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

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED, CREATED TO THE COMMISSION FOR A LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>>> A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY KEPT CHILDREN OUT OF THE CLASSROOM TODAY AFTER A THREAT WAS MADE AGAINST ONE OF ITS SCHOOLS.

CLASSES IN THE MONROE TOWNSHIP DISTRICT WERE COUNSELED AFTER THE PRINCIPAL AT WILLIAMSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVED AN EMAIL ABOUT A THREAT OF VIOLENCE NAMING INDIVIDUALS AND THE SCHOOL WAS LOCKED DOWN IMMEDIATELY.

>>> ALSO TODAY, OFFICIALS IN NEARBY WINSLOW WERE INVESTIGATING AN ONLINE THREAT MADE AGAINST WINSLOW TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL.

THESE INCIDENTS COMING AS THE NATION CONTINUES TO MOURN THOSE LOST IN THE RECENT SCHOOL SHOOTING IN UVALDE, TEXAS.

LAST NIGHT PRESIDENT BIDEN MAKING AN IMPASSIONED PLEA, URGING CONGRESS TO ENACT TOUGHER GUN LAWS, SAYING COMMUNITIES HAVE TURNED INTO KILLING FIELDS.

THE PRESIDENT PLEADING HOW MUCH MORE CARNAGE ARE WE WILLING TO ACCEPT?

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS ON THE PRESIDENT'S PLEA, THE POLITICS BEHIND GUN CONTROL IN NEW JERSEY, AND ON WHAT ONE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING TO PROTECT ITS STUDENTS EVEN BEFORE A THREAT IS MADE.

>> ENOUGH.

IT IS TIME FOR EACH OF US TO DO OUR PART.

IT IS TIME TO ACT FOR THE CHILDREN WE HAVE LOST, THE CHILDREN WE CAN SAVE.

>> Reporter: JOE BIDEN POINTED TO THE CARNAGE IN UVALDE AND DELIVERED A MESSAGE TO THE ANGUISHED FAMILIES THERE AS HE TARGETED SENATE REPUBLICANS LAST NIGHT WITH AN EMOTIONAL APPEAL FOR GUN CONTROL.

>> ONE MESSAGE FOR ALL OF US, DO SOMETHING.

JUST DO SOMETHING.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT TAKING AWAY ANYONE'S RIGHTS HERE IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT TRY TO A SHORT LEGAL GUN OWNERS AS HE PRESSED FOR BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE ON RENEWING THE BAN ON SEMI AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, OR AT LEAST RAISING THE LEGAL PURCHASING AGE TO 21, LIMITING MAGAZINE CAPACITIES, ENACTING UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND RED FLAG LAWS, AND REQUIRING GUN OWNERS TO LOCK UP THEIR FIREARMS.

OBSERVERS FORESEE FEW IF ANY POLITICAL COMPROMISES.

>> 10 REPUBLICAN SENATORS GETTING ON BOARD WITH LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES FIREARMS SEEMS PRETTY LOW TO ME, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY PURPOSE OF A SPEECH LIKE THAT AND IT CAN MOTIVATE STATE-LEVEL ACTION.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL AND ESTO SAYS LOCALLY PUBLIC PRESSURE COULD BUILD MOMENTUM BEHIND A COUPLE OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S RECENT PROPOSALS, BUT THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR COULD GET PUSHBACK FROM HIS OWN PARTY.

STILL SKITTISH OVER LOSSES LAST NOVEMBER.

>> THEY ARE REALLY SENSITIVE PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE WHERE AGAIN, GUN CULTURE IS STRONGER THAN THE REST OF THE STATE.

>> Reporter: A FEW SELECT ITEMS LIKE FIREARM STORAGE COULD WIN APPROVAL.

JERSEYS DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY HAS ALREADY PASSED SOME OF THE NATION'S TOUGHEST GUN-CONTROL LAWS AND ONLY MASSACHUSETTS REPORTS A LOWER RATE OF GUN VIOLENCE DEATHS.

