>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI ARE PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY PUBLICATION EDUCATION.

AND THE OCEAN WING PROJECT, CREATION TO THE NEWLY LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>> IT EVENING, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, NEW JERSEY REPORTED MORE THAN 6000 NEW COVID-19 CASES FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

THE GOVERNOR WARNED TODAY, RESTRICTIONS LIKE CAPACITY LIMITS COULD RETURN TO SLOW THE RISE IN CASES.

MEANTIME THERE ARE SOME CHANGING GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN.

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE RECOMMENDING THAT SCHOOL SHORTEN THE LENGTH OF STUDENT QUARANTINES FROM 10 DAYS DOWN TO SEVEN DAYS.

THE CDC TODAY SET UNVACCINATED CHILDREN EXPOSED TO THE CORONAVIRUS CAN STAY IN SCHOOL IF THEY UNDERGO TESTING FOR EXPOSURE.

ALSO TODAY, PFIZER DISCLOSED A TWO SHOT VACCINE DID NOT PERFORM ADEQUATELY IN CHAIT CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 5.

IT WILL NOW TEST THE THREE DOSE SERIES.

AND THE CDC RECOMMENDS ADULTS GET PFIZER OR MADRONA VACCINES OVER THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT CITING THE FACT THAT WE ARE BLOOD CLOTS FROM THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO NINE U.S.

DEATHS.

>>> THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HAS PLEADED WITH THE PUBLIC TO GET VACCINATED IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH BUT ALSO TO STAVE OFF RESTRICTIONS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN EXPLAINS WHICH RESTRICTIONS COULD RETURN IF NEW JERSEY CAN'T CONTAIN ITS RISE IN CASELOAD .

>> PANIC TOTAL AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING.

>> Reporter: HE IS NOT PULLING THE TRIGGER ON TOUGHER RESTRICTIONS JUST YET AT THE GOVERNOR KNOWLEDGE THAT RISING RATES COULD SOON BREATHE BRING BACK MANDATES LIKE LIMITING INDOOR CAPACITY TO HELP STEM THE EXPLOSION ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

CASES TOP 6000 FOR A SECOND DAY THE STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED TWO MORE OMICRON FACES BOTH RESIDENTS AND THEIR 30s.

A WOMAN IN HUDSON COUNTY AND AMMAN IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY BOTH TESTED IN THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER.

THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO FOUR.

>> OMICRON IS LISTED AS A SMALL PERCENTAGE, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU IT'S MUCH MORE PREVALENT NOT JUST NEW JERSEY BUT THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST ESPECIALLY THE METRO NEW YORK AREA.

>> Reporter: HE SPOKE AT A PORT AUTHORITY NEWS CONFERENCE.

HE SAID HEALTH OFFICIALS BELIEVE MOST OF THE RAMPANT INFECTIONS ARE DELTA BUT RIGHT NOW NEW JERSEY CAN SEQUENCE ONLY 47% OF POSITIVE CASES.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO MORE SURVEILLANCE AND GENOMIC SEQUENCING.

IF WE DID I THINK WE WOULD SEE MORE CASES.

>> THE PROBLEM IS SEQUENCING AS A GENERAL MATTER IS LAGGING FOR OMICRON.

COMMON SENSE WOULD SUGGEST THERE MUCH HIGHER THAN THE SEQUENCING SUGGESTS.

>> NEW YORK CITY COVID-19 INFECTIONS CAUSE SEVERAL BROADWAY SHOWS AND ROCKETS TO CANCEL PERFORMANCES DESPITE A NEW STATEWIDE INDOOR MASK MANDATE, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID HE WAS MEETING WITH STAFF TO SUGGEST NEW JERSEY'S NEXT MOVE.

>> I THINK YOU WILL SEE A WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS HAPPENING.

WHETHER THE STATE DECIDES TO DO IT OR WHETHER INDIVIDUAL LOCATION START TO DO IT.

MY FEAR IS WE WILL GET BACK INTO CAPACITY LIMITS IN SOME FORM OR OTHER.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR SAID HIS OFFICE ISN'T FOCUSED ON A SINGLE METRIC THAT HE LISTED SEVERAL STATISTICS THAT COULD TRIGGER A RETURN TO RESTRICTIONS.

