>>> AND BY THE PSG FOUNDATION.

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

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

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE U.S. IS SENDING MORE ANTIAIRCRAFT SYSTEMS, ANTI-ARMOR WEAPONS, AND DRONES TO UKRAINE AS ITS BATTLE AGAINST RUSSIA RAGES ON.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME HOURS AFTER VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY DELIVERED AN IMPASSIONED SPEECH TO CONGRESS SHOWING A GRAPHIC VIDEO DEPICTING THE HORRORS OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION SAYING RUSSIA HAS TURNED THE UKRAINIAN SKY INTO A SOURCE OF DEATH FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

HE ASKED AGAIN FOR NATIONS TO ENFORCE A NO FLY ZONE OVER UKRAINE, BUT SAYING THE BRAVE AND FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE OF UKRAINE WILL STAND STRONG AND FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN FUTURES.

>> IT DOESN'T MEAN BIG.

STRONG IS BRAVE AND READY TO FIGHT FOR THE LIFE OF HIS CITIZENS AND THE CITIZENS OF THE WORLD.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS FOR FREEDOM FOR THE RIGHT TO LIVE VISIBLY AND TO DIE WHEN YOUR TIME COMES.

AND NOT WHILE IT'S WANTED BY SOMEONE ELSE, BY YOUR NEIGHBOR TO TAKE THE PEOPLE DEFENDING NOT ONLY UKRAINE WITHOUT FIGHTING FOR YOU AND THE WORLD SUPERVISING IN THE NAME OF THE FUTURE.

THAT'S WHY TODAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE HELPING NOT JUST UKRAINE, BY THE WORLD TO GIVE THE PLANET ALIVE TO KEEP JUSTICE AND HISTORY ON ADDRESSING THE PRESIDENT BIDEN, YOU ARE THE LEADER OF THE NATION, THE AMERICAN NATION.

I RESUME TO BE THE LEADER OF THE WORLD, BEING THE LEADER OF THE WORLD MEANS TO BE THE LEADER OF PEACE.

>> AFTER ZELENSKYY'S ADDRESS, I SPOKE TO NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN TOM, WHO TRAVELED TO UKRAINE BEFORE THE CONFLICT BEGAN, BUT WAS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

>> CONGRESSMAN, YOU WERE SITTING IN THAT ROOM DURING PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY'S SPEECH.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?

>> IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY MOVING AND POWERFUL SPEECH.

IT REMINDED US OF THE POINT THAT I HOPE ALL AMERICANS WILL TAKE AWAY.

AND THAT UKRAINIANS ARE NOT JUST FIGHTING FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR ALL OF US.

THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THE IDEALS, THE RULES THAT PROTECT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO HEART.

I HOPE EVERYONE AMERICAN WATCHED THAT VIDEO, WHICH SHOWED UKRAINE AS IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE AS IT WAS AND NORMAL COUNTRY, A PEACE, A DEMOCRACY, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR A COUNTRY LIKE THAT TO SUDDENLY COME UNDER ATTACK.

I HOPE WE ALL IMAGINED WHAT WE WERE WATCHING THAT VIDEO, WHAT IT WOULD MEAN IF THE TOWNS AND CITIES WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES CERTAINLY CAME UNDER ROCKET FIRE, MISSILE FIRE FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

I HOPE THAT WE COME AWAY FROM THAT NOT JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE THAT REDEDICATED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO HELP THEM.

>> PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY DID CHALLENGE THE U.S. TO DO MORE TO HELP.

HOW IS THE U.S.

GOING TO ANSWER THE CALL?

>> YEAH, JUST ONCE AGAIN AS HE PUT IT TO CLOSE THE SKIES, WHICH MEANS TO DEAL, TO HELP THE UKRAINIANS DEAL WITH RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT BOMBING CITIES, MISSILES THAT CAN POTENTIALLY BE INTERCEPTED BEFORE THEY HIT THEIR TARGETS.

I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS MORNING THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOW MOVING WITH OUR NATO ALLIES MORE SOPHISTICATED ANTIAIRCRAFT SYSTEMS TO THE UKRAINIANS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED ABOVE ALL.

AND I THINK THIS IS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH THE WEAPONRY THAT HAS STOPPED THE RUSSIAN ARMY IN ITS TRACKS.

IN 20 DAYS THE UKRAINIAN ARMY WITH THE WEAPONRY WE HAVE GIVEN THEM HAS KILLED MORE RUSSIAN TROOPS THAN WE LOST IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN IN 20 YEARS.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING.

