>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

ACHING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

RJW BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HAPPY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

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

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

>> HELLO , I'M JOANNA GAGIS IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THE DAY STARTED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSING THE NATION AFTER HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL MEETING WITH CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPING CALLING, THE THREE-HOUR TALK CANDID AND SAYS HE DOESN'T BELIEVE WE ARE HEADED TOWARD A COLD WAR WITH CHINA.

THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY SECURED CONTROL OF THE SENATE THIS WEEKEND WITH DEMOCRATS WINNING 50 SEATS IN THE UPPER HOUSE.

THE RUNOFF RACE IN GEORGIA IS THE LAST ONE HANGING IN THE BALANCE, BUT IT WON'T BE ENOUGH TO SHIFT CONTROL BACK TO THE REPUBLICANS.

>>> QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG IN MERCER COUNTY ON ELECTION DAY.

BRIAN HUGHES IS CALLING ON ELECTION OFFICIALS TO OVERHAUL THE WHOLE SYSTEM AFTER VOTING MACHINES WERE UNABLE TO TABULATE BALLOT .

A BACKUP SYSTEM WAS IMMEDIATELY PUT INTO PLACE TO COUNT ALL THE BALLOTS BY HAND, A MUCH SLOWER PROCESS.

THE COMPANY IS NOW WORKING WITH ALL INVOLVED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WENT WRONG AND TO ENSURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>>> MOVING TO TRENTON WHERE A GUN BILL DESIGNED TO LIMIT CONCEALED CARRY IN NEW JERSEY WENT FROM THE FAST TRACK TO GETTING PULLED LAST MONTH.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT HAS SINCE BEEN REFINED, LIKE THE DEFINITION OF A WEAPON AND MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT SO-CALLED SENSITIVE PLACES.

DAVID CRUZ IS IN TRENTON WITH THE LATEST.

>> JOANNA, SENATOR WAS THE MAIN SPONSOR OF THIS BILL AND HE JOINS US NOW.

IT TOOK FIVE HOURS, IT SEEMS, TO GO THROUGH SOME AMENDMENTS TODAY.

CAN YOU GIVE ME THE TOP COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS HERE THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE BILL AS IT WAS YESTERDAY?

>> SURE.

I'M ONE OF THE PRIME SPONSORS.

THERE'S MANY WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS TO REFINE THE BILL TO INCORPORATE SOME THINGS WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER CAN REACH THESE THROUGH THE FOURTH HEARING.

AND I GUESS PRIMARILY, THIS MAKES CERTAIN ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGES AS FAR AS CARRYING AND NOT BEING PROHIBITED FROM SENSITIVE AREAS, JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS TO CLEANUP TO SOME LANGUAGE WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GUNS AND AMMUNITION AS OPPOSED TO THINGS LIKE MACE AND OTHERWISE.

I THINK MORE AMENDMENTS ARE MORE TECHNICAL THAN ANYTHING, AND WE JUST WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

THE DAY THAT WE PASS THIS BILL AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT, THIS IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS, AND WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO GIVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OUR LEGAL TEAM THE AMMUNITION -- BAD PUN, I GUESS -- THAT THEY NEED TO DEFEND IT.

>> WERE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE SO-CALLED SENSITIVE AREAS?

WAS THAT LISTINGS HANDED HER CONTRACT AND IN ANY WAY?

>> IF ANYWAY, CONTRACTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS THAT WERE RAISED BY PERSONS PRIMARILY WHO WERE AGAINST IT HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

>> THERE'S AN INCREASE IN THE FEES THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE NOW SUGGESTING MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE OF LESSER MEANS TO BE ABLE TO GET A REGISTERED HANDGUN.

>> I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS.

MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE REALLY WANTS TO ARM EVERYBODY IN THE CITIES OF GUNS?

THAT'S LAUGHABLE.

I THINK THAT'S JUST THE WAY WITHIN WHICH TO RAISE ISSUES WITH THE BILL AS OPPOSED TO BEING SOMETHING THEY ARE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN.

>> ANY CHANGES TO THE REQUIREMENT ON TRAINING?

