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FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OUR COVERAGE TONIGHT BEGINS WITH BREAKING NEWS OUT OF NEWARK.

THE MANHUNT IS OVER.

POLICE HAVE ARRESTED THE 30-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND WOUNDING TWO NEW YORK POLICE OFFICERS, ENDING A MASSIVE SEARCH THAT INVOLVED LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND PUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON LOCKDOWN.

POLICE OFFICERS COULD BE SEEN AROUND 11 A.M.

THIS MORNING CARRYING THE SUSPECT.

OUT OF THE BUILDING ON --WHERE IT APPEARS HOWARD HAD BEEN HIDING OUT OVERNIGHT.

ACCORDING TO THE ESSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR, THE GUNMAN IS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR SHOOTING ONE OFFICER IN THE LEG, THE OTHER OFFICERS NECK WAS BRAZED BY A BULLET IN HIS SHOULDER.

>>> THE WHITE HOUSE URGING CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION AND PASS LEGISLATION TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE, AS COMMUNITIES DEAL WITH THE DEVASTATION.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS.

>> AFTER THE SEVEN HOUR MULTI AGENCY SEARCH LAST NIGHT, TODAY AT APPROXIMATELY 11:10 A.M., MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM AFFECTED AN ARREST OF ONE CANDLE HOWARD.

MR. HOWARD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MURDER OF NORTH POLICE OFFICERS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON FOR UNLAWFUL PURPOSES.

>> 30-YEAR-OLD CANDLE HOWARD WAS ARRESTED AT THE SAME STATE WHERE AUTHORITY SPENT HOURS LOOKING FOR HIM.

BLOOD IS STILL VISIBLE IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE THE SHOOTOUT TOOK PLACE DID HOWARD MANAGED TO REMAIN AT LARGE FOR NEARLY A DAY.

S.W.A.T.

TEAMS, POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHER MEMBERS COULD BE SEEN ENTERING THIS APARTMENT BUILDING THIS MORNING.

SHORTLY AFTER 11 A.M., OFFICERS APPREHENDED HOWARD HERE.

THE SAME LOCATION WHERE OFFICERS WERE FOUND SHOT YESTERDAY IN THE PARKING LOT.

>> BOTH OF THEM ARE DOING WELL, THEY HAVE 1.5 YEARS ON THE JOB.

THEY HAVE TO DO A TRAUMATIC INCIDENT LIKE THIS.

ONE WILL BE RELEASED TODAY OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, THE OTHER WILL HAVE TO RECOVER.

>> HOW DID HOWARD DISAPPEAR FOR SO LONG AND WHERE WAS HE HIDING?

ONE RESIDENT SAID HE LIVED ON THE FLOOR ABOVE HER WITH HIS MOM AND SHE IS SHOCKED ABOUT HIS ACTIONS.

>> WE KNOW THE PERSON.

THE PICTURES THEY SHOWED US, WE WERE UP ALL NIGHT JUST READING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION.

I DON'T KNOW HIM KNOW HIM, BUT IT'S A BUILDING AND YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.

HE LIVED IN THE BUILDING.

HE WAS SOMEBODY'S SON.

>> WHAT WAS HE LIKE?

>> HE WAS A NICE PERSON.

THEY TOLD ME THAT HE WAS, SOMETHING HAPPENED WHERE HE LOST HIS JOB.

HE HAS SOME MENTAL ISSUES AND THEY TRIED TO GET HIM TO GO INTO THERAPY AND STUFF.

BUT THEY CAN'T FORCE YOU, YOU HAVE TO COMMIT YOURSELF.

BUT HE STILL NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL.

ANYBODY WHO CARRIES A GUN OF ANY SORT NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL.

>> I WASN'T READY FOR THIS.

IN THIS AREA THAT I GREW UP IN, I'VE NEVER KNOWN THIS TO HAPPEN.

>> WHILE THERE IS STILL NO CONFIRMATION AS TO THE MOTIVE, THE MAYOR PRAISED THE CIVILIAN WHO HELPED THE OFFICERS TO SAFETY AND HAS CREDITED THE IMPROVEMENT TO THEIR HEROIC ACTS.

THE PROSECUTOR SAYS THE CASE REMAINS ONGOING.

