>> FUNDING, PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

WJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT.

AND PS AG.

CREATED TWO CREATION OF NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH RIHANNA.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I'M RIHANNA.

THIS JULY 4th HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS LOOKING A LOT LIKE THOSE OF YEARS PAST AND IF YOU'RE STILL PACKING UP AND HITTING THE ROAD, YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF COMPANY.

TRAVEL VOLUME IS EXPECTED TO SPIKE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

YOUR PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS AAA NEW JERSEY SAYS THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP WILL BE THE MODE OF CHOICE FOR MORE THAN 1 MILLION TRAVELERS AND WHO CAN BLAME THEM AFTER ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS OF HEAVY COLORED RESTRICTIONS, RESIDENTS ARE READY TO LET THEIR HAIR DOWN.

IN FACT, INDUSTRY EXPERTS PREDICT TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY AND SKYWAYS COULD LOOK MORE LIKE THANKSGIVING.

CLOSE TO 50 MILLION PEOPLE NATIONALLY.

COULD IT PROPEL A MAJOR REBOUND FOR THE TRAVEL ECONOMY?

JOINING AGNES REPORTS.

>> WE ARE COMING THROUGH NEWARK TO GO TO A FOUR DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL IN SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

>> COME TO VISIT THE CITY, GET OUT OF JUPITER FOR A WHILE AND JUST EXPERIENCED A CITY WHICH I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IN A WHILE.

>> THEY ARE PACKING THEIR BAGS AND TAKING TO THE SKIES AND THE ROADS MANY TRAVELERS GETTING OUT OF DODGE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 16 MONTHS.

FOR SOME, NEWARK AIRPORT IS JUST A PASS-THROUGH.

OTHERS, ARE RETURNING HOME LIKE BREANNA SIMPSON, FLYING BACK FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> LIKE GOING THERE WAS PRETTY BUSY.

BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO GO DOWN SOUTH AND STUFF.

BUT, THE FLIGHT BACK WAS NOT AS MUCH BECAUSE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO COME BACK TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, JERSEY.

>> FOR LINDA, JERSEY IS THE DESTINATION.

>> I'M GOING TO GO TO THE JERSEY SHORE ONE DAY.

WE HAVE A FULL ITINERARY.

>> AND SO DO MILLIONS.

47.7 MILLION NATIONALLY ACCORDING TO AAA, WILL BE HEADING OUT OF TOWN THIS WEEKEND.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY, -- >> WE ARE EXPECTING 1.27 MILLION NEW JERSEYANS TO TRAVEL 50 MILES OR MORE FROM HOME THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

AIR TRAVEL IS UP 165% OVER THE LAST YEAR.

IT IS CERTAINLY GOOD NEWS FOR THE ECONOMY.

THINGS ARE COMING BACK.

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

YEAH.

YEAH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING FREE TO GO BACK OUT AND TRAVEL AGAIN AND DO THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, GET ON WITH THEIR NORMAL LIVES.

>> THEY SAY THAT THURSDAY, JULY 1st AND MONDAY JULY 5th BE THE BUSIEST DAYS FOR AIRLINE SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

EVEN WITH THE 2 MILLION PASSENGERS WHO ARE TAKING TO THE SKIES DURING A SIX-DAY PERIOD, THAT IS STILL ONLY 70% OF THE PASSENGERS WHO FLEW DURING THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019.

>> 90% OF THOSE TRAVELING ARE GOING TO GO BY CAR.

WE ARE EXPECTING OUR ROADWAYS TO BE EXTREMELY BUSY.

>> THAT TRAVEL COULD BE COSTLY AS GAS PRICES IN NEW JERSEY HAVE CLIMBED TO $3.14 PER GALLON.

TWO CENTS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF A CAR IF YOU ARE RENTING.

>> OUR CAR RENTAL FOR THE WEEK IS COSTING MORE THAN THE ROUND- TRIP TICKET, WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED.

EVER.

>> CAR RENTAL AGENCIES ARE EXPERIENCING SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

WHEN WE WERE IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE MANY RENTAL AGENCIES THAT ACTUALLY REDUCED THEIR FLEET TO DO SO, THERE IS NOT A LARGE AVAILABILITY OF RENTAL CARS.

