>> 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.

>>> HELLO, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM JOANNA GAGIS IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

IT HAS BEEN A WHO'S WHO OF DEMOCRATIC SUPERSTARS STUMPING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY THESE LAST FEW WEEKS.

ON SATURDAY, FORMER PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA JOINED A GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT IN NEW YORK, AND TODAY, WITH JUST A 8 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION, IT IS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S TURN.

ALTHOUGH, MURPHY INSISTS THE VISIT IS NOT A CAMPAIGN EVENT, BUT A CHANCE TO TAP THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

BIDEN STARTED THE DAY WITH A TOUR OF A PRESCHOOL IN NORTH PLAINFIELD TO MAKE A PITCH FOR HIS BUILD BACK BETTER SOCIAL SPENDING PLAN, WHICH WOULD MAKE TWO YEARS OF PRE-K AVAILABLE TO EVERY CHILD.

THE PRESIDENT THEN ATTENDED A GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE $1.6 BILLION PORTAL, NORTHBRIDGE REPLACEMENT.

THE 110-YEAR-OLD BRIDGE HAS CREATED BOTTLENECKS AND HOURS LONG DELAYS FOR REAL COMMUTERS.

IT'S REPLACEMENT AS PART OF THE GATEWAY PROJECT THAT WILL BUILD NEW RAIL TUNNELS UNDER THE HUDSON RIVER.

BIDEN SAYS BOTH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, AND HIS BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE INVESTMENTS IN PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WILL ALSO INVEST IN PEOPLE.

>> THESE BILLS ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FOR BETTER, AND FOR YEARS TO COME.

SO, EVERYONE HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY GOVERNOR MURPHY AND OTHER DEDICATED OFFICIALS HERE TODAY, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE, WHEN WE MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS, THERE CAN BE NO STOPPING AMERICA.

>> SO, OKAY.

MAYBE IT'S NOT A TRUE CAMPAIGN EVENT, BUT THE PRESENT, SHOWING FACE IN THIS LAST STRETCH OF THE CAMPAIGN, GIVE MURPHY THE EDGE HE NEEDS OVER HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER?

WHO CONTINUES TO GAIN GROUND?

SR.

POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>>> IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

PHIL MURPHY, DROPPING IT HARD TO THE SUGAR HILL GANG IN NEWARK.

THERE WAS SOME TALK IN AND AROUND THE CAMPAIGN THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD BEEN CONCERNED, MAYBE EVEN IRRITATED AT HOW THE POLES WERE TIGHTENING.

BUT, THIS PHIL MURPHY WAS BACK TO THE AFFABLE GOVERNOR/DAD, AND BACK ON MESSAGE.

>> NUMBER 1 PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE ARE EXPANDING CHILDCARE, WE ARE EXPANDING PRE-K, HEALTHCARE IS MORE AFFORDABLE, COLLEGES MORE AFFORDABLE.

WOMEN'S HEALTH IS FUNDED, AND IT IS PROTECTED.

>> JUST IN CASE THE MESSAGE WAS NOT CLEAR ENOUGH, MURPHY BURDENED SOME TOP SHELF MESSENGERS TO BRING IT HOME TO A CROWD OF SEVERAL HUNDRED MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC BASE.

>> PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME THE 44th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BARACK OBAMA.

>> SATURDAY, ESPECIALLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER 2nd TO CAST YOUR BALLOT.

YOU CAN VOTE EARLY RIGHT NOW.

EITHER BY MAIL, OR IN PERSON.

NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THAT IMPORTANT BUSINESS OUT OF THE WAY, LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PHIL, AND WHY I BELIEVE HE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A FANTASTIC GOVERNOR.

HE CANNOT BE TIRED, GO OUT THERE.

FIGHT, WORK, YOU ARE GOING TO DECIDE THE SELECTION IN THE DIRECTION IN NEW JERSEY IN THIS COUNTRY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

DO NOT SIT THIS ONE OUT.

>> PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE LEADERS OF THE PARTY, AND WHEN YOU'RE COMING IN AND ASKING THEM TO COME AND GET BEHIND GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, IT'S AN EASY ASK.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC, THE DEMOCRATS ARE EXCITING.

DAVID, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO THE TURNOUT THAT WE GET, BUT THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

RIGHT?

>> THERE'S A CHANCE IF WE DON'T TURN OUT AND LOOK I KNOW YOU WILL, BUT THESE GUYS COULD STEAL THIS ONE FROM US.

