>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT PROVIDED BY NJN 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 NJPBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

IT APPEARS JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S COVID 19 VACCINE WILL BE SHELVED FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK.

THE CDC ADVISORY PANEL IS LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBLE LINK WITH THE SHOT AND SEVERE BLOOD CLOTS WHEN THEY MEET NEXT FRIDAY TO DECIDE ON WHETHER TO PAUSE THE VACCINE.

SIX WOMEN DEVELOPED BLOOD CLOTS WITHIN SIX WEEKS OF BECOMING INNOCULATED.

ONE WOMAN HAS DIED.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON SAID THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE THEY ARE CONNECTED.

AS OF THIS MORNING, MORE THAN 1.8 MILLION DOSES WERE ADMINISTERED, NEARLY 20% OF NEW JERSEY'S TOTAL POPULATION WAS FULLY VACCINATED.

>>> NEW TONIGHT, THE WHITE HOUSE IS ANNOUNCING IT WILL POUR JUST SHY OF $2 BILLION IN FUNDING TO FIGHT AND TRACK CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS.

THE CURRENT VACCINES PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST THE VARIANTS KNOWN BUT IT'S NOT KNOWN HOW LONG THE IMMUNITY LASTS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS ON THE TEST ROLLED OUT THAT CAN QUICKLY DETECT YOUR VACCINE IMMUNITY RESPONSE.

>> Reporter: I WANTED TO KNOW IF THE VACCINE WAS WORKING.

I WAS FULLY VACCINATED SINCE JANUARY.

>> Reporter: SHERRY IS ONE OF THE 1 MILLION VACCINATED IN NEW JERSEY BUT STEPPED UP TO CHECK HER BLOOD FOR COVID ANTIBODIES.

WHY?

>> FOR PEACE OF MIND TO KNOW THAT THE VACCINE IS EFFECT AND EFFECTIVE AND I CAN GO WITH MY LIFE.

>> Reporter: BACK WHEN COVID-19 WAS RAGING, THERE WAS A TEST TO DETECT IF ANTIBODIES WERE AVAILABLE TO HELP THOSE BATTLE COVID INFECTIONS.

BUT A NEW TEST DEVELOPED BY ABBOTT CAN MEASURE THE ANTIBODIES DEVELOPED BY VACCINES.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ESTABLISHING WHAT WE ARE CALLING HERD IMMUNITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY --THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING THE VACCINE ARE DEVELOPING THE ANTIBODIES TO THE VIRUS.

SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

PERSONALLY, PEOPLE WANT PEACE OF MIND TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE IMMUNE AFTER GETTING THE VACCINE.

>> I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN.

PLUS I HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HELP WITH ME IN THE FUTURE RAPT REPORT THAT'S WHY JIMMY NETTLES LIKE HIS COLLEAGUE, SHERRY, GOT HIS BLOOD DRAWN AT THE FIRST FACILITY TO OFFER ABBOTT'S TESTS.

IT RETURNS RESULTS WITHIN THREE HOURS.

THE CLOT TEST SHOWED 99 PERCENT ACCURACY BUT FALSE NEGATIVES AND POSITIVES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE, HEALTH EXPERTS WARN.

>> WE KNOW THAT NO TEST IS PERFECT, AND SO THE CONCERN WOULD BE THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE GETTING A FALSE NEGATIVE THAT INDICATES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IMMUNITY OR INSINUATES THAT THEIR VACCINE DIDN'T WORK WHEN, IN FACT, IT DID.

IT'S JUST NOT DETECTED BY THE TEST.

>> Reporter: CEOSs FOR PFIZER AND MONTH DARIN --MODERNA SAID THAT PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY NEED ANNUAL BOOSTERS AND THIS TEST WILL MEASURE HOW MANY ANTIBODIES ARE BUILDING UP.

>> THEY ARE INCREASING THE REALIZATION THAT THE VACCINES GIVE EXCELLENT PROTECTION AGAINST THE VARIANTS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

NOW, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT WON'T LAST BASED ON WHAT WE ARE SEEING FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Reporter: RUTGERS' DR. STANLEY WISE SAID THAT STUDIES SHOW THAT VACCINES ALSO HELP YOUR BODY CREATE OTHER IMMUNE DEFENSES LIKE SO-CALLED KILLER T-CELLS.

