>>> 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 ORSTEAD.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATING OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M BREONNA VANOZZI.

A MAJOR VACCINATION EXPANSION IS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE STATE.

TODAY ANOTHER ROUGHLY FOUR MILLION RESIDENTS WERE ADDED TO THE LIST OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FIRST DOSE OF PFIZER AND MODERNA'S VACCINE.

IT INCLUDES ALL ADULTS AGE 65 AND OLDER AS WELL AS THOSE 16 TO 64 YEARS OLD WITH CERTAIN HEALTH CONDITIONS.

ABOUT NINE MEDICAL CATEGORIES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT LIST IN ADDITION TO SMOKERS.

AS OF THIS MORNING, NEARLY 288,000 VACCINATIONS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED.

ROUGHLY 34,000 PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED BOTH SHOTS, MAKING THEM FULLY IMMUNIZED.

BUT THE DAILY CASE LOAD OF NEW INFECTIONS DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE LETTING UP.

ANOTHER ROUGHLY 6,000 NEW POSITIVE PCR TESTS REPORTED TODAY.

THAT MEANS THE STATE IS JUST SHY OF 560,000 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE THE START OF THE OUTBREAK WITH ANOTHER 94 LIVES LOST TODAY, AND MORE THAN 20,000 TOTAL FATALITIES.

AFTER THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF INCREASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS DECLINED SLIGHTLY TODAY TO JUST OVER 3,600.

THE STATE'S TOP HEALTH OFFICIAL WARNED OUR HOSPITALS ARE PREPARING FOR A SURGE IN PATIENTS FOLLOWING A POSTHOLIDAY SPIKE.

THE COMMISSIONER SAID STAFFING IS A BIG CONCERN IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

BRENDA FLANAGAN LOOKED INTO ONE TREATMENT FOR THE CORONAVIRUS WHICH COULD KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF HOSPITAL BEDS.

>> IT WORKED FOR ME, AND I FELT MUCH BETTER AFTERWARD.

>> Reporter: AN EMT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 IN DECEMBER.

SHORTLY AFTERWARD, SHE GOT A MONOCRONAL ANTIBODY INFUSION TREATMENT THAT TOOK AN HOUR AND WENT HOME.

>> IT WENT FROM FEELING LIKE I MAY END UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH THIS TO FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE MANAGEABLE ON MY OWN.

>> THERE ARE SOME PATIENTS WHO SEEM TO FEEL AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

>> Reporter: DR. TAUPIO SAYS THEY MIMIC PROTEINS THAT MIMIC THE BODY'S IMMUNE RESPONSE.

IT FOLT A BOOST OF PUBLICITY AFTER DOCTORS AT WALTER REED GAVE IT TO DONALD TRUMP WHO FELT WELL ENOUGH TO GO ON A JOYRIDE.

>> THE PRESIDENT RECEIVED THIS MEDICINE WHEN HE WAS SICK.

AND GOVERNOR CHRISTIE RECEIVED IT WHEN HE WAS SICK.

WE'VE GIVEN IT ON TURNOVER 150 PATIENTS AT THIS POINT.

AND SO FAR IT'S PROMISING.

>> IT IS A THERAPEUTIC DRUG.

BUT IT IS ALSO PREVENTIVE IN TERMS OF PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BEING HOSPITALIZED.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS SAY KEEPING HOSPITAL BEDS OPEN REMAINS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS THEYINATE THE NEXT MAJOR COVID HOSPITAL SURGE IN.

APRIL, THE VIRUS OVERWHELMED JERSEY'S HOSPITAL SYSTEM WITH MORE THAN 8,000 PATIENTS.

RIGHT NOW JERSEY'S GOT ABOUT 3,600 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.

BUT PREDICTIVE MODELING SHOWS THE STATE HEADED TO AS MANY AS 6,000 BY MID-FEBRUARY.

>> WE WILL HAVE PPE, WE WILL HAVE VENTILATORS.

WHAT WE WILL NOT HAVE IS THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF STAFFING THAT PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

>> YOU'LL HAVE TO START LIMITING CERTAIN PROCEDURES SO YOU CAN REDEPLOY WORKFORCE TO BE ABLE TO STAFF.