ANY TALK ABOUT A DEEP HOLE, WE WOULD GO BACK SO FAR TO MAKE CHRIS CRISTI LOOK REASONABLE.

>> AS PER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VISIT TODAY, IT WAS PART POLITICS AND PART POLICY.

HE NEEDS A WIN TOO, AND INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WITH MONEY FOR MASS TRANSIT PROJECTS FOR JERSEY, IT HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

AND IF HE CAN HELP MURPHY, ALL THE BETTER.

>> WELL, GOVERNOR MURPHY, SO MANY OF THE NATIONAL CHALLENGES WERE CONFRONTED.

ARE AREAS WHERE YOU ALREADY LEADING.

AND, THAT'S NOT HOW I LIKE TO BE.

WHETHER IT'S MAKING HEALTH CARE OR PRESCHOOL OR COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE, PROVIDING PAID FAMILY LEAVE, REPLACING LEAD AND PIPES AND PROTECTING THAT.

SO THANKS FOR SHOWING THE WAY, PAL.

>> WE HAVE AN ELECTION EVERY YEAR, LITERALLY.

AND WE ARE ALL COMING OFF OF NATIONAL FATIGUE OF HAVING AN ELECTION IN 2020, AND WE ARE ALWAYS BEER AFTERWARDS ARE GUBERNATORIAL.

SO, NEW JERSEY VOTERS ARE TIRED.

YOU KNOW, AND EVEN AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL, EVEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GUBERNATORIAL, THESE ARE REALLY LOW INTEREST ELECTIONS, MUCH MORE SO THAN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, PROBABLY EVEN A LOT OF MIDTERM YEARS, AND WE'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY LOW TURNOUT IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF ELECTION CYCLES FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> NEXT YEAR, THERE IS ANOTHER ELECTION.

IT IS THE MIDTERMS, WITH SOMETHING ELSE ON THE LINE, WHETHER YOU'RE TIRED OF IT ALL OR NOT.

I AM DAVID CRUZ NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THERE IS NO SIGN OF FATIGUE IN THE JACK CIATTARELLI CAN'T.

THEY'VE BEEN POUNDING THE PAVEMENT WITHOUT ALL THE GLITZ AND GLAM OF HIGH-PROFILE REPUBLICAN APPEARANCES.

HE IS RELYING ON GOOD OLD- FASHIONED CAMPAIGNING.

AND, WHAT BETTER PLACE TO MEET VOTERS IN NEW JERSEY THAN AT A DINER.

THAT'S WHERE SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN CAUGHT UP WITH HIM TO FIND OUT HOW HE'S BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THE GAP IN THE POLLS THIS PAST WEEK, AND PUT THE PRESSURE ON THE SITTING GOVERNOR.

>> NEXT GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY.

>> CHEERS GO TO THE SEVEN STARS DINER.

LOOKING UNDERDOG HIT THE GROUND RUNNING THIS FINAL FULL WEEK OF CAMPAIGNING FOR GOVERNOR.

BY A TIGHTENING RACE.

ONE PUT HIM TO 6 POINTS BEHIND IN, DEMOCRAT, PHIL MURPHY WHO WELCOMED PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TODAY.

HIS RESPONSE?

>> HE CAN BRING IN JOE BIDEN, KAMALA HARRIS, I'M BRINGING IN YOU.

THIS IS WHO I'M BRINGING IN.

>> AND YOU GUYS HAVE TO WIN WITHOUT ME FOR >> EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE CRITICAL TO GET PEOPLE TO MEET HIM, ONCE PEOPLE MEET HIM, THEY ARE ON HIS SIDE.

HE IS ENERGETIC, CHARISMATIC, A BUSINESSMAN FOCUSED ON THE ECONOMY.

>> JACK SAID NO ONE SPEAKS FOR HIM, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A PERFECT STRATEGY FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.

LISTEN, NEW JERSEY REPUBLICANS DO WELL WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT NEW JERSEY ISSUES.

>> GOP ANALYSTS INSIST JACK CIATTARELLI NEEDS NO NATIONAL REPUBLICAN VOICES TO HELP EXCITE HIS BASEMENT AT THAT, THE STATE CHAIRMAN SAID HE IS SHOCKED THAT PHIL MURPHY WOULD BRING JOE BIDEN TO NEW JERSEY.