SO, BECAUSE OF THAT, THE PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED.

>> STAR SAYS -- >> IT IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO BE OUT OF OUR LIVING ROOM.

>> WITH ALL THE EXTRA CARS ON OUR ROAD, VEHICLE TRAVEL IS BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS AND SO ALSO WILL BE OUR INFAMOUS JERSEY SHORE TRAFFIC.

>> IF YOU HAVE A OFF THE BEATEN PATH ROUTE THAT YOU COULD TAKE OR AN ALTERNATE ROUTE, THAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST MEANS TO GET THERE.

EVEN IF IT IS A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

YOU WOULD PROBABLY STAY MOVING AND NOT BE IN THAT CONGESTION.

>> WILL THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROADS, SAFETY IS CRITICAL.

THAT MEANS SEATBELTS AND DESIGNATED DRIVERS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA.

>> WE HAVE A MASS MIGRATION OF TRAVELERS AND THE QUICKEN PARTIES ARE PUTTING INFECTIOUS DISEASES ON EDGE.

WITH CONCERNS OVER A POSTHOLIDAY SPIKE IN COVID-19 CASES.

CAUSED BY THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY DELTA VARIANT.

AT LEAST NOW, YOU CAN ALSO COUNT JOHNSON & JOHNSON SINGLE- DOSE VACCINE IS BEING LARGELY EFFECTIVE AND PROTECTING AGAINST THE STREAM.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY JUST RELEASED FINDINGS FROM A SMALL STUDY THAT SHOWS VACCINE IMMUNITY LAST AT LEAST EIGHT MONTHS AND GENERATE QUOTE STRONG PERSISTENT ANTIBODIES.

AGAINST DELTA.

THAT MEANS ALL THREE U.S.

AUTHORIZED VACCINES PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST THE KNOWN STRAINS OF THE VIRUS.

ACROSS THE STATE, MORE THAN 5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVED, WORKED , OR GO TO SCHOOL HERE ARE NOW FULLY IMMUNIZED AS 285 NEW POSITIVE TESTS AND FIVE MORE DEATHS ARE REPORTED.

THE RISK POSED BY THE NEW VARIANT FOR UNVACCINATED RESIDENTS AND CAN CONFLICTING GUIDELINES UNMASK WEARING HAS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ON HIGH ALERT THIS HOLIDAY.

QUESTIONING IF IT WILL THREATEN OUR PROGRESS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA, REPORTS.

>> I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO BARBECUE.

SOME JUST GETTING STUFF.

SOME SPANISH COOKING, TAKE WITH ME.

SO, -- >> SHE PACKED ALL THE BARBECUE FIXINGS INTO HER CAR PREPPING FOR HER NEIGHBORS JULY 4th GET TOGETHER IN HIGHLAND LAKES.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST?

>> FOR ONE THING, I'M NOT SCARED UNVACCINATED.

AND WHERE I'M GOING, GOING THERE SO, SO, BEEN VACCINATED.

SO, I FEEL A LOT SAFER.

>> LAST YEAR WAS TERRIFYING.

LAST YEAR, PEOPLE WERE SHUTTERED IN THEIR HOMES AND YOU KNOW, YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE TAKING YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE EVEN LEAVING THE STATE LINE.

SO, THIS FEELS LIKE WE HAVE OUR FREEDOM BACK.

>> ERIKA PARKS ALSO VACCINATED AND HEADED TO VIRGINIA.

FOLKS WHO GOT THEIR COVID SHOTS DON'T WORRY, HEALTH OFFICIALS THIS WEEKEND.

IT IS THE UNVACCINATED ATTENDING JULY 4th PARTIES, PARTICULARLY, INDOOR EVENTS, WHO WERE CAUSING CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT EXPLOSION OF COVID HIGHLY INFECTIOUS AND MORE.THE VARIANT, SAYS MONTCLAIR EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE IS PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THE VACCINE FULLY VACCINATED RATES ARE LOWER.

