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THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR >>JOINING US TONIGHT ON NJTV DIGGING OUT OF THIS RELENTLESS RECORD-SETTING STORM, FLAKES CONTINUE FALLING, MORE THAN 30 INCHES OF SNOW COVERING SECTIONS OF NORTH JERSEY INCLUDING MONTAGUE TOWNSHIP WHERE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RECORDED ONE OF THE HIGHEST NOBLES, 33 INCHES, BETWEEN EIGHT AND 18 INCHES BETWEEN CENTRAL JERSEY, THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE ESCAPING THE MASSIVE SNOW TOTALS BUT NOT COASTAL FLOODING.

AT LEAST THREE MORE INCHES WILL ACCUMULATE STATEWIDE BY THE END OF TODAY.

EVEN AS THE STORM LETS UP GOVERNOR MURPHY IS URGING EVERYONE TO STAY OFF THE ROADS, ALLOWING SNOW REMOVAL CREWS TO DO THEIR JOB SAFELY.

HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS REMAIN CLOSED ARE ALL REMOTE, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS SLOWLY COMING BACK ONLINE THROUGH TODAY.

BUT ICY CONDITIONS ARE HERE TO STAY FOR NOW.

DANTE SKIN HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE CLEANUP FROM THIS SNOWFALL TO REMEMBER.

>> WE ARE DIGGING OUT TODAY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

WE HAVE HAD A 36+ HOUR PERIOD AFTER THE STORM.

>> Reporter: THE STATE IS SLOWLY OPENING BACK UP AFTER HITTING SNOW TOTALS UNSEEN IN YEARS.

THE MAC MORE THAN 30 INCHES REPORTED IN MORRIS AND SUSSEX COUNTIES AND TWO FEET, PLUS, YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO GO BACK TO 1986 TO GET A STORE WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF FEROCITY.

>> IT IS REALLY SURPRISING HOW MUCH CAME OUT.

>> ONE COUPLE SAID THAT SHOVELING WAS NOT THE ISSUE.

>> THERE IS JUST SO MUCH SNOW IN ONE AREA.

>> IF YOU CAN HELP DIG OUT YOUR NEIGHBORS, IF THERE'S A FIRE HYDRANT, KEEP IT ACCESSIBLE.

>> THAT AIRPORT WARNED THAT THEY SHOULD CHECK THE STATUS BEFORE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT.>> NJ TRANSIT RAIL AND BUS SERVICE IS STARTING BACK UP.

THINGS WILL TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME GETTING BACK TO NORMAL DUE TO THE SNOW TOTALS.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY REPORTED JUST UNDER 2000 HOMES WITHOUT POWER AND NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPERS HAVE RESPONDED TO 743 ACCIDENTS AND MORE THAN 1300 CALLS FOR HELP.>> JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE SNOW DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS NO ICE.

>> AT NOON THE GOVERNOR TODAY COMMERCIAL BAN BUT ASK THAT THEY STAY OFF THE ROADS AS CREWS CONTINUE TO CLEAR.

>> WE ARE CLEARING SHOULDERS AND PUSHING BACK RAMP AREAS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE ROAD DRIES.

THAT IS THE NEXT PART OF OUR OPERATION.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT SAFELY.

SO TO THE EXTENT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE OUT, PLEASE DON'T.

>> WE HAD OVER 275 PUBLIC WORKS CREWS OUT THERE AND THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN CLEARING THE COUNTY ROADWAYS AS HAS THE STATE.

OUR PRIMARY ROADS ARE LOOKING IN GOOD SHAPE AND PASSABLE AT THIS TIME.>> THE SNOW WAS NOT THE ONLY ELEMENT THAT IMPACTED PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

MANY EXPERIENCED EXTREME FLOODING.

>> FLOOD GAUGES WERE READING MODERATE, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THESE READINGS SINCE PROBABLY SANDY.

