>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

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

>> GOOD EVENING AND THINGS WERE JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THE FIRST OF THE MAJOR COVID RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER A YEAR OFFICIALLY AND TOMORROW.

YOU CAN START DITCHING MASKS INDOORS AND SIT CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENT BECOMING A THING OF THE PAST FOR FULLY VACCINATED RESIDENCE.

MORE THAN 4 MILLION AS OF TODAY.

ROUGHLY 4.8 MILLION HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE STRUGGLED DURING THE SHUTDOWNS, THE LONG-AWAITED CHANGES ARE JUST THE EDGE THEY NEED.

POTENTIALLY SALVAGING THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

MANY, INCLUDING RESTAURANTS, NOW ABLE TO OPERATE AT 100% CAPACITY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

A CHANCE TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER SEASON AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WANES.

340 NEW POSITIVE CASES AND 14 MORE DEATHS REPORTED TODAY.

OWNERS ARE EAGER TO MAKE UP THE LOST GROUND, BUT THERE IS A DARK CLOUD HANGING OVER AT.

RESTAURANTS ARE STILL STUCK STRUGGLING TO GET ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO OPEN THE DOORS.

MANY CANNOT OPERATE FULLY EVEN NOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT THAT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> IT'S VERY HARD.

>> Reporter: PLEASE BE PATIENT HE PLEADS AS HE SETS UP TABLES AND CHAIRS THAT HAS RESTAURANTS PREPPING FOR LUNCH IN JERSEY CITY.

HE SCURRIES INTO THE KITCHEN, GRABS INGREDIENTS FOR BABA GHANOUJ.

HE HAS UNTRAINED FAMILY MEMBERS TO HELP SERVE INCLUDING A TEENAGE NIECE.

>> SHE DOES NOT REALLY WANT TO DO IT, BUT IT'S NICE OF THE FAMILY THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE NEED THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT SHE IS HERE AND SHE IS UNDER TRAINING AND PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> WITH FAMILY, THEY WRAPPING UP TO FULL CAPACITY BUT HE WORKS 14 TO 16 HOUR DAYS BUT HE CAN OFTEN SERVERS, COOKS.

LABEL DUST VISITS PLAGUING RESTAURANTS JUST OF THE PANDEMIC RULES RELAXED TO PERMIT FULL CAPACITY WITH NO SOCIAL DISTANCING AND NO MASKS AS OF TOMORROW.

SOME DINERS CAN EXPECT TO CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE.

>> PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE BUSINESSES ARE NOT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE YET.

SO, PLEASE BE READY TO BE A LITTLE MORE PATIENT THAN NORMAL, YOU'RE PROBABLY GLINTING TO PREPARE TO HAVE TO WAIT LONGER TO GET INTO AN ESTABLISHMENT TO GET A TABLE TO GET SERVED.

>> WE JUST PHYSICALLY CAN'T.

IT TOOK US FIVE MONTHS TO GET -- >> CHEF ERIN RYAN PUT ONLY HAVE HIS TABLES, THE RULE CHANGES CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD AND RYAN SCRAMBLED FOR 2 OR THREE MORE SERVERS BUT MANY WANT TO GET PAID UNDER THE TABLE, HE SAYS.

>> WOULD YOU PAY IN CASH, AND BECAUSE I'M ON AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

OUT OF THE 12 I WOULD SAY NINE PEOPLE ASKED THAT QUESTION.

>> CRITICS OF THE CONTINUED GOVERNMENT PANDEMIC RELIEF CHECKS CLAIM WHY WOULD SOMEONE WORK IN A HOT KITCHEN SLINGING BABA GHANOUJ IF THEY COULD STAY HOME AND COLLECT AN EXTRA 300 BUCKS A WEEK ON TOP OF UNEMPLOYMENT?

BUT IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

GOVERNOR MURPHY QUOTED HIS COMMISSIONER.

>> THERE IS ZERO EVIDENCE STUDY AFTER STUDY REPORTED AFTER REPORT THAT THE ENHANCED BENEFITS ARE KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER FACTORS.

LACK OF CHILD CARE, OR ACCESS TO CHILDCARE.

SCHOOLS NOT BEING FULLY BACK IN PERSON, PEOPLE BEING FLAT-OUT CONCERNED OR AFRAID TO GET BACK INTO THE MIX.

