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

RW DATE BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

FOR NEW JERSEY.

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

>> AT EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

A SWIFT SIGNATURE EARLIER TODAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE MASSIVE $1.9 TRILLION COVID- 19 ECONOMIC RELIEF PACKAGE INTO LAW.

NEW JERSEY'S MORE THAN $10 MILLION FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALSO DOWN ON VACCINES, PURCHASING TWICE THE AMOUNT OF JERSEY-BASED JOHNSON & JOHNSON SINGLE DOSE OF VACCINE THAT ORIGINALLY PROMISED.

THAT'S AN EXTRA 100 MILLION DOSES BETWEEN J&J, PFIZER AND MODERNA, THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE AMPLE SUPPLY TO GIVE SHOTS TO MOST OF THE U.S. POPULATION.

ACROSS NEW JERSEY, MORE THAN 2.7 MILLION VACCINES HAVE BEEN GIVEN IN MORE THAN MINE HUNDRED 50,000 PEOPLE HAVE HAD EITHER THEIR SECOND DOSE, OR RECEIVED ONE OF J&J'S SINGLE SHOTS.

INCREASED VACCINE ROLLOUT IS ONE REASON GIVEN BY FEDERAL OFFICIALS FOR RELAXING GUIDELINES, ALLOWING IN PERSON NURSING HOME VISITS.

FAMILIES HAVE BEEN PLEADING FOR THIS, BUT THE RULES ARE CONFUSING.

NOW ADVOCATES SAY STATE LEADERS NEED TO ANSWER JUST WHEN AND WHO CAN VISIT.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> I CRIED.

I WENT CRAZY.

I FREAKED OUT LAST NIGHT.

I MEAN, WE JUST BURIED HER YESTERDAY.

>> Reporter: LISETTE AND HER SISTER BURIED THEIR BELOVED MOM, A FORMER RESIDENT FROM REHAB.

THEY GOT ONE COMPASSIONATE CARE VISIT WITH THE 96-YEAR-OLD AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.

BUT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL VISITS GOT DENIED AS UNNECESSARY, THAT IS EXPECTED TO SOON CHANGE UNDER NEW FEDERAL VISITATION GUIDELINES, UNVEILED LATE YESTERDAY, BUT IT COMES TOO LATE FOR LYDIA, WHO DIED SATURDAY BEFORE HER FAMILY COULD SAY GOODBYE.

>> THE PAIN I HAVE IN MY HEART, OF MY MOM DYING, THINKING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS THINKING.

SHE MAY HAVE THOUGHT THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO, AND I WAS THERE.

I JUST SCREAMED.

I SAID, WHY, WHY NOW?

WE CAN'T DO IT.

IT IS THE BIGGEST PAIN IN OUR HEART.

I HOPE NOBODY EVER HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS.

>> Reporter: THEY OFFERED SYMPATHY, NOTING, WE OF COURSE WISH WE COULD ALLOW OUR FAMILIES MORE VISITS TO THEIR LOVED ONES DURING THESE TRYING TIMES, BUT THAT THE STATE CURRENTLY RESTRICTS ROUTINE VISITATIONS, AND PERMITS COMPASSIONATE CARE VISITS, ONLY UNDER VERY LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

THAT IS MY ADVOCATE REALLY HOPES JERSEY QUICKLY ADOPTS THE REVISED VISITATION GUIDELINES.

>> SHE TRIED EVERYTHING TO SEE HER MOTHER.

EVERYTHING.

THE FACT AS WE ARE HOPEFULLY NEARING THE END OF THIS, HER MOTHER HAS PASSED, IT IS HEARTBREAKING.

>> Reporter: CURRENTLY NEW JERSEY, A COVERT OUTBREAK CAN SHUTDOWN VISITS AT A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY FOR WEEKS.

THE NEW GUIDELINES STATE VISITS CAN CONTINUE IN UNAFFECTED WINGS, IF TESTS SHOW THE OUTBREAK IS CONFINED TO JUST ONE AREA.

