>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS IN FOR BREANNA VINOD SEE.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CHATHAM CAN HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON ANOTHER 40 MINUTES NEXT YEAR BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS MOVING HIGH SCHOOL STAR TIMES BACK FROM 7:40 TOOK A:20 A.M. AND THEN EXTRA SLEEP COULD BECOME A REALITY FOR OLDER STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE WITH A NEW BILL THAT WOULD MAKE A:30 THE NEW START TIME FOR A HIGH SCHOOLS.

IT IS ONE WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE AND MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS FOR KIDS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER LOOKS AT HOW SLEEPING IN COULD FINALLY BE SIGNED INTO LAW.

>> SLEEP IS SUPER IMPORTANT IN GENERAL.

A DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF SLEEP IMPACTS EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH.

DR. BERT MANDELBAUM SAYS IT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS.

STUDIES SHOW THE AVERAGE TEENAGER ONLY GETS ABOUT TWO HOURS OF SLEEP WHEN THEY REALLY NEED AT LEAST EIGHT.

DOCTORS HAVE WARNED ABOUT STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH DETERIORATING 22 PANDEMIC STRESSES THAT HAS BEEN WORSENED BY A LACK OF SLEEP NEXT IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT IT IMPACTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IN TERMS OF DEPRESSION, SUICIDALITY, AND RISK TASTE TAKING BEHAVIORS INCLUDING SEXUAL RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS, AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS.

THE IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP IT IMPACTS EDUCATION SO WE KNOW THAT LEARNING RETENTION IS AFFECTED.

DR. MANDELBAUM IS IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MOVE NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL STAR TIMES TO NO LONGER LATER THAN 8:30 A.M.

GIVING STUDENTS MORE TIME TO GET THE REST THEY NEED TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

CURRENTLY, SOME NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS START AS EARLY AS 7:30 A.M.

THE BILL HAS BEEN FLOATED IN TRENTON SINCE 2014 WHEN INTRODUCED BY SENATOR DIG TONY.

NOW A BILL SPONSORED BY A SIMILAR SPEAKER CRAIG HUFF FLINT AND SENATOR IN PAUL HAS BEEN RECENTLY INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATOR.

>> THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN SLEEP AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME DISTRICTS ALREADY ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT LEGISLATION TAKE THE INITIATIVE , RECENTLY IN CHATHAM IN MORRIS COUNTY AND IT INCREASES THE SCHOOL DAY ABOUT 20 MINUTES AT EACH CLASS BY ROUGHLY 1 MINUTE AND IT CUTS LUNCH BY THREE MINUTES AND HAVE A GOOD FORMULA.

AT A VISIT TO CHATHAM HIGH SCHOOL, GOVERNOR MURPHY ENTERED HIS SUPPORT TO THE LEGISLATION.

>> I WILL NOT COMMENT ON A PARTICULAR BILL BUT THERE IS RESEARCH THAT SUGGESTS IT IS A BETTER WAY TO GO.

TO START LATER.

I KNOW GOVERNOR CODY WAS A PROPONENT OF THAT AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS.

SO I'M ABSOLUTELY OPEN-MINDED TO IT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT HERE.

IT IS A NORMAL PRACTICE FOR STUDENTS AT THIS HIGH SCHOOL, THE DISTRICT CHANGING ITS START TIME FROM 7:50 TO 8:20 A.M.

IN 2018.

>> AND WE DID THAT BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS WERE TELLING US THEY WERE REALLY STRESSED AND SO I REMEMBER I FIRST PUT IN THE WORD A 2016.

WE WERE AT GRADUATION AND WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS SELECTED BY CLASSMATES AND EVERY STUDENT WAS SAYING HOW STRESSED THEY WERE, HOW THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

BECAUSE THEY KNEW COLLEGE WAS GOING TO BE EASIER THAN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO CATCH THEIR BREATH AND I REMEMBER THINKING WOW.

LIKE THIS IS NOT HOW IT SHOULD BE.

HIGH SCHOOL SHOULDN'T BE HARDER THAN COLLEGE AND THAT'S NOT WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET YOUR BREATH.

>> IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE THE BENEFITS OF DELAYING THE SCHOOL DAY BY 30 MINUTES WERE SEEN.

