FUNDING FOR NJ SPOT NIGHTLY IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, OR STEAD.

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

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

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

MUCH OF NEW JERSEY'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS OUTDATED AND CRUMBLING.

THE PRICE TAG TO FIX IT IS A COOL $5.5 BILLION ACCORDING TO NJ FUTURE.

THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ISN'T POURING IN ANYTIME SOON.

THE STATES DID MAKE A SPLASH WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF $558 MILLION TO GO TO PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP REMOVE HARMFUL CHEMICALS FROM THE WATER SUPPLY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR DRINKING WATER.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN DIVES DEEPER INTO THE DETAILS.

IF I WANT TO MAIN BREAK HAS DRIED UP YOUR TOP OR LEAD SERVICE LINES FORCE YOU TO FILTER WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR FAUCET OR YOU HAVE BOUGHT BOTTLED WATER BECAUSE TESTS FOUND CHEMICALS IN YOUR TOWN SUPPLY, HERE IS GOOD NEWS.

JERSEY IS GETTING HALF $1 BILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL LOANS TO SPEND ON 28 WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE.

FROM THE MOMENT WE MAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND FOR THAT 1st CUP OF COFFEE TO WHEN WE GO TO BED AT NIGHT AND BRUSH OUR TEETH, THERE IS NOTHING MORE ESSENTIAL TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THE FUNDAMENTAL WELL- BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY THEM WATER.

OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THE $588 MILLION FINANCING PACKAGE AT A REFURBISHED MORRISTOWN TREATMENT PLANT THAT PULLS $3 MILLION OF DRINKING WATER A DAY FROM A CONTAMINATED SECTION OF AN UNDERGROUND AQUIFER AND PURIFIES IT.

FOR SOME OF, IF NOT THE CLEANEST WATER IN THE STATE.

WE COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN IT WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS, WITH THE I BANK, WITH THE DPA AND EPA.

MANAGER BILL BUTLER SAYS THE CUTTING EDGE PLANT REMOVES A TOXIC ALPHABET SOUP OF CONTAMINANTS, INCLUDING ONE FOR DIOXIN, TRY CHLORO PROPANE'S, AND RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS.

I LIVE WITH ANOTHER WATER PURVEYOR.

I WOULDN'T MIND COMING HERE TO GET WATER AND TAKING IT HOME.

OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDE 28 MILLION TO HELP THE WORKPLACE FOR ITS REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, MORE THAN 17 MILLION TO JUMPSTART A SIMILAR PROJECT IN TRENTON, MILLIONS FOR NEW WATER MAINS IN JERSEY CITY AND HOBOKEN, OR CENTURY-OLD CAST- IRON PIPES NEED A SERIOUS UPGRADE AND MORE, MUCH MORE.

THE LOANS COME FROM SEVERAL SOURCES AT BLACK BOTTOM OR EVEN 0% INTEREST.

THE BENEFIT, MASSIVE SAVINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO TURN ON THE TAP.

LOANS INCLUDE 221 MILLION IN FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS FROM THE EPA, ABOUT 50 TO 60 MILLION FROM JERSEYS INFRASTRUCTURE BANK AT AAA LOAN RATES, AND ABOUT 300 MILLION FROM NEW JERSEY DEP AND AT 0%.

THE LOAN TO MORRISTOWN WILL SAVE ITS RATEPAYERS $6 MILLION IN INTEREST PAYMENTS, ACCORDING TO THE I BANKS DAVID ZIMMER.

THE 28 PROJECTS IN THIS PORTFOLIO ARE VERY LARGE PROJECTS.

AGAIN, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY WOULD GO OUT AND FINANCE THEM ON THEIR OWN, WE EXPECT THAT WE ARE SAVING THAT GROUP $258 MILLION IN INTEREST SAVINGS AND PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS.

SO, HALF $1 BILLION IS A BIG DEAL.

THAT IS A CHUNK.

WE NEED 11 MORE OF THOSE CHUNKS TO REALLY GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS., CHRIS STURM WITH NJ FUTURE WELCOMES TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BUT SAYS OVER ALL IT IS LIKE A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF JERSEYS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, 5.5 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

SHE WOULD LIKE THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION TO COMMIT 1.2 BILLION FROM FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID TO REPAIR NEW JERSEY'S WATER WOES.

WE HAVE HAD DECADES OF DEFERRED INVESTMENT IN OUR WATER SYSTEMS IN NEW JERSEY.