IT REINFORCES ALL OF THE IMAGES THAT THE MURPHY CAMPAIGN HAS FOUGHT TO AVOID IN CONFIDENCE AND RADICAL POLICIES DESTROYING THE AMERICAN DREAM.

THEN AGAIN, WHO WOULD JACK CIATTARELLI CALL UPON FOR SUPPORT?

DESPITE THE MAGGIE HASSAN CAMPAIGN BUTTONS CARRIED BY HIS FAITHFUL BASE, >> AT LEAST IN NEW JERSEY, DONALD TRUMP IS STILL SOMEBODY WHO SEEMED VERY NEGATIVELY, AND IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO BRING IN DONALD TRUMP.

WHO WOULD CERTAINLY MOBILIZE THE REPUBLICAN BASE, BUT WOULD TURN OFF A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> ANALYST SAYS IN A STATE WHERE DEMOCRATS OUTNUMBER REPUBLICANS BY 1 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS, JACK CIATTARELLI IS STILL WORKING TO DRAW INDEPENDENCE AND DISAFFECTED DEMOCRATS TO MAKE THE REFERENDUM ON MURPHY'S RECORD.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS DINER BENT THE AIR ABOUT NJ TRANSIT, COMPLAINING OF HER MURPHY HAS NOT FILLED ALL THE EMPTY BOARD POSITIONS.

>> WHAT DID YOU ASK HIM TO DO QUESTION >> TO PUT IN PEOPLE WHO RIDE RELIGIOUSLY, THE BUSES AND THE TRAINS, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY.

BECAUSE THEY TREAT US LIKE WE ARE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE.

AND, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO RIDE THE SYSTEM, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A DISGRACE.

>> IS A SPARKLING RETAIL PARK POLITICIAN WHO BRINGS HIGH ENERGY TO HIS CAMPAIGN STOPS, BUT THEY TAKE TIME, AND THAT IS RUNNING OUT.

SO IS THE CAMPAIGN CASH.

HE IS SENDING EMAILS, ASKING SUPPORTERS TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING THEY CAN, A FILING TODAY SHOWS HE'S GOT JUST $685,000 REMAINING IN CAMPAIGN CASH RESERVES.

MURPHY HAS GOT MORE THAN FIVE TIMES THAT TO SPEND ON ADS AND GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS.

>> SO, THEY CAN PUSH THE MESSAGE OUT IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

AND WE WILL PROBABLY SEE ABOUT TWO, 2 1/2 ADD ON TV FOR MURPHY FOR EVERYONE ADD.

>> AND VOTING HAS ALREADY STARTED AS ONE DINER REMINDED THE REPUBLICAN.

>> ALREADY HEARD IT.

SO.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S OKAY.

>> WHY STICK WITH MURPHY QUESTION >> YOU KNOW, HE HAS NOT BEEN THAT BAD FOR ME, SO.

>> PAUSE NOTWITHSTANDING, IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 40 YEARS SINCE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WON REELECTION IN NEW JERSEY.

>> WE THINK IT'S A DEAD HEAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORY, ANYTIME REPUBLICAN HAS WON THE GOVERNORSHIP, THE FIRST ONE, WHETHER IT WAS TOM KINSINGER, CHRISTIE TODD OR CHRIS CRISTI, IT IS A CLOSE RACE.

THAT IS FINE BY ME.

PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY DESERVE A COMPETITIVE RACE.

>> IS HARDCHARGING CAMPAIGN WILL TAKE THEM ACROSS THE STATE THIS WEEK.

NO BIG EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN BUS, BUT WILL HIS GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN TO BUILD THE MOMENTUM HE NEEDS?

WITH A EIGHT DAYS TO GO.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> YOU MAY NOT SEE A MAIL-IN BALLOT AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO YOUR HOUSE THIS YEAR, EVEN THOUGH 94% OF VOTERS USE THAT OPTION IN THE LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BUT, THIS YEAR, NEW JERSEY HAS EXPANDED YOUR OPTIONS FOR HOW, AND WHERE YOU CAN CAST YOUR VOTE, MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE.

BUT, YOU NEED TO REQUEST ONE.

SOMETHING YOU CAN DO UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION.

AND AS OUR CALLING O'DAY HAS BEEN REPORTING, THIS YEAR, EARLY IN PERSON VOTING IS AVAILABLE.

