>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY NGM 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 AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

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

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN WITH THE MILESTONE FOR THE STATES RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

TODAY MARKS THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF A POWERFUL STATE COMMISSION TASKED WITH REGULATING THE LEGAL 21 AND OLDER MARKET ALONG WITH THE STATE'S MEDICAL PROGRAM.

THE FIVE-MEMBER PANEL HAS BROAD AUTHORITY IN SHAPING THE STRUCTURE FOR BOTH, FROM GRANTING LICENSES FROM NEW BUSINESSES, TO DECIDING HOW TO SPEND TAX DOLLARS.

BUT WRANGLING OVER THE FRAMEWORK TOOK MONTHS.

THAT CAME SHARP CRITICISM FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS ABOUT THE RACIAL MAKEUP OF THE COMMISSION.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ REPORTS ON HOW THE STATE GOT TO THIS POINT , AND THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS AHEAD.

>> Reporter: SINCE THE DAY VOTERS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED LEGALIZING CANNABIS FOR ADULT USE, CANNABIS ENTREPRENEURS, SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES, AND POLITICIANS OF ALL PARTIES HAVE BEEN PATIENTLY, AND OFTEN IMPATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION TO FINALLY GET ORGANIZED AND BRING SOME ORDER TO THE CHAOS.

>> I THOUGHT WE HAD AN AGREEMENT ON HOW WEAK WE WERE GOING TO WORK ON THINGS, AND THE AGREEMENT CHANGED.

SO, IF THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO WORK, IT BECOMES HARD TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN HASHISH IN ANY OF THESE BILLS AND I'VE SEEN HASHISH ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY GETTING TO EVEN THE SWING.

WHILE IT APPEARS TO BE ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT, THOSE WHO STAND TO MAKE MONEY FROM A LEGAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY, AND THOSE THAT HOPE THAT IT WILL MAYBE HELP RIGHT THE WRONGS OF A DISASTROUS WAR ON DRUGS SEEM TO BE'S EKING AROUND ONE ANOTHER.

>> THE MUNICIPALITIES CAN SET THEIR OWN RULES FOR WHAT THEY WANT HERE.

THE INTERESTING POINT HERE IS BY LEGALIZING THIS NOW, WE ADOPT A RUBRIC HERE IN NEW JERSEY THAT UPHOLDS HOME ROLE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT.

>> WHEN I TALKED ABOUT HOW DO WE PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND HOW DO WE STOP THE LOCAL BODEGA, THE LOCAL RESTAURANT FROM SELLING AS THEY DO, LUCY'S AFTER FIVE MINUTES IN THE CONVERSATION, THEY SAID TO ME, BISHOP, WHAT IS A LUCY.

GIVEN THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMISSION RAN THOSE WHO THOUGHT IT A NO-BRAINER TO MAYBE HAVE A BLACK GUY ON A COMMISSION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TRY TO BRING SOME JUSTICE TO THE MOST FREQUENT COMES OF THE FAILED WAR.

>> WHAT IS DISTURBING HERE IS THE FACT THAT STRAIGHT OUT THE GATE, THE VERY FIRST OPPORTUNITY THOSE IN POWER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE LAW, THEY IGNORE THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ASPECTS THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR HER IN THE VERY BEGINNING.

>> I DO THINK SOMETIMES THEY HAVE WIDE SPOTS IN I THINK SOMETIMES THAT IS THE NATURE OF WHITE PRIVILEGE AND HOW THAT OPERATES.

WHETHER THAT IS WITH PROGRESSIVES OR CONSERVATIVES.

>> Reporter: THAT MISSTEP WAS RECTIFIED BY THE IMPORTANT OF CHARLES BARKER LAST MONTH.

THROUGH IT ALL, HOWEVER, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS WATCHED LAWMAKERS DEBATE CLEANUP BILL ON TOP OF CLEANUP BILL, SOMETIMES AT THE ADMINISTRATIONS ASSISTANCE.

THEN, THERE WAS THE DEBATE OVER THE PENALTIES OF UNDERAGE USE AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.

>> YES.

THAT STILL EXISTS FOR DEFENDERS FOR UNDER 21 NON-MINORS.

FOR THE OFFENSES.

BUT OTHERS WILL HAVE MECHANISMS FOR WARNINGS, FOR WRITTEN WARNINGS, DELIVERED TO THE HOME.

