>>> FROM NJ PBSO THIS IS NGA SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI .>> WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

MODERNA ANNOUNCED ITS COVID VACCINE FOR THE KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF SIX IS EFFECTIVE AND THE PHARMA COMPANY HAD ITS SUCCESS FOR THE DOSING OF TWO AGE GROUPS.

SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS OLD AND TWO YEARS OLDER SIX YEARS OLD AND IT IS EXPECTED TO REQUEST EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FDA.

THIS COMES AS THE BA 2 VARIANT IS THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK MAKING UP OVER HALF OF ALL CASES.

THE STRING IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN OMICRON BUT MAY NOT BE AS DEADLY.

940 NEW CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY AND 10 MORE DEATHS.

BUT WITH NUMBERS REMAINING RELATIVELY LOW, THE LAST OF COVID RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED IN THE STATE HOUSE, THE STATE CAPITAL JOINT MANAGEMENT COMMISSION VOTED YESTERDAY TO REMOVE MASKS, OR SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS, SANITIZER STATIONS AND EVEN SIGNAGE AROUND THE BUILDING, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

AS FOR THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO VACCINATE THE LAST OF THE HOLDOUTS HERE IN NEW JERSEY, THOSE SEEM TO HAVE SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY.

BRENDA FLANAGAN VISITED A VACCINATION SITE IN REDBANK TO SEE WHO IS STILL TURNING UP.

>> Reporter: NURSE FILOMENA SANTOS WHILE NEIL TURNED OFF HIS JACKET AND HE IS ONLY FOR PATIENTS WHO WALK AND WORK COVID SHOP WEDNESDAY MORNING AND REDBANK OR THE VISITING NURSES ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL JERSEY ARE OFFERING VACCINATIONS, BUT LATELY THEY'VE AVERAGED 10 SHOTS A DAY ACCORDING TO THE CEO.>> THE INTEREST IN GETTING VACCINATED HAS WANED A SIGNIFICANTLY BUT CERTAINLY FROM THE DAYS OVER ONE YEAR AGO, WHEN SOME OF OUR SITES WERE NEARLY 1000 INDIVIDUALS A DAY VACCINATED.

WE ARE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AT SOME OF OUR VACCINATION SITES TODAY.>> IT IS A TRICKY DEATH YOU HAVE TO DO BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE COVID FATIGUE AND I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE.

I THINK WE JUST REALLY HAVE TO IMPRESS UPON PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOT REALLY OUT OF THIS AT THIS POINT.>> HEALTH EXPERTS NOTE THAT 22% OF ELIGIBLE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS REMAIN UNVACCINATED.

BUT COVID CASES HAVE PLATEAUED A BELOW 1000 A DAY AND THE PRESSURE IS OFF HOSPITALS YET THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION KEEPS CREEPING UP.

IT STANDS AT .91 STATEWIDE AND THE CDC ESTIMATES THE INTENSELY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT BA 2 IS DRIVING MORE THAN HALF OF NEW INFECTIONS IN THE NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY REGION BUT IT WORRIES THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.>> WITH MANDATES NOT THERE ANY LONGER, PEOPLE ARE OUT, OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT MASKED.

THE PROBLEM IS IF THEY ARE NOT VACCINATED THEY ARE STILL VERY MUCH AT RISK.>> I DID HAVE COVID AND I HAD IT AFTER BEING VACCINATED TWICE.

I FEEL AS THOUGH THE BOOSTER I THINK COULD HELP ME, PEOPLE HAVE DIED, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH, AND THAT WILL HELP.

IF THAT DOESN'T HELP NOTHING ELSE WILL >> THAT MANY DO NOT SHARE HIS URGENCY, AS A RESULT, COVID SHOTS OR LESS AVAILABLE LATELY.

NEW JERSEY SHUT DOWN THREE VACCINATION MEGA SITES, CUTTING BACK HOURS AT TWO OTHERS, AND THEY REDUCE COVID VACCINATION HOURS HERE TO ONE DAY A WEEK.

>> WE ARE MATCHING SUPPLY WITH DEMAND AND THAT IS A SMART WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.

WE ARE CONCENTRATING OUR EFFORTS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED, STAYING OPEN AND STAYING CONSISTENT.

>> SOME HEALTH EXPERTS BELIEVE THE COVID VACCINATION EFFORT HAVE STALLED BECAUSE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN A COVID SHOT BY NOW, TROUBLE WE CANNOT BE CONVINCED TO GET A COVID SHOT AT ALL.

