>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE STEPPED UP THEIR BOMBARDMENT OF KYIV, UKRAINE'S CAPITAL CITY HITTING APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND SUBWAY STATIONS KILLING DOZENS OF PEOPLE.

IN THE MEANTIME IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF MARIUPOL, THOUSANDS ARE FLEEING ALONG A HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR IN WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST EVACUATION YET.

THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL TRAVEL TO BRUSSELS NEXT WEEK FOR A SUMMIT WITH NATO AND EUROPEAN LEADERS ABOUT THE RUSSIAN INVASION.

TODAY LEADERS OF THREE EU COUNTRIES INCLUDING POLAND TRAVEL TO KYIV TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

MEANWHILE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY TODAY REPEATED HIS CALL TO CLOSE THE AIR SPACE OVER UKRAINE IN A SPEECH TO CANADIAN LAWMAKERS SAYING MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STOP RUSSIA.

TOMORROW HE WILL MAKE HIS CASE BEFORE CONGRESS.

IT APPEARS ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA ARE HAVING AN IMPACT.

REPORTS SAY RUSSIA COULD SOON DEFAULT ON ITS FOREIGN CURRENCY DEBT.

IT'S BEEN 20 DAYS SINCE THE START OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION AND MORE THAN THREE MILLION PEOPLE HAVE NOW FLED UKRAINE.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS ON ONE CAMDEN FAMILY WHO MOVED TO UKRAINE, SO THEIR CHILDREN COULD EXPERIENCE THEIR UKRAINIAN HERITAGE.

NOW THEY'RE IN POLAND AND UNSURE ABOUT WHERE THEY WILL GO NEXT.

>> ON THE 24th WE WOKE UP TO THE SOUND AROUND 5:00 A.M. TO BOMB BLASTS.

THEY SOUNDED DISTANT, BUT I HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE FELT OUR HOUSE SHAKE.

>> Reporter: THOSE SOUNDS ARE THE SCARIEST SOUNDS IN THE WORLD, LISTENING TO THEM, HOW FAR THEY ARE FROM HERE, RUNNING ONLINE TO SEE WHAT GOT BOMBED.

>> Reporter: THEY FLED THEIR HOMES IN THE SUBURBS OF KYIV SHORTLY AFTER THE BOMBS STARTED TO FALL.

THE COUPLE HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND THEIR HOME AND ALL THEIR BELONGINGS TO GET THEIR THREE KIDS AGES 7, 3, 2, AND TATYANA'S 81-YEAR-OLD FATHER SAFELY ACROSS TO POLAND.

>> WE WOULD BE HERE FOR THE END OF THE MONTH AND MAYBE FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A NUMBER OF THINGS.

IS THE RETURN LIKELY?

IS IT POSSIBLE?

WHEN WILL THAT HAPPEN?

>> Reporter: THEY COULD RETURN TO NEW JERSEY WHERE THEY LIVED FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS WHILE PALADKO WAS EARNING HER GRADUATE'S DEGREE FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

THEY HAD JUST MOVED TO UKRAINE IN JANUARY OF 2021 AFTER YEARS OF PLANNING TO GO BACK, SO THEIR KIDS COULD EXPERIENCE LIFE IN UKRAINE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY THE PANDEMIC THAT GAVE THEM THE FREEDOM TO RETURN WHILE STILL REMOTELY RUNNING A BUSINESS HERE IN THE STATES.

>> THIS IS REALLY PAINFUL.

AND SEEING THAT THE PEOPLE LOST, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE IN THE LINE OF FIRE RIGHT NOW, WHO ARE PARENTS.

AND YOU KNOW, WITH HIS FAMILY AND WIFE AND DAUGHTER, NOW SOMEWHERE IN A BUNKER, WHICH IS THE CITY THAT HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK FROM DAY ONE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IN FOUR DAYS.

>> Reporter: MANY CIVILIANS HAVE DIED ON ATTACKS IN THE NORTHERN CITY.

