>>> FUNDING FOR.

>>> SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

IT IS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY STUDENTS.

AND IN BERGEN COUNTY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE BEING WELCOMED BACK TO THEIR BUILDING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

THE SHUTDOWNS BEGAN AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC AND EXTENDED AFTER CHRIS SCHOOL SCHOOLS WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED BY A TROPICAL STORM THAT BROUGHT HEAVY WIND AND FLOODING RAIN LAST AUGUST.

SEVERAL FEET OF WATER FILLED THE AUDITORIUM AND THE GYMNASIUM.

THE MEDIA CENTER AND CLASSROOMS, DESTROYING ALL OF IT.

THE EXTENSIVE WORK TOOK LONGER THAN PARENTS AND EDUCATORS HAD HOPED.

NOW THEY ARE HOPING BOTH THE STORM AND THE PANDEMIC ARE BEHIND THEM.

OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, JOANNA GAG US, WAS THERE FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

>> I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK.

>> IT IS WONDERFUL.

IT IS REALLY WONDERFUL.

>> THE GRAY SKIES COULD NOT DIM THE HAPPINESS AT CRESSKILL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AS STUDENTS FINALLY RETURNED TO FULL-TIME SCHOOL TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> LAST YEAR, THEY WERE REMOTE.

NOW BEING BACK IN SCHOOL AND HAVING THE SOCIAL SKILLS BUILDING UP, THEY ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> THE RAIN IS A SOMEWHAT FITTING REMINDER OF THE FLOODWATERS THAT DESTROYED THE SCHOOL THIS TIME LAST YEAR DURING TROPICAL STORM IDA JUST AS MOST OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE STATE WERE FINALLY GETTING BACK TO IN PERSON MORNING AFTER COVID.

>> IT HAS BEEN HARD ON THE KIDS.

>> THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE BUILDING SO IT IS REALLY EXCITING.

LAST YEAR WAS A STRUGGLE FOR ME BEING COMPLETELY ONLINE WITH THE SCHOOL BEING SHUT DOWN AND ALL THAT.

>> AS A JUNIOR, DO YOU HAVE THE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE KIND OF BEEN ROBBED OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IN A WAY?

>> COMPLETELY.

IT JUST SUCKS.

I SEE ALL MY FRIENDS FROM DIFFERENT TOWNS BEING ABLE TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL AND ENJOYING THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE SO IT IS TOUGH.

>> IT FEELS WEIRD.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY CLASSES ARE.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS SOPHOMORE YEAR AND WE BARELY WENT IN.

IT WAS HALF IN AND HALF OUT SO I NEVER HAD A NORMAL YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.

>> FOR KLUTZ MEN AND THEIR FRIENDS, MAKING THE MOST OF THIS ONE YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL IS THEIR PRIORITY.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO SCHEDULE AS MANY ACTIVITIES AS POSSIBLE LIKE TRYING TO BE AS INVOLVED AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THAT IN THE PAST YEARS SO WE ARE EXCITED.

>> THE TEACHING STAFF IS FEELING A LOT OF THE SAME EMOTIONS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE.

>> IT IS NERVOUS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT.

WHEN YOU SEE ALL THE KID'S SPACES AND THEM COMING BACK INTO THE BUILDING, IT FEELS LIKE YOU NEVER LEFT.

>> NOW MORE THAN EVER, AND FOCUS ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND MEMORIZING NAMES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO SEE ME AS HERE AND I'M THE STUDENT AND I'M NOT A FACE AND A BLACK BOX ON A SCREEN.

>> ADDRESSING THE STUDENT'S EMOTIONAL NEEDS IS STEP ONE FOR SUPERINTENDENT MIKE BURKE.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH?

>> I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN WE HAVE.

THE KIDS DID REALLY WELL TEST WISE.

THEY GOT INTO GREAT SCHOOLS.

EVEN IF THERE WAS A DEFICIT, THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT UP.

I THINK THE TEACHERS AND STAFF, WHICH ARE OUTSTANDING, WILL MAKE UP THE DEFICIT.