OTHERS CONTINUE THE SLOW PROCESS OF CONVINCING HOLDOUTS, ESPECIALLY IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES WHERE VACCINATION HESITANCY REMAINS HIGH.>> I TRIED TO APPROACH IT FROM NOT MAKING IT SUCH A HARD SELL.

IF THEY ARE NOT READY TODAY, MAYBE THEY WILL BE READY NEXT WEEK, OR THE NEXT TIME THEY SEE ME.

BUT I WANT THEM TO FEEL THEY CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND ASK A QUESTION.

>> RUTGERS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DR. CAMPBELL THOMAS SAYS IT IS A STRUGGLE TO STOP VACCINATION SITES ESPECIALLY WITH A SCARCITY OF NURSES, WHEN SO FEW PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR SHOTS THERE IS A LOW RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

BUT DR. CAMPBELL WILL CONTINUE HER ONE-ON-ONE VACCINATION CRUSADE.

>> KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS OPEN BECAUSE IF I JUST WRITE THEM OFF, AND I SAY OH, WELL I WILL SHOW DISPLEASURE, OR DISCOMFORT IN THEIR DECISION, THEN THEY WILL NOT COME BACK TO ME.

>> AND THE VNA WILL KEEP SOME OFFICE HOURS OFFERING THE JAB.

>> SOME MAY COME TO TERMS BEING VACCINATED LATER, IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET A VACCINATION AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE.

>> I HAVE BRENDA FLANAGAN NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT WITH CHAT BOX WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ, AND HE WILL LOOK AT THE LATEST ON COVID.

IS IT OVER AND WHAT ARE THE COVID RISKS GOING FORWARD?

THAT IS THURSDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM >>> U.S. OFFICIALLY ACCUSED RUSSIA'S MILITARY OF WAR CRIMES TODAY AS PRESIDENT BIDEN WENT TO BRUSSELS TO MEET WITH THAT THE HEADS OF THE EU AND ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SHOW A UNITED FRONT AGAINST RUSSIA.

THE PRESIDENT IS ARMED WITH MORE SANCTIONS AND HE PLANS TO COORDINATE WITH EUROPEAN ALLIES TO SEND MORE EUROPEAN SUPPORT TO THE UKRAINE AND WILL ADDRESS THE REFUGEE CRISIS THAT HAS EMERGED AS A THREE AND HALF MILLION UKRAINIANS HAVE LED.

WITH GROWING CONCERN THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN COULD RESORT TO USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, NATO LEADERS PLAN TO DISCUSS STRENGTHENING DEFENSES AND SURROUNDING EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE A RELIEF CONVOY MET THE SHUTTLE THEM OUT OF THE SIEGE REGIONS OF MARIUPOL WERE ATTACKED 11 BUS DRIVERS AND FOR RESCUE WORKERS WERE TAKEN BY RUSSIANS REPORTEDLY .

THE FIGHTING HAS INTENSIFIED THAT RUSSIA STILL HAS NOT SUCCEEDED IN SURROUNDING THE CITY.

STATESIDE, A NEW JERSEY CONGRESSWOMAN HAS INTRODUCED THE STOP RUSSIAN GOLD ACT THAT AIMS TO STOP VLADIMIR PUTIN FROM BEING ABLE TO SELL OFF THE RUSSIAN GOLD RESOURCE AND IT WOULD BOOST THE STRUGGLING ECONOMY AND HELP FUND THE WAR EFFORT.

THAT BILL HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT .

MEANWHILE, RUSSIAN OIL TANKERS ANCHORED IN NEW YORK HARBOR WERE MET WITH PROTESTS FROM GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS WHO DECRIED AMERICA'S DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BAN ON RUSSIAN OIL TAKES EFFECT ON APRIL 22nd.

TODAY IS DAY THREE IN THE SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NOMINEE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON AS SHE HAS FACED TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM REPUBLICAN SENATORS, CHALLENGING A RECORD AS A JUDGE IN PUBLIC DEFENDER PRESSING HER ON ISSUES LIKE ABORTION, CRITICAL RACE THEORY, GENDER, RELIGION AND ON SOME OF HER JUDICIAL SENTENCING OF SEX OFFENDERS.