THEY WEREN'T SANDY TYPE READINGS BUT THEY WERE DEFINITELY IN THE TOP 10 AS FLOODING GOES IN THOSE AREAS.

IN AREAS LIKE MEDICINE ON.

ALL ALONG THE SHORE DRIVE IN NEPTUNE.

>> THE BEACH AREA, WE MONITOR FLOODING THERE., BUT WE ARE PREPARED FOR ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY.>> THE SYSTEM IS FINALLY PULLING AWAY THIS EVENING.

>> VACCINATION SITES WERE CLOSED TODAY, SO WERE SOME SCHOOLS, PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE BIG DIG OUT AS NEW JERSEY REMAINS UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

I'M LEAH MISHKIN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> GOING SO FAR AS TO COMPARE IT WITH THE BLIZZARD OF 1996, WHEN THE STATE RACHEL HOLT.

IMAGES FROM TODAY'S DIG OUT LOOK SIMILAR BUT WAS THIS ONE FOR THE BOOKS, WE ASKED METEOROLOGIST STEVE DECKER FOR HIS TAKE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AS WE SPEAK THERE ARE STILL SOME FLURRIES OUT THERE, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THIS MASSIVE STORM TO MAKE ITS WAY OUT.>> SOMETIME LATER THIS EVENING, THE FINAL SNOW FLURRY SHOULD BE ON THEIR WAY OUT OF HERE.

THE MAC WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT RECORD SETTING, WE ARE IN THE THIRD DAY AS WE TALK NOW OF THIS PRECIPITATION.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A LONG LASTING THE STORM.

SOME AREAS HAVE GOT MORE THAN 30 INCHES, WHICH PUTS THINGS IN THAT TOP THREE OR TOP FOUR STORM EVENT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT SUSSEX, MORRIS AND WARREN COUNTIES IN PARTICULAR.

AND FOR THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE STATE WE ARE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE TOP 10 SNOW EVENTS WE'VE HAD ON RECORD.>> HOW FAR BACK DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO SEE SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE.>> IN 2016 WE HAD ANOTHER BIG SNOW EVENT, AND IN SOME AREAS OF NEW JERSEY THAT IS THE TOP SNOWSTORM.>> DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT IS TAPERING OFF, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT IS STILL DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND REALLY FOR THE WINTER AHEAD.

IT IS GROUNDHOG DAY AFTER ALL.>> AT LEAST OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE SHOULD WARM UP A LITTLE BIT AND THAT WILL HELP TO MELT SOME OF THE SNOW, ALTHOUGH NOT ALL OF THE SNOW.

BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE WILL GET COLD AGAIN NEXT WEEK, SO THE REMAINING SNOW SHOULD STICK AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME INTO FEBRUARY.

>> TO ANY PREDICTIVE MODELS SHOW ANOTHER STORM LIKE THIS IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> THERE'S A RISK OF SOMETHING OR IN SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A GUARANTEE YET, AND IT WILL NOT BE AS BIG AS THE STORM WAS, BUT THERE IS A RISK OF MORE FLAKES IN THE SKY AROUND SUNDAY OR SO.>> SAID JUST IN TIME FOR US TO DIG OUT AND THEN AGAIN.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

AS WE MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, STORM RELATED CLOSURES CONTINUED TODAY INCLUDING THE STATES SIX VACCINE MEGA SITES.

THAT MEANS MORE APPOINTMENTS WERE RESCHEDULED, MORE THAN 824,000 TOTAL VACCINES HAVE BEEN GIVEN SO FAR.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE FIRST DOSES.

IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MUCH THIS SNOW WILL IMPACT TESTING FOR THE WEEK.

STATE LEADERS ARE REPORTING ANOTHER 2800 NEW CONFIRMED CASES JUST SHY OF ACCENTURE 30,000 TOTAL WITH 71 MORE LIVES LOST AND NEARLY 22,000 TOTAL FATALITIES.