WE WILL SEE LOCALIZED OUTBREAKS THAT ARE, HAVE NOT ONLY HIGHER CASE NUMBERS, BUT POTENTIALLY, IN A FEW WEEKS, HIGHER HOSPITALIZATION RATES THAN WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

>> MY CONCERN ABOUT THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY IS THAT UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WILL TAKE FULL LIBERTY AND ALL THE LIBERTIES THAT VACCINATED PEOPLE WILL BE TAKING.

>> UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS RECALLS THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THIS PAST MEMORIAL DAY WHEN NEW JERSEY'S RATE OF TRANSMISSION PICKED UP TO ALMOST 1.0 WHERE THE VIRUS SPREADS FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER.

NOW, IT'S CLIMBING AGAIN.

DRIVEN BY THE VERY TRANSMISSIBLE DELTA STRAIN.

NEW YORK CITY'S FIVE BOROUGHS SAW NEW DELTA CASES SKYROCKET FROM 22% LAST WEEK TO 44% THIS WEEK.

IN NEW JERSEY, DELTA COMPRISES 15.6% OF NEW COVID CASES.

AND DELTAS MORE VIRULENT.

>> RIGHT NOW, THE DATA OUT OF THE UK AND ISRAEL ARE SHOWING THAT NOT ONLY IS DELTA ABOUT 60% MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, BUT THAT YOU ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO END UP IN THE HOSPITAL IF YOU ARE INFECTED WITH DELTA, PARTICULARLY, AMONG UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.

>> UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE AT RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE AND DEATH BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

WAYS THAT YOU NEVER WERE BEFORE.

>> MEANWHILE, A NEW POLL RAISED SOME DOUBTS THAT AMERICANS WOULD RUSH BACK INTO FULL FESTIVE MOOD.

IT SHOWS JUST OVER HALF OF ADULTS WILL ATTEND A BARBECUE DOWN FROM ALMOST 70% BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

ONLY 26% WILL ATTEND A FIREWORKS SHOW.

HAVE THE CREDIT WATCHED IN 2019.

NEW JERSEY'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER ADVISED RESIDENTS WHO DO PARTICIPATE IN PARTIES AND CELEBRATIONS TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL.

>> IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO GATHER OUTDOORS WITH GUESTS OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHO MAY BE UNVACCINATED.

UNMASK WEARING, PARTICULARLY, BUT UNVACCINATED SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED.

IN PHYSICAL DISTANCING OF AT LEAST SIX FEET SHOULD BE MAINTAINED FROM THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE WITH YOU.

>> AS PEOPLE POPPED PAPER PLATES AND WATERMELONS INTO THE CARS, THEY ALSO INSISTED THEY ARE TAKING ALL THE PRECAUTIONS.

>> WE HAD ARE GOING TO BE IN THE BACKYARD, ENJOY THE WEATHER, HOPEFULLY, IT IS NICE FOR US, BE WITH CLOSE FAMILY.

ALL OF US ARE VACCINATED.

SO NICE NOT WEAR MASKS.

>> IF IT WASN'T VACCINATED, IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE CAREFUL.

BUT SINCE I AM, YOU KNOW, I FEEL BETTER.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOME KIND OF SUNSHINE.

>> IT WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THE DELTA VARIANT WILL HAVE ON THIS JULY 4th HOLIDAY.

BUT, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE GATHERING TO CELEBRATE, HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE NOT OPTIMISTIC.

I'M BRENDA.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> AS YOU MAKE YOUR PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND, CONSIDER THIS.

ON AT LEAST 35 DAYS LAST YEAR, NEW JERSEY'S BEACHES WERE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE FOR SWIMMING DUE TO HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS.

THE MAJORITY OF THE ISSUE WAS UNCOVERED ON THE BASE SIDE ON THE BARRIER ISLANDS, THAT IS ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT ISSUED THIS WEEK BY A WHOLE LIST OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WHICH SAYS THE BIGGEST CULPRIT WASN'T GARBAGE OR OTHER SIMILAR POLLUTION, IT WAS RAINWATER.

JANINE HAS THE STORY.

>> THE PAY IS THE LARGEST BODY OF WATER IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

IT IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

JULY 4th, EVERYONE COMES DOWN, THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN SWIM AND FISH AND BE SAFE.

>> WATER LOVERS / TO THE BAY IN SEASIDE PARK WHERE SWIMMING, MOTORSPORTS, AND AN ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE MAKE IT A DESTINATION AT THE JERSEY SHORE DURING THE SUMMER.

