>>> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE COVID-19 TESTING HAS BEEN THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN THIS PANDEMIC.

WITH THE PUSH FOR HIGHER VACCINATION COVERAGE, NOW THE MAIN GOAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.

BUT AS INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION SECTORS REOPEN, MANY WORKERS ARE GIVEN THE OPTION TO GET TESTED WEEKLY INSTEAD OF ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR A SHOT.

THE TESTING DEMAND IS ONLY EXPECTED TO GROW AS THE KIDS GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF IN PERSON SCHOOL AND ACTIVITIES WITH THE COVID-19 VACCINATION NOT YET AUTHORIZED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12.

1700 NEW CONFIRMED CASES AND 22 NEW DEATHS.

IT HAS BEEN ON A STEADY RISE.

THE FULLY VACCINATED IS NOW 7.5 MILLION.

THEY ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM CONTRACTING THE VIRUS.

BUT BREAK THROUGH CASES ARE ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE RECORD.

THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SPIKE OF TESTING DEMAND NOT SEEN IN MONTHS.

>> EVERYONE HAS GOT TO GET TESTED HERE.

>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT?

>> IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME.

>> Reporter: THIS MAN TOOK A SALIVA TEST.

HE WORKS FOR MAPLE WOODS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS THAT REQUIRES WEEKLY COVID TESTS AND SO DOES THIS GUY THAT DOESN'T GIVE HIS NAME AND DOESN'T DEGREE WITH THE VAX AND TEST MANDATES.

>> I'M NOT GETTING VACCINATED.

>> TO BRING YOURSELF TO A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN BE EXPOSED BECAUSE THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS, I DON'T LIKE THAT PART.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AN INCREASE IN TESTS.

WE'RE READY TO HANDLE THE TESTING.

WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 40,000 KITS THAT WE GOT DELIVER IT HAD LAST WEEK.

SO WE'RE READY FOR THE CAPACITY.

>> Reporter: COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER SAID THIS FACILITY PEOPLES 100 TO 150 TESTS A DAY, UP FROM 30 AND IT COULD DOUBLE AS SCHOOLS AND OFFICES REOPEN ACROSS THE STATE.

AND NOW UNVACCINATED STAFF GETTING TESTED AND A SCENARIO LIKELY TO BE REPEATED OFTEN.

THIS STUDENT JUST GOT AN E-MAIL ADVISORY FROM SCHOOL.

>> IF WE HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEONE IN THE CLASS.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T HAVE IT.

>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

>> SCARY, A LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OTHER KIDS ARE GETTING TESTED?

>> NO, I DON'T.

>> Reporter: FOUR STAFFERS AND THREE STUDENTS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE SINCE SEPTEMBER 5th.

>> MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT ARE UNVACCINATED.

THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 12 AT THIS TIME.

SO THERE IS CERTAINLY AN INCREASED RISK.

AND PARENTS WILL BE CONCERNED TO GET THE CHILDREN TESTED, NOT ONLY TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: THEY OPENED THIS DRIVE-THRU TEST SITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LINE UP FOR THE NOSE PROBE PCR TEST WEEKLY VAX OR TEST MANDATES WILL AFFECT MILLIONS IN NEW JERSEY, INCLUDING TEACHER AND SCHOOL STAFF, STATE EMPLOYEES AND SOON BUSINESSES WITH A HUNDRED OR MORE EMPLOYEES.

>> WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SET UP MORE STATIC TESTING SITES TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO.

WE DON'T HAVE A TESTING MANDATE.

WE HAVE A VACCINE MANDATE.

THE TESTING IS TO TRY TO PROTECT PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE RUSH STARTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHEN THEY COUNTED 52,000 TESTS IN A SINGLE DAY.

THAT IS THE MOST SINCE BACK IN EARLY MAY.

THE UPWARD TESTING TRENDS VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATED ON THE JERSEY COVID DASHBOARD.

>> WE'RE TESTING IN THE HIGHER ECHELON OF ANY STATE IN AMERICA.

SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS THAT WAY.

THE MORE WE KNOW, THE BETTER EQUIPPED WE ARE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

>> Reporter: TURN AROUND TIME FOR LAB PCR TEST IS 24 TO 48 HOURS BUT SCALING UP EXTEND WAIT TIMES.

OVERWHELMED LABS FELL FAR BEHIND.

>> THERE WAS A BEHIND IN TIME WHEN THERE WAS EIGHT, NINE, TEN DAYS IN THE WAITING PERIODS.

I THINK RIGHT NOW THE LABS HAVE RESOLVED THAT ISSUE.

>> WE TRY TO TURN EVERYONE AROUND IN 48 HOURS.