>> WHILE BUSINESSES ADMIT CHILDCARE IS AN ISSUE, DAY CARE CENTERS CAN OPERATE AT JUST 50% CAPACITY THEY INSIST THAT 300 BUCKS TIPS THE SCALES.

>> BECAUSE IT'S WHAT IS COMING OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING NO, I'M NOT GOING TO COME UPON A JOB WERE NOT GOING TO COME BACK TO MY JOB THAT I'VE HAD FOR YEARS WITH THIS RESTAURANT FOR EXAMPLE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I AM GOOD WITH WHAT'S COMING TO ME.

>> COVID COSTS NEW JERSEY 32% OF ITS RESTAURANTS AND 90,000 JOBS.

RYAN SAYS WHAT HE CALLS A PANDEMIC DRIVEN EXODUS FROM THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY OF PEOPLE SEARCH FOR A MORE STABLE BETTER PAYING CAREER.

>> MORE OF THE FULL-TIME, MORE OF A, I WOULD NOT SAY 9-TO-5 CAREER JOB, BUT THAT'S WHAT I THINK ONE OF THEM HAD HEADED, TO AVOID THE SITUATION EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> FOR OWNERS TRYING TO SAY THE RESTAURANTS, IT'S A WATERSHED MOMENT.

HE SAYS HE'S WILLING TO PAY STUFF MORE TO SAVE UNCLE MOMO'S.

>> I WORK HARD FOR THIS BUSINESS TO GET TO THIS LEVEL.

>> IN JERSEY CITY, BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AND OTHER WELCOME CHANGE ANNOUNCE THIS WEEK.

MASKS WILL BECOME OPTIONAL FOR VACCINATED OFFICE WORKER STARTING JUNE 4th AS THE GOVERNOR LIFTS THE WORK FROM HOME ORDER AND TELLS EMPLOYERS THEY GOT THE OKAY TO BRING STUFF BACK TO THE OFFICE.

IT'S A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS REVIVING THE ECONOMY ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY LEADERS.

AND AHEAD ON THESE RESTRICTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN WELCOME TOO.

TO TALK ABOUT HOW BUSINESSES WILL ADJUST IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.

>> THIS ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY, DIDN'T BRING THE TYPE OF CLARITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR?

>> FOR THE MOST PART, YES.

SO CERTAINLY WELCOME NEWS AFTER THE INITIAL EL ON MONDAY.

THERE'S A TON OF CONFUSION OUT THERE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY JUST BECAUSE THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER REALLY STRANGELY EXEMPTED BUSINESS SETTINGS THAT WERE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS SO MANY BUSINESSES, THE MAJORITY OF LARGER OFFICE BUILDINGS DURING THE STATE.

SO, I THINK THE GOVERNOR DID HEAR THE CONFUSION AND COMPLAINTS AND RECTIFY THAT YESTERDAY.

>> FOLKS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO WEAR A MASK NEED TO SHOW PROOF AND THAT ONUS OF COURSE ALL OF THE OWNER, THE EMPLOYER, AND THEN OF COURSE, WE COULD TALK ABOUT RINGING FOLKS BACK, THERE'S NO LONGER A REQUIREMENT TO MAKE THOSE ARRANGEMENTS TO LET ME ASK YOU FIRST ABOUT SHOWING PROOF OF THAT VACCINE STATUS.

>> IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR EMPLOYERS, THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE ALL OF THESE WATERS EXTRAORDINARILY CAREFULLY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY LIABILITIES ATTACHED TO SO MANY OF THESE COVID RESTRICTIONS AS WE DO START TO BRING EMPLOYEES BACK INTO THE OFFICE BUILDING.

I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME EMPLOYERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HESITANT TO NOT DO A LIVE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND DO AWAY WITH MASS AT THE RISK THAT EMPLOYEES MAY TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY THEN TO YOU KNOW, CLAIM THAT THEY HAD COVID DUE TO THEIR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS.

THERE ARE NO PROTECTIONS FOR EMPLOYERS IN NEW JERSEY.

FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO, REALLY RECENT HESITANCY?

THERE WILL BE BUT I THINK BY A LARGE, THEIR REACTION TO THIS IN THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE.

>> WE'VE SPOKEN WITH QUITE A FEW THAT SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO RECONFIGURE THEIR BUSINESSES TO MAKE IT COVID COMPLIANT.