>> BREAKTHROUGH CASES SIGNIFICANT AND SEVERE, SIGNIFICANT IN NUMBERS AND SEVERE IN HEALTH IMPLICATIONS.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY.

ARE SPOT POSITIVITY RATE, RATE OF TRANSMISSION.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR REFERENCED THIS WEEKEND'S PUB CRAWL IN HOBOKEN WHERE THE MAYOR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING PARTICIPANTS TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION BEFORE ENTERING ANY ESTABLISHMENTS.

IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED, OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE, DON'T BOTHER PARTICIPATING IN THE BAR CRAWL THIS WEEKEND, HE SAID.

>> I WOULD BET YOU WILL SEE A LOT HIGHER STANDARDS OF REQUIREMENTS FOR EVENTS LIKE THAT.

PROOF OF VACCINATION, PROOF OF BOOSTING, PROOF OF A NEGATIVE TEST.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO KEEP COVID- 19 FROM OVERWHELMING THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WE HAD MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RISE IN COVID-19 CASES WHAT YOU COULD DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF WITH THE HOLIDAYS AROUND THE CORNER.

WE SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NEWARK.

>> DR., WE SAW SO MANY CASES WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS BIG SPIKE, DO WE KNOW HELPERS SPACES OMICRON IS?

>> I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION, WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF ADULT AWAY.

DELTA STARTING TO SPREAD IN OUR COMMUNITIES AGAIN AS THE WEATHER GETS COLDER HAVE LED TO CASES EVEN BEFORE WE KNEW ABOUT OMICRON.

AND NOW IT'S SPREADING IN OUR COMMUNITY IS CHANGING DAY BY DAY.

BUT WITH THE SPEED OF CASES INCREASING LIKE THIS IS VERY LIKELY IS GOING TO GET BIGGER AND BIGGER PART OF THE PICTURE.

>> WE ARE SEEING A SMALLER NUMBER OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED BOOSTERS COMPARED TO WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THIS NEW VARIANT SHOULD WE BE CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF FULLY VACCINATED TO INCLUDE HAVING A BOOSTER?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, IS VERY CLEAR ON THE DATA, PRIMARY VACCINATION ALONE FROM THE UK IS ONLY 33% SYMPTOMATIC INFECTION.

WITH OMICRON THAT BOOSTS BACK UP TO 70%, 75% EFFECTIVENESS.

THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN COULD BE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS GOING UP SWIFTLY VERSUS NOT DEPENDING ON HOW SEVERE OMICRON IS AND WE ARE LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THAT EVERY DAY.

I DO THINK THE CDC IS LOOKING AT THIS AND I ALL THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT DEFINITION.

>> YOU SAID EARLIER WE ARE LEARNING EVERY DAY MORE ABOUT OMICRON.

THE EARLY AND INITIAL STUDIES, ONE FROM SOUTH AFRICA SAID IT APPEARED TO BE LESS SEVERE BUT HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE IN THESE VERY EARLY STUDIES?

CAN WE SAY THAT WITH CONFIDENCE?

>> WE STILL NEED TO LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF OMICRON.

THE MORE WE DO LEARN ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED ONLY ABOUT 1.9% OR SO OF CASES ENDED UP BEING HOSPITALIZED.

THAT IS COMPARED TO ABOUT 19% AT THE SAME STAGE OF THE DELTA SURGE.

>> FINALLY, WHAT CAN YOU TELL RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY SHOULD DO FOR GETTING TOGETHER FOR THE HOLIDAYS?

PERHAPS YOU HAVE TRAVEL PLANS?

ARE YOU SAFE TO MOVE FORWARD AS PLANNED?

>> I WOULD SAY BE MORE CAUTIOUS IF YOU CAN BUT DO WHAT YOU CAN TO PREPARE.

TO ME THAT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

GET USED TO.

INDOOR PUBLIC PLACES, WEAR YOUR MASK.

IF YOU'RE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBERS, ALL OF WHO ARE BOOSTED AND PROTECTED, I THINK IT IS OKAY TO GATHER DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

BUT DO SO WITH DISCRETION BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT IS COMING WITH OMICRON.

