>>>FUNDING FOR NJTV NEWS IS PROVIDED IN PART BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

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

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I AM RAVEN SANTANA IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> FAIRS OF CATASTROPHE SPREAD ACROSS EUROPE.

THIS AFTER RUSSIA TOOK CONTROL OF THE MOST POWERFUL NUCLEAR PLANT IN UKRAINE.

RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE NOW WITHIN 20 MILES OF A SECOND NUCLEAR PLANT.

THIS IS THREE MAJOR UKRAINIAN CITIES FALL INTO RUSSIAN HANDS.

THERE ARE REPORTS THAT 92% OF RUSSIAN FORCES ARE INSIDE UKRAINE.

UKRAINE IS HOLDING TIGHT TO ITS CAPITAL OF KYIV.

TRAIN PLATFORMS IN KYIV ARE PACKED AS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FLEE AND RELENTLESS BOMBING AND SHELLING CONTINUES AND THE REFUGEE CRISIS WORSENS.

>>> ACCORDING TO THE UN OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THERE HAVE BEEN 675 INJURED UKRAINIANS.

1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO FLEE BUT SO IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY HERE TO JERSEY CITY.

JOANNA GAGIS HAS THE STORY OF ONE FAMILY'S HARROWING JOURNEY.

>> THE SIRENS WERE GOING OFF AND I AM TRYING TO PUT STUFF IN SUITCASES.

IT IS TERRIFYING.

>> Reporter: THE PANIC STARTED WHEN VALENTINA GOT A CALL FROM HER DAUGHTER WHO LIVES IN JERSEY CITY THAT THE WAR ON UKRAINE HAD STARTED.

JUST AS THEY STARTED TO PACK, THE SIRENS BEGAN.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO BRING HER TWO YOUNGER DAUGHTERS.

THEY ARE 13 AND 14 YEARS OLD.

THAT QUICKLY SHIFTED TO A PLAN TO ESCAPE THE COUNTRY.

THEIR DAD HAD TO STAY BEHIND.

OKSANA TRANSLATED FOR HER FAMILY.

>> WE LEFT.

I GRABS IMAGES AND WATER.

WE WERE DRIVING AND WE GET TO THE BORDER.

IT IS A HUGE LINE.

HUGE.

A NEVER ENDING LINE OF CARS.

A NEVER ENDING LINE OF PEOPLE.

WALKING.

BUSES STOPPING BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GO AND THEY ARE UNLOADING.

THEY ARE UNLOADING PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE ARE JUST WALKING.

NEVER STOPPING.

ONE FATHER HAD A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND COULD NOT PICK HIM UP.

>> Reporter: THOSE IN CARS HAD TO KEEP THEM TURNED OFF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO THEY DID NOT GET THEY RUN OUT OF GAS.

AS THEY INCHED ALONG THE ROADS, THEY PASSED THROUGH VILLAGES WHERE THEY WERE MET WITH THE BEST OF HUMANITY.

>> PEOPLE CAME FROM THEIR HOUSES AND STARTED BRINGING WHATEVER FOOD THE KID.

ANYTHING THEY COULD TO SUPPLY THE PEOPLE AND THE KIDS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THERE WERE PLAYGROUNDS.

MY SISTERS PLAYED WITH A LITTLE BOY.

>> Reporter: THE FOUR HOUR DRIVE LASTED ABOUT FOUR DAYS.

PEOPLE AROUND THEM FIGHTING OFF DELIRIUM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GET PROPER REST OR NUTRITION WHILE DESPERATELY TRYING TO STAY WARM IN THE BRUTAL WINTER WEATHER.

>> PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL DIFFERENT NATIONS AND THEY WALKED TO THE BORDER.

YOU SEE THEM CARRYING THEIR SUITCASES AND THEY ARE GETTING TIRED.

THEY START TO CARRY THEM ON THEIR HEADS.

THEY GET TIRED AND THEY PUT DOWN THE SUITCASE AND THEY TAKE THE FEW THINGS THAT YOU THINK THEY NEED.

THERE IS JUST A LINE OF SUITCASES.

PEOPLE LEAVING THEM BEHIND BECAUSE THEY CANNOT WALK WITH THEIR LUGGAGE.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE AMONG THE 1 MILLION PLUS PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEFT UKRAINE.