>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG YEAR FOR BURKE WHO HAD THE TASK OF COMPLETELY RENOVATING THE BUILDING IN JUST A YEAR AFTER EVERY SECTION BUT ONE WAS DESTROYED BY FLOODWATERS.

>> THE FOYER IS DIFFERENT AND THE WALLS ARE DIFFERENT.

THE RECOVERY UNITS ARE DIFFERENT.

THERE IS NOT AS MUCH TECHNOLOGY.

WIRELESS IS WORKING AND THE AIR- CONDITIONING IS WORKING.

BUT WE ARE STILL GETTING THINGS SHIPPED IN.

>> CONSTRUCTION CAME DOWN TO THE WIRE AND THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WAS SECURED JUST DAYS BEFORE STUDENTS RETURNED.

BUT A MAJOR PART OF THE RENOVATION IS PLANNING FOR FUTURE STORMS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE LIGHT FLOODING AROUND THE BUILDING IS COMMON.

>> WE DO HAVE A WALL THAT WE SET UP FOR THE ONE AREA THAT WE THOUGHT COULD FLOOD THIS MORNING AND IT DIDN'T, WHICH IS GREAT.

WE ARE HAVING A 4-FOOT HIGH LEVY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND A 2-FOOT HIGH CINDERBLOCK WALL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

THAT WON'T COME UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

BUT WE HAVE A PLAN.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SECURE ALL THE WAY AROUND ON THE OUTER AREAS OF THE TOWN.

>> AND IT TOOK THE WHOLE TOWN TO MAKE THE RECOVERY EFFORTS POSSIBLE.

>> THE REFERENDUM WAS PASSED BY THE COMMUNITY, BASICALLY 8- 1, JANUARY.

BUT THE REFERENDUM WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS BECAUSE WE DON'T GET THE LUMP SUM RIGHT AWAY.

WE GET IT IS NEEDED.

WE HAVE STARTED TO GET MONEY BACK FROM FEMA.

IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET IT BACK.

YOU HAVE TO PRODUCE THAT YOU SPEND THE MONEY AND WHAT IT IS BEING USED FOR.

WE PROBABLY USED ABOUT 17, 18 MILLION OF THE 21 AND THE LAST COUPLE MILLION IS LEFT FOR THE MEDIA CENTER AND THE AUDITORIUM.

>> THIS IS THE AUDITORIUM THAT SAW THE WORST OF THE FLOODING LAST YEAR.

THIS AND THE MEDIA CENTER ARE THE ONLY SPACES THAT REQUIRE CONSTRUCTION.

IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MID TO LATE WINTER.

SUPERINTENDENT BURKE IS CONFIDENT THAT ALL WILL BE COMPLETED UNDER BUDGET.

IN CRESSKILL, JOANNA GALLEGOS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> AS THE REST OF PUBLIC- SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE HEAD BACK TO CLASS, THEY WILL BE THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO LEARN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AS PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM.

THE NEW STANDARDS APPLY TO EACH AND EVERY GRADE LEVEL WITH THE AIM OF TEACHING KIDS ABOUT THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ALONG WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS TO CREATE SOLUTIONS.

LAUREN MADDEN IS AMONG THOSE HELPING TEACHERS PREPARE FOR THE NEW LESSONS.

SHE IS A PROFESSOR OF ELEMENTARY SCIENCE EDUCATION AT THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY AND RECENTLY AUTHORED A REPORT OUTLINING WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

SHE JOINS ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

I AM CURIOUS AS TO HOW YOU ARE HELPING FUTURE TEACHERS AND CURRENT TEACHERS PREPARE THE LESSONS TO MEET THE FINER POINTS OF THE NEW CURRICULUM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I WORK WITH BOTH PRACTICING TEACHERS AND FUTURE TEACHERS.

AND I PUT SOME THINGS OUT INTO THE WORLD, SPECIFICALLY TO THE NEW JERSEY CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION HUB AND IN PARTNERSHIP SUBJECT TO CLIMATE.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS HOPING TO TALK TEACHERS THROUGH WHAT THEY ARE.

WITH THE NEW STANDARDS ARE.

IT IS NOT A DEFINED CURRICULUM.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY ABSOLUTELY MUST TEACH IN THIS SPECIFIC WAY.