SHE HAS REPEATED THE PLEDGE TO QUOTE STAY IN MY LANE, SAYING SHE UNDERSTANDS THE LIMITATIONS OF THE COURT TO INTERPRET, NOT CREATE POLICY.

AS HE FOLLOWED PRECEDENT SET BY RECENT SUPREME COURT NOMINEE IS BY NOT SHARING HER THOUGHTS ON PACKING THE COURT.

YESTERDAY'S QUESTIONING LASTED SOME 12 HOURS AND TODAY COULD FOLLOW SUIT.

THE RUTGERS-CAMDEN LAW SCHOOL, WAS IN THE GALLERY TO WITNESS THIS HISTORIC MOMENT AND SHE JOINED ME NOW TO SHARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS.

SO KIM, YOU SAT IN ON THE HEARINGS YESTERDAY SIX PLAIN WHITE WAS LIKE TO BE IN THE ROOM AND WHAT THE FUEL IN THE ROOM WAS.

>> WELL ONE, I AM SO GRATEFUL I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE AND HONESTLY, THE EXCITEMENT IN THE ROOM WAS PALPABLE.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF US THERE AND MY DEAN COLLEAGUE, A WOMAN, WAS WITH ME.

AND THERE WAS THE BLACK WOMAN WHO IS THE DEAN OF THE UDC LAW SCHOOL, AND GINNY NELSON, SHE WAS THERE, IT WAS AN AMAZING GROUP OF WOMEN.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MEANINGFUL IT WASN'T FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THAT SPACE, AND LEND OUR SUPPORT TO JUDGE JACKSON, WHO IS GIVING A MASTER CLASS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO KEEP YOUR COOL WHEN BEING THROWN SOME REALLY INAPPROPRIATE QUESTIONS, FRANKLY.

>> THESE HEARINGS ARE BRITTLE, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.

I BELIEVE 12 HOURS OR SO OF QUESTIONING.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE STRONGEST CHALLENGES BROUGHT AGAINST HER?

WE HEARD CRITICAL RACE THEORY BROUGHT UP AND WE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HER VIEWS ON ABORTION AND WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE SOME OF THE STRONGEST CHALLENGES?

>> THE TWO PIECES REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE PUSHING HARD IS ABOUT HER HISTORY OF SENTENCING IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASES.

WHERE THEY ARE REALLY TWISTING THE RECORD AND MAKING HER SEEM LIKE AN OUTLIER IN THIS SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, WHERE SHE IS VERY MUCH IN THE MAINSTREAM OF HOW JUDGES DEAL WITH THE CASES AND THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES.

ALSO YESTERDAY WE SAW A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT DARK MONEY BEING USED, AND ACCUSING HER OF BEING THIS CANDIDATE BEING PUSHED BY THIS FAR LEFT AGENDA.

I THOUGHT ONE OF THE REALLY EFFECTIVE MOMENT YESTERDAY WAS WHEN SENATOR WHITE HOUSE TALKED ABOUT THE MACHINE FROM THE FEDERAL SOCIETY THAT CHURNS OUT NEW JUSTICES REGULARLY.

IT IS KIND OF UNCLEAR WHAT THE PLAN IS IN TERMS OF ATTACKING JUSTICE JACKSON'S RECORD, BUT SHE HAS AGAIN BEEN VERY MASTERFUL AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE QUESTIONS, EVEN WHEN THE QUESTIONS THEMSELVES REALLY DO NOT MAKE ANY SENSE IN THE CONTEXT.>> THERE IS A LOT OF POLITICAL THEATER THAT WE SEE IN THESE TYPES OF HEARINGS, AND WE HAVE SEEN IT ON BOTH SIDES, AND OUR OWN U.S.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER, HAD HIS MOMENT A FEW HEARINGS AGO.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHERE DOES SHE END UP AT THE END?

>> AT THE END OF THIS SHE ENDS UP WITH A SEAT ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HAVE SUCH A POSITION.

I REALLY DO NOT DOUBT THAT HER CREDENTIALS ARE SO EXEMPLARY THAT IT SIMPLY IS INCREDIBLE TO TAKE THE POSITION THAT SHE DOESN'T DESERVE OR THAT SHE HASN'T EARNED A SEAT ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

AND I THINK THAT IS ALSO FRANKLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THERE IS SO MUCH THEATERGOING ON.

BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REALLY THINGS TO ATTACK HER ABOUT IN TERMS OF HER RECORD.