THEY MADE IT TO THE UNITED STATES ON MARCH 1.

THAT WAS THE DEADLINE THAT WAS SET FOR THOSE COMING FROM UKRAINE TO RECEIVE TEMPER A PROTECTED STATUS IN THE U.S.

SO THEY CANNOT BE DEPORTED.

THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS THEY ARE FACING NOW AS THEY TRIED TO SETTLE INTO A NEW NORMAL.

>> FINDING SCHOOLS FOR THE GIRLS TO GO TO.

GETTING THEM DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND GETTING THEIR PHYSICALS AND IMMUNIZATIONS.

ALL OF THE THINGS THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN JUST BEGIN A NORMAL LIFE.

THEY HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

MEDICAL INSURANCE.

HOW DO I COVER THEM?

THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OBAMACARE OR HEALTHCARE.

WHEN IT COMES TO HER MOM, HOW DOES SHE GET PRESCRIPTIONS?

>> Reporter: AS FOR STARTING SCHOOL, THE GIRLS ARE SCARED AND TRYING TO SORT THROUGH THE EMOTIONAL TOLL OF WHAT THEY HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH.

TWO DAYS BEFORE THEY LEFT, THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR ONE WAS GETTING BRACES ON HER TOP TEETH.

>> I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR DAD WHO HAD TO STAY AND DEFEND HIS COUNTRY.

>> THEY HAD TO GO HIDE FROM THE BOMBS MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY.

THEY SENT VIDEOS TO EACH OTHER AND THE SOUNDS OF THE SIRENS.

IT IS TERRIFYING.

>> WE HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALL OVER UKRAINE AND IT IS DIFFICULT.

THE HARDEST PART IS TO SPEAK TO MY BROTHER.

HE LIVES IN RUSSIA AND HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS.

HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE GETTING SHOT.

>> WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW?

>> I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THE TRUTH.

THERE IS NO FOOD AND WE HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH JERSEY CITY FEELS LIKE A SAFE HAVEN, THIS FAMILY STILL PICTURES THEIR LIFE AND FUTURE IN UKRAINE BUT THE UKRAINE THAT THEY LEFT AND NOT THE ONE THAT IS UNDER SIEGE RIGHT NOW.

IN JERSEY CITY I AM JOANNA GAGIS , NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE SECRETARY OF STATE REITERATED THE PROMISE BY JOE BIDEN TO DEFEND ALL NATO ASIAN NATIONS.

BUT HE SAID THE U.S. AND NATO ARE NOT PREPARED TO INSTITUTE A NO-FLY ZONE OVER UKRAINE DUE TO CONCERNS THAT DOING SO WOULD PROVOKE DIRECT CONFLICT.

CHRIS SMITH IS SAID TO INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR WAR CRIMES.

ONE WENT ON THE RECORD WITH MICHAEL AARON.

>> CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH, THIS WEEK HE IS GOING TO HOLD A HEARING THAT WOULD BRAND VLADIMIR PUTIN A WAR HERO AND HE WANTS CONGRESS TO PASS A RESOLUTION TO THAT EFFECT.

DON'T WE USUALLY WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR BEFORE WE GO AFTER MORE CRIMINALS?

>> I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO IT NOW.

ONE OF THE WITNESSES AT THE HEARING ON TUESDAY AT 11:00, THEY DO CO-CHAIR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

THAT WOULD BE DAVID CRANE.

AND HE PUT WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY BEHIND BARS.

THE KEY IS STARTING NOW.

GATHERING THE EVIDENCE, WHICH IS OVERWHELMING.

OTHERS MAY BE INDICTED AS WELL.

WE NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT VENUE FOR THIS AND THAT IS WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES.

BUT WE HAVE GOT TO LET VLADIMIR PUTIN KNOW HE WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS.

WHEN THIS ENDS, HE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> YOU HELD A MEETING WITH 100 UKRAINIAN AMERICANS IN YOUR DISTRICT LAST WEEK.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM TODAY ABOUT WHO IS WINNING THE WAR.

