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

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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

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

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

BRIANA VANNOZZI IS OFF TONIGHT.

STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED LATE TODAY TO END THE GOVERNOR SERIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDERS.

THE BILL WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE WOULD INSTEAD GIVE GOVERNOR MURPHY BROAD POWERS TO GUIDE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

THE MOVE COMES AS SOME BIG CHANGES ARE COMING TOMORROW AS THE STATE CONTINUES TO ROLLBACK CORONAVIRUS RELATED RESTRICTIONS.

NEW JERSEY'S 50 PERCENT INDOOR CAPACITY LIMITS WILL BE LIFTED FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF BUSINESSES , RESTAURANTS, GYMS, SALONS, MOVIE THEATERS, MUSEUMS, AND HOUSES OF WORSHIP.

SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES WILL STILL BE IN EFFECT, AS WILL INDOOR MASK WEARING, EVEN AS OUR NEIGHBORING STATES WILL ALLOW VACCINATED PEOPLE TO SHED THEIR MASKS INDOORS.

MAKING NEW JERSEY THE ONLY NORTHEAST STATE TO KEEP THE MANDATE IN PLACE, AT LEAST FOR A COUPLE MORE WEEKS ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR.

AS THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS REMAIN UNVACCINATED.

>>> TODAY THE STATE CROSSED 3.9 MILLION FULLY VACCINATED RESIDENTS BUT SHOTS STILL LAG IN SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WAS TOUTED BY THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION AS A WAY TO ACCESS SOME OF THOSE HARD-TO- REACH NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT CONFIDENCE IN THE VACCINE APPEARS TO BE LAGGING AFTER ANOTHER 13 BLOOD CLOTS WERE RECENTLY REPORTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOT, EVEN AFTER THE CDC LIFTED A PAUSE ON THE VACCINE LAST MONTH.

OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> Reporter: RIDGE IS AMONG VERY FEW CLIENTS WHO OPTED FOR J&J'S COVID VACCINE TODAY AT VANGUARD MEDICALS VACCINATION DRIVE-THROUGH CLINIC IN VERONA.

WORKERS POPPED SHOTS INTO 300 MOTORISTS AND CLIENTS COULD CHOOSE FROM ALL THREE AVAILABLE VACCINES.

MORE THAN HALF PICKED MODERNA, ABOUT 100 CHOSE PFIZER AND ONLY 5 WANTED J&J.

>> ONLY BECAUSE THERE'S ONE SHOT AND I DON'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK.

>> THEY'RE NOT SURE ABOUT WHAT ANYTHING WILL DO IN THE LONG TERM.

>> Reporter: SHELLEY DID CONSIDER THE ODDS.

THE CDC KNOWS OUT OF MILLIONS VACCINATED, 28 PATIENTS DEVELOPED BLOOD CLOTS AFTER TAKING FOR J&J VACCINE, ALL ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 59.

ALL BUT 6 WERE IN WOMEN AND THREE HAVE DIED.

THE HEALTH AGENCY ROLLED THE J&J VACCINES BENEFITS OUTWEIGHED ITS MINIMAL RISKS.

>> I ONLY WANTED TO GET ONE SHOT AND I'M NOT IN THE RISK OF THAT VERY SMALL RISK GROUP, THE AGE OF THAT SMALL RISK GROUP SO I DECIDED TO DO THIS ONE.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A VERY RARE EVENT THAT PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT IN PROPORTION TO ITS FREQUENCY.

>> Reporter: DOCTOR MARTIN GLASER SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD DECIDE BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

>> IN GENERAL, IF ALL THINGS WERE EQUAL FOR WOMEN UNDER 50 I WOULD SAY GET THE TWO SHOT VACCINES BUT SOMETIMES ALL THINGS AREN'T EQUAL.

PEOPLE HAVE WORK SCHEDULES AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES AND SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER TO JUST GET THE ONE SHOT AND BE DONE WITH IT.

>> Reporter: OUT OF 3.9 MILLION FULLY VACCINATED NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS, ONLY EIGHT PERCENT TOOK THE J&J SHOT, BUT IT'S 10 DAY SUSPENSION WHILE EXPERTS EXAMINE THE QUALITY ISSUE APPARENTLY CAUSE LINGERING DAMAGE IN THE EYES OF MANY HERE WHO STILL FEEL UNSURE ABOUT J&J.

>> I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND THEN THERE WERE COMPLICATIONS I HEARD ON THE NEWS SO I DECIDED NOT TO.

