>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJN INSURANCE GROUP, ENSURING THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY, MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE, NJREALTOR.COM .

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

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

HURRICANE IAN IS A FEROCIOUS DEADLY STORM WITH A ONE-TWO PUNCH.

AFTER POUNDING FLORIDA, AND MOVING ACROSS THE STATE, IAN STRENGTHENED TO A HURRICANE AGAIN AND MADE LANDFALL NORTH OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID TODAY THAT THE DESTRUCTION IN FLORIDA FROM A HURRICANE IS LIKELY TO BE AMONG THE WORST IN U.S. HISTORY.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WILL TAKE A BACKSEAT FOR NOW AS THE FOCUS IS ON RESCUING ANYONE WHO MAY BE TRAPPED BY HIGH WATER OR DEBRIS.

AND VOLUNTEERS FOR NEW JERSEY WILL ASSIST WITH THOSE EFFORTS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS ON THE DEVASTATION IN IAN'S WAKE, HOW CLIMATE CHANGE CONTRIBUTED TO THE STORMS INTENSITY AND WHAT IS EXPECTED IN NEW JERSEY THIS WEEKEND.

>> Reporter: HOLMES RIPPED APART, NEIGHBORHOODS UNDERWATER AND COMMUNITY STILL CUT OFF FROM RESCUE EFFORTS IN FLORIDA AND HURRICANE IAN HAS EARNED ITS PLACE AMONG THE WORST IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY AND LIKELY THE MOST DEADLY FOR FLORIDA.

>> WE ANTICIPATE THERE ARE OVER 200,000 HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN MAJORLY DESTROYED OR DAMAGED.

>> Reporter: SO FAR, THERE ARE 21 REPORTED DEATHS BUT FLORIDA AUTHORITIES EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO BE MUCH HIGHER ONCE THE FLOODWATERS RECEDED, GETTING ACCESS TO THOSE ISOLATED RESIDENTS.

>> THIS DISASTER IS SO TRAGIC AND IT IS FULL-COURT PRESS ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY SO OF COURSE OUR VOLUNTEERS IN NEW JERSEY ARE ANSWERING THE CALL.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 15 VOLUNTEERS FROM NEW JERSEY EITHER ON THE GROUND OR ALREADY IN FLORIDA OR EN ROUTE, AND THAT INCLUDES TWO OF OUR VEHICLES WHICH WILL BE USED TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD AND DISASTER EMERGENCY SUPPLIES.

>> Reporter: THE RED CROSS IS ASKING FOR MONETARY DONATIONS SO THEY CAN ASSESS THE FLORIDIANS ONCE THEY REACH THEM, THE STORM SMASHED FLORIDA'S WEST COAST AS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE AND NEW JERSEY CLIMATE CENTRAL SPOKESMAN SAID WARMER OCEANS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ARE TO BLAME.

>> THERE ARE TWO FACTORS THAT YOU ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH THIS STORM, ONE OF THEM IS INCREASED OCEAN TEMPERATURES THAT ARE ALLOWING STORMS TO GROW BIGGER AND FASTER.

IT'S CALLED RAPID INTENSIFICATION AND YOU SAW IT WITH HURRICANE IAN, WHICH FROM SUNDAY NIGHT TO TUESDAY, WENT FROM A TROPICAL STORM TO A MAJOR HURRICANE.

WARMER WATER FUELS HURRICANES ALLOWING THEM TO GROW STRONGER.

>> Reporter: IAN WEAKENED TO A TROPICAL STORM ONCE IT WAS OVERLAND BUT HAS SINCE REGAINED STRENGTH AND IS NOW PUMMELING SOUTH CAROLINA AS A LEVEL I HURRICANE.

>> IT IS INTERACTING WITH A COLD FRONT BUT THAT IS CHANGING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STORM TO MORE OF A HYBRID, SO IT IS NOT PURELY TROPICAL CYCLONE ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: MEANING IT WON'T HAVE THE WIND THAT WRECKED FLORIDA THAT IT WILL INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE STORM SYSTEM.

>> SO THE AREA THAT IS IMPACTED, IT BECOMES LARGER.

