>>> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF BABY FORMULA ARRIVED BY MILITARY AIRCRAFT FROM GERMANY ON SUNDAY, CARRYING PRECIOUS CARGO.

39 TONS OF INFANT FORMULA.

ENOUGH FOR MORE THAN HALF A MILLION EIGHT OZ BABY BOTTLES.

TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, IT IS ENOUGH FORMULA TO FEED JUST 9000 BABIES AND 18,000 TODDLERS FOR ONE WEEK.

BUT IT WILL HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE.

TRANSPORTING A HYPOALLERGENIC FORMULA USED BY INFANTS WITH COWS MILK PROTEIN ALLERGY.

AND FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS.

A SECOND SHIPMENT IS PLANNED FOR THE COMING DAYS.

IT IS EXPECTED TO EASE THE DEEPENING NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE, BUT IT WON'T SOLVE THE CRISIS.

THE SHORTAGE IS A SOURCE OF EXTREME STRESS AND EXPENSE FOR BOTH FAMILIES AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.

>> THE HOSPITALS ARE FEELING THE SAME PINCH.

THE SUPPLIES ARE NOT AS ROBUST AS THEY WERE.

>> FAMILIES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES GRAPPLING WITH THE NATIONWIDE BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE.

SHIP SO ARE HOSPITALS.

DOCTORS IN THE PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS SAY THAT WHILE MOST HOSPITALS DO HAVE A SUPPLY SET ASIDE FOR NEW PARENTS, THEY ARE ALSO TRYING TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT RESERVING IT FOR CERTAIN FAMILIES.

ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WHO CANNOT GET A BY THEMSELVES OR FOR WHATEVER MEDICAL REASON, NEED A SPECIALIZED FORMULA THAT ONLY THE HOSPITAL CAN PROVIDE.

ESPECIALLY BABIES IN THE NICU.

>> IN THE HOSPITAL, MOST OF THE BABIES IN THE NICU ARE EITHER PREMATURE OR HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.

ALMOST ALL THE BABIES DO NEED SPECIAL FORMULA.

>> DOCTORS AT RUTGERS NEW JERSEY SCHOOL SAY THAT FINDING SPECIALIZED CANS OF FORMULA WHICH CAN JUST LEFT LAST A FEW DAYS, HAVE LEFT NICU BABIES UNABLE TO MEET MILESTONES.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT FORMULA AND BABIES CANNOT GET THE AMINO ACIDS.

THEY CANNOT TOLERATE IT AND WILL BE SPITTING IT OUT.

AND THEY WILL NOT BE GROWING.

>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AT THE POISON CENTER IN THE PAST IS WHEN PARENTS WITH GOOD INTENTIONS MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE IN TRYING TO EITHER MAKE THEIR OWN FORMULA OR GIVE THEIR INFANT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT QUITE BABY FORMULA.

THAT IS WHEN WE GET INVOLVED.

THAT IS WHEN IT RESULTS IN ILLNESS AND.

>> DOCTORS SAY ONE OF THE PRIMARY CONCERNS ASIDE FROM PARENTS HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE FORMULA THEY NEED FOR INFANTS IS WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT ALTERNATIVES TO THE REGULAR FORMULA AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST IS PEOPLE WILL FIND A HOMEMADE RECIPE THAT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF THIS AND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

BUT IT ALWAYS FALLS SHORT BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH IN FORMULA AND IN HUMAN BREAST MILK THAT IS HARD TO REPLICATE.

>> WHICH IS WHY DOCTORS STRESSED THAT THERE ARE SAFER OPTIONS FOR PARENTS TO THINK ABOUT.

>> BETWEEN 6-12 MONTHS, YOU CAN START TO CONSIDER IN A PINCH, UTILIZING LESS ROBUST NUTRITIONAL FORMULAS SUCH AS COWS MILK OR SOME OF THE TALLER FORMULAS AS WELL.

AND THEN A SECOND CHOICE WOULD BE TO SWITCH CATEGORIES.

ON COWS MILK BASE, YOU CAN SWITCH TO A SOY PROTEIN-BASED FORMULA AS WELL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS.

I RECOGNIZE THAT ALL OF THEM ARE EXPERIENCING SHORTAGES.

HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY TO LOOK FOR DIFFERENT THINGS IN DIFFERENT STORES CAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE A SOLUTION.

>> THIS WEEKEND, THE ABBOTT LABORATORIES CEO APOLOGIZED FOR HIS COMPANY'S ROLE IN THE NATIONWIDE BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE IN THE OP-ED PIECE WHERE HE SAID THE COMPANY IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TO MAKE SURE SHORTAGES LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

THE OUTBID SAYS THEY PLAN TO EXPAND CAPACITY REDUNDANCY WHICH WILL INCREASE THE FORMULA SUPPLY AND CREATE THE REDUNDANCY WE NEED TO NEVER STOP PRODUCTION OF CRITICAL PRODUCTS AGAIN AND WE WILL SIMILARLY INVEST IN UPGRADING SAFETY AND QUALITY PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENT.

FORD ALSO SAID THE FACILITY WILL BE RESTARTED BY THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE AND GOING ON TO PROMISE THAT BY THE END OF JUNE, WE WILL BE SUPPLYING MORE FORMULA TO AMERICANS AND IN JANUARY BEFORE THE RECALL.

>>> TONIGHT, THE CDC IS INVESTIGATING A SPREADING HEPATITIS OUTBREAK THAT HAS KILLED SIX CHILDREN NATIONWIDE AND HAS EXPANDED TO 180 REPORTED YOUTH PATIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FOUR CHILDREN IN NEW JERSEY ARE AMONG THEM.

MOST HAVE RECOVERED AND SOME CASES HAVE BEEN SEVERE.

HEPATITIS IS A LEADING CAUSE OF LIVER CANCER IN THE U.S. AND THE OUTBREAK IS TOP OF MIND FOR MEDICAL EXPERTS DURING THE HEPATITIS AWARENESS MONTH BECAUSE IT LARGELY GOES UNDETECTED.

DOCTORS AT THE VIRAL HEPATITIS PROGRAMS AT BARNABAS HEALTH JOIN US TO EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE AND POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS BEHIND THE OUTBREAK.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OF COURSE, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE LOOKING AT THIS OUTBREAK AMONG CHILDREN IN THE U.S.

VERY UNCOMMON FROM WHAT WE KNOW.

AND OF COURSE ALARMING.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW?

>> THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING AND THERE IS A LOT OF WORK HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO INVESTIGATE THESE CASES AND FIND OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CAUSES ARE.

AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITIVE CONNECTION FOR ALL OF THEM.

THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A BIT OF TESTING PROCEDURES.

IT IS NOT THE COMMON COLD AS WE SEE WITH A, B AND C. THE MEDIAN AGES TWO SO SO WE DON'T THINK IT IS RELATED TO THE VACCINES.

POSSIBLY DID SOME OF THE KIDS HAVE COVID OR IS IT COVID RELATED?

THIS IS ALSO BEING INVESTIGATED.

THE TAKE AWAY IS TO JUST BE AWARE.

AWARENESS OF HEPATITIS AND GENERAL.

TALKING ABOUT HEPATITIS AWARENESS MONTH AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE HEPATITIS WHICH IS ABDOMINAL PAIN, NAUSEA OR VOMITING.

INTERESTINGLY, NONE OF THESE CASES HAVE FEVER.

BUT JAUNDICE, THEY ALL LED TO JAUNDICE WHICH IS A YELLOWING OF THE SKIN OR THE EYES.

AND THAT IS A TIP THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH THE LIVER.

SO CASES LIKE THAT IS WHEN YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

>> HEPATITIS B AND C ARE STILL THE WORLD'S LEADING CAUSE OF LIVER CANCER.

HOW MUCH FURTHER DO WE NEED TO GO BEYOND THIS AWARENESS?

IS TESTING NOT HAPPENING?

ARE PEOPLE JUST BEING EXPOSED?

>> WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST CANCER PREVENTION EFFORTS YOU CAN DO, TO JUST GET TESTED.

THERE IS TREATMENT FOR HEP C. WE HAVE REMARKABLE CURES.

VERY EFFECTIVE.

