>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY NJ AND IN SERVANTS GROUP, ENSURING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND, VERIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BREANNA THE NOSY.

>>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US, TONIGHT.

I'M BREANNA THE NOSY.

ACROSS THE AREA, WE ARE SEEING A RISE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES.

IN NEWARK, HALF THE CASES ARE BEING LINKED TO THOSE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANTS OF COVID- 19.

HEALTH EXPERTS ARE ENCOURAGING CAUTION AGAINST ANOTHER SURGEON THE PANDEMIC.

TODAY, THE STATE IS REPORTING ANOTHER DAY WITH 4000 CONFIRMED NEW INFECTIONS AND 61 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THOSE ARE NUMBERS WE HAVE NOT SEEN SINCE EARLY FEBRUARY.

HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS ARE SLOWLY CREEPING UP AGAIN, REMAINING ABOUT 2000.

THAT IS MORE SHOTS GETTING IN ARMS.

THE STATES GIVEN MORE THAN 4.1 MILLION DOSES AS OF THIS MORNING WITH ROUGHLY 1 1/2 MILLION RESIDENTS NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, IT IS ONE IN FIVE ELIGIBLE ADULTS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS WARNING RECKLESS BEHAVIOR AND PANDEMIC FATIGUE IS PARTLY TO BLAME FOR THE UPTICK MADE WORSE BY MULTIPLE COVID-19 VARIANTS SPREADING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA REPORTS ON DATA OUT OF LARGEST CITY.

>> WE ARE TESTING IN NEWARK.

WE ARE SEEING A SCARY AND SURPRISING INCREASE IN VARIANCE.

>> Reporter: A RUTGERS DOCTOR HELPED GET A SCREENING TEST FOR DANGEROUS VARIANTS.

IT SAYS HEALTH OFFICIALS MAY IMPLEMENT IT WITHIN WEEKS.

HIS TEAM FOUND BAD NEWS IN NEWARK, WHERE HE WARNS THE UK VARIANT, THE 117, IS DOMINATING THE RISING INFECTION RATE.

>> WE ARE SEEING THE INCREASES DAY TODAY.

WE HAVE SEEN THE VARIANTS GO FROM ZERO IN JANUARY TO ALMOST 50% OF THE CASES WE ARE TESTING NOW.

>> WE ARE ALSO SEEING YOUNGER FOLKS , IN AVERAGE, BEING ADMITTED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE CEO EXPECTS THE UK VARIANT NOT JUST DRIVING THE SPIKE IN HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS, BUT IT IS TARGETING YOUNGER VICTIMS.

>> THE FASTEST GROWING AGE GROUP IS FROM AGE 50 TO 59.

THEY ARE BEING ADMITTED AT HIGH RATES THAT WE SAW LAST SPRING.

THIS IS CONCERNING.

THAT RAISES THE SPECTER OF A VARIANT THAT IS MORE SEVERE, NOT JUST SPREAD MORE EASILY, BUT CAUSES MORE ILLNESS.

AND THE UK VARIANT, UNFORTUNATELY, WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THAT.

WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH SEQUENCING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PREVALENCE IS.

>> WE ARE ASSUMING, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SITUATED IN TELLING PEOPLE WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT VARIANTS , WE ARE ASSUMING THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY LEADS IN COVID VACCINATIONS, BUT THEY ARE TESTING 2% OF CASES TO DETERMINE WHICH VARIANTS ARE OUT THERE BASED ON THE SCARCE DATA, IT HAS REPORTED 670 CASES OF SEVEN VARIANTS STATEWIDE.

FOUR OUT OF FIVE WERE THE UK VARIANT WITH A WAVE OF NEW INFECTIONS ROLLING THROUGH SOUTH JERSEY.

>> I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE VARIANTS -- B117, IN PARTICULAR.

I BELIEVE IT IS PLAYING A ROLE IN THE CASES WE ARE SEEING.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS JERSEYS PUBLIC HEALTH LABS RAMPING UP GENOMIC SEQUENCING FOR VARIANTS IS ASKING FOR HELP.

