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

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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

>> HELLO, I'M JOANNA GAGIS, THE FBI ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING THAT IT CAUGHT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THREATS MADE AGAINST NEW JERSEY SYNAGOGUES, SAYING IN A MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND NEW JERSEY LAW ENFORCEMENT THIS MORNING THAT THE MAN HOLDS RADICAL EXTREMIST VIEWS.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY INCLUDING GOVERNOR MURPHY WHO SAID WE WILL TAKE ANY AND EVERY THREAT THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS AND WE WILL STAND UP AND STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OUR JEWISH CONGREGATIONS.

THIS THREAT IS JUST ONE IN A LITANY OF ANTI-SEMITIC MESSAGES COMING FROM FAR RIGHT EXTREMISTS AND PUBLIC FIGURES.

THIS IS OUR ONGOING SERIES THAT REPORTS ON ANTI-SEMITISM, RACISM AND EXTREMISM.

RABBI , THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, YOU WERE ON THE CALL THIS MORNING WITH THE FBI, THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS STILL AN EVOLVING SITUATION.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN TERMS OF EFFORTS TO SHORE UP THE SAFETY AROUND SYNAGOGUES ACROSS THE STATE?

>> WELL, THANK YOU, I HAVE TO SAY I WAS ON THE CALL WITH THE GOVERNOR AND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT , AND I HAVE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE WAY THAT FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE DEALT WITH THIS THREAT.

THE FACT THAT THEY DID THE UNUSUAL AND TRULY RARE MOVE OF MAKING THAT BROAD PUBLIC STATEMENT OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND IMMEDIATELY, TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSES OF WORSHIP THAT WERE ACTUALLY GETTING READY FOR EVENING WORSHIP THAT DAY, THAT JEWISH SCHOOLS WERE AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE SECURITY THREAT AND COULD TAKE ACTION.

>> WAS THIS THREAT SOMETHING THAT KEPT PEOPLE AWAY FROM SYNAGOGUES YESTERDAY?

DID YOU SEE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY PERSEVERE , AND ADD LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT LIKE YOU JUST MENTIONED?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE FEELING MUCH MORE SECURE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING WORK OF THE FBI AND ALL OF THEIR PARTNERS IN BRINGING THE SITUATION TO A RESOLUTION AND IDENTIFYING THE PERSON WHO WAS THE SOURCE OF THESE THREATS AND AS THEY SAID TO US THIS MORNING, MITIGATING THE THREAT.

>> IN RECENT DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, EVEN YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITIC RHETORIC, THREATS BEING MADE IN TOWNS IN COLLEGE CAMPUSES, EVEN RECENT COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE LIKE KANYE WEST AND KYRIE IRVING , WHAT IS THE FEELING RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WATCHING THIS LANGUAGE REALLY START TO BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE?

>> TO BE HONEST, WE ARE VERY DISTURBED BY IT, RISING ANTI-SEMITISM IS HAVING A POWERFUL IMPACT ON THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW FROM OUR SURVEYS, OUR MOST RECENT SURVEY, BOTH THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY THAT WELL OVER 80% OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FEELS THAT ANTI-SEMITISM HAS RISEN OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS .

THAT'S REALLY COMPARED TO AROUND 40% OF THE GENERAL COMMUNITY , SO WE HAVE A GAP IN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW MUCH ANTI-SEMITISM HAS RISEN.

WE KNOW FROM THE FBI, REPORTS THAT CLOSE TO 60% OF RELIGIOUS-BASED BIASED CRIMES TARGETED THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THAT IS COMPARED TO THE FACT THAT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY MAKES UP ONLY ABOUT 2% OF THE POPULATION.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PROBLEM, IT'S A TOXICITY THAT IS INFECTING OUR SOCIETY RIGHT NOW .

I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM OUR SURVEY, ONE IN FOUR JEWISH PEOPLE SAY THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED ANTI-SEMITISM PERSONALLY, EITHER ONLINE OR THROUGH VERBAL INTERACTION OR EVEN THROUGH PHYSICAL INTERACTION .

ANTI-SEMITISM IS ON THE RISE EVERYWHERE.

>> IT IS DISHEARTENING TO HEAR, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON AND TALKING ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC WITH US.

>>> IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION DAY AND CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING THEIR FINAL KNOCKDOWN DRAG OUT ATTACKS AGAINST THEIR OPPONENTS, FROM NASTY ATTACK ADS TO MAILERS INCLUDING SOME COMING FROM THE GROUP AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION, HEADED BY FORMER SENIOR ADVISOR, STEPHEN MILLER.

