>>> WARM WEATHER IS NO MATCH FOR FAST-SPREADING OMICRON SUBVARIANTS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR 70% OF ALL NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

THE BA.4 AND BA.5 VARIANTS ARE MORE INFECTIOUS AND BETTER ABLE TO EVADE IMMUNITY FROM VACCINES AND PREVIOUS INFECTIONS THAN ANY OTHER COVID MUTATIONS.

SOME PROBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS ARE GOING SO FAR TO CALL IT THE WORST VERSION OF THE VIRUS WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR.

CAUSING A NEW WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND A RISE IN CASES AT HOME.

STATE WIDE, NEW JERSEY IS REPORTING NEARLY 2300 NEW POSITIVE TESTS AND 17 CONFIRMED DEATHS TODAY.

THE U.S. HAS TOPPED 88 MILLION POSITIVE CASES SINCE THE STARD OF THE PANDEMIC.

THOUGH STATE AND FEDERAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS SAY THE NUMBERS DON'T PAINT AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF VIRUS SPREAD DUE TO INCREASED USE OF AT-HOME TESTING.

IT IS ALL CAUSE FOR CONCERN ACCORDING TO MONT CLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANY SILVERA WHO SAYS OMICRON SUBVARIANTS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO BECOMING DOMINANT IN THE U.S. SHE JOINS ME NOW.

DOCTOR, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

TYPICALLY AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR THE LAST COUPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CASES WANING, THAT IS NOT THE CASE, THOUGH, BECAUSE OF THE SUBVARIANTS CIRCULATING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR WE HAVE, AGAIN, THE PERFECT STORM OF TWO NEW SUBVARIANTS WHICH ARE MORE CONTAGIOUS, AT THE SAME TIME MOST HAVE DECIDED TO STOP USING PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATION EFFORTS, WHETHER THAT IS MASKING, OR SHOWING PROOF OF VACCINATION.

>> I MEAN, THE CDC SAYS 70% OF AMERICANS SHOULD BE WEARING A MASK INDOORS BASED OFF OF THE DATA.

HOW CONTAGIOUS ARE THESE SUBVARIANTS?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THESE TWO SUBVARIANTS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN THE PREVIOUS VARIANTS.

WHAT WE ARE ALSO FINDING IS THAT PREVIOUS INFECTION, NOT JUST WITH DELTA OR ONE OF THOSE EARLIER VARIANTS, BUT EVEN WITH THE ORIGINAL OMICRON WE SAW EMERGE LATE IN DECEMBER, DON'T NECESSARILY PROVIDE YOU WITH PROTECTION AGAINST BA.4 AND 5.

>> YEAH, SO, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN, THEN, WITH THE BOOSTER SHOTS IN THE FALL AND THE WAY THOSE ARE BEING TAILORED TOWARDS THIS?

>> RIGHT NOW THE DATA IS INDICATING THE NEW BIVALENT VACCINE BOOSTERS, MEANING THEY WILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL TYPE AS WELL AS ONE SPECIFIC TO OMICRON DO REDUCE THE RISK OF BA.1, THE PROBLEM IS WE ARE SORT OF MOVED BEYOND BA.1 AT THIS POINT.

THE EARLY DATA SEEM TO BE INDICATING THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT AS GOOD AT PROTECTING YOU FROM BA.4 AND 5, THAT THEY ARE STILL BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS BOOSTER AT PROTECTING YOU FROM INFECTION AND HOPEFULLY HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

>> DO YOU ANTICIPATE BA.4 AND 5 BECOMING THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT, SORT OF WIPING BA.1 OUT?

>> I DO.

I THINK UNFORTUNATELY AS WE HEAD BACK INTO THE FALL AGAIN, SPECIFICALLY AS PEOPLE GO BACK INDOORS AND ARE IN TIGHT ENCLOSED SPACES, IF PEOPLE ARE NOT WEARING MASKS, WE ARE GOING TO POTENTIALLY SEE ANOTHER LARGE WAVE.