AND WE ARE STAFFING TO MEET THAT CAPACITY.

WE FORECAST, BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW IS COMING IN.

>> Reporter: BIOREFERENCE SAID IT CAN MEET THE DEMAND AT THE ESSEX COUNTY WEBSITE.

AND WORKPLACE NEEDS SEEM TO BE THE MAIN DRIVER OF THE DEMAND.

>> I'M MAKING A SHORT FILM.

AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE TESTED TO BE ON THE SET.

I DON'T MIND IT IF IT MAKES EVERYONE FEEL BETTER.

>> JUDGE DENIED A MOTION FILED BY A GROUP OF PARENTS TO BLOCK GOVERNOR MURPHY'S MASK MANDATE IN SCHOOLS.

THEY SAY IT INTERFERES WITH COMMUNICATION AND LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM AND IT WAS IMPOSED WITHOUT DUE LEGAL PROCESS.

BUT THE JUDGE CITED EVIDENCE FROM THE CDC SHOWING THAT MASK WEARING IS EFFECTIVE AND CALLED UPON BY THE STATE IN RESPONSE TO THE RISING INFECTION RATES.

THE ATTORNEY SAID THEY'RE STILL DECIDING WHETHER TO APPEAL.

A CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED WITH THE JUDGE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

MASKING IS NOT THE ONLY BATTLE BETWEEN THE PARENTS AND THE DISTRICTS.

VACCINES AND VIRTUAL LEARNING OPTIONS ARE FUELING DEBATES.

AFTER 18 MONTHS OF HYBRID AND VIRTUAL SCHEDULES, NEW JERSEY KIDS FINALLY RETURNED TO THEIR SCHOOLS FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING LAST WEEK.

THE DELTA VARIANT IS FUELING THE RISING CASE BLOODS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO UPEND THE YEAR.

WE ASK DR. MEG FISHER TO WEIGH IN.

SHE IS A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE STATE COMMISSIONER.

BIG WEEK HERE WITH THE KIDS BACK IN PERSON IN SCHOOL.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE CHILDREN THAT ARE UNABLE TO BE VACCINATED BACK IN PERSON?

>> Reporter: SO WE KNOW THAT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS.

BUT WE WANT TO BE SURE IT IS SAFE.

AND WE KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING AS MANY OF THE LAYERED AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES, THERE HAVE BEEN OUTBREAKS AND CLOSURES.

BUT WE THINK WITH THIS LAYERED APPROACH, WITH HAVING ALL OF THE CHILDREN AND THE ADULTS IN MASKS AND KEEPING THE PHYSICAL DISTANCE THREE FEET, SIX FEET, IF POSSIBLE, AND DOING THE TESTING AND THE CONTACT TRACING, WE THINK THAT WE CAN KEEP SCHOOL OPEN.

AND WE THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE BENEFIT OF OUR CHILDREN.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE PARENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS DEBATE ABOUT VACCINATING AND ABOUT MASK MAN DATES.

HOW DO YOU WEIGH BOTH OF THOSE?

>> Reporter: SO THE VACCINATION WE KNOW IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN 12 AND OLDER.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT, NOT JUST THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BUT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, THE CDC AND PREVENTION.

EVERYONE ACROSS THE BOARD RECOMMENDS OR ALL OF THE MEDICAL GROUPS, RECOMMEND VACCINES FOR CHILDREN.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL TOOL AND PROBABLY THE BEST TOOL THAT WE HAVE FOR CUTTING DOWN AND STOPPING THIS PANDEMIC.

BUT WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN UNDER 12 ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE.

WE HOPE THEY WILL BE SOON.

TILL THEN, WE STILL NEED THE LAYERED APPROACH.

SO THINGS LIKE MASKS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.

THIS IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE, MOST EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE THAT WE HAVE.

>> LET ME ASK ABOUT THE AUTHORIZATION FOR KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 12.

THE FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER SAID THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS COULD BE AUTHORIZED BY OCTOBER, LATE OCTOBER.

BUT THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING THROUGH FALL.

WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO BE WELL INTO WINTER BEFORE THE KIDS WILL BE VACCINATED, A TIME WHEN ILLNESSES RISE AND CERTAINLY NOW HISTORICALLY WE KNOW CASES OF COVID RISE.

WHAT IS THE CONCERN THERE?

>> THE CONCERN IS THE SAME LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE A VACCINE.

THERE WERE SOME SCHOOLS THAT WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH NO VACCINE BECAUSE THEY USED THE STRATEGIES OF PHYSICALLY DISTANCE, WEARING THE MASK, CONTACT TRACING, KEEPING CHILDREN IN COHORTS.

MINIMIZING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT CHILDREN SPENT IN CLOSE CONTACT, AND NOW WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL TOOLS.

MAKING SURE THAT THE ADULTS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE IMMUNIZED AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE WEARING MASKS JUST BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

THIS STRATEGY OF IS NOT JUST DEPENDING ON ONE THING IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE.

>> HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT TALKING TO PARENTS?

WHAT TYPE OF CONVERSATIONS ARE YOU HAVING, GEARING THEM UP IN PREPARATION FOR VACCINES TO BE APPROVED FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

THE AMERICAN PEDIATRICS IS URGING THE FDA TO SPEED UP THIS AUTHORIZATION.

HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THE CONVERSATIONS?

>> I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO SAY IS, YES, WE VERY MUCH NEED AND WANT A VACCINE FOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN.

BUT WE NEED AND WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE.

WE'RE NOT RUSHING THE PROCESS.

WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO SKIP ANY OF THE SAFETY OR EFFICACY STUDIES.

WE JUST WANT TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS IT CAN.

>> GREAT INSIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

A PLEASURE TO TALK TO YOU.

>>> FLOOD VICTIMS FROM TROPICAL STORM IDA ARE AFFECTED THIS WEEK.

THE DEATH TOLL IS STILL AT 30 VICTIMS THAT DIED ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORM.

SUMMER AND HUNTER COUNTIES REPORTED THE MOST FATALITIES.

THEY DIG INTO THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR DISASTER RELIEF THROUGH INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE STORM RESPONSE AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOW FRONT AND CENTER IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WITH THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE JACK -- CAMP CALLING UNTIL HEARING INTO THE ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF THE STORM.

DAVID CRUZ HAS THE STORY.

>> >> THE DEATH TOLL IS NOW UP TO 30.

>> Reporter: THE HARD TRUTH DOES NOT FLATTER BECAUSE OF A STORM THAT INUNDATED YOUR STATE.

PEOPLE DYING IN BASEMENTS OR IN THEIR CARS IS TOO PAINFUL TO EVEN SAY OUT LOUD.

BUT THEY WANT YOU TO AGREE WITH THEM THAT LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF MURPHY WOULD HAVE ACTED MORE QUICKLY.

>> IF WE EVER NEEDED A GET THE HELL OFF THE BEACH MOMENT HERE IN NEW JERSEY THIS WAS IT.

THE GOVERNOR DID NOT DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY TILL FOUR HOURS AFTER THE WORST OF THE STORM HIM AND SIX HOURS AFTER THE PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR, WHO IS A DEMOCRAT DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT DECISION MAKING PROCESS THAT MURPHY AND HIS LEADERSHIP WENT THROUGH TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

I THINK WE COULD HAVE PREVENTED SOME DEATHS IF WE WOULD HAVE HEIGHTENED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS INCOMING STORM.

>> Reporter: THEY WANT LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS.

THE GOP HELD THEIR OWN HEARING IN THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE TO THE COVID CRISIS AND THE IMPACTS ON THE STATE'S SMALL BUSINESS.

BUT THE DRIVER OF THE HEARING THEN THINK NOW IS NOT THE TIME AND THE LEGISLATURE MAY NOT BE THE PLACE FOR A POST DISASTER ASSESSMENT.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT FOR THE SPEAKER, WHO ARE BOTH DEMOCRATS, ARE SCHEDULING ANY LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY HEARINGS.

THAT IS NOT HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: THAT DOESN'T MEAN MURPHY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GIVE A PUBLIC ACCOUNTING.

>> THERE WAS AN UNDERPERFORMANCE.

WE DID NOT GIVE AN APPROPRIATE PREPARATION FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED IT.

THIS IS IN RETROSPECT.

HAD A LOT OF MY RESIDENTS BEEN GIVEN SOME SORT OF HEADS UP, THIS IS THE POTENTIAL FOR WHAT IS GOING TO OCCUR.

WE COULD HAVE SAVED LIVES.

WE COULD HAVE SAVED PROPERTY.

WE COULD HAVE SAVED CARS.

WE COULD HAVE DONE A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS.

>> MAYBE THE STANDARD THAT WE OUGHT TO USE IN TERMS OF JUDGING HOW CAN VOTERS SORT OF DECIDE WHAT WEIGHT TO PUT ON IT MAYBE HOW CLOSE TO AN ELECTION WE ARE.

HOW CLOSE BEFORE THE ELECTION OR AFTER THE ELECTION ARE WE.

