>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, ARE WJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND HOISTED, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF THE NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

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

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

AS WE GEAR UP FOR THE SUMMER SEASON ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THE MEANING OF THE DAY.

TO HONOR THOSE WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES SO THAT WE CAN LIVE FREE.

GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY MARKED THE DAY AT THE NEW JERSEY VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL THIS MORNING TO HONOR THE 1562 NEW JERSEYANS WHO DIED IN A WAR THAT ENDED 47 YEARS AGO.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT IS A SOLEMN DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR NAMES ARE NOT FORGOTTEN AND THAT IT IS OUR DUTY TO REMIND OTHERS THAT EACH WAS A PERSON WITH A FAMILY AND WITH DREAMS.

>> THIS IS A FRAUGHT TIME AND OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

IN FACT, YOU HAPPEN TO SERVE IN ONE OF THOSE TIMES IN A WAR WHICH UNDERSCORED THOSE DIVISIONS.

I WAS NOT YET 18 YEARS OLD WHEN THE VIETNAM WAR ENDED.

BUT I REMEMBER THOSE TIMES AS WELL.

WE SENSE THIS DIVISION AGAIN TODAY.

I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC AS EVER BEFORE ABOUT OUR FUTURE AS A NATION AND OUR ABILITY TO ONCE AGAIN COME TOGETHER AS A PEOPLE, COMMITTED TO LIVING UP TO THE PREAMBLE OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND A QUOTE, TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION.

>> IN THE GARDEN STATE, MEMORIAL DAY SIGNIFIES THE UNOFFICIAL START OF THE SUMMER SEASON.

WITH COVID POSITIVE CASES CLIMBING IN RECENT WEEKS AND THE AVERAGE PRICE OF GAS AT RECORD HIGHS, THAT HAS NOT STOPPED MANY BEACHGOERS FROM GOING TO NEW JERSEY'S MANY BEACHES AND BOARDWALKS THIS MEMORIAL DAY.

TED GOLDBERG WAS IN POINT PLEASANT BEACH TODAY TAKING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE UPCOMING TOURIST SEASON.

>> THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER LIVED UP TO THE HYPE AT POINT PLEASANT BEACH.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LINED UP FOR THE BEACH AND THE BARS ON THE JENKINSON BOARDWALK.

>> THE BOARDWALK IS PACKED.

WE HAVE ABOUT 50,000 PEOPLE IN TOWN EACH DAY THIS WEEKEND.

IT IS GREAT FOR OUR ECONOMY AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF COVID AND ALL THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT CAME WITH IT.

>> PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO BE OUT AND ABOUT ON THE BEACH.

WE HAD A GREAT EASTER WEEKEND.

EASTER EVENTS WERE BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.

AND SINCE THEN, IT FEELS LIKE PEOPLE ARE READY TO BE BACK ON THE BOARDWALK AND HAVING FUN WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

>> THE MAYOR SAYS HIGH GAS PRICES MIGHT BE PART OF THE REASON WHY THE BOROUGH'S BEACHES BROUGHT IN BUNCHES OF BEACHGOERS AND.

>> POINT PLEASANT BEACH TRADITIONALLY PULLS FROM NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW YORK.

AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT WOULD NORMALLY GO ON LONGER TRIPS, MAYBE TO CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA OR THE OUTER BANKS, THEY WON'T GO TO THOSE PLACES THIS YEAR.

I THINK THAT IS FEEDING ON IT AND WE WILL HAVE EVEN LARGER CROWDS THIS YEAR WHICH WE HOPE WILL MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTFALLS BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND THE LABOR SHORTAGE AS WELL.

>> INFLATION DID NOT KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE SHORE AND BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE JOE CARSON, HOPE THAT IT WON'T SCARE AWAY CUSTOMERS.

>> THE INCREASE IS NOT 5%, 10%.

BUT 30-60% INCREASES WHICH IS REALLY HARD TO KEEP ON TOP OF PRICES LIKE HOW MUCH YOU WILL CHARGE FOR IT.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE WEEKLY.

YOU CANNOT KEEP CHANGING YOUR PRICES EVERY WEEK.