AND JUST WATCHING SENATOR GRAHAM, WHO SEEMS TO BE USING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GRANDSTAND AND INTERRUPT, AS OPPOSED TO ACTUALLY ASKING QUESTIONS, I THINK WHEN ALL OF IT IS SAID AND DONE, WE WILL ULTIMATELY GET AN HISTORIC APPOINTMENT TO THE COURT.

>> THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>>> NEW JERSEY IS GETTING ANOTHER 22 $8 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP THE STATE RECOVER FROM TROPICAL STORM IDA THE FUNDING AS PART OF A NEARLY $3 BILLION PACKAGE ANNOUNCED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT YESTERDAY WHICH AIMS TO HELP COMMUNITIES AROUND THE NATION BUILD BACK FROM NATURAL DISASTERS AND BECOME MORE RESILIENT TO FUTURE STORMS.

IT IS TARGETED TO THOSE LIVING IN LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES AND HAD SECRETARY, MARCIA FUDGE VISITED ELIZABETH DURING THE AFTERMATH OF IDA SAID THE MONEY WILL QUOTE STRENGTHEN RECOVERY EFFORTS AND IMPROVE LONG-TERM INCLUSIVE RESILIENCE TO FUTURE DISASTERS, AND CLIMATE IMPACTS.

>>> EXPOSURE CONTINUES TO BE A CONCERN IN NEWARK BUT THE CITY HAS TAKEN STRONG STEPS TO ADDRESS IT AND THIS YEAR'S KIDS COUNT REPORT RELEASED BY THE NONPROFIT ADVOCATES CHILDREN FOR NEW JERSEY, SO THOSE EFFORTS ARE WORKING.

THE LEVELS OF LEAD IN KIDS BLOOD HAS CONSISTENTLY DECREASED BETWEEN 2015 TO 2019.

THE LATEST DATA AVAILABLE.

IN RECENT YEARS THE NEWARK WATER SYSTEMS ARE RECORD HIGH LEVELS OF LEAD LEADING THE MAYOR TO LAUNCH THE REPLACEMENT OF 23,000 LEAD SERVICE WATERLINES AROUND THE CITY.

BUT STILL THE GREATEST RISK OF LEAD EXPOSURE FOR KIDS CONTINUES TO BE LEAD PAINT AND LEAD DUST IN THEIR HOMES.

>>> ATLANTIC CITY REMAINS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES YOU CAN STILL LIGHT UP INDOORS BUT I COULD SOON BE SNUFFED OUT.

A BILL HAS BEEN DRAFTED THAT WOULD BAN INDOOR CASINO SMOKING IN NEW JERSEY AND CASINOS SAY IT COULD HURT IS THIS WHICH STRUGGLED IMMENSELY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WORKERS SAY THEIR HEALTH HAS BEEN COMPROMISED LONG ENOUGH.

RAVEN SANTANA VISITED A FEW CASINOS WHERE WORKERS AIRED OUT THEIR CONCERNS.

>> Reporter: IT IS A DECISION THAT RICKY FOSTER SAYS HE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE FORCED TO MAKE WHEN REPORTING TO WORK AT ONE OF ATLANTIC CITY'S NINE CASINOS WERE SMOKING IS ALLOWED.>> THE SMOKING SLOT MACHINES ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE NON-SMOKING SLOT MACHINES.

THEY SAY IT IS 50% NON-SMOKING AT 50% SMOKING AND IT WINDS UP BEING 100% SMOKING.

THE SMOKE DOES NOT STAY IN SEPARATE SECTIONS.

>> THAT COULD CHANGE IF A BILL TO BAN INDOOR CASINO SMOKING PASSES AND THE LEGISLATION NOW HAS TO 22 SPONSORS AND COSPONSORS IN THE ASSEMBLY, AND 13 IN THE SENATE, INCLUDING SENATOR JOE VITALE, CHAIR OF THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE.

UNDER CURRENT LAW SMOKING IS BANNED FROM MOST INDOOR PUBLIC SPACES AND WORKSPACES WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, WHICH INCLUDE AREAS IN THE CASINO BUT THE BILL WOULD AMEND THE NEW JERSEY SMOKE-FREE ACT TO ELIMINATE THOSE EXCEPTIONS.>> EVERYONE KNOWS SECONDHAND SMOKE IS DEADLY AND IF IT IS ABOUT THE MONEY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT REALLY IS, I DO NOT BELIEVE BANNING SMOKE AND CASINOS WILL HAVE IMPACT ON THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

EVEN IF IT DID HAVE A LITTLE IT IS AN AWFUL THING TO SAY AND SUPPORT, THAT IT IS OKAY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO GET SICK AND GET CANCER AND HEART DISEASE, AS LONG AS WE MAKE A FEW EXTRA BUCKS AWFUL.

