>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

>>> FROM NJ PBS , THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS FRIDAY, I'M RAVEN SANTANA .

WINTER IS COMING AND SO IS THE THREAT OF YET ANOTHER COVID-19 SURGE, THIS ONE LED BY THE NEW OMICRON SUB VARIANCE, THE CDC ESTIMATES THE STRAINS COULD ACCOUNT FOR UP TO 36.6% OF NEW YORK AREA CASES, WHICH IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE HIGHEST RANGE ESTIMATE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

THE VARIANT WHICH IS VERY CONTAGIOUS ARE RESPONDING TO THE UPDATED COVID BOOSTERS, HOWEVER WITH LESS THAN 10% OF NEW JERSEY IS REPORTED TO HAVE RECEIVED AN UPDATED BOOSTER, THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE AREA COULD GET SLAMMED WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> WE ARE DEFINITELY HEADING INTO A THIRD WINTER WAVE.

>> EXPERTS RAISING RED FLAGS ABOUT NEW VARIANCE THAT LANDED IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK CITY THIS FALL, SO HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS, THEY COULD DRIVE A NEW SURGE IN COVID CASES, THEY ARE CALLED BQ1 AND BQ1.1.

>> RIGHT NOW, ONE IN EVERY 10 ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IS ONE OF THE BQ VARIANCE, AND WE TEND TO GET THESE FIRST BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE FOLLOW THE PATTERN FROM EUROPE.

>> THE CDC CALCULATES THAT IN THE NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY REGION, BA.5 STILL DOMINATES, BUT JUST THIS MONTH, THE BQ VARIANCE COMBINED HAVE GONE FROM 10.8% OF PROBABLE COVID INFECTIONS TO MORE THAN TRIPLE THAT AT 38%.

>> WHICH MEANS THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT INVADING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

AND AS A RESULT, WE KNOW THAT EVEN IF THERE ARE NOT NECESSARILY MORE SEVERE CASES, WE ARE SEEING HOSPITALIZATION RATES INCREASE.

>> THEY HAVE TOPS 1000 DAILY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER, THE GOOD NEWS, THE BQ STRAINS RESPOND TO UPDATED COVID BOOSTERS , SAYS DR. FAUCI.

>> THE BIVALENT BA.5 VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE LAST MONTH OR MORE, DOES VERY WELL AGAINST THE DOMINANT CIRCULATING STRAIN , THE BA.5 AND EVEN THE NEW STRAINS ARE ACTUALLY SUB- LINEAGES OF BA.5, SO THEY SHOULD BE REASONABLY GOOD ACROSS PROTECTION.

>> THE BAD NEWS, ONLY 7% TO 8% OF ELIGIBLE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS HAVE GONE THAT UPDATED BOOSTER, ALTHOUGH IF IT RISES TO 18% FOR FOLKS OVER 65, IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE BIVALENT BOOSTER, WHAT IS YOUR RISK OF GETTING COVID FROM THE NEW VARIANT?

EVEN IF YOU HAD IT BEFORE.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING BACK TO YOUR PRE-PANDEMIC, USUAL ACTIVITIES WITH ALL OF THE VARIANCE THAT ARE OUT THERE, PRETTY GOOD.

ESPECIALLY WITH BQ 1 AND BQ 1.1 CIRCULATING.

>> IT REMAINS A THREAT UP TO 25% OF CASES, EVEN IN REPEAT CASES, WHILE SOME MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AREN'T EFFECTIVE, THE DOCTORS STILL HAVE POTENT DRUGS.

>> THE TREATMENTS STILL WORK VERY WELL, SO WE DO HAVE TREATMENT AND THAT IS A GOOD REASON TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE INFECTED.

>> THAT IS WHY SHE URGES PEOPLE TO GET TESTED IF THEY ARE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO COVID, BUT BECAUSE MOST FOLKS NOW USE HOME ANTIGEN TESTS.

>> WE WON'T KNOW HOW HARD THE HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO GET HIT UNTIL PEOPLE SHOW UP AT THE HOSPITALS.

>> THE OFFICIAL CASE COUNT COULD BE OFF BY HALF, AND WHILE COVID FATIGUE IS RAMPANT, SHE ACKNOWLEDGES PEOPLE SHOULD STILL TRY TO AVOID THE VIRUS BECAUSE MULTIPLE CASES CAN IMPACT YOUR BODY INCLUDING YOUR HEART, BRAIN, DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS AND MORE.

>> WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IN MEN, SO THIS IDEA THAT IT'S OKAY TO GET COVID MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE YEAR SIMPLY DOES NOT BEAR OUT.

>>> THE HOUSE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITAL ISSUED A SUBPOENA TODAY TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

THE PANEL MEMBERS SAY HE PERSONALLY ORCHESTRATED AN EFFORT TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION, THE SUBPOENA CALLS FOR TRUMP TO TESTIFY ON NOVEMBER 14 AFTER THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

THE COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SUBPOENA TRUMP LAST WEEK FOLLOWING A DRAMATIC HEARING THAT SPOTLIGHTED THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ROLE IN THE DEADLY RIOT.

IT'S UNCLEAR HOW TRUMP AND HIS LEGAL TEAM WILL RESPOND TO THIS SUBPOENA.

HE COULD COMPLY OR NEGOTIATE WITH THE COMMITTEE, ANNOUNCING HE WILL DEFY A SUBPOENA OR IGNORE IT ALTOGETHER.

HE COULD ALSO GO TO COURT AND TRY TO STOP IT.

>>> MONKEYPOX MAY BE IN A SHARP DECLINE BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD PUT OUR GUARD DOWN JUST YET.

FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS, NEW MONKEYPOX CASES HAVE BEEN TRENDING DOWNWARD SINCE THE FIRST OUTBREAK IN THE U.S.

IN MID-MAY AND AFTER PEAKING IN AUGUST.

ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, AS OF OCTOBER 20, THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY A TOTAL OF 27,835 MONKEYPOX CASES IN THE U.S. OF THAT, 741 CONFIRMED CASES HAVE BEEN IN JERSEY.

THE KEY WAS A READILY AVAILABLE VACCINE COMBINED WITH A MASSIVE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ABOUT THE VIRUS WHICH LED TO BEHAVIORAL CHANGES BY THOSE MOST AT RISK.

THE CDC IS ALSO REPORTING THAT CASES AFFECTING BLACK PEOPLE HAVE INCREASED.

CASES AFFECTING HISPANIC AND LATINO PEOPLE HAVE DECREASED AND THERE HAS BEEN A FLATTENING OUT AMONG THOSE WHO ARE WHITE.

>>> THE BODY OF A PRINCETON UNIVERSITY STUDENT WHO HAD BEEN MISSING FOR NEARLY A WEEK HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD.

HER BODY WAS RECOVERED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CAMPUS ON THE TENNIS COURTS.

THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SAID PRIOR TO HER DISAPPEARANCE, SHE WAS LAST SEEN ENTERING HER DORM.

THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SAYS THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF ENTRY AND HER DEATH DOES NOT APPEAR SUSPICIOUS OR CRIMINAL IN NATURE.

WINSTON UNIVERSITY SENT OUT A LETTER TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF SAYING IN PART, THE DEATH IS AN UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY, OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO HER FAMILY, HER FRIENDS, AND MANY OTHERS WHO KNEW AND LOVED HER.

>>> RENEWED DEBATE AND CONCERN AT COLONIAL HIGH SCHOOL IN WOODBRIDGE, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON A POSSIBLE CANCER CLUSTER AMONG FORMER STUDENTS AND FACULTY.

A PARENT AT THE SCHOOL CONDUCTED INDEPENDENT TESTING AND FOUND TROPICALS AT THE SCHOOL.

COULD THE FINDING PROOF THAT MORE TESTING NEEDS TO BE DONE?

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> I FELT FORCED TO TAKE THIS MATTER INTO MY OWN HANDS, TO PROTECT MY KIDS.

>> Reporter: SHE IS A PARENT OF TWO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED COLONIAL HIGH SCHOOL UP UNTIL LAST WEEK, THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF SPECULATION AFTER FORMER RESIDENT, ALVIN BEGAN TRACKING MORE THAN 130 RARE CASES OF BRAIN TUMORS AND GRADUATES.

FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THE STATE, HE RECENTLY RAN A TEST FROM SAMPLES IN AND AROUND THE SCHOOL.

