>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY 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 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS TUESDAY NIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

PRESIDENT BIDEN THIS WEEK MADE HIS BOLDEST DECLARATION YET ABOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TELLING THE PUBLIC DURING A 60 MINUTE INTERVIEW, IT IS EFFECTIVELY OVER WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE U.S.

STILL HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VIRUS.

BUT, HIS WORDS DREW SWIFT REACTION FROM BOTH PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY, NOT TO MENTION VOTERS, FOR HAVING TROUBLE RECONCILING THE STATEMENT WITH THE 400 TO 500 AMERICAN STILL DYING FROM THE EFFECTS OF COVID- 19 EVERYDAY.

DISEASE EXPERTS SAY WHETHER THE PANDEMIC IS TECHNICALLY OVER OR NOT, MATTERS LESS THAN THE FACT THAT THE VIRUS WILL STAY AMONG US AND CONTINUE TO BE A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

THE PUBLIC IS NOW EQUIPPED WITH BETTER TOOLS TO STAY HEALTHY, LIKE BIVALENT BOOSTERS THAT ARE RELATIVELY AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE 12 YEARS OLD AND UP.

NEW JERSEY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID ABOUT 94,000 UPDATED BOOSTER SHOTS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED IN THE STATE SINCE THEY BECAME AVAILABLE HERE ROUGHLY 2 WEEKS AGO.

IT IS A RATE HEALTH EXPERTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCREASE DRAMATICALLY AS THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS AND THEIR POWER POTENTIALLY INFLUENCE THE NATION.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE OVER ANYTIME SOON, WE ARE STILL WEARING MASKS.

>> Reporter: ALEX WORE HIS MASK AS HE JOINED THE FOLKS WHO ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR THE COVID BIVALENT BOOSTERS.

THE CITY IS HOSTING CLINICS WITH A COUPLE THOUSAND OF THE UPDATED BOOSTERS TO ADMINISTER AND IT IS PUSHING SENIORS, ESPECIALLY TO GET IMMUNIZED OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

>> PEOPLE ARE STILL COMING IN GETTING THEIR SHOTS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM BECAUSE IF THEY GET SICK, THEY ARE THE MOST AT DANGER.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY REPORTED MORE THAN 1400 NEW CASES TODAY AND 12 DEATHS, SOME 400 PEOPLE DIE OF COVID EVERY DAY IN THE U.S.

SO, THE VIRUS IS OUT THERE BUT COVID SHOTS MIGHT BE A HARDER SELL AFTER THE PRESIDENT TOLD CBS ON SUNDAY -- >> THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COVID, WE ARE STILL DOING A LOT OF WORK ON IT.

BUT THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, IF YOU NOTICE, NOBODY IS WEARING MASKS.

>> OF THE PANDEMIC SEEMS TO BE OVER, BUT COVID ISN'T OVER, THE VIRUS IS STILL HERE.

A >> HOW COULD IT POSSIBLY BE OVER WHEN PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERY DAY?

>> Reporter: THERE'S NO PRECISE DEFINITION FOR WHEN THE PANDEMIC ENDS BUT FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE PANDEMIC DOES FEEL OVER.

NEW JERSEY DROPPED ITS SCHOOL MASK MANDATE IN MARCH AND ENDED TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATORS AND STATE WORKERS LAST MONTH.

TODAY, NEW YORK CITY'S MAYOR DROPPED STUDENT VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

>> I THINK AS A PANDEMIC, IT IS OVER, BUT IT IS A SEASONAL OR CHRONIC ISSUE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

>> THE PANDEMIC IS STILL WITH US.

BECAUSE WE COUNT CASES EVERY DAY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE COUNT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

AS LONG AS WE ARE SEEING 5 TO 10 DEATHS PER DAY, WE DON'T EVEN CALL IT AN PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAID THAT THE VIRUS REMAINS A THREAT, EVEN THOUGH THE STATE FORMERLY ENDED THE COVID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN THE SPRING.

>> WE ARE IN A STEADY STATE, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID IN A SAFE MANNER.

