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

>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS TUESDAY NIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THE UNITED STATES IS BRACING FOR THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE IAN, EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN FLORIDA IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

HEAVY RAIN IS ALREADY FALLING IN PARTS OF THE STATE, THE LIFE- THREATENING CATEGORY THREE STORM IS CARRYING WIND OF MORE THAN 115 MILES PER HOUR, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER.

OFFICIALS IN FLORIDA ALREADY ORDERED MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE TO EVACUATE ESPECIALLY IN THOSE LOW-LYING AREAS ALONG THE WEST COAST OF THE STATE.

AIRPORTS IN TAMPA CLOSED THIS AFTERNOON, OTHER PREPARATIONS HAVE BEGUN AHEAD OF THE DANGEROUS STORM SURGE FLOODING AND POWERFUL WIND.

HURRICANE IAN ALREADY TORE THROUGH CUBA TODAY, PLUNGING MOST OF HAVANA INTO DARKNESS WHEN A MASSIVE POWER OUTAGE HIT.

FORECASTERS SAY IT IS STILL TOO SOON TO KNOW IF THE HURRICANE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT HERE IN NEW JERSEY, WHERE THE TALK HAS TURNED TO THE RELEASE OF A LONG- AWAITED PLAN FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

IT IS A $52 BILLION PROJECT DESIGNED TO BUILD MASSIVE STORM GATES AND SEA WALLS TO PROTECT THE REGION FROM DEADLY FLOODING CAUSED BY MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE STORMS LIKE THE ONES WE ARE SEEING NOW.

AND WHILE NEW JERSEY MAY BE SPARED, THIS TIME AROUND, MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE PULLING TOGETHER TO HELP THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN PUERTO RICO.

WHERE THE DEVASTATION FROM HURRICANE FIONA IS STILL BEING TALLIED.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS ON THE LOCAL RECOVERY EFFORT.

>> THE HOUSE WAS FULL OF WATER, FOUR OR FIVE FEET OF WATER INSIDE THE HOUSE, THE TREES WERE DOWN.

IT WAS ALL RAIN, YOU KNOW.

>> CARLOS SPEAKING TO ME VIA ZOOM AND SHARING CELL PHONE FOOTAGE OF HURRICANE FIONA'S WRATH IN THE TOWN OF SANTA ISABEL WHERE HE LIVED WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS.

ORTIZ MOVED TO PUERTO RICO IN 2004.

SINCE THEN, HE SURVIVED BOTH HURRICANE MARIA AND FIONA, SANTA ISABEL IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND WHICH WAS HIT THE HARDEST.

>> THE GAS LINES, THEY WERE UP TO THREE HOURS FOR LINE, AS SOON AS THE MAINTENANCE CAME IN, THEY WERE DONE.

THEY WERE COMING LITTLE BY LITTLE BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST EVERYTHING.

IT'S JUST SAD.

>> MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER FIONA MADE LANDFALL, ORTIZ IS VOLUNTEERING TO HELP HIS NEIGHBORING TOWN, SALINAS WHICH SAW EVEN MORE DEVASTATION.

HE AND A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ISLAND HAVE TRANSFORMED THIS RECREATIONAL FACILITY IN SALINAS INTO A HUB FOR DONATIONS.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN, WE HAVE WATER, BUT IS QUICKLY AS IT COMES, IT IS TAKEN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NO ELECTRICITY AND NO LIGHTS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL NEED THE MOST RIGHT NOW?

>> WE NEED A LOT OF STUFF, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WATER, ELECTRICITY, IT'S COMING BY LITTLE BUT STILL, IT HAS BEEN NINE DAYS.

>> MORE THAN 1000 MILES AWAY, HERE IN NEW JERSEY, MUCH-NEEDED HELP IS ORGANIZED.

ELIZABETH COUNCILMAN, CARLOS TORRES WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PUERTO RICAN ALLIANCE OF ELIZABETH SAID THE CITY RECEIVED AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF DONATIONS AT THE PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE THIS PAST SUNDAY, WHICH WAS REPURPOSED INTO A RELIEF EFFORT.

>> WE BELIEVE OVER 10,000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO THIS.

IT WAS TRULY AMAZING.

THE BEST PART FOR ME WAS THE YOUTH, THE YOUTH CAME AND WERE VERY INVOLVED.

THEY DONATED WATER, BATTERIES, JUST SUPPLIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF RODRIGO AND THEY VOLUNTEERED, THEY GAVE BACK.