THE OTHER PART OF THIS THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS SOME NEW DATA THAT IS SHOWING EVERY TIME YOU ARE INFECTED AND REINFECTED FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IT IS DECREASING THEIR WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT, MEANING YOU MIGHT BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE, NOT JUST TO OMICRON, BUT OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

>> THAT IS CONCERNING, FOR SURE.

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE ILLNESS, THESE VARIANTS CAUSE, HOW SEVERE IS IT?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY INTERESTING, IN SOUTH AFRICA THE SEVERITY WAS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS WAVES FOR BA.4 AND 5 BUT IN PORTUGAL SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS WAVES.

WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS NOT JUST COVID, AND COVID DEATHS BUT WHO IS AT RISK.

FOR PLACES WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE OLDER POPULATIONS, THEY MIGHT BE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK AGAIN, THEN WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT FOR LONG COVID OR CHILDREN AS WELL AS YOUNGER GENERATIONS.

>> WE TALKED A LOT RECENTLY ABOUT THE FACT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE TAKING AT-HOME RAPID TESTS.

SO THE PICTURE WE HAVE OF THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES OF TRANSMISSION MAY NOT BE EXACT, MAYBE BE AS ACCURATE WE WOULD LIKE.

IS THERE A CONCERN THERE, NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE DO ABOUT THESE VARIANTS?

>> I THINK THERE IS.

I WOULD GO EVEN FURTHER TO SAY THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EVEN DOING THE AT-HOME TEST, BECAUSE IT MIGHT KEEP THEM FROM DOING THE THINGS THEY WANT TO OTHERWISE DO.

THEY MAYBE DON'T FEEL SO BAD.

IF PEOPLE ARE NOT WEARING MASKS WHILE THEY ARE OUT, WE PROBABLY HAVE LOT MORE COVID CIRCULATING NOW THAN WE HAD EVEN THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

>> ROUND AND ROUND IT GOES, EPIDEMIOLOGIST STEPHANY, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE ASSOCIATION.

>> NEW JERSEY'S HALF MILLION UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS COULD SOON GET ANOTHER ROUND OF AID FROM THE STATE MEANT TO HELP WORKERS WHO DIDN'T QUAL FROM OTHER PANDEMIC RELIEF, PART OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES WHO CALLED FOR A BILLION DOLLARS AND SAY ROUGHLY $32 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO THOUSANDS OF APPLICANTS LEAVES MANY OUT, AFTER THE LEGISLATURE DEEDICIDE NOT TO INCLUDE THE FUNDING IN THE STATE BUDGET.

INSTEAD, CLEARING THE PATH FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SET ASIDE MORE AID FROM A POT OF MONEY THAT DOESN'T NEED LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ REPORTS.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO RING FENCE SOME MONEY, WHERE THAT GOES FROM HERE, I DON'T HAVE NEWS TO MAKE.

>> TO RING FENCE IS SECURE ASSETS, SEPARATE FROM OTHERS TO USE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, A TERM GOVERNOR MURPHY USED TO DESCRIBE THE STATUS OF WHAT CAUSED TO BE THE EXMRUDER WORKERS FUND, ITIN IS THE ACRONYM FROM INDIVIDUAL TAX ID NUMBERS, SOME USE IN LIEU OF A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, A BUDGET LINE STHAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE SPENDING PLAN SIGNED LAST WEEK.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONFIRMED IT WILL USE $53 MILLION FROM FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY FOR THE ITIN HOLDER FUND, SUCH AS THEER STATE OF THE FUND, A MUCH-NEEDED HELPING HAND TO WHAT ADVOCATES SAY IS A HALF MILLION IN NEW JURZARY, BUT FUNDS DON'T LAST FOREVER OR VERY LONG.

ADVOCATES LIKE SARAH OF MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY SAY MANY OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC WERE ALREADY ON THE ECONOMIC MARGINS.

