Raven: tonight on NJ Spotlight News, triple-teaming threat mask mandates returned to some New Jersey hospitals and schools amid arise of lesser Tory illnesses.

>> We quadrupled the number of patients in our hospitals since July.

Briana: Plus student loan payments restart for millions after a three-year pause, what borrowers need to know.

>> The burden people have now is different than what it was 20, 30 years ago.

Briana: Also, shutdown averted.

Congress reaches an 11th hour deal to fund the government and keep services open in New Jersey, only for another 45 days.

>> Happy Thanksgiving from the federal government.

Briana: Growing micro forests in urban areas, Elizabeth celebrates the unveiling of the states second tiny forest which experts say could be a climate change game changer.

>> We took an unsightly piece of property and turned it into a beautiful forest.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

Announcer: Funding for "NJ -- provided by the New Jersey education Association making public schools great for every child, and -- sustainable clean energy future for New Jersey.

From NJPBS this is NJ Spotlight News.

Raven: Good evening and thank you for joining us.

I'm Raven Santana filling in for Briana Vannozzi.

Scientists who pioneered research for the lifesaving mRNA vaccine were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine today.

Their work helping to produce the COVID-19 vaccines that helps billions across the world and change the course of the pandemic.

This news comes as a major hospital systems in New Jersey including RWJBarnabas Health are putting back in place mass mandates for visitors as Covid cases are on the rise, and also flew and RSV -- Flu and RSV cases arising.

With delays many folks are feeling frustrated over not being able to get a shot.

>> We are getting many calls per day, 30, 40 calls for date, do you have the Covid vaccine?

I can't find it anywhere.

That is a problem.

>> He's turning away clients, looking for the latest Covid shot it is business.

He is the updated flu vaccine and a scheduling RSV shots too.

But like some pharmacists, he is finding both Pfizer and Moderna's vaccine impossible to stock.

>> There's a lot of moving pieces, there is not an overhead, like our government to distribute and mandate and have the supply even to us.

>> I would say they have not logistically prepared for the rollout.

>> Brian also cannot schedule Covid shots at his business.

It is the first time the federal government is not distributing or funding every dose of COVID vaccine leaving medical provider struggling with insurance issues and supply kinks.

>> Calls have went unanswered to Moderna.

Pfizer is passing the blame onto the wholesalers.

When you ask them, they are saying they are getting small shipments from Pfizer but not enough to really send orders to all of their customers.

>> Larger chains like CVS sometimes schedule Covid shots but then cancel appointments if there is not enough vaccine or staff available.

An estimated 2 million people in the U.S. have gone the Covid shot over the past couple of weeks but -- >> It is concerning that some of the early data are suggesting the public's acceptance is more reticent.

There is maybe some fatigue, some questioning, is this really necessary?

So, it is unclear how much of a benefit we are going to get this year if people are not taking the vaccine.

>> Rutgers points to last falls triple Deming when -- tripledemic, but New Jersey's Department of Health does not expect a repeat given the arsenal of new vaccines.

>> We are excited about the availability of the new preventative methods.

We feel reassured that they can help tamp down the number of severe cases that we may otherwise have seen in our hospitals and emergency departments.

>> The doctor says the Covid vaccine supply chain will open up.

She is urging folks to double up.

>> For COVID and for flu, you can get those at the same time.

Get them on different arms.

>> New Jersey hospitals report admissions for respiratory virus cases are already rising, especially for COVID.

>> Specifically, we've quadrupled the number of patients in our hospitals since July, when we were running somewhere between 20 and 30 patients in our hospital.

Now we are in the hundreds.

We have seen a.

Big increase we have also seen an increase in emergency visits.

>> The doctor says RJ W Barnabas health has renewed mask mandates, so has the Hackensack Meridian Hospital system.

>> To protect our patients, we are requiring visitors, vendors, staff, nurses to wear masks.

>> Health experts advise, don't wait to get vaccinated.

I am Brenda Flanagan NJ Spotlight News.

>> Support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross, Blue Shield of New Jersey an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Raven: After being paused for more than three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is time for student loan borrowers to make payments on their debt.

