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

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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

>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

TONIGHT, A STRONG RECOMMENDATION, BUT NOT A MANDATE FROM GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY ASKING ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO ONCE AGAIN MASK UP AND SERVING INDOOR SETTINGS WHERE THERE IS INCREASED RISK REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.

JUST A DAY AFTER FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS TWEAKED THE NATIONWIDE MASS GUIDANCE TO INCLUDE THE FULLY VACCINATED.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS METRICS ARE TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, MOSTLY DUE TO THE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE DELTA VARIANCE, AND A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE COULD RETURN IF NUMBERS GET WORSE.

TODAY, THAT UPWARD SWING CONTINUES WITH 854 NEW CASES AND THREE CONFIRMED DEATHS.

THE DELTA STRAIN, NOW ACCOUNTING FOR 75% OF THE STATES NEW CASES OVER THE LAST FOUR WEEKS FOR THE CDC SAYS IT BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER VARIANTS, AND EVEN THOSE WHO ARE PROTECTED BY THE VACCINES CAN STILL PASS IT ALONG TO OTHERS.

THE NUMBER OF FULLY VACCINATED IS NOW EDGING CLOSER TO 5.3 MILLION IN NEW JERSEY.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS ON WHAT THIS SHIFT IN GARDEN SIGNALS FOR THE COMING MONTHS.

>> Reporter: JUST TWO SHORT MONTHS AGO, JERSEY RESIDENTS ELEVATED FREEDOM FROM MASK MANDATES AFTER SPENDING WHAT FELT LIKE FOREVER UNDER COVER.

>> FREE AT LAST.

>> ABSOLUTELY IT'S ABOUT TIME.

>> THE MASK MANDATES SIGNS REMAIN IN STORAGE IN NEW JERSEY BUT TODAY, GOVERNOR MURPHY CONCURRED WITH THE LATEST CDC GUIDELINES, AND STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT EVERYONE VACCINATED OR NOT RESUME WEARING MASKS AT CROWDED INDOOR VENUES STATEWIDE.

THAT IS A MUCH BROADER SCOPE THAN THE CDCS WHICH ONLY COVERS COUNTIES WITH HIGHER SUBSTANTIAL COVERT INFECTION RATES, AND SEVEN OTHER COUNTIES IN JERSEY.

STILL, IT MARKS A SHARP CHANGE FROM THE CDCS FORM OF POLICY, WHICH FREED VACCINATED FOLKS FROM MOST MASK REQUIREMENTS.

>> I THINK OF MURPHY IS DOING WHAT HE CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, HIS CENTERS ARE VERY MUCH TIED BY THE CDC AND THE CDC SAYS, AND THE CDC IS BEING VERY CAREFUL IN ITS RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE THEY ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT AN AMERICAN POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN PROMISED EVEN FROM THE VACCINATION AND NOW THE STATE TOTAL, MAYBE IT'S NOT THE END.

>> THE CDC IS ALREADY CHANGING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS IN A VACUUM.

>> RECORDS DR. LEWIS NELSON POINTS TO SOARING COVERT CASE RATES DRIVEN BY THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DELTA VARIANCE.

HE SAYS THE CDC REVIVED MASK RECOMMENDATIONS TO TRY AND SLOW DELTA DOWN.

IN BREAKTHROUGH CASES, VACCINATED PEOPLE WHO CONTRACT THE DELTA STRAIN CAN SHOW NO SYMPTOMS, BUT STILL PASS IT ON.

>> SO, YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME VIRUS IN YOUR NOTES.

OR IN YOUR THROAT, AND WHEN YOU'RE IN PUBLIC AND BREATHING AND SNEEZING AND COUGHING OR TALKING, YOU'RE TRANSMITTING THE VIRUS.

>> Reporter: JERSEYS COVERED TRANSMISSION RATES AT THAT 1.5 WHICH MEANS THE VIRUS IS RUNNING HERE AT A CURRENT RATE ONE PREVIOUSLY ACCURATE MODEL PREDICTS A SURGE, PEAKING AT 9000 NEW JERSEY COVEN INFECTIONS A DAY BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, FOLLOWED BY ALMOST 2300 HOSPITALIZATIONS IN MID- OCTOBER, AND 30 DEATHS A DAY BY NOVEMBER 1st.

UNCLEAR EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE SILVERA IS STILL NOT SURE A RENEWED MASK MANDATE WILL DO MUCH.

