>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED FOR NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

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HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

THE PSEG ASSOCIATION AND BY THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND -- NJ.

>>> ♪ >> FROM ANNA J PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIAHNA BENNETT YOU SEE.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM BREANNA VINOD SEE.

NEW JERSEY IS OFFERING CASH TO ENTICE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

IT HELPS BUSINESSES FIND THE EMPLOYEES THEY DON'T THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.

THE PROGRAM OFFERS JOB TRAINING AND $500 BONUSES TO ON A PLATE WORKERS REENTERING THE LABOR MARKET.

IN EXCHANGE, EMPLOYERS CAN RECEIVE UP TO $10,000 FOR HIRING AND TRAINING THOSE WORKERS.

THE STICKING POINT, ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES MUST BE SMALL WITH 100 OR FEWER CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND OFFER POSITIONS THAT PAY AT LEAST $15 AN HOUR.

THE PILOT PROGRAM IS BEING FUNDED WITH FEDERAL COVID-19 BELIEF DOLLARS BUT THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT COULD GET A MORE PERMANENT POST IF IT MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DENT IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF OUTCRY FOR THE STATE TO GET INVOLVED.

JOINING ME IS NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMMISSIONER, ROBERT ANGELO.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR WORKERS AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, BEING OVER 7%, STILL, THERE SEEMS TO BE A MISMATCH BETWEEN FOLKS WHO ARE IN NEED OF WORKERS AND PERHAPS THE JOBS THAT FOLKS DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO IS A CASH INCENTIVE THE WAY TO GET PEOPLE BACK ON THE JOB?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

FIRST IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PROGRAM THAT WE ARE PROUD OF TO NOT JUST BE A CASH INCENTIVE.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT TRAINING.

THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WE HAVE SEEN WORKERS WITH MORE SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS OR EXPERIENCE AND CONNECTIONS WITH AN EMPLOYER WHO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME AND INVESTED IN THEIR WORKFORCE, THOSE WORKERS FARE MUCH BETTER.

EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO TRAIN THEIR WORK FORCE AND HAVE A CONNIPTION HAVE FARED BETTER.

THIS IS A PERFECT MARRIAGE OF INCENTIVE AND TRAINING FOR WORKERS.

INCENTIVE IS ALSO ABOUT PROVIDING WORKERS TO COVER COSTS OF CHILD CARE, TRANSPORTATION OR OTHER MANY BARRIERS THAT ARE KEEPING WORKERS FROM ENTERING THE WORK HORSE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT TRAINING.

WHAT SECTORS, INDUSTRIES, COMMISSIONER ARE YOU HOPING TO FOCUS ON WITH THIS?

>> CERTAINLY THE INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN MOST HARD-HIT BY THE PANDEMIC WHICH IS ALL INDUSTRIES QUITE FRANKLY BUT CLEARLY HOSPITALITY, CHILDCARE ESPECIALLY, BUT ANY INDUSTRY THAT CAN USE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING BECAUSE IT IS A FLEXIBLE PROGRAM.

IN A CHILDCARE SETTING A WORKER CAN BE REIMBURSED 50% ON TOP OF THE BONUS WHILE THEY TRAIN TO BE A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT OVER THE COURSE OF A TWO MONTH PERIOD.

THEY CAN BEAT TRAINED ON PLANNING ACTIVITIES, HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS, HOW TO ORDER EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS FOR THE KIDS.

BASICALLY TRAINING IS TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYER.

IT CAN HIT A BROAD RANGE OF EMPLOYERS.

>> I IMAGINE THIS WILL TAKE TIME TO DO THE TRAINING, TO GET FOLKS CERTIFIED.

WE HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE RIGHT NOW.

HOW DOES THAT HELP IN THE IMMEDIATE?

>> WE ARE SUPER THRILLED THAT ALREADY SINCE YESTERDAY HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYERS SIGNED UP AND INDICATED THEIR INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WHEN WE REACH OUT TO EMPLOYERS THAT WORKERS WILL HAVE THE FIRST CHECK IN THEIR HANDS WITHIN WEEKS.

THERE BEING PAID BY THEIR EMPLOYEE DURING TRAINING SO THE HIRING CAN BE IMMEDIATE.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK, COMMISSIONER, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HERE IN NEW JERSEY, HIRING NEEDED, HELP WANTED SIGNS OUT EVERYWHERE.