>> I WOULD TELL THEM THAT AMERICA AND ALL OF EUROPE IS VERY MUCH, THEY ARE TRYING TO BUY AS MUCH MUNITIONS AND DEFENSIVE CAPABILITY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

PRESSING EVERY LOVER INCLUDING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.

BUT ONE THING THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO BAR RUSSIAN FOSSIL FUELS FROM COMING INTO THE COUNTRY.

IN MY OPINION, WE NEED TO SHUT THAT DOWN COMPLETELY.

>> SO YOU DO YOU THINK THE BY THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING A DIFFERENT A DECENT JOB AT -- AT THE MOMENT?

>> WE NEED TO RALLY AROUND OUR PRESIDENT AND OUR FRIENDS IN EUROPE AND ESPECIALLY AROUND PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY WHO HAS PROVEN TO BE A VERY TENACIOUS LEADER.

MORE CAN BE DONE AND MORE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I ASKED WENDY SHERMAN AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, TWO DAYS AGO, WHAT IS IT THAT ZELENSKYY ASKED FOR BUT DID NOT GET.

WE KNOW THAT HE WANTED A LARGE NUMBER OF ITEMS.

WHAT WAS THAT FOR?

TO DETER.

>> AND NOW HE WANTS A NO-FLY ZONE.

THAT SEEMS DANGEROUS.

>> I AGREE.

ALTHOUGH, IT COULD RESULT IN -- AND WE MADE THE CASE THERE THAT WE ARE INVOLVED BUT, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO FLYING AND SHOOTING DOWN MAGS, THAT COULD ESCALATE INTO WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA.

AND THAT COULD GO NUCLEAR.

SO, A NO-FLY ZONE SEEMS TO BE THE MOST PRUDENT OPTION ON THE TABLE.

YOU KNOW, ZELENSKYY HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO OUR TROOPS FIGHTING THE BATTLE.

HE WANTS THE WHEREWITHAL AND THE BATTERY AT THE BRAVERY TO FIGHT THE BATTLE.

IF HE HAD WEAPONS IN SUFFICIENT SUPPLY HE COULD HOPEFULLY SLOW DOWN THIS WAR.

>> CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU, FOR TALKING WITH US.

>>> ANOTHER SIGN THAT WE ARE MOVING FROM PANDEMIC TO PANDEMIC, GOVERNOR MURPHY HELD HIS 257th AND FINAL COVID-19 BRIEFING.

WORKING TWO YEARS SINCE THE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 WAS CONFIRMED IN NEW JERSEY.

TWO YEARS IN THEY ARE MOVING FROM CRISIS MANAGEMENT TO A MORE NORMAL WAY OF LIFE.

THE VIRUS DOES STILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SURGE AGAIN.

THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE IS HAS BEEN LIFTED.

THE STATE REPORTED 1153 NEW CASES FOR A TOTAL OF 1.9 MILLION CONFIRMED INFECTIONS.

BRINGING THE NUMBER OF CONFIRMED AND PROBABLE DEATHS TO JUST UNDER 33,000.

THE GOVERNOR GETTING VISIBLY EMOTIONAL WHEN READING THE DEATH TOLL NUMBERS AND ASKING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE THAT WERE LOST.

6.8 PEOPLE HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PRIMARY VACCINATION SERIES.

MOST HAVE GOTTEN THEIR BOOSTER.

THIS MONTH ALSO MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE MANY OF US BEGAN WORKING FROM HOME.

AND IS MORE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS LIFT, WORKERS ARE STILL NAVIGATING WHAT THE NEW NORMAL WILL BE.

WE ARE TALKING WITH WORKERS ABOUT HOW THEY PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED THEIR DAILY LIVES FROM NAVIGATING FROM WORK WORK FROM HOME, BURNOUT AND MORE.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: WHEN COVID-19 HIT, ROSANNA WAS COMMUTING 90 MINUTES FROM JERSEY CITY INTO HER OFFICE.

THEN SHE STARTED WORKING FROM HOME AFTER COVID, SPENDING MORE TIME WITH HER HUSBAND AND YOUNG SONS.

LAST SUMMER SHE JOINED 4.5 MILLION AMERICANS IN THE GREAT RESIGNATION AND QUIT.