>> WE WORK REALLY WELL RELATIVE TO OTHER STATES BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER FIREARMS IN THE STATE AND LESS ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES THAT ARE USED IN EPISODES OF PUBLIC MASS SHOOTINGS.

>> Reporter: REGARDLESS UVALDE'S RALLIES REIGNITED FEARS OF SAFETY HERE.

THE MIDDLETOWN BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTED TO PUT AN OFF- DUTY POLICE OFFICER AT EACH OF ITS 16 SCHOOLS UNTIL THE END OF SUMMER BREAK AND THROUGH THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY TAKE PLACE.

>> THAT IS A NATURAL REACTION AND IN A LOT OF WAYS, IT COMES ACROSS AS A LOGIC REACTION, BUT RESEARCH DOES NOT SHOW THAT IS A ROBUST WAY TO INCREASE SAFETY.

>> Reporter: RESEARCH DOES SUPPORT PLACING METAL DETECTORS AT SCHOOL ENTRANCES AMMA FOR EXAMPLE.

HELPS KEEP WEAPONS OUT AND MAKES KIDS FEEL SAFER, BUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS -- >> IN TERMS OF A SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH GUNS AND GUN LAWS, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY OTHER KIND OF SOLUTION THAT COULD BE AS EFFECTIVE AS DRAMATICALLY LIMITING ACCESS TO FIREARMS.

>> WE NEED TO REMAIN OPEN- MINDED AND DO OUR RESEARCH.

THEN TAKE ACTION.

GOT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Reporter: DECLAN O SCANLAN'S DISTRICT IS LOOKING AT MURPHY'S PROPOSALS, BUT OFFERED HIS OWN WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A SCHOOL BUILDING SAFETY REVIEW, PLUS STANDARDIZED TRACING TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO ADDRESS THREATS AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.

>> I DON'T WANT TO GET BEHIND THINGS.

I WANT TO GET BEHIND THINGS THAT BOTH INCREASE CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND MAKES SURE WE GUARANTEE OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME.

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

>>> THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION IS TUESDAY, BUT THE POLLS WERE OPEN TODAY, MARKING THE FIRST TIME VOTERS GOT A CHANCE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS EARLY IN A PRIMARY.

POLLS WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 8:00 P.M., AND ON SUNDAY FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 6:00 P.M. TO TALK MORE ABOUT EARLY VOTING, I AM JOINED BY SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECT SENATOR COLLEEN O'DEA.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE OH.

>> IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU TOO.

NEW JERSEY WAS ONE OF THE STATES THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY EARLY VOTING.

WE --ABOUT HALF THE STATES DO HAVE IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT COVID AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE OUT ON ELECTION DAY, BUT ALSO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING BY MAIL.

SOME PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT WHEN THEY STICK THAT ENVELOPE EITHER IN THE MAIL OR IN THE DROPBOX, IT MAY NOT GET TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.

SO, THIS WAS A WAY TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO GET OUT WHEN IT IS LESS CROWDED.

YOU KNOW, VOTING IS SPREAD OUT OVER THREE DAYS THIS WEEKEND.

>> IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU CAN CAST YOUR BALLOT EARLY, ARE THERE SPECIFIC POLLING PLACES?

>> YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO VOTE WITHIN YOUR COUNTY, BUT THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WITHIN YOUR COUNTY.

SMALL COUNTIES.

103 LOCATIONS OPEN.

IN ESSEX, THEY HAVE NINE.

THE WAY YOU CAN FIND YOUR LOCATION, IT SHOULD BE LISTED ON YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT THAT YOU RECEIVED IN THE MAIL, OR YOU CAN LOOK ON THE NEW JERSEY SECRETARY OF STATE WEBSITE, THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS.

THEY HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF LOCATIONS BY COUNTY.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE EARLY VOTING BEFORE IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS, SO WHAT DID ELECTION OFFICIALS LEARN FROM THAT?

