FUNDING FROM NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

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.

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

>> HELLO, THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR MIND WHO TO VOTE FOR IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAST YOUR BALLOT THIS WEEKEND.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN STATE HISTORY, NEW JERSEY IS ALLOWING EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING STARTING TOMORROW.

139 LOCATIONS WILL BE OPEN FOR VOTERS TO CAST BALLOTS AND EARLY VOTING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 31st.

MOST PEOPLE LOOKING TO VOTE EARLY WILL LIKELY GO TO A LOCATION OTHER THAN THEIR USUAL POLLING PLACE.

THEY WILL ALSO FIND NEW TECHNOLOGY WHEN THEY GET THERE.

ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS WILL BE IN USE THIS YEAR.

JOANNA GAGIS GOT A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE CHANGES AND FOUND HOW ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING.

>> IT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM YEAR'S PAST WHERE VOTERS WERE USED TO GOING INTO A POLLING LOCATION AN SEEING A PAPER POLL BOOK.

>> Reporter: NOW INSTEAD THEY WILL BE GREETED BY ONE OF THESE.

AN ELECTRONIC POLL BOOK.

>> A VOTER WILL COME TO MY TABLE.

I WILL SEARCH FOR THE VOTER.

THEY WILL TELL ME THEIR LAST AND FIRST NAME.

AS WE START POPULATING, WE GET SELECTIONS THAT MATCH THE SEARCH RESULTS.

>> Reporter: IN PERSON VOTING STARTS TOMORROW.

AND, THESE ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS OFFER NOT JUST A CHANCE TO CAST YOUR BALLOT EARLY, BUT TO CAST IT AT ANY LOCATION YOU CHOOSE IN YOUR COUNTY.

>> POLL WORKER THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC POLL BOOK CAN ACCESS ALL OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS WITHIN THAT COUNTY.

SO NO MATTER WHAT POLLING LOCATION YOU GO TO IN EARLY VOTING, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK IN AND GET YOUR SPECIFIC BALLOT FOR YOUR SPECIFIC TOWN.

>> Reporter: AND ALL ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS WITHIN A COUNTY WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER AT ALL TIMES THROUGH A PRIVATE ENCRYPTED WI-FI NETWORK.

>> WE UPDATE THE INFORMATION IN REALTIME.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF I VOTE IN THE CRANFORD EARLY VOTING SITE, I CAN'T THEN GO TO AN ALTERNATE VOTING SITE AND VOTE AGAIN.

RIGHT?

THE INFORMATION IS UPDATED IN REALTIME.

>> Reporter: THE POLL BOOKS WON'T TAKE YOUR VOTE.

THAT PROCESS WILL ALSO BE NEW THIS YEAR.

>> THE POLLER WILL COMPARE THE SIGNATURE WE HAVE ON FILE TO THE SIGNATURE THE VOTER JUST PUT INTO THE POLL BOOK.

WE ARE GOING TO ACCEPT.

AND NOW, WE ARE GOING TO PRINT A BALLOT CARD, ACTIVATION CARD FOR THE VOTING MACHINE.

>> Reporter: THE PRINTED BALLOTS DON'T CONTAIN ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT WOULD REVEAL THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE VOTER.

ONLY A BAR CODE TO BE SCANNED INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> COMPLETE CHECK IN.

THE VOTER WILL THEN GIVE THEIR BALLOT CARD TO THE MACHINE ATTENDANT WORKING THE MACHINE.

THEY WILL INSERT THE BALLOT CARD.

AND THEN, THE VOTER WILL BEGIN THEIR VOTING SESSION.

THEY WILL BE PROMPTED TO SELECT THEIR LANGUAGE AND THEY WILL START VOTING.

THIS IS ALL TRAINING DATA.

IT IS ALL FAKE.

SO, THE VOTERS WILL MAKE THEIR SELECTIONS.

PRINT THEIR BALLOT CARD.

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO PRINT?

YES.

THIS BOBBINGS THEIR PAPER BACKUP.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE IT RELIES ON TECHNOLOGY DOING ITS JOB, WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING FAILS?

CHRISTINE EXPLAINS THERE ARE REDUNDANCIES BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM IF THE MACHINE FAILS.

>> EVERY NIGHT, THE WHOLE DATA BASE IS COMPARED AGAINST THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM.

SO EACH DAY, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH ERRORS, THOUGH WE DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE TO DO THAT.