>> TRADING HAS STAYED CONSISTENT THE ENTIRE TIME.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH, AND YOU HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION AT THAT MOMENT TO USE LETHAL FORCE, WE KNOW THAT THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT, AS MUCH AS THEY TRY TO.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PUT PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH A CONCEALED WEAPON WHO THINK THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING FOR A CELL PHONE THEY ARE GOING FREIGHT GUN -- TO ME, THAT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS PART.

WHATEVER TRAINING WE PUT IN THERE, IT WON'T BE ANYTHING CLOSE TO WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE.

>> LASTLY, YOU EXPRESSED THE CONCERN ABOUT SOME CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THIS, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE CHALLENGED.

WHAT YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN, AND WHERE YOU THINK THE WEAKEST PART OF THIS BILL IS?

>> I DON'T THINK THE BILL IS WEAK AT ALL.

I THINK THE SUPREME COURT AND THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION HAS JUST GONE OUT OF ITS WAY TO USE WHATEVER WORDS THEY WANT TO GET TO, WHETHER IT'S A STRICT INTERPRETATION VERSUS A LOOSE WANT TO GET TO THE RESULT THEY WANT.

THAT WOULD CONCERNS ME, THAT THEY WANT TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT ANYWAY.

LOOKING AT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE OF JUSTICE THOMAS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER REPUBLICAN APPOINTED JUSTICES, I THINK THAT THEY ARE PRETTY CLEAR THAT SENSITIVE AREAS OR SUCH THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO TRY TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE.

AND WE KNOW IT WORKS.

>> JOHN McCAIN IS ONE OF THE MAIN SPONSORS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> Reporter: HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE BEEN WARNING OF A TRIPLE PANDEMIC.

A COMBO OF THE FLU, COVID, AND RSV ALL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS IN CHILDREN.

I'M JOINED NOW BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO TALK SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS WAY SPREAD.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

WE ARE STILL SO EARLY ON IN THESE WINTER WEATHER, COLD-WEATHER WEEKS, AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING EVIDENCE OF WHAT HEALTH EXPERTS ARE REFERENCING AS THE TRIPLE EPIDEMIC.

>> WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE OF CASES OF NOT JUST COVID, IT ALSO RSV AND THE FLU.

WE ARE SEEING CASES EARLIER THAN WE PREVIOUSLY SEEN THEM, ALTHOUGH WE STILL AREN'T SEEING MORE CASES THAN WE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

>> ARE WE SEEING PATIENTS BE INFECTED WITH BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, OR IS IT JUST THAT ALL THREE OF THESE VIRUSES ARE DESCENDING ON US ALL AT ONCE?

>> IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE INFECTED WITH ONE OR MORE OF THESE VIRUSES.

WE HAD SEEN PREVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE HAVE THE FLU AND COVID AT THE SAME TIME, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE RSV AND THE FLU AS WELL.

WE ARE REALLY MORE SEEING THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INFECTED WITH A RESPIRATORY VIRUS REALLY INCREASED AT THIS TIME FURTHER THAN WE EXPECTED.

NOT REALLY AS MANY PEOPLE GETTING MORE THAN ONE OF THE SAME TIME.

>> I THINK THE WEATHER REMAINS THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD IS RSV.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR, AND ARE THEY DIFFERENT IN CHILDREN VERSUS ADULTS?

>> RSV IS NOT A NEW VIRUS.

THIS IS A VIRUS THAT PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN WHO HAVE LUNG DISEASE THINK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE WINTER.

IT'S A RESPIRATORY VIRUS THAT HAS NO VACCINE CURRENTLY, AND IT'S BASICALLY A RESPIRATORY VIRUS THAT CAUSES CHILDREN SPECIFICALLY TO A DIFFICULTY BREATHING , WHERE THEY HAVE SOMETHING CALLED RETRACTIONS IF THEY ARE VERY AFFECTED.

SO THEY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING AIR IN, AND THEY WORK HARDER TO BREATHE.

A DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING IS WHAT BRINGS THEM TO A DOCTOR AND A HOSPITAL, AND WE REALLY HELP THEM BREVE IN THE HOSPITAL LIKE THINGS LIKE NASAL OXYGEN AND SUPPORT.

>> WHAT ARE THE SIGNS TO LOOK FOR TO KNOW YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH BREATHING?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS ALREADY KNOW, BUT WE WILL REINFORCEMENT.