>> IT MEANS EVEN WHEN ANTIBODIES THAT YOU CAN MEASURE HAVE GONE DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY, THE CELLULAR IMMUNITY PROTECTION STILL GOES ON.

>> Reporter: BOTTOM LINE, GET VACCINATED AND IF YOU HAVE LOTS OF ANTIBODIES, DON'T STOP WEARING YOUR MASK LIKE SHERRY WHOSE TEST SHOWED -- >> I DEFINITELY HAVE THE ANTIBODIES AGAINST THE VIRUS BASED ON MY VACCINE.

>> Reporter: HOW DID YOU FEEL?

>> I FELT REALLY GOOD, REALLY GOOD AND HAPPY.

>> Reporter: SHE HOPES TO TRAVEL THIS SUMMER.

AND NEW BRIDGE HAS TESTED A COUPLE HUNDRED OF ITS STAFF AND WILL OPEN UP THE TESTING TO PUBLIC NEXT WEEK.

TO GET IT YOU NEED TO HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATED AT LEAST 15 DAYS BEFORE AND NEED A DESCRIPTION.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN, NJ NEWS.

>>> DICKSON ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY THAT STUDENTS ATTENDING ALL THREE CAMPUSES AT HACKEN SPAK AND T-NECK AND MADISON MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED BEFORE THE FALL SEMESTER.

THIS COMES WEEKS AFTER RUTGERS BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO MAKE THE COVID-19 A REQUIREMENT FOR ENROLLMENT.

THE DECISION APPLIES TO STUDENTS LIVING IN ON-CAMPUS DORMS, ATTENDING IN-PERSON CLASSES AND ANYONE IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES.

THE REST OF THE STATE'S FOUR- YEAR SCHOOLS HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED A DECISION BUT ARE RECOMMENDING BUT NOT MANDATING THE SHOTS.

>>> AND THE STATE IS MORE THAN HALFWAY TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOAL OF VACCINATING 4.7 MILLION RESIDENTS.

THIS WEEK, SOME OF NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS REOPEN FOR HYBRID LEARNING.

PEDIATRICIANS SAY PARENTS AND FAMILIES ARE STARTING TO ASK ABOUT GETTING THE SHOTS FOR THEIR KIDS TO GET IN-PERSON SOCIALIZATION BACK IN THEIR ROUTINE.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS WARN THAT VACCINATING THAT POPULATION IS CRUCIAL TO REACHING HERD IMMUNITY WITH 3700 NEW POSITIVE TESTS REPORTED TODAY AND 41 MORE LIVES LOST.

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THE ANSWER?

>> THE QUESTION I'M GETTING IS WHEN CAN MY KIDS GET VACCINATED?

>> Reporter: THE FDA IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING PFIZER'S EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST TO USE THE VACCINE ON 12 TO 15 YEARS OLD EXPANDING ON THE CURRENT APPROVAL OF 16 AND UP.

WITH THE HOPEFUL STARTING TO VACCINATE THE AGE GROUP BEFORE THE START OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, THE COMPANY'S CEO SAID IN A RECENT PRESS RELEASE -- >> LAST YEAR, I DIAGNOSED MANY OF MY PATIENTS WITH COVID-19.

THEY WEREN'T SICK.

THEY GOT THE TEST BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS OR FRIENDS HAD IT.

>> Reporter: DR. JOHNSON IS THE DEAN OF RUTGERS MEDICAL SCHOOL.

>> IT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

I THINK THAT IF WE START VACCINATING THIS GROUP, WE'LL FIND THAT IT WILL HELP US MORE QUICKLY GET TO THE TIME WITH HERD IMMUNITY.

>> THEREFORE, IF WE WANT SCHOOLS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND SEPTEMBER IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THIS VACCINATION POPULATED.

>> Reporter: 2260 12 TO 15-YEAR- OLDS TOOK PART IN A STAGE THREE TRIAL, AND PFIZER SAID THAT THE DATA SHOWS 100 PERCENT EFFICACY AND WILL BUST THE ANTIBODY RESPONSES EXCEEDING THOSE RECORDED EARLIER IN VACCINATION PARTICIPANTS AGED 16 TO GIVE YEARS OLD AND WITH LOW TOLERANCE.

