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

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

OUR BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT.

AND PS AG.

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

FROM NJ PPS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH RIHANNA.

>> THE CDC HAS APPROVED MADONNA AND PFIZER BOOSTERS FOR ALL ADULTS.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM LEAH.

IN FOR BREANNA.

THE CDC'S MOVE COMES ON THE SAME DAY THE FDA EXPANDED THE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE TWO MRNA VACCINES FOR ANYONE OVER 18 YEARS OLD.

IF YOU GOT A SHOT AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AGO.

PAVING THE WAY FOR MILLIONS MORE AMERICANS TO GET A THIRD DOSE.

THE CDC HAS ALREADY RECOMMENDED A BOOSTER SHOT OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE FOR ALL ADULTS TWO MONTHS AFTER THEIR FIRST DOSE.

AS OF TODAY, MORE THAN 6.2 MILLION NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING A BOOSTER SHOT, JUST OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THAT ADDITIONAL DOSE.

THAT WILL RAMP UP AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

I SPOKE WITH AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR, STEPHANIE, EARLIER TODAY.

PREFER THE CDC GAVE ITS FINAL APPROVAL.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

NOW THAT THE FDA HAS EXPENDED BOOSTER ELIGIBILITY, DO YOU THINK THIS WILL HELP TO PREVENT ANOTHER SPIKE LIKE WE SAW LAST WINTER?

>> I BELIEVE THAT IS THE HOPE.

WE SAW LAST WINTER, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE HOLIDAYS AND THEN AS WE MOVED INTO THE COLDER WEATHER, THE CASES INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

UNLESS WE CAN TAKE STEPS TO TRY TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH THE VACCINES WILL HELP, WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE ANOTHER DRAMATIC INCREASE.

>> AT THIS POINT, WHAT YOU THINK IS HOLDING PEOPLE BACK FROM GETTING A BOOSTER AND WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE?

ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINE OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE VACCINE AT ALL?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE DATA ON WHO HAS RECEIVED THE BOOSTER.

SO, ABOUT 70% OF PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY WHO WERE VACCINATED HAVE NOW GONE THE BOOST.

THAT IS 18 AND OLDER.

THAT NUMBER GOES UP TO ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF PEOPLE OVER 65 WHO HAS THE VACCINE AND GOT BOOSTED.

SO, THE NUMBERS ARE STILL FAIRLY LOW.

I THINK PART OF THE THING IS HOLDING PEOPLE BACK IS CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE WORST SIDE EFFECTS FROM GETTING THE BOOST OR FROM GETTING COVID.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED, IF THEY DO DEVELOP COVID ARE DEVELOPING FAIRLY MILD CASES.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT I HAVE HEARD OF IS THIS CONCERN ABOUT MYOCARDITIS.

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT IS HOLDING PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE BACK FROM GETTING BOOSTED.

>> CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT?

>> SO, MYOCARDITIS IS AN INFLAMMATION OF THE HEART MUSCLE.

IT OCCURS IN REACTION TO THE BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM.

SO, THE IMMUNE SYSTEM CAUSES INFLAMMATION.

THAT IS USUALLY IN RESPONSE TO EITHER AN INFECTION OR SOME OTHER TRIGGER.

WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND IN A LOT OF THESE DATA COME OUT OF REPORTS FROM ISRAEL, PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY YOUNG MEN, HAVE A SOMEWHAT HIGHER RISK FOR DEVELOPING MYOCARDITIS AFTER THEIR SECOND DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALSO NOTE, HOWEVER, COVID ITSELF INCREASES YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING MYOCARDITIS.

AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT THE RISK IS ACTUALLY HIGHER OF GETTING MYOCARDITIS FROM GETTING COVID THEM FROM GETTING THE VACCINE.

>> THAT IS INTERESTING.

HE SAID AFTER YOUR SECOND DOSE.

NOT AFTER THE TOUR.

SOMETHING LIKE PFIZER AND MADONNA.??

THIS IS PFIZER AND MODERNITY.

A LOT OF DATA FROM J&J.

IT IS JUST NOT BEING FOLLOWED AS CLOSELY.

THERE ARE A LOT FEWER PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE COMPARED TO THE TWO MRNA VACCINES.

