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>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS .

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

I AM BREANNA.

HEALTH EXPERTS ARE WARNING THE PUBLIC ABOUT A COMMON RESPIRATORY VIRUS THAT IS SPREADING AT UNUSUALLY HIGH LEVELS AND TARGETING YOUNG CHILDREN.

RSV.

IT TYPICALLY CAUSES MILD COLD-LIKE SYMPTOMS ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

IT INFECTS MOST KIDS BEFORE THEY ARE TWO YEARS OLD.

IN YOUNG INFANTS AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS.

THE VIRUS USUALLY PEAKS IN THE WINTER.

THIS YEAR, IT'S A CHILLING PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL BEDS BY LATE NUMBER.

STRAINING RESOURCES.

THE DRAMATIC RISE IS CAUSING EXTRA CONCERN AS HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS BRACE FOR WHAT THEY ANTICIPATE WILL BE A WORSE THAN USUAL FLU SEASON AND AN UPTICK IN COVID CASES.

>> SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: WE'RE SEEING QUITE A HUGE BURDEN OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN THE EARS.

DOCTORS DESCRIBE IT PERFECT STORM OF KIDS RESPIRATORY VIRUSES .

SWAPPING HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS WITH OVERLAPPING SURGES THAT STARTED EARLIER AND HIT HARDER THAN USUAL, LEAVING PEDIATRIC ICUS STRUGGLING TO FIND BEDS FOR YOUNGER PATIENTS AND NURSES TO CARE FOR THEM.

THIS DOCTOR WITH OUR WJ BARNABAS, WHICH UNDERWRITES NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, SAYS IT WAS DRIVEN BY RESPIRATORY VIRUS.

>> AT LEAST NORTHERN JERSEY IS ABOUT 50 TO 75% OF ALL ADMISSIONS.

WE ARE SEEING CHILDREN WHO ARE INFECTED WITH MULTIPLE VIRUSES.

WE ARE SEEING THE ACTIVITY PICK UP.

>> ON AVERAGE, EVERY YEAR, THEY HOSPITALIZED 5000 KIDS UNDER 5 NATIONWIDE.

100 TO 300 DIE, THE CDC SAYS.

THIS IS IN THE WAKE OF A REPORT OF A NATIONAL SEARCH.

IT CLIMBS TO 5%.

DR. KEVIN SLAVEN NOTES THAT THAT'S A RED FLAG.

>> WE SAW THAT PRESENT GO UP EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

IT WAS HIGHER THAN IT NORMALLY WOULD BE.

>> ONE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL IS CONSIDERING A TENT FOR OVERFLOW CASES.

NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL SYSTEMS LACKING BEDS OR STAFF TO MANAGE THE SEARCH HAVE TRANSFERRED YOUNG PATIENTS TO OTHER HOSPITALS.

>> FOR THE PAST FOUR WEEKS, IT WAS HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS.

EXTREMELY BUSY INFLUX OF VERY , VERY SICK CHILDREN.

IN A SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN DEPLETED FROM OUR NURSING FRONTLINE STAFF.

>> THE SOUTH IS GETTING PRETTY CROWDED.

WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY BEDS DOWN THERE TO START WITH.

WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE AND WE ARE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY HOW MANY BEDS ARE AVAILABLE IN NEW JERSEY.

WE WOULD MUCH RUBBER TO TREAT A CHILD IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

IF THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE WOULD MOVE THE CHILDREN TO WHERE THOSE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

>> RESPIRATORY VIRUSES ARE ALWAYS CIRCULATING.

DURING COVID, KIDS SPENT MONTHS MASKED AND ISOLATED IN PODS.

THAT LIMITED EXPOSURE AND PERHAPS KEPT SOME FROM BUILDING IMMUNITY.

>> TAKING OFF THE MASK AND STARTING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, STARTING TO DO MORE THINGS AROUND OTHER PEOPLE HAS CAUSED RSV TO BE MUCH MORE RAPIDLY SPREADING.

>> FOR MOST KIDS, IT IS NO WORSE THAN A COLD.

