>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NJ AND INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

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

>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS THURSDAY NIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

IT CAME DOWN TO THE WIRE BUT A RAILROAD STRIKE THREATENING TO CRIPPLE U.S. SUPPLY CHAINS HAS BEEN AVERTED.

THE DEAL WAS BROKE EARLY THIS MORNING AFTER A MARATHON TALKS BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE NATION'S TWO LARGEST FREIGHT RAIL UNIONS, PRESENTING MORE THAN 50,000 ENGINEERS AND CONDUCTORS.

THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REPORTEDLY GIVES UNION MEMBERS PAY RAISES BOTH IMMEDIATELY AND OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS, ALONG WITH OTHER WORK RULES AND CENTRAL CHANGES.

THE CONSEQUENCES WERE SO DIRE, REPORTS SAY PRESIDENT BIDEN PERSONALLY CALLED INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS AROUND 9:00 LAST NIGHT.

EMPHASIZING THE GROWING POWER OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

THE PRESIDENT REPORTEDLY STRESSING THE ECONOMIC HARM THAT WOULD HIT FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES IF THE RAIL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN.

>> EVERY GOOD THAT YOU NEED IS DELIVERED TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO, WITH UNEMPLOYMENT STILL AT RECORD LOWS AND SIGNS OF PROGRESS, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO REBUILD A BETTER AMERICA, WITH AN ECONOMY THAT TRULY WORKS FOR WORKING PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES.

TODAY IS A WIN FOR AMERICA.

>> THE EFFECTS OF THE POTENTIAL WORK STOPPAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING FOR NEW JERSEY AND ITS ROUGHLY 1000 MILES OF FREIGHT LINES.

JOANNA GAGIS TAKES A DEEPER LOOK INSIDE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST NATIONAL RAIL STRIKE IN 30 YEARS.

>> WITH THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE COMING FROM THE INDUSTRY, AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE COMING FROM THE GOVERNMENT, I THINK BOTH SIDES KNEW THEY HAD TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

>> Reporter: AFTER 20 HOURS OF NEGOTIATIONS, RAILROAD UNION LEADERS STRUCK A TENTATIVE DEAL WITH FEDERAL LABOR LEADERS TO AVOID A STRIKE THAT THREATENED TO SHUT DOWN RAIL LINES HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> IT CAME DOWN TO THE MATTERS OF WORKPLACE SCHEDULING.

IF YOU RECALL A FEW WEEKS BACK, THE PRESIDENT HAD A SPECIAL EMERGENCY BOARD THAT NEEDED RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND WAGES AND SALARIES, WHICH WAS REALLY QUITE LUCRATIVE.

THEY WERE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING TIME OFF, REGARDING SICK TIME AND GOING TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE RAILROAD WORKERS ARE ON CALL AROUND THE CLOCK AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THINGS LIKE YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH.

>> Reporter: THE DEAL WAS REACHED AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN PLACED A CALL TO U.S. LABOR SECRETARY, MARTY WALSH, URGING HIM TO GET IT DONE.

THE DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED YET, REPORTS SAY UNIONS WILL GET A 24% SALARY INCREASE OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS.

BUT BOTH SIDES ARE NOW IN WHAT IS CALLED A COOLING DOWN TIME.

>> EVEN WHEN THE UNION AND MANAGEMENT COME TO AN AGREEMENT, THEY HAVE TO BRING THAT BACK TO THE UNION MEMBERS TO RATIFY IT.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE LEADERS ARE AT THE BARGAINING TABLE AND TAKING THE PULSE OF THE MEMBERS SO THE COOLING DOWN HELPS WITH THAT.

AND COOLER HEADS PREVAIL, SO IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO STEP AWAY FOR A MINUTE, TAKE A BREATH AND THINK ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES AND COME BACK TO THE TABLE.

