>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSING THE NATION TODAY WORKING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. CAPITAL INSURRECTION AND TAKING DIRECT AIM AT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, NAMING HIM FOR THE VIOLENT ATTACK THAT HE SAYS CREATED A WEB OF LIES.

IT GOING ON TO SAY THAT TRUMP CHOSE HIMSELF OVER HIS COUNTRY AND COULD NOT ACCEPT HIS LOSS.

REASSURING AMERICANS THAT HE WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO PLACE A DAGGER ON THE THROAT OF DEMOCRACY.

25 PEOPLE FROM NEW JERSEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE INSURRECTION BUT, RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND EXTREMIST REMAIN A THREAT.

SINCE LAST YEAR, WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM?

SAID JOANNA GAGAS HAS MORE.

>> THEY PRETTY MUCH REJECTED THE IDEA THAT THIS WAS A SPONTANEOUS CROWD REACTION.

THE 700 THAT HAVE BEEN CHARGED, THE FEDS HAVE SAID THEY COULD DOUBLE THAT NUMBER EASILY IF THEY WANTED TO.

IT >> Reporter: IN THE ONE YEAR SINCE THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION ON THE NATION'S CAPITAL, INVESTIGATORS HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN BRINGING PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE.

25 OF THOSE 700 ARE FROM NEW JERSEY.

>> TWO OF THE 25 HAVE PLAYED OUT.

ONE IS SCOTT PEARLAND WHO HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO PLEAD GUILTY TO ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER ON JANUARY 6.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL OF THOSE CHARGED ARE CONNECTED TO THE PROUD BOYS.

DARYL MOTTE JENKINS, WHO WHO INTERCEDES THESE GROUPS SAYS, THE PROUD BOYS ARE ACTIVE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> JUST LAST MONTH WE HAD A GROUP OF PROUD BOYS TRAVEL UP FROM SOUTH JERSEY TO WOODBRIDGE.

AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY ARE ON SOME SORT OF, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOME SORT OF A PROMOTIONAL TOUR AND THEY ARE BASICALLY JUST TRYING TO SELL THEMSELVES AS DECENT FOLK WHO ARE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: JENKINS SAYS SIMILAR TO THE DISBANDING OF THE , THEY NO LONGER HAVE A STRONG NATIONAL FACTION BUT ARE OPERATING IN SMALLER AND MORE LOCALIZED GROUPS.

>> ON LIKE THE CLAN, WE ARE JUST IN THE BEGINNING OF THAT.

THE PROUD BOYS ARE STILL A COHESIVE GROUP.

>> THE FBI IS GOING TO DO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ON THE PROUD BOYS NOW THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT IS A KEY POINT IN THE INVESTIGATION.

>> THERE IS ALSO A GROUP OF SEVEN LAWMAKERS, INCLUDING REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TRYING TO UNCOVER JUST HOW COORDINATED THE EVENTS OF THE DAY WERE.

>> THEY HAVE MADE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PROGRESS.

INCLUDING THE ORIGINS OF THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION.

AND THEY HAVE THE BACKING OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY CAN USE THEIR POWERS WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE ONLY SEEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

>> ARE THE INVESTIGATIONS SATISFACTORY AS FAR AS HOW OUR NATION SHOULD BE HANDLING WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THE ONE FLAW IS THAT, SOMEHOW, CHENEY AND OTHERS ARE IN OUR ORNAMENTAL.

AND THEIR PRESENCE DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> THE COMMITTEE HAS ITS OWN SHARE OF HURDLES ACCESSING ALL OF THE EVIDENCE IT IS SEEKING.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNWILLING AND REFUSING TO TESTIFY.

>> Reporter: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ASKING TO BLOCK RECORDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TURNED OVER.

THE COURT HAS NOT DECIDED IF THEY WILL TAKE THE CASE BUT HEARINGS WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM JOANNA GAGAS.

>>> FOR MORE, CHECK OUT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> YOU CAN SEE ANDY KIM CLEANING UP DEBRIS IN THE ROTUNDA.