>> HE HAS OWNED JOEY'S TOMATOES FOR 30 YEARS AND SAYS PRICES HAVE JUMPED ON THINGS LIKE PAPER PRODUCTS.

>> A PIZZA BOX USED TO BE 25 CENTS.

NOW IT IS $1.25.

A CASE OF CUPS USED TO BE $45.

NOW THEY ARE UP TO $118.

SO PAPER IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST.

>> HE SAYS THIS WEEKEND HAS STILL BEEN BUSY, DESPITE HAVING TO RAISE PRICES.

>> I WAS WORRIED THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BUY A SLICE OF PIZZA OR SAY I'M NOT PAYING FOR THAT.

BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

THEY ARE BUYING IT.

I JUST FEEL BAD THAT I'M CHARGING THAT MUCH AND I'M NOT MAKING ANY MORE MONEY.

THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS TO COVER ALL EXPENSES.

PEOPLE THINK I'M MAKING TONS OF MONEY BUT I'M NOT EVEN COVERING THE INCREASES WE HAVE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RATIO PROFIT.

AND IF YOU DON'T RAISE YOUR PRICES, YOUR PROFIT KEEPS GETTING LESS AND LESS.

IF YOU DO MORE VOLUME, YOU STILL DON'T MAKE AS MUCH MONEY.

>> ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE BOARDWALK AND ON THE BEACH WILL BE STAYING THE NIGHT HERE AT POINT PLEASANT BEACH.

WHILE RENTING A HOUSE IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN YEARS PAST, THE MARKET IS PRETTY DIFFERENT.

>> COVID TOOK A SHOT.

SO WE ARE GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS.

IT HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE.

WE STILL HAVE AVAILABILITY.

>> PAUL WARD HAS RUN WARD REALTY FOR 24 YEARS.

WHILE HIS COSTS HAVE SKYROCKETED, HE SAID THE RENTAL MARKET IS A LITTLE MORE SUBDUED THEN YEARS PAST BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE LESS MONEY TO SPEND.

>> I THINK THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS AND SOME DISPOSABLE INCOME QUESTIONS FOR AVERAGE PEOPLE.

WE ARE KIND OF A WORKING-CLASS TOWN.

WE GET A LOT OF INFLUENCE FROM METROPOLITAN, NEW YORK ON THE HIGHER END OF THE SCALE.

FOR THE MOST PART, I LOOK AT MY KIDS FOR EXAMPLE, AND I KNOW IT IS TOUGH FOR THEM TO KEEP ENDS MET AND THEN HAVE VACATION TIME.

SO THAT IS AN INDICATION WHY WE ARE SEEING MORE OF THAT DAILY TRIP DOWNTOWN AS WELL.

>> HE STILL EXPECTS TO DO WELL THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>> SUMMER IS ALWAYS GREAT.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE ALWAYS FILL UP.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES MORE TIME.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS DESTINATION AND HAVE MAINTAINED A GREAT FAMILY ATMOSPHERE.

I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER VERY GOOD SUMMER.

>> JUDGING BY THE CROWDS THIS WEEKEND, IT IS PROBABLY A SAFE BET.

IN POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THIS YEAR'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND LOOKS A LOT LIKE PRE- PANDEMIC TIMES BUT THAT IS CAUSING CONCERN OF A POST HOLIDAY SPIKE NATIONWIDE.

IN YEARS PAST, EVENTS WERE CANCELED BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS BUT THIS WEEKEND, IT WENT ON AS PLANNED.

THIS IS NEW JERSEY REPORTS ALMOST 2200 NEW CASES AND THREE NEW DEATHS.

FOR SOME PEOPLE, THEY CAN EXPERIENCE COUNTLESS SYMPTOMS LIKE LOSS OF TASTE OR BREATHING ISSUES FOR WEEKS, MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS AFTER THE INITIAL INFECTION.

AND THESE CASES ARE RISING.

WHILE RESEARCHERS HAVE MADE STRIDES IN UNDERSTANDING THE INITIAL INFECTION, LONG COVID IS STILL POORLY UNDERSTOOD AND IS BECOMING A MAJOR HEALTH CONCERN.