HOSPITALIZATIONS REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME AS YESTERDAY WITH NEARLY 2900 PATIENTS ACROSS THE U.S., JANUARY WAS RECORDED AS THE DEADLIEST MONTH DURING THIS CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.

BUT THERE ARE SIGNS OF PROGRESS AS THE NUMBERS SLOW.

A TOP PRIORITY IN THE FEDERAL RECOVERY IS THE PLEDGE TO REOPEN MOST OF THE NATION'S PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITHIN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST 100 DAYS.

IT'S AN AMBITIOUS PLAN THAT WILL TAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS APPROVED BY CONGRESS AND FACES FEARS PUSHBACK BY TEACHERS UNIONS, SOME REFUSING TO RESUME IN PERSON LEARNING OVER SAFETY CONCERNS.

ONE NORTH JERSEY DISTRICT IS LOCKED IN A BITTER DISPUTE NOW HEADED FOR COURT.>> MY OLDER SON WAS DISTRAUGHT WHEN WE TOLD HIM HE WILL NOT GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

THEY ARE STARVED FOR INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE OTHER THAN MY WIFE AND I AND I THINK IT IS HARMING THEIR SOCIAL WELL- BEING, BEING APART FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

>> IT WAS A TOUGH DAY WHEN THE LANGUAGE FAMILY HEARD THAT THAT FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR THE SCHOOL WOULD NOT OPEN HIS PLAN.

IT WAS ESPECIALLY HARD FOR CAROLYN'S KINDERGARTNER WHO HAD ALREADY SEEN THE INSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM FROM THE TEACHERS RESUME.

>> HE ALREADY SAW THE CLASSROOM AND WHERE HE WOULD BE.

THEN TO EXPLAIN A FEW DAYS LATER, JUST KIDDING, WE ARE STILL HERE.

IT WAS REALLY HARD.

THEMATIC THEIR SON HAS AN IEP WHICH REQUIRES ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT IN SCHOOL.

>> THERE IS NOT A LOT THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO TO ASSIST HIM.

>> WITHOUT IT COMING IS FALLING WAY BEHIND.

>> SOCIALLY HE STRUGGLES, EMOTIONALLY STRUGGLES.

WE CAN'T KEEP HIM ENGAGED FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES AT A TIME ONLINE.

SO HE HAS REALLY LOST THE MAJORITY OF THIS YEAR.

>> FRUSTRATED PARENTS CAN'T GET MUCH CLARITY FROM A DISTRICT THAT IS LOCKED IN A DISPUTE WITH THE LOCAL TEACHERS UNION.

IT WAS THE UNION THAT ANNOUNCED THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF WOULD NOT RETURN TO SCHOOL ON JANUARY 25, BLAMING THE DISTRICT FOR NOT PROVIDING DOCUMENTS PROVING THE BUILDINGS WERE SAFE.

JONATHAN PONS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING "THE STATUS QUO CANNOT CONTINUE.

THEREFORE, AND WITH THE SUPPORT AND DIRECTION OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, I SEE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO INSTRUCT OUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MEA FOR PHYSICAL RETURN TO SCHOOL.

THEY RESPONDED SAYING THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED THE DISTRICT HAS MOVED IN SUCH A NEGATIVE DIRECTION AND THEY ARE STILL WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY SAID THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT READY YET, WE ARE STILL WORKING ON VENTILATION AND HVAC AND OUR SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

ALL OF THAT MADE A LOT OF SENSE.

NOW WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE THE DISTRICT, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SAYING WE ARE READY TO GO AND STILL NOT GOING IN.>> IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM THE DISTRICT, AT LEAST WITH THE REOPENING PLAN WE WERE PROVIDED, WAS THAT THE DISTRICT HAD COMPLIED WITH ALL THE STATE- MANDATED GUIDELINES.

AND WHAT THE DISCONNECT HERE IS WHAT IS THE TOWN OBLIGATED TO DO UNDER THOSE GUIDELINES THAT THEY HAVE NOT DONE.

>> WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THOSE ANSWERS, BOTH FAMILIES ARE TRYING TO BALANCE FULL-TIME WORK WITH THE DEMANDS OF SUPPORTING THEIR KIDS WHO THEY SAY ARE EXPERIENCING LEARNING LOSS.>> I THINK THERE ARE ELEMENTARY CONCEPTS THAT ARE NOT BEING QUITE UNDERSTOOD BY OUR KIDS.

>> DOES IT CONCERN YOU THAT YOUR SON WILL MOVE ON TO FOURTH GRADE WITHOUT FULLY GRASPING THE THIRD GRADE CONCEPTS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IS LEARNING?>> IT CONCERNS US GREATLY.

>> A CONCERN MAGNIFIED BY HIS FEAR THAT SCHOOLS MAY NOT REOPEN AT ALL THIS YEAR.

>> THERE IS A LEADERSHIP SHAKEUP AT THE FORT DIX FEDERAL PRISON AMID A COVID OUTBREAK AT THE FACILITY.

THE FORMER WARDEN, DAVID ORTIZ, IS BEING TEMPORARILY REASSIGNED TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE IN PHILADELPHIA WITHIN THE BUREAU OF PRISONS.

FAMILY SEPARATED FROM HELP OVER THE ALLEGED CONDITIONS INSIDE THE CORRECTION SITE WERE NEARLY 1500 INMATES HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 SINCE MARCH.

THAT IS THE MOST OF ANY OTHER FEDERAL PRISON FACILITY.

MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE POSITIVE CASES OCCURRED IN JUST THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

IN A STATEMENT A SPOKESPERSON WOULD NOT SAY WHETHER ORTIZ WOULD RETURN TO FORT DIX.

MEANTIME DATA AND RESEARCH ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES REVEALING WHAT MANY HEALTH EXPERTS PREDICTED.

RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY IMMUNITIES ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO GET SICK FROM COVID-19 THAN THEIR WHITE NEIGHBORS.

ONCE INFECTED, THOSE RESIDENTS ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO DIE.

PRELIMINARY DATA SHOWS THE REAL TOTAL IN NEW JERSEY, THE CORONAVIRUS WAS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN 2020.

OUR SENIOR WRITER HAS MORE ON WHAT WE ARE LEARNING.

SO WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS IS PRELIMINARY DATA.

BUT IT DOES SUGGEST THAT OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE SUFFERING MORE.

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES.

THERE WILL BE MORE DEATH CERTIFICATES COMING IN AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES.

BUT CERTAINLY THIS TREND, I THINK IT WILL BE SURPRISING TO SEE A CHANGE TOO MUCH.

EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH YESTERDAY SAID THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED AT ALL BECAUSE THEY KNEW THIS WAS COMING BECAUSE OF THE WAY COVID HAS IMPACTED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.>> WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS COLLEEN, AND DID A POINT TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING?>> FOR BLACKS IT WAS ABOUT TO INTENT OF THOSE WHO DIED LAST YEAR DIED FROM COVID AND RELATED CONDITIONS.

ABOUT A LITTLE MORE THAN A QUARTER OF ASIANS AND ONE THIRD OF HISPANICS WHICH IS WELL, THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER.

THAT ONE IN THREE HISPANIC OR LATINO WHO DIED LAST YEAR DIED OF COVID.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IT IS KIND OF THE THINGS WE KNEW, WHICH IS THAT FOLKS WHO WERE IN THOSE FRONT-LINE POSITIONS, OR MANY OF THEM ARE, AND SO THEY CANNOT TAKE OFF, SUMMER LIVING IN CROWDED CONDITIONS.

WHICH ALSO IS A FACTOR FOR GETTING COVID.

>> GETTING THAT DATA IS ONE THING BUT, HOW IS IT BEING USED NOW TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THESE WHEN WE KNOW THESE DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, THE STRUCTURAL RACISM, WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO PUSH BACK NOW?>> IT IS CERTAINLY, OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL REALLY MAKE POLITICIANS AND POLICYMAKERS TAKE NOTICE.