IT STARTED ALREADY, AND IT LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE.

I AM JOINED RIGHT NOW BY SENIOR WRITER, CALLING O'DAY, COLLEEN, OBVIOUSLY VOTING WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THIS NOVEMBER, A LOT DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR EVERYONE VOTED BY MAIL IN BALLOT.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAS CHANGED?

>> SO, FOR THE MOST PART, I THINK PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO GO TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY.

BECAUSE, WE DON'T HAVE THIS, I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE A PANDEMIC BUT IT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR AS BAD AS IT WAS LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE VACCINE, WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE LAST YEAR.

BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE STILL HAVE THE VALID OPTION BY MAIL, WHICH IS ONGOING, AND WE HAVE THIS NEW EARLY VOTING OPTION, WHICH BEGAN SATURDAY, AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NEXT SUNDAY.

>> YOU, EXPLAIN WHAT THAT EARLY VOTE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE, AND HOW IT IS WORKING.

>> YOU KNOW, I WENT TO VISIT SOME OF THE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS ON SATURDAY.

ACTUALLY VOTED MYSELF EARLY ON SATURDAY, AND IT WENT REALLY WELL.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF GLITCHES THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT, BUT CERTAINLY NOTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT THE PROCESS IS NOT WORKING WELL.

SO FAR, THE NUMBERS WE HAVE IS ABOUT 34,000 NEW JERSEYANS THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND VOTED EARLY ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY.

YOU GO IN, YOU SIGN A NEW ELECTRONIC PULL BOOK, AND THEN YOU GO AND VOTE ON THE MACHINE, WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE REALLY WANTED TO DO FOR A LONG TIME, RATHER THAN A PAPER BALLOT, WHICH IS HOW YOU COULD HAVE VOTED EARLY IN THE PAST.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE ELECTRONIC PULL BOOKS ARE COMMUNICATIVE WITH EACH OTHER TO ELIMINATE ANY VOTER FRAUD, PEOPLE LIVING IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR THIS YEAR, WE KNOW THAT GENERALLY IN THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION, TURNOUT CAN DROP.

WHAT ARE WE EXPECTED TO SEE THIS YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN TALK OF THIS KIND OF ENTHUSIASM GAP THAT MAYBE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT AS EXCITED BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY WON THE PRESIDENCY LAST YEAR, THE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE MAYBE MURPHY HAS GOT YOU KNOW, A GOOD SHOT TO WIN.

YOU KNOW THE PRESIDENT, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS HERE.

SATURDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS HERE TODAY.

ALTHOUGH, NOT TECHNICALLY YOU KNOW, FOR A CAMPAIGN VISIT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD EXPECT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT WITH THESE NEW KINDS OF VOTING, TURNOUT WOULD BE UP BUT WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA TRIMMING, I CAN TELL YOU THAT SO FAR, ABOUT 6% OF THOSE REGISTERED HAVE EITHER VOTED BY MAIL, OR THROUGH E-VOTING.

SO, WE'RE KIND OF YOU KNOW, ON OUR WAY.

>> DEEPLY THAT THIS NEW PROCESS, THE EARLY VOTING IN PERSON AND STILL, THE MAIL-IN BALLOT OPTION, WILL FAVOR ANY PARTY IN THE PAST?

IT DOES SEEM THAT IT MAY HAVE FAVOR DEMOCRATS PRETTY BELIEVE THAT EITHER PARTY GETS THE EDGE HERE QUESTION >> IT IS HARD TO SAY.

CERTAINLY REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN VOTING AS WELL AS DEMOCRATS EARLY, AND BY MAIL, BUT YOU KNOW, THE POLLS ON THE WEEKENDS COULD HAVE DONE DEMOCRATS MORE.

>> CALLING O'DAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE ON EARLY VOTING RESULTS AND VOTE BY MAIL, CHECK OUT CALLING O'DAY'S STORY ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> GOOD NEWS FOR PARENTS WAITING TO GET THE YOUNGER KIDS VACCINATED.

MODERNA TODAY ANNOUNCED ITS VACCINE IS SAFE AND PRODUCES A POWERFUL IMMUNE RESPONSE IN CHILDREN AGES 6 THROUGH 11 FOR THE DOSE ANALYZED WAS HALF OF THE ADULT VERSION AND PRODUCED 1 1/2 TIMES THE ANTIBODIES SEEN IN VACCINATED YOUNG ADULTS.