HAVE NEW MANDATES TO ADDRESS CANCEROUS FOREVER CHEMICALS, LIKE PSA'S, TO REPLACE LEAD PIPES, WHICH ARE A LIABILITY FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

TO REDUCE STORMWATER FLOODING FROM STORMS LIKE I DO.

NEW JERSEY STILL FACES AN ENORMOUS FUNDING GAP.

ZIMMER URGES POLICY AND LAWMAKERS TO INVEST IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE FUNDING SOURCES DRY UP.

A GROUP OF ADVOCATES IN NEWARK, YESTERDAY, DENOUNCED THE MASS SHOOTING IN A BUFFALO SUPERMARKET EARLIER THIS WEEK THE GUNMEN TARGETED BLACK RESIDENTS.

THEY CONDEMNED IT AS A WHITE SUPREMACIST TERRORIST ATTACK.

THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS LED BY SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE LARRY HAMM, HEAD OF THE PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS.

THEY ARE CALLING FOR STATE AND FEDERAL ACTION, WANTING SOMETHING LIKE THE BUFFALO SHOOTING COULD HAPPEN HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

THEY ARE URGING THE STATE TO CREATE A CONFERENCE ON RACIST DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND HATE CRIMES.

THERE MUST BE ACTION.

OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL, AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL, NEEDS TO STEP FORWARD AND TELL US WHAT THEY ARE DOING, WHAT ARE THEIR PROGRAMS, WHAT AGENCIES HAVE IMMOBILIZED, WHAT FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED, THE PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN PUT IN CHARGE TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND WHAT PLANS HAVE BEEN MADE.

IN A WEEK OF WEEKEND THAT SAW SEVERAL MACHINES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, TODAY, HOST THE FIRST GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER DAY, FOCUSING ON GUN VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, AND LOOKING AT COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS TO HELP COMBAT THE SURGE OF GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR ATTENDED THE EVENT AND HAD THIS TO SAY.

TODAY IS A DAY FOR EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT ENDING THE EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE CAN LOOK LIKE.

A FUTURE IN WHICHEVER COMMUNITY CANNOT ONLY FEEL SAFER BUT BE SAFER AND WHERE WE BACKUP OUR VALUES WITH CONCRETE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL ACTIONS BASED ON SOUND RESEARCH.

JOINING ME NOT TO TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER, MICHAEL.

MICHAEL, WE ALL TURNED ON OUR TVS A FEW DAYS AGO TO SEE MORE IMAGES OF PEOPLE TRYING TO FLEE ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING, THIS TIME IN A GROCERY STORE WHERE SHOPPERS SHOULD HAVE FELT SAFE.

I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO SEEING WHAT IS NOW ALMOST THE 200th MASS SHOOTING IN OUR COUNTRY SO FAR THIS YEAR.

I THINK I HAVE TWO THOUGHTS IN CONTRADICTION WITH ONE ANOTHER.

ONE IS THAT IT IS ASTOUNDING HOW OFTEN WE SEE THIS AND HOW MANY AREAS IN LIFE THIS TOUCHES ON.

LIKE YOU SAID IN THE GROCERY STORE.

YOU WOULD ASSUME WE WOULD BE SAFE.

THESE MASS SHOOTINGS REPRESENT ONLY ABOUT 1% OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

ON THE ONE HAND, HOW CAN IT BE SO MANY?

ON THE OTHER HAND, HOW MUCH GUN VIOLENCE MUST WE HAVE?

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY CREATED THE GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER.

THE GOAL WAS TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW PREVALENT GUN VIOLENCE IS IN THE COUNTRY, BUT IN NEW JERSEY AS WELL.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND AND HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO RESPOND TO THE AREAS WHERE IT IS MOST PREVALENT?

WE HAVE A COUPLE MINGLES.

WE WENT TO FIND AND CONDUCT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATE TO SOME POWER COMMUNITIES TO MAKE DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS.

WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS A LOT ABOUT WAYS WE HAVE INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT ALL FORMS OF GUN VIOLENCE, INCLUDING HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE.

HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO OWNS FIREARMS ILLICITLY, AND HOW CAN WE HELP REACH THOSE FOLKS TO STEM THE TIDE OF DANGEROUS USE OF FIREARMS OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL CHANNELS.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES COORDINATION ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT STATE DEPARTMENTS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT AVENUES.

WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOUNDS LIKE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS.

TODAY WE HOSTING OUR RESEARCH DAY, WHICH INCLUDED A CONVERSATION AND COMMUNITY PARTNER.

