>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

>>> RWJ BARNABAS, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>>> THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED AND PSEG.

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

>>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS .

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY IS CALLING THE OMICRON VARIANT A CAUSE FOR CONCERN NOT A CAUSE FOR PANIC.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN NO CASES OF THE OMICRON VARIANT DETECTED IN THE U.S.

EXPERTS CAUTION THERE IS STILL A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE REAL THREAT IT COULD POSE.

MEANWHILE TODAY PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE DOESN'T THINK NEW LOCKDOWNS WILL BE NEEDED AND THAT THE CURRENT VACCINES ARE LIKELY TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE DISEASE FROM THE NEW VARIANT.

HIS ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING WITH DRUG MANUFACTURERS TO UPDATE VACCINES OR BOOSTERS IF NEEDED.

>>> THE VERY DAY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IDENTIFIED THE NEW VARIANT I TOOK IMMEDIATE STEPS TO RESTRICT TRAVEL FROM COUNTRIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.

WHILE WE HAD THAT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS CAN SLOW THE SPEED OF OMICRON.

IT CANNOT PREVENT IT.

HERE IS WHAT IT DOES.

IT GIVES US TIME.

IT GIVES US TIME TO TAKE MORE ACTIONS.

TO MOVE QUICKER.

TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR VACCINE.

YOU HAVE TO GET THE SHOT.

YOU HAVE TO GET THE BOOSTER.

SOONER OR LATER WE WILL SEE CASES OF THIS NEW VARIANT IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE WILL HAVE TO FACE THIS NEW THREAT JUST AS WE FACED THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE.

>> Reporter: LEADERS IN NEW JERSEY ARE FOCUSED ON THIS NEW VARIANT.

ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNESS AT THE DELTA STRAIN IS STILL DOMINANT HERE.

WITH ANOTHER 1800 CASES REPORTED TODAY AND 50 DEPTH.

WE WILL SEE IN THE COMING WEEKS OF THERE WILL BE AN ANTICIPATED SPIKE FOLLOWING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

BUT HOSPITALIZATIONS ALREADY RISING.

NOW UP TO 950 PATIENTS THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN 7 WEEKS.

LEADERS CONTINUE TO URGE RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINES AND BOOSTERS.

JUST UNDER 6.2 MILLION PEOPLE HERE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

NUMBER 1.3 MILLION HAVE GOTTEN A BOOSTER.

29% OF ALL ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS.

EXPERTS SAY IT COULD BE WEEKS BEFORE WE KNOW HOW WELL OUR CURRENT VACCINES PROTECT US AGAINST THE NEWEST VARIANT OF CONCERN.

JOANNA REPORTS ON WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

>> Reporter:>> THE BIG CONCERN HERE IS AND WHAT WE DON'T QUITE KNOW YET IS WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE SEVERE ILLNESS.

MORE SEVERE THAN DELTA IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS VARIANT IS GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT CAN GET AROUND BOTH NATURAL OR VACCINE IMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THAT AND WHETHER THE NEW VARIANT OMICRON WILL STILL SOON REPLACE BELTS DELTA.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN CASES DETECTED IN SOUTHERN AFRICA AS WELL AS SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

UK GERMANY ELEMENT ITALY BELGIUM AND SEVERAL SUSPECTED CASES ELSEWHERE AS WELL.

RIGHT NOW WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT OMICRON SEEMS TO BE ON TRACK TO OVERTAKE THE DELTA VARIANT.

AS THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.

>> OMICRON WE HIGHLY SUSPECT IT IS HERE SOMEWHERE.

BUT FOR NOW AS OF TODAY THE CONCERN IS STILL THE DELTA VARIANT.

THAT IS FAR BEYOND THE OVER OVERWHELMINGLY THE MAJORITY OF CASES IN THE UNITED STATES.

AT THIS TIME GLOBALLY.

>> Reporter: ANTICIPATING THE SPREAD TO THE U.S. PRESIDENT BIDEN IS RESTRICTING TRAVEL FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND SEVEN OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

THE RESTRICTIONS DON'T INCLUDE U.S. CITIZENS AND LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS OR THEIR SPOUSES EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT CITIZENS.

LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN FOR OAK LAWN TO MAKE ITS ENTRANCE HERE.

>> AS OUR REGION IS A HUB OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND COMMERCE, WE MUST BE READY NOW AND ANTICIPATION OF THIS VARIANT HITTING US.

THERE IS STILL VERY MUCH UNKNOWN ABOUT THIS NEW VARIANT.

WE ARE ALL CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE RESEARCH INTO THIS VARIANT AS IT IS RELEASED.

WE ARE ALL WATCHING CLOSELY AS NEW CASES ARE DISCOVERED.

AND REPORTED.

>> Reporter: CURRENT TESTING IN THE U.S. IS NOT DETECTING VARIANCE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THEY ARE DOING IN THE UK AND SOUTH AFRICA.

>> FAR AND BEYOND FAR AND WIDE AHEAD OF US IN THEIR ABILITY TO RAPIDLY GENOMIC SEQUENCE VARIANCE.

>> Reporter: WHAT THEY ARE SEEING SO FAR GIVES PLENTY OF CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

>> THE DELTA VARIANT WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON VARIANT NOW DESPITE PROTEIN WHICH DOES THE BUSINESS OF ACTUALLY ANSWERING YOUR CELLS AND INFECTING YOU.

HAS ABOUT 10 MUTATIONS THAT MAKE IT MORE TRANSMISSIBLE IN MORE SEVERE THAN THE ORIGINAL VIRUS.

THIS ONE SEEMS TO HAVE OVER 30 OF THOSE MUTATIONS.

AND SEEMS TO BE COMBINING THE MUTATIONS THAT CAUSE EASIER SPREAD, MORE SEVERE DISEASE, BUT ALSO THE ABILITY TO EVADE ANTIBODIES FROM OUR VACCINES.

>> Reporter: HE SAW THIS VARIANT COMING LAST SUMMER.

>> VERY CLEAR TO ME AT THAT POINT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT REACHING HERD IMMUNITY.

BECAUSE WE HAD VACCINE REJECTION AND OUR COUNTRY.

BECAUSE OF THE PARTS OF THE WORLD WERE NOT REACHING HERD IMMUNITY ALSO.

THE VIRUS WOULD CONTINUE TO SPREAD AND CONTINUE TO MUTATE AND WILL GO FURTHER DOWN THE GREEK ALPHABET.>> EVERY ONE STEP CLOSER TO A MUTATION THAT CAN OUTPACE THE VACCINES?

>> I'M WORRIED ABOUT A MUTATION THAT CAN OUTPACE OUTSMART THE VACCINES.

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ADVANCING CHANGING MODIFYING THE VACCINES.

TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THESE NEW -- GIVING RISE TO THESE VARIANCE.

>> DO YOU ENVISION THE BOOSTER SHOT BEING SOMETHING A CANS OF THE FLU SHOT WHERE PEOPLE NEED TO GET IT ANNUALLY?

>> I HAVE LONG BELIEVED WE ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING A FLU VACCINE AND A COVID VACCINE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW THE ADVICE TO PROTECT YOURSELF IS WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD.>> IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE VARIANT IS.

GET VACCINATED WHERE YOU MASKED SOCIAL DISTANCE AND VENTILATION IS THE KEY TO REDUCING TRANSMISSION.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE VARIANCE CONTINUED TO SURFACE THAT ADVICE HAS STAYED THE SAME.

>>> AS THE COMECON VARIANT SPREADS PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS CONTINUE TO URGE ANYONE WHO IS UNVACCINATED TO GET THOSE FIRST SHOTS AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO GET A BOOSTER.

MANY ARE STILL RELUCTANT.

SOME ARE HOLDING OFF BECAUSE THEY THINK THE VACCINES WERE DEVELOPED TO QUICKLY AND THEY ARE TAKING A WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH.

MICHELLE IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY CAMDEN.

SHE JOINS ME TO EXPLAIN THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE VACCINES.>> AND KEEP IT GOING MEET MICHELLE.

WHY ARE VACCINATIONS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER WITH THE EMERGENCE OF THIS NEW VARIANT?