>> IMMIGRANT WOMEN, SPECIAL WORKERS WHO WENT ON A 24-DAY HUNGER STRIKE, HAVE BEEN WAITING IN BLOOD LINE, RELYING ON SOUP KITCHENS AND DECIDED TO GO ON A HUNGER STRIKE TO WIN THIS LAST YEAR.

WHAT SHE SAID TODAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING IN THE PANDEMIC, IT IS THAT WE CANNOT SURVIVE AS A STATE IF WE LEAVE PEOPLE BEHIND.

SO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY NET.

THAT MEANS HEALTH INSURANCE, UNEMPLOYMENT, THAT MEANS TAX CREDITS LIKE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SAFETY NET IN NEW JERSEY PROTECTS EVERYONE.

>> SHE WAS QUOTING VANESSA, ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE HUNGER STRIKE THAT BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR EXCLUDED WORKER'S FUND LAST YEAR.

[ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> I HAVE FAITH BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING BECAUSE THE $53 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH AND HE KNOWS WE ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR THIS COUNTRY SXRAE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PROPOSED USING $53 MILLION FOR ONE-TIME $500 PAYMENTS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE SPOKESPERSON SAID TODAY THAT DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS HAD SHIED AWAY FROM A TOUGH VOTE, AND THAT THE GOVERNOR, WHO WON'T BE FACING STATE VOTERS AGAIN, MAKE THE ALLOCATION FROM HIS DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.

A DEMOCRATIC SOURCE ALSO CONFIRMED THERE WAS OPPOSITION IN THE CAUCUS TO INCLUDING THE FUNDS IN THE FINAL BUDGET DURING NEGOTIATIONS.

>> WE ARE EFFECTIVELY A STATE WHERE ONE AND TWO PEOPLE IS A PERSON OF COLOR, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO--IF THE STATE IS NOT GOING TO SIGN BY THE RACIAL JUSTICE CALLS IT MADE TWO YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE REMEMBER THAT.

EACH ELECTION CYCLE THAT WE GET INTO BECOMES MORE AND MORE CONSEQUENTIAL, NOT JUST FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT ESPECIALLY AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL WHEN TRYING TO REACT TO INACTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> ALL OF WHICH MEANS MORE PRESSURE FROM ADVOCATES WHO COULD BE SEEING A WINDOW CLOSING WITH POTENTIAL BUDGETARY REFRESHMENT BROUGHT UP BY RECESSION AND DEMOCRATS UP FOR ELECTION WHO WON'T MAKE THE CASE FOR EXPANDING THE SAFETY NET BEYOND ITS CURRENT CAPACITY.

DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WHAT DID MAKE THE CUT IN THE STATE'S NEW MASSIVE ANNUAL BUDGET IS MONEY FOR PROJECTS BIKE UPDATING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND REMOVING LEAD PAINT IN HOUSING STOCK, IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT OFTEN GET SHORT CHANGED IN THE BUDGET -MAKING PROFIT.

FUNDING FOR THOSE AND DOZENS OF OTHERS COMES FROM BILLIONS OF DOLLAR IN FEDERAL AIDE NEW JERSEY RECEIVED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AN ANALYSIS FINDS THE STATE IS ALSO DEDICATING SPENDING FOR SMALLER, SO-CALLED PET PROJECTS, WITHOUT A CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN.

BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER JOHN WRIGHTMYER IS HERE WITH DETAILS.

JOHN, WELCOME, I KNOW YOU AND COLLEEN ODAY POURED THROUGH A LOT OF DOCUMENTS.

WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH, SO THERE ARE--THE STATE SPENDS $50 BILLION A YEAR ANNUALLY OUT OF STATE RESOURCES AND RECEIVED $6 BILLION IN PANDEMIC AIDE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WHAT IS BEING SPENT DOWN REALLY IS PART OF THE BUDGET IS THIS FEDERAL PANDEMIC AIDE, ABOUT $2 BILLION TACKED ON TO THE END OF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, FUNDING WORTHY PROJECTS AND THE THINKS THE PANDEMIC, FRANKLY, EXPOSED IN NEW JERSEY.

