>>> NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NJ AND SPOTLIGHT GROUP, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY AND INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE OF REALTORS IN NEW JERSEY.

>>> NJ PBS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT, IT APPEARS THE MASSIVE RALLY AT THE STATE HOUSE TUESDAY BY LABOR UNIONS ACHIEVED WHAT THEY HOPED.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON, UNION LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION OVER AN INCREASE IN HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STATE WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY.

DOWN TO A 3% INCREASE.

BEFORE THE DEAL WAS STRUCK, THOSE SAME WORKERS WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING AS MUCH AS 20% MORE FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS NEXT YEAR.

UNION LEADERS FOR ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS ARE STILL AT THE BARGAINING TABLE OVER THERE RATE INCREASE.

NEW JERSEY HAS MORE THAN 800,000 PUBLIC WORKERS.

THE SURPRISE AGREEMENT CAME HOURS AFTER A MEETING ON THE PROGRAM COMMISSION WHICH OVERSEES HOW THOSE PREMIUM PRICES ARE SET DURING THAT MEETING, THIS MORNING, MEMBERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE FIELD HIKE, UP TO 20%.

BUT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CWA, THE STATE'S LARGEST PUBLIC WORKER UNION TOLD NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS THEY BEGIN TO BELIEVE A SPOTLIGHT FIX WILL NEED TO BE SET UP TO FIX THE CONTRACT AGREEMENTS.

>> WELL, I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REACH A RESOLUTION WITH THE STATE, YOU KNOW THE RESULT IS NOT PERFECT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE AGREEMENT SHARES THE HIGHER HEALTH COSTS AND SPREADS THE PAYMENT OUT IN A WAY THAT IS BOTH SENSIBLE AND FAIR.

UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT AVOIDS WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY CATASTROPHIC.

>> REPUBLICANS MEANTIME HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR HEARINGS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF HOW THE PROPOSED HIKES WILL CALCULATE TO BEGIN WITH, AND POINTED OUT TODAY TO OUR SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ, THE SECTOR HAS BEEN SHOULDERING THE ROUGHLY 6% INCREASE EVERY YEAR.

AND JOINING DAVID CRUZ FOR THE SEASON PREMIERE OF CHAT BOX, HE KICKS IT OFF WITH STEVE PHILIP, ON THE CALL WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN TO DESIGN RESIGN, ALONG WITH HIS PETITIONS TO BECOME A GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

THEN, WE HAVE REPUBLICAN SENATOR IN A SEARCH TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON GUN SAFETY LAWS IN NEW JERSEY.

DON'T MISS IT, YOU CAN WATCH IT THURSDAY NIGHT AT 6:30, IT'LL BE LIVE STREAMED ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCED TODAY HE WILL NOMINATE THE JUDGE DOUGLAS, TO SERVE ON THE SUPREME COURT, SERVED FOR NEARLY 18 YEARS AS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE, HIS RETIRING ASSOCIATE JUSTICE,, THE NOMINATION OF REPUBLICAN IS CONSIDERED AN OLIVE BRANCH FOR THE IMPASSE BETWEEN THE STATE SENATE AND GOVERNOR MURPHY.

THE SUPREME COURT NOMINATIONS ARE THERE HAVE BEEN THREE VACANCIES ON THE HIGH COURT SINCE JULY WITH ALL BEING FILLED TEMPORARILY BY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES, INCLUDING FASCIALE.

THE ISSUE WAS AT THE CENTER OF THE HOLDUP OF ANOTHER OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S NOMINEES FOR THE SUPREME COURT, THE DEMOCRATS CONFIRMATION HAS BEEN BLOCKED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND HALF BIKE SENATOR HOLLY, USING AN UNWRITTEN EDITORIAL, AT THE TIME, SHE CITED CONCERNS AT THE IDEOLOGICAL BALANCE OF THE COURT.

FASCIALE'S NOMINATION IS EXPECTED TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

>> AS A SITTING JUDGE FOR 18 YEARS, I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE OTHER JUSTICES OF OUR SUPREME COURT.

AS YOU SAID, IT HAS A NATIONAL PETITION FOR OUTSTANDING JUDICIAL EXTINCTION.

I DEVOTED MY ENTIRE CAREER TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF OUR STATE.