JOANNA GAGAN IS ONE TEACHER WHO HAD COVID BUT IS STILL EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS ONE YEAR LATER.

>> I FEEL LIKE MY CHEST IS CAVING IN AND I HAVE TO STOP AND I'M DRENCHED IN SWEAT AND I HAVE TO STOP TO TRY TO GATHER MYSELF TO BREATHE.

AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE.

>> BEFORE COVID, THAT IS.

MONICA CAUGHT COVID AROUND CHRISTMAS OF 2021 AND HER BREATHING PROBLEMS PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AS THE ILLNESS PROGRESSED.

THE WINTER STRUGGLES CONTINUED FOR WEEKS AND THEN MONTHS AFTER THE INFECTION.

SHE LEARNED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING LONG COVID.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING I NEVER SUFFERED FROM BEFORE EVER.

I NEVER HAD ASTHMA.

I NEVER HAD ISSUES OF ANY KIND WITH BREATHING OR GOING UP THE STAIRS, WALKING OR RUNNING.

I USED TO BE A FANATIC AT THE GYM.

I WAS ABLE TO HANDLE IT FINE.

NO MY BREATHING HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY.

>> SHE IS PART OF A GROWING GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING A MULTITUDE OF SYMPTOMS THAT CAN LAST FOR WEEKS, MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS AFTER THE INITIAL COVID ILLNESS.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ABOUT ONE OUT OF FIVE ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 18 HAVE A HEALTH CONDITION THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THEIR PREVIOUS COVID-19 INFECTION.

>> SOMETIMES IT IS CLEAR AND SOMETIMES IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN LONG COVID IS PRESENT.

THE SYMPTOMS OF LONG COVID AND CHILDREN AS WITH ADULTS CAN BE FATIGUE, LOSS OF ENERGY, LOSS OF EXERCISE TOLERANCE, PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, AS WELL AS A MYRIAD OF OTHER NONSPECIFIC TYPES OF SYMPTOMS.

IDENTIFYING LONG COVID CAN BE A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES FOR FAMILIES AND SOMETIMES FOR DOCTORS ALIKE.

WE ARE STILL STUDYING IT TO SEE HOW FREQUENT EACH OF THE SYMPTOMS IS.

>> IN THIS CASE, MONICA HAS ALREADY BEEN LIVING WITH GRAVES' DISEASE, AN AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION THAT MAKES HER HEART RACE AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS.

ADDING LONG COVID TO THE MIX PRESENTED NEW HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR HER.

>> MY HEART IS ALREADY RACING.

SO NOW I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH BREATHING AND THE TWO ARE NOT HELPING EACH OTHER OUT AT ALL.

IT HAS BEEN A REALLY BIG ISSUE.

I WENT FOR A CAT SCAN AND A PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST AND I DID NOT PASS ANY OF THEM.

>> THEY FOUND INFLAMMATION IN MY LUNGS.

>> DOCTORS SAY TREATMENT FOR A LONG COVID IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN TREATING THE ACUTE ILLNESS ITSELF AND IN THIS CASE, TREATMENT FOCUSES SOLELY AND SOLELY ON THE SYMPTOMS.

>> WHETHER IT IS THE INFLAMMATORY SYMPTOMS OR SOME FORM OF REHABILITATION, PHYSICAL REHABILITATION, TO BUILD UP EXERCISE TOLERANCE FOR WHAT IS KNOWN AS COGNITIVE REHABILITATION TO BUILD A CLEAR BRAIN FOG.

THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE BEING UNDERTAKEN.

>> THE MEDICAL TEAM DECIDED WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY COULD REDUCE THE BREATHING CHALLENGES .

>> I RECENTLY HAD GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY IN HOPES THAT THE WEIGHT LOSS WOULD HELP WITH BREATHING.

WE ARE TRYING EVERY AVENUE BASICALLY.

>> DO YOU FEEL IN SOME WAY THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU FOCUS ON MORE WITH YOUR OVERALL HEALTH?

>> YES.

I HAVE GONE TO SEE EVERY DOCTOR UNDER THE SUN.

I HAVE SEEN NEUROLOGISTS.

YOU NAME IT.

