>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY 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 A SUSTAINABLE CLEANER FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> FROM NJPBS THIS IS SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THE STATE HAS NOW EARNED AN UNWANTED SPOT WITHIN THE NATION'S FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 LEADING THE U.S.

IN THE NUMBER OF NEW INFECTIONS PER CAPITA OVER THE PAST WEEK.

IN FACT, OUR SEVEN DAY AVERAGE IS UP 8% FROM A WEEK AGO.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HEALTH LEADERS ARE WATCHING THOSE NUMBERS LIKE A HAWK.

ANOTHER 600 NEW POSITIVE CASES AND 28 MORE DEATHS ARE BEING REPORTED ACROSS THE STATE TODAY.

TAáS HIGH SPEED RACE BETWEEN WIDELY SPREADING CONTAGIOUS VARIANTS AND GETTING SHOTS IN ARMS.

COULD IT PUT THE BREAKS ON ANY FURTHER REOPENING FOR OUR STATE.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> WE'RE BACK TO LEADING THE NATION IN THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.

>> Reporter: SPREADING TO THE SURGE IN COVID-19 CASES AND ESPECIALLY 400 CASES OF HIGHLY INFECTIOUS VARIANTS, THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE'S PUTTING FURTHER RELAXATIONS ON HOLD AND CALLED IT A BALANCING MOMENT.

>> WE KNOW WE HAVE VARIANTS WE KNOW THEREFOR THERE'S MORE TRANSMISSIBLE VERSIONS OF THIS VIRUS IN OUR STATE.

WE'VE BEEN CAUTIOUS ABOUT REOPENINGS.

>> HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED TO TREND BACK UP AS WELL.

I THINK A LOT OF THAT LIKELY HAS TO DO WITH THIS COMPETITION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW BETWEEN GETTING THE VACCINES OUT AND THE VARIANTS SPREADING.

>> Reporter: LAST WEEK JERSEY LED THE NATION IN CASES AND THE STATE.

OUT OF CONTROL SPRING BREAK PARTIES OVER THE WEEKEND PROMPTED MIAMI'S MAYOR TO SLAP A 9:00 P.M.

CURFEW ON THE TOWN.

AND THE UK VARIANT DEEPLY CONCERNS THE CDC.

>> THE DD1 VARIANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 9% OF THE CASES IN JERSEY AND 8% IN FLORIDA.

BELIEVE ME I GET IT.

WE ALL WANT TO RETURN TO OUR EVERY DAY ACTIVES BUT WE MUST FIND THE FORTITUDE TO HANG IN THERE FOR JUST A LITTLE LONGER.

>> Reporter: MURPHY DID ALLOW INCREASE OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND LOSENED CROWD SIZES IN ATHLETICS THAT'S NOT CHANGING BUT CRITICS HAD HOPED FOR MORE.

>> IT'LL BE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO CONTINUE TO IMPOSE T WHEN THE REST OF THE NATION.

THEY COMPLETELY IGNORE THE FACT THAT MOST INDIVIDUALS THAT THE VIRUS IS STILL IN OUR MIDST AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE VARIANTS ARE AROUND.

>> BOTH THE BRAZILIAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANTS WORRY ME THE MOST BECAUSE OF VACCINE IRRESPONSIVENESS.

>> Reporter: MOST ARE THE UK VARIETY AND INCREASED TRAVEL MAKES JERSEY MORE VULNERABLE.

>> THE FACT THAT THERE'S A AIRPORT HERE MAKES US VERY VULNERABLE.WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

>> Reporter: THE SCOPE OF VARIANTS CIRCULATING IN NEW JERSEY'S POPULATION IS TOUGH TO CALCULATE WITHOUT A ROBUST STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF SEQUENCING.

EACH TEST CAN TAKE FOUR TO FIVE DAYS.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE RESEARCH, UNIVERSITIES HELP YOU, THE CDC ITSELF, THE STATE LABS.

>> AS A COUNTRY WE HAVE UNDER INVESTED IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE SEQUENCING.

WHERE YOU COMPARE US TO OTHER COUNTRIES RIGHT NOW AND IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT.