AND THEY SAY COMPASSIONATE CARE VISITS SHOULD BE ALLOWED AT ALL TIMES FOR ANY RESIDENCE, VACCINATED OR NOT, REGARDLESS OF OUTBREAKS.

>> THIS IS ESSENTIAL.

BECAUSE TOO MUCH DISCRETION, IN MY OPINION, HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CARE FACILITIES TO DETERMINE HOW MANY VISITS, WHO GETS TO VISIT, WHO QUALIFIES AS AN ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER, OR AS A COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVER.

THIS BASICALLY SAYS, EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE A VISITOR.

>> Reporter: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CITED RISING VACCINATION RATES AS THE REASON FOR RELAXING VISITATION RULES, AND NEW JERSEY REPORTS 72% OF ITS LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN IMMUNIZED, BUT ONLY BY HALF THE STAFF.

EVEN BEFORE THE FEDS RELEASE THE REVISIONS, GOVERNOR MURPHY YESTERDAY SAID, LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES NEED TO PRIORITIZE VISITS.

>> WE GET THAT YOU WANT TO BE AND NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS.

HOWEVER, LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES MUST TAKE VISITATION ALLOWANCES, AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY ARE TAKING VIRUS CONTROL.

NO ONE SHOULD BE PREVENTED FROM VISITING A LOVED ONE, WITHOUT A REASONABLE CAUSE FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY.

>> Reporter: THE REVISIONS MAKE OTHER SWEEPING CHANGES COME AND ENCOURAGE NURSING HOMES TO PERMIT INDOOR VISITS AT ALL TIMES, AND FOR ALL RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER PEOPLE HAVE INDOCTRINATED.

THE FEW EXCEPTIONS INCLUDE WHEN THE RESIDENCE GOT A COVERT INFECTION, ALSO IF THEY ARE NOT FULLY IMMUNIZED AND LIVE IN A FACILITY WHERE FEWER THAN 70% OF RESIDENTS HAVE GONE VACCINATED, AND WHERE THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY SHOWS HIGH COVERT INFECTION RATES MORE THAN 10% OF TESTS.

SHE WANTS CLARITY.

>> BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH INCONSISTENCY IN IMPLEMENTATION BY THE FACILITIES.

IF THEY WRITE IT WITH CLEAR LANGUAGE, THEN THE FAMILIES CAN SERVE AS ENFORCERS, BECAUSE IT IS SORT OF INDISPUTABLE.

>> Reporter: AND MINISTRY SPOKESMAN REACTED.

>> RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE WELCOME EVERYBODY TAKING A LOOK AT OPENING UP THIS AND WE THINK AS PART OF A REOPENING GUIDANCE, AND MORE PEOPLE COMING INTO THE FACILITIES, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT COMES WITH A VACCINATION PROGRAM.

>> Reporter: THE STATE IS REVIEWING THE FEDERAL REVISIONS LYDIA'S FAMILY WILL PUSH FOR CHANGE.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP.

I WANT TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> Reporter: I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

FROM JUST OVER A WEEK FROM TODAY, RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND OTHER BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO WELCOME MORE CUSTOMERS INSIDE YOUR 50% CAPACITY.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE EASE IN RESTRICTIONS COMES AS NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS DECLINED, ROUGHLY 3200 NEW POSITIVE TEST REPORTED TODAY.

ANOTHER 46 DEATHS.

HEALTH EXPERTS WARN, AS INFECTIONS DROP, SO ARE OUR GUARDS.

MORE PEOPLE ARE REPORTING GETTING LENIENT IN BEER BEHAVIORS.

PANDEMIC FATIGUE FULLY SETTING IN AS WE ENTER THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS HEALTH CRISIS.

RAVENS ANTENNA REPORTS ON WHAT COULD BE A WORRISOME TREND.