AND ESPECIALLY THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

>> WATER IS LIFE.

SO, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT.

HAS GOT TO BE CLEAN.

>> A BACTERIA ACTIVELY MAKING PEOPLE SICK.

>> RECENTLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS HAD HIGH NUMBERS.

FOR PEOPLE CALLING FOR ACCOUNTS.

>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAVON CAN BASE HAS THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INSTALLED A PUMPING STATION WHICH DUMPS STORAGE WATER INTO THE BAY.

A RECENT REPORT SHOWS BACTERIA LEVELS EXCEEDED EPA SAFETY LIMITS 35 TIMES LAST YEAR.

THE FIFTH AVENUE BAY PARK BEACH IN SEASIDE PARK WAS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

14 EXCEEDANCES CALLS AT THE BAY BEACH TO CLOSE 12 TIMES.

>> THOSE BACTERIA COUNTS GET INTO OUR BAY, IT IS A SHALLOW BAY.

IT DOESN'T FLUSH OUT THAT REGULARLY IN TERMS OF THE WATER EXCHANGING OUT INTO THE OCEAN.

AND IT GETS WARMER AND WARMER AS THE SUMMER PROGRESSES.

SO, THE MORE RAINWATER THAT FALLS OFF OF THE SERVICES, CARRYING THESE KINDS OF BACTERIA'S, SITTING, HEATING UP, KIND OF COOKING, CREATES THE PROBLEM.

>> THE BACTERIA CAN CAUSE EARACHES, SORE THROAT, AND BACTERIAL INFECTIONS.

>> DEBATE REALLY ISN'T COOL.

BUT IT IS A MASSIVE LAGOON.

SO, EFFECTIVELY, AFTER THE BIG RAIN EVENT YOU HAVE A FLUSHING OF THAT STRONG WATER THAT ENDS UP IN THE BAY AND MAKES IT ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, UNSAFE TO BE IN THE WATER.

>> MR. O'MALLEY SAYS A REPORT IS A TALE OF TWO CHORES.

SAYING THAT THE OCEAN BEACHES HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER.

BUT THE BAY BEACHES, PARTICULARLY BARNEGAT BAY, IS BEING POLLUTED BY STORM RUNOFF.

>> THE MORE DEVELOPED AND WE HAVE MEANS THE MORE POLLUTED STORM WATER.

WE ALSO HAVE STORMWATER DETENTION BASINS THAT HELP TO TRY TO CAPTURE THE STORM WATER AND FILTERED OUT.

BUT, THE REALITY IS A LOT OF THEM ARE AND ACQUITTED.

A LOT OF THEM AREN'T WORKING AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD BE.

>> YESTERDAY, CONGRESS VOTED AND PASSED THE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION ACT.

THAT WOULD INVEST $40 BILLION IN THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND.

6 BILLION OF THAT WOULD GO TOWARD GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ONE TOWN.

DOING GOOD OR BAD.

THIS IS A REGIONAL PROBLEM.

THIS IS A WATERSHED.

A WIDE ISSUE, CERTAINLY, FOR BARNEGAT BAY WATERSHED.

AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO HAVE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BIGGER THAN JUST ONE TOWN.

AND HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEIGHING IN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO FIX OUR GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO INVEST IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE GREEN FILTERS TO STOP POLLUTED STORM WATER FROM HITTING THE BAY.

>> SEASIDE PARK MAYOR SAYS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IS MOST IMPORTANT.

>> WE WOULD WELCOME HELP FROM ANY AND ALL AVAILABLE STATE AGENCIES AND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THAT HAVE IDEAS TO APPLY TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION THAT WAS FOUND LAST YEAR.

>> FOR NOW, THEY SAY PEOPLE SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE BAY AFTER HEAVY RAIN AND PAY ATTENTION TO CLOSURES AND ADVISORIES.

I'M JANINE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> MEANTIME, FOR OVER A WEEK, THE LIST OF SHORT TOWNS CANCELING FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS HAS GROWN LONGER.

