>> 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.

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

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

STARTING NOVEMBER 1st, ALL EMPLOYEES AT CHILDCARE CENTERS MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19, OR FACE WEEKLY TESTING.

THE NEW ORDER FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY FALLS IN LINE WITH CURRENT MANDATES FOR TEACHERS, STATE AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

IT ALSO REQUIRES ALL CHILDCARE CENTER EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS AGED 2 END UP TO WERE A FACEMASK, BEGINNING THIS FRIDAY.

IT'S JUST THE LATEST TACTIC BEING DEPLOYED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO WORKS TO INCREASE VACCINATION RATES.

THE LIGHTHOUSE TODAY ANNOUNCING, IT WILL EASE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN VISITORS TO THE U.S..

BUT COME ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE FULLY IMMUNIZED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS.

NONCITIZENS WILL NEED TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION AND A NEGATIVE COVID TEST TAKEN WITHIN THREE DAYS OF DEPARTURE STARTING THIS NOVEMBER.

IN NEW JERSEY, NEARLY 5.8 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

ANOTHER ROUGHLY 81,000 HAVE RECEIVED A THIRD DOSE.

AS OFFICIALS AWAIT A FULL RECOMMENDATION FROM FEDERAL HEALTH LEADERS FOR PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER, AND OTHERS AT HIGH RISK.

STATEWIDE, NEARLY 1400 NEW CASES ARE BEING REPORTED TODAY, AND 8 MORE DEBTS.

VACCINES FOR KIDS COULD ALSO BE ONE STEP CLOSER.

PFIZER SAYS ITS SHOTS ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 5 AND 11 YEARS OLD.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS IT IS KEY INFORMATION TO GETTING THE DOSES AUTHORIZED FOR THIS AGE GROUP.

29-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN GOT TWO SHOTS THE SUMMER OF ONE OF 70 KIDS WHO TOOK PART IN VISORS SUCCESSFUL COLORED VACCINE TRIAL FOR 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS AT RECORDS.

JUSTIN'S PARENTS ENROLLED HIM IN THE TRIAL NATIONWIDE.

IT INCLUDED ALMOST 2270 KIDS.

TWO THIRDS GOT A COUPLE DOSES OF VACCINE, 10 MICROGRAMS, THAT IS JUST A THIRD OF THE ADULT DOSE.

THE REST GOT A PLACEBO.

TODAY, PFIZER ANNOUNCED RESULTS SUGGEST THE VACCINE WAS SAFE, WELL-TOLERATED, AND SHOW ROBUST NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODY RESPONSES.

JUSTIN'S DAD TOLD US ON THE PHONE-- >> I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.

WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE GETTING INTO, BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE SCIENCE WORKS, AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE MET THE EXPECTATION.

>> IS GOOD TO HEAR THAT THERE WERE NO CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY.

>> DR. SAMANTHA GAHR OVERSAW THE TRIAL.

SHE SAID RESULTS SHOWED THE LOWER KID VACCINE DOSAGE CAUSED FEWER SIDE EFFECTS, FEVERS THAT DID NOT LAST AS LONG.

SHE NOTES THAT PARENTS MAY BE PARTICULARLY REASSURED ABOUT ONE RESULTS.

>> WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT ON HEART.

AND, THEY DID NOT REPORT THAT IN THIS STUDY SO FAR.

BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW, AGAIN, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE DATA.

>> PFIZER WILL SUBMIT THE DATA WHEN IT REQUESTS EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FDA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE COMPANY SAID.

WHILE ANOTHER TRIAL FOR KIDS AGE 6 MONTHS TO FOUR YEARS WON'T CONCLUDE FOR SETTLEMENT.

JUSTIN'S DAD, WHO IS AN EMERGENCY ROOM PEDIATRICIAN AT OUR WJ UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HOLDS FOR QUICK APPROVAL AS COVERED PLACES CLIMB.

>> THE UNVACCINATED ONES ARE GOING TO START SEEING UPTICK AGAIN AND WE ARE SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW.

THE E.R.s ARE BEING OVERWHELMED AGAIN, STAFFING IS DEFINITELY BECOMING AN ISSUE.

STEPHEN GOVERNOR MURPHY REPORTS 22 KIDS ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVENANT NEW JERSEY COMPARED TO 13 AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST.

