Nj spotlight news | nj spotlight news: may 13, 2021 | season 2021

>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY NJ INSURANCE GROUP SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD

OF NEW JERSEY. AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION. >> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANOZZI. >> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR

JOINING US. I'M BRIANA VANNOZI. TONIGHT, NO MORE MASKS IN WHAT MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST INCENTIVE YET TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINATION. THE CDC SAYS FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE NO LONGER NEED TO

WEAR MASKS INSIDE OR OUTDOORS OR STAY 6 FEET APART IN MOST CASES. A MAJOR STEP TOWARD FULLY REOPENING AMERICAN LIFE AND GETTING BACK TO MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES AND PLANS WE HAVE PUT ON HOLD.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS POINTED TO GROWING EVIDENCE THAT BOTH THE SAFETY AND REAL-WORLD EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE. THE ROOM DOES NOT APPLY TO PUBLIC TRANSIT, AIRPLANES OR HEALTHCARE

SETTINGS. ALTHOUGH BUSINESSES MAY STILL KEEP THE REQUIREMENT. MORE GUIDANCE WILL BE COMING FOR OTHER SETTINGS. AND YOU WILL NEED TO WAIT TWO WEEKS POST FINAL VACCINATION BEFORE DITCHING THE

MASK. ANYONE THAT HAS CONSIDERED TO BE IMMUNE COMPROMISED IS BEING URGED TO TALK WITH THEIR DOCTOR BEFORE EASING UP ON MASK WEARING. THE CDC SAYS TAKING THE NEXT BIG STEP IS ALSO POSSIBLE

IN PART BECAUSE VACCINES ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE AGE 12 AND OLDER. MORE THAN 3.7 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED IN NEW JERSEY. TODAY HUNDREDS OF PARENTS TURNED OUT

FOR VACCINE APPOINTMENTS WITH THEIR KIDS, READY TO TURN THE PAGE ON THIS PANDEMIC. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS. >> I'M CRAZY EXCITED. WE KEPT THEM HOME ALONE THE

COMPUTER ALL YEAR. >> HER SON GOT HIS FIRST DOSAGE OF THE PFIZER VACCINE. THIS WAS AFTER THE CDC RULED EMERGENCY USE OF THE COVID-19 SHOT IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR 12-15 -YEAR-OLDS.

THESE FAMILIES RUSHED TO TAKE A SHOT AT NORMALCY. >> I'M EXCITED TO SEE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. >> HE CAN GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS. HE CAN GO BACK TO SYNAGOGUE. HE CAN GO BACK

TO SCHOOL. HE CAN GO TO CAMP. 14 MONTHS. HIS BROTHER IS GETTING MARRIED IN JUNE. >> PARENTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN. IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY A SAFE SUMMER, THE ONLY

WAY TO DO IT IS THROUGH VACCINATION. >> DOCTORS SAY THEY BOOKED 1700 SLOTS TAKEN AND 900 OF THEM ARE 12-15 -YEAR-OLDS. BUT WALK-UP'S CAN STILL GET A SHOT. NOBODY IS GETTING TURNED

AWAY. >> THE FLOW HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. WE HAVE SEEN A STEADY STREAM OF WALK IN PATIENTS AS WELL. THEY JUST HEARD ABOUT IT AND ARE COMING IN. WE ARE JUST BRINGING MORE VACCINE INTO THE

ARMS. >> THE CDC RULING MADE 17 MILLION MORE YOUNG AMERICANS ELIGIBLE FOR COVID-19 SHOTS. A HALF MILLION IN NEW JERSEY. ALTHOUGH JUST FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE AT THIS POINT. A RECENT

SURVEY FOUND 29% OF PARENTS WOULD GET THEIR KIDS INOCULATED RIGHT AWAY. 32% WOULD WAIT AND SEE. 19% WOULD DEFINITELY NOT BRING THEIR KIDS TO A CLINIC LIKE THIS. THESE FAMILIES SEE NO REASON

TO WAIT. >> MY FAMILY HAD ALREADY GOTTEN COVID SHOTS. I CAN BE AROUND MORE PEOPLE AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY SO MUCH. >> THE PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE NOT TO GET VACCINATED ARE THE ONES AT

RISK. >> THERE WERE NO SECOND THOUGHTS. MY SISTER IS A DOCTOR AND SHE SAID, LET'S DO IT. AND WE DID IT. MY WHOLE FAMILY IS VACCINATED. >> FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, I DON'T