SO IT IS A TRADE-OFF.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE MOST INTENSE DAMAGE WITH HOUSES BEING COMPLETELY DESTROYED BUT YOU HAVE A WIDER AREA THAT IS EXPERIENCING SOMETHING, THERE'S A LOT OF RAIN, FLOODING CONCERNS OFTEN WILL GO UP.

>> Reporter: JULIO IS A SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENT, BRACING FOR IMPACT ON JAMES ISLAND ON THE PENINSULA OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, WE HAVE GONE AND PICKED UP SANDBAGS, WE HAVE HELPED THE LOCAL RESCUE, ANIMAL RESCUE SERVICES, TO BRING IN FOSTER DOGS FOR THE WEEKEND.

>> Reporter: SHE DOES HAVE A BACKUP PLAN IF THINGS GET BAD.

>> WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH WITHIN THE AREA THAT WE ARE RIGHT NOW TO BE ON THE HIGHEST GROUND, WHICH IS NOT MUCH.

BUT, WE DO HAVE PLANS TO EVACUATE AND MOVE TO ANOTHER HOME THAT IS ACROSS THE STREET.

THAT IS ON EVEN HIGHER GROUND AND IT HAS MULTIPLE LEVELS SO WE ARE ABLE TO GET FURTHER FROM THE FLOODWATER.

>> Reporter: BUT GIVEN ITS SIZE, THE RISK OF COASTAL FLOODING IS A CONCERN FOR GEORGIA ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SOUTHERN PART OF NEW JERSEY AND WE CAN EXPECT RAINFALL HERE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

>> IN NEW JERSEY WE ARE LOOKING AT 1 TO 4 INCHES, MORE THE FURTHER SOUTH YOU GO.

>> NEW JERSEY REACHED DROUGHT LEVELS IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE AND I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THIS RAINFALL MEANS.

SOMETIMES WHEN IT COMES SO HEAVY AND SO FAST, IT IS NOT HELPFUL.>> THE RAINFALL THIS WEEKEND WILL BE WELCOMED ACROSS THE STATE AND IT'LL TAKE A BIG BITE OUT OF OUR DROUGHT CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE RAIN IS EXTENDED OVER MULTI-DAY EVENTS, THAT IS PRODUCING OUR FLOODING RISK, AND PERHAPS VERY LOW-LYING POORLY DRAINED AREAS COULD HAVE SOME MINOR FLOODING ESPECIALLY DOWN TOWARDS THE SOUTH.

BUT OVERALL, I THINK THE RAIN WOULD BE A PLUS TO THE STATE.

>> Reporter: FOR ALL OF YOU COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS, THE RED CROSS IS ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER GIVING A LITTLE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF THIS WEEKEND.

>> WE ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GIVE BLOOD AT THIS TIME, OBVIOUSLY WHEN THERE'S A BIG STORM SUCH AS THIS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF BLOOD DRIVES IN THE AREA THAT HAVE TO BE CANCELED.

>> Reporter: THERE IS LIKELY TO BE AN INCREASED NEED FOR BLOOD DUE TO INJURIES.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> SEVERAL STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARE BACKING A NEW TOOL THEY SAY WILL HELP COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE.

NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL, MATTHEW PLATKIN IS AMONG THOSE SUPPORTING THE ADOPTION OF A NEW MERCHANT CATEGORY CODE FOR THE SALE OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.

THE CODE WAS RECENTLY ADOPTED BY MASTERCARD, VISA, AND AMERICAN EXPRESS.

IT ALLOWS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO BETTER DETECT AND THEN REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY RELATED TO THE PURCHASING OF FIREARMS AT INDEPENDENTLY OWNED GUN RETAIL STORES.

GUN SAFETY ADVOCATES SAY THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW CODE IS AN PORT IN ACTION THAT WILL HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATE GUN CRIMES, PREVENT MASS SHOOTINGS AND FIGHT ILLEGAL WEAPONS TRAFFICKING.

PLATKIN AND THE OTHER AG SAY THE NEW CODE WILL ALLOW THOSE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO TRACK MULTIPLE SALES BY INDIVIDUALS AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT GUN SHOPS.