>> ONCE YOU TAKE AWAY THE MASK MANDATE, IT IS HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO PUT IT BACK ON.

IT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE TO WEAR IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT, WE HAVE A MUCH BETTER TOOL, AND THE BEST THING THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL IS THE VACCINE.

>> Reporter: SHE NOTES THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS CONSIDERING A VACCINE MANDATE FOR FEDERAL WORKERS.

THE VA HAS ALREADY ORDERED ITS STAFF TO GET COVERT SHOTS.

GOVERNOR CUOMO TODAY ANNOUNCED NEW YORK STATE WORKERS WILL ALSO HAVE TO GET VACCINATED FOLLOWING NEW YORK CITY'S EXAMPLE.

>> I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE STARTING TO MOVE AND SHIFT INTO THAT DIRECTION, AND I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF NEW JERSEY DID NOT FOLLOW SUIT.

WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTARILY WANT TO GET THE VACCINE WILL GET IT.

I THINK WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE MANDATING VACCINE IS REALLY THE NEXT NATURAL STEP.

BEYOND THE CDC YESTERDAY ALSO RECOMMENDED MASKS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF AT K-12 SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY SINCE VACCINES ARE NOT YET APPROVED FOR KIDS UNDER AGE 12.

THAT IS LIKELY TO IGNITE MORE CONTROVERSY IN NEW JERSEY WHERE THE GOVERNOR SO FAR HAS LEFT MASK REQUIREMENTS OF TWO INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.

BOTH LAWSUITS AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, NO DEBATE THE ISSUE COVID RARELY MAKES KIDS VERY SICK.

THEY CAN TRANSMIT THE VIRUS, AND EVERY NEW INFECTION GIVES COVEN ANOTHER CHANCE TO MUTATE.

A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR HOSPITAL EXECUTIVES LIKE DR. DAN VARGA.

FEMA IS MY BIGGEST WORRY IS THIS.

WE KNOW THAT THE UNVACCINATED POPULATION IN A PETRI DISH FOR THE CREATION OF VARIANCE.

WE KNOW THAT.

AND, THE LONGER WE LEAVE THAT POOL OF PEOPLE JUST SITTING OUT THERE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE THE VARIANT THAT THE VACCINE DOES NOT WORK AGAINST?

WE ARE BACK TO ZERO.

>> Reporter: I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IT SEEMS EACH DAY BRINGS A NEW ROUND OF VACCINATION MANDATES IN HEALTHCARE AND GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS.

THE STATE'S LARGEST PRIVATE NURSING HOME OPERATOR IS NOW MANDATING VACCINES FOR ALL STAFF.

THAT INCLUDES WORKERS AT SOME 30 FACILITIES IN NEW JERSEY.

THEY JOIN A NUMBER OF HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE TWO LARGEST, RW J BARNABAS HEALTH, AN UNDERWRITER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS AND HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH, MANDATING ALL STAFF GET VACCINATED OR FACE TERMINATION.

AND AS YOU HEARD IN BRENDA FLANAGAN'S REPORT, ONE OF THE STRICTEST MANDATES COMES FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

GET A VACCINE WITHIN A 8 WEEKS, OR LOSE YOUR JOB.

BUT SO FAR, GOVERNOR MURPHY IS NOT KNOWING IF HE WILL REQUIRE THE SAME FROM JERSEYS VA WORKERS, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING A LESS RIGID VACCINE MANDATE FOR ALL CIVILIAN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, EITHER GET VACCINATED, OR SUBMIT TO WEEKLY TESTING.

IF AN OUNCE, THAT MANDATE WOULD INCLUDE MORE THAN 20,000 FEDERAL WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY.

MEANWHILE, JACK CHIARELLI IS SOUNDING OFF ABOUT VACCINE MANDATES.

ACCORDING TO POLITICO NJ, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR NOMINEE TOLD A GROUP OF ANTI-VACCINE ACTIVISTS LAST WEEK HE WOULD EXPAND EXCEPTIONS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND CREATE A STATE TO HELP PROTECT PARENTAL RIGHTS OVER ISSUES LIKE VACCINES .

JACK CHIARELLI IS A FORMER STATE ASSEMBLYMAN WHO DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS A MODERATE, BUT HE HAS RECENTLY VEER TO THE RIGHT IN THE STATE BLUE STATE.