WANT TO GET THE VACCINE, YOU ARE JUST HOLDING EVERYONE ELSE BACK. THIS IS THE WAY TO THE FUTURE. >> DOCTORS POINT OUT THAT KIDS, LIKE ADULTS, COULD EXPERIENCE THE USUAL SIDE EFFECTS OF

ACHES, PAINS, FEVER AND NAUSEA BUT THAT GETTING COVID IS FAR WORSE AND THE VACCINE ACTUALLY WORKS BETTER IN KIDS. >> WITH THE INFORMATION WE ARE RECEIVING IN THE RESPONSE FROM THE

PFIZER VACCINE, WE ARE COMING TO UNDERSTAND THAT CHILDREN MAY HAVE A MUCH MORE POWERFUL IMMUNE RESPONSE. >> CURRENTLY, SOME NEW JERSEY UNIVERSITIES WILL REQUIRE STUDENTS TO GET

VACCINATED BEFORE TAKING CLASSES THIS FALL. BUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE NOT MADE IT MANDATORY. SOME SAY FAMILIES SHOULD BE GIVEN THE FACTS. >> LET'S GIVE THEM TIME. IT IS NEW FOR

THEM. WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN SEPTEMBER, IT HAS TO BE MANDATED. >> FOR KIDS LIKE 12-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS POOLE, IT IS A TICKET OUT OF THE HOUSE. >> THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO

MORE THINGS LIKE VISIT DIFFERENT PLACES, FAMILY MEMBERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. >> AGE LIMITS ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DROP. AND SEPTEMBER, PFIZER IS EXPECTED TO ASK FOR

EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION IN KIDS AS YOUNG AS TO YEARS OLD. MEANWHILE, CLINICAL TRIALS CONTINUE ON CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS SIX MONTHS. I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS. >>

THE CDC'S EASE ON MASK GUIDANCE ALSO FACTORED IN A DECLINING RATE OF NEW COVID-19 CASES ACROSS THE STATE. 820 MORE POSITIVE TESTS AND 26 NEW DEATHS ARE BEING REPORTED FOR THE FIRST

TIME SINCE OCTOBER. AND HOSPITALIZATIONS DROPPED BELOW 1000. A KEY INDICATOR FOR THE SEVERITY OF THE OUTBREAK. IN ANOTHER MAJOR STEP FORWARD, A NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS GIVING THE

OKAY FOR HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS TO ONCE AGAIN HAVE VISITORS. UNDER THE NEW GUIDELINES, MOST PATIENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TWO VISITORS AT A TIME WITH MASKS AND OTHER SAFETY MEASURES STILL IN

PLACE. VISITS FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS AND THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED WILL BE GRANTED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. HOSPITALS PUT UP BAN ON VISITORS LAST MONTH AS THE PANDEMIC WAS GRABBING HOLD HERE.

FAMILIES HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT WITH LOVED ONES OVER THE PHONE. THE GUIDELINES WILL STAY IN PLACE UNLESS NEW COVID DATA TRIGGERS THE NEED FOR NEW RESTRICTIONS. >> IT HAS BEEN

EIGHT YEARS SINCE FORMER GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE HAD HIS TAKEOVER OF THE CAMDEN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH THE PROMISE OF TURNING AROUND FAILING SCHOOLS. AND IN TURN, THE ACADEMIC PROGRESS OF

ITS STUDENTS. BUT IN THE REPORT SAYS THERE IS NO HARD EVIDENCE THAT THE TAKEOVER TRANSLATED INTO BETTER TEST SCORES. WE HAVE THE STORY. >> WE SEE A TREND. A PRE-EXISTING TREND THAT

SUGGESTS THAT TEST SCORES STARTED TO GO INTO A POSITIVE DIRECTION OR IMPROVE. AT LEAST SIX YEARS BEFORE THE TAKEOVER HAPPENED. >> MICHAEL HAYES HELPED AUTHOR A REPORT RELEASED TODAY BY

THE THINK TANK, NEW JERSEY POLICY PERSPECTIVE, SAYING THAT THE STATE'S TAKEOVER OF THE CAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2012 UNDER THE CHRIS CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION, WAS NOT THE REASON FOR THE

IMPROVED TEST SCORES THE DISTRICT HAS SEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE. >> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE WAS HAPPENING YEARS BEFORE THE STATE TAKEOVER THAT WAS IMPROVING TEST