AND IT WOULD ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ANALYZE TRANSACTION PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH MASS SHOOTINGS BY PEOPLE WHO ACQUIRE LARGE AMOUNTS OF AMMUNITION.

A SOLUTION COULD BE IN SIGHT FOR THE GLUT OF REUSABLE BAGS WE HAVE ALL GOT STACKED UP, SINCE NEW JERSEY'S PLASTIC BAG BAN TOOK EFFECT FIVE MONTHS AGO.

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED AN OFFER BY SENATORS BOB SMITH AND KRISTIN CORRADO, WOULD REQUIRE STORES IN THE STATE TO TAKE BACK EXCESS REUSABLE BAGS WHICH THEY MUST THEN RECYCLE OR REUSE.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD IMPACT DELIVERY, PICKUP, AND CURBSIDE SERVICES.

THE BILL WOULD ALSO ALLOW GROCERY STORES TO DELIVER ITEMS IN CARDBOARD BOXES, OR IN PAPER BAGS THAT ARE MADE OF 40% RECYCLED MATERIALS.

THE PAPER BAGS WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED FOR 5 YEARS UNDER THE BILL.

STATE OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO DONATE THEIR REUSABLE BAGS TO FOOD PANTRIES.

>>> GETTING ACCESS TO CAPITAL TO GROW A BUSINESS HAS LONG BEEN AN ISSUE IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT HOLDS TRUE FOR THE GARDEN STATES FARMING INDUSTRY.

BUT, THE STATE IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.

GOVERNOR MURPHY LAST WEEK SIGNED A BILL TO ESTABLISH A NEW JERSEY MINORITY WOMEN AND UNDERSERVED FARMER REGISTRY.

THE REGISTRY MAKES IT EASIER FOR MINORITY FARMERS TO QUALIFY FOR A LOAN AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

THE NUMBER OF FARMS OWNED BY MINORITIES CONTINUES TO DWINDLE, SO THIS PROGRAM COULD HELP REVERSE THAT TREND.

LEWIS ROSE COOPER TRAVELED TO SALEM COUNTY TO LEARN FIRSTHAND ABOUT THE NEEDS OF ONE BLACK OWNED FARM.>> THESE BRIGHT GOLDEN SUNFLOWERS DEFINITELY HAVE THE BEES BUZZING, AND FOR THIS HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM, THIS FIELD IS JUST ONE OF MANY BEAUTIES ON THE SALEM FARM.

>> WE DO ALL CUT FLOWERS, SO WE DO 10 ACRES OF SUNFLOWERS AND WE ALSO SPECIALIZE IN THINGS LIKE DAHLIAS, AND OTHERS.

>> IT IS A PART OF A 10 YEAR JOURNEY THAT HAD SOME CHALLENGES.

>> FARMING IS EXPENSIVE, THERE'S A LOT OF CAPITAL TO START WITH, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE FORMING A LARGE AREA.

THE TRACTORS, THE LAND ITSELF IS EXPENSIVE.

WHEN THERE IS GENERATIONAL CAPITAL THAT GETS PASSED ON, WHETHER IT IS EQUIPMENT OR SOMETHING ELSE, THEN IT MAKES FARMING A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

>> Reporter: ALLEN HAS EXPERIENCED FARMING WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS IN MINNESOTA, AND HE HELPED THEM RUN THE FARM SUCCESSFULLY.

THIS HAS HELPED HER AVOID SOME CHALLENGES MANY FARMERS FACE.

>> IF IT WAS JUST ME DOING THIS ON MY OWN, I DON'T HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE.

AND I DON'T HAVE THAT GENERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE EITHER.

WITHOUT MY HUSBAND, I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY IS MAKING STEPS TO MAKE SURE FARMERS OF COLOR GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

GOVERNOR MURPHY RECENTLY SIGNED A BILL INTO LAW, CREATING A MINORITY WOMEN AND UNDERSERVED FARMER REGISTRY IN AN EFFORT TO ESTABLISH MORE EQUITY IN THE FARMING COMMUNITY.>> TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THOSE MOSTLY UNDERSERVED IN THIS PARTICULAR INDUSTRY, GIVE THEM THE ABILITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY MAKE APPLICATIONS BUT ALSO BE GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY OF LOANS AND INFORMATION.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE SPONSORS SAYS THE DISPARITY AMONG THE UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES IN THE FARMING INDUSTRY IS HUGE.

>> WE GO BACK TO THE EARLY 1920S, WHEN WE LOOK IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF FARMERS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, BACK THEN, WHEN YOU COMPARE WHITE FARMERS TO BLACK FARMERS, WE HAD A LOT MORE, THERE WAS LIKE 14% OF THE NATIONS NUMBER OF FARMERS WERE BLACK BACK THEN.

WHEN YOU NOW LOOK IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WE ARE NOW DOWN TO 35,000, WHICH IS LIKE 2% COMPARED TO THE 14% BACK THEN.

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> Reporter: CYNTHIA HALL IS THE CO-OWNER OF FREE HAVEN FARMS, SHE IS HOPEFUL THE REGISTRY WILL ALLOW FARMERS WHO WERE NEVER ABLE TO GET LOANS TO FINALLY GET THEM NOW.

>> EVEN FOR US, WE ONLY QUALIFY FOR VERY SMALL AMOUNTS, IT IS A MICRO LOAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL OPERATION, SO FOR US IT'S A BIG DEAL.

BUT HOPEFULLY IT'LL ALLOW US TO GO AFTER MORE FUNDING SO WE CAN GROW AND EXPAND.

>> Reporter: MANY IN THE FARMING COMMUNITY AGREE, IT'S ONLY A START.

>> FARMERS NEED ASSISTANCE GETTING RESOURCES, THE JOB IS SUNUP TO SUNDOWN ALMOST YEAR- ROUND.

FARMERS DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO FILL OUT MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PAPERWORK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE BUSY SEASON, WHEN THESE SUPPORT PROGRAMS COME AROUND.

SO WHAT WE NEED IS TO BRING THE RESOURCES TO THE FARMERS.

>> Reporter: ADDITIONAL STEPS THAT WILL HELP EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD FOR MANY FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT OUT FOR FAR TOO LONG.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> THROUGHOUT THIS SUMMER, SPOTTER AND LANTERNFLY'S WERE A MENACE TO TREES AND OTHER PLANTS HERE IN THE GARDEN STATE.

ANDY INVASIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY ISN'T DONE WITH CAUSING DAMAGE.

THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY FEEDS ON PLANT SAP AND EXTREMISTS EXCRETES A SUGARY SUBSTANCE KNOWN AS HONEYDEW.

I ATTRACT OTHER INSECTS THAT CAN FEED ON THE TREE AND ENCOURAGES THE GROWTH OF BLACK MOLD WHICH CAN KILL PLANTS.

SO FAR, THERE HASN'T BEEN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN NEW JERSEY BUT REPEATED INFESTATIONS COULD WEAR DOWN AND KILL PLANTS OVER TIME.

DESPITE OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO STEP ON AND SQUASH THESE BUGS, THEY ARE BECOMING MORE PERVASIVE IN SOME AREAS.

COUNTIES ARE ASKING FOR HELP IN DEALING WITH THE INSECTS.

CORRESPONDENT, TED GOLDBERG WENT TO MORRIS COUNTY TO SEE HOW OFFICIALS ARE BATTLING THE BUGS.

>> YOU CAN KILL SPOTTED LANTERNFLY'S BY STOMPING ON THEM.

BUT, IF YOU ARE WEARY ABOUT CRUSHING LITTLE CRITTERS, THEN CIRCLE TRAPS WORK A LITTLE BETTER.

>> WE HAD UP TO 1000 INSECTS IN THE TRAP.

>> Reporter: DARRELL JONES CLEANS OUT THESE TRAPS IN MORRIS COUNTY, DESIGNED TO ATTRACT AND KILL THE INVASIVE INSECTS.

>> THEY TEND TO CLIMB UPWARD AND THEY WILL GO UP ALL THE WAY INTO THE CANOPY AND FEED ON THE YOUNGER BRANCHES, SO JUST FUNNELS THEM RIGHT UP IN THIS LITTLE CIRCULAR HOLE THERE.