IF YOU ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME, YOU SEE ON THEIR CHEST THEIR RIBS WHEN THEY BREATHE, OR IF THEY ARE VERY SLEEPY OR IF THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY KEEPING DOWN FLUIDS, IF THEY ARE DEHYDRATED, YOU SHOULD CALL YOUR DOCTOR, OR YOU CAN GO TO THE LOCAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO BE CAUTIOUS IF YOU ARE WORRIED, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE SEE REGULARLY AND WE KNOW HOW TO TREAT IT.

>> WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM FOLKS ON THE GROUND IS THAT RSV IS HAPPENING IN ADULTS, TOO, AND THERE'S NOT THE SAME TESTING FOR IT.

WHAT SHOULD A PERSON DO TO MITIGATE SPREADING RSV?

AND THAT'S IN QUESTION FOR THE OTHER VIRUSES.

>> WE KNOW HOW TO STOP VIRUSES FROM SPREADING.

WE GOT PRETTY GOOD AT THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

IT'S THE SAME THING FOR COVID OR THE FLU.

THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THEY BOTH HAVE UPDATED VACCINES THAT YOU SHOULD PREPARE YOURSELF WITH NOW BEFORE YOU WERE TO GET INFECTED FURTHER INTO THE WINTER.

BUT IF YOU FIND YOURSELF HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING OR COUGH, CONGESTION, YOU SHOULD TAKE ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES LIKE MOTRIN OR TYLENOL.

STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK.

IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO A SPACE LIKE A SUPERMARKET AND NOT FEELING WELL, IT'S OKAY TO WEAR A MASK.

IT'S ABOUT US TRIED TO STOP THE INFECTION IN OTHER PEOPLE AND ALSO REALIZING WE HOPE THE SAME CONSIDERATION FROM THEM TO US.

>> MASKING, STAYING HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK, ALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE PRACTICED AND GOTTEN GOOD AT BUT MAYBE PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING THOSE ARE THE BASICS.

INC. YOU SO MUCH.

>>> A NINE-YEAR-OLD BLACK GIRL IN CALDWELL WITHOUT RECENTLY TRYING TO HELP THE SCOURGE OF ROTTED LANTERN FLIES IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT AS SHE SPRAYED THE TREES AND COLLECTED BUGS, HER NEIGHBOR, A FORMER CALDWELL CITY COUNCILMEMBER, CALLED THE POLICE TO REPORT HER ACTIVITY, SAYING HE WAS SCARED.

BOBBY'S MOM, MONIQUE JOSEPH, SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE RACISM SHE SAYS WAS DIRECTED AT HER FAMILY.

>> RACISM, INTENTIONAL OR NOT, IS STILL RACISM.

>> Reporter: EXPRESSING HER OUTRAGE THAT HER NEIGHBOR WOULD CALL THE POLICE ON HER NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, BOBBY.

SHE SAYS ON OCTOBER 22nd, BOBBY WAS GOING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SPRING TREES WITH A SOLUTION TO KILL INVASIVE SPOTTER LANTERN FLIES WHEN HER NEIGHBOR, FORMER CITY COUNCILMEMBER, DIALED 911.

>> IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT THAT SATURDAY MORNING.

IT IS SICKENING AND SCARY TO HEAR MY NEIGHBOR, THAT IS FROM AT THE HEAD OF THE POLICE.

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I'M AT 15 ELIZABETH STREET.

THERE IS A LITTLE BLACK WOMAN WALKING AND SPRING STUFF ON THE SIDEWALKS AND TREES.

ON ELIZABETH IN FLORENCE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S DOING.

IT SCARES ME, THOUGH.

>> THE DECISION TO CALL POLICE NOT RAISING CONCERNS OF BIASED TREATMENT AND RACISM.

>> WE ARE TALKING HERE ABOUT A GIRL, RIGHT?

A VERY YOUNG CHILD.

>> JASON WILIAMS IS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE SAYS INCIDENTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN WAY TOO OFTEN, AND CAN LEAD TO YEARS OF TRAUMA.

>> THERE WAS A WHOLE INCIDENT OUT OF TEXAS, RIGHT?

NOT TOO LONG AGO, WHERE THAT YOUNG BLACK GIRL WAS BODY SLAMMED BY AN OFFICER.

WHAT IT IS, THEY ARE BEING APPROACHED WITH THIS PERCEIVED LEVEL OF DANGEROUSNESS.