>> NEW JERSEY BANNED SMOKING INDOORS IN 2006 BUT IS STILL PERMITTED AND UP TO 20% OF THE HOTEL ROOMS, AND ON UP TO 20% OF THE CASINO FLOOR SMOKING AND CASINOS WAS BANNED DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT RESUMED IN JULY 2021.

>> THERE WAS ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF NON-SMOKING IN FOUR WEEKS IN 2008 AND VOLUME WENT DOWN 20%, THAT IS A FACT.

RATHER THAN OPEN UP NON- SMOKING, REVILL WENT BANKRUPT AND CLOSED.

A FACT.

SPIRIT JOE RIBAULT IS PRESIDENT OF THE CASINO ASSOCIATION IN NEW JERSEY, AND HE SAID THAT THE PROPOSED AND WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF CASINOS.>> WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT, IT IS A TOUGH ISSUE.

WE HAVE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THE AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS, MUCH BETTER THAN ANY OTHER BUILDING IN THE STATE, AND 5 TO 10% OF OUR BUILDINGS HAVE SMOKING, WHICH LESS THAN PEOPLE REALIZE, BECAUSE ALL THE NON-GAMING AREAS ARE NON- SMOKING.

>> LAST THE REPORT COMMISSIONED BY THE CASINO ASSOCIATION, AND CONDUCTED BY INDEPENDENT GAMBLING RESEARCH FIRM SPECTRUM GAMING GROUP SAID BANNING SMOKING COULD COST MORE THAN 2500 CASINO JOBS, AND NEARLY 11% OF THE CASINO REVENUE IN ATLANTIC CITY.

>> I DEALT THROUGH TWO PREGNANCIES WITH SECONDHAND SMOKE AND THERE WERE NEVER ANY ACCOMMODATIONS.

YOU GO TO WHATEVER TABLE YOU ARE ASSIGNED TO AND YOU DO IT.>> NICOLE HAS WORKED AS A FULL-TIME TABLE DEALER FOR 20 YEARS AND SHE IS COLEADER OF THE CASINO EMPLOYEE IS AGAINST SMOKE EFFECTS ARGUE HEALTH EFFECTS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE AND GONE ON TOO LONG AND THEY NEED TO END.>> THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF, IT IS NOT LIKE I AM TRYING TO HURT THE CASINOS.

I MAKE A LIVING OFF CASINOS, I MAKE $7.37 AN HOUR AND I WORK ON TEMPS TIPS AND I AM IN THE SERVICE AND.

YES I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE A GOOD TIME BUT I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO RISK MY LIFE DOING IT.

NOT ANY LONGER.

>> THE GROUP PLANS TO HOLD A RALLY IN APRIL IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND VITALE HOPES YOUR THE LAW WILL BE HEARD IN SPRING BEFORE LAWMAKERS BREAK FOR RECESS.

RAVEN SANTANA FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS >>> BUSINESS OWNERS ARE PRESSURING LEGISLATORS TO RESTORE THE DEPLETED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS AND ALL THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS STORIES OF THE DAY.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR?

>> Reporter: JOANNA, AS BUDGET HEARINGS CONTINUE TODAY, BUSINESS LEADERS ARE STEPPING UP THEIR EFFORTS TO GET TAX RELIEF CURRENTLY MISSING FROM THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET.

A GROUP OF NEARLY 100 BUSINESSES AND TRADE GROUPS SENT A LETTER TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE URGING APPROVAL OF A BILL THAT WOULD SAVE EMPLOYERS MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAX INCREASES.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD USE FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS TO COVER THAT INCREASE THAT WOULD THEN BE REUSED TO REPLENISH THE STATES DEPLETED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TRUST FUND.

THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS COALITION BELIEVES BUSINESSES ARE STILL STRUGGLING AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY MORE AND ANOTHER BUSINESS GROUP, NEW JERSEY SOCIETY OF CPAS, ALSO TAKES ISSUE WITH THE BUDGET PROPOSAL.

