>>> 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 AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

ELECTION DAY IS FAST APPROACHING, AND NEW JERSEY'S DEMOCRATS ARE RALLYING THE TROOPS.

A FOUR-DAY DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION IS UNDERWAY WITH LEADERS LASER-FOCUSED ON PUSHING AN AGENDA THEY BELIEVE WILL APPEAL TO VOTERS IN THE STATE.

IN PARTICULAR, THEY'RE HOPING TO GALVANIZE WOMEN VOTERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ROE V. WADE DECISION.

BUT ABORTION MAY NOT BE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE HEADING INTO THE MIDTERMS.

A MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLL OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK FOUND 82 PERCENT OF AMERICANS RANKED INFLATION AS AN EXTREMELY OR VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE COMPARED TO 56 PERCENT WHO RANKED ABORTION AS A TOP WORRY.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT JOANNA GAGIS WAS IN TRENTON FOR THE CONVENTION.

SHE LAYS OUT THE PRIORITIES FOR NEW JERSEY'S DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AND LOOKS AT HOW THEIR PLATFORM WILL REACH VOTERS.

>> THIS ELECTION IS DO OR DIE.

DO OR DIE OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN ADDRESSED A ROOMFUL OF SUPPORTERS TODAY DURING THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION IN TRENTON, REMINDING THEM WHY THIS ELECTION MATTERS SO MUCH FOR THEIR PARTY.

>> SOCIAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, GETTING GUNS OFF OF OUR STREETS.

>> REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEARLY ALL OF NEW JERSEY'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS SPOKE TODAY, STICKING TO MESSAGES OF SUCCESS THEY'VE HAD DURING THE LAST CONGRESSIONAL SESSION.

>> MAKING SURE WE FIGHT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE OR FIGHT FOR GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION.

WE DID THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER, GETTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED.

>> UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, MORE THAN 10 MILLION JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED.

>> ONE MESSAGE WAS ON REPEAT TODAY AND IT'S THE ONE DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING HOLDS THE KEY TO HOLDING ONTO POWER COME NOVEMBER.

>> LET ME REMIND YOU, THAT THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED GO TO BASIC REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

SO, WE ARE HEARING STORIES IN TEXAS OF WOMEN HAVING MISCARRIAGES AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TREATED AT A HOSPITAL, AS THEY ARE BLEEDING.

WE ARE HEARING STORIES OUT OF OHIO, OF A 10-YEAR-OLD, AND MIND YOU, I HAVE A 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, A 10-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS RAPED, HER MOTHER WAS TOLD THAT SHE HAD TO CARRY THE BABY THROUGH HER TERM.

>> WE ARE GOING TO SHAPE THE NEXT 3 TO 5 DECADES.

>> DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING THEY CAN CHANNEL THE OUTRAGE OF ROE VERSUS WADE, IT IS THERE NEW ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES BRANDING.

>> IT IS BAD ENOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THE THREE BRANCHES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN THE TANK FOR THE RIGHT-WING ELEMENTS OF OUR NATION'S SADLY.

THE THOUGHT THAT EITHER CHAMBER OF CONGRESS COULD SLIP INTO THE OTHER SIDE, IN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT ARE JUST TOO MUCH TO FATHOM.

>> DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST SAYS IT'S A GOOD STRATEGY IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THESE DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING LEASES WHERE A LOT OF SUBURBAN WOMEN ARE INCREDIBLY CONCERNED ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

>> BUT OVERWHELMINGLY, VOTERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ECONOMIC ISSUES AND THAT IS AN AREA DEMOCRATS SHOULD ZERO IN ON IF THEY WANT STICKING POWER SAID PATRICK MURRAY.

>> THE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE DOING THE BEST ARE THOSE THAT CAN TIE THESE ISSUES INTO ECONOMIC ISSUES, SO IF ABORTION AS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE, IS ONE WHERE THEY ARE DOING WELL, SUCH AS THE GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN FOR EXAMPLE.

