>>> NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE JERSEY ASSOCIATION MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

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

>>> FROM NJPBS, THERE IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANNA VANNOZZI,.

>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOIN HAPPENING US THIS THURSDAY NIGHT, I'M BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

THE THE DRAFT ABOUT ROE V. WADE IS HOLDING CANDIDATES FEET TO THE FIRE FOR THEIR STANCE ON ABORTION AND OPENING THE DOOR FOR POSSIBLE BATTLES IN WHAT MAY HAVE OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN LANDSLIDE RACES COME NOVEMBER.

AS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS, THAT APPEARS TO BE THE CASE IN NEW JERSEY'S 7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHERE A KEY VOTING BLOCK COULD BE UP FOR GRABS.

>> UP UNTIL THIS WEEK THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WERE GOING TO BE THE ECONOMY, INFLATION AND THE COST OF EVERYTHING.

BUT REPUBLICANS HERE AND ELSEWHERE ARE ALSO COUNTING ON SUBURB MOMS ABOUT SEX ED STANDARDS FOR THE CURRICULUM, BUT THE LEAK OF THE DRAFT DECISION FROM THE SUPREME COURT ROE V. WADE COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING ESPECIALLY IN THE RACE OF THE 7th DISTRICT.

PARTICULARLY ON THE GOP SIDE.

>> WE HAVE TOM KING, JR, SEEN AS THE FRONT-RUNNER, PUTS HIM IN A STICKY SITUATION.

I AM SURE HE WAS NOT HOPING TO ANGLE THIS ELECTION OR PRIMARIES ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION AND NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO HOT-BUTTON CULTURE WAR ISSUES ABORTION IS RIGHT AT THE TOP.

EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN THOSE SEX-ED STANDARDS THE GOP WAS PUSHING ASEN AS AN ISSUE.

TOM CANE IS FACING SIX OPPONENTS, THE SUPREME COURT IS LOOKING TO RECHARGE THEIR EFFORTS TO PAINT HIM AS A LIBERAL REPUBLICAN IN CONSERVATIVE CLOTHING.

>> HE DOES HAVE SOME ANSWERING TO DO.

RIGHT NOW THE CAMPAIGN IS BEING RUN LARGELY LIKE A JOE BIDEN CAMPAIGN, SAY AS LITTLE AND DO AS POSSIBLE AND SEND AS MANY MAILERS AND FACES TO REPRESENT HIM AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES.

>> Reporter: IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THE CONSERVATIVES ARE COMING OUT GUNS BLAZING, HERE IS RIZZO WHO SURPRISED MANY LAST YEAR.

>> IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY, IT MATTERS WHAT PEOPLE DO.

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT TOM SAYS BECAUSE HE CAN TALK OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF HIS MOUTH IF HE CAN TALK AT ALL.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE VOTES.

>> Reporter: IT HAS BEEN TIGHTER FOR THE USUALLY CAMERA- SHY STATE SENATOR.

HE WAS LIKEWISE UNAVAILABLE TO TALK TO US FOR THIS STORY.

HE DID ISSUE A CAREFULLY-WORDED STATEMENT AFTER THE NEWS OF THE SUPREME COURT LEAK EARLIER THIS WEEK.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LEAKED WORKING DOCUMENT FROM FEBRUARY, HE SAID IN A STATEMENT, AND THE COURT WILL MAKE THEIR FINAL RULING IN JUNE.

ULTIMATELY I STAND WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEYIANS AGAINST THE RADICAL POSITION OF ABORTION ON DEMAND UNTIL THE MOMENT OF BIRTH.

>> THE IDEA THAT HE IS A CONSERVATIVE IS IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE.

I BELIEVE IT WILL IMPACT THIS RACE BECAUSE THIS IS A REPUBLICAN DISTRICT, IT GOT MORE REPUBLICAN WITH REDISTRICTING AND I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL TO OUR CAMPAIGN.