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TEACHERS CAN APPROACH THE NEW CLIMATE CHANGE STANDARDS IS LOOKING AT WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY TEACHING AND FINDING WAYS TO INTEGRATE THE CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION IN A WAY THAT IS ACCURATE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT AGES.

>> SO WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF LESSON PLANS OR WAYS THAT TEACHERS CAN PRESENT THIS IN A WAY THAT IS PALATABLE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CLIMATE CHANGE STANDARDS ACROSS THE GRADE LEVELS, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE EARLY YEARS REALLY THE K2 LEVEL OR EVEN THE LATER ELEMENTARY, WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT KIDS NEED TO HAVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CLIMATE CHANGE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN 3rd GRADE GEOGRAPHY, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT MAPS OF COASTLINES, LOOKING AT HOW OUR COASTLINE HAS CHANGED AND HOW COASTLINES AROUND THE GLOBE HAVE CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGING CLIMATE, ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS NOTICE IS THAT KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS TEND TO BE FANTASTIC TEACHERS OF WEATHER.

THEY ARE GREAT AT DOING WEATHER CHARTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

GETTING TO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT IS WEATHER AND WHAT IS CLIMATE AND HOW ARE THOSE THINGS RELATED?

SO BUILDING THOSE FOUNDATIONAL IDEAS TO HELP KIDS GET READY TO TACKLE MORE OF THE IN-DEPTH, ABSTRACT CONTENT THAT THEY MIGHT APPROACH IN LATER YEARS IN UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL.

THE LOOKING AT GRAPHS AND PROPORTIONAL REASONING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

FOR EARLY GRADES, THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AROUND US AND'S WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TO UNDERSTAND THOSE ISSUES.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS CLASS OF KINDERGARTNERS AND THE FACT THAT BY THE TIME THEY ARE WELL INTO THEIR ADULT YEARS, THE REPORTS WE SEE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE SHOW THAT SEA LEVEL RISE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT AT THAT TIME.

AND SO HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO THINK FORWARD ABOUT SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY FEELS VERY FAR OFF TO THEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF TIMES, REALLY AT THE YOUNGEST AGES, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS LET THE KIDS UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE IN THE WORLD AND HOW THEY UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND THEIR INTERACTIONS.

SO WHAT ARE THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS AND THE BODIES OF WATER AND TYPES OF LAND AND SOIL THAT ARE REALLY NEAR WHERE THEY LIVE?

AND SO THOSE ISSUES THAT MIGHT AFFECT THEM.

AND ARE THERE CHANGES IN THE KIND OF PLANTS THAT GROW OR CHANGES IN HOW LONG CERTAIN THINGS ARE IN SEASON?

LOOKING AT HOW THOSE THINGS MIGHT DIFFER YEAR TO YEAR AND OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

IS IT IS REALLY BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO GET THEM READY TO TACKLE SOME OF THESE BIGGER PROBLEMS WHEN THEY GET OLDER.

>> AND THEY WILL BE THERE FOR SURE.

LAUREN MADDEN WITH THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY FOR US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AS THE STATE'S LEGAL MARIJUANA MARKET EXPANDS, DOCUMENTS SHOW MEDICINAL SELLERS WERE RACKING UP ALLEGED VIOLATIONS FOR TWO YEARS, REACHING THE STATE'S SECURITY AND SAFETY RULES.

YET WANT APPROVALS TO ENTER THE RECREATIONAL MARKET ANYWAY.

EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY BLOOMBERG UNDER THE NEW JERSEY OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REVEALED THE STATE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION ISSUED MORE THAN 50 CITATIONS TO SEVEN COMPANIES BETWEEN JANUARY 2020 AND MID-APRIL 2022.

THAT IS ONE MARIJUANA SALES BROUGHT IT FROM MEDICAL ONLY TO RECREATIONAL.

WHERE THEY RANGED FROM STAFF USING FRAUDULENT SECURITY ACCESS CARDS TO WORKERS REGULARLY NEGLECTING TO ENTER PATIENT PURCHASES INTO THE REGISTRY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

ACCORDING TO THE BLOOMBERG REPORT, ONE CULTIVATION SITE HAD 50 JARS OF WEED GO MISSING AND ONE MEDICAL DISPENSARY HAD MOLDY WEED ON ITS SHELVES.