THAT'S WHY IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE EASY FOR REPUBLICANS IN THIS CYCLE TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT.

IT'S A VERY LIMITED MESSAGE.

THEIR BASE IS MOVED BY THESE CALLS ABOUT CRIME, ABOUT IMMIGRATION, AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER MESSAGES THEY HAVE TO HIT, THE COST OF LIVING IS OUT OF CONTROL.

WHICH ALSO APPEALS TO THOSE PERSUADABLE VOTERS.

>> THE CONVENTION WILL CONTINUE THIS WEEKEND WITH A MARCH IN ESSEX COUNTY TOMORROW AND EVENTS IN MONMOUTH AND ATLANTIC COUNTIES ON SUNDAY, DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING THEIR MESSAGE WILL CARRY LONG BEYOND THIS WEEKEND TO GIVE VOTERS OUT TO THE POLLS WHEN VOTING STARTS IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> DON'T FORGET, FOR ALL OF YOUR ELECTION NEEDS, HEAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, AND FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE RACES WE ARE WATCHING, CANDIDATE PROFILES AND MORE DETAILS ON YOUR DISTRICT, ALONG WITH WHERE AND HOW TO VOTE.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS IN NEW JERSEY YESTERDAY ATTENDING AN INTIMATE FUNDRAISER AT GOVERNOR MURPHY'S HOME IN MIDDLETOWN.

15 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE EVENT INCLUDING BON JOVI WHO WAS A FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR OF THE GOVERNORS, A DEMOCRATIC PARTY OFFICIAL SAYS THE FUNDRAISER RAISED ABOUT $1 MILLION.

ACCORDING TO WHITE HOUSE REPORTERS, THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY, TAMMY MURPHY SPOKE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TALKED ABOUT HIS RECORD, HIGHLIGHTING LEGISLATION THAT MAKES IT HARDER TO BUY GUNS FOR THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, AND EFFORTS TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

HE ALSO TOUTED HIS RECORD ON PROVIDING ECONOMIC STIMULUS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

ON THE 2022 ELECTION, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID BASED ON STATISTICS, THE DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING UPHILL, BUT HE ADDED SO FAR IT LOOKS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS WILL HOLD THE SENATE AND MAY PICK UP A COUPLE OF SEATS.

>>> YOU HEAR LESS ABOUT COVID-19 THESE DAYS BUT IT IS STILL ACTIVELY SPREADING IN NEW JERSEY.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION'S COVID-19 COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION MAP SHOWS ALL 21 COUNTIES IN THE STATE WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION.

SAYING FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, AND DELAWARE, YOU MAY RECALL THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN RECENTLY SAID THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

BUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR, DR. FAUCI PUT SOME CONTEXT AROUND THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS, SAYING COVID IS STILL A THREAT.

DR. FAUCI JOINS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ ON CHAT BOX.

>> THE LOOMING THREAT WHICH WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS AS THE THREAT OF THE EMERGENCE OF YET AGAIN ANOTHER VARIANT THAT COULD ELUDE THE PROTECTION THAT HAS BEEN BUILT UP FROM VACCINES AS WELL AS FROM PRIOR INFECTIONS.

SO ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN A MUCH, MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO, WHICH IS WHAT THE POINT THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS MAKING, WE STILL HAVE A GREAT CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF US.

WE'VE GOT TO DO MUCH BETTER THAN WE ARE DOING NOW.

WE HAVE TO GET MANY MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED, NOW THAT WE HAVE A BIVALENT UPDATED VACCINE THAT MATCHES TO THE CIRCULATING STRAIN.

WE'VE GOT TO GET A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO GET THAT UPDATED VACCINE.

I GOT MINE YESTERDAY IN NEW YORK.

AND I HOPE THAT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, NOT ONLY THIS COUNTRY BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, GET THAT UPDATED VACCINE.