>> Reporter: TODAY, THERE WERE MAJOR SIGHS OF RELIEF FOR THE INDUSTRY, LIKE AMTRAK THAT ALREADY CANCELED A LOT OF THE COMMUTER TRAINS THAT RUN ON TRACKS OWNED BY FREIGHT RAILROADS.

THE COMPANY SAID AMTRAK IS WORKING QUICKLY TO RESTORE CANCELED TRAINS AND REACHING OUT TO AMTRAK CUSTOMERS TO ACCOMMODATE ON FIRST AVAILABLE DEPARTURES.

NEW JERSEY'S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION BREATHED A LITTLE EASIER TODAY, KNOWING THE SUPPLY CHAIN WOULDN'T BE COMPLETELY DISRUPTED.

>> YES, IT WAS A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF TO SEAL IT TO YOU A DEAL.

ESPECIALLY GOING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DISRUPTIVE.

>> Reporter: A STRIKE COULD HAVE DEVASTATED THE U.S. ECONOMY, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS, THE PROJECTED SHUTDOWN COULD HAVE COST $2 BILLION PER DAY.

THE INDUSTRIES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MOST AFFECTED -- >> WE ARE LOOKING AT COAL, GRAIN, OIL, WE ARE LOOKING AT MICHAEL'S.

A LOT OF BASIC MATERIALS WOULD BE COMING TO A STANDSTILL.

AND THAT MAY NOT IMPACT OUR ECONOMY TODAY, OR AT LEAST CONSUMERS WOULDN'T FEEL IT TODAY , BUT DOWN THE ROAD IF THIS HAPPENS, HOW DO WE BUILD ANYTHING WITHOUT IRON AND STEEL?

IF YOU DON'T HAVE FUEL IN CERTAIN PARTS, HOW DO YOU RUN THE ECONOMY AND OUR LIVES?

>> Reporter: IT COULD LEAD TO BACKLOGS IN NEW JERSEY, AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT THE CONSUMERS WOULD FEEL.

>> YOU COULDN'T SHIP OUT OF THE PORTS, IT WOULD AFFECT MANUFACTURERS, ANYBODY WHO UTILIZES CEREAL PRODUCTS, CHEMICALS, A WHOLE HOST OF CHEMICALS FROM FERTILIZERS OR MUCH MORE COMPLEX THINGS, THAT MAY BE USED FOR LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION.

SO, IT WOULD HAVE A REALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

>> Reporter: AND THEY CAUTION, THERE'S NO END ON ANY DOTTED LINE YET.

>> WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

THE KEY STICKING POINTS IN THE DEAL WERE AROUND WORK PLACE AGREEMENTS, AS SOON AS THAT TENTATIVE AGREEMENT CAME OUT, SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LABOR UNION SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT IN SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE MEMBERS CONSIDER THE NEW DEAL DURING THIS COOLING DOWN, THEY HAVE AGREED NOT TO GO ON STRIKE.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF STATE OVERSIGHT, JERSEY CITY IS REGAINING FULL CONTROL OF ITS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON WEDNESDAY APPROVED THE TRANSFER AND CONGRATULATED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR MEETING ITS MILESTONES WHILE BECOMING A HIGH-PERFORMING DISTRICT.

THE STATE TOOK OVER JERSEY CITY SCHOOLS IN 1989 AFTER STATE OFFICIALS SAID STUDENTS WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVED BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS WERE PLAGUED BY CRONYISM AND OTHER CHAOS.

THE STATE APPOINTED A SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE ALL DECISIONS INCLUDING HIRING, RATHER THAN THE SCHOOL BOARD.

SINCE THEN, THE CITY HAS SLOWLY REGAINED CONTROL OF BOTH HIRING AND DECISION-MAKING RIGHTS.

THIS IS THE THIRD SCHOOL DISTRICT IN NEW JERSEY TO REGAIN LOCAL CONTROL.

NEWARK AND PATTERSON WERE TAKEN OVER IN THE 1990S FOR SIMILAR REASONS BUT WERE ABLE TO COME OUT FROM UNDER STATE OVERSIGHT IN 2020 AND 2021.

