>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

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

>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BREONNA VENNES ONE.

>> THE WHITE HOUSE IS SETTING A NEW GOAL FOR THE NUMBER OF SHOTS IN AMERICAN ARMS DURING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE.

BIDEN PLEDGED TO DOUBLE HIS INITIAL COMMITMENT TO 200 MILLION SHOTS BY APRIL 30TH AND SAID THE U.S. IS ALREADY ON PACE TO MEET IT.

AVERAGING ABOUT 2.5 MILLION DOSES A DAY JUST LAST WEEK.

ACROSS THE STATE TODAY, MORE THAN 3.7 MILLION VACCINES HAVE BEEN GIVEN, INCLUDING MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOW FULLY VAX FLATED.

VACCINATED.

THI ASTRAZENECA RELEASED UPDATED DATA ON THE EFFICACY OF ITS COVID-19 VACCINE, SAYING THE SHOT WAS 76% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING INFECTION, A SLIGHT DROP.

THE NEW DATA SET INCLUDES MORE CASES THAN THE COMPANY PREVIOUSLY ANALYZED.

WE'RE ALSO LEARNING MORE ABOUT JUST HOW WELL THE VACCINES ALREADY AUTHORIZED ARE WORKING FOR THOSE MOST AT RISK.

THE STUDIES SHOW THAT EVEN AS CASES SURGE, NECKS AMONG VACCINATED HEALTHCARE WORKERS DROPPED SIRTHLY.

DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> Reporter: WHEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ER NURSE, MARISSA BENITEZ, GOT HER SECOND DOSE, SHE PREDICTED?

>> AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, I WILL BE 95% IMMUNE.

>> Reporter: SHE LED THE INITIAL WAVE OF HEALTHCARE WORK FORCE GET COVID SHOTS IN NEW JERSEY IN DECEMBER WHEN PFIZER'S VACCINE WAS THE FIRST TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION AND EVEN MANY OF HER COLLEAGUES STILL FELT HESITANT.

BUT STUDIES SHOW SHE WAS RIGHT.

>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE VACCINES ARE WORKING EFFECTIVELY IN REALTIME IN REAL PEOPLE'S LIVES IN HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS.

AND THAT IS A VERY, VERY GOOD FINDING.

>> Reporter: A STUDY OF ALMOST 15,000 HEALTHCARE WORKERS BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO SHOWED SEVEN GOT COVID AFTER THE SECOND DOSE.

ANOTHER SURVEY OF MORE THAN 8,000 WORKERS BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN DALLAS FOUND FOUR GOT INFECTED AFTER GETTING FULLY VACCINATED.

DR. FAUCI CITED THE TEXAS STUDY.

>> THOSE WHO WERE FULLY VACCINATED, THE INFECTION RATE WAS EXTREMELY LOW.

0.05% INFECTION RATE AMONG FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES.

A REAL PROOF POSITIVE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION.

>> WHAT'S MISSING, IN NEW JERSEY, IT'S THE DATA.

>> Reporter: WHILE NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST HEALTHCARE UNION APPLY FOR THE STUDIES, LEADERS HOPE THE CDC WILL REQUIRE ALL STATES TO RELEASE BASIC INFORMATION ON INFECTION RATES AMONG THE STATE'S FRONTLINE WORKERS.

>> HOW MANY OF OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAVE CONTRACTED THE VIRUS, AND HOW MANY HAVE DIED?

WE STILL DON'T KNOW THAT.

>> Reporter: IN STUDIES ABROAD MORE THAN 150,000 HEALTHCARE WORKERS SHOWED THOSE VACCINATED SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED TRANSMISSION TO MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

EVEN AS THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS U.K.

VARIANT RAN RAMPANT THROUGHOUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

>> IT SUGGESTS HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO MIGHT BE HESITANT, PLEASE TAKE THEIR VACCINATION BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO PROTECT THEIR LIFE AND LIFE OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

AND I THINK PARTICULARLY AT THIS MOMENT WHEN WE'RE SEEING A SLIGHT UPTICK IN NEW JERSEY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL OF OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS VACCINATED.

>> EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ARMOR ON THEM.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT FOOLPROOF ARMOR.

AND WE'RE FOLL PRECAUTIONS.