>> BUT NOW, IT IS THE CRC'S TURN TO SET THE GUIDELINES FOR WHO CAN SELL WHAT, AND HOW.

JEFF BROWN WILL RUN THE DAY-TO- DAY OF THE CRC WHICH WILL NEED TO MAKE REGULATIONS FOR ALL TYPES OF NEW BUSINESSES.

>> CONSUMPTION LOUNGES ARE AUTHORIZED BY STATUTE AS OUR DISTRIBUTION BUSINESSES, LIKE TRUCKING BUSINESSES THAT WOULD MOVE PRODUCT BETWEEN BUSINESSES, DELIVERY BUSINESSES, DISPENSARIES, MANUFACTURERS, LABORATORIES, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A WHOLE NEW INDUSTRY.

>> LET'S SEE THIS INNOVATION AND ALLOW THESE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR STAFF TO START WORKING ON THE DETAILS TO LOOK AT SOME LICENSES OUT THERE.

>> AND, DAVID CRUZ WAS MONITORING THE FIRST MEETING, WHICH LASTED ONLY ABOUT 45 MINUTES AS YOU HEARD, THERE, A LOT TO TACKLE.

HE JOINS ME NOW.

HEY, DAVID.

SO, DID THE COMMISSION ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING TODAY IS THE BIG QUESTION.

OR, WAS THIS ALL JUST A FORMALITY?

>> Reporter: YOU KNOW, FOR SO MUCH BUZZ AROUND THE MEETING IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF WE WERE ALL IN A ROOM, YOU WOULD HAVE FELT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THIS WAS A VIRTUAL MEETING, AND EVERYBODY REALLY SPOKE FROM PREPARED TEXT.

BUT, THEY DID GET SOME WORK DONE.

I MEAN, THEY ELECTED SAM DELGADO AS THE VICE CHAIR.

THEY SET THEIR MONTHLY MEETING SCHEDULE.

ALTHOUGH, THEY ARE GOING TO ADJUSTED NEXT MONTH.

AND, MORE PORTLY, THEY TRANSFER THE AUTHORITY FOR THE STATES MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE THE CRC SAYS, EVERYBODY SAYS THAT THE FIRST SALES OF THE ADULT USE MARKET WILL PROBABLY COME FROM WHAT ARE RIGHT NOW ARE MEDICAL DISPENSARIES.

SO, GETTING THAT DONE WAS SIGNIFICANT.

THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD SAID THEY ARE GOING TO AIRWAYS HELP AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WE CAN START DOCUMENT REGULATIONS.

>> ABOUT FIVE MONTHS YOU NOTED IN YOUR STORY SINCE VOTERS APPROVED LEGAL POT.

WHAT KIND OF UPDATE DO WE HAVE ON THAT DEADLINE FOR SALES TO START?

DID THEY GET ONE?

>> Reporter: THAT'S THE BIG THING THAT EVERYBODY WANTED TO KNOW.

WHEN DO WE GET GOING?

SO THE LANGUAGES WHERE DO THE BEST WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT WHEN WE TALKED TO MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION WAS THIS.

THAT, WITHIN 180 DAYS, OF WHEN THE COMMISSION SETS ITS REGULATIONS, THAT IS WHEN SALES CAN BEGIN.

>> VERY QUICKLY.

PRIORITIES LAID OUT IN THAT QUICK MEETING.

>> YEAH, THERE WAS A REPORT FROM JEFF BROWN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAID THREE IMPORTANT THINGS, NUMBER ONE, SET UP STAFF AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OR, DO THEY HAVE BUREAUCRACY SET UP THERE.

SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, SEVERAL DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, ETC.

THEN, THEY WILL START TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE, AND THEN, THEY WILL GET TO PERMITTING AND LICENSING.

AND ONE THING THAT THEY DID MAKE A POINT OF TODAY WAS TO SPEAK TO MUNICIPALITIES DIRECTLY.

THERE ARE SOME MUNICIPALITIES WHO SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THE INDUSTRY.

HE SAID WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE REGULATIONS GOING AND SEE HOW IT MIGHT BE OF BENEFIT TO YOUR MUNICIPALITY.

AND THEN, THEY WRAPPED IT UP.