CAMDEN IS THE ONLY DISTRICT STILL UNDER FULL STATE CONTROL.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE, THE POLIOVIRUS IS RESURFACING.

IT WAS FIRST DETECTED IN JULY, IN A NEW YORK SUBURB BORDERING NEW JERSEY.

PROMPTING OFFICIALS TO DEPLOY WASTEWATER TESTING TO GET A GAUGE ON THE SEVERITY OF THE VIRUS.

THE CDC IS TESTING ALL COMMUNITIES AT HIGHEST RISK FOR THE LIFE-THREATENING DISEASE.

BUT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS IN NEW JERSEY SAY WHILE THE TOOL IS CRITICAL IN FIGHTING BACK, MORE EMPHASIS NEEDS TO BE PUT ON VACCINATIONS.

BRENDA FLANIGAN REPORTS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE POLIO IS ENTERING A PARTICULAR POPULATION AT THIS POINT.

>> Reporter: PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE HAUNTED BY IMAGES OF PATIENTS CRIPPLED BY PARALYTIC POLIO, BUT A RECENT CASE IN ROCKLAND COUNTY AND ALMOST 60 POSITIVE WASTEWATER TESTS FOR THE POLIOVIRUS IN NEW YORK CITY INCLUDING POSITIVE HITS IN OTHER COUNTIES ACROSS THE HUDSON, RECENTLY PROMPTED THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND PROMOTE POLIO VACCINATIONS.

THAT RAISED RED FLAGS.

>> AM I CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE MAY BECOME INFECTED?

YES.

SO I THINK WHAT NEW YORK HAS DONE WITH THIS STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR POLIO, IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD PROBABLY THINK ABOUT IN NEW JERSEY BECAUSE WE ARE BASICALLY ONE PEOPLE ACROSS THIS AREA.

>> Reporter: ON HIS WEBSITE, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH POSTED A REAL THREAT TO NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS, BUT SO FAR THE VIRUS HAS NOT TURNED UP HERE.

BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IT.

THE CDC NATIONAL WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM RECENTLY CHECKED FOR POLIOVIRUS IN 32 WASTEWATER SAMPLES TAKEN FROM MAY THROUGH AUGUST AT FIVE NEW JERSEY SITES IN ESSEX, HUDSON, MIDDLESEX, PASSAIC AND UNION COUNTIES AND REPORTS ALL TESTED NEGATIVE.

SAMPLES FROM BERGEN COUNTY TAKEN SEPARATELY SINCE MARCH ALSO TESTED NEGATIVE, SAYS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER.

>> IT COVERS ABOUT 50% OF URBAN COUNTIES, SO I THINK IT CORRESPONDS TO ABOUT 500,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS MULTIPLE TOWNS, AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

>> WASTEWATER TESTING WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SEEING OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN OUR ABILITY TO PLAN FOR WHATEVER THE NEXT PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE, PARTICULARLY AROUND INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

WE SAW IT FOR COVID, AND I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY INVEST MORE INTO THAT TECHNOLOGY.

>> Reporter: MONTCLAIR EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE WOULD LIKE TO SEE NEW JERSEY EXPAND WASTEWATER TESTING AND JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS IT IS WORKING WITH THE CDC TO ENROLL ADDITIONAL WASTEWATER TESTS SITES.

WHICH IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT VACCINATIONS, EVEN THOUGH NEW JERSEY POSES A STRONG CHILDHOOD POLIO VACCINATION RATE OF 97.7% STATEWIDE, ALMOST 20 POINTS HIGHER THAN NEW YORK.

>> BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SIMILAR IN ROCKLAND COUNTY IN NEW JERSEY WHERE WE HAVE SEEN OUTBREAKS IN THINGS LIKE MEASLES BECAUSE OF THE LOW VACCINATION RATES.

