>>> THE MASS SHOOTING IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK AND THE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY LAST WEEKEND, PUT INTO FOCUS THE REPEATED CALLS FOR MORE GUN REFORM.

FEDERAL LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE BEEN HAMMERING AWAY AT THE ISSUE FOR YEARS, SAY IT HAS BECOME A FAMILIAR PATTERN.

IN THE WAKE OF TRAGEDY, CONGRESS JUMPS TO ACT, ONLY TO BE HIT BY POLITICAL GRIDLOCK.

THE PRESIDENT ADDRESSED THE CITY MORNING THOSE KILLED IN THE MASS SHOOTING AND CALLED ON CONGRESS TO GET MORE ASSAULT WEAPONS OFF THE STREETS.

WE ASKED CORY BOOKER IF THOSE WORDS HOLD MEANING IN A DIVIDED AMERICA.

SENATOR BOOKER, IT IS REALLY GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.

YESTERDAY PRESIDENT BIDEN REFERENCED WHITE SUPREMACY AS POISON.

WE'VE NOW SEEN 200 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THIS YEAR ALONE.

DID HE GO FAR ENOUGH?

>> THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE ARE GOING TO DO.

THE PRESIDENT HAS LIMITED POWERS IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

WHAT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO ME IS THESE SHOOTINGS ARE HAPPENING WITH CHILLING REGULARITY.

AND NOTHING CHANGES.

WE HAVE A NATION WHERE, IT IS EASIER FOR A TEENAGER FILLED WITH HATE, TO GET THEIR HANDS ON A GUN THAN IT IS FOR THEM TO GET HER DRIVERS LICENSE.

THIS IS AN ABSURD REALITY.

NO OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD HAS THIS LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE.

THIS LEVEL OF CARNAGE.

AND WE NEED TO START MAKING MORE OF A DEMAND AS A NATION TO PUT IN COMMON SENSE LAWS THAT ARE GOING TO PROTECT FAMILIES.

TO PROTECT SEARCHES, GROCERY STORES, SYNAGOGUES.

IT IS A THREAT TO ALL OF US.

AND IT SHOULD DEMAND ALL OF US TO BE INVOLVED IN MAKING A CHANGE.

>> DOES GUNMEN, AS YOU KNOW, HAD A 180 PAGE MANIFESTO REFERENCING SHOOTINGS IN NEW JERSEY.

THIS PARTICULAR TARGET WAS THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

DO YOU NOW SEE THIS AS A TIME TO GET ACTION FROM CONGRESS?

>> HATE IS AWFUL.

WE HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH HATE FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAS BEEN HUMANITY.

THERE'S HATE IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

HATE GROUPS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

BUT WE ARE A NATION THAT ALLOWS HATEFUL PEOPLE TO SO EASILY GET THEIR HANDS ON WEAPONS OF WAR.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES US UNIQUELY VULNERABLE.

THAT IS WAS MAKING THESE MASS KILLINGS, FROM SYNAGOGUES, TO CHURCHES, TO GROCERY STORES, HAPPEN.

AND SO I AM SO FRUSTRATED.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS START TO HAPPEN TO A POINT WHERE IT IS BECOMING ROUTINE.

WE HAVE NORMALIZED THIS KIND OF GARMENTS CARNAGE.

IN MY LIFETIME, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE PEOPLE IN AMERICA KILLED BY GUNFIRE THAN IN EVERY ONE OF OUR WARS, FROM THE FOUNDING UNTIL NOW, COMBINED.

THAT IS STUNNING.

THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS.

AND IT DEMANDS WE ALL ENGAGE OURSELVES.

NOT JUST GOING ON AS IF LIFE IS NORMAL.

>> ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY GOING TO GO BACK AND SOME OF THE LEGISLATION YOU'VE PROPOSED.

I THINK THE MOST RECENT WAS 2019.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO RIGHT TO LEGALLY BUY A GUN.

BUT THEY SO EASILY GET IN BECAUSE OF STATES THAT HAVE LAX GUN LAWS.