THERE ARE MORE JOBS THAN THERE ARE APPLICANTS LOOKING FOR THEM, YET OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS STILL OVER 7%.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW, STILL IN SEPTEMBER, IN THE FIRST MONTH OF RETURNING TO NORMALCY AS THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SAYING FOR MANY MONTHS NOW.

THERE ARE MANY FACTORS WHY FOLKS ON COMING TO WORK.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAD TALKS ABOUT LABOR SHORTAGES LONG BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY COVID.

I THINK AS MYSELF AS A PARENT, TALKING TO OTHER PARENTS AROUND, NOW THAT SCHOOL HAS STARTED, KIDS BACK ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE IS A MAJOR DRIVER OF RETURNING TO NORMALCY SO WE HOPE THAT WITH THE PROGRAM TO HELP BOOST THAT WE THINK EMPLOYERS WILL HAVE MORE SUCCESS BRINGING WORK IS IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> YOU MENTIONED SOME BARRIERS TO PREVENTING FOLKS FROM GETTING BACK TO WORK.

UNEMPLOYMENT WAS A BIG TOPIC OF FOLKS RECEIVING THE EXTENDED BENEFITS.

ARE YOU SEEING ANY IMPACT FROM THE END OF THAT EXTRA $300 A WEEK?

WAS THAT AT ALL A FACTOR IN DRIVING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE LABOR MARKET?

>> IT IS TOO SOON TO SAY BASED ON A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF DATA THAT LACKS.

THAT IS WHY WE SEE IT PICK UP BUT FOUR STATES THAT END OF THE PROGRAM EARLY IN MAY, JUNE, JULY, THERE IS NO DETERMINABLE IMPACT IN HIRING IN ANY OF THOSE STATES.

I DON'T PREDICT A BIG DIFFERENCE BUT BECAUSE IT IS THE BIDDING OF SEPTEMBER, I THINK IT WILL PROBABLY CORRELATE WHEN WE SEE HIRING AFTER THE RETURN OF NORMALCY WITH SCHOOL STARTING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> COMMISSIONER ANGELO, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR TACKLING AN APPOINTMENT WILL BE A PRIORITY.

THE TWO TOP CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF TONIGHT IN THE FIRST OF TWO TELEVISED DEBATES.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS COSPONSORING THE SECOND.

>>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY AND FORMER REPUBLICAN JACK CIATTARELLI ARE GOING HEAD- TO-HEAD AMID AN ONGOING PANDEMIC, THE AFTERMATH OF TROPICAL STORM IDA AND PLENTY OF UNRESOLVED POLICY ISSUES.

GOVERNOR MURPHY IS HOPING TO BECOME THE FIRST DEMOCRAT IN MORE THAN FOUR DECADES TO WIN A SECOND TERM WHILE CIATTARELLI HOPES TO USE THE ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF COVID-19 AS AN ENDPOINT.

SENIOR WRITER, COLLEEN OEA JOINS US WITH A PREVIEW.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE SEEING BOTH CANDIDATES IN THE SAME ROOM AT THE SAME TIME.

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?

>> I THINK WHAT WE WOULD HOPE TO SEE HIS SOME DISCUSSION OF ISSUES THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T HEARD THE CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT.

A LOT OF THE TIMES, WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE DEBATES IS THE CANDIDATES ARE REALLY WELL PREPPED SO THEY KIND OF GO BACK TO THEIR TALKING POINTS.

IN THIS CASE, WHAT WE WOULD SEE FROM JACK CIATTARELLI IS SOME CRITICISM OBVIOUSLY OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S RECORD, TALKING ABOUT HIS RECORD OF TAXES AND ALSO RUNNING ATTACK ADS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES, FEATURING KATIE BREMEN AND THAT WHOLE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

FROM THE MURPHY CAMPAIGN, WHAT WE REALLY HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF CRITICIZING JACK CIATTARELLI IS THAT HE IS A TRUMP SUPPORTER, HE IS KIND OF A TRUMP CLONE, WHO WANTS TO BRING ALL OF THOSE POLICIES TO NEW JERSEY, ROLLBACK PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTION, GUN SAFETY, VOTING RIGHTS.

SO I THINK WHAT WE WILL LIKELY SEE IS THE CANDIDATES PIVOTING WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO THOSE MESSAGES.

>> SO, COLLEEN, IS JACK CIATTARELLI'S TIES TO DONALD TRUMP GOING TO BE HIS ACHILLES HEEL TONIGHT AND WHAT WOULD BE GOVERNOR MURPHY'S AS WELL IF THERE IS ONE FOR EACH OF THEM?

