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

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT, BY ORSTEAD AND PSEG.

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

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

>> IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE DEADLIEST YEARS ON RECORD FOR DRUG OVERDOSES IN THE UNITED STATES.

MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE DIED BETWEEN APRIL OF 2020 AND APRIL OF 2021.

ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL DATA FROM THE CBC.

I AM LEAH MISHKIN IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THAT IS 100,000 PEOPLE IN ONE YEAR.

A 29% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS.

EACH PERSON HAS A STORY, AND THEIR LOVED ONES ARE NOW IN MORNING.

PANDEMIC FORCING MANY INTO ISOLATION, EXPERTS SAY, WAS THE PERFECT STORM FOR ANYONE BATTLING ADDICTION.

WELL NEW JERSEY IS ONE OF JUST FOUR STATES THAT DID NOT SEE AN INCREASE, AS JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS, THEY STILL SUFFERED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LOSS.

>> I HAVE SURVIVED AN OVERDOSE MANY YEARS AGO.

I ALSO LOST MY PARTNER TO OVERDOSE IN 2014.

AND CONTINUE TO LOSE FRIENDS EVERY YEAR.

>> Reporter: CAITLIN O'NEILL SAYS SHE COULD HAVE LOST HER BATTLE WITH ADDICTION LIKE THE MORE THAN 2900 NEW JERSEYANS WHO DIED OF AN OVERDOSE BETWEEN MAY 2020 AND APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

ACROSS THE NATION, IT IS FAR WORSE.

>> MORE THAN 100,000 DEATHS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ENDING IN APRIL 2021.

THAT IS A DEVASTATING NUMBER.

>> Reporter: VINCENT'S BROTHER ANGELO WAS AMONG THOSE WHO DIED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> HE WAS PUT IN JAIL IN FLORIDA, AFTER A MONTH BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX IN COVID PATIENTS, THEY HAD NO PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO DEAL WITH ISOLATION OF PEOPLE THAT HAD COVID.

THEY RELEASED A NON-DRYLAND -- NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS, THAT NIGHT HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE OVERDOSED IN AN ALLEY IN FLORIDA.

>> Reporter: COVID HAS MADE AN ALREADY DIRE SITUATION WORSE.

DON PARKER CALLS IT THE PERFECT SUPER STORM.

ISOLATION FROM THE SHUTDOWNS CREATES THE PERFECT HIDING PLACE FOR ADDICTION AND WHEN BORDERS ARE CLOSED, IT MEANS MORE USERS ARE TELLING -- TURNING TO FENTANYL.

IT'S A DEADLY MIX.

>> WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THAT MONEY IF YOUR METHOD OF COPING HAS BEEN DRUGS?

YOU GO AND BUY DRUGS.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GET?

FENTANYL.

>> Reporter: THE HEALTHCARE WORKER SHORTAGE HAS CREATED A BACKLOG IN CARE.

WELL TELEHEALTH HAS OPENED SOME NEW DOORS, IT IS ALSO CREATED BARRIERS TO IDENTIFYING ADDICTION.

>> 67% OF DOCTORS FELT IT LIMITED THEIR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY SOMEONE WITH DRUG MISUSE.

>> Reporter: IS GREEN ONLY SHOWS A FACE AND LIMIT THE READING OF BODY LANGUAGE AND OTHER TELLTALE SIGNS.

>> WE CAN'T LISTEN TO THE HEART OR COLLECT SPECIMENS VIRTUALLY.

>> Reporter: A REPORT FOUND THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE CLINICAL DRUG TESTS PERFORMED IN NEW JERSEY WERE POSITIVE FOR DRUG MISUSE.

SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

>> ONE OF THOSE AREAS ARE SAFE INJECTION CENTERS WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL CAN GO SOMEWHERE AND CONSUME DRUGS AND DO THAT UNDER SUPERVISION WHERE THEY WILL NOT OVERDOSE AND DIE BECAUSE SOMEONE IS THERE TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN RESCUE THEM IF THEY DO TAKE A FATAL DOSE.

>> ONE OF THE MOST INGENIOUS THINGS I HAVE SEEN IS A TESTING KIT FOR FENTANYL.