>> DR. SHEREEF ELNAHAL, IT IS SO GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> TO REPUBLICAN STATE SENATORS HELD A HEARING THIS WEEK INTENDING TO HIGHLIGHT THE POWER OF NATURAL IMMUNITY TO FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS AND TO SERVE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO VACCINATION, OUR SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUISE REPORTS ON HOW THE HEARING IS PART OF A POLITICAL STRATEGY FROM RIP PUBLICANS.

>> Reporter: THERE IS A TWO- PRONGED REPROACH HOW STATE REPUBLICANS ARCS LIGHTING OUR COLLECTIVE PANDEMIC FATIGUE.

ONE APPROACH IS CONFRONTATION LIKE THESE TWO REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYMAN WEEKS AGO.

THE OTHERS THROUGH CHALLENGING MANDATES WITH REPUBLICAN SPONSORED LEGISLATION IN THE SENATE.

A BILL PUT UP BY SENATORS WOULD ALLOW A PREVIOUS COVID-19 INFECTION TO SERVE AS AN ALTERNATIVE THE PROOF OF VACCINATION.

IN SCHOOLS OR ANYWHERE ELSE THERE IS A VACCINATION REQUIREMENT.

SEEING AS HOW THE BILL WILL PROBABLY NOT SEE A FORMAL HEARING IN THE SENATE, THEY HELD THEIR OWN HEARING, STACKED WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CITING STUDIES THAT SHOW ANTIBODIES FROM A PREVIOUS INFECTION ARE AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER THAN VACCINES.

>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S OWN DATABASE, 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY HAVE HAD THE VIRUS AND RECOVERED.

THESE PERSONS HAVE DEVELOPED LEVELS OF IMMUNITY TO THE VIRUS AS REPORTED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH.

AND YET PHIL MURPHY AND HIS TEAM DISREGARD THESE FACTS IN FAVOR OF THEIR PREFERRED NARRATIVE.

>> WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT THOSE THAT WERE VACCINATED WHO DID NOT HAVE PRIOR INFECTION WERE BETWEEN SIX AND 13 TIMES INCREASED RISK OF GETTING A BREAK FOR INFECTION COMPARED TO THE END VACCINATED WITH NATURAL IMMUNITY.

>> BUT FOR EVERY STUDY PROVING LETTER A THERE IS ANOTHER ONE OVER HERE, PROVING B.

>> THE IDEA OF NATURAL IMMUNITY YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS AND YOU RECOVERED.

THE IDEA IS YOU AUTOMATICALLY HAVE ANTIBODY.

HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF STUDIES NOW THAT REPORT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFECTED DON'T ALWAYS , THERE BODY DOESN'T NECESSARILY PRODUCE SUFFICIENT ANTIBODIES IN RESPONSE TO THE ANTIGEN TO ACTUALLY SHOW UP IN THE BLOODSTREAM.

ONE CDC STUDY SHOWED ABOUT A THIRD OF PEOPLE WITH PREVIOUS INFECTION HAD NO ANTIBODIES.

>> Reporter: MOST POLLS FIND THAT IN GENERAL THE STUDIES WE PUT STOCK IN BEST ALIGN WITH OUR POLITICAL LEANINGS.

REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU STAND ON OUR MOST DIVISIVE ISSUE, ONE THING IS FOR SURE, WE ARE ALL TIRED OF MASS, VARIANCE, MANDATES AND LOCKDOWNS.

THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION CHARGED WITH HANDLING THE RESPONSE OF THE PANDEMIC BUT TRYING TO TREAD LIGHTLY AS A RESULT STILL WOULDN'T RULE OUT TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS IN THE NEW YEAR.

HERE'S THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF APPEARING ON THIS WEEK'S REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE.

>> OUR FIRST JOB IS TO SAVE LIVES.

PUBLIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC RATE, ACADEMY ECONOMY NEEDS TO GROW.

IF WE CAN'T PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN, YOU WILL NOT REBOUND THE ECONOMY.

I DON'T HAVE A CRISP ANSWER ON ANYTHING, IT IS FORTHCOMING.

AT THE RECENT PRESS CONFERENCE THERE ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE, PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING REPUBLICANS CAN CONTROL.

WHILE EACH SIDE OF THIS ISSUE POINTS OF THEIR OWN SCIENCE THE ONE THING THAT IS UNDENIABLE IS THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW AT ALL ON NATURAL IMMUNITY THAT HAS MOST MEDICAL EXPERTS SAYING A VACCINE IS STILL YOUR SAFEST BET.