NATIONWIDE, CHILDREN ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN ONE AND 5 NEW CASES.

>> WE ARE NOW ALMOST 2 FULL WEEKS INTO THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL SCHOOLS ARE STARTING IN NEW JERSEY.

WE HAVE YET NOT SEEN AN INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS, BUT THE NEXT 14 DAYS IN PARTICULAR WILL BE REALLY INFORMATIVE ABOUT WHY THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM OR NOT.

>> IN NEW JERSEY, 59% OF 12 TO 17-YEAR-OLDS HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE COVERED SHOT.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS HAILED THE VACCINE FOR YOUNGER KIDS, HOPING IT WOULD GET ADDED TO THE CURRENT MANDATES REQUIRING TEACHERS AND STAFF TO GET COVERT SHOTS BY OCTOBER 18th.

>> WE CAN PROTECT OUR CHILDREN WITH A GREAT GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I MEAN, MY WISH AND MY DREAM IS THAT WHEN THIS GETS EMERGENCY APPROVAL, SOMETIME IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE SCHOOLS REQUIRE CHILDREN TO BE VACCINATED.

>> WILL LIKELY HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE IN AN ELECTION SEASON THAT THERE MAY BE A STRONG RECOMMENDATION.

THE I CANNOT ANTICIPATE AT THIS POINT CHANGING ANY OF THE PARAMETERS WE HAVE AROUND COOL.

>> AFAR, THE FDA HAS NOT GIVEN ITS FULL APPROVAL TO ANY COVERED VACCINE FOR KIDS.

AND LASTLY, IT'S VACCINE ADVISORY PANEL REFUSED TO RECOMMEND PFIZER'S COVERED BOOSTER FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

BUT, IT DID ADVISE THERE'S FOR FOLKS 65 AND OLDER.

PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH OBLIGATIONS, AND ACCORDING TO DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, THOSE WITH OCCUPATIONAL OR INSTITUTIONAL EXPOSURE WHO COULD BE AT HIGHER RISK OF INFECTION, LIKE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

>> WHILE I MAY NOT ULTIMATELY BE HAPPY WITH THE CONCLUSION, I DID HOPE THAT THEY WOULD AUTHORIZED ROOSTERS FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK THEY TOOK A VERY RIGOROUS APPROACH.

IT'S FUNCTIONALLY GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE SOON, SHOULD THE FDA TAKE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S OPINION.

>> UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS STILL EXPECT A RUN ON BOOSTERS BECAUSE OF UNDERLYING PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING A LONG LIST OF ISSUES.

AND, PEOPLE THINKING BOOSTERS DO NOT NEED TO PROVE THEIR ELIGIBLE.

UPDATES FOR MODERNA AND J&J BOOSTERS COULD COME IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> ALL THE TALK OF BOOSTERS IN PEDIATRIC VACCINES, AS HUNDREDS OF COLD CASES ARE BEING REPORTED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE BUT A HANDFUL OF GOALS SWITCH TO ALL VIRTUAL LEARNING AT LEAST TEMPORARILY AS STUDENTS ARE UNDER QUARANTINE.

ROBBINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IS IN A REMOTE FORMAT THIS WEEK.

22 STUDENTS TESTED POSITIVE THERE.

220 STUDENTS OF THE HIGHEST GOAL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE QUARANTINING.

IN WINDSOR PLAINSBORO, MAURICE HAWK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL OPERATE UNDER VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION FOR THE WEEK.

150 DISTRICT STUDENTS ARE IN QUARANTINE, OR ISOLATION AS A RESULT OF TRAVEL, OR BEING IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE TESTING POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.

MEANWHILE, MENDHAM TOWNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL TODAY WENT BACK TO IN PERSON LEARNING AFTER GOING ALL REMOTE.

IT IS JUST THE LATEST STRUGGLE FOR DISTRICTS IN THIS PANDEMIC AS THEY WORK TO BRING STUDENTS BACK IN FULL-TIME.

FOR ABOUT $20 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING IS HEADING TO THE STATE NEXT MONTH TO HELP NURSING HOMES AND PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION APPROVING HALF THE MONEY TO CREATE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS STRIKE TEAMS, TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL HELP STAFF AT NURSING HOMES AND OTHER LONG-TERM CARE CENTERS WITH KNOWN OR SUSPECTED OUTBREAKS.