WE WORKS NOT ONLY IN COLLABORATION STATE AGENCIES DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES, BUT ALSO THE FOLKS ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK OF GUN VIOLENCE INTERVENTION THAT GROUP UP IN NEWARK.

IN ORDER TO DO THE TASK LAID OUT IN FRONT OF US, WE HAVE TO WORK ON A LOT OF PROJECTS WITH A LOT OF FOLKS COMING TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WITH DIFFERENT GOALS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES.

WE NEED TO LEAD ON EVERYONE'S EXPERTISE IN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY WAY TO GET OUT THE SCOPE OF ANY PROBLEMS.

HOW DO YOU ADJUST GUN VIOLENCE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE POLITICALLY?

YOU WERE TO NOT ALIENATE ANYBODY.

FEELING HER INTO THE DATA AND INVEST IN MY DATA.

IS IS NOT AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE.

IT IS ONE THAT REQUIRES CAREFUL STUDY AND REASONABLE SOLUTIONS.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS TO IMPLEMENT STRONGER GUN LAWS?

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS WORK TO INCREASE OUR DATA INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND AND TRACK THE PHENOMENON OF GUN VIOLENCE IN REAL-TIME WITH GREATER ACCURACY.

I WANT TO SEEK COORDINATION BETWEEN THE SOURCES SO WE CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO DEVELOP TOOLS THAT NOT ONLY'S UNLIKELY WORK, WE CAN MEASURABLY SHOW THEY DO.

>> THAT'S GOOD INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH US TODAY.

MEASURES HE IS NEARING A JUDICIAL CRISIS IS NOT ONLY ALREADY IN ONE.

CHIEF JUSTICE STEWARD ROBERT LAID OUT THE FACTS AT THE ANNUAL STATE BAR ASSOCIATION MEETING TODAY, EXPLAINING HOW A SHORTAGE OF JUDGES IS LEADING TO MASSIVE BACKLOG IN THE STATES LEGAL SYSTEM.

SOME COURT CASES TAKE THREE TO FIVE YEARS TOO CLOSE, INCLUDING DIVORCES AND PERSONAL INJURY CASES.

EVEN CRIMINAL CASES ARE HELD UP, PUTTING A PERSON'S CIVIL LIBERTY AT STAKE.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF 17% OF THE TRIAL COURT BENCHES VACANT AND EXPECTED TO GET WORSE AS SEVERAL JUDGES RETIRE SOON.

EVEN THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS STARING DOWN VACANCIES AS A FOURTH JUSTICE WILL HIT THE RETIREMENT AGE OF 70 IN JULY.

CHIEF JUSTICE RAPTOR IS CALLING FOR SWIFT ACTION FROM THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE TO NOMINATE AND CONFIRM JUDGES TO THE TRIAL BENCH AND JUSTICES TO THE STATES HIGH COURT.

KIDS AGES 5 TO 11 ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A PFIZER COVID BOOSTER SHOT.

CDC DIRECTOR ROCHELLE WALENSKY GAVE THE FRONT OF YOU LATE YESTERDAY MEANING KIDS IN THIS AGE GROUP CAN HAVE A RELEASED FIVE MONTHS AFTER THEY COMPLETE THEIR PRIMARY SERIES.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS AND IN NEW JERSEY HAS SURPASSED 2 MILLION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CASES ARE SURGING, LEADING THE CDC TO RECOMMEND PEOPLE CONSIDER MASKING UP WHILE INDOORS IN AREAS WHERE TRANSMISSION IS HIGH.

THAT INCLUDES 10 COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY.

> FOUR YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, A FETAL SCHOOL BUS CRASH TO THE LIFE OF 10-YEAR-OLD MARANDA VARGAS AND FIFTH-GRADE TEACHER JENNIFER WILLIAMSON.

THE CRASH PUT INTO FOCUS THE NEED FOR SEATBELT ON ALL SCHOOL BUSES.

THAT IS THE GOAL OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOT HAMMERED.

HE IS TAKING THE LAW PASSED IN NEW JERSEY IN 2018 CALLED MARANDA'S LAW AND BROUGHT INTO CONGRESS, ASKING THAT LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS BE REQUIRED IN ONE ON ALL SCHOOL OPERATED BUSES.

IS THE FIRST TIME THE BILL HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD.

AS WELL AS LEFT OUT OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S $1 TRILLION INTERSECTION BILL.