>> Reporter: AT THE END OF EVERY VOTING DAY, EACH POLL BOOK WILL BE STORED IN THESE BLUE BINS SEALED WITH A NUMBER.

AND EACH BLUE BIN WILL BE STORED INSIDE OF A CAGE AND PADLOCK TO MAKE SURE NO MACHINES WERE TAMPERED WITH OVERNIGHT.

>> MY TEAM HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH NOT ONLY THE LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS, BUT WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MAKING SURE THAT OUR SYSTEMS ARE SHORED UP FROM THE CYBER SECURITY POINT.

ALL SPACES OF SECURITY.

>> Reporter: AND WITH NINE DAYS OF IN-PERSON VOTING AND COUNTLESS LOCATIONS TO VOTE, SECRETARY OF STATE TAHISHA WAY SAYS THE STATE HAS WORKED HARD TO MAKE VOTING IN NEW JERSEY AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE.

SO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.

IN WESTFIELD, I'M JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> FOR MORE ON EARLY VOTING, CHECK OUT COLLEEN'S STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN IS BRINGING IN SOME DEMOCRATIC HEAVY HITTERS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS VISITING NEW JERSEY ON SATURDAY FOLLOWED BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ON MONDAY.

THE HIGH PROFILE VISITS COME AS A NEW POLL SHOWS GOVERNOR MURPHY'S LEAD OVER REPUBLICAN JACK CIATTARELLI HAS NARROWED SLIGHTLY TO A SIX-POINT LEAD.

THE POLL BY EMERSON COLLEGE WPIX NEWS NATION ALSO SHOWS THAT IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN, 7% OF VOTERS ARE UNDECIDED.

THIS POLL HAD A MARGIN OF ERROR JUST UNDER 4%.

CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL ARON WENT ON THE RECORD WITH THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEROY JONES TO TALK ABOUT THE POLL AND THE PLAN TO GET OUT THE VOTE.

>> Reporter: LEROY JONES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

A NEW POLL CAME OUT YESTERDAY FROM EMERSON COLLEGE AND WPIX THAT PUT THE NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR'S RACE AS A SIX POINT RACE.

50-44.

DOES THAT MAKE YOU NERVOUS?

>> NO, MICHAEL.

IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T MAKE US NERVOUS.

WE HAVE REALLY NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO THE POLLS.

WE HAVE CONDUCTED THIS CAMPAIGN AS IF WE WERE TEN POINTS BEHIND.

YOU KNOW, SO, THE ONLY POLL THAT CLEARLY COUNTS, LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS, THIS IS WHERE WE MOBILIZE, IS THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY.

WHICH BEGIN IN-PERSON VOTING ON TOMORROW.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR NINE DAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU WILL SEE A MOBILIZATION OF DEMOCRATIC GROUND FORCE LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN THIS STATE.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE BARACK OBAMA COMING TOMORROW.

JOE BIDEN ON MONDAY.

YOU HAD JILL BIDEN, KAMALA HARRIS.

AMY KLOBUCHAR.

YOU ARE POURING IT ON IN THIS STATE.

IS THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE WORRIED OR IS THAT JUST LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED?

>> IT IS LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED, MICHAEL.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CAMPAIGN.

AND, A CAMPAIGN, YOU SHOW YOUR TALENT AND YOUR BREADTH OF STRENGTH THAT NOT ONLY CULMINATES HERE IN NEW JERSEY BUT THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE BUILT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND WE WILL SHOWCASE THAT IN NEW JERSEY ON BEHALF OF PHIL MURPHY.

>> Reporter: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS AND HOW THIS STALEMATE IN WASHINGTON MIGHT BE CASTING A PALL OVER THE TWO ELECTIONS?

>> IT DOES HAVE SOME IMPACT BECAUSE PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

THIS IS NEW JERSEY.

LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.

THIS IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN NEW JERSEY.

WE ARE GOING TO BE MOBILIZING SOULS TO THE POLLS OVER THESE NEXT NINE DAYS AND IT IS GOING TO BE THE CRESCENDO ON NOVEMBER 2.

>> Reporter: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

DRIVE PEOPLE TO THE POLLS?

>> IT IS REAL SIMPLE.

THIS IS AN AGE OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE TEXT MESSAGE.

WE KNOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

WE GO TO THEIR HOMES.

YEAH, WE DO BUS PEOPLE TO POLLING SITES.

I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER.