>> Reporter: THAT HAPPENED FIRST WHEN THE STATE CANCELED ELECTIVE SURGERY, TRANSFORMING JERSEY'S CRITICAL CARE HOSPITALS INTO COVID WARDS.

>> I SURE HOPE WE'RE NOT THERE.

ALTHOUGH I KNOW WHY THE COMMISSIONER IS CONCERNED.

WE JUST HIT A ONE-DAY RECORD YESTERDAY.

7,000 NEWLY DIAGNOSED CASES.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HOSPITALS ARE CURRENTLY MANAGING TO DISCHARGE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS THEY'RE ADMITTING BUT HE QUESTIONS WHETHER THE ANTIBODY TREATMENTS WOULD HELP SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER HOSPITALIZATIONS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WAIT TOO LONG FOR TREATMENT.

>> THEY'RE MANY DAYS INTO THEIR CARE.

AND THE EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW ISN'T THAT POWERFUL TO SAY THAT THEY BENEFIT.

>> I THINK IT WILL HELP WITH INPATIENT ADMISSIONS BUT IT'S NOT FOOLPROOF.

BUT IT ALSO REQUIRES HOSPITALS TO SPEND TIME AND EFFORT CREATING INFUSION AREAS.

>> Reporter: DR. ADAM JARRETT SAYS NEW CDC GUIDELINES OPENED UP MONOKRONNAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT FOR MANY FOLKS.

>> I'M A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY THINK THAT WILL TAKE THE STRESS AND STRAIN OFF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

IT HOPEFULLY WILL TAKE THE STRESS AND STRAIN OFF THE NEED FOR INPATIENT BEDS.

AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT.

WE HAVE CERTAINLY, UNFORTUNATELY, SEEN SOME PATIENTS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THEIR ANTIBODIES AND STILL PROGRESSED.

>> Reporter: REGARDLESS, THE STATE IS URGING PEOPLE WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID AND HAVE MILD TO MODERATE SYMPTOMS TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND ASK ABOUT THE TREATMENT.

>> ANYTHING THAT WILL KEEP PATIENTS OUT OF THE HOSPITALS, I THINK IS A REALLY GOOD THING.

>> Reporter: BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> DESPITE THE TOLL THIS PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, NEW DATA FINDS A LARGE NUMBER OF ADULTS DON'T SEE HOW HEALTH AND UNUSUAL RACISM ARE CONNECTED.

THEY FAIL TO RECOGNIZE HOW IT'S A PREDOMINANT DRIVER OF IMPORTANT HEALTH OUTCOMES.

IT'S CREATED GENERATIONS WORTH OF DISTRUST AND SKEPTICISM IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND AN UPHILL BATTLE TO GET COVID-19 VACCINE BUY-INFORM >> Reporter: THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS BLACK MAKE UP ONLY 4% OF THE 254,000 COVID-19 VACCI NEW JERSEYIANS.

COUNCIL MEMBER WRIGHT STANDING IN THE NEW VACCINATION SITE SAYS SHE KNOWS WHY.

>> DO YOU THINK A FACTOR IN ANY OF THIS IS A TRUST IN GOVERNMENT?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY.

AND ALSO POLITICS, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO US A WEEK AGO NATIONALLY.

THE DISPARITIES.

THE DIFFERENCES IN TREATMENT OF PEOPLE.

SO RIGHTFULLY SO.

PEOPLE HAVE A MISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: THAT'S WHERE THE NEW RAND CORPORATION ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON SURVEY HAS FOUND.

THE RWJ FOUNDATION IS A FUNDER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

OF 4,000 MOSTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR FROM VULNERABLE UNDERSERVED AND LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BACKGROUNDS, 68% OF BLACKS HAVE LITTLE OR NO TRUST IN GOP.

FOR WHITES, 52%.

>> I THINK THAT UNDERSCORES SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE INCOMING BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO HAVE IN REACHING SOME OF THOSE AUDIENCES.

OVERCOMING VACCINE HESITANCY.

>> Reporter: THE RAND ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP IS MEASURING THE VIEWS AND VALUES OF THOSE 4,000 RESPONDENTS OVER MORE THAN A YEAR THROUGH THE LENS OF THE PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE.

