FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE 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, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, I'M RAVEN SANTANA, WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH HURRICANE FIONA, THE CATEGORY FOUR STORM IS MAKING ITS WAY UP THE ATLANTIC AND LEAVING A PATH OF DESTRUCTION IN ITS WAKE.

100 MILE-PER-HOUR WIND, RAIN AND FLOODING RIPPED THROUGH PUERTO RICO, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLAND AND BERMUDA THIS WEEK, AND THE SUPER STORM HAS ITS SIGHTS SET ON CANADA AS IT IS SET TO MAKE LANDFALL LATER THIS EVENING.

THE U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER CATEGORIZING FIONA AS A POWERFUL POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE AND CANADIAN OFFICIALS ISSUING A HURRICANE WATCH OVER WIDESPREAD COASTAL AREAS LIKE NOVA SCOTIA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND.

THE STORM WILL NOT MAKE LANDFALL IN NEW JERSEY BUT WILL INFLICT WIND, DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND WAVES ON THE SHORES THIS WEEKEND.

WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS NOW OUT OF THE EYE OF THE STORM, BUT STILL WITHOUT POWER, CLEAN WATER OR PLACES TO SLEEP, REBUILDING WHAT WAS LOST IS THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS.

FEMA AND THE NATIONAL GUARD IS MAKING EFFORTS ON THE GROUND IN PUERTO RICO AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN DECLARED A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR THE TERRITORY.

AND GOVERNOR MURPHY NOW DEPLOYING DOZENS OF STATE TROOPERS TO PUERTO RICO TO ASSIST WITH EVERYTHING FROM TRAFFIC CONTROL TO SPECIALIZED EMERGENCY SERVICES.

THE GOVERNOR THINKING THOSE APPOINTED TODAY IN NEW BRUNSWICK WHERE THE PUERTO RICO COMMISSION LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES POSTED THE ANNUAL HISTORIC FAIR, SOME AGENCIES WITH BILINGUAL STAFF PROVIDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES, HELPFUL RESOURCES AND VITAL INFORMATION TO ENSURE EVERY MEMBER OF THE MORE THAN 2 MILLION MEMBERS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BEST OF WHAT NEW JERSEY HAS TO OFFER.

>> THERE IS A EXPLICIT STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF OUR ADMINISTRATION, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHILE WE DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT BENEFIT MANY COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A SPECIFIC RIFLE SHOT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS EXPLICITLY FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN THIS CITY.

WHEN YOU SAY HISPANIC OR LATINO, YOU HAVE A BIG UMBRELLA WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT FIT UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.

WE WHERE ALL OF THAT AS A BADGE OF HONOR.

WE HAVE YOUR BACK AND WE ALWAYS WILL.

>> NEW JERSEY IS NOTICING A RISE IN VIRAL INFECTIONS SENDING CHILDREN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

WE HEARD FROM AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR THAT THERE ARE LITERAL NOW ICU BEDS AVAILABLE IN THE AREA BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH THE RHINOVIRUS OR ENTEROVIRUS RIGHT NOW.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUED AN ADVISORY LAST WEEK TO WARN PEDIATRICIANS AND HOSPITALS ABOUT AN INFLUX OF CHILDREN ENTERING HOSPITALS COUGHING AND SHORT OF BREATH.

THE WARNING COMES AS SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES HAVE DROPPED AND MOST CHILDREN ARE ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL AND LEARNING FULLY IN PERSON.

BRENDA FLANAGAN SPOKE WITH PARENTS WHOSE CALL CHILDREN HAVE CONTRACTED THE SERIOUS INFECTION.

>> I'M TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S SCARY AND THIS IS HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: KELLY O'NEILL SAID HER SON CAME DOWN WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS A SIMPLE COLD, BUT WITHIN HOURS, HER 3-YEAR-OLD BEGAN GASPING FOR AIR.

SHE STARTED COUNTING HIS BREATHS PER MINUTE, SOMETHING SHE LEARNED TO DO WHEN THE TODDLER HAD PNEUMONIA LAST YEAR.