SOME HAVE 5 TO 10% OF COVID CASES -- >> ROUGHLY 5% IS WHAT WE THINK WOULD BE A REASONABLE NUMBER THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET US A GENERAL SENSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE STATE.

>> I WILL LOSE THE SCRIPT AND REFLECT ON THE CURRENT FEELING I HAVE OF IMPENDING DOOM.

>> Reporter: THE CDC DIRECTOR SHOCKED PEOPLE YESTERDAY WITH HER CANDID ASSESSMENT OF HOW THE U.S. IS HANDLING A SURGE OF COVID INFECTIONS, FEARING WE COULD FOLLOW EUROPE INTO A DEEPENING CRISIS DRIVEN BY VIRUS VARIANTS AND LESS PEOPLE GET VACCINATED AND REMAIN CAREFUL.

>> WE HAVE SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO -- SO MUCH PROMISE AND POTENTIAL OF WHERE WE ARE, AND SO MUCH REASON FOR HOPE, THAT RIGHT NOW, I'M SCARED.

>> I THINK DR. BERLINSKI IS SCARED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE VIRUS WILL CONTINUE TO MUTATE, AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.

>> Reporter: THE DEAN OF HEALTH SAYS THE LONGER IT TAKES TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY, THE MORE DANGEROUS FORM THE VIRUS COULD TAKE.

PEOPLE PARTYING DURING THE PANDEMIC GIVES COVID A RICH, HUMAN PETRI DISH.

>> I DROVE THROUGH NEW YORK CITY.

IT LOOKS LIKE NEW YORK CITY FROM DAYS GONE BY, PEOPLE WALKING AROUND WITHOUT MASKS ON, PEOPLE GATHERING IN RESTAURANTS.

I THINK THERE IS A NOTION THAT THIS EPIDEMIC IS OVER.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO STOP BEING VIGILANT IN OUR EFFORTS, RIGHT?

IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE.

>> Reporter: I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> TO DIVE DEEPER ON HOW THE VARIANTS ARE DRIVING THE STATES INFECTION RATE TO THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION, CHECK OUT COLLEEN O'DAY'S STORY AT NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

>>> TONIGHT, THE CALLS FOR ACTION CONTINUE IN THE WAKE OF THE DEADLY MASS SHOOTING IN ATLANTA AREA SPAS WHERE EIGHT PEOPLE WERE KILLED, INCLUDING SIX WOMEN OF ASIAN DESCENT.

ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE STUDIES, ASIAN HATE CRIMES HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FEARS OF VIOLENCE ARE ESCALATING.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY KIM VISITED THE SITES WHERE THE ATTACKS TOOK PLACE, AND IS LAUNCHING A NEW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE TO HELP ASIAN AMERICANS AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR POLICY DECISIONS BEING MADE.

WE ASK THE CONGRESSMAN ABOUT HIS PLANS TO MAKE LASTING CHANGE.

>> CONGRESSMAN, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR PACK, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE VISIT YOU RECENTLY MADE.

YOU WERE POSTING ON TWITTER, IT REALLY SEEMED LIKE A MOMENT OF CLARITY, I GUESS, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT, AS YOU WERE MAKING THE DRIVE BETWEEN THE SPAS AND WHAT YOU REALIZED ABOUT THE INTENT OF THE ATTACK.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT WAS A POWERFUL TRIP.

I WAS INVITED DOWN TO ATLANTA BY THE GEORGIA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, AND ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS GOING TO GO.

I WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO A COMMUNITY THAT IS STILL GRIEVING, BUT AS I WENT DOWN THERE, I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CONTINUED TO STAND WITH THEM.

ONE THING THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS THE DRIVE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND LOCATIONS.

THIS WAS -- IT TOOK ME ABOUT 40 MINUTES TO DO THAT DRIVE IN MY OWN CAR IN THE EXACT SAME PATH THAT THE KILLER WOULD HAVE TAKEN BETWEEN THOSE TWO LOCATIONS.