EVEN THOUGH 70% OF NEW JERSEY VOTERS SAID YES TO LEGAL WEED, THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF MUNICIPALITIES SAID NO TO HAVING IT SOLD IN THE TOWN LAST SUMMER WITH THE DEADLINE TO VOTE ON THE PLANS.

SOMETIMES ARE CHANGING THEIR MINDS.

PRINCETON PAST A BAND THIS WEEK.

OTHER TOWNS REVERSING STILL HASHING OUT THE DETAILS OF WHERE AND HOW BUSINESSES CAN OPEN UP SHOP TED GOLDBERG HAS MORE ON THE ROLLOUT OF LEGAL WEED IN NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES ARE PUFFING AND SOME PASSING ON SEVEN RECREATIONAL CANNABIS.

WHILE JUST 12 DISPENSARIES HAVE GOTTEN THE GREEN LIGHT SO FAR TO SELL IN THE STATE, EXPECT ANYONE TO POP UP IN PRINCETON.

THIS WEEK, COUNCILMAN YVES METER GANG SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON A POTENTIAL DISPENSARY, EVEN THOUGH SHE DOES WANT ONE IN HER MUNICIPALITY.

THESE POLICIES WERE EXPLICITLY DESIGNED TO TARGET HIPPIES BACK IN THE 1960S OR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

IT IS AN EXTREMELY RACIST HISTORY I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PRINCETON SAY NO TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S MEANT SAYING YES TO YOUNG PEOPLE USING DRUGS.

THAT IS NOT HOW I SEE IT BUT THAT IS HOW MANY PEOPLE SAW IT.

DURING A MEETING THAT BROUGHT OUT MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE.

THAT SHOWED HOW CONTENTIOUS THE ISSUE HAVE COME RELEASED AFTER A VOCAL MINORITY OF OPPOSING FOLKS IN TOWN.

WHEN NEW JERSEY VOTED TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS, 75% OF PRINCETON VOTERS WERE ON BOARD.

TWO YEARS LATER, NEITHER GANG SAYS CROW POP AND ANTI-POD VOTERS HAVE CHANGED THEIR TUNE, SAYING SELLING WEED IS NOT WORTH THE RISKS.

THERE IS NO BREATHALYZER FOR CANNABIS USE.

PEOPLE WILL BE SHOWING UP AT WORK UNDER THE INFLUENCE USED BY CHILDREN WILL INCREASE.

I SAID OVER AND OVER I DON'T AGREE WITH THOSE FEARS.

THEY ARE KIND OF BEING AT THIS POINT FOR REALLY TAKING A STEP BACK.

WITH BENSON OUT OF THE RUNNING, CITIES LIKE HOBOKEN ARE TRYING TO SLEEP IN.

SIX POTENTIAL DISPENSARIES HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY HOBOKEN'S CANNABIS REVIEW BOARD BUT WILL NOW FACE A LOCAL PLANNING BOARD BEFORE TRYING FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAFE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND ULTIMATE USE CANNABIS.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.

IT IS TIME THAT WE JUST EMBRACE THAT.

SEACAUCUS ONCE AGAIN, TOO.

LASTLY, THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED RECREATIONAL SALES AFTER INITIAL INITIALLY BANNING THEM.

LEADERS SAID THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE WE WOULD NOT BE SOLD OUTSIDE OF INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE SHOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN OR ANYWHERE ELSE BUT RIGHT THERE.

IS AWAY FROM EVERYTHING.

IT IS OUT OF THE BACK OF THE INDUSTRIAL AREA.

IT REALLY DOES NOT BOTHER ANYONE.

HARMONY DISPENSARY SELLS MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN SEACAUCUS.

THEY TOLD NJ SPOTLIGHT MS. THAT THEY ARE APPLYING TO SILLY RECREATIONAL.

AS FOR PRINCETON, IT'S COUNSEL SAYS THAT WILL FOCUS ON OTHER ISSUES THIS YEAR.

I LOOK AT THE LIST OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH FOR THE YEAR THIS DID NOT MAKE THE CUTS.

CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES THIS ULTIMATELY JUST DIDN'T SEEM WORTH IT.

IF TOWNS DON'T THEMSELVES OF RECREATIONAL WEED STATE LAWS MANDATE THEY AUTOMATICALLY OPT IN.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO EITHER OPT OUT OR CASH IN.

I AM CANNABIS.

> IT STARTED WITH UNIONIZING.