THE FLYERS ACCUSE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS OF WIDESPREAD RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WHITES AND ASIAN AMERICANS.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER SPOKE WITH POLITICAL LEADERS IN PATTERSON WHO SAY THE FLYERS REPRESENT A STEP BACK IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

>> WE ARE NEVER GOING BACK TO THE TIME WE ARE PROMOTING RACISM AND HATE AS THE NORM.

>> OUTRAGE AS LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS GATHER TO ANNOUNCE HATE AFTER THESE FLYERS WERE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

THE MAILERS, PAID BY AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION WHICH IS HEADED BY STEPHEN MILLER, ACCUSED PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PROMOTING DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AGAINST WHITES AND ASIAN AMERICANS.

>> THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE ELECTED WILL LEAD OUR COMMUNITY TO BECOME THIS.

>> MANY CRITICS BELIEVE IT'S PART OF THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO GET THE WHITES AND ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO VOTE REPUBLICAN.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING POLITICAL WORK, ONE TYPE OF COMMUNITY TRYING TO ASSOCIATE THE ASIAN AMERICANS WITH POSITIONS THAT THE RIGHT DOES NOT LIKE BUT IN THIS ONE CASE, PERHAPS TRYING TO ATTRACT ASIAN AMERICANS TO A POSITION THAT CAN BE MORE FAVORABLE TO THE REPUBLICANS.

IT IS A VERY DELICATE BALANCING ACT AND WHETHER IT WILL WORK OR NOT, TIME WILL TELL.

>> SEVERAL STATES HAVE REPORTED RECEIVING THE MAILERS AND IN GEORGIA, WHERE THE UPCOMING ELECTION CONTINUES TO DRAW NATIONAL ATTENTION, AMERICA FIRST LEGAL AIRING THIS COMMERCIAL CALLING FOR AN END TO ANTIWHITE BIGOTRY.

>> THE REPUBLICANS GET DESPERATE DURING ELECTION SEASON, RESULTING IN THIS HATEFUL CAMPAIGN.

>> JOHN BARTLETT'S WIFE ALSO RECEIVED ONE.

>> AND I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

>> SHE TEACHES EDUCATION AT DICKINSON UNIVERSITY BELIEVES THESE VIEWS ARE BEING SHARED IN THE COMMUNITY DUE TO A LACK OF ACCURATE AMERICAN HISTORY EDUCATION.

>> IF YOU THINK RACISM IS A THING OF THE PAST, THEN THE FOCUS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ON RACE SEEMS UNWARRANTED AND UNWANTED AND WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, WHY PEOPLE ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST , OVER 400 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD POLICIES AND PRACTICES, SUPREME COURT DECISIONS, FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION THAT ADVANTAGES WHITE PEOPLE.

>> YOU ARE TRYING TO PREY ON THE VOTERS IGNORANCE.

>> NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ARE TRULY LOOKING TO IGNITE THE COMMUNITY.

THESE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES SAY IT IS UNFAIR TO LINK THEM TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS A WHOLE, AS IF DEMOCRATS ARE NOT BEING TRUTHFUL TO VOTERS.

>> AND ALTHOUGH IT'S CLEAR THERE'S PLENTY OF TENSION IN THIS COMMUNITY, LEADERS SAY THE FLYERS ARE A WAY TO DIVIDE THE STATE AND THIS IS ONE THEY WON'T LET WIN.

>> I GREW UP ON THE STREETS OF PATTERSON , I HAVE SEEN VIOLENCE, DON'T YOU EVER THREATENED ME , BECAUSE I'M IN AMERICA AND WE STAND UP FOR OUR VALUES.

AND I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH EVERYONE HERE .

TO EXPRESS WHAT WE THINK ABOUT THIS KIND OF POLITICS, IT DOESN'T BELONG.

>> LOCAL LEADERS SAY ALL THEY WANT IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND UNITY, NOT HATE IS THE ONLY SOLUTION.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> AS ALL EYES ARE ON THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN NEW JERSEY, WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF VOTER PRIORITIES AND HOW THEY WILL PLAY INTO TUESDAY'S ELECTION.

JOINING ME KNOW, ASHLEY KONING AND PATRICK MURRAY, DIRECTOR OF THE POLLING INSTITUTE AT MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

PATRICK, WE ARE LOOKING AT DISTRICT 7 AS THE RACE TO WATCH BETWEEN TOM MALINOWSKI AND TOM KEANE, IS THIS RACE ALL BUT A LOCK FOR TOM KEANE ?

