>>> FUNDING NOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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

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

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS IN POLAND WHERE HE MET WITH U.S.

TROOPS ON THE READY TO DEFEND THE TERRITORY IF THE UKRAINIAN CONFLICT SPILLS OVER THE BORDER.

UKRAINIAN FORCES CONTINUE TO FIERCELESS DEFEND TOWNS AROUND ITS CAPITAL CITY, KYIV, WHERE IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER UKRAINE HAS RECLAIMED SOME POSITIONS THAT WERE HELD BY RUSSIAN FORCES.

>>> MEANWHILE WORLD LEADERS US DID CUSSED STRENGTHENING THEIR STANCE AGAINST RUSSIA AS THE WHITE HOUSE BEGAN PLANNING ITS RESPONSE IF PUTIN WERE TO INITIATE CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

MANY OF THE TROOPS THE PRESIDENT THANKED TODAY HAVE BEEN HELPING WITH HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS AS MORE THAN 3.7 MILLION UKRAINIANS HAVE POURED ACROSS THE BORDER.

BIDEN ANNOUNCED THE U.S. WOULD ACCEPT 100,000 REFUGEES AND HE PLANS TO MEET WITH SOME TOMORROW IN WARSAW.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN SPOKE WITH SEVERAL FAMILIES WHO HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED HERE ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT MEANS FOR THEM.

RESIDENTS OF KHARKIV FLED IN TERROR AFTER RUSSIAN ARTILLERY SHELLS BLASTED APART THEIR HOMES.

AMONG THE REFUGEES ON THAT HEROINE JOURNEY ALEX FRANKEL WHO DROVE HIS FAMILY TO POLAND, THEN SPAIN, THEN FLEW TO THE U.S. ON TEMPORARY TOURIST VISAS.

HE CAN'T GO BACK HOME TO KHARKIV WHERE SHELLING CONTINUES.

>> A BIG WAR IN MY CITY NOW, RIGHT NOW.

MANY, MANY ROCKETS AND BOMBS.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW THE FAMILY SAFELY SETTLED INTO TEMPORARY HOUSING.

THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL WITH THE AID OF THE COMMUNITY GROUP CALLED UKRAINIAN JERSEY CITY.

BUT TOURIST VISAS DON'T QUALIFY THEM FOR FEDERAL AID OR WORKING PAPERS.

>> I CANNOT WORK.

MY WIFE CANNOT WORK NOW BECAUSE WE'RE NOT, WE HAVE NOT ALREADY ANY STARTERS.

>> IT IS ALREADY TRAUMATIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO PICK UP AND LEAVE IMMEDIATELY, THEIR COUNTRY IN FEAR OF THEIR LIVES.

AND NOW THEY HAVE TO FIGHT HERE TO GET SOME SORT OF COMMITMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES.

>> Reporter: OKSANNA IS THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINIAN JERSEY CITY, WHICH IS HOLDING FUNDRAISERS AS IT STRUGGLES WITH THIS NEW CRISIS.

AT LEAST TEN FAMILIES WHO FLED THE SUDDEN AND DEVASTATING WAR NEEDED EMERGENCY HOUSING AND SUPPORT.

ANNA KUSMICH AND HER TWO KIDS LEFT KYIV ALSO ON TOURIST VISAS.

HER HUSBAND STILL THERE IN THE UKRAINIAN ARMY.

OKSANNA TRANSLATED FOR HER.

>> I NEED TO FIND A JOB, AND I NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND TRY TO MAKE THE BEST FOR MY KIDS AND TO MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN PROMISED $1 BILLION IN AID TO HELP EUROPE RESETTLE MILLIONS OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES NOTING THE U.S. WOULD ACCEPT 100,000.

>> MANY UKRAINIAN REFUGEES WHO WISH TO STAY IN EUROPE CLOSER TO HOME, BUT WE WILL ALSO WELCOME 100,000 UKRAINIANS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THE FOCUS ON REUNITING FAMILIES.

>> I KNOW PRESIDENT BIDEN YESTERDAY SAID THAT HE'S GOING TO WELCOME 100,000 REFUGEES.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S ENOUGH?

BECAUSE I DON'T.

