>>> RWJBARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT, BY OR STATE.

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

>>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI .

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THE STATE IS ONCE AGAIN IN THE MIDST OF AN OPPRESSIVE WAVE OF HEAT MAKING MOST OUTDOOR SUMMER ACTIVITIES UNBEARABLE.

A TRIP TO THE SHORE EVEN MORE INVITING.

BUT BEACHES IN MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES THIS WEEK HAD TO WAVE OFF SWIMMERS SEVERAL TIMES AFTER PILES OF MEDICAL WASTE WASTE WASHED UP ALONG SHORELINES.

>> Reporter: IN A SUMMER WEEK THAT HAS TEMPERATURES SOARING INTO 90s, AS MANY AS FIVE BEACHES WERE SHUT DOWN DUE TO MEDICAL WASTE WASHING ASHORE.

>> I FIRST HEARD THAT WE WERE SEEING MEDICAL WASTE AND NEEDLES ON THE SHORE IN MONMOUTH COUNTY THIS WEEKEND.

AND IT IMMEDIATELY HIT ME AS THE BATTLE DAYS, YOU LITERALLY HAD HUNDREDS OF BEACHES CLOSED AT THE SHORE IN THE LATE 80s AND EARLY 90s BECAUSE OF IT .

>> Reporter: DOUG O'MALLEY SAID THAT WAS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE OR COMPANIES DUMPING SUPPLIES INTO THE OCEAN.

THIS TIME IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

>> WE HAD A DOOZY OF A TROPICAL STORM.

>> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE SANITARY SEWER AND THE STORM SEWER SOME OF THE SANITARY WASTE GETS INTO THE WATER OF NEW YORK HARBOR AND FLOATS OUT.

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE AT HOME FLUSH INSULIN NEEDLES DOWN THE TOILET, AND THEY SHOULDN'T, IN OLDER CITIES THERE ARE THESE COMBINED SYSTEMS AND WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THEM IS WHEN THERE IS TOO MUCH RAINWATER, THE COMBINED SYSTEM WILL BYPASS THE TREATMENT PLANT AND DIRECT THE DISCHARGE TO A WATERWAY WITHOUT TREATMENT.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY HOME USE DIABETIC TYPE SYRINGES WASHED UP IN LONGBRANCH AND MONMOUTH BEACH ON SUNDAY.

OFFICIALS CLOSED BEACHES IN THOSE AREAS FOR THE DAY AND OPENED BACK UP THE NEXT MORNING.

THEN, MORE DEBRIS WAS SPOTTED IN POINT PLEASANT BEACH AND TOMS RIVER ON WEDNESDAY.

BEACHES IN THOSE AREAS ALSO SHUT DOWN TO CLEAN FOR THE DAY AND REOPENED ON THURSDAY.

>> HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE TAKEN THE RIGHT STEP I CLOSING THEM, THEY ARE LOOKING TO REMOVE THE NEEDLES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE STILL ABOUT 200 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THAT'S AN ISSUE AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FIX THAT ANTIQUATED SYSTEM.

>> THERE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT AND HAVE ALREADY INSTALLED MANY OUTFALLS TO CATCH ANY ITEMS.

>> NEW YORK DOESN'T HAVE PROTECTION ON ALL OF ITS OUTFALLS, SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE DISCUSSING WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS.

>> Reporter: THEY INSIST THE WATER QUALITY IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST.

>> WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE DAY MAINTENANCE FOLKS UP IN THE AIR, FLYING OVER OUR COASTLINES COLLECTING DATA ABOUT THE CLEANLINESS OF OUR WATERWAYS.

AND WE COUPLE THAT WITH ON THE GROUND SAMPLING OF WATERWAYS ALONGSIDE OUR LOCAL PARTNERS.

>> Reporter: JOHN O'CONNOR IS HAPPY TO SEE THE BEACH OPEN BUT IS NERVOUS FOR HIS GRANDSONS HERE.

>> IT'S SCARY, I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET HURT .

>> Reporter: THIS GIRLS WEEKEND IS PROCEEDING AS NORMAL.

>> I AM TRUSTING THAT IT IS SAFE TO GO IN.

>> Reporter: DOES THE STATE BELIEVE WE ARE IN THE CLEAR AS FAR AS MORE SYRINGES APPEARING?

