>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT THE NEWS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS RIGHT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT.

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

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THE LATEST DATA ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN OUR STATE SHOWS HEALTH CRISIS REMAINS LARGELY AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE YET TO GET THEIR SHOTS.

AND MURPHY SAID THE LATEST VERSION OF THE PANDEMIC STORY BEING WRITTEN IS BY THE UNVACCINATED.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ALMOST ENTIRELY, IF NOT EXCLUSIVELY, MAKING UP THE NEW DAILY CASE COUNTS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, WHICH STANDS AT 224 POSITIVE TESTS AND SEVEN ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT ANTICIPATES HITTING ITS GOAL OF 4.7 MILLION FULLY VACCINATED ADULTS BY THE END OF THE MONTH, AND THEY ARE CLOSE, JUST OVER 4.6 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE FULLY IMMUNIZED.

ASSUMING THEY REACH THAT MARK, MURPHY SAYS THEY WON'T STOP THERE, AND FOR GOOD REASON ACCORDING TO NEW JERSEY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THE NEW DELTA VARIANT MAKES UP 5% OF CASES BEING TRACKED THINK WIDE.

SCIENTISTS HAVE CALLED IT A SUPER SPREADER VARIANT AND THEY WANT THE PUBLIC TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

SO DO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

NEW JERSEY'S SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR IS CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT 9/11 STYLE COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE NATION'S PANDEMIC RESPONSE, AND LEARN HOW TO PREVENT ANOTHER CRISIS FROM STRIKING AGAIN.

I SPOKE WITH THE SENATOR EARLIER TODAY ABOUT WHY HE THINKS SUCH A PANEL IS UP FOR THE TASK.

SENATOR, WHAT IS IT ABOUT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AND THE INVESTIGATION IT COULD DO THAT WOULD PREVENT A FUTURE PANDEMIC, WHAT QUESTIONS WOULD IT ANSWER?

>> THE NATIONAL CORONAVIRUS COMMISSION ACT OF 2021 THAT SENATOR COLLINS AND MYSELF AND A BIPARTISAN EFFORT IN THE SENATE, WE HAVE TWO COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ALSO A BIPARTISAN EFFORT, RELIEF CAN ACCOMPLISH IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE FAR BETTER PREPARED WHEN THE NEXT PANDEMIC OR MAJOR GLOBAL HEALTH CHALLENGE COMES ALONG, ARE WE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT PANDEMIC TO RUSH TO FIND PPE EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT OUR FRONT-LINE PEOPLE, ARE WE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE DO WE GET OUR SUPPLY CHAINS FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT?

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE BETTER INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE RIGHT PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AND TESTING, ARE WE GOING TO THINK ABOUT HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS AND IMPACTS ON NURSING HOMES AND THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES?

SO, THE COMMISSION STYLED ALONG THE LINES OF A 9/11 COMMISSION THAT LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT FATEFUL DAY SEPTEMBER 11th, AND CAME UP WITH VERTICAL UNDERSTANDINGS OF WHAT WENT RIGHT, WHAT WENT WRONG, AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.

IT IS CRITICAL SO WE ARE BEST PREPARED FOR ANY FUTURE GLOBAL HEALTH CHALLENGE.

>> WHAT IS IN THE LANGUAGE OF WHAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE PROPOSING THAT WOULD ENSURE THIS IS TRULY A NONPARTISAN PANEL WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE EFFORT TO MAKE A COMMISSION LOOKING INTO THE JANUARY 6th ATTACK, HOW DO YOU SELL IT TO REPUBLICANS WHO ARE MAYBE SAYING THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INVESTIGATION OF DONALD TRUMP?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE START OFF WITH THE FACT, IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, WE HAVE BIPARTISAN SPONSORS.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT JUST THE PAST ADMINISTRATION, THIS IS ABOUT LOOKING AT WHAT THE PAST AND THIS PRESENT ADMINISTRATION, SO, IT IS GOING TO EXPAND THE COURSE OF TWO ADMINISTRATIONS IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT WHAT WE DID RIGHT, BUT WE DID WRONG, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