>> I KNOW WITH ADULTS, ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERN CITIZEN --IS THE UNKNOWN, THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS, AND WITH THE KIDS, WILL IN HAVE A LONG-TERM EFFECT?

>> SO FAR THERE, IS NO EVIDENCE WE CAN EXPECT A LONG-TERM IMPACT.

WE ARE TAKING A BIT OF A CHANCE BUT IT'S A CALCULATED RISK.

>> Reporter: THE DOCTOR IS AN EPIDEMOILOGIST AT MONTCLAIR UNIVERSITY.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE AND WHAT IT'S COMPOSED OF, WHAT'S THE WORST SCENARIO?

>> THAT IS NOT CHANGING THE DNA.

IT'S A VACCINE AND WILL NOT HAVE LONG-TERM IMPACTS.

WE DON'T EXPECT LONG-TERM COMPLICATIONS.

BOTH OF MY CHILDREN WILL BE IN THE 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLD RANGE THIS SUMMER, AND IF THE VACCINE BECOMES AVAILABLE I PLAN ON VACCINATING MY CHILDREN.

>> THE TECHNOLOGY USED TO CREATE THIS VACCINE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.

>> Reporter: THE DOCTOR BELIEVES THAT THE RISKS OF VACCINES ARE MINIMAL COMPARED TO THE DISEASE EVEN IN THE ADOLESCENT POPULATION, AND SHE TELLS PARENTS ABOUT -- >> A CONDITION WHICH IS POST- ACUTE COVID.

EVEN IF YOUR COVID SYMPTOMS HAVE NOT BEEN VERY SERIOUS TO BEGIN WITH, YOU END UP WITH HAVING FATIGUE, HEADACHES, MUSCLE ACHES THAT LAST FOR MONTHS AFTER, YOU KNOW, THE SYMPTOMS HAVE RESOLVED.

AND THAT IS AN AREA OF STUDY AT THE MOMENT.

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT'S LONG-HAUL SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

>> WE ALSO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PANDEMIC HAVING BEEN IN ISOLATION AND HAVING THEM DOING VIRTUAL LEARNING HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON A LOT OF PATIENTS, AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WE HAVE TO GET THEM BACK TO THE SITUATION THAT THEY WERE IN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: AS IT AWAITS APPROVAL, FIESER --PFIZER IS WORKING ON A VACCINE FROM 6 MONTHS OLD.

>>> RECENT SHOOTINGS IN CHICAGO AND ELSEWHERE HAVE PUT AN EXTRA FOCUS ON POLICE REFORM COUPLED WITH AN ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR RE- WRITING RULES MAKING POLICE VIOLENCE A PRIORITY.

THE STATE IS IN THE MIDST OF A MANDATORY TWO-DAY TRAINING SESSION FOR EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AIMED AT RESTORING PUBLIC TRUST AND PREVENTING USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE.

SENIOR WRITER COLLEEN O 'DAY HAS BEEN TRACKING THE NEW RULES AND HOW THEY WILL AFFECT POLICING.

SO, COLLEEN, WHO IS HAPPENING IN THE TWO DAYS OF TRAINING AND ONE THING WE HEAR FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.

THE INITIATES GET ROLLED OUT AND THEY GET A TASTE AND THAT'S IT.

THEY HAVE TO START IMPLEMENTING ON THE GROUND.

>> Reporter: AS DESCRIBED, IT IS TWO FULL DAYS IT SOUNDS LIKE.

THE FIRST DAY IS TO FOCUS ON HOW TO HOLD BACK, HOW TO KNOW THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO ALWAYS ACT REALLY QUICKLY THE WAY THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DESCRIBED IT, TO SLOW DOWN, STEP BACK, DE- ESCALATE.

THE SECOND AT A WAS KIND OF -- IT WAS CALLED ACTIVE BYSTANDERSHIP.

IT WAS TO INSTILL IN POLICE THE CONFIDENCE AND ABILITY TO SAY TO A FELLOW OFFICER, HEY, STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IN NEW JERSEY WHAT WAS IN MINNESOTA WHEN OFFICERS STOOD BY AND WATCHED WHEN 1 KILLED A PLAN PLAN --MAN IS THE WAY HE PUT IT.

>> AND REALLY, IT WAS USE OF FORCE, NOT ACCEPTABLE UNLESS IT'S THE LAST RESORT.

>> Reporter: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, BRI.

THAT WAS THE POLICY THAT HAD COME TO PASS.

THE ONLY TIME TO USE FORCE IS IF YOU HAVE TO SPARE THE LIFE OF YOURSELF OR A FELLOW OFFICER OR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.

YOU SHOULD NOT USE IT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

ALWAYS TRY TO USE DE-ESCALATION TACTICS.

BRING IN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IF YOU CAN.

THAT'S THE OVER ARCHING POLICY AND THE TRAINING IS TO HELP THE OFFICERS TO HAVE THE TOOLS TO CARRY THAT OUT.

>> VERY QUICKLY, IT'S BUDGET SEASON.

A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS TAKE MONEY.

DOES THERE SEEM TO BE POLITICAL WILL TO KEEP FUNDING INITIATIVES LIKE THIS?

>> Reporter: THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET AND THERE SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE THERE AND BODY CAMERAS ARE A PART OF THIS, AND THE LEGISLATORS ARE CONCERNED THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY.

THEY PUT $58 MILLION ASIDE TO PAY FOR THIS, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID IF THAT PROVES TO BE NOT ENOUGH HE WILL ASK FOR MORE.

>> COLLEEN O 'DAY, GOOD TO CATCH UP WITH YOU THANK YOU.

>>> ONCE AGAIN, APRIL 15th WAS NOT THE TAX DAY THIS YEAR.

THE PANDEMIC EXTENDED THE FILING SEASON TO MAY 17th BUT IT WAS A CRUCIAL DEADLINE FOR SOME TAXPAYERS ESPECIALLY GIG WORKERS, FREELANCERS AND ENTREPRENEURS, AND THERE IS IMPORTANT DETAILS SURROUNDING THE STIMULUS AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IF YOU ARE WAITING THE EXTRA MONTH TO FILE.

WE HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA DIAZ, CPA AND PARTNER IN THIS REPORT >> REPORTER: SO THERE IS A LOT HERE, AND I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE TAX CHANGES ARE.

THE STIMULUS CHECKS, THE EXTRA MONEY, IS IT TAXABLE?

>> IT'S NOT TAXABLE IN FEDERAL NEW JERSEY OR NEW YORK AND I CANNOT SPEAK TO OFF STATES AND IF DID YOU NOT RECEIVE ALL THE STIMULUS YOU WERE ENTITLED TO YOU CAN RECEIVE A CREDIT ON THE 2020 TAX RETURN.

LET ME GIVE YOU A FOR INSTANCE.

IF YOU HAD A CHILD IN 2020 AND WAS NOT REPORTED ON THE TAX RETURN YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL DEPENDENT AND YOU CAN APPLY FOR A CREDIT ON THE 2020 TAX RETURN TO GET THE STIMULUS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED FOR YOUR NEW DEPENDENT.

>> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT WILL CHANGE FOR PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY?

>> TYPICALLY, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE FULLY TAXABLE FEDERALLY.

CERTAINLY STATES TAX UNEMPLOYMENT.

NEW JERSEY IS ONE THAT DOES NOT.

NEW YORK IS ONE THAT DOES.

THE IRS HAS COME OUT OR CONGRESS HAS COME OUT WITH A CHANGE IN THE TAXABILITY SO THE FIRST $10200 OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT TAXABLE IF YOUR INCOME IS LESS THAN $150,000.

NOW, IN MANY OTHER TAX BENEFITS, THEY SEPARATED SINGLE FILERS FROM MARRIED FILING JOINT.

OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS NOT A SEPARATION BETWEEN SINGLE FILERS AND MARRIED FILING JOINT FOR THIS 150,000, THAT IT'S SIMPLY THE RETURN THAT IS FILED, 150,000 ABOVE -- AND IT'S E CLINESSED.

SO YOU ARE PAYING TAXES ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT FOR EVERYONE WORKING FROM HOME?

CAN THEY DEDUCT ANY EXPENSES?

>> SO PRIOR TO THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT OF 2017, EMPLOYEES AND SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS WERE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE HOME OFFICE DEDUCTIONS.

HOWEVER, PART OF THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT THAT AFFECTS FOR 2018, EMPLOYEES ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO DEDUCT HOME OFFICE EXPENSES BUT SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS ARE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING TIME WITH ME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT WAS GREAT.

>> AND THIS WEEKEND JOIN RHONDA FOR NJ BUSINESS WEEK AND TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING TO IMPROVE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT THE OFFICE.

YOU CAN SEND IT SATURDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:30 A.M >>> THE MARKET'S BEEN ON A RECORD RUN.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE TRADING ACTIVITY ON WALL STREET AS WE CLOSE OUT THE WEEK.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY FOR BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND BUSINESS SCIENCE.

WE'RE STEPS AWAY FROM THE PACKET TRAIN IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.

>>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE FRONTRUNNER FOR THE REPUBLIC NOMINATION IN THIS YEAR'S GUBERNATORIAL RACE WILL BE HITTING THE DEBATE STAGE TWICE NOW THAT HIS OPPONENT RAISED ENOUGH MONEY TO EARN A SPOT AGAINST HIM, A SOUTH JERSEY BUSINESSMAN WHO HAS RUN FOR OFFICE UNSUCCESSFULLY FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS MOST RECENTLY IN A BID TOO REPLACE CORY BOOKER, AND NOW, HIS SIGHTS ARE ON PHIL MURPHY.

HE WAS ASKED WHY HE THINKS HE IS UP FOR THE JOB REPORT FLCHT 2017 YOU RAN FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION, IN 2021, YOU ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

IT CAUSED THE PRESS TO BRAND YOU THE PERENNIAL CANDIDATE.

THERE IS A SLIGHT INSULT IN THAT.

DO YOU TAKE IT AS AN INSULT?

>> NOT AT ALL.

I THINK PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN THOSE THAT FIGHT FOR THEM, THERE IS A HISTORY IN NEW JERSEY OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE RUN MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY WIN.

I THINK CHRIS CHRISTIE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.

HE RAN FOR OFFICE, I BELIEVE, THREE, FOUR TIMES AND BECAME GOVERNOR.

CRISTY TODD-WHRIT MAN -- WHITMAN, SHE RAN ON THE THIRD TIME AND IT WAS ME WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS HONESTLY TRYING TO SAY HOW DO WE STOP OUR STATE FROM FALLING APART?

SINCE THEN, I LEARNED HOW THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN NEW JERSEY WORKS.

THE REAL RESULT IS IF YOU ONLY UNDERSTAND HOW THE POLITICAL SYSTEM WORKS, IT'S BY RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

>> Reporter: I WAS SURPRISED THAT YOU WROTE ON YOUR WEBSITE ON JANUARY 6, THE RIOT IN WASHINGTON D.C. WAS CAUSED BY ANTIFA.

YOU SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL THE SUN WENT DOWN AND ANTIFA TOOK OVER AND DISRUPTED THINGS.

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLE AND THAT RIOT WAS NOT TRUMP SUPPORTERS RIOTING?

>> SO THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

ON JANUARY 6 WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD HIS RALLY, THAT WAS OVER $1.7 MILES AWAY FROM CAPITOL HILL.

WHERE THE RALLY HAPPENED, IT WAS LIKE HIPPIES FROM THE '60s, PEACE, LOVE, AMERICA.

WHAT HAPPENED ON CAPITOL HILL, I DIDN'T GO TO CAPITOL HILL.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE, I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF INDICATIONS THAT WERE SENT TO US THAT THERE WERE BAD ACTORS INVOLVED.

I COMPLETELY DETEST ANY VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THOSE PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY.

I DISAVOWED IT ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY HORRIBLE THAT THEY ARE BEING CONFLATED.

>> Reporter: YOU ARE A LONG SHOT.

WOULD YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

>> I DISAGREE HEAVILY.

>> Reporter: WHY?

>> I THINK I HAVE THE NAME ID.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH HOW THE ELECTION WAS CONDUCTED LAST YEAR.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT WITH A CHOICE GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE IN THE PRIMARY, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT PEOPLE'S HISTORY, WHEN THEY LOOK AT HOW HE VOTED IN THE PAST, THEY LOOK AT WHAT I STAND FOR AND HOW THEY ARE DIMETRI CRASHES ALLY OPPOSED.