>> DURING THE FRESHMAN ORIENTATION NIGHT IN AUGUST , I WAS ABLE TO , I WAS USING THE BATHROOM AND I GRABBED A SAMPLE OF THE DUST , AND IT CAME BACK POSITIVE.

SO THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WENT BACK AND COLLECTED A SAMPLE JUST OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL.

>> THE SOIL SAMPLES REVEALED PESTICIDES AND PCBS , WHICH ARE KNOWN CARCINOGENS.

SHE WAS AMONG THOSE PLEADING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO CONTINUE TESTING THIS SPRING AFTER TESTING BY THE TOWNSHIP OF THE GROUND IN AND AROUND THE SCHOOL FOUND NO TRACES OF THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THE BRAIN TUMORS.

RADON SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE START OF THE TESTING.

>> FOR US TO DISCOVER 2300 TIMES THE LEVEL THAT ARE CONSIDERED SAFE IN THIS SCHOOL, THAT IS TROUBLING.

AND SHE DISCOVERED NOT ONLY PCBS BUT WE DISCOVERED BAND PESTICIDES IN THE SOIL, THESE PESTICIDES ARE LINKED TO VARIOUS CANCERS.

THAT IS WHY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND THEM FROM BEING USED BACK IN THE 80s.

>> THE FINDINGS COME FROM TWO SEPARATE LICENSED LABS, SHE SHARED HER FINDINGS WITH WOODBRIDGE SUPERINTENDENT , WHO SENT A LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY SAYING HE WOULD WORK WITH THE TOWNSHIP'S ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION THAT WOULD PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR THE TESTING.

THIS PLAN WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR REVIEW, DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL BEFORE ANY TESTING IS DONE.

MAYOR JOHN McCORMICK SAID HE WILL SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT BUT PUSH BACK ON THE NOTION THAT THESE FINDINGS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANY SUSPECTED CANCER CLUSTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE TWO ISSUES?

>> NONE WHATSOEVER, ALL OF THE EXPERTS SAID THAT IONIZING RADIATION IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF BRAIN CANCER AND THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO TEST FOR IS IONIZING RADIATION.

WE FOUND NONE IN THE SOIL, I HAVE EXHAUSTED THE 28 ACRE TEST , EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE GROUND.

WE HAD RADON DETECTORS IN THE SCHOOL, NOTHING WAS FOUND.

>> IS THIS A MOVING TARGET?

I REMEMBER EARLY ON, IONIZING RADIATION WAS THE ANSWER , THAT WAS THE THING, AND WHEN THAT CAME BACK NEGATIVE, THE FEELING NOW IS IT COULD BE OTHER HARMFUL CHEMICALS.

>> WE AS ENVIRONMENT THE SCIENTISTS LOOK AT THE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT, WE DECIDED LET'S START WITH THE OBVIOUS, LET'S LOOK FOR RADIATION AND A TELLTALE SIGN OF RADIATION IS RADON.

BUT, WE WERE CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE GOING ON HERE, JUST BASED ON THE PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT MALADIES WE WERE SEEING , WE WERE SURE THAT IT MAY BE ONE OR MORE THINGS DUE TO SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS.

>> THEY ARE ONCE AGAIN CALLING ON THE STATE TO RUN MORE TESTING THAT THEY SAY SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY.

>> THEY SHOULD HAVE COLLECTED SOIL AND WATER SAMPLES FROM THE GROUNDS, AND BUILDING MATERIAL SAMPLES FROM THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS INDOOR AIR SAMPLES INSIDE THE SCHOOL.

>> THE COMMISSIONER BACK IN MAY IN A CLOSED-DOOR SESSION WHERE THE PUBLIC WAS NOT ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS, STATED VERY CLEARLY THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CANCER-CAUSING HAZARDS TO WARRANT ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

OBVIOUSLY HE OWES THE COMMUNITY AN APOLOGY.

>> HE SAID OVERSIGHT OF THE TOWNSHIP ADDITIONAL TESTING, THE DEP SAID IN A STATEMENT THEY ARE REVIEWING THIS NEW INFORMATION, THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>> RISING MORTGAGE RATES ARE SLOWING DOWN DEMAND FOR NEW HOMES IN NEW JERSEY.