NUMBER THREE IS THE LEGISLATION SPECIFICALLY CALLS AMONG THE THINGS TO DO TO LOOK AT THE ORIGINS OF COVID-19, SOMETHING MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE REALLY WANTED, AND LAST THING, WE STRUCTURE THE COMMISSION IN A WAY THAT IS BIPARTISAN, SO WE BELIEVE WE HAVE STRUCTURED THIS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS SUCH THAT IT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER EFFORTS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE JANUARY 6th COMMISSION EFFORTS.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU QUICKLY, YESTERDAY, YOU MET WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF DACA, YOUR BILL TO PROVIDE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP , IT FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE IN THE SENATE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FATE OF IT AND THE TAKEAWAYS YOU HAVE FROM YOUR MEETING YESTERDAY?

>> MY TAKEAWAYS, REEMPHASIZES MY VIEW THAT THE NATION NEEDS TO DEAL WITH OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, WE HAVE BEEN MEETING IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION WITH A GROUP OF REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO SEE HOW FAR AND WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION REFORM.

>> BASED ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WHAT IS REALISTIC WITH THOSE COLLEAGUES?

>> WHAT IS REALISTIC IS THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT A SMALL UNIVERSE.

A WHOLE FOCUSES ON THE BORDER AND THERE ARE ALSO FOCUSES ABOUT SIGNIFICANT REFORMING ASYLUM, THE ASYLUM LAWS.

IN RETURN, THEY SUPPOSEDLY WILL CONSIDER SOME FORM OF DREAMERS, FARMWORKERS, AND TPS RECIPIENTS, TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS RECIPIENTS.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET AND WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS, WE ARE STILL WORKING TO SEE IF WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

THOSE CALLS TO BEGIN INVESTIGATING THE PANDEMIC, AS YOU HEARD THE SENATOR DISCUSSED,, AS THE CRISIS FADES.

EXCEPT OTHER ILLNESSES WILL NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FLOURISH, OF THE MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND HANDWASHING CUT DOWN FLU AND COLD RATES TO VIRTUALLY ZERO LAST WINTER.

HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THAT COULD LOOK A LOT EVENT THIS YEAR.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: LAST YEAR IT WAS ALL NO PATIENTS AT ALL WITH COLD, COUGH, NOTHING.

"DR. REBEKAH SAYS HER WALK-IN MEDICAL CLINIC HAD JUST ONE POSITIVE TEST AND ALMOST 0 COLDS , COVID-19 DOMINATED WHILE PEOPLE WORE MASKS AND WORKED FROM HOME AND KIDS ATTENDED ONLINE CLASSES.

ACROSS NEW JERSEY, ONE SNAPSHOT SHOWS RAPID FLU TESTS PLUNGED FROM MORE THAN 2000 THE YEAR PRIOR DOWN TO 11 IN MID FEBRUARY, THAT MIRRORED A NATIONAL TREND.

>> WE HAD THE SMALLEST NUMBER OF FLU CASES IN THE UNITED STATES ON RECORD.

SO SINCE WE ACTUALLY STARTED TRACKING THE FLU, NOW, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WELL, IS THAT JUST BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS HOME AND NOBODY GOT TESTED FOR FLU?

WE ACTUALLY DID TEST A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> THE ONE THING WE LEARNED FROM WEARING MASKS IS THAT THEY REALLY DO PREVENT FLU TRANSMISSION.

>> Reporter: UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL PREFACE DR. LEWIS NELSON SAYS WEARING MASKS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY HELPED REDUCE SPRING ALLERGY SYMPTOMS, BUT AS MORE FOLKS HAD THEIR SHOTS, AND OFF THEIR MASKS, AND GET TOGETHER FOR LONG-DELAYED SOCIAL FUND, MEDICAL CLINICS HAVE STARTED TO SEE A SLOW RETURN TO WHAT MANY WOULD CALL BUSINESS AS USUAL PRE-COVID-19.