>>> HEADING INTO THE FINAL WEEK OF VOTING FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, A NEW POLL FINDS THE REPUBLICAN BASE IS MORE FIRED UP ABOUT CASTING A BALLOT THAN DEMOCRATS.

ACCORDING TO A STOCKTON UNIVERSITY POLL, 70% OF REPUBLICANS SURVEYED WERE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT VOTING IN THE MIDTERMS.

COMPARED TO 54% OF DEMOCRATS.

WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE ECONOMY FUELING THAT ATTITUDE.

AND IT'S SHOWING UP IN NEW JERSEY'S CONGRESSIONAL RACES, EVEN THOSE WITH SEATS INITIALLY CONSIDERED SAFE.

IN THE THIRD DISTRICT WHICH WAS REDRAWN TO INCLUDE THE DEMOCRATIC AREAS OF BURLINGTON, MERCER AND MONMOUTH COUNTIES, IT APPEARS REPUBLICANS ARE STILL GAINING GROUND.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER BOB HEALY CAMPAIGNING AT HAMILTON'S DINER, RELISHED HEARING POLITICAL REPORTS GIVING HIM A SLIGHTLY BETTER CHANCE TO UNSEAT INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT IN NEW JERSEY'S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>> WE WEREN'T AS SURPRISED AS SOME OTHER PEOPLE WERE.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING THIS.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT MY GAS AND GROCERIES, I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE TAKING PRECEDENCE OVER WHATEVER.

THAT IS TIGHTER THAN WHAT THEY EXPECTED.

MAKING THEM MORE FAVORABLE TO REPUBLICANS.

IN A SOME VERY BLUE STATES.

THAT INCLUDES JERSEYS THIRD, NOW RATED LIEN INSTEAD OF LIKELY DEMOCRATIC.

EVEN THOUGH THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN REDRAWN TO FAVOR DEMOCRATS.

>> THERE IS STILL A LOT OF BLUE-COLLAR POCKETS THAT ARE REALLY FEELING THE CRUNCH OF INFLATION.

THEY HAVE THE BATTLE IN THE HOUSE NATIONALLY ON INFLATION AND CRIME.

>> I ALWAYS KNEW THIS WOULD BE A TOUGH RACE.

THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO VOTERS.

WE HAVE OVER 43% NEW VOTERS, WE KNEW THAT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE.

I'VE DONE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS HERE WHERE I TALK ABOUT WHAT I'VE DONE TO TRY TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS.

>> CAMPAIGNING HARD IN HIS REDRAWN DISTRICT, WHICH NOW INCLUDES SWING TOWNS LIKE HAMILTON.

WE SAMPLED SOME OPINIONS AT THE DINER.

>> I AM A REPUBLICAN, THAT'S THE WAY I VOTE.

>> WHAT YOU THINK OF YOUR CANDIDATE?

>> I THINK HE'S GOOD, HE LINES UP WITH MY BELIEFS.

>> BOB HEALY LENT HIS CAMPAIGN $2.3 MILLION, HIS MOTHER FUNDED A SUPER PACK FOR HIM WITH ANOTHER COUPLE MILLION.

MEANWHILE, ANDY KIM HAS RAISED 6.5 MILLION AND THEY ARE BUYING ADS.

BUT THE BOX DON'T GO VERY FAR IN THIS MARKET.

>> THE BULK OF THIS WOULD BE OVER CABLE AND MAIL.

SO THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EXTREME A DIFFICULT MARKET FOR FAMILIES TO JUSTIFY ADVERTISING.

>> IT'S A REPUBLICAN YEAR, THE DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE TRADITIONALLY HERALDS A MIDTERM THAT GOES RIGHT.

>> THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME PRETTY'S PERSISTENT INFLATION AT 8%, THAT IS A REAL HEADWIND FOR ANY DEMOCRAT RUNNING, EVEN AN INCUMBENT.

THIS IS A TIGHT BATTLE, IN A VERY HYPER- PARTISAN WORLD WHERE PEOPLE FROM THE BEGINNING DETERMINES HOW THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE.

>> Reporter: THAT LEAVES THE CANDIDATES BATTLING OVER THE REMAINING UNDECIDED IN A RACE THAT IS GETTING CLOSER BY THE DAY.