I MEAN, IS THAT MOOD NOW?

THAT MONEY IS SPENT.

>> SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOW NOT SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED IN THE WORKPLACE AS LONG AS VACCINATION IS THERE.

SO, YES.

OUR CHAMBER SUGGESTED TO STATE GOVERNMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME SORT OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE OUT-OF- POCKET SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO MAKE THEIR WORKPLACE SOCIALLY DISTANCED.

>> LEGALLY, BUSINESSES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE THESE WORK FROM HOME ARRANGES THAT THE GOVERNOR IS ASKING THEM TO BE FLEXIBLE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT PLAYING OUT AS FAR AS HOW BUSINESSES GO ABOUT IT AND HOW IT PLAYS INTO JUMPSTARTING THE ECONOMY?

>> YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE, ESPECIALLY OF WE HAVE PREPPED TO THIS PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT.

THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER DID HAVE LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT BASICALLY SAID YOU HAVE TO ALLOW YOUR EMPLOYEES TO WORK FROM HOME IF THEY CAN, IF THEIR JOB ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT.

BUT, AGAIN, IT IS WELCOME NEWS TO THE COMMUNITY.

SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD OUR MEMBERS, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE TALK ABOUT AD NAUSEAM THAT THEY ARE SCARED TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE 0107 IF THEY BRING PEOPLE BACK.

IS BEEN RESCINDED BUT THERE IS AMBIGUITY IN THE LANGUAGE IN THIS RECENT EO.

IT DOES RESEND IT, BUT THEN AGAIN, COMING BACK TO THE LIABILITY ISSUE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF AN EMPLOYER MAKES ONE WRONG MOVE, THEY ASK SOMEONE TO COME BACK AND THEY INSIST THAT THEY CAN'T FOR WHATEVER REASON, AGAIN, JUST LANDMINE AFTER LANDMINE ON THIS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE HANDLED BY EMPLOYERS EXTRAORDINARILY DELICATELY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHT TODAY .

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> STATE LEADERS ARE TAKING THE FIGHT AGAINST THE RISE AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM TO CAPITOL HILL.

NEW JERSEY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL TESTIFIED YESTERDAY AGAINST THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES TELLING LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE TACTICS THE STATE IS USING TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM MILITIA EXTREMISTS AND WHITE SUPREMACY.

SHE SAYS DOMESTIC AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM MAY NOT BE GREATER THAN AT ANY TIME IN RECENT MEMORY.

ACCORDING TO HIS TESTIMONY, PURPLE REPORTS OF BIAS AND HATE INCIDENTS HAVE NEARLY QUADRUPLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO NEARLY 1300 ON RECORD IN 2020.

MANY INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE OFFICE TOOK THE TASK FORCE TO CONFRONT THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE VIOLENCE.

TWO STRATEGIES REDUCING UNLAWFUL FIREARMS ACTIVITIES AND ADDRESSING THE HATE AMONG THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO REVERSE THE TROUBLING TREND.

>> THAT TASK FORCE HELP REFORMS OUR STATE'S EDUCATION SYSTEM.

TO INCLUDE ANTIBIAS EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

TO PUT FORWARD HATE CRIME, TO INCREASE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, TO ADDRESS HATE AND BIAS.

THE TASK FORCE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLES PLAYED BY PAPAL AND EXTREMIST RHETORIC ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOR PUBLIC FIGURES AND IT OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS TO MITIGATE THE HARMS THAT THAT RHETORIC CAN INFLICT ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE HOPE IS THAT THESE STRATEGIES WILL RESULT IN FURY ON PEOPLE EMBRACING A WORLDVIEW.

>> MEANWHILE A VIOLENT GENERATE SIX ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL ACCIDENT.

LAWMAKERS ARE EXCITED TO BLOCK ABOUT CREATING A COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT ACTION, EMPHASIZING THE POLITICAL DIVIDE OVER THIS ISSUE, EVEN AS BOTH OF THE MOTHER AND GIRLFRIEND OF THE CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER MET TODAY ON THE HILL WITH AT LEAST SIX REPUBLICAN SENATORS, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO PERSUADE THEIR VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE COMMISSION.

PROPONENTS NEED 10 REPUBLICANS TO VOTE YES TO AVOID A FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE.

THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE LAST WEEK WITH 35 GOP LAWMAKERS JOINING DEMOCRATS SUPPORTING THE MEASURE ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY.

RYAN SICKNESS MUTTER OF SOUTH RIVER NEW JERSEY SAYS SHE HOPES SHE CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

>> SECOND TO NONE.

HE WAS JUST THERE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND HE JUST WAS DOING HIS JOB AND HE GOT CAUGHT UP IN IT AND VERY SAD.

THIS IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY.

USUALLY I'M STAYING BUT I'M JUST, I CANNOT STAY QUIET ANYMORE.

>> EVEN AS RESEARCH AND DATA SHOW THE MAKEUP OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS INCREASING MORE DIVERSE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF TEACHERS REMAIN LARGELY WHITE.

IT'S A GAP BOTH IN THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT IN CAMDEN, A NEW REPORT FINDS THE DECLINE IN BLACK TEACHERS IS FAR GREATER THAN ANY OTHER CITY, AND SINGLES OUT ONE MAIN FACTOR AS BEING LARGELY RESPONSIBLE.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE REPORTS.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL INFLUENCES ON THE CHILD IS THE PERSON IN THE CLASSROOM.

THEY NOT ONLY TEACH THE FUNDAMENTALS, THEY ARE ALSO ROLE MODELS.

PEOPLE YOUR CHILD LOOKS UP TO.

IN MOST CASES, THOSE TEACHERS ARE WHITE AND FEMALE, EVEN IN SCHOOLS WHERE KIDS OF COLOR ARE THE MAJORITY.

THIS IS A THIRD GRADE TEACHER IN IRVINGTON.

HE'S BEEN CALLING FOR MORE BLACK MEN IN THE CLASSROOM FOR YEARS.

>> OVER 50% OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NEW JERSEY ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

SO, WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A TEACHER THAT LOOKS LIKE THEM, THAT CAN RELATE TO THEM, THAT CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SAME EXPERIENCES THAT THEY WENT THROUGH, WE LOSE SOMETHING.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD RESEARCH THAT CONFIRMS THAT STUDENTS DO BETTER, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR WHEN THEY HAVE TEACHERS WHO LOOK THE WAY THAT THEY DO.

>> MARK WEBER IS THE AUTHOR OF A NEW REPORT FROM AND A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, WHICH CONFIRMS THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF BLACK TEACHERS IN DISTRICTS LIKE TRENTON, NEWARK, AND JERSEY CITY IS DOWN BETWEEN 8 AND 16% SINCE 1999.

BUT, IT ALSO FOUND THAT IN CAMDEN, THE NUMBER OF BLACK TEACHERS FELL BY 22%.

HE SAYS SINCE THE STATE TAKEOVER IN 2013, THE NUMBER OF CAMDEN STUDENTS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS HAS RISEN TO 56%.

CAMDEN IS A DISTRICT WITH MORE THAN 90% OF THE STUDENTS ARE KIDS OF COLOR.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL WORKFORCE IS DEMOGRAPHICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL WORKFORCE.

WE KNOW THAT FOR A FACT.

AND WE KNOW THAT CAMDEN HAS AN UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER OF WHO ARE IN CHARTER AND RENAISSANCE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE THESE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE LARGE CHARTER SCHOOL POPULATIONS, AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SHIFT IN THE TEACHERS.

SO, SOMETHING ELSE IS HAPPENING IN CAMDEN RIGHT NOW.

>> EDUCATORS HERE, MYSELF INCLUDED HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE 2015.

>> BENSON IS PRESIDENT OF THE TEACHERS UNION AND HE SAYS NO ONE HERE SHOULD BE SURPRISED BY THE RACIAL DISPARITY IN THE CITIES CLASSROOMS.

>> PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA WHEN THEY TRACK AND TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS OF WHO IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED SO THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A RESULT THAT OLDER MORE EXPERIENCED BLACK TEACHERS WILL BE JUDGED FROM THE PROFESSION HERE IN CAMDEN WAS NOT AN OVERSIGHT.