THE MOST FREQUENT ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OCCURRED AT ZEN LEAF SHOPS WITH THREE OF NEW JERSEY'S RELOCATION -- LOCATIONS RUN BY VERANO HOLDINGS WHICH WAS RUN BY INVESTIGATORS IN APRIL 2021 TO DESTROY 127 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA INVENTORY BECAUSE SOME MAY HAVE BEEN SWEPT UP FROM THE FLOOR AND CONTAMINATED.

THE REPORT ALSO POINTS OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ERROR- FREE SALES HAVE BEEN PROCESSED SINCE THE STATE STARTED MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE IN 2012.

BUT THE DOCUMENTED VIOLATIONS ARE THE TYPE OF MISSTEPS LEGAL WEED CRITICS WARNED ABOUT.

>> THE UNRELENTING HEAT WE EXPERIENCED THIS SUMMER BROUGHT MISERY FOR THOUSANDS OF INMATES AT SEVERAL OF THE STATE'S PRISONS.

AND IT IS THE FIRST REPORT ON THE NEWLY CREATED CORRECTIONS OFFICE SAID NEW JERSEY NEEDS TO DO MORE TO PROVIDE HUMANE CONDITIONS FOR THE INCARCERATED WHO, ALONG WITH CORRECTIONS STAFF, WERE CONFINED TO SPACES THAT BECAME DANGEROUSLY HOT.

SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECT EDITOR COLLEEN O'DAY HAS BEEN DIGGING INTO THE REPORT AND HAS THE DETAILS.

>> COLLEEN, THIS REPORT IS SIGNIFICANT, NOT JUST FOR WHAT IT FOUND BUT ALSO FOR THE FACT THAT IT IS THE FIRST EVER FROM THE NEW OFFICE.

WHAT STOOD OUT MOST TO YOU?

>> THE IDEA THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO QUANTIFY THAT IT'S MORE THAN 3000 INMATES AS WELL AS ABOUT 3000 GUARDS OR STAFF, WORKING IN THESE SPORTS OF PRISONS THAT HAVE NO AIR CONDITIONING.

SO RECALL WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN JULY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAD THE HEAT WAVE.

IT SEEMED LIKE THE WHOLE MONTH WAS A HEAT WAVE.

AND AUGUST AS WELL.

IT WAS JUST SO HOT.

AND THERE IS NOWHERE TO ESCAPE WHEN YOU ARE IN A PLACE LIKE THAT.

AND THERE IS NO AIR CONDITIONING.

SO THE INMATES HAVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE STAFF, THEY ARE WEARING FAIRLY HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

THEY ARE WEARING VESTS AND BODY CAMERAS.

SO THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF PAIN GOING AROUND.

>> SO THIS REPORT IDENTIFIED OF COURSE THOUSANDS OF FOLKS THAT WERE SUBJECTED TO THIS.

WHERE THOUGH, COLLEEN, WHAT FACILITIES?

AND ARE THE PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN RED FLAGGED, SO TO SPEAK, IN THE PAST?

>> IT TENDS TO BE THE OLDER FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE.

EVEN THOUGH, WE HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT SOME THAT HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES THERE.

THERE ARE THE BIGGER OLDER MEN'S PRISONS WE CAN THINK OF.

BAYSIDE IN LEESBURG.

AND EAST JERSEY.

SO A NUMBER OF PLACES THAT ARE OLDER.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PRISON BUILDINGS THAT ARE ABOUT 100 YEARS OLDER AND THEY ARE HARD TO AIR CONDITION.

>> ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT STOOD OUT TO ME WAS A YOUTH FACILITY AS WELL.

SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY MINERS AND THERE.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

GARDEN STATE YOUTH FACILITY IS ANOTHER ONE, YES.

>> SO WHAT WERE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, COLLEEN?

AND WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THIS OFFICE CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS PERSON IN THAT ROLE WAS HEAVILY SCRUTINIZED BY LAWMAKERS FOR FAILING TO STEP UP WHEN IT CAME TO SOME ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN FLAGGED FOR YEARS.