ELECTRICITY HAS BEEN CUT OFF IN THE CITY, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME GIVEN THE WEATHER.

>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME REALLY COLD TIMES, YOU KNOW, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW COLD IT IS AND HOW BARELY IT IS FOR THEM TO HANDLE THEIR BASIC WINTER GEAR.

>> Reporter: ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THE SOUTH, UKRAINIANS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING UNDER RUSSIAN CONTROL.

THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO FOOD AND NO ONE CAN LEAVE THE TOWN.

BRAUN'S PARENTS ARE THERE.

>> NO ONE IS SAFE IN THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT MY FAMILY HAS ENOUGH FOOD AS THEY SAY FOR TWO WEEKS.

PEOPLE IN THE TOWN ARE TERRIFIED BECAUSE THEY STARTED TO ABDUCT PEOPLE TO KIDNAP PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR WAS REPORTEDLY KIDNAPPED LAST WEEK.

BRAUN KNOWS THEM PERSONALLY.

>> HE'S A GREAT GUY, VERY HUMBLE, AND HE WAS ELECTED BY OUR PEOPLE.

HE WAS ABDUCTED FROM HIS OFFICE WHILE TRYING TO ORGANIZE THE CORRIDORS.

THEY'RE SAYING HE WAS BEING TORTURED BECAUSE RUSSIANS WANT HIM TO SURRENDER THE TOWN.

>> Reporter: NOT TO SEND ANY MESSAGES IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE BECAUSE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS ARE CHECKING PEOPLE'S PHONES IN THE STREETS.

AS FOR THOSE TRYING TO ESCAPE.

>> MY FRIEND WAS ALSO TRYING TO LEAVE THE TOWN.

SHE ACTUALLY SAW THE CARS THAT WOULD GET PEOPLE.

ONE FAMILY WAS SHOT IN THE CAR AND THEY WERE TRAPPED IN THE SAND, SO THE PARENTS WERE KILLED, SHOT, AND THE SON WAS BURNT ALIVE.

>> Reporter: THE CAUSE FOR UKRAINIANS BOTH HERE AND ABROAD FOR THE U.S. AND NATO TO CLOSE THE SKIES ARE GETTING LOUDER AND MORE PRONOUNCED.

THEY SAY THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE WORLD TO AVOID BEING CAUGHT UP IN THIS WAR.

>> THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTIVE ENOUGH.

IF THEY TAKE OVER UKRAINE, EUROPE IS GOING TO BE NEXT.

>> WHAT DOES THIS SIGNAL TO OTHER COUNTRIES THAT WHAT THEY CAN DO.

DEFINITELY I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH AND I KNOW EVERYONE WILL CONTINUE TO REFRAIN THAT WHILE WE DON'T WANT TO ENTER WORLD WAR III.

MAYBE WE'RE IN WORLD WAR III, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE ELSE IS LATE TO THE PARTY.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY CLOSE THE SKIES AND SEND MORE WEAPONS BECAUSE THIS IS GENOCIDE.

THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED THAN WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS REPORT INVOLVING ELIZABETH'S FORMER POLICE DIRECTOR CAN BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

THE FORMER DIRECTOR, JAMES COSGROVE RESIGNED IN 2019 AFTER AN INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT HE USED RACIST AND SEXIST LANGUAGE IN REFERRING TO HIS STAFF.

IN ITS RULING YESTERDAY THE COURT STATED PUBLIC INTEREST OUTWEIGHED THE NEED FOR CONFIDENTIALITY.

THE UNANIMOUS DECISION COULD ALLOW FOR GREATER PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY IN HOW POLICE DEPARTMENTS DISCIPLINE THEIR RANKS.

FOR MORE BACKGROUND AND DETAILS ON THIS STORY YOU CAN READ COLLEEN O'DEA'S REPORT ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> TO PROVIDE SOME MUCH NEEDED SERVICES TO CITY RESIDENCE.

TRENTON HAS LONG BEEN CALLED A LABOR AND DELIVERY DESERT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO MATERNITY HOSPITALS IN THE CITY.