>> NORMAL TYPE OF PATIENTS YOU WOULD NORMALLY SEE, LIKE COUGH, COLD, AND SINUSITIS, EAR ACHES, STREP THROAT, THESE ARE THE MOST FREQUENT THINGS WE SEE.

>> REPORTER:'S THE CDC HAS ISSUED AN ALERT ABOUT AN UPTICK IN NON-COVID-19 VIRUSES LIKE RESPIRATORY VIRUS AND PARAINFLUENZA EMMA SAYS STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. TINA 10.

>> IF YOU ARE SICK AND YOU GOT A RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AND YOUR NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19, AS WE SAID BEFORE, PLEASE STAY HOME UNTIL YOU ARE BETTER, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER WE'VE GOT ALL THESE OTHER VIRUSES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY CIRCULATING OUT THERE.

>> Reporter: WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR NEW JERSEY'S UPCOMING FLU SEASON?

BECAUSE FLU VIRUSES MUTATE SO RAPIDLY, EVERY SEASON GETS AN UPDATED VACCINE.

SCIENTISTS USE PRIOR FLU SEASONS AS THEIR GUIDE TO PREPARE SHOTS THAT PROTECT AGAINST THE DOMINANT STRAINS OF THE FLU.

BUT WITH SO FEW CASES LAST SEASON, PREDICTING MONSIEUR'S BADDEST FLU BUGS GETS TOUGHER.

>> EXPERTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES.

WE DO HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHAT IS GOING OUT THERE, WE JUST WON'T HAVE THE SAME ROBUST LEVEL OF DATA UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.

IN THE NEXT FLU VACCINE WILL REPORTEDLY PROTECT AGAINST KEY STRAINS OF LAST YEAR'S BE VICTORIA AND NEW INFLUENZA AND THEY COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO 70% EFFECTIVE.

THE PROBLEM, ONLY 50% OF ADULTS EVER GET A FLU SHOT AND VERY VOCAL VACCINE RESISTANCE PROCESS, PLUS MANY PEOPLE COULD BALK AT A RETURN TO FACEMASKS.

>> THAT IS THE REAL EPIDEMIC WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, IS THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION.

I HOPE THE FLU VACCINE AND THE FLU HAS NOT BEEN POLITICIZED.

>> Reporter: IT IS A CALCULATED RISK, THE FLU KILLS 40,000 AMERICANS EVERY YEAR, BUT THAT DIDN'T PERSUADE OFFICIALS TO MANDATE MASKS, COVID-19 DID.

BUT THEN IT KILLED 600,000 AMERICANS.

COVID-19 TAUGHT PEOPLE A FEW HARD LESSONS, >> WHEN WE ARE SICK, WE WILL STAY HOME, WE WILL WEAR A MASK, WASH OUR HANDS, STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE AS BEST WE CAN.

>> Reporter: FINALLY, GET VACCINATED.

>> THE RETURN OF SEASONAL ILLNESSES WON'T BE THE ONLY CONCERN POST PANDEMIC.

NATION IS IN THE MIDST OF A SEVERE BLOOD SHORTAGE, INCLUDING A LACK OF DONORS OF ALL TYPES.

HOSPITALS AND BLOOD BANKS ARE SEEING AN UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND AS PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF ELECTIVE SURGERIES AND OTHER PROCEDURES DELAYED BY THE HEALTH CRISIS, NOW HEALTH LEADERS ARE PLEADING FOR DONATIONS.

>> I HAVE BEEN IN BLOOD BANKING FOR 29 YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BLOOD SHORTAGE LIKE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY BLOOD SERVICES WANTS TO HAVE 10 DAYS WORTH OF SUPPLY ON HAND.

ACCORDING TO DIRECTOR OF DONOR RECRUITMENT MARIE FORESTALL, RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE DOWN TO THREE.

>> WE GET CONCERNED WHEN IT IS LESS THAN FIVE DAYS, AND WHEN IT IS THREE DAYS, ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN AND IT COULD BE DEVASTATING.

>> Reporter: THE SITUATION IS EVEN MORE CONCERNED WITH NO NEGATIVE SUPPLY, THE UNIVERSAL BLOOD TYPE.