WE'RE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

>> Reporter: AND A VACCINE PASSPORT FOR ENTERING INTO CERTAIN EVENTS OR VENUES EVEN IF IT'S JUST A LAMINATED VACCINATION CARD.

SOME CONSIDER IT UNFAIR TO FOLKS WHO CAN'T ACCESS VACCINATIONS.

GOVERNOR MURPHY'S INTRIGUED ABOUT THE IDEA AND IT'S BACKED BY MANY EXPERTS.

>> I WANT TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED I WILL FEEL MUCH MORE AT EASE AND MYSELF WILL BE PROTECTED.

I SUPPORT THIS AND I THINK MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THESE VACCINE PASSPORTS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.

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

>>> HERD IMMUNITY CREATE BID MORE IMMUNATION IS EXPECTED TO PUT THIS STATE BACK ON THE RIGHT COURSE WITH NEWS THAT AZTRA ZENECA WILL APPLY FOR APPROVAL OF THEIR VACCINE.

ACROSS THE STATE TODAY MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION DOSES HAVE BEEN PUT IN ARMS WITH MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION RESIDENTS NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

THAT NUMBER INCLUDES A LARGE PORTION OF LONG TERM CARE RESIDENTS AND TODAY THE GOVERNOR SAID THE STATE WILL ALLOW INDOOR VISITS FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF THAT VACCINATION STATUS JUST IN TIME FOR PASS OVER AND EASTERN CELEBRATIONS.

THE GUIDANCE FOLLOWS NEW FEDERAL PROTOCOLS BUT THERE WILL BE STRICTER GUIDELINES AT NURSING HOMES WITH OVER 45% VACCINATION RATES IN REGIONS OF THE STATE WITH HIGH OR VERY HIGH COVID ACTIVITY.

>>> THERE'S NO INDICATION TONIGHT THE STATE WON'T CONTINUE WITH THE PUSH TO BRING STUDENTS BACK TO THE CLASSROOM FOR IN PERSON LEARNING THIS SEPTEMBER.

NOW ARMED WITH A NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC THAT WILL HELP CLASSROOMS JUST TOO SMALL FOR SIX FEET OF SOCIAL DISTANCING.

THE NEW RULES SAY 3- FEET APART APPEARS TO BE ENOUGH SO FAR AS STUDENTS WEAR MASKS.

SOME HEALTH EXPERTS AREN'T SO SURE.

AS JOANNA GAGAS REPORTS IT'S STILL UP TO THE STATE TO MAKE THE CALL.

>> Matthew: IT'S THE LENGTH OF A YARDSTICK, 3- FEET AND IT'S MAKING ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE IN PERSON SCHOOL.

>> I THINK IT ALLOWS US TO GET THAT ADJUSTMENT TO RETURN TO SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: AND FOR SOME DISTRICTS IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRINGING MOST IF NOT ALL OF THEIR STUDENTS BACK INTO THE BUILDING.

>> WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION YOU KNOW DUSTING OFF THE ROAD BACK MANUAL THAT WAS GIVEN TO US IN JUNE.

>> BUT YOU WOULDN'T CHANGE THE PROCEDURE UNTIL YOU GOT THAT UP DADE FROM DOH, DOE.

>> THE REVISED CDC GUIDELINES I BELIEVE PROVIDE A RATIONAL BY WHICH SUPERINTENDENTS CAN NOW SUBMIT REVISED PLANS AND PUT IT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S HANDS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD ENDORSE THAT CHANGE.

WHICH WOULD REALLY BE KIND OF A REVISION OF THEIR GUIDELINES.

>>> BUT THE GOVERNOR PUNTED AGAIN AS TO WHETHER THE STATE WILL FOLLOW THE CDCs LEAD.

>> WE'RE STILL DIGESTING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TEAM ON CDC GUIDANCE.

I THINK WE'RE PLANNING ON TALKING ON WEDNESDAY.

>> Reporter: AND WHILE SOME ESPECIALLY PARENTS ARE JUMPING FOR JOY AT THE POSSIBILITY OF THEIR KID GOING BACK INTO SCHOOL, THE NATION'S LARGEST NURSES UNION REPRESENTING SCHOOL NURSES, NATIONAL NURSES UNITED DECRIED THE CDCs CHANGE.