FOR THOSE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS LIKE ASTHMA AND HEART CONDITIONS , THERE IS A HIGHER RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION.

TICKETS TO THE E.R.

IF THEY LOOK LETHARGIC, START BREATHING TOO HARD OR TOO RAPIDLY LIKE THIS BOY.

THEY EMPHASIZE , GET YOUR KIDS VACCINATED AGAINST FLU NOW.

>> INFLUENZA NOW IS GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT SEASON THIS YEAR.

RSV AND A POTENTIAL COVID SURGE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER VARIANTS THAT ARE STARTING TO CIRCULATE AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS COULD BE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR CHILDREN AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS ACROSS THE NATION.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

EVIDENCE THAT THE PANDEMIC IN THE U.S. , ACROSS-THE-BOARD, STUDENT TEST SCORES DROPPED TO THE LOWEST LEVELS IN DECADES.

MATH SCORES THEIR FOURTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS SAW THE LARGEST DECREASE EVER.

READING SCORES DROPPED TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE 1992.

THE ALARMING FINDINGS COME FROM THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

IT'S ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE NATION'S REPORT CARD.

A STANDARDIZED TEST THAT IS USED AS AN ASSESSMENT TOOL BUT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN SINCE 2019.

THE DECLINE ROCKED BOTH HIGH AND LOW PERFORMING STUDENTS IN EVERY STATE AND REGION.

NO AREA WAS SPARED.

NEW JERSEY STUDENTS SAW DECLINES THAT WERE SLIGHTLY STEEPER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

NOT A SINGLE STATE SAW A MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN AVERAGE TEST SCORES.

EVEN THOSE THAT RETURNED TO IN PERSON LEARNING SOONER THAN OTHERS.

EDUCATION LEADERS SAY IT SHOWS JUST HOW THE PANDEMIC UPENDED EVERY FACET OF LIFE.

>>> MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE RAPIDLY APPROACHING.

VOTERS ARE ZEROING IN ON CANDIDATES.

DURING A VIRTUAL DEBATE SUNDAY NIGHT, DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT MICKEY CHERYL AND HER CHALLENGER PAUL THE BIRD FACED OFF.

SHARING ISSUES LIKE THE ECONOMY, A 30 TAX, AS WELL AS ABORTION.

IF ELECTED, THE BATTLE FOR CONGRESS PLAYING OUT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT'S NEW JERSEY'S MOST COMPETITIVE MIDTERM RACE.

ONE OF THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED CONTEST IN THE NATION WITH NONPARTISAN ANALYSTS INSIDE ELECTIONS GIVING REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR TOM CAN JR. A SLIGHT EDGE OVER HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER.

THEY HAVE LONG FAVORED CAN JR. TO WIN.

COLLEEN O'DAY IS CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE RACE AND JOINS BEEN OUT WITH THE LATEST.

>> THE QUESTION HERE IS WHAT IS DRIVING THIS NOW , WHICH WAS A TOSSUP AND HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS IT?

>> THIS IS THE LAST OF THE BIG POLITICAL READERS TO SWITCH TO THE REPUBLICANS.

THERE WAS THE REPORT ON THE CRYSTAL BALL THAT HAS BEEN LEADING REPUBLICAN FOR QUITE A WHILE.

538, EXCUSE ME, GIVES CAIN A 71% CHANCE OF WINNING.

I HOPE I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.

71 TIMES OUT OF 100, HE WINS.

THE OTHER 29 TIMES, HIS OPPONENT WINS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK EVERYONE ACKNOWLEDGES AND CERTAINLY IT'S -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY JUST, BUT THE CHANGE IN THE DISTRICT DOES NOT HELP HIM.

IT'S A REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

ABOUT 18,000 MORE REGISTERED REPUBLICANS IN THE DISTRICT THAN DEMOCRATS.

THAT'S A HARD NUMBER FOR ANYBODY EVEN IF YOU ARE WILDLY POPULAR .

THAT'S WHAT THE BIGGEST PART IS.

>> VOTER MAKEUP ASIDE, DO THESE NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN ADS HAVE AN EFFECT HERE?