SO THEY CAN TEST THE DRUGS THEY WILL TAKE.

BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME, THEY DON'T KNOW THEY ARE TAKING SOMETHING WITH SENTINEL.

AND WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT MAYBE THE SAME THING WE DO WITH SAFE NEEDLES.

>> PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THIS PROGRAM ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO END PROBLEMATIC USE AND FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO END SUBSTANCES ALTOGETHER.

>> Reporter: SHE ALSO POINTS TO THE SPAIN'S --STATES RECENT EXPANSION OF NARCAN.

HER ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO DISTRIBUTE IT TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

>> WE HAVE SEEN OVER 400'S OF PORTED --SUPPORTED OVERDOSE REVERSALS LAST YEAR.

>> IF YOU ARE OFFERING ALL THESE ANTIDOTES, ARE YOU JUST ENABLING THE DRUG USE?

>> WE HEAR THAT A LOT, THERE IS NO TRUTH TO THAT.

WHAT IT DOES IS INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SOMEBODY TO ENTER TREATMENT.

>> Reporter: ONE STATISTIC SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE GO UP.

>>> ANOTHER NEW REPORT GIVES NEW DETAILS TO WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT RACIAL INEQUITY.

THE COMMONWEALTH FUND, A NONPRIVATE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION PUTS OUT A STATE HEALTHCARE SCORECARD EACH YEAR.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FOCUS IS ON RACIAL EQUITY.

OUR HEALTHCARE WRITER LILO STAINTON JOINS US.

LET'S START WITH HOW A STATE IS RATED.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THESE INTERESTING STUDIES THAT LOOKED AT RAW DATA, THINGS LIKE MORTALITY RATES FOR PARTICULARLY BLACK POPULATIONS, INSURANCE COVERAGE, THOSE ARE EASILY QUANTIFIED.

BUT IT ALSO CREATED A MEASURE CALLED HEALTH SYSTEM PERFORMANCE WHICH IS A MIX OF THINGS LIKE MEASUREMENTS THAT INDICATE ACCESS TO CARE, THE LEVELS OF USE OF CARE, HOW WELL IT'S WORKING, OUTCOMES.

CAN PEOPLE GET TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, DOES IT WORK WHEN THEY ARE THERE, ARE THEY GETTING THE CARE THEY NEEDED AND HOW ARE THEY DOING AS A RESULT?

THEY ATTEMPTED TO MEASURE THAT ACROSS THESE VERY DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE CATEGORIES, HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO INEQUITIES?

>> NEW JERSEY IS NOT AT THE BOTTOM BUT NOT IN THE TOP GROUP EITHER, AHEAD OF ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE STATE THAT REPORTED IN MANY OF THE MEASURES.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE STUDY REALLY SOUGHT TO POINT OUT, EVEN IN STATES THAT ARE FAIRLY GOOD LIKE NEW JERSEY OR MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, SOME OF THESE STATES THAT HAD EXCELLENT SCORES, THERE ARE EVEN THESE HUGE INEQUITIES.

WHERE NEW JERSEY HAD SORT OF THE BIGGEST WEAKNESS IN INSURANCE COVERAGE, THAT IS WHERE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK OF ALL THE STATES.

>> IS NEW JERSEY WORKING ON THAT?

>> THEY ARE, THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE A LOT TO PROMOTE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

I WAS IN CONDO --CONTACT WITH THE CONGRESSMAN OFFICE, THERE IS FEDERAL MONEY USED TO EXPAND THE FEDERAL CARE ACT AND MAKE IT POLICY AVAILABLE TO THE MARKETPLACE.

THEY BELIEVE SOME 70,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ADDED AS A RESULT OF THAT.

SO THEY ARE DEFINITELY MAKING STEPS TO MAKE THAT MORE ACCESSIBLE.

NEW JERSEY IS ALSO WORKING TO COVER ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS SO THAT WOULD DEFINITELY MOVE THE NEEDLE.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THE NUMBERS ARE 2019 TO 2020 SO THEY DO NOT CAPTURE ALL THE THINGS NEW JERSEY HAS DONE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS HAVE INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD PREVENT CRITICAL RACE THEORY FROM BEING TAUGHT IN NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS.