>> WE LOOK AT A NUMBER OF THINGS, THE CURRENT, THE WINDS AND OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT WE ARE PROBABLY THROUGH THIS BOUT OF WASHUP.

>>> HOW ABOUT A SHORTER COMMUTE UP AND DOWN THE COASTLINE?

OR THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.

AMTRAK AND A GROUP OF TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES ARE PROPOSING A 15 YEAR PLAN TO MAKE IT A REALITY.

UPDATING ONE OF THE BUSIEST SECTIONS OF RAILROAD IN THE NATION AND GETTING THE REGION READY FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL TRAVEL.

AS WITH EVERY INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, OR IS JUST ONE BIG HURDLE, THE COST.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: BULLET TRAINS IN EUROPE AND ASIA ROCKET ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE, NOT HERE.

IN FACT, JERSEY RAIL STILL TWEETS ABOUT DELAYS.

THEY SPENT MORE THAN 200 HOURS WAITING FOR SERVICE INTERRUPTED BY SIGNAL PROBLEMS AND POWER OUTAGES ALONG THE CENTURY-OLD TRAIN TUNNELS.

TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES HAILED A NEW PROPOSAL CALLED THE C 35, IT WOULD SPEND $117 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS TO UPGRADE RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.

>> IF WE HAVE A HIGHER SPEED, WE WILL HAVE A MORE ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THAT BROADENS PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO REACH ECONOMIC POWERHOUSES AND CAN IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ACCESS TO JOBS.

SO THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

>> Reporter: THE PRODIGIOUS PLAN WOULD REPLACE MILES OF DILAPIDATED TRACK AND 80-YEAR- OLD OVERHEAD WIRING, STRAIGHTEN OUT CURVES AT SLOW TRAINS DOWN AND FOLD IN EXISTING PROJECTS LIKE GATEWAY WHICH AIMS TO REPAIR CORRODED HEADS AND TUNNELS AND BUILD NEW ONES.

THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR COMMISSION PREPARED THE REPORT AND PROMISES FASTER, MORE FREQUENT TRAINS.

THIS INCLUDES A DOUBLING OF TRANSIT PEAK HOUR SERVICE.

>> SOME CASES WE ARE FULLY PULLING NEW TRACKS DOWN AND THAT JUST LEADS TO A MORE RELIABLE SERVICE THAT CUSTOMERS CANNOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH SO MANY DELAYS IN ORDER TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

>> Reporter: CURRENTLY, THEY CAN GO 150 MILES PER HOUR OVER SHORT STRETCHES.

THESE GOALS INCLUDE INCREASING CHAIN SPEEDS, ADDING A MOST 270 ROUNDTRIPS AND REDUCING TRAVEL TIME.

ESPECIALLY BETWEEN MAJOR HUBS LIKE NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON.

>> WE CAN CUT OVER AN HOUR OF TIME.

>> Reporter: JASON ABRAMS SAYS THE C 35 PLAN INVOLVES EIGHT STATES AND NINE AGENCIES INCLUDING AMTRAK AND NJ TRANSIT BUT IT COULD GO OFF THE RAILS OVER FUNDING.

$100 BILLION GAP.

COAXING THAT MUCH CASH AND WRANGLING SPENDING AGREEMENTS AMONG THAT MANY PARTNERS COULD MAKE HERDING CATS LOOK EASY.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS, THEY ARE BEING EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF PERFECT SOLUTIONS AND THE RESULT IS A PRICE TAG NOBODY CAN AFFORD.

SIX OUT OF SEVEN DOLLARS ARE UNFOUND, NO ONE WILL PROVIDE THE REST OF THAT MONEY.

AND THE PROBLEM THEN IS THAT YOU DO A LITTLE BIT OF THE WORK AND DON'T GET MUCH BENEFIT.

>> THIS REPORT COMES OUT AT AN OPPORTUNE TIME, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION IN DC THAT IS FOCUSING ON OUR DELAYED ATTENTION TO OUR NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESPECIALLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

>> Reporter: THE NATION HASN'T EMBARKED ON A AMBITIOUS TRANSPORTATION PROJECT SINCE THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ACT IN 1956.