IT JUST REALLY STRUCK ME -- YOU KNOW, THE MAGNITUDE OF DISTANCE, YOU KNOW, THIS IDEA THAT THIS WAS CLEARLY A KILLER WHO WAS TARGETING ASIAN AMERICAN BUSINESSES.

>> YEAH, REASONABLY A TIME WHEN ONE MIGHT REFLECT ON WHAT THEY JUST DID, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR A LOT OF CALLS FOR CHANGE.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

>> YES, WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

YES, WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNMENT PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS, COMING TO US AND ASKING OUR COMMUNITIES, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO FEEL SAFE?

HOW IS IT WE MOVE FORWARD?

SOME OF IT WILL BE LEGISLATION WE PASSED LIKE THE NO HATE ACT WILL SUPPORT MORE RESOURCES TO COMBATING HATE CRIMES IN OUR COUNTRY, OR STREAMLINING THE WAY IN WHICH REPORTING CAN BE DONE FOR HATE CRIMES OR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

SOME OF THOSE ARE STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE.

THERE IS NO SINGLE LEGISLATION OR SINGLE THING WE COULD DO THAT IS GOING TO RID OUR COUNTRY OF THIS TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION.

WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE STAND UP AGAINST HATE AND DISCRIMINATION IN ALL FORMS.

>> ONE OF YOUR ITEMS TO CREATE THAT SPACE IS THIS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE THAT I KNOW YOU WERE WORKING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT JUST LAUNCHED.

WAS THERE A PIPELINE FOR YOU WHEN YOU WERE COMING UP LOOKING TO RUN IN ELECTED OFFICE?

WHY DO WE NEED MORE SUPPORT, THERE?

>> SO, THIS PAC THAT I STARTED UP IS CALLED IN HER HANDS.

IT IS AIMED AT IDENTIFYING, RECRUITING AND TRAINING AND SUPPORTING API CANDIDATES AROUND THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS OTHER CANDIDATES OF COLOR.

THIS DOES COME FROM A VERY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN 2017, I TALKED TO DIFFERENT POLITICAL EXPERTS AND OPERATIVES IN D.C. AND NEW JERSEY.

MANY OF THEM SAID, LOOK, YOU SEEM LIKE A NICE GUY AND ALL, BUT THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN WIN THIS DISTRICT THAT IS 85% WHITE AND LESS THAN 30% ASIAN AMERICAN.

I CAN TELL YOU HOW HURTFUL IT WAS TO HAVE PEOPLE TRY TO TELL ME WHAT I AM OR AM NOT CAPABLE OF DOING BASED OFF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN, AND MY HERITAGE.

>> ARE THE RIGHT CONVERSATIONS TAKING PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY AND CHANGING POLICY, IF THERE IS A LACK OF REPRESENTATION?

>> I DON'T SEE HOW, WITHOUT DIVERSITY, HOW WE HAVE THE RAW AND HONEST CONVERSATIONS, AND HOW WE CAN MOVE THAT FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WE NEED TO.

>> COMMERCE AND ANDY KIM, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

>> THERE WERE SOME INROADS AT THE JUDICIAL LEVEL.

RESIDENT BIDEN IS NOMINATING HIS FIRST PICS TO THE FEDERAL BENCH, TAPPING JULIAN NEIL TO THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT OF NEW JERSEY.

IF CONFIRMED, HURRAH SHE WILL BECOME THE FIRST MUSLIM AMERICAN TO SERVE AS A FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE.

HE IS A RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS A U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE.

NIELS WAS PREVIOUSLY APPOINTED TO HIS SEAT, BUT BLOCKED BY SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL.

HE SERVED UNDER THEN NETWORK MAYOR CORY BOOKER BEFORE BEING HIRED AS THE COUNCIL AND ACTING AS COUNTY AND MINISTER.