AS OF TODAY, 161 FACILITIES HAVE ACTIVE OUTBREAKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THE TEAMS WILL ALSO SUPPORT ADMINISTERING VACCINES WITH ANOTHER LARGE PORTION OF THE MONEY GOING TOWARD INFECTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

NEW JERSEY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST DEATH RATES PER CAPITA IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

JUST OVER 91% OF RESIDENTS IN THE HOMES ARE VACCINATED AMONG STAFF, ROUGHLY 78% ARE NOW FULLY IMMUNIZED.

JUST AS TESTING AND OTHER VACCINE REQUIREMENTS HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT.

FOR BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE AID AVAILABLE FOR RENTERS AFFECTED BY THIS PANDEMIC.

BUT, TRACKING WHO HAS RECEIVED WHAT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.

DATA FROM THE STATE SHOWS MANY OPEN AREAS THE COMMUNITIES FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS WERE HIT HARDEST HAVE HAD SUCCESS, DISTRIBUTING THE FUNDS.

WHILE OTHER DENSELY PACKED URBAN CITIES ARE SUFFERING FROM A SLOW ROLLOUT.

LEAH MISHKIN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: OUT OF THE 1.2 BILLION FEDERAL DOLLARS THE STATE HAS RECEIVED FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, 30% HAS BEEN GIVEN OUT TO 4500 HOUSEHOLDS.

ACCORDING TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THAT MAKES NEW JERSEY THIRD IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WE HANDED OUT.

>> WE'RE SEEING THE FUNDS GOING TO THE AREAS OF NEED.

>> Reporter: WHICH AREAS HAVE RECEIVED THE MOST FUNDING SO FAR?

PATTERSON, IRVINGTON, JERSEY CITY, EAST ORANGE, AND NEWARK.

FOLLOWED BY ATLANTIC CITY AND BAYONNE PEER PEOPLE ARE SELECTED BASED ON DAILY ARTERIES WITH PREFERENCE GIVEN TO THOSE WITH INCOMES AT OR BELOW 50% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME, AND J DCA SAYS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR 90 DAYS OR MORE.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS HAS STOOD UP A REALLY ROBUST, COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATION PROCESS.

PEOPLE CAN CALL IF THEY CAN'T ACCESS OR DON'T WANT TO USE THE WEBSITE.

THIS TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

AVAILABLE PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY, AND FOLKS ARE GETTING THAT FUNDING COMING OUT OF A REGULAR BASIS.

>> THE HOUSING CENTERS, JAMES WILLIAM SAYS MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE.

>> WE SEE PLACES LIKE CAMDEN, FOR INSTANCE THAT IS A LITTLE OVER ON THE LIST AND WE KNOW THAT THAT IS A PLACE OF HIGH POVERTY.

ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON.

SO, SOME OF THE LARGER URBAN CENTERS WITHIN THE STATE.

BEASLEY, THE FUNDS.

BUT, WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER ON THE LIST.

>> HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK OF NEW JERSEY PRESIDENT AND CEO, STACY BERGER ENCOURAGES ANYONE IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC TO APPLY.

EVEN IF THEY DON'T THINK THEY WILL QUALIFY.

BECAUSE, IF THEY DON'T, THEY ARE IN THE SYSTEM IN CASE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT COME ONLINE WITH DIFFERENT BENCHMARKS.

>> FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT SURE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS OR WHETHER THE HOUSEHOLD QUALIFIES FOR THAT, THE COMPUTER THANKFULLY DOES ALL THE MATH, AND IT'S A VERY SIMPLE INTAKE PROCESS AT THE BEGINNING.

ONCE PEOPLE ARE SELECTED, THEY DO NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.

>> ON TOP OF THE AID GIVEN OUT BY THE STATE, PLACES LIKE JERSEY CITY HAVE THEIR OWN, LOCAL COVID-19 RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RELIEF.

IN AUGUST, JERSEY CITY MADE AVAILABLE $7 MILLION IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, BUT IT COMES WITH A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT.

