FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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

>> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

IN FOR BREANNA FOR NOSY.

THE LOWEST NUMBER SINCE JULY OF 2021.

AS COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO TREND DOWNWARD, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NEWARK SAFELY SAID FAREWELL TO MEDICAL PERSONNEL WHO SERVED AS TEMPORARY REINFORCEMENTS.

AN EMOTIONAL GOODBYE AS THESE SOLDIERS WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE EXHAUSTED HOSPITAL MEMBERS SINCE THEIR ARRIVAL ON JANUARY 20th.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> AMIDST APPLAUSE AND CHANCE, THANK YOU TO THE FIELD HOSPITAL, GOT CLAPPED OUT WHERE THEY JUST SPENT OVER A MONTH.

OVER 4000 CLINICAL HOURS, SIDE- BY-SIDE.

MEDICAL WORKERS EXHAUSTED AND OVERWHELMED.

SNUFF GAVE A HEART BELL GOODBYE.

>> WE WERE SO IN NEED OF THEIR HELP, ONCE AGAIN.

IT CAME TO A POINT WHERE THE STAFF WAS TIRED, AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN THEIR EYES AND IN THEIR BODY LANGUAGE.

>> WHEN YOU WERE ON YOUR LAST LEG OR IN THE NINTH INNING AND YOU ARE JUST WONDERING, IS THERE SOMEBODY THAT CAN COME ALONG AND GIVE YOU THAT BOOST OF NOT JUST PHYSICAL STAMINA, BUT EMOTIONAL ENDURANCE.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

IT WAS YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE.

YOU ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

AND JUST SAYING GOODBYE, IT'S BITTERSWEET.

>> FROM DAY ONE, THE FOLKS HERE AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BROUGHT US RIGHT INTO THE FOLD AND WERE ESSENTIALLY LIKE FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> MAJOR MARSHALL GLENN ASTIR IS CURRENTLY STATIONED IN LOUISIANA.

NEW JERSEY'S OMICRON SURGE WAS CERTAINLY AN EYE-OPENER.

>> WE CERTAINLY DO NOT SEE THE NUMBERS THAT YOU ALL DO IN NEWARK.

BUT WE DO SEE A LOT ON THE DOD SIDE.

THE BIGGEST THING FOR US IS JUST GIVING THE STAFF HERE A CHANCE TO TAKE ANY, SO TO SPEAK AND GET SOME REST.

>> TODAY, WE HONOR OUR SOLDIERS AND TEAM MEMBERS FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND THE PATIENT THAT THEY SERVE.

>> AT A CEREMONY BEFORE THE CLAPPED OUT, THE TEAM RECEIVED MEDALS AND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEIR WORK HERE AND DEEPEST GRATITUDE.

THE DIRECTOR NOTED THAT WHEN THESE MEDICAL TROOPS ARRIVED, 10% OF STAFF HAD CALLED OUT IN 85 COVID PATIENTS.

>> WE WERE IN FACT IN CRISIS.

BUT AS OF THIS MORNING, I CAN REPORT THAT WE ONLY HAVE TWO PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE COVID-19 UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

IF THAT DOES NOT REPRESENT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED FOR ALL OF YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES.

PLEASE GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> Reporter: DR. ALMA HALL HAD THE OPTION OF REQUESTING AN EXTENSION FOR ANOTHER 15 DAYS, BUT HE SAYS THAT THE HOSPITAL STAFF IS RECOVERING WELL.

>> MUCH MUCH BETTER.

SO OUR BIGGEST INDICATOR HAS BEEN THE NUMBER OF STAFF OUT DUE TO COVID OR RECENTLY RELATED TO COVID.

AND THAT HAS DROPPED ASTRONOMICALLY SINCE THESE HEROES HAVE BEEN HERE.

SO WE ARE BACK TO RELATIVELY NORMAL STAFFING.

>> THIS IS THEM SECOND TIME THAT A MILITARY TEAM REINFORCED FRONT-LINE WORKERS AT UNIVERSITY.

THEY PROVIDED CRITICAL ASSISTANCE DURING THE FIRST DEADLY WAVE IN SPRING 2020.

ALMOST 2 YEARS LATER, THEY DEPLOYED AGAIN AT UNIVERSITY.