>> I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING SOME CONCERNS ARE YOU KNOW, AM I PROTECTED ENOUGH COMMANDMENT GETTING THIS TOO SOON.

THERE IS A SIX MONTH MARK IN PLACE.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE FEEL MAYBE I AM OKAY FOR LITTLE LONGER THAN THAT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN IT COMES TO TIMELINE ON WHEN TO GET THE BOOSTER?

>> SO, THE DATE THAT WE ARE PRESENTED FOR THE FDA BOARD A FEW WEEKS AGO WAS THAT AFTER SIX MONTHS, THE CIRCULATING AMOUNT OF ANTIBODIES SEEMS TO DECLINE.

THEY DECLINED MORE FOR PFIZER THAN MADONNA.

BUT, THE DATA ALSO SHOWS THAT GETTING BOOSTED CAN BRING THOSE NUMBERS BACK UP TO ABOUT 95% IN TERMS OF THE EFFICACY OF THE VACCINE.

SO, YES, MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY NEEDS IT.

BUT, I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS AND CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE.

INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PRE- EXISTING CONDITIONS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE A LITTLE BIT OLDER.

PEOPLE WHO ARE, HAVE HIGHER RATES OF EXPOSURE BASED ON THEIR OCCUPATION.

>> RIGHT.

SO, NOW IT GOES TO THE CDC FOR APPROVAL.

>> RIGHT.

I SUSPECT THAT THE PATTERN HAS BEEN THAT THE CDC SEEMS TO FOLLOW THE FDA GUIDANCE.

I WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT TO BE ANY DIFFERENT IN THIS CASE.

>> I COULD THANK YOU.

AS ALWAYS, FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> IT IS STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER GETTING A BOOSTER SHOT WILL BE REQUIRED TO CONSIDER FULLY VACCINATED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOW MANDATED EVEN MORE HEALTHCARE WORKERS GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

NO LONGER LEAVING ROOM TO SHOW A NEGATIVE COVID TEST AS ANOTHER OPTION.

ADVOCATES FEAR THE NEW MANDATE COULD CAUSE WORKERS TO QUIT THEIR JOBS TO AVOID THE SHOT.

MAKING THE CURRENT STAFFING SHORTAGE AT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES EVEN WORSE.

THE SENIOR CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> IT TAKES A TOLL ON YOU.

TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR BODY, MIND, TRYING TO GET GOOD CARE.

>> THE NURSE WORKED AT THIS COMPLETE CARE FACILITY IN BURLINGTON COUNTY FOR TWO DECADES ALL THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC.

SHE CLAIMS STAFFING SHORTAGES AND INDUSTRYWIDE PROBLEMS PARTICULARLY BAD NOW.

IT IS ONE REASON WORKERS RECENTLY STAGED A DAYLONG STRIKE AS UNION NEGOTIATIONS HIT A WALL.

STARLINGS IS VACCINATED.

BUT SHE FEELS CONDITIONS COULD GET WORSE WITH THE NEW FEDERAL MANDATES REQUIRING EVERY WORKER AT THE FACILITIES WHICH ACCEPT MEDICARE OR MEDICAID TO GET A FIRST COVID SHOT BY DECEMBER 6th AND TESTING OPT OUTS NO LONGER ALLOWED.

ALTHOUGH MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS ARE.

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VACCINATED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO.

>> WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN IF YOU LOSE PEOPLE, EVEN MORE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE VACCINATION?

>> WE ARE SHORT STAFFED.

MORE WORKLOAD.

MORE FRUSTRATION.

>> THE PARENT IS VERY LOW.

I KNOW MY JOB IS NOT EASY.

>> ROCHELLE WASHINGTON IS JOINED THE PICKET LINE AT ANOTHER COMPLETE CARE NURSING HOME IN BRIDGEWATER.

THE LOOMING VACCINATION DEADLINE MAKES IT EVEN TOUGHER.

SHE SAYS WORKERS ARE QUITTING.

>> WE WERE STUCK.

THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE FACILITY.

IS NOT VACCINATED.

>> A LOT OF STUFF, A LOT OF STAFF.

YES.

>> SOAKING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN BELIEF.

YOU CANNOT JUST SIT THERE AND KEEP ARGUING WHEN IT COMES TO STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> SO FAR, MORE THAN 90% OF LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS IN NEW JERSEY HAVE GONE THE COVID SHOTS AND ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF GUN BOOSTERS.