There are more than 45 million Americans with student loan debt, including more than one million in New Jersey.

President Biden's previous effort to forgive student loan debt was struck down by the Supreme Court.

His administration is still trying to find ways to help those with the biggest burdens.

Ted Goldberg reports on what borrowers are facing and what hope for relief they may have.

>> They will garnish paychecks for student loans, heart of his take-home pay, and money that he needs to support his children.

Ted: This woman saw her son and grandchildren move back home because of student loan debt.

Cosby son studied at Bluefield College could not graduate because financially ran out.

That was 10 years ago.

He still owes more than $120,000.

His daughter graduated from Stockton University, and owes $40,000.

>> At one point she was working three jobs.

She stopped working the three jobs.

But I fear, having to repay the student loans will have to make her get a second job.

Ted: Cosby's children are two of the 45 million Americans who have to repay student loans after a three year pause for the pandemic.

More than a million of the borrowers live in New Jersey and the owe $44 billion combined, per person it is about $36,000 each.

She hopes this is something Congress examines, especially after Bidens forgiveness plan was struck down by the Supreme Court this summer.

>> I hope they think about the future of young people who have to take out these loans and what it means for their lives when they get out of college, and then being able to be successful, but also to have a sustainable life.

>> Given the atmosphere in Congress, the debates that are going on, I don't have a lot of confidence that will happen, which is why it is more important for student borrowers to know what plans and programs do exist.

Ted: Beverly Brown works for New Jersey citizen action.

She says the smartest thing borrowers can do is to know their options and get on a payment plan quickly.

>> It is important that students are aware of the state program, which is saving on a valuable education.

It's a new income driven repayment program.

>> If they don't make the payment within 30 days, there is a likelihood that the servicer is going to report that to the credit bureaus.

A one-timed 30 day late payment with the student loan could easily be 50 200 points.

Ted: Paul leads a credit repair firm in Eatontown.

He has seen Biden's plan for forgiving debt, a narrow proposal that will help 800,000 people on income driven repayment plans.

He thinks the Supreme Court will also strike it down as unconstitutional.

>> I don't think it survives.

This one also gets rejected, depending upon what your thoughts are, unfortunately or fortunately.

On this, it is not what it was meant to be.

Ted: I asked him -- her if she thought her children regretted taking out those loans.

>> Nodded all.

My daughter had an amazing experience.

She was able to go abroad.

She met amazing people, my son has connections in that specific career field.

What he learned throughout that program has been helpful.

>> The burden people have now so different than what it was 20, 30 years ago, when it was possible to have a summer job and pay for college, and even graduate school.

Ted: A burden brought back for millions of borrowers starting this week.

For NJ Spotlight News, I am Ted Goldberg.

Raven: Former President Donald Trump and his adult son showed up in a courtroom today in Manhattan, as opening arguments got underway in a civil trial brought by state attorney.

Letitia James Trump is accused of misrepresenting his network of billions, speaking to reporters outside Trump has denied wrongdoing calling the Attorney General racist and a horror show, going on to describe the trial as the single greatest witch hunt of all time.

The judge who is presiding over the nonjury trial has already ruled that Trump and his company are liable for fraud.

While all eyes are on from today, there is little enthusiasm for a potential rematch next year between President Biden and Former President Trump.

According to a new University poll, released today, focuses on a hypothetical general election scenario with Biden as the Democratic nominee and Trump as the Republican nominee.

If found, an even split, 31% said they would vote for Biden, 31% said they would vote for Trump.

The poll found 76% of American voters believe Biden is too old to effectively serve another term as president.

While just under half, 48% say the same about Trump.

Pro-gun groups are pushing on federal appeals court to expand the areas in New Jersey where firearms are permitted, to playgrounds, youth and sport -- sports events and more.

A June ruling allowed state authorities to ban concealed firearms from most sensitive places.

The legal back and forth started last year when the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated strict concealed carry permitting laws, saying they violated the Second Amendment.

A statement from Governor Murphy reads "these extreme right wing organizations will not relent until guns are allowed everywhere, especially with places with children".