>> I DECIDED IT IS MY LIFE AND I GET TO CHOOSE HOW I SPEND MY DAYS.

IT'S NOT UP TO ME TO WORRY ABOUT IF ME TAKING A DAY OFF IS IMPACTED.

>> Reporter: SHE GOT THE HOURS BACK AND STARTED HER OWN BUSINESS AS A LIFE STRATEGIST.

COVID-19 PUSHED HER ONTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COURSE.

>> IT HAS CHANGED THE WAY I VIEW LIFE.

I GET TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY CHILDREN BECAUSE I AM NOT ALWAYS EXHAUSTED.

>> IT HAS HAD A FUNDAMENTAL IMPACT AND IT HAS UPENDED THE WORLD OF WORK.

THE PANDEMIC HAS REALLY TRANSFORMED WORK AND LIFESTYLES.

IT HAS TRANSFORMED HOW WE BASICALLY LIVE.

>> Reporter: MANY FOLKS NO LONGER CONSIDER WORK AS A PLACE REQUIRING THEM TO SHOW UP IN PERSON.

MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE WORKFORCE DID THEIR JOBS FROM HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND AS BUSINESSES CONSIDER REOPENING, THE OFFICE DYNAMIC WILL LOOK DIFFERENT.

FEW BOSSES WILL TAKE DAYS IN THE OFFICE.

>> YOU DO WANT TO GET YOUR PEOPLE TOGETHER ONCE OR TWICE PER WEEK.

YOU WANT TO DEVELOP A CULTURE AND BE CREATIVE AND GENERATE NEW IDEAS.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY SPECULATED ABOUT WHAT THE NEW JERSEY WORKPLACE WILL LOOK LIKE AS IT SHIFTS INTO THE PANDEMIC PHASE.

>> I THINK THERE IS LARGELY GOING TO BE A BACK TO WORK BUT THERE WILL BE A FLEXIBILITY THAT WILL BE WITH US FOR A WHILE.

>> I THINK THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT SOME FORM OF FLEXIBILITY CONTINUES.

PERHAPS A HYBRID SCHEDULE WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT NOW THAT THERE IS AN ABILITY TO COME BACK TO WORK.

>> Reporter: LABOR EXPERT BILL CASTELLANO SAYS JOBLESS RATES ARE AT 6.3% IN NEW JERSEY.

CASTELLANO CALLS IT A LABOR ECONOMY THAT IS BENEFITING EMPLOYEES.

>> BECAUSE OF THE LABOR SHORTAGE, COMPANIES NEED TO BE CREATIVE IN BEING ABLE TO CREATE A BENEFIT PACKAGE, WHETHER IT IS FLEXIBILITY OR AN INCREASE IN WAGE TO BASICALLY RECRUIT AND RETAIN WORKERS.

>> Reporter: BUT HE SAYS THERE IS A DOWNSIDE TO COMPUTER COMMUTING.

30-40% OF WORK FROM HOME WORKERS FEEL BURNED OUT.

SHEREE, MANAGES A WAREHOUSE AT BLUE APRON.

SHE HAD A GIRL IN CODE FEBRUARY 2020 THEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.

>> I LOST A LOT OF MONEY AND I WAS BACKED UP ON A LOT OF BILLS BECAUSE I COULD NOT WORK CERTAIN DAYS.

>> Reporter: SHE IS BACK AT WORK NOW THOUGH PULLING 12 HOUR SHIFTS.

>> EVERYTHING STARTED OPENING BACK UP.

THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM BUT I HAVE TO WORK.

>> Reporter: SHE IS STILL WEARING A MASK AND GETTING WEEKLY COVID-19 TEST TO STAY ON THE JOB.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> FOR MORE OF OUR LIVING WITH COVID-19 REPORTING HAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG WHERE ANDREW LEWIS REPORTS ON LONG COVID BECOMING A PEDIATRIC HEALTH CRISIS AND COLLEEN O'DAY LOOKS AT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HOSPITALS AFTER TWO YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ANSWERING A QUESTION TODAY WITH A PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT A TROUBLED WOMEN'S PRISON AS A FEDERAL AUDITOR JUST COMPLETED THE FIRST COMPLIANCE TOUR OF THE FACILITY.