>> WE DID A FOLLOW-UP STUDY TO STANFORD AND THE STUDENTS REPORTED GETTING AN EXTRA HALF HOUR OF SLEEP.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS THE TARDY'S AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WENT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AS WELL SO IT SHOWED THAT THESE EFFORTS THAT WE NEED TO GET THE KIDS MORE SLEEP WERE REALLY WORKING.

>> IT WAS LIFE-CHANGING IN MY HOUSE.

SUSAN STRONGEST CHILD WAS A STUDENT AT PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THEY MADE THE SWITCH TO A LATER START TIME.

>> SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WOULD HELP HER BUT WHAT THE SCHOOL SAW AND WHAT I SAW IN HER WAS A BIG CHANGE.

KIDS WEREN'T JUST WANDERING IN IN THE MORNING LIKE ZOMBIES HALF-ASLEEP.

THE ADMINISTRATION TOLD US THAT THEY SAW A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HOW KIDS ENTERED THE BUILDING, HOW THEY WERE BEFORE CLASSES, AND WHEN CLASSES START THEY WERE ENGAGED.

>> Reporter: A LATER START TIME MEANS A LATER START WITH SOME AS EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES LIKE SPORTS BUT IN PRINCETON, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH OTHER SCHOOLS AND CORNAY GAME TIMES THAT WORK FOR EVERYONE.

>> IT REALLY WAS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

>> A VOTE ON THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE ON THE NEXT SENATE EDUCATION MEETING ON MAY 9th.

IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, IT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT FOR THE 2020 -- 2024 SCHOOL YEAR.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND ISOLATED KITCHEN ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE FACED SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

A NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT IMMIGRANT STUDENTS FACE RATE GAPS IN SERVICES THAT ARE LEADING THEM WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH CARE THEY NEED.

THE REPORT WAS RELEASED BY THE NEW JERSEY CONSORTIUM FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AND I AM JOINED NOW BY THE KELSEY DIRECTOR, LADY GIMENEZ TORRES.

LADY, YOUR ORGANIZATION HELD LISTENING SESSIONS WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS TALKING ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THESE IMMIGRANT STUDENTS?

>> SO DURING SOME OF THE LISTENING SESSIONS, THE HIGHLIGHTED THEMES ON HOW IMMIGRANT FAMILIES DEALT WITH THE PANDEMIC WAS AN INCREASED SENSE OF ISOLATION AND THAT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF FAMILIES FELT ACROSS THE STATE AND IT IS NOT ANYTHING PARTICULAR RELATED TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES BUT TO ADD TO THAT, THE INCREASED SENSE OF ISOLATION WAS ALSO THE LACK OF A SOCIAL LIFE INTERACTION AND HOW IT NEGATIVELY AFFECTED THEIR CHILDREN AND WELL-BEING.

LAST YEAR, A REPORT WAS RELEASED THAT TALKED ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THE LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY ON DIGITAL DEVICES AND THIS WAS ALSO A FACTOR WHEN IT CAME TO THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

ANY PARENTS DID NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR REMOTE LEARNING AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGAGEMENT.

NOT ONLY WITH THE WORK THAT THEY WERE BEING ASSIGNED BUT ALSO WITH THEIR PEERS.

>> SO THESE CHALLENGES, WHILE MANY STUDENTS FACED THAT ISOLATION, THESE CHALLENGES, THERE WERE UNIQUE CHALLENGES TO IMMIGRANT STUDENTS, YES?

MIKE YES, SO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WERE THE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY THAT WAS NOTED BY MANY FAMILIES.

THE SCHOOL ALSO PROVIDED INFORMATION IN A LANGUAGE -- PARENTS DID NOT UNDERSTAND OR HAVE ACCESS TO.

I CAN TELL YOU AS A PARENT MYSELF THAT A LOT OF -- I HAD WITH THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THE SCHOOLS WERE MOSTLY BY EMAIL AND I HAVE ACCESS TO MY COMPUTER TO EMAIL AND ON MY PHONE.

MANY PARENTS MIGHT HAVE CELL PHONES BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT OR IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A MAIN FORM OF COMMUNICATION FOR THEM SO THAT WAS A LACK THAT CAME WITH IMMIGRANT PARENTS AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.

>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU YOUR STUDENTS FACE IN TERMS OF GETTING MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE?

>> I THINK A LOT OF THE ISSUES AROUND MENTAL HEALTH WERE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY AND NOT HAVING SOMEONE THAT FREELY UNDERSTOOD THEIR CULTURAL BACKGROUND.