ONE OF SIX URBAN HOSPITALS TO RECEIVE FEMA STRIKE TEAMS AFTER WORKING NIGHTS, EMERGENCY ROOM AND ICU CHEFS, 100 FIFTEENTHS 25 MEMBERS WILL BE FLYING HOME STARTING TOMORROW.

>> WE WILL MISS WORKING WITH THE FOLKS HERE, BUT DEFINITELY EXCITED TO SEE MY FAMILY AND GET BACK TO A LITTLE BIT MORE WARMER TEMPERATURES.

>> Reporter: IN NEWARK, I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN.

"NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS".

>>> DIRTY OVERCROWDED ROOMS , JUST SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE PART OF A WIDER INVESTIGATION INTO WOODLAND BEHAVIORAL AND NURSING CENTER AT ANDOVER IN SUSSEX COUNTY.

THE SCATHING REPORT COMES FROM DISABILITY RIGHTS NEW JERSEY AND DETAILS MULTIPLE OBLIGATIONS OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE, INCLUDING MAKING NO EFFORT TO RESUSCITATE A PATIENT OR EVEN CALL 911.

IT WAS ALSO RANKED ONE OF THE WORST 15 NURSING HOMES IN THE STATE FOR CENTERS THAT RECEIVED MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL APPOINT A STATE MONITOR TO THE FACILITY.

WOODLAND WAS FORMALLY CALLED ANDOVER REHAB.

THE SITE OF A MASSIVE COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN THE SPRING OF 2020, WHERE MORE THAN ONE DOZEN BODIES WERE FOUND IN A MAKESHIFT MORGUE.

THE NAME HAS CHANGED, BUT IT'S OWNERSHIP IS THE SAME.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN STATE HISTORY, NEW JERSEY HAS A BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS LEGISLATIVE MAP.

THE 11 MEMBERS STATE -- 9-2 ON FRIDAY TO APPROVE THE NEW BOUNDARIES OF THE 40 DISTRICTS REPRESENTED BY LAWMAKERS IN THE STATEHOUSE.

THE NEW DISTRICTS WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WILL HEAVILY INFLUENCE THE BALANCE OF POLITICAL POWER IN TRENTON.

BUT SOMEBODY ALWAYS HAS TO LOSE.

AND THE NEW MAPS PUT FOUR VETERAN STATE SENATORS AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR SEATS.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IF YOU LIKE POLITICS AND YOU ARE A FAN OF HIGH PROFILE, ANECDOTAL MATCHUPS, THE MATCHMAKERS OF THIS DECADE'S NEW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS HAVE SET UP TO POTENTIALLY HISTORIC CLASHES WHEN DEMOCRATS PRIMARY NEXT YEAR.

THAT MAY SOUND LIKE FUN FOR POLITICAL FILES, BUT THE MAPS ARE NOT MADE TO ENTERTAIN US.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SERVE A PURPOSE.

ACCORDING TO SOME EXPERTS, THIS MAP DID NOT GET IT DONE.

ANNA PATEL IS WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, WHICH HAS WATCHED THE PROCESS CLOSELY.

>> AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A MAP THAT REALLY REACHES THE BAR FOR RACIAL EQUITY, AND THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE NO LONGER CONTINUE TO OVER REPRESENT WHITE COMMUNITIES, WHICH HAS HAD A HISTORY OF DOING.

WE ADVOCATED FOR 20 MAJORITY OF COLOR PEOPLE DISTRICTS THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD REALLY GET TO THE BAR.

WE ARE ALMOST HALF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO WE WANTED A MAP THAT REFLECTED THAT.

THIS MAP HAS 17 MAJORITY PEOPLE OF COLOR DISTRICTS, SO THAT IS A LITTLE SHORT OF THAT.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE PROCESS OF DRAWING LEGISLATIVE MAPS WAS CONSIDERABLY MORE OPEN THAN THE CONGRESSIONAL AND LOCAL WARD MAP PROCESSES, IT'S THE TWO MEGA BATTLES THAT HAVE EMERGED FROM THE PROCESS THAT HAVE MADE NEWS.

MAYOR STEVE FULLER UP THREATENED LEGAL ACTION IF THE COMMITTEE APPROVES THE MAP THAT CARVES JERSEY CITY INTO THREE DISTRICTS.