NATIONALLY, WE KNOW THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN POURING MONEY INTO SOME OF THESE ATTACK ADS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

>> YES.

ESPECIALLY IN THE 11th DISTRICT.

THE MOST EXPENSIVE, AT LEAST AT THE MOMENT.

THE LAST TIME WE LOOKED, MORE THAN 2 MILLION, MAYBE $3 MILLION THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE POURING INTO THAT .

THERE ARE ADS ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFLATION AND TALKING ABOUT INSIDER TRADING.

THE THING WHERE HE WAS NOT REPORTING HIS TRADES SOON ENOUGH.

THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF NEGATIVE ADS.

WE DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY IN THIS CASE , BUT HISTORICALLY, NEGATIVE ADS TO HAVE AN IMPACT READ >> WILL NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT.

BUT IT COULD MOVE THE NEEDLE.

YOU MENTIONED THE 11th DISTRICT WHICH WAS INCUMBENT MIKEY CHERYL AND REPUBLICAN PAUL DEGROOT.

THERE WAS A DEBATE SUNDAY BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES.

DID ANYONE WIN SEARCHES EQUAL AND AT TIMES?

>> IT IS PRETTY MUCH THIS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ALL ALONG.

THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, DEGROOT IS PUSHING WHAT OTHER REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF INFLATION AND COST.

ON CHERYL'S SIDE, SHE IS RUNNING ON HER RECORD AND CERTAINLY TALKING ABOUT ABORTION AND SAYING THAT HE IS TOO EXTREME ON THAT.

OF COURSE, HE SAYS SHE IS TOO EXTREME FROM THE OTHER SIDE RATED 10 OF THE SAME THINGS WE'VE BEEN HEARING IN THE CAMPAIGN.

THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY PEOPLE TUNE INTO THESE THINGS AND PAY ATTENTION.

WE HOPE THEY DO , BUT THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE DON'T KNOW.

>> IS THERE STILL TIME FOR THINGS TO TAKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TURN HERE?

WE'VE GOT TWO WEEKS AGO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF GAS PRICES WERE TO SKYROCKET OR PLUMMET, THAT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, I THINK.

ALL SORTS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN.

WHO KNOWS IF THERE IS NOT A CANDIDATE THAT HAS DONE SOME BACKGROUND RESEARCH AND WRITE HAVE THE OCTOBER SURPRISE, AS IT IS CALLED TO BRING OUT ?

BUT IT'S NOT A THING TO WAIT THAT LONG NOW.

I HUNDRED -- HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY VOTED BY MAIL NOW.

>> IT USED TO BE A MUCH LONGER ELECTION CYCLE.

THANK YOU, COLLEEN.

>>> WHITE HOUSE AND JEWISH LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE CONDEMNING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR A RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT THEY SAY IS ANTI-SOMATIC.

TRUMP WROTE THAT AMERICAN JEWS NEED TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND SHOW MORE APPRECIATION FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL, QUOTE , BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF HOW POLITICAL STOMPING CAN TURN INTO DOG WHISTLING.

CODED LANGUAGE FREQUENTLY AND THAT ISSUES AROUND RACE OR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

FORMER SENATE LEADER LORETTA WEINBERG IS CALLING OUT REPUBLICANS FOR WHAT SHE SAYS IS THERE SILENCE ON THE ISSUE.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE REPORTS.

>> Reporter: WHEN IT COMES TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHAT ONE PERSON READS AS AN UNHINGED RANT, ANOTHER PERSON SEES AS MARCHING ORDERS .

FROM STAND BACK AND A STANDBY TO HIS IMPLICIT SUPPORT OF RIOTERS IN JANUARY 6th, TO LAST WEEK'S POST FOR AMERICAN JEWS TWO, QUOTE I GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND SHOW MORE APPRECIATION FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL, QUOTE, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

>> EIGHT READS HATE.

THAT'S VERY CLEAR TO US.