EVEN THOUGH IT CURRENTLY IS NOT PART OF THE CURRICULUM.

STILL, THE SUBJECT ALONE HAS SPARKED OUTRAGE AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND BECAME A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN THE RECENT GOVERNOR ELECTION.

DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> LESLIE WILSON IS AN ASSOCIATE DEAN AT MONTCLAIR STATE.

HE SAYS ANY DISCUSSION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY REALLY REQUIRES A DEFINITION OF TERMS.

>> IT IS A CONCEPT THAT IS USED IN SCHOOL AS A PRACTICE.

IT IS NOT USED IN COLLEGES, IT'S NOT USED IN K-12 EDUCATION.

>> Reporter: AS THE BASIS FOR DISCUSSION IN LAW SCHOOLS, CRITICAL RACE THEORY POSITS THAT THE LAWS THAT MAKE UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY DID NOT AND STILL DO NOT ALWAYS REFLECT THE EQUALITY THEY PROMISE.

>> IT SHOWED THAT THE LAW DID NOT TREAT PEOPLE OF COLOR THE SAME.

AND THAT THE LAW IS DISCRIMINATING, THAT THERE WAS NOT EQUAL JUSTICE THROUGH THE LAW.

>> Reporter: THOSE ARE STILL HARD CONCEPTS TO EXCEPT FOR SOME PEOPLE AND CONSERVATIVES HAVE ACCUSED THOSE WHO EMBRACE THE IDEA OF PERPETUATING A KIND OF REVERSE RACISM THAT SAYS ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE BAD.

>> AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS A THEORY OF TEACHING THAT, IN MY OPINION, TEACHES STUDENTS THAT THEY ARE INHERENTLY RACIST, SEXIST, OPPRESSIVE, OR MORALLY DEFICIENT DUE TO NOTHING MORE THAN THE RACE OR GENDER.

>> Reporter: SENATOR MIKE TESTA TAKES OFFENSE AT WHAT HE FEELS IS TEACHINGS THAT SUGGEST THAT THE SINS OF THE FATHERS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SONS OR GRANDSONS OR GREAT GRANDSONS.

>> I AM CONSTANTLY HEARING THIS NOTION OF IMPLICIT BIAS, WHITE PRIVILEGE, AND THAT OUR NATION AND ALL OF THE LAWS HAVE SOME INHERENTLY UNJUST COMPONENT TO IT.

I JUST DON'T SEE THAT.

AND I THINK THIS IS A CONCEPT THAT REALLY IS BEING PEDDLED BY THOSE ON THE LEFT AS A CONCEPT THAT DIVIDES US RATHER THAN UNITES US.

>> Reporter: TESTA AND HIS COLLEAGUE WANT TO INTRODUCE A BILL THAT WOULD BAN THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN NEW JERSEY'S PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

THEY WOULD LIKE NEW JERSEY TO JOIN SEVEN OTHER STATES THAT HAVE IMPOSED SIMILAR BANDS.

IT WOULD REQUIRE TEACHERS TO PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORTING BOTH SIDES OF A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE ADDRESSED.

INCLUDING, EVIDENTLY, THE HOLOCAUST AND SLAVERY.

>> A MAIN PROPONENT OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH INHERENT WHITENESS FOR THAT BEING WHITE AUTOMATICALLY MEANS THAT YOU ARE INHERENTLY RACIST.

>> Reporter: TO WILSON, THE LEGISLATIVE EFFORT IS SILLY.

>> THAT'S WHY IT SOUNDS STUPID AND FOOLISH, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SAYING YOU CANNOT DO THIS, YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

YOU ARE PICKING ON PEOPLE AND YOU CANNOT TEACH SOMETHING THAT PICKS ON PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL RASMUSSEN SAYS THE BILL IS LIKELY BOUND FOR THE SCRAP HEAP OF BILLS IN TRENTON BUT WILL ULTIMATELY SERVE ITS PURPOSE.

>> CERTAINLY, IN THE DISTRICT, THIS PLACE.