HOPING IT INFLUENCES AND GUIDES LOCAL AND NATIONAL POLICY-MAKING AND LAW-MAKING.

THE SURVEY ALSO FOUND 74% OF OTHER ETHNICITIES AND 60% OF WHITES SAY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE HEALTHCARE AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

>>> AS MANY AS TWO THIRDS OF AMERICANS ARE SAYING HEALTHCARE SHOULD BE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

>> Reporter: BLACKS AND WHITES SEE THE PANDEMIC AS A MOMENT FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.

>> THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF FINDINGS HERE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT OR HEARTENED BY.

BUT WHEN WE SEE NEARLY 70% OF THE PUBLIC LOOKING AT THE PANDEMIC AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE IT GIVES ME SOME OPTIMISM ABOUT THE DIRECT WE'RE HEADED.

>> Reporter: THE RAND ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION SURVEY ALSO ASKS ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM.

>> WHEN I TALK ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THE WAY THAT INEQUALITIES ARE BAKED INTO OUR SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: THE SURVEY FINDS A WIDE KNAPP ON SEEING SYSTEMIC RACISM AS A BARRIER TO GOOD HEALTH.

BLACKS, 69%.

WHITES 33%.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE ATTITUDES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BUT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE.

AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR SURVEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM IS A BARRIER TO GOOD HEALTH.

THEY DOZER THAT IT'S A BARRIER TO ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

AND THAT HAS IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR HOW PEOPLE ARE SURVIVING OR NOT SURVIVING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

>> I THINK THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE PAST ARE HAUNTING US NOW.

>> Reporter: MAYOR JAMES DUNLEAVY IS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST.

HE AND COUNCIL MEMBER WRIGHT PLAN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY WHERE BLACKS MAKE UP 30% OF THE POPULATION.

THEY WILL HOLD A WEBINAR, JANUARY 26, WITH COMMUNITY DOCTORS TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE VACCINE.

>> CLEARLY THERE'S A DISCONNECT HERE.

SO I WANTED OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION TO GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS FROM THE PEOPLE THEY'LL LISTEN TO AND TRUST.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN HAVE A SAFE PLACE WHERE QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED.

NO QUESTION IS A DUMB QUESTION OR A SILLY QUESTION.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY LOCALLY.

BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE HELPFUL IF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT.

>> Reporter: PRESIDENT AND CEO HOPES THAT EDUCATION LEADS TO THOUSANDS OF VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS AND FILLS THE CENTER.

A CENTER THAT IN ITS OPENING HOURS SEEMS TO HAVE ALMOST NO BLACKS BEING VACCINATED.

>> THE PORTION IS JUSTIFIED TO A POINT.

YOU CAME BACK WITH ME TO THE HELP, AND YOU SAW THE DOZEN 50 YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE ON VENTILATORS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET THE VACCINE, YOU WOULD CHOOSE THE VACCINE.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL HILL, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEW.

>>> THE HILLSIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ISN'T WAITING FOR MORE IMMUNE ZAGS TO BE DOLED OUT IN.

A LETTER TO PARENTS THIS WEEK, THE SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCED ALL SIX SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN REMOTE FOR THE REST OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR.

IT APPEARS TO BE THE FIRST DISTRICT IN THE STATE TO KEEP STUDENTS ALL-VIRTUAL.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID SHIFTING FROM HYBRID TO REMOTE INSTRUCTION BACK TO HYBRID INTENSIFIES LEARNING LOSS.

AND THE DISTRICT WILL STAY REMOTE UNLESS THE TREND OF INFECTION MOVES IN A BETTER DIRECTION.

ALL 21 COUNTIES ARE CATEGORIZED AS HIGH-RISK IN ORANGE ZONES.

THAT MEANS SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SWITCH TO REMOTE LEARNING.

>>> A LOT OF SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON THAT DECISION BECAUSE OF REMAINING TECH GAPS.

IT TOOK NEARLY A YEAR.

BUT NEW JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS FINALLY ABOUT TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

ENSURING EVERY STUDENT IN THE STRAIGHT HAS ACCESS TO A COMPUTER DEVICE OR INTERNET CONNECTION AT HOME.