IT IS USED IN TRAUMA SITUATIONS WHEN THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TIME TO FIGURE OUT A BLOOD TYPE.

>> WE ARE HAVING TO CUT SOME OF OUR SHIPMENTS TO THE HOSPITALS, WHICH IS THE SITUATION YOU WANT TO BE IN.

>> Reporter: THE RED CROSS CEO SAYS THEY HAD SUPPLY, THEY DELIVERED IT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HOSPITALS, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY ARE IN THE SAME BOAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU HAVE DEMAND GOING UP.

>> THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CAN LEAD TO CAR ACCIDENTS, SO, WE HAVE SEEN FOLKS EXPERIENCING TRAUMA.

>> Reporter: THE ST. PETERS IS NOT A TRAUMA HOSPITAL, BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF SURGERIES AND A BUSY E.R.

WHICH WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH DEMAND BASED ON OUR INVENTORY.

WE HAVE TALKED TO ADMINISTRATION, WE DID TELL THEM ANY HIGH-RISK SURGERIES WILL HAVE TO BE SPREAD OUT, IT CANNOT BE DONE.

THE HARRIET THE RISK, THE MORE CHANCE OF BLEEDING AND HAVING SOME KIND OF PROTOCOL WHERE THEY WILL REQUIRE A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLOOD AND WE CAN NOT PROVIDE IT, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> IT IS A NATIONAL SHORTAGE AND THE NORTHEAST IS ACTUALLY A TYPICAL IMPORTER OF UNITS FROM OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, SO, IT IS CRITICAL IN THE NORTHEAST, AND A SAFE BLOOD SUPPLY IS EVERYBODY POMPOUS RESPONSIBILITY FOR >> Reporter: BECAUSE BLOOD CENTERS HAVE LOST A YEAR AND A HALF OF COLLEGE DONATIONS, IF THINGS DON'T PICK UP, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE A GENERATION OF BLOOD DONORS NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BABY BOOMERS.

>> OVER 40% OF BLOOD DONORS ARE 55 AND OLDER, SO, AS THOSE FOLKS RETIRE AND A CHILD, WE ARE LOSING THIS WHOLE GENERATION OF FIRST-TIME DONORS, SO USUALLY A DONOR WILL HAVE A FIRST TIME EXPERIENCE IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WOULD BE GOOD AND THEY GO ON TO BECOME A DONOR FOR LIFE.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS WE HAVE LOST THAT OPPORTUNITY.

LOCALLY HERE, WE HAVE ONLY RUN ABOUT FOUR HIGH SCHOOL DRIVES THE WHOLE YEAR, AND TYPICALLY, WE HAVE ABOUT 120 HIGH SCHOOL DRIVES.

>> Reporter: WHAT CAN PUBLIC DO?

>> WE NEED TO BE IN FRONT OF THE SURGING ANYONE WHO IS IN NEW JERSEY 16 OR OLDER TO DONATE BLOOD TO DO SO RIGHT AWAY.

ONE HOUR AND PEOPLE ARE SAVING THREE LIVES, AND THE ACTUAL DONATION IS ONLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

IF EVERYBODY DONATED ON THEIR BIRTHDAY AND SIX MONTHS LATER, THE NATION WOULD JUST HAVE A STUDY EVEN SUPPLY OF BLOOD.

SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S ROUGHLY 50,000 DOMESTIC WORKERS, NANNIES, HOUSEKEEPERS, HOME HEALTH AIDES, SAY THEY LACK BASIC PROTECTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE, AND A GROUP OF DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS ARE RENEWING A CALL TO PASS LEGISLATION TO SECURE THEIR JOBS.

TWO SENATORS TODAY INTRODUCED THE DOMESTIC WORKERS' BILL OF RIGHTS TO STOP ISSUES OF WAGE THEFT, UNSTABLE SCHEDULES, AND ACCESS TO HEALTH BENEFITS FOR WORKERS.

MANY OF WHOM ARE WOMEN OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS.