FOR HEP B, WE HAVE MEDICATIONS TO HELP CONTROL THE VIRUS.

AND THERE ARE NUMBER OF THERAPIES CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED AND WE HOPE THAT POTENTIALLY THERE WILL BE A CURE IN A FEW YEARS AS WELL.

>> QUICKLY, DR. WANG, WHO IS MOST AT RISK?

>> I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING IS WE USED TO REALLY FOCUS ON AT RISK POPULATIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS AT RISK.

FOR HEP C, WE WERE TARGETING THE BABY BOOMER POPULATION AS THREE QUARTERS OF THOSE IN THE U.S. WITH HEPATITIS C WERE BABY BOOMERS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RISK FACTORS.

BUT IF YOU'D ONLY FOCUS ON THE RISK FACTORS, YOU MISSED QUITE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE IT BUT DON'T FALL INTO THOSE CATEGORIES.

ANOTHER GREAT THING ABOUT HEP B, IS THAT THERE IS A VACCINE.

IF YOU WERE BORN AFTER 1991, IT WAS PART OF THE PEDIATRIC VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS.

BUT THOSE OF US BORN BEFORE 1991, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

THAT IS ALSO A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

JUST THIS YEAR, THE CDC RECOMMENDED ALL ADULTS BE VACCINATED FOR HABITAT IS B.

AND WE HAVE QUITE A GAP IN THE NUMBER OF ADULTS NOT BACK HIS NATIVE.

WITH THESE ACUTE CASES COMING UP EVERY NOW AND THEN, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET VACCINATED FOR HEP B AND A.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OUTBREAKS FOR HEPATITIS A YEARS AGO.

SO NOW IS THE TIME TO GET BACK INTO GETTING HEALTHY AND THE PANDEMIC IS GETTING BETTER.

SO THERE IS A CHANCE TO GET UP- TO-DATE WITH ALL OF YOUR PREVENTATIVE CARE.

>> DR. SUE WANG, MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE VIRAL HEPATITIS PROGRAM AT BARNABAS HEALTH, THANK YOU.

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

>>> SOLVING THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

BUT FEDERAL LEADERS HOPE THAT A CONTINUING LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM COULD BE THE START.

VISITING NEW JERSEY TODAY TO REMIND BORROWERS ABOUT RELIEF AVAILABLE, BUT USED BY FEW, OUR SENIOR POLITICAL RESPONDENT REPORTS THAT THE BURDEN OF DEBT HAS STALLED THE DREAMS OF MANY.

>> IT USED TO BE THAT YOUR BIGGEST DEBT BURDEN AFTER COLLEGE WAS YOUR FIRST MORTGAGE.

NOW MOST ANY COLLEGE GRADUATE TODAY WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY WISH THEY COULD THINK ABOUT TAKING ON A MORTGAGE.

IN NEW JERSEY, MORE THAN A MILLION STUDENT LONE BORROWERS OWE OVER $50 BILLION IN TOTAL WHICH IS AN AVERAGE OF $33,000 PER BORROWER.

>> THE COST OF COLLEGE LOANS IS ONE OF THE STARKEST EXAMPLES OF THE AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGE MORE BROADLY FACING THE STATE AND NATION.

>> AT A ROUNDTABLE AT THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY WITH GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, THE MESSAGE FOR SOME WAS THAT THERE IS AND HAS BEEN HELP AVAILABLE.

IT IS THE PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.

>> THE PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM, PSLF, ALLOWS PEOPLE WORKING THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC OR NONPROFIT SECTORS, TO HAVE THAT SERVICE CREDITED AGAINST THEIR OUTSTANDING FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS.

THIS IS OPEN FOR ANY NEW JERSEY NATIVE WORKING AND FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, FOR THOSE WORKING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AS NURSES, FIRST RESPONDERS, NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND OTHER MILITARY AND STAFF MEMBERS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

>> THESE ARE GOVERNMENT LOANS AND YOU HAVE TO WORK IN THE PUBLIC OR NONPROFIT SECTOR FOR 10 YEARS AND MAKE ALL YOUR PAYMENTS.

BUT IT IS THE DIFFERENCE MAKER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IF THEY JUST KNEW MORE ABOUT IT.

>> THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ENTITLEMENT IS.

MAYBE THEY TRIED BEFORE BUT IT DIDN'T WORK OUT BECAUSE THE PROGRAM WAS SO GUMMED UP.

AND NOW MAYBE IT IS DIFFERENT BUT WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TELL THEM TO TRY AGAIN.

>> FOR SOME OF US, STUDENTS LOANS HAVE MADE COLLEGE POSSIBLE AND MADE IT POSSIBLE TO GRADUATE.

WE CAN'T OVERLOOK THE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE LOANS THEY ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO REPAY.

>> FOR MURPHY, THE SECOND GOAL OF A PROGRAM LIKE THIS IS TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

THIS SOPHOMORE JARED WILLIAMS HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> IT DOES PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A LIVING WHEN I ENTER THE FIELD OF GOVERNMENT.

A LOT OF THE POSITIONS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE TYPICALLY POSITIONS THAT MIGHT BE LOW PAY.

BUT THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING THAT IMPACT OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT REALLY DOES PROVIDE STUDENTS THE ABILITY TO GRADUATE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT LOAN FORGIVENESS.

>> OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE STATE'S WORKFORCE WORK FOR NONPROFIT OR GOVERNMENT.

THAT STILL LEAVES A LOT OF US UNCOVERED BY THE PROGRAM.

AND WHILE THE PRESIDENT SAYS STUDENT DEBT RELIEF ISON THE WAY, THE FEAR IS THAT THAT MIGHT BE TOO LITTLE IN TOO LATE.

ON THE CAMPUS OF THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, I'M DAVID CRUISE, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> 3-4 YEARS SETBACKS FOR SOME PERSONAL INJURY CASES.

UP TO A FIVE YEAR WAIT FOR DIVORCE TRIALS.

THOUSANDS DETAINED AWAITING A CRIMINAL TRIAL.

THAT IS THE REALITY IN NEW JERSEY'S COURTS AS A RECORD NUMBERED OF JUDICIAL VACANCIES REMAIN, A CASUALTY OF POLITICS AND GRIDLOCK.

NOW THE STATE'S CHIEF JUSTICE IS EVEN WEIGHING IN, IMPLORING THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE TO QUICKLY NOMINATE AND CONFIRM JUDGES.

OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO CONVEY HERE IS THAT THIS IS BEYOND CRISIS.

THIS IS CATASTROPHIC.

REAL PEOPLE ARE BEING HARMED HERE.

>> THE JERSEY BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT GERALYN LAWRENCE PULLED NO PUNCHES DESCRIBING THE STATE'S VACUUM AS A HISTORIC LACK OF JUDGES ON THE SUPERIOR COURT IN PARTICULAR THAT IS SO DISASTROUS IT IS DELAYING JUSTICE AND HARMING LITIGANTS.

FAMILY COURTS HIT THE HARDEST, SHE SAYS.

>> ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES REPORTED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE SUICIDAL.

THEY HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE CUTTING THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGH CONFLICT DIVORCES THAT THE PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH AND ABSOLUTELY NO ACCESS TO THE COURT.

TRADITIONAL TRADITIONAL JUDICIAL VACANCIES ARE DESTROYING FAMILIES.

>> SHE SAYS OUT OF 21 COUNTIES, LAWYERS IN NINE REPORTED NO RULE DIVORCE TRIALS COULD BE SCHEDULED AT ALL AND ARE STALLED FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS.

OVERALL, 75 OF THE 433 SEATS ON THE SUPERIOR COURT, 17% REMAIN VACANT.

THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE COMPLAINED DIPLOMATICALLY TO THE STATE BAR FRIDAY.

>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR THEIR DAY IN COURT HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

TO ADDRESS BACKLOG AND GIVE PEOPLE THEIR DAY IN COURT REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST A TRIAL DATE.

WE NEED JUDGES.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.

WHY IS IT THE ONLY ONE NOT FULLY STAFFED?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

WHY?

>> I THINK CLEARLY THERE ARE POLITICS AT PLAY AND IT IS NOT A CRITICAL ISSUE TO THE OTHER TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

>> THIS PERSONAL ATTORNEY INJURY SAYS THAT IT DOES NOT JUST IMPACT LOWER COURTS.