>> WHILE THE GOAL IS TO GET THOSE DONATIONS TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEEDED THE MOST, HE SAID THE PROCESS TO DO SO IS NOT SIMPLE.

>> FIRST STEP IS YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE CONTAINER FROM THE TERMINAL, THEN YOU HAVE TO GET THE TRUCK IN TO THE WAREHOUSE, THEN GET THE CONTAINERS BY VOLUNTEERS, BACK TO THE TERMINAL.

THEN GET ANOTHER BOOKING TO BE EXPORTED TO THE ISLAND.

>> IT IS A LONG PROCESS, I WISH WE CAN DO IT TOMORROW, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T.

SO JUST BE PATIENT AND AS SOON AS WE GET THERE, WE WERE SHARE VIDEOS AND PICTURES AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THE DONATIONS THAT THEY DROPPED OFF IS GETTING TO THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO.

>> TOURISTS SAVE THE ENTIRE PROCESS COULD TAKE A WHOLE MONTH BEFORE HE AND A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS ARE READY TO TRAVEL TO PUERTO RICO TO HAND OUT THOSE DONATIONS.

IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DONATE ITEMS CAN DO SO AT AMERICAN PLUMBING ON ELIZABETH AVENUE.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> THIS WEEK, NEW JERSEY IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF FORMER GOVERNOR, JIM FLORIO, HE IS REMEMBERED AS A GIANT IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHO MADE DIFFICULT, OFTEN POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR DECISIONS.

BUT ALSO AS AN ORIGINAL CRUSADER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHOSE POLICIES IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLEANED UP MUCH OF NEW JERSEY'S TOXIC LEGACY.

>> HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WE EVER HAD WAS A TRUE ENVIRONMENTALIST, NOT ONLY IN HIS ART ABOUT HIS ACTIONS.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES LIKE JEFF PRAISED THE LATE JIM FLORIO FOR A LEGACY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM WHICH SPANNED A LIFETIME OF SERVICE, FLORIO CAME OF AGE DURING AN ERA OF SOCIAL AWAKENING ABOUT INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION IN AMERICA.

AS A CONGRESSMAN, HE WROTE LANDMARK LEGISLATION, A SUPERFUND LAW THAT MADE POLLUTERS PAY FOR CLEANING UP HAZARDOUS WASTE AND DEDICATED HIS POLITICAL CAREER TO PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES OF NEW JERSEY'S PILINGS.

>> WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND NEW JERSEY AND UC A TOXIC SITE GETTING CLEANED UP, WHEN YOU SEE DEPRECIATING WATERS IN THE HIGHLANDS, WHEN YOU SEE BEACHES THAT ARE CLEANED AND WATER THAT IS PURE, THAT'S HIS LEGACY.

>> HE WAS NOT A GUY WHO WAS AFRAID TO TAKE ON POWERFUL INTERESTS, HE WAS NOT A GUY WHO SHIED AWAY FROM POWERFUL FIGHTS, HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO PUT HIS REELECTION AT RISK.

HE WAS NOT A SAFE GUY.

THERE ARE FIGHTS THAT ARE WORTH HAVING.

>> Reporter: RIDER UNIVERSITY SAID FLORIO WAS A NAVY VETERAN, AN AMATEUR BOXER, AND IN THE PODCAST, HAZARDOUS NEW JERSEY, FLORIO PROMOTED THE SUPERFUND BILL.

>> IF I HAVE SOMETHING TO PUT ON THE BULLETIN BOARD, FLORIO HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.

>>'S DISTRICT, THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WAS HOME TO SOME OF THE LARGEST POLLUTERS.

RCA, YOU KNOW, HE WAS GETTING HEAT FROM INDUSTRIES, NOT PUSHING FORWARD WITH SUPERFUND.

>> Reporter: HE GOT THE LAW PASSED BUT WATCHED THE CLEANUP EFFORTS LANGUISH DURING THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, HE LEAVES WITH 15 SUPERFUND FLIGHTS AND RECENTLY RESTORED THE SUPERFUND'S POWER TO RESTORE REMEDIATION.

>> DECADES LATER, WE ARE STILL CLEANING UP THESE SITES, WE HAVE THE MOST SUPERFUND SITES IN AMERICA BUT THAT IS AN A TESTAMENT TO THE NEED OF HAVING A SUPERFUND LAW THAT WORKS.