SCORES OVERALL FOR CAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. >> IT WAS A MAJOR BRAGGING RIGHT FOR GOVERNOR CHRISTIE WHO TOUTED THE SUCCESS AT THE END OF HIS TERM FOR THE DISTRICT. >> THE SAME

STUDENTS, IN MATH, WENT FROM 2.8% BEING PROFICIENT, TO 49%. >> THE HEAD OF THE TEACHERS UNION, KEITH BENSON, HAS A MORE NUANCED VIEW. >> STATE TAKEOVER UNDER GOVERNOR MURPHY AND

FORMER COMMISSIONER GAVE US REASONS TO BE HOPEFUL. IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT, GIVING US A HIGHER BODY, HIGHER AUTHORITY. WE DO HAVE THAT FUNCTION OR THAT AVAILABILITY. I KIND OF VALUE THAT RIGHT

NOW. >> IN FACT, THERE IS GREAT SUPPORT FOR THE TAKEOVER WITHIN CAMDEN SAYS SUPERINTENDENT KATRINA MAHON'S. >> OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE HAS EVIDENCED REAL PROGRESS

WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SCHOOLS IN CAMDEN. GRADUATION IS UP 20 POINTS TO NEAR 70%. THE DROPOUT RATE HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF. THAT IS COMPARING PRE-AND POST STATE INTERVENTION. >> ONE OF THE

THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE REPORT WAS NOT THAT CAMDEN IS NOT IMPROVING, BUT THERE WAS ALSO AN UPWARD TREND IN IMPROVEMENT BEFORE THE STATE TOOK OVER. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THIS DISTRICT WHICH IS IN THE MOST RESILIENT CITY THAT I KNOW OF AND I VALUE AND HONOR, HAS HAD EBBS AND FLOWS, HIGHS AND LOWS ACROSS THE COURSE OF AT LEAST

MY 209 YEAR TENURE WITH THE DISTRICT. >> BENSON IS CRITICAL OF THE ENTIRE PREMISE OF EXAMINING STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES, THE ONLY CRITERIA THAT WAS MEASURED IN THIS REPORT. >> I

WOULD ARGUE AS AN EDUCATOR THAT TEST SCORES ARE AN INDICATOR OF LEARNING AND EDUCATION TO BEGIN WITH. TEST SCORES SIMPLY INDICATE THAT WE ARE IMPOVERISHED. >> WE ARE TESTING. IT IS

SAYING THERE HAVE BEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN TEST SCORES. BECAUSE TEST SCORES TEND TO HAVE MORE WEIGHT AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT HOW SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS ARE, WE WERE TESTING THAT CLAIM AND WE

DIDN'T SEE IT. >> THIS AUTHOR SAID STATE TAKEOVERS LEAVE THE COMMUNITY VOICELESS. >> NOT ALL STATES TAKE AWAY LOCALS CONTROL WITH STATE TAKEOVERS. SO NEW JERSEY SHOULD

RECONSIDER WHETHER YOU NEED TO DISENFRANCHISE A COMMUNITY TO ASSIST THEM. ARE YOU PUNISHING THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN CAMDEN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK THE SCHOOLS WERE DOING A GOOD JOB?

>> WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS OPEN TO INTERPRETATION. THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE DISTRICT IS WORKING TOWARD MEETING BENCHMARKS THAT WOULD RETURN IT TO LOCAL CONTROL. FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT

NEWS. >> THE COLONIAL PIPELINE IS BACK UP AND RUNNING FOLLOWING A RANSOMWARE ATTACK THAT LED TO A SHUTDOWN OF THE MAJOR FUEL ARTERY. BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR THE FUEL LEVELS TO

RETURN TO NORMAL. PANIC BUYING STARTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IN THE SOUTHEAST. GAS PRICES ACROSS NEW JERSEY ARE UP. AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE URGING PEOPLE NOT TO FILL TANKS IF THEY DON'T

NEED TO AND WARNING GAS STATIONS AGAINST PRICE GOUGING. THE QUESTION IS, WILL IT GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER? AS FAMILY START PLANNING SUMMER TRAVEL AS WELL. >> A YEAR AGO, YOU

COULDN'T FIND TOILET PAPER. NOW THE PANIC BUYING IS HAPPENING AT THE PUMP. IT STARTED LAST FRIDAY WHEN HACKERS GOT INTO THE COLONIAL PIPELINE WHICH SUPPLIES THE WILL TO ABOUT 45% OF THE

