN MADISON, WE ARE CLEAR WITH THE COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS LAST SPRING AND THIS PAST MONTH, THAT THERE IS NO DESIRE TO DO RECREATIONAL DISPENSARIES IN TOWN.

IF A MEDICAL DISPENSARY IS NOT VIABLE AND YOU ARE NOT DOING RECREATIONAL, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO ANYTHING.

>> THIS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SKEPTICISM ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY AND DOING A BAIT AND SWITCH ON THEM AS WELL-FOUNDED.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATE JAY LASSITER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WOULD LIKELY BE A QUICK SWITCH TO RECREATIONAL.

WHEN HE LOOKS AT THE TOWN REJECTING THE DISPENSARY ?

>> THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF BARS AND TAVERNS AND PUBS.

THERE ARE FIVE LIQUOR STORES ON MAIN STREET, ALONE.

IF THE CONCERNS ARE ADDICTION OR TRAFFIC OR NUISANCE VISITORS WITH THE OPENING OF A CANNABIS DISPENSARY, THAT JUST SEEMS SORT OF HYPOCRITICAL WITH THAT GOING ON.

>> Reporter: THEY WILL VOTE LATER THIS MONTH TO OVERTURN THE MEDICAL DISPENSARY ORDINANCE, BRINGING AN END TO MARIJUANA SALES IN THIS TOWN.

JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IN MADISON.

>>> HANDING OUT LAPTOPS HUBSPOT DEVICES WHAT A GOOD FIRST STEP IN CLOSING NEW JERSEY'S DIGITAL DIVIDE.

A NEW STUDY FINDS THE AFFORDABILITY TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET EXPRESS REMAINS THE REAL BARRIER.

NEWARK-BASED NONPROFIT PROJECT READY AND TRUST FOR EDUCATION DUG INTO THE ISSUE AND REVEALED HOUSEHOLDS IN THE LOWEST INCOME BRACKET KIDS HAVE INTERNET ACCESS AT ROUGHLY HALF THE SPEED OF THEM IS WITH HIGHER INCOMES.

NORK WAS AT THE EPICENTER OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WHERE HOMES WIRED FOR BROADBAND CAN'T AFFORD IT.

THE CEO , CHANEL MacLEOD, JOINS ME WITH MORE.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU FOUND BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS LACK OF ACCESS TO A CHROMEBOOK OR A Wi-Fi HOT SPOT .

WHAT YOU LOOKED AT WAS SO MUCH DEEPER.

>> AS WE DUG IN AND RECOGNIZED IT, PARENTS AND FAMILIES DID HAVE ACCESS TO LAPTOPS BY THE TIME WE LAUNCHED THE COMMUNITY EFFORT.

THEY HAD ACCESS TO HOTSPOTS BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE HIGH QUALITY INTERNET SPEED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES AS LARGE AS 4 OR AS LARGE AS 6 IN A HOUSEHOLD COULD ACTUALLY HAVE HIGH QUALITY INTERNET SPEED.

INITIALLY, WE THOUGHT IT WAS AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE.

THROUGH THE RESEARCH, WE DISCOVERED IT WASN'T AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE AT ALL.

IT WAS ACTUALLY DUE TO LACK OF AFFORDABILITY TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES ALIKE BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY INTERNET SPEED.

>> Reporter: NEWARK FOUND SOME OF THE LOWEST RATES OF BROADBAND THAT FOLKS WERE ABLE TO AFFORD.

WHAT OTHER CITIES DID YOU FIND WERE ALSO IN A SIMILAR SITUATION?

>> A GOOD QUESTION.

WE ACTUALLY RAN A RESTUDY AGAINST FIVE LARGE CITIES.

WE FOCUSED ON NEWARK AND JERSEY CITY, FOR EXAMPLE.

THROUGH ALL OF THESE STUDIES AND LOOKING AT THE LARGER CITIES, WE REALIZED THAT ACROSS THESE CITIES IF THERE WERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING A HIGHER POVERTY RATE, THEY WERE ALSO EXPERIENCING LOWER INTERNET SPEED.

