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

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND CHEN 27, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM BRENDA SHETLER AND FOR BREANNA .

NEW JERSEY REPORTED ANOTHER 6000 CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES TODAY AND AN ADDITIONAL 115 DEATHS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE NOW FALLEN FOR THE NINTH STRAIGHT DAY IN THE STATEWIDE TRANSMISSION RATE IS DROPPING TOO.

THE STATE CONTINUES TO URGE RESIDENTS TO GET FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED EVEN AS THE NUMBERS ARE IMPROVING.

MODERNA IS THE SECOND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY THIS WEEK TO ANNOUNCE IT HAS BEGUN TESTING A BOOSTER THAT SPECIFICALLY TARGETS ARE MICRON.

PFIZER IS ALSO TESTING A NEW BOOSTER ON CONCERNS OF HOW THE CURRENT BOOSTERS WILL HOLD UP AS THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO MUTATE.

THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO HIT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HARD, ESPECIALLY RESTAURANTS, SOME OF WHICH HAD TO CLOSE FOR A TIME, SOME VERY GOOD PICK THE ONES THAT HUNG ON, ARE LEARNING TO MAKE BIG CHANGES LIKE REDUCING HOURS AND INDOOR SEATING, A SMALL NUMBER OF OWNERS ARE TRYING OUT A DIFFERENT STRATEGY , AS BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS, THEY ARE DITCHING INDOOR DINING FOR TAKE-OUT.

>> I LOVE THAT WE CAN ORDER ONLINE AND DO CURBSIDE.

>> Reporter: TIFFANY PARKS OUTSIDE OF BAGELS BY JARED IN WEST ORANGE WHERE SIGNS ON THE DOOR ONE DO NOT OPEN THE STORE.

INSIDE, STAFF IS PREPPING, BAGGED ORDERS SET WAITING FOR THE STREAM OF CUSTOMERS WHO PULL UP TO THE CURB AND AWAIT DELIVERY RIGHT TO THEIR CARS.

>> I PREFER NOT HAVING TO GO IN AND DEAL WITH THE LINES, AND ORDER EVERYTHING AT HOME AND COME ON BY.

>> EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT COMFORT LEVELS, SO I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR SOME BUSINESSES TO DO THIS TO STAY AFLOAT.

>> THAT'S HOW IT ALL STARTED, PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER COMFORTABLE COMING INTO A STORY .

>> Reporter: OWNER JARED CAN TELL YOU TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

HE OPENED HIS BAGEL SHOP ONLY A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE MARCH 2020 COVID-19 LOCK DOWN.

>> ONCE IT HAD, WE DO WEDNESDAY AND NO ONE WAS SHOWING UP.

WE WENT FROM BEING JAM-PACKED TO NO ONE, SO I WENT ONLINE AND SAID WE ARE NOW CURBSIDE.

IT BOOMED, BAGELS BY JARED EXPANDED ITS MENU TO INCLUDE HOMEMADE ENTRIES AND SALES TOOK OFF.

HE ADDED TWO MORE DEEP FRYERS AND DOUBLED HIS STAFF, EVERY ORDER MUST BE PLACED ONLINE.

WEAKENS CAN SEE 80 DOOR DASH IS A DAVE WHILE PANDEMIC PRESSURES FORCED OTHER RESTAURANTS TO CLOSE, SOLDIERS IS THRIVING.

>> WE STARTED DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND WE DID SO WELL THAT NOW WE ARE TAKING OVER THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

>> Reporter: BAGELS BY JARED IS DOING SO WELL, THEY ARE PLANNING AN EXPANSION INTO THEIR NEXT RETAIL SPACE, AN EXTRA 2000 FEET, AND YES, THEY ARE HIRING.

>> THE TAKEOUT AS PART OF THE MOVEMENT THEY HAVE HAD TO MAKE.

>> Reporter: A JANUARY SURVEY SHOWS 93% OF RESPONDING NEW JERSEY RESTAURANTS REPORTED DECLINES IN DEMAND FOR INDOOR DINING SINCE OMA GONE, HALF REDUCED HOURS, 30% CLOSED MORE DAYS, 23% REDUCED SEATING, JUST 3% CHANGE TO ONLY OFFERING TAKE- OUT DINING.

LANCE SAYS IT'S A TOUGH TRANSITION AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL DINING.

>> YOU HAVE RESTAURANTS WHO NEVER HAD TAKE-OUT BEFORE AND THEY HAD TO REDESIGN THEIR WEBSITES, THEY HAD TO MAKE THEM MORE TAKE-OUT FRIENDLY.