AS PEOPLE SLOWLY RETURN TO OFFICES, THEY WILL DEMAND RELIABLE TRANSIT.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO KEEP IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE.

>>> BLAME IT ON THE PANDEMIC, A TUMULTUOUS ELECTION SEASON LAST FALL IT APPEARS VOTER BURNOUT IS REAL.

FEWER RESIDENTS VOTED IN THE JUNE PRIMARY WITH TURNOUT AT JUST 19%.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO REPORTING BY OUR SENIOR WRITER COLLEEN O'DAY AND DESPITE CANDIDATES RAISING A RECORD AMOUNT OF CASH.

TURNOUT HAS BEEN TRENDING DOWNWARD IN THE STATE FOR YEARS BUT GOT A LITTLE BUMP IN 2017 THANKS TO CONTESTED PRIMARIES FOR BOTH PARTIES AND AN OPEN GOVERNOR C. IT'S UNCLEAR HOW THIS LOW INTEREST WILL AFFECT THE RACES IN NOVEMBER, ESPECIALLY FOR CANDIDATES IN SOUTH JERSEY'S SECOND DISTRICT.

ONE OF THE FEW IN THE STATE WHERE REPRESENTATION IS SPLIT AMONG BOTH PARTIES AND A SENATE SEAT IN THE GOP IS UP FOR GRABS.

MICHAEL AARON WENT ON THE RECORD WITH DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLYMAN VINCE MASSEY OF WHO IS IN A HEATED RACE WITH FORMER ASSEMBLYMAN FOR THE SPOT.

>> HOW IS YOUR RACE FOR STATE SENATOR?

>> I ALWAYS RUN MY RACES BEHIND, I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT MY EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR ATLANTIC CITY, I AM VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD -- BEING A SMALL BUSINESSPERSON, I'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY ALMOST 40 YEARS AND I KNOW HOW THE PANDEMIC WAS A DRASTIC EFFECT ON A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO WE PUT TOGETHER A $35 MILLION GRANT THAT HELPS RESTAURANTS AND BARS.

I WAS A PRIMARY SPONSOR FOR THAT, AND 120 MILLION FOR MICRO BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY WERE AFFECTED THE MOST.

THIS IS ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES, HE VOTED AGAINST THE SENIOR FREEZE PROGRAM WILL WE PUT THAT IN PLACE A FEW YEARS AGO THAT HAS HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE STAY IN THE STATE.

I LED THE FIGHT ON PUTTING BACK FUNDING FOR WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE AND MY OPPONENT REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST IT.

IT'S A PRETTY PURE PATH, THERE'S NO SECRET THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES IN THE SENATE AND I WILL BRING THEM OUT.

I CERTAINLY FEEL LIKE I AM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ISSUES.

>> THE PANDEMIC WILL PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN THIS RACE.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR HANDLED THE PANDEMIC?

>> HISTORICALLY, UNDER THE TENURE OF GOVERNOR MURPHY I HAVE DISAGREED WITH HIM AND I CERTAINLY DID SOME ON THE PANDEMIC.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF LIES -- LIVES WERE SAVED BECAUSE OF DECISIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR, AND I THINK WE ARE IN A BETTER PLACE AND I AM READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> HOW IS ATLANTIC CITY?

>> THEY ARE DOING PRETTY WELL, THE TOURISM DISTRICT IS CERTAINLY BOOMING.

THE CASINOS ARE DOING WELL.

ATLANTIC CITY IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND QUITE FRANKLY, MY OPPONENT IS RUNNING WITH THE FORMER MAYOR WHO LED ATLANTIC CITY TO ALMOST VACANCY.

THE STATE HAD TO STEP IN AND DO LEGISLATION TO TAKE OVER.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION AND THE CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY IS VERY GOOD RIGHT NOW, WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WILL CONTINUE.

THE PANDEMIC PUT A BUMP IN THE ROAD BUT I THINK WE ARE CERTAINLY SEEN BETTER DAYS.

>> STATE SENATE CANDIDATE FOR SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, GREAT SEEING YOU.

>>> THIS IS THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE DAY THE STATEWIDE NUMBER OF NEW COVID-19 CASES IS SHOWING A TREND INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS WARNED ABOUT.

