>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NJM INSURANCE COMPANY, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

PSEG FOUNDATION AND MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMARTLY NJ.

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

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I'M JOANNA GAGIS IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THE NUMBERS KEEP CLIMBING, TODAY MORE THAN 15,000 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 CONFIRMED.

FIRST TIME THE STATE SURPASSED 10,000 CASES IN A SINGLE DAY SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN IN MARCH 2020.

IT BRINGS A NEW STATE TOTAL TO MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC ALMOST ALL OF THESE CASES ARE OMICRON EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY BEEN IN THE U.S. FOR 23 DAYS.

THE UNPRECEDENTED SEARCH IS LIKELY WHY BOOSTERS HAVE PASSED NOR MORE THAN 2 MILLION.

SOME COLLEGES ARE STARTING TO REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS MUST SHOW PROOF OF BOOSTER BY MARCH 1.

STEVENS INSTITUTE SET A DEADLINE OF MARCH 31.

>>> SOON A NEW BOOSTER COULD BE AVAILABLE FROM ASTRAZENECA THAT TARGETS THE OMICRON VARIANT.

THEY ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THEY ARE WORKING AGAIN WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD ON THE TARGETED BOOSTER BUT LOOK AROUND YOU MAY NOT KNOW THERE'S A TORRENT OF INFECTION SURGING THROUGH THE STATE.

AIRPORTS AND ROADWAYS ARE BUSTLING WITH THE TRAFFIC OF TRAVELERS CONTINUING WITH THEIR HOLIDAY PLANS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE PEOPLE TAKING TO THE ROAD OR SKY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?

MELISSA ROSE COOPER EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: IT IS COVID-19 TEST TIME WHO ARE WAITING TO HOP ON A FLIGHT TO INDIA.

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THIS COMPLICATION.

WE ARE NOT REALLY SURE BUT LET'S SEE, WE ARE HOPING FOR THE BEST.

>> Reporter: FIRST, THEY NEED THE ALL CLEAR FROM THE COVID-19 TEST THEY TOOK AT THIS EXPRESSED TEST SITE THIS MORNING.

>> WE DIDN'T GET THE REPORT ON TIME SO WE CAME HERE.

>> Reporter: HER FAMILY, JUST ONE OF MANY LINING UP AND PRAYING FOR NEGATIVE RESULTS FROM THEIR TEST SO THEY CAN BOARD THEIR FLIGHTS FOR THE HOLIDAY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN TESTING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, PRIMARILY BASED ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IS PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING MORE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT NEED TESTS TO GAIN ENTRY.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH CASES THE COVID-19 ARE ON THE RISE IT IS NOT STOPPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT OF TOWN.

>> THIS TRAVEL.

RUNS FROM DECEMBER 23 TO JANUARY 2 AND WE'RE ESTIMATING NEARLY 110 MILLION PEOPLE TRAVELING NATIONWIDE.

OF FACT, 91%, HUNDRED MILLION WILL BE DRIVING, ANOTHER SIX AND CHANGE MILLION WILL BE FLYING AND ABOUT 3 MILLION IN THE OTHER CATEGORY, TRAIN, BUS OR CRUISE CATEGORY AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER FROM NEW JERSEY ABOUT TWO AND HALF MILLION FROM NEW JERSEY WILL BE TRAVELING ABOUT 2.1 MILLION OF THOSE WILL BE DRIVING.

>> Reporter: A SENIOR MANAGER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR AAA NORTHEAST SAYS IT IS STILL THE TOP FORM OF TRAVEL DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

>> IT GIVES YOU THE INDEPENDENCE TO LEAVE WHEN YOU WANT AND YOU WILL HAVE TRANSPORTATION WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR DESTINATION AND YOU CAN RETURN WHEN YOU WANT.

DESPITE GASOLINE PRICES BEING MORE THAN A DOLLAR, MORE EXPENSIVE THAN LAST YEAR IT IS STILL RELATIVELY CHEAP AND MAKES UP ABOUT 10 TO 15% OF THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL BUDGET.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO AAA THERE ARE 27 MILLION MORE PEOPLE TRAVELING THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 2020.

I MUST CLOSE ADULT TIME RECORD OF 119 MILLION SET IN 2019 WHICH IS ALSO THE LAST NORMAL YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>> ACCORDING TO TSA THEY ARE SINGING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS A SCREED YESTERDAY WAS LARGER THAN A COMPARABLE DAY BACK IN 2019.