MANY LOCAL THEATERS POINT TO A LARGE BEACH PARTY BROKEN UP BY POLICE IN LONGBRANCH ON JUNE 19th AS THE REASON BEHIND THE DECISION.

OTHERS SAY THEY WORRY ABOUT LARGE CROWDS DURING COVID OR NEVER PLANNED FOR THE CELEBRATIONS IN THEIR BUDGET TO BEGIN WITH.

MAMAS COUNTY ALONE, PARK, BEACH, LONGBRANCH, POINT PLEASANT BEACH, AND SEABRIGHT HAVE ALL EITHER CANCELED, POSTPONED, OR NEVER SCHEDULED THE FIREWORKS.

THERE ARE STILL MORE THAN 100 EVENTS PLANNED AND ALL 21 COUNTIES WHERE YOU CAN SEE THIS GUYS LAP.

ESPECIALLY AFTER A MISSED YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WITH COVID RESTRICTIONS ON GATHERINGS NOW LIFTED.

THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC REMAINS THE OTHER ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

BOTH IN OUR STATE AND THE NATION.

MORE THAN 3000 NEW JERSEY LIVES WERE LOST TO DRUG OVERDOSES IN 2020.

THAT IS ABOUT THE SAME AS IN 2019, ACCORDING TO STATE DATA.

BUT, AFTER REMAINING STEADY, DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE NOW ON THE RISE.

IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2021, DRUG-RELATED DEATHS WERE HIGHER THAN IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY, TODAY, SO THE SECOND WAVE THE PANDEMIC IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY TO BLAME.

ASSIGNING A PACKAGE OF SIX BILLS EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG AND MEDICATION -ASSISTED TREATMENT WHILE ANYONE IN THE STATE TO GET AND ADMINISTER NALOXONE.

MURPHY HELD A BILL SIGNING AT A HARM REDUCTION CENTER IN ASBURY PARK WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF NEW JERSEY'S HARM REDUCTION COALITION SAID AS SOMEONE WHO IS ALSO IN RECOVERY FROM AN OPIOID ADDICTION, SHE BELIEVES REMOVING BARRIERS WILL SAVE LIVES.

>> TO MAKE A DENT IN THE OVERALL OVERDOSE CRISIS IN NEW JERSEY, WE NEED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING A PERSON WHO IS LIKELY TO WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE LOCKS ON.

ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS.

PEOPLE WHO USE THESE DRUGS ARE IN RECOVERY, OUR FRIENDS, AND OUR FRIENDS FAMILY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS.

THIS BILL ALLOWS THAT TO ACTUALLY BECOME A REALITY IN NEW JERSEY SO THAT COST LOCATION AND STIGMA WILL NEVER STAND IN THE WAY OF KEEPING ONE ANOTHER ALIVE.

>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT, THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL TODAY.

FOR SOME OF THE ROUGHLY 760,000 ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE STATE.

WHO RECEIVED REBATES OF UP TO $500 AS PART OF A DEAL GOVERNOR MURPHY REACHED WITH LAWMAKERS LAST YEAR.

TO PASS THE MILLIONAIRES TAX.

COUPLES WITH INCOMES BELOW $150,000 IN AT LEAST ONE DEPENDENT CHILD QUALIFY.

ALONG WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE LESS THAN $75,000 PER YEAR AND AT LEAST ONE DEPENDENT CHILD.

IT IS ALL BASED ON 2020 TAX RETURNS AND HITTING VOTERS POCKETS JUST MONTHS BEFORE MURPHY AND ALL 120 LEGISLATORS ARE UP FOR ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

TURNING NOW TO THE MARKETS, AFTER A BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED JUNE JOBS REPORT OUT TODAY, HERE'S A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS ON WALL STREET.

NUTRITIONAL EXPERTS HAVE LONG CALLED THE GUT MICROBIOTA YOUR SECOND BRAIN.

AFFECTING YOUR IMMUNE AND NERVOUS SYSTEMS AND OVERALL HEALTH.

COULD BACTERIA NATURALLY FOUND IN YOUR INTESTINES ALSO BE A WAY TO FIND THE CORONAVIRUS?

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY LAUNCHED A CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY TO TEST WHETHER PROBIOTICS BOOST THE BODY'S NATURAL DEFENSE AGAINST COVID-19.