SO THAT ALONE, IF THAT WAS THE ONLY THING HE DID, HE WILL STILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS LEGACY.

>> WE STILL HAVE A SUPERFUND BECAUSE HE TOUTED THEM, RAISING THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST NEW JERSEY.

THAT WAS A BIG PART OF HIS LEGACY.

>> AS A GOVERNOR, HE LAUNCHED ANOTHER BATTLE AFTER THERE WAS SEWAGE SLUDGE IN THE LATE 80s, DOLPHINS WERE WASHED ASHORE.

>> WE HAD NEW YORK DUMPING SEWAGE WASTE OFF THE COAST, DUMPED OFF THE NEW JERSEY SHORE, AND WE WENT AFTER THAT.

>> Reporter: FLORIO ENDURED COMPLAINTS FROM BUILDING TRADES AFTER HE SHUT DOWN INCINERATOR PROJECTS IN CITIES LIKE TRENTON AND PASSAIC.

AND THE ISLAND PRESERVATION ACT, THAT FOLLOWED FROM HIS LEGISLATION AND TO THIS DAY, IT PRESERVED 17 TRILLION GALLONS OF FRESH WATER BENEATH THE PINE BARONS.

>> HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PIPELINES FROM GAS EXPIRATION, AND WANTED TO BRING THEM TO THE REFINERIES.

>> Reporter: THROUGH IT ALL, FLORIO WORKED WITH FOLKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, INTO HIS 80s, HE PROMOTED GREEN ENERGY, HE CALLED OFFICIALS OFTEN AND ENCOURAGED THEM.

>> SO MANY THINGS POLITICIZED.

OUR ENVIRONMENT, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE GOVERNOR DID TO IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HOW THAT WAS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT, THAT IS NOT GONE.

WE JUST LOST TRACK OF IT.

AND WE CAN GET IT BACK.

WE SHOULD BE REMINDED OF WHAT HE DID AND CARRY ON THAT LEGACY.

>>> CHAOS IN WILDWOOD OVER THE WEEKEND TURNED DEADLY AFTER A POP UP CAR RALLY DREW MORE THAN 500 VEHICLES TO MEET UP IN THE SHORT TOWN AND SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.

A 37-YEAR-OLD MAN IS CHARGED WITH THE DEATHS OF TWO PEOPLE AS A RESULT OF A CAR CRASH DURING THE H2O RALLY THAT KILLED A PASSENGER IN THE CAR HE HIT IN THE PEDESTRIAN, WHEN THE CAR VEERED ONTO THE SIDEWALK.

NOW, SOUTH JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR, MIKE TESSA IS CALLING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO STEP IN, ASKING THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH LEGISLATURES AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WILL HELP TOWNS RESPOND TO THESE MASSIVE POPULAR PARTIES.

THE REQUEST COMES AFTER OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS THIS SUMMER SAID THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN LIGHT OF OTHER POPULAR PARTIES AT THE SHORE.

ARGUING THE SMALL TOWNS AREN'T EQUIPPED TO HANDLE SUDDEN MASS CROWDS LIKE ONES THAT TOOK PLACE IN LONG BRANCH WERE MOST RECENTLY WILDWOOD, PROPOSING A TASK FORCE MADE UP OF THE STATE POLICE ALONG WITH COUNTY ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HASN'T YET COMMENTED ON THE PROPOSAL.

>>> WITH A NEW LARGELY POST- PANDEMIC SCHOOL YEAR BACK IN SESSION, EDUCATION ADVOCATES ARE HOPEFUL A DECISION ON NEW JERSEY'S SCHOOL SEGREGATION LAWSUIT IS IMMINENT.

DESPITE BEING AMONG THE MOST DIVERSE STATES IN AMERICA, A KEY STUDY FOUND NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS ARE SOME OF THE MOST SEGREGATED IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THE SEVENTH WORTH FOR LATINO STUDENTS.

AS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ REPORTS, A RULING OF THE PLAINTIFFS WILL CHANGE THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> UNLESS YOU ARE CLOSE TO THE CASE, YOU'RE PROBABLY UNAWARE THAT A LAWSUIT CHARGING THE STATE WITH FOSTERING A SEGREGATED PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS AWAITING A JUDGES RULING.

BUT, THE OUTCOME OF THAT CASE COULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE WAY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL AND THE WAY WE SEE EDUCATION IN NEW JERSEY.