THE CEO TOLD ME WHAT MEMBERS WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MURPHY'S SPENDING BLUEPRINT.>> A REDUCTION IN SPENDING, REFORMS TO THE PUBLIC WORKERS SYSTEM, MEASURES TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF NEW JERSEY'S MUNICIPALITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PERMANENT RELIEF FOR REAL ESTATE TAXES, RATHER THAN JUST REBATES AND TAX CUTS.

>> A RECENT NJ CPA SURVEY FOUND THAT 55% OF ITS MEMBERS BELIEVE THE BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL LEAVE NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY IN WORSE SHAPE AND 22% THOUGHT THE ECONOMY WOULD IMPROVE, WHILE 24% THAT WOULD STAY THE SAME.

I PLANNED MERGER BETWEEN ENGLEWOOD HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER AT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH WILL NOT BE HAPPENING AFTER ALL.

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT UPHELD A LOWER COURT RULING TO BLOCK THE DEAL.

THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION CHALLENGE THE MERGER BACK IN 2020 SAYING THE DEAL WOULD HAVE DRIVEN UP THE COST OF HOSPITAL CARE IN BERGEN COUNTY THIS MERGER WOULD HAVE LED TO HACKENSACK MERIDIAN CONTROLLING THREE OF THE COUNTIES SIX HOSPITALS AFTER THE DECISION, INGLEWOOD HEALTH SAYS IT CONTINUES TO THRIVE AND REMAIN STRONG, WHILE HACKENSACK MERIDIAN SAID IT WAS DISAPPOINTED BY THE RULING.

HERE IS A CHECK ON HOW THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED TODAY.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT.

>>> LIKE THE MIGHTY BIRD THEY ARE NAMED AFTER, THE ST. PETER'S UNIVERSITY PEACOCKS ARE LOOKING TO STRETCH THEIR PLUME AND FLY ONCE MORE COME FRIDAY, AFTER SECURING THEIR PLACE IN THIS WEEKEND'S ROUND OF THE NCAA SEAT 16.

BUT THE TEAM IS LASER FOCUSED ON THEIR GAME, AND SIDELINING ALL NATIONAL ATTENTION, DECLINING INTERVIEWS INTO THE PEP RALLY AND SEND OFF.

TED GOLDBERG IS ON THE JERSEY CITY CAMPUS NOW AS CINDERELLA GETS READY TO PLAY BALL.

>> Reporter: JOANNA, IT TOOK ST. PETER'S LESS THAN ONE HOUR TO SELL OUT OF ITS TICKETS FOR FRIDAY'S GAME.

SURE, IT HELPS IT IS BEING PLAYED IN PHILADELPHIA, FEWER THAN 100 MILES FROM THE ST. PETER'S CAMPUS, BUT THE PEACOCKS BANDWAGON IS FILLING UP FAST.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH THE BIGGEST UNDERDOG LEFT IN THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT, IT IS THE SMALLEST SCHOOL STILL PLAYING, AND NEW JERSEY'S ONLY TEAM TO REACH THE SWEET 16 IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES.>> YOU KNOW NOW IT IS BECOMING A NATIONAL THING, IT HAS JUST BEEN A LOCAL THING.

>> PLAYERS CAME HOME FROM INDIANAPOLIS LAST WEEKEND IS CONQUERING HEROES.

THE FIRST NCAA TOURNAMENT WINNING IN ST. PETERS HISTORY LED TO A LOT OF EMOTIONS ON CAMPUS.

>> THE PROFESSOR TOLD ME THAT HE HAD CRIED AND WAS SHEDDING TEARS THAT TOUCHES YOUR HEART BY ITSELF JUST FOR HAVING A SUPPORT SYSTEM LIKE THAT, THAT WINNING BRINGS TEARS TO THE EYES, IT IS AMAZING.

IT WAS AMAZING AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A TEST ON MONDAY BUT MY PROFESSOR GAVE ME A FEW EXTRA DAYS TO REMAKE IT.

>> THE NATION'S NEWEST CINDERELLA STORY HAS LEARNED A LOT FROM THE FOURTH YEAR HEAD COACH, SHAHEEH HOLLIWAY, AND THEIR BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS TO NOT THINK OF THEMSELVES AS A CINDERELLA.>> IF YOU ASK ANYBODY WE DO NOT THINK OF OURSELVES BUT IS A GREAT PROGRAM AND TEAM.

>> ME PERSONALLY I BELIEVED IN US THE WHOLE TIME AND I FEEL WE COULD PLAY AGAINST ANYBODY.