THE GAP MAY BE NARROWING.

BUT IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE ALL THE CHALLENGES OF REMOTE LEARNING FOR OUR KIDS.

AND SOME DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN HIT HARDER THAN OTHERS.

>> Reporter: RIGHT NOW, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, LIKE THOUSANDS OF KIDS IN NEW JERSEY, ASHLEY BASTIDA IS IN DANGER OF FALLING BEHIND.

HER PARENTS DIDN'T HAVE INTERNET.

WHEN THEY CALLED TO GET IT FOR THEIR FOURTH GRADER AND KINDERGARTNER, THE PRICE WAS TOO HIGH.

>> I WAS NOT ABLE TO WORK.

AND MY HUSBAND ALSO LOST HIS JOB.

>> ON MY WATCH, I WAS NOT WILLING TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS LASHANNON WRIGHT GAVE PARENTS A SURVEY IN MARCH OF 2020 TO ASSESS WHAT FAMILIES WERE IN NEED OF COMPUTERS AND WI-FI.

>> 75% WERE IN NEED.

>> Reporter: WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS, THE SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO GET EVERYONE UP-TO-DATE.

AND THIS SCHOOL YEAR?

>> WE HAD A TWO-DAY DISTRIBUTION.

>> Reporter: NOT ALL SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY ARE AS SUCCESSFUL.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR, ROUGHLY 7,700 STUDENTS ARE STILL IN NEED OF DEVICES OR INTERNET.

THAT IS DOWN FROM THE SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR, THOUSANDS OF KIDS ARE STILL AT RISK OF FALLING INTO A LEARNING GAP.

>> A SIZEABLE PORTION OF THE REMAINING GAP IS IN LAKEWOOD.

BUT OFFICIALS THERE HAVE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THEIR DELIVERY IS FINALLY ON TRACK FOR THIS WEEK.

WE ARE AT ABOUT ALMOST 97% COMPLETE IN CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

AND WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP WORKING UNTIL WE BRING THAT DOWN TO ZERO.

>> Reporter: WE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE LAKEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS IT'S TAKING THEM THIS LONG TO GETHE TECHNOLOGY OUT TO THE STUDENTS.

GET THE TECHNOLOGY OUT TO THE STUDENTS.

WE TRIED E-MAIL, PHONE, AND AN IN-PERSON VISIT, AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND.

THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS THEY'RE IN CONTACT AND THIS DISTRICT IS ALSO PROVIDING FULL-TIME IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.

>> OUR VENDOR, THERE'S STILL A SHORTAGE.

WE ORDERED 300 MORE.

WE'RE GOING ONE TO ONE.

AND THAT ORDER JUST NEVER CAME.

SO WE GAVE OUT THE DEVICES THAT WE HAD ON-HAND.

WE WENT TO THE FOUNDATION THAT WE HAVE, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY FROM A DIFFERENT VENDOR.

SCHOOLS CAN ONLY USE CERTAIN VENDORS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY THEM FROM AMAZON.

AND THEY CAME MAYBE IN THREE DAYS.

>> Reporter: LASHANNON WRIGHT SAYS SHE ALSO TOOK THE TIME TO UPDATE PARENTS' PERSONAL DEVICES IF NEEDED.

>> IT WAS PHONE CALLS NIGHT AND DAY.

WE MADE HOUSE INDIVIDUALS, SAT OUTSIDE AND WORKED ON COMPUTERS IN THE CAR.

I WOULD NOT LET STUDENTS MISS OUT ON AN EDUCATION OVER A COMPUTER.

EVEN IF I HAD TO GO AND GET THEM MYSELF FROM A DISTRIBUTOR.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE OF THAT EFFORT, ASHLEY AND HER YOUNGER BROTHER BOTH HAVE CHROMEBOOKS FROM THE SCHOOL AND A HOTSPOT FOR THE FAMILY TO ACCESS THE INTERNET.

>> FIRST I WAS VERY NERVOUS.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T LEARN HOW TO DO THE COMPUTER.

I DIDN'T KNOW THE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

SO WHEN THEY TOLD ME, THEY FIRST SHOWED ME, LIKE, STEP BY STEP.