IT'S ACTUALLY A PREDICT DOUBLE WHEN YOU DISMANTLE PUBLIC, EARLY PUBLIC EDUCATION WHICH HAPPENS TO THE PLACES THAT MOST BLACK TEACHERS ARE OUT TO WORK OR LIKELY TO WORK OR ARE IN URBAN AREAS SO, WHEN YOU ATTACK THOSE URBAN SCHOOLS, THE PRODUCT OF THAT ATTACK IS GOING TO BE LESS BLACK TEACHERS WITHIN THE PROFESSION.

>> AS THE DISTRICT SHRANK, IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE FEWER BLACK TEACHING JOBS.

THE QUESTION IS, WHY COULDN'T WE FIND A WAY TO REPLACE THEM WITH MORE BLACK TEACHERS IN OTHER POSITIONS?

>> THE STUDY DID NOT TAKE ON THE WHY OF THAT, BUT THAT, SAYS WEBER, IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES FURTHER STUDY.

MEANWHILE, SAYS BENSON, REFORMING HR POLICIES AT LOCAL DISTRICTS AND ELIMINATING BARRIERS CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC TO COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO MAY WANT TO BECOME TEACHERS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO START.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ROUGHLY 9 MONTHS AFTER SUSPENDING OPERATIONS , NEW JERSEY'S OLDEST COMPANY IS UP AND RUNNING ONCE AGAIN.

IT WILL BEGIN DEPLOYING 6 BUSES A DAY TO THE PORT AUTHORITY STARTING IN A FEW WEEKS ON ROUTES FROM MONTCLAIR AND SURROUNDING TOWNS.

THEY HAD TO CUT BACK ON SERVICE LAST YEAR AS THE PANDEMIC TOOK HOLD AND COMMUTERS STOPPED HEADING TO WORK IN NEW YORK CITY.

PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, BETWEEN 60 507,000 COMMUTERS A DAY ROAD THE CAMP BUSES INTO THE CITY WHEN IT CAUSED OPERATIONS IT JUST HAD 400 WRITERS A DAY.

IT WENT FROM 160 EMPLOYEES TO ONE FULL-TIME AND TWO PART- TIMERS.

THE BUS ROUTES WERE NEAR THOSE THAT WERE RUNNING LAST YEAR OR THE OWNER SAYS HE HOPES TO SLOWLY ADD MORE AS PEOPLE HEAD BACK TO WORK.

>>> LEADERS IN THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY SAY IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN ROLLING BACK RESTRICTIONS TO GET OUR ECONOMY BACK TO PRE- BACK DIMMICK MODELS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS MORE INTERNET BUSINESS STORIES.

>> Reporter: WELL BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS, BUSINESS LEADERS ARE NOW TRYING TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO REALLY REVIVE NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY.

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS SOME BIG HURDLES REMAIN.

>> ONE IS, WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

FILL THE JOB OPENINGS, TWO, THE COMPANY'S THAT STILL ARE BEING FINANCIALLY STRAPPED NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO OPEN THE BUSINESS, HIRE THE PEOPLE.

THERE STILL AN ONGOING NEED FOR WORKING CAPITAL.

>> IS PROPOSING THAT THE STATE PROVIDE ANOTHER $2 BILLION IN FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES USING SOME OF THAT NEW FEDERAL COVERT RELIEF MONEY THAT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO NEW JERSEY.

HE ALSO SUGGESTS PROVIDING A ONE-TIME RETURN TO WORK BONUS PAYMENT TO HELP ENCOURAGE UNEMPLOYED WORKERS WHO MAY BE RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO THE WORKFORCE.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE NJ BIA ALSO IT SUPPORTS INCENTIVES FOR WORKERS AS WELL AS TAX CREDITS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

NEW JERSEY'S HOUSING BOOM HAS YET TO RUN OUT OF STEAM.

ACCORDING TO NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE NUMBER OF SALES SURGED MORE THAN 33% IN APRIL COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO WHEN THE PANDEMIC SHOWED THE MARKET.

SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE SALES PRICE FOR NEW JERSEY HOMES INCREASED 20% TO $375,000 AS INVENTORY REMAINS LOW.

INVESTMENT RETURNS ALL THE STATES PENSION FUND HAD BOUNCED BACK THIS YEAR AFTER A SLUGGISH 2020.

PRELIMINARY FIGURES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR SHOW RETURNS WERE UP MORE THAN 22% THROUGH APRIL, WELL AHEAD OF THE ASSUMED INFLATED RETURN.

TO DIG INTO THE NUMBERS A BIT MORE, CHECK OUT MY COLLEAGUE JOHN WRIGHT MYERS ARTICLE ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

THE WEEKLY NUMBERS ON UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUE TO SHOW POSITIVE TRENDS.

THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS FILING NEW UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS DROPPED THE LATEST WEEKEND FELL TO ANOTHER PRE-PANDEMIC LOW.

406,000 NEW CLAIMS WERE FILED, AND FEWER NEW JERSEY RESIDENT FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE MOST RECENT WEEK.

ACCORDING TO AN ADVANCE REPORTED OF INITIAL CLAIMS.

NOW, HERE IS A CHECK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

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

>>> AND THIS WEEKEND, JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER FOR AN DAY BUSINESS BE TREATED OVER HERE SINCE THE PANDEMIC HAS COST THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS THEIR JOBS.

WEISS OF THE STATE MAKING THE SAME EMPLOYMENT GAINS OF THE REST OF THE NATION?

FIND OUT HOW INDUSTRY LEADERS ARE PLANNING TO PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

WATCH IT ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 10:00 A.M. >>> THERE ARE NO EFFORTS TONIGHT TO PERMANENTLY BAN OFFSHORE DRILLING IN THE OCEAN.

BOB MENENDEZ INTRODUCED THE COAST ACT THIS WEEK TO KEEP OIL RIGS AWAY FROM THE JERSEY SHORE.

THE BILL WOULD PREVENT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FROM ISSUING LEASES FOR EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT OR PRODUCTION OF OIL OR GAS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THE STRAITS OF FLORIDA.

PRESIDENT BIDEN JANUARY PUT A PAUSE ON DRILLING IN THOSE AREAS AS PART OF HIS EFFORTS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE, BLOCKING THE MOVE FROM FORMER PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO OPEN MOST OF THE COAST TO DRILLING.

SENTIMENT IS CALLED A POTENTIAL OILS WILL DISASTROUS FOR AN ALREADY FRACTURED STORY ECONOMY.

>>> FINALLY, SCIENTISTS ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS OF LONG-HAUL COVID AND CLUES THEY GIVE AS TO HOW THE CORONAVIRUS ATTACKS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND HUMAN BODY.

THOUSANDS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED ARE STILL SUFFERING FROM PERHAPS ONE OF THE ODDEST SIDE EFFECTS, A DISTORTED SENSE OF TASTE AND NOW, A RESULT OF MIXED UP SIGNALS FROM THE BRAIN TO NEURO- CELLS ELSEWHERE WITH NO CURE IN SIGHT.

LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IT'S A MYSTERY THAT GETS MORE AND MORE COLLOCATED.

THE LOSS OF SMELL AND TASTE FROM COVID-19.

NOW, MEDICAL PROFESSION STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY SOME PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND LEVELS OF ILLNESS ARE GETTING THEIR SENSES BACK BUT NOT IN THE WAY THEY WANT THEM TO.

>> I TRY AND HOLD MY BREATH TO SEE IF I CAN DRINK IT BUT THE SODAS TASTE LIKE WHEN YOU BITE ON BATTERY IT FEELS LIKE A METAL TASTE.

>> DIANE.COVID IN OCTOBER OF 2020.

SHE SAID SHE LOST HER TASTE AND SMELL BUT FULLY RECOVERED ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER.

THEN, IN JANUARY, TWO MONTHS LATER, SHE NOTICED HER TASTE AND SMELLS WERE ALL OF A SUDDEN DISTORTED.

>> THAT'S WHY IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD.

>> ANY THING SHE HAS EVEN IF IT'S WELL COOKED IT TASTES RAW AND SMELLS ROTTEN.

SHE ALSO HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE REACTIONS TO ONIONS.

>> LIKE A SOUR SMELL.

IT WOULD GIVE ME MIGRAINES, LITERALLY PUSHED ME TO BED AND I WOULD HAVE TO COVER MY EYES.

>> SHE SAYS WITH TIME MORE AND MORE ITEMS ARE BEING ADDED TO HER DO NOT EAT LIST.

>> GARLIC, BANANAS, BERRIES, BROCCOLI, POTATOES.

THEY TASTES RAW AND BASICALLY.

AND LET'S SAY THEY PUT GARLIC ON THE PASTA, IF I EAT END UP GETTING STOMACH PAINS.

