>>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

FACE MASKS ARE NOW OPTIONAL IN PATTERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE CHANGE WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT YESTERDAY COMES AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTE AT 6-1 TO END THE LOCAL REQUIREMENT THAT WAS IN PLACE FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER GOVERNOR MURPHY LIFTED THE STATEWIDE REQUIREMENT.

THIS LEAVES NEWARK AS THE LAST REMAINING SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH A MASK MANDATE.

MAKING MASKS OPTIONAL, HAS SEEN A RISE IN COVID NUMBERS WITH 5309 TODAY UP FROM 4551 YESTERDAY.

THOSE NUMBERS DON'T TELL THE FULL STORY.

EVEN AS COVID CASES ARISE, TESTING NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED.

JERSEYS DAILY TESTS WENT FROM A HIGH OF MORE THAN 130,000 IN LATE DECEMBER TO UNDER 50,000 A DAY AT PRESENT.

AND THE LACK OF TESTING ISN'T THE SOLE ISSUE.

IT IS ALSO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTING AT HOME AND NOT REPORTING THE RESULTS TO HEALTH AGENCIES.

THIS COMES AS D.O.H.

IS SET TO DISTRIBUTE ANOTHER HALF 1 MILLION OF THESE TESTS.

FOR NOW, EXPERTS WARN THE NUMBERS ONLY SHOW A FRACTION OF COVID RED AROUND THE STATE.

>>> FOURTH GRADE TEACHER SAYS GINA WHITE SAYS SHE TESTED POSITIVE FOR BID IN QUARANTINE FOR 5 DAYS.

THE HAWTHORNE RESIDENT WHO IS VACCINATED AND BOOSTED DIDN'T CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS WITH A MORE ACCURATE PCR TEST.

>> I CALLED MY PHYSICIAN WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE AT-HOME GET WAS ENOUGH.

AND GOING FOR A PCR WHICH IS SORT OF BUSY.

>> WHITE SAYS MOST FOLKS SHE KNOWS OPT FOR HOME ANTIGEN TEST OVER PANIC ADMINISTERED PCR'S.

>> THEY ARE NOT AS DIFFICULT TO GET YOUR HANDS ON AT THIS POINT.

YOU GET YOUR TEST RESULTS RIGHT AWAY.

I MEAN LIKE THAT IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE REASON.

>>> PHARMACIST SAYS FAR FEWER CUSTOMERS WANT COVID PCR TESTS AT HIS STORES.

THEY ARE TRENDING DOWN ACROSS FROM NEW JERSEY.

WITHOUT MORE ROBUST PCR TESTING IT IS TOUGH TO KEEP TRACK OF COVID BECAUSE HOME TEST RESULTS USUALLY DON'T GET RE-SPORTED.

>> TYPICALLY EITHER THE ONES THAT ARE RECORDED WHERE SOMEBODY GOES INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND THE HOSPITAL IS TESTING THERE.

SO THE NUMBERS THAT ARE COMING BACK I THINK ARE GROSSLY UNDERREPORTED AND >> THERE IS A LOT OF COMMUNITY SPREAD AND I THINK ANECDOTALLY, A LOT OF US ARE HEARING IT.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SPREADING THIS A SYMPTOMATICALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPOSED.

WE ARE NOT DOING ROUTINE TESTING IN MOST PLACES.

THEY DO NOT EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT.

>> NEW JERSEY REPORTS COVID CASES TRENDING UP.

SLOWLY THEY TOPPED 5000 TODAY BUT HOW ACCURATELY DOES THAT REFLECT REALITY?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT WHATEVER THE NUMBERS SAY THEY ARE, MULTIPLY THAT BY I WOULD SAY, 10.

BASED ON THE WASTEWATER DATA THAT IS COMING OUT.

>> PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS NOW RELY ON WASTEWATER TESTS THAT TEST FOR VIRAL GENETIC MATERIAL.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MONITORS PLANTS TREATING ABOUT HALF OF WHAT BERGEN COUNTY FLUSHES.

AND BECAUSE EVERYBODY GOES, THE NUMBERS GIVE A PRETTY GOOD SNAPSHOT OF COVID'S PRESENCE.