I AM DAVID CRUISE FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY WAS JOINED BY PORT OFFICIALS AT PORT AUTHORITY WHERE THEY HAVE GOODS MOVING SMOOTHLY IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK EVEN AS CALIFORNIA STRUGGLES WITH INCREASED DEMAND.

MURPHY SAID THAT SHIPS BRINGING GOODS FROM CHINA CAN THE SALE TWO WEEKS BY SAILING TO NEW JERSEY WHETHER THAN GOING TO THE WEST CHOSE.

PRE-PANDEMIC IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PORT HAVE KEPT THE REGIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN MOVING AT FUTURE HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECTS WILL ALSO HELP.

>> TO CONSUMERS IN NEW JERSEY AND ELSEWHERE ALONG THE MID- ATLANTIC COAST IN PARTICULAR, OUR MESSAGE TO YOU IS CLEAR.

HERE AT THE PORT OF NEWARK AND ELIZABETH, THE GOODS YOU NEED FROM HOUSEHOLD ITEMS RIGHT TO SANTA CLAUS ARE ON THE WAY.

BUT THERE IS BY NO MEANS A BELIEF THAT WE CAN DO MORE TO FURTHER IMPROVE PORT OPERATIONS AND I SAY THAT PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THIS PANDEMIC, I SAY THIS WITH THE HEAVIEST OF HEARTS IS GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

>> TIME IS RUNNING OUT IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION THERE ARE NUMEROUS BILLS AWAITING ACTION, INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND GUN SAFETY.

I SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CRAIG COUGHLIN.

DOES A LOT OF BILLS ON THE DOCKET, WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES TO GET PAST THIS SESSION?

>> THERE A DEAL BEALS BILLS THAT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THAT.

WE ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS, SPENDING MONEY ON RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION, THE THINGS ARE AT THE HEART OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR THEM.

>> BILLS ON GUN SAFETY DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO WIN FINAL APPROVAL?

AND HE SAYS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SENATE WHERE THERE IS RELUCTANCE FROM SENATE PRESIDENTS WE NEED TO POST ALL THOSE BILLS?

>> WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE SENATE ABOUT THOSE BILLS.

WE HAVE A NUMBER BILLS THAT ARE UP, I THINK WE HAVE AN ENTIRE PACKAGE, THEY ARE GOOD, SENSIBLE GUN SAFETY MEASURES.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE ARE GOING TO PASS ALL OF THOSE BILLS AS WE GO FORWARD.

MOST OF THE GUNS THAT ARE USED ON VIOLENCE COME FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE.

WHILE THE BILLS ARE DESIGNED TO LET LEGAL GUN HOLDERS REGISTER THEIR GUNS TRYING TO CLOSE SOME LOOPHOLES AND GET SOME OF THOSE THINGS, LIKE GUN MANUFACTURERS, FLEA MARKETS, OTHER WAYS THEY SELL THEM.

WE ARE LOOKING TO COMBINE THOSE THINGS TOGETHER TO MAKE IT EVEN STRONGER.

I'M HOPEFUL WE WILL GET THROUGH.

>> YOU MENTIONED A LOT OF VOTERS MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF BILLS THAT ARE PASSED THAT WOULD HELP ON AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT IS TAKEN ON MORE PROMINENCE SINCE THE ELECTION.

WE HAVE BUSINESS LEADERS TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY RECENTLY AS WELL.

HOW WILL WE SEE THAT ISSUE BE BROUGHT FORTH IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> THE WAY THAT TRENTON HELPS MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE, WE HELP TOWNS BY PICKING UP, MUNICIPAL AID, BEARING SOME OF THOSE COSTS.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS I THINK YOU WILL SEE US DO AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO HELP MUNICIPALITIES WITH THEIR TAX BURDEN.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE MADE THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION UP TO ABOUT $17 BILLION IN THE BUDGET.

CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO DO THAT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE BY MAKING PENSION PAYMENT CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH STABILIZES THE PENSION FUND AND BIGGEST PENSION CONTRIBUTION IN THE HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE OUR STRONG EFFORTS TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT GET PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY MAKE THEIR LIFE A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND EASIER.