EAST COAST. >> THEY DEMANDED A MONEY PAYMENT. THEY SHUT DOWN THEIR COMPUTERS AND THEIR PIPELINE WHICH CARRIES 100 MILLION GALLONS OF REFINED PRODUCT EVERY DAY FROM THE GULF COAST ALL

THE WAY TO LINDEN, NEW JERSEY. AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE STARTED TO SEE SOME HOARDING AND PANIC AMONG MOTORISTS. >> COLONIAL PIPELINE GOT THE SYSTEM BACK UP AND RUNNING. AND THIS

MORNING, ANTICIPATED GAS WOULD BE ARRIVING AT EACH MARKET BY MIDDAY. >> THE FUEL MOVES ABOUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN JOG. THERE IS REALLY NO WAY TO SPEED THAT UP. AND WHEN IT GETS TO THE

TERMINALS, THEY HAVE TO GET THE TRUCKS THERE TO SHIP IT OUT. >> LAST YEAR DURING COVID, NOBODY WAS DRIVING. THERE WAS NOT AS MUCH OF A NEED TO TRANSPORT FUEL. SOME DRIVERS RETIRED.

SOME FOUND OTHER EMPLOYMENT AND SOME WERE LAID OFF. AND SO NOW THE TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE RUSHING TO TRY TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE NOW, THE DEMAND IS BACK. >> THERE ARE STILL

MANY OUTAGES. AND IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET BACK TO NORMAL MADE WORSE BY A TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGE THAT EXISTED FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WHICH WAS MADE WORSE BY COVID-19. >> AT

GASBUDDY, THEY EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE NEW JERSEY IS AT THE END OF THE PIPELINE, IT HAS ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF GASOLINE. >> YOU GET TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PIPELINE AND IT IS KIND OF A

GASOLINE DESERT. WITHOUT THE PIPELINE, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE. THAT IS WHITE MANIFESTED IN GEORGIA, THE CAROLINAS, NORTHERN FLORIDA AND VIRGINIA. I SHOW 1% OF STATIONS IN NEW JERSEY CURRENTLY

OUT OF FUEL. THAT COMPARES TO NORTH CAROLINA WHO HAS 68% OF STATIONS WITHOUT FUEL. >> THE ELECTRIC GRID HAS FEDERAL RULES THAT REQUIRE THEM TO HARDEN THEMSELVES AGAINST CYBER ATTACK.

THE PIPELINE INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW DOESN'T. BUT THERE IS TALK THAT THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO CHANGE, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT. >> WHAT DOES THIS SHORTAGE MEAN FOR YOUR

MEMORIAL WEEKDAY PLANS? >> IF THEY ARE HEADING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 95, IT WON'T BE PRETTY. GOING TO ORLANDO FOR VACATION WOULD BE A HEADACHE. I WOULD SAFER THAN NEXT 1-2 WEEKS, IT

WILL REQUIRE MORE EFFORT TO FIND THE FUEL THEY ARE USED TO. >> AS FOR THE PRICE OF GAS, AAA SAYS -- >> WE ARE'S SAYING THAT NEW JERSEY DRIVERS COULD SEE ANOTHER 3-7 CENTS

OF AN INCREASE BEFORE THIS SETTLES OUT. >> THIS WAS A DELIVERY ISSUE FROM POINT A, TO . B. THAT IS WHY PRICES DID NOT SPIKE IN MOST AREAS. WE SAW SOME SMALL INCREASES HERE AND THERE. I

THINK THE BIGGEST JUMPS WERE 10-15 OR EVEN 20 CENTS A GALLON. THE PRICE OF CRUDE OIL IS WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED TO PUSH GASES UP THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. >> RIGHT NOW CRUDE OIL IS TRADING AT

ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS TRADING AT JUST ONE YEAR AGO. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED NOW. THEY WANT TO GET OUT AND GO VISIT PEOPLE. SO THERE IS HIGHER DEMAND AT THE GAS PUMP. AND WE

CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH. AVOID BUYING IN A PANIC. >> IN THE MEANTIME, WITH SOME ARE JUST WEEKS AWAY, IT WILL MEAN MORE TRIPS TO THE SHORE. BUT A LOT OF THE ICONIC BOARDWALKS

WHERE WE SPENT OUR TIME, HAVE NOT HAD UPGRADES IN YEARS. AND IN SOME CASES, A CENTURY. DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS HAVE AN UNCONVENTIONAL IDEA. THEY ARE PROPOSING TO USE STATE TRANSPORTATION