THE TEACHERS ALWAYS SUPPORT US.

>> Reporter: NOW THE TEN-YEAR-OLD TEACHES HER YOUNGER BROTHER, STEP BY STEP.

MAKING SURE AT LEAST ONE MORE CHILD GETS THE EDUCATION THEY NEED AND DESERVE.

>>> TWO YEARS AGO, AN ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN ROCKED TRENTON AND EXPOSED A TOXIC CULTURE WITHIN STATE POLITICS.

NOW AFTER SPENDING THE PAST YEAR LISTENING TO TESTIMONY FROM WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HARASSMENT, ASSAULT, AND MISOGYNY, A GROUP THAT MOVES TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS PUT OUT A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE THE STATE'S POLITICAL CULTURE.

COLLEEN ODAY WAS THERE FOR THE RECOMMENDATION.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

LET ME RUN THROUGH THESE QUICKLY.

IT RECOMMENDS POLITICAL GROUPS ADOPT ANTIHARASSMENT POLICIES AS WELL AS TRAINING.

PROHIBITS NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS AND OTHER SIMILAR SILENCING PRACTICES.

AND REFORMS ANNUAL POLITICAL EVENTS.

WHAT COMES TO MIND IS THE WALTER WASHINGTON AND THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES CONVENTION.

I'M CURIOUS THOUGH ABOUT THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS.

>> THE GROUP WAS LOOKING FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS REALLY KIND OF OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT ALREADY HAS SOME KNOWLEDGE OF WORKING WITH CAMPAIGNS, WHICH CERTAINLY ELY, C DOES ON A FINANCIAL SIDE.

AND THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TOO HARD THESE DAYS GIVEN THE STATE'S TOUGH FINANCES TO REALLY COME IN AND CREATE A WHOLE NEW BODY THAT COULD DO THIS WORK.

SO THEY THOUGHT ELEC WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO PUT THIS IN AGAIN AS LONG AS THEY PROVIDE THEM WITH THE KIND OF STAFF AND TRAINING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO CONDUCT THESE KINDS OF INVESTIGATIONS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE STATE NINE BILL PACKAGE THAT PASSED LAST MONTH?

WHERE DOES THAT STAND AND HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO HELPING WITH THESE RECOMMENDATION SNGS >> SO THESE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WERE VERY MUCH INFLUENCED BY THE WHOLE SITUATION.

AND IT REALLY HELPED SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS TO GET BETTER TREATMENT FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE BILLS PASSED, AT LEAST THE EIGHT BILLS THAT HAVE SO FAR BEEN INTRODUCED, PASSED THE SENATE LAST MONTH.

AND WE'RE TOLD THAT THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HAS PROMISED THAT THEY WILL GET A HEARING BEGINNING NEXT MONTH IN THE ASSEMBLY.

>> OKAY.

WE KNOW THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE HERE OF COURSE IS THAT THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THERE'S REALLY NO WAY TO ENFORCE.

AND THIS IS A BIG CULTURE SHIFT.

WHAT DOES THE GROUP HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> RIGHT.

AND THEY CERTAINLY WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS.

SENATOR WINE BERG SAID -- YOU KNOW, SHE WAS THE ARCHITECT OF ALL OF THIS.

IS THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T CHANGE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE, BUT WHEN YOU CAN DO IS MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO ACT ON KIND OF THOSE -- ANY BAD THOUGHTS THEY MIGHT HAVE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE ALL ELEC PIECE COMES TO, GIVING THEM THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE.

THE SECOND THING IS THAT THE COMMITTEE SAYS THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

SENATOR WEINBERG ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT FROM THE LEGISLATURE YESTERDAY.

BUT THIS IS NOT A PREACHER OF THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S AN AD HOC GROUP THAT THEY CREATED.

AND THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO MONITOR HOW THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION MOVE THROUGH.

AND ALSO KIND OF STEP IN AND MAYBE BE HEARD WHEN ALLEGATIONS -- MORE ALLEGATIONS MIGHT BE BROUGHT FORWARD.

>> WHICH OF COURSE WAS THE INTENT TO BYPASS THE STRUCTURE ALREADY IN PLACE.