>> Reporter: MEASLES HAD SIMILAR OUTBREAKS IN ROCKLAND COUNTY, ULTRA-ORTHODOX COMMUNITIES AND THERE IS A DEEP CULTURAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TOWNS.

BUT, WHILE ROCKLAND'S POLIO VACCINATION RATES ARE ONLY 6%, OCEAN COUNTY REPORTS A MORE ROBUST RATE OF 95%.

REGARDLESS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES STILL NEED TO PUSH POLIO IMMUNIZATION.

>> WE DO HAVE HIGH VACCINATION RATES OVERALL.

BUT THERE'S SOME COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT.

SO WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND TO TARGETED INTERVENTIONS TO INCREASE THOSE VACCINATION RATES BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN WHO CAN BECOME SEVERELY INJURED FROM THIS VIRUS.

>> RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THE ROCKLAND POLIO CASE IS GENETICALLY LINKED TO POLIO STRAINS FOUND IN LONDON AND ISRAEL AND WASTEWATER SAMPLES CAN RAPIDLY REFLECT NEW VIRUSES PICKED UP ABROAD.

IT IS NOT A STATIC SITUATION.

>> THEY WENT ON VACATION, AND THEY ALL CAME BACK NOW, SO IT LOOKS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, AND IT MAY CHANGE AGAIN.

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT SCARING PEOPLE, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF THE SITUATION SO THEY CAN RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.

>> IT MAKES VACCINATIONS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

I'M BRENDA FLANIGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS CHARGED THREE IRANIAN NATIONALS IN A WIDE RANGE OF HACKING SCHEMES TARGETING THE COMPUTERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PUBLIC UTILITIES AND NONPROFITS IN THE UNITED STATES.

INCLUDING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IN UNION COUNTY AND AN ACCOUNTING FIRM IN MORRIS COUNTY.

ACCORDING TO AN INDICTMENT ON UNSEALED IN NEW JERSEY, THE MEN REMAINED AT LARGE IN IRAN AND ARE CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FRAUD, INTENTIONAL DAMAGE TO COMPUTERS AND TRANSMITTING DEMANDS.

IN SOME CASES, THE HACKERS DEMANDED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN RANSOM PAYMENTS AND BIT COIN TO UNLOCK THE MALWARE ON THE COMPUTERS.

THEY ALSO TARGETED VICTIMS IN ISRAEL, BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

THE INDICTMENT DOESN'T ACCUSE THE MEN OF CARRYING OUT THE CYBER ATTACKS ON BEHALF OF THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT BUT THEY ARE ACCUSED OF WORKING FOR I.T.

FIRMS AFFILIATED WITH THE IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS, A MAJOR MILITARY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FORCE IN IRAN.

>>> WITH THE SUCCESS OF DRUG RECOVERY COURTS NOW FULLY UNDERSTOOD, LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS ARE SEARCHING FOR MEANINGFUL RESPONSES FOR DEFENDANTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

ATLANTIC COUNTY PROSECUTOR, WILLIAM REYNOLDS IS ON A STATEWIDE CRUSADE TO BRING ABOUT THE FIRST MENTAL HEALTH COURT IN NEW JERSEY.

IT WOULD SCREEN AND ASSESS ADULTS AND MINORS WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

OFFERING TREATMENT AND SUPPORT WHEN APPROPRIATE, RATHER THAN TIME BEHIND BARS.

NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE HAVE ALREADY LAUNCHED SUCH COURTS, NEW JERSEY COULD BE NEXT.

ATLANTIC COUNTY PROSECUTOR, WILLIAM REYNOLDS IS WITH ME NOW.

IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH SINCE YOU WERE OFFICIALLY SWORN INTO THE JOB.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN DURING THAT TIME, THAT LED YOU TO FEEL THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT WOULD BE A GOOD FIT HERE?

>> MY BACKGROUND WHICH REALLY LENDS ITSELF THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THIS ISSUE, I WAS A PROSECUTOR FOR 10 YEARS, PRIOR TO TAKING ON THIS ROLE.