>> SNOW HAS FINALLY MELTED, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DAY FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Reporter: AFTER BEING COOPED UP FOR MONTHS LIKE MOST OF US, JESSICA CALVIN SAID IT WAS A NO- BRAINER TO GRAB HER TWO-YEAR- OLD AND HAD TO PONDEROSA PARK IN THE PLANES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WARM WEATHER.

>> IT IS DEFINITELY SAFER OUTSIDE, SO THERE IS NOT.

THEY PROBABLY HANGING OUT INDOORS.

IT'S BETTER TO GET OUTSIDE, TRANSMISSION RATE IS VERY LOW, MUCH LOWER OUTSIDE.

>> Reporter: THE MOM OF TWO HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AND IS A FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

SHE SAID SHE IS AWARE THE SPRINGTIME TEMPERATURES COULD ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE MORE RELAXED ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING.

THAT IS WHY SHE AND RESIDENT JANE SAPIENZA ARE STILL TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

>> IF NOBODY ELSE WAS HERE, I WOULDN'T.

I MEAN, I DON'T WEAR THE MASK ANYMORE THAN I HAVE TO, BUT I DO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE ARE AROUND AND I CAN'T SOCIAL DISTANCE.

>> Reporter: ALSO A GRANDMA TO 19-MONTH-OLD LUKE, SHE SAID SHE WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK UNTIL SHE IS TOLD IT IS NOT REQUIRED.

>> THIS IS CRAZY.

THIS CANNOT BE FOREVER, YOU KNOW?

BUT I DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> Reporter: HOWEVER, NOT EVERYONE IS AS STRICT AS HER.

ACCORDING TO THE COVID STATES PROJECT, WHICH DOCUMENTS PEOPLE'S BEHAVIORS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE STUDY INDICATES AS COVID-19 CASE NUMBER DECREASED TO 2021, BEHAVIORS LIKE GOING TO WORK, GOING TO THE GYM, OR BEING IN A ROOM WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE HOME RELAXED.

DR. PERRY HEALTH CUTEST , DEAN OF THE RUCKER SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAID THE LACK OF VIGILANCE CAN SLOW DOWN JERSEY'S PROGRESS TO EVENTUALLY HAVING HERD IMMUNITY.

>> HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN, DEBTS ARE DOWN, THE RATES ARE DOWN, ALL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT, IT IS OFTEN THE CASE WITH HUMAN BEHAVIOR THAT WE GET PEOPLE AN INCH, THEY TAKE A MILE.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE PANDEMIC HAS DISAPPEARED.

THE VIRUS IS STILL FLOATING IN OUR POPULATION.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE CAUTIOUS.

>> SO WITH THE WARM WEATHER, AND PEOPLE WANTING TO VENTURE OUT MORE, HOW ARE YOU PREPARING?

>> SO, WE ARE JUST SLOWLY BUT SURELY KIND OF RAMPING UP FOR THOSE THINGS.

IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE PROJECT HAVING ADDITIONAL TABLES PUT OUT FRONT.

WE WILL GET NEW HEATERS PUT OUT HERE AS WELL.

JUST FOR ONE IT DOES GET CHILLY LATER IN THE EVENINGS.

BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY EXPECTING PEOPLE TO COME OUT MORE AND MORE AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP, FOR SURE.

>> Reporter: JOE IS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF DERBY ROAD PUBLIC HOUSE AND RESTAURANT AND BAR LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN SCOTCH PLAINS.

HE SAYS WHILE HE IS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THE GOVERNOR INCREASE INDOOR CAPACITY TO 50%, HE HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR 100%.

>> WHEN YOU COUPLE THE OCCUPANCY AND GO TO 25%, THEN HAVE TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE THINGS, THERE REALLY DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

WE ADDED, YOU KNOW, AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEMS TO OUR PLACE HERE.

WE HAVE THEM INSTALLED AS SOON AS THINGS HAPPEN, TO TRY TO BE AS COMPLIANT AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK OF THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, YOU WILL SEE RAMPING UP AS I CALL IT, CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

YOU WILL STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT WANT TO GO OUT FOR A WHILE.