>> IT'S THAT KIND OF NUANCED MESSAGING FROM THE PRESIDENT, HURT EFFORTS TO GET MORE PEOPLE BOOSTED AND VACCINATED?

>> I THINK PEOPLE MAKE IT THE WRONG IMPRESSION OF THAT, THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE OUT THERE, AND MY CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND OTHERS, CLARIFYING THAT WE CAN'T JUST LET OUR GUARD DOWN.

AND THE PRESIDENT IN FAIRNESS TO HIM, HE DID SAY THAT.

HE SAID, WE HAVE CHALLENGES AHEAD, AND WE CAN'T LET OUR GUARD DOWN.

THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE VIRUS AROUND THE WORLD, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE VIRUS INTERNATIONALLY?

>> WELL, BA.5 IS STILL A DOMINANT VARIANT, BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE INKLINGS OF THE APPEARANCE OF OTHER SUB- LINEAGE VARIANCE OF THE OMICRON, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BA4.6 AND OTHERS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, BUT WE HOPE THEY DON'T ELUDE THE PROTECTION THAT ONE GETS FROM VACCINES AND FROM PRIOR INFECTION.

>> YOU MENTIONED SEVEN PRESIDENTS THAT YOU ADVISED GOING BACK TO REAGAN, BUT ONLY TWO IN THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADVISING PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ADVISING PRESIDENT BIDEN?

>> I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT, IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, IN THAT OFTEN THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND DATA TOOK SECOND PLACE TO ANECDOTAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THINGS, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAD TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME.

I DIDN'T RELISH DOING THAT.

I HAD TO PUBLICLY DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE STATEMENTS OF THE PRESIDENT, AND OTHERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION SUCH AS THE EFFICACY OR NOT OF INTERVENTIONS LIKE HYDROXYCHLOROQUIN, AND OTHERS, I HAD PUSHBACK ON THAT.

WHEREAS NOW, WE TRY TO STAY AS MUCH AS WE CAN STRICTLY BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AND THE DATA AND THE SCIENCE.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR. FAUCI ON CHAT BOX SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:30 A.M., BUT MAKE SURE YOU ALSO CATCH REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE THIS WEEK, DAVID TALKS TO A STATE SENATOR WHO SOUNDS OFF ON ANOTHER NEW PROPOSAL TO CHARGE NEW JERSEY DRIVERS A $50 FEE FOR ENTERING MANHATTAN.

PLUS, ALL THE BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK WITH A PANEL OF LOCAL REPORTERS.

THAT IS TOMORROW AT 6:00 AND SUNDAY AT 10:00 ON NJ PBS.

>> 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.

>>> GUN-CONTROL ADVOCATES ARE CLOSELY WATCHING A DECISION IN NEW YORK, WHERE A FEDERAL JUDGE STRUCK DOWN KEY PROVISIONS OF A NEW GUN LAW THAT RESTRICTS CARRYING HANDGUNS IN PUBLIC.

NEW YORK'S NEW GUN LAW WAS PUT IN PLACE AFTER THE U.S. A PORK RING -- SUPREME COURT.

BUT, SAYING NEW YORK CAN'T LIMIT A PERSON FROM CARRYING A FIREARM IN PUBLIC WITHOUT SOME EXCEPTIONS SUCH AS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

AND THE JUDGE ALSO SAID SOME OF NEW YORK'S NEW LICENSING RULES WENT TOO FAR.

NEW YORK IS APPEALING THAT DECISION.

MEANTIME, FOLLOWING THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING, GOVERNOR MURPHY ASKED LEGISLATURES TO CREATE GUN FREE ZONES AROUND NEW JERSEY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GOVERNOR SAID MURPHY HAS HAD PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, AND IS EAGER TO ENACT THIS PROPOSAL INTO LAW VERY SOON.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, THE U.S. ECONOMY CONTINUES TO CREATE NEW JOBS.