>> I THINK THERE WERE REALLY NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW IT WORKED.

THERE WERE A LOT OF POLL WORKERS BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME TO HELP PEOPLE OUT AND SHOW THEM, YOU KNOW, HOW TO USE --WE HAD NEW MACHINES AND ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS PEOPLE SIGNED IN.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO VOTE IN ONE LOCATION AND THEN GO TO ANOTHER LOCATION AND VOTE.

SO I THINK THEY FELT IT WORKED REALLY WELL AND IT'S JUST A CASE OF GOING FORWARD AND SEEING, YOU KNOW, HOW TO GET EITHER MORE PEOPLE TO TURN OUT OR AT LEAST MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS OPTION IS AVAILABLE.

>> YOU MENTION THIS OPTION WAS DUE IN PART TO COVID.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A PERMANENT SHIFT?

SHOULD WE EXPECT EARLY VOTING WILL BECOME PART OF THE ELECTION SEASON?

>> OH, YES.

DEFINITELY.

THERE WERE A LOT OF STATES THAT DID THIS BEFORE COVID.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING NEW JERSEY HAD EVER THOUGHT TO DO.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY, BUT COVID REALLY BROUGHT THE NEED FOR THIS TO THE FOUR AND IT IS DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GO AWAY.

>> IT IS CERTAINLY EARLY, BUT WHAT DO WE KNOW IN TERMS OF TURNOUT FOR THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS?

>> RIGHT.

WE PROBABLY WON'T KNOW UNTIL EARLY NEXT WEEK ON HOW THE IN PERSON TURNOUT IS GOING, BUT AS FOR THIS WEEK, THERE WERE 210,000 PEOPLE THAT HAD VOTED USING MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

THAT IS FIVE TIMES LARGER THAN THE NUMBER WHO HAD VOTED FOUR YEARS AGO IN THE LAST CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY IN THE MIDTERM YEAR.

MAIL-IN VOTING HAS CERTAINLY BECOME MORE POPULAR IN NEW JERSEY.

>> COLLEEN, IT'S GOOD TO SEE OH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RHONDA.

>> JOIN US ON TUESDAY FOR OUR LIVES 2022 PRIMARY NIGHT COVERAGE.

WE WILL HAVE ALL OF THE FINAL VOTES, PLUS POLITICAL ANALYSIS AND LIVE REPORTS FROM THE KEY CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY RACES WE ARE WATCHING.

THAT IS 10:00 P.M.

RIGHT HERE ON NJ PBS AND STREAMING ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> COVID-19 VACCINE FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE COULD BEGIN IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS SHOTS MAY BE AVAILABLE AS SOON AS THE 21st OF THIS MONTH.

THE FDA IS EXPECTING TO MEET A LITTLE OVER TWO WEEKS FROM NOW TO REVIEW DATA SUBMITTED BY PFIZER AND MODERNA.

THE AGENCY WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO AUTHORIZE THE VACCINE FOR EMERGENCY USE.

>>> MEANWHILE NEW JERSEY TODAY REPORTED 3900 NEWLY CONFIRMED POSITIVE COVID TESTS AND 13 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

>>> THE TEACHING SHORTAGE IS ONLY GETTING WORSE.

THE NEW JERSEY POLICY PERSPECTIVE REPORT FINDS THAT UNLESS SOME CHANGES ARE MADE SOON, THEY WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO REPLACE TEACHERS WHO ARE LEAVING.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER LOOKS AT WHY IT HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT NEW TEACHERS AND WHAT EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO BRING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO THE PROFESSION.

>> WE ARE SEEING A CLEAR DECLINE OVER YEARS IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SCHOOL LEADERS IN NEW JERSEY ARE TELLING US THERE IS A PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: A PROBLEM THAT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AS SEVERAL ISSUES ARE ADDING TO A SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS IN THE STATE.

