>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PRESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND THE OCEAN WING PROJECT.

BY PSA G CONKLIN COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>> EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

A STATEWIDE MILESTONE AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST COVID-19 VACCINATION WAS ADMINISTERED, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS NEW JERSEY HIT ITS TARGET, FULLY VACCINATING 4.7 MILLION PEOPLE AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS.

THAT NUMBER, HOVERING JUST ABOVE 4.75 MILLION TODAY.

BUT THAT GOAL HAS SHIFTED OVER TIME, IT STARTED WITH HEALTH LEADERS AIMING TO FULLY VACCINATE 70% OF THE ELIGIBLE ADULT POPULATION BY MID JUNE.

TODAY'S MILESTONE INCLUDES THOSE ADULTS BUT ALSO ADOLESCENTS BETWEEN 12 TO 17 YEARS OLD WHO BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THE SHOTS EARLIER THIS SPRING AND PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE WHO WORK OR GO TO SCHOOL HERE.

STILL, MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY THIS IS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN OUR PROGRESS AGAINST THE PANDEMIC.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY, TOUTING THE NATION'S VACCINE SUCCESS, 300 MILLION COVID-19 SHOTS IN HIS FIRST 150 DAYS IN OFFICE.

URGING THE UNVACCINATED TO RECONSIDER, SAYING THE VIRUS IS STILL AMONG US, ACT NOW.

216 NEW POSITIVE CASES AND FOUR MORE DEATHS ARE BEING REPORTED STATEWIDE.

NOW THAT THE GOAL IS MET, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: WE HAVE OFFICIALLY CROSSED 4.7 MILLION FULLY VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 'S ACCOUNT, AND BY THE WAY, WE ARE NOT CLOSE TO STOPPING.

IT TOOK 185 DAYS FOR NEW JERSEY'S FIRST COVID SHOT GIVEN TO THIS ER NURSE IN MID- DECEMBER TO CELEBRATING THIS MILESTONE, A DOZEN DAYS BEFORE THE JUNE 30th DEADLINE SET BY GOVERNOR MURPHY.

70% OF ELIGIBLE FOLKS WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE ARE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID.

BUT THAT STILL LEAVES MILLIONS WHO AREN'T.

>> LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THIS IS NOT THE END.

THIS IS NOT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

AS I HAVE SAID, WE NO LONGER HAVE A PANDEMIC AMONG BE VACCINATED, WE HAVE A PANDEMIC AMONG THE UNVACCINATED.

>> BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE UNVACCINATED, WE ARE JUST NOT GOING TO GET TO HERD IMMUNITY.

IT IS ALMOST A MOOT POINT.

I THINK WHAT WE CAN SAY IS THAT THIS VIRUS IS CIRCULATING AND ULTIMATELY IT IS GOING TO FIND ALMOST EVERYBODY WHO IS UNVACCINATED.

>> Reporter: ACROSS NEW JERSEY, THE UNVACCINATED CLUSTER IN POCKETS THAT INCLUDE LARGER CITIES WHERE LESS THAN 40% OF ELIGIBLE ADULTS ARE IMMUNIZED, IRVINGTON AND NEW BRUNSWICK, 35%.

PHILLIPSBURG AND LAKEWOOD, 36%.

EAST ORANGE AT 37%, AND PEMBERTON, 38%.

MANY OF THESE UNVACCINATED RESIDENTS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, STATISTICALLY MORE VULNERABLE, MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID, DESPITE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT POP-UP CLINICS AT BARBERSHOPS IN IRVINGTON AND IN FRONT OF EAST ORANGE, CITY HALL.

>> PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING SICK.

PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING HOSPITALIZED AND PEOPLE ARE STILL LOSING THEIR LIVES OVER IT.

>> Reporter: EAST ORANGE MAYOR TED GREEN SAYS A TEMPORARY 11 DAY PAUSE TO CONFIRM THE J&J VACCINES'S SAFETY UNNERVED MANY WHO FELT SKEPTICAL TO BEGIN WITH BUT AS NEW JERSEY OPENS BACKUP AND PEOPLE MINGLE, UNVACCINATED FOLKS FACE EXPOSURE, NUMBERS CONTINUE TO DROP BUT UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS STILL GETS COVID PATIENTS AND THE DELTA VARIANTS, PROLIFERATING.