THE HIGHER MORTGAGE RATES REDUCED HOMEBUYERS PURCHASING POWER IN TURN RESULTING IN FEWER PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE ONE.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS IT FELL IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE EIGHTH MONTH IN A ROW.

SALES FELL NEARLY 24% FROM SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR AND ARE NOW AT THE LOWEST ANNUAL PACE IN A DECADE , WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A STEEP DROP IN SALES NEARLY AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS ON HOW RISING MORTGAGE RATES ARE NOT ONLY AFFECTING HOMEBUYERS BUT SELLERS AS WELL.

WHAT DOES THIS TREND MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY?

>> SIX MONTHS AGO, AND A YEAR AGO, WE WERE IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS A SELLERS MARKET.

WHERE THE SELLER IS IN CONTROL OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND THE HOMEBUYER COULD WIN OUT AND MAKE A DEAL TO PURCHASE A HOME, THEY WOULD HAVE TO NOT ONLY OFFER MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE, BUT IN MANY CASES, OFFER MORE THAN FULL ASKING PRICE.

>> CHIEF ECONOMIST, JEFFREY OTTEAU SAID ALL OF THAT HAS CHANGED WITH MOST PLACES NOW IN A BUYERS MARKET WHERE THEY ARE OFTEN COMING IN FOR LESS THAN THE ASKING PRICE.

OFTEN ATTRIBUTED THE SHIFT TO THE RAPID RATE OF INFLATION AND INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES.

>> WE NOW HAVE A 30 YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES, WHICH EXCEED 7%.

THE HIGHEST THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN 20 YEARS.

>> ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, THE U.S.

SAW A 23.8% DROP IN HOME SALES IN SEPTEMBER COMPARED TO 2021.

HOME SALES FELL 1.5% LAST MONTH FROM AUGUST, THE EIGHTH STRAIGHT MONTH THE HOUSING MARKET EXPERIENCED A DECLINE.

>> HOME SALES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DECLINE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GETTING THE INVENTORY WE ANTICIPATED.

SO IF THERE'S NOT HOMES FOR SALE, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.

>> THE PRESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY REALTORS SAYS WHILE THE HOME SALES ARE DECLINING, A LACK OF INVENTORY REMAINS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSING MARKET IN NEW JERSEY.

>> EACH TIME THE RATE GOES UP.

RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT $1000-$1200 MORE FOR THAT SAME PRICED HOME , VERSUS 21 INTO 22.

SO, THAT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF THE MARKETPLACE.

>> IF YOU GO TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN A TYPICAL MARKET, THEY WOULD HAVE 250 TO 300 HOUSES LISTED FOR SALE, WHAT IS A HEALTHY MARKET IS SIX MONTHS WORTH OF INVENTORY.

RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE 65 HOUSES FOR SALE , THAT IS CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN NORMAL.

SO BECAUSE OF THE TIGHT INVENTORY , HOUSING IS STILL PROPPED UP.

>> AND WHILE THE HIGH INTEREST RATES ARE ALSO LINKED TO A SLOWDOWN IN CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME EFFECTS JUST YET IN THE GARDEN STATE.

>> THE MARKET HAS COME TO A LOT MORE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

IT HASN'T STOPPED THE MARKET BY ANY MEANS, WE ARE VERY BUSY, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, PROBABLY ABOUT 12 TO 14 MONTHS OUT WITH WORK, BUT IT'S MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE.

IT'S NOT CHAOTIC LIKE IT WAS.

>> HE HAS NOTICED A DECREASE IN PEOPLE BUYING PROPERTY BUT CUSTOM JOBS LIKE ADDING ONTO A HOME ARE STILL IN DEMAND.

>> IN OUR AREA AT THE JERSEY SHORE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BUBBLE.

MOST PEOPLE COMING HERE EITHER ARE USING CASH, OR THEY ARE GETTING SMALLER MORTGAGES ON EXPENSIVE HOMES.

SO IT'S NOT AFFECTING THEM AS MUCH, BUT IF YOU GO INLAND, AWAY FROM THE BRICK TOWN, POINT PLEASANT, TOMS RIVER, THE NORTHERN OCEAN OR SOUTHERN MONMOUTH COUNTY AREAS, NEAR THE WATER, THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL SEE IT AFFECTED A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A DRAMATIC DROP-OFF, IT'S JUST A COOLDOWN.