>> UKRAINIANS WHO CAME ON TOURIST VISAS AFTER MARCH 1 ARE IN A VERY CHALLENGING SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

ALL THE DETAILS WILL NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.

>> THE WHITE HOUSE DIDN'T RELEASE DETAILS ON EXACTLY HOW IT WOULD HANDLE AN INFLUX OF 100,000 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.

THEY COULD APPLY FOR ASYLUM, ENTER AS HUMANITARIAN PAROLEES OR BE GRANTED PROTECTION STATUS.

BUT MANY WILL EXPECT TO REQUEST A REUNION WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ALREADY LIVING IN THE U.S. AND AN EVACUATION WILL TAKE TIME AS ATTORNEY EILEEN KING ENGLISH.

>> THE CALLS I'M GETTING FROM MY UKRAINIAN NATIONAL CLIENTS HERE ARE I NEED TO HELP MY COUSIN, I NEED TO HELP MY SISTER, I NEED TO HELP MY NEPHEW.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT?

THERE IS NO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO STREET LINE VERY QUICK PATH TO DO THAT.

>> WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY AND THE SUDDENNESS OF THIS CONFLICT WOULD WORK ON EXPEDITING THE APPLICATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO COME THROUGH THE REFUGEE PROGRAM PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY FILED FOR FAMILY REUNIFICATION.

>> Reporter: CHURCH WORLD SERVICES COURTNEY MADSEN SAYS HER AGENCY HAS THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE UKRAINIAN REFUGEES, BUT IT NEEDS THE GOVERNMENT TO SET GUIDELINES.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST TRAGIC ASPECT OF THIS REFUGEE EFFORT IS LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE.

>> EVEN WHEN THE CONFLICT IS OVER, PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING TO GO BACK TO.

THAT'S NOT COVERED BY REFUGEE PROTECTION.

IT'S NOT COVERED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW.

PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSE TO GO BACK ONCE THE CONFLICT IS OVER, BUT IF THEIR HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, IF THEIR CITIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND THEY HAVE NO JOBS TO GO BACK TO, HOW CAN THEY GO BACK?

>> Reporter: ALEX FRANKEL ALREADY NECESSARY.

HE OWNED A TRAVEL AGENCY IN KHARKIV.

>> NOW I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BUSINESS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN MY COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: HE IS JUST GLAD THEY'RE ALL SAFE.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> EARLIER THIS WEEK U.S.

SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ SENT A LETTER TO TOP BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS CALLING FOR FASTER RESETTLEMENT OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES HERE IN AMERICA.

SINCE THEN PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THE U.S. WOULD TAKE IN 100,000 REFUGEES.

SO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO PROVIDE THESE FAMILIES WITH APPROPRIATE STATUS?

AND WHAT ABOUT THE FAMILIES ALREADY HERE?

JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE OVERALL U.S.

RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE IS SENATOR MENENDEZ.

SENATOR, YOU ARE CALLING FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO OPEN UP A HUMANITARIAN PAROLE PROGRAM.

THAT STATUS IS ACTUALLY A TEMPORARY STATUS.

WHY NOT PROVIDE FULL REFUGEE STATUS FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS COMING OVER FROM UKRAINE?

>> WELL FIRST OF ALL I'M PLEASED TO SAY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWING MY LETTER OF HAVING 100,000 UKRAINIANS TO BE ABLE TO SEEK REFUGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE A LONGER TERM PROGRAM.

WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE NEED RIGHT NOW WITH NEARLY 3.6 MILLION UKRAINIANS HAVING FLED THEIR COUNTRY.

MILLIONS MORE ARE DISPLACED ENTIRELY WITHIN UKRAINE.

WE NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION.

AS WE URGE OTHER COUNTRIES, POLAND, ROMANIA, AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION OF GIVING THE HOME TO FLEEING UKRAINIANS, THEN WE SHOULD DO SO AS WELL.

SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE MORE PERMANENT STATUS AND WE MAY MOVE TO THAT, BUT WE WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE PROBLEM.

WE ALSO HAVE THE LARGER UKRAINIAN POPULATION IN NEW JERSEY THAT WOULD HAVE SHOWN THEIR WELCOMING ATTITUDE AND THEIR DESIRE TO HELP THEIR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN.

AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I'M GLAD THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TOOK ME UP ON MY SUGGESTION.

>> AND CERTAINLY THERE IS A NEED TO PUT SOME REAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE EVEN HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

THERE WAS A BIG STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM JUST TO REHOUSE MANY OF THE AFGHAN REFUGEES WHO CAME HERE.

WE KNOW THAT ALREADY THERE ARE SOME UKRAINIANS HERE IN NEW JERSEY WHO CAME ON TOURIST VISAS.

HOW DO WE HELP THOSE FOLKS AND EVERYONE ELSE ASSIMILATE QUICKLY?

DO WE HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE?

>> WELL FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE, I HAD ALSO ADVOCATED FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS UNDER THE EXISTING LAW THAT WE HAVE.

THIS HAS BEEN MEANT FOR THIS TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED AND WILL FIND THEMSELVES FROM THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE FOR WHICH THEY WOULD FLEE WOULD HAVE TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS.

SO THAT HAS BEEN DONE AS WELL.

I THINK THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE THERE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE LARGE NUMBERS OF AFGHANS THAT WE RESETTLED AND HAVE BEEN RESETTLING, AND THAT IS DIFFERENT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A LARGE AFGHAN COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO HERE WE HAVE A UKRAINIAN SIDE THAT IS RARING AND WILLING TO HELP.

AND HOUSING IS SUCH A CHALLENGE AS A HOPE THAT IT WILL BE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR THOSE WHO MAY COME TO NEW JERSEY.

AND THEY WILL FIND A PATHWAY FORWARD INSIDE.

AND COMMUNITIES.

>> WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE PRESIDENT AND WORLD LEADERS COME TOGETHER THIS WEEK AND STRATEGIZE ABOUT WHAT NEXT STEPS WILL BE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO STOP PUTIN.

AT WHAT POINT DO YOU BELIEVE WE SHOULD INTERVENE MILITARILY?

WHAT IS THAT THRESHOLD FOR YOU?

>> WELL I NEVER CREATE HARD AND FAST REDLINES.

BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT A PARTICULARLY GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.

I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT PUTIN DOES.

CERTAINLY WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING IN UKRAINE VIOLATING SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS THAT RUSSIA VOTED FOR, WHICH SAY THAT DENYING HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS TO PEOPLE OR USING STARVATION AS A TOOL OF WAR IS CONSIDERED A WAR CRIME AND THEY CERTAINLY HAVE DONE IT, PUTIN HAS CERTAINLY DONE THAT IN UKRAINE, SO THERE IS THAT PROCESS.

GOD FORBID HE WILL USE A CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPON.

THERE IS THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION ACT, WHICH RUSSIA IS A SIGNATURE TO, TYPES OF ACTION THAT WERE TAKEN UNDER THAT AND EVEN WORSE IF HE USES A TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPON.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT, IN FACT, PUTIN DOES.

AND I KNOW THEY WERE THINKING WHAT ACTIONS DOES HE TAKE IF ANY OF THOSE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES EVOLVE THAT MAY VERY WELL AFFECT NATO ALLIES.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE IT RIGHT.

HE'S MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.

HE HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO PUTIN THERE WOULD BE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.

THERE HAVE BEEN AND THERE WILL BE MORE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T TELL YOUR ADVERSARY IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL DO.

IN THAT RESPECT THEY WILL NEED TO THINK TWICE ON THE BIOLOGICAL OR TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPON.

>> SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT BLOCKED NEW JERSEY'S EXIT FROM THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION YESTERDAY JUST DAYS BEFORE THEY PLAN TO LEAVE THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY AT PORT.

THE BLOCK CAME FROM AN INJUNCTION FILED BY NEW YORK LAST WEEK THAT ARGUED NEW JERSEY'S EXIT FROM THE COMMISSION WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR CORRUPTION RETURNING TO THE PORT.

GOVERNOR MURPHY REJECTS THAT IDEA AND SAID AT AN EVENT TODAY AT CHATHAM HIGH SCHOOL HE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC THAT THE STATE WILL HAVE THEIR DATE IN COURT.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO VIGOROUSLY CONTESTING THAT WITH THE SUPREME COURT WHENEVER THAT MOMENT COMES.

THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION MADE A LOT OF SENSE BACK IN THE DAY IN THE EARLY 1950s, BUT WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE INCLUDING NEW JERSEY HAS 90, 90% OF THE ACTIVITY BETWEEN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK.

WE'RE AS TOUGH ON CRIME AS ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION IS THE ONLY WAY TO ATTACK THAT.

>> NJ ADVANCED MEDIA REPORTER TED SHERMAN HAS BEEN COVERING THE STORY.

HE SAT DOWN WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ TO DISCUSS WHAT LIES AHEAD ON THE BATTLE OVER THE PORT NOW HEADS TO THE COURT.

>> TED, THANKS FOR DOING THIS.

AND WHY DOES NEW JERSEY WANT TO LEAVE THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION?

WHAT'S THE RATIONAL?

>> THE RATIONAL IS THAT THEY THINK THAT THE TIME HAS PASSED FOR THE COMMISSION.

THE COMMISSION WAS FORMED NEARLY 70 YEARS AGO ACTUALLY AS A RESULT OF THE JOURNALIST.

AND BY NAUTICAL JOHNSON EXPOSED THE LABOR RACKETEERING AND ALL THE ABUSES IN THE PORT.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, NOT ONLY DID THEY INSPIRE A MOVE ON THE WATERFRONT, BUT THEY ALSO LED TO THE CREATION OF THE WATERFRONT COMMISSIONER OF NEW YORK HARBOR.

>> IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT IT HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE OVER THE PAST 70 YEARS?

>> WELL THEY HAVE KEPT THE LAW AT BAY IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

THEY HAVE KEPT PEOPLE FROM WORKING AT THE PORT WHO HAVE CONNECTIONS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT IT IS A PRESSURE POINT.

IF GOODS DON'T FLOW AS WE'VE SEEN THROUGH SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS, PRICES GO UP AND YOU DON'T GET YOUR BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING.

>> SO WHAT IS OUR RATIONAL FOR LEAVING?

IS THIS A PUSH BEHIND THE SCENES FROM THE UNION?

>> WELL A PART OF IT IS THE UNION IS VERY STRONG.

THEY HAVE GIVEN LITERALLY WELL OVER $1.9 MILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGISLATURES OVER THE YEARS.

BUT DATING BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN THIS ALL BEGAN, THE ADMINISTRATION WAS NEVER TOO PLEASED WITH SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION OF THE COMMISSION.

THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

>> AND SO WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT RULE THIS WEEKEND AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

>> WELL RIGHT NOW ALL IT DOES IS IT FREEZES THE STATUS QUO.

THEY DIDN'T RULE IN FAVOR.

AND THEY JUST TOLD NEW JERSEY THEY WOULD START THE DOOR ON MONDAY.

AND NEW JERSEY HAD DECIDED THAT WE'RE GOING TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COMPACT IN 1953.

NEW YORK ARGUED THAT THERE'S NO PROVISION FOR NEW JERSEY TO JUST WALK OUT ON A COMPACT.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THEY CLAIMED THAN WALKING OUT OF THE PORT AUTHORITY.

THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP, THERE'S AN AGREEMENT, AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN SHUT DOWN THE COMMISSION IN NEW YORK IS ARGUED THAT EITHER BOTH SIDES AGREE TO END THE AGREEMENT OR THEY DON'T FIGHT IT.

AND RIGHT NOW NEW YORK IS FIGHTING IT.

>> SO SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO HEAR THIS CASE THEN?

>> MAYBE.

THE SUPREME COURT RIGHT NOW HAS SAID THAT THEY'RE FREEZING THE STATUS QUO, GOVERNOR MURPHY CANNOT SEND IN THE STATE POLICE TO START REGULATING AND FORCING THE LAW UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT DECIDES WHETHER IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE CASE OR NOT.

AND LIKELY SCENARIO AT THIS POINT IS THEY WILL PROBABLY BRING IN THE U.S.

SOLICITOR GENERAL TO MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE THE CASE OR NOT.

THIS WILL LIKELY GO ON FOR MONTHS.

>> ALL RIGHT, TED SHERMAN IS THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER FOR NJ ADVANCED MEDIA.