>> THE REPUBLICAN BASE THAT JACK CIATTARELLI IS PLAYING TO DOES SEEM TO BE VERY STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF DONALD TRUMP SO THE ISSUE HERE IS HOW DO YOU GET TO THOSE INDEPENDENTS THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT AS TUNED INTO EITHER SIDE?

IN TERMS OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S ACHILLES' HEEL, IN NEW JERSEY, IT IS USUALLY SOMETHING LIKE PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE OUR TAXES ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IF NOT THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

TAXES HAVE NOT BEEN A HUGE ISSUE YET IN THIS CAMPAIGN SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT CIATTARELLI REALLY SHOULD BE KIND TO HAMMER THAT HOME AGAINST MURPHY.

>> THEY HAVE NOT BEEN A HUGE ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN BUT WE KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT TO VOTERS AND WE HEAR TIME AND AGAIN FROM RESIDENTS THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT.

>> EXACTLY THAT IS WHY SOME PUNDITS HAVE BEEN SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS AND WONDERING WHY THE CIATTARELLI CAMPAIGN HASN'T MADE MORE OF THIS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY MADE THAT STATEMENT A YEAR OR TWO BACK, WELL, IF TAXES ARE YOUR MAIN ISSUE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE ELSEWHERE.

MAYBE NEW JERSEY IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU AND WE KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO COME BACK IN ADS AND IT IS IN ONE OF THE ADS THAT CIATTARELLI IS RUNNING BUT YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT HE WOULD REALLY TRY TO JUST HAMMER THAT HOME VERY STRONGLY.

>> VERY QUICKLY, COVID OF COURSE, THE PANDEMIC.

IT HAS BEEN HELPFUL FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY IN THE POLLS.

HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT PLAYING OUT TONIGHT IN THIS DEBATE?

>> WE WOULD EXPECT THAT COVID WOULD BE A HUGE ISSUE IN THAT THERE SHOULD BE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

WHILE THE PUBLIC IS FAIRLY HAPPY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S HANDLING OTHER, BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH THE SHUTDOWNS EARLY AND THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT THE MASK MANDATES, NOT A GENERAL ONE BUT IN SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOL SETTINGS SO I WOULD EXPECT THOSE ISSUES TO COME UP AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, COLLEEN OEA, WE WILL BE WATCHING, THANK YOU.

>>> AN UPDATE ON THE PFIZER CORONAVIRUS VACCINE FOR KIDS.

THE COMPANY SUBMITTED INITIAL DATA TO THE FDA FROM THEIR VACCINE TRIAL FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 5 AND 11 YEARS OLD SHOWING IT IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

THE DRUGMAKER WON'T SEEK EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION JUST THAT FORMAL REQUEST WILL BE MADE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE AGE GROUP WILL MOVE THROUGH BY HALLOWING.

THE VACCINE IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THOSE 12 AND OVER.

MORE THAN 5.8 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE FULLY VACCINATED AS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTS ANOTHER ROUGHLY 1800 NEW CASES TODAY.

37 MORE DEATHS.

IT IS A WAITING GAME FOR MANY PARENTS UNTIL THE VACCINE IS CLEARED FOR USE AS MORE DISTRICTS BEGIN OPERATING WITH OPERATING ALTERNATING ONLINE LEARNING AMID SCHOOL OUT BREAKS.

>>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE ABOUT 50% OR MORE OF THE CLASS AT HOME IN ORDER TO EVEN HAVE THE REMOTE OPTION.

SO THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH KIDS SENT HOME FROM HIS CLASS.

>> Reporter: IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, 11-YEAR-OLD TYLER CHAN FOUND HIMSELF EXPOSED TO COVID AND FORCED TO LEARN REMOTELY FROM HOME WITHOUT ANY VIRTUAL ACCESS TO HIS CLASSROOM.

>> FOR THE FIRST WEEK AT HOME HE HAD ONLY ASSIGNMENTS ONLINE THAT HE COMPLETED IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

HE WASN'T RECEIVING THE SAME KIND OF INSTRUCTION SO HE WASN'T LEARNING ANYTHING.

HE WASN'T BEING TAUGHT.

>> Reporter: CHEN IS MORE THAN 100 KIDS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING QUARANTINE DUE TO AN IN SCHOOL EXPOSURE BUT HOW THEY LEARNED DURING THAT TIME AT HOME DEPENDS ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ACROSS THE STATE, IT LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR.

