>>> LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER BY BARNABAS HEALTH.

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

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

>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

YOU CAN'T DO MUCH AT AGE 16, BUT AS OF TODAY EVERY RESIDENT 16 AND OLDER IN NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINATION.

THAT FINAL BARRIER BEING LIFTED OPENING ACCESS TO NEARLY SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE TOTAL IN THE STATE.

THIS AS STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS EXPRESS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM TODAY ABOUT THE DOWNWARD TREND IN NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

JUST SHY OF 2,000 NEW POSITIVE TESTS AND 18 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

CONFIRMED POSITIVE TESTS HAVEN'T BEEN THAT LOW SINCE THE THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY.

IT'S UNCLEAR IF THERE WAS A LAG OF REPORTING FROM THE WEEKEND AS IS COMMON, BUT MORE STEPS ARE GOING IN ARMS EVEN AS WE ENTER THIS SECOND WEEK OF A PAUSE ON JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S COVID-19 VACCINATION.

FEDERAL HEALTH LEADERS INDICATED THAT COULD COME TO AN END AS SOON AS FRIDAY.

NATIONWIDE HALF OF ALL U.S.

ADULTS HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT 36% OF NEW JERSEY'S ADULT POPULATIONS OR MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

NEW JERSEY WAS AMONG THE LAST STATE TO HIT THIS VACCINE ELIGIBILITY MILESTONE.

TODAY THOSE WITH NEWLY GRANTED ACCESS WERE LINING UP.

>> YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DRIVING INFECTION.

AND THE MORE THAT WE GET VACCINATED, THE BETTER IT WILL BE ON SOCIETY AND ALLOW THEM TO RETURN TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY AND SOME SENSE OF COMFORT.

>> Reporter: VACCINE SITES OPENED THEIR DOORS TO ANYONE 16 AND OLDER TODAY.

ALEX MOZOWITZ CAME BACK TO GET HIS VACCINE.

>> I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO STOP THE SPREAD BECAUSE WE CAN BE TRANSMITTERS.

THERE ARE CASES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GET PRETTY SEVERE SYMPTOMS, AND SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME.

>> Reporter: HERE IN ESSEX COUNTIES, YOUNG ADULTS ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR THEIR MODERNA SHOT.

>> IT'S A RELIEF TO BE GETTING IT.

>> TODAY IS A BIG DAY FOR OUR VACCINATION EFFORTS.

>> Reporter: JESSICA MARCUS IS ONE OF THE MILLION NEW JERSEYENS NOW ELIGIBLE.

>> SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHO ARE 17 HAVE GOTTEN PFIZER.

BUT EVERYONE WHO IS YOUNGER WANTS TO GET IT.

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO GET IT ARE THEIR PARENTS, BUT EVERY KID I KNOW WANTS TO GET IT.

>> Reporter: NICK ROMANO IS HERE TOO.

>> FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, PERSONALLY IT MIGHT NOT BE AS BIG OF A DEAL, BUT FOR MY GRANDMA, TO BE ABLE TO SEE MY GRANDMA MORE OFTEN AND MY PARENTS IN THEIR 50s, 60s, IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.

>> AND THIS AGE GROUP OF 18 INTO THEIR MID-20s HAVE BEEN THE GROUP MOST LIKELY TO TRANSMIT THE VIRUS FOR PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRETY OF THIS PANDEMIC.

SO THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY BEING HOSPITALIZED, BUT THEY WERE TRANSMITTING.

AND SO GETTING THIS POPULATION VACCINATED IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF KEEPING THE NUMBERS DOWN.

>> Reporter: BUT DR. DAN VARGAS SAYS HOSPITALIZATIONS OF THIS AGE HAVE BEEN CREEPING UP.

>> PARTICULARLY LATE.

THE 18 TO50 KIND OF RANGE HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY HIGH.

AND THE RATIONAL IS JUST REMEMBER, WE SAW A BIG BLIP IN CASES.