>> WHEN IT GOT TO 40, I TOLD MY HUSBAND, WE NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND WE WERE CONVINCED THAT IT WAS PNEUMONIA AGAIN.

>> Reporter: THEY RUSHED HIM TO THE ER WHERE THE DOCTORS IMMEDIATELY PUT HIM ON OXYGEN, HE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR PNEUMONIA, NEGATIVE FOR COVID BUT POSITIVE FOR RHINOVIRUS.

STATE OFFICIALS SAY JERSEY IS EXPERIENCING A SURGE OF PEDIATRIC CASES FOR BOTH DISEASES, SENDING SO MANY KIDS TO THE HOSPITAL THAT IN SOME AREAS, THEY HAVE RUN OUT OF PEDIATRIC BEDS.

ALARMED, O'NEILL POSTED A WARNING ABOUT HER SONS LABORED READING ON A FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE.

>> I ONLY KNEW TO LOOK FOR THOSE BELLY BREATHING'S BECAUSE OF THIS POST.

>> ANGELA SAID HER THREE YEAR RUN --3-YEAR-OLD SON SPENT FOUR DAYS IN A CROWDED ICU, AFTER RUSHING TO THE ER, HE STARTED COUGHING AND WITHIN HOURS STARTED STRUGGLING FOR AIR.

HIS MOM GAVE HIM AN ASTHMA TREATMENT AND RECORDED HIS FAST BELLY BREATHING IN A FACEBOOK POST.

>> I WENT FROM A STRONG 3 1/2- YEAR-OLD PLAYING SOCCER, TO BEING ON FORCED OXYGEN AND BEING ADMITTED TO THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

IN ONE WEEKEND.

THIS WAS A MONSTER THAT CREPT UP ON US FASTER THAN I COULD BELIEVE.

>> ON SEPTEMBER 15, THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PUT OUT AN ADVISORY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE WERE DEFINITELY SEEING AN INCREASE OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN CHILDREN AROUND THE CITY.

>> Reporter: THE NEW JERSEY DEPUTY HEALTH COMMISSIONER MEG FISHER SAID AN UNUSUALLY STRONG WAVE OF THESE CASES IS STRAINING HOSPITAL CAPACITY ACROSS THE NATION.

PEDIATRIC UNITS IN SOME YOU DO NEW JERSEY HOSPITALS HAS REACHED CAPACITY.

WE ARE VERY CLOSELY MONITORING TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE BEDS.

SO THE HOSPITALS ARE ALL TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

>> KIDS WHO REQUIRE HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE WILL BE ACCOMMODATED AT SITES WHERE THERE IS CAPACITY, SO THAT MIGHT MEAN A TRANSFER, IF THERE IS NO BETTER ABILITY AT ANOTHER FACILITY.

>> AN UNDERWRITER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS NOTES THE CDC ALSO WARNED THAT IN RARE CASES, THE ANTERO VIRUS STRAIN D 68 CAN LEAD TO ACUTE MUSCLE WEAKNESS AND PARALYSIS, THE CDC REPORTS ONLY 14 CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED NATIONWIDE.

40 ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION, NONE IN NEW JERSEY.

DOCTORS ARE WARNING FAMILIES TO BE VIGILANT, THE VIRUSES START WITH BASIC COLD SYMPTOMS BUT KIDS CAN DECLINE RAPIDLY.

>> KIDS WHO ARE ASTHMATIC OR HAVE UNDERLYING CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE ARE AT RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ADEQUATELY STOCKED ON THEIR INHALER SUPPLIES AND RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF BREATHING DIFFICULTY IN YOUR CHILD.

>> WHY AREN'T PEOPLE SHOUTING THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS?

WHY AREN'T PARENTS WARNING EACH OTHER?

BECAUSE I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE WERE LUCKY WITH OWEN BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH IT.

>> THE GOOD NEWS, THEY ARE BOTH ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.