AMAZON WORKERS ARE DEMANDING MORE FROM THE STATES POLITICAL LEADERS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE LATEST, PLUS TO BIG HEADLINES.

WHAT OTHER WORKERS ASKING FOR?

AMAZON WORKERS AND OTHERS ARE TELLING STATE LAWMAKERS THAT BETTER HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTECTIONS ARE NEEDED AT AMAZON WAREHOUSES IN THE STATE.

THEY SPOKE BEFORE AN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE YESTERDAY AFTER RESEARCH FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY IN NEW JERSEY POLICY PERSPECTIVE FOUND HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN WORKER ENTRIES AT AMAZON FACILITIES HERE.

NICOLE RODRIGUEZ IS RESEARCH DIRECTOR AND INCOMING PRESIDENT AT NJ POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

WE LOOKED AT DATA THAT IS PROVIDED BY OSHA AND IT IS DATA THAT EMPLOYERS ACTUALLY PROVIDE AND REPORT TO OSHA.

WE FOUND THAT IN NEW JERSEY, THE RECORDABLE INJURY RATE IS BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR WAS A 50% INCREASE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT NEW TO AMAZON.

AMAZON SAYS THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR EMPLOYEES IS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY AND IT CONTINUES TO MAKE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN REDUCING INJURIES AND KEEPING EMPLOYEES SAFE.

THE MAIN UNION REPRESENTING ATLANTIC CITY'S CASINO WORKERS IS MORNING OF A POTENTIAL LABOR DISPUTE IF NO CONTACTS AREN'T IN PLACE BY THE MAY 31st DEADLINE.

THAT IS A CLIENT TO PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY, WHICH REPORTS THAT CASINO EXECUTIVES HAVE NOT MADE COMMENTS ON THAT.

:54 OF UNITE HERE IS CURRENTLY HOLDING CONTRACT TALKS WITH THE CASINOS AND PREVIOUSLY SAID IT WAS SEEKING SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT INCREASES.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER JOINED ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM SOUTH JERSEY AND ENVIRONMENT TO LEADERS TO TALK ABOUT IT IN HALF MILLION DOLLAR GRANT CAMDEN WILL RECEIVE TO CLEAN UP CONTAMINATED BRAND THE FIELD SITES.

THAT GOES A LONG WAY TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED FINANCING TO GET THE WORK DONE.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS AVOIDING A TOTAL OF 6 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS AND BROWNFIELD GRANTS TO NEW JERSEY.

THE NEW YORK MAYOR JOINED OTHER LOCAL LEADERS LAST NIGHT AT GATEWAY CENTER FOR AN EVENT MARKING A MILESTONE AND A $50 MILLION REFURBISHMENT OF THE OFFICE COMPLEX.

THEY UNVEILED A NEW ENTRYWAY INTO GATEWAY, PROVIDING EASY ACCESS TO NEW YORK PENN STATION.

THE GATEWAY REDEVELOPED A PROJECT AND INCLUDES A RENOVATED SPACE WITH NEW RETAIL AND DINING OPTIONS OPENING LATER IN THE YEAR.

NOW, HERE IS A CHECK ON TODAY'S CLOSING NUMBERS FROM WALL STREET.

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

SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY MONTAUK THE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AT NJ IT, OFFERING NEW JERSEY'S FIRST BACHELORS OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN MINT TECH.

BUSINESS FOCUSED TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN AND RIVERVIEW JAZZ REPRESENTING THE JERSEY CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL JUNE 4th AND 5th.

EVENT DETAILS, INCLUDING PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES AND LOCATION, ARE ONLINE AND RIVERVIEW JAZZ.ORG.

INTO A RHONDA SCHAFFLER FOR NJ BUSINESS FEET.

SHE LOOKS AT THE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY, INCLUDING HOW THE INDUSTRY HAS EXPERIENCED MAJOR GROWTH AND SHE GOES BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A LOOK AT NEW JERSEY- BASED FASHION AND COSMETIC COMPANIES.

WATCH IT SATURDAY AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30 A.M. NJ SPOTLIGHT MS. IS LAUNCHING A NEW MULTIPLATFORM SERIES CALLED BOWLING HAZARD NJ BUT IS DIGGING DEEP INTO SOME OF NEW JERSEY'S MOST POLLUTED PLACES IN THE WAYS IN WHICH CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS THEM.

BRIANA VANNOZZI SAT DOWN WITH THE HOST AS PART OF OUR NEW SERIES.

FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND A LOT OF WORK.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS TOPIC?