IF YOU GET ENOUGH INFECTIONS, THEY WILL GO UP.

SOME WILL NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY IS AMONG THE LEADING STATES.

IT IS ALSO AMONG THE HIGHEST FOR THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

SO FAR A QUARTER OF ALL AMERICANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND IT'S ABOUT THE SAME PERCENTAGE HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

EST SEX COUNTY IS PLAYING THEIR PART IN THAT DISTRIBUTION.

>> WE ARE DOING VERY, VERY WELL, AND TODAY, OF COURSE, IT HAS EXPANDED.

THERE IS NO QUESTION WE ARE READY FOR THAT.

WE CAN GO UP TO 5,000, 6,000 A DAY, BUT OUR PROBLEM IS SUPPLY.

>> Reporter: AND VARGAS SAYS IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME.

>> THIS IS VARIANTS VERSES VACCINES, RIGHT?

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

>> Reporter: HOPEFUL MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SHOWING INTEREST IN THE VACCINE, THAT IT IS PROVEN EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE VARIANTS SO FAR.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THOSE WHO ARE OLDER?

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO GET THE APPOINTMENTS, THIS COULD MAKE IT HARDER.

THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE VACCINES AVAILABLE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

HOPEFULLY EVERYONE CAN GET ONE.

>> JUST BEING ABLE TO KNOW THERE'S AN EXTRA SAFETY, COMFORT OF IT, I MEAN IT MEANS A LOT, AND I DEFINITELY THINK IT IS WORTH IT FOR SURE.

>> AND NOW SITES LIKE THIS ONE ARE HOPING THEY CAN KEEP UP WITH THE NEW DEMAND.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> CLOSING ARGUMENTS TODAY IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF EX- MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN.

THE CASE THEN HEADS TO THE JURY FOR DELIBERATION.

HE'S ACCUSED OF KILLING GEORGE FLOYD IN MAY OF 2020 AFTER PLACING A KNEE ON FLOYD'S NECK FOR MORE THAN NINE MINUTES WHILE MAKING AN ARREST.

IGNITING NATIONAL PROTESTS AND CAUSE FOR POLICE REFORM.

THIS WEEKEND DEMONSTRATORS RALLIED IN HACKENSACK TO PROTEST DAUNTE WHITE.

IT HAPPENED JUST TEN MILES FROM WHERE HE'S ON TRIAL.

LARRY HAMM HAS BEEN AN ACTIVIST, LEADING RALLIES AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY.

WE ASKED HIM IF THOSE EFFORTS HAVE BROUGHT OUT ANY CHANGE.

LARRY, YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS ACTIVISM FOR 50 YEARS.

ARE WE ANY CLOSER TO WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER MEANINGFUL REFORMS?

>> WELL, WE POSITIONED OURSELVES FOR MEANINGFUL REFORMS.

I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THE PROBLEM OF POLICE BRUTALITY WAS WORSE THAN WHAT IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM, BUT THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE POLICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE KILLING ABOUT 1,000 PEOPLE A YEAR.

SINCE THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL THEY'VE BEEN KILLING ABOUT THREE PEOPLE A DAY.

NOW THEY KILL PEOPLE OF ALL RACES, BUT THEY KILL AFRICAN AMERICANS AT A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER RATE.

SO SOME CITIES HAVE PUT SOME SIGNIFICANT REFORMS IN PLACE LIKE BODY CAMERAS, BUT THOSE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF CITIES.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIES STILL DON'T HAVE BODY CAMERAS OR BANS ON CHOKEHOLDS, DON'T HAVE BANS ON NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.

DON'T HAVE POLICE REVIEW BOARDS, ETC., BUT I THINK THERE'S A GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS THAN THERE HAS EVER BEEN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE NEED TO REFORM, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH REFORM IS BUILT.