BUT NOT AT THE TORRID PACE WE SAW IN PREVIOUS MONTHS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEPTEMBER JOBS REPORT SHOWS 263,000 NEW POSITIONS WERE ADDED TO THE ECONOMY LAST MONTH, WHICH FELL SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS.

WAGES ARE STILL RISING WITH AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS UP 5% FROM A YEAR AGO.

THAT IS SOMETHING THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS WATCHING, IT HAS BEEN TRYING TO TAME INFLATION WITH A SERIES OF INTEREST RATE HIKES.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED TO 3.5% IN SEPTEMBER.

GAS PRICES MOVED HIGHER THIS WEEK HERE IN THIS STATE, AFTER OPEC DECIDED TO CUT PRODUCTION BY 2 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY, THAT AMOUNTS TO 2% OF TOTAL OIL GLOBAL PRODUCTION, THE WHITE HOUSE CALLED THE ACTION A DISAPPOINTMENT.

GAS PRICES IN NEW JERSEY REMAIN BELOW THEIR SUMMER PEAK BUT ARE UP ABOUT NINE CENTS OVER LAST WEEK.

SO, WHAT WILL THIS DECISION MEAN FOR NEW JERSEY AND WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE?

FOR SOME ANSWERS, LET'S TURN TO THE GLOBAL HEAD OF ENERGY ANALYSIS AT THE OIL PRICE INFORMATION SERVICE.

TOM, VERY NICE TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST BIG OPEC PRODUCTION CUT IN ABOUT 2 YEARS, WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR IT?

>> WELL, YOU MIGHT SAY GREED, YOU MIGHT SAY FEAR BUT, YOU GET VERY COMFORTABLE WITH HIGHER PRICES, AND THEN WHEN IT LOOKS AS THOUGH YOU ARE GOING TO GO FROM 100 UP TO $120, YOU ARE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF IT, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

I THINK THEY FEAR THE DEMAND THAT COMES WITH A GLOBAL RECESSION.

CERTAINLY, A RECESSION IN EUROPE, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT FLAT IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THAT, AND A LOT OF CONSUMERS IN NORTH AMERICA AS WELL.

>> SO FAR WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE HAVE SEEN A FAIRLY MUTED IMPACT ON BOTH THE OIL AND GAS MARKETS, BUT WHAT YOU EXPECT TO HAPPEN FROM HERE IN TERMS OF WHERE THESE PRICES COULD GO?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO SWITCH GEARS FOR A SECOND, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A CALAMITY IN TERMS OF GASOLINE PRICES IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

IF YOU HAVE A REFINERY ISSUE, LIKE IN NEW JERSEY ARE ON THE DELAWARE RIVER, YOU WILL HAVE A BIG SPIKE.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE FOR OVERALL INFLATION AND FOR THE PRICE OF CRUDE, BUT PARTICULARLY THE PRICE OF DIESEL AND JET FUEL.

THOSE ARE SCORCHING HIGHER IN THE NORTHEAST AND EVERY OTHER PIECE OF REAL ESTATE IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

SO I KNOW PEOPLE GET EXCITED ABOUT GASOLINE PRICES, WE WILL SEE HIGHER NUMBERS, MAYBE GO UP AND THE NEAR FOUR DOLLARS OR SO, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MUCH HIGHER FREIGHT CHARGES, HIGHER AIRFARES, BECAUSE THE MOLECULE THAT IS IN SHORT SUPPLY IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW IS DIESEL OR HEATING OIL.

>> AND OF COURSE THIS IMPACTS THE CONSUMER AS WELL, WHEN WE SEE PRICES INCREASE OTHERWISE, WHETHER IT'S HIGHER AIRLINE FARES, OR HIGHER COSTS ON GOODS WITH DIESEL THAT IS MOVING THESE PRODUCTS AROUND.

>> YES, IT'S MORE INSIDIOUS IMPACT ON INFLATION.

YOU KNOW, GASOLINE GETS THE WHITE HOUSE'S ATTENTION, THEY ARE RAZOR FOCUSED ON IT.