>> Reporter: AMONG PRIMARY VOTERS, MAYBE.

BUT IT IS NO SECRET THAT EVEN AMONG NEW JERSEY REPUBLICANS THERE IS SUPPORT FOR KEEPING ABORTION LEGAL, SAYS ASHLEY FROM THE EAGLE INSTITUTE.

>> THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE CONCERNED IF THE SUPREME COURT TOOK BACK ROE V. WADE INCLUDING A DESCENT AMOUNT OF REPUBLICANS AS WELL.

IT WILL NOT PLAY WELL FOR TOM CANE.

>> Reporter: THE DISTRICT WAS CONSIDERED A SACRIFICE BY DEMOCRATS IN THE RECENT REDISTRICTING, IT COULD MEAN A BOOST AMONG HIS HERETOFORE QUIET ON THE VOTERS, ON THIS ISSUE HE THINKS HE HAS A WINNER.

>> THEY HAVE HIS RECORD.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS HE WOULD HELP CREATE A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WOULD CONTINUE THIS CRUSADE TO BAN ABORTION IN AMERICA INCLUDING NEW JERSEY.

>> PEOPLE EXPECTED A TOUGH RACE FOR DEMS IN DISTRICT SEVEN HAS BEEN, PERHAPS, UPENDED BY THE NEWS FROM THE SUPREME COURT THERE WEEK.

AND WHILE NOVEMBER IS STILL AWHILE OFF, THE JUNE PRIMARY IS JUST WEEKS AWAY.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AT LEAST, THE LANDSCAPE HAS SHIFTED.

PUTTING INTO PLAY WHAT THE FRONT-RUNNER HAD HOPED WOULD BE A LOCK.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FINALLY HAD ITS SAY ON THE RAGING DEBATE OVER SEX ED STANDARDS IN NEW JERSEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT CAUSED AN UPROAR AMONG PARENTS, COMMUNITIES AND LAWMAKERS, WE NOW KNOW WHERE THE BAND STORES, EDUCATION WRITER JOINS US WITH THE LATEST, JOHN, THE SEX ED CURRICULUM WAS NOT ON THE DOCKET YESTERDAY, BUT IT WAS AN UNAVOIDABLE TOPIC, WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE MEETING?

>> I THINK AS YOU SAID IT WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THE STANDARDS IN QUESTION, THE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS, ENACTED TWO YEARS AGO AND THEY WILL NOT OFFICIALLY BE COMING UP FOR READOPTION FOR ANOTHER COUPLE YEARS.

GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON AND THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COME UP FROM AMONG MEMBERS AND THE COMMISSIONER WAS READY FOR IT.

SHE HAD A LENGTHY STATEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS A GOOD 10, 15 MINUTE STATEMENT READY TO GO RIGHT AT THE START OF THE MEETING AND BASICALLY SAID, YOU KNOW, GAVE A PRETTY IMPASSIONED DEFENSE OF THE STANDARDS AS BEING REALLY IMPORTANT FOR WELL BEING OF CHILDREN BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTAL HEALTH AND HERSELF, A MOTHER OF THREE KIDS, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SHE RECOGNIZES AS A MOTHER THE VALUE OF THIS.

SHE REALLY STUCK TO HER GUNS ON IT.

MORE SO THAN SHE HAD UP TO THIS POINT.

IT WAS UNUSUAL.

THESE MEETINGS ARE PRETTY STAYED, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.

AND SHE HAD IT GOING RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.

I THINK IT DID SWAY A FEW MEMBERS.

>> WHAT WAS THE BOARD OF THE SAME MIND SET?

WHERE DID THEY FALL?

>> IMMEDIATELY SHE GOT DEFENSE FROM A COUPLE MEMBERS.

INCLUDING THE BOARD PRESIDENT GOLDENBERG.

AND, ALSO ADDING PRETTY PERSONAL DEFENSES OF THIS.

NOT REALLY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT CURRICULUM.