NEW DAILY INFECTION RATES STEADILY TAKING UP.

516 POSITIVE TESTS AND TWO ADDITIONAL DEATHS BEING REPORTED.

THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW WHERE THAT IS ABOVE 400.

STILL FAR LOWER THAN WE WERE JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, BUT WITH SUMMER GATHERINGS PICKING UP AND DELTA NOW THE PREDOMINANT VIRUS STRAIN IN THE STATES, HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THERE IS A GREATER THREAT OF INFECTION.

PRIMARILY AMONG THE UNVACCINATED.

DESPITE VACCINATION NUMBERS, AND ANALYSIS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS CONFIRMS THE VIRUS IS SPREADING FASTER THAN IT WAS THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES SURPASSED THE AMOUNT RECORDED ON THE SAME DAY IN 2020.

THAT IS WHEN WE WERE IN THE THICK OF THE PANDEMIC.

HEALTHCARE WRITER LILO STAINTON IS HERE WITH THE LATEST.

WE HAVE TO POINT OUT THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND LAST IS THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED.

>> RIGHT, ON THE FLIPSIDE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESTRICTIONS WE HAD LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE A NEW VARIANT.

THAT KIND OF CHANGES THE MATH.

IT'S ALWAYS A SHIFTING GROUND UNDERNEATH US, WE HAVE NEW TYPES OF SOCIAL MANDATES, BUT WE HAVE NEW VARIANTS SO THERE ARE NEW RISKS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE 5 MILLION PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>> YOU AND COLLEEN WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE DATA, HOW MANY DAYS OUT OF LAST MONTH WERE THESE NUMBERS HIGHER THAN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR AND IS THERE ANY WAY TO TELL IF THE CASES WERE ALSO MORE SEVERE?

>> YOU SEE ALL THESE NUMBERS, BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE IT TAKES SEEING THEM VISUALLY.

IT JUST POPPED OUT AT US WHEN WE STARTED TO LOOK AT THIS.

IT WAS NINE DAYS IN THE PAST 30 DAYS WHICH NEW DAILY CASE NUMBERS WERE HIGHER THAN THEY WERE LAST SUMMER.

THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT OUT OF 30 DAYS, BUT AGAIN, THINK OF THE DIFFERENCES.

LAST SUMMER, WE WERE IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS BEHIND US.

ARE THEY MORE SERIOUS?

HOSPITAL NUMBERS ARE LOWER THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR, SO ARE FOLKS IN CRITICAL CARE.

BUT THE SCARY THING IS, LAST YEAR THEY WERE TRENDING DOWN OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS, THIS YEAR THEY ARE STAYING STEADY.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE IN THIS WEIRD KIND OF STASIS WHERE WE WILL STILL SEE 200, 300 NEW CASES A DAY AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A DISEASE THAT SCIENCE SAYS CAN BE ESSENTIALLY AVOIDED WITH A VACCINE THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE AND FREE.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, WE SEE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY PUTTING SOME RESTRICTIONS BACK IN PLACE BECAUSE OF NUMBERS.

AND OVERSEAS, IN ENGLAND, THEY ARE SAYING LISTEN, WE JUST HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THIS.

WHAT IS THE MIDDLE GROUND FOR NEW JERSEY BASED ON THE DATA?

>> THAT'S THE AREA WHERE I REALLY DON'T KNOW, BUT JUST FROM COVERING THIS AND LISTENING TO THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS ABOUT THIS, I CAN'T SEE THEM GOING BACK TO A LOT OF MANDATES AT THIS POINT.

WE STILL WEAR MASKS WHEN WE ARE IN MEDICAL SETTINGS OR PUBLIC TRANSIT, SO THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IT'S SORT OF GOING TO BE THE NORM.

>> LILO STAINTON MY GREAT WORK FOR YOU AND COLLEEN O'DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> ONE OF THE STATES MAJOR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS ISN'T TAKING A CHANCE ON VACCINATION RATES AMONG EMPLOYEES.

HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH IS JOINING RWJBARNABAS HEALTH IN REQUIRING ALL WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED FOR COVID-19.

ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF POSITION EXECUTIVE, THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM SEES MANDATORY VACCINES AS THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM THE SPREAD OF DEADLY VARIANCE.