NUTRITIONISTS.

I HAVE GONE TO SEE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT DOCTORS.

>> IS THERE A SILVER LINING IN ALL OF THIS?

>> YES.

>> SHE HAS JUST BEGUN LOSING WAIT FROM THE SURGERY AND IS HOPING THIS FULL-SCALE APPROACH TO GETTING HEALTHY WILL ALLOW HER TO DO THINGS LIKE GOING BACK TO THE GYM AND EVEN JUST CLEAN HER HOUSE MORE EASILY AGAIN.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO NORMAL ACTIVITY.

I WORK IN A SCHOOL AND I'M ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

THE STAIRS ALONE ARE A STRUGGLE.

I HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF BREAKS IN BETWEEN.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER THING TOO.

IT IS AFFECTING MY EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> SHE HOPES TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF HER 5th GRADE CLASSROOM WITH THE ENERGY SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD FOR TEACHING.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO BEING JUST NORMAL.

>> FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS REPORTING.

>> A NEW STUDY THAT ANALYZED THE ROLLOUT OF REMOTE LEARNING IN NEW JERSEY DURING THE PANDEMIC FOUND THAT STUDENTS IN LOWER INCOME DISTRICTS EXPERIENCE INEQUALITIES WITH ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING COMPARED WITH STUDENTS IN MIDDLE INCOME AND WEALTHIER DISTRICTS.

BRIANA VANNOZZI SAT DOWN WITH REBECCA REYNOLDS, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE RUTGERS SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION AND THE LEAD AUTHOR OF THE STUDY TO DISCUSS HOW THE SHIFT TO REMOTE CONSTRUCTION CREATED A DIGITAL DIVIDE.

>> REBECCA, FIRST OF ALL, REALLY INTERESTING STUDY THAT YOU WORKED ON.

I THINK SOME OF IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE BUT OTHER AREAS, NOT JUST THAT THIS WAS A HAPHAZARD ROLLOUT, BUT THE STARK DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LOW INCOME AND HIGH INCOME DISTRICTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET TEACHER PERSPECTIVES ON THIS.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE RESEARCH COMING OUT IS FOCUSING ON STUDENT DATA AND TEACHERS HAVE THEIR OWN POSITION AND PERSPECTIVES AS THE ORCHESTRATOR'S OF PANDEMIC INSTRUCTION AND WHO PLAYED SUCH AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE ROLLOUT OF EMERGENCY REMOTE TEACHING.

SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TALK TO TEACHERS.

WE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE STUDY.

>> YOU WROTE THAT THE DECISION-MAKERS IN PARTICULAR -- THESE ARE ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHER HIGHER-UPS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INTERPRETED STATE AND DISTRICT WIDE INSTRUCTIONS DIFFERENTLY, DEPENDING ON THE INCOME LEVEL IN THE DISTRICT.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN LAYMAN'S TERMS?

>> SOME OF THE FINDINGS THAT EMERGED FROM THE WORK INDICATED THAT IT REALLY TOOK TIME IN THE EARLY PANDEMIC FOR DISTRICTS TO PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTE LAPTOPS IN THE EARLY WEEKS AND MONTHS.

SOME SCHOOLS EVEN HAD A ONE LAPTOP PER FAMILY POLICY REQUIRING STUDENTS TO SHARE AND CREATING DIFFICULT PRIORITIZATION DEMANDS ON FAMILY MEMBERS.

IT ALSO TOOK TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED.

IT WAS MARCH THROUGH JUNE OF 2020.

IT TOOK TIME FOR DISTRICTS TO SECURE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER AGREEMENTS FROM SUBSIDIZED ACCOUNTS AND TO DISTRIBUTE HOTSPOTS.

IN NEW JERSEY, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE IS DIGITAL INEQUALITY THAT IS PRESENT.

WE KNOW THAT NEW JERSEY IS STILL EXPERIENCING DIGITAL INEQUALITY INCLUDING DIFFERENCES IN HOME INTERNET ACCESS BY INCOME LEVEL.

SO WE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND AND WE DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE KNOWN GAPS THAT CONTINUE AND PERSIST IN NEW JERSEY WILL AFFECT AND IMPEDE THE MANDATED DISTANCE-BASED LEARNING UNDER THE SCHOOL CLOSURES.