45 MINUTES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DAVID CHRIS, THANKS FOR KEEPING US UPDAED, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>> DECEIVED.

>> NOT YET TURNING A CORNER.

THAT'S HOW THE GOVERNMENT DESCRIBE THE STATE STATUS OF THE NEW COVID-19 INFECTIONS AT JUST OVER 2000.

IT IS THE LOWEST NUMBER OF NEW DAILY POSITIVE TEST IN FIVE WEEKS BUT, ANOTHER 27 LIVES LOST.

HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION ARE ALSO DROPPING.

SIGNS THAT THE PLATEAU NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN STUCK IN FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS COULD BE BREAKING.

EVEN AS THE SITUATION IMPROVES, STATE LEADERS EXPECT MANY WORKERS WILL REMAIN IN A WORK FROM HOME OR HYBRID MODEL FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

IN JERSEY CITY, EMPLOYEES ARE GEARING UP TO HEAD BACK TO THEIR WORKSITES IN MAY.

PUTTING AN OFFICIAL AND TO MORE THAN A YEAR OF VIRTUAL OFFICE LIES.

SINE CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN A WORK FROM HOME AND A NO-SHOW JOB IN GOVERNMENT.

AND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT IN THE NO-SHOW JOB BUSINESS.

>> MAYOR STEVE PHILIP ONCE ALL JERSEY CITY STAFF BACK AT THEIR SIDE WORKSITES BY MAKER.

WITH MORE PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED AND KIDS HEADED BACK TO ONE PERSON APRIL 26, PHILIP LANES IT IS TIME CITY WORKERS RETURN IN FULL FORCE, ESPECIALLY WITH COVERT SAFETY MEASURES LIKE AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE MONITORS, PLEXIGLAS SHIELDS, AND PPE PROVIDED BY THE CITY.

>> THE REALITY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES WOULD WORK FROM HOME PERMANENTLY IF THEY HAD THE CHOICE TO GET PAID FULL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO DO THAT BUT THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENCES.

>> HE SAYS WORK IS GETTING BACKLOGGED IN OFFICES LIKE TAX COLLECTION VITAL RECORDS BUT JERSEY CITY ALLOWED MORE THAN 200 COVERED CASES APRIL 8th, AND IT'S A SEVEN-DAY ROLLING AVERAGE IS 140, COMPARABLE TO THE SPIKE IN EARLY JANUARY.

MONTCLARE EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE SILVEIRA IS CONCERNED FOUR HUDSON COUNTY RIGHT NOW, ONLY 17% OF THE POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED.

THAT GOES OUT TO ABOUT 22% IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 18.

AND SO, AT THE COUNTY, AND EVEN A NEW JERSEY OVERALL, WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE VACCINATED THAT WE ARE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS SORT OF MAGICAL NUMBER OF HERD IMMUNITY THAT WE ARE HOPING TO GET 2.4 THAT'S WHY HOBOKEN IS STILL OPERATING ON A HYBRID SCHEDULE WITH REDUCED STAFF AT CITY HALL.

SO IS NEWARK.

NEITHER HAS SET A HARD DATE LIKE JERSEY CITY FOR FULL-SCALE REOPENING.

>> A LOT OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES HE REQUIRES US TO BE IN PERSON.

AND, FOR THE LAST YEAR, SOME OF THOSE JOBS HAVE NOT BEEN DONE.

AND TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR THEM.

SO, IT'S TIME WE ARE BACK IN PERSON.

>> NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD FOR THE JERSEY CITY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES UNION PRESIDENT SAYS SOME WORKERS THERE RETURNING TO OFFICE IS BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS, AND THERE WAS A COMMON OUTBREAK IN THE CITY COMPLEX RECENTLY.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS THINKING IT THROUGH.

I PERSONALLY THINK UNIONS ARE NOT EVEN INVOLVED TO GIVE OUR OPINION.

THEY ARE MOVING AHEAD WITH THEIR AGENDAS TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD THAT EVERYTHING IS YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD AS FAR AS OPENING UP WITH THE CITY.

>> LOCAL 246 PRESIDENT, JULIO CORDERO JR. SAYS MORE THAN 20 DISPATCHERS WORKING IN THE PUBLIC INDICATION CENTER CAME DOWN WITH COVERT LAST MONTH.

THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES, MIKE SARAH, SAYS MOST ARE DOING A SLOW ROLLOUT, BUT ULTIMATELY, AN EXECUTIVE CALL.

>> A LOT OF THIS IS MANAGEMENT, IN TERMS OF CONTRACTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SIGNED.

YOU HAVE THE GUIDELINES FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR CDC, OR THE RELEVANT AGENCIES.

SO, I THINK IT IS REALLY THE INCUMBENT UPON THE LEADERSHIP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY'S KIND OF TAKE THAT LEAD.

>> WE HAVE NOT SAID THAT AS OF DAY X, EVERYBODY HAS TO BE BACK INTO THE OFFICE.

WE ARE DOING IT SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY.

AND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND MORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE VACCINATED.

AND SO, WE WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT WHERE THE DOORS OF CITY HALL WILL BE FLUNG WIDE OPEN.

>> THAT WILL NOT BE UNTIL LATE MAY OR JUNE SAYS PLAINFIELD MAYER, VICE PRESIDENT OF JERSEY'S URBAN MAYORS ASSOCIATION.

THE GOVERNOR WILL NOT PREDICT WHEN STATE WORKERS WILL RETURN, BUT >> MY GUT TELLS ME NOT TO STATE WORKERS FOR JERSEY CITY BUT TALKING ABOUT BUSINESSES WE DO ALL THE TIME.

I THINK THE NEW NORMAL IS GOING TO BE A HYBRID.

IT'S GOING TO BE SOME AMOUNT OF GOING TO HEADQUARTERS, SOME AMOUNT OF DAYS A WEEK, SOME AMOUNT ARE WORKING FROM HOME.

LIVE MEANWHILE, JERSEY CITY WORKERS WHO OPTED OUT OF RETURNING IN PERSON WOULD HAVE TO TAKE UNPAID LEAVES OF ABSENCE.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> A WEEK FROM TODAY, THE FLOOD DATE LIFT.

VACCINE ELIGIBLE HE OPENS UP FOR ALL RESIDENTS AGED 16 AND OLDER.

BUT, IT MEANS THAT THOSE ADULTS WILL START MAKING APPOINTMENTS JUST AS THE STATES ALLOCATION OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SEVERELY CUT BACK.

THAT IS DUE TO A RECENT PRODUCTION PROBLEM AT A MARYLAND FACTORY.

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE TAKING A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY AFTERWARD THAT 100 MILLION THOSE GOALS WILL BE MET BY THE SUMMER, AND FEEL CONFIDENT NEW JERSEY WILL VACCINATE 4.7 MILLION ADULTS BY JUNE 30th AND THAT IS THANKS TO INCREASES IN THE PFIZER AND MODERNA SUPPLY.

NEARLY 5 1/2 MILLION JOBS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ACROSS THE STATE, AND MORE THAN TO ME RESIDENTS ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

THAT IS ABOUT A QUARTER, OR JUST OVER 25% OF THE STATES POPULATION.

RACHEL PERSISTS IN THE EFFORT TO PUT MORE SHOTS IN THE ARMS OF BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENCE.

THE NEEDLE, IT HAS NOT MOVED MUCH.

JUST 15% OF ALL DOSES HAVE GONE TO HISPANIC OR BLACK INDIVIDUALS.

WE ARE TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT THE BARRIERS.

JOINING IS DR. ROBERT JOHNSON, DEAN OF THE WRECKERS NEW JERSEY MEDICAL SCHOOL.

DR. JOHNSON, AMONG THE I GUESS, IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE SEEN WITH THE ROLLOUT IN THE STATE, WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN A BIG RIDGE IN THE GAP OF THE RACIAL INEQUITIES.

THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION TO BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENCE.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?

AND IS THERE A BETTER WAY THAT WE CAN BE GOING ABOUT THIS?

>> SO, ACCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE OF THE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR OTHER TYPES OF PROBLEMS, AND WE ARE GRADUALLY BEGINNING TO OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS THAT ARE FOUND IN THIS RECENT SURVEY.

THE VACCINE IS GOING UP IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THERE IS A GREATER DEMAND FOR IT.

WE ARE BEGINNING TO FIND BETTER WAYS OF MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE, LIKE DOING VACCINES AT PEOPLE'S HOMES, OR TAKING MOBILE UNITS OUT, OR DOING IT IN CHURCHES OR OTHER COMMUNITIES.

