>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR 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 CLEAR EMERGENCE ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, AND SMART HEAT NJ.

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

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL ANY DAY NOW.

AND THAT MEANS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WILL BE HEADING TO NEW JERSEY.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM LEAH MISHKIN IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

AMONG THE CHANGES YOU WILL SEE, IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHWAYS, TRANSIT, DEFICIENT BRIDGES, MONEY TO BUILD ELECTRIC VEHICLES, CHARGING STATIONS, THE EXPANSION OF HEIGHT AND INTERNET, AND THE LIST GOES ON.

THERE IS ALSO A POOL OF MONEY THAT CAN BE USED TO FUND THE GATEWAY PROJECT., WHEN WILL NEW JERSEY START SEEING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS?

SENIOR COURSE ON IT, BRENDA FLANAGAN DIES INTO THE NUMBERS AND THE OVERALL PLAN.

>> NEW JERSEY RAIL WRITERS, FED UP WITH CHRONIC DELAYS CAUSED BY CRUMBLING HUTS AND TUNNELS, FILLING AMTRAK SIGNALS AND GENERAL DECREPITUDE CAN FINALLY SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE POLITICAL TUNNEL, AND THE GATEWAY PROJECT, BACK ON A FAST TRACK WITH BILLIONS THAT WILL FLOW FROM THE HISTORIC BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

>> IT WOULD NOT BE UNFAIR TO COMPARE THE NEW DEAL.

IN SOME WAYS.

WE JUST HAVE NOT MADE A INVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THIS FOR GENERATIONS.

>> BRIAN WITH THE GATEWAY COALITION SAYS JERSEY WILL BE ABLE TO TAP INTO $1 BILLION OVER 5 YEARS.

MONEY TO HELP ADVANCE THE HUDSON RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT.

AMTRAK WILL GET $24 BILLION FOR NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS.

>> IT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED INVEST IN AMTRAK'S NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.

THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, SO WE SHOULD SEE IMPROVEMENTS FROM TRENTON UP TO NEW YORK CITY.

AND, MUCH SMOOTHER RIDE OVER AMTRAK PROPERTY, INCLUDING ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE GATEWAY PROGRAM, AND THE HUDSON TUNNEL PROJECT.

>> THE BIGGEST PIECE HERE IS THAT THEY CAN GET US TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY GET FULL FUNDING, AND FULLY START, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT FINISH UNLESS YOU STARTED.

MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS NEED MAJOR FEDERAL DOLLARS, RIGHT?

TO PARTNER WITH SO THAT YOU CAN REALLY OVERHAUL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ARE STILL RELYING ON FROM THE 19th CENTURY.

>> THE GATEWAY PROGRAM SAYS THE PORTAL NORTH RIDGEVILLE LEADOFF >> A MULTIPART PROJECT IN AUGUST OF 2023.

GOVERNOR MURPHY CALLED THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL A GAME CHANGER.

MET GATEWAY ASIDE IS THERE IS MORE THAN 12 P.M. TO BILLION DOLLARS THAT NEW JERSEY IS NOW SET TO RECEIVE TO GIVE OUR STATE THE SAFE, MODERATE, AND RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE OR ECONOMIC FUTURE DEMANDS.

EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL HOUSE DELEGATION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE VOTED FOR THESE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS.

>> MURPHY NOTED THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL INCLUDES $.2 BILLION TO UNLOCK NJ TRANSIT'S UNFUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS, LIKE REFURBISHING NORTH PENN STATION, REPLACING OLD ROLLING STOCK, AND BUYING A FLEET OF ELECTRIC BUSES, GREENER TECHNOLOGY.

>> THEY WILL BE QUIET, THEY WILL BE CLEAN, THEY WILL HAVE BETTER AIR ALL AROUND IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BUSES GOING THROUGH THEM.

THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE FLEET WILL BE A MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT.

SEE YOU THERE IS SO MUCH THAT IS GOOD THAT IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.

>> CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTTHEIMER POINT TO OTHER ITEMS IN THE $104 MILLION TO BUILD ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE $.1 BILLION TO REPLACE GUIDELINES THAT CONTAMINATE DRINKING WATER, AND $100 MILLION TO ASK AND HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

HE SAYS JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL GET $8 MILLION TO UPGRADE TREACHEROUS HIGHWAYS, -TRAPPED WITH POTHOLES, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE IT'S MORE THAN 500 DEFICIENT BRIDGES, LIKE THESE OVER 4 IN TEANECK.

>> I WAS IN TEANECK LOOKING AT THIS BRIDGE FALLING APART CRUMBLING.

AND SOMETHING I LOOKED AT WHEN I RAN AS WELL.

STILL NOT FIXED.

SO, WE NEED THE RESOURCES.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE WAITING A DECADE FOR THIS.

IT'S A ONCE IN A CENTURY BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

>> HE ADMITS THAT VOTERS WERE FRUSTRATED LAST WEEK AFTER POLITICAL JOUSTING IN CONGRESS SLOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT PASSAGE UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION.

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN PROGRESSIVES AND GOT HAMMERS MODERATE CAUCUS CONTINUES ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BILL BACK BETTER BILL.

HE PUSHED TO DELAY A VOTE PENDING DATA FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE.

>> THE RIGHT TO SAY YOU WANT TO GET INFORMATION.

ALL THE INFORMATION.

WE HAVE THE TIME TO READ THROUGH LEGISLATION AND GET NOTHING SURPRISES ADDED INTO IT.

BASED ON WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE INITIAL FEEDBACK FROM THE TREASURY WE SHOULD DEFINE AND BE READY TO PROCEED.

>> HE EXPECTS A VOTE LATER THIS MONTH.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> MONEY FROM THE MASSIVE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGES ALSO ON THE WAY TO ONE OF THE OLDEST PORTS ON THE COAST.

THE MARINE TERMINAL.

U.S.

SENATOR, PAUL MENENDEZ, ANNOUNCING $9 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR THE SOUTH JERSEY COURT CORPORATION.

THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF RUNNING THE PORT OF SALEM.

THE MONEY FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL ALLOW FOR THE X MANSION OF THE PORT'S CAPACITY AND, TO HELP REPAIR THE FACILITY TO SERVE THE REGIONS SURGING OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY.

>> THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SOUTH JERSEY THE NATIONS OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY CAPITAL.

BUT, FOR THE WIN FOR TO SUCCEED, IT WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHIP AND DELIVER WIND TURBINE COMPONENTS, AND RELATED EQUIPMENT UP AND DOWN THE DELAWARE AND THROUGH TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

THE POTENTIAL FOR THE PORT OF SALEM TO TAKE ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NEW BUSINESS IS TREMENDOUS.

BUT, WHEN OPPORTUNITY COMES KNOCKING, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO OPEN THE DOOR.

TEANECK OVER TO WASHINGTON WHERE MORE SUBPOENAS WERE ISSUED BUT THE SELECT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE JANUARY'S ASKED INSURRECTION.

THE U.S. CAPITALIST.

AMONG THE NAMES IS BILL STEPIEN, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP CAMPAIGN MANAGER, AND FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE.

WHEN HE BECAME EMBROILED IN THE BRIDGE GATE SCANDAL.

NO WORD YET ON IF HE WAS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS FIGHTING THE INVESTIGATION IN COURT.

MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED 52 BILLS INTO LAW ON MONDAY, INCLUDING A BAN ON COSMETIC HAVE BEEN TESTED ON ANIMALS.

ANY REQUIREMENT, TO ADD THE SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE NUMBER TWO STUDENT IDS, IN GRACE 7 THROUGH 12.

AND, A BILL THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO USE ELECTRONIC VEHICLES FOR REGISTRATION.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO CONDITIONALLY VETOED 26 PILLS ON THAT LIST IS ABLE TO SPARK DEBATE.

IT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATOR.

IT WILL ALLOW POLICE OFFICERS TO REVIEW BODY ONE CAMERA FOOTAGE BEFORE WRITING THE REPORT ON WHAT HAPPENED AT ACE DEAN.