MARK WEBER RECENTLY AUTHORED A REPORT HIGHLIGHTING A TREND IN WHICH FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE ENTERING THE FIELD.

>> THE NUMBER DIPPED BELOW 3000 FOR THE FIRST TIME TWO YEARS AGO.

IT WENT UP SLIGHTLY IN THE LAST YEAR THAT WE HAVE DATA, BUT IT IS STILL A VERY SERIOUS DECLINE AND IT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: THE REPORT REVEALING A DECLINE IN COLLEGE STUDENT EARNING A TEACHING DEGREE.

2020, THE NUMBER OF TEACHING DEGREES GIVEN TO GRADUATING STUDENTS HIT AN ALL-TIME LOW WITH JUST OVER 3500.

THAT IS AN ALMOST 35% DROP FROM 2011, WHEN ONLY 5300 TEACHING DEGREES WERE AWARDED.

EDUCATION DEGREE EXPERTS SAY ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES WHY THIS IS HAPPENING IS MONEY.

>> TEACHING DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME CASH DAY AS OTHER PROFESSIONS.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TEACHING WITH A DEGREE OF RESPECT IT DESERVES.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT TEACHING IN THE SAME WAY WE TALK ABOUT ENGINEERS, IN THE SAME WAY WE TALK ABOUT LAWYERS, THE SAME WAY WE TALK ABOUT DOCTORS IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO SEE IT AS A DESIRABLE PROFESSION.

>> Reporter: SCHOOLS ARE STRUGGLING TO RETAIN TEACHERS ONCE THEY ARE HIRED.

MANY LEAVING AFTER THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS ON THE JOB.

>> THE SALARIES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE PACE OF THE CHANGING NEEDS AND SOCIETY.

IT IS REALLY HARD FOR TEACHERS TO GO IN MAKING A LOWER STARTING SALARY AND KNOWING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THEIR SALARIES RISE AT THE SAME PACE AS INFLATION AS IT IS IN OTHER SECTORS.

>> Reporter: EDUCATION LEADERS IN NEWARK ARE HOPING TO CHANGE THINGS AROUND.

THE NEWARK TEACHERS UNION HAVE AGREED TO RAISE THE TEACHERS STARTING SALARY TO $62,000 A YEAR.

>> WE WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE DISTRICT TO RAISE THAT STARTING SALARY AND TO KEEP IT THERE FOR THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT HERE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE DIDN'T WANT TO DIMINISH THE VALUE OF THE VETERAN TEACHERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, SO WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE THEIRS AS WELL.

>> WE HAVE TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING COMPETITIVE WAGES TO MAKE UP FOR ALL OF THE PRESSURES THAT TEACHERS ARE UNDER HERE WE HAVE TO SHORE UP BENEFITS.

WE NEED TO DO MORE TO ATTRACT TEACHERS OF COLOR BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THEM IN THE CLASSROOM.

BUT OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATION IS WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

WE HAVE TO START GRANTING TEACHERS THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

WE HAVE TO TRUST THEM IN OUR CLASSROOMS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

CERTAINLY, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT CERTAINLY, THEY HAVE GOT TO FEEL THEY HAVE A SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

>> Reporter: THE STATE IS WORKING ON MAKING CHANGES TO RECRUIT TEACHERS.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL ALLOW PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES TO ENTER THE FIELD THROUGH AN ALTERNATE ROUTE PROGRAM.

>> CANDIDATES WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE COURSES TO GET A STANDARD TEACHING CERTIFICATE, EVEN IF THEY DON'T MEET THE REQUIRED GPA OR STANDARDIZED TEST SCORE.

>> Reporter: FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> IN TONIGHT'S SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING A CASINO STORY WRITTEN BY REPORTER ALLISON BURDELL AS PART OF PRO-PUBLIC A'S NETWORK.