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE SERVICE BY SITTING ON OUR STATE'S HIGHEST COURT.

>> OF THE SCHOOL YEAR GOT OFF TO A ROCKY START FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS IN TRENTON, WHO SHOWED UP FOR THE FIRST DAY AT A SCHOOL ASSIGNED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY WEREN'T REGISTERED IN THE SYSTEM AND THERE WERE NO SEATS AVAILABLE AT THE CITIES OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS EITHER.

IT IS NOW ONE FULL WEEK END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND FAMILIES ARE FRANTIC OVER THE SITUATION, BUT THEIR YOUNG KIDS ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: TRENTON RESIDENT AND PARENT, ELISE RIVERA SAID HE GOT A LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TELLING HIM WHICH SCHOOL TO ATTEND THIS YEAR, BUT WHEN HE GOT THERE ON THE FIRST DAY, THE SCHOOL TOLD HIM THEY DID NOT HAVE A SPOT AND HE NEEDED TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.

UPON A SECOND ARRIVAL, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A SPOT FOR HIM EITHER.

SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND A SCHOOL FOR HER 5-YEAR-OLD.

>> SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE SYSTEM BUT WHEN I CAME ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SLOTS OPEN, WHICH WAS A LIE.

WHEN I CAME HERE, THAT AFTERNOON, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD 20 SPOTS OPEN.

>> Reporter: THOUSANDS ARE IMPACTED BY THE PROCESS OF RELOCATING STUDENTS AFTER THE CITY RECENTLY REDISTRICTING.

>> YOU DID THIS A WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, SO ALL THESE PARENTS ARE WALKING AROUND TRYING TO FIND A STABLE HOUSING FOR THESE CHILDREN, I MEAN STABLE SCHOOL FOR THESE CHILDREN, AND THERE IS NONE.

>> Reporter: THIS IS 30 MINUTES WALKING, I DON'T DRIVE, MY DAUGHTER IS THE SIZE OF A KINDERGARTNER.

>> Reporter: SHE IS OUTRAGED THAT HER 10-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN HOME FOR THE LAST FOUR DAYS SINCE SCHOOL STARTED, HER CHILD WAS ASSIGNED TO A SCHOOL 30 MINUTES AWAY INSTEAD OF LOCATED TWO BLOCKS AWAY.

>> BY THE TIME WE GET HER TO SCHOOL, SHE'S GOING TO BE SOAKED IF IT RAINS SO SHE'S GOING TO SIT IN SCHOOL FOR EIGHT HOURS IN WET CLOTHING?

THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

I CALLED TRANSPORTATION TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, AND THEY SAID YOU'VE GOT TO BE TWO MILES AWAY, SO YOU CAN TAKE A BUS.

I'M NOT TWO MILES AWAY.

SO SHE GIVES ME A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL THAT SAYS BASICALLY, I CALLED THEM AND THEY WANT $50 A WEEK TO PICK HER UP AND DROP HER OFF.

I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY.

>> Reporter: HOW DID THIS HAPPEN AND WHAT IS BEHIND THE RESTRUCTURING?

THE MAYOR WHO DID NOT DENY THERE WERE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THIS YEAR'S SCHOOL REGISTRATION ADMITS THAT GOOD INTENTION CAME WITH UNFORESEEN CHALLENGES.

>> WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE SCHOOLS DOWN IN POPULATION, WE WANT TO SMALLER CLASS SIZES, WE WANTED MORE ROOM, AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO OPEN UP FIVE NEW SCHOOLS WHICH WE DID, OUR FIRST YEAR THERE WAS A LOT OF BUMPS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.

>> Reporter: THE DISTRICT WAS FORCED TO HELP PARENTS AND TEACHERS CONFIRM WHERE THEIR CHILD NEEDED TO GO TO SCHOOL.

WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING WAS ANGRY AND CONFUSED PARENTS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GET EVERYONE REGISTERED, REGISTRATION HASN'T STOPPED, WE HAVE BEEN REGISTERING SINCE APRIL OF LAST YEAR.

WE ARE OUT OF SPACE IN PARTS OF OUR CITY.

AND WE HAVE SPACE IN OTHER WORDS OR AREAS OF OUR CITY.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CAN REDUCE THE SIZE OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION IN THE SCHOOLS.