SAYING THE DECISION WAS QUOTE BASED ON STUDIES THAT FAILED TO APPLY FOR SEVERAL CRITICAL FACTORS INCLUDING NO DIFFERENTIATION OF LEVELS, AND EXCLUSION OF SCHOOLS THAT WERE CLOSED DUE TO NEED TO QUARANTINE OR FULLY REMOTE ESPECIALLY IN DENSER AREA AND AREAS WITH MORE BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

COMMUNITIES LIKE CAMDEN A CITY WITH SEVER OLD SCHOOL BUILDINGS WHERE STUDENTS WILL START RETURNING TO SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME ON APRIL 6th.

>> WE DO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE OF BRINGING PORTABLE HVAC UNITS THAT WILL CLEAR THE AIR.

IT WILL NOT DERAIL OUR PLANS MOVING FORWARD.

>> THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE MOVES STUDENTS TO 3- FEET ANY TIME SOON.

>> WE WANT TO TAKE THAT APPROACH BECAUSE WE WANT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, AND STAFF AND FAMILIES.

AND THAT WE'RE LEARNING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> Reporter: SOME ARE INVESTING INTO PLASTIC SHIELDS.

MACOMMBS EXPECTS 50% OF STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL IF THEY'RE PLANNED ARE APPROVED.

FOR NY SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA GAGGAS.

>>> 8 CORRECTION OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH STATE PROSECUTORS CALLING THE ATTACK AT A CORRECTION FACILITY A QUOTE COVER UP AFTER FINDING OFFICERS LIED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS.

THERE ARE DUAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE INCIDENTS BUT DOZENS OF LAWMAKERS ARE DEMANDING THE HEAD OF THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT RESIGN NOW.

WILL GOVERNOR MURPHY HEED THEIR CALL?

>> COLLEEN DID YOU GET AN ANSWER TO THAT TODAY?

>> WELL WE GOT AN ANSWER, IT WASN'T THE ANSWER WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

YOU KNOW WE HAD ASKED THE GOVERNOR TO RATE THE COMMISSIONER'S PERFORMANCE BECAUSE YOU KNOW IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAVE ASKED HIM AND OTHER REPORTERS HAD ASKED HIM DOES HE THINK THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD GO.

HE HAS ALWAYS SAID HE WANTS TO WAIT FOR THIS INVESTIGATION BY MATT BOXER THE FORMER STATE COMPTROLLER TO BE DONE.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION A BIT DIFFERENTLY.

HE DIDN'T REALLY ANSWER IT.

HE SAID HE IS STILL WAITING FOR THAT COMPTROLLER'S INVESTIGATION TO BE DONE TO SEE WHAT THAT TURNS UP.

>> WHAT'S THE TIME LINE THOUGH FOR THAT INVESTIGATION TO BE DONE AND I SHOULD NOTE I GUESS, THERE'S ONE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THEN ONE INDEPENDENT BY MATT BOXER AS YOU MENTIONED.

>> RIGHT, SO YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR SAID, LAST FRIDAY IN FACT, THAT HE HAS ASKED FOR THIS TO BE EXPEDITED.

BUT THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO COME OUT.

SO, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

I GUESS UNTIL THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE GOTTEN ALL OF THE OFFICERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE ASSAULTS.

BUT AS FOR THE COMPTROLLER'S INVESTIGATION WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

>> HERE'S THE THING THOUGH, THERE HAVE BEEN ALLEGATIONS SPECIFICALLY AT EDMAN AND HEND FOR YEARS.

SO AT WHAT POINT, WHO'S FEET DOES THE BUCK STOP?

>> THAT'S SOMETHING LEGISLATORS HAVE MADE VERY CLEAR IN TERMS OF THEM CALLING FOR THE COMMISSIONER TO RESIGN OR BE REMOVED.

IT'S ALMOST A YEAR AGO NOW THAT TALKED ABOUT PRISONER RIGHTS BEING VIOLATED AT MAHAN AND YOU KNOW THE STATE HAD SAID, WELL WE'RE WORKING ON YOU KNOW A SETTLEMENT AND THEN THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THAT REALLY ANGERS LEGISLATORS SO.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE JUST KIND OF WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN THERE.

FOR SOME SORT OF CHANGE.