THE SUPERFUND SITES THEMSELVES ARE PRETTY WELL KNOWN IN THE STATE.

WHY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

IT ALL STARTS BACK TO MY HOMETOWN IN TEXAS.

I AM FROM A SMALL TOWN.

WE HAVE OUR OWN LEGACY.

THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS NOT DONE NEGATIVE A JOB AS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HAS DONE AND GETTING TOXIC SITES LISTED.

WHICH IS SAYING A LOT SINCE IN SOME CASES THE CENTER TAKEN 30 TO 40 YEARS TO CLEAN UP.

THE MORE I RESEARCH AND THE MORE I WORK ON THIS PROJECT, I REALLY DO SEE THE CRAVINGS OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HAS DONE IN SOME OF THE THINGS IT HASN'T DONE SO GREAT THAT THEY ARE SLOWLY WORKING TOWARD AN THINGS DOWN THE ROAD THAT I SEE AS BEING REALLY POSITIVE.

I MOVED TO THE AREA TO THE EAST COAST, REALIZING THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING LOOKING AT THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE SUPERFUND SITES AND REALLY WOULD A TICKING TIME BOMB THESE ARE.

GIVE US A TASTE OF WHAT THIS PODCAST WILL COVER?

THE FIRST EPISODE IS CALLED ON THIN ICE.

VERY INTERESTING TITLE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS THE AMERICAN CYANAMID SITE IN BRIDGEWATER NEW JERSEY.

REASON IT'S CALLED ON THIN ICE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH USED TO LIVE ON THIS SUPERFUND SITE PRIOR TO IT BEING A SUPERFUND SITE WHEN IT WAS JUST A REGULAR EVERYDAY GUY FACTORY MADE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DYES AND PIGMENTS.

SHE WAS RAISED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT SHE USED TO DO WHEN SHE WAS A KID WHEN SHE USED TO GO ICE-SKATING ON THESE PONDS THAT FOR OVER.

IT WAS ONLY UNTIL SHE REACHED ADULTHOOD THAT SHE REALIZED THESE PONDS HAD TOXIC CHEMICALS IN IT AND THAT SHE PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ICE- SKATING ON THESE PONDS.

THE WATER WAS NOT JUST CLEAR POND WATER, IT HAD LOTS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS IN A.

SHE HAS FUN MEMORIES OF BEING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ICE-SKATING ON THESE PONDS AND ALL THIS PHOTO SHE SHOWED ME AS A CHILD YOU CAN SEE THE FACTOR IN THE BACKGROUND OF HER CHILDHOOD.

IT WAS REALLY A FASCINATING INTERVIEW.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS A COMPANY NEVER HAD ON THE PLANTS.

THESE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE LIVED ALONGSIDE THE SUPERFUND SITES.

THE WHOLE CRUX OF THIS IS THE INTERSECTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE SUPERFUND SITES.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THAT?

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT THAT COMES FROM THE GAL REPORT THAT CAME OUT IN 2019.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MANY SUPERFUND SITES IN NEW JERSEY ACTUALLY SIT ON A SHORELINE OR IN FLOODPLAINS.

THE GAO REPORT HAS SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS.

THE KIND OF JUST WANT TO RUN THROUGH REAL CLICK.

THEY FOUND THAT 60% OF THE COUNTRY SUPERFUND SITES ARE ON PLACES FORMABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

IN NEW JERSEY, THAT PERCENTAGE IS HIGHER.

THE REPORT FOUND THAT 88% OF THE STATES SUPERFUND SITES LOCATED IN PLACES THAT MAY BE IMPACTED BY ONE OR MORE CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS.

88% OF THE SITES 114 SUPERFUND SITES MAY BE IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT IS A NUMBER TO FOCUS ON.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND EPISODE SO MUCH.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TODAY HAZARD NJ PODCAST A LISTEN ON ANY PLATFORM TO GET YOUR PODCAST.

THE FIRST EPISODE IS OUT NOW.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE LEAKS.

POLITICAL HEADLINES, CHECK OUT REPORTERS ON TABLE.

FILL IT WITH DAVID AND TALK WITH REPORTERS ABOUT THE LOOMING BUDGET BATTLE SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. SUNDAY MORNING AT THE CLOCK A.M.. ON CHAT BOX, RAVEN SANTANA FILLS IN LOOKS AT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER THE BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE HERE IN NEW JERSEY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FOR SATURDAY AT 1630 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M.. FOR EVERYONE HERE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.