IT WON'T PLAY ACROSS NEW JERSEY BUT IT WILL PLAY TO WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS THEIR BASE OF VOTERS WHO WILL HELP THEM GET OVER THE TOP.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY IS ALREADY MANDATING A BROADER VIEW OF HISTORY AND PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULA, SOMETHING CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS HAVE ALSO OBJECTED TO.

HISTORY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEIR OBJECTIONS ARE REALLY HEARTFELT OR JUST POLITICALLY PROFITABLE.

DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> ATLANTIC CITY HAS BEEN WITHOUT A SUPERMARKET FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS.

RESIDENTS USED TO HAVE TO RELY ON BUSES OR THEIR OWN CARS TO GO ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO GET TO THE NEAREST ONE.

WITH A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TODAY, A NEW SHOP RIGHT WILL SOON OFTEN --OPEN, BEING TOUTED AS A MILESTONE IN THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO READ ITS REPUTATION OF BEING A FOOD DESERT.

WHAT ELSE HAS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY?-SANTA --RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS.

>> Reporter: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS, ATLANTIC CITY WILL HAVE A FULL-SERVICE GROCERY STORE.

>> WE ARE IN A FOOD DESERT, IT'S A BIG DEAL.

IT WILL PLANT IT'S LIKE HERE AND IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND US.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT WAS MADE OFFICIAL DURING THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY IN FRONT OF A BIG SHOP RIGHT TRAILER.

>> THEY SAID WE WOULD NEVER GET A BIG NAME SUPERMARKET.

WE HAD THE MEETING AT STOCKTON AND THEY SAID THE PEOPLE OF ATLANTIC CITY DOES DESERVE A SUPERMARKET.

THIS WILL BE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUPERMARKET OF CHOICE.

>> Reporter: IT WILL BE LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT AT ALTEC AVENUE BETWEEN NORTH OHIO AND NORTH INDIANA, NOT FAR FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT RELYING ON CONVENIENCE STORES DOES NOT GOOD THINGS, IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE, TOO LIMITED IN TERMS OF THE PRODUCE THEY GET AND PROTEINS.

>> Reporter: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CASINO INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SAYS THE AGENCY IS PUTTING IN AN ESTIMATED $18.5 MILLION TO BUILD THE SUPERMARKET.

>> WE ARE FRONTING 100% OF THE PROJECT.

IT IS ON OUR LAND, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY LAND OR CONDEMN ANYTHING.

AND IT'S VERY WALKABLE FOR A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN ATLANTIC CITY.

WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED, IT IS ON C RDA LAND, EVERYTHING INSIDE, ALL THE FIXTURES, THE SHELVING AND REFRIGERATION IS ALL OWNED BY C RDA.

WE DID THAT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL, GOD FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENS WE ARE ABLE TO BRING ANOTHER OPERATOR IN AND PUT THEM IN THAT SPACE.

>> IT IS A BURDEN LIFTED OFF OUR COMMUNITY.

ANY STRESS OFF OF HER IS STRESS OFF OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO CONVENIENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY, THE GROUNDBREAKING ALSO NEEDS --MEANS CONSISTENT ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS AND PRODUCTS.

>> IT WILL HAVE A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF FRESH PRODUCE, MEAT, SEAFOOD AND GARY ALONG WITH GRAB AND GO OPTIONS TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE HERE.

WE WILL ALSO FEATURE OUR OWN BRANDS WHICH ARE ALL FABULOUS PRODUCTS AT A VERY FAIR PRICE.

>> I BELIEVE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CASINOS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR WORKERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

WHEN YOU HAVE ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING ANOTHER, IT CAN THRIVE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT BEFORE.

>> Reporter: CONSTRUCTION IS ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR AND WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

BUT EXPERTS AND ADVOCATES HAVE PREVIOUSLY TOLD NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS THAT OPENING A SUPERMARKET IS JUST THE FIRST, NOT THE FINAL STEP TO FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY.

OTHER FACTORS LIKE ENSURING ADEQUATE PUBLIC TRANSIT ACCESS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND IN MAKING SURE THOSE IN NEED ARE ENROLLED IN SNAP AND OTHER BENEFITS REMAIN KEY PARTS OF THE PUZZLE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> ATLANTIC CITY SAW A BOOM IN A SPORTS BETTING IN OCTOBER.