AS FAR AS THOSE FLYING ON THAT ONE PARTICULAR DATE IT IS ACTUALLY GREATER THAN PRE- PANDEMIC SO WE ARE COMING BACK.

THE CONFIDENCE, VACCINE AND BOOSTERS, PENT-UP DEMAND.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COOPED UP FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND THEY REALLY WANT TO GET OUT AND SEE FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND DO SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL PASSENGERS I SPOKE WITH SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME TRAVELING SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS SCARY THEY ARE EXCITED TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATION.

>> WE ARE EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE HEADING TO CALIFORNIA TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH HER BROTHER.

SHE SAID SHE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19 SO SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE TRAVELING ALTHOUGH NOW THAT SHE IS HERE >> I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE THIS CROWDED, IT IS SCARY.

>> Reporter: TRAVELERS SAY THEY WANT TO SPEND THIS TIME WITH THEIR LOVED ONES , ALL THEY CAN DO IS TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE.

TSA EXPECTS TO CREATE SCREEN NEARLY 30 MILLION PEOPLE, THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL OUR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S DAY.

TRAVELERS ARE ADVISED TO EXTRA TIME, GET TO TWO HOURS EARLY FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS IN THREE HOURS EARLY FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AND COME WITH PROOF OF A NEGATIVE TEST.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> ONE FAMILY JOINING THOSE MILLIONS OF HOLIDAY TRAVELERS THIS WEEK, THE MURPHYS.

GOVERNOR HEADED OUT TO COSTA RICA WITH HIS FAMILY EVEN AS THE STATE REACHED A RECORD- BREAKING INFECTION RATE.

WITH THE VOID IN STATE LEADERSHIP SOME MAYORS ARE TAKING THE PROVERBIAL BULL BY THE HORNS AND PASSING THEIR OWN RESTRICTIONS TO SLOW THE SPREAD.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ, SPOKE WITH A FEW OF THEM ABOUT THE PLANS.

>> JUST DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN THE RAPIDLY'S READING OMICRON VARIANT IS RAMPANT, CLOSE TO 15,000 NEW CASES DAILY IN NEW JERSEY INCLUDING IN THE PAST WEEK.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER AND THE MAYORS OF THE STATE'S TWO LARGEST CITIES.

>> I CAME BACK POSITIVE BUT I HAVE NO SYMPTOMS.

I TESTED MYSELF AGAIN AND I AM STILL POSITIVE.

I HAVE NO SYMPTOMS, FULLY VACCINATED AND HAVE THE BOOSTER SHOT.

>> THE MAJORITY IN NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW, UP TO 70% ARE OMICRON.

CDC HAS ESTIMATED TO JANUARY 3 WE SHOULD EXPECT 1 MILLION CASES IN THE UNITED STATES PER DAY ON THOSE ARE ALL MOSTLY ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY DUE TO OMICRON.

>> Reporter: AND ABSENT ANYTHING STRONGER THAN A MASKING SUGGESTION, INDIVIDUAL TOWNS ARE TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

>> IN SOUTH ORANGE WE HAVEN'T SURPASSED 15 POSITIVE TEST CASES SINCE DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND YET IN THE PAST THREE DAYS ALONE WE HAVE HAD 50 POSITIVE, 54 POSITIVE, 48 POSITIVE THIS MORNING AT 6:00 A.M., WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING A TRIPLING EFFECT ON SO EARLIER THIS WEEK WE MET WITH OUR SCHOOL LEADERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, SCHOOL NURSES AND BASED ON THAT ON MONDAY ONE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS WAS CLOSED AND AS SOON AS THAT WAS CLOSED TO GO VIRTUAL OUR HIGH SCHOOL HAD TO HAVE A CLOSURE AND GO VIRTUAL THE REST OF THE WEEK.

>> Reporter: THE SOUTH ORANGE VILLAGE PRESIDENT ADDED THAT VIRTUAL LEARNING WILL EXTEND INTO THE FIRST WEEK AFTER KIDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BACK FROM THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

HE ALSO VISITED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT INCLUDES AN INDOOR MASK MANDATE FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.

ADD MONTCLAIR TO THAT LIST, THE COUNCIL THEIR VOTING UNANIMOUSLY TO REINSTATE A MASK MANDATE.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A MASK ON WHEN YOU GO INTO A STORE OR SALON OR A RESTAURANT YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF WHEN YOU'RE EATING OR DRINKING.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SHUTDOWNS OR LIMITING CAPACITY IN PLACES OR ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD REMIND US OF HOW THINGS WERE IN 2020 AND EARLY 2021.