THEY WILL TEND TO THE FEDERAL COURTS AND FILL TWO OF SIX VACANCIES ON NEW JERSEY'S BENCH, WHICH, ASIDE FROM CALIFORNIA, HAS THE MOST VACANCIES THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

>>> TONIGHT, NEW JERSEY BECOMES THE LATEST DATE TO SOLIDIFY EARLY VOTING LAWS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED LEGISLATION REQUIRING IN PERSON MACHINE VOTING AT ALL LOCAL POLLING SITES.

UNDER THE NEW LAW, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CAST A VOTE STARTING ON THE 10th DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION, BUT ENDING, SO THERE IS A FULL TWO DAY GAP BETWEEN THE EARLY VOTE AND ELECTION DAY, GIVING MORE OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS TO CAST A BALLOT.

LAWMAKERS APPROVED THE MEASURE ON THE SAME DAY GEORGIA'S GOVERNOR SIGNED A LAW RESTRICTING ABSENTEE VOTING, AND MADE IT A CRIME TO GIVE FOOD OR WATER TO VOTERS WAITING IN LINE.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED THE BILL, VIRTUALLY, ALONGSIDE STACEY ABRAMS, A FORMER LEGISLATOR IN GEORGIA WHOSE ACTIVISM IS CREDITED WITH HELPING TO FLIP THE LONGTIME REPUBLICAN CONTROL IN HER STATE.

TODAY, SAYING DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT INCLUDING THE NEEDS OF EVERY PERSON.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LOSE SOME OF THE ELECTIONS WE WANT TO WIN, AND WE WILL WIN ELECTIONS WE NEVER THOUGHT COULD BE TRUE.

WE ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS STRONGER WHEN EVERY VOICE IS INCLUDED.

THAT IS WHY THIS WORK IS SO CRITICAL.

IN PERSON EARLY VOTING IS ONE MORE VESTIGE OF A COUNTRY THAT BELIEVES IN THE DEMOCRACY -- BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BELIEVES IN THE PEOPLE THAT IT SHELTERS.

AND I AM SO EXCITED TO BE LOOKING UP, LOOKING AT NEW JERSEY, KNOWING NEW JERSEY IS TAKING US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Reporter: IT TOOK NEW JERSEY YEARS TO BE THE FIRST IN THE TRI-STATE AREA TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT ALREADY BE LOSING OUR HEAD START.

NEW YORK'S GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE FINALIZED A DEAL TO MAKE THE DRUG LEGAL FOR ADULTS.

PENNSYLVANIA APPEARS NOT FAR BEHIND.

SOME INDUSTRY INSIDERS SAY THE LONG FOUGHT POLITICAL BATTLES COST US DEARLY IN OPENING OUR MARKET.

BUT AS DAVID CRUISE REPORTS, THERE MAY STILL BE PLENTY OF GREEN TO GO AROUND.

>> Reporter: NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, LIBERAL RIVALS ON THE HUDSON, NOW PREPARING TO SQUARE OFF ON WHOSE CANNABIS INDUSTRY WILL BE 1st TO GET UP AND RUNNING.

>> WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE.

IN THE SHORT TERM -- IN THE LONG-TERM, THERE WILL BE COMPETITION BETWEEN NEW YORK AND NORTH JERSEY FOR A MARKET.

SO, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN BUILT INTO THE MIX, HERE.

I DON'T THINK IT IS SURPRISING ANYONE.

I THINK JERSEY FELT GOOD THAT THEY GOT AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

>> IS IT?

>> Reporter: THE PATH TO LEGALIZING, THEN ALL THE CLEANUP BILLS HAVE LEFT JERSEY STILL IN THE STARTING BLOCKS WITH ONLY A VAGUE SENSE OF WHEN THE MAIN MAKER OF THE RULES, THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION, WOULD EVEN HAVE THEIR FIRST MEETING, MUCH LESS HIRE STAFF AND GET DOWN TO LAWMAKING.

>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT IS SLOW, BUT IT JUST STARTED.

FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, IT JUST BEGUN.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET THESE PEOPLE -- THESE NUMBERS SWORN IN.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM IN WORK.

GOT TO GET THE STAFF WORKING.

LUCKILY, WE HAVE A BASELINE OF OPERATIONS.

WE HAVE REALLY GOT TO GET MOVING.

>> ASSUMING LEGISLATURE PASSES A BILL, LAWMAKERS NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

OFFICIALS SAY IT COULD BE 18 MONTHS BEFORE YOU CAN LEGALLY BUY CANNABIS IN THE EMPIRE STATE.

STILL, JERZY HAS LOST PRECIOUS TIME.

>> IN SOME EARLY YEAR PROJECTIONS THAT I DID, WE WOULD HAVE BENEFITED TO THE TUNES OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER FROM NEW YORK OVER TO NEW JERSEY TO BUY MARIJUANA.

BUT NOW, WE ARE BASICALLY ALIGNED.

IT IS GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONIES THAT WE WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY COLLECTED FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK, PARTICULARLY, NEW YORK CITY.

>> Reporter: THE HEAD OF THE REGULATORY COMMISSION, JEFF BROWN, SAYS NOT TO WORRY.

THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF CANNABIS, AND PLENTY OF CONSUMERS FOR BOTH STATES TO BENEFIT HANDSOMELY.

>> IT IS A GOOD THING, OVERALL, FOR THE TRI-STATE AREA.

I THINK WE WILL HAVE A FRIENDLY COMPETITION AS FAR AS YOU CAN GET THE MARKETER BEEN QUICKER.

EACH DAY IS DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW?

EACH STATE HAS THEIR OWN LAWS WITH HOW YOU DO REGULATIONS AND HOW LONG THE PROCESS TAKES.

EACH STATE HAS DIFFERENT REALITIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE CURRENT INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE, AND HOW READY THEY ARE TO GET GOING.

>> Reporter: THE OUTLINE OF THE INDUSTRIES WILL BE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.

TAX DOLLARS TARGETED FOR COMMUNITIES ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE SO-CALLED WAR ON DRUGS, AND COMMUNITIES BEING ABLE TO OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM IF THEY SO DESIRE.

BROWN ADMITS JERSEYS ROAD TO LEGALIZATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BIT BEER, IT IS ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE, JERZY HAS AN EDGE.

>> THE MARKET IS EXPANDING.

WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND MEDICAL WHILE SETTING THE STAGE FOR WHAT IS TO COME IN RECREATIONAL AND ADULT USE.

>> THERE IS A SENSE THAT BY THE TIME NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ARE UP AND RUNNING, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT HAVE MOVED CLOSE TO A NATIONAL LEGALIZATION.

HOW CLOSE IS ANYBODY'S GUESS?

IT IS SORT OF LIKE WONDERING WHEN THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION WILL HAVE ITS FIRST MEETING.

I'M DAVID CRUISE, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ON THIS NATIONAL DOCTOR'S DAY, SIGNS OF NEW LIFE FOR SOME AREA HOSPITALS AFTER A TRYING YEAR.

RHONDA IS HERE WITH THE DETAILS AND THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES, RHONDA?

>>> SEVERAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS HAVE ANNOUNCED EXPANSION PLANS IN SOUTH JERSEY.

THE ATLANTA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WILL GROUND A NEW $38 MILLION ARTS PAVILION IN THE CITY.

LAND WAS DONATED BY THE CASINO REINVESTMENT AUTHORITY, WHICH ALSO PLEDGED $15 MILLION TO THE PROJECT.

ATLANTA SAYS THE NEW FACILITY WILL ALLOW TO EXPAND ACCESS TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WHEN IT OPENS, LATE NEXT YEAR.

AND THE HEART AND LUNG CENTER IN BROWNS MILLS IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE $100 MILLION CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PROJECT AFTER RECEIVING SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL FUNDING.

IT WILL BREAK GROUND IN A FEW MONTHS ON A NEW ADDITION THAT IS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION, NEXT YEAR.