IN HAMILTON, BRENDA FLANAGAN AND A SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WE ARE LESS THAN A WEEK FROM THE ELECTION, WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A NEW POLITICAL PODCAST.

THE NJ DECIDES 2022 ELECTION EXCHANGE.

IT GIVES YOU INSIGHT AND ACCESS TO NEW JERSEY'S CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS, HOSTED BY SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

SENIOR DIGITAL PROJECT EDITOR COLLEEN O'DAY AND ME.

WE BRING YOU CANDID CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE WITH EACH CANDIDATES.

TODAY, WE ARE DROPPING EPISODE SIX, MY ONE-ON-ONE WITH DISTRICT 5 REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER FRANK --LOOKING TO UNSEAT THREE TERM INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE JOSH GOT TIMER.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

SO, THIS DISTRICT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM WHEN YOU RAN IN 2020.

YOU'VE PICKED UP SOME DIFFERENT TOWNS.

FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW YOU YET, WHY SHOULD THEY VOTE FOR YOU?

>> I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK TO A REPRESENTATIVE, WHETHER IT'S A MAYOR, COUNCIL OR STATE LEGISLATORS, WHAT YOU LOOK FOR FIRST AND FOREMOST IS SOMEONE WHO FITS THE DISTRICT.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN YOUR DISTRICT, IS THE PERSON YOU MAY VOTE FOR HAVE A BACKGROUND THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU NEED?

AND WITH MY BACKGROUND IN FINANCE, IN THE SAME AREA, MY CHILDREN GREW UP HERE, I SPENT MY CAREER IN FINANCE AND I THINK WE ARE IN A PRETTY TERRIBLE POSITION RIGHT NOW WITH THE ECONOMY.

NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO I THINK WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE IS NOT JUST PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE, I THINK I TAKE A PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS MINDSET TO THE TABLE WITH A BACKGROUND IN ECONOMICS AND FINANCE.

>> TO HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW, HAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NJ DECIDES 2022 TAB.

THERE, YOU'LL FIND ALL THE EPISODES OF THIS NEW PODCAST SERIES.

OR DOWNLOAD THEM WHEREVER YOU STREAM YOUR PODCASTS.

>>> ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES OF THIS ELECTION CYCLE IS ABORTION.

AND WE ARE GETTING A CLEARER PICTURE OF HOW THE FALL OF ROE V WADE IS AFFECTING STATES LIKE NEW JERSEY, WHERE ABORTION REMAINS LEGAL.

A NEW STUDY FROM THE NONPROFIT SOCIETY OF FAMILY PLANNING FINDS NEW JERSEY AND THE NORTHEAST REGION EXPERIENCED A 7% INCREASE IN LEGAL ABORTIONS FROM APRIL 2022 TO AUGUST 2022.

THAT WAS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION.

THE REPORT SHOWS A SHIFT IN WHERE PEOPLE OBTAIN CARE IN BOTH RESTRICTED ACCESS AND PROTECTED ACCESS STATES.

OVERALL, ABORTION RATES DROPPED 6% NATIONALLY IN STATES THAT BANNED OR SEVERELY RESTRICTED THE PROCEDURE.

RATES DROPPED 95% DURING THAT SAME TIMEFRAME.

IN THE STATES LIKE NEW JERSEY, WHERE THERE ARE NO OR FEW RESTRICTIONS, THE RATES ROSE BY ABOUT 11%.

ABORTION RIGHTS ADVOCATES SAY THEY ANTICIPATED AND WERE PREPARED FOR THE UPTAKE.

WELL ANTIABORTION ACTIVISTS SAY THEY ARE PLEASED ABORTION NUMBERS DIDN'T JUMP SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> IN RECENT YEARS, THE USE OF A POLICY KNOWN AS HARM REDUCTION HAS BEEN EMBRACED BY THOSE WORKING IN ADDICTION RECOVERY.

BY MEETING THE PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS WAY OR --WHERE THEY ARE.

A NEW REPORT FINDS PROVIDING PEOPLE WHO INJECT DRUGS WITH HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES, THINGS LIKE CLEAN NEEDLES AND DISINFECTANT, CAN ACTUALLY SAVE THEIR LIVES.