>> YOU WERE OUT THERE ON THE STEPS OF THE COURTHOUSE IN BERGEN COUNTY THIS WEEKEND AS YOU ARE FREQUENTLY ACROSS THE STATE.

AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH WITHIN PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND WITH THE REFORMS?

HOW DIFFICULT OF A QUESTION IS THAT TO ANSWER?

>> IT IS NOT A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER.

WHAT WE WANT IS FOR THE POLICE TO STOP KILLING UNARMED CIVILIANS.

TO STOP SHOOTING PEOPLE UNJUSTLY.

TO STOP USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.

TO STOP VIOLENCE.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

>> BUT HOW SIMPLE, LARRY, IS THE SOLUTION FOR GENERATIONS AS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS?

>> WELL, THE SOLUTIONS OBVIOUSLY ARE MUCH MORE THORNY AND DIFFICULT.

BUT IF WE DON'T SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, IT WILL HAVE SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS FOR OUR SOCIETY AND IT WILL BE THE CONTINUED SOURCE OF SOCIAL DISRUPTION, SO WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

A FIRST STEP THAT IS THE OPINION.

THAT ALL POLICE IN OUR SOCIETY SHOULD BE UNDER SOME FORM OF CIVILIAN CONTROL.

EVERY TOWN SHOULD HAVE A POLICE REVIEW BOARD THAT HAS SUBPOENA POWER, AND DISCIPLINARY POWER.

AND WHEN THE POLICE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW, BUT IN FACT SUBJECT TO THE LAW, THEN PERHAPS THEY WILL MAKE SOME HEAD WAY INTO LOWERING THE STATISTICS ON POLICE BRUTALITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> WE SAW HOW THAT'S PLAYING OUT IN NEWARK, HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET THERE.

SO CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT, DO WE NEED TO BE LOOKING BEYOND TACTICS?

>> WHAT WE NEED IS A NATIONAL STANDARD ON THE USE OF FORCE.

NONE EXIST AT THIS TIME.

>> LARRY HAM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AS ALWAYS TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY CONDITIONALLY VETOED A CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL THAT WOULD END MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING FOR CERTAIN NON-VIOLENT CRIMES.

INSTEAD ASKED ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DIRECT PROSECUTORS TO WAIVE MANDATORY MINIMUMS FOR NON- VIOLENCE DRUG OFFENSES.

THE GOVERNOR TODAY CALLING THAT ACTION ONE WAY TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES AND RATES OF INCARCERATION BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE PRISONERS.

MURPHY TOOK ISSUE WITH THE BILL AFTER A STATE SENATOR AMENDED THE LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING FOR OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT.

WHICH IS USED TO PROSECUTE POLITICIANS, PUBLIC WORKERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IN A STATEMENT THE ACLU APPLAUDED THE DIRECTIVE, BUT SAID IT WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION, CALLING FOR AN END TO ALL MINIMUM SENTENCES.

>>> GENDER X IS NOW AN OPTION.

THEY SAY X WILL BE OFFERED ALONGSIDE EXISTING MALE AND FEMALE GENDER OPTIONS, INDICATING A GENDER IS UNSPECIFIED.

THE OFFERING IS OPEN TO RESIDENTS WHO WILL IDENTIFY AS NON-BINARY.

FOR THOSE TO BE IDENTIFIED ON THEIR I.D.

CARD.

IT WAS AMONG THE TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES TESTIFYING IN TODAY'S REMOTE BUDGET HEARING WHERE THEY TOOK HITS FROM THE PANDEMIC.

THEY COULD PLUG THE HOLES FOR NOW, BUT IT WON'T BE AROUND FOREVER.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT REPORTS IT'S AN UNPREDICTABLE ROAD AHEAD.

>> NJ TRANSIT SLOWLY EXITING THE PANDEMIC TUNNEL THAT SAW RIDERSHIP DROP 80% BY RAIL.

AND THAT GAVE THE AGENCY A CHANCE TO INSTALL THE POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL BREAKING SYSTEM ON TIME AND HIRE A FULL-TIME ROSTER OF NEW ENGINEERS.

MORE THAN 3,100 TRANSIT STAFFERS HAVE GOTTEN COVID VACCINATIONS.

BUT TODAY LAWMAKERS DEMANDED BETTER.

>> THERE'S A LOT MORE RIDERS.

>> Reporter: $2.65 BILLION SPENDING PLAN DOESN'T RAISE FARES, BUT PREDICTS RIDERSHIP REVENUES WILL STILL BE DOWN $400 MILLION NEXT FISCAL YEAR, ABOUT 40%, AND COULD TAKE FOUR YEARS TO FULLY RECOVER IF PEOPLE RETURN TO THE OFFICE FULL TIME.

BUT SERVICE STILL ISN'T FULLY RESTORED.

>> AS YOU LOOK AT THE SERVICE TO BECOME MORE RELIABLE, IT WILL BE DRAWING PEOPLE BACK.

>> WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IS A PERMANENT SHIFT, WHERE PEOPLE DON'T GO IN FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

>> THEY CAN'T KEEP WHEELS ROLLING ALONE.

IT WILL DEPEND ON TRANSFERS FROM STATE'S SUBSIDIES AND NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE REVENUES.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO COUNT ON CAPITOL FOR OPERATING TRANSFERS, AND RELY ON MASSIVE ONE-SHOT INFUSIONS OF FEDERAL AID.

MORE THAN $3 BILLION.

>> I THINK THE REAL KEY WILL BE THE MONEY THAT'S COMING FROM THE TURNPIKE UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $525 MILLION A YEAR.

IN THE OUTER YEARS, I THINK PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FINDING A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE.

I CERTAINLY THINK THAT'S UNWITH OF THEM.

>> YOU CAN'T RELY ON TURNPIKE MONEY BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A VARIABLE AS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL USE TURNPIKE AND THE TOLLS ARE HIGH ENOUGH AS THEY ARE.

YOU TO MAKE IT INDEPENDENT.

>> Reporter: AS TO WHY THEY ARE STILL BUYING DIESEL VEHICLES, OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL PURCHASE ALL-ELECTRIC POWER WHEN THEY HAVE BUILT UP ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE TO PLUG THEM IN.

ON THE OTHER TRACK THEY WANT TO SEE MORE FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO NEED PUBLIC TRANSIT TO LIVE.

>> AND LOOK AT THE SERVICE AND TALK ABOUT REALLOCATING, REPURPOSES TRANSIT, SO THAT IT MEETS OUR LIFE NEEDS, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE OF NEW JERSEY, LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS.

>> Reporter: AND LAWMAKERS ACCUSED THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION OF CLOSING TOO MANY AGENCIES FOR TOO LONG FOR COVID QUARANTINES.

WHILE MANY TRANSACTIONS HAVE MOVED ONLINE, THEY SAY IT IS NOT USER FRIENDLY.

>> AND WE ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING THE VACCINES DONE, SO WE CAN STOP THE CLOSURES, SO WE CAN INCREASE THE CAPACITY IN PERSON.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING ALL THOSE APPOINTMENTS AND MOVE THEM ONLINE, SO THERE IS SPACE IN THE AGENCY.

BUT ONCE THEY'RE OVER, EVERYONE IS VACCINATED AND THERE IS NOT A CONCERN ABOUT IN-PERSON VISITS OR TRANSACTIONS, WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE TO OPERATE.

>> WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT BEING OVER, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE OVER.

WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT A SECOND SHIFT, A THIRD SHIFT.

SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GET DONE.

WE CAN'T REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE.

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED.

>> Reporter: FULTON SAID SHE CAN'T ADD MORE SHIFTS BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WELL THE GOVERNOR'S NEARLY $45 BILLION SPENDING PLAN IS BEING RAKED THROUGH WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB.

THE LATEST REVENUE GROWTH IS PAINTING A BETTER THAN EXPECTED PICTURE AS WE ENDURE THE PANDEMIC.

LAWMAKERS ARE QUESTIONING MURPHY'S PROPOSAL TO BALANCE BIG SPENDING INCREASES WITH THE SO-CALLED RAINY DAY FUND OUT OF WORRIES, MORE HARD TIMES COULD BE AHEAD.

WE HAVE HAD A FEW AS OF LATE.

>>> THE NEWS BUDGET AND FINANCE RIDERSHIP IS HERE WITH THE LATEST ON THE HEARINGS AND A NEW DIGITAL TOOL THAT GIVES THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO BUILD THEIR OWN STATE BUDGET.

JOHN, WE JUST HEARD BRENDA GET INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH TRANSPORTATION.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE EXPECT TO BE TACKLED THIS WEEK IN THE BUDGET'S HEARING?

>> IT'S A BUSY WEEK FOR THESE HEARINGS, MOTOR VEHICLES, ALSO ON THE AGENDA TODAY AND THAT WAS A VERY CONTENTIOUS PART OF THE HEARING AS WELL.

A LOT OF THESE FORWARD FACING AGENCIES ARE COMING BEFORE LAWMAKERS, REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE FALL.

AND SO YOU KNOW WEDNESDAY, THEY WILL HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IN FOR BUNT BUDGET HEARINGS ALSO, THAT WILL BE ANOTHER ONE THAT'S GOING TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, GIVEN A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD IN ADMINISTERING THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IN RECENT MONTHS.

SO YEAH, FROM TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES, MOTOR VEHICLES, LABOR, THIS IS DEFINITELY A BUSY WEEK FOR HEARINGS AND ALSO SOME KEY AGENCIES COMING BEFORE LAWMAKERS.

>> PRETTY IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.

YOU ALSO WROTE ABOUT THAT DEBATE OVER EMERGENCY FUNDS, RAINY DAY FUNDS FOR THE STATE.

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION, A PART OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS TO DRAW DOWN OVER A BILLION IN BALANCES FROM THE STATE'S EMERGENCY RAINY DAY ACCOUNT.

AND IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO THAT MURPHY WAS TELLING LAWMAKERS TO KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF THAT ACCOUNT.

NOW THEY ARE QUESTIONING HIS PLAN BECAUSE THE FUND FOR YEARS WAS LEFT EMPTY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY NEEDED TO MAKE SOME BIG CUTS LAST YEAR WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED AND TOOK AWAY SOME OF THE REVENUE STREAM.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WAS CUT.

SCHOOL INCREASES WERE PUT ON HOLD.

SO NOW THERE IS A TENSION ON WHETHER THIS MONEY SHOULD BE USED RIGHT AWAY OR AS THEY GET FEDERAL MONEY, BORROWED MONEY, THEY SHOULD REALLY START PUTTING SOME OF THIS MONEY AWAY FOR WHEN WE FACE THE NEXT DOWNTURN.

>> OKAY, BEFORE I LET YOU GO, THIS TOOL ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU AND I, ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC CAN BALANCE THE BUDGET ON OUR OWN, PUT THE MONEY WHERE THE MOUTH IS?

>> YEAH.

IT IS REALLY INTERACTIVE IN THE SENSE THAT IT GIVES PEOPLE AWAY TO SEE HOW THE PROCESS WORKS, MAYBE THERE'S THAT CUT THEY WANT TO MAKE, THAT TAX INCREASE THEY WANT TO MAKE, AND YOU SEE EXACTLY HOW IT WORKS.

MAYBE IT CREATES A HOLE AND A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT YOU NEED TO FIX.

WE WANT YOU TO TRY IT OUT.

SHARE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HAVE FUN WITH BALANCING THE BUDGET YOURSELF.

>> Reporter: AS MUCH FUN AS YOU COULD HAVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> IF YOU WANT TO TRY YOUR HAND IN BALANCING THE BUDGET, TRY OUT THE TOOL THEY CREATED.

MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE AN EASIER TIME AT IT THAN LAWMAKERS.

WE WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU DID IT, SHARE YOUR VOICES WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND E-MAIL YOUR TOP SELECTIONS.

GOOD LUCK.

>>> A POSITIVE SIGN FOR THE ECONOMY, BUT WILL IT LAST?

NEW INSIGHT ON CASINO PROFITS AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> ATLANTIC CITY'S CASINO INDUSTRY IS BOUNCING BACK WHEN CASINOS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS IN MID MARCH.

MORE THAN DOUBLED IN MARCH COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

AND WHILE IT'S HARD TO MAKE THOSE COMPARISONS, CONSIDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON LAST YEAR, INDUSTRY OBSERVERS SAY THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POSITIVE TRENDS THAT WILL MAKE THEM OPTIMISTIC.

LAST MONTH SPORTS BETTING SURGED.

ONLINE GAMBLING SURGED MORE THAN 75% TO $114 MILLION.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S REVENUE COLLECTION CONTINUES TO REMAIN STRONG.

REPORTING TAX COLLECTIONS IN MARCH WERE UP A WHOPPING 49% OVER LAST MARCH WHEN THE PANDEMIC FORCED BUSINESS SHUTDOWNS.

YEAR TO DATE TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS ARE UP 8.6%.

NOW A PART OF THE RECENT BUMP IS DUE TO COLLECTIONS FROM A BUSINESS PASS AS DESIGNED TO BE A WORK AROUND FOR THE SALT CAP.

INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS WERE UP 74%.

SALES AND CORPORATE BUSINESS TAX COLLECTIONS ALSO SHOWED DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES.

>>> THE STATE HAS ANOTHER MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY, BECOMING THE 16th IN THE STATE.

NEW JERSEY HAS 100,000 PATIENTS PARTICIPATING IN THEIR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

THE PREPARED FOODS COMPANY HAS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON SOUTH JERSEY WHERE THEY PLAN TO SET UP A LARGE ASSEMBLY AND A DELIBERATION CENTER IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY LEADING TO MORE THAN 300 NEW JOBS.

THE FACILITY IS SET TO OPEN NEXT YEAR.

>>> MORE FINANCIAL HELP IS AVAILABLE FOR RESTAURANTS.

IN ADDITION TO NEW GRANT MONEY FROM THE STATE, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IS LAUNCHING A RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND FOR SMALLER RESTAURANTS.

THERE IS $28 BILLION AVAILABLE IN THIS NEW FUND THANKS TO THE LATEST COVID RELIEF LEGISLATION AND IT IS NOT JUST RESTAURANTS THAT COULD APPLY.

FOOD TRUCKS, BARS, BAKERIES, THEY CAN ALSO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE SBA.

>>> NOW A LOOK AT TODAY'S TRADING ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORY.

>>> MORE PEOPLE ARE HEADING BACK TO THE OFFICE AS VACCINATIONS RAMP UP.

MAYBE YOU'RE ONE OF THEM.

SO JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 AS SHE HOSTS A VIRTUAL ROUND TABLE, LOOKING AT THE WAY THEY ARE TRANSITIONING TO A POST-COVID WORKPLACE.

THE EVENT IS ONLINE ONLY AT 4:00 P.M., AND YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE THE LINK.

TO SIGN UP HEAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> RALLYING AND REFUSING FOOD UNTIL GOVERNOR MURPHY SET ASIDES COVID RELIEF FUNDS FOR THOSE UNEMPLOYED SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

MURPHY WAS REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING $40 MILLION IN AID WHILE THEY ARGUE THE STATE CAN'T AFFORD THAT AMOUNT AND IT IS ALL COMING TO AHEAD IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>>> AFTER A YEAR IN HUNGER STRIKES, MORE THAN THOSE NOW SAY THEIR RELIEF FUND IS APPRECIATED AS A MEASURE.