ALL STUDENTS HAD VIRTUAL ACCESS TO THEIR CLASSROOMS AND THEIR TEACHERS.

>> THIS YEAR, THE TEACHERS ARE FOCUSED ON THE STUDENTS IN FRONT OF THEM.

IN THE RARE INSTANCE WHERE WE HAVE A STUDENT IN QUARANTINE, OR WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID, WE ARE ALLOWING THAT STUDENT TO TAP INTO THE REMOTE INSTRUCTION IN THE CLASSROOM BUT IN A PASSIVE MANNER SO THE TEACHER IS NOT ACTIVELY INVOLVING THEM IN THE LESSON ITSELF.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS THE THINKING BEHIND THAT PASSIVE ENGAGEMENT?

>> WE BELIEVE WHEN TEACHERS ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON TWO THINGS AT ONCE, THE STUDENTS AT HOME AND STUDENTS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, THAT DIMINISHES THE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE.

WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TO FOCUS ON THE STUDENTS WHO ARE PRESENT IN SCHOOL AND WE WANT THOSE STUDENTS IN TURN TO HAVE A NORMALIZED SCHOOL EXPERIENCE LIKE THEY HAD PRE-COVID.

>> Reporter: THE CHATHAM SUPERINTENDENT SAID NO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GUIDANCE ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ONLY QUARANTINE FOR SEVEN DAYS IF THEY TEST NEGATIVE BETWEEN DAYS 5 AND 7 OF EXPOSURE SO THERE WON'T TYPICALLY BE MORE THAN ONE CONSECUTIVE WEEK OF SCHOOL MISSED.

>> FIVE DAYS IS MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT A TYPICAL FLU SEASON MIGHT BRING IF A STUDENT WERE SICK OR STREP THROAT OR SOME OTHER ILLNESS SO WE HAVE A MUCH MORE NORMAL ENVIRONMENT THIS YEAR.

>> Reporter: SENATOR DECLAN O SCANLAN SAYS THERE IS NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT DAYS LONG QUARANTINES THAT DISRUPT STUDENT LEARNING AND HER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CAN'T GO TO WORK.

HE IS LOOKING TO THE UK FOR THE SOLUTION.

>> THE OXFORD STUDY IN THE UK SHOWED THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO QUARANTINE OVER TEST WHICH WOULD PERMIT STUDENTS RATHER THAN QUARANTINING CLOSE CONTACT WITH UNVACCINATED KIDS, TO TEST DAILY AND REMAIN IN SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: THE TEST TO STAY APPROACH HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY A HANDFUL OF STATES IN THE U.S.

INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS, ILLINOIS AND GEORGIA AND WHILE CRITICS CAN POINT TO THE UNRELIABLE OUTCOMES OF RAPID TEST, THE DATA BEARS OUT THAT COVID SPREAD UNDER THIS MODEL IS NO HIGHER THAN ONE STUDENTS QUARANTINE.

SCANLAN CALLS IT COMMON SENSE >> THE OXFORD STUDY SHOWED 98% OF STUDENTS NEVER TESTED POSITIVE THAT HAD BEEN IN QUARANTINE SO WE ARE QUARANTINING, OVER QUARANTINING AND NEEDLESSLY QUARANTINING SO THE STATE NEEDS TO SECURE THE TESTS, HELP SCHOOLS WITH STAFFING IF NEEDED, FIGURE IT OUT.

THERE IS A WAY TO DO THIS.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR MURPHY DOESN'T SEEM INCLINED TO ADOPT THE TEST TO STAY METHOD.

>> WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE CURRENT ARTICLES WE HAVE IN SCHOOL.

AREA.

>> Reporter: O SCANLAN IS ASKING FOR A PILOT PROGRAM FOR DISTRICTS WHO WANT TO TRY IT.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> MORE VACCINE MANDATES ARE GETTING LEGAL BACKING.

A COURT RULED TO UPHOLD NEW WORK MAYORS CORONAVIRUS VACCINE MANDATE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

IT WAS ISSUED IN AUGUST REQUIRING ALL WORKERS TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OR FACE DISCIPLINE INCLUDING BEING FIRED.

LOCAL PUBLIC WORKER UNIONS FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CITY OF UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES BUT THE APPEALS COURT RULING CITED SIDED WITH THE CITY TO FORCE A MANDATE WITHOUT NEGOTIATING WITH UNIONS ABOUT THE POLICY.