>> Reporter: BUT WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DECLARES THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, IT DOES HAVE POTENTIAL REPERCUSSIONS ON POLICY AND POLITICS.

A >> I THINK IT MAKES IT EVEN HARDER TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO GET THE BIVALENT BOOSTER, I THINK IT MAKES IT HARDER TO GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE RISKS STILL ARE.

>> Reporter: AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST SAID IT COULD ALSO DRY UP THE FEDERAL PIPELINE FROM CONGRESS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ASKED FOR ANOTHER $22 BILLION, A TOUGH VOTE AT BEST, BUT POSSIBLY EVEN MORE DIFFICULT AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY STOPPED SHIPPING FREE HOME TEST KITS.

>> WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING TWO COMPLETELY OPPOSITE MESSAGES, WE ARE SAYING IF WE WANT TO GET OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, EVERYBODY SHOULD GET VACCINATED AND ON THE OTHER HAND, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SAYING YOU DON'T NEED TO BE VACCINATED IN ORDER TO ENGAGE WITH SOCIETY, AND YOU CAN'T REALLY HAVE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Reporter: MORE COVID VARIANTS ARE OUT THERE, BUT THE CURRENT BIVALENT BOOSTERS PROTECT AGAINST THE OMICRON VARIANT, AND WITH AN EARLY FLU SEASON FORECASTED, THE KNICKS ARE ALSO OFFERING FLU SHOTS.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE RESPONSE FROM NEW JERSEY HEALTH LEADERS AND WHY THEY SAY THE STATE ISN'T OUT OF THE WOODS YET, YOU CAN FIND THIS REPORT ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> AN UPDATE TONIGHT ON THE TUG-OF-WAR UNDER ATLANTIC CITY'S NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM, IT IS STAYING PUT , THE CITY IS ABANDONING THE ONGOING LEGAL BATTLE OVER THE FUTURE OF THE FACILITY, WHICH PROVIDES CLEAN NEEDLES FOR DRUG USERS AS A HARM REDUCTION CENTER.

THE NEEDLE EXCHANGE IS CREDITED WITH HELPING REDUCE HIV INFECTIONS IN THE AREA BY 50%, SINCE OPENING IN 2007.

THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED IN JULY, 2021 TO PERMANENTLY SHUT DOWN THE FACILITY AS DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW TOURISM DISTRICTS BEGAN TAKING SHAPE.

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES IN THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION PUSHED BACK, NOW LAWYERS FOR THE CITY SAID THEIR EFFORT TO CLOSE THE SITE HAS BEEN RENDERED INVALID.

DUE TO A NEW LAW SIGNED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY GOVERNOR MURPHY, THAT TRANSFERS THE POWER OF OPENING AND CLOSING SUCH PROGRAMS FROM MUNICIPALITIES TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE JUST SEVEN NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE, INCLUDING ATLANTIC CITY.

OPPONENTS ARGUE THE SITES ARE UNSAFE AND BRING MORE DRUGS TO THEIR CITIES FROM OTHER TOWNS THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY.>>> RETURNING TO TRENTON WHERE WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WHO BEGAN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITHOUT A SCHOOL.

THE CITY'S REDISTRICTING PLAN WAS AIMED AT ADDRESSING OVERCROWDING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT INSTEAD CAUSED CONFUSION AND CHAOS FOR PARENTS.

WITH THE ACADEMIC YEAR NOW WELL UNDERWAY, RAVEN SANTANA CHATS WITH THE FAMILIES TO SEE WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN FINALLY RECEIVED A PLACEMENT.

>> UPSET AND MAD BECAUSE I THINK THAT I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE SOME FRIENDS, AND IT MAKES ME SAD.

>> Reporter: A HEARTBREAKING CONFESSION FROM THIS 10-YEAR- OLD, WHO STILL HASN'T BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM SINCE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED, THE FOURTH-GRADER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO A SCHOOL BUT SHE CAN'T GET THERE ALONE BECAUSE IT IS 24 MINUTES AWAY AND HER MOM CAN'T AFFORD TRANSPORTATION.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS AWARE THAT I HAVE THREE KIDS, TWO THAT GO TO REGULAR SCHOOL AND ONE THAT IS SPECIAL EDUCATION.