AND THEY ARE CURVING UP.

>> YOU HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE CONCENTRATION BY MORE THAN A FACT OR OF 10 CENTS ABOUT LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH THROUGH LAST WEEK.

A HIGH PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION IS INFECTED WITH COVID-19.

>> YOU ARE NOT SENDING ANYBODY TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> DR. REBECCA IS DOING 70 TO 80 COVID TESTS A DAY.

DOWN BY HALF FROM THE OMICRON SURGE.

>> COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS IN NEW JERSEY REMAIN IN THE LOW 700S MORE THAN 6.7 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

BUT THE VIRUS IS NOT DONE, EVEN THOUGH FOLKS ARE DISTRACTED.

>> BETWEEN INFLATION AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND THE ABORTION- RIGHTS BEING STRIPPED AWAY IN OUR COUNTRY, I THINK PEOPLE HAVE LOST SIGHT OF COVID-19 AND ARE ACTUALLY NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE SCIENCE.

IT IS MY EXPECTATION THAT NEXT FALL, ALL OF US WILL REQUIRE AN UPDATE TO OUR VACCINATIONS.

I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD JUST SAY THAT.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN.

>>> THE RECENTLY RELEASED DRAFT OPINION FROM THE SUPREME COURT OUTLINED THE REVERSAL OF ROE VERSUS WADE IS HAVING AN EFFECT ON WOMEN FROM EVERY GENERATION.

TODAY FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER LED A DEMONSTRATION AT THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.

THE RALLY HOSTED SOME OF THE VERY WOMEN, NOW IN THEIR 70s AND EVEN 90s WHO WERE ON THE FRONT LINES AND FOUGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN THE PASSION OF THE ORIGINAL WILL VERSUS WADE DISCUSSION.

IT WOULD BE A STEP BACKWARDS FOR EVERY WOMAN IN AMERICA.

>> WOMEN WERE ALWAYS PRO-CHOICE AND WOMEN WERE ALWAYS GETTING ABORTIONS.

SAM ALITO OR CLARENCE THOMAS ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT.

ALL THAT CHANGES IS WHETHER OR NOT WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE MEDICAL CARE.

THAT IS WHAT CHANGES.

SO WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO THOSE DAYS.

THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THROUGH THAT.

>>> A BILL MEANT TO PROTECT JUDGES IS STOPPED AGAIN IN THE SENATE.

MENENDEZ TRIED TO GET THE JUDICIAL SECURITY PRIVACY ACT THROUGH A SECOND TIME BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT BUT KENTUCKY SENATOR WAS ONCE AGAIN THE ONLY HOLDOUT.

THE BILL IS NAMED FOR NEW JERSEY DISTRICT COURT JUDGE.

HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY AN ANTIFEMINIST LAWYER AT THEIR HOME IN NORTH BRUNSWICK.

HER HUSBAND WAS ALSO INJURED AND POLICE SAY HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE AFTER THE SHOOTING.

THE BILL WOULD KEEP MORE OF FEDERAL JUDGES PERSONAL INFORMATION PRIVATE AND ADD FUNDING TO THE U.S.

MARSHALS PRIVATE FUND.

THE PROTECTION SHOULD EXTEND TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>>> WHAT BEGAN AS A CHANGE IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A FIERY DEBATE OVER PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TRANSPARENCY.

NEW JERSEY'S NEW AND HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS AND THE STANDARDS ARE SET TO GO INTO EFFECT THIS FALL BUT WERE ACTUALLY VOTED ON TWO YEARS AGO.

THE STATE HAS ONLY ISSUED GUIDELINES.

IT IS UP TO INDIVIDUAL SCOREBOARDS TO GET THE FINAL SAY OVER THEIR EDUCATION CURRICULUM.

CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS HAVE CALLED THE NEW STANDARDS ARE GRAPHIC AND OBSCENE.

DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR WHO CHAIRS THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAS WAITED AND GOT INTO THE DEBATE SPONSORING WHAT WOULD ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AROUND AND HEALTH EDUCATION.

>> SENATOR, GOOD TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

THIS HAS NOT ONLY BECOME MESSY.