>> Reporter: DAN OWNS A STUFFED GRASS FED BURGERS, THAT DID 80% TAKE-OUT EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND FOUND IT EASY TO TRANSITION TO ALL TAKE-OUT WHENEVER THE PANDEMIC SURGED.

HE SAID CURBSIDE AND OUTDOOR STREET ARE A GROWING INDUSTRY TREND.

>> PEOPLE ARE CLOSING DOWN THEIR BIG RESTAURANTS AND OPENING UP SMALLER, TAKE-OUT RESTAURANTS.

RE/MAX STUFFED IS DOING WELL BUT HE ADMITS HE GETS PUSHED BACK FROM CUSTOMERS UPSET OVER THE MASK MANDATE AND DEMANDING TO SIT INSIDE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW DIAMONDS AGAIN BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING TOO MUCH BUSINESS IN IT WILL BE EASIER ON MY CASHIERS DO NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH ATTITUDE FROM PEOPLE, WHICH IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT'S NOT HARD TO BE RESPECTFUL.

>> Reporter: HONORS AND ADVOCATES SAY BETWEEN INFLATION, ONGOING STAFF SHORTAGES AND PANDEMIC MANDATES, IT IS TOUGH.

THEY SURVIVE WITH GRANT MONEY WITH LESS THAN HALF OF NEW JERSEY EATERIES APPLIED FOR FEDERAL RESTAURANT REVITALIZE THE ACTUALLY GOT IT.

AND FOR PLACES, TAKE-OUT ISN'T AN OPTION.

>> IT HAS BEEN VERY EXHAUSTING, MOSTLY, WE ARE TRYING TO HOLD ON.

WE REALLY HAVE TO SCALE THAT AND KIND OF MINIMIZE MENUS, MINIMIZE STAFFING, MINIMIZE HOURS TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

>> WE NEED TO FIND OUT A WAY TO HELP THE RESTAURANTS BECAUSE I KNOW TONS OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING.

>> Reporter: HOPEFULLY, SPRING WILL SEE OMICRON DISAPPEAR AND PATRONS RETURN TO DINING WHILE TAKE-OUT, AND/OR OR ALFRESCO.

>>> A TEAM AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY HAS DEVELOPED A NEW, RAPID SCREENING TEST FOR OMICRON AND OTHER VARIANTS OF CONCERN.

THE TEST, WHICH IS THAT FOR CLINICAL APPROVAL, COULD GUIDE TREATMENT OF CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS AND ATTACK POTENTIALLY SEVERE CASES.

I'M JOINED BY DR. PRIYA, AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF RESEARCH AT WRECKERS MEDICAL SCHOOL WHO SERVED AS THE PROJECT LEADER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TEST.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM AND TALK ABOUT THIS LATEST ACHIEVEMENT AT WRECKERS UNIVERSITY.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON A TEST THERE AND HOW DIFFICULT WAS THE PROCESS?

>> THE TEST STARTED EARLY LAST YEAR WHEN THE ALPHA AND BETA VARIANT EMERGED.

SO, WE VERY QUICKLY, WITHIN LIKE A WEEK, WE CAME OUT WITH THAT COULD DETECT AND DIFFERENTIATE THE ALPHA AND BETA VARIANCE.

THEN, WE ALL KNOW THE PROCESS, VERY QUICKLY IN MAY OR JUNE OF 2021 THAT THE DELTA VARIANT TOOK OVER.

SO WE WENT ON TO ADDING THE DELTA VARIANT TO OUR PANEL AND THEN WE CONTINUED OUR WORK AND OMICRON JUST JUMPED INTO ACTION AND I THINK IT WAS THANKSGIVING AND WE IMMEDIATELY SAW WHEN THE GENOME SEQUENCING WAS RELEASED, THAT IT CAN DETECT OMICRON AS WELL AND WE STARTED QUICKLY WORKING ON IT AND NOW WE HAVE THE ASSAY IN LIKE 12 MONTHS, LESS MAN THAT.

>> IT'S QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT TO DO THAT SO QUICKLY.

HOW IS THE TEST ABLE TO DETECT THE DIFFERENT VARIANTS AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT FOR RESEARCHERS TO KNOW THE TYPE OF VARIANCE SOMEONE MAY BE INFECTED WITH?