THE SEASON FOR THESE TYPES OF VIRUSES GENERALLY RUNS THROUGH NOVEMBER.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE FIERY CONTEST FOR THE 11th CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IS GETTING EVEN HOTTER, CONGRESSWOMAN, MIKEY CHERYL AND HER OPPONENT PUBLICAN EXCHANGING HEATED REMARKS OVER ABORTION RIGHTS.

BOTH CANDIDATES CALLING EACH OTHER EXTREMISTS AND ACCUSING EACH OTHER OF SPREADING FALSEHOODS.

DAVID KRUSE ANALYZES WHERE EACH CANDIDATE STANDS ON THE ABORTION ISSUE AS THE MIDTERM ELECTION IS JUST UNDER SEVEN WEEKS AWAY.

>> I'M RUNNING FOR U.S. CONGRESS.

>> THE FORMER PROSECUTOR TURNED GOP CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IS DOING HIS BEST, HIS CAMPAIGN SAYS, TO BYPASS THE JERSEY PRESS IN ORDER TO REACH VOTERS DIRECTLY.

>> THAT IS DEFINITELY THE MO, GOING AROUND THE PRESS, PUSH THE MESSAGE OUT UNFILTERED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ATTACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

DO SOME ADVERTISING.

AND WORK YOUR BASE.

>> IT IS A STRATEGY THAT ALLOWS FOR A DECIDEDLY SMALLER AUDIENCE, OF A MORE REDDISH HUE.

AND FOR THE GROUP, IT HAS THE BENEFIT OF CLARIFYING KEY ISSUES.

IN THIS CASE, ABORTION.

>> HERE WE GO AGAIN.

DOING WHAT POLITICIANS DO, LIE.

SHE'S LYING ABOUT MY POSITION ON ABORTION BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO HIDE HOW EXTREME SHE IS ON THIS ISSUE.

LET ME BE CLEAR.

I SUPPORT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AT 20 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, JUST LIKE A MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEYANS.

BUT SHE IS WAY OUT THERE.

>> BUT THE POSITION ON THE NATIONAL ABORTION BAN, SOMETHING THE GOP PROMISES TO SHOOT FOR IF THEY TAKE BACK THE HOUSE IN NOVEMBER, THAT IS A LITTLE LESS CLEAR.

WHEN PRESSED ON IT RECENTLY, THE GROUP CLAPPED BACK FOR ASSESSING AN ISSUE THAT HE SAID MOST VOTERS IN NEW JERSEY RANKED WELL BELOW THE ECONOMY.

DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST, JULIO SAID GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE GROUP'S BELIEF IS PART OF WHAT ELECTIONS ARE ALL ABOUT.

>> LOOK, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER TO GIVE AND YOU ARE OUT OF STEP WITH WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN THE STATE, YOU BLAME IT ON THE MEDIA AND YOU RUN AWAY.

BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT SHE AND MIKIE SHERRILL BOTH, AND EVERY CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY ON EITHER SIDE OWES THEIR VOTERS THE ANSWER OF HOW THEY WILL CAST A VOTE AND A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

THESE VOTES WILL COME UP.

>> THAT EXPLAINS WHY MIKIE SHERRILL HAS CONTINUED TO POUND THE GROUP ON THIS ISSUE.

>> WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS WILLING TO BAN ABORTION WITHOUT EXCEPTION, I WAS TERRIFIED.

WOMEN WILL DIE BECAUSE OF THE POLICY HE REPORTS.

>> HE HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR, HE WANTS TO LEAVE IT UP TO THE STATE, HE SAID LET ALABAMA DO WHAT ALABAMA WANTS TO DO BUT, I THINK THE DIFFERENCE HERE, THE VERY CLEAR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS POSITION AND MY POSITION IS THAT I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THIS SHOULD BE A DECISION BETWEEN A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR.

>> IF THERE IS ROOM FOR NUANCE ON THIS ISSUE, PAUL DEGROOT HAS DECIDED THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

AND AS A RESULT, DECIDED NOT TO SPEAK TO THE PRESS ANYMORE.