>> VERY QUICKLY, HOW LIKELY IS IMPEACHMENT OF THE COMMISSIONER?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE IS LEGISLATION IN THE ASSEMBLY THAT HAS BIPARTISAN SPONSORSHIP BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SO WHO KNOWS IT'S UP TO THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER AS TO WHETHER HE'S GOING TO AGREE.

>> COLLEEN O' DAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU BRI.

>>> THERE ARE NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE COMPLAINTS BY POLICE OFFICERS IN ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST CITIES.

A RECENT ANALYSIS BY THE PATTERSON PRESS CONFIRMED BY NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS FOUND THOSE INCIDENTS IN PATTERSON WERE FAR HIGHER THAN IN NEWARK OR JERSEY CITY WHERE THE POPULATION IS ROUGHLY DOUBLE THE SIZE IN THE AMOUNT OF BOTH COPS AND CRIME FAR GREATER.

BUT BOTH ADVOCATES AND CRITICS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SAY THOSE STATISTICS DON'T PAINT A FULL PICTURE OF POLICING IN AN AREA.

SO WHAT DOES IT TELL US.

LEAH MICHIGAN HAS OUR STORY.

>> ROZBURG WAS WALKING TO THANKSGIVING DINNER IN PATTERSON WHEN HE STOPPED AND APPROACHED SOMEONE WHO APPEARED TO BE HOMELESS AND OFFERED TO BUY THAT PERSON SOME FOOD.

>> Reporter: HER CLIENT THEN ALLEGEDLY OBSERVED THE PATTERSON POLICE OFFICER VERBALLY ABUSING THE HOMELESS PERSON SO HE TRIED TO DEESCALATE THE SITUATION.

ANOTHER OFFICER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND WITH NO WARNER.

>> ESCALATED THE SITUATION FURTHER BY THROWING ROZBURG TO THE STREET.

>> TALKING ABOUT THIS, WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS 18 YEARS OLD.

>> Reporter: A THEN 19-YEAR-OLD OSAMA ASUIDI SAYS HE HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH TWO PATTERSON OFFICERS INCLUDING THE ONE INVOLVED IN HERNANDEZ CASE.

ASUIDI ALLEGES THE OFFICER QUOTE STARTED POUNDING ME FOR NO REASON.

THEY ARRESTED ME AND CHARGED ME WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON A POLICE OFFICER, RESISTING ARREST AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

THE POLICE REPORT IS ALL FALSE.

THE VIDEO SHOWS THE TRUTH.

>> IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE A VIDEO TO GO VIRAL FOR SOMEONE TO GET JUSTICE.

EVERYONE SHOULD GET JUSTICE.

>> WE ASKED TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH ASUIDI AND HERNANDEZ BUT BOTH ATTORNEYS DECLINED OUR REQUESTS SITING ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS.

IN LIGHTS OF THESE INCIDENTS, PATTERSON PRESS REPORTER JOE MANICO LOOKED INTO EXCESSIVE FORCE COMPLAINT DATA FROM 2018 AND 2019.

>> PATTERSON WHO HAS 100,000 PEOPLE HAD MORE EXCESSIVE FORCE COMPLAINTS THAN NEWARK AND JERSEY CITY WHICH ARE UPWARDS OF 250, PROBABLY 270,000 PEOPLE.

>> USE OF FORCE IS AS SIMPLE AS A NARCOTICS OFFICER SEES SOMEONE WITH DRUGS AND THAT PERSON FLEES.

NOW THAT NARCOTICS OFFICER RUNS AFTER THAT PERSON AND LETS SAY WHEN HE GRABS THAT PERSON, THEY GO TO THE GROUND.

THAT'S A USE OF FORCE.

>> Reporter: PATTERSON SAFETY DIRECTOR SPECIAL SAYS IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FROM THE LAST THREE YEARS, EXCESSIVE FORCE COMPLAINTS IN THE CITY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN GOING DOWN.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A BAD OFFICER, IT PAINTS EVERYBODY WITH THAT BRUSH.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU, THAT THERE IS NO GOOD POLICE OFFICER IN MY 37 YEARS THAT WANTS TO SIT NEXT TO OR RIDE WITH OR WORK WITH SOMEONE THAT'S NOT A GOOD POLICE OFFICER.