I THINK YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH OF THIS IS POLITICAL FADER AND HOW MUCH IS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE A RESULT.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THAT HE WILL NOT GET INTO THE POLITICS OF THE CALL TO THE HEARING.

BUT REJECTING THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS COMING IN PLENTY OF TIME.

>> WE SHOUTED OUT TORNADO WARNINGS AND FLOOD WARNINGS AND THEY CAME OUT WITH EARLY AND REGULAR RHYTHM.

BUT WHEN YOU LOSE 30 PEOPLE IN A STORM, I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL ELEMENTS OF THIS, INCLUDING WHAT THE FOLKS HAVE CALLED A LITTLE BIT -- THIS IS NOT THEY'RE FAULT.

THIS IS A HUMAN NATURE OBSERVATION, WHERE YOU GET THE THINGS IN YOUR PHONE AND HOW MANY YOU GOT THEM AND TURN THEM OFF AND IT TURNS OUT THAT SADLY THAT YOU COULD PAY AN AWFUL PRICE FOR THAT.

>> Reporter: MURPHY DOES NOT EXPECT TO HEAR MANY MORE IDA QUESTIONS.

HE'S MOVED ONTO A NEW TV AD TOUTING HIS COMPETENCE AND CARING.

BUT THEY PLAN TO KEEP CALLING MURPHY OUT EVEN IF MURPHY IS NOT LISTENING.

>>> THERE IS A BUYER BEWARE TONIGHT.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY A NEW OR USED CAR, TROPICAL STORM IDA DESTROYED LOTS OF CARS.

THEY ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON AN ALREADY DISTRESSED INDUSTRY CAUSED BY THE MASSIVE MICROCHIP SHORTAGE.

THERE IS A NEW TWIST.

CONSUMERS WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR STORM DAMAGED VEHICLES BEING CLEANED OUT AND RESOLD TO UNSUSPECTING BUYERS.

>> Reporter: IT IS A SHORTAGE MADE WORSE BY A NATURAL DISASTER.

MANY LOST THEIR CARS TO FLOODING CAUSED BY TROPICAL STORM IDA.

AND THE TIMING TO REPLACE THEM COULD NOT BE WORSE.

>> YOU GOT IT FIGHT FOR THE CARS.

THERE ARE NONE AROUND.

MY FAMILY OWNS A NEW CAR DEALER AND THEY DON'T HAVE CARS TO SELL.

WHEN THEY GET FOUR OR FIVE CARS IN, THEY ARE GONE IMMEDIATELY.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN GARFIELD.

HE SAID THAT HE'S ABOUT 45 CARS SHORT IN HIS LOT.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE NEW CARS TO SELL.

THEY HAVE USED CAR ON THE SHOWROOM.

>> Reporter: THE SUPPLY CHAIN TOOK A HIT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS HARD TO GET PARTS, INCLUDING A CHIP SHORTAGE.

>> LAST YEAR WHEN EVERYBODY WAS WORKING REMOTELY, CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL REMOTELY, THERE WAS A HUGE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR LAPTOP COMPUTER S. TO THE CHIP INDUSTRY STARTED PRODUCING ENOUGH TO MEET THAT DEMAND.

BUT THAT MEANT THEY WERE SHORT TO PRODUCE THE CHIPS FOR THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.

>> Reporter: AND COMBINE THAT WITH THE LOW SUPPLY, YOU GET HIGHER CAR PRICES.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING TO REPLACE THEIR CARS COULD HAVE LITTLE TO NO OPTIONS.

>> THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A NEW CAR HAS SKYROCKETED OVER THE LAST YEAR TO SOME ARE IN THE LOW 40s.

THAT IS AMAZING TO ME H I THINK MY FIRST HOUSE COST $40,000.

IT IS NOT A LOT BETTER FOR USED CARS.

BECAUSE NEW CAR INVENTORY IS LOW AND SALES DEPRESSED, THE AVAILABILITY OF USED CARS, MOST OF WHICH ARE GENERATED FROM THE LEASE RETURNS ON TRADE-INS ON NEW CAR PURCHASES, SO THE INVENTORY OF USED CARS IS NOW UNDER PRESSURE AS WELL.

AND THE PRICE OF THAT THE USED CARS IS GROWING ADDITIONALLY U.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY COALITION OF AUTOMOTIVE RETAILERS SAID THEY HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING AUTOMAKERS TO SHIP PRODUCTS INTO THE MARKETS MOST AFFECTED BY THE FLOODING, NEW JERSEY INCLUDED.

>> MANY DEALERS ARE SHORT ON INVENTORIES TOO.

>> Reporter: PEOPLE TRYING TO SELL CARS DAMAGED BY FLOODING.

LOOK FOR THIS WARNING SIGN.