>> HOUSING EXPERTS SAY THE HIGH INTEREST RATES ARE AN ATTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S PLANS TO BREAK INFLATION, BY MAKING IT TOO EXPENSIVE FOR CONSUMERS TO BORROW MONEY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY'S GROWTH.

THEY DON'T PREDICT IT'LL LAST FOREVER, IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A HOUSE, IT MIGHT BE BEST TO WAIT FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE MAKING ANY BIG DECISIONS.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY IS ON THE UPSWING AND DOING BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS ON THAT PLUS TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY IS DOING BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY , AT LEAST BY ONE MEASURE.

IN SEPTEMBER, THE STATES UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED TO 3.3% FROM 4% THE PRIOR MONTH.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT MONTH OVER MONTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DECREASE IN NEW JERSEY WAS THE LARGEST OF ALL THE STATES.

NEW JERSEY ALONG WITH CALIFORNIA ALSO HAD THE BIGGEST MONTHLY DROP IN UNEMPLOYMENT WHEN COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO.

BUT, JOB GROWTH IN THE STATE SLOWED LAST MONTH, GOVERNMENT HIRING WAS STRONG BUT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THERE WERE SOME JOB LOSSES.

WITH THE ON EMPLOYMENT RATE SO LOW, BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO FACE DIFFICULTIES HIRING WORKERS.

A NATIONWIDE STAFFING SHORTAGE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY NEW JERSEY-BASED PROVIDENT BANK FINDS NEARLY 75% OF BUSINESSES SURVEYED BOTH LARGE AND SMALL STRUGGLE WITH STAFFING.

A THIRD OF THE COMPANIES SAY THEY REVISED THEIR BENEFITS TO TRY TO KEEP AND ATTRACT WORKERS.

EVERYTHING FROM OFFERING BONUSES AND OTHER FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO GIVING MORE TIME OFF OR OFFERING HYBRID OR WORK FROM HOME OPTIONS.

THIS WEEK MARKED THE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF A PROGRAM TO HELP NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES UPSCALE THEIR WORKERS AT NO COST TO THEM.

THE NEW JERSEY WORKPLACE LITERACY AND BASIC SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED FREE TRAINING TO MORE THAN 200,000 EMPLOYEES, FOR MORE THAN 12,000 EMPLOYERS.

COMPANIES LIKE INSPIRA HEALTH WHICH HAS HAD 3000 EMPLOYEES GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM, ACCORDING TO DON CHELSEA COLLINS, THE NETWORK DIRECTOR OF CULTURE AND ENGAGEMENT.

>> IT GIVES A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE UPSCALED, PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THE WAYS MAYBE THEY FELT WASN'T GOING TO BE POSSIBLE FOR THEM WHEN THEY ENTERED THE WORKFORCE, THEN THEY SEE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO CONTINUE TO GROW THEIR CAREERS.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PLAN HAS SURVIVED TWO LEGAL CHALLENGES, A FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSED THE LAWSUIT FILED BY REPUBLICAN-LED STATES TO BLOCK THE PLAN, WHILE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THROUGHOUT A SECOND SUIT BROUGHT BY A WISCONSIN TAXPAYERS GROUP.

MILLIONS HAVE ALREADY APPLIED FOR DEBT RELIEF SINCE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEGAN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET ENDED THE WEEK.

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

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW JERSEY, ANNOUNCING ITS 2022 NEW JERSEY BUSINESS HALL OF FAME, NOVEMBER 3, AT THE HYATT REGENCY IN NEW BRUNSWICK, EVENT DETAILS ONLINE, AND BY NEW JERSEY'S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, DECEMBER 1 AND SECOND AT RESORTS CASINO HOTEL IN ATLANTIC CITY.

EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJTIA.ORG.

>> RHONDA SCHAFFLER WILL TALK TO EXPERTS ABOUT SOMETHING WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR, A GOOD WORKLIFE BALANCE, ALONG WITH JUGGLING THE DEMANDS OF BEING A WORKING PARENT WHILE RISING IN YOUR CAREER, THAT IS SATURDAY AT 5:00 AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30 ON NJ PBS.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, THE NEXT EPISODE IN OUR 21 DIGITAL FILM SERIES IS NOW ONLINE, THE SERIES EXAMPLES THE SIMPLE QUESTION OF DOES WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE AFFECT HOW YOU LIVE?