THE BLUE SUIT HE WORE THAT DAY HAS BEEN DONATED TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WHICH HAS BEEN COLLECTING OBJECTS TO DOCUMENT THE DAY.

IT IS STILL HARD FOR THE CONGRESSMAN TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO BUT HE SAT DOWN WITH ME TO REFLECT ON WHAT HE REMEMBERED WHEN THE MOB PUSHED PAST POLICE AND INTO THE BUILDING.

>> TAKE US BACK TO THAT DAY.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE AT THE CAPITAL ON JANUARY 6?

>> THERE WAS A LOT GOING THROUGH MY MIND.

THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT WAS, THERE WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY AND WE JUST DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME WE WERE SCRAMBLING TRYING TO GET TO SAFETY AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE SOMEWHERE THAT WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT COMES NEXT.

WE WERE THERE INTO THE EARLY MORNING TRYING TO FINISH THE JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FULFILLING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY OF CERTIFYING THE VOTE.

>> DID YOU EVER THINK YOUR ACTIVE CLEANING THE ROTUNDA IN THE WAKE OF THE RIOT WOULD RESONATE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE?

>> OR NO, I DID NOT.

I DID NOT EVEN KNOW I WAS BEING PHOTOGRAPHED.

IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE SMALL GESTURE AND I STILL, TO THIS DAY, A YEAR LATER, BELIEVE THAT WHAT I DID WAS NOT REMARKABLE.

IT WAS JUST AN ACTIVE SERVICE.

THE FACT THAT IT HAS RESONATED WITH SO MANY PEOPLE, I THINK, HOPEFULLY, HAS REMINDED US THAT WE NEED POLITICS THAT ARE GROUNDED IN SERVICE AND NOT PARTISANSHIP.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE A LOT MORE HUMILITY AND EMPATHY IN THE WAY THAT WE ENGAGE WITH OTHERS.

I CERTAINLY HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE LAST YEAR THAT THE PHOTOGRAPH HELPED THEM START TO TURN THE CORNER FROM JANUARY 6.

AND UNDERSTAND WHAT COMES NEXT.

>> HAS THE COUNTRY MOVED PAST THAT DAY?

HAVE YOU LEARNED ANYTHING FROM IT?

>> I HOPE WHAT WE WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS THAT WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT.

AND THAT WE NEED TO BE ENGAGED.

I HAVE OFTEN SAID THAT THE OPPOSITE OF DEMOCRACY IS APATHY.

IF WE GIVE UP AND WE JUST TURN OUR BACKS TO WIN.

IF WE JUST SAY WHY BOTHER, I HOPE THE LESSON AND THE LEGACY OF JANUARY 6 IS A NEW ERA OF ENGAGEMENT IN DEMOCRACY.

>> GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENED, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MORE OR LESS DIVIDED TODAY THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO?

>> I WISH I COULD TELL YOU.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MORE DIVIDED TODAY THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO.

I AM DISHEARTENED BY THAT.

I WAS HOPING THAT AT LEAST ONE THING THAT WOULD COME FROM JANUARY 6 IS THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM THAT GETS OUR DEMOCRACY IN A BETTER POSITION TO INFORM SOME UNITY AS OUR COUNTRY DOES AFTER TRAGEDIES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE OPPOSITE HAS HAPPENED TO.

NOT ONLY DID WE NOT UNITE BUT NOW JANUARY 6 HAS BECOME THIS POLITICAL THING THAT HAS BEEN USED TO DIVIDE US FURTHER.

AND THE MISINFORMATION AND POLITICAL PERSONAL BENEFIT HAS MADE IT SUCH THAT WE AS AMERICANS CANNOT EVEN AGREE ON THE SHARED FACTS OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

I FIND THAT TO BE SAD AND DANGEROUS AS WELL IN TERMS OF WHAT COMES NEXT.

>> THAT IS CONGRESSMAN ANDY KIM.

THANK YOU, FOR JOINING US AND REFLECTING ON THAT DAY.

AND SHOWING US THE POWER OF A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS.

>>> NET TO THE PANDEMIC.

NEW JERSEY IS REPORTING A NICE DAY IN A ROW OF MORE THAN 20,000 CASES.

WE HAVE SEEN A SHARP INCREASE TODAY WITH THE MOST CONFIRMED FATALITIES SINCE MAY 2020.

THE CDC RECOMMENDATION LATE YESTERDAY OF THE PFIZER BOOSTER FROM THOSE BETWEEN EIGHT-15- YEAR-OLD CANNOT COMES SOON ENOUGH.

THE SHARP RISE IN CASES IS MAKING MANY BUSINESSES RETHINK PLANS TO BRING EMPLOYEES BACK TO THE OFFICE.

AND MANY PARENTS ARE FACING THE SAME ISSUES THAT THEY DID AT THE BEGINNING BETWEEN REMOTE SCHOOLING FOR THEIR KIDS WHILE THEY WORK FROM HOME.

BUT IS IT ANY DIFFERENT THIS TIME?

LET'S GO TO BRENDA FLANAGAN.

>> Reporter: IT SEEMS UNREAL THAT THIS IS, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A DREAM.

HOW ARE WE LIVING LIFE LIKE THIS.

>> Reporter: JENNA IS WORKING AND ZOOMING FROM HOME AFTER THE DAY CARE CENTER THAT HER DAUGHTER GOES TO CLOSED.

SHE WENT BACK TO WORK FULL-TIME THIS FALL BUT NOW OMICRON HIT.

>> HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR BEING ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME, I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD DO THIS.

I DON'T JUST HAVE TO TAKE OFF DAYS OF WORK.

>> THERE IS NOT A GOOD PLAYBOOK YET FOR HOW TO DO THIS.

>> Reporter: GREG PAULSON HAS A TEAM OF 45 STAFFERS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SERVE THEIR CLIENTS.

MANY WORK FROM HOME BUT SOME CANNOT.

GETTING THE JOB DONE FROM HOME TAKE SOME CREATIVITY.

>> OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TRY TO FIND ANOTHER LOCATION OR MEET ON A PORCH SO THEY CAN MEET IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFER.

WE CANNOT GO TO ZERO RISK BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO VISIT IN PERSON.

>> Reporter: 45% OF EMPLOYEES WORKING FROM HOME, OF THOSE, MORE THAN HALF WOULD PREFER A HYBRID SET UP WHILE 37% WOULD WORK FROM HOME EXCLUSIVELY.

ONLY 9% WANT TO RETURN FULL- TIME TO THE OFFICE.

BOTH OF THE PANDEMIC AND TECHNOLOGIES LIKE ZOOM ARE HELPING THE WORKPLACE SHIFT INCREASINGLY INTO THIS MODE.

>> YOU CAN SAVE A LOT OF TIME BY NOT COMMUTING.

COMMUNITIES CAN SAVE MONEY BY NOT HAVING THE VOLUMES OF OFFICE SPACE THAT THEY NEED.

SO WE ARE SEEING TRANSFORMATION IN THE WORKPLACE.

>> Reporter: BUT AS IT CHALLENGES, THERE ARE PLACES LIKE SUPERMARKETS AND WAREHOUSES THAT ARE FACING PRESSURES WHERE EMPLOYEES NEED FLEXIBILITY, BETTER WAGES AND MORE HELP WITH CHILDCARE.

>> THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO NAVIGATE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR THEIR WORKERS ON THE BUSINESS.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES TAKE DIFFERENT ACTIONS.

IT IS BASED ON WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO.

>> IT GENERALLY I THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT A MELTDOWN OF THE ECONOMY.

>> Reporter: HALF OF HIS 12 PERSON STAFF WAS SENT HOME TO QUARANTINE SO HE HAS HAD TO HIRE OUTSIDE HELP.

AND MANY OF THE EAT IN RESTAURANTS, THAT HE LEASES TWO, ARE GETTING SLAMMED BY OMICRON.