>> VACCINE SCIENCE DOES MAKE A VERY LONG TIME.

OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT PREVIOUS VACCINES FOR OTHER DISEASES HAVE WORKED.

MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL TAKE THE VACCINES IN ORDER TO -- REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF IMPACTS IT COULD HAVE ON INDIVIDUALS.

>> SOME PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO TAKE A VACCINE THAT THEY BELIEVE HAS ONLY BEEN TESTED FOR A FEW MONTHS.

BUT YOU SAY THAT COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

WHY?

>> IF WE LOOK BACK INTO HISTORY -- FIRST IDENTIFIED IN THE 1960S.

SO THE SCIENCE HAS BEEN UNDERSTOOD OR HAS BEEN STARTED TO BE UNDERSTOOD SINCE THE 1960S.

SO WE ALSO HAVE LOTS OF OTHER TYPES OF VACCINES THAT ARE USED REGULARLY.

SO TO USE THAT SCIENCE TO KNOW TO BE APPLIED TO THE COVID VACCINE IS IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY VERY LONG TIME.

SO WE HAVEN'T JUST COME UP WITH A VACCINE IN A FEW MONTHS.

THE SCIENCE THAT HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES.

>>> AND HOW WILL VACCINES LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE FOR COVID DEVELOPED FROM PREVIOUS DRUGS?

>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WAS DRUGS OR VACCINES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED INTO THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES -- INVESTIGATED THEM FOR PARTICULAR APPLICATION.

MIGHT NOT HAVE MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT APPLICATION FOR THAT DISEASE.

AND SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THEY WILL SHELVE IT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL SOMETHING ELSE COMES AROUND THAT MAY REQUIRE THAT SCIENCE.>> HIGH WITH THE CURRENT VACCINES BE MODIFIED TO TARGET A PACIFIC SPECIFIC VARIANT AND HOW MUCH TIME WOULD IT TAKE BEFORE IT'S AVAILABLE?

>> THE SCIENCE INFORMATION IS ALREADY AVAILABLE.

SO THEY WILL MODIFY THE CURRENT VACCINE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT NEW VARIANCE.

ALREADY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE PREVIOUS VARIANT.

AND THEY HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE VARIANTS -- COVID 19 WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED.

THEY WILL TAKE WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY PREVIOUSLY LEARNED FROM THE MODIFICATION OF THOSE OTHER FORMS OF COVID 19.

AND THEN THEY WILL USE THAT INFORMATION TO APPLY IT TO THE NEW VACCINE OR THE NEWLY MODIFIED VACCINE THEY WILL PRODUCE.

>>> ADVERSE SIDE EFFECT INCLUDING HEART INFORMATION IN CHILDREN HAS GOTTEN ATTENTION RECENTLY.

HOW CONCERNED SHOULD PEOPLE BE ABOUT POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS?

>> SIDE EFFECTS WOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED DURING THE TESTING PROCESS.

SO THE VACCINE WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS -- HOWEVER THEY WERE ALL ADULTS.

AND THAT TESTING PHASE, THE SIDE EFFECTS THAT WOULD BE SEEN WOULD BE REPORTED BY THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

AND THEY WOULD BE LISTED IN THE INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH THE VACCINE.

HOWEVER OBVIOUSLY WHEN THE VACCINE IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO CHILDREN THERE MAY BE OTHER SIDE EFFECTS THAT WERE NOT NOTED BECAUSE CHILDREN'S BODIES WILL METABOLIZE OUR BREAKDOWN COMPOUNDS -- IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY TO ADULTS.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER SIDE EFFECTS THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE NOTED BEFORE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE MONITORED BY YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADMINISTERED THE VACCINES.

>> MICHELLE A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION TO THINK ABOUT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ONCE AGAIN.

>>> A NEW VACCINE REQUIREMENT IN TRENTON IS SPLITTING LAWMAKERS.

ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS PLAN TO CHALLENGE A NEW RULE BANNING LEGISLATORS FROM ENTERING THE STATEHOUSE IF THEY DON'T HAVE PROOF OF VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE COVID 19 TEST.