HOW WILL THAT PLAY WHEN IT COMES TIME TO CHOOSE HIS SECOND- IN-COMMAND QUESTION MARK SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN MIND AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE LIST I DO HAVE IN MIND.

>> IS IN THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR.

JACK CHIARELLI'S ATTORNEY GOING TO PICK WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BY THE END OF JUNE.

THEN, HE TOLD US THE SECOND HALF OF JULY .

NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'LL BE THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST, GIVING HIM INQUIRING MIND, MOSTLY INSIDERS, AND US, MORE TIME TO SPECULATE.

>> I'VE HEARD EVERY DIFFERENT PERSON THAT'S BEEN LISTED.

YOU KNOW, EVERY HIT LIST OF WHO WAS GOING TO BE.

AT ONE POINT I HEARD IT WAS GOING TO BE ME, AND THERE WAS ZERO TRUTH TO THAT.

>> NEW JERSEY HAS NOT HAD A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR VERY LONG, BUT NEVER HAS ANYONE SUGGESTED THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PICK EITHER ONE OR LOST AN ELECTION FOR EITHER PARTY.

THE PIC GENERALLY SHOULD BALANCE THE TICKET.

PHILOSOPHICALLY, AND OR GEOGRAPHICALLY.

>> YOU TRY TO GET, THE NTR YANG, SOMEBODY TO BALANCE OUT YOUR TICKET THAT WILL DRIVE OUT ADDITIONAL VOTERS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MOTIVATED TO JUST COME OUT AND VOTE FOR YOU ALONE.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE FORMER STATE SENATOR, DIANE ALLEN WILL WELL-LIKED AND RESPECTED, AND KRISTIN CORRADO, A STATE SENATOR AND A FORMER COUNTY CLERK, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, NANCY MUNOZ HAS BEEN MENTIONED.

SHE WORKED WITH JACK CHIARELLI IN THE CAMPAIGN AND HAS AN EXCELLENT RESUME HERSELF.

SHE IS NOT IN THE RUNNING BUT KIND OF SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WHO COULD BRING BALANCE TO A TICKET.

>> WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO LABEL IT AS CONSERVATIVE, VERSUS MODERATE.

I THINK HE WANTS TO BE THE PERSON WHO, AS ALL REPUBLICANS DO, WE WANT TO THE BIG TENTS, WE WANT TO WELCOME PEOPLE IN.

>> BUT WHAT IF HE GOES ALL IN ON THE RIGHT?

COULD HE BUMP CONVENTION AND GO WITH SOMEONE LIKE SOUTH JERSEY CONSERVATIVE STATE SENATOR?

>> THAT WOULD BE THE REAL TICKET AS FAR AS GOVERNOR MURPHY IS CONCERNED.

PHOENIX AND MAJORITY LEADER, LORETTA WEINBERG RAN AS THE DEMOCRATS FIRST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE, UNSUCCESSFULLY.

BUT ESTABLISHED THE NORM FOR GENDER DIVERSITY ON THE TICKET FOR DEMOCRATS ANYWAY.

>> CANNOT IMAGINE THAT A WHITE MALE MONITORIAL CANDIDATE IS NOT GOING TO CHOOSE A WOMAN TO BE HIS RUNNING MATE.

>> MONMOUTH COUNTY CLERK CHRISTINE HAMLIN, AN ATTORNEY, MOTHER OF FOUR WHO GOT MORE VOTES THAN ANYONE IN ALL IMPORTANT MONMOUTH COUNTY IN NOVEMBER, INCLUDING DONALD TRUMP.

THE NAME HAS COME UP IN EVERY ONE OF THE DOZEN OR SO CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD ABOUT THE STORY.

THE COURT DID NOT RETURN OUR PHONE CALLS TODAY.

BB LG COMES WITH A FEW PERKS, AND THE DEPARTMENT TO RUN.

IT'S BIGGEST POTENTIAL PERKS, HOWEVER, IS ACCESS TO THE CENTER OF POWER.

IT WAS PART OF THE REASON WE SIGNED UP AS BARBERS NUMBER TWO IN HER ILL-FATED RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2013.

>> E4 BARBARA ASKED ME TO RUN, I WAS A PERSON WHO SAID I WILL NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE.

AND THEN I REALIZED THAT YOU'RE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELEVATE THE ISSUES THAT YOU CARE ABOUT ON A BIGGER PLATFORM.

YOU CANNOT SAY NO.

>> OF COURSE, YOU COULD MAKE HISTORY WITH YOUR PICK.