BUT I THINK THEY WILL BE THE MINORITY OF THE POPULATION, AS COMPARED TO THE MAJORITY.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, HE SAID HE WILL TAKE WHAT HE CAN GET.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HE IS HOPING THE MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, THE MORE THEY WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE DINING INDOORS AGAIN.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>> EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC, CONVALESCENT PLASMA WAS CONSIDERED A POTENTIAL CHANGER IN THE TREATMENT OF COVID-19.

BUT SINCE LAST SPRING, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN MIXED RESULTS ON JUST HOW EFFECTIVE THE TREATMENT IS.

NOW A NEW STUDY FROM HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH FINES, WHEN THERE IS A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL OF ANTIBODIES IN THE BLOOD, IT IS NOT ONLY SAFE, BUT ALSO HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AT TREATING THE CORONAVIRUS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN GIVEN EARLY IN THE INFECTION.

WHAT'S MORE, IT COULD PROTECT AGAINST THE RISING VARIANCE.

DR. DAVID BARLETT IS THE CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER WITH THE HACKENSACK MERIDIAN CENTER FOR GOVERNMENT INNOVATION, THAT EXPLAINS THE FINDINGS.

DR. PERLIN, IT IS GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

WE HAD MIXED RESULTS WITH THIS CONVALESCENT PLASMA, WHAT IS DIFFERENT AND NEW WITH HAVING HIGH ANTIBODIES HERE?

>> SURE.

SO, OUR APPROACH TO CONVALESCENT PLASMA THERAPY WAS TO BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF ANTIBODIES OR NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES THAT WE CAN USE FOR THERAPY.

SO IN OUR PROGRAM, IN CONTRAST TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE NATIONAL PROGRAM, WHICH HAS HAD MIXED RESULTS, WE QUALIFY DONORS ON THE ABILITY TO PERFORM VERY SUPER HIGH LEVELS OF ANTIBODIES, AND THAT IS ONLY ABOUT 15% OF OUR DONOR POPULATION.

WE QUALIFY THOSE ANTIBODIES BY SHOWING THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY DIRECTLY NEUTRALIZE VIRUSES.

AND THEN THEY ARE VALIDATED TO BE USED FOR THERAPY.

>> HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?

WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT, DOCTOR , ABOUT THESE EMERGING VARIANCE AND JUST HOW CONTAGIOUS THEY ARE, THE DISEASE THAT THEY'VE CAUSED, DOES IT ALSO PROTECT AGAINST THOSE?

>> SO, IN PRINCIPLE, IT DOES.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY DEMONSTRATED, NOT WITH PATIENTS, BUT IN LABORATORY SETTING, THE SERUM FROM PATIENTS WHO HAVE VARIANCE AND RECOVER, NOW NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES TO THOSE VARIANCE.

AND THOSE NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES ARE ACTIVE AGAINST LOCAL VARIANCE, THEY ARE ACTIVE AGAINST UK, BRAZILIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANCE, SO THIS, IN PRINCIPLE, IS AN IMPORTANT THERAPY, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

AND I WILL SAY THAT, OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, SO IN THE HOSPITALIZED POPULATION, WE FOUND THAT 89% OF OUR PATIENTS ARE RECOVERED, FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE HIGH TITER SERUM.

THAT IS A CONSIDERABLE AND IF IT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHEN WE COMPARED SEVERAL THOUSAND PATIENTS UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS, WHO DIDN'T RECEIVE THERAPY ON ONLY ABOUT 70% OR 71% , ACTUALLY SAW IS SUCCESSFULLY RECOVERED.

THERE IS A BIG BENEFIT FROM THE USE OF CONVALESCENT PLASMA.

BUT WE BELIEVE THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO BE HIGHLY REFINED ABOUT HOW YOU USE THE THERAPY.