>> STRICT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE BY NEXT WEEK.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR HAS SO FAR REFUSED TO TIGHTEN RESTRICTIONS.

WITH THE ELECTION PAST MANY OBSERVERS BELIEVE THE NEAR COULD BRING A TIGHTER MANDATE AND RESTRICTIONS REGIME.

>> MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE LOCAL AND COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE HAVE STRONG STATE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE REQUIREMENT OF VACCINATIONS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, EACH MUNICIPALITY THEN STRUGGLES TO IMPLEMENT THEIR OWN VERSION OF A VACCINE MANDATE FOR EMPLOYEES AND IN SOUTH ORANGE WE DID THAT, WE RODE OUR OWN POLICY ON IT AND ARE AT 90% BUT IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO BE ABLE TO REFER TO A STATE MANDATE OR AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>> IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF PEOPLE HAD CAPACITY LIMITS ON STORES IN THE RUN UP TO CHRISTMAS.

THIS WOULD JUST BE A DISASTER AND PEOPLE WOULD BE SCREAMING BLOOD A MURDER.

SO I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT HE IS TRYING TO GET US THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR AND HIS FAMILY ARE IN COSTA RICA ON VACATION, MAYBE NOT THE BEST VISUAL WHILE MANY EXPERTS ARE DISCOURAGING TRAVEL AND HE HAS GOTTEN SOME CRITICISM FOR IT.

STILL, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBERS SEEM DAUNTING, THEY ARE TRENDING BADLY, THINGS HAVE BEEN WORSE.

>> DECEMBER 2021 VERSUS 2020, 60% OF AMERICAN PUBLIC HAD VACCINE, A QUARTER HAD A BOOSTER, THERAPEUTICS THAT SEEMED TO BE RELATIVELY WORKING.

WE HAVE CONTROL OF THE VIRUS THAT WAS BETTER THAN A YEAR AGO.

>> Reporter: A SMALL RAY OF LIGHT AS WE HEAD INTO HER SECOND COVID-19 WINTER.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> FAMILIES OF RESIDENTS WHO DIED A COVID-19 INTO OF THE STATES VETERANS HOMES HAVE REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR NEARLY $53 MILLION.

119 FAMILIES SUED THE STATE ALLEGING POOR INFECTION CONTROL LED TO WIDESPREAD ILLNESS AND DEATH.

IN TOTAL 200 RESIDENTS DIED AT THREE VETERANS HOMES.

THE STATE IS NOT ADMITTED WRONGDOING IN THE SETTLEMENT ALTHOUGH FEDERAL INSPECTION FOUND THAT LACKS IN INFECTION CONTROL DID PUT RESIDENTS AND STAFF IN, IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY AND INFECTION, FAILING TO SEPARATE INFECTED PATIENTS, STAFF NOT WEARING MASKS.

THEY AWARDED OVER $400,000 TO EACH FAMILY.

THE ATTORNEY SAID, NO AMOUNT OF MONEY CAN REPLACE A LIFE OF THESE VETERANS.

A STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATION ARE STILL ONGOING.

>>> HEALTH EXPERTS ARE SCRAMBLING TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF OMICRON THAT IS EXPLODED BUT THERE ARE SOME GLIMMERS OF HOPE.

PFIZER'S TREATMENT WAS APPROVED BY YESTERDAY AND TODAY MERCK RECEIVED APPROVAL ON ITS PILL MEANT TO BE USED WITH HIGH RISK ADULTS.

BOTH TREATMENTS CAN BE TAKEN AT HOME OR START AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF SYMPTOMS STARTING AND REDUCES RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION BY NEARLY 90% WHILE MERCK CUT THE RISK ABOUT 30%.

I DO WITH THE NEW TREATMENTS AVAILABLE COULD THE RAPID SPREAD PUT A STRAIN ON OUR ALREADY OVERBURDENED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM?

DR. JUDITH LIGHTFOOT JOINS ME NOW TO SHARE HER TAKE.

DR., WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW OMICRON IS PLAYING OUT HERE IN THE U.S.?

>> THE VARIANT IS RAPIDLY REPLICATING.

PROBABLY WITHIN 48 TO 72 HOURS, CLOSER TO 48.

SO WITHIN EVERY TWO DAYS.