EXCEPT FOR HAND-PICKED CONSERVATIVE OUTLETS.

WHICH LEAVES US WITH UNFILTERED PAUL DEGROOT, WHICH WE HAVE NOW FILTERED AS THE FREE PRESS AS LONG TO DO.

FROM ALL SIDES, ESPECIALLY DURING ELECTION TIME, WHEN WHAT A CANDIDATE REALLY BELIEVES IS WHAT VOTERS REALLY WANT TO KNOW.

I'M DAVID KRUSE, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> A REMINDER, IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE 900,000 WHO REQUESTED A MAIL-IN BALLOT, THEY WILL BE IN YOUR MAILBOX EARLY NEXT WEEK.

CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE ON EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ON HOW TO VOTE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTION AND IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES PROFILES OR WHETHER YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND WHO IS RUNNING IN YOUR DISTRICT, GO TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NJ DECIDES 2022 TAB.

>>> ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ARE HOLDING THREE RALLIES TODAY IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CALLING ON GOVERNOR MURPHY TO STOP ALL PROGRESS ON NATURAL GAS PROJECTS IN NEW JERSEY, AND OPPOSING A MEASURE PRESENTED BY JOE MANSION THAT WILL SPEED UP THE APPROVAL OF A NEW ENERGY PRODUCTS INCLUDING OIL AND GAS PIPELINES.

MORE THAN 100 ADVOCATES PROTESTED OUTSIDE THE OFFICE IN NEW BRUNSWICK, AMONG THE CROWD WERE STUDENTS FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WHO CHANTED AND HELD UP SIGNS DEMANDING MORE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE USE OF SOLAR PANELS ON CAMPUS.

THE PROPOSED MEASURES INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT WOULD BE FOLDED INTO A GOVERNMENT SPENDING BILL THAT NEEDS TO PASS BY NEXT WEEK TO AVOID A SHUTDOWN AND AS PART OF A DEAL STRUCK WITH SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER TO GET THE ACT PASSED THIS SUMMER.

THE CONGRESSMAN THINKING THE GROUP FOR DEMONSTRATING, SAYING I HAVE STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH ENVIRONMENT ACTIVIST DURING MY ENTIRE CAREER AND WILL OPPOSE INITIATIVES THAT WILL WEAKEN OUR HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

>>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY HAS VETO LEGISLATION SEEKING TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR MANY TEMPORARY LABORERS IN NEW JERSEY.

AMONG THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES THAT MURPHY SENT BACK TO LAWMAKERS ON THURSDAY IS A CALL FOR $1 MILLION TO BE APPROPRIATED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THE ROBUST ENFORCEMENT OF PROPOSED LABOR PROTECTIONS FOR THE MORE THAN 100,000 TEMPORARY WORKERS IN THE STATE.

OTHER CHANGES SOUGHT BY THE GOVERNOR WOULD BOLSTER THE ADMINISTRATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEW REGULATIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL BILL.

MURPHY SAYING THESE WORKERS ARE CRITICAL FOR THE STATE ECONOMY, BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER, JOHN REITMEYER IS HERE WITH ME TO BREAK IT DOWN.

SO, ULTIMATELY WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR JERSEY EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS?

>> I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE GROUPS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU ARE WORKING WITH TEMPORARY WORKERS, OR IF YOU RUN A TEMP AGENCY OR A BUSINESS THAT WORKS REGULARLY WITH EMPLOYEES WHO COME FROM A TEMP AGENCY, SO THE BILL ITSELF CALLS FOR SOME MAJOR CHANGES TO THE LABOR STANDARDS FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS, CHANGES RELATED TO PAY, WORKING CONDITIONS, REALLY THINKS THAT THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL SAY ARE LONG OVERDUE AND REALLY PROTECT A GROUP OF WORKERS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY, FROM HAVING TO WORK IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS AND ALSO OFTEN TIMES RESULTING IN MAYBE BEING SHORTED IN PAY.

SO, FOR THE WORKERS THEMSELVES, IF THEY ARE REALLY PICKY ON IT.