NEW JERSEY UNDER PHIL MURPHY HAS BEEN THAT STRONG AND FAIR IN NEW JERSEY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD WITH NEW JERSEY.

SO, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH PHIL.

WE ARE NOT GOING BACKWARD.

>> Reporter: OCCASIONALLY, ONE HEARS THE PHRASE ENTHUSIASM GAP AS THOUGH CIATTARELLI'S FORCES THOUGH SMALLER ARE MORE REVVED UP.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE REVVED UP AT.

YOU KNOW.

YOU TELL ME WHERE.

AND, I WILL MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL ON THAT.

>> Reporter: HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU IN A MURPHY REELECTION VICTORY A WEEK-AND-A-HALF FROM NOW?

>> I DON'T THINK IN THIS INTERVIEW, I HAVE SHOWED A LACK OF CONFIDENCE.

PHIL MURPHY HAS BEEN A DYNAMIC GOVERNOR AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY UNDERSTANDS HOW NEW JERSEY PLAYS SUCH A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THIS MOVEMENT.

>> Reporter: LEROY JONES, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU MICHAEL.

>>> YOUNGER CHILDREN COULD BE WEEKS AWAY FROM RECEIVING VACCINES FOR COVID-19.

AHEAD OF AN FDA MEETING NEXT TUESDAY TO CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO VACCINATE CHILDREN AT A YOUNGER AGE, PFIZER RELEASED A NEW STUDY THAT SHOWED ITS VACCINE IS MORE THAN 90% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING SYMPTOMATIC INFECTIONS IN 5 TO 11-YEAR- OLDS.

THIS, AS THE NUMBER OF FULLY VACCINATED NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS HAS NOW TOPPED 6 MILLION WITH ANOTHER 1300 POSITIVE CASES AND 22 MORE DEATHS REPORTED TODAY.

I SAT DOWN WITH EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. STEPHANIE SYLVERA TO TALK ABOUT VACCINES FOR YOUNGER KIDS AND WHETHER WE WILL SEE MORE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR BOOSTER SHOTS NOW THAT THE CDC HAS GIVEN MODERNA AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON BOOSTERS THE GREEN LIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

LET'S START FIRST WITH THIS NEW STUDY THAT PFIZER RELEASED ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE ITS VACCINE IS ON CHILDREN.

DO YOU THINK THIS STUDY WILL BE KEY FOR THE FDA AS IT MAKES ITS DECISION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THERE ARE TWO REALLY IMPORTANT FINDINGS THEY RELEASED TODAY.

THERE WERE NO CASES OF MYOCARDITIS WHICH HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR THESE VACCINES IN YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS.

BUT ALSO, THAT IT IS ABOVE 90% EFFECTIVE AGAINST SYMPTOMATIC ILLNESS.

SO, THAT 90% RANGE WE SAW FOR ADULTS WAS ABOUT SEVERE ILLNESS.

HOSPITALIZATION.

>> WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD MOVING FORWARD THAT WE MIGHT SEE THE RECOMMENDED AGE LOWERED BELOW 65 FOR HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS?

>> SO I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HEAD IN THAT DIRECTION, THOUGH I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE VACCINES, EVEN WITHOUT THE BOOSTERS, ARE STILL WORKING FOR THE MOST PART.

THEY ARE STILL HIGHLY EFFECTIVE VACCINES.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO, ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE SEE WHAT NEW VARIANTS EMERGE, THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A DESIRE FOR SOME POPULATIONS TO KEEP THEMSELVES EXTRA SAFE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK.

>> AND IN TERMS OF NEW VARIANTS, WE KNOW ALREADY, THERE IS A MUTATION OF THE DELTA VARIANT IN U.K. THAT PEOPLE ARE KEEPING CLOSE WATCH ON.

ARE THESE BOOSTERS GOING TO FULLY PROTECT US AS THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO MUTATE?

>> SO, UNFORTUNATELY, UNTIL THOSE MUTATIONS APPEAR HERE, WE CAN LOOK AT INTERNATIONAL DATA TO SEE HOW WELL THEIR VACCINES AND BOOSTER PROGRAMS ARE WORKING BUT WE CAN'T REALLY KNOW UNTIL THE VARIANTS ARE CIRCULATING.

THAT SAID, IF WE KEEP TRANSMISSION RATES OF COVID OF ANY VARIANT LOW, THEN, THE VIRUS HAS FEWER OPPORTUNITIES TO MUTATE.