AGAIN, THESE ARE CHILDREN.

>> JOSEPH SAYS BOBBY IS NOT AFRAID OF POLICE, BUT THE LAWYER DISPUTES THAT CLAIM, SAYING IN A STATEMENT, THE POLICE OFFICERS BODY CAM FOOTAGE SHOULD BE INDICATIVE OF WHY IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT JOSEPH'S DAUGHTER WAS TRAUMATIZED BY THE POLICE OFFICER, DESPITE MISSES JOSEPH'S PUBLIC INTENTION OTHERWISE.

IS ALSO POINTING OUT THAT HIS CLIENT DID NOT USE THE WORD HOODIE, AND ONLY MENTIONED BOBBY WAS WEARING A HOOD AFTER HE WAS ASKED TO GIVE A DESCRIPTION.

>> GIVE ANY CLOTHING DESCRIPTION?

>> A REAL SMALL WOMAN, REAL TINY.

SHE'S GOT A HOOD ON.

YOU CAN'T MISS HER.

>> BLACK HOODIE, I'M SCARED.

THOSE ARE TRIGGERED WORDS.

>> NOW BECERRA SAYS THE FAMILY IS GETTING PHYSICAL THREATS.

>> USUALLY IF YOU SEE A CHILD DOING SOMETHING WRONG, YOU WALK UP TO THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON.

HE UNDERSTAND THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO CALL THE POLICE ON HER.

>> IT'S NOT FAIR TO ME TO ASSESS HOW THIS RESIDENT -- YOU KNOW, WHAT MOTIVATED HIM TO PLACE THE CALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE DIDN'T HAVE HIS GLASSES ON, HE DIDN'T HE CLEARLY, BUT THIS CHILD WAS NINE YEARS OLD.

>> CALDWELL MAYOR JOHN KELLY SANG THE WHOLE SITUATION IS HEARTBREAKING FOR ANY CHILD TO ENDURE, BUT SINCE THE INCIDENT IS DRAWING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR BOBBY AND HER FAMILY.

HE ALSO COMMENDS POLICE FOR HANDLING THE SITUATION APPROPRIATELY.

>> ANY CITIZEN IN OUR TOWN WHO IS SCARED, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE WORD THAT WAS USED BY THIS RESIDENT -- AND CALLS THE POLICE, THE POLICE RESPOND.

SO THE POLICE DID THE RIGHT THING.

>> ALTHOUGH JOSEPH SAYS WHAT HAPPENED TO HER CHILD WAS UNFORTUNATE, SHE HOPES THIS CAN BE A TEACHABLE MOMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES GATHERED IN JERSEY CITY THIS WEEKEND TO PROTEST GOVERNOR MURPHY'S PLAN TO EXPAND A PORTION OF THE TURNPIKE , A PLAN MEANT TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE AREA.

BUT OPPONENTS OF THE PLAN SEE THOSE EXPANSIONS ONLY CREATE MORE DEMAND FOR TRAVEL AND DON'T ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM.

PLUS, THEY SAY WILL HAVE DEVASTATING IMPACTS ON RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS AT A SCHOOL THAT WHATEVER STRETCH OF HIGHWAY BUILT OVER IT.

>> EXPANDING THIS TURNPIKE TO LITERALLY HANGOVER THE TURNPIKE OF THE SCHOOL IS A TERRIBLE IDEA.

A MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR MURPHY, AND TO EVERYONE SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT IS RETHINK THIS.

YOU NOT GOING TO MAKE ANYBODY'S LIVES BETTER, AND IN FACT YOU ARE GOING TO RIP THROUGH THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY.

>>> GOOGLE IS MAKING HISTORY THIS NIGHT BUT FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

REACHING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT FOR ILLEGALLY TRACKING USER LOCATIONS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS.

RHONDA, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS CASE?

>>> GOOGLE IS REACHED A HISTORIC SETTLEMENT WITH 40 STATES, INCLUDING NEW JERSEY, TO RESOLVE ALLEGATIONS THAT IT ILLEGALLY TRACKED USERS LOCATIONS.

ACCORDING TO THE SETTLEMENT, GOOGLE PLAY A TOTAL OF $391.5 MILLION IN THE LARGEST MULTISTATE PRIVACY SETTLEMENT WITH STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN U.S. HISTORY.