DR. DANIEL HORTON IS THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR AND SAYS IT COULD LEAD TO POTENTIALLY NOVEL WAY TO FIGHT THIS DISEASE.

DR. HORTON, HOW EXACTLY THROUGH THIS STUDY TO YOU PLAN TO TEST FOR PROBIOTICS AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FIGHTING COVID- 19?

>> WELL, WE ARE GOING TO ENROLL A TOTAL OF 54 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD COVID-19 IN THE PAST.

AND TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO GET PROBIOTICS FOR THREE WEEKS AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THEM OVER A TOTAL OF SIX WEEKS AND THEN MEASURE THEIR OWN IMMUNE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 COMPARING THEM TO COMMIT YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY STARTED TO AFTERWARDS AND SEE WHETHER THOSE WHO GET THE PROBIOTICS HAVE A STRONGER IMMUNE RESPONSE THAN THOSE WHO DIDN'T GET THE PROBIOTICS.

>> AND THESE ARE ALL PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT CORRECT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

SO, WE ARE FOCUSING, AT LEAST FOR NOW, ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID-19 AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THE VACCINES.

>> I GUESS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, WHY PROBIOTICS?

WHY GO THIS ROUTE?

WHAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SPARKED YOU AND OTHERS TO LOOK AT THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, PROBIOTICS ARE CERTAINLY USED FOR MANY DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.

THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE AT, YOU KNOW, LESSENING THE SYMPTOMS OF OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES AND GASTROINTESTINAL CONDITIONS.

THE THOUGHT IS THAT AT LEAST THAT CERTAIN PROBIOTICS MIGHT RESEMBLE THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID ON A MOLECULAR LEVEL.

THAT RESEMBLANCE CAN POTENTIALLY BOOST OUR NATURAL DEFENSES AGAINST INFECTION.

>> WHAT COULD THIS .2?

WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BACTERIA AND OUR MICROBIOTA?

>> YEAH, THERE IS SOME SUGGESTION THAT PEOPLE WHO GET EVEN SICKER WITH COVID-19 HAVE ABNORMAL MICRO-BIOMES AND HAVE WHAT WE CALL THIS BIOSIS.

SO, DISRUPTED MICROBIOTA.

AND SO, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, ONE POTENTIAL WAY THAT CAN BE USED TO TRY TO PRESENT, YOU KNOW, SOME BALANCE AND ALSO TRY TO TRAIN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM USING THE MICROBIOTA.

>> WENDY EXPECTED TO WRAP UP AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MEANS, POTENTIALLY, FOR FOLKS WHO MANY OF US TAKE A PROBIOTIC EVERY MORNING.

SO, TO THINK THAT WE MIGHT BE ADDING AN EXTRA LAYER OF DEFENSE IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, A BIG THOUGHT.

>> YEAH, SO, WE ARE HOPING TO FINISH ENROLLMENT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND YOU KNOW, BASED ON THESE FINDINGS, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE BETTER EVIDENCE TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT PROBIOTICS ARE A PROMISING APPROACH TO PREVENTING INFECTION.

THIS IS BY NO MEANS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE OTHER WAYS OF PREVENTING INFECTION, VACCINATION IS STILL, YOU KNOW, VERY IMPORTANT.

AND POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, IF THESE PROBIOTICS ARE SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE, IN THIS SETTING THAT WE ARE STUDYING, MAYBE IT COULD ALSO BE EFFECTIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

IN STRENGTHENING THAT IMMUNITY MORE.

>> DR. HORTON, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AND WE WILL BE LOOKING TO FOLLOW UP ONCE THIS STUDY IS COMPLETE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> >> IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE SHORE.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN WEST ORANGE REOPENS THE PUBLIC TODAY.

A FEW FACILITIES REMAIN OFF- LIMITS.

IT IS A CHANCE TO STEP BACK IN TIME AND DISCOVER WHERE THE NATION'S GREATEST INVENTOR CHANGED OUR WORLD FOREVER.

RIGHT NOW BACKYARD.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> HE IS CREDITED WITH INVENTING THE LIGHT BULB PEER THE PHONOGRAPH.