THERE ARE A LOT OUT THERE.

>> THEY COME IN FULLY DETAILED AND THEY JUST HAD IT DETAILED.

WE'RE NOT STUPID.

WE KNOW THEY DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND IT GOT FLOODED AND THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL TO US.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GOT INEXPENSIVE INSURANCE MAY FIND THEY'LL BE IN SOME TROUBLE HAD THEY GO TO TRY TO MAKE A CLAIM ON THIS.

IF YOU DO HAVE INSURANCE FOR THIS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INSURANCE SAYS THAT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO THE FULL REPLACEMENT VALUE.

THE NEW CARS NOW ARE SELLING FOR SO MUCH MORE AND THE USED CARS ARE TOO.

IF YOU DON'T GET THE FUEL REPLACEMENT VALUE, YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP SHORT WHEN YOU TRY TO REPLACE YOUR CAR.

>> THE COMPETITION FOR WORKERS IS ABOUT TO GET STIFFER.

WE HAVE THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> Reporter: ONE OF NEW JERSEY'S BIGGEST EMPLOYERS IS ABOUT TO GET BIGGER.

AMAZON SAID THEY WILL HIRE ANOTHER 8700 WORKERS IN THE GARDEN STATE.

AMAZON IS HIRING THE WAREHOUSE WITH TRANSPORTATION JOBS WITH STARTING PAY AT $18 AN HOUR.

THE POSITIONS ARE LOCATED IN 40 MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

THIS WEEK THERE, IS A FOCUS ON MAIN STREET COMPANIES AS THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK IS UNDERWAY.

THERE ARE USUALLY LOTS OF LOCAL EVENTS TO MARK THE OCCASION.

THE FOCUS IS ON THE RESILIENCY.

WE KNOW TOO MANY COMPANIES THAT HAD TO FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES NEED SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY ARE BIG JOB CREATORS.

IN NEW JERSEY, THEY EMPLOYEE 2 MILLION WORKERS.

>> THESE BUSINESSES ARE ON THE PILLARS OF EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY.

AS THE COMPANY GETS UP AGAIN, WE NEED THE BUSINESSES OPERATING AT PEAK PERFORMANCE TO HELP US BETTER.

>> THEY OPENED UP A LOW INTEREST LOAN PROGRAM FOR COMPANIES HURT BY THE PANDEMIC.

THE STATE IS SEEKING FEEDBACK ON A NEW PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT.

IT WAS CREATED AS ONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS FOR NEW JERSEY'S OLD TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

THE NEW PROGRAM WERE CAPPED AND DESIGNED TO HAVE A BROADER REACH.

IT WOULD PROVIDE GAP FINANCING FOR BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

COMCAST IS MAKING BROADBAND INVESTMENT IN NEW JERSEY AS PART OF A $220 MILLION INVESTMENT PLAN COVERING BUSINESSES IN NEW JERSEY AND PHILADELPHIA.

THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BRING ON NEW CUSTOMERS MORE QUICKLY.

INFLATION MAY BE COOLING OFF BASED ON SOME NEW GOVERNMENT FIGURES TODAY.

IN THE PAST YEAR, PRICES WERE UP MORE THAN 5% DUE TO BIG JUST A MOMENTPS IN THE COST FOR GASOLINE, FUEL OIL AND USED CARS.

THIS IS A CHECK ON WALL STREET FOR TODAY.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> CHILDREN OF COLOR IN NEW JERSEY ARE NOT RECEIVING THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS WHITE CHILDREN.

THE ANALYSIS FROM NEW JERSEY POLICY PERSPECTIVE POINTS TO A PRACTICE KNOWN AS I RED LINING FOR CREATING SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES FOR LOWER PROPERTY VALUES.

THE ORGANIZATION SAYS THAT THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED RACIAL INEQUALITY AND SCHOOL RESOURCES.

KIDS OF COLOR WERE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCESS FOR IN- PERSON LEARNING.

THEY ARE CALLING ON THE STATE TO PASS FUNDING REFORMS BY RECONFIGURING THE STATE LAW FOR THE ADDED COSTS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS IN THE SEGREGATED SCHOOLS.

>> THE GAP IS NOT CLOSED.

SO WE RECOMMEND A DIRECT PROGRAM OF TAX REBATES FOR BLACK AND HISPANIC FAMILIES FOR THE HIGHER TAX AREAS HISTORICALLY AND WE RECOMMEND AN ADDITIONAL GAP CLOSURE ON THE REVENUE SIDE TARGETED ON RACE.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPGRADED ON OUR WEBSITE OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL NETWORK CHANNELS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.