DOLLARS, THE MONEY THAT GOES FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, TO PAY FOR THE UPKEEP SINCE IT IS A COSTLY BURDEN FOR SURE TOWNS. TO DO IT, THEY WILL NEED TO RECLASSIFY BOARDWALKS AS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. NJ

SPOTLIGHT NEWS BUDGET AND FINANCE REPORTER JOHN BROCKMEIER IS HERE TO EXPLAIN. A KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE A FUNNY CONCEPT TO THINK OF BOARDWALKS AS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. BUT HOW WOULD THEY GO ABOUT

THIS AND WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? >> CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE AN ODD WAY TO LOOK AT A BOARDWALK. BUT THE IDEA IS THAT BY CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED A PUBLIC HIGHWAY IN NEW

JERSEY OR ADDING BOARDWALKS INTO THE DEFINITION, IT WOULD QUALIFY THEM FOR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, DOLLARS THAT RIGHT NOW ARE DEDICATED FROM THE STATE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND. AND SO, THE

IDEA OF, WHAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE, IS SORT OF EVOLVING AND WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A NATIONAL DISCUSSION. AND HERE IN NEW JERSEY, IT WOULD BE THE IDEA THAT MAYBE WHAT IS CONSIDERED A

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE ITEM MIGHT NOT JUST BE FOR CARS. THE IDEA WOULD BE BICYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS AND CERTAINLY BOARDWALKS WOULD FIT THE EVOLVING DEFINITION AND A SENSE THAT THEY DO

GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER TIME. JUST MAYBE NOT THE TYPE OF AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC THAT WE THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. >> IN A LOT OF

CASES, THESE BOARDWALKS WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANY UPGRADES IN RECENT YEARS, IF NOT FOR UNFORTUNATE EVENTS LIKE IRENE OR SANDY. JUST HOW BAD IS THE SITUATION? HOW MUCH WORK DO THEY NEED?

>> LAWMAKERS HAVE POINTED TO THE AGE OF SOME OF THE BOARDWALKS. 100 YEARS OR OLDER. YOU THINK ABOUT PLACES LIKE ATLANTIC CITY OR WILDWOOD. AND THE IDEA IS THAT, IN A LOT OF PLACES,

THESE ARE DRIVERS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THEY ARE BIG DRAWS ESPECIALLY DURING THE TOURISM SEASON THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO HEAD INTO. AND THIS WOULD TAP INTO A FUNDING SOURCE FOR A LOT OF THE

COMMUNITIES THAT HOST THESE BOARDWALKS, THAT THEY BECOME BIG DRAINS ON THE LOCAL BUDGET. >> I CAN SEE SOME PUSHBACK ON THIS. WE KNOW HOW DELICATE TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS ARE. >>

RIGHT. AND THIS FUND, ONE OF THE LARGE SOURCES OF REVENUE IS THE GAS TAX. CERTAINLY ACROSS THE STATE, WE THINK ABOUT HIGHWAYS, ROADS, BRIDGES AND MASS TRANSIT. THERE IS A BIG NEED FOR

CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND MAINTENANCE. I THINK THE PUBLIC POLICY TENSION HERE IS THAT THERE IS ALREADY A BIG NEED FOR ALL THE DOLLARS THAT CAN BE DRAWN TO HELP MAINTAIN EXISTING AUTOMOBILE

INFRASTRUCTURE. >> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. SAME HERE. >> BIG EMPLOYERS ARE SWEEPING THE INCENTIVE POD TO GET WORKERS BACK ON THE JOB. WE

HAVE DETAILS AND THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES. >> WITH WORKERS IN DEMAND, WORKERS ARE UPPING THE ANTE. TAKE AMAZON. IT IS OFFERING A $1000 SIGNING BONUS FOR MOST OF ITS OPEN WAREHOUSE

POSITIONS IN NEW JERSEY. AMAZON ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT IS HIRING A TOTAL OF 75,000 WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH STARTING PAY AVERAGING $17 AN HOUR. PLUS A 100-DOLLAR BONUS FOR THOSE THAT

RECEIVED A COVID-19 VACCINE. AND TWO RESTAURANT CHAINS, MCDONALD'S AND CHIPOTLE, SAID THIS WEEK THAT THEY ARE ALSO RAISING WORKER PAY. THIS ALSO COMES AS LAYOFFS EASE AND THE JOB