>> THIS HAS BECOME A PANDEMIC NOW OF THE UNVACCINATED.

UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE ARE IN, IT IS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND HISPANIC.

SO, OF COURSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CASES THAT ARE COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL, IT IS AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY BLACK AND LATINOS.

>> GETTING THE DELTA VARIANTS, WHICH IS WORSE THAN THE UK VARIANT AND MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, THAT'S ONLY HAPPENS TO UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, BY AND LARGE.

IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND YOU DO GET IT, IT IS A VERY MILD ILLNESS.

AND SO, PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE SEEING A SLIGHT UPTICK IN PEDIATRIC CASES, KIDS UNDER 12 CANNOT GET VACCINATED.

THEY WILL SEND OUT SO-CALLED COUNTY INVESTORS NEXT WEEK TO TARGET 60 TOWNS IN 11 COUNTIES WHERE VACCINATION RATES HAVE STALLED.

>> THEY ARE GOING OUT WITH A HANDFUL OF INFORMATION AND THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE THINGS AROUND, GET DEEPER INTO THE COMMUNITIES, SET UP VACCINATION SITES.

>> WE ARE BATTLING A SORDID HISTORY IN AMERICA OF VACCINES, PARTICULARLY WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

USING FOLKS BASICALLY AS GUINEA PIGS AND THERE IS RIGHTFUL SKEPTICISM THAT LINGERS TO THIS DAY.

SO, IT REQUIRES AN EXTRA EFFORT.

>> Reporter: THE STATE'S SO- CALLED TRIPLETS, THREE PUBLIC HEALTH FANS, WILL BE HEADING OUT ACROSS NEW JERSEY TO CITIES STILL STRUGGLING TO GET FOLKS VACCINATED BECAUSE AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, ACHIEVING A 70% STATEWIDE MILESTONE IS NOT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> TODAY IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL SOLUTION OF JUNETEENTH AS BOTH A STATE AND FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN NEW JERSEY.

IT COMMEMORATES THE DAY UNION TROOPS TOLD THE REMAINING ENSLAVED BLACK AMERICANS IN GALVESTON, TEXAS THEY WERE FREED BY THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

JUNETEENTH HAS BEEN CELEBRATED IN PARTS OF THE U.S. FOR ROUGHLY 100 YEARS BUT IN THE NORTHEAST, MANY SAY THEY NEVER LEARNED ABOUT THE EVENT SURROUNDING THIS MOMENT IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY OR ITS SIGNIFICANCE.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF JUSTICE STUDIES, JASON WILLIAMS, JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT WHY THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF EDUCATION.

STUDENTS ARE LARGELY TAUGHT ABOUT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, BUT WHY HAVE THEY NOT LEARNED ABOUT THE DAYS LEADING UP TO AND ON JUNE 19th?

AND FOR THAT MATTER, POST- EMANCIPATION RACISM?

>> YES, VERY GREAT QUESTION.

MUCH OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY IN WHICH CORRECTION REALM IS CULTIVATED IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE SEEMS TO BE THE INCLINATION TO SORT OF WHITEWASH HISTORY, AND NOT INCLUDE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND LIVED EXPERIENCES OF ALL GROUPS WHO MAKE UP THIS COUNTRY.

SO WE THINK ABOUT SLAVERY, WE THINK ABOUT JUNETEENTH AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, THERE TENDS TO BE THE SORT OF WHITEWASHED VERSIONS OF HISTORY, WHICH WE ARE STARTING TO UNCOVER NOW.

>> WHERE ARE WE AT TODAY?

BECAUSE OF COURSE, THERE IS DEBATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT TEACHING RACE THEORY IN SCHOOL.

THERE IS DEBATE ABOUT HOW THE CURRICULUMS SHOULD BE SET UP.

WE HAVE A HOLIDAY BUT I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE ANOTHER DAY OF DEPARTMENT STORE SALES AND BARBECUES.