The Executive Director of the Association of New Jersey rifle and pistol clubs countered saying "delete bureaucrats like Murphy enjoy their own armed security while denying similar protections to those among us", for now firearms are banned from most sensitive places in the state as the federal appeals court makes its final decision.

The rate of high risk gambling in New Jersey is around three times higher than the national average, according to a new report put out by Rutgers school of social work and touted by the states Attorney General.

It underscores the various ways that gaming and gambling activities are overseen and regulated in the state.

Melissa Rose Cooper has more on what is being done to consider policy changes with regard to player protection and responsible gaming.

>> You can't smell it like drugs or alcohol.

You can see that.

There are physical signs, very very difficult to identify someone with a gambling problem.

Melissa: Gambling is an addiction that affects many residents.

>> Our helpline has been extremely busy over the last number of years.

Since 2016, we had a 225% increase in our helpline calls.

Melissa: According to a new report following up on the 2017 analysis, roughly 61% of residents gambled in the past year, down from 70% in 2017.

The data citing COVID as a factor for the decline.

At the same time, the study shows online gambling has tripled from 5% to 15%, and the amount of people gambling online and in person nearly doubled from 19%.

To 36% have seen that -- to 36%.

>> We have seen that in the revenue numbers as well, gambling has increased during the pandemic.

It was growing year over year but at a much slower pace before the pandemic -- before the pandemic.

A little more than a third of the revenue.

>> You can just pick up your phone and lose tens of thousands of dollars within minutes.

The general public does not see the dark side of gambling.

They never see the people that have lost relationships, college savings, bank accounts.

And then contemplate suicide.

Gamblers have a high rate and probability that they will consider suicide.

In fact it is the highest of any addiction.

We have a 20% rate of people contemplating suicide.

Those people that have a gambling problem.

Melissa: There are concerns of how easy access to gambling is attracting more younger residents.

The study finding a third of online gamblers are 18 to 24 years old, five times as many reported than in 2017 and more than any other age group.

>> The state of New Jersey, we take this really seriously.

Melissa: The state attorney general says the state is committed to addressing the issues launching an initiative last year through the vision of gaming enforcement, encouraging responsible gambling.

>> It uses the data that these operators are already tracking on players on online platforms to identify people who may show early signs of problems, gambling down to their last dollar, going to a self exclusion played -- page on a casinos website but not clicking on the button, gambling more and more each week.

Things we know that are indicators of problematic gambling behavior and implementing at each stage, interventions to stop that behavior.

Melissa: The state is also working on advertising best practices like prohibiting gambling in places where under age individuals are predominately located as well as making sure companies are not marketing probably -- products that will encourage gambling.

Raven: In our spotlight on business report tonight, Congress was able to narrowly avoid a government shutdown for now.

The government bill that was signed temporarily funds agencies to keep them open.

That funding only lasts until mid-November.

Every New Jersey Congress member voted in favor of the stopgap bill except Jeff.

Legislators have to head back to the drawing board to come up with a permanent solution.

To break it all down, our budget and finance writer joins me.

Was the short term deal to avoid a government shut a big victory or an even bigger challenge?

>> I really think it is both.

Anytime that you avoid a government shutdown and all the negative impacts, that is a victory.

The government will keep functioning, going forward.

That is good.

The bad thing is we could be back in the situation we were in, heading into the weekend, in a few weeks by November.

Also, all of the same circumstances that led tow w -- to what we saw last week, could come into play and we can have a different House Speaker.

Good that we made it through the weekend but what is coming up next month, that is still a big concern.

Raven: We know there were several compromises to push the spending bill.

What was taken out, and what was added?

John: We have divided government at the federal level right now.

We have Democrats running the Senate and Democrats -- Republicans running the house.

There has to be compromised.

What we saw was on the side of the Senate they were pushing hard for continued aid for Ukraine on a bipartisan basis.

That did not make it.

House Republicans were pushing for more funding for border security, that did not make it.

What did make it through was funding for disaster relief.

So whether you think about what just happened several weeks ago with heavy flooding, a lot of flooding over the weekend that caused a state of emergency, wildfires in New Jersey, other parts of the country, climate change, keeping disaster funding afloat made it in.