THE STATE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN LOOKING AT THIS REALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

IN TERMS OF TRYING TO HELP FOLKS OUT.

THE NEXT FRONT TO LOOK AT IS THE VACCINES IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE GET PEOPLE OF COLOR VACCINATED.

SO FAR WE ARE NOT DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

STOMACH SOCIAL JUSTICE, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS GOVERNOR MURPHY AND MANY LAWMAKERS SUPPORT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA BUT THEY HAVE YET TO COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE FOR ENABLING LEGISLATION.

ALL THE BACK-AND-FORTH HAS PROMPTED A NEW PROPOSAL THAT WILL ALLOW RESIDENTS TO LEGALLY GROW UP TO SIX PLANS OF THEIR OWN MARIJUANA.

THE BILL COMES FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE, ONE OF THE STATES MOST CONSERVATIVE SENATORS.

DAVID CHRIS REPORTS.

>> Reporter: SENATOR JERRY COULD BE CHARMING, THE BERGEN COUNTY LAWMAKER HAS BEEN COMING AT YOU FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL AGENDA FOR DECADES.

HE WAS VERY ANTI-CANNABIS, ONCE CALLING GOVERNOR MURPHY A JUDAS GOAT FOR BEING A PROPONENT.

SO IT CAME AS UPPER PIES SURPRISED IS HIM THAT HE WOULD LAST WEEK INTRODUCE A BILL THAT MAKING GROWING YOUR OWN WHEAT IS LEGAL IS GROWING YOUR OWN CARROTS.

>> MARIJUANA SHOULD NOT BE DIFFERENT.

THERE IS A BELIEVE IN MAKING MONEY OFF THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY THAT WANT TO USE THIS PRODUCT.

AND THEY WANT TO PUT FEES AND TAXES, THAT IS WRONG.

>> IT'S NOT THAT HE CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT CANNABIS, HE STILL THINKS THAT LEGALIZING IT IS A BIG MISTAKE.

BUT HE'S ALWAYS HAD A LIBERTARIAN STREAK, AND THAT HE SAYS, IS WHERE HE IS COMING FROM.

THE MINUTE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEGALLY GROW MARIJUANA.

YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT YOURSELF TO A COMMISSION APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR THAT ALMOST HAS NO CRITERIA THAT IT HAS TO FOLLOW.

THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, LARGELY WITHOUT THE ADVICE OR INCENTIVE OF THE SENATE.>> I THINK HE IS JUST MESSING WITH US.

HONESTLY.

>> SENATOR NICK WHO SAW HIS SHARE OF CANVAS BILLS OVER THE YEARS IS GROWING YOUR OWN IS JUST NOT A REALISTIC OPTION RIGHT NOW.>> THAT DOES NOT MEAN I AM PERSONALLY AGAINST GROWING YOUR OWN AT HOME.

I THINK THAT IS A PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABLE POSITION FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE.

I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING NOW.

THE STATE DOES NOT SUPPORT THAT, NOT AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE OF THE CHOPS IN THE BLACK MARKET AND THE ILLICIT MARKET LEAKAGE OF THIS MARKET PRODUCT.

>> THE BILL WOULD ALLOW FOR SIX PLANS FOR PERSONAL USE.

RIGHT NOW THE PENALTY FOR GROWING £.10 OR LESS IS A $25,000 FINE AND UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON OR BOTH.

THAT IS SOME STRONG PROTECTIONS FOR AN INDUSTRY THAT IS STILL TRYING TO BE BORN.>> THAT VOTERS VOTED TO TAX AND REGULATE AND STOP ARRESTING.

I THINK THERE IS A TAX AND REGULATE PORTION, THAT THIS WILL BE IN A STORE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO BUY THIS IN SORT OF A NORMAL SETTING, A RETAIL SETTING.