LARRY WELSBERG IS REPRESENTING THE PLAINTIFFS IN THIS CASE, WHICH INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN, THE NAACP, THE LATINO ACTION NETWORK AND OTHERS.

THE CASE HAS BEEN WAITING A RULING ON A SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION SINCE MARCH.

>> THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT CASE AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING WHEN A COURT TAKES THE TIME TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE ARGUMENTS AND TO WRITE AN OPINION THAT WILL MATTER.

YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T A HISTORIC THING, IF I WAS A JUDGE, TRYING TO RENDER A HISTORIC DECISION, I WOULD TAKE MY TIME, TOO.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THE JUDGE'S RULING IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS OF ADDRESSING THE RACIAL IMBALANCE IN THE STATES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> ONE IS THAT THE JUDGE COULD RULE FOR US, IF THAT IS THE CASE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO EMBARK ON A PROCESS THAT WILL RESULT IN REVENUE.

IF THE JUDGE RULES AGAINST US AND GRANTS JUDGMENT TO THE STATE SAYING THERE IS NO UNCONSTITUTIONAL SEGREGATION, WE WOULD CERTAINLY APPEAL.

AND THE THIRD, IF THE JUDGE DOESN'T RULE FOR ANY OF US AND SAYS I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A TRIAL.

>> AND IN TODAY'S CHARGED POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE YOU START SEEING SCENES LIKE THIS IN POLITICAL ADS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WE ARE LIVING IN ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE STATES, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED AND HATE FILLED STATES IN THE NATION.

>> CHARLES BOYER OF SALVATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PULLS LOW PUNCHES.

>> IT WILL NO DOUBT BE CONTROVERSIAL, IT WILL NO DOUBT BE UGLY.

IT WILL NO DOUBT HAVE MASSIVE RESISTANCE.

AND WE CAN DO THE BEST WE CAN TO PREPARE FOR IT.

BUT AS WE KNOW, AS A NATION, EQUITY HAS NEVER HAPPENED BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE READY FOR IT AS MUCH AS IT WAS FORCED UPON PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH THE PATTERNS WE ARE LIVING WITH AND SAY TO OURSELVES, WE ARE GOING TO GET BETTER ON RACIAL ISSUES, WE ARE GOING TO GET BETTER AS THE MOST DIVERSE STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND YET WE ARE GOING TO STAY SEPARATED WHEN WE EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

IT JUST DEFIES COMMON SENSE.

>> SENATOR JOE CRYAN HAS PUT UP A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A MECHANISM FOR THE STATE TO START THE PROCESS OF BRINGING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS TO START FIGURING OUT HOW OUR KIDS CAN START LEARNING TOGETHER.

BUT, HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

WHAT KIND OF REMEDIES ARE OUT THERE?

>> ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS MAGNET SCHOOLS, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AROUND THE NATION THAT SHOWS THAT THESE REMEDIES WHICH ARE NOT A RACE CONSCIOUS REMEDIES, THEY ARE BASED UPON EDUCATIONAL IMPERATIVES WORK.

>> AND THE VAST MAJORITY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, MAGNET SCHOOLS ARE LOCATED IN SUBURBAN COUNTIES.

THEY ARE NOT LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITIES.

WHY CAN'T WE PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES CLOSER GEOGRAPHICALLY AND FRANKLY MORE DESIRABLE, NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE FRANKLY MINORITY, BUT FOR ALL KIDS SO THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY AND A MORE COMPETITIVENESS ALL THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTIES AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE?

>> WHICH SOUNDS REALLY GOOD FOR A REMEDY FOR A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLAIN SIGHT FOR DECADES.

AND IT'LL TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO FULLY ADDRESS.

THE QUESTION WILL BE, HOW READY NEW JERSEY IS TO FACE IT?

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> A BILL INTRODUCED BY A NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN COULD HELP DRIVERS AT THE GAS PUMP BY TURNING THE NATION'S OIL RESERVE INTO AN INVESTMENT TOOL THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT MONEY, WHEN PRICES ARE HIGH.

CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE INTRODUCED THE BUY LOW, SELL HIGH ACT THIS WEEK ALONG WITH EIGHT DEMOCRATIC COSPONSORS, IT WOULD GIVE THE PRESIDENT THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE A SPECIAL CRUDE OIL RESERVE AND TO POWER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ONLY PURCHASE OIL WHEN PRICES ARE BELOW $60 A BARREL.

AND SELL THE OIL WHEN PRICES ARE ABOVE $90 PER BARREL.