THIS COMES AS AN FDA ADVISORY PANEL IS SET TO REVIEW DATA OF PFIZER'S VACCINES FOR KIDS 5 THROUGH 11 TOMATOES MEANS OF ACTING COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR KIDS AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH.

AND, THAT COULD HELP TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF SCHOOLS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH CONTACT TRACING AND QUARANTINES AS MORE STUDENTS TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID ACROSS THE STATE.

TURNING SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS INTO PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, AND LEAVING SCHOOL NURSES TO BEAR THE BURDEN.

GRIEVANCE ANTENNA REPORTS.

>> VICE PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPALS ARE NEEDED, WASTED IT, AND SOMETIMES IN OVER THEIR HEADS AS FAR AS TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE AMOUNT OF CONTACT TRACING THAT IS REQUIRED IN SCHOOLS THESE DAYS.

AND, IT HAPPENS 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

>> KAREN SAYS NEW JERSEY PRINCIPALS ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS DEALING WITH QUARANTINES, MASKS, AND CONTACT TRACING.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW JERSEY PRINCIPALS UNSUPERVISED ASSOCIATIONS SAYS IN MANY CASES, CONTACT TRACING HAS BEEN AN UNEXPECTED BURDEN FOR SCHOOL LEADERS.

>> IF YOU ARE IN A SCHOOL WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CONTACT TRACING POSSIBLY BEING REQUIRED FOR AN UNATHLETIC TEAM, OR A SCHOOL ACTIVITY, YOU'RE TRYING TO RE-CREATE, WHO WAS IN THIS PARTICULAR PRACTICE COHORT?

AND WHO WAS ACTUALLY FACE-TO-FACE WITH THIS PERSON IN THE GAME?

AND, FOR HOW LONG?

IF SO, IT CAN BE ONE PHONE CALL, IT CAN BE 40 PHONE CALLS AND FRANKLY, ONE OF THE DIFFICULT THINGS RIGHT NOW IS THAT WHEN THOSE PHONE CALLS ARE RECEIVED AT HOME, THERE'S REALLY JUST SO MUCH PUSHBACK FROM PARENTS AND KIDS.

>> EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SAYS CONTACT TRACING OF THE IN VACCINATED HAS FORCED HIM TO RESCHEDULE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHER EVALUATIONS.

THE MAXIMA THE REQUIREMENTS ARE TAXING THE SCHOOLS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

TAXING THE PERSONNEL, AND THE TIME CONSTRAINTS IN ORDER TO GET THESE THINGS DONE.

SO, OUR DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE PUT IN FOR A STATE GRANT, AND WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE COMPANY THAT IS COMING IN, AND THEY ARE TESTING THOSE STAFF THAT ARE UNVACCINATED.

YOU KNOW, IN A DISTRICT OUR SIZE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY ALMOST 200 STAFF, AND THEN THIS BUILDING ALONG 20.

SO, EACH WEEK, WE NEED TO TEST THOSE STAFF MEMBERS.

>> SINCE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN 126 OUTBREAKS LINKED TO IN SCHOOL TRANSMISSION WITH MORE THAN 650 POSITIVE CASES AMONGST STUDENTS AND STAFF.

BUT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CASES LINKED TO ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

>> AND THE ONE PARENT CALLS AND SAYS THERE WAS A PARTY ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

AND THIS IS WHO WAS THERE, AND THEY DON'T THINK WE KNOW HOW TO USE TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK, THEY THINK WE ARE JUST OLD, WE CAN'T DO IT.

BUT, GUESS WHAT, WE CAN.

AND, CONTACT TRACING GOES INTO DETECTIVE WORK, AND WE HAVE AWESOME MINISTERS THAT CAN FIND OUT WHO HAD THE PARTY, WHAT TIME IT WAS, WHO WAS THERE.

>> VICKI BECK IS THE SUPERVISOR OF NURSES ENCRYPTED PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BECK SAYS SCHOOL NURSES HAVE ALSO REACHED A TIPPING POINT QUEBEC SAYS IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM NONCOVERED RELATED ILLNESS, THEY ARE NOW TASKED WITH TRYING TO SEE IF THEIR STUDENT AND STAFF AGAINST COVERT INFECTIONS, WITH LITTLE TO NO ASSISTANCE.

>> I SHOULD HAVE 28 OR 29 NURSES.

CAN'T FIND THEM.