>> I WONDER IF THE PANDEMIC SHED LIGHT ON THOSE ISSUES?

>> ABSOLUTELY, SO WHAT WE SAW AND WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THESE CHANGES, THESE ARE WORKERS THAT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC STAYED ON THE JOB, WHERE A LOT OF THEM ARE PERFORMING WORK IN A WAREHOUSE, OR SOMEWHERE THEY CAN'T DO IT ON THEIR OWN.

SO CERTAINLY SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC HAD BROUGHT MORE ATTENTION TO THIS AREA AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY WE HAVE SEEN IT GET THIS FAR IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> AND WHAT HAS THE REACTION BEEN FROM LEGISLATIVE SPONSORS AND ADVOCACY GROUPS?

>> YOU HEARD FROM THE SPONSORS, SINCE THE CONDITIONAL VETO CAME OUT, IT HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED AND THEY PROMISED TO WORK TO GET THE CHANGES THAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SEE DONE, ONE OF THEM IS ADDING FUNDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE NEW STANDARDS.

LAWMAKERS HAVE THE POWER TO APPROPRIATE.

SO WE REALLY HEARD FROM THE SPONSORS AND IN OUR IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY GROUPS AND LABOR GROUPS WHO WANT TO SEE THIS PASS RIGHT AWAY.

>> NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD FOR THIS, IT HAS RECEIVED PUSHBACK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BUSINESS FOR THIS PROPOSAL, THEY MAY HAVE TAKEN SOME SOLACE IN THIS NOT BECOMING LAW YESTERDAY BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY STILL HAVE SOME CONCERNS, NAMELY THERE ARE SOME COMPENSATION ISSUES THAT THE BILL COVERS FOR TEMPORARY AND FULL-TIME WORKERS.

SOME OF THE BUSINESS GROUPS SAY THAT IS UNWORKABLE.

WE THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE A 401(K), THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS ABOUT LEGAL EXPOSURE AND SO THERE WERE TIGHT VOTES IN BOTH HOUSES FOR THE FIRST TIME, WITH THESE CHANGES FROM THE GOVERNOR.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER ANY OF THE COMPONENTS CAN BE BREAKING GROUND AND STOP THIS FROM ULTIMATELY BECOMING LAW.

>> EXCELLENT REPORTING, THANK YOU JOHN FOR JOINING ME.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> AFTER THE FED ANNOUNCED ANOTHER RATE HIKE, THE MARKETS DROPPED.

BUT HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THEY CLOSED ON THIS FRIDAY.

AND MAKE SURE YOU CATCH NJ BUSINESS BEAT THIS WEEKEND WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER, SHE LOOKS AT THE POST PANDEMIC WORKPLACE AND WHY WORKING FROM HOME MAY BE HERE TO STAY.

WITH IMPORTANT INSIGHT FOR EMPLOYERS ON HOW THEY CAN GET AHEAD OF SO-CALLED QUIET QUITTING.

THAT IS SATURDAY AT 5:00 AND SUNDAY AT 9:30 A.M. >>> MORE THAN 100 NEWARK RESIDENTS ARE HEARING A LITTLE BETTER THESE DAYS, THANKS TO THE MIRACLE EAR FOUNDATION, THE ORGANIZATION TEAMED UP WITH THE NEW STORES TO DONATE 150 HEARING AIDS TO THOSE IN THE AREA WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE DEVICES WHICH CAN COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1000 AND $4000.

HEARING AIDS CAN ALSO BE COST PROHIBITIVE, SINCE EITHER MEDICAID OR MEDICARE COVERS HEARING AIDS OR EXAMS FOR FITTING HEARING AIDS, MANY PATIENTS PAY 100% OF THE COST.

>> NEIL BLACK HAS BEEN DEALING WITH HEARING LOSS FOR YEARS, HE BELIEVES HIS ISSUE STARTED BACK IN THE 70s WHEN HE USED TO GO TO ROCK CONCERTS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WEARING EARPLUGS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS THEN.