>> SCOTT RICHMOND OF THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE SAYS ANTI-SEMITISM CONTINUES TO RISE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

POINTS TO THE COMMENTS OF CELEBRITY KANYE WEST, A TRUMP SUPPORTER, IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE STREET BY CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE IAN SMITH ABOUT , QUOTE, THOSE WHO CANNOT CRITICIZE.

>> EIGHT DOES NOT START AT THE TOP .

IT STARTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID WITH STATEMENTS , STEREOTYPING, MICRO-AGGRESSIO N. IT HOLDS UP.

>> LORETTA WEINBERG HAS SEEN A CLOSE-UP.

CAME UP IN THE TALK WITH OUR FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ABOUT MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT DEMOCRATS ' FOCUS ON SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES OVER ECONOMIC ISSUES.

>> I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY IF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, PEOPLE I KNOW WHO KNOW BETTER, PEOPLE LIKE JOHN BRENNAN >> AND KEAN JR. WOULD SPEAK UP AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM IN THEIR OWN PARTY.

THAT'S PART OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES.

AND I CAN'T SOLVE POCKET BOOK ISSUES IF I'M BEING HARASSED BECAUSE I'M JEWISH.

>> FOR THE RECORD, THE SENATOR CONDEMNED TRUMP'S TWEETS IN A CONVERSATION WITH US BEFORE WEINBERG'S COMMENTS.

SPOKE WITH HIM FOR THE STORY AFTERWARDS.

>> IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF LANGUAGE THAT HE USED THAT INCITED PEOPLE TO TAKE OVER THE CAPITAL ON JANUARY 6th.

WHEN HE SAYS THAT JEWS ARE THE PROBLEM OR THAT CONGRESS IS A PROBLEM OR THAT MIGHT ANSWER IS A PROBLEM, THEN YOU GET A REACTION, WHICH WE SAW.

GO HANG VICE PRESIDENT PENCE.

IT'S ILLEGITIMATE .

WE CAN'T STAND FOR THAT.

DOESN'T SAY GO UP ON THE CAPITAL FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE A PROBLEM.

SAME DANGEROUS LANGUAGE.

YOU TELL LORETTA AND EVERYONE ELSE, ABSOLUTELY .

I SAW THAT AND STARTED TO CALL MEDIA OUTLETS BECAUSE I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> TOM KEAN JR. HAS SHOWED SUPPORT FOR A JEWISH GROUP RECENTLY BUT HAS NOT CONDEMNED MR. TRUMP STATEMENTS SPECIFICALLY.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE CAMPAIGN BUT THAT DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

>> WE LIVE IN A VERY POLARIZED AND DIFFICULT MOMENT AS A SOCIETY.

WE ARE APPROACHING THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ON EDGE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TAKING SIDES.

THAT'S WHAT POLARIZATION IS ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE TAKING SIDE.

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, PEOPLE TEND TO LAUD WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THEIR SIDE AND CONDEMN WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THERE IS HATE ON YOUR SIDE, YOU TEND TO EXCUSE IT.

>> ANTI-SEMITISM IS BIPARTISAN.

ANTI-JEWISH TRIPS HAVE TO THE RHETORIC OF THE OUTER WINGS OF BOTH ARTERIES WAS SOMETIMES WEAK CONDEMNATION AT BEST.

WHILE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE HATE , IF IT IS IN A PERSON'S HEART, IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT .

ESPECIALLY WHEN SILENCE IS NO VIRTUE.

I AM DAVID CRUISE, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A NEW POLITICAL PODCAST SERIES WE HAVE LAUNCHED.

BMJ DECIDES 2022 ELECTION EXCHANGE.

IT GIVES YOU INSIGHT AND ACCESS TO NEW JERSEY'S CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS.

POSTED BY SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE, COLLEEN O'DAY, AND ME.

WE BRING YOU CANDID CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE WITH EACH CANDIDATE.

HERE IS A CLIP FROM EPISODE FOUR WITH MIKEY CHERYL, RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM IN THE 11th DISTRICT.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO WELCOME A REPRESENTATIVE.

HOW YOU DOING?

>> I'M GOOD.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> I KNOW.