21 PROFILES ONE PERSON IN EACH OF OUR 21 COUNTIES AND LOOKS AT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT AFFECT THAT PERSON'S LIFE.

THE LATEST FILM INTRODUCES US TO EDGAR HUERTA FROM CUMBERLAND COUNTY, HE IS USING HIS VOICE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY OF UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS PUSH FOR FAIR WAGES AND SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS.

BRIANA VANNOZZI CHATTED WITH HIM.

>> EDGAR, YOUR STORY IS SO COMPELLING, AT THE RIPE AGE OF 14, YOU ARE THRUST INTO WORKING TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY .

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU NOW AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN BEING A VOICE FOR OTHER IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN THE AREA?

>> SO, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I ADMIRE , IS BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES IN THE COMMUNITY, TELLING ME , IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL IT WAS , IT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIFE.

>> WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU AS YOU WORK TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU?

>> IT ALWAYS STARTS OFF WITH A PHONE CALL , OR A LOT OF TIMES IF I RUN INTO SOMEBODY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I GET THIS FEELING OF JUST ASKING THEM HOW THEY ARE DOING , AND IN THAT PROCESS OF HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, I LEARNED HOW I CAN HELP THEM.

AND FROM THERE , IT IS LIKE A CHAIN, THEY TELL MORE PEOPLE, THIS YOUNG MAN HELPED ME WITH THIS, AND IT JUST CONTINUES.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK MAYBE YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FAMILY'S LIFE THEY HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT HAD THERE BEEN SOMEONE LIKE YOU THERE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU ALL , LIKE YOU ARE DOING?

>> IF SOMEBODY LIKE ME WOULD ADVOCATE FOR US WHEN I WAS YOUNG , IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER , BUT I FEEL LIKE THE FACT THAT I WENT THROUGH THE STRUGGLE AND HAD TO FIND MY OWN WAY TO OVERCOME THEM, THAT GAVE ME THE EXPERIENCE TO NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO HELP PEOPLE, BUT TO UNDERSTAND WHY .

>> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE DOING THIS WORK , I MEAN, YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT THE TRIALS THAT YOUR FAMILY WENT THROUGH, BEING SEPARATED FROM YOUR MOTHER AT A CERTAIN POINT, WHERE YOU AND YOUR FATHER AND YOUR BROTHER STAYED IN THE U.S. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU NOW TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED THE THINGS THAT HAVE AFFECTED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA .

SO I HAVE THE FIRST POINT OF VIEW EXPERIENCE AND I UNDERSTAND THEM .

AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING THAT , ESPECIALLY AT MY AGE.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT OTHER YOUTHS TO SEE, WHO MAY BE IN THE POSITION YOU WERE IN AS A CHILD, AND EVEN NOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR MESSAGE TO BE TO THEM?

>> THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO HAVE THEM RECEIVE FROM ME IS TO BE HONEST WITH THEMSELVES.

THEY SHOULD GO WITH THEIR FIRST INSTINCT , IF THEY HAVE A DREAM ORACLE OR A GOAL, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO OPEN UP TO PEOPLE AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE.

ALSO, TO GO TO EVENTS , TO FOLLOW DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MY STORY ON YOUR PLATFORM.

>> YOU CAN MEET EDGAR AND THE OTHER EXTRAORDINARY JERSEY RESIDENTS AT MYNJPBS.ORG.

>> IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE POLITICAL HEADLINES, DON'T MISS THE POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ, HE TALKS TO JOE CRYAN ABOUT WHY HE PULLED THE TEMPORARY WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS FROM THE SENATE BILL THIS WEEK.

PLUS, CATCH CHAT BOX WITH DAVID WHERE HE TALKS WITH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS AND ANALYSTS ABOUT WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR BOTH PARTIES IN THE UPCOMING MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00.

I'M SANTANA , THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>> AND JN INSURANCE GROUP, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE BOYS FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY, MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM , AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES , THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS, OF THE SCHOOLS AND STREETS , THE PSEG FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

INVESTING IN PARKS, HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN.

SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.