>> YES, THERE IS THIS SENSE OF PERFORMATIVE ITCHY BEHIND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOLIDAY.

HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT I DO THINK IT IS A GOOD THING TO ESTABLISH IT AS SUCH BECAUSE IT WILL GET A CONVERSATION GOING.

A MUCH NEEDED CONVERSATION, AROUND RACE RELATIONS, BOTH IN A HISTORICAL CONTEXT, BUT ALSO IN TODAY'S CONTEXT.

SO WITH REGARDS TO THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY, BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS, IN FACT, IT WOULD HELP TO UNCOVER ISSUES SUCH AS SLAVERY AND THE AFTERMATH, FOR INSTANCE, WITH JUNETEENTH.

AND WHY IT TOOK SO LONG FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ENSLAVED DOWN IN GALVESTON TO BE FREE.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NEW JERSEY, IN PARTICULAR, THE NORTHEAST, WE WERE KNOWN AS THE SLAVE STATE.

WE WERE THE LAST STATES TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND YET, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME REOCCURRING THEMES WITH WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT AND NOT TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS, SO IN YOUR OPINION, HOW DO WE NEED TO GO ABOUT THIS WITH OUR KIDS IN PARTICULAR?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT REALLY LIES WITH THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF EACH CHILDREN, AS FAR AS, WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS?

AND THE QUESTION BEHIND, HOW DO WE THEN TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT THE TRUTH?

THE HISTORIES OF ALL GROUPS AGAIN, THAT MAKE UP THESE UNITED STATES.

I THINK WITH REGARDS TO CURRICULUM, THOUGH, THERE DEFINITELY DOES NEED TO BE ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT, HOW DO WE ACTUALLY EDUCATE OUR YOUTH SO THEY CAN BE PREPARED FOR THE STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW?

UNFORTUNATELY, THE STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES INCLUDE RACE RELATIONS.

I THINK PART OF THE HESITANT AS YOU WILL, IS THE FACT THAT AS A NATION, WE HAVE NOT REALLY FACED UP TO ONE OF OUR ORIGINAL SENSE, WHICH IS SLAVERY.

THAT IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT PLAYS A ROLE IN MITIGATING AND AGGRAVATING PROCESSES OF EDUCATION, CURRICULUM, OR ANY POLICY.

>> IN FACT, I THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID JUST THAT, THE ORIGINAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THERE IS A NEW GUARD FOR THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, IN A UNANIMOUS VOTE LAST NIGHT, THE NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE APPROVED FORMER STATE ASSEMBLY MEN AND LONGTIME POLITICAL LEADER LEROY JONES TO THE POST.

JONES IS ALSO THE HEAD OF THE ESSEX COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AND 60th JEREMY JOHN CURRY AFTER AN EIGHT YEAR RUN.

YOU CAN EXPECT A LOT OF SHUFFLING FROM BOTH PARTIES THIS ELECTION YEAR.

AND, POLITICAL COMEBACKS.

RICHARD KELLY IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR HER INFAMOUS EMAIL, QUOTE, TIME FOR SOME TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN FORT LEE DURING THE SO-CALLED BRIDGE GATE SCANDAL.

BUT, IN THE PRIMARY RACE, KELLY NOT ONLY SECURED THE GOP NOMINATION, SHE WON IT BY A LANDSLIDE.

BUT IT KELLY SPOKE ON THE RECORD WITH OUR CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, MICHAEL ARON.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

YOU WENT THROUGH A NIGHTMARE EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THROUGHOUT YOUR CONVICTION.

NOW YOU ARE RUNNING FOR COUNTY CLERK.

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW BRIDGET COUNTY?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS A NEW BRIDGET KELLY.

I THINK SHE IS COMING BACK TO THE WORLD THAT SHE LOVES.

AND THAT IS PUBLIC SERVICE, SO, FOR ME, I LOST SO MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE WITH THE TRIAL AND THE SENTENCING AND THE APPEALS.

NOW, THIS IS THE WAY I AM TRYING TO GET BACK INTO PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> DO YOU FIND THAT YOU HAVE NAME RECOGNITION AS A RESULT OF BRIDGE GATE?

>> I DO.