MARKET TIGHTENS. THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE WERE 473 THOUSAND INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS FILED IN THE LATEST WEEK. ANOTHER POST PANDEMIC LOW. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT

THERE ARE 8 MILLION JOB OPENINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THAT IS A RECORD. THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS SIGNED OFF ON THE PLAN TO USE TAX CREDITS TO CREATE JOBS UNDER A

PROGRAM CALLED NJ EMERGE. IT IS PART OF A MULTIBILLION- DOLLAR ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT AIMS TO HELP THE STATE RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC. NJ

EMERGE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE GROW NJ PROGRAM, WHICH WAS CRITICIZED FOR FAVORING BIG COMPANIES AND THE WELL- CONNECTED. THE NEW PROGRAM IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE TO MORE

COMPANIES AND HAS STRICTER RULES ABOUT JOB CREATION. THE EDA HAS ALSO APPROVED ANOTHER ROUND OF FILM TAX CREDITS FOR THREE PRODUCTION COMPANIES. STEPHEN GORE LIKE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF

THE NEW JERSEY MOTION PICTURE SAYS THAT THE STATE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM WOULD HELP REIGNITE PRODUCTION ACTIVITY FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC RELATED SLOW DOWN. >> WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST PROGRAM.

IT STANDS UP TO ANY PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. AND IT HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR US. PRIOR TO IT, PRODUCTION COMPANIES WERE ANXIOUS TO FILM HERE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE THAT DECISION WHEN

YOU CAN FILM IN ANOTHER AREA CLOSE BUY OR FURTHER AWAY AND SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. NOW THEY CAN MAKE A SUITABLE FINANCIAL DECISION BY FILMING IN NEW JERSEY. >> WHAT NEW JERSEY-BASED

PRODUCTION OF A ZOMBIE MOVIE CALLED "ARMY OF THE DEAD" USED COMPUTERS THIS WEEKEND. IT WAS PARTIALLY SHOT IN ATLANTIC CITY. >> WALL STREET ON THE REBOUND TODAY. HERE'S A

LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES. . >> THIS WEEKEND, JOIN RHONDA SCHEFFLER FOR NJ BUSINESS FEED. EVEN IN A PANDEMIC, THE STATE FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

HAS A LOT TO OFFER. RHONDA LOOKS AT THE AWARD- WINNING PRODUCTIONS MADE HERE AND THE INCENTIVES THAT ATTRACT BIG STUDIOS AND STARS. WATCH IT ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNINGS AT

10:00 A.M. . >>> ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE STATE. A COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT BUILT ON A CLOSED LANDFILL IN DELANCO. WHEN IT STARTS OPERATING, THE SOLAR FARM WILL POWER UP TO SEVERAL

HOMES WITH CLEAN ENERGY. DEVELOPERS SAY JUST OVER HALF OF THE SUBSCRIBERS ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS AND WILL SAVE ABOUT $120 A YEAR ON THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS WITH A GUARANTEE OF

THAT SAVINGS FOR UP TO 20 YEARS. THE EFFORT IS PART OF THE STATE BP YOU'S COMMUNITY SOLAR PILOT PROGRAM. TODAY LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS CUT A RIBBON MARKING THE END OF THE CONSTRUCTION

PHASE. THE SOLAR PANELS WILL BE UP AND RUNNING NEXT WEEK. >> WE ARE TRANSFORMING THIS COMMUNITY INTO AN ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY. NOT ONLY WILL IT PROVIDE CLEAN ENERGY BUT IT WILL ALSO

CHANGE THE PARADIGM OF SO MANY FAMILIES IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. AND WHEN WE THINK CONCEPTUALLY AND A BROADER SENSE, ABOUT WHAT CLEAN ENERGY MEANS, IT WAS ECHOED HERE TODAY THAT EVERY

COMMUNITY AND EVERY ZIP CODE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO. WHAT IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED TODAY WILL BRING THAT TO FRUITION. >> FINALLY, MUSLIMS ACROSS THE WORLD TONIGHT ARE CELEBRATING AND

MARKING THE END OF THE MONTH-LONG RAMADAN. ONCE AGAIN, FINDING WAYS TO GATHER AND THAT A PANDEMIC. IN BERGEN COUNTY, A SITE MANY THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE MONTHS AGO, AS THOUSANDS OF MASK WEARING