IT PUTS ME TO BED LIKE I CAN'T GET UP.

SEVERE CRAMPS.

>> Reporter: MANY OF THE 28,000 NUMBERS OF THE FACE GOOD GROUP CALLED COVID-19 SMELL AND TASTE LOSS DESCRIBES SIMILAR FOOD DISTORTIONS.

ANYTHING CHERRY SMELLS LIKE THE INSIDE OF PUMPKIN.

EVERYTHING STARTED SMELLING LIKE CHEMICALS.

>> I HAVE HAD ONE PATIENT WHO HAD OLFACTORY HALLUCINATIONS, MEANING THEY WERE NOT REAL.

SHE SMELLS THE SMOKE BUT THERE IS NOTHING ON FIRE AND THERE'S NOTHING BURNING.

>> MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND NURSE NAVIGATOR ARE WORKING TO HELP PATIENTS WITH THESE SYMPTOMS AT THE POST COVID CARE PROGRAM AT ST. BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER, R WJ BARNABAS IS AN UNDERWRITER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

ABOUT 40 OF THE HUNDRED AND 65 PATIENTS CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAM HAVE REPORTED DISTORTED SMELL AND TASTE, BUT THEY SUSPECT THERE IS MORE SUFFERING THAT HAVE NOT SOUGHT CARE.

DEPENDING ON THE COMPLAINTS, THEN WE REFER THEM TO EITHER A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST FOR SENTRY REHAB, RETRAINING, OR EMT FOR AROMATHERAPY, FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF ASSESSMENTS TO SEE IF IT'S REALLY AN ISSUE IN THE SINUSES OR AN ISSUE WITH NERVES, AND THEN WE CAN ALMOST EVEN SOME PEOPLE SENT TO THEM TO A NEUROLOGIST TO SEE IF IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAIN.

>> CALTRANS ARE NOTICING IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RESEARCH STUDIES IN PLACE.

WERE COLLECTING DATA NOW.

IT'S LIKELY THAT PATIENT THAT WILL HAVE POST COVID SYNDROME ARE THOSE THAT INITIALLY EXHIBIT FOUR OR MORE SYMPTOMS WHEN THEY'RE SICK WITH COVID.

THE OTHER PATTERN THAT WE NOTICED AGAIN IS REGARDLESS OF THE SYMPTOMS IF YOU PUSH TOO HARD, THEN YOU REGRESS.

>> Reporter: WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECTS?

THAT'S ALSO BEING STUDIED.

>> WITHOUT LOOKING AT TRUE EVIDENCE-BASED DATA, POTENTIAL HE COULD BE LIKE INFLAMMATORY CELLS INTERFERING WITH NERVES AND NEURONS IN THE BRAIN OR WHETHER IT'S THE OLFACTORY NERVES, THE NOSE OR IN THE SINUSES, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PHYSICIANS THAT ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT ALL OF THE STUFF RIGHT NOW.

>> I LOST 15 POUNDS FROM THIS BECAUSE THOSE DAYS THAT I DON'T NEED.

>> SHE SAYS SHE'S DISCOURAGED TO ANYTHING BECAUSE SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW SHE WILL REACT.

>> TO PICK A LITTLE AND I'M GETTING BETTER, BECAUSE I NO LONGER HAVE THE SMELL FOR CERTAIN FOOD.

AS A TINY BITE OUT OF IT AND I SAY TINY BITE, I STILL GET SICK.

TAKING IT SLOW I DON'T KNOW WHEN I WILL GET BETTER.

>> A FEW PATIENTS HAVE COME IN THE VERY BEGINNING WHO HAD SOME LARGE COMPLAINTS OF LOSS OF TASTE AND SMELL OFTEN COME BACK FROM THE THREE MONTH OR SIX MONTH APPOINTMENT SAYING THAT I AM 50% BETTER OR 80% BETTER AND FOR THEM, THAT'S A HUGE HURDLE.

>> A HURDLE SHE HOPES TO ACHIEVE SOONER THAN LATER.

I AM LEAH MISHKIN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG OR FIND US ON SOCIAL TO CONTINUE THE FOLLOWING ARE REPORTING.

I AM I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED AND PSEG, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG- TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED & PSEG.

WE'LL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATION, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

OCEAN WIND: COMMITTED TO A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGEY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.