AND THOSE LAWS GUNS POUR INTO NEW JERSEY.

THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME.

I AM TIRED OF SEEING CHILDREN IN BOXES, DYING PREMATURELY.

WHETHER IT IS FROM SUICIDE OR FROM MURDER.

SO NEW JERSEY HAS A SENATOR THAT WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING UNTIL WE GET SOMETHING DONE.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH MORE BLOODSHED ARE WE GOING TO SEE YOU FOR MORE AMERICANS JOIN THIS FIGHT.

THE NUMBER ONE REASON GOVERNMENTS WERE FORMED, READ OUR PENDING DOCUMENTS IT IS FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE.

IT IS TO BRING ABOUT PEACE AND STRENGTH.

AND RIGHT NOW, MORE THAN ANY OTHER NATION, WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE DYING BY GUNFIRE, AMERICA HAS SHOWN WEAKNESS.

AND THAT THE DETERMINATION I KNOW WE HAVE TO STOP THIS CARNAGE.

>> SENATOR CORY BOOKER THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> FOR MORE OF OUR INTERVIEW ON GUN VIOLENCE HAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

THE SENATE'S COMMENTS COMING ON THE HEELS OF GOVERNOR MURPHY DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED LAST NIGHT, GIVE THE STATE POWER TO PREVENT PRICE GOUGING BY RETAILERS.

>>> MEAN WILL FILE MEANWHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS ANNOUNCING A MAJOR SHIFT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

NEW JERSEY WILL CREATE A STATEWIDE POLICE LICENSING PROGRAM.

IF ENACTED, ALL POLICE OFFICERS WILL HAVE TO HOLD A VALID ACTIVE LICENSE ISSUED BY THE POLICE TRAINING COMMISSION IN ORDER TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE STATE.

THE IDEA WAS FIRST PROPOSED, AND GAIN THE SUPPORT, IN 2020 AFTER AN OFFICER MOVED AROUND TO NINE DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS, DUE TO MULTIPLE CASES OF MISCONDUCT.

ADVOCATES SAY THE LICENSING SYSTEM WILL GIVE NEW JERSEY A DATABASE TO TRACK MISCONDUCT AND PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.

IF IT BECOMES LAW, LICENSES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO RENEWAL EVERY THREE YEARS.

IN OFFICES WILL HAVE TO PASS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND OTHER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

>>> A STATE GRAND JURY VOTED NOT TO FILE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST A NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPER WHO SHOT AND KILLED AN UNARMED BLACK MAN DURING A TRAFFIC STOP ROUGHLY 2 YEARS AGO.

SERGEANT RANDY WESSEL WAS INVESTIGATED FOR USING DEADLY FORCE AFTER HE FIRED SIX ROUNDS DURING A CONFRONTATION ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY.

GORDON'S FAMILY FILED A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS SUIT ALLEGING THE INCIDENT WAS RACIALLY BIASED.

HIS DEATH DREW NATIONAL ATTENTION AFTER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE RELEASED A VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE 4 SEPARATE INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE OFFICERS THE DAY OF HIS DEATH.

WHEN HE SHOWED SIGNS OF MENTAL DISTRESS BEFORE THE ALTERCATION.

>>> IN TRENTON, DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR THOSE WHO WERE HIT HARDEST BY THE WAR ON DRUGS AS THE STATES RECREATIONAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY TAKES OUT, DRUG POLICY REFORM ADVOCATES ARE REMINDING US TO REINVEST INTO COMMUNITIES.

>> WE DO NOT LEGALIZE MARIJUANA BECAUSE --JERSEY HAS A LONG HISTORY OF USING MASS INCARCERATION ON THE WAR ON DRUGS.

$4.3 BILLION TO BE EXACT.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT PUBLISHED IN JUNE OF 2021 BY NEW JERSEY POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

>> WE KNOW A BLACK PERSON IN NEW JERSEY IS 3 1/2 MORE TIMES LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA THAN A WHITE PERSON.