AS CORRESPONDENT, MELISSA ROSE COOPER, EXPLAINS, SOME OPPOSE THE IDEA BECAUSE IT ALLOWS OFFICERS TO POTENTIALLY OMIT INFORMATION THAT DOES NOT APPEAR ON CAMERA.

>> SHOULD NEVER BE AN INSTANCE WHERE AN OFFICER IS REVIEWING FOOTAGE AND THEN WRITING ONE'S STATEMENT.

>> THERE IS A POLICY DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF NEW JERSEY.

FOR POLICE OFFICERS WEARING BODY CAMERAS CAN HELP SHED LIGHT ON INTERACTIONS WITH BILLIONS BUT, SHE DOES NOT THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SEE THE FOOTAGE BEFORE GIVING HER ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP.

>> IT UNDERMINES THE CIVIL RIGHTS, UNDERMINES ITS PRACTICES FOR POLICING, BUT OUR RESEARCH FACTOR THERE IS SCIENCE OUT THERE THAT TELLS US HOW MEMORY OPERATES.

AND, ONCE YOU INTRODUCE NEW INFORMATION INTO ONE'S MEMORY, THE CHANGES RIGHT WHERE WE ARE INTELLIGENT AND SENSITIVE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION, AND THEN IN COURT RAIDED INTO OUR MEMORIES.

BUT, THIS GIVES POWER TO THE POLICE AND IT REALLY WEAKENS THE USE OF OFFICER RECOLLECTIONS IN COURT.

>> A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW OFFICERS TO REVIEW BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE AND WHAT WAS IN THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, BUT NOW IT IS ON HOLD.

CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES ARE THANKFUL.

GOVERNOR MURPHY, ISSUING A CONDITIONAL VETO ON THE MEASURE ALONG WITH SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTING LAWMAKERS AMEND THE BILL TO EXCLUDE OFFICERS FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE THE FOOTAGE FIRST IF AN OFFICER USES FORCE, DISCHARGES A FIREARM, OR USES OF THE FORCE.

PERSON DIES WHILE IN CUSTODY, AND IN SITUATIONS WHERE AN OFFICER WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF A CITIZEN OR INTERNAL REVIEW COMPLAINT.

>> FOR ME, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES WAS A LIMITING LINDRIDGE ABOUT POLICE DUMPSTER BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL ONE HAD A, AND EXCLUSION FOR WHAT THEY CALL ROUTINE POLICE DOGS, MEANING OFFICERS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO LOOK AT THE CAMERA FOOTAGE WRINKLY STOPS, BUT NO DEFINITION ABOUT WHAT A ROUTINE POLICE STOP IS AND NONE OF THE UNION MEMBERS WERE TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL AND THEY COULD EXPLAIN WHAT A ROUTINE STOP IS.

>> SPONSORS OF THE BILL HAVE ARGUED ALLOWING OFFICERS TO REVIEW BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE IS CLEARLY CRUCIAL TO PROVIDING A MORE ACCURATE RETELLING OF AN EVENT.

OPPONENTS HE DOES THE OPPOSITE.

>> IN TERMS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS, I DO THINK THAT IT'S WITHIN OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE BLACK AND BROWN.

AND, I SAY THAT BECAUSE OF THIS STREET-LEVEL STOP, BECAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES AROUND WHEN AN OFFICER IS STOPPING SOMEONE ON THE STREET.

AND LIKE I SAID, THAT, TO ME, WAS THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MAKE IT THROUGH IN THIS BILL.

IT'S THE INABILITY OF AN OFFICER TO WATCH THE VIDEO CAMERA FOOTAGE WHEN THEY HAVE SAID THEY HAVE STOPPED SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY WERE SUSPICIOUS.

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THE NUMBERS, WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, WE'VE ALL SEEN THE STATE TROOPER, NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPER WITH PROFILING DID IN THE STATE.