COLLEEN O'DAY, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ALL TEN OF NEW JERSEY'S DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS MEMBERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF IMPEACHING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WEDNESDAY.

EXACTLY ONE WEEK AFTER A VIOLENT MOB OF HIS SUPPORTERS ATTACKED THE CAPITOL.

THE FINAL VOTE WAS 232-197.

MOSTLY ALONG PARTY LINES.

BOTH OF THE STATE'S REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES AGAIN OPPOSED IMPEACHMENT.

SMITH CALLED THE VOTE A, QUOTE, "HIGHLY PARTISAN RUSH" .

TEN OTHER REPUBLICAN CONGRESS MEMBERS BROKE RANKS TO VOTE WITH DEMOCRATS.

FIVE PEOPLE DIED IN THE IRSURREK JANUARY 6th, INCLUDING A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER FROM NEW JERSEY.

THE ARTICLE NOW GOES TO THE ASSEMBLY.

>>> HERE AT HOME AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE SECOND WAVE OF COVID IS FUELLING A SECOND SURGE IN UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.

RHONDA?

>> THERE'S NO SLOWDOWN FOR A NUMBER OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS FILING FOR FIRST-TIME JOBLESS BENEFITS.

THE LATEST WEEK, THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS NEARLY 22,000 RESIDENTS FILED FOR NEW CLAIMS.

THAT'S A 4% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR WEEK.

NATIONALLY NEW WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS JUMPED TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE LAST AUGUST.

>>> WE'LL FIND OUT TONIGHT WHAT PRESIDENT ELECT, JOE BIDEN, HAS IN MIND TO FIX THE ECONOMY.

HE WILL UNVEIL HIS PLANS IN A SPEECH.

REUTERS SAYS HE'S GOING TO PROPOSE A $1.5 TRILLION STIMULUS PACKAGE WHICH WILL INCLUDE A COMMITMENT FOR $1,400 STIMULUS CHECKS TO AMERICANS.

ANOTHER POTENTIAL ITEM THAT MIGHT COME UP, MORE MONEY FOR STATES.

THAT'S SOMETHING BIDEN HAS TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST.

THE PRESIDENT ELECT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO DETAIL HIS PLAN TO SPEED UP DELIVERY OF COVID-19 VACCINE.

>>> WITH TEMPORARY CLOSURES AND CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE, 2020 WAS A DISAPPOINTING YEAR FOR NEW JERSEY'S GAMING INDUSTRY.

STRAWBERRYING CITY'S CASINOS CLOSED OUT THE YEAR WITH A NEARLY 20% DROP IN REVENUE.

THE ONLY CASINO THAT TOOK IF MORE MONEY IN 2020 COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR WAS THE GOLDEN NUGGET.

SEVERAL CASINOS SUFFERED STEEP LOSSES.

REVENUES AT HARRAH'S, CAESAR'S, AND RESORTS TUMBLED MORE THAN 40% EACH.

SPORTS BETTING CONTINUES TO DO WELL.

MORE THAN $6 BILLION OF BETS WERE PLACED LAST YEAR.

BUT NOW NEW YORK IS MOVING AHEAD WITH MOBILE SPORTS BETTING.

>> THE ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS, I BELIEVE, WILL LOSE SOME REVENUE, PERHAPS.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE ESTABLISHED THEIR ACCOUNTS THERE.

THEY HAVE LOYALTY POINTS.

SO IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME ENTICEMENT TO GET THEM TO GO TO NEW YORK.

>> Reporter: SHE BELIEVES ATLANTIC CITY'S CASINOS WILL BOUNCE BACK ONCE THOSE COVID RESTRICTS R LIFTED.

HERE'S A CHECK ON WALL STREET.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>> THIS WEEKEND JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER AS SHE TAKES A DEEPER LOOK AT THE STATE'S GROWING CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRY AND ASKS THE EXPERTS HOW IT COULD PROPEL THE STRUGGLING ECONOMY AND JOBS MARKET.

WATCH IT ON OUR, IN J SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00 AM.

>>> EVEN WITH THE RAMPED-UP VACCINE PROGRAM, ACCESS TO COVID-19 TESTING REMAINS A CRITICAL PART OF THE STATE'S OVERALL RECOVERY.