>> Reporter: THE SUPERINTENDENT OF TRENTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, JAMES EARL SAID WHILE HE CAN SUPERVISE WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES, HE ALSO STRESSES THE CITY HAS TRIED TO PREPARE RESIDENTS MORE THAN SIX AGO PUBLICLY, INCLUDING ZOOM PRESENTATIONS LIKE THIS ONE.

>> WE HAVE A WAITING LIST, THE WAITING LIST STARTED IN APRIL ALSO.

SO WE STARTED SAYING THIS IS YOUR SCHOOL, WE ALSO PUT IT WITH AN EXEMPTION PROCESS IN PLACE.

THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE -- 200 PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THEM THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.

AND WE DID THIS ON PURPOSE, IT IS TIME STAMPED AND DATE STAMPED, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UPSET AND ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

THEY WILL HAVE IDENTIFIED A WAY TO GET TO SCHOOL AND HOPEFULLY BY THEN, WE WILL HAVE IDENTIFIED WAYS TO GET THEM CLOSER.

>> Reporter: THEY ADMIT THAT THE REDISTRICTING PLAN WAS AMBITIOUS, BUT THEY ALSO SAY THE ALTERNATIVE WAS SEVERELY OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS.

THAT IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING.

HE AND THE MAYOR STRONGLY ADVISED PARENTS TO ATTEND THE REGISTRATION EVENTS TO BECOME BETTER INFORMED ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S PLACEMENT AND POSSIBLY FIND RELOCATION OPTIONS.

>> THE COLDS ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO ATTEND SCHOOL, CHILDCARE REMAINS A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR PARENTS IN THE STATE, SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, 132 FEWER CHILDCARE CENTERS OPERATING IN NEW JERSEY HAS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ROUGHLY 4700 AVAILABLE SPOTS ACCORDING TO STATE FIGURES.

THEY ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SECURE A SLOT, AND NOW PAYING EVEN HIGHER PREMIUMS FOR IT.

THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER UNVEILED A PACKAGE THE SPRING TO ADDRESS BOTH THE AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES.

SO FAR, JUST ONE OF THOSE BILLS HAS MADE IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SENATOR, IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ONE OF THE BILLS IN YOUR PACKAGE TO EXPAND SEATS AT SOME OF THE STATES CHILDCARE CENTERS.

ARE WE IN ANY BETTER SITUATION THAN WE STARTED WITH WHAT HAS BEEN DUBBED A CRISIS?

>> I THINK WE ARE IN A BETTER SITUATION BECAUSE WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE, HOWEVER I KNOW THE DEPARTMENTS ARE STILL GEARING UP TO CREATE THE LAW AND HAVE THE DEPARTMENTS DO REGULATIONS, AND FUNNEL OUT WITH THE PROGRAMS WOULD LOOK LIKE.

MY LAST CHECK IN WITH EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE RAMPING UP THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AT THE FACT THAT WE ARE SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES IN THE STATE, ON HOW TO BE FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE THAT IMPACTS SO MANY OF US IS A GREAT SIGNAL AND IT IS A BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST 5000 LESS SEATS THAN WE STARTED WITH PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

AND THE GOOD THING IS IT HAS NOT JUST BEEN THE AFFORDABILITY BUT ALSO THE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE.

>> THE STORY THAT WE ARE FACING IN NEW JERSEY, THIS IS A NATIONAL TALKING POINT, FOR EVERY SINGLE STATE.

THEY ARE COMING UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS AND SOLUTIONS TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

FOR THE CONCERNED MOTHERS IN THIS SPACE, WE KNEW THAT CHILDCARE WAS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE WORKFORCE, WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE CHILDCARE DESERTS IN THE STATE.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WHEN I WAS MAKING THE DECISION OF GOING BACK TO WORK AND TRYING TO FIND A CARE PROVIDER, I WAS LOOKING AT SPACES THAT WERE 25 MINUTES OF THE DRIVE, WITH NO TRAFFIC.

AT LEAST WE CAN ENGAGE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, SO WHEN YOU START STRIPPING AWAY RESOURCES AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD, WHO ELSE IS TRAVELING VIA PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND THEY CAN'T EVEN THING ABOUT THE COST OF TUITION IN A STATE COLLEGE FACILITY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A SEVERE PROBLEM HERE.

>> WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW, BECAUSE FOR SOME FAMILIES AND WOMEN, THAT CHOICE ISN'T EVEN THERE, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY NEED TO BRING THAT INCOME INTO THE HOUSEHOLD BUT ALSO EMPLOYERS ARE BEING MUCH LESS LENIENT ABOUT REMOTE WORKING AND WORKING FROM HOME.

REALLY TELLING EMPLOYERS THAT THEY'VE GOT TO GET BACK INTO THE OFFICE.

>> RIGHT.

HERE'S THE THING, ANYONE WHO WAS ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME AND HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME, YOU KNOW THAT THOSE THINGS CAN'T COINCIDE, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.

SO, WE HAVE TAX CREDITS, AND I THINK THE CORPORATE SECTOR AND THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT RECOGNIZING A WAY TO SUPPORT AND WAYS TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE INTRODUCTION AND CREATING NEW INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO COME INTO THIS MIX.

BECAUSE WHEN THEY REALIZE THAT WHEN THIS SHUTTERS, THE EMPLOYEES DON'T COME TO WORK AND THEY ARE BOTTOM-LINE EMPLOYEES.

I THINK, I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN SO MANY OF THESE INSTITUTIONS USED TO HAVE CHILDCARE FACILITIES RIGHT WITHIN THE WORKSPACE, THAT BRINGS SOMETIMES A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT, THE PARENT CAN GO TO WORK AND THE CHILD IS SOMEWHERE WHERE IT IS A HIGH QUALITY AND EFFECTIVE SPACE.

WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE HIGH- QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE SEATS.

>> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.>>> AND MORE PARENTS ARE ON THE HUNT FOR CHILDCARE OPTIONS, NOW THAT A POST RETURNED TO WORK EFFORT IS IN EFFECT, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED MORE CARS ON THE ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR.

FOR SOME EMPLOYEES, IT'S THE END OF REMOTE WORK, AL AS OTHERS ARE ON ANOTHER REGULAR HYBRID SCHEDULE.

EVEN IF WORKERS ARE BACK IN THE OFFICE, POLLS SHOW MOST WOULD PREFER NOT TO BE.

TED GOLDBERG HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: AS MORE PEOPLE RETURN TO IN PERSON WORK, THE COMMUTER CROWD AT WESTFIELD STATION HAS RETURNED TO PRE- PANDEMIC LEVELS.

SOME FOLKS TELL ME THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE BACK IN THE OFFICE.

>> I GET TO MEET MORE PEOPLE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING NBC ALWAYS VALUES, THAT COLLABORATION.

IT'S DEFINITELY MORE CROWDED AROUND THE OFFICE, WHICH MAKES A DIFFERENCE, AND A MORE CROWDED COMMUTE, WHICH MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE HYBRID, SO THERE'S NOBODY AT THE TRAIN STATION, AND SOMETIMES IT IS EVERYBODY.

>> Reporter: OTHER PEOPLE PREFER TO STAY AND WORK FROM HOME.

SO SHAWNA HAS TO HEAD TO NEW YORK CITY ONCE A WEEK, SHE WAS VIRTUAL BEFORE THE SUMMER, MAKING IT EASIER TO TAKE CARE OF HER CHILDREN.

>> AFTER BEING HOME FOR SO LONG, IT HAS BEEN SO MUCH HARDER.

THE JOB, THE ACTIVITIES, GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOL, SOMEHOW I DID IT FOR 14 YEARS BEFORE.

FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

>> IT IS A DIFFERENT PLACE.

THE WORKPLACE IS A DIFFERENT PLACE IN THE WORKFORCE AS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WORKFORCE.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS COMPANIES GENERALLY PREFER TO HAVE THE EMPLOYEES WORK IN PERSON, BUT THAT ATTITUDE CAN COST THEM.

>> OFTEN TIMES, YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT AN EXTREMELY TIGHT LABOR MARKET AND IT'S CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW, AS THEY TRY TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE WORKFORCE, THEY ARE MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE EMPLOYERS.