>> ESPECIALLY AS THIS HAS NOW BECOME SOMEWHAT ROUTINE HERE.

HOW MUCH OF THE BURDEN, THROUGH YOUR INTERVIEWS WITH TEACHERS, FELL ON THEM?

>> TEACHERS EXPERIENCED A REALLY SIGNIFICANT BURDEN HERE MANAGING DISTRICT AND STATE MANDATES.

AND CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND CHANGING RULES AND POLICIES.

AND SO THEY HAD TO MANAGE THESE CONSTANT SHIFTS.

THEY ALSO OF COURSE HAD TO MANAGE THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE BEING EXPERIENCED BY FAMILIES OF STUDENTS.

THOSE INCLUDED OF COURSE SOCIO- EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES, HEALTHCARE ISSUES, DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND COVID ITSELF.

ALSO THE TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT SURFACED FOR FAMILIES.

SO THEY WERE REALLY IN A PRESSURIZED LOT.

THEY HAD A NUMBER OF THEIR OWN INTERESTS PLAYING INTO IT.

MANY TEACHERS ALSO HAVE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN.

AND THEY EXPERIENCED THEIR OWN DIGITAL INEQUALITY HURDLES, DEPENDING ON THE TECH PROVISIONS THAT WERE AVAILABLE IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

>> TOUGH TIMES AND QUIET ANGELS THEY ARE, THOSE TEACHERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR FINDINGS.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ANY REPORT ESTIMATES ONE OUT OF EVERY 12 NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS FACE FOOD INSECURITY AND ABOUT 70% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP ARE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM MEANING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE NOT RECEIVING BENEFITS THEY ARE ENTITLED TO.

THAT IS WHY LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING TO TACKLE FOOD INSECURITY IN THE STATE THROUGH A PACKAGE OF BILLS AIMED TO AT EXPANDING ACCESS TO IN FITS AND MAKING SURE LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES ARE FED.

MELISSA COOPER REPORTS AS PART OF THE ONGOING SERIES, "HUNGER IN NEW JERSEY."

>> WE HAVE OVER A MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY.

ABOUT 400,000 ARE CHILDREN.

>> IT IS A PROBLEM LISA PITTS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HUNGER FREE NEW JERSEY, SAYS HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> I THINK A BRIGHT LIGHT HAS BEEN SHOWN ON THE PROBLEM.

AND NOW WE SEE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, FOOD PANTRIES THIS WEEKEND, A LEVEL OF NEED AND DEMAND FOR SERVICES AS IT WAS IN 2020.

>> SO THEY ARE SUPPORTING LAWMAKER EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

ON THURSDAY, THE ASSEMBLY PASSED AN EIGHT BILL PACKAGE INCREASING ACCESS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS SNAP.

LAWMAKERS ALSO PASSED A BILL TO EXPAND INCOME ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS WHICH COULD HELP FEED ANOTHER 26,000 STUDENTS EACH YEAR.

>> IT WILL INCREASE FROM 185%, TO 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH IS ABOUT $55,500 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

AND THAT DOES NOT GO A LONG WAY IN AN EXPENSIVE STATE LIKE NEW JERSEY.

WE KNOW THAT THOSE WORKING- CLASS HOUSEHOLDS ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND STRUGGLING TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.

AND WOULD REALLY GREATLY BENEFIT FROM BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN GET THE FREE MEALS AT SCHOOL.

>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CRAIG COGHLAN, WHO HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE STATE, APPLAUDED THE ASSEMBLY FOR PASSING THE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.

>> WE ARE A GREAT STATE.

AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A GREAT STATE, THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO AT A VERY MINIMUM.

FEED PEOPLE.

MAKE SURE THEY HAVE HOUSING.

MAKE SURE THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY .

FOR ME, MAKING SURE PEOPLE GET FED IS CLOSER TO A MORAL OBLIGATION THEN IT IS TO A GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION.

WHO AMONG US WOULD ACCEPT PEOPLE GOING HUNGRY?

IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> THE FEDERAL SNAP PROGRAM HELPS FAMILIES PAY FOR THE FOOD THEY NEED BUT ONLY ABOUT 70% OF ELIGIBLE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.

TO RAISE THE NUMBERS, LAWMAKERS WANT TO STREAMLINE THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS AND SET UP A CALL CENTER TO HELP FOLKS WHO RUN INTO PROBLEMS.

ANOTHER BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO REACH PEOPLE WHO COULD BE MISSING OUT.

>> BY MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT THEY NEED AND GETTING ACCESS TO SUPPORT LIKE FOOD ASSISTANCE LIKE SNAP AND THE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO PAY FOR OTHER THINGS.

AND WE KNOW THE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES ARE PUTTING THAT MONEY RIGHT BACK INTO THE ECONOMY AND SPENDING IT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING WITHOUT THINGS THEY NEED TO.

>> CARLOS RODRIGUES IS HEAD OF THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY.

HE SAYS THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE COULD BE HELPED BY THIS LEGISLATION.

>> THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THEY REACH EVERYONE IS EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED.

THE PROBLEMS WITH INSECURITY IS NOT JUST ONE OF PROVIDING MORE FOOD.

IT IS CREATING ACCESS TO THAT FOOD AND THAT IS THROUGH FINANCIAL MEANS OR ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY PROVIDING IT.

AND OF COURSE, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY SO THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

>> MUCH NEEDED HELP IS ONLY A SENATE APPROVAL AND THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AWAY.

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

.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS TONIGHT, GETTING AROUND ATLANTIC CITY COULD SOON BE EASIER FOR TOURISTS AND STAYCATION BY A PLAN APPROVED BY THE STATE SENATE.

ACCORDING TO NJ BUSINESS, A STATE PASSED A BILL ALLOWING THE INVESTMENT AUTHORITY TO USE FUNDS TO PAY FOR A TRANSPORTATION LINE FROM ATLANTIC CITY AIRPORT TO THE TOURISM DISTRICT.

THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE SENATE BUT IS STILL IN COMMITTEE IN THE ASSEMBLY.

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

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT CHAMBER SMJ.COM AND RIVERVIEW JAZZ, PRESENTING THE JERSEY CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL JUNE 4th AND THE FIFTH.

EVENT DETAILS INCLUDING PERFORMANCE DETAILS AND LOCATION ARE ONLINE AT RIVERVIEWJAGGED.ORG.

>>> IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT ENJOYING THE START OF SUMMER AT A STATE PARK, IT WILL BE FREE.

THE ENTRANCE FEES WILL BE WAIVED FOR ALL VISITORS REGARDLESS OF STATE RESIDENCY.

ANYONE WHO ALREADY PURCHASED A 2022 ANNUAL STATE PARKS PASS WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A FULL REFUND.

OTHER INDIVIDUAL PARK FEES REMAIN IN PLACE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CAMPING AND MOBILE SPORTFISHING PERMITS.

THE FEE WAIVER IS PART OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S 49 BILLION- DOLLAR BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR, WHICH BEGINS JULY 1st.

>> AFTER SPENDING TWO YEARS EITHER REMOTE OR ON A HYBRID SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF COVID, COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE FINALLY GETTING THEIR CHANCE TO GRADUATE IN PERSON.

A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE AFTER THE PANDEMIC TURNED THEIR LIVES UPSIDE DOWN, ALTERING GRADUATION CEREMONIES AND STEALING THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE CAP AND DOWN WITH THEIR CLASSMATES.

AFTER ENDURING WHAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED THE STRANGEST COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IN MODERN HISTORY, COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE FINALLY GETTING THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY THEY HAVE ENVISIONED.

BRIANA VANNOZZI REPORTS.

>> WHILE YOU HAVE BEEN STUDYING HERE, YOU HAVE LIVED THROUGH A HARD PASSAGE OF HISTORY.

THINK ABOUT ALL WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH.

>> THE CLASS OF 2022, CROSSING THE FINISH LINE, HAVING NAVIGATED UNPRECEDENTED ROADBLOCKS, FORCING DETOURS CAUSED BY COVID-19.