DESPITE GROWING PROFITS, CASINO OPERATORS USE PREDICTIONS OF GRAVE DANGER TO CONVINCE THE STATE TO THEIR TAX BURDEN, DENYING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE CITY, SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ATLANTIC COUNTY.

>> YOU HAVE DONE AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF REPORTING WHEN IT COMES TO CASINOS AND TAXES IN ATLANTIC CITY.

WHAT IS THE CONSENSUS OF THE PEOPLE YOU SPOKE WITH ABOUT WHETHER CASINOS ARE PAYING ENOUGH?

>> THAT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO.

THE CASINO EXECUTIVES THEY SHOWED LAST YEAR WHEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS PARTICULAR TAX AND ATLANTIC COUNTY THAT THEY FELT AS THOUGH THEY NEEDED SOME RELIEF.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ADVOCATES WITH IN NEW JERSEY WHO HAVE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE BIG PROFITABLE BUSINESSES THAT SHOULD BE PAYING MORE OF A SHARE.

>> THE CASINO BUSINESS HAS REBOUNDED CERTAINLY SINCE COVID THOUGH.

>> YES, SO WE SAW LAST YEAR THAT CASINOS GROSS OPERATING PROFITS HIT 767 MILLION, THE HIGHEST PROFIT THAT THE INDUSTRY IN ATLANTIC CITY HAS REPORTED IN AT LEAST 10 YEARS.

>> LOOKING BACKWARDS, WHAT WAS BEHIND THE CHANGE IN PILOT?

>> SO, JUST A LITTLE HISTORY, PILATE STANDS FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.

IT WILL REPLACE THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM STARTING IN 2016.

LAST YEAR, CASINOS ARGUED THAT THE REASON IT HAD CHANGED P.I.L.O.T.

WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT RECOVERED FROM THE PANDEMIC AND A SECOND ARGUMENT THAT MOST OF THEIR ONLINE REVENUE STREAM FROM ANY BETS MADE ON SPORTS ONLINE OR FROM CASINO GAMES ONLINE, THEY WERE NOT GETTING AS LARGE A SHARE OF THOSE PROFITS AS THE NUMBERS MIGHT SEEM.

THOSE PROFITS ARE ALSO GOING TO THIRD-PARTY OPERATORS, THE TECH PLATFORMS.

THOSE WERE SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS FROM THE CASINOS.

FORMER STATE SENATOR SWEENEY MADE THE ARGUMENT THAT P.I.L.O.T.

HAD TO CHANGE OR ELSE FOUR CASINOS COULD CLOSE.

>> SO, IT DID CHANGE AND FAST- FORWARD, HERE WE ARE.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE CITY?

THE CITY IS LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT IS NEEDED QUITE BADLY, TO BE FRANK.

>> ATLANTIC CITY RIGHT NOW UNDER THE NEW LAW, THE NEW FORMULA, WILL GET ABOUT $91 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE FROM THE TAXES IN THAT PILOT ACT.

IF THE LAW HAD NOT CHANGED, THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN $133 MILLION.

>> WHERE DOES THIS ISSUE GO FROM HERE, THE PILOT LAW WAS CHANGED.

WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE CASINOS ARE SAYING ONE THING AND LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS.

OFFICIALS ARE SAYING SOMETHING ELSE AND LOOKING AT NUMBERS.

SO, HOW DOES THE TENSION END?

>> P.I.L.O.T.

LAW IS BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT RIGHT NOW.

SINCE IT REPLACED PROPERTY TAXES WHICH WOULD NORMALLY GO TO THE LOCAL ATLANTIC CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CITY BUDGET, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY BUDGET, THE COUNTY SUED OVER THE CHANGE IN THE LAW TO PRESERVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT WOULD RECEIVE.

SO, THE COURT HAS RULED IN THE COUNTY'S FAVOR, BUT THE STATE IS CONTINUING TO MAKE EFFORTS TO APPEAL THAT DECISION.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WONDERING WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT NOW THAT THIS REPORT IS OUT.