NEW JERSEY WILL RECEIVE NEARLY 17.8 MILLION DOLLARS.

IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL PAYMENT, GOOGLE MUST NOW BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH TUMORS ABOUT WHEN LOCATION TRACKING IS BEING USED.

IN ANNOUNCING, ATTORNEY GENERAL MATTHEW PLOTKIN SAID DIGITAL PLATFORMS LIKE GOOGLE CANNOT CLAIM TO PROVIDE PRIVACY CONTROLS TO USERS , THEN TURN AROUND AND DISREGARD THOSE CONTROLS TO COLLECT AND SELL DATA TO ADVERTISERS AGAINST THEIR USERS WISHES AND ANY GREAT PROFIT.

>>> ANOTHER SETBACK FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT TODAY ISSUED A NATIONWIDE TEMPORARY INJUNCTION AGAINST THE PROGRAM, ACCORDING TO CNBC.

THE RULING BY THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS CAME AFTER SIX STATES ARGUED IN A LAWSUIT THAT THE LOAN RELIEF PROGRAM THREATENS THEIR FUTURE TAX REVENUES , AND THE PLAN CIRCUMVENTS CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY.

THE INJUNCTION WILL PUT THE PROGRAM ON HOLD, PENDING AN APPEAL OF A LOWER COURT RULING THAT HAD ALLOWED THE DEBT RELIEF PROGRAM TO GO FORWARD.

JUST DAYS AGO, ANOTHER FEDERAL COURT RULED AGAINST THE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM IN A SEPARATE LAWSUIT.

>>> COMMUTER TRAINS ARE MORE CROWDED THESE DAYS.

TRAFFIC BOTTLENECKS ARE BACK AS MORE WORKERS RETURN TO THE OFFICE, AT LEAST FOR PART OF THE WEEK.

NJ TRANSIT SAYS RAIL TRADER SHIP IS ABOUT 70% OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, WITH RIDERSHIP HIGHEST MIDWEEK.

A RECENT SURVEY BY THE PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW YORK CITY FOUND THAT AS OF MID-SEPTEMBER, 49% OF WORKERS WERE BACK IN THEIR MANHATTAN OFFICES, GOING INTO TWO TO THREE DAYS PER WEEK.

ONLY 9% ARE WORKING IN THE OFFICE FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

NOW HERE'S OUR CHECK ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORTS PROVIDED BY NJ T.I.A.

NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE ON TOURISM , DEFEND THE FIRST AND SECOND RESORTS CASINO HOTEL IN ATLANTIC CITY.

EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJ T.I.A.ORG.

>>> IS THE STATE WORKS TO ROLLOUT A WIND ENERGY PROGRAM, IT'S GETTING SOME PUSHBACK FROM COASTAL COMMUNITIES.

OCEAN CITY IS CHALLENGING THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT PLAN TO RUN ELECTRICAL CABLES UNDER STREETS AND RIVERS, CITING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

HAD GOLDBERG HOARD THEIR ARGUMENTS AT A RECENT HEARING, AND HE HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU GET ENERGY FROM AN OFFSHORE WIND FARM?

ONSHORE.

FOR THE IMPULSION PROJECT OFF THE COAST OF SAND JERSEY, THE PLAN IS TO USE UNDERGROUND CABLES SNEAKING BENEATH THIS BEACH AND SNAKING UNDER STREETS IN SEA ISLE CITY.

>> OBSTRUCTION IN THESE UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC LINES REALLY ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE MANY OTHER UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC LINES THAT ARE INSTALLED AND OPERATED FOR DECADES AND DECADES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY WITHOUT ISSUE.

>> EVENTUALLY, THE ENERGY WOULD REACH THE FORMER BL AND GLINT GENERATING STATION, WHICH IS DECOMMISSIONED THREE YEARS AGO.

BUT SEVERAL COMMENCEMENT MUNICIPALITIES ARE CHALLENGING THIS PLAN.

>> THE COUNTY WAS PRESENTED BY THAN OFFER BASED ON THE APPRAISAL OF OTHER PROPERTY, NOT THIS PROPERTY.