AND ONCE THEY FALL INTO THE BAG, THEY CAN'T GET OUT.

>> Reporter: THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GAVE MORRIS COUNTY THESE TRAPS AND IN EXCHANGE, THE COUNTY PROVIDES THEM DATA ON THE SPOTTER LANTERNFLY'S POPULATION.

THEY HAVE BEEN SPOTTED IN ALL 21 NEW JERSEY COUNTIES AND DESPITE THE TRAPS AND INSECTICIDE SPRAY, THEY HAVE BECOME MORE PERVASIVE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> WE HAD A COUPLE OF OUR SITES, MORE TOWARD THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE WE HAD TREES THAT WERE COMPLETELY COVERED.

A SITE LIKE THIS, DID NOT HAVE ANY.

WE ONLY HAD VERY FEW.

LAST YEAR WE SAW AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE.

>> Reporter: THE BIG QUESTION, HOW WELL DO THESE MEASURES EVEN WORK?

>> IT'S GOING TO HELP, IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT, THE FEMALES WILL BE LAYING EGGS INTO OCTOBER, UNTIL WE GET A COUPLE OF GOOD HARD FROSTS.

>> Reporter: GEORGE HAMILTON STUDIES THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY, HE SAID THE POPULATION IN NEW JERSEY WON'T DWINDLE SIGNIFICANTLY UNTIL THEY FIND MORE NATURAL PREDATORS.

>> THAT HAS ALREADY STARTED TO HAPPEN WITH SOME OF THE YOUNGER YELLOWJACKETS AND THE EUROPEAN HORNETS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE REDUCTION.

>> Reporter: SO YOU CAN EXPECT SPOTTED LANTERNFLY'S TO CONTINUE TO BE A NUISANCE, OR WORSE, FOR THE NEXT MONTH.

>> YOUR BACKYARD PICNIC FOR EXAMPLE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE HAVING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE CULTURAL INDUSTRIES IN MERCER COUNTY.

>> Reporter: MERCER COUNTY AND MORRIS COUNTY DID RECEIVE STATE GRANTS TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY.

THE PARK SUPERINTENDENT SAYS IT'S A START IN MERCER COUNTY, EVEN IF IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.>> NO GOVERNMENT AGENCY ON ITS OWN CAN SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE THIS PROBLEM.

THE PARK COMMISSIONER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING AND MANAGING MORE THAN 10,000 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, BUT THERE'S MANY MORE ACRES THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SPOTTER LANTERNFLY.

>> WE DO EXPECT THE NUMBERS IN THE TRAPPING DATA SET TO GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SPEAK TO THE OVERALL PRESENCE OF THE INSECT.

IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS.

>> Reporter: AN ONGOING PROCESS THAT WILL STOP OVER THE WINTER, UNTIL THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY ONCE AGAIN REARS ITS HEAD OVER THE SPRING.

>>> MANY NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC EXPERIENCED FRUSTRATING DELAYS WAITING FOR THEIR BENEFITS TO KICK IN.

SINCE THEN, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THE STAFF WAS HIRED TO PROCESS ON EMPLOYMENT CLAIMS, NOW LAWMAKERS ARE ADVANCING A BILL THAT WOULD FURTHER IMPROVE THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROCESS, BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER, JOHN REITMEYER JOINS ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WHAT IS THIS BILL ATTEMPTING TO FIX AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, AS YOU REFERENCED, THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEMS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM THAT BROKE DOWN DURING THE PEAK MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS IN REFINING FOR BENEFITS.

NOW WHAT LAWMAKERS HAVE TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO IS THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND SOME OF THE MORE PROCEDURAL AND TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT THEY LEARNED WERE PROBLEMS, AND A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS REACHED OUT TO THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICES TO SEEK HELP FROM LAWMAKERS WHILE THEY WERE WAITING FOR BENEFITS THAT THEY DESERVED, SO YOU ARE SEEING THE WAIT TIMES AND TRYING TO IMPROVE INFORMATION SHARING.