IT IS ABOUT TEACHING KID KIDS SOME OF THE THINGS THEY NEED TO KNOW TO NAVIGATE LIFE.

IT WAS INTERESTING.

A COUPLE EDUCATORS, TOO, TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE OF THESE THINGS, SO, IT WAS, IT WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION, THEN, THERE WAS PUSH BACK FROM A COUPLE MEMBER WHO'S WARNED THEY WERE GOING TO PUSH BACK.

THE TEETH HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THEIR ARGUMENTS BY THAT POINT.

AND THEY, THEY WENT AHEAD WITH IT BUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

>> ALL RIGHT, NOW, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

THESE ARE THE FOLKS WE LOOK TO FOR SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS AND NEXT STEPS, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>> WELL, I THINK IT IS NOT, YOU KNOW, IT WILL NOT -- UNLESS MORE COMES OUT ON IT I DON'T THINK WE WILL HEAR A LOT MORE FROM THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION.

THERE ARE BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SOME OF THEM ARE FAR STRICTER THAN EVEN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHITTLED IT DOWN TO THREE SUBJECTS TYPE OF THING.

OTHERS ARE LOOKING FOR BETTER TRANSPARENCY ON THIS AND DISTRICTS TO SHARE CURRICULUM BEFORE THEY ADOPT THEM AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.

I THINK THAT WILL PROBABLY BE THE PATH.

THAT MAY BE AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK WHEN THE SENATE TAKES UP SOME OF THE MEASURES AS WELL.

>> NOT THE END OF IT, THAT IS FOR SURE.

JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN.

>> NICE TO TALK TO YOU.

>>> AFTER ROUGHLY A YEAR WITHOUT A WATCH DOG, NEW JERSEY HAS A NEW LEADER KEEPING AN EYE ON THE PRISON SYSTEM.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY NAMED TERRY SCHUSTER TASKED WITH INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCTING REGULAR INSPECTIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 11 ADULT PRISONS.

AN ATTORNEY WITH A BACKGROUND IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HE SERVE INSIDE SEVERAL CORRECTIONAL OVERSIGHT ROLES, RECENTLY AT THE CHARITY PUBLIC TRUST SAFETY PERFORMANCE PROJECT.

HE WILL HAVE HIS WORK ADULT OUT FOR HIM.

THE PREVIOUS PERSON RESIGNED AMONG A PROBE AT THE FEMALE PRISON WHERE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES FOUND OFFICERS SEXUALLY ABUSED FEMALE INMATES AND THEY FAILED TO LOOK AT YEARS OF DOCUMENTED ABUSE.

>>> UPTICK IN COVID-19 CASES.

THE STATE IS CONFIRMING JUST SHY OF 3500 NEW POSITIVE TESTS TODAY AND SEVEN MORE DEATHS.

THE HIGHEST SINGLE DAY TOTAL IN THREE MONTHS.

THIS AS THE U.S. IS POISED TO HIT MORE THAN ONE MILLION FATALITIES CAUSED BY COVID-19 NATIONWIDE.

NEW JERSEY IS STILL BEING ROCKED BY THE OPIOID CRISIS.

DESPITE YEARS OF POLICIES AND DEDICATED FUNDING TO COMBAT THE ELICIT DRUG MARKET AND OVERDOSED DEATHS.

IT IS NO MATCH FOR THE AMOUNT OF FENTANYL POISONING DRUG SUPPLIES.

THE OPIOID IS CHEAPER TO MAKE AND SEVERAL TIMES MORE POWERFUL TO MAKE THAN HEROIN.

NOW IT IS KILLING IN RECORD NUMBERS.

>> MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING TO INTEGRITY HOUSE FOR HELP ARE COMING BECAUSE OF FENTANYL ABUSE.

>> OVER THE LAST DECADE THE SHARP RISE IN FENTANYL OVERDOSE DEATHS HAS BEEN ALARMING.