>> IT WILL PROVIDE A FRACTION OF THE POPULATION, YOU KNOW, WHERE MORE THAN 380 DAYS OUT FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY OF THE PANDEMIC, OUR COMMUNITIES NEED REAL RELIEF.

>> THE EXACT MATH OF HOW TO GET TO REAL RELIEF IS UNCLEAR.

WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE?

AND FOR WHAT?

ADVOCATES WHO POINT TO NEW YORK'S $2 BILLION RELIEF FUND.

THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION AID PACKAGE WOULD COME OUT TO AROUND $96 PER PERSON.

>> REALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNEMPLOYED WORKERS, AND IMMIGRANTS WHO WERE EXCLUDED FROM FEDERAL RELIEF.

THAT IS WHY OUR DEMAND, YOU KNOW, IS TWOFOLD.

$600 WEEKLY PAYMENTS TO UNEMPLOYED WORKERS, AND THEN $2,000 DIRECT PAYMENTS TO IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE EXCLUDED FROM FEDERAL RELIEF.

>> AND WHEN VELASQUEZ GOT COVID IN MARCH, IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF HER PROBLEMS.

HER OLDEST SON GOT COVID TWO DAYS LATER AND HER TWO YOUNGEST WERE FORCED INTO REMOTE LEARNING.

THEY WERE ALL FOUR IN SEPARATE ROOMS IN THEIR SMALL APARTMENT IN ELIZABETH.

>> THAT WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION SHE SAYS.

IT STILL HURTS TO THINK ABOUT IT NOW.

AND I HAD TO REACH OUT TO MY PASTOR AND TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR HELP.

SOURCES IN THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION POINT OUT THAT THE PROPOSED $40 MILLION IS MORE GENEROUS THAN THE BILL SPONSORED LAST SPRING BY SENATOR RUIZ.

>> IN APRIL A BILL THAT WAS, THAT HAD A $35 MILLION TICKET ITEM TO IT, PERHAPS MADE SENSE.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS EARLY ON, ON THE CONTENTS OF THE BILL, I HAD CLEARLY STATED THIS PUBLICLY THAT IT WAS JUST A VERY SMALL PIECE, A HUGE AMOUNT.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS THEY ARE WAITING FOR GUIDANCE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO POINTING FINGERS AT LAWMAKERS WHO CAN'T SEEM TO COME UP WITH THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF VOTES TO PASS EVEN RUIZ'S MODEST BILL.

AND BECAUSE SOME MET PRIVATELY, NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS.

>> THE LAST THING THAT LEGAL CITIZENS WHO ARE WAITING A MONTH UPON MONTH FOR THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WILL WANT TO HEAR IS THAT TAX DOLLARS, WHETHER IT IS STATE OR FEDERAL ARE BEING USED FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

>> SHE SAID SHE AND OTHERS HAVE PAID MILLIONS IN TAXES FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AND THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE CENT.

SO I'M ON THE STRIKE, SHE SAID, FOR JUSTICE.

AND IN SOLIDARITY FOR RESPECT, FOR DIGNITY, FOR MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION AS I AM OR WORSE.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID TODAY THAT THE CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE.

THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SAYS THE BILL IS UNDER REVIEW.

NO COMMENT FROM THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

THE DEMONSTRATIONS AND HUNGER STRIKES ARE SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE.

I'M DAVID CRUZ NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

OR FIND US ON SOCIAL.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS WHEN NEW CONTENT IS POSTED.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEED OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

>>> AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSE SEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> SERVING NEW JERSEY POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, BUT JUST WHO ARE THEIR POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEEP THE GARDEN STATE GROWING.

BUSINESS LEADERS, THE CARETAKERS OF OUR HISTORIC LANDMARKS.

AND THE CUSTODIANS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

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

NJM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.