A LOT OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN, THEY HAVE FACED IN THEIR OWN IMMIGRANT TOURNEY OR IMMIGRATION JOURNEY EXPERIENCE.

INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE INCLUDING DIRECTLY VIOLENT ACTS.

ADD TO THAT THE UNSETTLING NATURE OF RESETTLEMENT INTO A NEW COUNTRY AND INTO A NEW CULTURE.

THE LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY TO MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE OR WITH SOMEONE WHO IS CULTURALLY AWARE OF THEIR BACKGROUND.

IT DOESN'T ENGAGE THE STUDENT FURTHER.

>> DID YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION IMMIGRATION STUDENTS?

>> IN GENERAL, LIKE IN FIRST- GENERATION STUDENTS, THEY MIGHT FACE A LACK OF LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY WHERE A SECOND GENERATION STUDENTS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY MIGHT FACE IS A LARGER SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

>> WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO TO BETTER SERVE THE STUDENTS?

>> I THINK SOMETHING THEY CAN WORK ON IS DIRECT FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE RECRUITMENT OF CULTURALLY COMPETENT BILINGUAL ASSISTANCE COUNSELORS.

THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATORS BUT ALSO A SHORTAGE OF -- STAFF AND YOU NEED TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THESE CAREERS AND GO BACK AND SERVE THE NEEDY AS WELL AND THERE COULD BE A GREATER EFFORT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS AND -- FAMILIES, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND ADJUSTING TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

>> LADY GIMENEZ TORRES, SUCH IMPORTANT WORK YOU ARE DOING.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NEW TEST SCORES IN NEWARK ARE SHOWING THE DEVASTATING IMPACT COVID HAS HAD ON LEARNING.

ONLY ABOUT 6% OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 3 FOR 7 ARE LIKELY TO BE PROFICIENT ON OUR UPCOMING MATH TESTS, DOWN FROM 27% IN 2018.

READING SCORES, ONLY ABOUT 10% OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 1 FOR 7 ARE EXPECTED TO REACH PROFICIENCY AND STUDENTS AREN'T SHOWING ATYPICAL GROUPS GROWTH EXPECTED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

IT IS A STRUGGLE THE DISTRICT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED EVEN WHILE USING FEDERAL FUNDS TO CLOSE THE LEARNING GAPS IN NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST CITY.

>>> JERSEY CITY'S IS FLYING THE COOP.

AFTER DAYS OF ROMAN, HEAD COACH SHAHEEN IS OFF TO LEAD THE SETON HALL UNIVERSITY PIRATES AFTER A MAGICAL MARCH MADNESS RUN.

AS A PLAYER, HOLLOWAY LED THE PIRATES TO THE SWEET 16 IN THE 2000 NCAA TOURNAMENT AND HE HAS NOW BEEN TAGGED BY OUTGOING HEAD COACH, KEVAN MILLER TO STEER THE SHIP AS MILLER MOVES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

TED GOLDBERG IS IN SOUTH ORANGE AT THE CAMPUS OF SETON HALL WITH MORE ON THE POST CHAMPIONSHIP SHAKEUP.

TED?

>> Reporter: JOANNA, SETON HALL DID NOT NEED TO LOOK VERY FAR TO FIND HIS NEXT BASKETBALL COACH.

THE PIRATES ARE POACHING SHAHEEN CALL AWAY FROM ST. PETER'S AFTER HE LED THE PEACOCKS TO A STUNNING RUN IN THE ELITE EIGHT.

THE FORMER PLAYERS CAME OUT THE SETON HALL TO WISH HIM LUCK LUCK AS HOLLOWAY EMBARKS ON HIS DREAM JOB.

>> A DREAM COME TRUE.

GOD IS GOOD.

WORDS CAN'T EXPLAIN.

THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

I'M STILL DREAMING.

LIKE I DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP I SAID THAT TWO WEEKS AGO.

THIS IS -- THIS MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.

>> Reporter: HE SPEAKS FROM HIS HEART.

HE POURS HIS HEART AND SOUL INTO HIS TEAM AND HIS PLAYERS RESPOND I'M A GIVING HIM THAT SAME WORK ETHIC AND PASSION THAT HE PROVIDES THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY.

IT ALMOST SEEMS INEVITABLE THAT HOLLOWAY WOULD END UP HERE.