THAT IS KIND OF BLATANT AND OBVIOUS, UNFORTUNATELY, I GUESS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I HAD MET THAT ARE NOT IN THE POLITICAL WORLD WILL SAY, WHERE DO I KNOW YOU FROM?

OR HOW DO I KNOW YOU?

I THINK THE NAME HELPS BUT IT ALSO IS WHO WE ARE AS A FAMILY.

>> YOU DID VERY WELL ON ELECTION NIGHT.

YOU GOT MORE VOTES THAN ANY REPUBLICAN COUNTY CLERK COUNTY IN THE STATE.

YOU HAVE A TOUGH RACE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, THE DEMOCRATIC COUNTY WITH A DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, JOHN HOGAN, RUNNING FOR CLERK.

RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

HE HAS ALREADY STARTED QUESTIONING YOUR INTEGRITY.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> I WILL FIRST ADDRESS THE PART OF IT BEING A CHALLENGE IN NOVEMBER.

THE SUPREME COURT GETS 10,000 PLUS A YEAR AND TAKE 75.

THEY OVERTURNED MY CONVICTION UNANIMOUSLY, SO I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF A CHALLENGE.

IF JOHN HOGAN WANTS TO TALK ABOUT BRIDGE GATE, HAVE A TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU PROBABLY SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY OR HOW HE IS GOING TO RUN HIS OFFICE.

SO, I THINK PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF BRIDGE GATE.

I THINK I AM HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK WE WANT TO MOVE ON FOR IT AND I THINK IT IS PRETTY JUVENILE OF HIM.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IF YOU GOT ELECTED CLERK?

>> THAT OFFICE IS, UNFORTUNATELY, KIND OF A POLITICAL PATRONAGE SPOT FOR A LOT OF JOBS.

THERE IS A LOT OF CIVIL SERVICE JOBS BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF FRIENDS OF JOHN HOGAN WORKING IN THAT OFFICE.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF WASTE AND WILL AUDIT ON WASTEFUL SPENDING.

>> WHAT IS THE DEMOCRATIC ADVANTAGE IN THE COUNTY?

>> IT DOESN'T SCARE ME.

I'M HAPPY TO GO TO DEMOCRATIC TOWNS AND INTO DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITIES.

NONE OF THAT -- BRIDGET KELLY CAN DO A GOOD JOB AND IS A GOOD PUBLIC SERVANT.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT NUMBERS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, I THING MY NUMBERS LOOK GOOD, BUT I ALSO THINK OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, I'M GOING TO GO PLACES THAT REPUBLICANS DON'T NORMALLY GO.

AND, TALKING TO ALL OF THE COUNTY, NOT JUST THE REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLDS.

>> ANY BIGGER ASPIRATIONS BEYOND CLERK?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

NO.

LISTEN, I LOVE TRENTON.

TRENTON WAS, TO ME, MY HOME FOR 10 YEARS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY BEING THE CLERK AND STAYING IN THE COUNTY.

MY DAUGHTER JUST GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET BACK TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> KELLY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, MICHAEL.

>>> JULY 1st IS THE DEADLINE FOR A NEW STATE BUDGET, IN TRENTON, THESE LAST WEEKS OF JUNE ARE TYPICALLY LAWMAKERS MOST AND LEAST FAVORITE DAYS OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

NEGOTIATIONS ARE RAMPING UP AND THERE IS STILL NO CLEAR DECISION ON HOW THAT SURPLUS OF BILLIONS WILL BE SPENT.

BUT THERE ARE A FEW KEY AREAS BEING TARGETED.

OUR BUDGET AND FINANCE REPORTER, JOHN WRIGHT, HAS THE LATEST IN OUR BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT.

LET'S START WITH THE MOVEMENT WE DID SEE THIS WEEK, ESPECIALLY IN THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND THE ASSEMBLY.

THIS IS WITH SCHOOL PROJECTS AND QUITE A BIT OF MONEY THERE.

>> YEAH, OVER $300 MILLION IN SPENDING WAS APPROVED OUT OF COMMITTEE THIS WEEK FOR --A LOT OF THAT GOES TO COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND COUNTY COLLEGES, TO IMPROVE CAREER TRAINING.

THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS A FEW YEARS AGO AND IS JUST KIND OF COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM NOW.

BUT IT IS HITTING AT AN INTERESTING TIME BECAUSE WE ARE HEARING A LOT IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING WORKERS AND WORKERS WITH THE SKILLS FOR JOBS THAT THEY HAVE OPEN.

SO THE IDEA HERE IS TO GET PEOPLE TRAINING CERTIFICATES AND SKILLS FOR CAREERS THAT MIGHT NOT BE A COLLEGE PREP CAREER BUT WHERE THERE ARE JOBS THAT ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW THAT NEED TO BE FILLED IN THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMY.

>> WHERE ELSE ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR EYE AND YOUR BUDGET MAJOR, JOHN, IN THIS NEXT WEEK OR SO?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF KEY ISSUES AND WE ARE COMING INTO A WEEK WHERE A LOT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AS RELATES TO THE STATE BUDGET.

WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE A BILL INTRODUCED AND GO THROUGH A COMMITTEE THIS UPCOMING WEEK.

TAX RELIEF IS ALWAYS SOMETHING I AM KEEPING AN EYE ON AND YOU HEARD GOVERNOR MURPHY AND LAWMAKERS TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT ALREADY EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

SCHOOL FUNDING, ALWAYS THE HOT TISSUE.

AND RELATES A LITTLE BIT TO TAX RELIEF TOO, BECAUSE WHEN THE STATE INCREASES AID TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, IT IS SUPPOSED TO EASE THE PRESSURE ON PROPERTY TAXES THAT HELP FUND THOSE SCHOOLS.

AND THEN, DEBT RELIEF.

THE STATE BORROWED A LOT OF MONEY DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT MAYBE TRYING TO PAY OFF SOME OF THE STATE DEBT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS IN NEW JERSEY.

SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THE ISSUES I THING TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHEN A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENS COMING UP WITH THE STATE BUDGET.

>> VERY QUICKLY, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT COULD CAUSE A SNAG IN ALL THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND HOLD THINGS UP, GET IT RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE?

>> YOU NEVER SAY NEVER IN NEW JERSEY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE IN CONTROL, BOTH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND LEGISLATURE, THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND I THINK THERE IS A GOAL THAT IS COMMON AMONG THEM ALL, TO BE UNIFIED AND HAVING A LOT OF MONEY, WHICH NEW JERSEY DOES RIGHT NOW, HELPS A LOT IN GETTING THAT GOAL ACCOMPLISHED.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> IN HOBOKEN, THE NEW NUMBER BEING NEGOTIATED IS 18 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY, THAT IS THE AGREED PURCHASE PRICE OF THE WATERFRONT PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE UNION DRY DOCK, CURRENTLY OWNED BY NEW YORK WATERWAY.

IF THE DEAL GOES THROUGH, IT'LL END A CONTENTIOUS YEARS LONG BATTLE IN THE CITY'S QUEST TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY AS OPEN SPACE.

IT IS ONE OF THE ONLY SECTIONS OF HOBOKEN'S WATERFRONT THAT IS NOT PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.

NEW YORK WATERWAY PURCHASED THE LAND IN 2017 TO BE USED AS A FERRY DOCK AND REPAIR STATION, SETTING OFF RALLIES AND PROTESTS, CALLING FOR THE STATE TO INTERVENE.

AND, KEEP THE WATERFRONT OPEN.

>>> THE BIG CHANGE IN THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY CAME TOO SOON TO CLOSE THE STOCK MARKET TODAY.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THE TRADING NUMBERS ON WALL STREET.

>>> STUDENT DEBT IS THE TOPIC THIS WEEKEND ON NJ BUSINESS MEET WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER, SHE LOOKS AT THE EFFORT TO CANCEL OUTSTANDING LOANS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND HOW CRUSHING DEBT IS DRIVING NEW BRANDS AWAY FROM HISTORICALLY LOWER PAYING JOBS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

YOU CAN FIND THAT ON NJ PBS SATURDAYS AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30 A.M. >>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS, ONLINE AT IN JCHAMBER.COM.