CANNOT FIND THEM.

I CANNOT FIND AGENCY NURSES.

>> THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING DUE TO THE DELTA VARIANCE, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL BACK IN SCHOOL.

THANKFULLY, WITH OUR FULL STUDENT BODY.

BUT, IT HAS CREATED MANY BARRIERS TO KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE, AND ABLE TO STAY IN SCHOOL.

>> WE ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, HELP.

>> YOU KNOW, WE NEED A TEAM, NOT HAVE EVERYTHING LAND ON THE SHOULDERS, THE ALREADY VERY, VERY BURDENED SHOULDERS OF SCHOOL NURSES IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE NOW IS KEEPING ADMINISTRATIVE AND SCHOOL NURSE JOBS FILLED AMID RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENTS, AND FINDING GOOD PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE VACANT POSITIONS.

SCHOOL STUFF AGREES THERE IS NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL ANSWER TO DEALING WITH POSITIVE CASES AND CONTACT TRACING.

THEY DO BELIEVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY EVERYONE WILL PREVENT FUTURE OUTBREAKS.

>> WE ALL ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY AT SCHOOL IS SAFE AND HEALTHY, AND ABLE TO LEARN.

>> FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM RAVENS ANTENNA.

>> BOOSTERS ARE AVAILABLE NOW THAT THE CDC HAS SIGNED OFF ON MODERNA AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON, AND FEDERAL HEALTH REGULATORS HAVE ALLOWED THOSE GETTING BOOSTED TO MIX AND MATCH THAT EXTRA DOSE, MEANING YOU DON'T HAVE TO STICK WITH THE SAME SHOT YOU STARTED WITH.

IF YOU ARE OVER 65 AND CONSIDERED HIGH RISK, AND YOU GOT THE PFIZER OR MODERNA SHOT, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE SIX MONTHS AFTER YOUR SECOND DOSE.

IF YOU GOT THE J&J VACCINE, YOU CAN GET A BOOSTER JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER YOUR SHOT.

IN NEW JERSEY, MORE THAN 6 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED, AND MORE THAN 400,000 PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN AN ADDITIONAL DOSE ALREADY, AS THE STATE REPORTS ANOTHER 829 CASES AND 8 DEBTS TODAY.

IN HOBOKEN, RESIDENTS OF THE SENIOR CENTER LINED UP AT A PUBLIC CLINIC WHERE THEY HAD A CHOICE OF ALL THREE OF THE BOOSTER SHOTS.

>> I FEEL GREAT.

I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD GET IT VACCINATED.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WON'T DO IT.

TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

FROM THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.

>> WE CAN SEE JUST BY THE TURNOUT THAT WE HAD HERE TODAY, IT'S REALLY GOOD, REALLY GOOD TURNOUT.

SO, I THINK MOST PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TIMING THAT COULD NOT BE BETTER, READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE WANTS TO GET A BOOSTER.

>> THE STATES GAS TAX DROPS, SO I THE PRICE OF GAS IS STILL GOING ON?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER EXPLAINS AND HAS ALL THE SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS HEADLINES.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, RHONDA?

>> JOANNA, NEW JERSEY GAS PRICES HAVE SHOT UP MORE THAN 9 CENTS A GALLON OVER THE PAST WEEK.

ACCORDING TO AAA, THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR IN THE GARDEN STATE IS JUST UNDER 3 DOLLARS, $.45.

THAT IS ABOUT 1.20 HIGHER THAN WHAT WE WERE ALL PAYING A YEAR AGO.

PREMIUM GAS IS NOW APPROACHING FOUR DOLLARS A GALLON.

BUT, THE GAS TAX WAS RECENTLY LOWERED IN NEW JERSEY.

WE ARE NOT SEEING ANY BENEFIT, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A SPIKE IN GASOLINE DEMAND HAS MORE PEOPLE BEGIN COMMUTING AGAIN, TRAVELING, OR JUST GOING OUT MORE, HIGHER DEMAND IS LEADING TO HIGHER GAS PRICES, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SUPPLY.

OIL PRODUCERS CUT BACK PRODUCTION DURING THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC, AND STEVE CRONIN, AND JOURNALIST WITH THE OIL PRICE INFORMATION SERVICE OF MARKET EXPLAINS RESTARTING PRODUCTION TAKES TIME.

>> IT IS SLOWLY COMING BACK.