>> IT IS TAKING ITS TOLL, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> I HAD TO HAVE PEOPLE KEEP ON REPEATING WHAT THEY WERE SAYING BECAUSE I MISSED DIFFERENT THINGS, AND AT TIMES IT WAS CONFUSING BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT HEARING EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE LITTLE ONES, I HAVE A LOT OF GREAT NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AND THE LITTLE ONES, YOU WANT TO HEAR EACH THING THEY SAY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CUTE.

>> BUT THANKS TO THIS LITTLE DEVICE, HE IS NOW HEARING MORE THAN HE MIGHT WANT TO.

>> NOBODY CAN SAY STUFF UNDER THEIR BREATH TO ME ANYMORE BECAUSE I HEAR EVERYTHING.

I HEAR EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY.

I JUST FEEL NORMAL AGAIN, 100%.

>> A LIFE-CHANGING DIFFERENCE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MIRACLE EAR FOUNDATION, THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TESTING HEARING AIDS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS SO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO NORMALLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM.

>> SO, WE CATER TO THEIR NEEDS SO WE CAN FIT THEM APPROPRIATELY AND WE CONTINUE OUR SERVICES WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY.

>> THIS EVENT IN THE WORK IS A PART OF THE THREE-DAY INITIATIVE TARGETING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN NEED.

REGIONAL MANAGER, ELIZABETH WALDRON SAID EXPECT TO GIFT ABOUT 150 PEOPLE WITH NEW HEARING AIDS.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN THESE COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARING IMPAIRMENT, THEY HAVE LESS OF AN ABILITY TO FIND A JOB AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM AND GIVE THEM A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CDC, 15% OF AMERICANS 18 AND OLDER HAVE SOME TROUBLE HEARING.

60 TO 69 HAVE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF HEARING LOSS.

AND 70 AND OLDER CAN BENEFIT FROM A HEARING AID, LESS THAN 30% HAVE EVER USED THEM.

COST IS ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS, WITH THE AVERAGE HEARING AID GOING FOR OVER $1000.

IT'S ALSO THE REASON WHY BLACK WAS RETIRED AND LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME.

>> AND WHEN THEY TOLD THE MANAGER, WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON GETTING MY HEARING TEST, HE SAID WE HAVE THE FOUNDATION, AND I GAVE THEM MY W-2 FORM WITH MY INCOME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM.

>> IT IS REALLY INSPIRING TO BE HERE AND SEE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF THEY NEEDED HEARING AIDS AND TO SEE THEIR EYES LIGHT UP WHEN YOU PUT THEM IN THEIR EARS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CRY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO EXCITED TO GO HOME AND INTERACT WITH FAMILY.

THEY ARE EXCITED BECAUSE IT FELT SO ISOLATING BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ENGAGE.

WHAT WE ARE GETTING THEM IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE EMOTIONS OF SOUND AND TO REENGAGE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND EVEN IN THE WORK LACE.

>> IT'S HELPING HIM CREATE NEW MEMORIES WITH THE ONE HE LOVES AND A GIFT HE WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR RECEIVING.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> THE NEXT EPISODE IN OUR 21 DIGITAL FILM SERIES IS ONLINE, THE SERIES EXAMINES THE SIMPLE QUESTION OF DOES WHERE YOU STATE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE AFFECT HOW YOU LIVE?

IT LOOKS AT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT AFFECT THE PERSON'S LIFE.

THE FILM INTRODUCES US TO CINDY EHRENCLOU FROM SOMERSET COUNTY, SHE ENGAGES HER COMMUNITY WITH EDUCATIONAL TOOLS TO PROTECT THIS RESOURCE.

BRIANA VANNOZZI CHATTED WITH HER, TAKE A LOOK.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE TIME THAT YOU MOVED AWAY FROM NEW JERSEY, TO THE MIDWEST, AND THEN CAME BACK.

WHY WAS THAT PIVOTAL TO YOUR ROLE IN CONSERVATION NOW?