AND I CANNOT SPLIT MYSELF AND TAKE THEM ALL IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP ME.

SHE IS NOT ALONE IN HER STRUGGLE, SHE JOINS THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO REMAIN IMPACTED BY THE PROCESS OF RELOCATING STUDENTS AFTER THE CITY RECENTLY READ RESTRICTED.

>> SHE IS FIVE OR SIX BLOCKS AWAY FROM HERE, VERSUS ACROSS TOWN.

COME ON.

EVEN THEN, THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE SHE STILL HAS TO WALK TO THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

ON TOP OF HAVING A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD.

>> Reporter: THIS ADVOCATING RESIDENT SAID THE NEW ASSIGNMENTS HAVE FORCED PARENTS LIKE LINDA TO LOSE THEIR JOBS.

AFTER REVISITING THE SAME PARENTS A WEEK LATER, SOME SAY THEY ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION.

ONE RESIDENT WHO ONLY WANTED TO BE IDENTIFIED AS JASMINE, WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS ASSIGNED TO A SCHOOL 30 MINUTES AWAY INSTEAD OF TWO BLOCKS AWAY, SAID THE COMMUTE IS UNREALISTIC.

>> NOTHING HAS REALLY CHANGED, I RECENTLY SENT MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND I HAD TO GET ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, IT TOOK ME ABOUT MAYBE AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET THERE AND GET BACK.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS ADMITTED THE REDISTRICTING PLAN WAS AMBITIOUS, RELOCATING APPROXIMATELY 600 STAFF MEMBERS AND NEARLY 8000 STUDENTS, HE SAID THE ALTERNATIVE AND SEVERELY OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS AT A RATE THAT IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING.

HE AND THE MAYOR ASKED FOR PATIENTS.

>> THERE MIGHT BE DAYS THAT I'VE GOT TO WALK, THERE MIGHT BE DAYS I'VE GOT TO TAKE A CAB BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS BAD.

>> Reporter: THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE LOWERED THE POPULATION, A LOT OF SCHOOLS FOR INSTANCE, HAD 950 KIDS, THEY ARE DOWN TO 600.

SO, WE ARE TRYING TO LOWER THE POPULATION.

OUR GOAL IS 21: 1 STUDENT TEACHER RATIO.

>> MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ARE THAT PARENTS DON'T LIVE WITHIN THE TWO-MILE REQUIREMENT TO RECEIVE BUSING.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> I THINK THE STATE DOES INDEED HAVE TO REVISIT THE REGULATIONS, THAT DO NOT ALLOW BUSING TO THOSE SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY IN AN URBAN AREA WHERE THEY ARE CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS AND GOING PAST BUSY INTERSECTIONS.

GOING THROUGH TROUBLED NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO, I THINK THAT IF WE CAN GET KIDS ON COURTESY BUSING, OR THE STATE RELAXING THOSE REGULATIONS, THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO RESOLVE A LOT OF THESE ISSUES.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR SAID TOMORROW THE DISTRICT WILL HAVE A CONFIRMATION OF WHO IS ENROLLED AND WHO IS NOT SO THEY CAN BEGIN FILLING VACANCIES ON THE RELOCATION WAITLIST.

HE CONTINUES TO ADVISE PARENTS TO CONTACT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT IF THEY ARE STILL HAVING ISSUES GETTING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.

IT SAYS NOTHING WILL BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.>>> HE WAS A PART OF THE BLUE WAVE DURING 2018 AND NOW THE INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN IS HOPING TO KEEP THAT GOING DURING THIS YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTION, GOING UP AGAINST BOB HEALY IN A DISTRICT THAT IS NOW MORE FAVORABLE TO DEMOCRATS.

SO, WHAT TO WATCH, DAVID CRUZ HAS A LOOK INSIDE THE RACE.