WE WILL PAY FOR IT WITH NORMAL TRANSACTION AND THERE WILL BE TAX REVENUE GENERATED FROM IT.

>> MANY LAWMAKERS SAY THEY SYMPATHIZE WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS WHO MAY WANT TO GROW THEIR OWN OR SELF- MEDICATING BUT THE VIABILITY OF A BILLION-DOLLAR MARKETPLACE AND ALL THE TAX REVENUE WILL HAVE TO BE THE PRIORITY FOR NOW.

>> DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AGREE THAT THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER PANDEMIC RELIEF PACKAGE, BUT THAT IS WHERE IT APPEARS TO END.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS MORE ON THE FIGHT FOR A DEAL IN TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.>> THE BATTLE OVER WHERE ECONOMIC STIMULUS BEGINS AGAIN.

THE SENATE SET THE STAGE FOR RENEWED NEGOTIATIONS ON ANOTHER CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER LAID OUT ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS.

>> HELPING EVERY AMERICAN WHO WAS STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, PAY THE RENT, PAY THE MORTGAGE, PAY FOR GROCERIES, KEEP UP THE UTILITY BILL, BY SENDING THEM DIRECT ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF A CHECK.

>> THE AMOUNT ON THE CHECK IS A BATTLE TO BE FOUGHT.

DEMOCRATS WANT TO PROVIDE PAYMENTS OF $1400, BUT A COUNTERPROPOSAL OFFERED BY REPUBLICANS WOULD CAP THE PAYMENT AT 1000.

DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING FOR A $1.9 TRILLION RELIEF PACKAGE, REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSING A 618 BILLION-DOLLAR PLAN.

A NEW GROUP HAS BEEN FORMED TO HELP INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND GIG WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY, CALLED THE NEW JERSEY COALITION FOR INDEPENDENT WORK.

THE GROUP IS COMPRISED OF COMPANIES LIKE LYFT AND HUBER, SEVERAL NEW JERSEY GROUPS AND FAITH LEADERS, IT WILL EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIG WORKERS AND ALSO LOOK TO IMPROVE THEIR ACCESS TO WORKPLACE BENEFITS.

EMPLOYEES OF THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IN ATLANTIC CITY ARE GETTING BONUSES.

THE COMPANY WILL DELIVER A TOTAL OF $1 MILLION IN BONUSES TO 2000 EMPLOYEES.

2020 WAS A DOWN YEAR FOR THE HARD ROCK DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, BUT EXECUTIVES SAID TODAY THAT THE BUSINESS EXCEEDED ITS PROJECTIONS FOR THE MONTH THE CASINO WAS OPEN.

COMPANIES ACROSS QUITE A FEW INDUSTRIES HAVE GIVEN OUT BONUSES TO THINK EMPLOYEES WERE WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS TEAMING UP WITH THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA TO STUDY HOW TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES.

THE TWO WILL STUDY HOW TO MAKE SURE THOSE BUSINESSES HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDING, THAT IS I'M RHONDA SHAFFLER, THOSE ARE SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

ROADBLOCK OF THE PAST.

THAT'S A WALL STREET WHERE STOCKS RALLIED TODAY.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

>>> FEBRUARY MARKS THE START OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, RECOGNIZING AND ELEVATED THE CONTRIBUTIONS BLACK AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE COUNTRY.

IT'S ALSO A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE CONTINUED STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

LEADERS IN THE PLAINFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE DOING THEIR PART TO ENSURE THAT HISTORY IS NOT BEING TAUGHT FROM WHITE CENTERED PERSPECTIVES, COMING UP THE YEAR THAT'S A HISTORIC CHALLENGES TO SYSTEMIC RACISM, AND FINALLY PUT THE NATION'S FIRST BLACK WOMAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

RAVEN SANTANA HAS THE STORY.

>> WE DID NOT LET COVID STOP OUR BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION.