MEANWHILE A FEDERAL JUDGE SIDED WITH RECORDS UNIVERSITY DECLINING TO OVERRULE THE COLLEGE'S VACCINE MANDATE TOSSING OUT A REQUEST FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER FROM SEVERAL STUDENTS.

THAT DECISION COMES AS A FIVE STUDENTS FROM THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY ARE SUING THE SCHOOL OVER THE REQUIREMENT WHICH HAS NO OPT OUT, CLEANING CLAIMING IN A LAWSUIT THEY ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST DESPITE HAVING NO RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL VACCINE EXEMPTIONS.

>>> CHANGES, FOR FLOOD INSURANCE POLICYHOLDERS.

MOST NOTABLY, THE COST.

STARTING FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1st, FEMA IS ROLLING OUT AN UPDATE TO THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM CALLED RISK RATING 2.0.

IT CHANGES THE WAY FLOOD INSURANCE RATES ARE CALCULATED AND PROPONENTS SAY IT REFLECTS THE REAL COST OF FLOODING.

IT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO COME WITH A HIGHER PRICE TAG FOR THE MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEY PROPERTY OWNERS.

MANY ARE SCRAMBLING TO GET POLICIES IN THE WAKE OF TROPICAL STORM IDA.

FAMOUS AS THE CHANGES MEAN NO ONE WILL PAY MORE THAN THEIR QUOTE FAIR SHARE BUT HOW DOES IT WORK?

CAROLYN KOSKI IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S WAR AND RISK CENTER.

SHE JOINS ME TO EXPLAIN.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE MAJOR CHANGES, MARKERS FEMA WILL USE TO RECALCULATE INSURANCE PREMIUMS MOVING FORWARD?

>> Reporter: STARTING THIS FRIDAY, FEMA IS LAUNCHING ITS RISK RATING 2.0 WHICH IS A NEW APPROACH TO SETTING PRICES.

ONE GOOD THING IS THEY WILL HARNESS THE BEST DATE AND THE BEST METHOD AND TOOLS FOR PRICING THAT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR BUT NOT ADOPTABLE BY FEMA BUT THAT WILL MEAN RACES AT A HOUSEHOLD LEVEL BETTER REFLECT THE ACTUAL FLOOD RISK FOR EVERY HOUSE.

RIGHT NOW, THE WAY FEMA PRICES, THERE ARE A LOT OF CROSS SUBSIDIES IN THE PROGRAM SO SOME PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE THAN THEIR RISK AND SOME PAYING LESS THAN THEIR RISK >> OVERALL SHOULD HOMEOWNERS POLICYHOLDERS ANTICIPATE PREMIUMS TO GO UP?

>> IT WILL VARY AROUND THE COUNTRY.

FOR NEW JERSEY, FEMA HAS RELEASED SOME AGGREGATE DATA THAT SAYS ABOUT 20% OF POLICY HOLDERS WILL SEE NO CHANGE AT ALL.

ABOUT ANOTHER 65% ARE GOING TO SEE SMALL INCREASES ON THE ORDER OF MAYBE $100 A YEAR.

THEN THERE WILL BE A SMALL NUMBER OF POLICYHOLDERS WHO SEE EVEN LARGER INCREASES.

A COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THIS.

THE FIRST IS THERE IS A CONGRESSIONALLY REQUIRED CAP AND RATES CAN ONLY GO UP AT 18% A YEAR SO THEY WILL BE PHASED IN SLOWLY OVER TIME IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A HOMEOWNER IN THE HIGHER RISK.

ANOTHER THING TO REALIZE IS THAT THESE HIGHER RATES NOW DO MEAN HIGHER RISK SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALSO USE THAT TO THINK ABOUT WHERE NEED TO BUILD SAFER OR DIFFERENTLY.

ONE LAST POINT ON THIS IS THAT ONE IMPORTANT DIMENSION TO THE NEW PRICING IS THAT IT IS GOING TO UNDO A VERY REGRESSIVE CROSS SUBSIDY WHERE RIGHT NOW, HIGH VALUED HOMES PAY TOO LITTLE AND LOW VALUED HOMES WAY TOO MUCH AND SO THAT IS GOING TO BE UNDONE WITH THIS, TOO.