THE COUNTRY'S MAIN OIL RESERVE WAS TAPPED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO LOWER GAS PRICES AFTER THEY PEAKED AT AN AVERAGE OF FIVE DOLLARS PER GALLON.

THIS METHOD WOULD GIVE DRIVERS IMMEDIATE GAS PRICE RELIEF RATHER THAN HAVING TO WAIT MONTHS, AND WANTS TO SEE PROFITS GO TOWARD INVESTMENTS IN NEW JERSEY'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>>> A GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG FOLLOWED THE MONEY TRAIL ON COVID RELIEF AID AND DISCOVERED THAT NOT ALL OF IT WENT WHERE IT WAS INTENDED.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS FROM A NEW REPORT, PLUS TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> JUST OVER 2 YEARS AFTER PANDEMIC RELIEF PROGRAMS WERE ROLLED OUT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW TELLING FRAUDULENT PROGRAMS, A RECENT REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL, A GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG, FOUND THAT IN NEW JERSEY, $245 MILLION IN FRAUDULENT PAYMENTS WERE MADE UNDER A SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM CREATED TO BOOST UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

THE PROGRAM OFFERED AN ADDED $300 PER WEEK PAYMENT TO UNEMPLOYED WORKERS UNDER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE FRAUD OCCURRED BECAUSE FEMA WHICH WAS OVERSEEING THE PROGRAM DID NOT TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS WERE PROPERLY DISPERSED, TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

FEMA SAYS IT MADE SOME CHANGES SO THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

THE REPORT FOUND MORE THAN 140,000 NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.THE EXTRA PAYMENTS BUT SHOULD NOT HAVE.

ACCORDING TO STATE OFFICIALS, MORE THAN ONE IN 10 NEW JERSEY HOUSEHOLDS SAY THEY HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH TO EAT IN THE PAST WEEK.

A NEW STATEWIDE EFFORT IS UNDERWAY TO ADDRESS THE GROWING PROBLEM OF FOOD INSECURITY AS THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR ITS $1.5 MILLION FOOD SECURITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM.

LOCAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ALONG WITH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS OF UP TO $125,000.

THE SENIOR ADVISOR FOR FOOD SECURITY AND INNOVATION EXPLAINS THE APPLICANTS WILL HAVE TO SHOW HOW THEY CAN IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY BY USING DISTRESSED ASSETS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> WE ARE DEFINING IT AS ANY BUILDING, WHETHER IT IS A STOREFRONT, AN OPEN SPACE, A PARKING LOT OR A SPACE OF LAND THAT IS JUST OVERGROWN VEGETATION, THAT IS PUT TO A GOOD USE AND ACTUALLY HELPS IN ADDRESSING FOOD ACCESS CHALLENGES IN ONE OF OUR 54 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> FOR INSTANCE, AN ABANDONED BUILDING COULD BECOME A GROCERY STORE.

A PLOT OF LAND COULD BECOME A COMMUNITY GARDEN.

THE STATE WILL BE ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS THROUGH LATE NOVEMBER.

FINALLY, TWO JERSEY BASED BANKS ARE TEAMING UP, THE PARENT COMPANIES OF PROVIDENT BANK AND LAKELAND BANK AGREED TO A $1.3 MILLION MERGER.

THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL USE THE PROVIDENT BANK NAME.

NOW HERE IS A CHECK ON TODAY'S TRADING ON WALL STREET.

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

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

>>> WE ARE EXACTLY 6 WEEKS OUT FROM ELECTION DAY IN NEW JERSEY AND IT HAS GOTTEN KIND OF TOUGH TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN CAST A BALLOT THIS YEAR.

SOME PEOPLE CAN START VOTING IN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS WHEN THEIR MAIL AND PAPER BALLOT ARRIVES AND WHILE ALL THAT IS HAPPENING, OTHERS ARE STILL JUST REGISTERING TO VOTE.

SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECTS MANAGER, COLLEEN O'DAY IS HERE TO EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS AND WHICH RACES HAVE THE BIGGEST STATES.

HELP US MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

WINDOWS VOTING ACTUALLY BEGIN?

HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO REGISTER?

HELP US OUT HERE.

>> YES, VOTING HAS REALLY CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, HASN'T IT?

ANYONE WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED A MAIL-IN BALLOT OR WHO IS KIND OF ASKING FOR ONE RIGHT NOW, SHOULD BE GETTING IT IF THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT ALREADY BECAUSE IT HAS GONE OUT FOR THE COUNTIES.