PEOPLE REACT DIFFERENTLY, THEY ARE NOT SAYING WELL, BASED ON MY INCOME, IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS IN 2008, BUT WITH DIESEL AND HEATING OIL, IT IS LOOKING SCARY FOR THE NORTHEAST, WHICH IN ORDER TO SEE PRICES GO UP, THAT IS GOING TO MANIFEST ITSELF IN EVERYTHING YOU BUY AT THE STORE, WHETHER IN THE GROCERY STORE OR THE DEPARTMENT STORES.

RUSSIA CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE RUSSIAN CRUDE AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE RUSSIAN HEATING OIL AND DIESEL THAT EUROPE NEEDS, AND BY EXTENSION, THE UNITED STATES NEEDS.

>> WHEN WILL WE GET TO THE POINT WHEN U.S. OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION CAN FILL THE GAP?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO RISE, BUT IT'S GOING TO RISE NOMINALLY.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE PRODUCERS, AND THEY DIDN'T GET TOGETHER COLLUSIVE LEE, IT'S THE POLLUTION OF CAPITALISM BASICALLY, YOU WILL SEE PRODUCTION RISE THIS YEAR.

AND LET'S HOPE WE DON'T GET IT FROM MEXICO, WE ESCAPED IT ON THE OIL SIDE FROM HURRICANE IAN, THERE STILL 60 DAYS LEFT IN THE SEASON.

>> SO GOOD TO TALK TO YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR TIME.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED A VOLATILE TRAINING TRADING WEEK.

>> 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.

>>> MAKE SURE YOU CATCH NJ BUSINESS BEAT THIS WEEKEND WHERE WE SPOTLIGHT LATINOS IN BUSINESS, FROM THE CHALLENGES OBTAINING CAPITAL TO COLLEGE PROGRAMS THAT ARE HELPING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS CARVE THEIR OWN PATH IN THE TECH WORLD.

PLUS, WITH ALL THE MAJOR BUSINESS HEADLINES OF THE WEEK, THAT IS SATURDAY AT 5:00 AND SUNDAY AT 9:30 ON NJ PBS AND ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT 10:00 A.M. >>> THE LATEST EPISODE OF OUR PODCAST IS OUT, THE SERIES EXAMINES THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE 115 SUPERFUND SITES HERE IN THE GARDEN STATE.

THIS LATEST STORY TAKES US TO THE NATIONAL LEAD SITE IN SOUTH JERSEY SALEM COUNTY, WHERE BACK IN THE 1970S, THE COMPANY WAS RECYCLING CAR BATTERIES AT ITS FACTORY HAPHAZARDLY DRAINING THE BATTERY ACID ON THE GROUND FOR THE POLLUTION LEFT DANGEROUS HEAVY METALS IN THE SITES SOIL AND GROUNDWATER, A MESS THAT IS NOW ON THE VERGE OF BEING CLEANED UP, BUT IN AN AREA ALONG DELAWARE BAY.

WHERE SEA LEVEL RISE IS A GROWING THREAT.

BRIANA VANNOZZI SAT DOWN WITH HOST JORDAN GOSS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> JORDAN, IN THIS REPORTING FOR THE PODCAST, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE CLEANUP EFFORT FROM THE NATIONAL LEAD COMPANY, BUT WHAT'S THE PROBLEM THERE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS, REALLY.

>> THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MANY YEARS, SO WHAT NATIONAL LEAD DID WAS IN THE 1970S, THEY RECYCLED OLD CAR BATTERIES, AND THE PROCESS FOR RECYCLING AT THE TIME AT LEAST WAS THEY WOULD BREAK THE OLD CAR BATTERIES OPEN AND SULFURIC ACID WOULD DRAIN FROM BATTERIES, WHICH IS THE LEAD THAT WAS DRAINED WITHIN THE CAR BATTERIES.

WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN YOU HAD ALL THESE TOXIC CHEMICALS POURING ONTO THE GROUND, JUST STRAIGHT ONTO THE GROUND, THAT CAUSES MANY ISSUES.