BUT IT HAS ALSO BECOME A RALLYING CRY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WHY WADE INTO THIS DEBATE OVER THESE STANDARDS?

>> I THINK THE ISSUE IS REALLY TRANSPARENCY AND CURRICULAR.

YOU KNOW WE HAD A SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING EARLIER IN THE WEEKEND I CONTINUE TO ASK SENATORS WHO WERE OPPOSED TO TRANSPARENCY AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, NAME A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STATE WHERE YOU SEE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE DESCRIBING PORNOGRAPHY IN SECOND GRADE, AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS YOU ARE DESCRIBING, AND NOBODY WAS ABLE TO NAME A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO, MY BILL TO MANDATE THAT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE HAS BOTH THEIR AND HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM DIRECTLY ON THEIR WEBSITE, I BELIEVE WILL DRAMATICALLY DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION THAT IS OUT THERE.

>> WALKED US THROUGH.

I THINK THERE IS SO MUCH MISINFORMATION, AND DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE FACT AS THEY STAND WITH THE SEX ED STANDARDS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CONVERSATION BE CLEARED UP ABOUT.

>> YEAH, SO WE HAVE SEEN A LARGE AMOUNT OF DISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN AN ORGANIZED EFFORT BY PROFESSIONAL POLITICAL CONSULTANTS AND POLITICIANS WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER.

TRY AND SAY THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TEACHERS ARE TEACHING PORNOGRAPHY AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTS AND OTHER THINGS TO GRADESCHOOL KIDS.

YES WE ARE NOT SEEING IT POINTED TO AN ACTUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS HAPPENING.

SO THE BILL I HAVE WHICH IS BASED ON PRIOR REPUBLICAN BILLS IS SAYING THAT ALL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE PLUS CHARTERS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS NEED TO PROVIDE A LINK ON THEIR WEBSITE WHERE PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND PUBLIC CAN LOOK AT THE AND HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM DIRECTLY ON THE WEBSITE.

THE THIRD PIECE OF THE BILL ASKS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING WITH PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO COME INTO THE DISTRICT AND TO DISCUSS THE CURRICULAR WITH THEIR KIDS.

WITH THE TEACHERS THERE.

BY DOING THAT, THEY WILL BE EMPOWERED TO KNOW WHAT IS EXACTLY IN THEIR GRADE BE ABLE TO MAKE OBJECTIONS AND OPT OUT IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO.

>> SO GIVEN THIS INFORMATION THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED, SENATOR, I WONDER AGAIN, WHY WADE INTO THIS.

WERE YOU HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS?

ARE THEY CALLING YOUR OFFICE?

WHY GET INVOLVED?

>> I DON'T WANT TO NAME THE DISTRICT.

I HAVE A CURRICULAR THAT SHOWS CERTAIN TOPICS WERE BEING SPOKEN TO ON THE SECOND AND THIRD GRADERS.

I CALLED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DIRECTLY AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THIS CURRICULAR WAS COMPLETELY DOCTORED.

IT WAS --SOMEBODY TOOK THE TIME, PUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LOGO ON THE TOP AND THEN THEY WERE PUTTING IT IN PARENTS GROUPS ON FACEBOOK TO PURPOSELY TRY TO CAUSE CHAOS AND MISLEAD WELL- MEANING PARENTS.

THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO MAKE THIS PROCESS TRANSPARENT.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE THESE BILLS HEADING?

>> I HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS.

I TALKED TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT GOVERNOR DIRECTLY.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE AND PUSH AHEAD ON THE BILL.

WHAT WAS MOST ALARMING AND ACTUALLY MORE TELLING THAN ANYTHING IS THAT REPUBLICAN SENATORS ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE VOTED AGAINST MAKING CURRICULAR TRANSPARENT.

BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE IF THEY MAKE THE CURRICULAR TRANSPARENT, THEY CAN'T LIE ABOUT IT ANY LONGER.

AND EVEN MORE, JUST THIS PAST VOTING SESSION, HAD A VERY SIMILAR BILL ASKING TO MAKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CURRICULAR TRANSPARENT AND PUBLIC.