HE PLAYED AT SETON HALL AND HE WAS AN ASSISTANT COACH HERE, TOO >> I WAS ALWAYS THE GOAL BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

THINGS HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE.

I'M HERE, EXCITED, READY TO GO.

TO BE HONEST, I'M EXHAUSTED.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TWO WEEKS BUT THIS IS A GREAT TIME.

COACH HOLLIDAY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION TO SETON HALL.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HIS VALUES, HIS FOCUS AND HELPING STUDENT ATHLETES ACHIEVE IN THE CLASSROOM.

IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ON THE COURT.

>> AS THIS UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO ELEVATE, AND REACH NEW HEIGHTS IN THE ACADEMY, SO, TOO DO WE LOOK TO ELEVATE AND REACH NEW HEIGHTS IN OUR ATHLETICS PROGRAM AND SPECIFICALLY OUR BASKETBALL PROGRAM.

PORTMAN HOLLOWAY SAYS HIS CONTRACT WITH SETON HALL CAME TOGETHER QUICKLY AFTER THE PIRATES HAD A LONG TIME TO WATCH HOLLOWAY WORK HIS MAGIC WITH ST. PETERS.

>> WE WATCHED IT, WE ALL WATCHED IT UNFOLD ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

I WAS THRILLED TO WATCH SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY TAKEDOWN A BLUE-CHIP TEAM IN KENTUCKY AND I AM EVEN MORE THRILLED TO WELCOME HIM BACK TO A PIRATE BLUE-CHIP TEAM .

>> I'M NOT SURE I COULD'VE REDACTED AN ELITE EIGHT RUN IN THE SCA TOURNAMENT WITH UPSETS OVER BLUE-CHIP PROGRAMS LIKE KENTUCKY AND PURDUE.

TO HAPPEN IN HIS FOURTH YEAR, BUT I WILL BE HONEST, AS I WATCHED IT, AND AS WE ALL WATCHED IT, PART OF ME WASN'T ALL THAT SURPRISED.

ALL OF US WATCHED, RIGHT?

WE SAW SHAHEEN.

WE SAW HIS TEAM AND THE WAY HIS TEAM EMBODIES HIS BELIEFS.

>> IT HAS BEEN SWEET BECAUSE I BUILT SOMETHING OVER THERE.

WE HAD A GOOD TEAM.

WE WILL HAVE A GOOD TEAM NEXT YEAR BUT THIS IS HOME.

THIS IS, THE IT IS A BIG EASTER HOME AND SOMETHING I ALWAYS WANTED SO THE OPPORTUNITY CAME.

>> Reporter: COACH TURNER KEVIN WILLARD AT IONA AND SETON HALL AND HE IS A BIG FAN.

HE SAID I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PERSON TO TAKE OVER THE PROGRAM.

SHAHEEN'S HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION HELPED BUILD A FOUNDATION OF OUR PROGRAM AND THAT LED TO MULTIPLE NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES.

BASKETBALL HALL OF FAMER RICK ENCINO HAS BEEN COACHING AGAINST HOLLOWAY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF SEASON AND ALSO THINKS SHAHEEN IS A BUDDING SUPERSTAR IN THE BUSINESS.

"I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER FOR HIM.

HE HAS PAID HIS DUES AS AN ASSISTANT AND AS A WHOLE HEAD COACH HE BROUGHT ST. PETERS TO THE PROMISED LAND.

ALL EYES ARE NOW ON ST. PETERS IS THE PEACOCKS TRY TO FIND THEIR NEXT BASKETBALL COACH WITH SOME PRETTY BIG SHOES TO FILL NOW THAT HOLLOWAY IS AT SETON HALL.

>>> A SECOND COVID BOOSTER HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THOSE 50 AND OLDER OR THOSE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

RESIDENT BIDEN YESTERDAY ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVE FOR THE SHOT.

BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW SUIT AND HOW MANY SHOULD?

IT IS AN ISSUE THAT REMAINS UNCLEAR WITH SOME HEALTH EXPERTS SAYING THE SHOT IS NECESSARY AND OTHERS WONDERING HOW MANY SHOTS WILL EVER BE ENOUGH BUT AS THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO PUT COVID IN THE REVIEW, NO NUMBERS FROM THE STATE SHOW THE VIRUS IS DOING ITS VERY BEST TO STICK AROUND.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID THIS AFTERNOON.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GOVERNOR SAID HE IS CURRENTLY ASYMPTOMATIC AND FEELING WELL AND WILL ISOLATE FOR FIVE DAYS.