WILL WE SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING IN TRENTON ABOUT OTHER TAXES THAT IMPACT THE CASINOS AND COULD BENEFIT ATLANTIC CITY?

>> IT HAS BEEN GREAT CHATTING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU DID ON YOUR STORY.

>>> COMPANIES CONTINUE TO STEP UP AS THE ECONOMY CREATED 390,000 NEW JOBS, ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S MONTHLY JOBS REPORT.

WHILE THAT NUMBER WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED, IT DOES REPRESENT A SLOWDOWN IN JOB CREATION AND WAS THE SMALLEST MONTHLY GAIN IN MORE THAN A YEAR.

THE U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HELD STEADY AT 3.6%, THE LOWEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED OUT THE TRADING WEEK.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY MARTIN TUCKMAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AT MD I.T., OFFERING NEW JERSEY'S FIRST BACHELORS OF SCIENCE DEGREE.

IS IS FOCUSED, TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN.

AND RIVERVIEW JAZZ, PRESENTING THE JERSEY CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL JUNE 4th AND JUNE 5th.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES AND LOCATION ARE ONLINE AT RIVERVIEW JAZZ.

>>> AND JOIN ME FOR BUSINESS WEEK THIS WEEKEND.

WE PUT THE LABOR MARKET AND FOCUS, HIGHLIGHTING THE HUGE INCREASE IN JOB OPENINGS, THE LACK OF WORKERS TO FILL THOSE OPENINGS, AND HOW COMPANIES ARE GETTING CREATIVE TO BRING WORKERS BACK.

WATCH IT ON NJ PBS SATURDAY AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30.

>>> CONCERNS OF A POSSIBLE CANCER CLUSTER TIED TO COLONIA HIGH SCHOOL IN WOODBRIDGE GRABBED NATIONAL ATTENTION EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT AFTER WEEKS OF ON-SITE RADIATION TESTING, STATE OFFICIALS HAVE CONCLUDED THE SCHOOL AND ITS GROUNDS ARE SAFE.

THOSE FINDINGS HAVE NOT SAT WELL WITH SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

ON THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ, JOANNA GAGIS.REACTION FROM THE WHISTLEBLOWER WHO COMPILED A LIST OF 100 CASES OF FORMER STUDENTS AND STAFF OF COLONIAL HIGH.

>> Reporter: GOING INTO THE PROCESS, WE HAVE NEVER STATED THAT RADON AND RADIATION WERE THE ONLY DEFINITIVE TESTS THAT WE SHOULD BE PERFORMING.

IT WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE PHASE ONE OF A MULTI-APPROACHED TEST.

THEY HAD DONE THESE TESTS IN EARLY APRIL AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO INTO AIR, WATER, AND SOIL SAMPLES.

WHEN THE STATE HAD COME OUT AND HE STATED THAT HE IS COMFORTABLE THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON HERE BASED ON ONLY ONE TEST, NEVER DID WE THINK DOING A RADON SAMPLE WOULD BE THE BE ALL AND ALL OF THE SCHOOL STUDY.

>> HELP US UNDERSTAND WE TALK ABOUT RADON TESTING VERSUS OTHER TYPES OF TESTING, WHAT WAS DONE AND WHAT FURTHER TESTING WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

>> RADON TESTING IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY OR SELL YOUR HOME.

THEY PUT A CANISTER IN YOUR BASEMENT.

IT'S EXPOSED TO THE AIR.

THEY COLLECT ON THE CANISTER, WE SEND THEM OFF, AND WE CAN GIVE YOU A READING OF RADON IN YOUR HOUSE.

WE HAD INTENDED FOR THEM TO CONCURRENTLY DO SOIL, AIR TO SEE IF WE HAD BURIED DRUMS, CHEMICALS, GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE NEARBY GAS STATION.