SOME FACILITIES ALSO REPORT HIGH STAFF VACCINATION RATES.

BUT, IN THE END, WORKERS GENERALLY GET THE JAB TO KEEP THEIR JOBS.

ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY SPOKESMAN, ANDY.

>> MANY OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO BE VACCINATED UP TO THIS POINT, WHEN THEY GET TO THAT DEADLINE, WILL CHOOSE TO GET VACCINATED.

BUT, THERE WILL BE SOME THAT WON'T.

>> OVERALL, ABOUT 83% OF STAFF AT JERSEYS 572 LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

THAT LEAVES ALMOST 11,400 WORKERS.

ABOUT 70%, MOST DECIDED JAB OR JOB IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

HESITANCY IS WORSE IN SOUTH JERSEY.

THEY EXPECT ABOUT 5% OVERALL WILL QUIT.

>> WHAT MOST PROVIDERS WILL DO IS THEY JUST WON'T TAKE MORE RESIDENCE UNTIL THEY ARE BUILDING.

THE JUST WILL DO THAT.

IT DOESN'T, HOPEFULLY, IMPACT THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE THERE.

>> WE HAVEN'T CMS EXODUS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS RELATED THE VACCINE.

ANY VACCINE MANDATE, WHETHER IT BE CMS OR THE GOVERNORS MADE IT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE SEEN AN ALREADY CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS EXACERBATED BY COVID ITSELF.

AND BY THE GENERAL UNSAFE WORK CONDITIONS.

>> MEANWHILE, NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE AT COMPANY CARE, WHICH CHOSE TO REVISE EXISTING UNION CONTRACTS WHEN IT FOUGHT THE BURLINGTON IN BRIDGEWATER FACILITIES.

A SPOKESPERSON SAID THE UNION'S CHARACTERIZATION OF OUR COMPANY DOES NOT REFLECT OUR VALUES OR CULTURE.

WE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH WITH 1199 SEI YOU SINCE THE BEGINNING TO ACHIEVE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE CONTRACT.

THE SENATOR HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCENTIVIZE COMPANIES TO LET EXISTING CONTRACTS REMAIN IN PLACE WHEN FACILITIES CHANGE OWNERSHIP.

AMIDST ALL THE CONTROVERSY, SARAH STALLING REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE.

>> ANOTHER JOB WITH ANOTHER AGENCY.

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUILDING 20 YEARS.

I KNOW MOST OF THE RESIDENCE.

THAT WILL BE VERY HARD.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME COMING BACK.

I CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THIS IS MY COMMUNITY.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN.

NJ SPOTLIGHT IS.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> HAS A RIVER SEDATIVES HAS NARROWLY PASSED THE PRESIDENT'S MASSIVE SOCIAL SPENDING AND CLIMATE BILL.

KNOWN AS BILLS BACK BETTER.

THE PLAN WOULD SPEND ROUGHLY 2 TRILLION OVER 10 YEARS ON FREE UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL, CHILD CARE, AND FOUR WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE.

IT WILL LOWER THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PLUS EXPAND MEDICARE TO INCLUDE HEARING.

THE BILL WOULD ALSO INVEST ALIENS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

IT PASSED 220 TO 213 ALONG PARTY LINES WITH THE STATES TWO REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN.

JEFF AND CHRIS JOINING THE UNANIMOUS OPPOSITION FROM THE PARTY.

MEANWHILE, NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS PRAISED THE BILL FOR RAISING THE CAP ON STATED LOCAL TAX DEDUCTIONS KNOWN AS ASSAULT.

THE CURRENT 10,000 TO 80,000 FOR 10 YEARS.

A MAJOR ISSUE FOR HIGH TAX OF NEW JERSEY.

THE MASSIVE SPENDING BILL GOES TO ITS REVISED SENATE WHERE IT IS FACING A TOUGH ROAD TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK.

THIS YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR WAS CLOSER THAN ANY OF THE STATES POLITICAL INSIDERS EXPECTED.

WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY HANGING ON TO A ROUGHLY THREE POINT WHEN OVER THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, JACK.

DESPITE EXPECTATIONS OF A MUCH WIDER MARGIN.