NEW JERSEY HIGH COURT SEVEN HAS TWO VACANCIES AND A THIRD IS PENDING WHEN JUSTICE BARRY ALBAN REACHES MANDATORY RETIREMENT IN JULY.

A VOTE ON GOVERNOR MURPHY'S LONE NOMINEE HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY A REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHO INVOKED THE POLITICAL TRADITION OF SENATORIAL COURTESY.

>> I THINK SENATORIAL COURTESY HAS PERSISTED FOR WAY TOO LONG AND HAS CONTINUED TO CAUSE PROBLEMS IN SPECIFIC COUNTIES.

AS WE ARE SEEING, IT IS CAUSING AN ISSUE IN A VACANCY IN THE SUPREME COURT.

>> MEANWHILE, THEY SAY SUPERIOR COURT MUST SHUFFLE JUDGES TO ADDRESS HIGHEST NEEDS FIRST.

COMPLEX CIVIL LAWSUITS LIKE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE AND WHISTLEBLOWER CASES ARE DELAYED 3-4 YEARS.

THE FAMILY COURT IS SLOW TO CRAWL.

CRIMINAL DIVISION GETS PRIORITY BUT IT WAS REVEALED THAT THAT IS FACING A 6800 CASE BACKLOG.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, EMPLOYMENT AND CHILDREN OR FROM THE ORDINARY BUSINESS OF THEIR LIVES, IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE EITHER IN AWAITING A CASE GOING TO TRIAL OR PRETRIAL ISSUES.

>> THERE SHOULD BE SOME CONFIRMATIONS THURSDAY WITH A COUPLE DOZEN MORE IN THE PIPELINE BUT 20 ARE SCHEDULED TO RETIRE SOON SO ATTORNEYS SAY IT IS A WASH. >> WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

>> WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS.

>> I THINK IT IS LACK OF PROPER PRIORITY.

>> I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THE RECORD HIGH GAS PRICES ARE CONTINUING TO CLIMB.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS NOW SITTING AT $4.59 A GALLON.

WERE SET IN NEW JERSEY, AT $4.77.

WE ARE NOT EVEN IN THE SUMMER TRAVEL MONTHS YET.

ENERGY EXPERTS PREDICT THE COST WILL SPIKE AGAIN BEFORE SETTLING IN JUNE.

EVEN AS THE COST OF CRUDE OIL BEGINS TO FALL.

>> ANOTHER DAY AT THE PUMP NOWADAYS MEANS DRIVERS ARE USUALLY DIGGING DEEPER INTO THEIR POCKETS.

>> THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP AT LEAST 60 CENTS A GALLON IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

AND IT WAS ALREADY HIGH FROM WHAT WE HAD BEFORE.

>> THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR REGULAR UNLEADED GAS IS JUST UNDER $4.60.

IN NEW JERSEY, IT IS ABOUT $4.77, WHICH MEANS DRIVERS HERE ARE PAYING EVEN MORE.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT GOING ELECTRIC.

>> IT IS SOMETHING THIS CONGRESSMAN ONCE MORE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER.

>> IF ANYTHING, THE VOLATILITY OF FOSSIL FUELS IS ANOTHER INDICATION OF WHY WE SHOULD MOVE TOWARD CLEAN ENERGY.

>> THEY SAY THE CLIMBING GAS PRICES ONLY HURT THE CONSUMER.

THAT IS WHY THEY ARE APPLAUDING THE HOUSE OR PASSING THE CONSUMER FUEL GOUGING PREVENTION ACT.

UNDER THE PROCEDURE, COMPANIES FOUND GUILTY OF MANIPULATING THE MARKET WOULD BE PENALIZED.

>> BASICALLY, WHAT THE OIL COMPANIES SAID IS THAT THE REASON THEY ARE NOT INCREASING PRODUCTION WAS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT IF THEY DO, AND SIX MONTHS, PRICES WILL GO DOWN AND THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SHIRT.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SAYING MORE PERMITS NEED TO BE GRANTED OR MORE PIPELINES INTO BE OPENED OR MORE LIQUID NATIONAL GAS NEEDS TO BE PRODUCED.