YOU CAN FILL IT OUT ANYTIME AND DROP IT IN THE DROPBOX, IN THE MAIL, OR DOWN AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, THE COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE.

SO THOSE FOLKS CAN START VOTING RIGHT AWAY.

WE HAVE AN EARLY VOTING TIME THAT IS GOING TO START ON OCTOBER 29, AND THAT IS GOING TO RUN UNTIL NOVEMBER 6, AND THAT IS IN PERSON, BY MACHINE, WITH THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

THEN OF COURSE, ELECTION DAY IS ON NOVEMBER 8.

AND THAT IS THE REALLY OLD-FASHIONED WAY WHERE YOU GO IN ON ELECTION DAY AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO THAT.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR VOTING NOW.

>> OF THE UPTICK ON THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS ALONE, YOU WROTE, IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 900,000 THAT ARE GOING OUT.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT NUMBERS, FOLKS WHO HAVE VOTED ALREADY, WHICH PARTY THEY ARE AFFILIATED WITH OR ON THE OTHER HAND, FOLKS WHO HAVE REGISTERED WHICH PARTY THEY ARE AFFILIATED WITH?

>> SO, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT A FIRST REPORT FROM THE INSTITUTE, ABOUT 200 PEOPLE ARE SO HAVE ALREADY VOTED, IT IS 3 TO 1 DEMOCRATS, AND THAT IS NOT SURPRISING, THEY HAVE EMBRACED EARLY VOTING MORE THAN REPUBLICANS AND PARTICULARLY AFTER THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS REALLY TALKING DOWN EARLY VOTING IN 2020.

IN TERMS OF REGISTRATION, WE CAN SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATS, THE PARTIES ARE FAIRLY STABLE IN TERMS OF COMPETING PRETTY WELL WITH ONE ANOTHER IN TERMS OF NEW REGISTRANTS BUT DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO OUTNUMBER REGISTERED REPUBLICANS BY MORE THAN 1 MILLION IN THE STATE, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF UNAFFILIATED VOTERS WHO CAN SWAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> I WONDER IF REDISTRICTING HAS CHANGED OR URGED PEOPLE TO GET REGISTERED IF THEY WEREN'T ALREADY, POTENTIAL VOTERS.

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THAT IS PLAYING INTO THIS?

IF THAT IS A FACTOR OR NOT?

>> WHAT WE KNOW IS THE CAMPAIGNS IN THOSE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE CHANGED EITHER SUBSTANTIALLY OR WHERE THERE'S A QUESTION OF WHAT THE OUTCOME MIGHT BE, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF REGISTRATION GOING ON.

SO THE NUMBER ONE WAYS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET SICK OF HEARING IT IS THE SEVENTH DISTRICT, KIND OF CENTRAL JERSEY, THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT VERSUS TOM KANE, THE REPUBLICAN, IT IS A REMATCH FROM 2 YEARS AGO.

THAT DISTRICT HAS SWUNG FROM MAJORITY OR A PLURALITY BLUE DISTRICT TO A PLURALITY RED DISTRICT, BOTH SIDES ARE WORKING BUT THE DEMOCRATS IN PARTICULAR ARE TRYING TO TRY TO EVEN THE SCORE BECAUSE AN ADVANTAGE LIKE THAT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO HELP TOM KANE IN THAT DISTRICT.

>> YEAH.

AS ALWAYS, KEEPING UP WITH ALL THE LATEST ON THE ELECTIONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> CHECK OUT HER CHEAT SHEET ON WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO VOTE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS BY READING HER STORY AT THE NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, THEN HEAD OVER TO THE NJ DECIDES 2022 TAB TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE RACES WE ARE WATCHING, AND FIND MORE DETAILS ON YOUR DISTRICT.

AS WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WISH EVERYONE CELEBRATING ROSH HASHANAH A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US HERE.

FOR NOW, MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI, FROM THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS RATE 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.

>>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME AN ESL TEACHER TO GIVE THE STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE, A CHANCE TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA CRUMPTON AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN NJE MEMBER.

>> NJN INSURANCE EBONY HAS BEEN ENSURING POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, JUST WHO ARE NJN POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEEP THE GARDEN STATE GROWING, BUSINESS LEADERS, THE CARETAKERS OF OUR HISTORIC LANDMARKS, AND THE CUSTODIANS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

NJN, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.