WE KNOW NEW JERSEY MADE 36,000 MARIJUANA -RELATED ARRESTS.

>> THE STATES INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN OFF SING $1.9 MILLION IN SALES OF THE FIRST DAY.

DRUG POLICY REFORM ADVOCATES WANT TO SEE TAX REVENUES FROM CANNABIS SALES REINVESTED FAIRLY.

UNDER STATE LAW, 70% OF THE SALES TAX COLLECTED FROM RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SALES IS REQUIRED TO GO TOWARDS COMMUNITIES MOST HARMED BY MARIJUANA RELATED ARRESTS.

BUT AS NEW JERSEY BEGINS TO COLLECT ITS FIRST REVENUES FROM CANNABIS, ADVOCATES RALLIED AT THE STATEHOUSE TO CALL ON LAWMAKERS FOR TRANSPARENCY.

>> THE REALITY IS THAT WHEN THEY CAME IN TO OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY DID NOT TAKE 60% FROM OUR FATHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS.

THEY TOOK 100%.

AND SO WE ARE CALLING FOR 100% REINVESTMENT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ADVOCATES I SPOKE WITH SAYS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT MEANS COMMUNITY INPUT.

AND THEY ARE DEMANDING VOICES ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT.

>> THEY SAY THEY HAVE AND THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU, YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE.

WE THE PEOPLE.

WE ARE NOT IN THOSE ROLES.

WE ARE NOT IN THOSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

WE ARE NOT AT THE TABLE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THESE DEALS AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ADVOCATE THOSE DOLLARS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS WERE TAKEN AWAY?

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK.

AND WE'VE GOT TO HEAL THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE NOW ADULTS.

WE HAVE TO HEAL THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN, NOT JUST RAVAGED, BUT TOTALLY LEFTWARD DAY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THOSE ARE THE SAME CHILDREN WHO WERE IMPACTED.

ALL ACROSS AMERICA, WE COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR CHILDREN LOITERING IN FRONT OF OUR BUSINESSES AND HOMES.

BUT THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

I WANT THIS MONEY TO HELP FUND THING FOR CHILDREN TO DO.

>> THIS IS A SITUATION.

YOU DON'T NEED TO WRITE MORE LAWS.

YOU NEED TO WRITE CHECKS.

>> DESPITE ADVOCATES SAYING THEY FELT LEFT OUT, IN MARCH, THE CRC HELD THREE MEETINGS IN THE NORTH, SOUTH AND CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON HOW THEY SUGGEST FUNDS RAISED SHOULD BE USED FOR SOCIAL EQUITY PROJECTS.

ADVOCATES TOLD ME THEY FELT THE STATE DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE HEARINGS.

>>> IT IS GETTING HARDER TO TRACK THE INTENSITY OF THIS LATEST WAVE OF COVID-19.

HEALTH EXPERTS SAY AMERICANS SHOULD ASSUME THE INFECTION RATE IN THEIR COMMUNITY IS 5 TO 10 TIMES HIGHER THAN OFFICIAL TALLIES.

WITH HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS OMICRON SUB VARIANCE SPREADING AND FEWER GOVERNMENT MANDATED SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.

ACROSS NEW JERSEY TODAY MORE THAN 3800 NEW POSITIVE CASES AND 15 MORE DEATHS ARE BEING REPORTED.

THE GOOD NEWS, YOU CAN NOW STOCK UP ON MORE FREE ADVOCATE HOME TEST KITS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NOTHING THIS WEEK IT WILL PROVIDE 8 FREE KITS THAT TO ANY HOUSEHOLD THAT WANTS THEM.

DESPITE BEING CALLED THE GARDEN STATE, NEW JERSEY HAS A WELL- KNOWN DIRTY SECRET.

MORE SUPERFUND SITES THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

114 IN ALL.

FOR YEARS, RESIDENTS HAVE LIVED ALONGSIDE THE HAZARDS OF A HOLD, WITH CLEAN UP WORK MOVING SLOWLY OR STALLING ENTIRELY.