MURPHY CHOSE THE STATE'S FIRST BLACK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

JACK CHIARELLI COULD CONSIDER SOUTH JERSEY ASSEMBLYMAN ANTON McCLELLAN WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN MENTIONED, BUT AS A FORMER COUNCILMAN AND A ONE TERM SOME WOMEN, HE MAY NOT ADD ENOUGH TO THE TEAM, AND HIS PRESENCE COULD BE PERCEIVED BY SOME AS NOVELTY.

SO, PART OF THE CALCULATION WHEN CHOOSING, OR ACCEPTING THE OFFER TO BECOME THE NUMBER 2 ON THE TICKET.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION IS BACKLOGGED AGAIN.

THE STATE, THE SYSTEM DID NOT HAVE A SINGLE AVAILABILITY TODAY AT ANY OF THE 23 CENTERS IN THE STATE.

AND THIS TIME, IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF SHUTDOWNS CAUSED BY STAFF INFECTED WITH COVID-19.

AN AGENCY SPOKESPERSON SAYS DEMAND FOR PERMITS AND LICENSES SPIKED 65% AFTER THE STATE LAUNCHED STATUS NEUTRAL LICENSING ON MAY 1st.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE STATE ELIGIBLE TO GET A DRIVERS LICENSE.

SO, HOW MANY APPLYING FOR ONE OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE WRITER HAS MORE FROM HER LATEST REPORTING.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW PERMITS THAT THE STATE HAS ISSUED QUESTION MARK WHO THEY'RE GOING TO AND HOW MANY MAY 1st?

>> SO, THEY HAVE ISSUED ROUGHLY 100,000 PERMITS.

AND THESE ARE INITIAL PERMITS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES.

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF OVER 65% FROM PREVIOUS YEARS DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD.

THEY BEGAN TO ISSUE THEM ON MAY 1st.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE MONTHS, AND SO, THEY COMPARE, THEY GIVE ME A NUMBER FROM THOSE SAME THREE MONTHS A FEW YEARS AGO AND WENT TO 60,000 AT THAT TIME.

SO THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION THAT THIS LAW, THAT THESE 40,000 COULD BE A REASON, A RESULT OF THAT.

>> IS THE STATE TRACKING?

AND WHAT TRACKING WAS APPLYING FOR THESE PERMITS SORT OF NEGATE THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HAVING STATUS NEUTRAL LICENSING IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> RIGHT, THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR AN IMMIGRATION STATUS, SO THEY ARE NOT TRACKING THAT IT SO THAT'S WHY THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE LAW THAT THERE IS AN INCREASE YOU KNOW.

REGARD TO COVERT TIMES AND THEY ARE STILL HAVING A JUMP.

SO WE WILL SEE.

YOU KNOW MOST THIS MORNING OBVIOUSLY AND I WANT TO TRY AND SEE WHETHER WE CAN GET SOME NUMBERS IN A FEW MONTHS.

>> FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH WHO HAVE HAD SUCCESS, WHAT ABOUT THEM?

>> YEAH.

SO, SOME OF THEM ARE POSTING THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN THEY GET THERE, LICENSES AND THEY ARE HAPPY BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES IN MANY WAYS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE TAKEN RISKS AND DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, BUT NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING STOPPED BY A POLICE DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

AND SOME OF THE ARE EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET THEIR LICENSE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET AN APPOINTMENT.

BUT, THEY ARE HOPEFUL THAT EVENTUALLY THEY WILL.

>> DID YOU GET ANY INDICATION FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION THAT THEY MAY NEED TO ADD EXTRA STAFF QUESTION MARK IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THEY WERE ANTICIPATING THIS MUCH OF A SURGE.

>> YEAH, SO THEY'RE ANALYZING ALL OF THAT AND THIS AND THAT YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE NEED, THEY WILL LOOK AT STAFF AND OTHER THINGS TO MAKE THE PROCESS BETTER.

IF THEY HAVE ANY MORE APPOINTMENTS OR THEY ARE SEEING A 25% INCREASE IN INTEREST IN THIS.

SO, I GUESS TIME WILL TELL TO SEE WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO GET TO SEE MORE APPOINTMENTS OUT THERE.

>> WE WILL BE SURE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE ON WHAT IS BEHIND THE SPIKE IN STATUS NEUTRAL LICENSING, CHECK OUT THE REPORTING ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG .

>>> LESS POLICING, MORE COUNSELING.