>> DR., DOES IT ALSO POTENTIALLY HELP PEOPLE FROM BEING HOSPITALIZED?

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FOLKS WHO ALREADY HAVE A SEVERE CASE.

>> YEAH, SO THAT IS THE SECOND PHASE OF OUR STUDIES.

SO WE HAVE ANOTHER FDA APPROVED STUDY, TO LOOK AT ROUGHLY 300 PATIENTS, WHO ARE PRESENTING WITH DISEASE, WHO ARE NOT YET HOSPITALIZED, WHO WE CAN THEN INFUSE WITH THIS HIGH TITER CONVALESCENT PLASMA THERAPY, AS A WAY TO PREVENT HOSPITALIZATION.

LIKE ANY DISEASE AND CERTAIN ANY INFECTIOUS DISEASE, THE EARLIER YOU CAN TREAT, THE MORE EFFECTIVE YOUR THERAPY WILL BE AND THE BETTER THE OUTCOME.

>> DR. PERLIN A REALLY GOOD TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> AN UPDATE ON TWO NORTH JERSEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN A BITTER STANDOFF OVER RETURNING TEACHERS TO THE CLASSROOM.

IN MONTCLAIR, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL TEACHERS UNION ENDED THEIR LEGAL BATTLE OVER RETURNING TEACHERS FOR IN PERSON LEARNING.

IF THE UNION APPROVED THE DISTRICT NEW SAFETY MEASURES, AND CHANGES, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADE WILL RETURN FOR A HYBRID PLAN, STARTING APRIL 12.

IT'LL BE THE FIRST TIME STUDENTS STEP FOOT IN A CLASSROOM IN OVER A YEAR.

BUT IN THE SOUTH ORANGE MAPLEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING DOWNHILL , AFTER THE DISTRICT WITHDREW FROM THE MEDIATION PROCESS.

BECAUSE THE UNION DOWNGRADED THE OFFER TO RETURN TO CLASSROOMS MONDAY, LIMITING IT TO JUST CATER SECOND GRADES.

AND WANT MORE MEDICAL COMMENDATIONS ADDED TO THE LIST FOR EDUCATORS.

41 ARE CURRENTLY GRANTED.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHEN IN PERSON INSTRUCTION WILL RESUME FOR ALL 7200 STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.

>>> MEANTIME, HOW MUCH FUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE IS JUST ONE OF MANY TOPICS LAWMAKERS WILL BE TACKLING, AS THEY START PUBLIC HEARINGS ON GOVERNOR MURPHY'S RECORD, $44.8 BILLION BUDGET.

THERE IS PLENTY OF NEW SPENDING ITEMS PROPOSED, AND AN INFLUX OF CASH EXPECTED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IS OUR BUDGET AND FINANCE REPORTER, JOHN MEYER, TELLS US DESPITE ALL THAT MONEY, ADVOCATES SAY THERE IS STILL A NUMBER OF NEEDS GOING ON MET UNMET.

JOHN TOLD US ABOUT THE LATEST.

JOHN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RECORD SPENDING, NEARLY $45 BILLION.

WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THERE'S STILL FOLKS THAT THEY THOSE IN NEED AREN'T GETTING ENOUGH AID.

>> Reporter: YEAH, IT IS REALLY SOMETHING.

AND EVERY YEAR, PEOPLE COME BEFORE LAWMAKERS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT DIFFERENT AREAS THAT MAY BE NEED MORE FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE HAS FINITE RESOURCES, MAYBE LAWMAKERS WOULD WANT TO FUND IT ALL IN A PERFECT WORLD.

BUT THERE IS AN APPETITE FOR TAXES THAT ONLY GOES SO FAR IN THIS ESTATE.

AND YET, THIS YEAR, I THINK THE PANDEMIC, YOU ARE SEEING MAYBE SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST YEARS, BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CONCERNS THAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE ATTENTION OF LAWMAKERS, AND DIFFERENT ISSUES THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE EXACERBATED, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE PAST, MAYBE NOW, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, AND SOME OF THE REAL PROBLEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING, IT IS EXPOSING EVEN MORE NEED ACROSS THE STATE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

>> WHAT ARE THOSE PRIORITY AREAS?