NOW, THERE IS A NEW THREAT.

SEVERE WEATHER MAY COLLIDE WITH THOSE HIGHLY POLLUTED SITES.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS AS NEW SERIES CALLED HAZARD NJ.

>> THE STORM IS SO STRONG IT TOOK THE HOUSE DOWN.

ELIMINATED IT.

>> Reporter: JEAN LUCAS REMEMBERS WHEN SUPER STORM SANDY TORE THROUGH MARINAS ON THE BAY, SWEEPING BOAT OUT TO SEA.

THE SEARCH PACKED IN A POWER TO RIP A ROLLER COASTER OFF THE SEASIDE HEIGHTS BOARDWALK, AND SLICE A CHANNEL STRAIGHT THROUGH.

BUT SANDY ALSO EXPOSED A MAJOR VULNERABILITY.

TOXIC SITES LIKE THIS LOCATED ALONG WATER.

EASY TARGETS FOR VIOLENT STORMS DRIVEN BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS DUMPSITE IS CLOSE BY THE ARENA.

MOST LOCALS AVOID IT.

>> IT IS DESPICABLE THAT THEY DUMP LIKE THIS OFF OF THE COAST.

I BELIEVE THERE WAS A LEAD COMPANY WHICH CREATED THIS.

AND FROM WHAT I HEARD, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO CLEAN IT UP BUT THEY NEVER DID.

>> Reporter: JUMBLED LIMITS OF METAL FLAG CRUMBLED INTO THE TOXIC RUST ON THE JETTY PILED BY THE POLLUTER NATIONAL LEAD.

IT IS FULL OF TOXIC METALS.

SO HAZARDOUS, THE EPA FENCED IT OFF AND POSTED SIGNS WARNING NO SWIMMING, NO SUNBATHING IN THE FISHING.

EARLY EPA SAMPLING SHOWS SANDY DID MOVE LED OFF-SITE.

>> THIS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR CLEANUP BECAUSE IT CAN ONLY GET WORSE AS IT SPREADS FROM THE CLIMATE EVENTS.

>> Reporter: CONGRESSMAN FRANK VALLONE SAID THEY OFFERED TO CLEAN IT UP BUT OFFERED A CLUB PLAN THAT IS NOT RESILIENT ENOUGH.

>> THEY SAY WE WILL COME AND CAPPED THE SITE.

PUT A LAYER OF ASPHALT OR JUST CLEAN UP MAYBE A FOOT DOWN.

WHAT YOU REALLY SHOULD DO IS REMOVE ALL THIS AND CART IT AWAY.

SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF SPREADING.

>> THIS IS VULNERABLE TO EVEN THE LEAST POWERFUL HURRICANE.

A CATEGORY ONE.

ACCORDING TO STUDY BY THE FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.

AND THAT IS WITHOUT ANY SEA LEVEL RISE.

AFTER CLEANUP DRAGGED ON FOR A DECADE, THE EPA FINALLY TOOK OVER THE PROJECT LAST AUGUST.

IT EXPECTS TO BEGIN WORK NEXT YEAR.

RESIDENTS HOPE THEY HURRY.

>> THE WATER IS GOING TO START COMING IN FURTHER AND WASHING UP WHAT IS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BAY.

IT WILL HURT THINGS EVEN MORE.

>> Reporter: THIS IS ONE OF DOZENS OF SUPERFUND SITES VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

AS VIOLENT STORMS BECOME MORE FREQUENT, SITES LIKE THESE BECOME TICKING TIME BOMBS.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN FOR THE WORST POSSIBLE FLOODS THAT COME.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EXTREME WEATHER IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A TIGHTER REMEDIATION STANDARDS.

>> Reporter: ENVIRONMENT NEW JERSEY POINTS TO THE GAO REPORT WHICH IDENTIFY MORE THAN 100 EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS JERSEY SITES AT RISK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.