>> PEOPLE COUNTED US OUT, DOUBTED US AND WE LOVE BEING DOUBTED AND WE LOVE BEING HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THAT IS HOW WE PREVAIL AND DRIVE.>> IT IS AN UPSET, MY TEAM'S BELIEF IS IT WAS AN UPSET AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BEAT ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY DID WE WILL GO OUT THERE, NO MATTER WHO WE ARE PLAYING AGAINST, WE WILL DO OUR BEST IN PLAY AS HARD AS WE CAN AND WE WILL TRY TO WIN.

>> HOLLOWAY WILL COACH THE SWEET 16, 22 YEARS AFTER PLAYING IN IT FOR SETON HALL AND THAT IS THE LAST TIME A JERSEY SCHOOL GOT THIS FAR IN THE BIG DANCE.>> I'VE BEEN THROUGH IT, AND HIS GUYS, YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SITUATION AND IT IS A GOOD THING BUT ENJOY IT BUT DO NOT LET IT GET YOUR HEAD.>> STAY COMPOSED.

WE ARE OUT THERE AND WE ARE RELAXED, WE KNOW WE PUT IN THE HARD WORK.

>> THAT SETON HALL CONNECTION COULD KEEP HOLLOWAY FROM RETURNING TO ST. PETER'S.

THE PIRATES ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW HEAD COACH HIM AND LAST WEEK OUTGOING COACH, KEVIN WILLARD, RECOMMENDED HOLLOWAY TO REPLACE HIM.

>> IF I'M NOT HERE NEXT YEAR, IF SHAHEN HOLLIWAY WOULD BE HERE THAT WOULD BE TREMENDOUS.

HE IS A TREMENDOUS PERSON AND TEACHER.

SPIRIT LITTLE DOUBT HOLLOWAY IS ATTRACTING BIGGER INTEREST FROM BIGGER PROGRAMS THAN ST. PETER'S, THE SCHOOL'S PRESIDENT DOES NOT DISPUTE THAT AND HE SAYS IF HOLLOWAY GOES, HE LEAVES BEHIND A SOLID LEGACY.

>> TAKE A DRIVE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP, I PROMISE WE WILL INVEST MORE IN ATHLETICS AND INVEST IN RENOVATION OF THAT FACILITY, AND WE DID THAT.

WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH COACH HOLLOWAY, HE HAS HAD AN INDELIBLE IMPACT ON ST. PETER'S UNIVERSITY.

>> THE DOCTOR SAYS THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSED ON THIS WEEKEND.

FRANKLY, SO ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT EXPECT A JERSEY CITY JESUIT SCHOOL TO BECOME THE DARLINGS OF THIS YEAR'S BIG DANCE.

IF YOU STILL WANT TO CALL THE PEACOCKS A CINDERELLA STORY, THEY WILL TRY TO ADD A FEW MORE PAGES ON FRIDAY AND THEY TAKE ON POWERFUL PERDUE IN THE SWEET 16.>> THANK YOU TED.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BEFORE WE GO WE REMIND YOU ABOUT OUR NEW DIGITAL DOCUMENT OR A FILM SERIES CALLED 21, NAMED AFTER THE 21 COUNTIES OF NEW JERSEY.

THE SERIES WILL TELL THE STORY OF ONE PERSON FROM EACH COUNTY, AND ANSWER THE QUESTION, DOES WHERE YOU LIVE AFFECT HOW YOU LIVE?

HERE IS A SHORT PREVIEW.

>> NEW JERSEY, WE ARE THE GARDEN STATE.

WE SHOULD ELEVATE THAT.>> WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU HAVE TO GET MORE INVOLVED.

IT JUST FEELS INCREDIBLE.

>> HOW DO YOU SAY I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING THAT?

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.>> IT IS NOT ABOUT ME, IT IS NOT ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL, IT IS ABOUT ALL OF US.>> THIS DIGITAL SERIES AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES, POINT TO SOLUTIONS, AND HELPED INITIATE CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IT ALSO HAS A DYNAMIC WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTING LIFE AND HEALTH HERE IN THE GARDEN STATE, SO CHECK IT OUT ON OUR SITE.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT , WE WILL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> THE PS CG FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

INVESTING IN PARKS AND HELPING TOWN TO GO GREEN.

SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.

>>> WORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY-CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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

ONLINE @US.WORSTED.COM.