>> MOST PEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT, SAYING DON'T DO THIS, BECAUSE POLITICALLY, IT'S PROBLEMATIC.

DON'T PUT THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER, OR TRY TO KEEP THIS DISTRICT TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THIS.

THOSE ARE OPINIONS.

MY POSITION WAS MORE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

IT SAYS THE STATE CONSTITUTION SAYS IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN UNLESS IT'S NECESSARY.

AND THE SECOND THING IS FOR THE US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT SPOKE TO DIVIDING UP CITIES LIKE JERSEY CITY.

>> Reporter: THE COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH A BATTLE THAT ENDS UP HITTING LAWMAKERS INTO THE SAME DISTRICT 33.

>> I HAVE TO GIVE THE EDGE A LITTLE BIT TOO SENATOR STOCK.

>> Reporter: MIKE RASMUSSEN IS ALREADY CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS FOR THE TWO MEN, WHO ALSO SERVE AS MAYORS.

SOCKO IN NORTH BERGEN, POPULATION 63,000.

>> STOCK TURNED OUT 11 ROLLS.

SENATOR -- TURNED OUT 8000.

HE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN EDGE.

HE HAS 3000 OR 4000 EXTRA VOTERS ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.

IN TERMS OF WHEN THEY DO TURN OUT, THERE'S NO QUESTION, STACK HAS THE SUPERIOR TURNOUT.

LAST YEAR, HE HAD -- AND THIS YEAR, HE HAS A 37%.

THERE COULD BE ANOTHER -- WHILE CODY HAS SAID THAT HE WILL TAKE A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT IS A VERY POLITICAL PROCESS.

IT IS DESIGNED TO BE POLITICAL, AND THEREFORE, FROM THE START, IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR MUCH INPUT , OF INDEPENDENT OBSERVATIONAL.

SO WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CRITICAL OF THAT.

>> Reporter: LIKE ELECTIONS, THE CENSUS HAS CONSEQUENCES.

THIS TIME AROUND, IT'S GOING TO COST AT LEAST TWO VETERAN LAWMAKERS THEIR SEATS.

BUT COULD ALSO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DARK HORSE CANDIDATES.

AND A SHAKEUP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WHERE THINGS ARE ALREADY STARTING TO LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

DAVID CRUZ, "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS".

>>> BRIDGEWATER POLICE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE BACKLASH FOR THAT VIRAL VIDEO SHOWING THEIR TREATMENT OF A BLACK TEEN DURING A MALL FIGHT MORE THAN A WEEK AGO.

ON SATURDAY, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE BRIDGEWATER POLICE HEADQUARTERS, DEMANDING MORE ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE VIDEO, POSTED TO INSTAGRAM SHOWS POLICE BREAKING UP A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO TEENS.

ONE WHITE AND ONE BLACK.

IN THE VIDEO, THE BLACK TEEN IS SEEN BEING HANDCUFFED AND AN OFFICER PLACED HER KNEE ON HIS BACK, DESPITE HIM NOT APPEARING TO RESIST.

THE WHITE TEEN IS ALLOWED TO SIT ON THE COUCH AND SEEN WITHOUT ANY HANDCUFFS.

THE FAMILY OF THE BLACK TEEN HAVE NOW HIRED CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY BENJAMIN CRUMP, WHO ALSO REPRESENTS THE FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD.

THE OTHER TEEN, WHO WAS REFERRED TO AS WHITE IN SEVERAL REPORTS TOLD NJ.COM THAT HIS MOM IS HISPANIC AND HIS FATHER IS MIDDLE EASTERN.

ACCORDING TO NJ.COM, HE SAID THAT HE WAS SHOCKED THAT HE WAS NOT HANDCUFFED.

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST LARRY HAM WAS AT THE WEEK IN PROTEST.

AND JOINS ME TO DISCUSS THE LATEST.

LARRY, I KNOW THIS IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW SITUATION WE HAVE SEEN.

SO WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?

>> THE PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS, WE BELIEVE IT KEEPS HAPPENING BECAUSE WE HAVE, WHEN I SAY WE, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HAS NOT YET PUT INTO PLACE THE KIND OF LEGISLATION THAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO POLICE THAT THEY CANNOT ENGAGE IN THESE TYPES OF RACIAL PROFILING, AND POLICE BRUTALITY INCIDENTS.

AND WHEN THEY DO, THEY WILL BE PUNISHED.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE WORLD AND 153 TOWNS AND CITIES IN NEW JERSEY, THERE WERE JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD DEMONSTRATIONS.

IN THE AFTERMATH, MANY BILLS WERE INTRODUCED ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF POLICE REFORM.

HOWEVER, HARDLY ANY OF THEM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MAYBE A COUPLE, HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PASSED.

SO, WHILE THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE ABOUT POLICE REFORM, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE FIRE.

AND UNTIL WE GET THAT FIRE, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THESE INCIDENCES CONTINUE, NOT ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY ON THE RISE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S INTUITIVE.

PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, AND ALL THAT HAPPENED, THAT POLICE WOULD GET THE MESSAGE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE MESSAGE.

>> WELL, JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT, LARRY, WE KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED CALLS FOR BIAS TRAINING AND INITIATIVES IN PLACE, BUT THE THING IS, WHEN THESE POLICE FOUND THESE TWO TEENS FIGHTING, THEIR IMMEDIATE REACTION, WELL, IT APPEARS WAS TO APPREHEND THE BLACK TEEN AND FORCE HIM TO THE GROUND.

SO IS THAT STANDARD PROTOCOL?

>> AS I UNDERSTAND, POLICE PROTOCOL, THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

BUT, THIS IS BEYOND PROTOCOL.

PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ARE HIRED, THEY BRING A CERTAIN BAGGAGE WITH THEM.

FOLKS BRING THEIR RACIAL BIASES AND ATTITUDES AND PREJUDICES WITH THEM.

AND, THIS, THE GOOD NEWS IS, THAT THE YOUNG MAN THAT WAS TACKLED, AND NEED AND HANDCUFFED AND BRUTALIZED WAS NOT KILLED.

HOWEVER, HE WAS RACIALLY PROFILED, AND HE WAS BRUTALIZED.

AND AGAIN, A LOT OF THE POLICE HAVE JUST NOT GOTTEN THE MESSAGE THAT THIS IS WRONG.

BUT SEE, THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT PUT INTO PLACE THE REFORMS THAT WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW FOR THESE TYPES OF INCIDENCES AND SO THE POLICE THINK THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW.

>> NOW, WE KNOW THAT BODY CAMS ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP PREVENT THIS AS WELL.

BUT, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, THE OTHER BOY INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT IS NOW CLAIMING THAT HE IS NOT WHITE AND THAT HE'S HISPANIC AND MIDDLE EASTERN, SO THAT, DOES THAT CHANGE ANYTHING, LARRY?

>> NO.

IT DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.

THE YOUNG MAN, I HAVE SEEN PRESS REPORTS THAT SAY HE IS HISPANIC.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A KIND OF ANTIBLACK RACISM.

THEY SAW ONE FAIR SKINNED BOY AND ONE BLACK BOY AND IT'S A BLACK BOY THAT GOT TACKLED HIM BRUTALIZED AND NEED BY BOTH OFFICERS AND HANDCUFFED WHILE THE OTHER FAIR SKINNED BOY WAS ABLE TO SIT ON THE COUCH, AND HE ACTUALLY PUT HIS HANDS UP TO BE HANDCUFFED.

BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THE OTHER GUY, THE OTHER YOUNG MAN, BECAUSE HE WAS BEING HANDCUFFED, THAT HE TOO WOULD BE HANDCUFFED.

THEY NEVER PUT THE HANDCUFFS ON THE FAIR SKINNED BOY.

>> LARRY HAM, AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER TOUGH CONVERSATION.

NOT SURE WHY WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS HERE IN JERSEY.

I GUESS TIME WILL TELL.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING ME AND SPEAKING ABOUT THIS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT APPEARS NEW JERSEY WILL MISS AN UNOFFICIAL DEADLINE TO START SELLING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

TOMORROW MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED OFF ON THE LEGISLATION AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE DEADLINE FOR ILLEGAL SALES.

SHOP OWNERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPEN, MANY OF WHICH HAVE HIRED WORKERS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE DEADLINE.

SO WHAT IS THE HOLD UP?