WITH THAT EXPERIENCE AND THAT BACKGROUND, I WAS LITERALLY ON THE FOREFRONT OF DEALING WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THAT THOSE WITNESSES, DEFENDANTS, POLICE OFFICERS, JUDGES, I DEALT WITH ANYONE ON A DAILY BASIS, I WAS USUALLY BETWEEN 501,000 DEFENDANTS PER WEEK, WHILE I WAS THE INITIAL PROSECUTOR AND I BECAME A COUNTY PROSECUTOR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TRANSPIRED WAS I INTERVIEWED EVERY SINGLE ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR IN THIS OFFICE AS WELL AS MEETING WITH ALL OF THE CHIEFS OF POLICE FROM LANDON COUNTY.

AND IT WAS OVERWHELMING THAT WAS SUCH A NEED FOR THIS, AS WELL AS THE PROSECUTORS AND FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WERE DEALING WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHEN WE WERE CALLED OUT FOR SERVICE.

>> ESSENTIALLY THIS WOULD OFFER FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SOME TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, TREATMENT, RATHER THAN IMPRISONMENT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

SO, REALLY THE THOUGHT PROCESS WOULD BE MODELING AFTER RECOVERY COURT, SO NEW JERSEY IS VERY PROGRESSIVE IN ESTABLISHING A RECOVERY COURT, TO GIVE THE ABILITY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEMSELVES BETTER, CLEANUP THEIR LIVES AND HAUL ALL OF THEIR CRIMINAL CASES DISMISSED AND EXPUNGED.

USING THAT AS THE MODEL IN RECOVERY COURT, THAT IS WHY MENTAL HEALTH IS SO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS A BLIND SPOT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

IT IS VERY EASY TO GET SOMEBODY PLACED INTO RECOVERY AND GET THEM A BED, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET SOMEBODY OF ED WHO HAS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ONLY.

A LOT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE A DUAL DIAGNOSIS, RECOVERY COURT HAS LIMITATIONS.

IF THERE'S NO ADDICTION ISSUES, WE CAN GET THEM INTO A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF THEY ONLY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH, YOU CAN'T GET THEM INTO RECOVERY COURT.

SO IT'S A BLIND SPOT.

>> DO YOU HAVE SOME SUPPORT FROM LEGISLATORS BECAUSE IT SEEMS IT WOULD TAKE SOME LEGISLATION TO GET THIS DONE.

IS THE WILL THERE FROM THE STATE LEVEL, TOO?

>> NOT ONLY IS THERE THE WILL FROM THE STATE LEVEL, THERE'S ALSO THE WILL FROM THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

I'M VERY FORTUNATE, I'M AN INDEPENDENT AND I HAVE BEEN INDEPENDENT MY ENTIRE LEGAL CAREER, JUST OVER 45 YEARS.

I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND YOU ARE 100% CORRECT, IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE LEGISLATION.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS WILL BE DIRECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THIS IF IT PASSES THROUGH.

I TELL YOU THE LOCAL LEGISLATURES HERE IN ATLANTA COUNTY IN DISTRICT 2, THEY ARE ON BOARD TO SUPPORT THIS AND OUR LEGISLATURES ARE LOOKING AT CALIFORNIA.

SO BOTH CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA WERE ABLE TO DO THIS, SO NEW JERSEY IS ON THE PRECIPICE OF GETTING THIS TOGETHER AND FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I RELATE TO BOTH SIDES, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, AND THEY ARE LISTENING.

>> CALIFORNIA IS THE MOST RECENT AND SOME GOOD MODELS FOR NEW JERSEY TO LOOK AT.

THE ATLANTIC COUNTY PROSECUTOR, WILL REYNOLDS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND MAKING THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, THANK YOU.

>>> SUMMER IS BEHIND US SO HOW IS THE LABOR MARKET LOOKING?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE LATEST JOBS REPORT PLUS TWO NIGHTS TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> WE ARE FOCUSED ON JERSEY JOBS TODAY, NEW NUMBERS SHOW EMPLOYERS CONTINUE TO HIRE.