AND SAVE THE STATE BILLIONS IN MEDICAL COSTS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> PEOPLE LIVING WITH A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS ARE JUST HUMAN BEINGS, THEY DESERVE DIGNIFIED CARE THE SAME WAY WE DO.

>> Reporter: CAITLIN O'NEILL SAYS TOO OFTEN, THAT ISN'T THE CASE.

AS A FORMER DRUG USER, THEY KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NEED MEDICAL TREATMENT BUT HE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

>> GOING INTO AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH AN ABSCESS ALONG A VEIN THAT HAS AN ARM FULL OF TRACK MARKS, I WAS NOT TREATED WELL.

I WAS SCOFFED AT.

>> Reporter: O'NEILL CREDITS A SYRINGE ACCESS PROGRAM FOR TURNING THINGS AROUND.

>> IT WAS OKAY, LET'S GET YOU TESTED, LET'S MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE.

I WASN'T TAUGHT PRACTICES BY SOMEBODY WHO KNEW HOW TO SAFELY DO IT.

AND SO THAT MIGHT SEEM KIND OF WILD TO SOME PEOPLE, IT ALLOWED ME TO SURVIVE.

>> Reporter: NOW THEY ARE CALLING ON LEADERS TO SAVE EVEN MORE LIVES BY CREATING MORE SYRINGE ACCESS PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE NEW JERSEY HARM REDUCTION COALITION RELEASING A REPORT DETAILING HOW A LACK OF HARM REDUCTION TREATMENT IS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH DISPARITY IN COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO INJECTION RELATED INFECTIONS.

>> THERE WERE OVER 7000 HOSPITALIZATIONS RELATED TO THESE, AND CLOSE TO 300 PEOPLE DIED OF THESE INFECTIONS.

AND WE ALSO FOUND THAT IT AFFECTED BLACK RESIDENTS 1.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY, AND PEOPLE ON MEDICARE OR MEDICAID.

>> ONE OF THE REPORTS AUTHORS SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLING REVELATIONS FROM THE RESEARCH IS REALIZING SO MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE.

>> THERE ARE SKIN INFECTIONS RELATING TO DRUG USE, THOSE CAN ESCALATE TO THINGS LIKE BONE INFECTIONS, AND THE ISSUE IS THESE INFECTIONS ARE LARGELY PREVENTABLE.

IF PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE AND STERILE SUPPLIES FOR THEIR INJECTION DRUG USE.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER ALARMING FIND, THE HIGH HOSPITAL COSTS.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, CHARGES FOR INJECTION RELATED INFECTION TOPPED $1 BILLION IN 2019.

MONEY ADVOCATES SAY COULD BE USED TO FUND MORE SYRINGE ACCESS.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE JUST SEVEN IN THE STATE.

>> THE CHARGE FOR A HOSPITALIZATION WAS ALMOST $130,000.

MOST OF THESE ARE RUN BY MEDICARE AND MEDICAID WHICH ARE PUBLIC PAYERS.

AND SO, TAXPAYERS ARE COVERING THESE COSTS.

THAT COULD BE PREVENTED BY GREATER ACCESS TO HARM REDUCTION.

>> IN JANUARY, GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED LEGISLATION, THAT THERE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK OVER FEAR IT WOULD ENCOURAGE DRUG USE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> WE ARE NOT SAYING EVERY TOWN NEEDS THIS.

WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE MAIL-BASED SERVICES, LIKE OUTREACH VANS OR PARTNERING WITH, LET'S SAY SOMEONE HAS A TRUSTED MEDICAL PROVIDER.

MAYBE THEY JUST HAVE SYRINGES IN CASE SOMEBODY IS INJECTING.

>> Reporter: MEMBERS OF THE COALITION SAY THEY ARE HOPEFUL IT WILL LEAD TO CHANGE TO CREATING MORE ACCESS TO CARE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, SAVE MORE LIVES.

>>> PROMISING NEW DATA THAT COULD HELP PREVENT THE THOUSANDS OF PEDIATRIC HOSPITALIZATIONS CAUSED BY RSV EVERY YEAR.

PFIZER ANNOUNCED THE TRIAL RESULTS OF A VACCINE THAT, WHEN GIVEN TO PREGNANT PEOPLE, APPEARS TO BE ABOUT 80% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS, OR RSV, FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF LIFE.