>> I'M BOB HEALY, I STILL KNOW HOW TO THROW AN ELBOW AND GET THINGS DONE.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICAN BOB HEALY HAS EMBRACED HIS INNER PUNK, THE FORMER WILD BOY IS REBRANDING HIMSELF AS A GROWN- UP MODERATE, VERY SPECIFICALLY NOT IN THE TRUMP ROLE, NOWADAYS HE IS PLEADING FOR MORE CIVILITY IN A POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT HAS REDEFINED.

>> I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF RHETORIC, BOTH SIDES ARE GUILTY OF IT.

THAT HAS NOT HELPED.

I'VE GOT A 15 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER, I DON'T WANT THIS FOR HER.

I DON'T WANT THIS ATTITUDE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE FOR HER WHEN SHE GROWS UP.

>> Reporter: THEN IT IS A GOOD THING HE IS RUNNING AGAINST THE INCUMBENT AND NOTORIOUS NICE GUY, ANDY KIM, IN A DISTRICT THAT HAS TURNED BLUER, AND THE INCLUSION OF BLUE LEANING PARTS OF MERCER AND MONMOUTH COUNTIES, IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR KIM, SAYS MICHAEL OF RIDER UNIVERSITY.

>> HE WON IN A DISTRICT OF OVER 30,000 VOTES, AND SINCE THEN THE DISTRICT HAS GOTTEN ALMOST 40,000 VOTES MORE LEANING TOWARD IMMIGRANTS.

THERE ARE 17,000 MORE DEMOCRATS NOW THAN THE OLD DISTRICT, THERE ARE 20,000 LESS REPUBLICANS THAN IN THE OLD DISTRICT.

SO THAT IS A BIG SWING IN A DISTRICT THAT HAD ALREADY LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BRING IN ANDY KIM.

>> WHEN HE WALKS THE DISTRICT, VOTERS ASK HIM THREE THINGS -- >> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT MY GAS AND GROCERY BILL?

I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY TOWN, AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TEACHING MY CHILDREN RIGHT NOW?

THOSE ARE THE THREE MAJOR QUESTIONS I ASKED EVERYWHERE I GO.

>> THE CHALLENGES PEOPLE ARE FACING, THEY DON'T END AT DISTRICT LINES.

WE ARE STILL HEARING A LOT OF FAMILY STRUGGLING WITH OUT-OF- POCKET COSTS, A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE HELD UP DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS I'M HEARING, JUST THIS DEEP LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY.

>> Reporter: BUT AFFORDABILITY IS NOT WHAT SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN WOULD TAKE AWAY AS THE BIG ISSUE HERE.

>> ANDY KIM HAS AN EXTREME BACK- TO-SCHOOL AGENDA, PUSHING RADICAL SEX EDUCATION CURRICULUM.

>> HE IS SOMEBODY THAT VOTED AGAINST ABORTION RIGHT, SOMEBODY WHO SUPPORTS A VERY RADICAL NATIONAL BAN ON ABORTION , HE'S OKAY WITH STATES BANNING ABORTION EVEN IN THE CASES OF INCEST, I JUST FIND THAT COMPLETELY ANTITHETICAL TO WHAT THIS DISTRICT IS LOOKING FOR.

BOB HEALY TOLD US THIS WEEK HE WOULD VOTE AGAINST A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN, BY THE WAY.

IT'S TRUE THAT ALL POLITICS FOR THE FOLKS, WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IMPACTS THEIR POCKETBOOKS.

>> THERE ARE OTHER NATIONAL ISSUES THAT BOB HEALY BELIEVES HELP HIM, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, HE IS TALKING ABOUT ANDY KIM'S 100% BIDEN VOTING RECORD.

>> Reporter: THE POSITION IS THAT KIM'S SEAT IS NEARLY SAFE, BUT BIDEN IS STILL NO OBAMA IN NEW JERSEY AND COULD HURT A DEMOCRAT AS MUCH AS HE COULD HELP.

AND BOB HEALY HAS A STRONG CAMPAIGN TEAM AND ENOUGH MONEY TO SELL FINANCE.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF TV ADS LIKE THIS TO GO ALONG WITH YOUR TV SHOWS BECAUSE ELECTION DAY BEGINS WITH MAIL- IN BALLOTS THAT GO OUT THIS WEEK.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AND GO TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NJ DECIDES 2022 TAB TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE ELECTIONS, INCLUDING PROFILES ON THE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES, WHETHER YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND WHO IS RUNNING IN YOUR DISTRICT.>>> NEW JERSEY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS REACHED A NEARLY $8 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH CHIPOTLE OVER CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS.

AN AUDIT CONDUCTED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IN 2020 FOUND MORE THAN 30,000 VIOLATIONS THAT AFFECTED MINORS AT CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY.

INCLUDING SCHEDULING THOSE EMPLOYEES FOR MORE HOURS THAN LEGALLY ALLOWED, AND NOT PROVIDING SUFFICIENT MEAL BREAKS.

IN A STATEMENT, BOTH THE LABOR DEPARTMENT AND ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAY 85 CHIPOTLE RESTAURANTS HAVE NEW COMPLIANCE PLANS, INCLUDING HIRING AN OFFICIAL TO MANAGE OVERSIGHT AND TRAIN FUTURE MANAGERS.

THE $7.75 MILLION FROM THE SETTLEMENT WILL GO TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S CHILD LABOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND WHICH IS USED TO ENFORCE LAWS PROTECTING CHILDREN.

>>> IT IS NOT JUST LOCAL AND COUNTY WORKERS, BUT SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WILL PAY MORE FOR THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS NEXT YEAR, TOO.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS ON THE NEW RATE HIKE PLUS TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> TEACHERS AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ARE THE LATEST WORKERS FACING SHARPLY HIGHER HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

THE STATE SCHOOL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS COMMISSION VOTED TO INCREASE RATES BY ABOUT 15% FOR NEXT YEAR.

LAST WEEK, A SEPARATE COMMISSION APPROVED DOUBLE- DIGIT PREMIUM INCREASES FOR OTHER PUBLIC WORKERS, BUDGET AND FINANCE REPORTER, JOHN REITMEYER TELLS ME SOME SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALS ARE RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE CUTBACKS DUE TO THE ADDED COST.

>> THIS COULD BRING ON SOME SORT OF CUTS AS WE ARE JUST STARTING A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, GOING FORWARD, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE THE WAY THESE CALLERS GET BAKED INTO THE NEXT BUDGET AND IT'S JUST GOING TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON PROPERTY TAXES AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE ALREADY SEEING RECORD HIGH BILLS IN NEW JERSEY, AND NO SIGN OF THOSE BILLS LEVELING OFF OR EVEN GOING DOWN AT ANY POINT.

>> YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE BY READING JOHN'S STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S STATEWIDE MINIMUM WAGE WILL INCREASE BY $1.13 UP TO $14.13 PER HOUR STARTING THIS JANUARY, NEW JERSEY IS ON A PATH TO A $15 MINIMUM WAGE BY 2024.

THAT LAW MANDATES WAGE INCREASES OF ONE DOLLAR PER HOUR OR MORE, IF THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INFLATION.

THAT'S WHY THE INCREASE WILL BE HIGHER FOR 2023.

>>> NEWS CENSUS BUREAU DATA SHOWS 22% OF NEW JERSEYANS WORKED FROM HOME IN 2021, A MORE THAN FOUR FOLD INCREASE OVER 2019.

NEW JERSEY HAS GREATER SHARE OF PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME THAN MOST OTHER STATES.

RIKERS UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T SEE MUCH CHANGING IN THE FUTURE.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT 4% OF MANAGERS SAID THEY WERE OKAY WITH PEOPLE WORKING IN A HYBRID ENVIRONMENT.

AND NOW IT IS 80%.

SO THOSE ARE MANAGERS AND WORKERS, I THINK THEY REALIZE THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE FOR A WHILE.

>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE BEGAN ITS TWO DAY MEETING TO DECIDE WHAT IS NEXT FOR INTEREST RATES.

MARKETS REMAIN ON EDGE AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S DECISION, HERE'S A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM TODAY.