THAT DEMAND FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MARCHING THROUGH ESSEX COUNTY TODAY AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR PUSH FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH HELP AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION AS A MEANS TO REDUCE THE PRISON PIPELINE.

LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES, CHASING THE DREAM, LOOKING AT POVERTY, JUSTICE, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA.

>> Reporter: IS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE MARCHING BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD ENOUGH.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE OUTDATED AND ALL TEST BOOKS, DISINTERESTED, UNMOTIVATED TEACHERS AND ZERO MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING.

>> I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO MY EMOTIONS OF HOW I FEEL.

>> Reporter: 18-YEAR-OLDS THAT SHE LOST HER COUSIN AND BEST FRIEND DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SCHOOLS VIRTUAL AND SHE HAD NO ACCESS TO A COUNSELOR.

>> MOST STUDENTS, EVEN MORE DIFFICULT CHALLENGES AS I AM SPEAKING.

THEY MAKE THE INCOMING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ARE CALLING THE STATE TO INVEST AN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS IN EDUCATION, OR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

SOMETHING ECHOED BY NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

>> AFTERNOON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT OUR ATTENTION ON THE SCHOOL, THE PRISON PIPE LINE, AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE LESS INVESTMENT IN THE SCHOOL.

RIGHT?

LESS INVESTMENT AND INCARCERATION.

FOR EXAMPLE, NEW JERSEY HAS THE HIGHEST RATIO DISPARITY INCARCERATION RATE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THE BLACK CHILD, FOR INSTANCE, IS 20 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE LOCKED UP IN COMPARISON TO A WHITE CHILD.

>> THE YOUTH INCARCERATION RATE HAS GONE DOWN IN THE STATE.

BUT JUST LOOK AT A SNAPSHOT OF THE STATE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION DATA AND YOU WILL SEE THE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT STILL PERSIST.

IN MOST RECENT STATISTICS AVAILABLE FROM NOVEMBER 27th OF 2020, IT SHOWS 85 YOUNG BOYS WITH 57 BLACKS, 21 HISPANIC, AND 6 WHITE.

MORE THAN HALF OF YOUNG GIRLS COMMITTED WERE BLACK OR HISPANIC.

DR. JC WILLIAMS IS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF JUSTICE STUDIES AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY.

EVEN THROUGHOUT THE 90s IT HAD TO GET TOUGH MOVEMENT INSTEAD OF APPROACHING CHILDREN WITH THEIR LANDS, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF A JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE BEGAN TO SORT OF THROW THEM AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY.

SO, WITH THAT CAME ALSO THROWING AWAY RESOURCES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND COUNSELORS.

BUT ALSO, COMMUNITY-BASED COUNSELORS.

>> DR. LEEDS EXPLAINS THE FUNDS ARE DIVERTED BACK INTO THOSE RESOURCES, THERE WILL BE A SHIFT IN RECIDIVISM, AND RACIAL DISPARITIES.

>> A LOT OF USE OF COLOR IN PARTICULAR, THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE PTSD OF HAVING TO LIVE THROUGH POVERTY, RACISM, AND THEN THE VIOLENCE THAT COMES WITH THAT.

AND SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT THAT COMES FROM UNFORTUNATELY.

>> HE SAYS THE KEY IS TO HAVE COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES.

>> INVEST IN SCHOOLS, INVEST IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY OUT OF THE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> I DID HAVE A FRIEND WHO WENT TO JAIL, IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG, BUT IT'S BECAUSE HE WAS AT THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.

FRANCISCO PLANS TO STUDY ARCHITECTURE AND GRAPHIC DESIGN WHEN SHE GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL.

FOR NOW, SHE'S TAKING ON THE ROLE OF ACTIVIST.

FIGHTING FOR NEW AND UPDATED TEXTBOOKS, BETTER QUALIFIED TEACHERS, OR COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAMS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ALL STUDENTS.

IN NEWARK FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM LEAH MISHKIN.

>> DISBARRED THE SURGEON COVID- 19 CASES, ECONOMIC PROGRESS HAS NOT STOPPED.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS MORE DETAILS AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA?

>> SOME REASSURING WORDS FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE .

EVEN WITH WORRIES ABOUT THE ONGOING PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMY HAS GOTTEN BETTER.

BUT CHAIRMAN SAYS THERE ARE STILL SOME RISKS IS THE ALTA VARIANT SPREADS.