IT MAKES UP 75% OF DRUG DEATHS IN NEW JERSEY.

>> IN SOME CASES THE INDIVIDUAL WANTS THE FENTANYL.

OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T WANT TO DIE BUT THEY WANT TO GET AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE.

>> BUT IN ALL, TOO MANY CASES, THE FENTANYL IS MIXED INTO THE DRUGS THE INDIVIDUALS THINK THEY ARE TAKING LIKE MARIJUANA, COCAINE, AND HEROIN.

>>AND THEY ARE USUALLY AN OLDER GENERATION AND THEY WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM THE FENTANYL WHERE THEY ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIND THEIR HEROIN BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE INSTANT DEATH THAT COMES ALONG WITH FENTANYL.

>> INSTANT DEATH BECAUSE FENTANYL IS 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROIN, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

IT IS WORSE THAN WHAT WAS ALREADY AN OPIOID CRISIS AND THE LATEST DATA FROM 2019.

FENTANYL CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEATHS OF 2200 JERSIANS.

>> IT IS AN ALL IN COMPASSING FENTANYL DEATH.

>> IT IS MAKING IT EASIER TO SELL AND BUY.

IT IS UNDETECTIBLE HIDDEN IN OTHER DRUGS.

THAT LEAVES PEOPLE SCRAMBLING TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT THE EPIDEMIC.

>> IT WILL TAKE AN APPROACH TO CUTTING OFF THE STREAM OF DRUGS AND DRUG USE AND THEN CLEANING UP THE MESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE THROUGH THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE ELICIT AND TO SOME EXTENT LEGAL OPIOIDS.

>> THEY SAID ANOTHER WAR ON DRUGS IS NOT THE ANSWER.

>> INCARCERATION IS NOT REHABILITATION.

INCARCERATED SOMEONE WHO IS ADDICTED TO SUBSTANCES AND THEY GO TO JAIL OR TO PRISON THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED.

ADDITION IS A MENTAL HEALTH DISEASE AND IT SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.

>> WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL COMES TO US FOR HELP WE WANT TO PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR THEM AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEM.

AT THE SAME TIME WE INTRODUCE THEM TO NAR CAN.

WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ANTIDOTE THAT CAN REVERSE AN OVERDOSE.

THERE CONTINUES TO BE A STATE FUNDING AND FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP US KEEP A SUPPLY OF NARCAN AT INTEGRITY HOUSE.

>> SOME MIGHT SAY WHY IS THE STATE PAYING TO SAVE THE LIFE OF SOMEONE WHO IS CHOOSING THIS DEADLY DRUG.

>> EVERY LIFE IS PRECIOUS.

WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THE PERSONAL ALIVE LONG ENOUGH UNTIL THEY CAN ENTER TREATMENT AND MAKE SOME MEANINGFUL CHANGES IN THEIR LIFE THEN IT IS A GOOD INVESTMENT, IT IS SAVING LIVES.

>> IF THE LEGISLATURES WOULD LOOK AT PEOPLE AS INDIVIDUALS, LAWS WOULD CHANGE AND CENTERS WOULD BE OPEN, NEEDLE EXCHANGE CENTERS WOULD BE OPEN.

SAFE TESTING SITES WOULD BE OPEN SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE, IN A HEALTHY MANNER, UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO OR WILLING TO LOOK AT WHY THEY ARE TURNING TO SUBSTANCES.

>> THAT CRITICAL INTERSECTION WHERE A PERSON IS READY TO BREAK THEIR ADDICTION AND TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS THAT U.S. WORK PERMITS EXPIRED WILL CONTINUE TO EARN MONEY STARTING TODAY.

EXTENDING LEGAL WORK PERMITS UP TO 1 1/2 YEARS AS THE GOVERNMENT WORKS TO OFF LOAD A MASSIVE BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS.

>> I AM AFRAID IF I DO NOT GET RENEW ALLY WILL HAVE TO GO BACK.

I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FOR SECURITY.