A FEW LAB OPENS THIS WEEK AT KANE UNIVERSITY.

DELIVERING RESULTS WITHIN ONE TO TWO DAYS?

>> THIS LAB THE SPEED AT WHICH THIS HAS DEVELOPED IS INCREDIBLE.

>> Reporter: IT'S TAKEN ONLY SIX MONTHS TO DEVELOP A FULLY OPERATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY THAT'S PROVIDING COVID-19 TEST RESULTS TO THE RESIDENTS IN UNION COUNTY.

>> ALL OF OUR SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED AT THE DRAW SITE THAT'S ORGANIZED BY UNION COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THAT'S PHYSICALLY LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE LAB.

A TECHNICIAN WILL BRING A BOX OF SAMPLES TO THE LAB FOR US TO WORK WITH.

>> THE PROCESS IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

WHAT WE DO IS WE RECEIVE A NUMBER OF OF SAMPLES THAT ARE COLLECTED FROM THE PATIENTS.

AND THOSE SAMPLES ARE INPUTTED INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: A RECENT ALUMNUS IS NOW WORKING AS A TECHNICIAN IN THE LAB EXTRACTING VIRAL RNA FROM EACH TEST SAMPLE.

>> AFTER WE AMPLIFY THAT RNA, WE LOOK FOR THREE SPECIFIC GENES TO SEE IF THE PERSON IS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

BASED ON THOSE RESULTS, WE CAN ACTUALLY CONCLUDE THIS PATIENT IS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE BASED ON THE GENE EXPRESSION.

IT'S JUST LIKE DNA FROM A NORMAL CELL BUT IT'S RNA BECAUSE IT'S VIRAL.

>> Reporter: TESTS WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE ONLY ABOUT 75% ACCURACY.

>> WE GOT HIGH DEGREES OF ACCURACY IN OUR RESULTS.

WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

BEFORE WE'RE EVER ALLOWED TO TEST A PATIENT SAMPLE.

>> Reporter: THE LAB IS CAPABLE OF PROCESSING UP TO 30,000 TESTS A WEEK.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DOING ABOUT 1,000 A DAY.

AND TURNING RESULTS AROUND IN JUST 24 TO 48 HOURS.

THAT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS WE'RE ALL USED TO.

>> IT IS VERY UNIQUE THAT A LAB LIKE THIS IS OPERATING AT CANE UNIVERSITY.

MOST LABS LIKE THIS ARE GOING TO BE CONNECTED WITH A MEDICAL CENTER.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF THE COVID RESPONSE, SETTING UP A TEST SITE LAST MONTH.

LAUNCHING A VACCINE PROGRAM LAST WEEK.

AND OPENING THIS LAB EARLIER THIS MONTH.

>> AND THEN WE ALSO SAID WHAT IF OUR STUDENTS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AS WELL?

AND THAT MAKES IT UNIQUE.

THE FACT THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN PUT ON THEIR RESUME OR CV THE FACT THAT THEY STUDY THE PANDEMIC HEALTH CRISIS.

BUT THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THEY WORKED ON IT.

>> I FEEL GOOD BECAUSE I'M GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S AED IF CAUSE.

A GOOD CAUSE.

WORKING WITH COVID IS ANOTHER EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I GET TO LEARN ABOUT THE VIRAL RNA AND HOW COVID WORKS.

AND AS A CANE ALUMNI, THAT'S A PRIVILEGE, I WOULD SAY.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

YOU CAN CATCH UP ON ALL THE BIG STORIES FROM THE WEEK ON REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ LIVE TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 AM ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

DAVID KICKS OFF THE SHOW WITH THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

DON'T MISS IT.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> NJN INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS.

PSE&G, WE MAKE THINGS WORK FOR COMMUNITIES.

AND HORIZON BLUECROSS/BLUESHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUECROSS/BLUESHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> A WORLD THAT RUNS ENTIRELY ON GREEN ENERGY.

LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF ATLANTIC CITY, ORSTED'S OCEAN WIND PROJECT WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY CHAIN AND ECONOMIC TUNES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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