IN AUGUST, 15,400 NEW POSITIONS WERE ADDED TO THE ECONOMY, MARKING 21 MONTHS OF STRAIGHT JOB GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY.

JOB GROWTH IN JULY WAS EVEN STRONGER THAN FIRST REPORTED.

NEW JERSEY HAS INCREASED SLIGHTLY TO 4%.

COMPANIES WOULD LIKE TO HIRE EVEN MORE WORKERS BUT ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

THE LABOR SHORTAGE WAS THE SUBJECT OF A NEW JERSEY STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENT IS WEAK.

CHAMBER PRESIDENT, A MEMBER OF THE ANGIE AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES SAYS THIS HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST ISSUE FOR NEW JERSEY COMPANIES.

>> THIS HAS TAKEN OVER AS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FACING BUSINESS.

SO THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT IS REALLY USING THAT MUCH BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO BE NUMBER ONE.

INFLATION HAS BEEN NUMBER ONE, IT IS NOW NUMBER TWO, THOSE ARE THE TWO TOP THINGS FACING BUSINESS BUT THIS ISSUE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SLOWING DOWN AT ALL.

>> ACCORDING TO A STUDY FROM THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SEVERAL FACTORS LED TO THE LABOR SHORTAGE INCLUDING ENHANCED ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FOR WORKERS TO STAY HOME, EARLY RETIREMENT AND A LACK OF ACCESS TO CHILDCARE.

IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY IN THE STATE, NEW JERSEY IS PROVIDING GRANTS TO CARE PROVIDERS SO THEY CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR CENTERS IN THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY POSTED AN INFORMATION SESSION, AND ANOTHER ONE WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY.

ELIGIBLE LICENSED CHILDCARE CENTERS CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS OF UP TO $200,000.

>>> A FEW LOCAL RETAILERS ARE HOLDING JOB FAIRS THIS WEEK, SHOPRITE HOLDING IN PERSON JOB FAIRS AT SOME OF THE STORES THIS SATURDAY.

YOU CAN FIND LOCATIONS ON HIS WEBSITE.

AND A NEW COMPANY IN THE MALL WANTS TO HIRE 150 WORKERS, TRUE FOOD KITCHEN IS HOLDING IN PERSON JOB FAIRS FOR THE REST OF THIS MONTH.>>> FINALLY, THE STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE SAYS REVENUE COLLECTIONS FROM MAJOR TAXES INCREASED IN AUGUST, TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS ARE UP CLOSE TO 18%.

COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME A YEAR AGO.

NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT THE WALL STREET TRADING FROM TODAY.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER , THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR THE SCENE, NJ BUSINESS BEAT, WE KICK OFF THE SEASON WITH A LOOK AT EDUCATION IN NEW JERSEY, FROM THE TEACHER SHORTAGE OF FINANCING COLLEGE EDUCATION, YOU CAN CATCH IT SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> AS STATE LEADERS WERE TO IMPROVE AGING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN MANY OF NEW JERSEY'S OLDER CITIES, AN EVENT WITH FEDERAL LEADERS RECENTLY TOUTED THE BIG STRIDES MADE IN CAMDEN, WHERE BEFORE THE CLEAN WATER ACT, SOME 50 YEARS AGO, FACTORIES DUMPED CHEMICAL, SEWAGE AND RUNOFF INTO BODIES OF WATER WITH LITTLE TO NO REGULATIONS STOPPING IT.

AS RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS, TODAY IS A MUCH BIGGER STORY.

>> IN 1972, WHEN THE CLEAN WATER ACT WAS PASSED, WE USED TO TREAT OUR WATER BODIES AS TRASH BINS.

RIVERS FLOWED DIFFERENT COLORS, THEY CAUGHT FIRE AND THEY WERE TREATED LIKE GARBAGE CANS.