>>> TONIGHT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT NEW JERSEY'S GROWING AUTISM RATE.

IT HAS BEEN ON THE RISE FOR DECADES, THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

BUT NEW RESEARCH FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PINPOINT THE STARTLING INCREASE, IT CLIMBED FROM ROUGHLY 1% IN 2000, UP TO THREE AND EVEN 5% TODAY.

RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THERE WILL BE ENOUGH RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.

LANE MISHKIN REPORTS.

>>> ARE WE HAPPY, SLEEPY, SICK?

>> THE GOAL AT THE STRIVE AUTISM CENTER AT FIRST CHILDREN SERVICES IS TO DO ACTIVITIES IN A NATURAL GROUP SETTING.

WILL BEING PAIRED WITH INDIVIDUAL TECHNICIANS PROVIDING A ANALYSIS.

>> THEY CAN CONDITION INTO THEIR NORMAL SCHOOL.

>> IT PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES, STARTING WITH DIAGNOSIS.

>> OFTEN TIMES PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, IT IS SUCH A SILENT APPROACH TO THEIR CARE SO THEY HALF TO GO TO ONE PROVIDER FOR ONE THING, ANOTHER FOR ANOTHER THING.

WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE ALL OF THAT IN-HOUSE.

>> HE SAYS THE PLAN IS TO OPEN MORE CENTERS, AS THE DEMAND IN NEW JERSEY CONTINUES TO INCREASE.

>> A VERY UNUSUAL THING TO DEFINE, DISABILITY, HEALTH PROBLEM INCREASING SO DRAMATICALLY, IN A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME.

>>> ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS, WALTER, HAS BEEN TRACKING AUTISM IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN FOUR NEW JERSEY COUNTIES SINCE 2000.

>> AUTISM HAS INCREASED FROM ABOUT 1% TO THIS NEW RANGE, WHICH IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THREE AND 5%, IN SOME DISTRICTS.

>> Reporter: OCEAN COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD AN OVERALL RATE OF 5%.

>> BOYS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE AUTISM THAN GIRLS, SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A 5% RATE, OVERALL, WHAT YOU ARE MEETING HIS THERE IS A PREVALENCE OF AUTISM OF BOYS OF 8%.

NEWARK HAS THAT, TOMS RIVER HAS A RATE AMONG BOYS APPROACHING 12%.

>> Reporter: THE REASONS ARE STILL UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THESE SPIKES, BUT HIS RESEARCH SHOWS NEW JERSEY'S RATE OF AUTISM IS HIGHER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE U.S.

IT IS TRACKED BY THE CDC.

>> MATERNAL AGE, PATERNAL AGE, PREMATURITY, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT, PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN DRUGS, TO AFFECT AUTISM PREVALENCE, THAT HAS INCREASED THEIR RISK A LITTLE BIT.

BUT NONE OF THOSE LITTLE CHANGES ARE ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN A 200% INCREASE.

SO, I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME IMPORTANT RISK FACTOR, TRIGGER OR TRIGGERS YET TO DISCOVER.

>> SOME WILL SAY IT IS DUE TO THE FACT WE ARE BETTER AT DIAGNOSING IT AND TREATING IT AND IDENTIFYING CHILDREN THAT ARE ON THE SPECTRUM.

>> Reporter: EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT ARE CRITICAL.

>> PEDIATRICIANS TO THE STRIP GREENING AT THE 18 MONTH WILL VISIT THEN THEY MIGHT SAY WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR CHILD, GO GET HIM OR HER ASSESSED OR DIAGNOSED, AND IT CAN BE A LONG WAITING LIST FOR FAMILIES.

WHAT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS PROVIDE ACCESS TO THOSE CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: BOARD-CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST AND CLINICAL SUPERVISOR, SAYS THEY DO AN ASSESSMENT WHEN A CHILD FOR START SERVICES, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE EVERY SIX MONTHS TO MONITOR PROGRESS.