RESIDENTS MUST LIVE IN A 2-4 BUILDING WHERE THE OWNER LIVES AS WELL.

>> YOU THINK OF THE SMALLER BUILDING WHERE THE OWNER LIVES THERE AND THEY RELY ON THE RENTAL INCOME FOR THEM TO SURVIVE AS WELL.

>> STEVE PHILIP EXPLAINS WHY.

>> IF YOU OPEN UP THE FLOODGATES TO EVERYBODY, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THOUSANDS OF APPLICATIONS AND LARGER DEVELOPERS THAT ARE MORE ORGANIZED AND HAVE MORE RESOURCES THAT WOULD HAVE MONOPOLIZED THE MONEY FOR THEIR LARGER BUILDINGS HUNDREDS OF UNITS AT A TIME.

AND, THEY JUST WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH MONEY TO MANAGE EVERYTHING THAT IS IN DEMAND.

>> HE SAYS THEY WANT TO PRIORITIZE SMALL LANDLORDS WHO LIVE IN JERSEY CITY AND THEN CAST UP IN THE NET TO A BROADER RANGE OF PEOPLE LITTLE BY LITTLE.

WHEN THERE IS AN EVICTION MORATORIUM IN PLACE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO PROTECT SOME RESIDENCE.

>> KNOWING THAT THERE WAS NO RISK FOR ANYBODY TO GET EVICTED BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNORS MORATORIUM, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DO THIS PROPERLY.

WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ALL THE DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> NO MATTER WHERE YOU GET HELP FOR RENT, STATE OR LOCAL, STACY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IT IS ILLEGAL FOR LANDLORDS TO REFUSE COVID-19 RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN NEW JERSEY.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS , I AM LEAH MISHKIN.

>>> HUNDREDS OF AFGHAN EVACUEES WILL BE CALLING NEW JERSEY THEIR NEW HOME .

THE STATE IS PREPARING TO RESETTLE UP TO ROUGHLY 530 PEOPLE WHO FLED AFGHANISTAN AS A U.S. EVACUATED THE COUNTRY, ENDING ITS 20 YEAR WAR.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY SAID THAT THAT NUMBER IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

IT'S OUT OF ABOUT 8500 EVACUEES CURRENTLY BEING HOUSED AT 20 ACE MAGUIRE LAKEHURST AND BURLINGTON COUNTY.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY AS MANY AS 13,000 EVACUEES COULD BE HOUSED AT THE BASE CAMP, KNOWN AS LIBERTY VILLAGE FOR UP TO A YEAR.

AS ADVOCACY GROUPS WORK TO GET PERMANENT HOUSING SET UP HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND IN 46 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ACCORDING TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, AROUND 84,000 AFGHAN REFUGEES WILL BE IN THE U.S. BY THE END OF THE MONTH WITH ANOTHER 30,000 EXPECTED TO ARRIVE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

HOME AND BUSINESS OWNERS, HIT BY TROPICAL STORM IDA CANNELL VISIT DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS OPEN IN HUDSON, EXCESS AND MORRIS COUNTIES.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM FEMA ARE ON SITE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE.

THIS WEEKEND, WARREN COUNTY WAS ALSO ADDED TO THE STATES MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION LIST BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER TO 12 COUNTIES, MAKING IT THE ONLY WITH THE DECLARATION THAT HAS NOT YET OPENED ONE OF THE CENTERS.

NOW, RESIDENCE CHALLENGE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS .

THEY WERE GROWING DESPERATE TRYING TO REACH FEMA REPS iPHONE.

ESPECIALLY AS THEY NAVIGATE SCAMS AND FRAUD TRAPS, NOW BEING THROWN IN THEIR PATH.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> THEY NEVER DID A DAYS WORK ON MY HOUSE.

>>> CHUCK GRIFFIN KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE TAKE ADVANTAGE DURING TIMES OF DISASTER.

AFTER SUPER STORM SANDY DESTROYED HIS HOME BACK IN 2014, GRIFFIN SAYS HE SAW A CONTRACTOR TO BUILD A NEW ONE USING ONE $150,000 GRANT FROM NEW JERSEY'S RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION ELEVATION AND MITIGATION PROGRAM.

>> HE BUILT THE HOUSE OF COURSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME AND THE GUY SAID IT WAS GREAT.