ESPECIALLY THE NEW ONES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BY THE HEALTH CRISIS?

>> Reporter: YEAH, I THINK FOR, YOU KNOW, ON THE MENTAL HEALTH ADDICTION, SENIOR SERVICES, THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, A LOT OF THE SERVICES THAT, IN SOME CASES, THE STATE EVEN PROVIDES, YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH HARDER IT BECOMES TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES, WHEN YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE LOCKDOWNS AND ISOLATION.

YOU KNOW, REAL CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE STILL GETTING SICK.

YET A LOT OF THESE SERVICES STILL HAVE TO BE DELIVERED, BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT DELIVERING THEM WOULD ALSO BE SEVERE.

IT'S A TOUGH BALANCING ACT, FOR SURE.

AND EVEN IN, YOU KNOW, A YEAR WHERE WE ARE PROPOSING RECORD SPENDING, IT JUST SHOWS YOU THE NEEDS OUT THERE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, THAT THE STATE USUALLY FILLS.

>> JOHN, THERE WERE CALLS FROM REPUBLICANS IN PARTICULAR, TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS, NOT WAIT UNTIL THE JUNE 30th DEADLINE, BECAUSE THIS MONEY IS SO NEEDED TO GET INTO THE HANDS AND GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

DOES IT SEEM LIKE THERE IS ANY INDICATION LAWMAKERS MIGHT SEE THAT?

>> Reporter: YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF THAT PRIOR FEDERAL AID THAT IS SO GOING OUT, AND THERE IS NEW FEDERAL AID SOON TO BE COMING?

I THINK THE CONVERSATION MIGHT CHANGE, NOW THAT NEW JERSEY IS IN LINE TO GET THIS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS, ONCE AGAIN.

AND MAYBE WITH MORE FLEX ABILITY THIS TIME.

HAVEN'T HEARD TOO MUCH ABOUT PUSHING THINGS OUT YOU REALLY.

THERE IS A BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES RIGHT AWAY, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, AS MAYBE SOME OF THIS FEDERAL AID COMES IN TO SEE IF THE TIMELINE GETS MOVED UP AT ALL.

>> JOHN, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Reporter: YOU ARE WELCOME.

STOMACH THE LATEST UNLIMITED NUMBERS ARE OUT.

IS THIS A ONE-OFF OR COULD THERE BE A CHANGE IN THE TIDE?

RHONDA SCHEFFLER HAS MORE DETAILED AND TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

RHONDA?

>> Reporter: ON A PLANE THE NUMBERS ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE COVID- 19 STRUCK OUR STATE, NEW CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT DIPPED BELOW 10,000.

IN THE LATEST WEEK, 9800 NEW CLAIMS WERE FILED, A 5% DROP FROM THE FIRE PRIOR WEEK.

THE NEW COVID-19 RESCUE PACKAGE EXTENDS THE ADDITIONAL $300 A WEEK IN UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, WHICH WERE SET TO EXPIRE THIS WEEKEND.

THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS, UNEMPLOYED WORKERS SHOULD TRANSITION SEAMLESSLY TO THESE NEW EXTENDED BENEFITS, WHICH WILL NOW RUN THROUGH EARLY SEPTEMBER.

AS THE LEGISLATION NOTICED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ROLLED OUT, THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY OF CPA SAYS THE IRS IS EXPECTED TO EXTEND THE APRIL 15th TAX FILING DEADLINE, AND THE GROUP IS CALLING ON NEW JERSEY LAWMAKERS TO FOLLOW SUIT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NJ CPA SAYS LAST YEAR, THE STATE EXTENSION WASN'T FINALIZED UNTIL APRIL 13th, WHICH SAID, CAUSED CHAOS FOR NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS AND TAX PREPARERS.