SO, WE ARE GETTING THERE, BUT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND I CAN'T HELP BUT OBSERVE THAT THIS IS NOT NEW.

WE KNEW THIS.

THERE ARE NO FACTORS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS THAT WE DO NOT ALREADY KNOW.

AND, MANY OF US WHO KNEW THESE THINGS NEEDED TO BE BETTER PLANNING.

>> THEN, WE HAVE THE CDC COME OUT AND SAY RACISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> WELL, AS YOU MAY KNOW, I SERVED ON THE CDC BOARD THAT ACTUALLY SAID THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND WE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN EDUCATION, THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN HOUSING, HEALTH DISPARITIES LEAD TO GREATER DEATH, COVID-19 WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

MORE PEOPLE WERE BLACK AND BROWN AND THEY DIED AND HAD MORE SERIOUS ILLNESSES.

WHERE THEY ARE MORE LIKELY IN HOSPITALS BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES.

SO YOU KNOW.

IF THERE'S ONE GOOD THING THAT COMES OUT OF THIS EXPERIENCE WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR IS THAT EVERYONE NOW UNDERSTANDS HOW ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ACTUALLY HAVE A REAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON PEOPLE.

AND HOPEFULLY, WE WILL GET AROUND IT.

BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO SHIFT GEARS TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS REQUEST THAT PFIZER HAS MADE FOR AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION OF ITS VACCINE IN 12 TO 15-YEAR- OLDS.

I KNOW YOU WORK WITH THIS GROUP.

COULD THIS HELP BRIDGE SOME OF THE DIVIDE?

AND WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS ARE YOU GETTING FROM PATIENTS AND FAMILIES ABOUT IT?

>> INTERESTINGLY, THE QUESTION I'M GETTING IS, WHEN CAN OUR KIDS GET VACCINATED?

AND SO, THE USE OF VACCINES IN THIS AGE GROUP IS NOT UNUSUAL.

ALL KIDS GET VACCINES AND THEY REQUIRED VACCINES TO GO TO SCHOOL.

SO, THE IDEA THAT THEY GET A VACCINE FOR CHILDREN, OR VACCINES IN CHILDREN IS ACTUALLY IN MANY WAYS EXCEPT WILL THEN AND ADULTS BECAUSE WE VACCINATE OUR CHILDREN.

THE OTHER THING IS, THAT WE HAVE A GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN ARE MORE THE RESERVOIRS FOR THE INFECTION.

SO, IT'S NOT A SURPRISE THAT THIS GROUP MEETS IT.

AND I THINK WE START VACCINATING THIS GROUP WE WILL FIND THAT IT WILL HELP US MORE QUICKLY GET TO A PERIOD OF TIME WE HAVE CURRENTLY.

>> DR. ROBERT JOHNSON, GREAT TO CHAT WITH YOU THIS MORNING.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

GOT TO DO IT.

>> FELLOW TOP OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF OVERSIGHT FOR NEW JERSEY'S PRISON SYSTEM IS OUT.

THE RESIGNATION CAME JUST 24 HOURS AFTER A LEGISLATIVE HEARING INTO THE CONTINUED PROBLEMS OF THE STATES ONLY WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

DAN DONE THE BODY SAYS HE'S RETIRING FROM THE POSITION HE'S HELD FOR OVER A DECADE.

LAWMAKERS QUESTIONED WHAT HIS OFFICE DID WITH THEIR EXTENSIVE POWERS AMONG THE STRONGEST IN THE NATION.

PARTICULARLY FOLLOWING THE VIOLENT JANUARY ATTACK ON FEMALE INMATES AT THE ENEMA IN PRISON.

HIS TESTIMONY REVEALED HE HELD FEW INSPECTIONS OF THE FACILITIES AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO HOLD THE SYSTEM ACCOUNTABLE.

A SEPTEMBER REPORT REVEALED HIS OFFICE RECEIVED MORE THAN 300,000 INQUIRIES, AND 50,000 GRIEVANCES AFTER THOSE OVERSIGHT POWERS WERE EXPANDED.

MEANTIME, THE WHITE HOUSE IS RELEASING MORE DETAILS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S $1.5 TRILLION BUDGET PLAN.