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

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY WILLOW UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

>>> HURRICANE FIONA HAS STRENGTHENED TO A POWERFUL CATEGORY THREE STORM, THREATENING MORE DEADLY FLOODING TODAY AS IT SLAMS TURKS AND CAICOS ISLAND, WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF MORE THAN 111 MILES PER HOUR, THIS IS AFTER POUNDING PUERTO RICO AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO HOMES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND POWER GRIDS.

THE NATIONAL GUARDS ARE REPORTING HUNDREDS OF RESCUES OF PEOPLE LEFT STRANDED IN PUERTO RICO.

THE GOVERNOR SAID MOST OF THE ISLAND IS WITHOUT WATER OR POWER.

A FEMA ADMINISTRATION IS TRAVELING THERETO ASSESS THE DAMAGE ON THE GROUND TODAY.

IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE ARE REPORTEDLY WITHOUT RUNNING WATER.

AUTHORITIES ARE NOW ALSO REPORTING THE FIRST DEATHS FROM THE HURRICANE, AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN PUERTO RICO, ONE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ANOTHER IN THE FRENCH TERRITORY OF GUADALUPE ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS.

THE STORM IS UNLEASHING 5 YEARS AFTER HURRICANE MARIA DEVASTATED PUERTO RICO, KILLING AT LEAST 3000 PEOPLE, CAUSING ROUGHLY $80 BILLION IN DAMAGE.

>>> ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS TODAY BEGAN MOBILIZING ACROSS THE STATE, HELPING RESIDENTS SIGN UP TO VOTE ON THIS NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY.

CELEBRATED EVERY SEPTEMBER, SINCE 2012, AND ON THE CAMPUS OF THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, IT IS ALSO THE START OF A NONPARTISAN STUDENT LED REGISTRATION EVENT THAT HAS BECOME CRITICAL FOR ENGAGING WITH NEW VOTERS.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> I AM THRILLED TO JOIN YOU AS WE FORMERLY KICKOFF NEW JERSEY'S FIFTH ANNUAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL RIGHT HERE AT THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> SECRETARY OF STATE, TAHESHA WAY JOINED TODAY TO LAUNCH THE CONTEST.

>> EVERY FALL WE GET TO ENGAGE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, AS A PART OF THIS PROGRAM, AND THIS TRULY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ASPECTS OF THE JOB.

ALL OF YOU HAVE IDEALISM, WITH YOUR PASSION, REMINDS US WHY THIS WORK IS SO SIGNIFICANT, SO POWERFUL, SO IMPORTANT, WE ARE HELPING YOU MAKE SPACE FOR YOURSELVES IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND I'M ALWAYS PROUD TO SEE EFFORTS ACROSS ALL CAMPUSES.

>> THE CONTEST IS KICKING OFF ON NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY, AND DR. FOSTER REMINDING HER STUDENTS AND THOSE FROM OTHER SCHOOLS HERE AS A PART OF THE CHALLENGE WHY THEIR VOTE MATTERS SO MUCH.

>> THE VOTE OF 18 TO 24-YEAR- OLDS IS THE LOWEST, IT IS THE LOWEST OF THE COHORT IN THE UNITED STATES, INTO 20, 76 PERCENT OF VOTERS IN THE 65 TO 74-YEAR-OLD COHORT VOTED.

AND THAT IS COMPARED TO 51% OF THE 18 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS.

THAT IS A 25 PERCENTAGE POINT DIFFERENCE.

25 PERCENTAGE POINT DIFFERENCE.

SO YOU CAN COUNT ON THE FACT THAT YOUR ELDERS ARE GOING TO VOTE.

COUNT ON IT.

THEY WILL TURN OUT TO VOTE BUT THEY ARE COUNTING ON THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOT TURNING OUT.

>> BUT THEY SHARED A MORE PROMISING MESSAGE ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> NEW JERSEY'S YOUNG VOTERS HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP, AND IN FACT, IN 2020, OUR STATE HAVE THE HIGHEST YOUTH VOTER TURNOUT IN THE NATION.

YES.

>> AND ON DISPLAY HERE, SOME OF THE SHINING YOUNG POLITICAL HOPEFULS LIKE JARED WILLIAMS.

>> MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO