>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER AND ORSTED, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> THE U.S. IS TAKING STEPS TO FURTHER ISOLATE RUSSIA, CONGRESS VOTING TO BAN THE IMPORT OF RUSSIAN ENERGY INTO THE COUNTRY WITH THE SENATE VOTING UNANIMOUSLY 100-0 IN FAVOR OF THE BAN WHILE THE EUROPEAN UNION PLEDGES TO CUT OFF COAL IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA.

THAT IMPACT IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNIFICANT AS THE CONVEYOR LARGELY DEPENDS ON RUSSIAN FOSSIL FUELS AND IN THE STRONGEST REBUKE YET THE U.N. VOTED TO SUSPEND RUSSIA FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SAYING IT HURTS THE COUNCIL'S CREDIBILITY AND "UNDERMINES" THE U.N., THE DECISION COMING AFTER HORRIFIC IMAGES AND REPORTS EMERGE DETAILING ALLEGED ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY RUSSIAN FORCES OUTSIDE UKRAINE'S CAPITAL.

NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE ALSO MEETING TO DISCUSS STEPPING UP MILITARY AID AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE WITH A PLEA FROM THE NATION'S FOREIGN MINISTER FOR "WEAPONS, WEAPONS, WEAPONS."

IN PART TO FEND OFF AN ONSLAUGHT OF RUSSIAN FORCES NOW TARGETING THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY YET AGAIN.

CIVILIANS THERE ARE FLEEING IN MASSES.

NEW JERSEY'S DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN TOM MALINOWSKI WAS IN UKRAINE JUST BEFORE THE CONFLICT BEGAN.

HE'S A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND FORMER SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WHO OVERSAW HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

HE JOINS US NOW FOR THE LATEST NEWS OUT OF WASHINGTON.

CONGRESSMAN, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THE LAST TIME WE HAD YOU ON THE BROADCAST YOU MENTIONED THAT THE SANCTIONS, THE MILITARY AID, THE THINGS THE U.S. WAS DOING TO HELP UKRAINE WAS WORKING.

HAS YOUR POSITION CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, NO.

UKRAINE HAS WON THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS WAR THANKS TO THE COURAGE OF THE UKRAINIAN FIGHTERS AND DEFENDERS AND SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE GIVEN THEM.

RUSSIAN TROOPS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN COMPLETELY AWAY FROM NORTHERN UKRAINE FROM THE CAPITAL CITY OF KYIV AND WE NOW ARE MOVING INTO A DIFFERENT PHASE OF THE WAR.

ALL THIS IS HAPPENING AT GREAT, GREAT HUMAN COST OBVIOUSLY.

RUSSIA HAS UNLEASHED ABSOLUTE EVIL ON THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, BUT ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS HELP UKRAINE WIN.

THEY'VE DONE A LOT BETTER THAN I THINK ANYONE EXPECTED A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY CALLED THIS GENOCIDE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS CALLING FOR A WAR CRIMES TRIAL.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

YOU WATCHED THAT VIDEO AND IMAGERY THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, HORRIFIC, HORRIFIC IMAGES.

>> THESE ARE HORRIFIC ACTIONS.

THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS KILLED DELIBERATELY BY THE RUSSIAN OCCUPIERS AND THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAT WE DON'T YET KNOW ABOUT THAT WE WILL SADLY LEARN AS ADDITIONAL PARTS OF UKRAINE ARE LIBERATED FROM THE RUSSIANS.

THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR IT.

I WILL NOT REST UNTIL THAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AND IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE TO HELP THEM WIN.

>> WHAT IS THE DIRECT ROUTE, IF THERE IS ONE, TO THAT WIN?

WE HEARD THE UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PLEADING FOR WEAPONS, WEAPONS, WEAPONS.

IS THAT WHAT'S NEEDED HERE?

>> THAT'S PART OF WHAT'S NEEDED.

WE HAVE BEEN SENDING WEAPONS, WEAPONS, WEAPONS AND WE NEED TO BE SENDING EVEN MORE.

THE WEAPONS THAT WE HAVE SENT HAVE ENABLED THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY AND THEIR VOLUNTEER DEFENSE FORCES TO KILL MORE RUSSIANS IN JUST OVER 40 DAYS THAN RUSSIA LOST IN AFGHANISTAN IN TEN YEARS.

THEY'VE LOST OVER 25% OF THEIR TANKS.

WE NOW HAVE TEN ANTI-TANK WEAPONS, WESTERN NATO ANTI-TANK WEAPONS, IN UKRAINE FOR EVERY SINGLE RUSSIAN TANK THAT'S LEFT.

IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE.

AGAIN, WE'RE MOVING INTO A NEW PHASE OF THE WAR.

UKRAINE IS GOING TO NEED DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT TO REGAIN TERRITORY THAT IT HAS LOST AND SO WE ARE PUSHING THE ADMINISTRATION TO SPEED UP THAT EFFORT.

>> YEAH.

AS WE MOVE INTO THIS NEW SECTION OF THE WAR, TODAY THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTED TO REMOVE RUSSIA FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL.

WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE THERE, CONGRESSMAN?

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

>> IT IS ANOTHER STATEMENT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS UNITED AROUND UKRAINE AND AGAINST RUSSIA.

IT'S A POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW TO THE RUSSIANS.

THEY'RE A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF EVERYTHING AT THE U.N. AND TO HAVE THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD RALLY TOGETHER TO KICK RUSSIA OFF OF AN IMPORTANT UNITED NATIONS BODY, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG POLITICAL BLOW TO PUTIN, BUT IT'S THE PRACTICAL EFFECT, OUR MILITARY ASSISTANCE AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, THAT MATTER THE MOST.

>> DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN TOM MALINOWSKI, THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> A HISTORIC BARRIER IS BROKEN.

THE U.S. SENATE TODAY CONFIRMING JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON AS THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE JUSTICE ON THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

THREE REPUBLICANS JOINED ALL 50 DEMOCRATS TO SUPPORT HER IN THE 53-47 VOTE.

THE VOTE FOLLOWED AN INTENSE CONFIRMATION PROCESS WHERE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS SOUGHT TO DERAIL HER NOMINATION PAINTING HER AS A LEFT WING RADICAL AND LARGELY OPPOSING HER JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY.

IN A JOINT STATEMENT GOVERNOR MURPHY AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHEILA OLIVER TODAY SAID JACKSON'S CONFIRMATION SHOWS THE CENTURIES LONG EFFORT TO "FORM A GOVERNMENT THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL AMERICANS" CONTINUES, BUT THE 51-YEAR-OLD FEDERAL APPEALS COURT JUDGE WON'T BE SWORN IN RIGHT AWAY.

JACKSON WILL BE SWORN IN AFTER JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER RETIRES AT THE END OF THE COURT'S SESSION THIS SUMMER.

>>> MEANWHILE THE CONTROL OF CONGRESS WOULD STAY IN DEMOCRATIC HANDS IF THE MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEYANS GET A SAY.

A NEW MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS JUST OVER HALF EITHER PREFER OR LEAN TOWARD KEEPING DEMOCRATS IN POWER IN CONGRESS, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN REPUBLICANS COULDN'T HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE COME NOVEMBER.

ABOUT FOUR IN TEN OF THOSE SURVEYED WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SWITCH TO GOP CONTROL.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATINGS ARE STILL TRENDING DOWNWARD WHILE BOTH U.S.

SENATORS BOB MENENDEZ AND CORY BOOKER'S REMAIN POSITIVE.

WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT CAN OFTEN FEEL LIKE AN OVERLY PACKED PRIMARY SEASON, JUST OVER HALF, 52%, SAY THEY'D SUPPORT SHIFTING THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY FROM JUNE TO FEBRUARY.

THAT WOULD MAKE NEW JERSEY AMONG THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO DO SO.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY IS JOINING THE CHORUS OF LOCAL LEADERS CALLING FOR CLARK MAYOR SAL BONACORSO TO RESIGN.

THE MAYOR ADMITTED TO USUAL RACIAL SLURS AND MISOGYNISTIC LANGUAGE CAPTURED ON SECRET RECORDINGS APOLOGIZING SAYING HE WAS BOTH EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED.

THE STORY AND RECORDING WERE REPORTING BY NJ ADVANCED MEDIA FOLLOWED BY A WHISTLEBLOWER BEING PAID $400,000 TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT THE RECORDINGS WHICH CAPTURED THE MAYOR REFERRING TO BLACK PEOPLE AS SHINES AND THE N WORD."

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE MAYOR PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED USING RACIAL SLURS.

>> IT WAS WRONG.

I'M EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED TO HAVE SPOKEN THAT WAY ABOUT A RACE OF PEOPLE.

I'VE LEARNED AND I HAVE CHANGED AND IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR MURPHY, HE'S PROOF THE CORONAVIRUS IS STILL AMONG US MAKING THE COMMENT AT HIS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE THIS WEEK SINCE TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY REPORTED ANOTHER 1,700 NEW CASES AND 11 MORE DEATHS.

WITH OMICRON'S BA.2 VARIANT DRIVING THE UPIT NOW MAKES UP 70% OF RECENT CASES OVER THE LAST WEEK.

THIS MARKS ONE MONTH SINCE THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION LIFTED THE MASK MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS LEAVING THE DECISION UP TO EACH DISTRICT.

SO HOW'S IT GOING?

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> Reporter: MANY DISTRICTS NOT ONLY LIFTED THE MASK, BUT THEY LIFTED EVERY OTHER PROTECTIVE FACTOR INCLUDING QUARANTINING, INCLUDING CONTACT TRACING AND THAT'S VERY CONCERNING.

>> Reporter: ROBIN COLEMAN SAYS NURSES ACROSS THE STATE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING WHERE COVID NUMBERS ARE.

>> ARE THESE NUMBERS ARTIFICIALLY LOW BECAUSE NO ONE IS MEASURING THEM?

>> Reporter: TESTING IS STILL REQUIRED FOR UNVACCINATED TEACHERS AND STAFF, BUT THE AVAILABILITY OF AT-HOME TEST KITS IS MAKING IT HARD FOR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO KNOW WHETHER THE DATA THEY'RE GETTING REFLECTS THE CASELOADS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING STUDENTS.

>> IN THE PAST THE MAJORITY OF TESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS DONE THROUGH LABS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC SHIFT TO THESE HOME- BASED TESTS THAT MAY NOT BE REPORTED THROUGH THE FORMAL TRADITIONAL ROUTES.

>> TESTING DONE AT HOME IS NOT REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT UNLESS THE RESULTS ARE PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL NURSE IF THEY'RE POSITIVE.

THEN WE WOULD REPORT IT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SO THERE IS A HUGE GAP IN TERMS OF REPORTING TO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, EVEN TO THE STATE LEVEL AND THAT'S OUR BIGGEST FEAR ABOUT KIND OF THE PROLIFERATION OF RAPID HOME TESTS.

>> Reporter: ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS STOPPED REIMBURSING FOR LABORATORY TESTS, MORE PEOPLE MAY TURN TO AT-HOME TESTS AND REPORTING COULD DROP FURTHER?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER BARRIER WE DO NOT NEED.

WHY ARE WE NOW PUTTING UP BARRIERS TO TESTING?

>> Reporter: WHILE THERE'S NO STATE MANDATE FOR FAMILIES TO REPORT, CARRIE ASHER SAYS HER HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN CAMDEN COUNTY IS STILL GETTING DATA ON THOSE TEACHER AND STAFF TESTS AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> ANY OF THE SCHOOLS DOING TESTING THROUGH AN OUTSIDE VENDOR ARE REPORTING THOSE RESULTS THROUGH THE STATE MANDATED REPORTING SYSTEM.

AS FAR AS SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT PROVIDING TESTING IN THE SCHOOL, WE DO GET WEEKLY REPORTS OF THE AGGREGATE OF ANY POSITIVE CASES AND WE DO GET THE DAILY REPORTS OF ANY POSITIVE CASES.

>> Reporter: BUT THAT COULD CHANGE IF SENATOR CHRISTIAN CARADO IS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD HER BILL TO PUT AN END TO TESTING FOR SCHOOL STAFF.

>> MOST TEACHERS HAVE BEEN GETTING TESTED WEEKLY FOR A YEAR NOW.

YOU'RE NOT SEEING OUTBREAKS OR HIGH NUMBERS OF COVID POSITIVITY FROM THIS GROUP.

>> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE GETS HUNDREDS OF CALLS WEEKLY FROM PEOPLE URGING HER TO TAKE ACTION.

>> THE TEACHERS I HEAR FROM AND CONSTITUENTS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE ARE REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS.

EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY THINK OF, ALL THINK ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND NOW IS THE TIME.

>> Reporter: COLGAN WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREES.

>> THEY JUST TESTED TODAY.

I KNOW PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE WHO CHOSE TO NOT VACCINATE ARE SAFE TO BE IN THIS BUILDING TODAY.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

>> Reporter: CORRADO SAYS IT'S UNFAIRLY SINGLING THEM OUT.

>> WE REALLY HAVE CREATED TWO CLASSES OF TEACHERS AT THAT POINT, TWO CLASSES OF PROFESSIONALS.

>> Reporter: BUT WITH SPRING BREAK AROUND THE CORNER AND THE BA.2 VARIANT MAKING UP 70% OF THE STATE'S CASES IN THE LAST WEEK, PATERSON SUPERINTENDENT EILEEN SCHAFFER SAYS SHE'S KEEPING ALL PROTECTIVE MEASURES INCLUDING TESTING.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ALL OF OUR PROTOCOLS IN PLACE THAT WE HAD WHEN THE PANDEMIC JUST STARTED AND IT WAS EXTREMELY SEVERE AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE AND WE'VE KEPT THE MASK MANDATE AND ALL OF OUR AIR PURIFIERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> Reporter: THE DISTRICT PLANS TO REEVALUATE ITS PLAN AFTER SPRING BREAK.

FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS," I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> ROUGHLY SIX MONTHS AFTER NEW JERSEY LAUNCHED A COVID RELIEF FUND TO HELP WORKERS EXCLUDED FROM FEDERAL AND STATE PANDEMIC AID THE MAJORITY OF APPLICANTS ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE MONEY.

THE EXCLUDED WORKERS ARE LARGELY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND SAY THE AID WOULD HAVE BEEN A LIFELINE.

RAVEN SANTANA HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: IT WAS VERY COMPLICATED.

THEY ASKED FOR A LOT OF DOCUMENTS AND IT WAS TOUGH TO SEND THEM ELECTRONICALLY.

IN JANUARY SOMEONE CONTACTED ME TO SEND MORE DOCUMENTS, SO I DID BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK SINCE.

JOSE MARTINEZ IS ONE OF ABOUT 30,000 APPLICANTS WAITING TO RECEIVE MONEY FROM THE EXCLUDED NEW JERSEY JANUARIES FUND.

THE $40 MILLION CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A ONE- TIME PAYMENT TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE EXCLUDED FROM BOTH FEDERAL STIMULUS AND COVID-RELATED UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.

I APPLIED BECAUSE I NEED IT.

I DON'T HAVE A STABLE JOB AND WORK IN CONSTRUCTION.

I RECENTLY HAD SURGERY AND AM NOT ABLE TO WORK A LOT BECAUSE OF THIS.

THE MONEY WAS GOING TO BE USED TO BUY MEDICINE.

I'VE BEEN WAITING AND I FEEL LIKE I'LL NEVER GET THE MONEY.

THE FUND INCLUDES UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS, RESIDENTS REENTERING FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS EXCLUDED.

THE PROGRAM THAT LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2021 ORIGINALLY GAVE APPLICANTS UNTIL DECEMBER 2021 TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS.

THAT DEADLINE WAS EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 2022.

>> ONCE THE STATE STREAMLINED THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND HELPED REALLY PROVIDE SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP GET PEOPLE IN, WE SAW A HUGE INCREASE.

>> Reporter: SARAH COLANEEN IS DIRECTOR OF MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY, ONE OF FIVE GROUPS HELPING PEOPLE WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

>> THE LAST WEEK THE APPLICATION WAS OPEN THERE WERE LINES STRETCHING OUT OUR DOORS EVEN BEFORE WE OPENED FOR THE MORNING.

>> Reporter: OVER 6,100 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED TOTALING $14.3 MILLION IN BENEFIT.

312 APPLICANTS WERE DETERMINED INELIGIBLE.

AROUND 30,000 APPLICATIONS ARE GOING THROUGH DOCUMENT REVIEW OR ARE PENDING REVIEW BECAUSE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS STILL NEED TO BE SUBMITTED.

DHS SAYS IT MAY TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING TO GET A LETTER FROM A THIRD PARTY LIKE A SHELTER, A FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION OR SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY.

THEY ALSO SAY EVERYONE WITH WHO HAS APPLIED AND HAS A PENDING APPLICATION RECEIVED AT LEAST TWO TO THREE CONTACTS FROM REVIEWERS INCLUDING TEXT MESSAGES, EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS.

A WOMAN I SPOKE WITH WHO WANTED TO BE IDENTIFIED AS ROSA SAID SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE 6,000 APPLICANTS THAT DID SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVE HER PAYMENTS.

THE PROCESS WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT ONLINE.

I'M VERY FORTUNATE THAT I RECEIVED IT VERY QUICKLY, BUT I COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT HELP.

I NEEDED HELP TO COMPLETE IT AND I ONLY HAD TO DO IT ONCE.

STILL PEOPLE LIKE MARCIA CRUZ SAY THEY HAVE NOT HEARD BACK.

CRUZ WAS PLANNING TO USE THE MONEY TO BUY MEDICATION AS SHE IS DIABETIC AND HAS NO INSURANCE.

I APPLIED TO DECEMBER 7th AND RECEIVED A MESSAGE MY APPLICATION WAS CLOSED DUE TO MISSING INFO A MONTH LATER.

THEY KEEP SAYING I'M MISSING DOCUMENTS, BUT NO ONE IS HELPING ME UNDERSTAND WHAT'S MISSING.

FIRST SOMEONE CALLED ME AND I GOT A EMAIL, BUT NO ONE HAS RESPONDED TO ME.

>> I THINK IT WAS A LEARNING PROCESS FOR ALL OF US.

>> Reporter: JAJA WONG IS ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY DIRECTOR FOR THE SERVICE COMMITTEE.

SHE DOES BELIEVE THE STATE IS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND SAID IF THERE WERE ANY FEEDBACK TO GIVE TO DHS ON THE PROCESS -- >> SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SIMPLIFY THE REVIEWING PROCESS.

I FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE MAKE THE APPLICATION MOVE FASTER AND THE REVIEWING AGENCIES ALL HAVE ALMOST FIVE MONTHS OF EXPERIENCE NOW.

THEY PROBABLY CAN COME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, RIGHT, THAT IT DOES NOT HURT THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROGRAM, BUT YET IN THE PROCESS TO MAKE THE PROCESS FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENT.

>> Reporter: FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS," I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

THREE FORMER INMATES ARE SUING THE PASSAIC COUNTY JAIL ALLEGING ABUSE AND UNSANITARY CONDITIONS CLAIMING THEY WERE SUBJECT TO REPEATED SEXUAL ASSAULT, NEGLIGENT MEDICAL CARE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND DISCRIMINATION.

THE SUIT DESCRIBES THE INCIDENT SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF ALLEGED SQUALID CONDITIONS, SEWAGE BACKED UP INTO CELLS, BLACK MOLD AND NO HEAT IN THE WINTER.

THE JAIL HAS A HISTORY OF LAWSUITS CLAIMING DANGEROUS AND UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS.

THIS LATEST ACCUSATION COMES AS OFFICIALS CONTINUE TRANSFERRING INMATES TO A NEWER LESS CROWDED FACILITY IN HACKENSACK AS PART OF A DEAL WITH BERGEN COUNTY.

THE SUIT NAMES THE WARDEN, COUNTY SHERIFF AND FORMER DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER MARCUS HICKS AS DEFENDANTS.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DOC TELLS "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" THE OFFICE DOESN'T COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION.

THE PASSAIC COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DID NOT RETURN OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

>>> MODERNIZING THE STATE'S PUBLIC WORKER LANDSCAPE TOPS OUR BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS AND TODAY'S HEADLINES.

WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED?

>> HOW, WHERE AND WHEN WE WORK HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND THE STATE IS RESPONDING.

NEW JERSEY'S CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION HAS APPROVED A PILOT PROGRAM ALLOWING STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AUTHORITIES TO OFFER TELEWORK TO THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR ONE YEAR BEGINNING NO LATER THAN JULY 1st.

NOT ALL STATE EMPLOYEES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR TELEWORK SUCH AS WORKERS AT AGENCIES THAT RELY HEAVILY ON IN-PERSON SERVICES.

THAT INCLUDES THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION.

THE STATE HAS LAUNCHED A FINANCIAL WELLNESS PLATFO PLATFORM CALLED NJ FIN LIT.

THIS WEBSITE IS FOR ADULTS TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND MONEY ISSUES.

STATE TREASURER SAYING THE PANDEMIC CREATED INSTABILITY FOR SOME RESIDENTS.

>> FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS IN RECENT YEARS ESPECIALLY WHAT WE SAW DURING THE COVID-19 FISCAL CRISIS THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT HEALTH CRISIS, WE SAW THAT THE FOLKS THAT WERE THE MOST AFFECTED WERE THOSE WITH THE FEWEST RESOURCES.

>> Reporter: SO THE NEW WEBSITE OFFERS TOOLS TO HELP WITH INFORMATION ON SAVING FOR RETIREMENT, MANAGING DEBT AND BUILDING CREDIT JUST TO NAME A FEW.

THE PLATFORM IS FREE TO USE.

>>> JUST WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE A PROPERTY TAX BREAK FOR SOME NEW JERSEYANS WAS STALLED, THERE'S WORD FROM WASHINGTON THAT REVIVES HOPE THE STATE AND LOCAL FEDERAL TAX DEDUCTION OR S.A.L.T.

COULD MAYBE BE RESTORED.

A TOP ECONOMIC ADVISER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THE PRESIDENT WOULD BE OPEN TO INCLUDING THE S.A.L.T.

DEDUCTION AS PART OF THE TAX PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD IN HIS BUDGET IF THERE IS COMPROMISED LEGISLATION ON S.A.L.T.

SEVERAL NEW JERSEY CONGRESS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO RESTORE IT.

>>> NOW HERE'S A CHECK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

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

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

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.

>> MAKE SURE YOU JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER FOR NJ BUSINESS BEAT THIS WEEKEND WITH A LOOK AT HOW THE STATE PLANS TO BOOST THIS SUMMER'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.

WATCH IT SATURDAY AT 10 A.M. ON THE "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, PLANTING TREES TO GROW A COMMUNITY, IN URBAN CITIES LIKE NEWARK A RENEWED PUSH TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TREE COVER IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN WITHOUT.

EXPERTS SAY AREAS WITH FEWER TREES EXPERIENCE HOTTER TEMPERATURES, MORE AIR POLLUTION AND EVEN HIGHER FLOOD RISKS.

AS TED GOLDBERG REPORTS, CITY ORGANIZERS ARE PLOTTING FOR A CLEANER, GREENER FUTURE.

>> Reporter: IN SOME PARTS OF NEWARK YOU'LL HAVE NO PROBLEM SEEING TREES.

BRANCHBROOK PARK HAS MORE THAN 5,000 OF THEM.

OTHER PARTS OF NEWARK ARE FAR BEHIND AND IT'S A PERSONAL MISSION FOR PEOPLE LIKE NICOLE MILLER TO NURTURE NEW TREES IN THE CITY.

>> MY DAUGHTER'S 3 YEARS OLD.

SHE COULD PLAY NONSTOP, BUT IF THERE'S NO TREE CANOPY OVERHEAD, SHE'S PLAYING IN THE SUN, RUNNING OUT OF WATER, PERSPIRING MORE AND APT TO SUFFER FROM HEAT RUN HEATED ILLNESSES MUCH MORE THAN PEOPLE PLAYING IN A TREE SHADED PARK.

>> Reporter: MILLER WORKS WITH THE GREEN TEAM, PEOPLE FOCUSED ON PLANTING MORE TREES AROUND THE CITY, THE GOAL 400 TO 500 MORE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

MILLER SAYS THIS IS A NEW PRIORITY FOR NEWARK BECAUSE OF THE COST OF TREES.

>> THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THE CITY OF NEWARK HAS FOR TREE PLANTING AND TREES CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE, SO YOU WANT TO PLANT THEM, MAINTAIN THEM.

>> YOU CAN'T JUST THROW A PLANT IN THE GROUND, WALK AWAY AND HOPE IT SURVIVES.

THEY NEED WATER.

TREES ESPECIALLY ARE AN INVESTMENT.

THEY COST A LOT MORE THAN A FLOWER DOES.

THAT ENTAILS MAKING SURE THEY GET ENOUGH WATER DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR MULCH BED IS CLEAN OF WEEDS, THAT THEY GET A REGULAR MULCHING EVERY YEAR.

>> Reporter: THAT MAINTENANCE IS WORTH IS BECAUSE IN THE LONG RUN TREES COOL DOWN IN THE CITY THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

>> AN INCREASE IN AREAS THAT ARE MUCH MORE URBANIZED COMPARED TO SUBURBAN COUNTERPARTS.

IN NEWARK WE EXPERIENCE SIX TO TEN DEGREES HOTTER IN THE SUMMER MONTHS THAN THE REST OF ESSEX COUNTY.

>> IN ANY CITY OR ANY BUILT UP ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS A LOT OF IMPERMEABLE SURFACE LIKE CONCRETE, MacADAM, BUILDINGS, ROOFS, THOSE SURFACES WILL ABSORB AND HOLD ONTO HEAT EVEN WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN.

THEY STILL ARE HOLDING ONTO THAT HEAT AND ACTUALLY WILL RADIATE IT OFF OF THEIR SURFACE.

WHAT TREES DO BY SHADING BUILDINGS AND STREETS AND SIDEWALKS IS THEY KEEP THOSE SURFACES FROM HOLDING ONTO THE HEAT.

>> Reporter: JASON GROBOSKI LEADS THE URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM AT RUTGERS.

HE SAYS THIS IS A GOOD STEP, BUT WE'LL NEED A WHILE TO SEE ITS SUCCESS AND EFFECTS.

>> TAKES THREE YEARS, ONE TO KNOW, ONE TO GROW AND ONE TO SHOW.

THE FIRST YEAR IT EITHER LIVES OFF DIES.

THE SECOND YEAR YOUR GETTING THE ROOT SYSTEM COMING INTO BALANCE WITH THE SHOOT SYSTEM BECAUSE REMEMBER WHEN YOU TRANSPLANT A TREE, YOU'RE RIPPING IT OUT OF THE GROUND MOVING IT.

PLANTING THE TREE TAKES ONE DAY.

GETTING IT ESTABLISHED AND GROWING IT TO WHAT PEOPLE WANT FOR A TREE CAN TAKE DECADES.

>> JUST LIKE BABIES, RIGHT?

EVERYBODY LOVES A CUTE LITTLE TREE.

THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHEN THEY'RE 50 FEET TALL AND IF THEY'RE NOT PLANTED IN A PLACE THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE ROOTS MIGHT BUCKLE THE SIDEWALKS OR THE LEAVES MIGHT DROP AND CAUSE THERE TO BE PROBLEMS.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO MILLER, IT'S PEAK CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON RIGHT NOW IN NEWARK.

SO THIS WEEK OR THIS WEEKEND YOU CAN COME OUT TO PLACES LIKE BRANCHBROOK PARK AND SEE THE RESULTS OF PLANTING A BUNCH OF TREES AND WAITING PATIENTLY TO SEE THEIR BENEFITS.

IN NEWARK I'M TED GOLDBERG, "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT TUNE IN TOMORROW MORNING TO REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

THIS WEEK DAVID TALKS TO SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR PAUL SARLO ABOUT THE ONGOING BUDGET HEARINGS AND WHO SHOULD BE APPROVING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE STATE.

>>> PLUS A PANEL OF LOCAL REPORTERS TALKING ALL THE BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK FRIDAY AT 10 A.M. ON THE "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR EVERYWHERE YOU STREAM.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT!

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES MORE THAN 100 YEARS AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

>>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY CHAIN AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

ORSTED, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY ONLINE AT