WHAT ARE THEY RECOMMENDING NOW?

>> THIS IS JUST A REPORT ON THE HEAT CONDITIONS.

THAT IT WAS KIND OF SOMETHING THAT CAME UP QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS THIS YEAR.

THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT OTHER ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD.

RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MAKING MORE ICE AVAILABLE AT MORE TIMES.

ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, FOR THOSE IN THE UN- AIR-CONDITIONED FACILITIES AND MORE SHOWERS.

LIGHTER CLOTHING.

THE MEN CAN TAKE OFF THEIR SHIRTS.

WOMEN OBVIOUSLY CAN'T DO THAT.

AND WEARING, NOT BREATHABLE FABRICS.

ULTIMATELY, THEY REALLY WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT ALLOCATING FUNDS EVERY YEAR FOR AIR-CONDITIONING IN THESE THESE FACILITIES.

BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT IS WHAT WILL BE THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

>> VERY QUICKLY, IS THIS REPORT SHOWING THAT THE OFFICE IS ACHIEVING WHAT THEY SET OUT TO DO?

>> THIS IS CERTAINLY A GREAT FIRST STEP FOR THE OFFICE.

IT IS EXACTLY, I THINK, WHAT THE LEGISLATORS WANTED WHEN THEY PASSED THE LAW, GIVING THEM THIS POWER.

AND TERRY SCHUSTER, SAID HE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THREE OR FOUR REPORTS IN THE COMING YEAR TO REALLY FULFILL HIS MISSION.

>> COLLEEN O'DAY, THANK YOU.

>> TO READ MORE ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AT THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND WHAT THE STATE OFFICE IS RECOMMENDING, CHECK OUT COLLEEN O'DAY'S REPORTING ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>> THE STATE IS RANKED ON WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE.

BUT WHAT ABOUT DOING BUSINESS HERE IN NEW JERSEY?

RHONDA SCHEFFLER HAS THE DETAILS ON THAT PLUS TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY OFTEN TALKS ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S INNOVATION ECONOMY.

BUT HOW DOES OUR ECONOMY COMPARED TO OTHERS?

THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS RECENTLY RELEASED 2022 INDICATORS OF INNOVATION REPORT.

IT COMPARES THE GARDEN STATE TO SIX OTHER STATES IN THE NORTHEAST.

NEW JERSEY SLIPPED A BIT IN THE RANKINGS BUT HAS TAKEN SOME POSITIVE STEPS THAT COULD IMPROVE ITS STANDING IN THE FUTURE, SUCH AS SUPPORTING INNOVATION THROUGH TAX INCENTIVES.

I SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC POLICY RESEARCH AT THE NJ BIA.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF THE ASSETS OTHER STATES WOULD BE JEALOUS OF AND WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

WE HAVE A RELATIVELY HIGHLY EDUCATED POPULATION.

WE HAVE A STRATEGIC LOCATION RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR METROPOLITAN HUBS IN AREAS WHERE A LOT OF THE ACTIVITY IS ALSO ALREADY TAKING PLACE.

THE STATE EXPERIENCED A POSITIVE NET GROWTH IN BUSINESS IN 2019, THE MOST RECENT DATA YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO USE.

>> WHAT AREA WHERE THE STATE DOES NOT DO SO WELL, THE BUSINESS TAX CLIMATE.

NEW JERSEY COMES IN DEAD LAST BASED ON A TAX FOUNDATION ANALYSIS.

FOR A CLOSER LOOK, CHECK OUT MY COLLEAGUE, JOHN WHITMIRE'S ARTICLE ON NJ NEWS.ORG.

>> MOST WOULD LIKELY AGREE THAT CLEANING OF THE STATE'S SITES AND GIVING THEM NEW LIFE IS A PRIORITY.

THE STATE HAS PROPOSED A $300 MILLION, SIX YEAR TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FOR BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT AND IS SEEKING FEEDBACK ON THE PLAN.

DEVELOPERS WOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR REMEDIATION COSTS SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD NEW PROJECTS ON FORMERLY CONTAMINATED SITES.

THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS HOSTING TWO PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS ON THE PROPOSAL THIS WEEK.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION IS ON THE AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE.

>>> RECENT MULTIBILLION- DOLLAR HEALTHCARE DEALS SHOW HOW THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE WITH RETAILERS AGGRESSIVELY EXPANDING THEIR FOOTHOLD IN HEALTHCARE SERVICES , WHICH THEY SEE AS AN ATTRACTIVE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.

THE DRUGSTORE CHAIN CVS IS BUYING A HOME CARE COMPANY, SIGNIFY HEALTH, FOR $8 BILLION.

LAST WEEK, THE COMPANY THAT OWNS WALGREENS ALSO BOUGHT A STAKE IN A HOME CARE COMPANY AND AMAZON RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A PHONE 4 BILLION-DOLLAR PURCHASE OF THE MEDICAL SERVICES COMPANY, ONE MEDICAL.

ALTHOUGH THAT DEAL IS NOW BEING SCRUTINIZED BY REGULATORS.

>>> TROUBLED THAT UNION BASED RETAILER BED, BATH AND BEYOND, HAS TAPPED ITS CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER TO BE ITS INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOLLOWING THE CFO'S DEATH LAST FRIDAY.

GUSTAV ARNOLD'S DEATH WAS RULED A SUICIDE.

THE DEATH CAME AFTER THE COMPANY LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED A REORGANIZATION PLAN THAT INCLUDES STORE CLOSINGS AND LAYOFFS.

BED, BATH AND BEYOND STOCK WAS UNDER PRESSURE TODAY.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE OVERALL STOCK MARKET CLOSED.

I'M RHONDA SCHEFFLER AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> IT IS FEAST OR FAMINE WITH THE WEATHER LATELY PICK UP TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED TO DROP TODAY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ALL 21 COUNTIES ARE UNDER A FLOOD WATCH ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

WITH THE FLASH FLOODING RISK LINGERING WELL INTO THE EVENING FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTH JERSEY, FORECASTERS SAY FLOODING IS MOST LIKELY IN POOR DRAINAGE AND URBAN AREAS.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF MAY ALSO CAUSE RIVERS AND STREAMS TO OVER SPELL THE BANKS.

DOWNPOURS BROUGHT AN INCH AND A HALF OF RAIN MONDAY NIGHT ALONE FOR LESS THAN A WEEK AGO THOUGH, THE STATE WAS LOOKING AT A MUCH DIFFERENT SCENARIO PICK THE TALE END OF AN UNUSUALLY DRY SUMMER AND IN 15 COUNTIES EXPERIENCING SEVERE DROUGHT.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS FORECASTING SUNNY SKIES AND DRY WEATHER BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, NEW JERSEY'S CAPITAL CITY IS LOSING ONE OF ITS MOST FIERCE WATCHDOGS.

A REPORTER, ISAAC GARCIA, IS LEAVING HIS POST THIS WEEK, AFTER SPENDING NINE YEARS DOGGEDLY COVERING TRENTON POLITICS AS THE PAPER'S ONLY REPORTER.

THE DEPARTURE COMES AT A TIME WHEN DYSFUNCTION WITHIN THE TRENTON CITY COUNCIL IS REACHING PEAK LEVELS AND FEWER CITIES HAVE LOCAL REPORTERS KEEPING AN EYE ON THEM.

OUR SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CREWS, HAS THE STORY.

>> BY NOW, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE POLITICAL MESS THAT TRENTON CITY IS IN.

WE REPORTED ON IT RECENTLY.

BUT TRENTON REPORTER ISAAC HAS BEEN ON THIS BEAT FOR NINE YEARS.

HE IS THE ONLY FULL-TIME REPORTER COVERING THE DAILY HAPPENINGS OF THE CAPITAL CITY AND AT THE END OF THE WEEK, HE IS LEAVING THE TRAIN TONY AND.

>> THEY REALLY NEED TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO COVER TRENTON AS A DAILY REPORTER.

YOU CAN'T EXPECT SOMEPLACE THAT HAS THAT MUCH NEWS TO NOT HAVE DAILY NEWS COVERAGE.