AND NOW MANY OF THEM ARE AGAINST IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT POLITICALLY CONVENIENT FOR THEM.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MORE THAN 1000 NEW JERSEY VETERANS WHO RECEIVED OTHER THAN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN DON'T GET BENEFITS THROUGH THE VA BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER TAKES A LOOK AT HOW THE NEW JERSEY CORPORATION IS ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AND MAKING SURE ALL VETERANS HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT THEY NEED AND DESERVE.

>> I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE IF YOU CAN, A VETERAN WHO HAS A 90% MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY DECLARATION FROM THE VA, AND A RAISING HEROIN ADDICTION.

PUT THAT IN YOUR HEAD WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT IT DOESN'T LOOK MUCH LIKE THIS, DOES IT?

THIS IS MY CHILD.

>> STEPHANIE KEY GANGS SON SPENT 26 MONTHS IN AFGHANISTAN AND DEVELOPED PTSD AND TURNED TO HEROIN.

>> AND WHEN HE CAME BACK HE CAME BACK ROGAN AND THE VA NEVER FIXED HIM.

AFTER HE LEFT THE ARMY, HE WAITED FOR 16 MONTHS FOR TREATMENT.

13 MONTHS JUST TO GET DIAGNOSED THROUGH THE VA SYSTEM TO GET DISABILITY.

HE GOT 90% MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY.

HE ALSO GOT CONSIDERATION FOR ADDICTION SERVICES.

AND WHEN HE WAS WAITING, IT TOOK ANOTHER THREE MONTHS AFTER HE GOT HIS DISABILITY UNTIL HE WAS ABLE TO GO INTO A DUAL DIAGNOSIS PROGRAM.

>> KEEGAN SAYS THERE WAS TWO WEEKS BEFORE KEEGAN STARTED THE PROGRAM, HE DEVELOPED AN INFECTION RELATED TO HIS DRUG USE AND DIED.

>> THIS CHILD WHO WAS THE SOLDIER OF THE YEAR AT FORT BRAD WHO WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY SOLDIER, A WONDERFUL BROTHER AND SON LOST HIS LIFE, BECAUSE AFTER HE SERVED US, WE DID NOT SERVE HIM.

>> SO THIS MOM IS SHOWING HER SUPPORT FOR NEW INITIATIVES AIMED AT HELPING SAVE VETERANS LIFE.

THE NEW JERSEY CORPORATION IS TEAMING UP WITH DRUG ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE TREATMENT TO VETERANS DISCHARGED WITH A STATUS OTHER THAN HONORABLE.

>> AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE DISCHARGE CLASSIFICATION FROM HONORABLE, FROM GENERAL, FROM OTHER THAN HONORABLE, FROM BAD CONDUCT AND DISHONORABLE.

WE UNDER STAND THAT THE LAST TWO ARE ADJUDICATED WHERE THE FIRST THREE CLASSIFICATIONS ARE DETERMINED ADMINISTRATIVELY.

AND AN ALMOST INEXTRICABLE LINK BETWEEN THIS CLASSIFICATION AND BENEFITS.

>> NEARLY 22 VETERANS TAKE THE LIFE EVERYDAY AFTER DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION.

AND AFTER PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY, SUPPORTERS OF THIS PARTNERSHIP SAY THERE IS NO EXCUSE WHY ANY VETERAN CAN'T GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

>> ALL TOO OFTEN THAT OT H DISCHARGE DESIGNATION, THAT OTHER THAN HONORABLE STATUS IS THE RESULT OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

DISEASES SUCH AS POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER THAT ARE FAR TOO COMMON IN THE MILITARY.

THE CONTACT THAT RESULTS IN THESE ILLNESSES WILL PROMPT SOLDIERS TO BE SENT HOME BEFORE THEIR SERVING TIME IS SET TO END, SIMPLY BECAUSE THESE ILLNESSES WENT UNTREATED, OR UNDIAGNOSED.

>> BRETT KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW DAMAGING MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG ADDICTION AS A VETERAN CAN BE.

>> SOMEBODY DEPLOYS OVERSEAS, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE 19, 20 YEARS OLD.

I MEAN MYSELF INCLUDED, I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS DRAMA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DEALING WITH.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THESE EMOTIONS WERE INSIDE OF ME.