>> IT CAN DETECT MANY SAMPLES AT THE SAME TIME AND CAN ALSO BE DONE IN COMMON INSTRUMENTS WITH EXTRA FUNCTIONALITY IN IT, SO WE SELECTED THREE DIFFERENT REGIONS ON THE GENOME AND MADE SURE THAT THESE ARE, FROM THE RESEARCH, WE OBSERVED THAT THESE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE MUTATIONS IN ALL THE VARIANCE.

SO, TARGETING THESE REGIONS WOULD GIVE US CORRECT IDENTIFICATION FOR THE VARIANCE.

WE HAVE ADOPTED SOMETHING CALLED A TEMPERATURE SHIFT PRINCIPAL WHERE, WE CALL IT BEGINS, THEY BIND TO THIS REGION , IF THERE IS A MUTATION.

WHEN THERE IS A CHEF, WE CAN CORRECTLY IDENTIFY WHICH VARIANT IT IS IN THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION, WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

WHY DO WE EVEN CARE ABOUT IT?

AS YOU ARE SEEING, EACH VARIANT IS COMING OUT WITH ITS OWN FUNCTIONALITIES, CHARACTERISTICS, RIGHT?

MOSTLY, MOST OF THE VACCINE RESISTANT, KIND OF.

THEY ARE SHOWING DECREASED EFFICACY OF THE VACCINES AND WITH OMICRON ESPECIALLY, SOME OF THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES ARE NOT VERY EFFECTIVE.

IF YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT TREATMENT DECISION ON WHAT A PARTICULAR PATIENT CARRIES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT VARIANT THEY HAVE.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT WE STILL HAVE PART OF DELTA EXISTING AMONG US AND THOSE PATIENTS MIGHT STILL BENEFIT FROM THE TREATMENT WHICH WE THINK WILL NOT WORK AND WE CANNOT PRESUME IT IS ONE COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPLANATIONS ON THE RESEARCH YOU HAVE DONE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>>> OFFICIALS CALLED A HISTORIC METHOD OF PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE, OUTSIDE THE PATTERN POLICE STATION, ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED THEY WILL INVEST $7 MILLION IN NEW EQUIPMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP FIGHT WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID IS AN EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE.

STATE POLICE DATA SHOW A 45% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHO DIED IN SHOOTINGS IN 2020 WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRIOR YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR WALZ TO PROVIDE MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO 25 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOR VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.

FEDERAL INVESTMENTS COMING FROM AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS.

FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THIS MONEY WILL PROVIDE IMPORTANT TOOLS LIKE GUNSHOT DETECTION TECHNOLOGY.

>> THIS IS ALREADY IN USE IN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, NOT ONLY HAS A PROVEN ACCURATE BUT IT'S ALSO PROVEN ITS ABILITY TO DIRECT POLICE RESOURCES TO THE SITE OF A SHOOTING WITHIN MERE MOMENTS.

NOT ONLY WILL WE BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES BUT WE WILL BRING IT TO NEW COMMUNITIES WHERE GUN VIOLENCE THREATENS THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF OUR RESIDENTS.

>> MIDDLESEX AND MONMOUTH COUNTIES WILL BE MOVING FORWARD, CONGRESSMAN FRANK ALONE JOINED BUSINESS OWNERS IN OLD BRIDGE TODAY TO DETAIL PLANS TO SPEND $200 MILLION IN FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS BUT ARE EARMARKED FOR POLAND'S LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, FUNDS WILL BE USED TO DREDGE THE RIVER, REBUILD THE CHEESECAKE AND REPLENISH THE BEACHES FROM SEA BRIGHT TO MANASQUAN.

THERE ALSO FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS PLANNED FOR HIGHLANDS AND A FEW OTHER COMMUNITIES ALONG THE BAYSHORE.

THIS IS THE LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING FUNDS HEADING TO NEW JERSEY FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT PRESIDENT BRENNAN SIGNED INTO LAW LAST YEAR.

IT HAS BEEN MONTHS SINCE HURRICANE IDA HIT OUR STATE AND RESIDENTS DISPLACED BY THE STORM , MANY FOUND FEMA AID ONLY GOES SO FAR THEY PROVIDE ON COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR ADDITIONAL HELP.

RAVEN SANTANA TALKED WITH STORM VICTIMS WHO ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE ASSISTANCE.

>> SHE WAS PANICKING A LITTLE, SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM BUT I'M TRYING TO TELL HER, STAY CALM, YOU GOT THIS.