>> I WISH I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT TUESDAY BUT I DON'T, HOWEVER, THE WIND IS AGAINST TOM MALINOWSKI AS A DEMOCRAT IN A DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN REDRAWN TO HAVE MORE REPUBLICANS.

THE KEY FOR HERE AND ALSO IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, THAT REPUBLICANS DID NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF NOMINATING AN EXTREMIST CANDIDATE , WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING ACROSS NATIONWIDE, WHERE DEMOCRATS ARE KIND OF HOLDING ON AND DOING BETTER THAN EXPECTED AGAINST THESE POLITICAL WINS , IT'S BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS NOMINATED A REALLY BAD CANDIDATE, BUT IN THIS CASE WITH TOM KEANE JUNIOR AND THE THIRD DISTRICT, THEY NOMINATED SOMEBODY THAT NEW JERSEYANS COULD POTENTIALLY GO FOR.

>> LOOKING AT DISTRICT 3, THE POLITICAL REPORT CAME OUT THIS WEEKEND SAYING THE RACE IS TIGHTENING , IS THAT SURPRISING BECAUSE DISTRICT 3 DOES NOT FAVOR DEMOCRATS.

>> YEAH , AGAIN, THIS IS AN INTERESTING MIDTERM ELECTION CYCLE, WE SAW THIS AS THE SECOND DOWNGRADE FOR KIM NOW, AND WE HAVE SEEN IN BOTH NEW JERSEY AND NATIONWIDE, A LOT HAD BEEN THOUGHT OF AS SAFE SEATS FOR DEMOCRATS.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, EVERYBODY IS GETTING CLOSE TO THE WIRE AND OBVIOUSLY NATIONAL POLLING AND SENTIMENTS AND ISSUES LIKE THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION HAVE FAVORED REPUBLICANS.

THAT MUST MAKE THE THIRD DISTRICT VERY NERVOUS.

>> YES, REPUBLICANS ARE ZEROING IN ON THIS ISSUE OF THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION AND IT SEEMS TO CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT AND GIVE THEM MOMENTUM IN THIS FINAL STRETCH, DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE LOSING MOMENTUM ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION, THAT THEY HAVE REALLY DOUBLED DOWN ON.

>> THAT'S NO SURPRISE, THOSE OF US WHO FOLLOW THE TRENDS OF THE PUBLIC, WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES, THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS HAD THEIR PLAY IN THE SUMMER BUT AGAIN, WE ARE INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

IT'S ABOUT INFLATION, IT'S ABOUT COST OF LIVING.

SO IT GIVES THE REPUBLICANS AN ADVANTAGE WITH THAT.

>> ASHLEY, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON PEOPLE'S TRUST OF PUBLIC POLLS RIGHT NOW?

BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME DISTRUST, THEY WERE WRONG FOR A BIT OF TIME.

DO YOU THINK THAT THERE IS MORE TRUST RIGHT NOW AS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT ISSUES ARE DRIVING THIS RACE?

>> I THINK WE ARE AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR PUBLIC OPINION POLLING, AND IT'S MORE NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG, IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT PUBLIC OPINION POLLING IS SUPPOSED TO DO AND NOT SUPPOSED TO DO.

AND ELECTION POLLS ARE NOT MEANT TO PREDICT, I THINK CONVEYING THAT UNDERSTANDING AND MAKING SURE PUBLIC COMPREHENSION HELPS INTERPRET THE POLLS, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO, WE TALK ABOUT THE HORSE RACE AND WHO IS AHEAD BY ONE POINT AND WHO IS BEHIND.

THAT IS KEY TO BUILDING BETTER TRUST WITHIN POLLING AND THE PROCESS THAT WE SEE OF TRANSLATING THE POLLS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS.

>> AND VERY QUICKLY, PATRICK, IS THAT WHY WE ARE SEEING LESS HEAD-TO-HEAD POLLING?

>> ABSOLUTELY, THAT IS THE DECISION I MADE IN MONMOUTH TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE JUST NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE DO WELL WHICH IS TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THE HERE AND NOW LOOKS LIKE.

>> THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>>> THE MIDTERMS ARE ONLY FOUR DAYS AWAY, SO CAST YOUR VOTE THEN TUNE IN TUESDAY EVENING, WE WILL BRING YOU RESULTS AND ANALYSIS STARTING AT 8:00 P.M. WITH A SPECIAL EDITION OF REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ , AND AT 9:00, BRIANA VANNOZZI TAKES OVER FOR THE 2022 ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE, IT'S ALL RIGHT HERE ON NJ PBS AND STREAMING ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> A MASSIVE TRAFFICKING RING WAS BUSTED IN NEW JERSEY, 15 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED.

THE GUNS WERE BOUGHT ON THE CHEAP IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOLD IN PATTERSON AT A MAJOR MARKUP.

THE 15 DEFENDANTS FACE 39 INDICTMENTS INCLUDING FIRST-DEGREE RACKETEERING AND SECOND-DEGREE CONSPIRACY TO TRANSPORT GUNS INTO THE STATE.

ALL THANKS TO THE WORK OF NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF GUNS USING TO PUSH THE CRIMES IN PATTERSON AND THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY DID NOT ORIGINATE HERE.

WHICH IS WHY IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE STOP THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL FIREARMS INTO OUR STATE.

AND INTO THE COMMUNITIES.

>> ANOTHER MAJOR BUST IN NEW JERSEY, THIS ONE BY THE FEDS WHO UNCOVERED A NATIONWIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT RING .

THE FBI ACCUSED A MONMOUTH COUNTY BUSINESS OF BUYING THE STOLEN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS , EXTRACTING PRECIOUS METALS AND SELLING THEM FOR PROFIT.

AGENTS FOUND THOUSANDS OF CONVERTERS ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF EXOTIC CARS, GOLD AND HANDBAGS.

>>> SINCE THE STATES EITHER A MORATORIUM EXPIRED, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ARE FACING EVICTION AND MANY HAVE ALREADY LOST THEIR HOMES.

BRENDA FLANAGAN TAKES A LOOK AT A NEW INFLUX OF FEDERAL FUNDS THAT COULD HELP SOME AVOID HOMELESSNESS.

>> ANYTIME THERE'S MORE MONEY BEING ALLOCATED , IT IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.

>> MONEY WILL HELP PAY RENT OWED BY JERSEY FAMILIES FACING EVICTION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON THEIR JOBS AND HEALTH .

>> IT CAN BE REALLY LIFE-CHANGING TO GET THAT MONEY BECAUSE IT CAN KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

>> THE EXTRA MONEY CAN HELP 4600 FAMILIES, THE BAD NEWS, THAT IS ABOUT 9% OF THE MORE THAN 50,000 APPLICANTS STILL ON A WAITING LIST, 10 MONTHS AFTER THE EVICTION MORATORIUM ENDED.

>> OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT WAITING LIST , THEIR SITUATIONS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR SITUATIONS ARE.

THEY HAVE BEEN ON THAT WAITING LIST FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

>> THE ASSISTANCE JUST DID NOT ARRIVE FAST ENOUGH, SAID RYAN SMITH, AND THE BACKLOG OF EVICTION CASES CONTINUES TO TIE UP THE COUNTY COURTS.

WHILE THE EXTRA 51 MILLION IS HELPFUL.

>> IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, THERE'S 46,000 PENDING EVICTIONS IN NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW, 18,000 OF THEM ARE IN ESSEX COUNTY.

SO WHEN LOOKED AT THAT PICTURE, IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT.

AND IT'S ALSO VERY LATE .

TO NO FAULT OF NEW JERSEY .

THE FEDS TOOK A VERY LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT THAT SOME STATES WEREN'T SPENDING THE MONEY CORRECTLY.

OR AT ALL.

>> JERSEYS DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS EARNED THE WINDFALL BY WORKING QUICKLY TO PROPERLY PROCESS RENTAL APPLICATIONS, SO FAR, IT'S ALREADY DISPERSED, THE INITIAL $625 MILLION OF FEDERAL ALLOCATION.

MOST OF THE $80 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL GRANTS INCLUDING THAT $51 MILLION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY NEXT MONTH.

BUT APPLICANTS ARE STILL GETTING TANGLED IN GOVERNMENT RED TAPE, SAID SENATOR SINGLETON.

>> PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF BEING EVICTED OR CURRENTLY HOMELESS BECAUSE OUR PROCESS HASN'T MOVED AS SMOOTHLY AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED.

WE KNOW THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NEEDED BUT WHAT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS MAKING SURE THE PROCESSES ARE IN PLACE.