TED, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, MAN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND CHECK OUT DAVID'S INTERVIEW WITH STEVE ORAHO ABOUT THE STATE'S NJ GOP AND WHETHER THE PARTY IS ON TRACK WITH ITS AGENDA.

CATCH UP WITH ALL THE OTHER TOP POLITICAL HEADLINES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ALSO TUNE IN TO CHAT BOX WITH DAVID SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M. ALL RIGHT HERE ON NJ PBS.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S TEACHER SHORTAGE STARTED LONG BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BUT COVID HAS MADE IT SO MUCH HARDER FOR DISTRICTS TO HIRE AND RETAIN TEACHING STAFF.

THEY WILL REMOVE A TEST FOR ASPIRING TEACHERS THAT EDUCATION EXPERTS SAY HAVE BEEN A BARRIER TO GETTING NEW TEACHERS CERTIFIED.

IT'S CALLED THE EDUCATIVE TEACHER PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT.

IT REQUIRES TEACHERS TO PRESENT A PORTFOLIO OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE INCLUDING VIDEO OF THEM TEACHING IN FRONT OF A CLASSROOM, BUT THAT DUPLICATES ASSESSMENTS IN PLACE AND LENGTHENS THE TIME BEFORE A TEACHER CAN BE CERTIFIED.

A SIMILAR BILL TO DO AWAY WITH THE TEST IS UP FOR A VOTE IN THE ASSEMBLY NOW.

>>> FOR ANYONE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.

THOSE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTERS ARE REOPENING.

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

RHONDA, WHAT'S THE LATE NEST >> Reporter: JOANNA, STARTING NEXT WEEK NEW JERSEYIANS CAN GET IN-PERSON HELP WITH THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT IS REOPENING SELECT ONE-STOP CAREER CENTERS, BUT NO WALK INS WILL BE SERVED.

INSTEAD THE DEPARTMENT IS SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS FOR WORKERS SCHEDULING TO RESOLVE CLAIM ISSUES.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT'S HANDLING OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS AND URGE THAT THE CENTERS REOPEN.

LAWMAKERS HAVE GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL TO A BILL THAT WOULD PROTECT SOME RESIDENTS FROM HAVING THEIR UTILITY SERVICE SHUT OFF.

YOU'LL RECALL THE MORATORIUM ON SHUTOFFS PUT IN PLACE DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS LIFTED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

UNDER THE BILL RESIDENTS WHO APPLY FOR STATE ASSISTANCE TO HELP PAY THEIR OVERDUE BILLS WOULD GET A 60-DAY GRACE PERIOD WHILE THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED.

RESIDENTS MUST APPLY FOR AID BEFORE JUNE 15.

SOME 850,000 CUSTOMERS ARE BEHIND ON THEIR GAS AND ELECTRIC BILLS.

>>> THE WAR ON UKRAINE IS WEIGHING ON THE MINDS OF BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE STATE.

CHRISTOPHER MAR, THE CEO OF OCEAN FIRST BANK SAYS THE WAR IS EXACERBATING PROBLEMS BUSINESSES WERE ALREADY DEALING WITH INCLUDING SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND INCREASED COSTS FOR PARTS AND SUPPLIES.

MARS SAYS THE WAR IS IMPACTING SEMI CONDUCTOR SUPPLIES AS WELL AS SUPPLIES FOR SOME COMPONENTS USED IN AUTO MANUFACTURING.

MARS SAYS BUSINESS LEADERS ARE THINKING A LOT ABOUT THEIR OWN SUPPLY CHAINS.

>> THIS IS A COMPOUNDING ISSUE AND IT IS MAKING PEOPLE RETHINK THE INVENTORY THEY KEEP ON BOARD, HOW MUCH WAREHOUSE SPACE THEY NEED, HOW MANY DAYS WORTH OF PRODUCTION THEY NEED TO BE COVERING, AND THEN HOW ROBUST THEIR REQUIREMENTS ARE.

>> THE STATE DISTRIBUTED NEARLY $2.4 MILLION IN POTENTIALLY IMPROPER COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS TO 10 FISHERIES IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE STATE CONTROLLERS OFFICE, WHICH ALSO FOUND THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IGNORED RED FLAGS ON THE APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING.