THE AVERAGE SPEED FOR HIGH QUALITY INTERNET IS ROUGHLY 139 AND WE REALIZED IN PLACES LIKE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY THAT PARENTS AND FAMILIES WERE NOT ABLE TO GET LARGER ACCESS THAN 100 MEGABYTES AND OVERALL, THE AVERAGE COSTS OF THE CITY ARE SPECIFICALLY LOW INCOME AREAS NO HIGHER THAN 79 MEGABYTES.

THIS RESEARCH, WE DISCOVERED A NEW AFFORDABILITY ACT THAT CONGRESS INITIATES.

WE THINK IT'S EXCELLENT FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD HIGH-QUALITY INTERNET TO ACTUALLY HAVE THAT BY WAY OF DISCOUNTS .

A.

>> THAT LENDS THE QUESTION, WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE AT A STATEWIDE LEVEL TO MAKE THIS MORE AFFORDABLE?

YOU MENTIONED GRANTS AVAILABLE BUT WITH COST, IT CAN COST YOU UPWARD OF $200 A MONTH TO HAVE THESE PACKAGES.

>> WE CAN'T LOOK AT INTERNET AS A LUXURY.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS A NECESSITY.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SPREADING THE WORD AND THAT WE ARE LOOKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS WITH SCHOOLS AND WITH INSTITUTIONS IN PROMOTING MORE GRASSROOT LEVEL ACTIVITIES AND IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAD ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION SO THEY CAN START TO GET THE INTERNET THEY DESERVE.

>> CHANEL MacLEOD, CEO OF PROJECT READY, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> ACCESS TO A LOCAL BANK BRANCH IS BECOMING AN ISSUE WITH MORE CUSTOMERS SHIFTING TO ONLINE BANKING.

BRICK-AND-MORTAR BUSINESSES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING THEIR DOORS OPEN AND FINDING THEIR PLACE IN THIS NEW DIGITAL REALITY.

SANTANDER BANK ANNOUNCED IT WILL CLOSE FOUR NEW JERSEY LOCATIONS AS PART OF A LARGER PLAN TO SHUTTER 13 BRANCHES THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY AND PHILADELPHIA.

IT FOLLOWS THE RECENT MOVE BY PNC BANK TO DO THE SAME, LEAVING CUSTOMERS, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH POPULATIONS OF SENIORS, FEELING SHADOW.

RAVEN REPORTS.

>> SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL 10 MILES IN OCEAN COUNTY TO GO TO A BANK AND THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

>> Reporter: JUST GOT A LOT HARDER TO FIND A BANK IN OCEAN COUNTY AFTER ONE-THIRD OF THE COUNTY'S BANKS HAVE CLOSED SHOPS.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER SAID THE TREND IS MOST CONCERNING BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS HOME TO CLOSE TO 200,000 SENIORS, MANY SUFFERING FROM THINGS LIKE MOBILITY ISSUES AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT.

>> WE HAVE 91 COMMUNITIES IN OCEAN COUNTY WITH ONLY SENIOR CITIZENS AND WE ARE WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: IN 2020, U.S. BANKS SHUTTERED RETAIL BRANCHES WITH MORE CONSUMERS THINKING DIGITALLY.

IN 2021, BANKS SHATTER THAT RECORD BY 38% AND NEW JERSEY SAW A NET LOSS OF 134 BANKS IN 2021.

>> IN NEW JERSEY, ALONE, WE'VE HAD 16 IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, 16 BRANCH MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS AND WE LOST A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE BRANCHES IN OCEAN COUNTY.

>> Reporter: PNC WILL CLOSE SEVERAL BRANCHES IN OCEAN COUNTY IN MID-JANUARY AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PNC IS THE LATEST IN A STRING OF BANK BRANCH CLOSINGS, AS BANKS EXPAND DIGITAL SERVICES AND CONSUMERS MAKE MORE TRANSACTIONS ELECTRONICALLY.