AND THERE'S ALSO A BUNCH OF PROVISIONS IN LEGISLATION THAT HAS GONE TO THE GOVERNOR AND NOT GONE BACK TO LAWMAKERS THROUGH A CONDITIONAL VETO WITH SOME PROPOSED REVISIONS, THAT GO AFTER THE APPEALS PROCESS AND RATHER PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY BACK MONEY THAT THEY GET FROM THE OVERPAYMENT WHEN THEY MADE A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO FILE THE PROPER INFORMATION.

SO IT'S REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE BOTTLENECKS AND EXPEDITE GETTING PAYMENTS OUT TO PEOPLE WHO RIGHTFULLY DESERVE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.>> IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT A MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT?>> I THINK CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF FRONTS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN PUSH FOR IMPROVEMENT.

ONE OF THEM IS FUNDING THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, THE STATE HAD TO BORROW MONEY DURING THE WORST MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC, WHEN EVERYBODY WAS APPLYING FOR BENEFITS.

SO NEW JERSEY STILL GIVING BACK FEDERAL LOANS, AND YOU HAVE THESE TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY INCLUDING AN ONLINE APPLICATION UPGRADE.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT LAWMAKERS TARGETING SOME OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM ITSELF THROUGH PROCEDURAL CHANGES THAT ARE MEANT TO EXPEDITE THE PAYMENT OF BENEFITS.

ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND HOWEVER IS UNEMPLOYMENT IS A STATE-FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP, SO ANY CHANGES THAT ARE MADE TO STATE LAW SHOULD COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LAW AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TOLD GOVERNOR MURPHY AS HE WAS REVIEWING THIS LEGISLATION IF THERE WAS SOME CONFORMITY ISSUES, SO SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT MURPHY HAS RECOMMENDED AND SENT BACK TO LAWMAKERS WOULD BASICALLY SYNC UP WHATEVER THEY ARE TRYING TO DO AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH HOW THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM HAS TO OPERATE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO THAT IS WHAT IS TAKING A LITTLE WHILE, WHEN IT WENT TO THE GOVERNOR AND NOW IT IS GOING BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE JUST NOW.

>> SO IF THIS IS APPROVED AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS OFF ON IT, HOW QUICKLY COULD SOME OF THESE CHANGES GO INTO EFFECT?

>> IT WILL BE A NUMBER OF MONTHS STILL, ONE OF THE OTHER CHANGES THE GOVERNOR HAS RECOMMENDED IS TO ADD TIME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE TECHNICAL CHANGES, BASICALLY TO GIVE STAFF MORE TIME TO MAKE THE UPGRADES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED UNDER THIS LEGISLATION.

SO, STILL SEVERAL MONTHS AWAY FROM SEEING ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS ENACTED.

>> JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.>>> IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S GROWING ROLE IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY, TAKE NOTE, THREE FEATURE FILMS THAT WERE SHOT IN THE STATE WERE ALL RELEASED TODAY.

THE MOVIES ARE BROSE, THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER, AND SMILE.

ALL OF THEM FEATURE A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS IN THE STATES, THE ROMANTIC COMEDY TOOK PLACE IN HUDSON, MONMOUTH AND PASSAIC COUNTIES.

IT PRODUCED THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER WITH SOME FILMING DONE IN PATERSON, AND "SMILE" FILMS IN NEW WORK AND OTHER PARTS OF NEW JERSEY.

THE TELEVISION COMMISSION SAID OVER 45 MAJOR PROJECTS HAVE BEEN FILMED IN THE STATE SO FAR THIS YEAR, WHICH SHOULD HELP GENERATE RECORD REVENUE BY YEARS END.

NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT WALL STREET AND THE TRADING WEEK.

>>> MAKE SURE YOU JOIN ME FOR NJ BUSINESS BEAT THIS WEEKEND, I KICKOFF NATIONAL WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS MONTH BY SITTING DOWN WITH SEVERAL FEMALE CEOS AND ENTREPRENEURS TO DISCUSS THEIR PAST AND THEIR PATH TO SUCCESS.

THAT IS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ON NJ PBS.