POLITICAL UPHEAVAL AND MOTHER NATURE'S WRATH.

>> LET US PROMISE OURSELVES THAT OUR CORPORATE MEMORY OF THE TRAGIC REALITY OF THE INEQUITIES EXPERIENCED WITH COVID-19 DOES NOT FADE AFTER RETURNING TO OUR NEW NORMAL.

IT WILL TAKE A DECADES LONG COMMITMENT FOR OUR SOCIETY TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES.

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO BE PART OF THAT COMMITMENT.

>> WORDS OF WISDOM OFFERED BY A POWERFUL PACK OF ORIT TOURS.

>> OWN YOUR POWER BECAUSE YOU ARE THE FUTURE.

I NEED YOU TO STRUT YOUR STUFF WHEN YOU ARE WALKING LIKE, I AM ALL THAT.

I NEED YOU TO WALK LIKE THAT BECAUSE MANY OF US, WE ARE ACTUALLY INVISIBLE LYSED IN THIS COUNTRY.

RIGHT?

WE ARE TARGETED IN THIS COUNTRY WITH HATE AND SOMEHOW, SEE US IS A THREAT.

>> MARKING THE FIRST IN PERSON GRADUATION CEREMONIES FOR SO MANY SINCE THE PANDEMIC ARRIVED, IMPACTING US ALL.

AT KING UNIVERSITY, TONY WANT NOMINATED ACTORS INSPIRING STUDENTS WITH ANOTHER FIRST, RELAYING HER SPEECH IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

>> WHAT I SEE RIGHT NOW IN THIS SMALL LITTLE WORLD THAT WE CALL OUR UNIVERSITY, I SEE DIVERSITY.

I SEE INCLUSION.

I SEE FREEDOM.

I SEE 3000 AGENTS OF CHANGE.

>> AT STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MAJOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER CAL RIPKEN JUNIOR REMINDING GRADUATES OF A POWERFUL TOOL ALREADY IN THEIR POSSESSION.

>> WHEN YOU TRULY HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, YOU CAPTURE THE ENERGY OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AS OPPOSED TO WHY IT CAN'T BE DONE.

YOU BECOME A WILLING PARTICIPANT.

YOU TRY THINGS.

YOU DO THINGS.

YOU LEARN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

YOU BECOME ACTION ORIENTED.

YOUR FAILURES EVEN BECOME MORE VALUABLE EXPERIENCES.

>> THOSE MESSAGES CARRYING HOPE AND HUMILITY.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS I GOT FROM MY EDUCATION AND MY UNIVERSITY, WAS LEARNING HOW TO LEARN.

HOW TO WORK WITH OTHERS.

HOW TO COMMUNICATE IDEAS.

AND ABOVE ALL, HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

>> FROM WORLD LEADERS TO HOMETOWN HEROES.

>> DON'T LET FEAR OF UNCERTAINTY HOLD YOU BACK FROM DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND DOING WHAT IS GOOD IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.

>> AND NEW JERSEY'S CHIEF JUDGE, THE FIRST CUBAN BORN DISTRICT COURT CHIEF IN THE UNITED STATES, PUSHING GRADUATES TO BE TRUE TO THEMSELVES BUT TO REACH FOR EVEN GREATER HEIGHTS.

>> THINK OF WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED TODAY.

THINK OF YOUR 12-YEAR-OLD OR 13- YEAR-OLD SELF.

AND SAY, WITHOUT THE TEAR 13- YEAR-OLD SELF SEE ME HERE TODAY?

IF THE ANSWER IS YES, WHAT HE OR SHE LIKE ME?

AND THEN, WHAT ABOUT 20, 30 OR 40 YEARS FROM NOW?

COULD I ENVISION THAT PERSON?

>> THE CLASS OF 2022, ONWARD AND UPWARD FROM HERE, RESILIENT AND READY FOR WHATEVER LIFE THROWS THEIR WAY.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL PLATFORMS FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJSPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF YOUR MEMORIAL DAY.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW!

.

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

>> MJM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT JUST WHO ARE THE POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND 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.

MJM, WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELE- MED APP.

OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH A RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION.

AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.