AND NOW THEY ARE DEBATING WHETHER THEY WILL TAKE ACTION.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID REPORTS.

>> IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS WILL FOLLOW A BAND ONE OF US BAN ALL OF US PLAN ON THE BODY CONVENES ON THURSDAY.

BUT GOP LAWMAKERS PLAN TO MAKE A STATEMENT OF SOME KIND BY CALLING ATTENTION TO A RELATIVELY NEW POLICY THAT REQUIRES THEM TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION OR A RECENT NEGATIVE COVID TEST TO GET INTO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS.

>> WE ARE MAKING DIFFERENT CLASSES OF PEOPLE.

THE VACCINATED AND THE UNVACCINATED.

IT IS NOT OKAY.

>> Reporter: BRIAN BERGMAN SAID HE WON'T COMPLY WITH THE POLICY.

WHICH WAS CREATED EARLIER THIS MONTH BY THE STATE CAPITAL JOINT MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.

>> EVEN IF THEY PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR LEGISLATORS TO GET ONTO THE FLOOR TO VOTE LIKE ALLOW US TO TAKE A RAPID TEST BEFORE WE GET IN.

I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

BUT IF THE TRUE IF THEIR TRUE DESIRE IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THE BODY.

AND THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A RISK OF PASSING COVID AROUND THE BODY, AND THEY DON'T WANT THEY WANT TO MITIGATE THAT RISK THEN TEST EVERYBODY.

WHY IS IT DIFFERENT IF YOU HAVE A VACCINE OR YOU DON'T HAVE A VACCINE?

THE REALITY IS IT IS NOT.>> A HENCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS BREWING WHEN SENATE REPUBLICANS ISSUED THIS LATER IN OCTOBER IN ANTICIPATION OF THE COMMISSION'S RESOLUTION.

IT READS IN PART, THE POLICY ON THE CONSIDERATION WILL EXCLUDE THE LARGE SEGMENT OF NEW JERSEY SOCIETY THAT IS UNVACCINATED FROM THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

IN A MANNER THAT COULD BE PERCEIVED AS DELIBERATE PICS >> WE ARE REACTING TO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE -- WHO INITIATED IT.

WAS AT THE LEADERS IN THE HOUSES?

OR WAS AT THE GOVERNOR?

REALLY PRESENT SOME ISSUES IN MY MIND.

BECAUSE WE ARE CLEARLY A SEPARATE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: CALLED OUT DEMOCRATS FOR TALKING THE TALK YET FAILING TO WALK THE WALK.

POINTING TO THE RECENT LEAGUE OF MELISSA POLITIES CONVENTION IN ATLANTIC CITY.

>> IT WAS QUITE A FEW PARTIES THAT WERE ON.

AT THE CONVENTION.

AND FROM WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO ME THERE WERE MANY PARTIES THAT IN THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

IN THE ROOM.

AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE PERHAPS LEADERS WERE IN THOSE ROOMS WITH -- WITH NO REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY OR WHATEVER.

IT SEEMS DISINGENUOUS THAT HERE WE HAVE BEEN BACK IN THE BUILDING SINCE THAT -- SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER OF 2020.

SUDDENLY THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE PROCESS.

>> Reporter: THE VAST MAJORITY OF HIS CAUCUS IS VACCINATED.

AND THAT HIS CONCERN IS WITH ACCESS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE NEW RULES FOR THE LEGISLATURE COULD BE A PRECURSOR TO VACCINE MANDATES FOR ALL NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.

SOMETHING GOP LAWMAKERS ALSO OPPOSE.

SPEAKER CRAIG KAUFMAN ISSUED A STATEMENT TODAY WHICH SAID IN PART WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE WHO ENTERS THE BUILDING IN OUR CHAMBER.

AND WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY.

SO THAT END WE HAVE CREATED A POLICY TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF SPREADING THE VIRUS AND THE MECHANISM TO ALLOW ALL MEMBERS TO VOTE.

WE WILL NOT DEVIATE FROM THAT COURSE.

SOURCES SAY THE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IS NOT UNANIMOUS.

SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE SAID TO BE OKAY WITH THE BOATING REMOTELY.

OTHERS WANT TO TAKE A HARDER LINE.

MEANWHILE THE GOP SENATE CAUCUS WAS SCHEDULED TO MEET LATE THIS AFTERNOON TO DETERMINE WHAT COURSE OF ACTION THEY MIGHT CONSIDER.

THE RAPIDLY SPREADING OMA CRON VARIANT COULD ALSO CHANGE THE THINKING ON ALL SIDES AGAIN.

AS COVID CONTINUES TO ALTER BUSINESS AS USUAL.

>>> 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.

>>> TOMORROW IS THE DEADLINE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS IN NEW JERSEY TO FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST THEIR ABUSERS REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE ABUSE HAPPENED.

THE TWO-YEAR WINDOW FOR FILING OPEN IN DECEMBER 2019 WHEN THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A LAW TO TEMPORARILY WAIVE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS THAT EXIST FOR SUCH LAWSUITS.

AS OF THE END OF OCTOBER 1220 CASES HAVE BEEN FILED.

OFFICIALS TOLD NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

TWO THIRDS OF THOSE CASES HAVE NAMED A RELIGIOUS ENTITY AS A DEFENDANT.

WHILE ANOTHER 14% NAME A SCHOOL AND JUST UNDER 10% NAMED THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.

THE WAVE OF LAWSUITS COMES AS SOME ORGANIZATIONS COMMONLY SOLD ARE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY FOR SETTLEMENT.

IN SOUTH JERSEY THE CAMDEN DIOCESE HAS DECLARED BANKRUPTCY IN THE FACE OF MOUNTING ABUSE CASES.

AT LEAST TWO BOY SCOUT COUNCILS IN NEW JERSEY HAVE SOLD CAMPGROUNDS TO PAY SEXUAL ABUSE SETTLEMENTS.

>>> PACKING THE STORES ONCE AGAIN.

NEW JERSEY'S SMALL BUSINESSES ARE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH STAFF TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND.

RHONDA HAS THE DETAILS IN THE DAYS TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS OWNERS ARE FACING HUGE HURDLES WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING ENOUGH WORKERS.

THAT IS THE KEY FINDING IN THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL BUSINESS OUTLOOK SURVEY.

WHICH WAS RELEASED TODAY.

73% SAID THEY WERE CHALLENGED TO FIND APPROPRIATE STAFFING EVEN AFTER RAISING WAGES IN SOME CASES.

-- SAYS SOME BUSINESS OWNERS ARE EVALUATING WHAT IS NEXT FOR THEM.

BUSINESSES ARE TELLING US THAT BECAUSE OF THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY ARE UNCERTAIN OF THEIR FUTURE MOVING FORWARD.

WILL THEY CONSIDER SELLING EMERGING OR JUST SHUTTING DOWN SHOP?

THAT IS DISAPPOINTING.

THE REPORT SHOWED THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS INCREASING.

55% OF THOSE SURVEYED SAID THEY HAD TO RAISE PRICES ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THIS YEAR.>>> AMAZON IS PLANNING TO OPEN ITS THIRD BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORE IN NEW JERSEY EARLY NEXT YEAR.

IT'S PLAN FOR THE CHERRY HILL MALL.

AMAZON SAID THEIR STANDALONE STORES ARE LOCATED IN THE AMERICAN DREAM MAULED IN THE WILLOWBROOK MALL IN WAYNE.

WITH THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON UPON US THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION IS PREDICTING AN INCREASE IN SALES THIS YEAR.

ADOBE ANALYTICS FORECASTS TODAY'S CYBER MONDAY SALES WILL TOP $10 BILLION ON PART WITH LAST YEAR.

>>> GAS PRICES IN NEW JERSEY EDGE JUST SLIGHTLY LOWER IN THE PAST WEEK.

A FEW DAYS AGO PRESIDENT BIDEN ORDERED THE RELEASE OF SOME OF THE NATION'S OIL STOCKPILE TO TRY TO TAMP DOWN PRICES.

BUT THE BIGGER WILDCARD IS THE NEW COVID VARIANT.

-- THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY GASOLINE CONVENIENCE STORE AND AUTOMOTIVE ASSOCIATION SAID THAT COULD IMPACT DEMAND.

>>> IF THERE IS ANY FULL OUT FROM ANY COVID REACTIONS, AND IT CAUSES PEOPLE TO NOT GO TO THE OFFICE.

PEOPLE TO NOT GO SHOPPING.

PEOPLE TO NOT GO TO THEIR JOBS.

AND THAT CUTS DOWN ON THE CONSUMPTION.

WELL THAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE KIND OF AN EFFECT THAT WILL BRING DOWN PRICES.>> HE DOES EXPECT GAS PRICES WILL TREND DOWNWARD OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>>> A LOOK AT HOW STOCK PRICES PERFORM TODAY ON THE HEELS OF FRIDAY'S BIG SELLOFF.>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW JERSEY BUSINESS HALL OF FAME A VIRTUAL EVENT ON DECEMBER 9th AT SIX P.M. FOR MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT JA NJ.ORG.

>>> HEDGE FUND THAT HAS DRASTICALLY CUT STAFF AND RESOURCES AT NEWSPAPERS AROUND AMERICA IN RECENT YEARS IS NOW MOVING TO BUY THE PLUS OF ATLANTIC CITY.

ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL WHICH IS BECOME THE SECOND LARGEST OWNER OF NEWSPAPERS IN THE NATION HAS BEEN CALLED A VULTURE CAPITALIST FOR ITS PATTERN OF BUYING NEWSPAPERS AND SELLING OFF ASSETS WHILE CHASING PROFITS.

ALDEN IS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOVER OF LEE ENTERPRISES.

THE NATION'S THIRD-LARGEST NEWSPAPER CHAIN AND THE OWNER OF THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY.

I SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER OF COOPERATIVE MEDIA AND MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY STEPHANIE MURRAY ABOUT WHAT THE DEAL COULD MEAN FOR SOUTH JERSEY AND BEYOND.

>> STEPHANIE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT COULD THIS POTENTIAL DEAL MEAN FOR THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY?

>> THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY HAS BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL SALES AND MERGERS OVER THE LAST NUMBER EIGHT YEARS.

8 TO 10 YEARS.

EACH TIME THEY HAVE BEEN SOLD.

THE NEWSROOM HAS BEEN AFFECTED.

THE NEWSROOM IS VASTLY SMALLER NOW THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO THAN IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.

ATLANTIC CITY IS JUST NOT GETTING ALL THE NEWS COVERAGE THAT IT NEEDS AND DESERVES.

I KNOW THE EDITORS AND REPORTERS AT THE PRESS OF AC AND THEY ARE DOING THEIR BEST.

THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR THAT IF THIS PURCHASE GOES THROUGH, THAT THE NEWSROOM WHICH IS ALREADY BEEN SLASHED A LOT COULD BE CUT EVEN MORE.

>> PART OF THE REASON THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL IS BECAUSE IT IS A LARGEST SINGLE NEWSPAPER SERVING SOUTH JERSEY.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PART OF THE STATE?

>> SOUTH JERSEY HAS A LOT OF NEWS DESERTS.

OUR RESEARCH AT THE CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE MEDIA WHICH YOU CAN FIND ONE NEWS ECOSYSTEMS.ORG.

WE HAVE A MAP OF NEW JERSEY IN ALL THE NEWS PROVIDERS.

SOUTH JERSEY IS HAS A LOT OF NEWS DESERTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITIES DOWN THERE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY ACCESS TO QUALITY NEWS AND INFORMATION.

THIS COULD JUST MAKE THAT A LOT WORSE.

ESPECIALLY IN SEVERAL PARTS OF ATLANTICS COUNTY.

WE'VE SEEN OTHER CLOSURES IN RECENT YEARS.

THE AC TIMES.

WHEN EARL HARVEY PASSED A YEAR AGO.

ROUTE 40 WHICH IS A PROMISING THAT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHING.

THIS COULD JUST IMPACT COVERAGE ACROSS THAT ENTIRE PART OF THE STATE.