>> WAS THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM DOING ITS JOB OF DETERRING FOLKS FROM DEVELOPING IN THESE AREAS AND IF DEVELOPMENT WAS DONE, TAKING SURE THAT IT WAS BUILT IN A WAY THAT WOULD MITIGATE RISK OR BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SOME OF THIS FLOODING RISK?

HAS THAT BEEN HAPPENING ALL ALONG IN THIS PROGRAM OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE CHANGE NOW?

>> THERE IS ALWAYS A MINIMUM FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATION THE COMMUNITIES HAVE TO ADOPT BUT A LOT OF OBSERVERS ARE SAYING THERE IS INSUFFICIENT PLANNING WITH ESCALATED FLOOD RISK.

ON THE COAST BECAUSE OF SEALEVEL RISE AND CHANGING STORM PATTERNS BUT ANOTHER CHALLENGES WITH THE CURRENT FEMA MAPS, THEY DON'T DO A GOOD JOB OF SHOWING RAINFALL RELATED FLOODING SO WE ARE NOT REGULATING WELDING OR THINKING ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE NEED INSURANCE OR HOW TO BE SAFER ABOUT THESE INTENSE RAINFALL EVENTS WHERE NEW JERSEY AND PHILADELPHIA JUST SO WITH THE REMNANTS OF IDA.

THE INTENSE DOWNPOURS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND WE ARE NOT MANAGING THEM WELL YET.

>> THAT WILL BE CALCULATED.

WILL FEMA LOOK TO LOOK MOVE MORE PEOPLE INTO THESE "FLOOD ZONES BECAUSE OF THAT?

>> THERE WILL BE A WEIRD DISCONNECT IN THE PROGRAM WITH A FLOOD ZONE THAT SAYS WHETHER YOU HAVE TO BUY INSURANCE.

STILL IT IS THOSE OLD MAPS THAT DON'T INCLUDE RAINFALL FLOODING BUT YOUR PRICE WILL INCLUDE THAT SO IF YOU'RE IN A LOW AREA AND COULD REALLY FLOOD IN A HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MIGHT BE, THAT MIGHT SHOW UP IN YOUR PRICE BUT YOU STILL WON'T BE REQUIRED TO BUY INSURANCE IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE MAPPED AREA.

>> A LOT OF WHAT I AM HEARING, CAROLINE IS WHAT HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST ARE THESE STATIC MEASURES, THE FACT THAT MAYBE FLOODING DOESN'T CHANGE THAT FREQUENTLY IN A SUBSET OF TIME BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE, YEAH?

>> EXACTLY.

FLOOD RISK IS INCREASING DRAMATICALLY IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE HISTORIC APPROACH TO READING THE RATES AND THOSE FEMA MAPS WERE BACK BACKWARD LOOKING AND HAVE ARE NOT INCORPORATED THE CHANGE SO TO HAVE RATES TO REFLECT TODAY'S RISK AND MAKE THOSE READS EASIER TO ADJUST AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> CAROLINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> TURNING TO WALL STREET, HERE'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS.

>>> AFTER SEVEN YEARS, NUMEROUS LOSSES AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, THE PEN EAST LYME PROJECT IS OVER.

THE COMPANY CALLING THAT 160 MILE LONG NATURAL GAS PIPELINE FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO CENTRAL JERSEY.

PENN EAST ARGUED IT WOULD'VE BROUGHT JOBS AND LOWER COST GAS BUT THE ARGUMENT WAS THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION WAS GOING TO HARM WILDLIFE AND ADD TO THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS.

IT IS THE END OF AN ERA FOR MANY HOMEOWNERS WHO FOUGHT TO BLOCK THE PIPELINE.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> I HAVE BEEN SWIMMING THROUGH SO MANY EMOTIONS BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN REALLY HARD GOING THROUGH THIS AND STANDING UP TO IT.

>> Reporter: A DREAM HAS FINALLY COME THROUGH FOR JACQUELINE EVANS.

>> I HAD TO REMIND MYSELF THAT IS MINE, STILL.

THEY DON'T HAVE IT.

AND THEY THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET IT BUT NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT.

>> Reporter: FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, EVANS HAS BEEN PROTESTING THE PENN EAST PIPELINE .

THE PROPOSED PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO DELIVER NATURAL GAS FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO NEW JERSEY BUT WOULD HAVE PLACED A 160 MILE LINE PIPELINE THROUGH BOTH STATES, AN ABSOLUTE POWER FOR EVANS WHO SAYS IT WOULD'VE DISRUPTED DAILY LIFE AND RUIN THE FARM WHERE SHE SPENT OVER A DECADE RAISING GOATS, CHICKEN AND SHE.

>> THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PIPELINE THROUGH HERE.

OUR BEDROCK IS ABOUT FOUR FEET UNDERNEATH HERE AND WHEN YOU BLAST THAT, YOU RELEASE ARSENIC AND THAT GOES, TRAVELS, YOU KNOW, INTO WATER.

AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THERE IS NO TURNING THAT BACK.

THE FIGHT GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT WHERE JUSTICES RULED THAT PENN EAST COULD USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO SEIZE THE LAND WHERE THE PIPELINE WAS BEING PROPOSED BUT STATE AUTHORITIES STILL HAD NOT APPROVED THE PERMITS AND PENN EAST CONFIRMED YESTERDAY THE PROJECT WAS OFF THE TABLE.

>> IT IS EMOTIONAL.

WE ARE SO HAPPY.

>> Reporter: BILLINGS OF JOY BEING SHARED A COUPLE OF MILES DOWN THE LOAN ROAD AT CANNON'S HOUSE WHO LIVES IN A 20 ACRE FARM WITH HER HUSBAND AND DOG.

SHE DESCRIBES WHAT HER FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS ENDURED DURING THE YEARS LONG BATTLE.

IT WAS A NIGHT YEAR.

NOBODY WAS SLEEPING.

ONE MAN HAD A STROKE AND DIED.

HE COULDN'T TAKE IT.

WE WERE BEING HARASSED OR IT'S HANGING OVER OUR HEADS AND SEVEN YEARS.

I HELD IN THE TEARS .

I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO STAY STRONG.

I LOOK AT MY FIRM AND I LOOK AND IT'S REALLY OUR FARM AGAIN.

>> IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS, A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE, ONE, ARE GOING TO FACE REALLY INTENSE OPPOSITION, NOT JUST FROM THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITIES BUT FROM ADVOCATES WHO ARE SAYING, IN LIGHT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO BE BUILDING OUT MORE FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE TO TRANSITION RAPIDLY TO CLEAN ENERGY AND THERE ARE MANY GOOD WHEELS IN MOTION IN NEW JERSEY TO DO EXACTLY THAT PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS SIMPLY HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES OF THE PIPELINE SAY THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE RULING WAS NOT ENOUGH TO SEAL THE DEAL.

>> WE SUPPLY 75% OF OUR HEAT FOR OUR HOMES THROUGH NATURAL GAS.

ABOUT 45% OF OUR ELECTRICITY COMES FROM NATURAL GAS.

THERE IS A DEMAND AND A NEED TO HAVE AN ABUNDANT AND ADEQUATE SUPPLY AND WE THOUGHT THAT PENN EAST PIPELINE WAS NEEDED TO MEET THE CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS AND WE WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE PENN EAST OR SIMILAR PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.

>> Reporter: WHETHER OR NOT NEW JERSEY HAS ENOUGH CAPACITY HAS BEEN A DEBATE FOR YEARS.

STATE AUTHORITIES HAVE STUDIED THE ISSUE SINCE LAST SUMMER.

GOVERNOR MURPHY WHO PRAISES THE DECISION TO STOP THE PIPELINE, ACKNOWLEDGED A NEED TO SEEK CLEAN ENERGY BUT SAYS RIPPING UP LAND AND THREATENING SPECIES IS NOT THE ANSWER.

AS FOR EVANS, SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO SPENDING TIME ON HER FARM WITH HER FAMILY WITH THE CONFIDENCE SHE WILL BE ABLE TO CALL IT HOME.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

>>> DON'T MISS A SPECIAL EPISODE OF CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ THIS WEEK.

IF YOU ARE A FAN OF RUSSO SPRINGS DURING SPRINGSTEEN OR THE SOPRANOS, YOU WILL WANT TO CATCH LITTLE STEPHEN WHO SHARES AN INTIMATE LOOK OF HIS NEW HIS NEW MEMOIR AND TALKS ABOUT GROWING UP AS A JERSEY BOY AND HOW THAT LED TO A CAREER FROM THE STAGE TO THE SCREEN.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION THURSDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 P.M. FROM WHEREVER YOU STREAM, THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL, TWITTER OR FACEBOOK.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WENT PROJECT BY ORSTEAD.

AND PSEG.

COMMITTED TO A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.