MORE THAN 70% OF THE STAFF AT HACKENSACK ARE CURRENTLY VACCINATED, THE REST WILL HAVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 15th TO GET THEIR SECOND DOSE OR FACE TERMINATION.

A SPOKESPERSON SAYS LIMITED EXEMPTIONS MAY BE GRANTED FOR THOSE WITH A QUALIFYING METAL GOOD CONDITION OR RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

>>> FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR A JOB, THE STATE HAS BEEN ON A SIX MONTH STREAK ADDING ANOTHER MONTH OF JOBS GAINS IN JUNE.

MORE THAN 16,500 ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA.

WHILE IT LOOKS LIKE THE LABOR MARKET AND ECONOMY ARE BOUNCING BACK, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TELLS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT STORY.

IT ROSE AGAIN TO 7.3%.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE JOB MARKET WHEN SO MANY EMPLOYERS SAY THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL VACANT POSITIONS?

WE ASKED MICHELLE SEGOVIA FOR TONIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS TO BE FILLED, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TAKING UP SLIGHTLY, IS THERE A VERY CLEAR ANSWER THAT WE CAN POINT TO AS TO WHY THIS IS?

>> WE HAD WORKFORCE CHALLENGES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BUT WE HAVE A HIRING CRISIS THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED.

WHEN YOU SAY WE ARE BRINGING BACK JOBS BUT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT WE HAVE HAD IN WELL OVER A DECADE, WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT?

WE LOOK AT IT IN THREE WAYS, REMOTE WORK.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE OUT THERE SAYING REMOTE WORK WORKS AND IF MY COMPANY IS TELLING ME I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE, I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL LEAN INTO REMOTE WORK AND I WANT MORE FLEXIBLE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

SO COMPANIES ARE GRAPPLING WITH THAT RIGHT NOW AND WHAT A RETURN TO THE OFFICE MEANS FOR NONRETAIL AND PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK REMOTE.

THE SECOND PIECE OF THIS IS COMPETITION FOR POSITIONS.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON HERE IS ORDINARILY, YOU WOULD HAVE COMPETITIONS IN A PARTICULAR INDUSTRY IN A VERTICAL.

IT WOULD BE COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER.

WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IS COMPETITION GOING ON ACROSS ALL INDUSTRY.

THE EXAMPLE I WANT TO GIVE YOU IS RESTAURANT WORKERS WHO ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CENTER OPENS UP THE BLOCK AND THEY ARE PAYING 25 AN HOUR TO START.

THE RESTAURANT WORKER SAYS, I AM GOING AMAZON BECAUSE I CAN GET 25 AN HOUR.

THE ARTIFICIAL INFLATION OF ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE LABOR SHORTAGE IS CREATING BIG CHALLENGES AND ESPECIALLY EVEN IN MORE VULNERABLE JOBS LIKE HOME HEALTHCARE AND CHILDCARE.

PEOPLE ARE SAYING IF I CAN MAKE MORE MONEY IN WHAT I WOULD CALL AN EASIER POSITION, WHY WOULD I TAKE A TOUGH JOB?

THAT'S THAT COMPETITION.

OF COURSE THIS ISSUE OF WORKFORCE SKILLS, BEFORE WE HAD COMPANIES THAT WERE FOCUSED ON HIRING PEOPLE WITH THE SKILL SET THAT DROVE THE HIGHER SALARY, NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FILL SEATS, BEHIND ALL OF THIS.

>> HOW DO WE LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD?

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT JOBS AND HAVE PAID HISTORICALLY LOW BUT THEN YOU HAVE A BUSINESS OWNER THAT SAYS WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS FOR THE LONG TERM AND STAY OPEN, IT IS A HUGE CONCERN.

>> IT'S ONE THING TO RUSH TO PLAY THE HIGHER WAGE NOW, HOPING THAT YOU HAVE TO GENERATE ENOUGH ISSUE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRIANA .

>>> FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, THE NABISCO PLANT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LARGEST PRODUCERS OF OREO COOKIES.

AN INSTITUTION IN THE STATE AND AN EMPLOYER FOR GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES.