HE CAME IN UNDER COST AND UNDER TIME, AND EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM WAS GOOD.

HE HAD LIVED HIS WHOLE LIFE.

>> SO GRIFFIN SAYS HE HIRED THE CONTRACTOR AND GAVE HIM A DEPOSIT TO START THE WORK, BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED.

>> I KNEW WERE HIS OFFICE WAS, I WENT TO VISIT HIM OFTEN AND SAID WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO START?

AND, THERE WAS ALWAYS A STORY.

THE SUPPLIES WERE BACKORDERED, IT WAS SANDY.

SO ON AND SO FORTH.

>> GRIFFIN SPENT THREE YEARS WITHOUT A HOME.

FINALLY MOVING INTO A NEW ONE AFTER THE CONTRACTOR HE INITIALLY HIRED WAS INDICTED AND FOUND GUILTY OF FRAUD.

IT'S A FAMILIAR SITUATION THAT MANY NEW JERSEYANS ALSO UNFORTUNATELY NO.

CONSUMER ADVOCATES SAY ONE OF THE REASON THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IS BECAUSE OF THE STATES REQUIREMENTS FOR HOME CONTRACTORS ALMOST NONEXISTENT.

AND, WITH MANY STRUGGLING TO RECOVER RIGHT NOW AFTER TROPICAL STORM IDA, RESIDENTS ARE BEING WARNED OF THIS PRACTICE.

THAT INCLUDES PRICE GOUGING, WHICH IS ANY COST THAT EXCEEDS 10% OF THE NORMAL SALE FOUR STATES OF EMERGENCY.

>> IT IS TOO EASY TO BECOME A REGISTERED BUILDER IN THE STATE OR RENOVATION.

BASICALLY, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS, FOR A RENOVATION, SIGN THAT YOU'VE NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME, OR BANKRUPTCY COURT BECAUSE OF IT.

THE STATE MAY OR MAY NOT INVESTIGATE, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO.

AND, YOU HAVE TO BE INSURED.

IT IS THAT SIMPLE TO DO.

>> AS OF THIS MORNING, FEMA HAS APPROVED NEARLY 4300 APPLICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF TROPICAL STORM IDA.

THAT IS ALMOST $90 MILLION IN INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE APPROVED BY THE AGENCY SO FAR.

AND, AS RESIDENTS BEGIN USING THIS MONEY TO REBUILD, THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH CONTRACTORS NOT DOING AS PROMISED SAY THEY HOPE THE STATE WILL START TO IMPLEMENT STRICTER REQUIREMENTS.

>> YOU NEVER HIRED THE FIRST BUILDER, YOU'RE GOING TO CALL A FEW DIFFERENT BUILDERS.

I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THREE TO COME IN AND GIVE YOU ESTIMATES.

SO, RIGHT THERE, YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW IF IT IS TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW.

>> I DON'T EVER WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANYBODY.

>> TRACY WAS ALSO A VICTIM A FRAUD AFTER SUPER STORM SANDY.

SHE JUST MOVED BACK INTO HER HOUSE TWO MONTHS AGO.

>> PEOPLE SEE ON THE NEWS, LOOK AT THE DISASTER PEOPLE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HELPING THEM.

WELL, I AM NINE YEARS OUT.

IF IT TAKES NINE YEARS TO HELP A DISASTER VICTIM, THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM.

AND, IT IS TO BE FIXED.

>> WE NEED TO REVISE HOW CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS ARE REGISTERED IN THE STATE.

THERE SHOULD BECOME SOME KIND OF LICENSING PROGRAM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AN APPRENTICE IN THE STATE FIRST.

MANY STATES HAVE THAT ALREADY, YOU NEED SCHOOLING AND APPRENTICE BUT IN THAT STATE, THAT IS NOT HAPPENING YET.

>> STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE CONTRACTORS TO HAVE A BOND, PROVIDING MORE PROTECTION TO CONSUMERS IF THE JOB IS NOT DONE, BUT IT HAS YET TO BE PASSED.

ANYONE FOUND GUILTY OF PRICE GOUGING COULD FACE FINES OF UP TO $10,000 FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE, AND $20,000 FOR THEIR SECOND.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> A NATIONAL GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT IS TARGETING NEW JERSEY'S CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS.