I AM HERE WITH MY FOUR KIDS AND NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM IF I DON'T HAVE A WORK PERMIT.

THE WORK PERMIT EXPIRE INSIDE FEBRUARY OF 2022.

THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK LEGALLY CLEANING LOAMS HERE IN JERSEY HAS DONE SO HERE IN THE EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTATION KNOWN AS A WORK PERMIT.

HAVING A WORK PERMIT IS BENEFICIAL AND GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A STABLE JOB FOR MY FAMILY AND CAN BUILD A BETTER LIFE.

THAT IS WHY CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES ANNOUNCED A NEW POLICY THAT WOULD ALLOW IMMIGRANTS WITH EXPIRED OR SOON TO EXPIRE WORK PERMITS TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THE DOCUMENTS FOR 540 DAYS OR 18 MONTHS AFTER THE EXPIRATION.

ACCORDING TO THE USCIS IT WILL HELP 87,000 IMMIGRANTS WHOSE WORK AUTHORIZATION IS SET TO EXPIRE SOON.

>> WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS GIVING THEMSELVES A CUSHION AND SAYING WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES ANOTHER YEAR TO ADJUDICATE THESE THINGS KNOWING PEOPLE STILL HAVE THE BENEFIT IT IS HELPFUL BUT WHAT IS REALLY HELPFUL IS WHEN THEY ADJUDICATE THE UNDER LINING APPLICATION.

>> AN IMMIGRATION LAW ATTORNEY WITH ENGLISH LLC.

SHE SAYS WHILE THE EXTENSION DOES GIVE PEOPLE PEACE OF MIND IT DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE PROCESSING TIME THAT SOMETIMES CAN TAKE UP TO A YEAR, SHE SAYS.

>> IF THE PROCESSING TIME TAKE ACE YEAR OR LONGER YOU FILE SIX MONTHS AHEAD.

YOUR WORK AUTHORIZATION EXPIRES AFTER SIX MONTHS AND THEN YOU HAVE 180 DAY EXTENSION.

THEN, IF THE WORK AUTHORIZATION IS NOT APPROVED BY THEN, THEY ARE SIDELINED.

>> WORK AUTHORIZATION PROCESSING IS JUST A CONSTANT SOURCE OF HEADACHE FOR FOREIGN NATIONAL FAMILIES WHO ARE DEALING WITH IT.

AND IT IS A CONSTANT, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES.

THEY ARE CHECKING USCIS.GOV TO SEE IF THERE IS MOVEMENT OR UPDATE ON THEIR WORK AUTHORIZATION.

>> WITHOUT THAT, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORK.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

HOW CAN I PAY MY BILLS?

YOU KNOW, SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE IT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION.

>> 27-YEAR-OLD MELISA KAHN CAME HERE THREE YEARS AGO.

SHE WORKS AS A LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR HARDINGTON KING ENGLISH LLC, SHE WILL BENEFIT FROM THE EXTENSION SHE WISHES THE PROCESS WAS EXPEDITED.

>> I HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE 2019 TO FIND MY GREEN CARD IN 2020 NOW WE NEAR 2022 AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY GREEN CARD.

I KNOW THEY ARE DOING ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING SO LONG TO PROCESS IT.

>> THE WAY TO REMEDY THE SITUATION IS FOR USCIS TO ADJUDICATE THE FORM IN A TIMELY MANNER.

AND A TIMELY MANNER, I WOULD SAY, WITHIN 90 DAYS.

>> FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION IS TAUTING ITS COMMITMENT TO SMALL BUSINESSES DURING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK.

THE STATE WILL BEGIN TAKING APPLICATIONS NEXT MONTH FOR ITS MICROBUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM, A WAY TO GET MORE FUNDING OUT TO THOSE THAT NEED IT.

THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SAYS IT PROVIDED NEARLY 5 1/2 MILLION IN GRANTS TO OVER 230 OF NEW JERSEY SMALL BUSINESSES SINCE LAST FALL THROUGH ITS MAIN STREET RECOVERY PROGRAM.

THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $50 MILLION FOR THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM.

MEANTIME, THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION SAYS THE STATE CAN DO EVEN MORE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY GIVE THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE BUDGET.

THE NJBIA SAYS SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE NOT FULLY RECOVERED FROM THE PANDEMIC AND THEY NEED MORE HELP.

>> WE ARE DOWN 30% OF SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

OVER JANUARY OF 2020.

WE ONLY HAD NEW STARTS, WE ARE ABOUT 13% DOWN IN NEW STARTS.

SO, WE ARE LACKING, OUR BUSINESSES ABILITY TO GROW, TO SUSTAIN.

THEY ARE HURTING.

>> IN OTHER NEWS, REGULATORS TODAY PROPOSED NEW RULES FOR BANK LENDING IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES.

THE CHANGES TO THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT RED LINING, SEEKED TO ADDRESS A LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

>>> IT HAS BEEN A WEEK OF EXTREME VOLATILITY IN FINANCIAL MARKETS, BIG SWINGS ON WALL STREET WHILE BENCH MARK INTEREST RATES TODAY SHOT UP TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2018.

INVESTORS ARE WONDERING IF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BY RAISING INTEREST RATES WILL BE ABLE TO COOL OFF THE ECONOMY WHILE NOT SLOWING IT DOWN TOO MUCH.

WE WILL GET THE LATEST TEMPERATURE ON HOW THE ECONOMY IS DOING TOMORROW WHEN THE GOVERNMENT RELEASES ITS MONTHLY JOBS REPORT.

STRONG JOBS GROWTH IS EXPECTED, THAT IS ONE AREA OF THE ECONOMY THAT HAS BEEN HOLDING UP WELL.

NOW, HERE IS A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM TODAY.

.

[MUSIC] THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES, SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT.

A GAME CHANGES FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYTICS AND SCIENCE.

WE ARE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATHWAY IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.

>>> AND JOIN RHONDA FOR NJ BUSINESS BEAT THIS WEEKEND WITH A SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK.

LOOKING AT EVERYING FROM THE CURRENT CLIMATE FOR THE INDUSTRY TO CYBERSECURITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, WATCH IT SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURE AND FISHING INDUSTRIES ARE FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE WITH A GRAYING FLEET OF WORKERS AGING OUT OF THE BUSINESS AND WANING INTEREST FROM FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO CAN IT BE SAVED?

TED GOLDBERG REPORTS.

>> FARMING AND FISHING IS NOT A YOUNG PERSON'S GAME, THE AVERAGE FARMER IS 62 YEARS OLD.

A BIG CONCERN FOR THIS 65-YEAR- OLD FARMER.

>> IF WE DON'T HAVE THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO FOLLOW US, ONCE WE ARE DONE, WE ARE DONE.

I KNOW, YOU KNOW, IN MY FAMILY POSSIBLY MY SON AND DAUGHTER, THEY MAY BE INTERESTED.

BUT WE WILL SEE.

>> FARMERS AND FISHERMAN PLAY KEY ROLES IN HELPING PEOPLE PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLES.

BUT HE SAYS YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE NOT CONVINCED THEY CAN MAKE A LIVING BY CASTING LINES OR PLOWING FIELDS.

>> WE NEED TO SHOW THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY AT IT.

HOW IT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, PROFITABLE AND IT IS VERY REWARDING.

>> THE HOPE IS $300,000 EARMARK IN THIS YEAR'S FEDERAL BUDGET THE PLANT THAT SEED BY CREATING A WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, CONGRESSMAN SAYS IT IS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO ATTEND HIGHER EDUCATION OR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE GOOD MONEY.