WE'RE SEEING IT IN ALMOST ALL 50 STATES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MAYBE TWO STATES BUT PREDOMINANTLY WE ARE SEEING IT HERE IN NEW JERSEY FOR SURE.

>> HOW SEVERE HAS A BEEN IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS?

ARE WE SEEING IT IS SENDING PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL AND THERE ARE SEVERE CASES OF ILLNESS?

>> RIGHT NOW IN OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THOSE PATIENTS WHO ARE UNVACCINATED WHETHER WE CAN TRULY SPECIE RIGHT NOW DUE TO THE OMICRON VARIANT OR THE DELTA VARIANT IN THE NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL SYSTEMS NEED TO BE DETERMINED.

I KNOW HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND PARTICULARLY WHERE I AM HERE IN SOUTH JERSEY, SENSES AND ACUITY LEVELS OF PATIENTS A PRETTY SICK .

I MUST ASSUME ANY OF THOSE PATIENTS ARE CURRENTLY UNVACCINATED.

WE KNOW THE OMICRON VARIANT PATIENTS WHO REQUIRE THAT TEND TO HAVE MAINLY MILD SYMPTOMS BUT THOSE WHO PROBABLY DEVELOP MORE SEVERE SYMPTOMS, MAYBE DELTA STILL BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF I'M SEEING THAT OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

AGAIN IF I CAN'T SPECIE EIGHT IT RIGHT NOW AND I CAN'T IN THE OFFICE AND I CAN'T DETERMINE WHICH ONE IT IS.

BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR, WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT THERE IS LOW ILLNESS IF YOU'RE ALREADY VACCINATED BUT THERE IS A IS A CONCERN, THERE WAS A TEXAS CASE IN WHICH A YOUNG MALE DID SUCCUMB TO DEATH TO THE OMICRON VARIANT, IT IS NOT CLEAR AS OF YET, I DO NOT HAVE DATA AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS VACCINATED.

>> WE ARE SEEING SOME HOPEFUL NEWS OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA A BELL CURVE DESPITE HER FACE-OFF, WHERE ARE WE HERE IN THE U.S.

IN NEW JERSEY, IS A POSSIBLE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE POSITIONING ON THAT CURVE WE CAN FOLLOW THE SAME TIMELINE HOW LONG OMICRON STATE AND WILL LASTED?

>> I HOPE WE WILL SOON BE OUT OF THIS.

AS YOU KNOW WE FIRST SAW THREE CASES, I BELIEVE IT WAS A THANKSGIVING WEEKEND.

AND NOW WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND SEEN AROUND OUR POPULATION OMICRON VARIANT IS REPLICATED RAPIDLY AND WE ARE SEEING MORE CASES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

WE ARE TESTING WITH TESTING LINES AND TESTING CENTERS AND MANY PATIENTS ARE COMING IN HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND THOSE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED TO GET THE VACCINE OR TO RECEIVE THEIR BOOSTER.

WE ARE EXPECTED IN NEW JERSEY, RECEIVE DATA YESTERDAY FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PROBABLY SEE IT BEGIN CASES TO CONTINUE PROBABLY ABOUT MID-JANUARY.

THEN I AM HOPING, JUST MAYBE WE WILL BE COMING ON A DOWNSIZE OF THE CURVE.

BUT I CAN'T PREDICT IF THAT IS THE CURB BECAUSE EVERY DAY IS A NEW STORY.

I WOULD ONLY HOPE THAT MAYBE THE WORSE WILL BE JANUARY AND THINGS WILL GET BETTER AND FOLLOW SOUTH AFRICA'S BELL CURVE BUT THAT WILL BE REMAINING TO BE SEEN.

>> FEW SECONDS LEFT THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF FEAR, IF YOU'RE VACCINATED WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING AND IF YOU ARE NOT WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING?

>> WERE ASKING EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR THEIR MASKS AT ALL TIMES AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AS BEST AS YOU CAN, IF YOU'RE GATHERING DURING THE HOLIDAYS, IT IS STRESSED OVER AND OVER AGAIN YOU AND YOUR CLOSE FAMILY SHOULD BE TESTED BEFORE HAVING COMPANY IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED WE ARE STRONGLY URGING YOU TO CONSIDER BEING VACCINATED, THERE ARE TESTING SITES AND VACCINE CLINICS TO WILLING AND WAITING TO VACCINATE YOU.