>> PROGRESS ON VACCINATIONS HAS LIMITED THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

HOWEVER, THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS HAS SLOWED, AND THE DELTA STRAIN OF THE VIRUS IS SPREADING QUICKLY IN SOME AREAS.

CONTINUE PROGRESS ON VACCINATIONS WOULD SUPPORT A RETURN TO MORE NORMAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

>> THE FED ALSO DECIDED TODAY TO HOLD INTEREST RATES STEADY AT NEAR 0%, AND SAID THE INFLATION WE ARE SEEING IS DUE TO TRANSITORY FACTORS.

PFIZER SAID TODAY THAT A THIRD DOSE OF ITS COVID-19 VACCINE STRONGLY BOOST THE IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT.

THE COMPANY SAYS DATA SHOWS ANTIBODY LEVELS AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT INCREASING FIVEFOLD IN ADULTS 55 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER WHO RECEIVE A THIRD DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

THE RESPONSE IS NOT AS STRONG IN OLDER ADULTS.

IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHETHER A BOOSTER SHOT WILL BE NEEDED.

PFIZER RELEASED THIS DATA DURING ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS REPORT TODAY, WHICH WOULD REVEAL THAT IT EXPECTS 2021 SALES OF ITS VACCINE TO TOP $33 BILLION.

NEW JERSEY COMPANIES MAKING EQUIPMENT ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDIT UNDER PROGRAMS FROM THE NEW JERSEY EDA.

COMPANIES CAN RECEIVE UP TO $500,000 IN TAX CREDITS, AND A BONUS MAY BE AWARDED FOR PPE THAT IS MANUFACTURED IN SOUTH JERSEY.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM WILL OPEN IN A FEW MONTHS.

THE COUNTRY IS EXPANDING AND ISSUED EDUCATIONAL HELP FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.

WALMART SAYS IT WILL PLAY FOR COLLEGE TUITION AND TEXTBOOK COSTS AT THE 10 SCHOOLS THAT PARTICIPATE IN ITS EDUCATION PROGRAM.

FULL AND PART-TIME WORKERS ARE ELIGIBLE, AND THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE, OR RECEIVE OTHER TRAINING.

HERE NOW WE HAVE WALL STREET'S TRADING NUMBERS FOR TODAY.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE WERE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> IN CAMDEN, A GROUP OF RESIDENTS ARE QUITE LITERALLY TRYING TO MOVE A MOUNTAIN.

A FIVE STORY HIGH PILE OF CONTAMINATED DIRT JUST CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS AND OTHER WASTES IT TAKES UP ABOUT HALF A CITY BLOCK IN BERGEN SQUARE.

THE ILLEGAL DUMPSITE DATES BACK DECADES THAT RESIDENTS SAY IT HAS GROWN IN RECENT YEARS.

CITY OFFICIALS CONFIRM THE PILE IS CONTAMINATED WITH CANCER- CAUSING TOXIC CHEMICALS.

COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN HOLDING PROTESTS TO SUPPORT ACTION CALLING IT AN EXAMPLE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM THAT HAS PLAGUED CAMDEN FOR DECADES.

NOW, THEY ARE DEMANDING THAT ARE TO BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED.

THE SITE CLAIMS, HEALTH SCREENINGS AND RESIDENTS AND TESTING OF THE AIR AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY.

THE STATE DEP AND ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FILED A LAWSUIT IN MAY AGAINST THE SITE OWNERS.

THE CAMDEN MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS IT ISSUED A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER RESELLING TO THE OWNERS, AND PLANS TO FOLLOW UP WITH LICENSE VIOLATIONS.

>>> YOU MIGHT ENTICE YOUR KIDS TO GET INTO SUMMER LEARNING.

HOW ABOUT A FLOATING CLASSROOM?

A 40 FOOT CATAMARAN PONTOON BOAT THAT GLIDES ACROSS THE LAKE FOR A HANDS-ON LESSON.

THE INTERACTIVE SUMMER CLASSES BACK AFTER BEING SUSPENDED DUE TO THE BACTERIAL BLOOMS IN 2019 , AND A HIATUS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IS GEARED TOWARDS STUDENTS BUT AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER DISCOVERED, THERE'S PLENTY OF FUN FOR GROWN-UPS TOO.

>> Reporter: A FAMILY OUTING TURNED INTO A DAY FULL OF ADVENTURE FOR DIANE AND HER TWO CHILDREN.