THE REPORT SAYS 22% OF THE MONEY PAID TO FISHERIES MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPER BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED MORE FUNDS THAN WHAT THEY LOST IN 2020.

THE CONTROLLERS OFFICE SAYS THOSE FISHERIES SHOULD RETURN THE EXCESS MONEY.

>>> NOW HERE IS A CHECK ON HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED THE WEEK.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY MARTIN TUCKMAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AT NJIT.

NEW JERSEY'S FIRST BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE DEGREE.

BUSINESS FOCUSED, TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN.

>> AND MAKE SURE YOU JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER FOR NJ BUSINESS SPEED.

THIS WEEKEND SHE LOOKS AT THE BUSINESS BEHIND THE ARTS IN NEW JERSEY FROM TRADITIONAL PERFORMING ARTS TO LOCAL ARTISTS MAKING MONEY THROUGH THE NFT MARKETPLACE.

TUNE IN SATURDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAYS AT 9:30 A.M. ON NJ PBS.

>>> YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IT FROM THE RAIN WE HAD THIS WEEK, BUT NEW JERSEY IS IN A DROUGHT AND IT'S GETTING MORE SERIOUS.

THE FEDERAL DROUGHT MONITOR SHOWS MUCH OF SOUTH JERSEY IS IN A MODERATE DROUGHT AND THE ENTIRE STATE IS ABNORMALLY DRY.

IT'S THE MOST SERIOUS SPRING DRY SPELL THE STATE HAS FACED SINCE 2017, AND THE TIMING IS NOT GREAT BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE BRINK OF PEAK WILDFIRE SEASON.

IN FACT THIS LAST WEEK A 50-ACRE FIRE BROKE OUT IN BURLINGTON COUNTY.

PLUS AS THE STATE'S CLIMATOLOGIST DAVID ROBINSON TOLD NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS THE WARM WEATHER APPROACHING MEANS THE NEED FOR WATER WILL SOON RISE.

>> BUT THE FACT IS WE'RE GOING INTO THIS WATER CONSUMPTION SEASON IF YOU WILL WITHOUT A CUSHION, YOU KNOW, A CUSHION WITH OUR SOILS MOIST, THE GROUND WATER UP, THE RIVER FLOWING, THE RESERVOIRS ON THE UPWARD TRAJECTORY TO THEIR VALUES WHEN THEY HOPE TO BE FULL.

UNLESS WE GET SOME HEAVY RAIN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT GOING INTO THE SUMMER.

AND WE HUMANS START WATERING OUR LAWNS, FILLING OUR POOLS, WASHING OUR CARS.

SO IT BECOMES A REAL PROBLEM IF WE CONTINUE THIS DRY PHASE.

>> IT'S MAKE-OR-BREAK TIME FOR THE PEACOCKS.

THE SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM IS IN PHILLY TONIGHT GEARING UP TO TAKE ON THE PURDUE BOILERMAKERS IN THE NCAA'S ROUND OF THE SWEET 16.

THE PEACOCKS CAPTURED THE NATION'S ATTENTION AFTER BACK-TO-BACK UPSETS LAST WEEK NOW THRIVING AS THE UNDERDOG IN THE TOURNAMENT.

TED GOLDBERG IS IN PHILLY FOR THE BIG GAME AND IS TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT'S FUELING THIS CINDERELLA TEAM.

TED, WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER IN PHILLY?

>> Reporter: JOANNA, IT'S A QUICK TRIP FROM JERSEY CITY TO PHILADELPHIA, WHICH MAKES IT A LOT EASIER FOR SAINT PETER'S ALUMNI AND FANS TO COME WATCH THE PEACOCKS IN THE SWEET 16.

AS FANS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE WELLS FARGO CENTER, THEY TELL ME IT'S BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE RIDE OVER THE PAST WEEK.

>> I COULDN'T BE MORE ECSTATIC.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE SAINT PETER'S IS, AND IT'S ON THE MAP NOW.

EVERYONE KNOWS IT'S IN NEW JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

>> IT'S THE MOST EXCITING WE HAVE ALL FELT, ALUMNI, STUDENTS, EVERYONE CONNECTED TO SAINT PETER'S.

IT'S THE MOST EXCITING WEEK WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED AND IT'S BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Reporter: MERCY'S TEACHERS AT SAINT PETER'S PREP.