COLLEEN O'DAY LISTENED IN ON THAT MEETING AND HAS MORE ON THE NEXT STEPS THE DOC IS TAKING.

COLLEEN, THEY SAID THE FACILITY WOULD BE CLOSED AND A NEW ONE WOULD BE BUILT.

WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO GET CLOSER TO THAT GOAL?

>> THE STATE HIRED A CONSULTANT BACK IN NOVEMBER.

AND THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE FIRST PART OF THAT JOB, WHICH IS TO EXAMINE POTENTIAL SITES.

WE ARE TOLD THERE ARE SOME GOOD PROSPECTS.

AND THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO HAVE VISITS FROM INMATES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AS WELL AS STAFF.

BECAUSE, IT WOULD BE MORE CENTRALLY LOCATED.

AND SO, HE HAS ALSO HELD VISIONING SESSIONS.

WE HAVE STAFF OF ALL TYPES AND NOW, HE IS GOING TO BE MEETING WITH AND TALKING WITH INMATES, FAMILY MEMBERS, FORMER INMATES, ADVOCATES.

ALL KINDS OF GROUPS.

AND WE ARE TOLD THAT THERE SHOULD BE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING OUT BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

>> COLLEEN, WHAT WAS THE TIMEFRAME GIVEN FOR THOSE STEPS?

>> THE ACTING COMMISSIONER SAID THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF SHORT-TERM, PERHAPS CHANGES IN THE WORKS BY THE END OF THE YEAR BUT CERTAINLY, EITHER BUILDING A NEW FACILITY OR RETROFITTING AN EXISTING FACILITY IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER SO THAT WILL BE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT AGAIN, THERE COULD BE SOME SHORT-TERM CHANGES MADE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>>> IN THE MEANTIME, THE PRISON ITSELF HAS UNDERGONE A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR INMATES AND STAFF.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES IN PROGRAMS PUT INTO PLACE?

>> THE ACTING COMMISSIONER GAVE AN UPDATE OF, THERE ARE FINALLY BODY WORN CAMERAS BEING WORN BY ALL STAFF WHO HAVE CONTACT WITH THE WOMEN THERE.

AND TO ALL OF THE STILL CAMERAS HAVE FINALLY BEEN INSTALLED.

THERE ARE 355 OF THOSE.

THOSE ARE ALL ONLINE SO, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN WILL BE CAPTURED OR HOPEFULLY BE CAPTURED ON THOSE.

THERE IS SOME NEW STAFF TRAINING AND THERE IS INFORMATION BEING GIVEN TO THE WOMEN WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO WEEKS, WE ARE TOLD, OPTIMALLY, OF LEARNING ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND HOW TO REPORT ANY SEXUAL ASSAULT OR OTHER ISSUES.

SO, THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND THEN FOLKS DESCRIBED A HOST OF OTHER WAYS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP THE WOMEN AND IMPROVE THE ATMOSPHERE THERE.

>> COLLEEN O'DAY, THANK YOU, FOR JOINING ME.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT, THE LABOR MARKET IS EXPECTED TO RECOVER AS EMPLOYERS ADD THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA, 678,000 JOBS WERE ADDED LAST MONTH.

THE MOST SINCE JULY 2021 AND THIS COMES AS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED TO 8.3% LOWER THAN EXPECTED.

THIS IS THE OMICRON VARIANT CONTINUES TO FADE.

SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME JUST AFTER THE SENATE SENT A STRONG MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR MURPHY UNANIMOUSLY CALLING FOR HIM TO ADDRESS THE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM BACKLOG.

AND OPEN OFFICES TO THE PUBLIC.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE MARKETS CLOSED THIS WEEK.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY MARTIN HOFFMAN SCHOOL.

BUSINESS FOCUSED, TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN.

>>> MAKE SURE YOU TUNE INTO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RAVEN SANTANA AS SHE LOOKS AT THE CHALLENGES FACING WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN NEW JERSEY.

CHECK IT OUT AT 5:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT 9:30 AM.

>>> IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY NOTICED, GASOLINE PRICES ARE ON THE RISE.