RSV IS A COMMON RESPIRATORY ILLNESS THAT TYPICALLY CAUSES MILD COLD-LIKE SYMPTOMS, BUT CAN BE SERIOUS IN OLDER ADULTS AND BABIES.

THE FDA DESIGNATED PFIZER'S VACCINE A BREAKTHROUGH THERAPY, SPEEDING UP ITS REVIEW.

NOW, THE COMPANY WILL SUBMIT TO THE FDA FOR FULL APPROVAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>>> IN OUR BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, ANOTHER MAJOR STEP TOWARDS FIGHTING THE FASTEST INFLATION SPIKE IN 40 YEARS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE LATEST FROM THE FED, PLUS THE NIGHTS TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> HERE WE GO AGAIN, THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS HIKED INTEREST RATES ONCE MORE BY THREE QUARTERS OF A POINT.

AS IT INTENSIFIES ITS FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION.

RATES FOR MANY LOANS WILL LIKELY RISE EVEN HIGHER.

BUT THE FED INDICATED IT COULD BE LESS AGGRESSIVE ON RAISING INTEREST RATES IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

IN NEW JERSEY, WE'VE SEEN HIGHER RATES SLOW THE HOUSING MARKET AND SOME BUSINESSES HAVE ALSO GOTTEN MORE CONSERVATIVE WITH THEIR FINANCES.

ACCORDING TO ELIZABETH McGINNIS, THE PRESIDENT OF CONNECT ONE BANK.

>> THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THEIR BUSINESS, AND HAVING SIGNIFICANT CASH LEVELS TO MEET THOSE HIGHER INTEREST RATES.

>> THEY ADDED 239,000 JOBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT FROM NEW JERSEY-BASED ADP.

THAT WAS STRONGER THAN EXPECTED AND COMES JUST DAYS AFTER THE GOVERNMENT JOBS REPORT WHICH IS PROJECTED TO SHOW SIMILAR GAINS.

THREE COMPANIES HAVE REACHED A DEAL TO SETTLE THOUSANDS OF OPIOID LAWSUITS AGAINST THEM.

THEY WILL PAY $13.8 BILLION IN THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT.

THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO HELP COMMUNITIES FIGHT OPIOID ADDICTION.

THE FIRST NATIONWIDE DEAL WITH RETAIL PHARMACIES FOLLOWS NATIONWIDE OPIOID SETTLEMENTS WITH DRUGMAKERS AND DISTRIBUTORS FOLLOWING MORE THAN $33 BILLION.

PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP IS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO REVIEW ITS OPTIONS ON RETAINING ITS 25% STAKE IN OCEAN WIND ONE, AND OFFSHORE WIND FARM PROPOSED BY ORSTED.

THE DECISION IS BEING DRIVEN BY HIGHER COSTS OF THE COMPONENTS AND OTHER INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.

FOR A FULL REPORT, CUT CHECK OUT MY COLLEAGUE TOM JOHNSON'S REPORTING ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM WALL STREET.

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

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER.

WE KEEP LIFE FLOWING.

AND BY NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, NEW -- DECEMBER 1st AND SECOND IN ATLANTIC CITY.

EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE.

>>> FINALLY, AS WE CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE OF THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPER STORM SANDY, WE ARE LOOKING BEYOND THE LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO FLOOD RAVAGED HOMES AND TOWNS TO THE LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACT.

THOSE WHO WERE SPARED FROM THE TRAUMA OF NEAR DROWNING OR PHYSICAL INJURIES WERE STILL AFFECTED BY THE MENTAL STRESS OR THE MOLD AND POLLUTION LEFT IN THE AFTERMATH THAT SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED THEIR HEALTH.

WITH AN OUTSIZED IMPACT ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES NOT UNLIKE COVID-19.

HEALTH WRITER LILO STAINTON JOINS ME NOW.

LILO, YOU LOOKED INTO BOTH SHORT AND LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

WHAT STUCK OUT THE MOST AS FAR AS WHAT PEOPLE WERE DEALING WITH?

>> THERE'S SORT OF TWO THINGS, ONE IS THAT A LOT OF THE IMPACTS WERE SLOW AND SNEAKY AND UNDER THE RADAR.