>> WELL, OF COURSE I GREW UP IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PART OF SOMERSET HILLS, ALONG THE NORTH BRANCH, MY PLAYGROUND WITH MEADOWS AND WOODS, AND I LEFT BEFORE I STARTED COLLEGE, AND I MOVED TO THE MIDWEST FOR ALMOST, OR A LITTLE OVER A DECADE.

SO I RETURNED IN THE MID-80s AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CHANGE.

78 HAD BEEN COMPLETED, PHARMACEUTICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES HAD MOVED OUT AND THERE WAS A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS A BIT OF A SHOCK.

>> YEAH.

SO IS THAT WHAT REALLY PROPELLED YOU INTO BECOMING INTERESTED IN CONSERVATION?

>> YES, I WAS ALWAYS AN OUTDOORSY PERSON.

I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT NATURE.

BUT, THE CHANGE WAS REALLY A WAKE-UP CALL AND I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO GET INVOLVED.

AND AGAIN, VOLUNTEERING AT REAR 10 HEADQUARTERS WHICH WAS THE UPPER WATERSHED OF THE SOUTH BRANCH AT ONE TIME, BUT I GOT STARTED THERE ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS AND GOT COMPLETELY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR MISSION AND LUCKILY STARTED WORKING THERE.

>> A LOT OF YOUR WORK HAS TO DO WITH HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT THEY DO AND THEIR OWN HOME AND THE WATER THAT WE ALL DRINK.

WHY IS THAT SO KEY FOR YOU?

>> IT IS KEY BECAUSE EVERYBODY PLAYS A ROLE IN PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT, SO THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND REALLY ENGAGING CITIZENS AND ARMING THEM WITH INFORMATION FROM CHILDREN TO ADULTS, WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND WE DO THINGS IN OUR BACKYARDS AND IN OUR HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BUT SOMETIMES WE ARE POSING A THREAT TO THE WATER QUALITY, OR THE LAND.

AND I THINK THE EDUCATION REALLY DOES WAKE UP PEOPLE AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THINGS.

DO THINGS MORE ORGANIC AND WHOLESOME, WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYTHING WE DO ON THE LAND ENDS UP IN THE WATER.

>> WHAT IS YOUR VISION, FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE, NOT JUST FOR YOUR HOMETOWN, FOR YOUR SLICE OF LAND, BUT FOR THE STATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT AS A WHOLE?

>> THAT'S A BIG QUESTION.

I HAVE A PERSONAL VISION CONNECTED TO WHERE I'M WORKING THAT ALL THE WATER STREAMS AND THE DRINKING WATER THAT COMES FROM THE WELLS IS PRISTINE AND WE REALLY MODEL THE WATERSHED ORGANIZATION FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

BUT, I WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT PEOPLE EMBRACE THE IDEA THAT OUR CLIMATE IS CHANGING AND THAT WE REALLY NEED TO STEP UP FOR THE FUTURE.

WE ARE BEHIND.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY PROACTIVE AND A VERY EDUCATED CITIZENSHIP WOULD HELP TURN THINGS AROUND.

>> CINDY EHRENCLOU, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AND BEING A PART OF OUR 21 SERIES.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> YOU CAN MEET CINDY AND THE OTHER EXTRAORDINARY JERSEY RESIDENTS.

THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT MAKE SURE YOU GOT REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ, THIS WEEK DAVID TALKS WITH ACTIVISTS, KATIE BRENNAN WHO IS LOOKING TO BREAK THE CULTURE OF SILENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORK PLACE NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS.

THROUGH THE SPEAK OUT ACT.

THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6:00 AND SUNDAY AT 10:00, PLUS, U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY SPEAKS ABOUT HIS RECENT VISIT TO NEW JERSEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30, BOTH ON NJ PBS.

FROM THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>> NJN INSURANCE GROUP, ENSURING THE BUSINESS NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

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MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

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NO MATTER WHAT YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS ARE, THERE IS A NEW JERSEY REALTOR FOR YOU.

FIND YOUR REALTOR AT NJREALTOR.COM.