PRICES AT THE PUMP IT THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2008 AT FOUR DOLLARS PER GALLON FOR REGULAR GAS BUT COULD SOON CREEP HIGHER.

WHY?

ONE MAJOR FACTOR IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A WORKER SHORTAGE AT ITS GAS STATIONS.

WE COULD SOON NO LONGER BE THE LONE STATE TO BAN PUMPING YOUR OWN GAS BUT HOW DO DRIVERS FEEL ABOUT IT?

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> Reporter: THE PAIN OF THE PUMP IS RUNNING A BIT MORE FOR THOSE NAVIGATING THE GARDEN STATE.

>> I WENT FROM $57 UP TO $65.

>> Reporter: SOME DRIVERS FILLING UP OUR SHOCKED.

>> I JUST THOUGHT THE PRICE WAS TOO HIGH.

>> Reporter: BUT THE PRICE IS NOT EVEN PRODUCING THAT MUCH OF A PROFIT FOR THIS GAS STATION OWNER WHO SAYS THAT THE COST IS ABOVE $3.93.

ONLY BASICALLY MAKING ONE PENNY PER GALLON.

>> IT IS NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS BUSINESS OWNERS AND FOR CONSUMERS BECAUSE, CONSUMERS DON'T DRIVE TOO MUCH AND IF THEY DON'T DRIVE, I CAN'T SELL BASS AND I CAN'T FEED MY KIDS.

>> Reporter: THE COST OF CRUDE OIL CONTINUES TO CLIMB RESULTING IN HIGHER PRICES FOR DRIVERS.

>> WE ARE UP TO $3.89 PER GALLON.

$.45 PER GALLON IN THE LAST MONTH.

IT IS $1.03 HIGHER THAN IT WAS THIS TIME ONE YEAR AGO AND WE ARE CREEPING UP ON THE RECORD HIGH AVERAGE OF $3.99 THAT WE SAW ON JULY 8, 2008.

SO WE HAVE NOT SEEN PRICES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN QUITE SOME TIME.

>>> EXPERTS BELIEVE THEY COULD GET EVEN HIGHER AS THE CONFLICT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE DRUGS ON.

>> THERE ARE NO SANCTIONS ON RUSSIAN OIL DEPARTURES.

BUT, INSURANCE COMPANIES, BANKS AND EVERYONE IN THE FINANCIAL CHAIN.

TANKER OPERATORS.

THEY ARE NOT DOING BUSINESS WITH RUSSIA.

RUSSIA PRODUCES CLOSE TO 10 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL PER DAY WHEN THEY ARE AT THEIR BEST.

>> Reporter: BUT IS PREVENTING THE BAN PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM PUMPING THEIR OWN GAS?

>> IF GAS STATIONS WERE PERMITTED TO OPEN UP SELF-SERVE ISLANDS THEN MOTORISTS COULD GO TO THOSE PUMPS AND SAVE AT LEAST $.15 PER GALLON ON THE GASOLINE THAT THEY PURCHASE.

>> Reporter: IT CAN ALSO HELP ALLEVIATE HER WORKER SHORTAGE AT MANY GAS STATIONS.

>> IF YOU GO TO MANY BIG STORES, THEY HAVE SIGNS CLOSING THE PUMPS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR MURPHY IS NOT SURE HE IS ON BOARD.

>> THAT HAS BEEN A POLITICAL THIRD RAIL IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT I THINK THAT GIVEN THAT GAS PRICES ON AVERAGE HAVE NOT GONE OVER FOUR DOLLARS PER GALLON, I AM NOT SIGNING UP FOR THAT BECAUSE I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE.

BUT, MORE BROADLY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO FINDING ANY WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS STATE MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> Reporter: EXPERT SAY THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP CUT DOWN ON YOUR GAS COST LIKE REDUCING HIGHWAY SPEEDS BY 5-10 MILES PER HOUR.

THAT COULD INCREASE YOUR FUEL EFFICIENCY BY 14%.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.. OUR SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE WILL BE ANCHORING A SPECIAL REPORT STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.

ALONG WITH ANALYSIS FROM OUR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT, RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

AGAIN, THAT IS TUESDAY ON NJ PBS AND WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I AM IT RAVEN SANTANA.

THANK YOU, FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>>>FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

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