RIGHT NOW PREGNANT WOMEN HAVE TO TRAVEL TO GET THE CARE THEY NEED AND NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS ON HOW THE NEW CENTER WILL HELP MOMS TO BE.

>> THEY WEREN'T REALLY ABLE TO SEE ME FOR TWO MONTHS.

EVEN WHEN THEY DID SEE ME, IT WAS JUST A PHONE INTERVIEW.

I HAD SOME SPOTTING AND I NEEDED TO GO IN AND THEY STILL COULDN'T SEE ME, SO I HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> Reporter: IMAGINE BEING PREGNANT WITH YOUR FIRST CHILD AND HAVING TO WAIT TWO MONTHS TO HEAR YOUR BABY'S HEARTBEAT, SEE YOUR BABY ON AN ULTRASOUND, OR EVEN SEE A DOCTOR.

WHAT SEEMS UNIMAGINABLE IS THE REALITY FOR THIS 18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WANTED TO BE IDENTIFIED ONLY AS KAYA.

THAT'S BECAUSE ACCESS TO MATERNITY CARE AND DELIVERY IN TRENTON IS ALMOST NONEXISTENCE.

TRENTON'S LARGEST HOSPITAL, CAPITAL HEALTH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CLOSED ITS LABOR AND DELIVERY UNIT BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL REPORTED SO FEW PEOPLE WERE USING THE SERVICES.

THE ONLY OTHER LOCAL OPTION FOR PRE-NATAL CARE HEALTH STAR CLINIC IS OVERWHELMED WITH DEMAND.

THE VOID HAS FORCED SOME TO TRAVEL FROM TRENTON TO CAPITAL HEALTH HOPEWELL, A 15-MINUTE TRIP BY CAR AND EVEN LONGER BY BUS.

>> THERE IS TRANSPORTATION TO HOPEWELL, WHICH IS THE MAIN HOSPITAL THAT'S ABOUT 15 MINUTES OUT.

BUT THAT'S A WHOLE DAY PROCESS.

YOU HAVE TO ONE CATCH THE BUS FROM YOUR HOUSE TO THE LOCAL REGIONAL TRAUMA CENTER THAT IS NOT FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AT ALL.

AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THERE I BELIEVE EITHER EVERY HALF AN HOUR TO AN HOUR THERE IS A SHUTTLE THAT'LL TAKE YOU OVER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR APPOINTMENTS.

HONESTLY IF YOU'RE IN LABOR, THAT SHUTTLE DOESN'T HELP YOU BECAUSE IT STOPS RUNNING AT 8:00 AT NIGHT.

SO NOW AT THAT POINT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW AM I GOING TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL?

THE STRESSES OF CALLING AN AMBULANCE, NO ONE WANTS TO CALL THE AMBULANCE.

THE FIRST THING YOU'RE THINKING, I'M GOING TO GET A BILL FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST FOR THE RIDE.

AND THEN IF I NEEDED TO CATCH UBER, UBER FROM TRENTON TO HOPEWELL EASY $20.

AND YOU'RE ASKING SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE $20 FOR THEMSELVES TO PUT OUT $20 TO GET INTO AN UBER TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> Reporter: CO-FOUNDER OF NEW JERSEY MIRIAM MCDUFFEY HOPES THAT HARDSHIP WILL END FOR MOTHERS IN TRENTON AFTER THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEY TOOK STEPS TO FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FIRST OF ITS KIND MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH INNOVATION CENTER IN TRENTON.

THE CREATION OF THE CENTER WAS A KEY RECOMMENDATION IN THE NURTURE NEW JERSEY STRATEGIC PLAN, DESIGNED FOR PARENTS AND INFANTS AS NEW JERSEY RANKS 47th IN THE NATION FROM MATERNAL DEATHS AND HAS ONE OF THE WIDEST RACIAL DISPARITIES FOR BOTH INFANT FATALITIES.