WORSHIPERS WERE FINALLY ABLE TO REUNITE AND PRAY TOGETHER, MAKING THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL OF BREAKING THE FAST, HOLD MORE MEANING THAN ONE. MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS. >> REPORTER:

IT IS A SPECIAL DAY HERE AT THIS COUNTY PARK IN LEONA. A SITE THAT ONE COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED A YEAR AGO. THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN GATHERING TO MARK THE END OF THE

HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN AND THE START OF EVE. >> FROM A RELIGIOUS POINT OF VIEW, IT IS AN ACHIEVEMENT FROM THE GOD FOR THE DAY AFTER RAMADAN. WE ARE FASTING THROUGHOUT RAMADAN. AND NOW

THEY ARE GIVING BOUNTY TO US TO CELEBRATE. >> A THREE DAY CELEBRATION STARTING WITH PRAYER IN THE MORNING AND LEADING UP TO FESTIVITIES AT HOME WITH FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, AND GIFTS FOR THE

CHILDREN. LIKE 3-YEAR-OLD MALIK ALREADY IN LOVE WITH HER NEW DOLLS AND TOYS FROM HER FAMILY. SEEING THE JOY ON HER FACE IS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HER AUNT LOVES ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY.

>> THIS MEANS FEAST OR FESTIVAL. IT IS A TIME FOR US TO CELEBRATE AND TO THANK GOD THAT WE MADE IT THROUGH HAPPY AND HEALTHY. WHAT IT MEANS TO US IS FAMILY TIME. TWO OF THE MOST

IMPORTANT THINGS TO US ARE FAITH AND FAMILY. AND THIS SYMBOLIZES THAT. >> EVERYBODY THAT WALKS IN THE HOUSE, WALKS IN WITH ONE OF THESE IN THEIR HANDS. THAT IS A SIGN THAT WE BROKE.

RAMADAN IS OVER. TIME FOR SWEETS. TIME FOR FAMILY GATHERING. AND REMINISCE ABOUT WHAT WE DID IN RAMADAN. >> REPORTER: AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO GATHER TOGETHER LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE

PANDEMIC, MUSLIMS SAY IT IS A GREAT FEELING TO BE ABLE TO DO SO THIS YEAR, TO MARK THE END OF RAMADAN TOGETHER IN PRAYER. >> IT TEACHES US THE MORE THE PEOPLE ARE, THE MORE THE

BLESSINGS ARE. AND ON THAT DAY, THE TRADITION SAYS THAT THE ANGELS COME DOWN AND THEY SURROUND AND THEY COVET THE GATHERING AND THEY PRAY FOR THEM. AND WHEN WE ARE IN THE COMPANY OF ANGELS,

IT MEANS IT IS PEACE. IT MEANS IT IS TRANQUILITY. SO WHEN WE ARE HERE, WE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER SO THERE IS PEACE AND TRANQUILITY AND THERE IS MORE OF A BOND WITH EACH OTHER. >> A BOND

THAT THIS FAMILY SAYS MEANS EVEN MORE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE UNREST HAPPENING IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY OF PALESTINE. >> WE KNOW THAT IN OUR HOME COUNTRY, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE

THAT ARE MISSING A SEAT AT THE TABLE OR PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE EATING AT A TABLE BECAUSE THEIR HOMES ARE DEMOLISHED. THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY THIS YEAR, MORE THAN ANY OTHER YEAR, WE

REALLY HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL. >> GRATITUDE THAT THEY CAN FINALLY GATHER AND CELEBRATE THOSE JOYOUS TIMES TOGETHER. FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER. >> THAT DOES

IT FOR US TONIGHT. >> BUT TOMORROW MORNING, JOIN DAVID CRUISE FOR THE REPORTERS ROUND TABLE LIVE AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL. SO FAR, THE STATE HAS BEEN

SPARED FROM TAKING A MAJOR HIT WITH THE COLONIAL PIPELINE SHUT DOWN. BUT SHOULD DRIVERS FACE FUTURE PAIN AT THE PUMP? DAVID TAKES A DEEPER LOOK AND THEN TALKS WITH A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS

ABOUT THIS WEEK'S TOP HEADLINES. DON'T MISS IT. FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING! HAVE A GREAT NIGHT! . >> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION MAKING PUBLIC

SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD. R WJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER. AND THE OCEANGOING PROJECT. AND PSEG, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF THE NEW LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN

ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY. >> THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT. BY PSEG. THEY WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE

GARDEN STATE. OCEAN WIND. COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.