AND ALL ABOARD THE SENTENCING COMMISSION IS DOING TO LOWER MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE WE SEE THAT IT IS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE BEING INFECTED BY THAT.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY MADE ADDITIONS TO THE BILL, HE AGREES THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMES WHEN POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REVIEW BODY CAMERA FOR THIS PURPOSE, GOVERNOR IS SAYING THERE OBJECTIVE ACCOUNTINGS OF AN INCIDENT OR ENCOUNTER, AND CAN'T AS TOOLS TO ENHANCE TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

>> MY CONCERN IS THIS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO WATCH THE VIDEOTAPE BEFORE THE REPORT.

WE WILL FOREVER LOSE THE ABILITY TO KNOW WHETHER THE REASONABLE SUSPICION WAS BASED ON WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON IN HER MIND AT THE TIME THAT THEY MADE THE STOP, VERSUS WHAT THEY SAW BECAUSE THEY SAW IT ON THE VIDEOTAPE.

AND, THAT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.

>> THE CONDITIONAL VETO ALSO RECOMMENDS THE BILL REQUIRES POLICE OFFICERS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY REVIEWED THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.

>> WE REACH OUT TO THE NEW JERSEY POLICEMAN'S WITH THE ASSOCIATION AND THE COMMENTS.

THEY ARE AWAITING A RESPONSE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> ALSO A LOT OF CONTROVERSY WHEN IT COMES TO WHETHER OR NOT SHOULD BE FORCED TOWARD MASS IN SCHOOLS.

THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HE WILL LIFT HIS STATE MANDATE ON JANUARY 17th.

HE WILL GIVE IT TO LOCAL OFFICIALS TO DECIDE.

IN NEW YORK, MAYOR ELECT ERIC ADAMS ALSO SAID HE SUPPORTS DOING AWAY WITH MASKS AND RULES BEFORE THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR.

SO, WHAT ABOUT NEW JERSEY?

AS THE STATE REPORTS, TODAY, MORE THAN 6 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND A SPOTLIGHT NEWS HEALTH REPORTER JOINS US WITH THE LATEST.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

SO, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID ON MONDAY, MORE STUDENTS GET VACCINATED WITH THE SCHOOL MASK MANDATES THAT COULD COME TO AN END.

SO, WHERE DOES NEW JERSEY STAND RIGHT NOW FOR THE AGE GROUP AND DOES HE HAVE A TARGET NUMBER IN MIND?

>> HEY, HE DOES NOT HAVE A TARGET NUMBER IN MIND.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE DOING FAIRLY WELL.

I WOULD SAY ON 12 TO 17-YEAR- OLDS.

RIGHT?

THERE'S ABOUT 650,000 KIDS IN THAT GROUP.

AND, THAT GROUP WAS APPROVED BY PFIZER IN MAY TO START GETTING VACCINATED.

SO FAR, MORE THAN 400,000 OF THOSE ARE DONE.

ABOUT 400,000.

SO, IT'S OVER TWO THIRDS OF THAT GROUP.

COMMISSIONER, HEALTH COMMISSIONER, JUDY FOR C KELLY HAS SAID YOU KNOW, THAT SHE WOULD REALLY LIKE IT TO BE 70%, 75, 80%.

EVEN HIGHER, YOU KNOW?

THE MORE, THE BETTER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AT LEAST 260,000 FOLKS, KIDS IN THAT GROUP STILL OUTSTANDING.

WHEN YOU COME TO THE YOUNGER KIDS, THE 5 TO 11 AGE GROUP, WHICH OF COURSE WAS JUST APPROVED LAST WEEK.

ONLY ABOUT 9100 HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

AND THAT'S A BIGGER GROUP.

THERE IS 760,000 CHILDREN IN THAT AGE GROUP, IN NEW JERSEY.

SO, WE'VE ONLY DONE ONE.2%.

SO, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

DOES HE MENTION AT THE BEGINNING, THE LONG WAY TO GO UNTIL WHAT?

MURPHY, THE GOVERNOR DID NOT REALLY GIVE US A SPECIFIC ON WHAT IS ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY LIVE WITH THE MASK MANDATE.