>>> BUSINESSES ARE GETTING READY FOR NEXT WEEK'S CHANGE IN INDOOR CAPACITY LIMITS, NOW THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS UPPED THE LEVEL TO 50%.

BUT EXECUTIVES IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY'S SAY THE CHANGE WON'T REALLY MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE TO THEIR BOTTOM LINES.

I SPOKE WITH TO McLUHAN, THE OWNER AND MANAGING PARTNER OF THE FAMILY RESTAURANTS, AND BOB WAGNER, MANAGING PARTNER OF BRADDOCK'S TAVERN AND RESTAURANTS IN THE MEDFORD AREA.

>> AS LONG AS YOU ARE AT SIX FEET, AND THERE IS NO BAR BUSINESS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT A TABLE OR TWO HERE AND THERE, BUT THAT IS ABOUT IT.

THE SIX FOOT DISTANCING IS WHAT RULES THE DAY.

>> THEY GAVE THREE-FOOT SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THE SCHOOLS, SO WE ASKED FOR THAT, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THEY DIDN'T GIVE IT TO US.

50%, ALL THAT DOES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FOLLOWING RULES IS, JUST CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, THAT THE WORLD AROUND US, WITH COVID IS GETTING BETTER.

>> Reporter: NEW CAPACITY LIMITS GOING TO AFFECT A WEEK FROM TOMORROW.

>>> HERE NOW IS A LOOK AT HOW STOCKS TRADED TODAY.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER , THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> THIS WEEKEND, JOINED JOINT RHONDA SCHAFFLER , SHE IS PUTTING THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND FOCUS, EXPLORING THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESSES, AS WE APPROACH ONE YEAR SINCE THE STATE SHUT DOWN.

WATCH IT ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY AT 10:00 AM.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, WE BRING YOU A CONVERSATION WITH TWO WOMEN, DEDICATING THEIR TIME TO SHED LIGHT ON SOME UGLY PARTS OF THE STATE'S HISTORY.

IT BEGAN WHEN ELAINE AND BEVERLY MILLS WERE PLAGUED BY QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN AFRICAN-AMERICAN LINEAGE.

WHAT THEY FOUND WAS NEW JERSEY'S BRUTAL LEGACY OF SLAVE OWNERS AND LABOR.

IN FACT, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW IT WAS ONCE KNOWN AS THE SLAVE STATE OF THE NORTH.

THEY HAVE COFOUNDED A SOMERSET COUNTY MUSEUM AND WRITTEN A BOOK IN THEIR QUEST TO FIND THE TRUTH, AND UNEARTH WHAT MANY OF OUR LEADERS TRIED TO HIDE.

ELAINE BOK, BEVERLY MILLS, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE DO, IN THE NORTHEAST, LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS HAVING BEEN A LITTLE MORE PROGRESSIVE BUT IN FACT, NEW JERSEY WAS THE LAST STATE IN THE NORTH TO OUTLAW SLAVERY.

YOU ALL HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO PRESERVE THAT HISTORY.

ELAINE, TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE PLACES IN NEW JERSEY, ESPECIALLY BERGEN COUNTY, THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT THINK OF AS HAVING TIES.

>> WELL, OUR RESEARCH HAS LED US TO FIND OUT THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE COUNTIES UP IN BERGEN COUNTY WERE COMPLICIT IN SLAVERY .

I THINK OF MORRIS COUNTY AND PATTERSON AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE NAMES OF PEOPLE.

CARTER RED FROM BERKELEY.

ALL OF THE NAMES OF THE FOUNDING FAMILIES THAT WERE THE PEOPLE THAT STARTED NEW JERSEY, AND HOW THEY USED ENSLAVED PEOPLE TO WORK THE LAND.

>> BEVERLY, BLACK AMERICANS, WE KNOW, FOUNDED THIS COUNTRY, MADE THE ECONOMY THRIVE, AND YET THERE IS NOT A TON OF DOCUMENTATION OF THIS.