OVER $300 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT IN THIS AREA BY NEW JERSEY AND BY CAMDEN.

AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER $150 MILLION BEING SPENT IN THE FUTURE ON PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

TO HELP CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP THE WATERS.

>> Reporter: THE EP DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GIVING YOU A HISTORY LESSON ON HOW THE CLEAN WATER ACT HAS HELPED TRANSFORM SOME OF THE STATES BIGGEST DUMPING GROUNDS INTO A BEAUTIFUL CLEAN AND FACE INFRASTRUCTURE.

TODAY THE COOPER RIVER IS A CATEGORY ONE RIVERWAY, WHICH MEANS IT IS THE CLEANEST IT CAN BE BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS BY THE STATE.

>> LOCAL UTILITIES LIKE THE CAMDEN COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY AUTHORITIES ARE COLLECTING AND TREATING THAT WASTEWATER AND ENSURING IT MEETS TOUGH STANDARDS.

>> Reporter: COMMENTS WERE ECHOED AT AN EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE CLEAN WATER ACT 50th ANNIVERSARY.

CAMDEN WAS THE SECOND STOP ON A 10 TOP STOP TOUR HIGHLIGHTING SUCCESS STORIES FROM THE LAST FIVE DECADES.

>> THE CLEAN WATER ACT HAS HELPED TRANSFORM WATERWAYS INTO PLACES FOR RECREATION WHERE OUR RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO EXERCISE, FISH, AND ENJOY NATURE.

>> DAY BY DAY, YOU DON'T SEE THE CHANGE.

BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK OVER 5 YEARS, 10 YEARS, OR 50 YEARS, YOU SEE THE IMPACT, YOU SEE THAT DRAMATIC CHANGE THAT OCCURS.

AND THAT IS THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

>> Reporter: AN IN FACT THAT ADVOCATES SAY CAN BE FELT BY RESIDENTS.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO HOST A PADDLE PARTY IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, IT'S GETTING FOLKS AND FAMILIES IN KAYAKS, WITH SUPERVISION, TO GET ON THE WATER AND SEE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT IS HERE.

>> Reporter: EVEN AS THE EPA USES CAMDEN AS ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES, ADVOCATES AND SUPPORTERS ADMIT THERE IS STILL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD BE PROUD AND GIVE OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER A PAT ON THE BACK FOR THE GOOD WORK OF THE LAST 50 YEARS, IT HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH.

A HEALTHY ECONOMY, OR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, THAT CHOICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND IS STILL TODAY FALSE.

AND ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU THAT GARBAGE IS WRONG.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS CAMDEN HAS WHAT IS KNOWN AS A COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM, MEANING SEWAGE AND WATER COMBINED IN ONE PIPE ON ITS WAY TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

IF IT EXCEEDS CAPACITY, IT CAN SPILL OUT INTO THE LAKES AND WATERWAYS.

IT IS A CHALLENGE THAT IS BEING WORKED ON.

>> LANDS LIKE THIS OFTEN TAKE 20 YEARS TO IMPLEMENT FULLY.

BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPENSIVE AND BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF TIMELINE THAT WE ARE ON.

CAMDEN HASN'T JUST STARTED, THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MAKING PROGRESS FOR YEARS.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE PROCESS TO KEEP THE WATERWAYS CLEAN CAN SEEM LONG, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IT IS A PROCESS THAT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START.

I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES, TUNE INTO REPORTERS'S ROUNDTABLE WITH SENIOR POLITICAL RESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK, THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER ON THE LEADERSHIP VACANCIES AT THE AGENCY, AND OTHER CHALLENGES THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS FACING AS THE STATE CONTINUES RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS BREAK DOWN ALL THE TOP HEADLINES MAKING NEWS IN NEW JERSEY AND THE NATION.

YOU CAN WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE FRIDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE , TWITTER, FACEBOOK OR ON PBS, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNING.

THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR US THIS EVENING, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI, FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.>>> 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.