THIS IS A STRICTLY A QUESTION OF, THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP STOCKHOLDERS.

>> THE PRICE OF GAS IS NOT EXPECTED TO GET BETTER ANYTIME SOON AND IT IS FORCING A LOT OF DRIVERS TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AT A TIME WHEN MANY OF THEM ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING.

>> THE TRUTH IS THAT OIL COMPANY CEOS ARE EARNING RECORD PROFIT AND WORKING FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE, THE WORLD'S TOP OIL COMPANIES EARNED $174 BILLION IN PROFIT WHILE OUR PRICES CONTINUED TO RISE.

>> THE SKYROCKETING PRICES ARE EVEN TOUGHER FOR TRUCK DRIVERS THAT RELY ON DIESEL FUEL.

>> JANUAR Y 19th AT 2021, WE WERE PAYING $2.46 A GALLON.

THE PAST WEEK, IT HAS CHANGED EVERY DAY.

BUT THE HIGHEST WE PAID IS $6.15.

THAT IS ABOUT A 250% INCREASE IN A YEAR AND A HALF.

WE TRY TO PASS THIS TO THE CUSTOMERS WITH A FUEL SURCHARGE.

BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE IT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE FOR VERY MUCH LONGER.

>> THE WINNERS IN THIS HAVE BEEN THE CRUDE OIL COMPANIES WITH VERY, VERY HIGH PROFIT BASED ON PRODUCTION COST AND THE CLIENTS WHO HAD A MISERABLE 2020, AND 2021.

ON THE DELAWARE RIVER, WE WERE EXPECTING 50, $100 A BARREL.

MORE TYPICAL IS 5-15.

AND THEY WERE DOING THAT FOR MUCH OF APRIL AND MAY.

SO THE REFINERIES ARE THE BIGGEST BENEFICIARIES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE GASOLINE RETAILERS TEND TO BE THE MESSENGERS BLAMED FOR THE MESSAGE AND THEY ARE THE ONES BEING TARGETED AS HAVING INSANE MARGINS.

WHEN INSANE IS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IT.

>> THE ANTI-GOUGING BILL GOES TO THE SENATE FOR APPROVAL.

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

>>> THE STATE IS ENTERING THE NEXT PHASE OF BECOMING AN OFFSHORE WIND HUB.

WE HAVE THE LATEST, PLUS TONIGHT'S BAYLESS HEADLINES.

>> THE NEW JERSEY WIND PORT PROJECT IN SALEM COUNTY CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.

THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS NOW LOOKING FOR A TENANT FOR A 70- ACRE PARCEL ON THE SITE AND IS SEEKING OFFERS FROM WIND COMPONENT MANUFACTURERS.

THE CEO OF THE NJ EDA, TIM SULLIVAN, EXPECTS THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT INTEREST FOR THE PARCEL.

THE STATE IS TRYING TO MAKE THE WIND PORT A HUB FOR OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS IN NEW JERSEY AND THE ENTIRE EAST COAST.

THE WIND PORT HAS ALREADY CREATED CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND WHEN COMPONENT MANUFACTURERS ARE IN PLACE, MORE OPPORTUNITIES WILL FOLLOW ACCORDING TO SULLIVAN.

>> THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 1500 OR MORE JOBS DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS PLAY OUT.

THIS IS A SECTOR GROWING INCREDIBLY QUICKLY WITH REAL MOMENTUM.

IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY TIME IN THE INDUSTRY AND WE WANT TO STRIKE WHILE IT IS HOT.

>> AMAZON HAS MORE WAREHOUSE SPACE THEN IT NEEDS IN NEW JERSEY AND ELSEWHERE AND IS NOW LOOKING TO SUBLET SOME OF IT.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO A REPORT IN BLOOMBERG WHICH SAYS THAT THE E-COMMERCE COMPANY HAS EXCESS CAPACITY NOW THAT ONLINE BUYING HAS EASED FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE REPORT SAYS AMAZON HAS ABOUT 10 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF EXTRA SPACE.

IN THE MEANTIME, AMAZON IS PREPARED TO OPEN ITS FIRST AMAZONFRESH GROCERY STORE IN NEW JERSEY.

THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED ITS PLANS TO HIRE HUNDREDS OF POSITIONS FOR THE NEW STORE AND IT WILL HOLD THE HIRING EVENT EARLY NEXT MONTH.

>>> ONLINE PURCHASES HAVE SLOWED AT AMAZON AND OTHER RETAILERS ARE ALSO SEEING CHANGES IN CONSUMER SPENDING.

TARGET RECENTLY SAID THE INFLATION RISES AND SHOPPERS ARE SPENDING MORE ON FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIALS AND LESS ON BIG-TICKET ITEMS.

WALMART ALSO REPORTED ITS SHOPPERS ARE BEING MORE COST- CONSCIOUS.

>> AND FINALLY, IN ANOTHER SIGN OF A TIGHT LABOR MARKET, BANK OF AMERICA IS RAISING ITS MINIMUM WAGE TO $22 AN HOUR.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW STOCKS CLOSED ON THIS MONDAY.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, WORKING FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY BY REMINDING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT CHAMBER SNJ.COM.

>> AND THE NEW JERSEY CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL JUNE 4th AND 5th.

EVENT DETAILS INCLUDE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES AND LOCATION ARE ONLINE AT RIVERVIEWJAZZ.ORG.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, THE STATE HAD ITS FIRST BLAST OF HOT WEATHER THIS WEEKEND.

AND AN EARLY SEASON HEAT WAVE WITH TEMPERATURES REACHING UP TO 93 DEGREES SATURDAY.

THAT WAS RECORDED AT THE ATLANTIC CITY AIRPORT.

A TIE FOR THE RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WHICH ISSUED HEAT ADVISORIES FOR 15 COUNTIES.

IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OR WERE OUTSIDE SUNDAY, IT WAS NOT MUCH OF A REPRIEVE.

THE SWELTERING WEATHER COMING A FULL MONTH BEFORE THE SUMMER SOLSTICE.

AND EXPERTS SAY IT IS JUST A PEEK AT WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT THIS SUMMER.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS PROJECTING SIGNIFICANT ODDS FOR HOTTER AND WETTER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS.

SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND CLIMATE CHANGE BOTH INTENSIFIES AND DRIVES UP THE LIKELIHOOD FOR HEAT WAVES.

A NEW REPORT ISSUED LAST WEEK INDICATED FOUR KEY CLIMATE CHANGE INDICATORS.

IT IS GREENHOUSE GASES, SEA LEVEL RISE, OCEAN HEAT AND ACIDIFICATION SETTING NEW RECORDS IN 2021.

AND THE POTENTIALLY OMINOUS SIGN FOR MORE PUNISHING HEAT WAVES AHEAD.

>> IT WAS WARM OVER THE WEEKEND BECAUSE WE HAD A WEATHER SITUATION THAT WAS VERY FAVORABLE FOR HEAT.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN PLACES FURTHER TO THE WEST EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN DENVER, THEY WENT FROM THE 90S TO SNOW IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS.

THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES ARE PART OF JUST THE NATURAL VARIABILITY OF THE WEATHER.

BUT THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A TREND TOWARD MORE WARM EXTREMES AND FEWER COLD EXTREMES.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT TREND HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND WE EXPECT THE TREND TO CONTINUE.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

IN THE MEANTIME, GO TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS AND CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW!

>>> JUST WHO ARE THE POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT KEEP THE GARDEN STATE GROWING, BUSINESS LEADERS.

THE CARETAKERS OF OUR HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND THE CUSTODIANS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

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

NEW CAP --AND JM, WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVER.

>> WE WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

>> WITH A NEW KIDNEY, I HAVE STRENGTH.

>> I'M STILL GOING EVERYWHERE AND EXPLORING NEW PLACES.

>> NOBODY THOUGHT I WOULD BE HERE.

NOBODY.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OLDER WITH MY WIFE AND THAT IS POSSIBLE NOW.

>> WE ARE TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH LIVING DONOR PROGRAMS AND WORLD-RENOWNED CARE AND TWO OF NEW JERSEY'S PREMIER HOSPITALS.

>> RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.