IT INCLUDES MORE SPENDING ON HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT NOT THE BROUGHT STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS ADVOCATES WERE HOPING FOR.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ROUGHLY ONE IN EVERY SIX NEW JERSEY ADULT HAS FEDERAL LOANS OUTSTANDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH, AND TONIGHT, SOME OF THE STATE'S HIGHEST RANKING CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS ARE PUSHING BACK.

LEAH MICHIGAN REPORTS.

FOUR HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS BOTH GOT INTO THE NUMBER ONE CHOICE FOR COLLEGE.

FRESHMAN YEAR, HE WENT TO NEW YORK, AND SHE HEADED TO PENNSYLVANIA.

>> TUITION WAS ROUGHLY 60,000.

AND BECAUSE IT WAS A PRIVATE SCHOOL, THEY DID GIVE US YOU KNOW, A GOOD AMOUNT OF GRANTS AND STUFF.

BUT, I STILL MAYBE ENDED UP TAKING OUT PRIVATE LOANS FOR LIKE 14 OR 15,000.

>> I TOOK OUT A PRIVATE LOAN FOR MY FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE FOR $28,000, AND I ALSO HAVE TO TAKE FEDOR ON TOP OF THAT WHICH WAS $4000 FOR THAT YEAR.

>> AND THE PANDEMIC KIT INSTANCE HAD TO LEAVE THE DOORMAN AND VIRTUALLY IT MADE HIS NEW JERSEY NATIVES QUESTION WHY THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY HIGHER PRICES FOR OUT-OF-STATE SCHOOLS.

EVEN THOUGH THEY LOVE THEIR COLLEGES.

SO, THEY BOTH TRANSFERRED TO MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR.

THE HIGHER GPA YOU GET, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO GET SCHOLARSHIPS AND MORE MONEY FOR IT.

SO, THAT'S A GO AT THE MOMENT.

>> BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, IN JUST TWO YEARS, THEY'VE ALREADY ACCUMULATED $65,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

THEY BOTH WORK ON THE WEEKEND TO HELP PAY THE BILLS BECAUSE THAT NUMBER IS ALWAYS ON THE BACK OF THEIR MINDS.

>> SO MANY STUDENTS ARE PAYING UP TO 8% INTEREST.

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE.

>> SANTANA AND FURRED AND ARE JUST TWO OF THE MILLIONS AMERICANS WHO OWN AN ESTIMATED 1 1/2 TRILLION DOLLARS IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

THAT GROWING NUMBER HAS U.S.

SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ, AND CONGRESSMAN BILL PASCOE CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO FORGIVE UP TO $50,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

IN FEBRUARY, BIDEN SAID HE WAS PREPARED TO WRITE OFF 10,000, BUT NOT 50.

THE LEGISLATORS HOPE THAT THEIR BILL, WHICH WAS SIGNED INTO LAW LAST MONTH PAVES THE WAY FOR RECONSIDERATION.

>> THE BILL THAT WILL MAKE ANY STUDENT LOAN DEBT FORGIVENESS TAX-FREE UNTIL 2026.

>> SAVING THE AVERAGE BORROWER ABOUT $2200 IN TAXES FOR EVERY $10,000 OF FORGIVEN STUDENT LOANS.

>> THE THING ABOUT THE $50,000 IN THE $10,000 AT THE LAWMAKERS IS PUSHING IS THAT IT ONLY COVERS FEDERAL LOANS.

NOT REALLY HELPING ME WITH MY PRIVATE LOANS.

SO, THAT'S A BIG THING THAT A LOT OF THESE POLITICIANS DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> ONLY 8000 OF DAKOTA FRIGHTENS 44,000 STUDENT DEBT IS IN FEDERAL LOANS.

>> EVERY YEAR WHEN A STUDENT FILLS OUT THE FAFSA, THEY GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT APPLIES FOR THEM BASED ON THE INCOME.

THE REST OF THE TUITION IS ON YOU.

>> IDEAL SCENARIO WOULD REALLY BE FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO UP THE CAB OF WHAT YOU WOULD GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.

>> YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ALL THAT PRESSURE IT MUST BE A LOT .4 IT'S A LOT.

IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT MANAGEABLE, HONESTLY.

>> I AM LEAH MICHIGAN FOUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE LATEST ROUND OF FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO MORE BUSINESS OWNERS.