THEN THERE ARE SMALLER ITEMS AS WE GET DOWN THE LIST, APPROP APPROPRIATIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITIES IN JUST TWO COUNTIES.

>> WHAT COUNTIES?

>> MIDDLESEX AND UNION WERE SINGLED OUT TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING, $20 MILLION FOR EACH.

THOSE IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITIES HAPPEN TO BE LOCATED IN THE HOME COUNTIES OF THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER S CRAIG COUGHLIN&THE SENATE PRESIDENT, NICHOLAS QATARY, YOU SEE, A LITTLE BIT OF THIS CREEPING IN OF WHAT--THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERNS IN RECENT YEARS AND HOW POLITICAL FAVORITISM HAS CREEPED IN.

HERE WE SEE ITEMS APPROPRIATED JUST TO THE COUNTIES WHERE THESE TWO POWERFUL LEDGE SLAFBT LEADERS RESIDE.

>> WHEN YOU DID POUR THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS, 300-SOME-PAGES, DID YOU FIND INDICATION HOW THE PROJECTS WERE CHOSEN, OR WHAT THE VETTING PROCESS WAS LIKE?

>> THAT IS WHAT IS MISSING FROM THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR ARE HANDLING IT.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A SCORING SYSTEM OR ANY DELIBERATIVE WAY THAT PROPOSALS WERE WEIGHED AGAINST EACH OTHER TO SEE WHICH THE MOST MERIT IN TERMS OF DIVVYING UP THE PANDEMIC AIDE, ALL SUPPOSED TO BE TIED TO THE PANDEMIC, THE HEALTH CRISIS, OR SOME ISSUES THAT AROSE DURING THE PANDEMIC OR AS WE HAD AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IN THE WAKE OF IT.

AS WE GET FURTHER AWAY FROM NEW JERSEY RECEIVING THE MONEY, WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF 2024 TO OBLIGATE THE FUNDS.

THERE IS BOUT A BILLION DOLLARS LEFT AND WE DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT THE PROCESS IS IN TERMS OF PICKING ONE PROJECT OVER ANOTHER FOR THIS TYPE OF FUNDING.

>> SO, JOHN, ASIDE FROM PUTTING THE MICROSCOPE TO THE ACTUAL LINE ITEMS IN THIS BUDGET, WHAT ABOUT THE PROCESS OF APPROVAL?

I THINK YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A DOZEN TIMES BUT IT LOOKS LIKE LOT OF THESE WERE ADDED AT THE LAST MINUTE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

LAST WEEK WE SAW A BIG RUSH TO THE FINISH LINE.

THE STATE HAS A DEADLINE OF JULY 1 FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, THAT IS WHEN A NEW STATE BUDGET HAS TO BE ENACTED.

THE BUDGET BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON A MONDAY EVENING, VIRTUALLY NO TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO DIGEST THE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES BY LAWMAKERS BEFORE THEY SEND IT THROUGH COMMITTEE AND OVER A DAY LATER PUT IT ON THE FLOORS OF BOTH HOUSES AND SENT IT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR A FINAL SIGN OFF.

THE SPEED IT MOVES THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS LEAVES LITTLE TIME TO ANALYZE ALL OF THE ADDITIONS, INCLUDING THE DOZENS OF ITEMS, FEDERALLY-FUNDED ITEMS ADDED ON AT THE LAST MINUTE.

>> WHICH, OF COURSE, IS THE REAL ISSUE AT HAND HERE.

JOHN, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>>> WE HAVE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE, BUT THE MORE THAN 20-YEAR PLAN TO DIG NEW TRAIN TUNNELS UNDER THE HUDSON RIVER MOVED A STEP CLOSER TO CONSTRUCTION THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR MURPHY AND NEW YORK GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TUESDAY TO EVENLY SPLIT THE COST OF THE $14 BILLION FIRST PHASE OF THE GATEWAY PROJECT, IT INCLUDES BUILDING TWO NEW TUNNELS BETWEEN NEW JERSEY AND PEN STATION, REHABILITATEING AND A PORTAL BRIDGE, IT IS UNCLEAR HOW STATES WILL PAY FOR THE 50/50 SHARE OF THE COST.