A LOT OF ZOOMS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> YOU CAME ON THE SCENE AS THIS FIGHTER PILOT MOM.

NOW YOU ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR THIRD TERM IN CONGRESS.

WHAT IS THE RATIONALE FOR MIKIE SHERRILL GETTING A THIRD TERM IN CONGRESS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE RATIONALE IS THIS.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WE WERE FACING HERE, CONTINUING TO FACE, AFFORDABILITY FOR FAMILIES.

MAKING SURE FAMILIES CAN AFFORD THEIR BILLS, FEEL COMFORTABLE, FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT THEIR ECONOMIC FUTURE HERE IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY.

WITH THAT CAME A FOCUS ON CONTINUING TO WORK TO LEFT THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTION CAP.

WORKING TO GET THE GATEWAY TUNNEL FUNDED FOR OUR ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE HERE.

DRIVE DOWN MEDICAL COSTS AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR PEOPLE.

AS I SIT HERE , THERE ARE MORE THINGS AT STAKE THAN EVER.

THERE ARE MORE THINGS I AM WORKING ON .

>> TO HEAR THE ENTIRE PODCAST INTERVIEW, GO TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NJ DECIDES 2022 TAB TO HEAR THE FIRST FOUR EPISODES OF THE SERIES .

OR DOWNLOAD THEM WHEREVER YOU STREAM YOUR PODCAST.

THE FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM IS ALREADY HITTING A MAJOR SNAG LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER LAUNCH.

RHONDA HAS THE DETAILS , PLUS TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> THE WHITE HOUSE IS ENCOURAGING STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS TO CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR DEBT RELIEF, DESPITE A LEGAL SETBACK THAT PUTS LOAN FORGIVENESS ON HOLD FOR NOW.

LATE FRIDAY, A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT ISSUED AN ORDER BLOCKING ANY DEBT RELIEF AS A LEGAL CHALLENGE CONTINUES .

THE COURT ISSUED THIS DATE WHILE CONSIDERING EMOTION FROM SIX REPUBLICAN LED STATES TO BLOCK THE DEBT RELIEF PROGRAM AFTER THEY APPEALED A PREVIOUS COURT DECISION DISMISSING THEIR LAWSUIT.

WE COULD KNOW MORE SOON.

THE APPEALS COURT COULD RULE AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK ON WHETHER TO ISSUE AN INJUNCTION, MEANING THE STATE WOULD LAST LONGER, OR WHETHER TO DISMISS THE CASE.

DAYS AFTER THE IRS ADJUSTED FEDERAL TAX BRACKETS TO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION, STATE SENATOR ANTHONY BUCO IS CALLING ON LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN NEW JERSEY TO ADVANCE HIS BILL THAT WOULD INDEX NEW JERSEY'S TAX BRACKETS TO INFLATION, WHICH HE SAYS WOULD SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

>> THE TAX BRACKETS FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS ARE RELATIVELY CLOSE TOGETHER.

THIS CAN PUT YOU INTO A HIGHER TAX BRACKET WHICH MEANS YOU WILL PAY MORE.

YOUR BUYING POWER BOOK WILL BE LESS AS A RESULT OF INFLATION.

>> SENATOR BUCCO SAYS NEW JERSEY SHOULD FOLLOW THE LEAD OF 37 OTHER STATES THAT INDEX TACK BRACKETS TO INFLATION.

NEW JERSEY WORKERS WILL KEEP A BIT MORE MONEY IN THEIR TAKE-HOME PAY THANKS TO CHANGES IN THE CONTRIBUTION RATES FOR THE STATE'S TEMPORARY DISABILITY AND FAMILY LEAVE INSURANCE PROGRAMS.

THE STATE SAYS CONTRIBUTION RATES HAVE BEEN DECLINING OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.

LARGELY DUE -- PROGRAM NEXT YEAR.

AN AVERAGE OF $111.50.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S STOCK TRADING.