>> DID THE GOVERNOR ADDRESS THAT ALL CUSTOMER CONCERNS WERE PEOPLE MIGHT THINK OR SUGGEST WITH THE PLOT TO GET MORE STUDENTS VACCINATED CUSTOMER >> RIGHT.

WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE STATE WOULD ARGUE IT WAS ALWAYS FOLLOWING CDC GUIDANCE, WHICH I BELIEVE IT WAS.

ON SOME LEVEL.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, MURPHY WAS ASKED DIRECTLY YESTERDAY IF HE WAS JUST TWISTING THE ARMS OF PARENTS AND HE SAID NO, THESE ARE JUST BACKS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THEY SEE IT, AND THE WAY THE SCIENCE SUGGESTS, AND VERY CLEARLY, IT'S YOU KNOW, SORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH BASIS 101, THE MORE PEOPLE YOU GET VACCINATED, THE LESS PLACES THE VIRUS HAS TO GO, THE LESS CHANCE IT HAS TO MUTATE, WHICH IS BETTER FOR EVERYBODY, VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED.

AND YOU KNOW, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE CHILDREN ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, HAVE NOT BORN THE BULK OF THE BURDEN, OF THIS DISEASE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM, MORE THAN 1000 OF THEM HOSPITALIZED.

YOU KNOW, 8 HAVE DIED.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON CHILDREN.

AND, THAT OF COURSE HAS IMPACTED THE FAMILIES, THAT ARE HUGE.

SO, YOU KNOW THE GOVERNOR WOULD ARGUE IT MATTERS TO GET VACCINATED FOR WHATEVER REASON.

>> RIGHT.

AND IS THERE A TIMELINE ON THIS?

OR HE DID NOT MENTION THAT YET?

>> NO TIMELINE, BUT I WILL KNOW THAT THE MANDATE, THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT YESTERDAY THAT THEY WOULD EXPIRE ANYWAY ON JANUARY THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.

IT WAS A 1920 11.

SO, THE POINT IS HE MADE A POINT OF SAYING WE WOULD HAVE TO PROACTIVELY TAKE A STEP IN ORDER TO FREE UP IT.

IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE NOT LIKELY TO DO THAT.

AND THEY MAY ACTUALLY START BASING IT OUT.

>> WHERE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY?

ARE THEY WELCOMING THIS NEWS?

>> I HAVE NOT TALKED TO TOO MANY PARENTS, BUT, THIS WAS A BIG ISSUE AT ALL BOARDS.

YOU KNOW, SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, PRESIDENTS UP IN ARMS.

I SUSPECT THERE ARE ALSO KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE WEARING MASKS.

I MEAN, SOME OF US ARE STILL A MESS IN SITUATIONS BECAUSE IT JUST FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE IN THIS NEW WORLD, BUT.

SO, I WOULD HOPE THAT SCHOOLS ALLOW AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO HAVE SOME CHOICE IN THAT TOO, WHATEVER THE MANDATE IS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU, TAKE CARE.

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

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

>> NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, AND CONNECTICUT HAVE CUT A DEAL ON SHARING TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS ON HOW MUCH NEW JERSEY WILL GET HER PLUS, A SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS HEADLINES.

RHONDA?

>>> NJ TRANSIT IS GETTING NEARLY $2.7 BILLION IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS.

THAT, AFTER THE GOVERNORS OF NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, AND CONNECTICUT REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON HOW TO DIVIDE $14 BILLION IN COVID-19 TRANSIT AID FOLLOWING MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS.

NEW YORK IS GETTING THE LION SHARE CLOSE TO $11 BILLION.

JERSEY HAVE BEEN SEEKING ABOUT $1 BILLION MORE THAN IT RECEIVED, ACCORDING TO REPORTS.

THE FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE TRANSIT AGENCIES TO COVER REVENUE LOSSES THAT OCCURRED FROM RIDERSHIP TO CRIMES.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN THE STATE, AND THE LAME DUCK LEGISLATOR ONLY HAS A FEW WEEKS LEFT, BUT YESTERDAY, LAWMAKERS BEGAN CONSIDERING DOZENS AND DOZENS OF BILLS, SOME OF WHICH LANDED ON GOVERNOR MURPHY'S DESK.