WE HAD ANTICIPATED DOING AIR SAMPLING, WHICH IS LOOKING FOR THINGS IN THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS DOING SOIL SAMPLING, WHICH IS LOOKING FOR THINGS STILL IN THE SOIL THAT NOT ONLY ARE VOLATILE LYSING INTO THE SCHOOL, BUT LEAKING DOWN INTO THE AQUIFER AND SPREADING THE CONTAMINANT ACROSS THE TOWN.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER JOINED THE PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEKEND SAID WHEN WE COMPARE THE RATES OF PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY AGAINST THE REGISTRY TO SEE HOW MANY FROM A CERTAIN REGION WE CAN EXPECT TO GET CANCER OR EXPECT TO HAVE CERTAIN BRAIN TUMORS IN THIS CASE BECAUSE MANY OF THE TUMORS ARE NOT CANCEROUS.

THE FINDINGS THEY HAVE UNCOVERED ARE RIGHT IN LINE OF WHAT WE EXPECT THE POPULATION TO BE, KIND OF THE RISK OF LIVING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE NUMBERS THEY PRESENTED.

THEY ARE NOT SHARING WITH US WHAT THE COHORT SIZE WAS.

THEY HAVEN'T TOLD US WHAT THE POPULATION THEY ARE LOOKING AT.

ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE WITH HER CONCLUSIONS, THEY ARE LOOKING AT A 50 YEAR TIME SPAN.

THESE BRAIN TUMORS HAVE A 20 YEAR LATENCY.

INCLUDING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THAT WERE THERE LAST YEAR, IT'S SIMPLY SILLY.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT CLEAR OF BRAIN TUMORS.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE DEVELOPED THEM YET, SO USING A 50 YEAR COHORT ARTIFICIALLY INFLATES THE EXPECTED NUMBERS.

I AM WORKING WITH A TEAM OF DOCTORS AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS RIGHT NOW AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE DATA AND THEIR INITIAL CONCLUSIONS ARE WE KNOW THE RATES OF PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS.

10 OUT OF 100,000.

THEIR CONCLUSION IS OUR POPULATION SIZE AT COLONIAL HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE 105 PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS DEFIES LOGIC.

THEY ARE LOOKING DEEP AT THESE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW AND I HOPE FOR THEM TO REPORT BACK TO ME IN THE NEXT WEEK AND GIVE ME CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE STATES CONCLUSIONS ARE CORRECT OR INCORRECT.

>> AND BEFORE WE LEAVE, THE NEXT EPISODE IN OUR 21 DIGITAL FILM SERIES IS NOW ONLINE.

THE SERIES EXAMINES THE SIMPLE QUESTION OF DOES WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE AFFECT HOW YOU LIVE?

21 PROFILES, 1 PERSON IN EACH OF OUR 21 COUNTIES LOOK AT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT AFFECT THE PERSON'S LIFE.

THE LATEST FILM PROFILES DAVIS OF XX COUNTY, A PASSIONATE EDUCATOR DEVELOPING TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO REDEFINE THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH THE ARTS AND SCIENCES ALL WHILE EMPOWERING OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> I WANT NEW ARC TO BE THE BLACK MECCA OF THE WORLD.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON?

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF BLACK AND BROWN CULTURE IS.

>> WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

YOUR VIBE IS EXCELLENT.

>> FOR SO LONG, COMMUNITIES LIKE NEW ARC HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT.

YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY, THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

THIS IS WHAT I WAKE UP EVERY DAY FIGHTING TO ADVOCATE FOR, FREE WATER, FREE FOOD, FREE PROGRAMMING, AND REALLY PROVIDING SPACE WHERE BLACK AND BROWN OWNERS CAN FIND OWNERSHIP HERE.

YOU KNOW, IT IS A BIG TASK WE ARE UP AGAINST.

WHERE YOU LIVE DOES AFFECT HOW YOU LIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE IN AN AREA WITH LACK OF ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD.

>> YOU CAN MEET FALLON AND THE OTHER EXTRAORDINARY JERSEY RESIDENTS AT MYNJPBS.ORG/21.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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