THE AGREEMENT WAS CRITICAL TO SECURING FEDERAL FUNDING, CONSTRUCTION COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS NEXT SUMMER BUT OFFICIALS INDICATED THE FULL FUNDING PLAN MAY NOT COME TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS GIVEN THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY, LEADERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER ARE CALLING THIS A MAJOR MILESTONE.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS SOUNDING OFF AFTER FIGHTING FOR A YEAR TO AVOID AN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAX INCREASE, THE EFFORTS FAILED AT THE FINISH LINE WITH LEGISLATORS NIX A BILL.

BUSINESS LEADERS ARE PRESSING LAWMAKERS FOR RELIEF EVEN AS FIRST PAYMENTS COME TEW.

>> UNFORTUNATELY SMALL BUSINESSES DID NOT REALLY GET ANY HELP OR RELIEF IN THIS BUDGET.

>> Reporter: IN THE HOURS AFTER THE LEGISLATURE STRUCK A BUDGET DEAL, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WERE DISMAYED TO SEE A BILL GET YANKED AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT WOULD HAVE OFFSET A TAX HIKE THEY HAD TO START PAYING ON JULY 1&.

AS WE UNDERSTAND THE BILL WAS READY TO PASS THROUGH THE FULL SENATE DURING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AND THE SPONSOR GOT A CALL FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE REQUESTING THAT THE BILL BE PULLED.

>> Reporter: THE BILL WOULD HAVE GIVEN A TAX CREDIT TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOW FACING THE SECOND ROUND OF A TAX INCREASE MEANT TO REPLENISH INUNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUN DEPLETED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE BILL WAS PULLED BEFORE THE $50.6 BILLION BUDGET WAS APPROVED.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FELT STRONGLY THEY HAD WORKED ALL BUDGETARY ITEMWISE THE SENATE AND LEADERSHIP AND THIS WAS NOT AGREED TO, SO THEY DID NOT WANT TO SEE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET AT THIS MOMENT.

BUT I HAD, YOU KNOW, REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF, GEORGE, THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

AND I AM HOPING WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT IN SEPTEMBER.

>> WHY WERE SMALL BUSINESSES NOT PRIORITIZED GIVEN ALL THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK THE BUDGET DID A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS WHEN IT CAME TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, MENTAL HEALTH, LOT OF OTHER AREAS, BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE MORE ON SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET TO SOMETHING ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RELIEF.

I FEEL CONFIDENT WE WILL REACH A DEAL IN SEPTEMBER.

>> Reporter: BY PASSING THE BILL IN SEPTEMBER STILL LEAVES THE SMALL BUSINESSES ON THE HOOK FOR TAX INCREASES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WHICH COULD PUT SOME IN JEOPARDY.

>> THAT TAX IS A HUNDRED TO A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS ON EACH AND EVERY JOB.

THIS IS NOT A TAX ON PROFIT.

IT IS NOT A TAX ON SALES.

IT IS A TAX ON THE FACT THAT A JOB EXISTS.

AND THEN YOU ADD AND TACK ON SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND INFLATION AND COST, AND WORKFORCE ISSUES.

OKAY?

LAST THING OUR EMPLOYERS NEED IS TO HAVE YET ANOTHER TAX IMPOSED ON THEM.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR MURPHY DEFENDED HIS ADMINISTRATION'S SUPPORT OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> AS IT RELATES TO SMALL BUSINESSES, ONLY NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN HAVE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NEW JURZAE WE ARE NUMBER 3 AND WE ARE THE 11th LARGEST STATE PER CAPITA.

>> Reporter: WOULD HE SIGN THIS BILL?

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH RESOURCES TOWARDS SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT WE GET THE HIGHEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

I CONTINUE TO BE OPEN MINDED ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ANGLE, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY WE PUT ON THE STREET HAS THE BIGGEST RETURN AND BANG FOR THE BUCK.