MORE THAN 1100 OTHER CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY.

TWO NEW DEATHS.

MORE THAN 6.8 MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

THREE AND ONE QUARTER MILLION HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST BOOSTER AND THAT IS HOW MANY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SECOND BOOSTER.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN SPOKE WITH MEDICAL PROVIDERS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING BOOSTING THEIR PATIENTS.

>> I GET SHORTNESS OF BREATH.

JOYCE WINFIELD IS ON OXYGEN AND SOMETIMES STRUGGLES TO BREATHE LIKE MANY FOLKS OVER 65 IN NEW JERSEY.

SHE HAS GOTTEN BOTH COVID SHOTS PLUS A BOOSTER AND NOW HER HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, TRINITY LIFE WILL SOON ASK HER AND IT'S 170 FOR OTHER CLIENTS TO GET YET ANOTHER BOOSTER.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD.

PEOPLE ASK, HOW MANY COVID SHOTS DOES IT TAKE, ANYWAY?

>> IF IT DON'T DO NO GOOD FOR US, YOU KNOW, AIN'T NO SENSE IN GETTING IT.

>> I ANTICIPATE WE WOULD BE GETTING SOME PUSHBACK BUT I AM HIGHLY CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL GET MOST OF OUR PATIENTS BOOSTED AGAIN.

I KNOW WE WILL FACE SOME PUSHBACK.

THAT IS JUST WHAT IT IS.

THERE IS VACCINE FATIGUE.

THIS NURSING DIRECTOR SAYS TRINITY OFFERS THERAPY AND MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR HOME-BASED CLIENTS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL ISSUES LIKE DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE WHICH MAKES THEM ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO COVID BUT RUMORS SWIRL AROUND VACCINES.

>> THEY WILL CALL US TO SAY SHOULD BE GET THIS OR SHOULD I NOT OR WHY SHOULD I GET IT?

YOU KNOW, WE EDUCATE THEM THAT IT BENEFITS THEM TO GET IT TO PROTECT THEIR IMMUNITY.

WITHOUT IT THEY RUN THE RISK OF BEING HOSPITALIZED AND ON A VENTILATOR SO WHEN THEY HEAR THAT, THEY UNDERSTAND.

AMONG THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR BOOSTERS IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT 35% OF FOLKS OVER 50 STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT THERE DOES.

28% OF PEOPLE OVER 65 STILL NEED TO GET BOOSTED.

AND ANOTHER 3.3 MILLION NEW JERSEYANS BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THAT SECOND BOOSTER, AUTHORIZED THIS WEEK BY THE FDA, A FOURTH DOSE FOR FOLKS OVER 50 OR THOSE 12 AND OLDER WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.

IT COULD BE A HARD SELL SAYS MONTCLARE EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE SILVERA.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THE MESSAGE LAST YEAR WAS GET YOUR TWO DOSES AND THEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER FOR YOU AND YOU CAN GO BACK TO LIVING YOUR LIFE.

AND NOW WE ARE TELLING PEOPLE YOU NEED TO GET A THIRD DOSE OR A FOURTH DOSE AND THAT MAKES PEOPLE QUESTION.

MOREOVER, SOME MEDICAL EXPERTS HAVE PUBLICLY DISAGREED THAT OUT OF THE BREWSTER IS BENEFICIAL NOTING THE FDA OFFICIALS RELIED MOSTLY ON DATA FROM ONE IS REALLY STUDY THAT HAS OF YET AS OF YET HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED FOR PUBLICATION BUT AT NEWARK'S BROADWAY HOUSE WHICH OFFERS CARE FOR SENIORS IN PATIENTS WITH HIV/AIDS, DOCTORS HOPE TO CONVINCE AT LEAST 90% OF PATIENTS TO TAKE SECOND BOOSTERS.

DR. ROMERO IS ESPECIALLY WORRIED ABOUT LONG COVID.

>> SO IT IS GOING TO BE IN THE LONG RANGE, GIVING THEM PROTECTION NOT THE COMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19 BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF PATIENTS WILL EVEN GET MILD DISEASE OR MODERATE DISEASE, AND THEY STILL HAVE COMPLICATIONS IN THE LONG- RANGE.

DR. ROMERO POINTS THE VARIANCE LIKE BA.2 PUSHING UP COVID CASE CODES.

JERSEY HIT 1140 CASES TODAY WITH THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION BACK OVER 1 INDICATED THE VIRUS IS SPREADING AGAIN.

TRINITY, MEANWHILE WILL START CALLING ITS CLIENTS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS FOR A SECOND BOOSTER.

>> THEY ROBOCALL IF YOU WILL WITH INFORMATION TO SEE HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS ARE ACTUALLY INTERESTED AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT INTERESTED OR PERHAPS HAVE QUESTIONS, WE PROVIDE A PHONE NUMBER FOR THEM TO CALL SO THEY CAN HAVE THEIR CONCERNS ALLEVIATED.

>> Reporter: THEY WILL DRIVE TO PEOPLE'S HOMES IF NEEDED.

JOYCE WINFIELD IS A YES.

>> WHENEVER THEY HAVE IT, I WILL GET IT.

>> Reporter: A MEETING ON JANUARY'S -- I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS .

>>> TODAY MARKS THE SIXTH WEEK OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND THE UNITED NATIONS IS PREDICTING THE WORST WORLD HUNGER CRISIS SINCE WORLD WAR II.

A MAJOR PORTION OF THE WORLD'S WHEAT, CORN AND BARLEY SUPPLY COMES FROM UKRAINE AND RUSSIA AND THOSE EXPORTS HAVE GROUND TO A HALT.

RUSSIAN TROOPS RAMPED UP THEIR ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN TARGETS AND IN THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF UKRAINE EVEN AS THEY SEEMED TO BE REGROUPING AROUND KYIV.

CONCERNS ARE GROWING THAT THE RUSSIAN ARMY COULD SOON COMPLETELY CONTROL THE SOUTHERN DONBAS REGION.

RUSSIAN SOLDIERS TODAY HAD TO FLEE CHERNOBYL AFTER EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT DOSES OF RADIATION WHILE DIGGING TRENCHES AROUND THE NUCLEAR ENERGY PLAN.

AND A UK INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL REPORTED THAT SOME RUSSIAN SOLDIERS HAD BEEN SEEN DEFYING ORDERS AND SABOTAGING THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT.

YESTERDAY, A UKRAINIAN DELEGATION OF LAWMAKERS CAME TO WASHINGTON TO MAKE THE CASE FOR MORE MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND THE COUNTRY IS CALLING FOR A CRUSHING SET OF SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA.

MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT U.S. ALL RESERVES AND THE COST OF GAS HERE AT HOME.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS MORE ON THAT PLUS NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS NEWS OF THE DAY.

RHONDA, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN?

>> SOME RELIEF COULD BE ON THE WAY FROM THE HIGH GAS PRICES THAT FOLLOWED RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THE U.S. WILL RELEASE 1 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL EACH DAY FROM THE NATION'S RESERVES IN ORDER TO HELP REDUCE GAS PRICES.

THE ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO TAP A STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO ALLOW TIME FOR DOMESTIC OIL PRODUCERS TO RAMP UP THEIR OWN PRODUCTION.

>> OUR FAMILY BUDGETS, TO FILL A TANK, NONE OF IT SHOULD HINGE ON WHETHER A DICTATOR DECLARES WAR.

SO TODAY, I'M LAYING OUT A TWO PART PLAN.

NOT ONLY TO EASE THE PAIN THAT FAMILIES ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW BUT TO END THIS ERA OF DEPENDENCE AND UNCERTAINTY AND TO LAY A NEW FOUNDATION FOR TRUE AND LASTING AMERICAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

>> Reporter: GAS PRICES IN NEW JERSEY ARE CURRENTLY AVERAGING JUST UNDER $4.20 A GALLON.

MEANTIME THE STATE DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS SAYS IT RECEIVED MORE THAN 90 COMPLAINTS ABOUT GAS PRICE GOUGING IN THE PAST MONTH.

THAT IS MORE THAN THE PAST TWO YEARS COMBINED.

>>> BALLOT COUNTING IS UNDERWAY AFTER AMAZON WORKERS IN STATEN ISLAND AND ALABAMA VOTED ON WHETHER OR NOT TO UNIONIZE.

LOCAL LABOR LEADER SAYS HE EXPECTS TO SEE A RESURGENCE IN ORGANIZED LABOR.