>>> FORMER GOVERNOR TOM KEAN AND JIM FLORIO FACED OFF IN 1981, IN WHAT WAS THE CLOSEST GOVERNOR'S RACE IN NEW JERSEY'S HISTORY, FROM THIS WEEK'S REPORT AROUND PAPER, GOVERNOR TOM KEAN DISCUSSES THEIR RIVALRY IN THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND TALKS ABOUT HIS SON'S REFUSAL TO TALK TO THE STAR LECTURE.

HE SPOKE WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ.

>> WE WERE STRONG RIVALS.

WE WERE BOTH YOUNG DOGS TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AND WE CLASHED A NUMBER OF TIMES.

IT'S A GOOD THING IT WAS ABOUT POLITICS, WE WERE BITTER RIVALS IN MANY CASES.

AND ONCE THAT WAS ALL OVER, WE BECAME FRIENDS.

YOU KNOW?

AND THE LAST 35 YEARS, JIM AND I HAVE DONE THINGS TOGETHER, WE HAVE SUPPORTED CAUSES TOGETHER WHEN WE COULD, WE HAVE TEAMED UP AND GONE TO THINGS THAT WE BOTH SUPPORTED AND WE TURNED OUT TO BE REALLY GREAT FRIENDS.

I WILL MISS HIM.

>> YOU WENT ON TO TWO TERMS AS GOVERNOR, AT WHAT POINT DID YOUR RELATIONSHIP BEGIN TO EVOLVE?

WAS IT AFTER YOU LEFT OFFICE?

>> AFTER I LEFT OFFICE, AND PROBABLY I HELPED HIM WHEN I BELIEVED HIM, FOR INSTANCE, HE GOT THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THROUGH, AND REPUBLICANS HAD A BIG MAJORITY AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPEAL IT.

I GOT ON THE PHONE AND I WAS RECENTLY IN OFFICE, AND I CALLED HIM AND KNOCKED OFF THE VOTES THAT I NEEDED TO OVERRIDE FOUR.

>> SO YOU LOBBIED FOR HIM?

>> WHAT SHOULD WE REMEMBER ABOUT JIM FLORIO FROM CONGRESS TO THE STATEHOUSE?

WHAT SHOULD HIS LEGACY BE?

>> FIRST, HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

HE HAD A SUPERFUND, AND HE HAD CLEANED UP A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THE STATE.

SO HE DESERVES ALL CREDIT FOR THAT.

AND ALSO I THINK HIS COURAGE.

HE STOOD UP FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED IN HIS WHOLE LIFE.

AND HE SET AN EXAMPLE.

I THINK IT'S NOT A BAD THING, FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GET A GUY LIKE JIM FLORIO.

HE MADE AN IMPACT, HE DIDN'T ALWAYS WIN ELECTIONS, BUT HE ALWAYS HAD RESPECT FOR DOING THAT.>> WE TALKED ABOUT CIVILITY IN POLITICS, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ASK YOU ABOUT THIS YEAR'S MIDTERMS, TOM KEAN JUNIOR SAID HE WON'T SPEAK TO THE EDITORIAL BOARD BECAUSE THEY ARE BIASED.

DO YOU AGREE THAT HE IS LIKEWISE BOYCOTTING THE PRESS?

IS THAT PRODUCTIVE DO YOU THINK?

>> NO, IT IS NOT PRODUCTIVE, BUT HE HAS GOOD REASON FOR THAT.

HE HAS NEVER BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

SO EVENTUALLY, IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, EVENTUALLY YOU JUST GIVE UP.

IT'S NOT THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S NOT THE REPORTERS, IT IS ONE PERSON.

IT IS TOM MORAN AND WHY HE IS THAT WAY, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S TOO BAD.

>> YOU CAN SEE DAVID'S ENTIRE INTERVIEW WITH FORMER GOVERNOR, TOM KEAN AND ALL THE BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK WITH A PANEL OF LOCAL REPORTERS ON REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE, THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6:00 AND SATURDAY AT 10:00 A.M.

JOINED TABLE, WITH CONSERVATIVE PHIL RIZZO, THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:30 A.M. , THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR US TONIGHT, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>> THE MEMBERS OF 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.