THE DRAMA WAS HIDING ON ELECTION NIGHT IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THANKS TO A SLOW AND TEDIOUS PROCESS.

ACCOUNTING THE ACTUAL VOTES.

THE SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT REPORTS OFFICIALS AND LAWMAKERS AROUND THE STATE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.

>> I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT BLUE STATE NEW JERSEY HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON PHIL MURPHY.

>> OUR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, WEINBERG, WAS ONE OF MANY DEMOCRATS PREPARING TO BE SHOCKED BY A CHECK VICTORY ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THE CROWD AT THE PHIL MURPHY HEADQUARTERS HAD STARTED TO THIN EARLY.

BY THE TIME THOSE OF US COVERING THE ELECTION WENT OFF THE AIR, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NIGHT.

THIS IS WHAT THE COUNT LOOKED LIKE AS WE SAID GOOD NIGHT.

A VIRTUAL DEAD HEAT.

WITH JEN UP ABOUT 2000 VOTES.

BY THE TIME IT WAS OVER AND ALL THE VOTES WERE COUNTED, THE SCOREBOARD LOOKED LIKE THIS.

MURPHY OF MORE THAN 80,000 VOTES.

>> SO, THE AP RESULTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE INITIALLY RELYING ON DON'T TELL US WHETHER THEY INCLUDE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS AND EARLY VOTING.

SO, WHAT I WAS THEN TRYING TO DO WAS TO GO TO THE COUNTY WEBSITES.

EACH, THE RESULTS ARE ONLY REPORTED ON ELECTION NIGHT.

COUNTY BY COUNTY.

GOOD EACH COUNTY SITE.

>> THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE COUNTY SITE DID NOT TELL US WHETHER THEIR ACCOUNTS INCLUDE VOTE BY MAIL OR EARLY VOTING BALLOTS.

SO, YOU HAD SOME COUNTIES SHOWING MACHINE VOTES ONLY AND OTHERS INCLUDING OTHER VOTES.

>> FOR YEARS NOW, UNDER NEW JERSEY LAW WE CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR BY MAIL BALLOTS UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

SO, ALL OF THOSE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS IN MY COMING IN, COUNTIES HAVEN'T BEEN COUNTING THEM BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

ON ELECTION DAY, THE MACHINE VOTES, THAT WAS OUR COUNTED OF YOU KNOW, RIGHT AWAY ON THE MACHINE.

ONCE THE COUNTIES START COUNTING THOSE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT.

IS JUST A NORMAL PROCESS OF HOW YOU DO COUNTING.

>> THE IRONY IS THAT ALL THE NEW WAYS WE HAVE TO VOTE, IT IS ACTUALLY SLOWING THE WAY WE GET RESULTS.

>> EACH COUNTY WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE A CHALLENGE WHERE THE EARLY VOTING MACHINES THAT YOU WOULD USE FOR THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD, WAS A DIFFERENT SYSTEM THAN WHAT WE HAD FOR ELECTION NIGHT.

SO, BEING ABLE TO GET THOSE TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTER LANGUAGES TO TALK TO EACH OTHER WAS A LITTLE CHALLENGING.

>> COUNTY CLERKS ARE ALSO COUNTING THE COST OF EARLY VOTING.

IN THE EXTRA STAFF NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO VOTING.

REFORMED, BEING PUSHED BY SENATOR TROY SINGLETON ARE WELCOME.

>> IN 2020 I WAS THE SPONSOR THAT ALLOWED US TO BE IN EARLY COUNTING 10 DAYS, A 10 DAY WINDOW TO COUNT THOSE.

I THINK YOU AND MAKE IT PERMANENT.

SECONDARILY, WITH THE ADVENT OF EARLY VOTING, WE NEED TO OPEN UP THAT SAME KIND OF WINDOW IN THIS SENSE.

AS SOON AS EARLY VOTING IS DONE.

RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL THE CLOSE OF ELECTION, PULLING ON 8:00 ON ELECTION DAY.

LET'S LET FOLKS START COUNTING AGAIN, SAME PROCESS, WITHIN THE SAME 24 HOURS WHICH IS GOING TO BE LEGISLATION GOING TO ADD TO THAT, WITHIN 24 HOURS.

OF THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD ENDING.

?