SO OUR BEST WAY TO COMBAT OR PROTECT OURSELVES AGAINST FUTURE MUTATIONS IS TO GET VACCINATED NOW.

>> DR. SYLVERA, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THE HIGH COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS HAS PLAGUED THE U.S. FOR DECADES.

BUT AN AGREEMENT ON HOW TO LOWER THEM CONTINUES TO ELUDE LAWMAKERS.

ONE PLAN BEING DISCUSSED IN CONGRESS ONCE AGAIN IS A PROPOSAL TO GIVE MEDICARE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE LOWER DRUG PRICES WITH THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

DEMOCRATIC NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE HELPED DRAFT THE LATEST PROPOSAL WHICH IS PART OF AN OVERALL SPENDING BILL.

BUT THERE IS OPPOSITION, EVEN WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY.

AMID ALL THIS DEBATE, 20% OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO FILL THE PRESCRIPTIONS THEY NEED TO STAY HEALTHY.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> IT'S HARD TO KNOW THAT THE MEDICINE IS OUT THERE AND I CAN'T ACCESS IT.

THAT'S FRUSTRATING.

>> Reporter: LISA ANNE TRAINER USED TO TAKE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG THAT COSTED A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH TO CONTROL HER ADHD UNTIL HER HUSBAND'S NEW INSURANCE COMPANY STOPPED PAYING FOR IT.

BUYING THAT MEDICINE OUT OF POCKET, NOT AN OPTION.

>> $1,000 WAS NEVER FEASIBLE.

>> Reporter: LIKE TRAINER, 20% OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AVOID FILLING EXPENSIVE MEDICATIONS.

FOLKS SKIP DOSES OR GO WITHOUT.

TRAINER TAKES A DIFFERENT CHEAPER MEDICINE BUT SAYS IT IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE.

>> I'M CERTAINLY A LOT LESS PRODUCTIVE AND MY INCOME IS BASED ON HOW MUCH I WORK AND HOW MUCH I OUTPUT.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF BALANCE WITH THESE WILDLY OVERPRICED DRUGS.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT ALLOWED TO NEGOTIATE ON OUR BEHALF FOR LOWER PRICES.

EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD DOES.

WE DON'T.

AND SO, WE GET STUCK PAYING FOUR TIMES WHAT THOSE OTHER COUNTRIES PAY.

>> Reporter: DAVID MITCHELL KNOWS HE IS ON MEDICARE WHICH PAYS FOR MOST OF THE ONGOING BLOOD CANCER DRUG TREATMENTS HE NEED TO STAY ALIVE AT A STUNNING PRICE TAG.

$900,000 A YEAR.

PLUS 18,000 MORE OUT OF POCKET.

HIS ADVOCACY GROUP IS PUSHING CONGRESS TO LET MEDICARE BARGAIN DOWN PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS.

A NEW POLL SHOWS NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS OVER AGE 50 AGREE WITH THE PLAN.

IT IS PART OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BUILD BACK BETTER PROPOSAL.

>> ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WITH WE ARE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING AND WE NEED TO FIX IT.

THE DRUG COMPANIES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR ABILITY TO DICTATE PRICES TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: MEDICARE COULD WIELD A TREMENDOUS POWER OF SCALE.

>> IT IS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE THAT THEY DON'T ALREADY HAVE THIS POWER.

THEY ARE THE LARGEST PURCHASERS OF PHARMACEUTICALS FOR OUR CITIZENS.

>> Reporter: STATE SENATOR LORETTA WINEBURG MADE THE CASE IN A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, BUT NEW JERSEY'S THE SO-CALLED MEDICINE CHEST OF THE U.S. WITH A LARGE POWERFUL LOBBYING GROUP THAT CLAIMS NEGOTIATING PRICING WOULD ULTIMATELY HURT PATIENT ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE CURES AND TREATMENTS.

WE THINK THERE IS A BETTER WAY THAT WOULD LOWER COSTS AT THE PHARMACY AND PRESERVING CHOICE, ACCESS, AND INNOVATION.

CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE WHO HELPED CRAFT THE MEDICARE NEGOTIATING PROPOSAL SEES PRESSURE APPLIED.

>> SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR STATE, THE PHARMACY SAYS IF MY PROFITS ARE NOT AS BIG, I WON'T HAVE MONEY TO SPEND ON NEW RESEARCH.

THIS IS THE ARGUMENT.

AND MAYBE THERE WON'T BE AS MANY PEOPLE EMPLOYED.

BUT THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE THE PROFITS ARE SO HUGE.

AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY ARE SPENDING ON RESEARCH IS STILL SIGNIFICANT.

>> Reporter: PALLONE BELIEVES THE MEDICARE DRUG NEGOTIATIONS ISSUE WILL SURVIVE IN THE BIDEN PLAN AS PART OF A DOWNSIZED BILL THAT IS STILL BEING HAMMERED OUT.

NOT YET ON BOARD, SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ WHO SAID IN A STATEMENT I CONTINUE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT PROPOSAL COMES OUT OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I BELIEVE THE FOCUS MUST BE LOWERING PATIENT COSTS BUT ADVOCATES REMINDED HIM HE CAMPAIGNED ON MEDICARE PRICE NEGOTIATION.

>> WE NEED OUR HEALTH CARE STALWORT TO CONTINUE TO BE THE CHAMPION HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON HEALTH CARE AND STAND UP TO BIG PHARMA.

>> Reporter: IT NEEDS EVERY SENATE DEMOCRAT'S VOTE, BUT WITH KYRSTEN SINEMA FLAT OUT OPPOSED, PROSPECTS APPEAR PROBLEMATIC.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> HAITIAN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE AN ICE FIELD OFFICE IN NEWARK TODAY CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DEPORTATIONS AND RESTORE THE RIGHT TO ASYLUM.

THEY ALSO WANT THE ADMINISTRATION TO END TITLE 42.

A POLICY ENACTED DURING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT ENABLES THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPEL ASYLUM SEEKERS BASED ON HEALTH CONCERNS.

THE PROTESTERS SAY DEPORTATIONS TARGET HAITIAN AND OTHER BLACK IMMIGRANTS AND THEY WANT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP A CLEAR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR THOSE IMMIGRANTS NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS CAN TRADE IN THEIR GUNS FOR CASH THIS WEEKEND.

SATURDAY, THE STATE IS HOLDING ITS LARGEST SINGLE DAY GUN BUY BACK EVER WHERE THE GOAL OF GETTING GUNS OFF THE STREETS.

RESIDENTS CAN TRADE IN UP TO THREE GUNS, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

AND RECEIVE AS MUCH AS $250 PER WEAPON.

LAW ENFORCEMENT FIREARMS EXPERTS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST IN SECURING THE WEAPON THAT'S ARE TURNED IN.

THERE ARE 10 TRADE IN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IT IS NEW JERSEY'S SECOND GUN BUYBACK IN RECENT MONTHS.

ONE WAS ALSO HELD IN AUGUST.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS TICKED LOWER AS THE STATE CONTINUES TO RECOVER JOBS LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IN SEPTEMBER, THE STATE'S JOBLESS RATE DROPPED SLIGHTLY TO 7.1%.

BUT THAT IS STILL HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 4.8%.

21,500 NEW JOBS WERE ADDED IN NEW JERSEY LAST MONTH ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NOW, THAT MARKS THE NINTH STRAIGHT MONTH OF JOB GAINS.

NEW JERSEY HAS RECOVERED MORE THAN 488,000 JOBS LOST DURING THE START OF THE PANDEMIC RELATED LOCKDOWNS.

THAT'S ABOUT 68% OF THE JOBS LOST IN MARCH AND APRIL OF 2020.

>>> THIS WEEKEND, JOIN ME FOR NJ BUSINESS FEED.

I TALK WITH REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE JACK CIATTARELLI ABOUT HIS ECONOMIC PLANS FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

CATCH IT ON NJ PBS SATURDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAYS AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET FARED TODAY.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S RAMPING UP ITS COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO BRING SOLAR PROJECTS TO LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME AREAS.

RESIDENTS WHO WANT CLEAN ENERGY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY CAN AFFORD SOLAR PANELS OR LIVE IN A BUILDING THEY DON'T OWN.

SUPPORTERS SAY SWITCHING TO CLEAN ENERGY WILL ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SAFE ON THEIR BILLS.

BEYOND THAT, COMMUNITY SOLAR IS A JOB CREATOR.

AS STUDENTS AT WARREN COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOUND OUT, LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS.

>> EXPLAIN TO ME THE IMPORTANCE OF COMING TO A SCHOOL LIKE THIS AND SPEAKING TO STUDENTS ABOUT SOLAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE MORE THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THE CAREERS IN SOLAR ENERGY, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO PURSUE THEM.