OUT OF THE 100 MOMS THEY SEE, MCDUFFEY SAYS 60% OF THEM STRUGGLE TO GET THE PRENATAL AND DELIVERY CARE THEY NEED.

>> ONE OF THE MOST THINGS I'M EXCITED ABOUT, THE MOMS ARE ABLE TO FIND LOCAL CARE WITH THE HOPES OF A SECONDARY PLACE FOR MATERNAL HEALTH.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CROWDS AND THEIR APPOINTMENTS WON'T BE PUSHED BACK A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS WHEN THEY FIRST FIND OUT THEY'RE PREGNANT.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY PLANNING FOR THE CENTER WILL BE COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND THAT STAKEHOLDERS WILL HAVE A SAY IN WHAT'S OFFERED IN THE FACILITY.

I SPOKE WITH THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND STRATEGY AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN REYNOLDS JACKSON WHO AGREED ELEVATING THE STANDARD OF CARE ALSO INCLUDES ENSURING ALL MOMS AND BABIES ARE TREATED EQUALLY.

>> THERE IS JUST A LACK OF AWARENESS OF WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AND NOT SURPRISINGLY PEOPLE COME TO THE CONCLUSION IF THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE THAT THEY CAN'T ACCESS HEALTH CARE.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

>> WE HAVE STATE PARTNERS, LOCAL PARTNERS, ALL TRYING TO ELEVATE AND PROTECT BLACK WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A SUCCESSFUL BIRTH.

>> Reporter: FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> WITH NEW JERSEY GAS PRICES WELL ABOVE $4 A GALLON, SOME RESIDENTS ARE SHOPPING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

BUT EVs HAVE THEIR DRAWBACKS.

UPFRONT COSTS ARE HIGH, AND DRIVERS HAVE TO SEARCH FOR CHARGING STATIONS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS ON WHETHER THE INTEREST IN ELECTRIC CARS WILL STICK.

>> I WAS CAR SHOPPING IN SEPTEMBER, AND I WAS ON THE FENCE BETWEEN EV OR NON-EV.

AND INITIALLY I JUST SAW THE PRICE AS -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY A LIMITING FACTOR, BUT SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

SO I ENDED UP GOING NOT THAT ROUTE.

>> Reporter: INSTEAD DANIEL DECIDED TO PURCHASE A TRADITIONAL GAS VEHICLE.

BUT AFTER REALIZING HE WAS SPENDING ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FILL UP AT THE PUMP EACH MONTH AS HE WAS ON HIS CAR PAYMENT, HE QUICKLY BEGAN TO QUESTION HIS DECISION.

>> GAS PRICES HAVE GONE UP RIDICULOUSLY LATELY AND IT WASN'T EVEN THAT CASE BEFORE EARLIER IN THE YEAR OR LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW I'M STILL SPENDING OVER $300 A MONTH ON GAS.

SO I TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, SO I'VE GOT WEEKENDS WHERE I'M DRIVING 100 PLUS MILES A DAY, TWO, THREE TIMES A WEEK.

AND SO ADD THAT UP, I WOULD RATHER PUT OUT THE SAME MONEY AND HAVE A BETTER CAR THAN PUT HALF OF IT OR WHATEVER TOWARDS GAS.

>> Reporter: SO HE BOUGHT A TESLA.

EVEN THOUGH HE WON'T HAVE THE KEYS UNTIL THE SUMMER, HE SAYS HE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON HIS POCKETS.

>> AND SO $11 VERSES FOR ME TO DRIVE MY CAR TO GET ABOUT 300 MILES.

THE LAST TIME I FILLED UP BEFORE IT WENT UP, IT WAS $50 MY BUSY TIME.

I FILL UP MY TANK MORE THAN TWICE A WEEK.

SO RIGHT THERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $100 OR MORE A WEEK.

AND SO $400 A MONTH, LET'S FIND A PLACE TO PUT THAT TOWARDS THE VEHICLE, TOWARDS WHAT IT COSTS TO CHARGE, ETC., ETC., AND I'M STILL GOING TO BE LEFT OVER WITH CASH AS FAR AS I SEE IT.

>> Reporter: EXPERTS BELIEVE WE COULD START TO SEE MORE DRIVERS MAKING THE SWITCH TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> WE'VE GOT A BIT OF A PROVERSION IN THE MARKETPLACE TODAY BECAUSE OF COVID.

BUT THERE IS DEMAND.

IN FACT THERE'S SOME STUDIES THAT SHOW THERE'S MORE DEMAND THAN EVER BEFORE AND I SUSPECT BECAUSE OF WHAT'S RECENTLY HAPPENING AT THE PUMP, THAT'S GOING TO CLIMB EVEN MORE.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO AAA, THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR GAS IN NEW JERSEY IS $4.32 A GALLON.

THAT'S UP FROM $4.27 JUST A WEEK AGO AND $3.60 LAST MONTH.

LAST YEAR AROUND THIS TIME NEW JERSEYIANS WERE PAYING $2.93.

AND THE FEAR IS THINGS COULD GET WORSE.

>> THE CRISIS OF UKRAINE AND THE VOLATILITY OF THE GAS MARKET HAS SHOWN THAT WE SHOULD RELY LESS ON IT IN THE LONG RUN.

>> Reporter: CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALONE IS A BIG SUPPORTER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

NEW JERSEY IS SET TO RECEIVE $15 BILLION FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW THAT WILL HELP PLACE MORE CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE THESE CHARGING STATIONS AND WE DO MORE DOMESTICALLY TO PROVIDE THE COMPONENTS, AND MORE PEOPLE BUY THEM AND EVENTUALLY THE PRICES WILL COME DOWN.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME THERE ARE SOME THINGS DRIVERS COULD DO TO SAVE ON FUEL CONSUMPTION.

>> THEY POLLUTE MUCH MORE AND NOT DRIVING 75, 80 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY.

DRIVE AT 55.

>> Reporter: THE CAR POOLING IS AN OPTION.

THAT COULD ALSO CUT DOWN ON COST.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, WE ARE MARKING EQUAL PAYDAY TODAY.

MARCH 15 IS THE DAY THAT SYMBOLIZES HOW FAR INTO THE YEAR WOMEN MUST WORK TO EARN WHAT MEN EARN IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON PAY EQUITY.

TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN IN NEW JERSEY, I'M JOINED BY DR. SARAH SMALL AN ECONOMIST AT THE RUTGERS CENTER FOR WOMEN IN WORK.

DR. SMALL, HOW COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROGRESS BEING MADE IN NEW JERSEY ON THE ISSUE OF EQUAL PAY?

>> YEAH, I DESCRIBE IT AS A BIT STAGNANT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND WE FOUND IN 2020 WOMEN ON AVERAGE EARN ABOUT 82 CENTS PER DOLLAR A THAT MEN EARN ON AVERAGE.

THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME SINCE 2018.

>> THE FACT SO MANY WOMEN LEAVE THE WORK FORCE INTERRUPT THE PROGRESS BEING MADE.

IS THAT ONE REASON WHY WE'RE STAGNANT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE STORY.

WE SAW THE WAY THE PAY GAP IS MEASURED AND IT'S USING WORKERS, WAGES, WORKING BOTH FULL TIME AND YEAR ROUND.

WE SAW A LOT OF WOMEN DURING THE PANDEMIC IN NEW JERSEY LEFT THAT POOL.

MANY SWITCHED TO WORKING PART TIME AND MANY MORE EVEN LEFT THEIR JOBS OR WERE FORCED OUT OF THEIR JOBS ENTIRELY.

SO THOSE TWO WHO ARE LEFT IN THE POOL OF FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING FULL TIME IN YEAR ROUND ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY DOING FAIRLY WELL.