>> NO, THERE IS NOT A TON OF DOCUMENTATION, UNFORTUNATELY.

THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES THAT WE FOUND WE WERE DOING OUR RESEARCH, PREPARING FOR OUR BOOK.

THAT IS FOR A REASON, BECAUSE OUR RECORDS WERE NOT KEPT, INTENTIONALLY.

ENSLAVED INDIVIDUALS DID NOT HAVE BIRTH CERTIFICATES ISSUED TO THEM.

THEY WERE LISTED ALONG WITH HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND WHATEVER.

EVEN LIVESTOCK.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK FOR EVIDENCE OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE WITHIN FAMILIES, YOU CAN SOMETIMES FIND SOMETHING IN A FAMILY BIBLE, BUT MOST OF THE TIME YOU FIND THEM IN THE LEDGER.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE'S, THEIR POSSESSIONS.

SO IT WAS, YOU WERE ALONG WITH SESSIONS.

>> WITH POSSESSIONS, AND WE KNOW THROUGH YOUR WORK, IN FACT, IN YOUR BOOK, YOU HIGHLIGHT BURIAL GROUNDS THAT WOULD'VE OTHERWISE BEEN PLOWED OVER, BUILDINGS PUT ON TOP OF, HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO PRESERVE THOSE?

BEVERLY?

>> WELL, WHEN WE STARTED THIS ODYSSEY, AS I CALL IT, WHAT IT IS NOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

IT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO 15 YEARS.

WE FOUND OUT THROUGH A PHONE CALL OF SOMEONE THAT WAS REALLY, TRULY ALARMED OVER THE PROSPECT OF THIS, WHAT WE KNEW TO BE A GRAVESITE THAT HAD ENSLAVED PEOPLE, THAT IT WAS GETTING READY TO BE PLOWED OVER BY A DEVELOPER WHO WAS JUST GETTING READY TO PUT A DRIVEWAY THROUGH, JUST FOR CONVENIENCE SAKE.

NOT LIKE IT WAS A NECESSITY.

WASN'T LIKE HE COULD'VE GONE AROUND IT, BUT IT WAS THE EASIEST THING TO DO.

HE WAS TRULY ALARMED AND HE CALLED US AND SAID, I KNOW THAT YOU TWO HAVE BEEN STEWARDS OF HISTORIC AFRICAN CEMETERY, AND, CAN YOU OFFER SOME ADVICE ON WHAT I CAN DO TO STOP THIS?

>> ELAINE, IF NOT FOR THE GRACE OF JUST EVERYDAY PEOPLE STUMBLING, IT SOUNDS LIKE, CROSS SOME OF THIS, IT WOULD OTHERWISE BE LOST.

>> YES, MOST DEFINITELY.

AND SO, OUR MESSAGE TO EVERYONE IS TO SPEAK UP.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU BUY A PROPERTY AND YOU SEE THERE IS A GRAVE THERE, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS OR WHO BELONGS TO OR WHATEVER, SPEAK UP.

IT VERY WELL MIGHT BE AN ENSLAVED PERSON OR A NATIVE AMERICAN PERSON THAT REALLY DESERVES DIGNITY.

DIGNITY IN DEATH.

>> SUCH IMPORTANT WORK.

THAT BOOK IS, IF THESE STONES COULD TALK.

ELAINE BUCK, BEVERLY MILLS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US, BUT BE SURE TO CHECK OUT REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT 10:00 AM FRIDAY MORNING.

HE IS TALKING LEGAL WEED WITH SENATOR BINGLE POWELL, WHAT LEGISLATIVE FIXES ARE STILL NEEDED IN THE LAW.

THE CHANNEL OF VETERAN REPORTERS ABOUT THIS WEEK'S BIG STORIES, BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL, SO YOU NEVER MISS A SHOW.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG OR ANY DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.