PROTESTERS RALLIED TODAY OUTSIDE OF THE GLEN ROCK OFFICE CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOT HEIMER, URGING HIS SUPPORT ON A THREE AND HALF TRILLION DOLLAR BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL.

HE IS ONE OF SEVERAL NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS MEMBERS.

UNLESS IT INCLUDES A FULL RESTORATION OF THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTION KNOWN AS S.A.L.T., CURRENTLY CAPPED AT $12,000 ON A 2013 REPUBLICAN TAX LAW.

IF RESTORED, ADVOCATES SAY THE AVERAGE SAVINGS PER TAXPAYER WOULD BE ROUGHLY $2000, BENEFITING ABOUT 3 MILLION NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.

BUT, PROGRESSES ARGUE IT IS A TAX BREAK FOR THE WEALTHY.

ACTIVISTS FROM NEW JERSEY WORKING FAMILIES AND THE GREEN NEW DEAL NETWORK TODAY ARGUED WITHOUT THE BILL'S PASSAGE, OTHER CRITICAL FUNDING FOR ITEMS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND JOB CREATION WOULD BE LOST.

>> WE NEED THE ENTIRE THREE AND HALF TRILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE TO PASS, AND WE NEED FOR HIM TO NOT OBSTRUCT THE AGENDA.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST ABOUT PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, ACTUALLY ABOUT EXPANDING SOCIAL SECURITY.

IT'S ABOUT THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED.

>> IF YOUR JOB TOOK A DIRECT HIT FROM TROPICAL STORM IDA, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SEPARATE FORM OF AID.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS DETAILS AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA?

>> SOME NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WHO ARE EFFECT BY HURRICANE IDA AND THEY MIGHT BE GETTING SOME HELP.

>> Reporter: THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR DISASTER, UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE IF THEY WORK OR LIVE IN ONE OF THE COUNTIES THAT HAPPEN TO DECLARE MAJOR DISASTER AREAS.

TO QUALIFY, AN INDIVIDUAL WOULD HAVE HAD TO LOSE THEIR JOB DIRECTLY DUE TO THE STORM.

AND, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER QUALIFICATIONS IN INDIVIDUAL WOULD HAVE TO MEET.

THE STATE SAYS BEFORE ANYONE CAN RECEIVE DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE INELIGIBLE FOR REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS.

SOME PARENTS ARE STILL AWAITING THEIR CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT PAYMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER.

THE IRS SAYS THE LATEST PAYMENTS WERE SENT TO HOUSEHOLDS LAST WEDNESDAY, BUT NOT EVERYONE RECEIVED THE MONEY.

THE IRS SAYS IT IS LOOKING INTO THE SITUATION AND WILL SHARE MORE INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

CONGRESS APPROVED THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDITS FROM 35 MILLION FAMILIES EARLIER THIS YEAR AS A WAY TO HELP HOUSEHOLD SUFFERING FINANCIALLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

NEW JERSEY'S DRIVERS WILL ESSENTIALLY HELP PAY SOME OF THE COSTS FOR THE NEW $10 BILLION HUDSON RIVER ROAD TUNNEL PROJECT.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS'S JOHN REITMEYER SAYS UNDER A RECENTLY RELEASED UPDATED FINANCE PLAN, NEW JERSEY WILL USE EVIDENCE FROM THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY TO HELP PAY FOR THE MASSIVE PROJECT.

>> THE AUTHORITY OPERATES BOTH THE TURNPIKE AND THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY.

AND, IT JUST INCREASED LAST YEAR, AND HAS ALSO SET THE STAGE FOR ANNUAL INCREASES IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL OCCUR AUTOMATICALLY.

UP TO 3% ANNUALLY.

>> THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY WILL CONTRIBUTE AN ESTIMATED $1.6 BILLION.

FIND OUT WHO ELSE IS PAYING THAT FOR THE LATEST TIMELINE ON CONSTRUCTION.

CHECK OUT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG .

>>> WALL STREET WAS A WASH TODAY LEADING TO A STEEP MARKET SELLOFF.

HERE ARE TODAY'S NUMBERS.