SO WHO GETS WHAT?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE BREAKDOWN AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA .4 WE HAVE MILLIONS OF NEW FUNDS SOON FLOWING TO NEW JERSEY'S OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TRAVELED TO A PRINCETON CRCPE SHOP TODAY TO SIGN LEGISLATION PROVIDING $15 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS.

ONE OF THE BILLS OF SPONSORS IS STATE SENATOR, LINDA GREENSTEIN.

>> THE GREAT THING IS, THIS IS A GRANT PROGRAM.

BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES ON IT PRETTY QUICKLY.

AND, IT WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK IN HELPING THEM TO STAY ALIVE.

>> THE A.D.A.

THIS WEEK IS SETTING UP THE GRANT PROCESS AND BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY LATER THIS MONTH.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SIGNING BILLS THAT IN TOTAL WILL ALLOCATE $100 MILLION MORE TO BUSINESSES IN NEED.

THE PANDEMIC HIT ATLANTIC AND CEDARS HARD, AND THE LATEST SHOWS HOW STEEP THE REVENUE DECLINES WERE LAST YEAR.

2020 REVENUE OF $1.9 BILLION WAS THE LOWEST SINCE 2015, ACCORDING TO STOCKTON UNIVERSITIES RORY D LEVINSON INSTITUTE OF GAMING HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM.

INSTITUTE COORDINATOR SAYS OPERATING PROFITS WERE DOWN 80%, BUT SEVEN OF THE NINE CASINOS STILL MANAGED TO TURN A PROFIT.

>> WITH ALL THE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE, AND THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS THAT HAD TO BE FOLLOWED, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE REALLY HARD TO SHOW ANY PROFIT WHATSOEVER.

SO, I THINK THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE CASINOS DID OPERATE IN THE BLACK IS A VERY GOOD SIGN.

>> VALLEYS AND RESORTS FOR THE TWO CASINOS THAT LOST MONEY LAST YEAR.

NEW JERSEY'S CREDIT OUTLOOK HAS BEEN RAISED BY MOVIES.

THE RATINGS AGENCY RAISE NEW JERSEY'S OUTLOOK TO STAPLE FROM NEGATIVE.

CITING THE STATES THAT ARE THAN EXPECTED REVENUE AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE HAS PROVIDED BUDGET FLEXIBILITY, SUCH AS THE SURPLUS, AND AN ACCELERATED PENSION PAYMENT.

SHE SAYS THE NEW OUTLOOK SUGGESTS NO CHANGE IN NEW JERSEY'S CREDIT RATING FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

NOW, HERE IS A CHECK ON THE TRADING DAY ON WALL STREET.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NJ CU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, OR BUSINESS ANALYTICS, AND DATA SCIENCE.

WE ARE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH TRAINING IN JERSEY CITY, AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJ CU.EDU/CHANGER.

>>> THE DOORS OF NEWARK'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE OPEN TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC CLOSED THEM LAST YEAR.

A HYBRID LEARNING PLAN KICKED OFF THIS MORNING WITH IN-PERSON CLASSES TWO DAYS A WEEK AND TWO GROUPINGS OF STUDENTS, AND VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION FOR ALL ON WEDNESDAYS.

TEACHERS SPORTED SUPERHERO T- SHIRTS AS KIDS WAITED IN LINE FOR TEMPERATURE CHECKS.

ROUGHLY 40% OF THE DISTRICT 39,000 STUDENTS CHOSE TO COME BACK FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.

IT WILL BE DIFFERENT, THOUGH.

MASKS WORN, DESKS SPACED 6 FEET APART.

PARTITION BETWEEN THEM.

STUDENTS WILL STAY IN ONE CLASSROOM PER DAY, AND UNDERGO STRICT CORONAVIRUS SCREENING.

ABOUT 1000 TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED SO FAR.

ALL PART OF GETTING BACK TO A NEW NORMAL.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING, OR FIND US ON SOCIAL AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE INTERNAL NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU NEVER MISS A THING.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY JOB MILD.

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH.

THAT'S THE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND OR STUD, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> AND JM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT, JUST TO OUR THE POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR, AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS.

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

AND JM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RW J WAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE A PROVIDER ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELE-MEDIGAP, OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH AN RW J BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION, AND SO HAVE WE.

SO, DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RW J, BARNABAS HEALTH.

A HEALTHY TOGETHER.