>> NOT EVERYBODY HAS TO GO TO COLLEGE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, TECHNICAL TRAINING, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, YOU KNOW, CAN LEAD TO CAREERS THAT ARE, I WAS GOING TO SAY JUST AS IMPORTANT, I AM GOING TO SAY MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOING TO COLLEGE, AND CERTAINLY PROBABLY A BETTER SALARY.

>> FOOD INNOVATION IS A CRUCIAL ELEMENT IN THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.

OUR GOAL IS TO ATTRACT, RETAIN, EXPAND BUSINESSES IN KEY INDUSTRIES LIKE FOOD INNOVATION.

THIS NEW PROGRAM AT OUR SCHOOLS WILL HELP US DO JUST THAT.

>> WE NEED THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED AND JUST TO ENCOURAGE THEM AND PERK THEIR INTEREST IN, YOU KNOW, A GREENHOUSE, IN AGRICULTURE, YOU KNOW, TO GET THEM OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK FOR A CAREER.

IT WILL NOT BE, YOU KNOW, YOU WILL NOT BE A CEO OF A HIGH-CLASS CORPORATION BUT THE REWARDS ARE TREMENDOUS.

>> THAT MONEY WILL SEED FARMS IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND CREATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH FISHERIES, HE IS A FAN OF THE NEW PROGRAM AS LONG AS YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SIGNING UP FOR.

>> KIDS DON'T LIKE TO GET DIRTY.

MOM AND DAD ARE RAISING THEIR KIDS DON'T GET DIRTY.

YOU KNOW, BACK WHEN I WAS YOUNG, WE ATE DIRT, YOU KNOW, IT DID NOT HURT YOU.

IT IS HARD WORK.

IT IS NOT AN EIGHT HOUR DAY.

YOU CAN BE OUT THERE BEFORE SUNRISE OR AT SUNRISE AND WORK UNTIL SUNSET OR AFTER SUNSET.

>> NOT AN EASY JOB BUT A NECESSARY ONE TO BRING IN FISH AND ALL OF THE VEGETABLES TO KEEP A GARDEN STATE GROWING.

TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, SOME SAD NEWS, LONG TIME JERSEY JOURNAL REPORTER JOE ALBRIGHT HAS DIED.

BELIEVED TO BE THE LONGEST SERVING STATE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT IN THE COUNTRY.

HE PENNED HIS FIRST ARTICLE FOR THE PAPER OCTOBER 12th, 1964.

IN THAT NEARLY 60 YEAR SPAN, HE COVERED 12 GOVERNORS, HUNDREDS OF LEGISLATURES AND KNEW THE HALLS OF TRENTON BETTER THAN ANYONE.

HE WAS BEST KNOWN AS SAINT JOE OR UNCLE JOE BY THE STATE HOUSE PRESS CORP, SHOE LEATHER REPORTING STYLE ALMOST AS BELOVED AS THE SOUND OF HIS MANUAL SMITH CORONA TYPE WRITER, THE CLICKING OF TEES GOING THROUGH PRESS ROW ALL UNTIL THE END.

HIS KNOWLEDGE WAS UNMATCHED AND HIS CARE FOR THE LOCAL BIRDS, STRAY CATS AND SQUIRRELS, THAT WAS A SOFT BALANCE TO TRENTONS GRITTY POLITICAL SCENE.

HE WAS 93 YEARS OLD.

HE WILL BE MISSED.

THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

TUNE IN TOMORROW MORNING WITH DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK DAVID TALKS TO THE CO- DEAN OF THE RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL ABOUT THE LEAKS SUPREME COURT DRAFT DECISION TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN NEW JERSEY.

PLUS, ALL OF THE OTHER POLITICAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK WITH A PANEL OF LOCAL REPORTERS.

THAT IS FRIDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I'M BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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

>>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE, OFF SHORE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

ORSTED.

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

ONLINE AT US.ORSTED.COM.

>>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH HAS TWO WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE, SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 WITH OUR TELE MED APP OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VISIT WITH OUR HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT YOU HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

[MUSIC]