>> THEY ARGUE THAT PUTTING A TRANSMISSION LINE THROUGH THE CREEK WOULD DISRUPT WILDLIFE AND THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

>> THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY THAT THESE REASONS ARE PRETEXTUAL, AND THAT OCEAN WINDS ARE PURSUING THE LEAST EXPENSIVE GROUP TO ITS OWN BENEFIT, AND TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND THE PUBLIC.

>> THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES HEARD ARGUMENTS ON THURSDAY FOR OCEAN WIND ONE'S PREFERRED ROUTE THROUGH SEA ISLE CITY, AND AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE, WHICH WOULD PUSH THE CABLE THROUGH GREAT AND HARBERT INLAND.

THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING OCEAN WIND ONE ARGUES THAT THE GREAT ED HARDWARE ROUTE WOULD BE WORSE FOR WILDLIFE.

SO IT WASN'T PICKED.

>> THERE WERE A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT CRITERIA THAT THE PROJECT EVALUATED, AND ULTIMATELY, IN REGARD TO THE INTERCONNECTION OF THE UPPER TOWNSHIP, OF THE ROUTE THAT WE DESCRIBED IN THE FILING, AND THAT INVOLVES THESE TWO PARTICULAR INVESTMENTS, WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE THE LEAST CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF ANY OF THE POTENTIAL ROUTES.

>> THE OVERWHELMING BENEFIT OF THE GREAT MOVE IS THE UTTER LACK OF DISTURBANCE TO THE CITIZENRY OF OCEAN CITY , KINMAN COUNTY, AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL.

>> IT AVOIDS ROADS TRAVELED BY RESIDENTS OF SEA ISLE CITY.

THE REASONABLE ROUTE OF GOING THROUGH OCEAN CITY AND ALONG THE COUNTY ROAD, IT MAY BE REASONABLE TO THE BP YOU, BUT IS NOT REASONABLE TO THE RESIDENCE OF THIS EDDIE.

>> A STATE LAW PASSED LAST YEAR MAKES IT EASIER FOR DEVELOPERS TO LAY DOWN TRANSMISSION LINES THROUGH COMMUNITIES.

IF THEIR REQUEST FOR AN APPROVAL IS BLOCKED, THEY CAN APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND THEY CAN OVERRIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IF THEY FIND THE PERMITS TO BE, QUOTE, REASONABLY NECESSARY.

MICHAEL DONAHUE WAS THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CAPE MAY COUNTY.

HE SAYS THIS TACTIC VIOLATES HOME RULE.

>> THE OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE VOTERS SHOULD NOT BE DISENFRANCHISED IN A PROCESS SUCH AS THIS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE BOARD, WHEN AN UNELECTED STATE AUTHORITY FALLS INTO THE SHOES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ESSENTIALLY SETS THEM ASIDE.

>> THE BP YOU HAS HAD THE JURISDICTION TO OVERRULE COUNTY DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT TO LOCAL ZONING, AND HAS BEEN CITING APPROVALS SINCE LITERALLY THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY.

>> I CAN'T BE A REASONABLE POSITION TO TAKE.

>> THE OCEAN WIND ONE PROJECT IS SATED TO SEND 1100 MEGAWATTS OF POWER TO NEW JERSEY'S HOMES .

10% OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S GOAL OF 11,000 MEGAWATTS BY 20 24 , AND A MERE FRACTION OF WHAT IS TO COME.

AND CAPE MAY COUNTY, AND HAD GOLDBERG, AND J SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ANOTHER DELICATE ECOSYSTEM IS DEALING WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF CHALLENGES.

THE PINE BARONS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST AS HE DECADES OF DUNKING, TOXIC WASTE AND CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS DEFILING THE WOODED AREA THAT IS HOME TO ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE BIOSPHERE'S IN THE WORLD.

ACCORDING TO UNESCO, I HAVE WITH ME NOW ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CONTRIBUTOR JEFF TILLETT, WHO'S BEEN COVERING THIS ISSUE.

JEFF, THANKS MUCH FOR COMING OUT TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR REPORTING.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THE PINE BARONS AS IT RELATES TO ILLEGAL DUMPING OF CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS?

>> WELL, JOANNA, THEIR STUFF EVERYWHERE.

THEIR STUFF DEEP IN THE WOODS IN SOUTH JERSEY, CENTRAL JERSEY, IN PRESERVED FOREST.

IT'S NOT JUST CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS.