>> I HEARD ABOUT THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A GREAT FIELD TRIP FOR KIDS, AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FANTASTIC.

I KNOW MY KIDS ALWAYS LOVE DOING STUFF LIKE THIS AND LEARNING, AND WHEN I SAW THAT IT WAS UP AND RUNNING AGAIN THIS YEAR AFTER CODY, I WAS LIKE YEP EMMA WE GOT TO GO.

>> IT WAS REALLY COOL.

JUST COLLECTING WATER SAMPLES AND MEASURING, AND SEEING HOW FAR DOWN YOU CAN STILL SEE THIS BLACK AND WHITE DISK IN THE WATER.

>> IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THIS FAMILY AND OTHERS ARE ENJOYING A HEART OF THIS FLOATING CLASSROOM.

NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST LAKE.

>> WE ARE AT THE LAKE OF FOUNDATIONS FLOATING CLASSROOM.

AS A 40 FOOT CATAMARAN PONTOON BOAT.

WE USE IT AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING A PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES IN NEW JERSEY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, IT IS USED FOR FIELD TRIPS FOR OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

AND DURING THE SUMMER, WE OFFER PUBLIC CRUISES TO THE COMMUNITY JUST SO THAT THEY CAN COME OUT AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

WATER QUALITY EXPERIMENTS COLLECTING DATA FROM PH TO TEMPERATURE AND DISSOLVE OXYGEN EVEN USING MICROSCOPES ON BOARD TO LOOK AT PHYTOPLANKTON LIVING IN THE LAKE.

>> THE CLASSROOM MADE ITS RETURN THE SUMMER BUT AFTER TAKING A BREAK IN 2019 BECAUSE OF HARMFUL ALGAE IN THE LAKE AND THEN LASTER, BECAUSE OF COVERT.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S HOW IT MAKES US FOOD, AND IT ALSO, IT PRODUCES OXYGEN.

>> THE 90 MINUTE TOUR LEAVES EVERY MONDAY FROM THE STATE PARK.

IT'S FULL OF HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES WITH VISITORS CONDUCTING VARIOUS WATER EXPERIMENTS IN GROUPS.

>> I LEARNED ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACTERIA THAT COULD GO ON THE LAKE, AND I LEARNED HOW LIKE, HOW BACTERIA GETS INTO THE LAKE, AND I LEARNED LIKE THE WATER TEMPERATURE, AND HOW TO MEASURE THE WATER.

>> MY FAVORITE THING IS, THERE'S THIS MACHINE THAT TEACHES YOU WHAT'S INSIDE THE WATER AND IT SHOWS WHAT IS IN THE WATER, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY COOL.

>> THIS GROUP OF FRIENDS, SOMETHING THEY'RE FINALLY GETTING TO DO AFTER TALKING ABOUT IT DURING THEIR WEEKLY MEET UPS.

>> REALLY ENJOYED IT.

ENJOYED THE BOAT, ENJOYED THE SCENERY, AND THE EDUCATIONAL PART OF IT.

AT OUR AGE, WHERE THERE IS STILL A LOT TO LEARN, WE ARE ALL RESPONSE WILL FOR OUR ACTIONS ON LAND INTERACTIONS ON THE AND HAVE AN AUNT ON WATER QUALITY SO THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DO, AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR WATER RESOURCES, NOT JUST ON LAKES, BUT THE HEADWATERS TO THE NET.

THE RIVER FLOWS INTO THE DELAWARE, AND THE DOVER WATERSHED IS A DRINKING SOURCE OF WATER FOR ALMOST 5 MILLION PEOPLE.

THIS KIND OF MAKING THAT CONNECTION, THAT WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE AND WE ALL NEED TO DO OUR PART.

FLOATING CLASSROOM AIMS TO CONTINUE SPREADING THE KNOWLEDGE SO MORE PEOPLE CAN TAKE STEPS TO KEEP THE LEG PROTECTED.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS , I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> AND A REMINDER BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, TOMORROW NIGHT, A CONVERSATION WITH GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY ON THE SEASON FINALE OF CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ, TALKING THE ROAD IN NOVEMBER GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION, AND TOP ISSUES FACING THE STATE FROM THE ECONOMY AND JOBS TO THE RISE IN COVERT NUMBERS, AND THE MASK DEBATE.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR THROUGH EMAIL OR TWITTER.

THAT IS THURSDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI, FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING, WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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