SPEAKER COUGHLIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> PLEASURE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> DRINKING WATER'S ACROSS NEW JERSEY ARE GETTING SET FOR INFLUX OF FEDERAL DOLLARS UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE SIGNED BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN LAST MONTH.

NEW JERSEY WAS RECENTLY ALLOCATED NEARLY $169 MILLION TO SPEND ON WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING REMOVING LEAD SERVICE LINES, WHICH ARE AT THE HEART OF WATER ISSUES AND DOZENS OF WATER SYSTEMS IN THE GARDEN STATE.

THE MONEY WILL ALSO GO TOWARD UPGRADING WATER TREATMENT PLANTS TO DEAL WITH TOXIC SUBSTANCES KNOWN AS FOREVER CHEMICALS.

IN A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR, ADMINISTRATOR URGED THE STATE TO FOCUS ITS SPENDING ON PROJECTS AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY SUFFERED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES.

EARLIER TODAY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, COMBO CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE JOINED WITH ADVOCATES, MORE MONEY COULD BE ON THE WAY IF THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL IS APPROVED IN WASHINGTON.

>> IT SHOULD BE A FEW TURN ON THE TAP YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY IF IT'S CONTAMINATED, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

TRYING TO BRING MONEY, WASHINGTON HELPS.

>> BUILD BACK BETTER IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY GET A GOOD START.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO BUILD.

BUILDING BACK BETTER FOR THE COUNTRY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITIES TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD.

>>> IN TONIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS AHEAD OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE EXPECTED VOTE ON TAX BREAKS FOR ATLANTIC CITY CASINO, THE LATEST GAMING REVENUE NUMBERS SHOWS THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO REBOUND, NOVEMBER REVENUES TOTAL NEARLY $440 MILLION OF UP TO 52% FROM A YEAR AGO.

ALL NINE OF THE CITY'S CASINOS REPORTED HIGHER REVENUE.

SO FAR THIS YEAR CASINOS HAVE $14.3 BILLION UP NEARLY 70 PERCENT FOR THE SAME TIME.

LAST YEAR WHEN PANDEMIC RELATED CAPACITY LIMITS WERE IN PLACE.

JOE LUPO, HEAD OF CASINO ASSOCIATION IN NEW JERSEY SAYS ALL IS NOT ROSY.

POINTING OUT IN PERSON GAMBLING IS STILL DOWN FROM PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

REVENUES FROM INTERNET GAMBLING AND SPORTS BETTING ROSE IN NOVEMBER WITH NEW JERSEY TAKING MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN WAGES FOR SPORTS.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED THE WEEK.

MAKE SURE YOU TURN INTO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH ME THIS WEEKEND.

WE WILL FOCUS ON THE COST TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES OF 2021 LOOKING BACK AT THE MAJOR STORIES THAT IMPACTED THE STATE'S BUSINESS LANDSCAPE INCLUDING THE GREAT RESIGNATION OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT SAW MAJOR GROWTH.

WATCH IT ON NJ PBS SATURDAY'S A 5:00 P.M. AND SUNDAYS AT 9:30 AM.

>>> VOTERS APPROVED IT MORE THAN A YEAR AGO BUT WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE ACTUAL START DATE FOR THE SALE OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN NEW JERSEY.

ONE ISSUE BEFORE SALES BEGIN IS ENSURING THAT THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPLY, NOT JUST FOR RECREATIONAL USE BUT FOR THOSE RESIDENTS USING MARIJUANA FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER LOOKED AT HOW MEDICAL DISPENSARIES WILL MEET THE ANTICIPATED DEMAND ONCE RECREATIONAL SALES BEGIN.

>> Reporter: RECREATIONAL SAILOR MARIJUANA IS ONE STEP POSTED TO BECOMING A REALITY HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION BEGAN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO BECOME A LICENSED CULTIVATORS THIS WEEK.

BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO SELL RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA WILL START APPLYING IN MARCH.

RECREATIONAL SALES WILL START AT ESTABLISHED MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES FIRST.

THERE IS CONCERN THAT RECREATIONAL SALES COULD MEAN LESS AVAILABILITY OF CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL PATIENTS.

>> WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE HAS AN ACHE IN THE LIP, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH CANCER, ARKANSANS, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

I DON'T THINK THE STATE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CULTIVATION AVAILABLE.

>> GROWING FROM SEED IT CAN TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS FOR A FIRST CROP TO BE HARVESTED.

TIME IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE BUT THAT IS WHY, I THINK WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN APPLICATION PROCESS, AS FAR AS NEW APPLICATIONS, THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE MARKET TO ENTREPRENEURS, PARTICULARLY ENTREPRENEURS WHO OWN SOCIAL EQUITY BUSINESSES.

>> MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES WANTING TO ENGAGE IN RECREATIONAL SALES MUST CERTIFY THEY HAVE ENOUGH APPLY AN OPERATIONAL CAPACITY TO MAKE SURE PATIENTS HAVE PROPER ACCESS.

>> THESE CULTIVATORS ARE GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT SEED TO SALE IS 48 MONTHS FROM THE TIME YOU PUT A SEED IN THE GROUND TO YOU CAN SELL THE PRODUCT OUT TO SOMEONE IN NEED.

IT IS NOT AS EASY AS JUST APPROVING CULTIVATORS.

YOU HAVE TO WAIT A SUFFICIENT TIME.

OPENING IT PRECIPITOUSLY WILL SQUEEZE OUT ALL OF THOSE LEGITIMATE MEDICINAL PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN LOYAL TO THIS PROGRAM SINCE IT WAS FIRST STARTED.

>> THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: PATRICK JOHNSON IS THE REGIONAL PRESIDENT FOR THE NORTHEAST OPERATIONS.

THE COMPANY RUNS THREE DISPENSARIES IN NEW JERSEY IS PREPARING TO ENTER INTO THE ADULT USE MARKET HERE.

HE SAID HE IS CONFIDENT MEDICAL PATIENTS WON'T SUFFER ONCE RECREATIONAL SALES ARE APPROVED.

>> ASSUMING THE MEDICAL MARKET DOESN'T GROW BY A FACTOR OF FIVE WHICH WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY STATE, HOPEFULLY IT STAYS FLAT OR THERE IS SOME SMALL GROWTH.

THAT ON ITS OWN RIGHT NOW COULD EASILY SUPPLY THE IN TIRE MEDICAL MARKET, LET ALONE JUST PATIENTS.

SO WE HAVE A FAIRLY HEALTHY PATIENT BASE IN NEW JERSEY BUT WE HAVE CANOPY CULTIVATION THAT FAR EXCEEDS THE CURRENT DEMAND.

WE HAVE A LOT OF VAULTS FULL ALREADY WE HAD PLANNED FOR ADULT USE COMING IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

SO RIGHT NOW ARE GOING TO BUILD UP INVENTORY, >> OFFICIALS SAY CERTIFY THE SUPPLY IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE.

>> THE CURRENT CULTIVATION SIDE IS A LITTLE BIT INTRICATE ONCE YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TEST AND PACKAGE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS FOR THE ADULT USE MARKET AND THE TRANSITION FROM THE MEDICAL MARKET TO THE ADULT USE MARKET TO CULTIVATION IS WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO GET RIGHT BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING WILL WE USE AS A BASIS TO USE IN TRANSITION.

>> Reporter: MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES SAY THEY WANT THE STATE TO RELEASE DATA ON HOW MUCH CULTIVATION IS AVAILABLE TO ENSURE PATIENT DEMANDS WILL BE MET ONCE RECREATIONAL SALES BEGIN.

A START DATE FOR SALES HAS NOT BEEN SET.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> IF YOU'VE MISSED ANY POLITICAL HEADLINES CHECK OUT REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ, 6:00 P.M. SATURDAY, 10:00 A.M. ON SUNDAY.

YOU CAN ALSO CATCH DAVID ON CHAT BOX, SATURDAY 6:30 PM, SUNDAY 10:30 AM, HE RECAPS 2021 WITH SENATOR CORY BOOKER AND LOOKS AHEAD AT THE TOP PRIORITIES AND WHAT THE LEGISLATION WILL BE IN THE NEW YEAR.

WATCH IT ON NJ PBS.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP SERVING FOR 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS OF NEW JERSEY, PS E.G.

FOUNDATION AND BY THE MUTUAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMARTLY MJ.