>> Reporter: IT IS AN INDUSTRY GROWING AS NEW PROGRAMS ARE PUT IN PLACE TO HIT NEW JERSEY'S GOAL OF 100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2050.

BUT WITH NEW PROGRAMS COME THE NEED FOR A BIGGER WORK FORCE.

SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOLERS INSIDE THE ELECTRICAL APPLICATION SHOP AT WARREN COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL IS GUEST SPEAKER TODD MENEDIR FROM SOLAR LANDSCAPE.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN SOFT SKILLS PEOPLE LOOK FOR.

>> Reporter: A COMPANY WORKING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT GREEN ENERGY CAREERS.

>> SOLAR HAS THE LOWEST BARRIER OF ENTRY IN ANY OF THE GREEN ENERGY FIELDS.

IT IS SIMPLE TO GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR AS AN INSTALLER.

THE ONLY TOOL YOU NEED IS AN IMPACT DRIVER, WHICH IS A DRILL.

>> Reporter: SOLAR ENERGY CURRENTLY POWERS ABOUT 5% OF THE STATE.

TO HELP EXPAND THAT FOOTPRINT, THE NEW JERSEY BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES APPROVED 75 MEGAWATTS.

SPREAD ACROSS 45 PROJECTS, TO BE INSTALLED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF ITS NEW COMMUNITY SOLAR PILOT PROGRAM.

THE WORK WAS SPLIT BETWEEN MULTIPLE COMPANIES.

IT IS JUST A START.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE BPU VOTED TO MAKE THE PROGRAM PERMANENT.

>> YES.

THE GOAL OF COMMUNITY SOLAR IN NEW JERSEY IS TO REALLY CREATE CLEAN ENERGY EQUITY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN NEW JERSEY HAS A CHANCE TO HAVE ACCESS TO SOLAR ENERGY REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PUT SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR ROOF BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.

OR THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY OWN THEIR HOMES OR MAYBE LIVE IN A CONDOMINIUM OR AN APARTMENT.

>> Reporter: THE WAY IT WORKS, IT IS A SUBSCRIPTION MODEL.

YOU SUBSCRIBE TO USE THE POWER FROM SOLAR PANEL INS YOUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOW BEING PLACED ON ROOFTOPS OF WAREHOUSES AND DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREAS.

>> SO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE COAL PLANT OR THE INDUSTRY IN THE FIRST PLACE CAN NOW BEOFF SET WITH A SOLAR PROJECT INSTEAD.

>> THE OTHER PART IS THAT YOU CAN GET A DISCOUNT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 TO 15% OFF OF YOUR MONTHLY POWER BILL AS WELL.

>> THAT WILL BE A POWERFUL IMPACT ON THE 5% AND HOPEFULLY INCREASE IT SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> Reporter: THE COMPANY SOLAR LANDSCAPE WILL HAVE COMPLETED EIGHT COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

A TOTAL OF 20 MEGAWATTS.

TO PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT, IT WILL HAVE ACQUIRED MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE FROM ENGINEERS TO INSTALLERS AND PROJECT MANAGERS TO GET IT DONE.

>> THE NEXT ROUND IS COMING OUT IN 150 NEW MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR WILL BE PRODUCED.

THAT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE WORK THAT WILL NEED TO BE PUT INTO PLACE AND A LOT MORE WORK FORCE THAT WILL NEED TO BE DEVELOPED.

>> MY REASONS FOR INVITING IS TO GIVE MY STUDENTS AN OPTION.

WE LIKE TO GIVE THE STUDENTS OPTIONS FOR WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

>> Reporter: HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DANIEL SAYS HIS FIRST CHOICE IS TO GO INTO MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BUT THE SOLAR INDUSTRY IS ANOTHER OPTION HE WAS EAGER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

TO POTENTIALLY PURSUE.

HE HELPED HIS DAD RECENTLY TO SET UP SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR ROOF.

>> I GO INTO INSTALLATIONS MAYBE.

MANAGING A TEAM.

NOT BEING ON THE ROOF MYSELF.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE ALSO OPPORTUNITIES IN COMMUNICATIONS, ENGINEERING, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AS THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO GROW.

GIVING THE NEXT GRADUATING CLASS MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SOLAR FIELD TO CONSIDER.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M LEAH MISHKIN.

>>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS WEEK.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE BIG STORIES, YOU CAN CATCH REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ ON NY PBS ALONG WITH CHAT BOX.

IT AIRS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AND INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

AND BY THE MERCHANT ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ.