>> 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, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

MR.

SHOTS HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT.

TONIGHT, AC/DC ADVISORY PANEL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, RECOMMENDING A BOOSTER DOSE OF THE PFIZER CORONAVIRUS VACCINE FOR PEOPLE AGED 65 AND UP AS WELL AS LONG- TERM CARE RESIDENTS.

AND, IN A SEPARATE NOTE, ADULTS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND ADVISING THE EXTRA SHOTS TO BE GIVEN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL TWO DOSE IMMUNIZATION.

FOLLOWS THIS WEEK'S AUTHORIZATION BY THE FDA.

ALL AN EFFORT TO CURB THE RED OF THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DELTA VARIANT.

THE ENDORSEMENT COMES AS AC/DC ANALYSIS SHOWS ROOSTERS ARE FAR MORE BENEFICIAL TO OLDER AMERICANS TO YOUNGER AGE GROUPS.

THE CDC'S SIGN-UPS WILL MEAN THE U.S. CAN BEGIN ADMINISTERING BOOSTERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

THOSE SHOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT PHARMACIES, EVEN SOME DOCTORS OFFICES.

IN NEW JERSEY, 5.8 MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK, OR GO TO SCHOOL HERE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

MORE THAN 90,003RD DOSES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADMINISTERED.

FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN SPLIT FOR WEEKS OVER WHETHER THE SHOTS ARE NECESSARY WHEN THEY SHOULD GIVEN, AND WHO SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

FOR THE LATEST EMMA WE TURN NOW TO MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY EPIDEMIOLOGIST, DR. STEPHANIE SILVEIRA.

>> THIS OF COURSE WAS THE WEEK THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO FULLY ROLL OUT BOOSTER SHOTS.

WHAT DOES THIS DECISION FROM THE FDA MEAN?

>> RIGHT NOW, THE FDA DECIDED THAT IT WAS MOST IMPORTANT TO GET THAT BOOSTER DOSE OUT TO PEOPLE WHO WERE ONE OF TWO THINGS.

MOST LIKELY TO HAVE SEVERE ILLNESS AFTER VACCINATION, OR PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED ON THE JOB.

>> WHAT WAS THE BIG DEBATE ABOUT?

I MEAN, FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS WERE REALLY SPLIT OVER THIS.

ULTIMATELY IT CAME DOWN TO STAYING AHEAD OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT.

SO A LOT OF THIS WAS ALSO LOOKING AT A COMBINATION OF CLINICAL DATA AS WELL AS REAL- WORLD DATA FROM PLACES LIKE ENGLAND AND ISRAEL.

TO SEE HOW WELL THE VACCINE WAS HOLDING UP, AND WHO REALLY NEEDED THAT EXTRA SHOT TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.

THE CONVERSATION OR THE BIG DEBATE WAS, SHOULD THE BOOSTER BE OFFERED TO EVERYBODY 18 AND ABOVE?

OR, ONLY ROLL IT OUT INITIALLY TO THOSE HIGH RISK GROUPS, AND THEN, WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECTS OF EACH OF THOSE DECISIONS?

>> YEAH, AND ULTIMATELY, THAT'S WHERE THEY WENT, RIGHT?

OLDER AMERICANS, BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK NOT JUST BECAUSE OF UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, BUT ALSO, BECAUSE OF POTENTIALLY THEIR JOBS.

>> RIGHT, AND I THINK THE QUESTION THAT IS STILL BEING DEBATED RIGHT NOW BY THE CDC, WHEN THEY PUT OUT THEIR GUIDANCE IS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, RIGHT?

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE, WE ALL KNOW, AND I THINK WE CAN AGREE THAT HEALTHCARE WORKERS FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.

BUT, THE OPEN-ENDED QUESTION IS, WHAT ABOUT TEACHERS, WHAT ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE DEEMED TO BE ESSENTIAL WORKERS EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, LIKE FOOD SERVICE WORKERS WHO WE KNOW NOT ONLY ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF CONTRACTING THE VIRUS, BUT WERE MORE LIKELY TO DIE THAN REALLY EITHER OF THOSE TWO GROUPS.

>> THAT WAS FUN OF WHAT WE WERE UP AGAINST.

YES, WHEN VACCINES WERE INITIALLY ROLLED OUT, WERE THOSE TEARS, THOSE SYSTEMS OF WHO REALLY GOT FIRST DIBS.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO, WE ARE SEEING THAT SAME DEBATE LAYOUT IN TERMS OF BOOSTERS.

THE REALITY IS, THE BOOSTERS ARE REALLY RECOMMENDED FOR PEOPLE FOR AT LEAST 6 TO 8 MONTHS AFTER THEIR FIRST DOSE.

SO WE ARE SEEING IS THE ROLLOUT OF THE BOOSTER, FOLLOWING THAT PATTERN THAT WE SAW OF THE INITIAL ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINE, REALLY BASED ON RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS.

>> SO, WE KNOW, OF COURSE, PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY AND ELSEWHERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN GETTING BOOSTERS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY FALL INTO THESE CATEGORIES OR NOT.

DO PHARMACIES STEPHANIE VACCINE SITES HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS GUIDANCE?

AND, SECOND PART TO THAT QUESTION, WHEN SHOULD WE ASK ACT MORE DOSES, EXTRA DOSES TO ARISE?

>> SO, THE CDC MAKES THE RECOMMENDATIONS, STATE OFFICIALS ARE ALLOWED TO MODIFY THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR STATE, SO THERE'LL HAVE TO, IT IS GUIDANCE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW AN EXACT THE.

BUT, ONCE THE STATE LEVEL GUIDANCE GOES OUT, THEN THE, THOSE PHARMACIES ARE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY DO, HOW STRICT THEY ARE, WE WILL COME TO SEE.

I THINK WE SAW EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC WITH PEOPLE GETTING THEIR FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

WE DID NOT REQUIRE A LOT OF PROOF OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE AT A HIGH RISK CATEGORY IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.

>> LET ME ASK YOU QUICKLY, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ONCE NATIONS LIKE THE U.S. TO HOLD OFF ON DOING BOOSTERS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

I MEAN, SO OTHER POOR NATIONS CONSORT OF KETCHUP, SHARE OUR DOSES WITH THEM.

WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN IF WE DO FOLLOW THAT?

>> I THINK WE CAN ISSUE BOOSTER DOSES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS OR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED SINCE AUGUST.

INC. WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS REALLY A SITUATION OF NOT EITHER OR, BUT BOTH PEER THIS IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC SO IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT GLOBALLY, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET OUT OF IT.

SO, WE REALLY NEED TO COME TOGETHER, AND THIS NEEDS TO LOOK MORE LIKE DONATING DOSES AND NOT SELLING THEM TO THESE COUNTRIES THAT CAN'T OF THEM.

>> EYE DR. STEPHANIE SILVEIRA, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AS ALWAYS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR >> HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE IN THE MIDST OF A DEJA VU.

ONCE AGAIN, STARING DOWN THE INTERSECTION OF FLU SEASON WITH THE PANDEMIC.

THE VIRUS IS A FAIR SIMILAR SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF TRANSITION, BUT THE NATION LARGELY ESCAPED INFLUENZA LAST YEAR THANKS TO MASS GRANT, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND OTHER COVID-19 AV MEASURES.

SO, WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE MONTHS AHEAD?

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> AS HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CONTINUE TO FIGHT OFF COVID-19 CASES, THEY NOW FACE A FIGHT ON TWO FRONTS.

>> ONE CHALLENGE OF WHAT IS BEING CALLED A POTENTIAL TWIN ENDEMIC, A FLU AND COVID, IS THAT, THE SYMPTOMS ARE VERY, VERY SIMILAR, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS COMES FOR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS START FEELING LIKE A COLD.

>> HEALTH EXPERTS ARE STILL UNSURE OF HOW BAD THIS YEAR'S FLU SEASON WILL BE, ASHLEY WITH KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL FULL-TIME.

>> WITH COVID-19, IT'S USUALLY THE ADULTS WRITING IT TO THE CHILDREN, BUT WITH INFLUENZA, THE CHILDREN ARE THE BIG SPREADERS.

>> HOW DO PROFESSIONALS ANTICIPATE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO BE A ROUGH FLU SEASON.

>> WE DISCUSSED.

>> WILL IT'S NOT QUITE THAT LOW.

>> WE CAN GUESS FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

SO, IF THEY HAVE A BAD YEAR, IT IS MORE LIKELY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BAD YEAR.

>> THE GOOD NEWS, THEY HAVE NOT HAD ABOUT YOUR DOWN SOUTH.

BUT MUCH LIKE THE RAPIDLY CHANGING VIRUS, THE A AND B STRANDS YOU CAN TAKE IT IN A SHORT TIME TO MAKING IT HARD FOR FLU VACCINE MAKERS TO INCLUDE THE RIGHT STRANDS IN THE ANNUAL VACCINE.

WHICH THEN IMPACTS THE SEVERITY OF THE SEASON.

>> SOME YEARS, THE PREDICTION IS GREAT.

WHAT CIRCULATES IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IS EXACT WHAT CIRCULATES IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE AND WE GET A VACCINE RIGHT ON TARGET.

>> BUT OTHER YEARS, THE FLU VIRUS CHANGES BY THE TIME IT REACHES US AND THE VACCINE IS MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE.

BUT THAT HAS NOT STOPPED MEDICAL EXPERTS FROM ENCOURAGING THE PATIENTS TO GET VACCINATED.

FOR THE FLU, AND FOR THE COVID.

SO, PROOF THAT BOTH IS STAYING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

>> YOU WILL SEE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE SO MUCH MILDER IF YOU ARE VACCINATED.

SO YOU DO NOT END UP IN THE HOSPITAL, YOU DO NOT END UP IN A VENTILATOR, YOU DO NOT DIE.

>> THIS DR. SAYS THAT SHE HAS NOT YET BEEN PATIENT COME IN FOR THEIR FLU SHOT YET SHE EXPECTS THAT AROUND OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.

ALTHOUGH, FOR KIDS WHO NEED TWO FLU SHOT, VACCINATION SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THEN, SINCE THE FLU CAN START IN NOVEMBER.

BUT, IF YOU HAVE NOT GET NEITHER VACCINE, SHOULD THEY BE STAGGERED?

>> I WOULD SAY GET THEM BOTH AT ONCE, AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY TWICE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SYMPTOMS.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT YOU WILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, SORENESS OF YOUR ARM, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FATIGUE AND ACHINESS THAT FOLLOWS ANY VACCINATION.

AS LONG AS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT ANYWAY, WHY NOT TAKE THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

>> ONE REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF GOOD NEWS GOING INTO THIS FLU SEASON IS THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT TO DO, BECAUSE FLU PREVENTION IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS COVERT PREVENTION.

STAY OUTSIDE WHEN WE CAN, WE WERE MASS ZWINGLI ARE INDOORS.

WE WASH OUR HANDS, WE GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID.

WE KNOW WE CAN REALLY REDUCE OUR CHANCES OF GETTING SICK INDIVIDUALLY AND OUR CHANCES OF PASSING THESE DISEASES ON TO OTHERS.

>> DR. BIKING AS THE MASKS, ARE A POINT OF CONTENTION.

SO HER ADVICE TO PATIENTS QUESTION MARK >> WE TAKE A VACCINE, EVERYBODY HAS 50% OF THE COUNTRY VACCINATED.

I'M REALLY HOPING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART THAT EVERYBODY GETS VACCINATED THAT WE CAN STOP THE COVID AND THE FLU, AND GET TO IT.

>> IT'S A LOFTY GOAL, BUT WHEN SHE'S CHIPPING AWAY AT PIER ONE PATIENT AT A TIME.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> WELL, IT IS GOOD MARKS FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY, THE LATEST MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLL SHOWS THE MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEY VOTERS SURVEYED APPROVE OF THE JOB HE'S DOING FOR THE STATE.

AND, THE GOVERNOR EARNED EVEN HIGHER PRAISE FOR HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC .52% OF VOTERS OF THEIR ENDORSEMENT FOR MURPHY'S OVERALL JOB RATING COMPARED TO 38% WHO DISAPPROVE.

THAT'S ABOUT IN LINE WITH POLLS FROM LAST MONTH, BUT STILL A DROP SINCE MAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE, 62% OF THE 800 VOTERS POLLED EARLIER THIS MONTH SAY MURPHY IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER SUPPORTS STRICTER COVERT SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

INCLUDE BRINGING BACK MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES.

MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLLING INSTITUTE SAYS THE PANDEMIC HANDLING CONTINUES TO BE GOVERNOR MURPHY'S STRONGEST ASSET.

BUT, THE SURVEY SHOWS HE ALSO LACKED IN A KEY AREA, MORE THAN 80% OF THOSE POLLED SAY THE STATES STRICT LOCKDOWN REQUIREMENTS HER SMALL BUSINESSES, A MAJORITY BELIEVE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

THE SURVEY COMES JUST A DAY AFTER A SEPARATE POLL FROM THE UNIVERSITY AT THE GOVERNOR AT A 13 POINT ADVANTAGE IN HIS BED FOR REELECTION.

HOPEFUL TEENS AND OTHER FIRST- TIME DRIVERS FLOCKING TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION IN PURSUIT OF A DRIVERS LICENSE OR NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK.

NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PASSING THE TEST, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT TAKE ONE.

THERE ARE NO LIMITS AVAILABLE.

STATEWIDE, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NBC SAYS THE AGENT IS EXPERIENCING AN UNUSUALLY HIGH DEMAND FOR FIRST-TIME LICENSES, AND ISSUING A RECORD AMOUNT OF DRIVERS PERMIT.

65% MORE THAN THE AVERAGE AROUND THIS TIME COMPARED TO OTHER YEARS.

IT'S ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL PANDEMIC RELATED FACTORS, NAMELY STAFFING SHORTAGES AND STUDENTS REQUESTING THEIR PERMITS INDIVIDUALLY INSTEAD OF IN BULK THROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AS WELL AS THE BACKLOG OF TEENS WHO CANNOT TAKE THE TEST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

NOW, LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE CHIMING IN, REPEATING THE DEMAND FOR THE NBC TO FULLY REOPEN AGENCIES FOR ALL TRANSACTIONS.

NOW, THE COMMISSION IS PLANNING TO SEND A MOBILE UNIT OUT TO VARIOUS SITES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO HELP ALLEVIATE DEMAND FOR THE WRITTEN PORTION OF THE DRIVER SAYS, INCLUDING AT PASSAIC COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP IN BURLINGTON COUNTY.

MODERN AND PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS ARE LOCKED IN A BATTLE OVER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA, AND THE PRESIDENT PERSONALLY STEPPED IN YESTERDAY, MEETING WITH LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DIVIDE, INCLUDING NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN, NJ ONE.

ANOTHER MODERATE THE DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING HARD FOR ON THE MONDAY VOTE.

$1 TRILLION BIPARTISAN PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT THE SENATE HAS ALREADY PASSED, AND WANT TO SEPARATED FROM AN EX- ANCESTRY AND HAVE TRILLION DOLLAR SOCIAL SPENDING PACKAGE.

TENSIONS HAVE BEEN RISING AS PROGRESSIVES THREATENED TO VOTE AGAINST THE SMALLER BILL, IF THE THREE HAVE TRILLION DOLLARS SPENDING PLAN IS NOT TIED TO IT.

NOW, THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS AT THE MEETING CALLED IT PROJECT AND CANDID.

BUT, WORK REMAINS.

MODERATES INVOLVED IN THE TALKS SAY PRESIDENT BIDEN ASKED THEM TO COME UP WITH A DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE LARGER SPENDING PLAN THEY ARE WILLING TO LIVE WITH.

THAT FIGURE IS BEING DEBATED IN A STATEMENT, CONGRESSMAN, JOSH GOTTHEIMER SAYS HE BELIEVES THEY CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT, BUT EXPECTS A HECTIC FEW DAYS AHEAD.

THE PLAN TO CHARGE EXTRA FOR DRIVING YOUR CAR INTO NEW YORK CITY IS MOVING TOWARD, BUT HOW MUCH INPUT IS NEW JERSEY BEING GIVEN?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS MORE ON THE PROPOSAL AND TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES.

RHONDA?

>>> OPPOSITION IS GROWING NEW YORK'S PROPOSED CONGESTION PRICING PLAN WHICH WOULD LEAD TO HIGHER TOLLS FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS TRAVELING INTO MANHATTAN.

TO FIGHT THE PROPOSAL, A NEW JERSEY GROUP HAS LAUNCHED THE BEAR CONGESTION PRICING ALLIANCE, WHICH IS BACKED BY BUSINESS LEADERS, AND THE GROUP IS DEMANDING THAT THE GARDEN STATE HAS A SAY.

THE ALLIANCE SAYS NEW YORK'S PLAN TO IMPOSE EXTRA TOLLS ON CARS AND TRUCKS ENTERING MANHATTAN FROM 60th STREET DOWN TO BATTERY PARK WOULD COST NEW JERSEY COMMUTERS AN EXTRA $3000 A YEAR.

THE GROUP IS URGING NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS TO SPEAK OUT DURING THE MTA'S FIRST VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSAL, WHICH BEGINS TOMORROW AT 10:00 A.M. JERSEY CITY IS EXPANDING ITS RENT RELIEF PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.

THE NEW SECOND PHASE OF THIS PROGRAM WILL OFFER ELIGIBLE FAMILIES UP TO $10,000 IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

BUT, THE FUNDS WILL BE PAID DIRECTLY TO THEIR LANDLORDS.

RIGHT NOW, LOW INCOME RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED FROM ADDICTION DUE TO NONPAYMENT THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR.

JERSEY CITY WILL BE TAKING APPLICATIONS STARTING ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 4th.

NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES WITH DREAMS OF SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS WELL BEYOND OUR STATE ORDERS CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS TO HELP THEM DO JUST THAT.

THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS ACTION CENTER HAS RECEIVED 1 1/4 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM, OR STUFF.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS ACTION CENTER SAYS THERE IS A GROWING OVERSEAS MARKET FOR JERSEY GOODS.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PRODUCTS THAT WILL SELL INTERNATIONALLY.

AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED THAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE INTERESTED IN.

AS WELL AS A LOT OF BIOSCIENCE.

>> FEDERAL DATA SHOWS THAT FOR THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, NEW JERSEY'S EX-WORDS WERE UP 39% WHEN COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 2020.

THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME ROSE A BIT MORE THAN EXPECTED IN THE LATEST WEEK WITH 351,000 NEW CLAIMS FILED.

THAT IS STILL ABOVE WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

IN NEW JERSEY, UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS HELD FAIRLY STEADY.

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

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> AND THIS WEEKEND, JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER FOR NJ BUSINESS.

SHE TAKES A LOOK AT RAPID WAREHOUSE EXPANSION IN THE STATE.

SOMETIMES WELCOME THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE FINANCIAL PERKS THAT IT COMES WITH , WHILE OTHERS ARE MOUNTING OPPOSITION OVER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

WATCH IT ON OUR TRANSFER YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 10:00 A.M. >> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY SJ MAGAZINE.

HEART AND SOUL OF SOUTH JERSEY.

ONLINE AT SJMAGAZINE.NET.

>>> AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF HEATED DEBATE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE PENNIES PIPELINE AT LEAST FOR NOW.

THE COMPANY SCRAPPED A PLAN TO USE ANIMATE DOMAIN NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NATURAL GAS LINE.

THE DECISION IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR BLOW TO THE CONTROVERSIAL AND LONG-DELAYED PROJECT, BUT A VICTORY FOR THE GROUPS OR RESIDENCE LAWMAKERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES WHO HAVE SPENT YEARS FIGHTING AND FILING LAWSUITS TO STOP THE PIPELINE.

OUR CONTRIBUTOR, JOHN HURDLE IS HERE WITH THE LATEST.

>> SO, JOHN, WHAT DOES PENN EAST DECISION MADE NOW FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS PIPELINE?

IS IT DEAD?

>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS.

THIS COMPANY PUT OUT A STATEMENT YESTERDAY SAYING THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER PURSUING THEIR EMINENT DOMAIN CLAIMS AGAINST THE STUFF, THE 42 PARCELS TO THE LAND IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT, THEY DID NOT CATEGORICALLY WITHDRAW FROM THE WHOLE PROJECT.

THEY LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MIGHT REVISIT THIS ISSUE AT SOME FUTURE DATE.

THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE TALKING TO THEIR LAWYERS ABOUT OVERCOMING SOME KIND OF REGULAR, REGULATORY BARRIERS, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT THOSE AREAS ARE, SINCE THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE TAKEN EMINENT DOMAIN CONTROL OVER THESE LANDS IN ORDER TO APPLY TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS.

SO, AND IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THOSE RINGS, THE PRIVATE ANALYST THAT I TALKED TO ON THIS SAID IT WAS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THE COMPANY WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD THE PIPELINE ON ENTIRELY PRIVATE LAND IN NEW JERSEY.

SO, I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE, HERE, IS THAT THIS PROJECT SEVEN YEARS AFTER IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED BY THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER GOING AHEAD IN NEW JERSEY.

>> SEVEN YEARS, SO MUCH MONEY AND TIME IN THE OPPOSITION EFFORT AND DECIDE TO GET IT THROUGH.

WHY GO THIS ROUTE, JOHN?

TWO THEY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS OR DOES IT SEEM LIKE PERHAPS THEY WOULD GIVE THE PERMITS.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT.

I MEAN, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE COMPANY NOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S THAT PUBLISH THE AGREEMENT, EXPLAINED WHY THEY HAD AGREED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE EMINENT DOMAIN CLAIMS, BUT THE BEST GUESS IS, THEY, THE COMPANY SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TWICE DENIED PERMIT BY THE DP.

AND, THE EXPECTATION IS, THAT THEY WOULD NOT GET THEM IF THEY APPLIED AGAIN.

AND, AND, THE BROADER CONTEXT, HERE IS THAT MURPHY ADMINISTRATION IS GOING ALL IN ON A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF FOSSIL FUEL DEVELOPMENT IN NEW JERSEY?

>> WELL, IT LOOKS AS IF IT'S NOT TOO BRIGHT.

IF THE, IF A MAJOR PROJECT LIKE THIS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN COSTING ABOUT $1 BILLION HAS NOW EFFECTIVELY THROWN IN THE TOWEL, IT'S NOT LOOKING SO GOOD FOR ANY OTHER PIPELINE IN THE PROJECTS OR OUT OF FOSSIL FUEL PROPOSALS THAT MAY COME UP.

>> ALL RIGHT, A BIG MOMENT, HERE, JOHN HURDLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> $16 BILLION PLAN TO EASE BACK BAY FLOODING AT THE SHORE IS UNDER QUESTION TONIGHT.

THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SAYS THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS ONE OF THE MAJOR SOURCES OF STORM DAMAGE AT THIS WORKS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS AND EXPENSIVE FLOOD CONTROL EFFORTS ANY STATE IN THE U.S. HAS TAKEN.

BUT, IT LACKS DETAILS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND EXACTLY WHERE THAT DIVERTED STORM WATER WILL GO.

LEAH MISHKIN HAS THE STORY.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER COMING HEARING AND SEEING IT?

>> IT WAS CRUSHING, DEVASTATING.

>> RIGHT NOW TO THE RIDGE IN THE DISTANCE, IS WHERE THE OCEAN REACH TO THE BARRIER ISLANDS THROUGH SUPER STORM SANDY.

DAN HALES EXPLAINS IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT PARTS OF THE JERSEY SHORE.

DOZENS OF HOMES GOT PULLED INTO BARNEGAT BAY.

>> NOBODY WANTS TO GO THROUGH SANDY AGAIN BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T CHASE STORMS LIKE THAT OR MORE AND MORE LIKELY.