WE CAN DO MORE.

THE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THEY'RE DOING MORE UNINCREASINGLY CONFIDENT DESPITE THE TERRIBLE PRICE THAT UKRAINIANS ARE PAYING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PREVAIL, WE ARE GOING TO PREVAIL.

>> AND ARE YOU SEEING INCREASED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR MORE HELP FOR UKRAINE, MORE FIGHTER JETS, MORE SANCTIONS, A NO FLY ZONE.

IS THERE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS?

>> THERE IS VERY STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR HELPING UKRAINE.

THERE IS NOT SUPPORT FOR NO FLY ZONE.

FIRST OF ALL THAT WOULDN'T HELP VERY MUCH.

AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES TO FIRE THE FIRST SHOTS IN A WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY WAS VERY CLEAR.

I THINK SYMBOLICALLY THEY'RE ASKING FOR NO FLY ZONES.

BUT IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE.

AND THE L A TERNTIVE IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO CLEAR THE SKIES.

THESE MORE SOPHISTICATED RUSSIAN ANTIAIR-CRAFT SYSTEMS THAT SOME OF OUR NATO ALLIES HAVE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN, THE ADMINISTRATION ARE WORKING TO TRANSFER THOSE SYSTEMS TO UKRAINE.

>> ARE THERE FEARS RUSSIA'S INVASION COULD EXPAND BEYOND UKRAINE'S BORDERS?

AND WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DOES?

>> I THINK THIS IS WHY WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

WE SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE EVIL PUTIN IS CAPABLE OF ESPECIALLY IF HE FEELS DESPERATE.

WE WANT HIM TO LOSE.

WE WANT HIM TO BE DEFEATED, BUT A DEFEATED PUTIN IS ALSO A DANGEROUS PUTIN.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WORST-CASE SCENARIOS THAT HE FIRES TO SEE IF WE REALLY MEAN WHAT WE SAID WHEN WE PROMISED TO DEFEND THOSE COUNTRIES THEY MAY HAVE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.

GOD FORBID ANY WEAPON SHOULD BE USED, BUT WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT AS WELL.

THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAKE SULLIVAN SAID TODAY WAS IN CONTACT WITH HIS COUNTERPART.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE WAS DELIVERED ABOUT AMERICA'S RESOLVE WITH OUR ALLIES TO RESPOND TO ANY ESCALATION BY THE RUSSIANS.

>> CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS TODAY A RUSSIAN AIR STRIKE DESTROYED A THEATER IN THE CITY OF MARIUPOL WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAD TAKEN SHELTER.

THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE WORD ON CASUALTIES.

RUSSIAN MISSILES CONTINUE TO PUMMEL KYIV TARGETING HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIA NOW CONTROLS THE CITY OF KYIV, NORTH OF THE CAPITAL CITY AND CONTROLS THE SURROUNDING REGION ON THE BORDER WITH BELARUS.

RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN DIPLOMATS CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE.

AND ZELENSKYY PROJECTED SOME OPTIMISM BY SAYING MOSCOW'S DEMAND FOR BECOMING MORE REALISTIC.

TONIGHT WE CONTINUE TO REPORT ON NEW JERSEYIANS WHO ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER HAS THE STORY OF THE ESSEX COUNTY MAN WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN UKRAINE AND FOR YEARS HAD BEEN RUNNING A CHARITY TO HELP HIS NATIVE COUNTRY.

NOW HIS ORGANIZATION, HOPE FOR UKRAINE HAS RAMPED UP EFFORTS TO COLLECT DONATIONS TO HELP UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.

>> HONESTLY LIKE IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 21 DAYS NOW.

I STILL WAKE UP EVERY DAY PINCHING MYSELF, HOPING IT'S NOT REAL BECAUSE THE SCALE OF DESTRUCTION AND THE SCALE OF PAYING IT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

>> Reporter: BUT SEEN IN HIS HOMELAND OF UKRAINE ARE, IN FACT, ALL TOOL TROUBLING.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, AND ARE THEY GOING TO BE ALIVE THE NEXT DAY?

MY PARENTS ARE REALLY OLD NOW, SO THEY CAN'T GO TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME TO SAY THE LEAST, YOU KNOW.

>> AND WHO NOW LIVES IN NEW JERSEY IS DOING WHAT HE CAN TO HELP OUT THROUGH HIS ORGANIZATION HOPE FOR UKRAINE.

>> OUR WHOLE PURPOSE WAS IN THE BEGINNING TO HELP KIDS WHO LIVE WITH HIV AND AIDS IN UKRAINE.

WHEN THIS CONFLICT BROKE OUT, THEY JUST TOOK A WHOLE DIFFERENT MEANING.

SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, ONCE IN A WHILE KIND OF SITUATION.

NOW IT TOOK A WHILE.

AND IT IS JUST NONSTOP.

>> Reporter: THIS DROP-OFF SITE IN FLORENCE PARK OPENING UP LAST WEEK.

>> IN ONE WEEK THE CLOSURE, THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES, ALSO PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS.

I HAD TO PUT A POST ON IT YESTERDAY TO MAKE SURE WE COULD PACKAGE EVERYTHING AND SHIP IT OVER.

>> Reporter: THE BOXES WILL BE SENT TO POLAND, THEN TRANSFERRED OVER.

THEY ARE ALSO WORKING TO SUPPORT REFUGEES ON THE GROUND PROVIDING PERMANENT HOUSING, HOT MEALS, AND MEDICAL CARE.

>> EVERY DAY WE SEND TRUCKS FULL OF FOOD FROM OUR AREA TO OTHER PARTS OF UKRAINE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SHORTAGE OF FOOD.

SO WE HAD ONE TRUCK COME AND GIVE SOME MONEY, CASH TO THE DRIVER.

HE LOOKS AT THE MONEY AND SAYS THANKS FOR THE FEW DOLLARS YOU GAVE TO ME, BUT I HAVE NO USE FOR IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN USE TO BUY.

WHEN YOU SEE KIDS LIKE THIS WHO ARE BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, 12, 15 YEARS OLD AND THEY LOST THEIR PARENTS AND THEY HAVE TO WALK ON THEIR OWN, IT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO STOP EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP.

THAT'S WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO AND THAT IS WHY EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN SO GENEROUS HAS BEEN DOING THIS BECAUSE WHAT YOU SEE UNFOLDING IN FRONT OF US IS THE BIGGEST CRISIS.

>> Reporter: THEY HOPE IT WILL COME TO AN END SOON.

>> BECAUSE IN WAR NOBODY WINS.

THERE IS PAIN ON EVERY SIDE, RIGHT?

AND THEN ALL THIS DESTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, STUFF WE SEE IS UNNECESSARY.

SO OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH EVERYBODY AND THEN WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN.

FOR YEARS TO COME TO HELP REBUILD THE COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: THE ORGANIZATION PLANS TO RESUME DONATIONS IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

HOWEVER, MEDICAL SUPPLIES ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED.

MONETARY DONATIONS CAN ALSO BE MADE THROUGH HOPE FOR UKRAINE'S WEBSITES.

I'M MELISSA ROSE-COOPER.

>>> THE STATE REPORTED AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES TODAY WITH MORE THAN 1,500 CONFIRMED POSITIVE TESTS AND 13 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

BUT THE STATE'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR CONFIRMED CASES IS STILL DOWN 7% FROM A WEEK AGO AND DOWN MORE THAN 50% FROM A MONTH AGO.

HOWEVER, HEALTH OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO TRACK A STEALTH OMICRON VARIANT IN THE STATE AND THIS WEEK PFIZER SOUGHT APPROVAL TO OFFER A FOURTH COVID SHOT WHERE A SECOND BOOSTER CITING IMMUNITY.

BRENDA FLANAGAN BRINGS US UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST COVID-19 DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING WHEN VACCINES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.

>> THEY DON'T WANT TO GET ANYMORE SHOTS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED WEARING MASKS.

>> Reporter: LAUREN ANDERSON SAYS PEOPLE ARE SO OVER COVID, BUT SHE HAS A BABY DUE NEXT MONTH AND A DAUGHTER STILL TOO YOUNG TO GET A COVID SHOT.

SO ANDERSON IS VERY AWARE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE PROBABLY WON'T GET EMERGENCY APPROVAL UNTIL LATE APRIL AS CLINICAL TRIALS KEEP TRYING TO PINPOINT THE CORRECT DOSAGE FOR THE LITTLEST KIDS.

>> I WOULD LOVE FOR HER NOT TO HAVE TO DO IT EVERY SIX MONTHS BECAUSE ANYONE WHO HAS A 4-YEAR-OLD WILL TELL YOU VACCINES ARE HARD, NEEDLES ARE HARD FOR LITTLE KIDS.

>> YOU HAVE TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU GET ENOUGH IMMUNE RESPONSE, BUT DON'T SEE THE SIDE EFFECTS.