>> SPEZIAL SAYS THEY HAVE AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM IN PLACE TO FLAG OFFICER BEHAVIOR.

THEY HAVE MEMBERS OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS THAT FOLLOW UP WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SEE IF THE POLICE HANDLES SITUATIONS PROPERLY AND PATTERSON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO OPT INTO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S USE OF FORCE PORTAL.

IT REQUIRES OFFICERS TO LOG ANY USE OF FORCE WITHIN 24 HOURS INTO A SYSTEM.

A REQUIREMENT NOW FOR ALL OFFICERS IN THE STATE.

>> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INTERNAL AFFAIRS DOES NOT INVESTIGATE EXCESSIVE FORCE.

THEY FORWARD THAT TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES.

WHETHER THAT BE THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR, OR THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> THERE'S A COAX OF CONFIDENTIALITY IN THESE CASES.

>> Reporter: THEY'RE BUILDING A PUBLIC DASHBOARD THAT WILL DISPLAY DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUAL INCIDENTS.

INCLUDING THE NAME OF THE OFFICER INVOLVED AND THE TYPE OF FORCE USED.

A WAY TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

I'M LEAH MICHIGAN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> PATTERSON IS AMONG THE MANY CITIES WHERE OUTREACH TEAMS HIT THE STREETS TO GET THE HOMELESS COUNT.

THAT NUMBER INCREASED BY 9% LAST YEAR.

THE COUNT TOOK PLACE IN LATE JANUARY JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

IT FOUND THAT 9,600 PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT A PERMANENT HOME UP FROM JUST 8,800 BACK IN 2018.

THAT'S A BIGGER INCREASE THAN 42 OTHER STATES ACCORDING TO A STUDY FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

BUT THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE COUNT SAY THE INCREASE WAS BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING BETTER AT FINDING HOMELESS RESIDENTS AND NEW STATE REGULATIONS MADE IT EASIER FOR THOSE ON THE STREET TO FIND SHELTER.

>>> WELL IF THE GOVERNOR HITS PAUSE ON MORE REOPENINGS CAN OUR ART AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES SURVIVE.

RHONDA SHEFFLER HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: WHILE SOME RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN EASED IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE FOR BUSINESSES TO BOUNCE BACK.

SO BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ARE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT AID IS STILL AVAILABLE.

ONE NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP PERFORMANCE VENUES THAT WERE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM CONCERT HALLS, MOVIE THEATERS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

THE SHUTTERED VENUES GRAND PROGRAM HAS MORE THAN $16 BILLION AVAILABLE FOR ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE U.S.

THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM ON APRIL 8th.

>>> TODAY THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED THAT ITS DISCOUNTED PPE PROGRAM DEADLINE IS BEING EXTENDED.

THE NEW DEADLINE IS MAY 28th OR UNTIL FUNDS RUN OUT.

QUALIFYING SMALL BUSINESSES CAN RECEIVE DISCOUNTS OF UP TO 70%.

>>> FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO SECURE GRANTS OR GET FINANCING, THE STATE HAS A ONE STOP CENTER KNOWN AS THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS ACTION CENTER.

THAT CENTER HELPS COMPANIES NAVIGATE WHAT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AND HAS BEEN HOLDING WEBINARS ON BUSINESS GROWTH AND RECOVERY.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MELANIE WILABIE TOLD US ABOUT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS BUSINESSES ARE ASKING RIGHT NOW.

>> THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING HELP FOR US ON HOW DO I GET MY EMPLOYEES TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE PERHAPS.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE MY BUILDING IS WITHIN THE RIGHT SPECIFICATIONS.

THERE'S ALSO OTHER QUESTIONS, IF MY EMPLOYEE GETS COVID WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN EMPLOYER.

>> Reporter: THE CENTER HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 70,000 BUSINESS QUESTIONS SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

>>> FINALLY IN CASE YOU MISSED IT.

NEW JERSEY DID FOLLOW THE LEAD AND EXTENDED THE DEADLINE TO FILE YOUR STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS.

TAXPAYERS NOW HAVE UNTIL MAY 17th TO FILE BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL FORMS.