FILM, AND MANY OTHER CREATIONS THAT WE USE EVEN MORE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE ENJOY DURING COVID, AS FAR AS ENTERTAINMENT WAS CONCERNED, OUR MUSIC, RIGHT?

RECORDED SOUND, MOVIES.

>> NOW, THE SPACE FOR THOMAS EDISON'S IDEAS WERE BROUGHT TO LIFE IS BACK OPEN FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND HERE AT THE THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN WEST ORANGE.

>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT REOPENING THE MUSEUM.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG AND DIFFICULT JOURNEY, OBVIOUSLY, WITH COVID-19.

IT HAS IMPACTED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND HAS BEEN A LOT OF SADNESS ALONG THE WAY.

BUT, WE ARE EXCITED TODAY ON THE EVE OF JULY 4th TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP OUR BUILDINGS HERE AT THE PARK.

>> REOPENING INCLUDES ACCESS TO THE PARK'S VISITOR CENTER AND EDISON'S MAIN LABORATORY.

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LING FIVE.

>> THIS IS PART OF EDISON'S RESEARCH AND DEVELOP AND LABORATORY COMPLEX.

BUILDING FIVE WAS THE FIRST BUILDING BUILT IN 1887.

AND WHAT THOMAS EDISON WAS TRYING TO DO WITH THIS PART OF HIS CAREER, HE WAS ARTIE FAMOUS, HE WAS STARTING THE EDISON LIGHTBULB, THE PHOTOGRAPH THIS MACHINE.

HE'S DOING BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.

HE PUT THIS COMPLEX.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUTSIDE OF HIS GATES FOR ANYTHING.

SO, IT IS OVER 30,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE.

INSIDE, THERE IS A THREE-TIER LIBRARY HOUSING ANY TYPE OF REFERENCE BOOK YOU CAN ASK FOR.

OVER 10,000 BUCKS.

STOCK BROOM, MACHINE SHOP, EXPERT MENTAL ROOMS.

THIS IS HIS DESK.

ON THE DESK, YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH SEE THAT THOMAS EDISON WAS VERY BUSY.

SOME OF THE CUBBIES ON THE DESKS ARE LABELED NEW THINGS.

BATTERIES.

HE'S WORKING ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

NEVER FOCUSING ON ONE INVENTION AT A TIME.

>> THIS IS WHERE ALL THE MAGIC HAPPENED.

WHERE THOMAS EDISON PUT THOUSANDS OF IDEAS TO THE TEST AND CREATED HISTORY.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MADE HERE.

THE PROJECTOR.

PARTS ARE MADE OUT OF METAL.

PHONOGRAPH PARTS WERE MADE IN THIS BUILDING.

THESE MACHINES AREN'T MEANT FOR MAKING SMALL PARTS.

THEY ARE ALSO MAKING BIG MACHINES.

SO, BECAUSE HE WAS MAKING MACHINES AND ALSO MANUFACTURING HIS OWN INVENTIONS, HE HAD TO MAKE MACHINES TO MANUFACTURE HIS INVENTIONS.

HE WAS ALSO RESEARCHING, EXPERIMENT.

THESE ARE PROTOTYPES.

RECORD HOLE PUNCH MACHINES.

>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DAYS IN MY CAREER AFTER SUCH A DIFFICULT AND ARDUOUS PERIOD OF TIME.

15 MONTHS BEING CLOSED.

IT IS JUST EXCITING TO GET PEOPLE BACK .

THESE NATIONAL PARKS HERE ARE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THEY INSPIRE US.

THEY ENERGIZE US.

THEY PROVIDE US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND EDUCATE AND IT IS JUST SO EXCITING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME BACK AND SHARE ALL THE TREASURES THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THIS NATIONAL PARK OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> COVID PROTOCOLS ARE STILL IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE VISITORS STAY SAFE.

ANYONE WHO ISN'T FULLY VACCINATED MUST WEAR A MASK TO ENTER THE BUILDING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IS ENCOURAGED.

PARK RANGERS SAY THEY HOPE PEOPLE COME OUT IN DROVES AND TAKE PRIDE IN A LITTLE BIT OF NEW JERSEY HISTORY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US ON THIS FRIDAY.

BUT, HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG WHERE ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM BREANNA.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU ON MONDAY.