>>> FINALLY, COOPER UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL BE OPENING AN OUTPATIENT MEDICAL CENTER AT THE FORCE TOWN MALL.

SEVERAL GROUPS IN THE STATE ARE PROTESTING A BILL THEY SAY WOULD SHUT OUT NEW JERSEY COMPANIES FROM GETTING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

THE BILL, WHICH HAS ADVANCED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, WOULD REQUIRE MORE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS USE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES THAT ABIDE BY UNION RULES.

THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF CONGRESS NEW JERSEY OPPOSED THE LEGISLATION.

THE FOUNDER AND CEO SAYS, THIS WOULD HURT BLACK AND HISPANIC OWNED COMPANIES, MOST OF WHICH ARE NONUNION.

>> THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS REALLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO COMPETE FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Reporter: THE BILL IS ALSO OPPOSED BY THE ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF NEW JERSEY.

WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LOOKING TO EXPAND PROJECTS OFF THE NEW JERSEY COAST, THE STATE IS TAKING STEPS TO MAKE SURE WORKERS ARE PREPARED FOR CLEAN ENERGY JOBS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS A $1 MILLION GRANT AVAILABLE TO FUND JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS AS PART OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH ELECTRIC SERVICE AND GAS.

IT HOPES THE 2000 WORKERS CAN BE RECRUITED AND TRAINED, PARTICULARLY, IN THE STATES BIG CITIES.

THIS IS A FUNDER OF SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW TRAINING FARED.

I'M RHONDA WITH YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NJ SEE YOU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, WHERE BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

WE ARE STEPS AWAY FROM THE PATH IN JERSEY CITY.

WE ARE MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJ SEE YOU.EDU/GAME CHANGER.

>>> THE GOVERNOR HAS FOUND A PARTNER IN WASHINGTON TO ACHIEVE CLEAN GOALS.

THEY WILL EXPAND WIND POWER OFF THE JERSEY COAST IN A SERIES OF ANNOUNCEMENTS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID IT HAS IDENTIFIED NEARLY 800,000 ACRES IN AN AREA BETWEEN NEW JERSEY AND LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, AS POTENTIAL WINDFARMS.

THE MINISTRATION ALSO COMMITTED TO INSTALLING 30,000 MEGAWATTS OF OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES BY 2030, GENERATING ENOUGH CLEAN ELECTRICITY TO POWER 10 MILLION HOMES WHILE CREATING NEARLY 80,000 JOBS.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE PROJECT AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, CHECK OUT TOM JOHNSON'S FULL STORY ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

>>> FOR MONTHS, YOU HAVE HEARD WARNINGS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES OF DELAYED SCREENINGS AND TEEN HEALTHCARE CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THOSE EFFECTS ON OUR KIDS.

CONCERNING NEW DATA FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FINDS THAT TESTING IN CHILDREN DECREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

OUT OF THE CHILDREN TESTED, THE PERCENTAGE WITH ELEVATED BLOOD LEVELS WENT UP.

-- LIKELY, BECAUSE KIDS SPENT MORE TIME AT HOME WHERE EXPOSURE RISKS ARE HIGHEST.

>> CHILDREN SPENT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TIME AT HOME, LAST YEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO LEAD PAINT.

>> Reporter: COVID MIGHT STILL BE DOMINATING HEADLINES, BUT IT IS NO LONGER THE ONLY HEALTH CRISIS AFFECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER WARNED THAT THERE WAS A DECREASE IN TESTING FOR LEAD POISONING DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> COVID-19 ADVERSELY AFFECTED IDENTIFICATION OF CHILDREN WITH ELEVATED BLOOD LEVELS DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF MANY MEDICAL OFFICES, SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CENTERS.

>> Reporter: THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN TESTED DROPPED 5% FROM 2019.

EVEN WITH FEWER TESTS, THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN FOUND TO HAVE ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS JUMPED 29%.