$1.3 BILLION IN BETS WERE PLACED IN THE STATE, SHATTERING THE PREVIOUS RECORD WHICH WAS JUST SET.

IT IS NOT THE ONLY GAMBLING SECTOR SEEING GREEN, RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS PLUS ALL THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES OF THE DAY.

>> ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING SPORTS BETTING IN ATLANTIC CITY LIKELY IS NOT SURPRISED BY THE LATEST RECORD.

ANALYSTS WERE PREDICTING SPORTS BETTING NUMBERS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE STRONG THROUGH THE NFL FOOTBALL SEASON.

AND IT WASN'T JUST SPORTS BETTING THAT PUT UP IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS.

CASINOS GENERATED MORE TOTAL GAMING REVENUE, STOCKTON UNIVERSITIES INSTITUTE OF GAMING, HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM SAYS THE BRICK AND MORTAR CASINO GAMING REVENUES BESTED NINE OUT OF THE LAST 10 OCTOBERS.

MEANTIME, A NEW POLL OF NEW JERSEY VOTERS FINDS MOST WOULD LIKE ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS TO BECOME SMOKE-FREE.

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK COMMISSIONED A POLL OF JUST OVER 800 ADULTS AND FOUND VOTERS BY A 2 TO 1 MARGIN SUPPORT PERMANENTLY BANNING INDOOR SMOKING AT THE CASINOS.

NEW JERSEY COMPANIES STEPPED UP HIRING LAST MONTH, ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY FEDERAL ESTIMATES.

20,000 NEW JOBS WERE ADDED, THE 10th STRAIGHT JOB OF GAINS.

FINALLY, THE STATE IS MAKING SOME GOOD PROGRESS IN RECOVERING THE JOBS LOST DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

MORE THAN HALF 1 MILLION OR 72% OF THE TOTAL JOBS LOST DURING THE GOVERNMENT ORDERED SHUTDOWN IN THE SPRING OF 2020 ARE NOW BACK.

STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCHED LOWER TO 7% BUT IT'S STILL WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 4.6.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGING MANAGERS OF THE STATES PUBLIC WORKER PENSION FUND TO DIVEST THE FUNDS INVESTMENT IN FOSSIL FUELS.

AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING MAKING ANOTHER BIG CLIMATE RELATED INVESTMENT.

JOHN WRIGHT MEYER TELLS US THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO COMMIT $600 MILLION IN PENSION FUND ACCESS TO FUND RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> THIS IS ALL BEING DONE AS PART OF A BIGGER PUSH INTO THIS CLIMATE SPACE WHERE BASICALLY DIRECTED INTO INVESTMENTS TRYING TO TURN A PROFIT OFF OF COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE MOVE TO CLEANER ENERGY.

>> FOR MORE, CHECK OUT THE STORY ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

HERE'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S STOCK MARKET NUMBERS.

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

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY FUEL MERCHANT ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT.

AND BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS HALL OF FAME.

A VIRTUAL EVENT ON DECEMBER 9th AT 6 P.M. MORE INFORMATION ONLINE.

>>> MAKE SURE YOU TURN INTO NJ BUSINESS WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER THIS WEEKEND, SHE PUTS NEW JERSEY CHARITABLE EFFORTS IN FOCUS, ABOUT HOW NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES ARE MEETING THE GROWING NEED.

CHECK IT OUT ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00.

>>> THE U.S. FDA IS EXPECTED TO EXPAND ACCESS TO BOOSTER SHOTS FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE AS SOON AS TODAY.

AND SIMILAR EXPANDED ACCESS FOR THE MODERNA VACCINE COULD COME AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

THE NEWS COMES AS SOME STATES, INCLUDING NEARBY CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK, HAVE MADE BOOSTERS AVAILABLE TO ALL ADULTS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS NOT YET TAKEN THAT STEP THAT HE HAS URGED NEW JERSEYANS TO GET A BOOSTER EVEN IF THEY ARE UNSURE OF ELIGIBILITY.