ACCORDING TO LAWMAKERS, 90% OF DOMESTIC WORKERS SAY THEY DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT TO PROTECT THEM, MORE THAN HALF WERE SUBJECT TO HAVING WAGES IS STOLEN, IT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING JOB SECTORS IN THE COUNTRY AND WAS HARD-HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> 50% OF ALL DOMESTIC WORKERS DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE WHERE THEY WORK.

THAT IS CRIMINAL.

THAT IS NOT RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE WHERE YOU WORK, AND WE ARE GOING TO GET IT.

>> STATE LEADERS ARE HEADING INTO BUDGET NEGOTIATORS WITH A RARE ISSUE ON THEIR HANDS, HAD TO SPEND A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR INFLUX OF CASH NEXT TO AN UNEXPECTED WINDFALL IN TAX REVENUES AND A NEW ROUND OF COVID-19 RELEASE MONEY.

TALKS ARE HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS LEADING UP TO THE JULY 1st DEADLINE, AND THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF IDEAS ON HOW TO SPEND IT ALL.

ONE BIG POINT OF CONTENTION, THE PUBLIC IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ONE OF THE PARTIES WITH A STAY.

BUDGET AND FINANCE REPORTER JOINS ME WITH THE LATEST ON BUDGET TALKS.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WAS TO SPEND SOME OF THIS EXTRA CASH TO BOOST RESERVES, IS THAT STILL THE PLAN?

>> I THINK IT IS STILL THE PLAN NOW, BUT WRITE THAT DOWN IN PENCIL AND BE READY TO DO SOME ERASING, BECAUSE LAWMAKERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ACTUALLY DRAFTING THE SPENDING BILL, AND THOUGH THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT OUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PRIORITIES AND THINGS HE WANTS TO DO WITH THIS MONEY, IT IS UP TO LAWMAKERS CONSTITUTIONALLY TO SAY WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO WITH IT, THEN THAT GOES ON TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> ONE OF THE BIG IDEAS IS TAX RELIEF, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING THERE?

>> TAX RELIEF, THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS PICKED UP STEAM.

SO, REPUBLICANS ARE USUALLY ALWAYS ON THE TAX RELIEF MANTRA , GOVERNOR MURPHY RECENTLY ALSO TALKED ABOUT IT, YOU HEAR SOME LAWMAKERS ALSO MENTIONING BOOSTING TAX RELIEF, SO GETTING IT BACK IN SOME WAY, ONE FORM WOULD BE THE HOMESTEAD REBATE, WHICH HASN'T BEEN INCREASED IN A FILE, AND ALSO, THE STATE HAS BEEN USING OUTDATED TAX BILLS TO CALCULATE HOMESTEAD BENEFITS, SO, I WOULD SAY THAT IS ONE AREA TO DEFINITELY KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS GAINING TRACTION, AND ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THIS MONEY CAN BE USED AND THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WILL BE USED?

>> DEFINITELY SOME RESTRICTIONS, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE CONFLICTING WITH SOME OF THE WAYS THAT LAWMAKERS MIGHT WANT TO SPEND SOME OF THE STATE'S MINI.

YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE DEBT RELIEF, BUT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FUNDED WITH THE STATE MONEY, AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURES, BROADBAND INVESTMENTS, THOSE MIGHT BE MORE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD USE, THE FEDERAL MONEY, AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY HELPING PEOPLE WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE SO, THINK ABOUT WATER BILLS, UTILITY BILLS, THAT IS SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS BEING DISCUSSED THAT I THINK PROBABLY FIT THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS A LITTLE BETTER RIGHT NOW.

>> VERY QUICKLY, WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC WANT?

YOU HAVE CREATED THAT INTERACTIVE BUDGET TOOL, WHAT IS THEIR INPUT?

>> TAX RELIEF IS VERY POPULAR, MORE SPENDING ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND ON PUBLIC COLLEGES, AND NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

>> OF COURSE, ANYONE CAN HEAD TO THE WEBSITE AND TRY THEIR OWN HAND AT BALANCING THE BUDGET.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> WHAT DO THE UPS AND DOWNS OF OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY TELL US ABOUT THE OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS IN OUR BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT.