We will see where we are at in the November.

Raven: The way things ended, could we be back here all over again come November?

What does this mean, not just for the American people but for people in New Jersey?

John: Absolutely.

Let's seal the next few weeks play out -- see how the next two weeks play out.

We were sounding alarms.

New Jersey has a big military presence but there are other installations.

The active-duty military's is an essential service.

They have to work but they don't get paid.

New York airport, TSA air traffic controllers would be in the same situation.

If you're not getting paid you take your vacation, are you sick, do you call out?

That can interrupt the airline industry.

When we look at New Jersey families, food assistance were women and children would be hanging -- for women and children would be hanging in the balance, it would be among the ways a shutdown could impact just the state of New Jersey.

We are not one of those states that rely heavily on federal funding.

We send more money to Washington then we get back.

But at the same time we have a big federal presence in the state.

These are concerns that we have put on the back burner, but they may come back on the front burner in a few weeks.

Raven: At horrible timing, right before the holidays.

It would not be the best scenario.

John: Happy Thanksgiving from the federal government.

Raven: Thank you so much for joining me an breaking it all downd.

The markets down to start the month in reaction to Congress avoiding a shutdown.

Here is a look at how the closed today.

Urban cities are not normally associated with beautiful, lush forest and green space, but environmental advocates say micro forests, tiny force with high biodiversity, art resulting in environmental benefits for cities like Elizabeth.

They can lower temperatures where surfaces can absorb and retain heat but environmental advocates believe these tiny urban forests can be the secret weapon against climate change.

If you're skeptical I got a tour of one of the cities micro forests and got to speak with residents who say the installation is a game changer.

>> Even in an environment where you have a place to set the air quality is not great.

Raven: She says her options are little to none what it comes to finding a healthy green space in Elizabeth to spend time with her children.

Now, she has two places to take her kids after the city installed two tiny urban forests, including this one behind Kennedy arms housing complex, to boost biodiversity and fight climate crisis.

They are called micro forests a concept developed in Japan and is starting to catch on in America.

>> They are best served in urban communities where there are heat islands and not too much space the plant.

This is a micro forest.

Micro means small.

It is not a giant place.

It is a demonstration site, it is improving the air quality, in drainage, in shading and cooling the community in a small space.

Raven: Jonathan is Executive Director of groundwork Elizabeth, one of the programs are partnered with the city to create and finance a micro forest.

During an event, Phillips noted they do most things large forests do just in a tinier space.

>> We have a hotter climate than we used to.

This helps with the heat island effect.

We also have a winter climate.

This will absorb some of the water and air quality.

Trees, shrubs, it will improve the air quality for the residence and for everyone in Elizabeth.

Raven: Phillips says the project took a few weeks to complete.

>> In this area we have a micro forest the size of three parking spaces.

We have between 150 and 175 trees and shrubs in the area.

It's probably about 1800 square feet.

So, you can do these and he says you'd like.

>> Grass overgrown shrubbery, not well organized.

Usually a collection of garbage people with throw things in there.

We took an unsightly piece of property and turned it into a beautiful forest.

Raven: Catherine is a deputy executive director of the housing authority for Elizabeth.

She says the micro forests have been life-changing.

>> They may not realize it but there has been an impact to people's mental health.

We have come off the pandemic, although we are not finished with it yet, but with the social isolation that a lot of the residents felt, putting this forest in was a beacon of hope.

>> I am looking forward to keeping the community clean, making that nice space for my children.

So they can come and play and sit.

>> We turned unused land into something that will be impactful to community.

Raven: The second installation is that this housing complex, that was completed.

That will do it for us tonight.

Don't forget to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast, so you can listen anytime.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News , thanks for being with us, have a great evening.

We will see you right back here tomorrow.

Announcer: 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 Blue Shield Association.

By the PSEG foundation.

>> NJM insurance group has been serving New Jersey businesses for over a century.

As part of the Garden state, we help companies keep their vehicles on the road, employees on the job, and projects on track, working to protect employees from illness and injury, to keep goods and services moving across the state.

We are proud to be part of New Jersey.

NJM, we have got New Jersey covered.