THERE'S TIRES, THERE'S CARS, THERE'S BOATS.

YOU ARE SEEING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF STUFF COME OUT OF THERE EVERY YEAR.

THERE'S BEEN GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN CLEANING UP ON AN ANNUAL BASIS , GOING BACK 20, 25 YEARS.

SO IT'S A PROBLEM THAT AMAZINGLY IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.

>> THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A DELICATE ECOSYSTEM OVER THERE IN THE PINE BARONS.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT THERE?

>> WELL, THE EXPERTS, THE PRESERVATIONISTS AND PEOPLE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY SAY THAT THE DUMPING GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE ATV FIGURES YOU ARE SAYING.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THESE PEOPLE IN FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES AND THEIR DUMP TRUCKS, THEY COME IN ALONG THESE TRAILS, THESE ILLEGAL TRAILS, THESE ILLICIT HOMEMADE TRAILS MORE OR LESS ON THE SAND DUNES, AND THEY DUMP STUFF.

SO YOU SEE NATURAL HABITATS GET SPOILED.

SOME ROADS ARE IMPASSABLE.

FIRETRUCKS CAN'T GET THROUGH IN SOME AREAS.

THIS HAS BEEN WITH US FOR MANY YEARS, BUT APPARENTLY ACCORDING TO MANY FOLKS WHO KNOW, IT'S REALLY GETTING TO BE AT A CRISIS LEVEL.

>> HOW HAVE THESE BEHAVIORS BEEN ABLE TO GO UNCHECKED, AND WHAT ARE ADVOCATES ASKING FOR?

>> ONE REASON THEY CAN GO UNCHECKED IS THAT THE LINES, UNLIKE OTHER PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS, HAS MANY WAYS IN.

OR SOMETHING LIKE TWO TO 300 WAYS TO GET INTO THE PINELANDS, INTO THE PARKS ITSELF IN THE PRESERVED AREAS.

PLACES LIKE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK OR YELLOWSTONE, SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK NORMALLY ONLY HAVE FOUR OR FIVE MAIN GATES, AND YOU CAN'T GET IN ANY OTHER WAY.

THE PINELANDS -- IT'S POROUS.

THERE'S 1 MILLION DIFFERENT WAYS IN, AND WHAT THE PRESERVATIONISTS ARE ASKING FOR IS THE STATE TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON PARK RANGERS TO CONTROL AND MANAGE THE LAND, TO CUT DOWN ON THE ACCESS TO IT, AND TO REALLY TAKE A PROACTIVE STANCE AND A COMPREHENSIVE STANCE TO LIMIT ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE LANDS AND MAKE IT MORE OF A KIND OF A PARK WHERE THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE OF WAYS IN.

>> VERY QUICKLY, HAS A STATE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THEY NEED TO STEP IN AND DO MORE?

>> WELL, YES.

THEY'VE ACKNOWLEDGED IT IN SO MANY WORDS, AND THE STATE DOES DO -- THEY HAVE PROGRAMS TO ATTACK GARBAGE DUMPING IN ALL OUR PARKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

BUT THE STATE IS $500 MILLION BEHIND IN ACTUAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS IN THESE PARTS.

SO THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT, BUT THEY JUST HAVEN'T PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> AND FOR MORE ABOUT THE RISKS TO THE PINELANDS AND NEW JERSEY SUPERFUND SITES, SURE TO CHECK OUT THE NEW EPISODE OF THE HAZARD AND J PODCAST.

THIS TIME, THE HOST ANALYZES THE GROWING WILDFIRE THREAT IN NEW JERSEY AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR POLLUTION CLEANUP IN THE AREA.

DOWNLOADED AND J SPOTLIGHT NEWS.WORK OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS.

THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> AND JM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR 100 YEARS.

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

AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

THE BOYS FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

>> AND JM INSURANCE GROUP HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY BUSINESS GROUPS FOR OVER A CENTURY.

AS PART OF THE GARDEN STATE, WE HELP COMPANIES KEEP THEIR VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, EMPLOYEES ON THE JOB, AND PROJECT ON THE TRACK.

WORKING TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM ILLNESS AND INJURY, TO KEEP GOODS AND SERVICES MOVING ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF NEW JERSEY.

AND JM .

WE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RJW 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 TELEMEDICINE APP, OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH A PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION, AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RJW BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.