HOSPITALIZATIONS INCREASED FROM 3 TO 2019 UP TO 11, LAST YEAR.

>> THE DEPARTMENT WILL PARTNER WITH THE NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS TO IMPROVE SCREENING RATES BY CONNECTING WITH THE MEDICAL IMMUNITY, PRESCHOOLS AND FAMILIES.

>> Reporter: THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH SAYS WHAT MAKES LEAD POISONING SO DANGEROUS IS THAT SYMPTOMS ARE VAGUE AND PERSISTENT FOR YEARS.

>> Reporter: THE SYMPTOMS ARE INCREDIBLY SUBTLE.

UNLESS A CHILD HAS AN EXCEEDINGLY HIGH LEAD LEVEL, YOU WILL NOT NOTICE THAT THEY ARE HAVING NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS.

HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT THOSE LOWER LEVELS ARE STILL DAMAGING TO CHILDREN.

THEY ARE AFFECTING THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN.

>> LED TESTING CAN FIT INTO A PACKETS WRINKLED ON THE FLOOR, YOU KNOW, A TODDLER, A BABY -- YOU KNOW, THEY PUT THEIR HANDS IN THEIR MOUTH, WHICH IS TYPICAL BEHAVIOR, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN START LEAD POISONING OF A YOUNG CHILD'S BRAIN.

>> Reporter: THE DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SAYS THE TOXIC METAL IS TYPICALLY FOUND IN HOMES BEFORE 1970, AND THE MAIN CULPRIT IS RESIDUE FROM OLD PAINT, NOT LED IN THE WATER.

>> WHERE YOU HAVE THE WORST PROBLEMS ARE IN OLD WOOD WINDOWS.

THEY STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL LEAD PAINT AS THE BOTTOM LAYER.

LEAD PAINT -- IT IS TERRIBLE TO KNOW THIS, IT IS SWEET.

YOU KNOW?

IT IS A VERY -- YOU KNOW, APPEALING -- YOU KNOW, SUBSTANCE FOR A CHILD TO CHEW ON.

IT IS SATISFYING.

>> WHILE THERE IS TREATMENT, THERE IS NO CURE FOR LEAD POISONING.

THAT IS WHY MITIGATION IS KEY.

>> IS SO IMPORTANT.

THAT IS WHY I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE SO ALARMING, AND WHY THEY LEAD TO OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING, WHAT ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED DURING THE VISIT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED?

>> GOING FORWARD, ONE OF THE VERY SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT NEW JERSEY COULD DO TO INCREASE SCREENING RATES IS SIMPLY TO REQUIRE THAT PROOF OF A LEAD TEST BE SUBMITTED AT THE TIME THE SCHOOL ENTRY.

>> Reporter: IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN EXPOSED IS TO RECEIVE A BLOOD TEST.

THAT'S WHY EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH SAYS IT IS CRITICAL TO TAKE YOUR KIDS TO THE DOCTOR FOR IMMUNIZATIONS AND ANNUAL EXAMS, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M REPORTING LIVE.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> A REMINDER BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, TO JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE ON THURSDAY AT 4:00 P.M., TAKING A DEEP LOOK AT MATERNAL HEALTH IN OUR STATE, WHY BLACK MOTHERS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY AS WHITE MOMS TO DIE FROM PREGNANCY -RELATED COMPLICATIONS, AND THEIR BABIES FACE EQUALLY GRAVE DISPARITIES.

FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY DELIVERS OPENING REMARKS AND LAYS OUT HER NURTURER NJ INITIATIVE FOLLOWED BY A PANEL DISCUSSION.

HEAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE, YOU CAN FOLLOW THE LATEST REPORTING PERIOD FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY, TOGETHER.

AND WERE STEAD, CREATING A LONG- TERM, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME A TEACHER TO GIVE MY STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE, A CHANCE TO BELONG, AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA, AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN NJ E MEMBER.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RW J BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELE-MEET AT, OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH A MEDICAL GROUP PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION, AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY, TOGETHER.