>> WE HAVE A PIZZERIA THAT OWES US $60,000.

I HAVE A WHITE TABLECLOTH RESTAURANT THAT OWES US OVER $100,000.

>> Reporter: SERVICE JOBS ARE ON THE LINE AND THAT IS A LESSON NOT LOST ON REMOTE WORKERS.

>> I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT I HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR AND SUPPORT.

IT IS EXTREMELY CRITICAL THAT THE WORK GETS DONE.

>> Reporter: MOVING FORWARD, ALL THAT HAS CHANGED HOW PEOPLE WORK.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> CHANGES COMING TO THE HIGH COURT.

ONE JUSTICE HAS RETIRED AND ANOTHER WILL BE LEAVING THE STATE SUPREME COURT NEXT MONTH.

GOVERNOR MURPHY CAN NOMINATE A NEW PAIR OF JUSTICES.

BUT THE PICK FOR THE GOVERNOR IS NOT ALWAYS MET WITH APPROVAL.

OUR SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID REPORTS.

>> Reporter: THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT IS NO SMALL COURT WITH IMPACT BEYOND ITS BORDERS.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO RON CHEN.

>> A LOT OF THE WELL-KNOWN AND CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS THAT IT HAS RENDERED, ON THE FINANCING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AMONG OTHERS, THOSE ARE DRAWN FROM PROVISIONS FROM THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

SO A FEDERAL COURT WOULD NOT HAVE RENDERED THOSE BUT THE SUPREME COURT CAN AND HAS RENDERED DECISIONS THAT HAVE CREATED LEGALLY PROTECTABLE RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

>> YOU WANT YOUR BEST AND YOUR BRIGHTEST AS NOMINEES BUT IN THE END, THIS IS A POLITICAL PROCESS WHOSE OUTCOME IS CONTROLLED BY A FEW POLITICIANS CONSTRAINED MOSTLY BY COURTESY.

>> IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE IN GREAT HONOR TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE NEXT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT.

>> FABIANO WAS THE FIRST NOMINATION TO THE SUPREME COURT AND SHE WAS GIVEN SWIFT SENATE APPROVAL BUT THE NEXT PICK, RACHEL ABNER, THAT WAS GOING TO BE REPLACING JUSTICE JAMIE LEVESQUE YEAH HAS BEEN HELD UP BY SENATORIAL COURTESY.

UNDER WHICH ANY SENATOR CAN FREEZE A NOMINEE FROM THEIR COUNTY.

IT IS HOW ANOTHER NOMINEE HAS BEEN HELD UP FOR A YEAR.

>> THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS WHISTLED AT ANY SUGGESTION OF CALLING REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC JUDGES BECAUSE THEY WERE APPOINTED BY ONE OR ANOTHER.

THEY SAY A CERTAIN NUMBER SHOULD BE FILLED BY DEMOCRATS AND ANOTHER BY REPUBLICANS.

>> IT GENERALLY HOLDS THAT THE POTTED PARTY IN CHARGE WILL HOLD AN EDGE ON THE COURT WITH ONE SEAT EMPTY AND ANOTHER LOOMING.

THE CHIEF OF STAFF PROPOSED THAT A CHRISTIE APPOINTEE COULD MOVE UP TO THE TOP COURT.

MAINTAINING BALANCE THAT IS SAID TO BE HELD OUT FOR.

CHEN SAYS SENATORIAL COURTESY AND THE AGREEMENT ON PARTISAN BALANCE HAVE HELD THE COURT TOGETHER AND AVOIDED THE KIND OF IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN NOMINATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT IS BETTER FOR THE LEGITIMACY AND THE STABILITY OF THE COURT.

THAT THE POWER OF THE GOVERNOR, WHICH THEORETICALLY IS TO NOMINATE WHOEVER HE WANTS, TO PUT ON THE COURT, IT IS, IN SOME WAY, HEMMED IN.

>> ALL OF THIS IS SPECULATIVE.

THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT IS PREMATURE TO SAY IT IS PREMATURE TO BE FLOATING IN A NOMINEES.

AND THE GOVERNOR SAYS SHE HAS NOT AGREED TO ANYTHING.

MURPHY IS LIKELY TO HAVE FIVE APPOINTMENTS IF HE COMPLETES HIS SECOND TERM.

AND THEY MAY WANT TO TRY TO STACK A COURT THE ONLY THING STANDING IN THE WAY OF THE GOVERNOR IS THE ENDURING CIVILITY OF UNWRITTEN TRADITIONS BY SENATORIAL COURTESY.

LIKE IT OR NOT.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE ECONOMIC AUTHORITY WAS GRILLED OVER ITS HANDLING OF TAXES.

HAVE THE IMPLEMENTED CHANGES RECOMMENDED IN AN AUDIT?

WE HAVE ALL OF THE TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES FOR RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>> Reporter: A REPORT FROM THE STATE COMPTROLLER OFFICE FINDS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS ADDRESSED MANY OF THE ISSUES WITH THE TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT WERE REVEALED IN A 2019 AUDIT.

THE AUDIT FOUND THAT THE EDA COULD NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT DETAIL DATA TO CONFIRM WHETHER JOBS WERE CREATED OR RETAINED BY CERTAIN COMPANIES RECEIVING TAX BREAKS.

BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER SAYS THE EDA HAS FULLY IMPLEMENTED MANY RECOMMENDATIONS BUT SOME HAVE ONLY BEEN PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED SO THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE STAYING ON TOP OF THESE COUNTRIES TO MAKE THE MATH WORK TO ENSURE THAT THE TAX BREAKS CONTINUE TO BE A NET BENEFIT FOR NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS.

RATHER THAN SOMETHING THAT THE COMPANIES RECEIVE, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT LIVING UP TO THE PROMISES THAT THEY MADE AT THE TIME THAT THEY RECEIVED THE TAX BREAK.

>> Reporter: IN RESPONSE TO THE COMPTROLLER REPORT, THE EDA SAYS THEY HAVE A NEW APPLIANCE DIVISION THAT HAS SAVED $350 MILLION FROM IMPROVED OVERSIGHT.

>>> A NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL MERGER IS COMPLETE.

PROVIDERS SAY UNDER THE PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED TWO MONTHS AGO, TRINITY WILL BE ABLE TO SHARPEN ITS FOCUS ON COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AS WELL AS EXPAND CLINICAL SERVICES.

>>> EVER-CHANGING COVID-19 IS IMPACTING RETAILERS.

WALMART IS CUTTING ITS PANDEMIC RELATED PAID LEAVE NOW THAT THE TIME PERIOD FOR QUARANTINING HAS BEEN REDUCED.

>>> MACY'S IS SHORTENING ITS STORE HOURS FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH AS A WAY TO MANAGE STAFFING SHORTAGES.

>>> IT IS TIME NOW TO LOOK AT TODAY'S NUMBERS FROM WALL STREET.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES FROM TODAY.

>>> MAKE SURE YOU TUNE INTO NJ BUSINESS WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

SHE IS FOCUSING ON BUSINESS IN NEW JERSEY FOR 2022.

CHECK IT OUT ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE PAGE SATURDAYS AT 10:00 A.M. ♪ >>> OF FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS DEALING WITH GREENHOUSE GAS LIKE CARBON DIOXIDE.

NEW JERSEY HAS LAID OUT PLANS TO SLASH THE STATE CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROBLEM BY TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM BURNING FOSSIL FUELS BUT FINDING WAYS TO PULL HARMFUL GASES OUT OF THE YEAR AIR IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

THAT IS WERE RESEARCHERS ARE HELPFUL HOPEFUL THAT THE GARDEN STATE FARMERS CAN HELP.

ALYSSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

IT >> Reporter: IT IS TIME FOR THIS COW TO QUENCH HIS THIRST.