THAT IS WHAT REALLY CONCERNS ME.

EVEN WE'VE SEEN NJ.COM WITH THEIR SOUTH JERSEY PAPER PEER BACK LOCAL COVERAGE OF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE INQUIRER DOESN'T GO ALWAYS QUITE INTO SOUTH JERSEY ESPECIALLY OVER AS MUCH AS WE LIKE.

ALTHOUGH THERE REPORTER BASED IN ATLANTIC CITY DOES A GREAT JOB.

THIS COULD REALLY HAVE A BIG IMPACT.>>> GIVE US SOME INSIGHT WHAT IS ALL DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE AND WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN IF THEY DO BY THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY?

>> ALDEN IS A HEDGE FUND BASED IN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY GOT INTO MEDIA 2010 I THINK.

EVERY ACQUISITION THEY HAVE MADE THEY HAVE MADE A LOT OF CUTS TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY TRIED TO FIND EFFICIENCIES.

THEY TRIED TO WHAT THEY CALL STREAMLINED.

THEY TRIED TO CUT COSTS.

BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A PROFIT.

THAT IS THE WHOLE THEY THINK THERE IS MONEY TO BE SQUEEZED OUT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

EVERY DOLLAR THEY SQUEEZE OUT OF NEWS ORGANIZATIONS IS AFFECTING COMMUNITIES.

IT AFFECTS COMMUNITY HEALTH AND RESILIENCE CIVIC HEALTH.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT LESS ACCESS TO NEWS AND INFORMATION IN A COMMUNITY MAKES PEOPLE LESS LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN VOTING OR DEMOCRACY.

AND ACTUALLY CORRUPTION INCREASES.

THIS COMPANY IS KNOWN FOR COMING IN AND TRYING TO SQUEEZE AS MUCH COST AS MUCH EXPENSES AS IT CAN OUT OF THESE PROPERTIES.

THAT REALLY HARMS COMMUNITIES.

>> AS WE TAKE A LARGER LOOK AT THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER LANDSCAPE AND WHAT IS HAPPENING HOW IS ALDEN PLAYING A ROLE IN ALL OF THIS?

>> THE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST HOLDER OF NEWSPAPERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

ONLY BEHIND -- THEY OWN MORE NEWSPAPER TITLES THAN ANYONE ELSE OUTSIDE --.

THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY TRIED TO MAKE AN OFFER EVEN BY --.

AS THEY CONTINUE TO ACQUIRE NEWSPAPERS, AND SHRINK THEM DOWN TO SHELVES OF THEMSELVES.

THIS IS HAD AN IMPACT ACROSS THE ENTIRE U.S. WE HAVE SEEN NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. AN INCREASE IN HYPER LOCAL STARTUPS.

A LOT OF THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO NEWSPAPERS SHRIVELING UP OR IN THE CASE OFTEN WHEN ALDEN PURCHASES NOT SO MUCH SHRIVELING BUT SQUEEZING.

>> THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US AND JOINING US.

>>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY FOR MORE THAN 8000 FRONT-LINE WORKERS.

MORE THAN 1200 CHRISTMAS TREES WERE HANDED OUT TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

POLICE OFFICERS FIREFIGHTERS AND TEACHERS IN BERGEN COUNTY ON SATURDAY.

THE HANDOUT WAS SPONSORED BY COUNTY AUTHORITIES BERGEN RIDGE MEDICAL CENTER AND DT ALAN CONTRACTING AS A THANK YOU TO FRONT-LINE WORKERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WHICH IS NEARLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS ENCOMPASSED TWO HOLIDAY SEASONS.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

HEADED OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST.

I'M RAYMOND SANTANA.

YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAPPY HANUKKAH FOR ALL WHO CELEBRATE.

HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT AND WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

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

THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

AND BY THE FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY -- >>> NJIM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN SERVING POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT JUST WHO ARE POLICYHOLDERS?

THERE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR.

AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS.

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

>>> IN THE JM WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR RWJ BARNABAS HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELE-MED APP.

OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH THEM RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST.

EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION.

AND SO HAVE WE.

DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.