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

>>> FINALLY, TONIGHT, AS MEDICAL WORKERS LOOK AHEAD TO THE WINTER SEASON AND THE INCREASED ILLNESSES THAT COME WITH IT, PRESSURE IS ALREADY MOUNTING ON OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ARE REPORTING A RISE IN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, HIGH-END ANXIETY, AND DRUG OVERDOSES.

ALL BELIEVED TO BE DRIVEN BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AT LEAST ONE HEALTHCARE FACILITY, THE BERGEN NEWBRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER TELLS OUR HEALTHCARE REPORTER THAT THEIR INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC PROGRAM IS THE BUSIEST IT'S BEEN IN A DECADE.

WE LOW, YOU WRITE ABOUT THIS UPTICK, THIS DEMAND INSIDE EMERGENCY ROOMS.

HOW SEVERE IS IT?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS DOCUMENTING ACROSS NEW JERSEY, AND WE HEAR STORIES ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MIX OF THINGS, YOU KNOW.

PEOPLE IN A SERIOUS SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

OR, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF OVERDOSE, A DRUG OVERDOSE.

BUT, IT'S ALSO LESSER, LESS EXTREME ISSUES.

I MEAN, I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE SON HAD AN ANXIETY ISSUE THAT GOT REALLY OVERWHELMING, AND THEY ENDED UP HOURS WAITING HOURS IN A, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN A RURAL PART OF THE STATE, AND YOU KNOW, GOT SOME ANSWERS, BUT, WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED THROUGH OUTPATIENT CARE, IT JUST WAS TAKING TOO LONG TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, SO THEY ENDED UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH EVERYBODY AGREES IS LESS THAN IDEAL.

FOR ANY KIND OF PSYCHIATRIC ISSUE.

>> AND IN PARTICULAR, THE STATE SYSTEMS AS A WHOLE HAVE CUT BACK ON SOME OF THAT IN PATIENT CARE.

SO, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT ?

AND, WHAT PATIENTS, WHAT IS THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF WHO IS BEING TREATED?

>> THE INCREASE IS BIGGEST AMONG KIDS FOR THESE KIND OF EPISODES SHOWING UP AT THE EMERGENCY ROOMS.

YOU'RE RIGHT THAT I MEAN, WE'VE HAD DECADES OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION.

FROM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, THEY SAID THAT HE WOULD BE THE LAST PERSON TO ARGUE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC THAT THIS WAS NECESSARY, BUT IT IS NOT JUST OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM CAPACITY TO HANDLE THOSE PATIENTS COMING IN, BUT IT'S ALSO INPATIENT BEDS FOR PSYCHIATRIC CARE.

AGAIN, MENTAL HEALTH, OR ADDICTION ISSUES.

IN PATIENT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE APPARENTLY HAVING A SQUEEZE RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH.

SO HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THIS SHIFT, THEN?

BECAUSE IT TOOK YEARS FOR THESE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS TO GET TO THIS POINT.

SO WHAT DO THEY PLAN TO DO THAN TO REVERSE SOME OF THIS?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, THE QUESTION I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO IS WHETHER THE STATE HAS PUT OUT ANOTHER CALL, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY AND ASKED TO FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRY HOSPITALS WHETHER THEY WANT TO ADD THESE.

THEY HAVE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS.

WHICH YOU MENTIONED IS THE LARGEST WITH MORE THAN 300.

SO IN THE SHORT TERM, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE UNIVERSITY WHICH IS HAVING, COMING UP AGAINST IT CAPACITY LIMITS, CREATED AN AGREEMENT TO SORT OF EASE THE TRANSFER TO NEWBRIDGE.

SO, THAT IS ONE WAY TO DEAL WITH THE SHORT-TERM.

FOR HOSPITALS TO WORK TOGETHER TO SORT OF FILL THESE CAPACITY GAPS.

BUT, LONG TERM, IT CAN MEET ADDING BEDS, AND THAT TAKES, IT'S ACTUALLY A YEARS LONG PROCESS.

SO, IT'S COMP LOCATED AND MAY NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

>> IT IS COMPLICATED AND DEEP IT ALL RIGHT, LILO STAINTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT YOU CAN CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING AND GET ALL THE LATEST UPDATES AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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