HE MAY NOT REALIZE IT BUT HE AND THE OTHER CATTLE ON THE GRASSLANDS AT DUKE FARMS ARE HELPING TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WE KNOW KILES, WE KNOW THAT THE VEGETATION IN THE SOIL IS OFTEN HEALTHIER BECAUSE THE INCREASE ORGANIC MATTER.

AND THAT MAKES PLANTS HEALTHIER WITH DEEPER ROOTS.

>> Reporter: AN OVERALL BENEFIT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS CARBON DIOXIDE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN GREENHOUSE GASES DRIVING CLIMATE CHANGE, IS REMOVED FROM THE AIR.

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.

>> Reporter: MARJORIE IS FROM RUTGERS AND HER TEAM CONDUCTED A STUDY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT FARMERS CAN ASSIST WITH MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE BY PULLING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE AIR AND STORING IN VEGETATION.

>> WHAT FARMERS CAN DO IS THEY CAN PUT DOWN COVER CROPS AND DO NO TILL AGRICULTURE.

THEY CAN HELP TO NOT ONLY SEQUESTER CARBON BUT THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR HEALTH AND THEY CAN PRODUCE AND MAKE ITS WAY INTO STREAMS.

>> AT DUKE FARMS THEY ARE USING ROTATIONAL GRAZING.

THEY DECIDED TO GIVE THIS A SHOT USING COWS AFTER REALIZING THAT HAY WAS CAUSING HARM TO ENDANGERED GRASSLAND BIRDS.

>> THIS IS USING ECOLOGY AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT FARMS ITSELF.

WHAT WAS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR?

WHAT HELPED US WAS BISON HERDS.

AND THEY WOULD DO A DIFFERENT KIND OF GRAZING.

THIS IS A WAY OF MIMICKING THAT.

THE IDEA IS THAT YOU MOVE THE COWS AROUND BASED ON DIFFERENT THINGS.

USUALLY IT IS THE HEIGHT OF THE GRASS.

THE IDEA IS TO MOVE THE MIDDLE OF THE PASTOR REST.

>> SOIL ORGANIC MATTER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SOIL QUALITY FACTORS.

GENERALLY, MORE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER MAKES FOR BETTER CONDITIONS FOR PLANT GROWTH.

AND RESILIENCE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THAT ORGANIC MATTER IS A STORAGE PLACE FOR THE CARBON.

SO, THE MORE CARBON THAT WE CAN GET INTO THE SOIL THROUGH PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND THE PLANTS AND GET IT INTO THE SOIL, STORED IN THE SOIL LONG-TERM, THAT WILL HELP US TO SOME EXTENT DRAW DOWN THE CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

>>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE PROPOSED A NATURAL LAND STRATEGY WHICH OFFICIALS ESTIMATE COULD REMOVE 11 TONS OF CARBON FROM THE AIR THROUGH FOREST AND WETLANDS LIKE THIS ONE.

>> WE NEED TO REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL USE.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

AND WE CAN HELP OUT THOSE PLANS BY FIGURING OUT WHAT PRACTICES CAN HELP MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IF YOU MISSED IN THE OF THE BIG HEADLINES TONIGHT, TUNE INTO ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ.

HE WILL BE TALKING WITH DECLAN TO SCANLAN ABOUT THE STATE OF SCHOOLS AND COVID-19 AS WELL AS REDISTRICTING IN THE STATE.

THAT IS SATURDAY AT 10:00 AGAIN.

THANK YOU, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING SCHOOLS GREAT.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>>> AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED.

AND, PSE&G, DEDICATED TO A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

LEADERSHIP IS PROVIDED BY THE SIMON PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT.

WITH ADDITIONAL MAJOR FUNDING FROM SUE AND ED KERR WALKING CHAIM.

AND PATTY ESCORTS CONNOR.

MAJOR SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE MARK COST FOUNDATION AND SUE AND WALKING CHAIM THE THIRD AND THE CHERYL MILSTEIN FAMILY.

>>> THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED AND PSE&G.

WE PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY-CHAIN AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

OCEAN WIND, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.