INCLUDING AMERICAN BRIDGEWATER CONTAMINATED WITH DANGEROUS CHEMICALS.

>> THE IMAGE OF THE SOMERSET STADIUM BEING FLOODED, THAT WAS ONE OF THE TAKE-HOME IMAGES OF ITEMS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IMAGE WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE CURRENT REMEDIATION THAT IS OCCURRING IN BRIDGEWATER FOR THE SUPERFUND SITE.

>> Reporter: THE GAO REPORT ALSO FINGERED A MONSTER 220 ACRE LAND DEAL WERE COUNTLESS TRUCKS OFFLOADED TOXIC WASTE, INCLUDING CANCER CAUSING PCBS, FOR YEARS.

>> IT WAS KIND OF A GODZILLA OF TOWN ADULTS.

BECAUSE YOU HAD MORE THAN 70 MILLION GALLONS OF TOXIC WASTE THAT WAS DUMPED HERE.

THE LARGER THE FIGHTS ARE, THE HARDER IT IS TO COME UP WITH A PREVENTION PLAN AHEAD OF TIME.

THE EPA SHOULD BE DOING THIS.

>> Reporter: THE REPORT SAYS IT IS AT RISK OF A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE AND WOULD FLOOD IF SEA LEVELS ROSE 1 FOOT.

THE CAPITAL WALLED OFF THE SITE AND TOXIC RUNOFF PUMPED OUT DAILY.

BUT THERE WAS EROSION DURING SANDY.

THE EPA REJECTS FIGHTS EVERY FIVE YEARS.

MELISSA SEEMS TO BE CONTAINED.

WE WILL HAVE TO SAY IF WE GET A LARGER STORM THEN HURRICANE SANDY, WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.

>> Reporter: TOWN OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE RELYING ON THE EPA'S EXPERTISE TO CONTAIN IT.

>> WE FOUND THAT FLOODING AND TIDES WILL MOVE THE SEDIMENT.

SO SOMETIMES, WHAT THEY WILL FIND IS A HIGHER LEVEL OF THE CONTAMINANT IN AN AREA THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE.

THE SLURRY WALL SEEMS TO BE FINE.

IT IS CAPPED.

AND THE VEGETATION ON TOP OF IT, THAT IS PART OF THE CAP TO HOLD IT IN PLACE, IT ALL SEEMS TO BE IN PLACE.

>> WHERE WE USE CAPI CAPPING AS A MEANS OF KEEPING CONTAMINANTS WHERE THEY SHOULD NOT BE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE CAPS ARE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE PLANNING.

>> Reporter: THE EPA SAYS THE AGENCY USUALLY ARMORED CAPPING IS REVIEWED.

>> TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REMEDIES, THE CLEANUPS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE ARE ROBUST ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND ANY POTENTIAL FLOODING THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE OVER THE NEXT MANY DECADES.

WE ARE NOT JUST LOOKING FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NEXT FIVE OR 10 YEARS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT 100 YEARS IN ADVANCE.

>> Reporter: BUT THE SIERRA CLUB THINKS HURRICANES COULD OUTPACE PROJECTIONS AND OVERWHELM THE CLIMATE ARMOR.

IN THAT THE GAO REPORT SOUNDED A CLEAR WARNING.

>> IT IS IRONIC THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES.

GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF SUPERFUND SITES THAT WE HAVE.

AND GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BIG PRIORITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IN NEW JERSEY.

>> IF A BIGGER STORM REACHES THE DEFENSES, THE TOLL COULD BE CATASTROPHIC.

>> BRENDA'S STORY, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS, A COMPANY TO GIVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE THREAT AND HAND.

AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO CLEAN IT UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO HAZARD NJ AND LISTEN ON ANY OF THE PLATFORMS YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

THE FIRST EPISODE IS OUT TODAY.

>>> MEASURING THE HEALTH OF THE U.S. ECONOMY.

RHONDA HAS MORE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TOP EXECUTIVES, SPOILER ALERT, IT IS A BIG GLOOMY.