SO IT STILL REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT EXACTLY WOULD BE THAT SWEET SPOT FOR EACH OF THE VACCINES.

>> Reporter: RUTGERS DR. GARR OVERSEES A PFIZER TRIAL THAT'S CURRENTLY TESTING A THREE-DOSE COVID VACCINE REGIMEN ON YOUNG CHILDREN AFTER TWO DOSES DIDN'T DO A ROBUST JOB.

AND MODERNA IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE INITIAL DATA ON ITS KID VACCINE THIS WEEK.

THEY NEED TO GET IT RIGHT BECAUSE IMMUNITY FROM COVID SHOTS DOES DECLINE OVER TIME.

IN FACT PFIZER IS NOW ASKING THE FEDS TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL BOOSTER, A FOURTH COVID SHOT FOR PEOPLE OVER AGE 65.

>> IT IS NECESSARY, A FOURTH BOOSTER RIGHT NOW.

THE PROTECTION, WHICH THEY'RE GETTING, IT IS GOOD ENOUGH, ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS, IT'S NOT THAT GOOD, BUT IT DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG.

>> ON THE FIRST START I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I AM BOOSTED TWICE.

AFTER THE SIX MONTH PERIOD OF MY OWN VACCINATION, I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER VACCINATION JUST BECAUSE THE DATA SEEMED PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT ANTIBODIES WERE GOING TO WANE OVERTIME.

>> Reporter: RUTGERS SAID OMICRON IS NOW SURGING IN PACIFIC RIM NATIONS AND ITS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT BA.2 IS DRIVING SPIKES IN SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

IN THE U.S.

THE CDC ESTIMATES BA.2 IS RAPIDLY GAINING IMPACTS WITH INFECTION RATES SOARING FROM ABOUT 2% NATIONWIDE AND ALMOST 4% IN THE NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK REGION A MONTH AGO TO 23% NATIONALLY AND 39% IN OUR REGION LAST WEEK.

>> BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING ANY MEDICATION STRATEGIES FRANKLY, BECAUSE THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO EXIST, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE ESCALATION IN INFECTIONS AGAIN.

>> I WOULD SUSPECT WE MIGHT HAVE A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

A COMBINATION OF TAKING AWAY THE MASK MANDATE AND IF BA.2 STARTS TO CIRCULATE MORE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THAT'S NECESSARILY GOING TO HAVE ON HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATHS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT.

>> Reporter: OVERALL COVID IS DECLINING IN THE COMMUNITY WITH MOST OF THE STATE SHOWING MODERATE ACTIVITY EVEN LOWER LEVELS FURTHER SOUTH AND SURVEILLANCE SAMPLING LIKE THIS BY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY OF SEWAGE WASTE IN BERGEN COUNTY SHOWS THE PREVALENCE OF THE COVID VIRUS IN THE COMMUNITIES ALSO DECREASED FROM ABOUT 8% DURING OMICRON'S JANUARY PEAK TO LESS THAN 0.02% NOW RESEARCHERS SAY.

>> IT IS MUCH LOWER RELATIVE TO WHAT WE SAW JUST TWO MONTHS AGO.

>> SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING TRAFFIC AND VACCINATION MEGA SITES LIKE THIS ONE IN WEST ORANGE HAS TRENDED DOWN EVEN AS HEALTH EXPERTS URGE FOLKS TO GET BOOSTED.

BUT LAUREN ANDERSON CAN'T WAIT TO GET 4-YEAR-OLD ARIEL HER COVID SHOTS.

>> SEEING AND KNOWING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ONE COVID AND HAVE HAD SOME VARIOUS SEVERE LONG-TERM EFFECTS FROM HAVING A COVID CASE, YOU KNOW, THAT WORRIES ME MORE THAN ANY MINOR REACTION SHE MIGHT HAVE FROM GETTING A VACCINE.

>> Reporter: I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> A MURDER FOR HIRE MYSTERY INVOLVING A POLITICAL INSIDER TURNED GOVERNMENT INFORMANT.

SEAN CATTLE A LONG-TIME POLITICAL OPERATIVE FOR CAMPAIGNS AND CANDIDATES FROM UNION COUNTY TO ATLANTA COUNTY AND MANY STOPS IN BETWEEN ADMITS TO HIRING THE MEN WHO KILLED ANOTHER POLITICAL OPERATOR AND ONE TIME CANDIDATE OF JERSEY CITY.

THE CATTLE IS ALSO A GOVERNMENT INFORMANT.