RICH MOROCCO IS PRESIDENT OF THE HOTEL AND GAMING TRADES COUNCIL WHICH OPENED ITS FIRST NEW JERSEY OFFICE LAST WEEK.

AFTER WORKERS AT 10 NEW JERSEY HOTELS VOTED TO RATIFY CONTRACTS WITH THE UNION.

>> WE HAVE SEEN THE PACE OF WORKERS JOINING OUR UNION INCREASE MORE RECENTLY.

IN PART, AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WORKERS NOW KNOW THAT THEY DESERVE BETTER WAGES, BETTER BENEFITS, SAFER WORKING PLACES AND THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO A COLLEGE THAT BY JOINING A UNION.

POOR SOME COMPANIES ARE FINDING THEY HAVE TO GIVE BETTER WAGES TO ATTRACT WORKERS.

THE LATEST TO DO THAT IS THAT BANK -- RAISING ITS MINIMUM WAGE FROM $17-$20 AN HOUR.

THE BANK SAYS IT WANTS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP TALENT.

>>> 19 COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFITS AROUND THE STATE WILL SHARE $14.25 MILLION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

THIS IS THE LARGEST AMOUNT EVER AWARDED UNDER THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.

ORGANIZATIONS WILL USE THE FUNDING TO PUT IN PLACE PLANS TO ADDRESS HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ALONG WITH JOB TRAINING AND OTHER PROGRAMS.

HERE NOW IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S ACTION ON WALL STREET.

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

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY N J C U SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

WE ARE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH TRAIN IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAME CHANGER.

>>> MAKE SURE YOU JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER FOR NJ BUSINESS FEET.

THIS WEEK AND SHE DIGS DEEPER INTO THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF RUSSIA'S INVASION INTO UKRAINE FROM SKYROCKETING FOOD AND OIL PRICES TO HOW NEW JERSEY'S BIGOTS COMPANIES ARE SENDING AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

CHECK IT OUT SATURDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> IT TAKES A LOT OF CLEANUP TO PREPARE NEW JERSEY BEACHES FOR THE SUMMER SEASON AND A NEW REPORT FROM CLEAN OCEAN ACTION FOUND LAST YEAR MORE THAN 530 TOP IS UP 513,000 PIECES OF TRASH'S WERE PICKED UP FROM THE SHORE.

AS FOR WHAT THEY FOUND, IT RUNS THE GAMUT FROM PLASTIC TOOTHPICKS TO SHOWERHEADS TO A FULL SET OF DENTURES.

BUT IT PROBABLY WON'T SHOCK YOU TO KNOW THAT MORE THAN 4000 PIECES OF PPE LIKE FACE MASKS AND GLOVES WERE FOUND LITTERING THE BEACH.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME VOLUNTEERS RECORDED THIS TYPE OF TRASH IN THEIR BEACH SWEEPS REPORT.

e-CIGARETTE CARTRIDGES, CAPS AND PENS WERE ALSO AMONG THOSE ADDED TO THE DEBRIS LIST FOR THE FIRST TIME.

BUT CAN YOU GUESS WHAT STILL REMAINS THE MOST PERVASIVE POLLUTER IN THE PILE?

YOU GUESSED IT, PLASTIC.

MAKING UP A WHOPPING 74% OF THE GARBAGE.

THESE BEACH SWEEPS HAVE PLAYED A BIG PART IN THE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAN THAT FORBIDS BUSINESSES FROM HANDING OUT PLASTIC STRAWS WITHOUT A CUSTOMER'S REQUEST AND THE PLASTIC BAG AND STYROFOAM BAND THAT ARE SET TO START ON MAY 4th.

>>> FOR MORE ON THE CLEANUP AND BEACH SWEEP, CHECK OUT GENESIS OF ONIONS REPORTING AT NJTVONLINE.ORG.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IF YOU MISSED THE BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES TUNE IN TOMORROW MORNING TO REPORTERS LOT ROUNDTABLE WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE.

THIS WEEK HE'S SPEAKS TO THE CHAIR OF THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION ABOUT THE DELAYS IN LAUNCHING THE INDUSTRY AND CALLS BY LAWMAKERS FOR HEARINGS TO INVESTIGATE READY AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING US WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION COMMISSION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RJ W BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND --THE GARDEN STATE.

OCEAN WIND.

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