I AM RHONDA AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT AS PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF NEW JERSEY, WORKING FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY BY UNITING BUSINESS AND AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT CHAMBERS S NJ.COM AND BY NJ TIA NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE ON TOURISM DECEMBER 1st AND SECOND AT RESORTS CASINO HOTEL IN ATLANTIC.

EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJ TIA.ORG.

SANDY.

>>> LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS ARE TAKING STOCK IN WHAT NEW JERSEY HAS AND HAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM FUTURE STORMS.

ONE AREA THAT HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON LETTING IS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.

WHILE NEIGHBORING CITIES AND STATES ARE USING EFFECTIVE TOOLS TO MITIGATE THAT PROBLEM , NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO EMBRACE THEM.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER JOHN TAKES A LOOK AT THE COLLABORATION WITH THE NORTHERN NEW JERSEY MEDIA COLLABORATIVE.

HE JOINS ME NOW.

JOHN, IN YOUR REPORTING, YOU SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT LANCASTER , PENNSYLVANIA AND WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

YOU FOUND A COUPLE OF INTERESTING THINGS THAT NEW JERSEY HAS LOOKED AT BUT NOT QUITE EMBRACED.

WHAT IN PARTICULAR ARE THEY DOING?

>> THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER STORM WATER UTILITIES.

THESE ARE FUNDING MECHANISMS THAT THE LOCAL AUTHORITY USES TO CHARGE LANDOWNERS ACCORDING TO THE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACE THAT THEIR PROPERTIES HAVE.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE AMOUNTS OF STORMWATER RUNOFF THAT THESE PROPERTIES CREATE.

BOTH OF THOSE CITIES HAVE HAD VISA STORM WATER UTILITIES UP AND RUNNING FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

IN LANCASTER, SINCE 2014.

IN WILMINGTON, SINCE 2008.

IT HAS SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING SIGNIFICANTLY THE AMOUNT OF STORMWATER GOING INTO THE CITY'S.

INTO BOTH OF THE SEWER SYSTEMS AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY VERY WIDELY ACCEPTED BY BOTH OF THE RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES.

>> WHY ISN'T IT NEW JERSEY IN A PLACE WHERE THE DEP IS TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING INCREASING AND THE STORMS INCREASING IN SEVERITY DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ?

WHY ISN'T NEW JERSEY LOOKING AT THIS SO-CALLED RAIN TAX, I THINK WE USED TO CALL IT WAY BACK?

>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO REASONS FOR THIS.

ONE WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMISSION WHO I TALKED TO A FEW WEEKS AGO.

HE SAYS THAT OFFICIALS HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB CONVINCING MUNICIPALITIES THAT SETTING UP ONE OF THESE STORMWATER UTILITIES IS ACTUALLY IN THEIR INTEREST.

IT'S A VERY EFFECTIVE MEANS OF CONTROLLING FLOODWATERS.

OF COURSE, THE REVENUE THAT IS RAISED FROM THESE UTILITIES IS USED FOR THE CREATION OF THINGS LIKE RAIN GARDENS AND FOREST PAVEMENT.

BUT THE OTHER IS IN NEW JERSEY IS SLOW TO PICK UP ON, IT'S A SENSE OF SOME ACCUSATIONS ANYWAY.

IT AMOUNTS TO WHAT CRITICS CALL A RAIN TAX.

CRITICS DON'T WANT ANOTHER LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY.

>> THERE ARE OTHER CITIES LIKE NEWARK.

HOBOKEN ALSO COMES TO MIND .

THEY HAVE TAKEN MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

IS THAT, PERHAPS, A BETTER WAY TO GO?

>> INDEED.

WE DON'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES HAVE IGNORED THE ISSUE ALTOGETHER.

THERE ARE SOME OF THEM, AS YOU SAY, NEWARK BEING ONE OF THEM THAT ARE ACTIVELY CONSIDERING SETTING UP THESE STORMWATER UTILITIES AND HOBOKEN, OF COURSE.

FULLY RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VERY SEVERELY AFFECTED BY FLOODING.

>> JOHN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

MAKE SURE TO GO OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI .

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM , THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION , MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

OUR WJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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