>> DR. JUDITH LIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> IF YOU ARE CONCERNED YOU ARE EXPOSED TO COULD BE POSITIVE DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO?

OUR OWN HEALTHCARE WRITER HAS BROKEN IT DOWN TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THIS COMPLICATED WORLD OF COVID-19 PROTECTION INCLUDING WHERE AND HOW TO TEST AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE INFECTED, CHECK OUT HER REPORTING AT NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS EXTENDED THE STUDENT LOAN FREEZE UNTIL MAY 1, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN PLACE EARLY ON DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE FREEZE WAS SCHEDULED TO END ON FEBRUARY 1 FOR 41 MILLION FOLLOWERS WILL NOT HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS TO BEGIN REPAYING THEIR LOANS, THE TOTAL, $5 BILLION A MONTH.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN UNDER SOME PRESSURE TO FORGIVE PORTIONS OF THE DEBT ALTOGETHER HE IS NOT MADE A COMMITMENT TO DO SO BUT HE DID REVAMP THE PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM BACK IN OCTOBER THAT OFFERED RELIEF CLOSE TO 40,000 FOLLOWERS.

>>> 2022 WILL SEE MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS FOR THOSE FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT OR DISABILITY BENEFITS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS AND ALL THE TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM THE STATE, WHETHER IT UNEMPLOYMENT, DISABILITY OR FAMILY LEAVE NEXT YEAR'S PAYMENTS WILL BE HIGHER.

THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT RACE WHICH WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR CLAIMS FILED NEXT YEAR.

THE MAXIMUM WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT FOR UNEMPLOYMENT WILL ARISE TO $804 PER WEEK UP FROM $731 PER WEEK.

TEMPORARY DISABILITY AND FAMILY LEAVE, MAXIMUM WEEKLY BENEFIT RISES TO $993, THAT'S A $90 INCREASE IN WORKERS COMP CLAIMS WILL RISE TO A MAXIMUM OF $1065 PER WEEK UP FROM $969.

MAXIMUM BENEFIT RATES ARE RECALCULATED EACH YEAR BASED ON THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE.

>>> THE LATEST DATA ON UNEMPLOYMENT SHOWS THAT NEW JOBLESS CLAIMS REMAINED BELOW PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

ANOTHER 205,000 WORKERS FILE FOR FIRST- TIME UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN THE LATEST WEEK AND THAT NUMBER REMAINS NEAR A 50 YEAR LOW.

THE CHIEF ECONOMIST OF PSC FINANCIAL GROUP EXPECTS THE JOB MARKET TO REMAIN STRONG.

>> THE LAYOFFS ARE VERY LOW RIGHT NOW, WHEN WORKERS DO LOSE THEIR JOBS THEY ARE VERY QUICKLY ABLE TO FIND NEW ONES BECAUSE THE LABOR MARKET IS VERY TIGHT.

WE ARE SEEING STRONG WAGES PARTICULARLY FOR LOWER PAID WORKERS LIKE SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS, HEALTHCARE, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, WHERE DEMAND FOR LABOR IS VERY STRONG.

HOUSEHOLDS ARE GENERALLY DOING WELL BECAUSE OF THE IMPROVING LABOR MARKET AND I THINK WE WILL SEE CONTINUE STRONG WAGE INCREASES NEXT YEAR INCLUDING JOB GAINS.

>>> POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR STATE.

A RECENT REPORT FROM FIRST STREET FOUNDATION AND THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FIRM FINDS NATURE THEY HAS MORE THAN 15,000 COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AT RISK OF FLOODING ANNUALLY.

THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR $220 MILLION IN DIRECT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

FOR THE DOCTOR JEREMY PORTER, HEAD OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SAYS THE TRUE ECONOMIC COSTS ARE BAD MUCH GREATER.

>> THERE'S ALSO INDIRECT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND SUPPORTING PERIPHERAL ACTIVITIES , RESTAURANTS TO SUPPORT WORKERS IN BUILDINGS THAT HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN, SUPPLY CHAINS AND THEN AFFECTS THE CLOSER TO $1.2 BILLION TODAY.

>> THE REPORT FINDS OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS THE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS THAT RISK WILL CONTINUE TO GROW IN NEW JERSEY AND IN OTHER VENERABLE AREAS.