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> THE INDUSTRY HAS SUPPLY, WHICH IT ONCE TO BEGIN PUTTING INTO THE RECREATIONAL INDUSTRY.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND THE REGULATORS IN THE INDUSTRY NEED TO WORK AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THOSE.

>> YET, ONE YEAR AFTER GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED LEGISLATION LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, BUSINESSES LOOKING TO ENTER THE MARKET ARE STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHEN THEY CAN BE SELLING IT.

>> Reporter: WE ARE AN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, WHERE THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE LESS QUALITY OUR PRODUCT HAS.

SO THE LONGER IT'S ON THE SHELF, THE MORE DEGRADES.

>> Reporter: THE CEO OF HARMONY FOUNDATION.

ONE OF THE STATES ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT CENTERS THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SELL RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ON FEBRUARY 2nd.

SIX MONTHS AFTER THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION ADOPTED ITS RULES FOR THE MARKET.

ACCORDING TO THE LAW, ATC'S NEED TO PROVE THAT THEY HAVE SUPPLY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS, AS WELL AS SHOW THAT THEY CAN EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTION TO PATIENTS.

BUT THE CRC SAYS A LOT OF THE APPLICATIONS THEY HAVE RECEIVED HAS BEEN INCOMPLETE.

THEY SAY HARMONY IS SUPPLY IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT, SO HE'S NOT SURE WHAT'S STILL MISSING.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH LOCALLY TO GET THE ENDORSEMENTS, AND CERTAIN APPROVALS.

WE ARE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE, WHICH TAKES SOME TIME.

AND I THINK THE MORE CONVERSATION WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WITH THE REGULATORS, THE MORE ONGOING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ESTABLISHING.

EXACTLY WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT WILL BE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE IN ORDER TO TRANSITION INTO THE -- MARKET?

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S CRUCIAL TO US.

AND EVERY BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

LOOKING TO TRANSITION, THE MORE CLARITY THEY HAVE, THE MORE CERTAIN DATES THEY HAVE, THE MORE CONCRETE TIME FRAMES, THE MORE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PREPARE YOUR EMPLOYEES TO SCALE OUT.

THE MORE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PREPARE YOUR PACKAGING, YOUR TESTING, AND ALL OF YOUR PRODUCTION, IN ORDER TO LAUNCH MUCH LARGER MARKETS, WHICH IS THE GOAL RIGHT NOW FOR THE TREATMENT CENTERS, TO SERVICE THAT MARKET INITIALLY, AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO US.

>> I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMISSION ACTUALLY HAS TO DEAL WITH FOR ADULT USE SALES CAN BE AUTHORIZED.

>> Reporter: ATTORNEY JESSICA GONZALES REPRESENTS OTHER BUSINESSES WANTING TO GET INTO THE RECREATIONAL INDUSTRY.

MANY OF THEM, MINORITY OWNED.

ALL APPLICATIONS FOR RETAIL LICENSES ARE SET TO OPEN AUGUST 15th, BUT GONZALES BELIEVES THAT THIS COULD SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS.

>> AS OF THREE WEEKS AGO, THE COMMISSION DID STATE THAT THEY STILL HAVE NOT, FOR ANY OF THE APPLICANTS WHO APPLIED, AFTER DECEMBER 15, IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT ANYBODY HAS REALLY HEARD BACK YET.

IN THE COMMISSION DID STATE THAT IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MEET THEIR STATUTORY DEADLINE FOR 30 DAYS AND 90 DAYS FOR ANNUAL LICENSES.

BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO CERTIFY THE ATC IS WILLING TO EXPAND, AND THE COMMISSION IS ALSO DEALING WITH THE WINTERS OF 2019, WHICH WAS 50 SOMETHING LICENSE HOLDERS, AND NOW YOU HAVE THESE 400 PLUS APPLICATIONS AFTER DECEMBER 15th, THAT'S A LOT FOR A FIVE PERSON COMMISSION HAVE TO DO.

>> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO THE CRC FOR COMMENT.

THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR TOLD US THEY STILL CANNOT CONFIRM WHEN THE SALES OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA WILL ACTUALLY BEGIN.

THE NEXT MEETING IS SET FOR THURSDAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, BUSINESSES WANTING TO SELL REACT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ARE HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT SOON.

FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS", I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> NOW THAT THE PANDEMIC IS LEVELING OFF AND CASES ARE TRENDING DOWNWARD, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY HERE IN THE STATE?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER JOINS US WITH THE LATEST PREDICTIONS AND ALL OF THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> RAVEN, OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WE ARE GOING TO BE GETTING A LOT OF DATA ON HOW THE ECONOMY IS FARING AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO RECEIVE.

AND RECENTLY, THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE US FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS IS GATHERING DATA ON THE SHAPE OF THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMY.

JOHN WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK IN NEW YORK MET WITH BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS LATE LAST WEEK.

HE SAYS THE ECONOMY IS BOUNCING BACK NICELY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN MANUFACTURING DO VERY WELL IN NEW JERSEY.

A LOT OF AREAS THAT ARE VERY ACTIVE.

THEY HAVE BECOME REALLY DRAMATICALLY COME UP.

AND PARTLY, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL NOT BACK TO A NORMAL WORK KIND OF STYLE, WHATEVER THAT IS.

A BIG QUESTION ABOUT THE WORK THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING.

>> Reporter: WILLIAMS SAYS THE FED IS STILL TRYING TO ASSESS WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LABOR MARKET AS IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MUCH HYBRID WORK WILL CONTINUE.

WILLIAMS DID SAY, HE DOES NOT THINK THE GREAT RESIGNATION WILL CONTINUE.

HE EXPECTS WORKERS WILL RETURN TO THEIR JOBS AS COVID CASES CONTINUE TO FALL.

PSEG IS GETTING OUT OF THE FOSSIL FUEL BUSINESS.

GETTING RID OF ASSETS LOCATED IN NEW JERSEY AND MARYLAND.

THOSE ASSETS WERE SOLD TO A PRIVATE EQUITY FUND RUN BY BOSTON-BASED CAPITAL PARTNERS.

PSEG CHAIRMAN AND CEO RALPH IZZO CALLED THE SALE A KEY MILESTONE AS THE COMPANY SHIFTS TO CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS.

IT WAS ANNOUNCED BACK IN THE SUMMER, BUT NEEDED REGULATORY APPROVAL.

THEY ALSO EXPECT TO COMPLETE THE SALE OF ADDITIONAL GENERATING ASSETS IN NEW YORK AND CONNECTICUT.

>>> THE PRICE OF OIL ROSE AGAIN TODAY.

WORRIES ABOUT A RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE PUSHED THE PRICE OF GASOLINE TO ABOUT THREE DOLLARS AND 63 CENTS ACCORDING TO AAA.

THE STOCK MARKET WAS CLOSED FOR THE PRESIDENTS' DAY HOLIDAY.

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

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.

WORKING FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

BY UNITING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT CHAMBERSMJ.COM.

>>> LOCAL OFFICIALS IN PATTERSON GATHERED TODAY TO UNVEIL PLANS FOR A NEAR $10 MILLION DISTRIBUTION FACILITY.

A MAJOR STEP IN ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THE FACILITY IS BEING DEVELOPED BY GRO MAX, WHICH IS THE LARGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF FOODS IN NORTH MEXICO AND THE NORTHEAST.

IT WILL HAVE 1000 SQUARE FEET OF WAREHOUSE SPACE AND CREATE UP TO 100 JOBS.

GROWMEX IS MOVING INTO A PATTERSON CITY WAREHOUSE.

THEY SAY THAT GROWMEX IS THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THE CITIES LONG INDUSTRIAL TRADITION.

>> YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE AMERICA'S FIRST PLANNED INDUSTRIAL CITY, SO WE HAVE A HISTORY, AS FAR AS GROWTH IS CONCERNED AND JOBS ARE CONCERNED.

AND A REPUTATION AS WELL.

>> Reporter: THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, THE HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS .

WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> M JM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

>> M JM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, BUT JUST WHO ARE MGM'S POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR, AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS.

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

NJM, WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJBARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELE-MED APP.

OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VISIT WITH A RWJBARNABAS HEALTH PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HEAVILY.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME AN ASL TEACHER TO GIVE THEM WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO ACHIEVE.

THE CHANCE TO BELONG, AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIE CROMPTON AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN NJEA MEMBER.

♪ ♪