PNC RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT PNC RECOGNIZES THAT BRANCHES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR MANY CUSTOMERS WHEN IT COMES TO CONDUCTING CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS AND HOLDING IMPORTANT IN-PERSON FINANCIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR BANKING EXPERTS.

WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO DELIVERING ON OUR PURPOSE TO MOVE ALL FORWARD FINANCIALLY AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN MEET OR EXCEED OUR CUSTOMER'S NEEDS AT NEARBY BRANCH LOCATIONS ALONGSIDE OTHER AVAILABLE METHODS OF BANKING.

>> THERE IS MORE MONEY TO BE MADE .

YOU CLOSE DOWN A BRANCH AND PUT UP AN ATM AND HAVE IT SERVICED A DIFFERENT WAY.

WHAT ABOUT OCEAN COUNTY, 700,000 IN THE WINTER, AND IN THE SUMMER, 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE.

THAT'S A LOT WITH THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.

>> LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO COME HERE AND RETIRE AFFORDABLY AT THE JERSEY SHORE.

>> THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SENIOR SERVICES IN OCEAN COUNTY IS NOW CONCERNED THAT THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO EXPLOITATION AND FRAUD WILL BE SCANNED MORE FREQUENTLY AND EASILY.

>> WITHOUT THOSE TELLERS, THE GATEKEEPERS AND FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS AND DISABLED RESIDENTS, THERE IS NO ONE IS GOING TO SEE THESE TRANSACTIONS OCCURRING.

THEY ARE OCCURRING DIGITALLY.

THAT'S MY BIG FEAR.

>> MORE THAN 50 BRICK-AND-MORTAR BANKS HAVE CLOSED IN OCEAN COUNTY SINCE DECEMBER 2022 INCLUDING THIS LOCATION BEHIND ME.

>> Reporter: THIS WAS ONCE A WELLS FARGO.

THEY ORIGINALLY STARTED DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE OVER A YEAR AGO.

WE FOUND THAT 50% OF ALL BRICK-AND-MORTAR BANKS HAVE CLOSED IN THE OCEAN, APPROXIMATELY 24 TO 25% OF THE TOTAL BANKS.

NOW, WE ARE AT 31% OF CLOSURES AND THAT'S PROBABLY IN THE RANGE OF 70% 70%, AND THAT'S CLOSED.

WE'VE GOT MORE COMING.

APPLICATIONS ARE PENDING.

>> Reporter: IF THE TREND CONTINUES, SHE SAYS THE LIVELIHOOD OF RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY, AS A WHOLE, ARE AT RISK.

>> IT'S A VERY QUIET AND SUBTLE AND VERY NEW LITTLE NOTICE SLAUGHTER.

RELYING ON ATMs AND BANK CARDS, THERE IS FEES ASSOCIATED WITH EVERY ONE OF THOSE, FOR THE MOST PART.

>> Reporter: WHILE THEY HAVE MET TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE, THE SITUATION HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AND EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH ADVOCATED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE A NEW BRANCH CLOSES.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M TRYING TO PRINT >>> WITH REMOTE WORK SCHEDULES APPARENTLY HERE TO STAY, THE STATE CONSIDERS NEW TAX BREAKS FOR HYBRID OFFICES.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THOSE DETAILS WITH THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS WE'VE HEARD IN GOVERNOR MURPHY'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, WAS A CALL TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM OF STATE TAX INCENTIVES FOR COMPANIES OFFERING REMOTE WORK.

LATE LAST WEEK, REPORTERS PRESS THE GOVERNOR FOR MORE DETAILS.

>> I DON'T HAVE THE STRICT PARAMETERS OF WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH THE VARIATION OF THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HYBRID WORKING CONDITIONS.

BUT, IT WILL BE SENSIBLE, AS ALWAYS AND WILL ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WE WERE THREE YEARS AGO.

TBD ON THAT.

>> Reporter: A SURVEY FROM THE CAREER SITES PROJECT THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING REMOTELY WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE THIS YEAR AND THAT BY THE END OF 2023, 25% OF ALL PROFESSIONAL JOBS IN NORTH AMERICA WILL BE REMOTE.