THE FACT HE'S SERVING TIME AT HOME RATHER THAN IN PRISON HAS STARTED TONGUES WAGGING ON WHAT OR WHOM MAY BE THE NEXT TARGET OF INVESTIGATORS.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ HAS THIS LATEST TWIST AND WHAT IS LEAVING SOME POLITICOS WONDERING WHAT'S NEXT.

>> I THINK IT DESERVES A PODCAST.

>> Reporter: IT REALLY DOES HAVE ALL THE ELEMENTS.

NO ONE GETS HOME CONFINEMENT WHEN THEY ADMIT TO HIRING A HITMAN ESPECIALLY IF THE HITMAN SUCCEEDS UNLESS YOU'RE POLITICAL SEAN CATTLE WHO HIRED THE HITMAN AND TORCHED HIS APARTMENT IN 2014.

GALDIERI WAS A CATTLE COLLEAGUE AND FELLOW PLAYER IN HUDSON COUNTY POLITICAL CIRCLES.

>> YOU HAVE A MURDER AND YOU HAVE PERHAPS POLITICAL CORRUPTION, AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE LINKED IN ANY WAY.

THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THEY ARE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING IN THIS WORLD YOU CAN'T DISMISS EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT JUST A CORRUPTION CASE.

THERE IS ACTUALLY SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY WHO LOST THEIR LIFE HERE.

>> Reporter: BILL O'DAY HAS SEEN IT ALL AFTER 30 PLUS YEARS IN THE CAPITAL OF BARE KNUCKLE POLITICS HUDSON COUNTY.

HE KNOWS ALL THE PLAYERS IN THIS MURDER MYSTERY AND THINKS THESE ARE THE EARLY STAGES OF A POTENTIALLY WIDER STORY.

>> IF THERE'S A CRAZY WAVE OF VOTER FRAUD AND ELECTION VIOLATIONS, NONE OF THAT AT THIS POINT WAS SHOCKING.

IF IT TURNS OUT THERE'S OTHER MURDERS, NOW AT THIS POINT WOULD IT SHOCK ME?

>> Reporter: THE OTHER MURDER O'DAY IS REFERRING TO IS THE STILL UNSOLVED DEATHS OF COOPER HEALTH SYSTEM CEO JOHN SHERIDAN, THE FORMER STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER, AND HIS WIFE JOYCE WHO WERE FOUND STABBED TO DEATH, THEIR HOME TORCHED ALSO IN 2014.

AND IN JANUARY THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED SHERIDAN'S SON, MARK, HAD ASKED PROSECUTORS TO REOPEN THE CASE BECAUSE OF THE EERIE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO.

FURTHER SPOKING THE INTRIGUE.

>> THEY WORKED IN HUDSON COUNTY.

SEAN WORKED FOR RAY IN UNION COUNTY.

THERE WERE PAYMENTS TO THE CURRENT SENATE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF IN UNION COUNTY.

THE POTENTIAL SIMILARITIES WITH THE SHERIDAN'S CASE, THE THEN PRESIDENT COOPER HOSPITAL, WHICH WILL GET US INTO CAMDEN COUNTY.

SO A PART OF IT IS HOW MANY ORBITS THIS TOUCHES ON.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE NAMES THAT HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STORY IS FORMER STATE SENATOR RAY WHO WORKED WITH CATTLE L ON HIS OWN AND SEVERAL OTHER POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND WHO RAN SEVERAL SO-CALLED DARK MONEY PACKS FOR LESNIAK.

>> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, TIME OUT.

CAMPAIGN PAYMENTS WERE MADE.

THIS SPECULATION IS INSANE.

THERE IS A MEDIA FRENZY OVER THERE THAT MENTALITY, THE MEDIA HAS PROBLEMS WITH AND THEY'RE GOING OVER FOR.

THEY'RE TRIPPING OVER THEMSELVES.

BUT SEAN AND HIS ATTORNEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE AN OPIOID ADDICTION.

ONE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT.

YOU KNOW I HAVE SOME FAMILY ISSUES WITH ADDICTIONS.

OPIOIDS MAKE YOU DO CRAZY STUFF.

SO IF I HAD TO GUESS THAT I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THE MURDER THAT HE ADMITTED TO COMMITTING AND THE PERSON HE ADMITTED TO HAVING MURDERED WAS A DRUG ADDICT ALSO.

SO PEOPLE ARE TRIPPING OVER THEMSELVES TRYING TO MAKE THIS A POLITICAL ISSUE WHEN IT APPEARS IT'S A DRUG ISSUE.