>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE DELIVERED ITS LATEST REPORT CARD ON THE NATION'S ECONOMY.

THE BOTTOM LINE?

I BELIEVE THE ECONOMY WILL PICK UP STEAM.

OFFICIALS NOW EXPECT THE U.S. ECONOMY WILL GROW 7% ABOVE TEDIOUS EXPECTATIONS OF 6 1/2%.

THAT IS A SHARP REBOUND FROM WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO.

FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN JEROME POWELL EXPECTS THE JOB MARKET WILL PICK UP AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WILL DROP TO 4 1/2 PERCENT.

>> FACTORS RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC SUCH AS CAREGIVING NEEDS, ONGOING FEARS OF THE VIRUS, AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PAYMENTS APPEAR TO BE MOVING UNEMPLOYMENT GROWTH.

THESE FACTORS SHOULD WAYNE IN THE COMING MONTHS AGAINST A BACKDROP OF RISING VACCINATIONS, LEADING TO A MORE RAPID GAIN IN EMPLOYMENT.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE ECONOMY CONTINUES ITS RECOVERY, THE FED WILL KEEP INTEREST RATES LOW, ONE POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOT, INFLATION IS RISING, AND THE FED SEES COSTS CONTINUING TO GO UP IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

A BILL DESIGNED TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS FOR MANUFACTURING JOBS IN THE STATE HAS CLEARED A SENATE COMMITTEE.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD SET UP A MANUFACTURING CAREER PATHWAY TO BE OFFERED AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY THOUSANDS OF JOBS AVAILABLE AT MANUFACTURING COMPANIES, WHICH ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

THE BILL, WHICH HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, CLEARED THE SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

>>> MORE THAN IS RATES HAVE FALLEN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT IS NOT HELPING EVERYONE.

HOME PRICES KEEP RISING, THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY HAS BECOME A GROWING CONCERN FOR MANY FIRST-TIME BUYERS, AND IT IS A BIG ISSUE FOR MINORITY HOUSEHOLDS.

ONE MAJOR BANK, JPMORGAN CHASE, SINCE IT HAS LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM TO IMPROVE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BLACK AND LATINX HOUSEHOLD.

IT PLANS TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE URBAN INSTITUTE AND CERTAIN NONPROFITS AND HAS PLEDGED $400 MILLION FOR THE EFFORTS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP IS IN HIS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY SJ MAGAZINE , THE HEART AND SOUL OF NEW JERSEY AND NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS, ONLINE AT NG CHAMBER.COM.

>>> HEAD OF JUNETEENTH THIS WEEKEND, THE LIFE OF GEORGE FLOYD IS BEING HONORED AT NEWARK CITY HALL.

IN THE FORM OF A 700 POUND MASSIVE BRONZE STATUE.

THE SCULPTURE WILL STAND IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIVISION OF ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

THE MAYOR TODAY SAID IT MEMORIALIZES THE MAN WHOSE TRAGIC MURDER LAST YEAR A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS ELEVATED OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, IGNITING AN INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE WITH PROTEST AND POLICE REFORMS.

IN THE WAKE OF THAT SOCIAL UPRISING AND THE PANDEMIC, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SAY IT HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON THEIR OFFICERS' MORALE.

RETIREMENTS ARE AT RECORD HIGHS, RECRUITMENT AT TROUBLING LOADS.

MANY SAY THE ANTICORPORATE SENTIMENT HAS LEFT THEM BURNT OUT.

>> WE WANT CANDIDATES THAT WANT COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDE SERVICE THAT COMMUNITIES COME TO EXPECT FROM POLICE OFFICERS.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO POLICE CHIEF JOHN, THE SEARCH FOR NEW OFFICERS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY TOUGH WITHIN THE LAST DECADE.

>> WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE LARGEST POOL OF CANDIDATES AS POSSIBLE AND AS DIVERSE AS POSSIBLE, BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE ALL THE CANDIDATES WITHIN THAT POOL, SO, I THINK CHIEF EXECUTIVES FROM A WIDE SWATH OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN NEW JERSEY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THAT.