IN AN INTERVIEW ON NJ BUSINESS, THE HEAD OF THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC AUTHORITY, TIM SOLOMON, SAID THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW JERSEY TO BECOME THE MOST FRIENDLY STATE FOR REMOTE AND HYBRID WORK.

RESIDENTS COULD BE IN REMOTE JOBS .

COMPANIES WOULD HAVE OFFICE SPACE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> WHAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS COMPANIES WITH EXISTING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS BEING RELEASED FROM THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO BE IN OUR CITIES.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE REWARD JOBS FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS VIA REMOTE WORK OR HYBRID WORK.

IF YOU ARE A COMPANY IN NEW YORK OR PHILLY OR AROUND THE COUNTRY LOOKING FOR A PLACE WITH A SMALLER OFFICE FOOTPRINT AND WORKING REMOTELY AS LONG AS THEY LIVE IN NEW JERSEY, WE LOVE TO SEE THAT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY DOING ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS AND WE THINK WE ARE POISED TO BE FIRST IN THE NATION PIONEERS.

>>> HOLIDAY TRAVEL HASSLES AT THE BRAND NEW TERMINAL A AND NEW JERSEY.

THE TSA TWEETED THAT STAFFING ISSUES AND HIGHER THAN NORMAL PASSENGER VOLUMES CREATED EXCESSIVE WAIT TIMES AT THE TERMINAL FOR THE TWEET URGED PASSENGERS TO ARRIVE TWO HOURS BEFORE THEIR SCHEDULED DEPARTURES.

>>> THE STOCK MARKET NUMBERS HAD WALL STREET CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY.

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

>>> FINALLY, ANOTHER HUMPBACK WHALE WASHED UP ON A SOUTH JERSEY BEACH THURSDAY.

THIS IS THE SEVENTH DEAD WHALE TO BE FOUND ON THE SHORES OF NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK SINCE EARLY DECEMBER.

OFFSHORE WIND OPPONENTS ARE CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER SEISMIC SURVEYING FOR FUTURE PROJECTS ARE CAUSING THE WHALE DEATHS.

MARINE SCIENTISTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE SAID ALL EVIDENCE, SO FAR, POINTS TO THE WHALES BEING KILLED AFTER BEING HIT BY SHIPS .

SEAPORTS IN THE REGION CONTINUE SEEING RECORD TRAFFIC AND NOVEMBER NUMBERS SHOWED CARGO VOLUME IN AND OUT OF THE PORT OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY IS UP 20% FROM 2019 AND SINCE 2016, MORE THAN 170 HUMPBACK WHALES HAVE WASHED UP DEAD BETWEEN FLORIDA AND MAINE AND 22 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN IN NEW JERSEY.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT BUT MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI AND FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> 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 A SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FURNITURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> MGM INSURANCE GROUP AS PART OF NEW JERSEY FOR OVER A CENTURY AND WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE MGM CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAM SUPPORTING ARTS AND CULTURE RELATED AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, REBUILD COMMUNITIES AND HELP TO CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF SAFE DRIVERS.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF NEW JERSEY.

M.J. M. WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>>> I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT I'M STILL HERE.

>> THAT'S ME AND MY DAUGHTER WHEN WE CELEBRATED OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

>> MY NEW KIDNEY GAVE ME STRENGTH.

I'M GOING EVERYWHERE AND EXPLORING NEW PLACES.

>> NOBODY THOUGHT I WOULD BE HERE, NOBODY.

>> WE TRANSFORM LIVES ARE INNOVATIVE KIDNEY TREATMENTS AND LIVING DONOR PROGRAMS AND WORLD RENOWNED CARE AND TWO OF NEW JERSEY'S PREMIER HOSPITALS.

>> I GOT MY NORMAL LIFE BACK.

IT'S A BLESSING.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

THAT'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON MORE THAN CLEAN ENERGY.

OUR FUTURE RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES IN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.

THE SCHOOLS AND THE STREETS.

THE PSEG FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

INVESTING IN PARKS, HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN AND SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.