ONE OF THE BILLS HE SIGNED WOULD PROVIDE MORE MONEY.

FOR JOB TRAINING AND TIME WHEN COMPANIES IN THE STATE ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL A POSITION.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE $3 MILLION TO THE NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONSORTIUM FOR A BASIC SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM.

THE NJ BIA SAYS THIS COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME WHEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS NEEDED.

HOW TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS IS THE KEY THEME OF THE UN'S CONVENTIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE, OR CUT 26.

AND WHAT NEW JERSEY EXECUTIVE IS PART OF A CONVERSATION?

THE CEO OF PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP IS ONE OF JUST A HANDFUL OF U.S. UTILITY CEOs, ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

>> IN THE PAST, IT WAS ABOUT GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS.

THERE ARE 50,000 PEOPLE HERE BY SOME ESTIMATES.

ONLY 1000 OF THEM ARE INVOLVED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ARE THAT BUSINESSES AND NOT-FOR- PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AREN'T WAITING FOR GOVERNMENT.

THIS PLANET IS IN TROUBLE.

A DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO AND IS CLEAR.

THE PACE VARIES DEPENDING UPON WHERE YOU'RE FROM.

BUT, THERE'S NO QUESTION IN THIS DIRECTION.

AND THE BUSINESSES LIKE NJ FOUR, YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET IN AT ZERO BY 2030?

>> ONE WAY NJ FOUR IS DOING AND THAT IS BY REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM THE POWER PLANT, AND INVESTING IN RENEWABLES.

NJ FOUR FOUNDATION IS A FUNDER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

NOW, HERE'S THE LATEST ON THE FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATE THAT AN APPEALS COURT HAS TEMPORARILY BLOCKED.

THE BUTTON ADMINISTRATION LAST EVENING AS THE COURT TO LIFT THE ORDER THAT PREVENTS THE LAW FROM GOING FORWARD, CLAIMING LIVES WILL BE LOST WITHOUT IT.

MEANTIME, THE ADMINISTRATION IS URGING BUSINESSES TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THEIR WORKERS ARE GETTING VACCINATED REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COURTS.

NOW HERE IS A CHECK ON STOP TRAINING FOR TODAY.

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

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY NJ TIA DECEMBER 1st AND SECOND ON THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND ATLANTIC CITY.

EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJTIA.ORG.

>>> MORE THAN TWO MONTHS HAVE GONE BY SINCE TROPICAL STORM IDA DEVASTATED NEW JERSEY.

BUSINESSES, HOMEOWNERS, AND SCHOOLS ARE STILL RECOVERING.

AMONG THEM IS CRESCO HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH EXPERIENCED SUCH BAD FLOOD DAMAGE THAT STUDENTS CAN STILL NOT RETURN AFTER USING A YEAR FOR THE PANDEMIC.

HOWEVER, THE DISTRICT FOUND A NEW TEMPORARY LOCATION, SO STUDENTS COULD GET BACK TO IN PERSON LEARNING.

AND, ONE LARGE COMPANY IS STEPPING IN TO HELP THEM RECOVER.

CORRESPONDENT, JOANNA GAGIS HAS A STORY.

>> WE STILL HAVE NOT ORDERED THE BOILERS OF THE EVENTS.

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.

>> MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL AND STUDENTS BY LAW COULD NOT ATTEND SCHOOL IN THEIR BUILDING WAS DEVASTATED BY FLOODING FROM HURRICANE IDA.

>> THERE WAS A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT, SO THEY WILL GIVE YOU UP TO 75% WHICH WE HAVE BEEN CLEARED FOR, BUT WE HAVE TO BUY IT.

AND, WE DON'T HAVE $19 MILLION.

I CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND ASK THEM BACK FOR THAT MONEY.

THEY HAVE TO GO OUT THROUGH A BIDDING PROCESS.

>> AND THAT PROCESS TAKES MONTHS.