>> Reporter: WE WILL TAKE THAT AS A MAYBE?

SENATOR GOPAL, AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IS CONFIDENT THE BILL WILL PASS.

>> WE HAVE SEEN POLICY AFTER POLICY THAT FAVORED THE TOP 1% AND CORPORATIONS.

THAT IS--I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE INTENT OF ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE STAND UP FOR OUR MOM AND POPS.

THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

>> Reporter: THE TAXES ARE PAID QUARTERLY BUT FOR NOW BUSINESSVISE TO SET THE MONEY ASIDE.

>>> TURNING TO WALL STREET, HERE IS HOW STOCKS FAIRED TODAY.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY SJ MAGAZINE, THE HEART AND SOUL OF SOUTH JERSEY ONLINE AT SJMAGAZINE.NET.

>>> IT IS THE LAST DAY ON THE BENCH FOR NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE BARRY ALBIN.

HIS TENURE ENDS TOGETHER WHEN HE TURNS 70, THAT IS THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE.

HAVING SERVED ON THE HIGH COURT FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, ALBIN WAS NOMINATED TO HIS POST BY FORMER GOVERNOR JIM MCREAVE SXAE CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST LIBERAL OF THF JUSTICES.

HIS FINAL OPINION TODAY DEALT WITH A POLITICAL BATTLE IN LYNDEN OVER FILLING A VACANT CITY COUNCIL SEAT.

ALBIN PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER GOVERNOR BRENDEN BURN, AND ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR FOR MIDDLESEX, HIS RETIREMENT MEANS THREE OF THE STATE'S SUPREME COURT SEVEN SEATS WILL NOW BE VACANT.

PART OF A LARGER VACANCY CRISIS FACING NEW JERSEY NEW ADDITIONAL BRANCH.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS NOT REPLACED ALBIN OR FAUSTINO FERNANDEZ-VINA WHO RETIRED IN JANUARY, HIS NOMINATION OF RACHEL WAINER APTER HAS YET TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE SENATE.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, WHO CAN FORGET THE IMAGES OF CARS SNAKED THROUGH PARKING LOTS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC?

NOT THE RESIDENTS WAITING IN LINE FOR A COVID TEST, BUT RATHER THOSE IN DIRE NEED OF FOOD.

SINCE THEN THE HUNGER PROBLEM HASN'T DISAPPEARED AND WITH THE RISING COSTS OF GOODS IN SOME CASES THE SITUATION IS WORSE.

FOR THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY, A DRIVE-UP AND GO FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENT HAS BEEN THE ANSWER.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS FROM NEWARK, AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES, HUNGER IN NEW JERSEY, FOCUSING ON THE COMPLEXITY OF FOOD INSECURITY IN THE STATE.

>> Reporter: FROM THE OUTSIDE, THESE JUST LOOK LIKE REGULAR BROWN BOXES.

BUT FOR THE HUNDREDS BRAVING THE HEAT AND MAKING SURE TO SECURE THEIR SPOT IN LINE BY FOOT OR BY CAR, IT IS THEIR FAMILY'S NEXT MEAL.

>> THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, EVERY WEDNESDAY THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO NEWARK PROVIDED GROCERIES, FRUIT, FRESH MEAT, AND OTHER THINGS THAT HELP THEIR FAMILY.

>> Reporter: NEWARK HAS BEEN HOLDING THE CITY-WIDE FOOD DISTRIBUTION SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

MORE THAN EIGHT MILLION YEARVISE BEEN DISTRIBUTED.

>> IT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT FOR LONG TIME.

HOWEVER, THE PANDEMIC MADE IT VERY CLEAR THERE IS A NEED FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY TO GET SOME GOOD FOOD.