TOOK A STRUGGLE NOT MADE EASIER IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> COPS ARE USED TO NOT BEING LIKED, I DON'T THINK THAT IS SOMETHING NEW.

WHAT IS ON THE MINDS OF COPS RIGHT NOW IS WE REMAIN THE ONLY PROFESSION WHERE, WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, THEY PUT YOU IN FRONT OF A GRAND JURY AND TRY TO PUT YOU IN PRISON.

>> Reporter: UNLIKE OTHER AREAS ACROSS THE STATE, CHIEF KEITH JERMAINE SAYS THEY HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE WANTING TO JOIN THE FORCE WITH 400 PEOPLE RECENTLY APPLYING TO BECOME OFFICES.

>> WE ARE A UNIQUE DEPARTMENT IN THAT FRANKLY, WE ARE VERY HIGH PAID, AND WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS DEPARTMENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIGHT THE NARRATIVE THAT POLICE ARE TARGETING CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

HE SAYS IT HINDERS RECRUITMENT FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND SOMETIMES MAKES IT HARD FOR OFFICERS TO DO THEIR JOB.

>> WE ALL WANT DEPARTMENTS THAT REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY WE POLICE.

IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET A YOUNG BLACK MAN OR YOUNG BLACK WOMAN TO WANT TO COME INTO THIS JOB WHEN THE NARRATIVE IS COPS ARE JUST OUT THERE HUNTING AND KILLING YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT EASY FOR US TO BRING PEOPLE IN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, COME TO THIS JOB AND HELP US MAKE THIS PROFESSION BETTER.

>> I QUESTION THOSE WHO SAY THEY CAN'T RECRUIT PEOPLE FOR THIS NOBLE PROFESSION.

WE GET AT LEAST THREE, FOUR CALLS A WEEK FROM YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE QUALIFIED.

>> Reporter: GILES IS THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE NEW JERSEY TRAINING COMMISSION AND HEADS THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE BLAMES THE LACK OF RECRUITMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE OF COLOR, ON WHAT HE SAYS ARE SUBJECTIVE QUALIFICATIONS.

>> IT TENDS TO BE A HOMOGENOUS GROUP THAT IS INTERVIEWING FROM A BOARD, WHICH IS A VERY SUBJECTIVE PROCESS THAT IS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT WE FOUND, THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, IS THE MAJORITY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND WOMEN AND OTHER MINORITIES ARE ELIMINATED FROM THE PROCESS.

UNTIL WE GET OVER THAT HURDLE, ANYTHING ELSE WE DO AS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SINCERE ABOUT OUR EFFORTS OF RECRUITING AND DIVERSIFY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE ARE JUST KIDDING OURSELVES.

>> ARE WE WHERE WE NEED TO BE?

OF COURSE NOT, BUT WE ARE GETTING THERE AND I DON'T THINK EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS REACHED THEIR GOALS, BUT I THINK MORE DEPARTMENTS ARE PUTTING MORE EFFORT INTO RECRUITMENT AND I ALSO NOTE THEIR GOALS ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN BEFORE.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE REASONS BEHIND THE LACK OF RECRUITMENT VERY, WANTING EVERYONE AGREES ON IS THAT MORE CONVERSATIONS ON FINDING A SOLUTION NEED TO HAPPEN.

>> AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, THERE ARE JUST TWO WEEKS LEFT TO NEGOTIATE THE NEW STATE BUDGET.

DIVING INTO THE DEBATE ON WHERE ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT.

WATCH CHATTERBOX LIFE ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL THURSDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. JOIN THE CHAT AND SEND YOUR QUESTIONS.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI, FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING, HAVE A GREAT ONE.

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

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> I'M KAYLA, AND THIS IS WHAT I PREPARE FOR PAYMENT I NEED HEALTH INSURANCE BUT DOES THE SAME, THAT MAKES THINGS EASIER FOR MY SCHEDULE.

SO I CAN FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.

THIS IS MY LIFE AND THIS IS HOW HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WORKS FOR ME.

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