>> SINGLETON SAID DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFICIALS HAVE HELPED CLARIFY THE APPLICATION PROCESS, HE ALSO CALLED ATTENTION TO A COMPANY HIRED BY DCA TO PROCESS APPLICATIONS THAT APPARENTLY MADE MISTAKES LIKE SENDING CHECKS TO THE WRONG ADDRESS, THAT IMPACTS LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

>> THEY ULTIMATELY CAN BE EVICTED IF THE PAYMENT DOES NOT COME THROUGH.

THEN OF COURSE, THE HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO DON'T GET THAT PAYMENT TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR THE RENT THAT IS DUE, KNOWING DURING THAT TIME THEY NEED TO REALLY DRILL DOWN ON SOME OF THESE CHECKS THAT WERE SENT TO WHO KNOWS WHERE.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CASES , BUT GETTING ONE WRONG IS TOO MANY.

WE ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE WHO OWES THESE FUNDS AND THE RECEIPTS ARE CORRECT.

>> THEY SUCCESSFULLY PROCESSED 68,000 APPLICATIONS , AND SHE SUGGESTS CALLING FOR HELP WITH RENT OR HEATING ASSISTANCE.

>>> ECONOMISTS ARE LOOKING TO THE LATEST JOBS REPORT FOR SIGNS OF AN IMPROVING LABOR MARKET.

WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM TODAY'S REPORT?

>> COMPANIES CONTINUE TO HIRE LAST MONTH, DESPITE EFFORTS BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO COOL THE ECONOMY.

IN OCTOBER, COMPANIES ADDED A BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED 261,000 JOBS WITH MOST OF THOSE NEW JOBS COMING IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY.

UNEMPLOYMENT TICKED UP TO 3.7%.

A BILL TO IMPROVE NEW JERSEY'S UNAPPOINTED SYSTEM HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR MURPHY.

THE NEW LAW IS DESIGNED TO GET BENEFITS OUT TO CLAIMANTS SOONER.

YOU WILL RECALL THE FRUSTRATIONS FELT BY SO MANY NEW JERSEYANS DURING THE PANDEMIC , WHEN A DAILY OF CLAIMS SWAP TO THE UNAPPOINTED SYSTEM AND BENEFITS PAYMENTS WERE DELAYED.

THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE COMES AFTER HE HAD CONDITIONALLY VETOED THE BILL REQUIRING CHANGES TO ENSURE THAT THE STATE COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW.

>>> NEW JERSEY NEWS REPORTERS WERE AMONG THE 200 UNION JOURNALISTS WHO STAGED A ONE-DAY NATIONWIDE STRIKE AGAINST THE MEDIA COMPANY, THEY OWN NINE NEW JERSEY NEWS OUTLETS INCLUDING THE BERGEN RECORD AND COURIER POST TO NAME A FEW.

THE STRIKING JOURNALISTS WANT BETTER WAGES, BENEFITS, AND THEY RECENTLY LAID OFF HUNDREDS OF WORKERS AS THEY SEEK TO CUT COSTS.

>>> THE NEW JERSEY CEO COUNCIL IS NOW A PART OF CHOOSE NJ, THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION , THE CEO COUNCIL WAS FORMED BY THE GOVERNOR DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO HELP INCREASE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

CHOOSE NJ PRESIDENT CEO, WESLEY MATTHEWS SAYS NOW MEMBERS OF THE CEO COUNCIL WILL BE TAPPED TO HELP RECRUIT NEW COMPANIES TO THE STATE.

>> PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR BREAD AND BUTTER AS AN ORGANIZATION IS TO UTILIZE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND SPECIFIC HIGH LEVEL BUSINESS ATTRACTION OPPORTUNITIES.

SO, AS YOU ALLUDED TO IN SOME CASES, CEO TO CEO OUTREACH MIGHT BE THE MOST BENEFICIAL, WHAT I CALL LAST MILE ADVOCACY AND IN THOSE INSTANCES, WHERE WE PRESS THE INTERVENTION OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

>>> NOW HERE IS A CHECK ON WALL STREET.

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

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, DECEMBER 1 AND SECOND AT RESORTS CASINO HOTEL IN ATLANTIC CITY.

EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJTIA.ORG.

>> CATCH NJ BUSINESS BEAT THIS WEEKEND WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER , SHE TALKS TO EXPERTS ABOUT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR NEW JERSEY'S HOSPITALS , INEQUITIES IN HEALTHCARE AND HOW TO SOLVE THE HEALTHCARE STAFFING CRISIS.