SO I WAS LOOKING TO USE ALCOHOL.

THERE WAS A REASON WHY THEY WERE USING THOSE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

SO IF THE MILITARY AND DEPLOYMENT CALLS IT, WHILE THEY SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO BENEFITS TO HELP THEM.

>> THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE BOTH INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES FOR VETERANS IN NEED.

LAWMAKERS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS SAYING THEY ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THE LIVES OF ALL VETERANS COUNT.

FOR SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> PUMPING YOUR OWN GAS IS STILL ILLEGAL IN NEW JERSEY.

75 STATIONS THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY LOWERED THE PRICES IN AN EFFORT TO SHOW MOTORISTS HOW MUCH THEY COULD SAVE IF SELF- SERVE BECAME A REALITY HERE.

IT IS ALL PART OF THE FEEL YOUR WAY NEW JERSEY CAMPAIGN.

THE CAMPAIGN IS IN AN EFFORT TO SHOW DRIVERS HOW MUCH THEY CAN SAVE AS THEY FACE ALL-TIME GAS PRICES.

FOR DOLLARS $.50 A GALLON TODAY.

MOTORISTS WILL BE EDUCATED ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY CAN POTENTIALLY SAVE IF THE MOTORIST CHOICE AND CONVENIENCE ACT WERE ENACTED.

ADVOCATES ESTIMATE THE COST OF A GALLON OF GAS WOULD DROP BY $.15 AT A SELF-SERVE PUMP.

MOTORISTS WHO POOL INTO PARTICIPATING GAS STATIONS WERE PRINTED THESE $100 BILLS WITH THE MESSAGE THAT THEY COULD SAVE $100-$400 ANNUALLY IF THE STATE ALLOWED SELF-SERVE.

FUEL YOUR WEIGHT JOINT GAS STATION OWNERS AT A NEWS CONFERENCE WHERE HE ALSO WAS SURE THAT NO EMPLOYEES WOULD SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGE.

>> WE ARE SO SHORTHANDED RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO POINT OUT ONCE AGAIN WHAT I MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT ORANGE CONES.

EVERY TIME YOU SEE AN ORANGE CONE BLOCKING A PUMP, THAT IS AN EMPLOYEE THAT DOES NOT EXIST NOW.

IF WE REMOVE THE ORANGE CONE, AND LET YOU PUMP THE GAS, THERE IS NO EMPLOYEE THERE THAT LOSES THEIR JOB.

>> BUT SENATE PRESIDENT SAYS HE DOES NOT SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO ALLOW SELF-SERVE AND HAS NO PLANS TO PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE.

SAYS THERE IS NO DATA TO SHOW SELF-SERVE WOULD SAVE DRIVERS MONEY AT THE PUMP.

WITH GAS PRICES SKYROCKETING, THE STATE IS TRYING TO CUT COSTS BY BUILDING OUT ITS EV INFRASTRUCTURE.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS ALONG WITH TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

PORTER MACK RAVEN, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF NOISE ABOUT HIGH GAS PRICES BUT THERE ARE SOME QUIETER EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO ENCOURAGE AND EXPAND THE USE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN NEW JERSEY.

A STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE YESTERDAY PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD DIRECT THE STATE TO SPEND $15 MILLION TO BUY ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES.

REPLACING DIESEL BUSES.

MEANTIME, THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES IS GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE THE BUILDING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE APPLICATION TO THOSE IN SENATE PROGRAMS CLOSES ON MONDAY.

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ARE VITAL TO EXPAND EV INFRASTRUCTURE.

ACCORDING TO KAREEM WITH EV GO WHICH RECEIVED A STATE GRANT LAST YEAR TO DEVELOP 30 NEW EV CHARGING STATIONS.

>> THE QUESTION IS REALLY HOW FAST.

AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF THOSE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT MOMENTUM FORWARD.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY HAS RECEIVED 6 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO CLEAN UP AND THEN REDEVELOP CONTAIN A MATED GROUND PARKS.

MONEY WILL ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE AND A HEADS UP THIS WEEK FOR THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT, ANYONE RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT, DISABILITY AND FAMILY LEAD AND IF IT'S ON A DEBIT CARD ARE GETTING NEW CARDS IN THE MAIL THIS MONTH.

THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT THE CARDS WILL BE COMING FROM A NEW PROVIDER AND MAY LOOK LIKE JUNK MAIL.

YOU CAN START USING THOSE NEW CARDS AS OF NEXT WEDNESDAY.

FINALLY FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN WAS APPOINTED TO ANOTHER TERM BY AN 80 TO 19 VOTE IN THE SENATE.

BOB MENENDEZ WAS A NO VOTE SAYING THE FED HAS A SERIOUS DIVERSITY PROBLEM AND THAT UNDER POWELL, THE FED CONTINUES TO MISS HER TO OPPORTUNITIES TO APPOINT LATINOS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ITS LEADERSHIP.

NOW HERE IS THE CHECK ON HOW WALL STREET CLOSED OUT THIS WEEK.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY MARTIN TUCKER SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AT MGIC.

OFFERING NEW JERSEY'S FIRST BACHELORS OF SCIENCE DEGREE, BUSINESS FOCUSED, TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN, AND RIVERVIEW JAZZ, PRESENTING THE JERSEY CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL, JUNE 4th AND FIFTH.

EVENT DETAILS INCLUDING PERFORMANCE SCHEDULING AND LOCATION ARE ONLINE AT RIVERVIEW JAZZ.ORG.

>> Reporter: SHE PUTS THE BUSINESS OF FOOD IN FOCUS.

HIGHLIGHTING CULINARY INNOVATIONS BORN IN THE GARDEN STATE AND THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT LOCAL COMPANIES ARE USING TO GET FOOD TO YOUR TABLE.

WATCH IT ON SATURDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:30.

>>> AFTER YEARS OF CLOGGING UP, 14 ABANDONED BOATS ARE SLOWLY GETTING DRAGGED OUT.

>> IT WAS A QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUE.

A WATERFRONT COVE.

>> IT IS METHODICAL WORK.

DIVERS HAD TO REMOVE UNDERWATER MUD THAT HAS ACCUMULATED FOR YEARS.

FOR THE MULTIPLE SPLINTERS INTO TINY PIECES.

>> IT REALLY ISN'T A GREAT VICTORY FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT THE REMOVAL.

IS PART OF A LONGER PROJECT.

TO CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF THE SHORELINE, SO WE CAN HAVE.

>> ABANDONED BOATS ARE MORE THAN JUST EYESORES, THEY ARE ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

>> THE SAME POINT THEY ARE GENERALLY GOING TO BE HAVING FUEL AS WELL AS HYDRAULIC FUELS AFFILIATED WITH STEERING MECHANISMS AND ET CETERA.

AND ALL OF THOSE MATERIALS CAN LEAD RIGHT INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> PEOPLE'S BOATS WERE JUST LOWER ON THE PRIORITY.

>> OTHER PARTS OF NEW JERSEY AREN'T AS LUCKY.

AND LITTLE FOLD, LEADING TO OBVIOUS QUESTIONS.

>> WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THOSE BOATS OVER THERE?

WHY DO THEY ALL LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE SUNK LEX I SAID BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUNK.

AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

WELL I AM TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> THIS WAS LIKE A VOTING CENTER ON THE RIVER.

>>> IT IS NOT OUR JOB.

OR TO TALK TO THAT ONE ABOUT IT.

>> EVERYBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME THING.

THERE IS NO MONEY HERE, THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND MONEY FOR HOBOKEN TO GET THOSE BOATS OUT OF THE COVE DOWN THERE.

WHERE THE LOWER STRETCH OF THE HACKENSACK RIVER IS IS APPROACHED SUPERFUND SITE.

THE BUREAUCRACY WILL MAKE THE PROCESS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

INTO SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM TED GOLDBERG.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE WEEK'S POLITICAL HEADLINES, CHECK OUT SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

HE TALKS WITH SENATOR MIKE HESTER ABOUT THE CALLS FOR REBATES AND RELEASE TO NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS STRUGGLING WITH INFLATION AND HIGH GAS PRICES.

THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M.

BOTH ON NJ CBS.

I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY, HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.