BURKE HAS BEEN ASKING STATE OFFICIALS FOR AN EXEMPTION ON THE RESTRICTIVE PURCHASING LAWS THAT REQUIRE PROJECTS TO BE PUT OUT TO BID.

IN THIS CASE, HE SAYS IT'S ADDING A STEP THAT WILL KEEP KIDS OUT OF THEIR CLASSROOMS FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 3 TO 5 MONTH.

>> IT HAS TO BE SOME WAY FOR US TO BE GRANTED AN EXEMPTION FROM THE NORMAL PROCESS AND PURCHASING LAWS.

BECAUSE THE FACT THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE TWO MONTHS AFTER THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 2nd, AND WE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ORDER THE ESSENTIAL PARTS TO HEED THE BUILDING AS WE ENTER THE WINTER MONTHS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, STUDENTS JUST YESTERDAY WERE FINALLY GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN INSIDER CLASSROOM SETTING AND NEARBY C THERESE, A CLOSE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, THE DISTRICT IS NOW RENTING.

BUT, ONLY TWO OF THEIR 7 GRADE LEVELS CAN FIT IN THE BUILDING AT A TIME SO THE STUDENTS WILL BE ON A DAILY ROTATION.

BUT, TEACHERS AT ST. THERESE STILL NEED TO TEACH AND BE ABLE TO REACH THE STUDENTS AT HOME.

AND, THE BUILDING HAD NO TECHNOLOGY, NOT EVEN WI-FI.

ENTER LG.

>> A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WORK.

THEY HAVE PARENTS AND RELATIVES WHO WORK AT LG, AND THEY ASKED TO HELP.

SO, FOR LG TO DONATE 12 75 INCH ULTRA HIGH DEF TELEVISION IT ALLOWS US TO STREAM OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND TEACHERS TO SEE THEIR STUDENTS WHO ARE HOME ON A VIRTUAL PLATFORM.

>> THE GOODIES DID NOT STOP THERE.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY ANNOUNCING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

>> TODAY, I'M PROUD TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE ARE GOING TO DONATE ANOTHER $25,000 TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE HOPE THIS COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS AND GETTING BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

>> THE FUNDS ARE INCREDIBLE AND I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT BUT I WAS COMING DOWN HERE BECAUSE OF THE TELEVISIONS WHICH WAS BEYOND GENEROUS.

THIS LEAVES ME SPEECHLESS.

>> THOSE KIDS TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

AND, THAT TO FIGHT FOR IT AND FIGHT FOR THE MONEY TO GET IT DONE, DONE.

AND SUPERINTENDENTS ARE THE RUNNING POINT ON THAT.

AND WE WOULD NOT BE HERE, EXCEPT FOR YOU TODAY.

OBVIOUSLY.

HAD COURT INTO ONE OF MY FAVORITE.

LG HAS COME UP BIG.

GREAT NEIGHBOR, AND HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES IN NEED.

>> NOW THIS GIFT WON'T GET KID BACK INTO THE SCHOOL, $25,000 COULD MEAN RENT IN A NEW BUILDING FOR TWO MONTHS OR SO.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER AREAS TO POSSIBLY HAVE STUDENTS GO TO BECAUSE IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO ROTATE AS LONG.

SO, IF WE CAN PLACE TWO OTHER GRADES IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION, WE LOOKED AT TEMPO, OTHER TOOLS.

THAT, THEN REDUCES THE ROTATION OF TIME HERE IN THE BUILDING.

NOW, WE CAN BRING PEOPLE ONCE EVERY THREE DAYS.

>> WHILE HE CONTINUES TO BEG FOR THE STATES HELP HIM OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OFFERED SOME RELIEF LAST NIGHT BYPASSING A REVOLUTION TO ALLOW A REFERENDUM.

ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO FRONT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $60 MILLION IN $19 MILLION.

75% WOULD BE REIMBURSED TO THE TAXPAYERS BY FEMA AND ABOUT 10% BY THE STATE.

THAT COULD HAPPEN IN JANUARY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS FOR THE RELATED STORIES IMPACTING THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF NEW JERSEY.

FROM OUR ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, AND I WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED.

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