AND THE OTHER IS THAT THEY WERE JUST COMPOUNDED IN AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING.

WHEN WE ALL THINK OF SANDY, I KNOW AFTER THE STORM I WAS READING ABOUT HOSPITALS THAT EVACUATED.

IN NEW JERSEY, TWO EVACUATED UP NORTH IN THE MEADOWLANDS.

AND 11 NURSING HOMES ALSO HAD TO MOVE PEOPLE.

BUT A LOT OF THE BIG IMPACTS WERE FAR LATER, YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

THEY WERE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE LESS OBVIOUS.

SORT OF SIDE EFFECTS OF THE HARDSHIPS.

>> OKAY, RUN ME THROUGH SOME OF THOSE.

YOU WROTE ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM WHEN THE FLOODWATERS RECEDED AND THIS CONTAMINATED SLUDGE THAT CAUSED A DEBRIS THAT RESULTED IN ASTHMA FOR SOME FOLKS.

TO THE MENTAL TRAUMA THAT PEOPLE STILL FEEL EVERY TIME WE GET A SOAKING RAIN.

>> EXACTLY.

EVEN A YEAR AFTER THE STORM, AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS WERE DOUBLE A YEAR LATER, FOR THINGS LIKE INJURIES, CARDIOVASCULAR ISSUES.

GASTROINTESTINAL THINGS.

AS YOU MENTIONED, ASTHMA.

THE STATE DID A REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH IMPACTS, THEY NOTED THAT AFTER STORMS 40% OF THE DEATHS ARE RELATED TO ESSENTIALLY DIARRHEA.

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF FLOODING AND CONTAMINATION, THESE ARE REAL CONCERNS.

IF YOU HAVE FOOD THAT IS SPOILING BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY, SO THESE BECOME THE KINDS OF THINGS.

14% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE FLOOD ZONE HAD PTSD.

A QUARTER HAD DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.

>> THOSE LESS VISIBLE, AS YOU PUT IT, IMPACTS.

VERY QUICKLY, BEFORE I LET YOU GO, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CORRELATION DRAWN BETWEEN THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES OF SANDY, AND THOSE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

THE RESOURCES THEY LACKED NOW, THE RESOURCES THEY LACKED THEN.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>> THIS IS ALL MAGNIFIED DURING CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE SAW THE SAME IMPACT DURING COVID.

ONE THING THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME IS, SPEAKING TO A RUTGERS SCIENTIST AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW IF YOU LIVE IN AN ELEVATED HOME, YOU CAN GET A GENERATOR AND MAYBE WORK FROM HOME.

IF YOU ARE IN A BASEMENT APARTMENT IN NEWARK, LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, A WAGE JOB THAT DEPENDS ON YOU BEING THERE, YOUR CAR IS FLOODED, YOUR HOME IS FLOODED YOUR ODDS OF RECOVERY ARE DIFFERENT.

BOUNCING BACK IS MUCH HARDER.

AS WE KNOW, WE ARE ALL EAGER TO BOUNCE BACK.

AND IT'S HARD.

>> THE GAP JUST GETS BIGGER.

REALLY GREAT REPORTING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU CAN READ LILO'S FULL STORY ABOUT THE LONG-TERM IMPACT SANDY HAD ON THE HEALTH OF STATE RESIDENTS BY GOING TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT DON'T MISS THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF CHAT BOX WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

IT'S THE COUNTDOWN TO MIDTERMS, WITH A LOOK AT THE TOP RACES AND ISSUES AS WE NEAR ELECTION DAY.

THAT'S TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI, FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM, INC. YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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

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

AND, NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS YOUR BACK.

THAT'S WHY, AT HORIZON BLUE CROSS SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS YOU NEED.

MORE WAYS TO GET CARE VIRTUALLY.

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ALL IN A RANGE OF HEALTH PLANS SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN FIND WHAT YOU NEED.

AND WE CAN HELP.

BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS THEIR BACK.

NOT JUST IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, ALL THE TIME.

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NEW JERSEY REALTORS LIVE AND WORK IN CITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND SHORT COMMUNITIES JUST LIKE HERE IN BEAUTIFUL ASBURY PARK.

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