>> Reporter: HYBRID SCHEDULES ARE BECOMING A COMPROMISE AND ACCORDING TO A RECENT GALLUP POLL, THEY HAVE BECOME MORE POPULAR THAN EVER, 49% OF AMERICAN WORKERS THAT CAN WORK REMOTELY ARE DOING SO FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE WORK WEEK.

THE PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS WHO ARE FULLY REMOTE HAS PLUMMETED 50 PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC.

NOW SITTING AT 29%.

PROFESSOR BILL SAID MANY EMPLOYEES MISS BEING IN THE OFFICE.

>> I THINK AS IT RUNS ITS COURSE, PEOPLE REALIZE IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF YOU'RE IN THE OFFICE, TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS, AND MAINTAIN COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANAGEMENT.

>> OTHER COMPANIES ARE ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEES TO COME IN BUT THEY DON'T MANDATE IT.

CHRIS SULLINS HAS BEEN THE SUMMER BUILDING A NEW OFFICE SPACE TO ENTICE HIS TEAM.

>> IF YOU WORK IN A KITCHEN ON A HUGE ISLAND, WHETHER PEOPLE ENJOY IT, AND THEY CAN COLLABORATE, WITH A BUNCH OF TABLES AND SEATS, YOU KIND OF THINK OF A CAFETERIA, IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> HE WANTS HIS EMPLOYEES AT THE SOFTWARE COMPANY TO EXPERIENCE WORK THE WAY THEY DID IN COLLEGE.

>> THERE'S A LIBRARY IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND DO RESEARCH THERE.

YOU CAN CRASH AND DO IT IN YOUR DORM IF YOU NEED TO JUST BE BY YOURSELF.

YOU CAN GO COLLABORATE OUTSIDE ON THE LAWN, IF YOU'RE DOING A PROJECT, OR IN THE LAB.

>> THE NEW OFFICE WILL OPEN IN OCTOBER.

IN THE MEANTIME, MORE AND MORE COMPANIES ARE MAKING THEIR EMPLOYEES GET BACK ON THE TRAIN AND INTO THE OFFICE.

IN WESTFIELD, I'M TED GOLDBERG, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> A UNION DISPUTE COULD RESOLVE IN THE FIRST NATIONAL STRIKE AND 30 YEARS, RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS ON THE ECONOMIC HAVOC IT COULD LEAD TO, PLUS TONIGHT'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> BUSINESSES ARE BRACING FOR A POSSIBLE STRIKE THAT COULD CREATE MASSIVE SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS.

ABOUT 16,000 STATE WORKERS WHO ARE SET TO GO ON STRIKE AFTER MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, IF NO AGREEMENT IS REACHED BETWEEN THE RAILROADS AND LEADERSHIP OF TWO UNIONS.

A RAIL STRIKE COULD COST THE ECONOMY $2 BILLION PER DAY, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS.

THE CEO OF OCEAN FIRST BANK IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

>> IF YOU HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT OR PROTRACTED ISSUE WITH THE RAIL SYSTEM, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE DISRUPTIONS AND SUPPLIES, THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO TRANSLATE INTO HIGHER PRICES , AND THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY DISRUPTIVE TO THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM, AND IT WILL RAISE THE RISK THAT WE MAY ENTER A RECESSION.

>> Reporter: RAILROADS ARE ALREADY CURTAILING SOME SHIPMENTS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND PERISHABLES AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S DEADLINE.

MEANTIME, AMTRAK HAS CANCELED SEVERAL OF ITS LONG-DISTANCE TRAINS BECAUSE THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TIME FOR THEM TO REACH THEIR DESTINATIONS IF THE STRIKE OCCURS.

FOR ITS PART, NJ TRANSIT SAID IT IS NOT ANTICIPATING ANY IMPACT ON COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE.

>>> THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS TWEAKING A FINANCIAL PROGRAM FOR MICRO BUSINESSES, MAKING IT EASIER FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO GET A LOAN FROM THE STATE, THIS BOARD APPROVED A REVISION TO THE MAINE STATE MICRO BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM, REMOVING THE COLLATERAL REQUIREMENT FOR BUSINESS OWNERS.

THE AGENCY SAID REMOVING THAT BARRIER GIVES MORE MICRO BUSINESS OWNERS ACCESS TO FINANCING.

ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR LOANS OF UP TO $50,000 STARTING EARLY NEXT MONTH.

RATE FINANCING HAS DROPPED SHARPLY AS CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE RATES CLIMB ABOVE 6%.

THE MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION SAYS ITS LATEST WEEKLY DATA SHOWS MORTGAGE DEMAND HAS DROPPED 29% COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO.

FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S BIG SELLOFF, HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET CLOSED TODAY.

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

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY S.J.

MAGAZINE, THE HEART AND SOUL OF SOUTH JERSEY, ONLINE AT SJMAGAZINE.ORG.

>>> PATTERSON, A TOP POLICE OFFICIAL HAS BEEN FIRED FOR LITERALLY SLEEPING ON THE JOB, THE MAYOR SAID TUESDAY A FINAL TERMINATION PAPER HAS BEEN SENT TO THE POLICE CHIEF, DESCRIBING HIS MORE THAN 30 MONTHS ON THE JOB, THERE IS AN ACCUSATION THAT HE FALLS ASLEEP WHILE VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY SURGED.

SINCE HE TOOK TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN FEBRUARY OF 220, PATTERSON RECORDED 75 HOMICIDES .

LATE LAST WEEK, HE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY AND THE MAYOR ACCUSING HIM OF CREATING A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND FOR BADMOUTHING HIM.

BUT, THE MAYOR SAID HIS ADMINISTRATION, OFTEN THE CHIEF OF POLICE OFFERED HIM RETIREMENT DEALS SO HE COULD WALK AWAY, AND REFUSED TO TURN IT ON OVER DEMANDS OVER A HIGHER SEVERANCE PACKAGE.

>>> MEANWHILE, AS THAT TURMOIL UNFOLDS, PATTERSON LEADERS WERE ABLE TO SCORE A ROOM FOR THE CITY, FOR THE NEW JERSEY JACKALS BASEBALL TEAM TO CREATE A NEW HOME THERE.

THE TEAM WILL BEGIN PLAYING HOME GAMES NEXT SPRING AT THE STADIUM, IT IS A 7800 SEAT HISTORIC BALLPARK THAT THE NATIONAL LANDMARK DESIGNATES.

THE STADIUM HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR ROUGHLY 25 YEARS AND IS NOW IN THE FINAL STAGES OF RECONSTRUCTION.

THE JACKALS ARE RELOCATING FROM THEIR PREVIOUS HOME AT THE YOGI BEAR STADIUM AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY.

>>> A REMINDER TO CATCH THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS SPECIAL, HER STORY WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, JOANNA GAGIS , PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE ISSUES AFFECTING NEW JERSEY WOMEN PRETENDED, A LOOK AT WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AND ALL THAT TAKES WITH IT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT IS NO SECRET A WOMAN FEELS DIFFERENT CHALLENGES IN THE WORKPLACE THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.

>> IT IS A BALANCE.

>> IN THIS EPISODE, WE LOOK AT WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AND ALL THAT COMES WITH IT.

>> I REALLY DON'T WANT TO WORK JUST TO PAY DAYCARE.

>> MY WORK REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE, THAT WAS SO EMPOWERING.

>> YOU CAN CATCH EPISODE TWO AT PRIME TIME TONIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. ON NJ PBS.

THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT .

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND BY ORSTED , COMMITTED TO CREATING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS YOUR BACK, THAT IS WHY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY HAS ALL THE BENEFITS YOU NEED, MORE WAYS TO GET CARE VIRTUALLY, MORE SUPPORT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, TOO.

ALL IN RANGE OF HEALTH PLANS SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN FIND JUST WHAT YOU NEED AND WE CAN HELP.

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO KNOW SOMEBODY HAS YOUR BACK, NOT JUST IN CERTAIN TIMES, BUT ALL THE TIME.

>>> FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, NEW JERSEY REALTORS HAVE BEEN HELPING CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS, NEW JERSEY REALTORS LIVE AND WORK IN CITIES, SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES JUST LIKE HERE IN BEAUTIFUL RASPBERRY PARK.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS ARE, THERE IS A NEW JERSEY REALTOR FOR YOU, FIND YOUR REALTOR AT NJ REALTY.

>>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE ENERGY, JOBS, EDUCATION, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

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

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