BUT, THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE RUNNING INTO ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE RUNNING INTO.

THEY CANNOT GET THE SUPPLIES THEY NEED TO DRILL WELLS, THEY CAN'T GET THE WORKERS THEY NEED.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE WORKER SHORTAGE.

AND, THEY'RE HAVING A TOUGH TIME GETTING FINANCING TO DRILL WELLS.

>> ALIEN EXPECTS GAS PRICES ALREADY AT 7 YEAR HIGHS TO BE HIGH THROUGH NEXT YEAR.

BUSINESS GROUPS ARE ASKING THE WHITE HOUSE TO DELAY ITS PLAN VACCINE MANDATE FOR BUSINESSES UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAY.

GROUPS HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS.

THEY FURTHER MANDATE WILL LEAD TO WORKER RESIGNATIONS AND THEY WILL ONLY MAKE THE STAFFING AND SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS WORSE.

THE NEW JERSEY EDA IS TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES COVER THEIR ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENT FOR STREET-LEVEL SPACE.

IF THEY NEED CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS.

THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN'S AND MAIN STREETS.

THE STATE HAS SET ASIDE $10 MILLION FOR THE PROGRAM, AND IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS UNTIL FUNDING RUNS OUT.

WALL STREET HAS BEEN HITTING RECORDS LATELY.

HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW STOCKS FARED TODAY.

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

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY BY NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IN ATLANTIC CITY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJ TIA,.ORG.

>>> RESIDENCE, STILL REELING FROM TROPICAL STORM IDA NEED TO BRACE THEMSELVES FOR A NORTH AND EASTERN HEADED OUR WAY TONIGHT, BRINGING WITH IT, DAMAGING WINDS AND FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR 17 COUNTIES HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

THOSE FLOOD WARNINGS WILL START TONIGHT AT 8:00 P.M., AND LAST UNTIL TOMORROW AT 5:00 P.M.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS ALREADY ISSUED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WASTING NO TIME AFTER HIS OPPONENT, JACK CIATTARELLI CRITICIZED THE TIMING OF HIS WARNINGS, SAYING HIS DELAYS CAUSED THE UNNECESSARY DEATHS OF SEVERAL RESIDENTS CAUGHT IN THE FLASH FLOODS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS STOOD BY HIS TIMING.

UP TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN, COULD FALL BETWEEN TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT.

WIDENER UNIVERSITY IS SHEDDING THE NAME OF A FORMER SLAVE OWNER FROM ITS CAMPUS BUILDINGS.

NAMED AFTER FORMER LETTERS THAT ARE IN REVOLUTIONARY VETERAN, BENJAMIN VANCLEAVE, WILL NOW BE NAMED ALUMNI HOUSE.

THE CHANGE COMES AS INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY WRESTLE WITH HISTORIC AFFILIATIONS, AND THE FORMER SLAVE HOLDERS ARE COMING DOWN.

NEW YORK CITY, ORIGINALLY THE STATUE AND FOUNDING FATHER, THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS REMOVED FROM CITY HALL BRINGING BOTH PRAISE AND CRITICISM OVER THE MOVE BUT, HERE IN NEW JERSEY, RIGHT OF UNIVERSITY'S LEADERSHIP MADE NO APOLOGIES FOR THE CHANGE SAYING IN A LETTER THAT THEIR SUPPORT OF SLAVERY, BOTH AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND A LEGISLATOR MAKE IT INAPPROPRIATE FOR A WRITER TO CONTINUE THE ASSOCIATION OF HIM.

AND, THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

BUT, HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE ALL OF OUR TEAMS ARE REPORTING ON THE ISSUES IMPACTING THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF NEW JERSEY.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, 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.

>> NJM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>> I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT I'M STILL HERE.

>> ASKED ME MY DAUGHTER WHEN WE WENT TO CELEBRATE OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

>> WITH A NEW KIDNEY, I HAVE STRENGTH.

>> I'M STILL GOING EVERYWHERE, EXPLORING NEW PLACES.

>> NOBODY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE HERE, NOBODY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OLDER WITH MY WIFE, THAT IS POSSIBLE NOW.

>> WE ARE TRANSFORMED LIFE THROUGH INNOVATIVE KIDDING TREATMENTS, LIVING DONOR PROGRAMS AND AT TWO OF NEW JERSEY'S PREMIER HOSPITAL.

>> RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.