>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S TRUSTED ENOUGH, JUST FOR MY OWN SAFETY.

>> INITIALLY THE DEMAND WAS MUCH HIGHER FOR THE J&J VACCINE.

>> Reporter: THEY SCHEDULED J&J IN BLOCKS OF FIVE, THE NUMBER OF JOSES IN EACH FILE TO AVOID WASTAGE.

>> IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT RARE SIDE EFFECTS OF BLOOD CLOTS SEEN , PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE MORE HESITANT ABOUT RECEIVING THE J&J VACCINE.

>> Reporter: THE NUMBERS HERE TEND TO MATCH A RECENT SURVEY SHOWING MORE PEOPLE ARE OPTING FOR THE TWO DOSE VACCINES OVER J&J.

THE STUDY SHOWED LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE REPLIED, 46 PERCENT, FELT AT LEAST SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT IN THE SAFETY OF J&J'S COVID VACCINE COMPARED TO NEARLY 70 PERCENT WHO FELT CONFIDENCE IN PFIZER AND MODERNA.

VACCINATION RATES MOVE IN WAVES WITH THE LATEST SURGE INVOLVING KIDS 12 TO 15 YEARS OLD RUSHING TO TAKE THE ONLY VACCINE APPROVED FOR THEIR AGE GROUP, PFIZER.

THE J&J VACCINE STILL APPEALS TO CERTAIN FOLKS.

>> IF YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GO ON A VACATION OR YOU'VE GOT A RELATIVE YOU WANT TO SEE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SOMETIMES THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.

>> Reporter: J&J WAS 72 PERCENT EFFECTIVE IN U.S. CLINICAL TRIALS, IT TRAVELS MORE EASILY WHICH WORKS BETTER FOR OUTREACH FIRST USING VISITING NURSES AND MOBILE CLINICS.

SO FAR 12 PERCENT OF ALL FULLY VACCINATED U.S.

ADULTS GOT THE J&J VACCINE WHICH IS 9.7 MILLION SHOTS NATIONWIDE, BUT MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS HAVE ALSO PLAGUED J&J AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SCHEDULED TO DELIVER ZERO DOSES OF J&J TO STATES THIS WEEK.

VANGUARD HELPS TO GET MORE.

>> THERE MAY BE AN ASSOCIATION WITH THE VACCINE REALLY ONLY BEING FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS BUT IT'S AN OPTION WE BELIEVE IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE AND ALSO HELPING US ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY.

>> EVEN WITH THE DROP IN JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINES, STATE LEADERS SAY WE ARE HEARING SEEING HEALTH METRICS TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

578 NEW COVID CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY AND 24 MORE FATALITIES.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN CASE NUMBERS THIS LOW SINCE LAST OCTOBER.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS WITH CASES TRENDING DOWN AND VACCINES NOW AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 12, IT'S TIME TO GET KIDS BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS FULL- TIME THIS FALL.

RIGHT NOW, MOST SCHOOLS ARE EITHER FULLY IN PERSON OR ON A HYBRID SCHEDULE.

JUST FIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS REMAIN ALL REMOTE, BUT BY THE FALL, THAT OPTION WILL BE GONE.

MURPHY IS REQUIRING ALL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE FULL DAY, IN PERSON INSTRUCTION JUST LIKE THEY DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SOME 14 MONTHS AGO.

I ASKED OUR EDITOR AND EDUCATION WRITER, IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE READY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS NEW JERSEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE FALL REOPENING?

>> THERE'S JUST A LOT OF QUESTION MARKS.

A BIG ONE IS WHETHER KIDS AND TEACHERS WILL ALL COME BACK AT THE NUMBERS THEY'VE COME BACK IN THE PAST.

I KNOW GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID THEY ALL MUST COME BACK BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE EXCEPTIONS AND SOME TENSIONS OVER THAT.

ARE THE BUILDINGS READY TO BE ABLE TO MEET SOME OF THE CAPACITY DEMANDS THAT HAVE SHIFTED WITH THE PANDEMIC?

IT IS A FRAUGHT TIME AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A SCHOOL OPENING LIKE NO OTHER BEFORE AND KIDS ARE GOING TO BE IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLACE THAN THEY WERE WHEN THE LAST TIME THEY WERE IN THOSE BUILDINGS.

SO THERE'S LOTS OF QUESTIONS BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME TIME.

THEY ARE NOW WORKING ON IT.

THIS WAS NOT A SURPRISE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THEY WERE ALREADY PLANNING ON FULL OPENINGS NEXT FALL AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING NOW.

>> WHAT IF THERE IS RELUCTANCE FROM BOTH TEACHERS AND PARENTS WHO MIGHT STILL BE NERVOUS?

>> THAT'S GOING TO PUT SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS IN AN ENFORCEMENT POSITION.

THEY WILL WAIVE THE ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR SAYING THINGS ARE BACK TO WHERE WE HAVE COMPULSORY EDUCATION AND YOU HAVE TO COME BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THOSE TIMES.

I HAVE A FEELING, I STOPPED TRYING TO PREDICT THESE THINGS, BUT I'VE A FEELING THAT FOLKS WILL BE CLAMORING TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL AND BY THAT POINT THEY WILL JUST BE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR.

WILL THERE BE EXCEPTIONS?

CERTAINLY ON THE BIG WILD CARD OF COURSE IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE VIRUS ITSELF AND WHETHER THAT REARS ITSELF EVEN WITH SMALL OUTBREAKS AND THAT COULD CHANGE THE EQUATION AS WELL.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE LASTING CHANGES IN NEW JERSEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS BASED ON LESSONS LEARNED OVER THIS PAST YEAR?

EVEN IF EVERYONE IS THERE TOGETHER, WHAT DID THEY LEARN THAT THEY CAN BRING FORWARD?

>> IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND CERTAINLY I WOULD HOPE THERE WOULD BE LASTING CHANGES.

THIS HAS LAID BARE SOME ISSUES AND INEQUITIES IN OUR SYSTEM, SO CERTAINLY I DO THINK THERE WILL BE MORE USE OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE WILL BE AT A POINT WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THAT TECHNOLOGY AND CERTAINLY THE USE OF REMOTE LEARNING I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT'S MORE COMFORTABLE TO A LOT OF DISTRICTS, NOT SO MUCH THE WHOLE SCHOOL, BUT KIDS WHO NEED THE INSTRUCTION AT HOME OR TAKING THAT COURSE THAT IS UNAVAILABLE NECESSARILY AT THE SCHOOL.

I THINK YOU WILL START SEEING THAT BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE SUCH A CLAMORING TO GET BACK TO THE OLD NORMAL THAT IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO GET TO THE NORMAL NEW NORMAL IN THAT SENSE.

>> WE SHOULD ALSO TOUCH ON THE ISSUE OF HOME RULE, WHAT HAPPENS THERE?

>> ULTIMATELY IT'S UP TO THESE DISTRICTS TO DECIDE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR WHO DEFERRED TO HOME RULE FOR A LONG TIME NOW IS TRYING TO PUT A LITTLE PRESSURE ON THEM, BUT HOME RULE STILL WINS IN NEW JERSEY AND I DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE AN EXCEPTION TO THAT.

>>> THE NEW JERSEY STATE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SAYS IT WILL NO LONGER REQUIRE MASKS FOR OUTDOOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS.

NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR ELIMINATED THE OUTDOOR MASK MANDATES.

>>> THE MASSIVE WILDFIRE THAT BROKE OUT IN BASS RIVER STATE FOREST OVER THE WEEKEND HAS NOW BEEN CONTAINED.

AT ONE POINT, THE 617 ACRE FIRE IN BURLINGTON COUNTY THREATENED 100 HOMES, BUT THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF DAMAGE STRUCTURES AND NO INJURIES EITHER.

SMOKE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE AREA FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

IN THE MEANTIME, FIREFIGHTERS TODAY ARE MAKING PROGRESS CONTAINING ANOTHER WILDFIRE IN PEMBERTON.

IT BROKE OUT LAST NIGHT AND IT HAS SPREAD TO MORE THAN 400 ACRES.

>>> ALL THESE YEARS LATER WE ARE STILL TALLYING UP THE DAMAGE FROM SUPER STORM SANDY AND A NEW ESTIMATE FINDS THAT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE FROM THAT STORM CAN BE TIED TO RISING SEA LEVELS CAUSED BY CARBON EMISSIONS.

AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES ON THE HUMAN STORIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE LOOKS AT THE PRICE WE PAY.

>> IT'S BEEN ALMOST 10 YEARS BUT WE ARE STILL LEARNING THINGS FROM SUPER STORM SANDY.

A NEW REPORT OUT TODAY SUGGESTS THAT WHAT MADE SANDY SUPER WAS NOT SIMPLY THE CONFLUENCE OF FORCES OF NATURE, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY, OUR IMPACT ON THE FORCES OF NATURE.

THE REPORT, REPAIRED BY RESEARCHERS FROM CLIMATE CENTRAL BASED IN PRINCETON, STEVENS INSTITUTE AND RUTGERS UNIVERSITY ESTIMATES SEA LEVEL RISE OF FOUR INCHES BETWEEN 1900 AND 2012, SPECIFICALLY CAUSED BY US.

>> HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THAT COST?

IT WAS ON THE ORDER OF ABOUT 12 PERCENT OF THE OVERALL DAMAGE.

FOR THE LAST 200 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN BURNING FOSSIL FUELS AND PUTTING CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN SHOPPING DOWN FOREST AND WE'VE BEEN PUTTING THINGS LIKE METHANE IN THE ATMOSPHERE, SO ALL OF THOSE CHANGES TO THE ATMOSPHERE LEAD TO MORE HEAT BEING TRAPPED.

>> WHICH WARMS THE PLANET, WHICH WARMS THE OCEANS AND YOU GET IT.

THE FINDINGS HAD ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAYING BOTH I TOLD YOU SO, AND LET'S GET GOING ON SOLUTIONS.

>> THE REPORT'S FINDINGS ARE CLEAR THAT IF YOU WERE TO CHECK THE PLANET INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THEY WOULD SAY YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK.

THE REPORT'S FINDINGS ARE REALLY UNIQUE BECAUSE THEY ARE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTING A DISASTER WE ALL KNOW ALL TOO WELL FROM HURRICANE SANDY AND SHOWING THAT A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF SANDY'S IMPACTS WAS BECAUSE OF MAN-MADE CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT HAS NOT BEEN QUANTIFIED BEFORE.

>> Reporter: ON THE LOW-END, ALMOST 13 PERCENT OF THE DAMAGE AND ON THE HIGH END, MAYBE 24 PERCENT OF THE DAMAGE.

MONETARY DAMAGE ON THE LOW-END, MORE THAN 3 1/2 BILLION DOLLARS, ON THE HIGH-END COULD HAVE BEEN AS MUCH AS $7 BILLION, DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE BULL TO THE MYRIAD OF WAYS WE ARE WARMING THE EARTH.

>> THE BIGGEST TAKE AWAY IS THIS REPORT SHOWS HOW VULNERABLE WE ARE IN SOME WAYS WE ARE LUCKY THAT IT COULD'VE BEEN WORSE BUT WHAT IT DID SHOW IS FOR THE FIRST TIME THE STORM REALLY WENT INTO PLACES IN OTHER TIMES AND OTHER STORMS PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HIT SO BAD OR EVEN AT ALL.

>> Reporter: THE REPORT DOESN'T MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO GET OUT OF THE SPIRAL BUT IT'S WE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US TEAM IS NOT FALLING ON DEAF YEARS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> WE ARE ALL IN BIG TROUBLE.

>> Reporter: SMITH IS USUALLY THE OPTIMIST.

THE SENATOR CHAIRS THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE SAYS LEGISLATORS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING.

>> HALF OF THE GREENHOUSE GASES THAT GO INTO THE AIR COME FROM THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR THERE OF OUR ECONOMY.

ELECTRIFY EVERYTHING.

LET'S HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR OUR CITIZENS AND ELECTED TRACTOR-TRAILER TRUCKS FOR THE MOVEMENT OF OUR GOODS, ELECTRIC TRAINS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO AND THE SECOND THING WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO GET OFF OUR ADDICTION TO FOSSIL FUELS.

>> Reporter: SMITH CALLS THE STATE ELECTRIC VEHICLE INCENTIVE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES REBATES TO THOSE WHO BY EV IS A GOOD START.

THE STATE HAS ALSO GONE ALL IN ON OFFSHORE WIND WITH THE GOVERNOR SETTING A GOAL OF 100 PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY IN JERSEY BY 2050, ROUGHLY A GENERATION AWAY.

THAT'S OPTIMISM THAT SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REFINE INTO ACTION.

>>> GOVERNOR MOVIE SCORES WELL IN A NEW MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLLING INSTITUTE SURVEY OF STATE RESIDENTS, HALF OF THE RESIDENTS PULLED GIVE THE GOVERNOR A FAVORABLE RATING WHILE 34 PERCENT GIVE HIM AN UNFAVORABLE RATING.

THAT IS THE HIGHEST RATING OF ANY RECENT GOVERNOR.

THE LEAST POPULAR GOVERNOR IS CHRIS CRISTI ACCORDING TO THE POLL, ONLY 26 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS GIVE HIM A FAVORABLE RATING COMPARED TO 64 PERCENT RATE HIM UNFAVORABLY.

WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY REMEMBER MOST ABOUT HIS EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE, ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE SAID THE BRIDGE GATE SCANDAL.

RESIDENTS ALSO SAID THEIR FAVORITE LIVING EX-GOVERNOR IS GOVERNOR TOM KANE.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S BUDGET OUTLOOK CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ACCORDING TO THE STATE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

NEW JERSEY IS ALREADY ON TRACK FOR A $6.3 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS AND THE REVENUE FORECAST COULD INCREASE BY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WE EXPLAIN HOW THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION WENT FROM PREDICTING A POSSIBLE BUDGET SHORTFALL LAST YEAR, TO BEING FLUSH WITH CASH THIS YEAR.

>> IT'S BEEN A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.

THE SALES TAX REBOUNDED AND HAS BEEN BEATING LAST YEAR'S TOTALS .

THE OTHER TAXES LIKE THE REALTY TRANSFERRED TAXES IS DOING REALLY WELL, SO IT'S JUST BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS PLAYED OUT COMPLETELY OPPOSITE TO THE ORIGINAL PROJECTIONS.

>> YOU CAN GO TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG FOR MORE ON THE STORY.

>>> WITH BILLIONS MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS HEADING TO NEW JERSEY FROM THE LATEST FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE, A STATE WATCHDOG AGENCY PLANS TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS PROPERLY SPENT.

THE OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER HAS SET UP A NEW COVID-19 COMPLIANCE IN OVERSIGHT PROJECT TASKED WITH MAKING SURE THE FEDERAL MONEY IS SPENT IN ACCORDANCE TO GUIDELINES, ACTING STATE COMPTROLLER KEVIN WALSH TOLD ME HOW HE'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THE RULES ARE FOLLOWED AND WHY HE WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR POSSIBLE FRAUD.

>>> TELL ME HOW THIS OVERSIGHT PROJECT IS GOING TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE FUNDS?

>> WE ARE ENSURING THAT THE FUNDS ARE USED IN THE RIGHT WAY BY CHECKING CONTRACTS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE ENTERED INTO BY STATE AGENCIES WHEN THEY ARE PROPOSING USES FOR RECOVERY FUNDS AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO TRAIN HIGHER-LEVEL STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A HOTLINE WHERE WE DO OUR BEST TO COLLECT COMPLAINTS, WE ENCOURAGE COMPLAINTS TO COME IN REGARDING WASTE FRAUD AND ABUSE SO THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO ANY ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER EXPENDITURES AND WE ARE APPROACHING THIS BY LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES ON THE FRONT AND THROUGH PREVENTION AND TRAINING AND ON THE BACKEND WITH DETECTION OF FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, INVESTIGATION AND REFERRALS.

>> WE ARE TALKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, DO YOU HAVE ADEQUATE MANPOWER TO GET THE WORK DONE?

>> WE DO AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING TO INCREASE THAT AS WELL.

>> IN TERMS OF THE IDEA OF FRAUD, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU ARE GOING INTO THIS PROJECT OVERLY WORRIED ABOUT?

>> WE KNOW WHENEVER THERE ARE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RESPONSE, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN TO STATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS OR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED OVER THE YEARS, WE KNOW THERE ARE ALWAYS FOLKS WHO WILL ATTEMPT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE STATE HAVE MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO DISCOURAGE FRAUD AND ALSO TO DETECT AND INVESTIGATE FRAUD AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE DOING HERE.

>> DO YOU THINK THOSE MECHANISMS ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE THAT YOU HAVE TO HELP IMPLEMENT THEM AT THIS POINT?

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY ENTERED EXECUTIVE ORDER 166 IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, AND SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN ENHANCED MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO PREVENT AND DETECT FRAUD.

AND THIS IS A LOT OF WHAT GOVERNMENT DOES DAY TODAY TO BEGIN WITH IN ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, BUT GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND GIVEN THE DIFFICULT AND CHAOTIC TIMES THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, IT IS ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE TO HAVE AN ENHANCED APPROACH TO THIS AND I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS JUSTIFIED IN EXPECTING STATES TO DO MORE, GIVEN HOW MUCH THEY ARE ENTRUSTING THE STATES WITH IN TERMS OF RECOVERY FUNDS.

>> WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM AS YOU START WORK ON THIS?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING, THE NUMBER OF STATE AGENCIES THAT ARE INVOLVED AND THE CREATIVITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET ONE OVER ON THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> NOW WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE TRADING DAY WRAPPED UP ON WALL STREET.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, A REMINDER THAT AN ACT OF KINDNESS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

SOME RUTGERS-CAMDEN STUDENTS CAME UP WITH AN IDEA TO BOTH HONOR LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND HELP MINORITY OWNED RESTAURANTS, SO THEY LAUNCHED A PLAN AND NAMED IT HOAGIES FOR HEROES.

>> WE ARE JUST VERY THANKFUL, THE IMPACT THESE YOUNG STUDENTS HAVE MADE MEANS A LOT.

>> Reporter: A GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY CAMDEN IS HONORING, SUPPORTING, AND UPLIFTING THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE PANDEMIC, ONE SANDWICH AT A TIME.

>> JUST TO SEE NOT ONLY THINGS OPENING UP BUT REMINDING EVERYBODY THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A ROUGH YEAR AND THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER AND THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, WE STILL HAVE TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS WENT THROUGH.

A LOT OF THE STRUGGLES OF THE BUSINESSES WENT THROUGH AND JUST TO SAY WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND JUST GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IS A GREAT FEELING.

>> Reporter: THE SENIOR SAID THEY RAISED AROUND $2400 AND WANTED TO COMBINE CAUSES, HELPING STRUGGLING RESTAURANTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN TURN SUPPORT HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

>> WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE OUT HERE AND FINALLY SEE HOAGIES FOR HEROES COME TO LIFE.

IT WAS A VIRTUAL 5K EVENT THAT WE HOSTED AND ORGANIZED AS A GROUP AND WE WERE THRILLED WITH THE RESPONSE WE GOT IN THE MONEY WE RAISED SO WE USED 100 PERCENT OF THE PROCEEDS TO PUT IT TOWARD MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES IN CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY TO SERVE ABOUT 300 HOAGIES TO THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS OR AS WE CALL THEM, HEALTHCARE HEROES READ >> Reporter: COOPER UNIVERSITY SAYS THEY ARE STARTING TO SEE PROGRESS AS THE NUMBER OF COVID CASES DECLINE, BUT FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD TO GET HERE.

>> IT MAKES US FEEL REALLY GREAT TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY HAS COME OUT TO SUPPORT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY TRYING 14 MONTHS AND WHEN YOU SEE STUDENTS LIKE THIS COME OUT AND SUPPORT US, IT MEANS A LOT.

>> Reporter: THE STUDENTS ARE A PART OF THE BUSINESS LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND WERE GIVEN THE CHALLENGE OF LEAVING THEIR MARK.

>> THE BUSINESS LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM HAS THIS EVERY SEMESTER BUT WE LIKE TO GIVE THEM FLEXIBILITY TO DO WITH IT WHAT THEY WANT.

THE PROGRAM HELPS THEM TO LEARN THE TOOLS, THE KNOWLEDGE AND GAIN THE EXPERIENCES TO HELP THEM DEFINE HOW DO I WANT TO SHOW UP AS A LEADER?

SO FOR THIS PROJECT I GAVE THEM THE CHALLENGE, LEAVE YOUR LEGACY.

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE AS A LEADER AND FROM THAT THEY TREAT CREATED THE 5K.

>> IT WAS THIS PROFESSOR'S FIRST TIME SEEING HER STUDENTS IN PERSON THIS SEMESTER AND SHE SAYS THEY FAR EXCEEDED HER EXPECTATIONS.

>> THESE STUDENTS INSPIRE ME.

THEIR PASSION, THEIR DETERMINATION, THEIR VISION TO PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER.

THEY HELPED ME TO SEE WHAT WAS POSSIBLE WITH IT AND I FOUND THAT ENERGIZING AND INSPIRING.

>> Reporter: ALTOGETHER, 700 SANDWICHES WERE DELIVERED TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND IT WAS THE APPRECIATION THAT LEFT THE STAFF FULL.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US FOR NOW, BUT REMEMBER TO CATCH CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUISE ON THURSDAY.

HE LOOKS AT THE CONFUSIONS AND THE POLITICAL DIVIDE OVER MASK WEARING FROM THE CDC RECOMMENDATIONS, TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATES, THAT'S THURSDAY AT 6:30 PM LIVE ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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

>>> LEAD FUNDING FOR PERIL AND PROMISE IS PROVIDED BY DOCTOR P. AND DIANA... MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY... >>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

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