OUR SLOGAN IS MAKING JERSEY GREAT AGAIN.

>> Reporter: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.

>>> IT'S BEEN A CENTURY OF CULTURE, AND THE STAGE FOR PLACID O DOMINGO AND ARETHA FRANKLIN AMONG THEM, AND NOW, THEY ARE LAUNCHING A NEW PROGRAM AT A TIME WHEN PERFORMANCE ARTISTS HAVE NEVER WITHIN HIT HARDER IN A CITY WHERE ART TRANSFORMS LIVES.

>> HE HAD A BELIEF THAT ARTS CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND IN THE LIVES OF BLACK AND BROWN AND LGBTQ AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO MAKE CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES.

>> Reporter: HIS TORCH IS CARRIED FORWARD TO BY ANDREW BINGER WITH THE FORMATION OF THE THEATER COMPANY THAT WAS SELECTED FOR AN INCUBATOR PROGRAM, AN ADVENTURE THAT IS -- >> --SUPPORTING THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND PERFORMING ARTS.

I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE WILL BE PROVIDING FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY STARTING WITH COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THEATER AND THE ARTS WERE HIT ESPECIALLY HARD IN THE PANDEMIC, SO THEY ARE LOOKING FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO LURE BACK YOUNG ASPIRING ARTISTS OF COLOR.

>> THE VERY FIRST THING WE ARE DOING HERE IS BLACK TERROR, A PLAY BY RICHARD WESLEY AND DIRECTED BY RICHARD DAWSON, AND I SAW THAT IN AWE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH EXTRAORDINARY CAREERS.

FOR THEM TO BE WILLING TO POUR THAT INTO ME AS A YOUNG ARTIST TRYING TO NAVIGATE THIS SPACE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO THEIR CHARACTER.

IT'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF IT.

>> Reporter: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OBSTACLES A SMALL BUSINESS FACES THAT THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM CAN SOLVE?

>> I THINK IT'S ACCESS, ACCESSES TO FUNDING AND ACCESS.

>> WE ARE JUMPING INTO IT, AND IT'S GREAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE BRILLIANT MINDS, THE SCOPE OF WHAT THIS WAS, IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SMALL, AND THEN, YOU KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE ENERGY AND HEAR THE IDEAS, AND IT'S EXPANDING.

SO I THINK WE ARE ALSO NAVIGATING HOW DO WE EXPAND WHAT THIS VISION IS?

>> Reporter: EXPANSION EQUALS DOLLARS, AND IT'S NOT JUST THIS PROGRAM BUT THE NUMBER OF INCUBATOR PROGRAMS ACCEPTED.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN JUST UNDERSTAND THAT MEMBERSHIP IS NO COST.

HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE SOME ADDITIONAL FEES RELATED TO SPECIFIC SERVES, AND, AGAIN, WE'RE THINKING THROUGH HOW WE CAN GET INVESTORS TO SUPPORT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND SPECIFICALLY TO SUBSIDIZE THOSE THAT COME FROM THIS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR.

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE OPEN TO EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> Reporter: WHO DO YOU HOPE IT LOOKS LIKE A YEAR OUT FROM THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM?

>> WOW.

A YEAR OUT FROM THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM, I HOPE NUMBER ONE, PEOPLE FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING.

AGAIN, WE ARE NOT TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE BETTER DANCERS OR BETTER SINGERS OR SPOKEN CAREER ARTISTS BUT WITH THEIR CAREER.

>> I HOPE IT CAN BE AN OPTION AND AN ALTERNATIVE AND HERE IN THE CITY OF NEWARK WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL THEATER.

>> Reporter: AUDITIONS FOR BLACK TERROR WILL START IN MAY.

NO DATE SET FOR THE SUMMER PERFORMANCE BUT IT WILL BE ALL VIRTUAL.

NO ACTORS ON THE STAGE AND NO BODIES IN THE SEATS AT LEAST FOR A WHILE.

>> AND HOW GREAT IT WILL BE WHEN THOSE THEATERS ARE PACKED AGAIN.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR US, BUT IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE BIG STORIES THIS WEEK, YOU CAN CATCH REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:00 P.M. AND CHAT BOX SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M. FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.