THIS WEEK THEY HAVE HEARD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY.

>> YOU DON'T GET TO SEE A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOLERS GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO SAINT PETER'S COLLEGE OR SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY I SHOULD SAY.

AND SO FOR ME THAT'S BEEN REALLY COOL TO SEE THAT A LOT OF EVEN THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY.

AND IT IS SUCH AN AWESOME FEELING.

>> POLAND PLAYED FOOTBALL.

AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH PEOPLE.

>> AND WHERE THE HOTEL ARE STAYING AT, NORTH CAROLINA, AND THE TEAM, AND THEIR FANS ARE STAYING THERE, WE WALKED IN AND THEY GREETED US WITH OPEN ARMS AND THEY'RE GOING ECSTATIC FOR US.

SO IT IS KIND OF SEEN AS A BIGGER TEAM, SUCH AS UNC IS PULLING FOR IT, SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY.

>> Reporter: AND EVEN NEUTRAL FANS ARE PUTTING IN AN EFFORT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PEACOCK PROGRAM.

>> I KNEW IT WAS UP IN NORTH JERSEY, THEY HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THEM, YOU KNOW.

WE SAW A COUPLE OF THE STUFF, LIKE THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT AND STUFF, SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MY BRACKET.

THESE GUYS LOOK LIKE THEY COULD WIN A GAME OR TWO AND HERE THEY ARE IN PHILADELPHIA FOR THE SWEET 16.

>> THE LAST TIME THE TOURNAMENT WAS IN TOWN, THE GULF COAST WAS HERE AND THE PLACE WAS JUST GOING NUTS.

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE THE SMALL SCHOOLS GO UP AGAINST AND SO THAT IS ALWAYS FUN TO WATCH.

>> AND WHILE THEY DON'T THINK OF THEMSELVES AS A CINDERELLA TEAM, THEY'RE HAPPY TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE ON BOARD.

>> THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SO DOWN AND SO DARK.

RIGHT NOW JUST A TIME WHERE ESPECIALLY IN JERSEY CITY AND NEW JERSEY, EVERYBODY'S VALUE AROUND US HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

I MEAN THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.

AND THAT IS EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, SAINT PETER'S, WHEN I GOT DOWN WE MADE SURE WE DID A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

BUT EVEN NOW THE SENDOFF THAT WE WOULD HAVE LAST NIGHT TO COME DOWN HERE, WE HAD ABOUT I WOULD SAY 400 PEOPLE TO SEND US OFF.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> Reporter: WHAT SAINT PETER'S IS DOING IS ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE WHEN YOU WOULD COMPARE THEIR BUDGETS TO THE OTHER DIVISION I PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY.

LAST YEAR RUTGERS SPENT $118 MILLION ON ATHLETICS WHILE SETON HALL SPENT $16 MILLION.

IF YOU ONLY WANT TO LOOK AT BASKETBALL REVENUE, RUTGERS BROUGHT IN $7.9 MILLION IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

SETON HALL A HAIR BEHIND IT AT $7.5 MILLION, AND SAINT PETER'S THEY BROUGHT IN A LITTLE BIT OVER $1.5.

DESPITE THOSE DISPARITIES, SAINT PETER'S IS NEW JERSEY'S LAST TEAM DANCING ALL DOING IT ON A RELATIVELY SHOE STRING BUDGET.

JOANNA?

>> THANK YOU, TED.

AND WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE WATCHING THAT GAME TONIGHT.

THAT DOES IT FOR US.

BUT BEFORE WE GO, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT OUR NEW DIGITAL DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES CALLED 21 NAMED AFTER THE 21 COUNTIES OF NEW JERSEY.

THE SERIES WILL TELL THE STORY OF ONE PERSON LIKE RONA VEGA AND ANSWER THE QUESTION DOES WHERE YOU LIVE AFFECT HOW YOU LIVE?

THE DIGITAL SERIES WILL HIGHLIGHT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, POINT OF SOLUTIONS, AND HELP INITIATE CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IT ALSO HAS A DYNAMIC WEBSITE THAT HIGHLIGHTS LIFE AND HEALTH HERE IN THE GARDEN STATE, SO CHECK IT OUT AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>>> SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

>>> AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.