>> Reporter: ANTONIO GONZALEZ DESCRIBING THE MOMENT HIS DAUGHTER WAS FORCED TO ESCAPE FOR THIS WINDOW AFTER HIS APPOINTMENT BEGAN TO OVERFLOW WITH IDA STORM WATERS?

I WAS HOMELESS FOR A FEW DAYS.

>> Reporter: HE LIVED IN A HOTEL FOR A FEW MONTHS WHILE HE WAITED FOR THE $9000 FEMA AGREED TO ASSIST HIM WITH.

>> A MUCH MONEY WE LEFT WITH?

>> I WAS LEFT WITH ABOUT $800 AND I BOUGHT TWO AIR MATTRESSES, TWO HEATERS IN THE CLOTHING ME AND MY DAUGHTER HAVE NOW.

FEMA DIDN'T MY UNCLE AT ALL, HE IS THE HOMEOWNER THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND ALSO IN JADE DP HELPED ME WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> Reporter: STATE WHEN, FEMA HAS RECEIVED 85,000 APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR A TOTAL OF $223.8 MILLION, THAT INCLUDES 2300 HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW YORK THAT RECEIVED ASSISTANCE.

FOR SOME SURVIVORS, THE FEDERAL HELP IS SOMETIMES TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

ON-SITE GROUPS FOR THE COMMUNITY CORPORATION MAKE THE ROAD IN NEW JERSEY ORGANIZING PROJECT ARE TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP THROUGH THE NG IDA RECOVERY FUND.

>> FOLKS EXPERIENCED A TERRIBLE EVENT, ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS AND IT'S LIKE ARE WE GOING TO ASK FOR A RECEIPT?

JUST TO MAKE FOR THAT PROCESS LESS CUMBERSOME FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE REALLY IN NEED.

SOME PEOPLE HAD TO MOVE RIGHT AWAY.

>> Reporter: MELANIE'S THE HOUSING JUSTICE ADVISER FOR THE COMMUNITY CORPORATION, THE STATEWIDE FUND HAS ALREADY RAISED HALF $1 MILLION.

SHE SAYS 85 TO 90% OF THE APPLICATIONS LIVE IN NEWARK OR THE SURROUNDING AREA AND HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO THEIR BASEMENTS.

>> WE PRIORITIZE THOSE WHO ARE DENIED FOR FUNDING OR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THOSE TRADITIONAL AID SOURCES OR OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL SOURCES.

IF AN INDIVIDUAL RECEIVED FUNDING, WE WILL DEDUCT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING RECEIVED FROM WHAT WE WERE GOING TO PROVIDE THEM.

THE RANGES BETWEEN $3000 AND 10,000 AND IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE IMPACT OF EACH INDIVIDUAL.

WE FIGURED THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THIS WAS THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATIONS FISCAL TEAM, JUST CUTTING CHECKS OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO APPLIED.

>> Reporter: A SPOKESPERSON TOLD US, FEMA'S DISASTER ASSISTANCE IS FOCUSED ON SHORT- TERM RECOVERY.

AVERAGE GRANT OF $5000-$8000 AND NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A PERSON WHOLE.

FEMA IS A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE BUT NOT THE ENTIRE PUZZLE.

GONZALEZ SAYS HE IS WAITING FOR A FRIDGE AND MORE MONEY TO AFFORD A STOVE AND MICROWAVE.

COMMUNITY GROUPS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS UNTIL NEXT MONTH WHEN THEY EXPECT TO EXPAND ON THE MONEY THEY RAISED.

FEMA SAYS IT TAKES FEWER THAN 30 DAYS TO PROCESS AN APPLICATION AND ONCE AN ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION IS MADE, APPLICANTS WHO REQUEST DIRECT DEPOSIT MAY RECEIVE THE FUNDS IN A MATTER OF DAYS.

FOR THOSE WHO PREFER CHAT, THAT GENERALLY TAKES ABOUT 10 DAYS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> THERE HAS BEEN TALK IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT REGIONAL LYSING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS ONE WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND DRIVE EFFICIENCY.

NOW, DISTRICTS INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE IDEA CAN RECEIVE MONEY THANKS TO A NEW BILL SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR LAST WEEK, ALLOWING DISTRICTS TO STUDY WHETHER MAJORS WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THEM.

AT LEAST ONE COUNTY IS ALREADY CONSIDERING A LARGE-SCALE MERGER.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER EXPLORES WHETHER THE CONSOLIDATION WILL IMPROVE EDUCATION IN NEW JERSEY.