>>> HERE IS A CHECK ON WHAT WALL STREET TRADING FOR TODAY, I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER WITH YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> FROM TOXIC INDUSTRIAL SITES ATTAINTED DRINKING WATER TO PERSISTENT AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS THERE ARE PLENTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACING THE GARDEN STATE NOW A NEW LEADER HAS BEEN TAPPED TO OVERSEE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S WORK IN NEW JERSEY.

LISA GARCIA HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE NEW REGIONAL OF ILLUSTRATOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION TO WHERE SHE WILL HELP TO IMPLEMENT THE PRESIDENTS ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA FOR NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK SHE TALKED ABOUT WHAT PRIORITIES WILL COME FIRST.

I WANT TO START WITH ONE THAT MADE HEADLINES THIS WEEK, FEDERAL FUNDING WILL HELP TO CLEAN UP SEVERAL SUPERFUND SITES IN NEW JERSEY BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?

>> THE SEVEN THAT WERE CHOSEN BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW PROVIDED MORE MONEY FROM CLEANUPS AND SO THAT'S GOING TO REALLY FOCUS ON OTHER SITES THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE IN SIMPLE RESPONSIBLE PARTY AND THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER WAVE OF MONEY NEXT YEAR SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE A FEW MORE SITES PICKED AND THEN OF COURSE WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THE OTHER SITES.

>> WHAT DOES THAT CLEANUP AND TAIL AND WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON SOIL, THE HARM IN THE REGION?

>> THE REASON THEY ARE LISTED IS BECAUSE THE SITES HAVE TOXIC AND CONTAMINATION IN THE SOIL, A LOT OF THE SITES HAVE BEEN CONTAINED SO THEY ARE NOT IMPACTING NEIGHBORING SITES BUT THE REASON THEY WERE CHOSEN IS BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGHLY CONTAMINATED AND SO THAT'S THE FOCUS OF IT.

EACH SITE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONTAMINATION, DIFFERENT TYPE OF PATHWAY, THE POINT IS, YOU CONTAIN THE SITE, EACH CLEANUP HAS ITS OWN REMEDY CAN TALK ABOUT THE SEVEN LOOSELY , REALLY DIG IN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR EACH SITE IT'S A CONTAMINANT WE ARE DRIVING IN TRYING TO GET TO.

ALL SUPERFUND SITES.

TO CLEAN UP THE SOIL AND CLEANUP THE WATER.

BRING IT BACK, PART OF THAT ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AND PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS REUSE OF THAT LAND, THAT SITE.

>> IN YOUR NEW ROLE AS THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE EPA HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TACKLE THE INCREASING CONTAMINATION OF OUR WATER FROM PFAS?

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATOR REAGAN HAS SAID THAT PFAS IS A HUGE PRIORITY.

THE EPA IS LEAVING FORWARD, THERE IS A WHOLE LEGION SEE PLAN OF ATTACK HOW TO RESEARCH IT LAND, AND REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE STANDARDS ARE WE CAN THEN IMPLEMENT TO TACKLE IT.

THE WHOLE AGENCY WORK PLAN TO REALLY GET TO PFAS AND THEN WORKING WITH THE STATES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE IN THE METHODS OF GETTING THE PFAS OUT, WHETHER IT IS IN SOIL OR WATER AND REALLY REDUCING THE IMPACT FROM THE DIFFERENT PFAS THAT WE SEE.

>> A ONE ASKED FOR A SHORT ANSWER ON A COMPLICATED PROBLEM, WE ARE COMMUTER STATE, HOW DO WE CLEANUP OUR AIRWAYS?

>> A LOT OF RULES THAT ARE COMING OUT, ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO PRIORITIZE REDUCING AIR POLLUTION AND SO WE ARE TACKLING IT FROM CARS AND VEHICLES YESTERDAY WE SAW THE ANNOUNCEMENT WE ARE TRYING TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES AND OTHER POLLUTANTS FROM CARS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES.

IT IS HAPPENING, IT IS ALREADY GOING THROUGH AND THAT THEN CHANGES OUT THE FLEETS INTO THE FUTURE THAT ARE MUCH CLEANER AND SO WE ARE ON THAT PATHWAY.

AS YOU KNOW, THAT WILL IMPACT ALL THE ROADWAYS IN NEW JERSEY.

IT WILL BE A HUGE HELP.

>> LISA GARCIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT AND OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE WOULD KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE VERY LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS , THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>>> MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH , OCEAN WING PROJECT, PS E.G.

CREATED TO LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY-CHAIN, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

OCEAN WIND, CREATED TO THE NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.