IF YOU PAY ESTIMATED TAXES HOWEVER, YOU STILL HAVE AN APRIL 15th DEADLINE TO FILE THAT.

HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS ON WALL STREET TODAY.

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

SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT BROUGHT TO YOU BY LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY.

>>> EVEN IN A BEST CASE SCENARIO IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONTHS FOR THE STATE TO GET OUR ADULT MARIJUANA USE SYSTEM SETD UP.

U P SET UP.

BUT THERE'S STILL SOME PLACES THAT WILL NOT ALLOW MARIJUANA USE.

PIECES OF THE LAW HANDCUFFED THEM FROM DOING THEIR JOB.

>> I LOVE WALKING AND I DON'T WANT TO WALK NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO'S SMOKING.

>> Reporter: ALISA FRIDA IS CONCERNED THAT HER DAILY BROAD WALK SHOWS COULD BE RUINED BY MARIJUANA USE AND SHE'S NOT ALONE.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR THE CITY TO ENFORCE THAT.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE UP HERE ON THE BOARDWALK.

>> Reporter: THE USE OF MARIJUANA IS LEGAL BY ANYONE OVER 21.

THEY CAN HAVE 6-OUNCES OF WEED ON THEM WITHOUT FACING PENALTY.

>>> THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE KIDS RUNNING AROUND, TELLING OFF THE COPS, CREATING HAVOC.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO COURT REPORTING SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: POINT PLEASANT BEACH MAYOR TRIBOLI IS FOCUSING ON THE MARIJUANA AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

THEY HELD A CAMPAIGN THIS WEEKEND.

>> WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS HOW IT'S CONTROLLED IN AN OUTDOOR FAMILY SETTING LIKE THE POINT BEACH BOARDWALK.

>> IF WE CAN SMELL THE ODOR OF MARIJUANA OR ALCOHOL ON A JUVENILE WE CAN'T EVEN APPROACH THEM ANYMORE.

OFFICERS CAN BE FACING CHARGES IF THEY START AN INVESTIGATION BASED FOR A JUVENILE.

>> Reporter: GEORGE MICHIGAN SAYS LIMITING OFFICERS AUTHORITY WHEN IT COMES TO POT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

>> IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE HEAR OF A KID OR A JUVENILE WHO MAYBE CONSUMED WAY TOO MUCH.

GOD FORBID KILLS THEMSELVES OR SOMEBODY ELSE.

WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION TO STOP THEM IF WE WEREN'T RESTRICTED BY THIS NEW LAW.

>> POLICE OFFICERS NEED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT POSITION FROM ARRESTING PEOPLE TO NOT ARRESTING PEOPLE NOW AND GIVING THEM WARNING AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY TOWN HAS THE RIGHT APPROACH ON TO HOW THEY'RE GOING TO COMBAT YOUNG CHILDREN FROM BEING ENGAGED WITH THIS PROGRAM.

>> Reporter: SHIA BRODSHINDER IS CHAIR OF THE NEW JERSEY CANNABIS TRADE ASSOCIATION.

BRODSHEN SAYS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE WITH ADAPTING TO CHANGE IS LACK OF.

>> YOU HAVE COMMUNITIES CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT.

I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON IS A COMPLETE ROBUST EDUCATION PLAN.

>> OUR CONCERN IS BASICALLY THAT, IF THERE'S A BUNCH OF EMBOLDENDEY YOUNG KIDS THEY'RE GOING TO SCARE THE FAMILIES THAT ALWAYS COME TO POINT PLEASANT BEACH LOOKING FOR THAT FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN JUST RELAX A LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: WHILE IT COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR BEFORE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS SOLD AT STATE LICENSED DISPENSARIES, THEY KNOW HOW SERIOUS CHANGES ARE MADE TO THE LAW AS HE FEARS THE JERSEY SHORE COULD SEE LOSS IN TOURISM.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT HEAD OVER THE NC SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG OR FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PODCAST AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU NEVER MISS A SHOW.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI, FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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

AND NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

>> JUST WHO ARE NJM POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY'RE THE SERVICE AND PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR.

AND OUR HOME GROWN CHAMPIONS.

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

NJM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM MY KWR.

ANY WHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER WITH OUR TELEMED APP.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.