PARENT COMPANY CONFIRMS THE FACTORY BAKED IT'S FINAL BATCH OF COOKIES.

IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MANY OF THE 600 EMPLOYEES WILL BE WITHOUT JOBS, BUT A COMPANY SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE MAJORITY OF RETIRED, TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE COMPANY OR FOUND WORK ELSEWHERE.

THE CLOSURE WAS ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY ALONG WITH ANOTHER PLAN IN ATLANTA.

THIS SHOCK IS STILL SETTING IN FOR NEIGHBORS WHO SAY THEY WILL MISS THE SWEET SMELLS OF COOKIES, CAKES AND CRACKERS THAT HAS FILLED THE AIR FOR SO MANY YEARS.

HERE'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS ON WALL STREET.

>>> TODAY MARKS THE END OF THE FIRST EVER SUMMER LEARNING WEEK IN NEW JERSEY.

DEDICATED TO MAKING UP FOR ACADEMIC AND SUMMER LEARNING LOSS.

ALL MADE WORSE BY THE PANDEMIC AND NEARLY AN ENTIRE YEAR OF REMOTE LEARNING.

THE UNITED WAY OF GREATER NEWARK IS GIVING GRANT MONEY TO SEVERAL PROGRAMS.

>> EXPERIENCING WHAT IT MEANS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

>> IT IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE.

THESE STUDENTS ARE SPENDING THE SUMMER FOCUSING ON SOCIAL ISSUES AND HOW THEY CAN WORK TO SOLVE THEM.

>> THIS PROGRAM HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT YOUTH ORGANIZING BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES OF RACISM, AND HOW TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT RACISM.

>> OUR ORGANIZATION HAS A YEAR- ROUND FELLOWSHIP.

IT STARTS IN THE SUMMER WHERE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WORK ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER TO ADDRESS REAL-WORLD ISSUES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> ONE OF THIS WEEK'S LESSONS, HOW TO CREATE A PODCAST.

THE GOAL IS TO REALLY TAKE THEM THROUGH UNDERSTANDING HOW TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES THROUGH MEDIA BY USING PODCASTS.

>> STUDENTS GOT TO DECIDE A FOCUS AREA AND DECIDE WHICH GUESTS TO INVITE.

>> TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT IS THAT KIDS MAY OR MAY NOT BE RECEIVING FAVORITISM IN SCHOOL AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD AS THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL.

I WOULD PROBABLY BRING IN A LOT OF TEACHERS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEWARK AND CHARTER SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY SUFFER FROM A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES.

>> HAS PARTNERED WITH THE NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> THE GRANT WE GIVE OUT WAS PART OF AN INITIATIVE FOR SUMMER LEARNING WEEK IN ORDER TO COMBAT LEARNING LOSS.

>> THE GEM PROJECT APPROACH REALLY STOOD OUT.

>> THE FACT THAT THE STUDENTS WILL BE RECORDING THEIR OWN PODCAST, IT'S AN ESSENTIAL SKILL FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE MEDIA SAVVY, AND IT'S A TRANSFERABLE SKILL.

>> HOW DO YOU FILL THE GAPS OF SUMMER LEARNING LOSS WITH A PROGRAM LIKE THIS?

>> IT STILL REQUIRES THEM TO DO RESEARCH, READ AND WRITE, IT STILL REQUIRES THEM TO PARTICIPATE WITH OTHERS IN TERMS OF DOING RESEARCH AND GROUP PROJECTS TOGETHER.

ALL OF THAT, AND MAKING SURE THEY DON'T EXPERIENCE THAT OVER THE SUMMER.

>> NEWARK MAYOR SAID HE COMMENDS UNITED WAY FOR GETTING MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES INTO THE HANDS OF THE INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE EXPANDING ACCESS TO QUALITY SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES.

>> I THINK I AM LEARNING TOWARDS HISTORIC JUSTICE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S VERY NICE TO SEE THIS PROMOTED AS A SUMMER PROGRAM.

>> THE CONNECTIONS YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH YOUR EMOTIONS AND HOW TO FACE THESE ISSUES THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> FOR THESE GIRLS, AND EVEN BIGGER LIFE LESSON.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG OR OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS BRIANA VANNOZZI, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, HAPPY FRIDAY AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.