>> LACK OF SOCIAL SKILLS, A LOT OF THE TIMES, SO WE ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE THOSE DEFICITS IN MIND WHEN WE DESIGN OUR PROGRAMS.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> IN HONOR OF JUNETEENTH THIS WEEKEND, NEWARK MAYOR ROSS BROCK ANNOUNCED THE WINNING DESIGN OF A NEW MONUMENT HONORING HARRIET TUBMAN THAT WILL STAND IN DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON PARK AND REPLACE THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE REMOVED LAST JUNE.

THE CITY ALSO PLANS TO RENAME THE PARK TUBMAN SQUARE IN 2022 WHEN THE MONUMENT IS INSTALLED.

MUCH FURTHER SOUTH IN CAPE MAY, THE HARRIET TUBMAN MUSEUM OFFICIALLY OPENS THIS WEEKEND, CELEBRATING HER LIFE, ROLE AND THE OTHER GROUND RAILROAD AND ACTIVATION.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER IS THEREFORE A PREVIEW AND HAS MORE ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GRAND OPENING.

>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING BUT THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER.

THE HARRIET TUBMAN MUSEUM HERE IN CAPE MAY IS FINALLY OPENING ITS DOORS TOMORROW, AND IT COULD NOT BE A MORE FITTING SITUATION THAN TO DO IT ON JUNETEENTH.

>> AS YOU KNOW, JUNETEENTH MEANS SO MUCH TO US BEING BLACK AND HOW I THINK IT WAS 1863 THAT THE EMANCIPATION ASSIGNED, THINGS REALLY DID NOT KICK IN UNTIL 1865.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THE STATE.

>> Reporter: IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER A HISTORY HARRIET TUBMAN HELPED TO CREATE.

THE ABOLITIONIST WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY, MANAGED TO ESCAPE, OFFICIALLY LEADING DOZENS OF OTHERS TO FREEDOM.

THE MUSEUM NOW SHARING HER STORY IN ONE OF THE PLACES ON HER JOURNEY.

>> IT REALLY IS SHOWING ABOUT CAPE MAY'S ROLE IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND PLACES THAT HARRIET TUBMAN STOPPED ALONG THE WAY, BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUNGER PEOPLE EXACTLY HOW CAPE MAY WAS.

AND JUST LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW THAT SHE CAME THROUGH CAPE MAY, SHE DID THE WORK HERE, BACK AND FORTH, FROM CAPE MAY TO PHILADELPHIA, RAISING MONEY TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO BRING THE SLAVES UP AND HAVE THEM UP NORTH TO CANADA.

IT IS BASICALLY HER GOAL AND WHERE SHE WAS TRYING TO GET TO.

>> Reporter: THE MUSEUM WAS ORIGINALLY SLATED TO OPEN LAST YEAR ON JUNETEENTH BUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE OPENING HAD TO BE PUT ON HOLD.

>> IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO HAVE TO STOP BUT IT REALLY WAS OUT OF OUR CONTROL BECAUSE EVERYTHING STOPPED.

>> Reporter: WITH THIS WEEKEND'S OFFICIAL OPENING, VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO STOP BY FOR A PERSONAL LESSON IN HISTORY.

>> WE TAKE THEM FROM ROOM TO ROOM TO SHOW THEM EXACTLY WHERE THINGS STARTED IN CAPE MAY, WE STARTED OUT WITH WHAT WE CALL, HERE IS THE AFRICAN ROOM, HERE IS BASICALLY THE NEW JERSEY CONNECTION.

TO THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

HERE WE HAVE ONE BUST MADE BY A FEMALE ARTIST.

WE HAVE ANOTHER LARGE BUST WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT ON TV, IN PICTURES, BUT THE DETAIL OF IT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

SOMETHING YOU REALLY HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE HUMAN EYE.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH THE MUSEUM'S OPENING HAD TO BE DISPLAYED, TRUSTEES SAY THEY ARE HAPPY THEY CAN FINALLY SHARE A PIECE OF HISTORY WITH EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR US THIS WEEK.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE BIG STORIES, YOU CAN CATCH REPORTER MUSKIE ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ, SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:00 A.M.

ALONG WITH CHAT BOX, THAT AIRS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:30.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND TO ALL THE DADS, A VERY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YOU.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>>> IN JM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.