>> AS FAR AS PULLING RESOURCES, YOU CAN PROVIDE A LOT MORE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO YOUR STUDENTS THAN A SINGLE SMALL DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: TONY IS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH CONSOLIDATED FOR DISTRICTS INTO ONE IN 2013 AFTER SCHOOL OFFICIALS DECIDED TO MERGE.

IT'S A CHANGE HE SAYS HAS BEEN VALUABLE TO STUDENTS AND STAFF.

>> IN THE PAST, WE ARE FOUR SEPARATE DISTRICTS, STUDENTS WOULD MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE 712 BUILDING FROM THREE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, SO, YOU KNOW, EACH STUDENT COULD COME INTO THE 712 BUILDING WITH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES SO IT WAS BENEFICIAL TO HAVE ONE CURRICULUM AND THEN EVERY STUDENT IS EXPOSED.

>> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF DISTRICTS ARE GETTING THE CHANCE TO SEE IF CONSOLIDATION COULD BE A GOOD MOVE.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GIVE INCENTIVES TO DISTRICTS INTERESTED IN EXPLORING A POSSIBLE MERGER.

>> THERE ARE LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFICIENCIES WE COULD HAVE, CLOSE TO 600 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT'S NOT EFFICIENT.

>> Reporter: A SENATOR EXPRESSING HIS SUPPORT FOR GIVING SCHOOLS THE OPPORTUNITY.

NOT ONLY DOES IT INCREASE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ALSO CUT DOWN ON COSTS.

>> YOU CAN HAVE A SLIGHTLY LARGER CLASSROOM IF YOU MARRIAGE DISTRICTS INTO MORE EFFICIENT CLASSROOMS, SO THERE IS POTENTIALLY SAVINGS TO BE HAD THERE, THEN THERE IS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

SMALLER DISTRICTS FREQUENTLY CAN'T AFFORD TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE LARGER DISTRICT MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO.

SO, THE POTENTIAL FOR A BETTER EDUCATION AT LOWER TAXPAYER COST IS A WIN-WIN.

>> Reporter: UNDER THE LAW, DISTRICTS INTERESTED IN CONSOLIDATION WILL BE GIVEN MONEY SO THEY CAN HIRE CONSULTANTS TO EXPLORE HOW BENEFICIAL A MERGER WOULD BE.

IT'S A THOUGHT ON THE MINDS OF SOME DISTRICTS LIKE SALEM COUNTY, OFFICIALS THERE USED THEIR GRANT TO CONDUCT $142,000 STUDY ON WHETHER TO COMBINE ITS 14 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> THERE IS AN ESTIMATE THAT THERE COULD BE $6.8 BILLION IN SAVINGS TO THE UNIFIED APPROACH TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY AS ONE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THERE IS AN ALTERNATE PROPOSAL THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN, IN THE STUDY, FOR NORTH AND SOUTH BEING TWO DISTRICTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

THE SAVINGS THERE WOULD BE LESS, IT WOULD BE MORE IN THE $4 MILLION RANGE.

>> Reporter: SALEM COUNTY ALSO FINDING ANOTHER POSSIBLE BENEFIT, MORE INCLUSIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT OUR COUNTY, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT EQUITY SCHISMS THAT OCCUR AND WHAT THE STUDY DOES REVEAL IS THE MINORITY POPULATION IN THIS COUNTY IS GROWING WITH YOUTH.

WHEN YOU ADHERE TO CENSUS FACTORS, WE ARE ABOUT 80% WHITE BUT WHEN YOU GO TO BREAK THE DATA DOWN TO YOUNGER PEOPLE, INCLUDING SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, WE MOVE INTO ABOUT A 40% MINORITY POPULATION.

SO THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT TREND THAT IS COMING BUT WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY STRUCTURED TO ADDRESS EQUITY IN OUR GEOGRAPHY AS OF RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: THE STATE WILL PAY FOR DISTRICTS THAT CHOOSE TO LOOK INTO CONSOLIDATION.

ONCE THE STUDY IS COMPLETE, DISTRICTS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE IF A MERGER IS SOMETHING THEY WANT.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY HAS LOST ANOTHER HIGH PROFILE POSITION.

THE LEADER OF THE STATE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY, LEROY JONES, HAS REMOVED SWEENEY FROM THE COMMISSION THAT IS REDRAWING NEW JERSEY'S LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

JONES SAID HE MADE THE DECISION AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

SWEENEY IS BEING REPLACED BY LAURA TOMATOES WHO HEADS THE PINELANDS COMMISSION.