THAT'S SATURDAY AT 5:00 AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:30 A.M. .

>>> CLEANER WATER IS COMING TO PASSAIC COUNTY HOMES NOW THAT A MAJOR PROJECT LAUNCHED TODAY.

BEFORE THOSE LINES CAN BE REPLACED, THE COUNTY NEEDS TO GET THE WORD OUT TO HOMEOWNERS.

WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION, COUNTY WORKERS CAN'T DIG TO INSPECT AND REPLACE.

TED GOLDBERG EXPLAINS HOW IT'S ALL GOING TO WORK.

>> ONE, TWO, THREE, LED FREE.

>> ONE DOWN, ABOUT 6000 TO GO, AS THEY BEGIN REPLACING LED SERVICE LINES AROUND THE COUNTY.

UP TO 10 MILLION AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS CONNECT TO WATER, PASSING THROUGH LEAD PIPES .

10 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 30 MILLION, 40 MILLION PEOPLE.

IN THE YEAR 2022, THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO ANYBODY.

>> THERE IS NO SAFE LEVEL OF LEAD, FOR CHILDREN , FOR ADULTS, FOR ANYONE.

AND WE FIND LEAD EXPOSURE AROUND US IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> ONE OF THE MOST COMMON PLACES TO FIND LEAD IS IN SERVICE LINES AND REPLACING THEM CAN COST UP TO $10,000 EACH.

THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM FOR HOMEOWNERS IN PASSAIC, PATTERSON AND CLIFTON SINCE THEY ARE REPLACING THEM FOR FREE, THANKS TO A LOAN FROM THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK AND FEDERAL FUNDS.

>> AS A FATHER OF THREE, I ONLY THINK ABOUT HOW OFTEN THEY AND MANY OTHER CHILDREN USE THE WATER AND THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THEY ARE INNOCENT AND UNAWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES.

>> THEY ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO INHERIT THIS WORLD AND TAKE CARE OF IT AND WE OWE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP IT TO THE PEOPLE AND THE LEADERS THAT THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES.

>> SERVICE LINES ARE ENTIRELY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, SO BEFORE ANYBODY CAN COME AND INSPECT THE PIPES, HOMEOWNERS NEED TO GET PERMISSION.

LEADERS UNDERSTAND THIS CAN BE AN OBSTACLE FOR SOME PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE HOPING HOMEOWNERS CAN COOPERATE.

>> THE GOAL IS TO GET THE LEAD OUT BUT WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE NEED THEIR COOPERATION.

WE NEED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS TO THEIR BENEFIT.

WE FACED SO MANY CHALLENGES SUCH AS LANGUAGE BARRIERS, AND OTHER TIMES JUST A NATURAL SUSPICION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH NAMETAGS LOOKING LIKE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR SAYING I NEED ACCESS TO YOUR PROPERTY.

>> LEADERS HOPE THIS APPROACH CAN HELP THIEVES STRUGGLING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> NEW JERSEY IS LEADING THE WAY IN ENHANCING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE , ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

USING THE RESOURCES THAT THE CONGRESSMAN FOUGHT FOR , THAT OUR DELEGATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOUGHT FOR TO BRING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEW INVESTMENT TO NEW JERSEY.

>> ALL OF NEW JERSEY DESERVES TO DRINK CLEAN WATER, BREATHE CLEAN AIR AND LIVE IN HEALTHY HOMES.

THAT IS PRETTY SIMPLE , OBVIOUSLY COMPLICATED TO IMPLEMENT.

>> THERE ARE ANOTHER 11,000 SERVICE LINES IN THE COUNTY THAT NEED TO BE INSPECTED FOR LEAD.

IT SHOULD TAKE 2 1/2 YEARS TO CHECK THE MALL.

IN PASSAIC, I'M TED GOLDBERG.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE BIG POLITICAL HEADLINES, TUNE INTO REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT 10:00 A.M. AND CHECK OUT THE CHAT BOX WITH DAVID, HE COUNTS DOWN TO THE MIDTERMS WITH A LOOK AT THE TOP ISSUES, SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:30 A.M. ON NJ PBS.

AND A REMINDER THAT THIS WEEKEND IS DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME SO TURN BACK THE CLOCKS ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US ALL WEEK , WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

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

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY, MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM .

LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FOR EXPLORING HATE IS PROVIDED BY SYLVIA A AND SIMON PROGRAM TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE PETER G PETERSON FUND, AND FROM JOSH WESTON.