I MEAN, SOMETIMES PEOPLE REFER TO NEWARK AS A FOOD DESERT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE FRESH FOOD, FROM HELLO FRESH, PROVIDE THE FOOD FOR FAMILIES TO EAT SO FOLKS CAN HAVE SOME EXTRA INCENTIVE AND WORK AND FOOD SO THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED.

>> Reporter: THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL NOW AS INFLATION CONTINUES TO CAUSE THE COST OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM GAS TO FOOD TO RISE.

ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS THE INFLATION RATE ROSE FROM 8.3 IN APRIL TO 8.6 IN MAY.

THAT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 1981.

>> EVERYTHING IS INCREASED IN PRICE, LOT OF PEOPLE' PAYCHECKS HASN'T MATCHED THE INCREASE.

IT IS LIKE EVERYBODY DOES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED BUT A LITTLE MORE REALLY REALLY HELPS.

LOT OF PEOPLE PICK IT UP FOR THEIR NEIGHBOR WHOSE CAN'T EVEN GET HERE, AND SENIORS, THAT IS REALLY WHO BENEFITS, THEY COOK AND MAKE MEALS OUT OF THESE.

>> Reporter: NEARLY 3,000 HAVE SHOWED UP EVERY WEEK SINCE IT STARTED AND VOLUNTEERS SAY THEY ARE HAPPY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN NEWARK, I BELIEVE IN WHAT IT IS DOING IN THE COMMUNITYF.

BEING BORN AND RAISED HERE I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

NEWARK HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD TO ME.

SO WHEN I SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR THE CITY OF NEWARK AND THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE FOOD, I RUSH HERE EVERY WEDNESDAY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET FED.

PEOPLE ARE IN NEED RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC WAS GOING ON.

PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.

THEY NEED THE FOOD.

I AM REALLY BLESSED TO DO THIS.

>> THIS IS PROB AES THE MOST CONSISTENT FOOD PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL AROUND THE CITY HERE TO JUST HELP AND WE ALSO HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES, THEY COME OUT ON THEIR OWN TO HELP.

>> Reporter: ANYONE WHO WANTS AND NEEDS HELP IS WELCOME TO STOP BY THE CITY WIDE FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECT A BOX.

>> ONCE YOU GET HERE YOU REALLY REALIZE HOW MUCH PEOPLE ACTUALLY NEED IT AND YOU PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING TO PEOPLE IN BMWs, EVERYBODY NEEDS A LITTLE HELP AND WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE.

THEY TELL US THEY NEED FOUR BOXES, THAT IS WHAT THEY GET.

>> A LITTLE HELP THAT CONTINUES TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT FOR MANY NEWARK FAMILIES EACH WEEK.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT IS IT FOR US THIGS EVENING.

HEAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK SOCIAL PLATFORMS FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZI FOR THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> FOR MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

ER AND HOISTED, COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> I AM MOUSE, AND THIS IS WHAT I WORK FOR.

TO BE MY BEST FOR THEM,ER AND FOR ME.

IN BODY, AND IN MIND.

I NEED A HEALTH INSURER THAT HELPS ME GET THE CARE I NEED FOR BOTH, THAT HAS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS I CAN TALK TO WHEN I NEED TO, BECAUSE WHEN I FEEL STRONG AND SECURE, SO DO THEY.

THISSER MY LIFE, AND THIS IS HOW HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WORKS FOR ME.

>>> I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT I AM STILL HERE.

>> THAT IS ME AND MY DAUGHTER WENT WE WENT TO CELEBRATE OUR ANNIVERSARY.

>> WITH A NEW KIDNEY I HAVE STRENGTH.

>> A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

>> I AM EXPLORING FLEW PLACES.

>> NOBODY THOUGHT I WOULD BE HERE, NOBODY.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OLDER WITH MY WIFE.

THAT IS POSSIBLE NOW.

>> WE ARE TRANSFORMING LIVE TLOUZ INNOVATIVE KIDNEY TREATMENTS, LIVING DONOR PROGRAMS AND WORLD-RENOWNED CARE.

>> THEY GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK.

IT IS SABLESSING.

>> RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.