SO FAR, MORE THAN 6 MILLION PEOPLE ARE ALL FULLY VACCINATED INCLUDING CHILDREN AND MORE THAN 1 MILLION ADULTS HAVE GOTTEN BOOSTER SHOTS.

STATE REPORTED ANOTHER 10 DEATHS AND MORE THAN 2000 CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY.

CONTINUING A RISING TREND IN RECENT DAYS, SOME EXPERTS WORRY ABOUT A HOLIDAY SURGE.

>>> LEARNING VIRTUALLY WAS A STRUGGLE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WERE TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS, DISTRACTIONS AT HOME, CAUSING MANY TO SLIP BEHIND.

IN A NEW REPORT FROM A TRIO OF EDUCATION ADVOCACY GROUPS SHOWS ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN NEW JERSEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FACED THE ADDED HURDLE OF TRYING TO FOLLOW ALONG IN ENGLISH WITHOUT PROPER TRANSLATION OR BILINGUAL STAFF.

IT IS JUST ONE CHALLENGE ENGLISH LEARNERS HAVE FACED.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> WE WANT DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LOOK AT MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS AS A POSITIVE.

>> Reporter: KATHLEEN FERNANDEZ IS A FORMER ENGLISH TEACHER.

IN THE 30 YEARS SHE TAUGHT STUDENTS, SHE SAYS THERE IS ALWAYS A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES THEY HAVE HAD TO FACE.

WHICH THE PANDEMIC ONLY MADE WORSE.

>> FROM PROPER IDENTIFICATION AND PLACEMENT IN CLASSES TO DIFFICULTIES WITH TECHNOLOGY, THEN YOU ALSO HAD THE ISSUE OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE FAMILIES.

BECAUSE MUCH OF THE INFORMATION GOING OUT OF THE SCHOOLS WAS ENGLISH ONLY.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY AS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW JERSEY ENGLISH SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES AND BILINGUAL EDUCATORS, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HER TO TEAM UP WITH OTHER ADVOCATES FOR THIS REPORT RELEASED BY THE EDUCATION LAW CENTER HIGHLIGHTING THE LACK OF CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN NEW JERSEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN LEARNERS FACING A REALLY WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES BUT THEY ARE AWARE THAT WHEN THEY DON'T GET THE SAME SERVICES AS THEIR ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEERS, IT IS A SIGN THEY ARE NOT VALUED.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, OVER 93,000 NEW JERSEY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR WERE ENGLISH- LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

THAT IS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT SINCE 2010.

EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THE SAME EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AS NATIVE SPEAKERS, A THIRD OF PARTICIPANTS SAY THERE'S A WILL ISN'T IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE REGULATIONS.

THEIR RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

>> IT MAKES ME SAD.

>> Reporter: THIS TEACHER ASKED THAT WE NOT SHOW HER FACE BUT SHE SAYS THESE DIFFICULTIES ARE SOME OF THE THINGS SHE AND OTHERS HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND.

>> OR IS NOBODY REALLY LOOKING OVER TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING.

EVERY FEW YEARS WHEN THEY MONITOR THE SCHOOLS, MAYBE THEN.

BUT OTHERWISE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE PART OF EDUCATION.

YES, WE HAVE THREE-YEAR PLANS, BUT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL NOBODY EVER CHECKS AND SEES IF THEY ARE BEING COMPLETED PROPERLY.

>> ULTIMATELY WE ARE ASKING FOR DISTRICTS TO REALLY EVALUATE THE OBLIGATIONS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMPLIANT.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TOLD US PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STATE LINGUAL EDUCATION REGULATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEFORE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THESE WOULD ALIGN THE CURRENT CODE TO THE FEDERAL EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT.

CHILD ADVOCATES SAY THEY KNOW THE REPORT WANT TO FIX EVERY ISSUE BUT THEY ARE HOPING IT WILL LEAD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL CREATE A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS FOR THE LATEST STORIES IMPACTING THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF NEW JERSEY.

FROM OUR ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, AND GOOD NIGHT.

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AND BY THE FEW MERCHANT ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ.

>> THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT.

BY ORSTEAD AND PSEG.

PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATION, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

OCEAN WIND.

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