SWEENEY IS NOT GOING AWAY QUIETLY, HE HAS FILED A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE MOVE SAYING JONES DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE HIM.

STRACHAN TONIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, INVESTMENT RETURNS FOR NEW JERSEY PUBLIC WORKER PENSION FUND HAVE DEFLATED A BIT.

ACCORDING TO THE STATES LATEST PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES, THE FUNDS CAME IN BELOW 4% IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, RETURNS WERE UP NEARLY 30%, BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER JOINS ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS BEHIND THE DROP.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> SAME HERE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> THE FUND HAD BEEN THE ASSUMED RATE OF RETURN UNTIL NOW, SO WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WHAT HAPPENED IS THE GREAT ROOM THE FINANCIAL MARKETS WERE GOING BACK TO LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT HAS COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH A LITTLE BIT, SO THE INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE STILL IN THE BLACK, TOTALS WERE HEADING CLOSE TO 30% AROUND LAST SUMMER WHEN THE FISCAL YEAR CAME TO AN END AND THAT REALLY WINS THE HIGHEST WE HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME FOR THE PENSION FUND.

FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR WHICH ENDED IN DECEMBER, IT'S CLOSER TO 4%, WHICH IS NOT BAD, A LITTLE UNDER WHAT THE PENSION FUND ASSUMES IT WILL BE GENERATED BUT STILL OUT OF WHACK FOR SURE.

>> HOW IS IT LOOKING WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LAST FEW YEARS AND AVERAGE OUT SOME OF THIS FLUCTUATION WE ARE SEEING?

>> FOR THE RETURNS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, EVEN GOING BACK A FEW DECADES ARE STILL GOING ABOVE THE ASSUMED RATE, WHICH IS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN 7% RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS, THIS IS NOT LIKE DAYTRADING HERE BUT YOU WANT TO SEE THEM GENERATING INVESTMENT RETURNS BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS EARNED FOR INVESTMENTS IS PERHAPS A DOLLAR AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE CONTRIBUTED BY TAXPAYERS BECAUSE THEY FUND PENSIONS IN NEW JERSEY ON THE EMPLOYER SIDE.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SAVE THE INVESTMENTS HEALTHY GAINS ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS.

>> THE FACT THERE WAS A FULL CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION, EITHER EXPECTATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE?

>> MURPHY HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT MAINTAINING ROBUST PENSION FUNDING AND THAT CAME UP DURING A MEETING OF THE STATE INVESTMENT COUNSEL YESTERDAY WHERE MEMBERS WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION TO EXPECT MORE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR THE SYSTEM WHICH WAS MUSIC TO THEIR EARS YESTERDAY.

>> WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND TELL THE FUND IS ABLE TO MANAGE ALL THE LIABILITIES.

I GUESS WE ARE GOING ON THE RIGHT TRACK BUT THERE IS A WHOLE TWO OUT OF.

>> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, ALL THOSE YEARS OF THE STATE NOT MAKING ITS FULL PENSION PAYMENT, IN AND SOME YEARS MAKING NO PAYMENT AT ALL, HAS DUG A DEEP HOLE.

THE STATE IS STARTING TO DIG OUT BUT IT WILL REQUIRED DECADES OF SIGNIFICANT PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS.

THE CURRENT BUDGET SPENT $7 BILLION ON CONTRIBUTION WHICH IS MORE THAN 10% OF TOTAL SPENDING.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT A SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT OVER DECADES TO GET OUT OF OF THE SCHOOL.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET TRADED TODAY.

>>> MAKE SURE YOU TURN INTO NJ BUSINESS FEED WITH ME THIS WEEKEND.

WE ARE TAKING YOU INTO THE METAVERSE AND PUTTING ITS FINANCIAL FUTURE IN FOCUS, HIGHLIGHTING THE BENEFITS TO BUSINESSES WHO ENTER THE VIRTUAL WORLD.

CHECK IT OUT ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAYS AT 10:00 A.M. >>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT TUNE INTO REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH SENIOR AND POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK, DAVID TALKS TO NEW SENATE CHAIR, ABOUT THE TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IN THE PANDEMIC.

PLUS, ALL THE WEEK SPENT POLITICAL HEADLINES WITH A PANEL OF REPORTERS.

THAT IS TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU HERE TOMORROW FOR >>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND A BY THE PS E.G.

FOUNDATION.

>>> ORSTEAD WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY , JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY- CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

ORSTEAD, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY, ONLINE AT U.S..TRAN27.COM.