REPUBLICAN, DECLAN, SAYS HE WOULD ADD TO THAT BY TIGHTENING THE RULES ON BOTH BY MAIL BALLOTS AS WELL.

WHICH RIGHT NOW CAN BE SET VIA SNAIL MAIL POSTMARKED ON ELECTION DAY AND CAN ARRIVE AND MUST BE COUNTED UP TO FIVE DAYS AFTER THAT.

>> WE REALLY NEED TO STOP CATERING TO ONE OF THE LOWEST, SO HOW MANY EFFORT FOLKS WHO ARE PUTTING A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT IN THE MAIL ON ELECTION DAY.

THAT FORCES US TO WAIT ANOTHER FIVE DAYS TO GET THESE THINGS.

IT'S A MESS.

>> JILL MURPHY DIDN'T DECLARE VICTORY UNTIL THE DAY AFTER ELECTION DAY.

IT TOOK HIM 10 DAYS TO CONCEDE IN AN ELECTION THAT WAS CLOSER THAN ANYBODY EXPECTED THERE ARE , BY THE WAY, ANOTHER HANDFUL OF COUNTIES THAT STILL HAVE NOT POSTED FINAL RESULTS.

FOR VOTERS, THE NEW REALITY COULD JUST BE THAT COUNTING EVERY VOTE IS GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME AND A LOT MORE PATIENCE.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> SAFE REPUBLICANS PICKED UP SOME BIG SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE IN ADDITION TO NARROWLY LOSING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

SO, WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE PARTY?

THE CHIEF LOCAL CORRESPONDENT SAT DOWN WITH NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN BOB TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE SETTING SITES ON UPCOMING RATIONAL RACES.

>> THE REPUBLICAN STATE CHAIRMAN, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

NEW JERSEY REPUBLICANS HAD A PRETTY GOOD NIGHT ON ELECTION NIGHT TO A HALF WEEKS AGO.

YOU ALMOST BEAT THE GOVERNOR.

YOU UPSET THE SENATE GRANT.

HE PICKED UP SEVEN OR EIGHT LIKE YOU SAID SEATS.

WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?

>> IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT, AS YOU POINT OUT.

I THINK NEW JERSEY SPOKE OF ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

I THINK IS A TRIBUTE TO ONE RECOGNIZING THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS OVERREACHED AND REALLY DIDN'T DO AS GOOD A JOB AS THEY ADVERTISE ON COVID IN THE ECONOMY.

I THINK NEW JERSEY IS A VERY UNAVOIDABLE PLACE.

AND NOBODY IS RAISING THEIR HAND AND SAYING IT'S TIME WE MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

>> IF THEY MOVE MORE IN SOUTH JERSEY AND IN NORTH JERSEY?

IS THE SOUTH BECOMING MORE OF A REPUBLICAN BASTIAN?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE PARTS OF THE STATE THAT HAVE STRONGER VIEWS ON ECONOMIC ISSUES AND CERTAIN CULTURAL ISSUES.

CERTAIN PARTS OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS.

IT IS MORE OF A DIVERSE STATE GRAPHICALLY, GEOGRAPHICALLY, AND POLITICALLY.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DISCOURAGING ABOUT THE ELECTION, LITTLE BIT, WAS HOLDING, THAT REALLY, I THINK, STAMPED IN THE TURNOUT, WHICH WAS BAD.

>> THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES HAVE BEEN INTERESTING THIS YEAR.

NEW JERSEY HAS 10 DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND TWO REPUBLICANS.

WHAT CONGRESSPEOPLE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE ARE YOU REPUBLICANS TARGETING THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR?

>> IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT THE WHOLE GROUP OF CONGRESSPEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY WERE SPLIT 50-50.

I THINK WERE GOING TO BE GOING AGGRESSIVELY AFTER EVERY SEAT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS PAST ELECTION, ANY INCUMBENT WHO THINKS THEY ARE SAFE IS, BUT HER BECAUSE OF HER THAT.

SO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN CHANGE THINGS IN WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

SO, IF I WERE ANY INCOME AT ALL BE PRETTY NERVOUS.

I THINK MIKE IS GOING TO BE VERY VULNERABLE.

HERE IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS CAMPAIGNED AS A MODERATE IN THE DISTRICT AND HAS VOTED MORE IN STEP WITHOUT NANCY PELOSI THAN ANYBODY IN THE ECONOMY.