SO, I DRAINING THESE BATTERIES ONTO THE GROUND, THEY CONTAMINATE THE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER AT THIS SITE.

WHICH IS WHY THE EPA HAS SPENT MANY YEARS TRYING TO CLEAN IT ALL UP, AND THEY ARE REALLY CLOSE NOW TO DOING SO.

>> WHAT IS THREATENING THE CLEANUP?

IS IT SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO BEING RESOLVED?

>> IT IS CLOSE TO BEING RESOLVED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT WITH THIS EPISODE AND WITH THE REMAINING EPISODES OF THE SERIES IS LOOKING AT MORE OF THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE CLEANUP, WHAT THE EPA IS DOING AT THIS SITE IN PARTICULAR IS SOMETHING KIND OF INTERESTING AND UNIQUE TO EPA SUPERFUND CLEANUP.

THEY ARE TRYING TO RAISE THE PH OF THE GROUNDWATER THAT HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED, THE GROUNDWATER RIGHT NOW IS REALLY ACIDIC SO THEY ARE TRYING TO RAGE RAISE THE PH TO MAKE IT LESS SPECIFIC ACIDIC, SO THE EPISODE GETS INTO THE INS AND OUTS OF THIS AND I'M VERY CLEAR IN THE EPISODE I'M NOT A SCIENTIST AND THUS CAN GET VERY COMPLICATED VERY EASY, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT DO A GREAT JOB EXPLAINING WHY THIS IS SO UNIQUE AND WHY THIS IS REALLY BENEFICIAL AND WILL HOPEFULLY CLEAN THIS SITE UP ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> VERY QUICKLY, WHAT IS IN STORE?

I KNOW YOU MENTIONED YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE MORE POSITIVE SIDE OF WHAT THESE CLEANUPS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT GOING FORWARD?

>> YES, THE NEXT EPISODE IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE LOOKING AT SEPTIC LANDFILL, IN NEW YORK CITY, AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE CLEANUP OF THAT LANDFILL, THEY HAVE PUT SOLAR PANELS ON TOP OF THE SUPERFUND SITE, SO LOOKING AT THE POSITIVE REMEDIATION OF THESE SITES BECAUSE NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ANYTHING ON THERE, NO HOUSING, NO SCHOOLS, NOT EVEN ABLE TO HAVE A PARK ONCE THE SITE IS CLEANED UP BUT, YOU CAN PUT SOLAR PANELS AND HELP THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WAY.

>> JORDAN, THANK YOU.

>>> BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THIS LATEST EPISODE OF HAZARD NJ TITLED ORANGE FOG AND CREEPING SALTWATER, FROM OUR SITE AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCAST.

BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, TECHNOLOGY SEEMS TO BE CHANGING EVERYTHING, AND THAT INCLUDES YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL LIBRARY AND THE ROLE OF A LIBRARIAN.

THE TRADITIONAL LIBRARY MODEL HAS ADAPTED FROM A PLACE TO CHECK OUT BOOKS TO A PLACE THAT IS MORE LIKE A TECHNOLOGY FOCUSED MEDIA CENTER.

AS TED GOLDBERG REPORTS, LIBRARIANS HAVE A NEW SKILLS AND ARE NOW HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE ONLINE WORLD IN NEW WAYS.

>> IF YOU THINK OF LIBRARIES AS PLACES TO GRAB A BOOK AND JUST LEARN THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM, YOU ARE NOT WRONG, BUT LIBRARIES LIKE THIS ONE CRANFORD ARE NOW PROVIDING A LOT MORE THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT.

>> DURING COVID-19, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER PEOPLE WIRELESS HOTSPOTS AND TABLETS AT HOME, PEOPLE WHO SUDDENLY FOUND THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND ZOO MEETINGS, ZOOM INTERVIEWS, WITH A GOOD SOLID INTERNET CONNECTION AND UPDATED DEVICE TO WORK WITH.

>> MICHAEL HAS BEEN A FULL-TIME LIBRARIAN FOR 15 YEARS, AND IT'S A MUCH DIFFERENT JOB THAN THE LIBRARIANS HE LOOKED UP TO AS A CHILD.

LIBRARIES OF THE PAST DID NOT ALWAYS OFFER SEATS FOR PEOPLE TO START GARDENS AND THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD TO BE JACK OF ALL TRADES, TO SOME DEGREE.

BUT, THE ACTUAL TRADES HAVE CHANGED.

15 YEARS AGO YOU DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE PEOPLE SAYING I NEED TO CREATE A WEBSITE FOR MY BUSINESS.

OR I NEED TO HELP MY CHILDREN NAVIGATE THIS ENTIRELY NEW ONLINE SYSTEM THAT MY SCHOOL IS OFFERING.

SO, TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE DEVELOP THOSE SKILLS, WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THEM AND OURSELVES.

>> LIBRARIANS AND SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES TO THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS.

>> LIBRARIANS BECAME ALMOST I.T.

SPECIALISTS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE WERE PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR OUR TEACHERS, FOR OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND THE STUDENTS, WE WERE THE ONES SETTING THEM UP WITH THE ZOOM CALLS AND WITH OTHER RESOURCES AS WELL.

>> EVER ELLIOTT LEADS THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS.

>> WE NEED TO DEFINITELY GO AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL STEREOTYPE IN THE BUILDING.

>> SHE SAYS LIBRARIANS HAVE BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FIGURES IN HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN MEDIA LITERACY AS IT BECOMES HARDER TO DECIPHER WHAT'S NEWS AND WHAT'S NONSENSE ON THE INTERNET.

>> THIS GENERATION WAS BORN WITH PRETTY MUCH USING THEIR HANDS, SO WE ARE GIVING THEM SOMETHING AND WE ARE NOT TEACHING THEM HOW TO USE IT EFFECTIVELY.

I HAVE A 9-YEAR-OLD, VERY OFTEN HE WOULD COME TO ME AND SAY SOMETHING, SOME KIND OF EFFECT, AND THEN I WOULD ASK HIM, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

AND HE SAID WE WATCHED IT WITH MY COUSINS ON TIKTOK.

>> MEDIA LITERACY ISN'T TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS BUT THAT COULD CHANGE.

THE NJ ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS HAS SUBMITTED A BILL TO THE NEW JERSEY STATEHOUSE THAT WOULD MANDATE IT IN PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULA GOING FORWARD.

>> HOW DO WE GET THEM TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING THEY ARE HEARING IS AN OPINION AND THEY CAN HAVE THAT OPINION BUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S OPINION MIGHT BE DIFFERENT?

>> JILL WORKS IN THE SUMMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IS A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS.

SHE IS OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS BILL WILL HELP KIDS BECOME BETTER INFORMED AND BETTER AT DISAGREEING MORE PEACEFULLY.

>> HOW CAN YOU LIVE IN THAT SPACE WHERE YOU CANNOT BE SO POLARIZED BUT WORK TOGETHER?

THESE ARE SKILLS THAT WE NOTICE PEOPLE ARE MOVING FURTHER APART, WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD BRIDGES.

>> THE INABILITY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO SORT THROUGH THE INCREDIBLE VOLUME OF INFORMATION, SOME OF IT GOOD, SOME OF IT BAD IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE, AND HONESTLY WHO CAN BLAME THEM WITH SO MUCH INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET, IT CAN SEEM IMPOSSIBLE TO SORT OUT WHAT IS TRUE AND FALSE.

>> THIS BILL COULD MAKE THAT EASIER AND KEEP SCHOOL LIBRARIES A CRITICAL LEARNING PLACE FOR KIDS IN SCHOOLS.

I'M TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US TONIGHT, MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, FROM THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE WILL SEE YOU ON MONDAY.

>> MJM INSURANCE GROUP, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.