AND THEY ARE EARNING A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

SO I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF THE REASONS WHY WE DIDN'T QUITE SEE THE WAGE GAP DECREASE AND IT IS REALLY JUST DUE TO THE WAY IT'S MEASURED AND HOW IT SHOWS WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A WAGE GAP, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MINORITY WOMEN COMPARED TO WHITE WOMEN.

THE GAP THERE IS EVEN GREATER.

IS IT DISCOURAGING THAT THE GAP THERE DOESN'T GET DISCOURAGING AT ALL?

>> YEAH, IT IS REALLY DISCOURAGING.

SOME OF THE DATA AND ANALYSIS WE'VE BEEN DOING, WE'RE FINDING I THINK THE WIDEST GAP BEING BETWEEN HISPANIC WOMEN WHO EARN ABOUT 49 CENTS PER EVERY DOLLAR A WHITE MAN EARNS, WHICH IS DISCOURAGING AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT AGAIN HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT LATINA AND BLACK WOMEN IN NEW JERSEY WERE HIT HARDER BY THE PANDEMIC.

A LOT OF THEM WORK IN SECTORS WHERE THEY WERE FORCED AGAIN TO GO INTO PART-TIME WORK, RIGHT?

THEY'RE ALSO OVERREPRESENTED IN ESSENTIAL WORK AND ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES.

BUT THEY WERE ALSO, YOU KNOW, REALLY PREVALENT IN JOBS LIKE HOUSEKEEPING, HOSPITALITY, RESTAURANTS, OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE REALLY HIT HARD IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND DOESN'T NEW JERSEY HAVE LAWS THOUGH DESIGNED TO HELP MOVE THIS GAP ALONG?

>> YEAH, NEW JERSEY IS DOING FAIRLY WELL.

THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN THE STATE WHERE, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYERS AREN'T ALLOWED TO, FOR INSTANCE, ASK SALARY HISTORY IN INTERVIEWS.

THAT KIND OF HELPS BREAK THE BARRIERS.

AND THEY ALSO, THERE ARE SOME LEGAL PROTECTIONS, THAT THEY CAN'T BE PAID LESS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR WORK.

THAT INCLUDES THINGS BETWEEN SALARIES AND BONUSES, WHERE WE WOULD SEE A LOT OF BIG BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF GENDER PAY.

>> LET'S HOPE WE'RE WORKING CLOSER TO PAY PARODY.

>>> NOW HERE IS A CHECK ON HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED TODAY'S TRADING SESSION.

>>> PROUDLY SERVING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102 LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY.

>>> WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS ARE WARNING THE U.S. WILL SOON RUN OUT OF FUNDING FOR FUTURE COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS, NEW TREATMENT AND TESTING AFTER FAILING TO PASS LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE $22 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL COVID FUNDING.

OFFICIALS TOLD GOVERNORS TODAY THEY WILL CUT THE NUMBER OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES BEING SENT TO STATES STARTING NEXT WEEK.

THE WARNING COMES AS THEY TRACK A RISE OF COVID CASES IN EUROPE.

IN THE MEANTIME AN INCREASE IN CASES OF CHINA PROMPTED NEW LOCKDOWNS THERE THIS WEEK.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY THE STATE REPORTED 559 CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES TODAY AND 16 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TO THE VIRTUAL ROUND TABLE ON WEDNESDAY WITH OUR HEALTHCARE RIDER WITH NEW CASE NUMBERS DECLINING SIGNIFICANTLY AND MASK MANDATES BEING DROPPED.

STATE LEADERS INSIST COVID-19 HAS EVOLVED FROM A PANDEMIC TO AN ENDEMIC DISEASE.

MODERATING A PANEL OF EXPERTS LOOKING AT LIVING WITH COVID.

THAT'S TOMORROW AT 4:00 P.M. TO REGISTER HEAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> THEY EXPERIENCE FEELINGS OF FEAR, FRUSTRATION, AND HOPELESSNESS.

ONE ORGANIZATION IN OCEAN COUNTY IS PROVIDING HELP.

HOPE SHEDS LIGHT BASED IN TOMS RIVER.