THAT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> 564 MUNICIPALITIES RIGHT NOW AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THEM DON'T HAVE ANYONE WATCHING GOVERNMENT.

AND IT STINGS ESPECIALLY IN TRENTON BECAUSE IT IS THE CAPITAL CITY AND HAS SUCH A LONG STORIED HISTORY.

IT IS A GREAT NEWS TOWN.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, ISAAC WAS, IS THE ONLY PERSON THERE REALLY WATCHING LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE TRENTON DOES NOT HAVE A REPUTATION FOR CORRUPTION.

IT IS A CITY IN NEW JERSEY.

AND ISAAC HAS BEEN A WATCHDOG AND GENERAL THORN IN THE SIDE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

JUST AS THE CURRENT MAYOR.

>> I THINK HE HATED EVERYBODY CHIP THAT IS GREAT.

HE CAN TAKE THAT AS A CALLING CARD TO HIS NEXT JOB.

>> I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE THAT REFERENCE.

>> BUT THEY SAY THEY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF A FREE, ESPECIALLY LOCAL, PRESS.

>> WE ARE ALSO THE CAPITAL OF MERCER COUNTY AND WE ARE DEPENDENT ON STATE AID AND A LOT OF HIS STORIES, WE WERE ABLE TO POINT OUT THE DEFICIENCIES OR PITFALLS THAT WE HAD AS THE CAPITAL CITY.

AND A LOT OF THE MEASURES HE BROUGHT TO LIGHT WERE CORRECTED.

>> THE MEDIA HAS A MONUMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF TELLING THE STORY OF WHAT IS OCCURRING EVEN NOW, WE ARE MOVING TOWARD NOVEMBER AND YOU REALLY RARELY SEE ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES OR TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THERE ARE OVER 24 COUNCIL CANDIDATES AND NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THEM.

SO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN IS THEY OFTEN CURSE PEOPLE OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ENGAGED.

WHEN I RAN, THERE WERE 39,000 REGISTERED VOTERS.

LESS THAN 9000 SHOW UP AT THE ELECTIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND THE MEDIA IS A DIRECT PRODUCT OF THAT FAILURE HAPPENING.

>> THAT IS THE MOST WORRISOME ISSUE.

WHO IS GOING TO FOLLOW THE WORKINGS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT?

WHO IS GOING TO FOLLOW THE MONEY PUTS WHO IS GOING TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE IF THERE IS NOT AN INDEPENDENT REPORTER OR WATCHDOG DOING THAT?

>> WE HAVE LOST MORE THAN 2500 NEWSPAPERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE LAST 15 YEARS ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES.

A THIRD OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS ARE EXCITED TO CLOSE BY 2025.

INTO THAT VACUUM, LOCAL BLOGGERS, FACEBOOK PAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS OUTLETS WHERE FACTS ARE NOT ALWAYS VETTED BY NEWS EDITORS.

>> YOU NEED MORE COVERAGE AND NOT LESS IN A PLACE LIKE THAT.

NOT THAT BIG OF A PLACE BUT A BIG NEWSMAKER THAT AT ONE POINT HAD TWO DAILY NEWSPAPERS GOING SCOOP, FOR SCOPE.

SUCH A VIBRANT AND JOURNALISTIC COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG.

THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAVE DAILY COVERAGE.

IT IS JUST HEARTBREAKING TO ME.

>> ISAAC IS LEAVING THE NEWSPAPER GAME TO GO WORK FOR THE AXIAL'S NEWS SITE ONLINE.

THE TRENTONIAN SAID IT WILL HIRE ANY REPORTER TO COVER TRENTON SOON.

IN THE MEANTIME, A NEWS THURSDAY CAPITAL CITY FINDS ITSELF SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEWS DESERT.

DAVID CREWS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THAT WILL DO IT FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS AND FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW!

>> MNM INSURANCE GROUP.

>> BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION AND NEW JERSEY REAL ESTATE.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJWHEELCHAIR.COM.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME A TEACHER TO GIVE MY STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THE COUNTRY.

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

MY NAME IS JULIA AND I'M PROUD TO BE A NJ MEMBER.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELE- MED APP.

OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH THE RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST.

EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.