>> AFTER SANDY, THE ONLY CORE STARTED LOOKING FOR THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT LOW-LYING COMMUNITIES ALONG THE STATES BASE.

>> LAST MONTH THEY PUT FORWARD A PLAN TO BUILD FIVE FLOOD GATES ACROSS THE JERSEY SHORE TO BE CLOSED WHEN NEEDED, SO STORM SURGE DOES NOT RUSH AND DURING FUTURE STORMS.

>> IT ALSO SUGGESTS ELEVATING 19,000 HOMES AND BUILDINGS IN THE AREA.

>> WE ALL LIKE THE GOAL OF PREVENTING THESE KIND OF FLOODING.

WE JUST START WITH EITHER, BUT YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> THIS PROJECT IS NOT GOING TO PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM.

IT HAS NO ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS INTO IT AT ALL.

THE MITIGATION, THIS INCLUDED ARE THOSE ARE BASICALLY REPLACEMENTS FOR LOSSES THAT THE PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY CAUSE.

THERE IS NO INDIRECT CONSEQUENCES AS IT'S CURRENTLY PROPOSED, AND THE PROJECTS ALSO NOT COMPLETELY DESCRIBE SPIRITS >> RESEARCH IS STILL BEING DONE ON HOW THE VARIOUS WOULD AFFECT LOCAL COLLEGE, THE ARMY CORPS SAYS THAT WETLANDS MIGHT GET DESTROYED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

>> WATER CURRENT ALSO BE IMPACTED WHICH COULD HARM ANIMAL SPIRITS >> IT IS OUR JOB TO EVALUATE WHAT THE ULTIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM WOULD BE.

RIGHT?

EVEN PROJECTS THAT ARE MEANT TO PROTECT US, EVEN PROJECTS MEANT TO BUILD RESILIENCE COULD HAVE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITIES, AND AS PART OF THE CALCULUS.

IT'S THE COST FOUR NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT OF PROTECTION COMMISSIONER SAYS THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THEY WILL BE EVALUATING IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

FIRST, YOUR PUBLIC HAS TO WEIGH IN.

THE ARMY CORPS HELD A SERIES OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK, AND COMMENTS ARE BEING ACCEPTED UNTIL OCTOBER 12.

>> THE OTHER ISSUE, OF COURSE IS FUNDING.

>> THE PLAN PUT FORTH BY THE ARMY CORPS COST $16 BILLION.

YOU MUST THE GET PAID BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT 35% OF THE COST WILL COME FROM THE STATE AND LOCAL TOWNS.

ANOTHER HUNDRED AND $96 MILLION WILL BE NEEDED EACH YEAR TO MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM.

>> YES.

IT IS EXPENSIVE, THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE SANDY.

THEY'VE BEEN EXPENSIVE.

THE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS WE'VE DONE WELL BEFORE SANDY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EXPENSIVE.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT INVESTMENT IS WORTHWHILE.

>> IT'S HARD TO RECOMMEND THIS REPORT NOT KNOWING EVERYTHING THAT BE IN THE FINAL VERSION.

ABOUT 20 PROJECTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST.

SO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO ACT JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY LIVES ALONG THE COAST AT SOME POINT.

>> SO, IF A POSITIVE THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS IT.

>> THE INTEREST IS DEFINITELY A GOOD THING.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS JUST TO GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND THINK MORE ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY WANT.

>> COMMISSIONER SAYS THE ARMY CORPS WILL BE PRESENTING A FINAL REPORT BY 2023.

THAT'S WHEN THE STATE WILL DECIDE IF IT GIVES IT SUPPORT.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM LEAH MISHKIN.

>> AND, THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT JOIN US TOMORROW MORNING FOR REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ .

HE TALKS OF MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY PATRICK MURRAY ABOUT THE LATEST GUBERNATORIAL POLE, AND WHAT THIS SHIFT IN NUMBERS MEANS FOR THE TWO CANDIDATES THEN, A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS GIVE THEIR TAKE ON THE STATE OF THE RACE AND GO IN DEPTH ON THIS WEEK'S TOP HEADLINE.

WATCH IT LIVE TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 A.M.

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