>> Reporter: HE NOTES HIS HOSPITAL STILL GOT 37 COVID PATIENTS TODAY.

HE BELIEVES THE VACCINES OFFER A REAL SHOT AT NORMALCY IF PEOPLE TAKE THE VACCINE AND TAKE CARE.

>> THE STUDIES ALL CONFIRM THAT WE'RE ON THAT PATH IF WE CAN JUST AS A SOCIETY BE PATIENT FOR ANOTHER THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.

I THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE WE'LL BE NORMAL IN SEPTEMBER.

I THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE WE COULD HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A NORMAL SUMMER, BUT IF WE GO TOO FAST, NOT ONLY WILL MORE PEOPLE DIE, WE COULD BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE SET OURSELVES BACK.

>> Reporter: DR. JARED SAYS COVID VACCINATIONS COULD BECOME AS COMMON AS FLU SHOTS, ADAPTED REGULARLY TO NEW VARIANTS AND GIVEN ROUTINELY AT YOUR LOCAL DRUG STORE OR DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

>>> HEALTH EXPERTS ARE GROWING MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT REALITY.

EVEN AS THE STATE CONTINUES FIGHTING AGAINST THE RISE IN NEW CASES.

ANOTHER ROUGHLY 3,500 POSITIVE TESTS CONFIRMED TODAY.

AND 38 MORE BEHIND THE WALL.

BUT SOME ARE STRUGGLING WITH VACCINE EQUITY, MAKING SURE THOSE UNDERSERVED ARE GETTING THEIR SHARE OF THE DOSES.

SHOTS ARE PARTICULARLY TOUGH TO GET IN OVERCROWDED HUDSON COUNTY.

HOME TO LARGE BLACK AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES HARD-HIT BY THE PANDEMIC WITH SIX OF THE EIGHT CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS IDENTIFIED SO FAR.

PRESSURE IS MOUNTING FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITY.

>> I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT'S THE RESPONSE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FOR HOW THEY PLAN TO HANDLE IT?

>> THE RESPONSE YESTERDAY WAS SORT OF SURPRISING IN HOW DEFINITIVE IT WAS IN SAYING THIS HAS CLEARLY NOT BEEN ENOUGH.

HE SAID THAT BEFORE.

BUT IT WAS VERY EMPHATIC YESTERDAY.

AND I THINK MAYBE THAT WAS THE LETTER FROM SENATOR MENENDEZ.

MAYBE IT WAS OTHER INFORMATION HE'S GETTING.

BUT WHATEVER THE REASON, YEAH, THE STATE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE'VE NOT BEEN UP TO REALLY PROVIDE EQUITY WITH THE WAY WE'RE DISTRIBUTING THE VACCINE.

AND THEY TALKED ABOUT DOING MORE AROUND THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS.

THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT M VANS.

THE COMMISSIONER TALKED ABOUT THE TRIPLETS.

THREE VANS THAT WERE DELIVERED RECENTLY.

SO THEY CAN DO MOBILE VACCINATIONS IN COMMUNITIES.

CLEARLY THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THIS.

ON THESE EFFORTS.

>> WHAT DID YOU FIND ONCE YOU STARTED TO DIVE INTO THE DATA?

I KNOW YOU SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT HUDSON COUNTY.

WHAT WERE THE BIG DISPARITY THERE IS?

>> RIGHT.

I GOTTA THANK SOME FOLKS ON TWITTER FOR REALLY CALLING THIS OUT.

IT WASN'T THE NEW JERSEY JOURNAL BUT ALSO READERS WHO CAME TO US AND SAID WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HUDSON?

WITHIN THE DATA, COLLEEN, MY COLLEAGUE, PUBLISHED THIS DATA EVERY DAY.

BUT IT'S NOT DATA WE CAN LOOK AT CRITICALLY UNTIL I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET THAT FEEDBACK, FIRST OF ALL.

WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT THE DATA, WE REALIZED HUDSON COUNTY, WHILE IT'S THIRD IN NEW CASES OVERALL AND HAS THESICATORS TO SUGGEST -- WE FOUND THEY WERE LAX IN VACCINATION PER POPULATION.

TOTAL VACCINATION PER POPULATION.

IT WAS -- IT'S SLOWLY BEEN ANYWHERE UP TO THE STATE, THE COUNTIES.

THAT'S A CONCERN.

WE STARTED ASKING WHY.

AND THEN I HAPPENED TO LOOK AT THE VARIANTS AND I REALIZED THAT HUDSON OF THE ONLY COUNTY WITH SIX OUT OF SEVEN OF THESE VARIANTS THAT HAVE SO FAR BEEN IDENTIFIED IN NEW JERSEY.

AND THEY'RE MULTIPLYING REALLY RAPIDLY.

LIKE, 60% IN TWO DAYS OF AN INCREASE.

THE NUMBERS ARE SMALL, BUT THE TREND IS ALARMING.

AND THAT JUST MEANS IT'S ANOTHER REASON WE NEED TO GET THE VACCINES OUT THERE.

BECAUSE AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE VACCINES WORK AGAINST THE VARIANTS.

>> VERY QUICKLY, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST PIECE OF DATA YOU'RE STILL MISSING IN ALL OF THIS?

>> THAT WOULD BE THE COUNTY ALLOCATION.

THE ACTUAL NUMBERS THE STATE IS PROVIDING TO COUNTIES THROUGH THE VACCINE.

THE STATE CONTROL.

PUTTING IN PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

>> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THE PASTOR OF A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK CHURCH IN NEWARK IS UNLEASHING ON GOVERNOR MURPHY IN A SHARPLY-WORDED NEARLY TEN-PAGE LETTER.

REVEREND DAVID JEFFERSON SAYS MURPHY EXPLOITED AND BETRAYED THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT ELECTED HIM AND ACCUSED THE GOVERNOR OF PANDERING TO HIS MINORITY BASE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ONLY TO ABANDON THEM ONCE IN OFFICE.

MURPHY'S SUPPORTERS POINT TO HIS RECORD, CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE IN STATE HISTORY.

BUT AS DAVID CRUZ REPORTS, THE TIMING OF THIS ACCELERATE CRITICAL ON THE HEELS OF A REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY GOT MORE THAN 90% OF BLACK VOTES.

CHANCES ARE HE'LL GET AT LEAST THAT WHEN HE RUNS AGAIN LATER THIS YEAR.

STILL NOT EVERYONE THINKS THE COMMUNITY HAS GOTTEN SUFFICIENT RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

THAT'S WHY PASTOR DAVID JEFFERSON'S LETTER TO THE NATIONAL AND STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, ALL HEADED BY BLACK MEN, WAS PROBABLY THE LAST THING ANYONE IN CAMP MURPHY WANTED OR NEEDED.

>> WE HAVE TWO PARTIES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WE HAVE A WHITE PARTY.

AND WE HAVE A BLACK PARTY.

>> Reporter: JEFFERSON, A FORMER ALIE, NOW THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION, HAS BEEN PREACHING THIS SERMON FOR A WHILE NOW.

HE'S THE LEGAL REP FOR A FINANCIAL FIRM THAT LOST A DEAL WITH THE STATE.

SO INSIDERS DISMISS HIS CLAIM THAT THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN A BUST FOR BLACKS.. >> I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MY EXPERIENCE.

THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE SOME THINGS THAT DO WARRANT SUPPORT FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND HAVE BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

PARTICULARLY IN THE SPACE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOME BROADER RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

I DO THINK SOMETIMES THEY HAVE BLIND SPOTS.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE NATURE OF WHITE PRIVILEGE AND HOW THAT OPERATES.

>> Reporter: LOOK AT MURPHY 'S SUPREME COURT NOMINATION, SUPPORTERS SAY, AND HIS RAINBOW CABINET.

INCLUDING A BLACK WOMAN AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> I WOULD LOOK AT RESULTS AND NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL SYMBOLIC APPEARANCES OF THINGS.

LOOK AT THE RESULTS.

AND I'LL LET THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

THE CHAOS IN ATLANTIC CITY.

THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL WITHIN 20 MILES OF ATLANTIC CITY.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR URBAN AREAS?

DAVID, WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH NEWARK, WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH CAMDEN, WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH TRENTON, THE CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN, DAVID, IT'S HEARTBREAKING.

>> Reporter: IT'S NOT LIKE REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T BEEN MAKING THIS CLAIM FOR A WHILE NOW.

>> LOOK HOW MUCH AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES HAVE SUFFERED UNDER DEMOCRATIC CONTROL.

>> Reporter: TRUMP GOT AROUND 12% OF THE BLACK VOTE.

SOMETHING OF WHICH STATE REPUBLICANS MIGHT WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE, SUGGESTS SOUTH JERSEY ASSEMBLYMAN, MCCLELLAN.

>> DO YOU SEE THE STATE PARTY TRYING TO EXPAND ITS BASE?

>> I HOPE IT DOES.

AND I NEED TO BEAR WITNESS TO THAT.

AND IF HAY COME TO ME, THEN I'LL TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND HOW IT NEEDS TO WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY DON'T ASK THE QUESTIONS, THEN THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET THE ANSWERS THAT THEY NEED.

>> Reporter: MAGUIRE SAYS THEY'VE GOT SOME GROUND TO MAKE UP.

>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS COURTED A RACIST VOTE.

THAT IS WHY BLACK PEOPLE LARGELY VOTE DEMOCRAT.

>> Reporter: DEMOCRATS SAY MURPHY HAS NOTHING TO PROVE ON RACE.

AT LEAST HE LISTENS, THEY SAY, POINTING TO HIS APPOINTMENT OF CHARLES BARKER, A BLACK MAN TO THE CABINET'S REGULATORY COMMISSION.

SILENCING CRITICS WHO SAID THE OMISSION WAS AN INSULT.

THE KIND OF RESPONSE YOU WOULD EXPECT AS A COMMUNITY WHICH TURNS OUT YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IT'S BEEN NEARLY THREE MONTHS SINCE THE VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAP TOOL.

CAPITOL.

FBI OFFICIALS ARE STILL PEELING BACK THE LAYERS OF WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGIEST AND MOST COMPLEX CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IN THIS NATION'S HISTORY.

THE LIST OF THOSE WITH TIES TO NEW JERSEY KEEPS GROWING.

THEIR BACKGROUNDS RANGE FROM A FARMERS MARKET OWNER TO MEMBERS OF FAR RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUPS.

>> Reporter: THE WORLD WATCHED AS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL ON JANUARY SIX.

AN ATTACK THAT TURNED INTO ONE OF THE MOST METICULOUS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ALL TIME.

POURING OVER HOURS OF VIDEO AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS CONTRIBUTING REPORTER IAN SCHERRER SAYS 40 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CHARGED SO FAR FROM MANY STATES.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM NEW JERSEY?

>> THUS FAR IT'S 15.

>> AND TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR ASSAULTING U.S. CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER BRIAN PITTMAN, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

TAKING A CANISTER OF BEAR SPRAY AND SPRAYING INTO HIS FACE.

>> Reporter: HE DIED THE NEXT DAY.

MEDICAL EXAMINERS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

>> THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST CONCERNING CASE IN THAT THESE TWO SUSPECTS FROM -- WHO GREW UP IN NEW BRUNSWICK TOGETHER FACED POSSIBLE MURDER CHARGES.

IF SHE DOES, OR HE OR SHE DOES CONCLUDE THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE BEAR SPRAY.

THERE WERE 2020, THERE WERE AT LEAST 16 HATE GROUPS REPORTED IN NEW JERSEY.

ACCORDING TO THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER.

DARRYL IS DIRECTOR OF AN ANTIFASCIST CENTER IN NEW BRUNSWICK WHOSE MISSION IS TO EXPOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD USED IN ORDER TO GET THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY HAVE ARRESTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS BASICALLY COME FROM CIVILIANS.

>> NEW JERSEY PEOPLE SUSPEND, NO NEW JERSEY PEOPLE ARE SUSPECTED OF PLOTTING THIS ASSAULT.

THEY'RE ALL FOLLOWERS.

>> Reporter: A MEMBER OF THE OATH TAKERS RECENTLY MOVED TO DALLAS.

>> HE IS A FULL-FLEDGED MEMBER OF THE OATH KEEPERS MILITIA.

A RIGHT WING, ANTIGOVERNMENT MILITIA.

THAT IS PART OF THE LARGER INVESTIGATION IN THIS CASE.

HE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN -- HAS SERVED AS A BODY GUARD FOR THE NOTORIOUS ROGER STONE.

HE ALSO WAS A BODY GUARD FOR MICHAEL FLYNN.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER NEW JERSEY DEFENDANT IS A WHITE SUPREMACIST FROM MAMOUTH COUNTY.

QUOTE, "BABIES BORN WITH ANY DEFORMITIES OR DISABILITIES SHOULD BE SHOT IN THE FOREHEAD" AND, QUOTE, "HITLER SHOULD HAVE FINISHED THE JOB."

>> THERE'S A U.S. ARMY RESERVIST WHO IS A JOB AS A SECURITY OFFICER AT A U.S.

NAVAL FACILITY WHO HAS SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE AND ACCESS TO MUNITIONS AND CARRIES A GUN EVERY DAY.

WHO SHOWS UP TO WORK EVERY DAY WITH A HITLER MUSTACHE AND HAS BEEN SPEWING RACIST ANTI-SEMITIC DIATRIBES FOR YEARS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IN NEW JERSEY.

>> Reporter: AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, JENKINS EXPECTS THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS FROM NEW JERSEY CHARGED TO RISE.

>> FOR A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE DEFENDANTS AND THEIR CHARGES, CHECK OUT THE INSURANCE STORY ON NJSPOTLOOT NEWS.ORG.

>>> MORE THAN A YEAR INTO THIS PANDEMIC, HOW MUCH LOST GROUND HAVE WE MADE UP IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS NEW DETAILS.

>> HIRING IS PICKING UP A BIT.

NEW JERSEY COMPANIES ADDED 10,700 NEW JOBS LAST MONTH, WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE SAW IN THE PRIOR TWO MONTHS.

IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE STATE HAS ONLY RECOVERED JUST OVER HALF OF ALL THE JOBS LOST IN THE PAST YEAR.

AND THERE ARE STILL SO MANY PEOPLE OUT OF WORK, NEW JERSEY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS AT 7.8%.

>>> MEANTIME, WEEKLY JOBLESS CLAIMS ACROSS THE U.S. FELL TO THEIR LOWEST LEVEL SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LAST YEAR.

WE ALSO LEARNED TODAY THAT THE U.S. ECONOMY WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE HEADING INTO THIS YEAR.

IN THE FINAL FEW MONTHS OF 2020, THE ECONOMY GREW A BETTER THAN EXPECTED 4.3%.

>>> HOUSING PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE.

NEW JERSEY REALTORS SAY LAST MONTH THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE FOR ALL PROPERTIES IN THE STATE WAS $360,000.

PRICES HAVE GONE UP MORE THAN 21% IN THE PAST YEAR.

THE REASON IS SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

THERE'S A LOT OF BUYERS BUT NOT A LOT OF AVAILABLE HOMES.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAID ACROSS THE U.S., THE SUPPLY OF HOMES FOR SALE FELL NEARLY 30% YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN FEBRUARY WHICH IT SAYS WAS THE LARGEST ANNUAL DECLINE EVER.

>>> ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS WANT TO DIVEST ALL HOLDINGS IN A FUEL COMPANY.

SOME STEPS ARE TAKEN ALREADY BUT ACTIVISTS ARE SAYING IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

>> YOU'RE SEEING MOVES TOWARD MORE SUSTAINABLE INVESTING AND AN APPROACH TO FUND MORE RENEWABLE ENERGIES WITH STATE PENSION FUNDS.

BUT STOPPING WELL SHORT OF THE DIVESTMENT APPROACH THAT RUTGERS HAS JUST TAEN AND NEW YORK CITY IS FOLLOWING AND MANY OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND WHAT THESE CLIMATE ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR.

>> FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

>>> THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IS GREATLY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS CAN BORROW THROUGH ITS COVID-19 ECONOMIC LOAN PROGRAM.

THE FDA IS RAISING THE LOAN LIMIT FROM A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $150,000 TO $500,000.

WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LOOK AT TODAY'S TRADING ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER WITH YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY IED LOCAL 102.

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH AND LEADING THE WAY.

>> THIS WEEKEND JOIN RHONDA FOR NJ BUSINESS SPEAK, NEW JERSEY TRANSIT'S BUDGET, THE PUSH FOR ELECTRIC CARS AND HOW OUR CITIES ARE GETTING MORE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE-FRIENDLY.

WATCH IT ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00 AM.

>>> PROPOSALS TO EXPAND YOUR VOTING MAY HAVE GOTTEN A BOOST FROM THE PANDEMIC.

LAWMAKERS APPROVED TWO OUT OF THREE BILLS THAT WILL GIVE YOU MORE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.

INCLUDING CASTING A VOTE UP TO TEN DAYS EARLY IN PERSON AND PROVIDING MORE LOCATIONS FOR THOSE BALLOT DROPBOXES YOU LIKELY USED LAST YEAR.

A BILL THAT WILL LIMIT POLICE PRESENCE AT THE POLLS IS STILL UP FOR DEBATE.

THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE, THE CHANGES COULD GO INTO EFFECT AS SOON AS THIS NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

COLLEEN ODAY HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE ACTION AT THE STATE HOUSE.

>> LET'S GET INTO THESE BILLS.

LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT THE EARLY VOTING.

WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE?

>> EARLY VOTING MEANS THAT EVERY COUNTY WILL HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE PLACES.

OPEN.

ABOUT TEN DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

AND FOR A PERIOD UP TO THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE ELECTION.

DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY, THEY MAY HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN THREE LOCATIONS OPEN.

AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON MACHINE.

THEY MAY BE MORE OF A SCANNING MACHINE.

MARK A BALLOT AND SCAN IT.

IT WON'T BE SIMPLY LIKE A PAPER VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT LIKE WE HAD LAST YEAR.

>> IN-PERSON WAS THE KEY THERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLICE PRESENCE ISSUE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF CONTENTIOUSNESS INVOLVING THAT LEGISLATION.

WHEN THE ASSEMBLY PASSED IT TODAY, REPUBLICANS WERE REALLY SAYING THAT THIS IS KIND OF PROOF THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE ANTIPOLICE, AND D WERE SAYING THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

THERE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE.

AND ONE LEGISLATOR SAID SHE HEARD FROM ABOUT 1,000 OF HER CONSTITUENTS ABOUT CONCERNS OF POLICE PRESENCE AT THE POLL POLLS.

IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT, POLICE COULD BE CALLED.

>> THEN OF COURSE LAST WEEK THESE BALLOT DROPBOXES WERE AN ISSUE LAST YEAR.

>> LAST YEAR THE LEGISLATURE PASSED SOME VERY SPECIFIC LEGISLATION ABOUT WHERE THESE BOXES COULD BE PLACED.

THOSE WERE NOT GONNA BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL THIS YEAR.

THIS WAS ALL LAST-MINUTE.

NOW THEY'RE GOING BACK AND CHANGING THEIR MINDS AND TRYING TO GIVE MORE LEEWAY TO ELECTION OFFICIALS TO DECIDE WHERE TO PLACE THESE BOXES AROUND THEIR COUNTIES.

>> I GUESS OVERALL THOUGH, COLLEEN, IT MEANS MORE ACCESS, YES?

WHICH IS WHAT LAWMAKERS REALLY HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR FOR A LONG TIME, QUICKLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

THE DEMOCRATS IN FACT POINTED OUT THAT WHILE STATES ARE LOOKING TO CUT BACK ACCESS TO SOME PLACES, NEW JERSEY IS DOING THE OPPOSITE.

>> DOING THE OPPOSITE.

ALL RIGHT.

COLLEEN O'DAY, GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU, THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO CATCH REPORTERS' ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ TOMORROW.

THEY TALK TO DAVID AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR ABOUT VIOLENCE, GUN SAFETY, AND A LOT MORE.

A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS BREAK DOWN THE BIG STORIES THIS WEEK.

SUBSCRIBE AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU NEVER MISS A SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> NJN INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS.

AND HORIZON BLUECROSS/BLUESHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

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

MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. PORTER PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

AND PATTY ANDWORTH-KENNER.

>> THE ORSTED VISION IS A WORLD THAT RUNS ENTIRELY ON GREEN ENERGY.

LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF ATLANTIC CITY, ORSTED'S OCEAN WIND PROJECT WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS.

EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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