THEY HOST PROGRAMS AND MEETINGS FOR FAMILIES COPING WITH ADDICTION.

THE GROUP RECENTLY EXPANDED TO HAWKIN TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO MORE FAMILIES.

TED GOLDBERG REPORTS ON ONE FAMILY'S PAINFUL SUBSTANCE ABUSE JOURNEY WITH THEIR DAUGHTER AND HOW HOPE SHEDS LIGHT CARRIES THEM THROUGH THEIR MOST DIFFICULT DAYS.

>> WE WERE IN SEVERAL HOSPITAL SITUATIONS WHERE OUR DAUGHTER WAS UNAWARE AND THEY DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO SURVIVE.

>> Reporter: ALLISON AND RAY COULD ONLY WATCH AS THEIR DAUGHTER STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL.

>> NOTHING WAS FUN, WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO MUCH.

THIS IS PRECOVID.

>> WE HAD NORMAL LITTLE FAMILY PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES, BUT WE NEVER HAD SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH.

>> IT'S THEIR LEAST HAPPY CHILD AS WE WERE LIVING IT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> ONE OF THEIR CO-FOUNDERS SPOKE AT THEIR CHURCH.

>> WE HAVE FRIENDS WHO WOULD LISTEN AND EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION, BUT NO ONE THAT COULD GIVE US AT LEAST INFORMATION OR INSIDE OR EXPERIENCE BEST OF ALL.

>> MY STAFF AND MYSELF WERE JUST INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY.

WHAT WE OFFER IS OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WHAT WE WENT THROUGH, OUR JOURNEY, AND YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE COME HERE AND THEY GET A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO FIX THEM, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO THEM WHAT TO DO.

WE'RE NOT SAYING OUR WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY, WE'RE JUST SHARING OUR WAY.

>> Reporter: THEIR WAY INCLUDES MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE YOGA AND FUN FAMILY OUTINGS.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HELP ANYBODY STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

>> THE IDEA THAT WE NEEDED TO FOCUS ON OURSELVES, SLEEPING WELL, YOU KNOW, EATING WELL, TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES, IT'S LIKE CONTRARY TO WHAT PARENTS THINK, RIGHT?

WE OFTEN THINK THAT OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE OUR CHILD.

>> Reporter: IT'S BASED IN TOMS RIVER AND THE NON-PROFIT JUST EXPANDED.

MUCH CLOSER TO FAMILIES WHO DEPEND ON THEIR SERVICES.

>> IT'S A LOT ON THEIR FAMILY, THEY'RE IN CHAOS, THEY'RE CAUGHT UP IN THE STORM OF ADDICTION.

THEY'RE WORKING, THEY'RE WORRIED.

NOW THEY HAVE TO GET IN THE CAR AND TRAVEL 45 MINUTES FOR SUPPORT.

SO WE WANT TO BRING IT TO THEM.

>> ALLISON AND RAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH HOPE SHEDS LIGHT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

THEY STARTED VOLUNTEERING TO TRY TO HELP OTHER FAMILIES RECOVER LIKE THEIR HAVE.

>> IF THEY COULD MAKE ONE PARENT WITH EACH INTERACTION BE ABLE TO GET A MOMENT'S REST, THEN WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.

>> IT HITS ALL CLASSES, ALL RACES, ALL GENDERS, ALL AGES.

AND THE PROBLEM IS SO PREVALENT THAT AS A SOCIETY, WE NEED TO FIX THIS.

WE NEED TO OFFER PADS OF RECOVERY FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR US AS A SOCIETY.

>> IT'S A COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF CARING, A LOT OF LOVE.

AND WHEN WE FELT ALL THAT AND A RESULT OF ALL OF THAT I THINK WE CAME OUT WITH HOPE.

>> THEIR DAUGHTER HAS BEEN SOBER FOR 2.5 YEARS.

THEY GIVE CREDIT FOR BEING A BIG HELP ALONG THE WAY.

IN TOMS RIVER I'M TED GOLDBERG NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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