>>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY HAVE STARTED TO USE THE WORD RECESSION.

ACCORDING TO THE CONFERENCE BOARD, CEO CONFIDENCE HAS DROPPED TO THE LOWEST LEVELS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

87% OF THOSE SURVEYED EXPECT THE ECONOMY WILL EXPERIENCE A SHORT, MILD RECESSION.

CEOs HAVE A MORE DOWNBEAT ASSESSMENT, SAYING CONDITIONS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE DUE TO HIGH INFLATION AND CONTINUED SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME POSITIVES IN THIS REPORT.

THE MAJORITY OF EXECUTIVES ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR WORKFORCES.

ALTHOUGH EIGHT OUT OF 10 SAY THEY ARE STILL HAVING TROUBLE FINDING QUALIFIED WORKERS.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING EXCESS REVENUE, BUSINESS LEADERS SAY THEY KEEP HEARING EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE AND OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

AND THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR TAX RELIEF.

SO FAR, REQUESTS FOR FUNDS TO OFFSET UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAX INCREASES HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED.

BUT THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION SAYS, THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAX RELIEF.

PRESIDENT AND CEO SAYS GOVERNOR MURPHY'S PROPOSED NEW PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM CALLED ANCHOR.

SHOULD INCLUDE BUSINESSES.

CURRENTLY THE ANCHOR PROGRAM ONLY PROVIDES PRETTY TAX RELIEF TO HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS.

>> WE KNOW NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES PAY ALMOST 50% OF THE PROPERTY TAXES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

THEREFORE THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM.

NOW THAT WE HAVE ALL THIS EXCESS MONEY, WOULD NOT IT BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO BUSINESSES?

>> Reporter: FINALLY THERE HAS LONG BEEN A GENDER PAY KIT GAP ON WOMEN LEARNING LESS THAN MEN.

THAT ENDED IN THE WORLD OF SOCCER.

THE U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION HAS REACHED A DEAL TO PLAY PAY PLAYERS ON THE MEN AND WOMEN'S TEAM EQUALLY.

AND WORLD CUP PRIZE MONEY WILL BE SHARED EQUALLY AS WELL.

ON WALL STREET, INFLATION PEERS LED TO THE BIGGEST ONE-DAY SELLOFF SINCE 2020.

THOSE IN THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY PRESENTING THE JERSEY CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL JUNE 4th AND FIFTH.

EVENT DETAILS INCLUDING PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES AND LOCATIONS ARE ONLINE AT RIVERVIEW JAZZ.ORG.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT WE VISIT ONE OF THE STATES SO-CALLED SCHOOLS.

IT IS A YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR CLASSROOM THAT GAINED PROMINENCE AMID PANDEMIC RELATED SAFETY CONCERNS AND STRUGGLES WITH REMOTE LEARNING.

ENCOURAGING KIDS TO LEARN AND EXPLORE LIFE OUTSIDE.

TAKEN FROM A PAGE IN OUR NATIONS HISTORY BOOKS WEAR OUT YOUR LEARNING WAS VITAL DURING PLAGUES AND PANDEMICS OF CENTURIES PAST.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> Reporter: STORYTIME JUST GOT A LITTLE MORE EXCITING FOR THESE GROUP OF KIDS.

THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE EARTH, AND HOW SO MANY THINGS ON IT ARE LIVING.

AND THE BEST PART, THEY GET TO DO IT IN MOTHER NATURE'S BACKYARD.

>> I LOVE IT.

WE ARE OUTSIDE EVERY DAY.

KIDS HAVE A TON OF FUN.

>> Reporter: THAT IS THE GOAL HERE.

STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN MEET UP EVERY MOMENT MORNING AND TAKE A SHORT WALK INTO THE FOREST WHERE THEY WILL SPEND THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS LEARNING.

>> MEETING OUTSIDE ALL YEAR ROUND.

WE DO THE SAME THING AS ANY OTHER CLASS, WHERE JUSTIFIED.

>> Reporter: CHRISTIE FOUND AT THE SCHOOL IN 2017 AFTER RELOCATING TO THE AREA WITH HER FAMILY AND WANTING A PLACE WHERE HER CHILDREN TO BE OUTSIDE.

>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE WOULD ASK WHAT?

AND NOW, THEY WANT TO JOIN UP AND THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME RESEARCHING CURRICULUMS, VISITING SCHOOLS.

IT IS PLAY-BASED.

AND WE ARE OUTSIDE, SO WE ARE LEARNING FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US.

YESTERDAY WE SAW THE BIRDS FLOCKING IN FOR THE SPRING.

SO WE WERE LISTENING TO THE SOUNDS AND TRYING TO FIND THEM IN THE TREES.

SO, THE CURRICULUM IS A LITTLE BIT LOOSER THAN THE TYPICAL PRESCHOOL OR KINDERGARTEN.

BUT WE ARE GETTING EVERYTHING DONE.

>> Reporter: MILLIE HAS BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

MILLIE REALLY LOOKS FORWARD TO COMING TO CLASS.

>> REALLY, SORT OF AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN HER LIFE.

I THINK SHE DOES NOT NEED TO BE SITTING AT A DESK.

SHE HAS A TON OF ENERGY.

SHE IS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD.

SO GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OUTDOORS, REALLY USE HER BODY, AND LEARNED EVERYTHING SHE WOULD NORMALLY IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Reporter: IT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR NATALIA.

HER SIX-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS IN KINDERGARTEN.

>> MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BORN AND RAISED IN QUEENS.

AND WHEN WE MOVED OUT HERE, WE KNEW WE WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OUTDOORS.

BUT WE DID NOT KNOW HOW.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WERE USED TO.

AND WE FOUND THE PROGRAM, AND SHE JUST LOVED IT.

AND WE SAW HOW QUICKLY SHE THRIVED.

AND KIND OF ACCLIMATED TO BEING OUTDOORS.

>> Reporter: NOW BOTH DAUGHTERS ATTEND OUTSIDE SCHOOL.

AND MOM LOVES WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE KIDS SO MUCH, SHE DECIDED TO BE A TEACHER THERE.

>> CURIOSITY FOR NATURE AND JUST REALLY LEARNING ABOUT HER BODY AND BEING ABLE TO CHALLENGE HERSELF IN NEW WAYS.

SHE IS SUPER CURIOUS AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED HERE.

>> THEY ARE SO HAPPY.

YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY NOT HARD TO GET THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL.

AS EVERY DAY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BUT WE HAVE THE RHYTHM IN PLACE.

AND THEY GET TO READ AND WRITE OUT HERE.

SO THAT IS ALL IN PLACE BUT THEY HAVE THE SURPRISES ALONG THE WAY.

THE OTHER DAY WE FOUND SNAKES SLITHERING ALONG THE GROUND.

WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF SNAKE IT IS AND WHERE IT IS GOING.

AND IN THE SNOW WE ARE TRACKING ANIMALS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND THEY ARE.

YES, THEY ARE SURPRISED OFTEN.

AND IT'S THE JOY OF LEARNING.

>> Reporter: THE LOVE FOR LEARNING THAT IS PUTTING IN THE SMILES OF THESE KIDS FACES EVERY DAY.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

THE TUNA TOMORROW NIGHT TO CHAT BOX WITH THE NEW POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK RAVEN SANTANA FEELS AND HE LOOKS AT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER THE BABY FORMULA STORAGE HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SHE WILL TALK WITH EXPERTS AND DISPEL SOME OF THE MYTHS AND MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING FOR PARENTS.

THAT'S THURSDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHATEVER YOU STREAM.

I'M BREANNA FOR NOSY FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

IN JM INSURANCE GROUP SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS.

SERVING POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT JUST WHO ARE THE POLICYHOLDERS?

ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICES NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR.

AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS.

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

NJM, WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.