>> Reporter: BLACK HISTORY MONTH MAY LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID, BUT DR. DIANA MITCHELL SAYS THE DISTRICT IS PROVIDING A SAFE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO HONOR THE MONTH WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR HOMES.

>> IT WILL BE VIRTUAL VENDOR SET UP, THERE WILL BE STUDENTS SPEAKING AS WELL AS TEACHERS READING ABOUT HISTORY AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS BLACK EDUCATION MATTERS.

IN THE PAST, MANY OF OUR HISTORY LESSONS WERE RIGHT OUT- OF-THE-BOX.>> MY GOAL IS TO BRING THE PRIDE BACK WITH THE STUDENTS.

BY GIVING THEM THEIR HERITAGE AND HISTORY.

>> DR. TRISTAN COX IS THE SOCIAL STUDIES SUPERVISOR FOR THE DISTRICT.

HE IS ALSO ONE OF 20 EDUCATORS VOLUNTEERING IN THE DISTRICTS VIRTUAL EVENT THAT WILL INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND STORYTELLING.

>> OFTEN TIMES WHEN ONE THINKS ABOUT BLACK HISTORY THEY START WITH THE SYSTEM OF SLAVERY.

THERE IS A RICH HISTORY THAT EXISTS BEFORE THE SYSTEM OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE WANT TO GIVE OUT THAT INFORMATION, WE WANT TO PRESERVE THAT HISTORY.

>> DR. COX SAYS HE WILL BE JOINED BY HIS FATHER WHO WAS THE PLAINFIELD HISTORIAN.

>> WE WILL TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN PLAINFIELD NEW JERSEY.

>> IN 2020 BLACK FAMILIES WERE STATISTICALLY HIT HARDER THAN MOST OTHER COMMUNITIES BY THE PANDEMIC, AS THEY ALSO FOUGHT FOR AND PROTESTED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

THAT'S WHY LIKE HISTORY MONTH COMMITTEE MEMBER SAYS IT WAS CRITICAL THAT THE EVENT INCLUDED THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEECH.

>> I WILL PRESENT TO YOU A PIECE.

>> ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WE LIKE TO BRING INTO THE PROGRAM IS THE STUDENTS AND THEIR ORATORIO SKILLS.

BASICALLY GIVING THE TIME TO SHOW THEIR VOICE.

ETIQUETTE, SPEAKING, PREPARING THEMSELVES WITH THE COMMON CONFIDENCE IN PRESENTING FOURTH DIFFERENT P SINCE, KNOWING HOW TO TALK AND PRESENT THEMSELVES.

>> MANY TIMES THAT MEDIA WILL HIGHLIGHT THE NEGATIVES OF THE MINORITY COMMUNITY OR BLACK COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ENCOURAGE HIGHLIGHTING THE POSITIVE TO BALANCE OUT THE GOOD NEWS OF WHAT OUR FOREFATHERS OF THE PAST HAVE DONE AND THE GOOD NEWS OF WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE CAN CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE VIRTUAL CELEBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE EVERY FRIDAY AT 6 PM THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

AND THE SUPERINTENDENT STRESSES THAT THE EVENT IS FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THOSE WHO LIVE IN PLAINFIELD.

AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN THE EVENT, YOU CAN DO SO BY USING THE ZOOM LINK THAT WILL BE FOUND ON THE PLAINFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEBSITE.>> THIS THURSDAY IN A JOINT SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CHRIS FOR CHECKBOX ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY IS A GUEST WITH A DEEPER LOOK AT HER PLANS TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH.

THEN DAVID DIGS INTO THE NEW IMMIGRATION ORDER SIGNED THIS WEEK BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TODAY.

HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, STAY SAFE IN THIS WEATHER.

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 NEW, LONG TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> HAVE SOME WATER.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF, I BECAME AN ESL TEACHER TO GIVE MY TWO DENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE.

THE CHANCE TO BE KNOWN AND BE AN AMERICAN.

I'M PROUD TO BE A NJEA MEMBER.