BUT WE'LL FIND OUT.

>> RAY HAS BEEN A FRIEND FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

AND I JUST GET A LITTLE SQUEEBISH WHEN HE KEEPS COMMENTING SO MUCH.

I'M NOT SURE, BUT THAT'S RAY, RIGHT?

YOU KNOW I DON'T BELIEVE RAY WOULD BE KNOWINGLY INVOLVED IN ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN RUMORED.

BUT RAY'S CREDIT TO SOME DEGREE, HE'S LOYAL TO HIS FRIENDS.

AND I THINK OVERTIME HE AND SEAN BECAME FRIENDS.

>> Reporter: HE HAS BEEN WORKING ASEN A INFORMANT FOR PROSECUTORS FOR MONTHS.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ISN'T TALKING.

IN THE MEANTIME DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT SHOES MAY HAVE DROPPED IN THIS MOST CONSISTENT ESSENTIAL OF JERSEY STORIES.

>>> IN AN UNEXPECTED MOVE, NEW YORK STATE HAS PETITIONED THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO BLOCK NEW JERSEY FROM LEAVING THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION.

THAT'S THE AGENCY THAT MONITORS CORRUPTION AT THE REGION'S PORTS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCED NEW JERSEY WOULD LEAVE THE COMMISSION IN WEEKS.

BUT IN THE FILING NEW YORK ARGUES NEW JERSEY LACKS THE POWER TO WITHDRAW AND STATED SUCH A MOVE WOULD INFRINGE ON EFFORTS TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIME.

THE SPOKESMAN FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS THE STATE WILL FIGHT THE LAWSUIT.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, THERE'S STRONG INTEREST FROM WOULD-BE ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO OPEN RETAIL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN NEW JERSEY.

THE NEW JERSEY CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION BEGAN ACCEPTING LICENSE APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSARIES TUESDAY MORNING.

BY NOON TODAY MORE THAN 200 APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES WERE SUBMITTED.

THE COMMISSION WILL BEGIN REVIEWING THOSE APPLICATIONS AND SAYS LEGAL SALES WILL BEGIN SOON ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL NOT AN ANNOUNCED DATE.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

NEW JERSEY VOTERS ENDORSED LEGALIZING ADULT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE FALL OF 2020.

>>> THE U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE TODAY RAISED INTEREST RATES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE DECEMBER, 2018 AND SAID THEY ANTICIPATE HIKING RATES SIX MORE TIMES THIS YEAR.

THE FED INCREASED A BENCHMARK LENDING RATE BY A QUARTER POINT.

INTEREST RATES HAD BEEN NEAR ZERO TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMY DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT NOW WITH INFLATION ON THE RISE AND THE LABOR MARKET STRONG, THE FEDS BELIEVED IT WAS TIME TO MAKE A MOVE.

INTEREST RATES WILL INCREASE ON MANY TYPES OF CONSUMER LOANS.

>>> NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED FOLLOWING THE FEDS' DECISION.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY ROWAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

>>> ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP ON THAT HOUR OF SLEEP YOU LOST WHEN WE SET THE CLOCKS FORWARD LAST WEEKEND?

WELL THE U.S. SENATE THIS WEEK UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A BILL TO MAKE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME PERMANENT MEANING YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS AGAIN.

THE BILL CO-SPONSORED BY NEW JERSEY SENATOR CORY BOOKER IS CALLED THE SUNSHINE PROTECTION ACT.

IT STILL NEEDS APPROVAL FROM THE HOUSE, BUT THERE'S SUPPORT FOR A YEAR-ROUND EXTRA HOUR OF SUNLIGHT.

A MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLL FOUND 61% OF AMERICANS WOULD LIKE TO DO AWAY WITH CHANGING THE CLOCKS TWICE A YEAR.

A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES HAVE VOTED TO END DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, AN IDEA THAT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT FOR CHAT BOX WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK DAVID TALKS WITH LAWMAKERS, U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON-COLEMAN AND STATE SENATORS TERESA RUIZ, AND HOLLY SHAPIZI ON HOW IT HAS SHIFTED FOR WOMEN BOTH IN WASHINGTON AND NEW JERSEY.

THAT'S TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

>>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON MORE THAN CLEAN ENERGY.

OUR FUTURE RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.

BUT FOR SCHOOLS AND STREETS, THE PSGE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

INVESTING IN PARKS, HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN.

SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN OUR