SO, I THINK YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES IN THE NUMBER OF SEATS THAT WE WILL AGGRESSIVELY GO AFTER.

>> AND JACK FINALLY CONCEDED TO BILL MURPHY, HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IN 2025.

POLITICIANS DON'T USUALLY DO THAT.

THEY USUALLY PLAY FOOTSIE AROUND A QUESTION LIKE THAT.

HE IS VERY FORTHRIGHT.

ARE YOU SURPRISED?

>> A LITTLE SURPRISED.

IN THE SENSE THAT I THINK THAT IT DOES REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF JACK.

JACK IS A GOOD MAN.

HE RAN A GREAT CAMPAIGN.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE ISSUES THEY TALK ABOUT, THE POLLSTER.

MANAGED THE TURNOUT, ET CETERA PEER THAT HE DIDN'T WIN.

I THINK HE IS SO COMMITTED TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY MAKING NEW JERSEY A BETTER PLACE, HE SAID LET'S BE HONEST, THERE IS NO BETTER JOB THAT I COULD EVER HAVE AND BE A GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY.

SO HE'S GOING TO PUT HIMSELF OUT THERE AGAIN.

>> THE GOVERNOR STATE CHAIRMAN.

ROB, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, MIKE.

>> THE VIRTUAL COURT PROCEEDINGS WERE DEVELOPED AS A WAY TO KEEP THE JUDICIARY GOING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ON THURSDAY, THE STATE SUPREME COURT ISSUED AN ORDER TO ALLOW REMOTE PROCEEDINGS TO CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE FOR SOME CASES.

CRIMINAL JURY TRIALS, SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES AND ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT AND THE APPELLATE DIVISION, WILL REMAIN IN PERSON.

OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE UP TO THE JUDGE AND ALL PRAISE INVOLVED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO MEET IN PERSON OR ONLINE FOR MOST OF THE PROCEEDINGS LIKE MOTIONS AND LANDLORD-TENANT HEARINGS.

ACCORDING TO NEW JERSEY COURTS, MORE THAN 200 60,000 VIRTUAL COURT EVENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS.

SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECT EDITOR CARLINO DAVE DIVES INTO THE DETAILS OF THE VIRTUAL PROCEEDINGS ON OUR WEBSITE.

IN J SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

TURNING NOW TO NEWS THAT BROKE THIS AFTERNOON.

KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS FOUND NOT GUILTY FOR THE KILLING OF TWO MEN IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 IN KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

IT HAPPENED AT A PROTEST.

AFTER A BLACK MAN WAS SHOT BY A WHAT WHITE POLICE OFFICER.

HE PLEADED SELF-DEFENSE AND WAS ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES.

>> THE SHOOTINGS HAPPENED AT A, YOU KNOW, A PRO-BLACK PROTEST.

YOU KNOW, REGARDING STATE VIOLENCE AND SUCH.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC KINDS OF LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED IN THE CROWDS.

FOR INSTANCE, THE VICTIMS WERE NOT, YOU KNOW, THE JUDGE GUARD THE ATTORNEYS FROM BEING ABLE TO CONTEXTUALIZE THEM AS VICTIMS.

CERTAIN WITNESSES WERE ABLE TO GO ON THE STAND AND ACTUALLY CAST THE DEMONSTRATORS OFF AS WRITERS AND SUCH.

TO SOME DEGREE, I THINK THIS WAS PREDICTABLE.

UNFORTUNATELY.

>> NEW JERSEY IS.JOINING A MULTISTATE INVESTIGATION INTO OTHER WHETHER INSTAGRAM CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE TEENS TO USE THE SOCIAL MEDIA DESPITE KNOWING ABOUT THE HARMS IT CAN CAUSE THEM.

THE ACTING STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THE INVESTIGATION WILL LOOK AT THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SPENDING MORE TIME ON THE PLATFORM.

AND WHETHER INSTAGRAM'S PARENT COMPANY MEHTA FORMALLY KNOWN AS FACEBOOK VIOLATED CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS.

ACTING STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THE COMPANY'S OWN INTERNAL RESEARCH FOUND USING INSTAGRAM CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, BODY IMAGE ISSUES, AND EATING DISORDERS IN TEENS.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR INSTAGRAM SAID THE INVESTIGATION DEMONSTRATES A DEEP MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTS.

AND THAT THE COMPANY HAS QUOTE LED THE INDUSTRY IN COMBATING BULLYING AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND EATING DISORDERS.

THEY ALSO SAY THEY HAVE LOST LAUNCHED A NEW FEATURE TO IMPROVE THE APP FOR TEENS.

WHILE BUSINESS LEADERS WAIT FOR THE SENATE TO VOTE ON THE HILL BACK BETTER DEAL, THEIR CELIBATE IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO NEW JERSEY'S, NEW JERSEY THANKS TO FOR STRUCTURE BILL.

WE HAVE THE DETAILS AND TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES BROUGHT BACK.

>> LEAH, IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY HOW MUCH NEW JERSEY WOULD BENEFIT IF THAT BUILD BACK BETTER BILL WINS FINAL APPROVAL.

BUT, WE DO KNOW THE STATE IS GETTING $12 BILLION FROM THE BIG INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WAS SIGNED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

NEW JERSEY BUSINESS LEADERS HELD A CALL TODAY TO SAY IT IS A WIN FOR THE STATE.

CHRISTINA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY SAID THE MONEY WILL FUND A MAJOR ROAD PROJECT IN HAMPDEN COUNTY AS WELL AS PLANNED UPGRADES TO THE RIVER LINE.

>> SEEN HIM FOR STRUCTURE BILL PASSED AND SEEING HOW MANY GOOD COMPONENTS ARE IN IT FOR SOUTH JERSEY, IT IS TRULY GOING TO BE A WIN-WIN FOR THE ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE FOR JOB CREATION AND REALLY FOR THE REGION IN TOTALITY.

>> MEANTIME, JOHN HARMON OF NEW JERSEY'S AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER SENT MONEY TO EXPAND BROADBAND AND IMPROVE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD HELP THE STATES URBAN AREAS.

TOM BRACKEN A TRUSTEE WHO LEADS THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAID THE NEW FEDERAL FUNDING WILL KICKSTART NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMIC REBOUND.

>> THIS IS WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEUR SHIP DAY, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO CELEBRATE WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.

ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS BUREAU, ABOUT 21% OR 1.2 MILLION OF U.S.

BUSINESSES ARE OWNED BY WOMEN.

IT IS A NUMBER THAT CONTINUES TO GROW.

BUT, ANOTHER SET UP THIS WEEK IS LESS ENCOURAGING.

NEW FIGURES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOW IN NEW JERSEY, THE GENDER WAGE GAP HAS IMPROVED ONLY SOMEWHAT.

WOMEN WORKING FULL-TIME JOBS ARE STILL LEARNING ABOUT $.82 FOR EVERY DOLLAR EARNED BY MEN.

THERE IS NO WORD YET ON WHICH CVS STORES IN NEW JERSEY MAY BE CLOSING TO THE DRUGSTORE CHAIN ANNOUNCED IS GOING TO SHUT 900 STORES NATIONWIDE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

CITING CHANGING CONSUMER BUYING PATTERNS.

FINALLY, THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS HOCKEY TEAM SIGNED A MULTIYEAR AGREEMENT WITHIN AN ONLINE SPORTS BETTING COMPANY.

THAT WAY WILL BECOME AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE TEAM.

NOW, HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE WEEKS WRAPPED UP ON WALL STREET.

I'M ROB.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> MAKE SURE YOU TUNE INTO NJ BUSINESS MEETING THIS WEEKEND.

CHEAPEST NEW JERSEY'S CHARITABLE EFFORTS AND FOCUS TALKING TO NONPROFIT LEADERS ABOUT HOW NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES ARE MEETING THE GROWING NEED IN OUR STATE.

CHECK OUT MANDATE PBS SATURDAYS AT 5:00 AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 2:30.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS HALL OF FAME.

A VIRTUAL EVENT ON DECEMBER 9th AT 6:00.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE.

AND BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

HEAD OVER TO AND J SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS FOR THE VERY LATEST STORIES IMPACTING THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF NEW JERSEY.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE FILLING YOU IN ON THE DESK.

PLEASE THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME INTO YOUR HOMES.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

TWO