>>> FUNDING FOR NJTV SPOTLIGHT NEWS THE JERSEY OF EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND BY 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 AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

RUSSIAN FORCES ARE EXPANDING THEIR OFFENSIVE IN UKRAINE WHILE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND LEADERS OF OTHER NATIONS PREPARE TO SUSPEND NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.

RUSSIA'S BELIEVED TO BE PUSHING ITS OFFENSES WESTWARD WITH UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS SAYING AIR STRIKES IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY.

AND SHELLING CONTINUES ELSEWHERE IN UKRAINE.

RUSSIAN LEADER VLADIMIR PUTIN APPROVED BRINGING IN VOLUNTEER FIGHTERS FROM SYRIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO JOIN RUSSIA'S OFFENSIVE.

THE UKRAINIAN CIVILIANS EXIT WITH MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE HAVING FLED THE COUNTRY.

IN THE MEANTIME THE U.S., EUROPEAN UNION, AND G7 COUNTRIES ARE MOVING TO DENY RUSSIA'S MOST FAVORED NATION TRADE STATUS AND IMPOSE TARIFFS ON RUSSIAN IMPORTS.

IT'S DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC SQUEEZE ON RUSSIA.

I SPOKE WITH PAROL JANE A PROFESSOR AT RUTGERS BUSINESS SCHOOL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH ME TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CALL TO REVOKE RUSSIA'S MOST FAVORED NATION'S STATUS POTENTIALLY HOW DAMAGING IS THAT FOR RUSSIA'S ECONOMY?

>> WELL IT'S A PART OF A GENERAL APPROACH IN ORDER TO PUT MORE AND MORE PRESSURE ON RUSSIA, ON THE ACCOUNT OF THE UKRAINE INVASION.

BASICALLY IT WOULD PUT HIGHER TAXES ON IMPORTS, AND ALSO THE REMOVAL OF RUSSIA FROM THE WTO.

SO IT IS ANOTHER BLOW.

IT'S NOT QUITE A BODY BLOW, BUT STILL IT IS ANOTHER HARMFUL ASPECT FOR RUSSIA.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LASTING IMPACT OF NOT BEING A PART OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION?

HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE FOR RUSSIA TO TRY TO NORMALIZE TRADE RELATIONS ONE DAY?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE MOST FAVORED NATION STATUS AND THE REMOVAL FROM THE WTO, CHINA, FOR EXAMPLE, BENEFITED A GREAT DEAL FROM ITS ENTRY INTO THE WTO.

SO WITH RUSSIA OUT OF THE PICTURE, IT'S GOING TO BE THE PART OF THE INVASION THAT WE SEE IS NOT LOOKING VERY PRETTY.

CONSEQUENTLY IT IS GOING TO BE PRETTY BAD AND IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR RUSSIA TO COME BACK IN, IN TO, YOU KNOW, A STATUS OR INTO THE WTO AGAIN.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY TALKED ABOUT BANNING OTHER IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA BEYOND OIL.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT CONSUMERS IN THE U.S.?

>> WELL THERE HAVE BEEN ALREADY A LOT OF SANCTIONS ON THE FINANCIAL FRONT.

BANNING OTHER IMPORTS IS GOING TO BE ALSO ANOTHER THORN ON RUSSIA'S SIDE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND RUSSIA'S ECONOMY IS PRETTY SMALL, AND THE VOLUME OF OUR IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA IS PRETTY TINY.

SO CONSEQUENTLY MAJORITY OF THESE MEASURES ARE KIND OF LIKE SYMBOLIC IN NATURE.

EUROPE, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO BE, THE SANCTIONS THEY HAVE IN MIND, THAT IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE GREATLY AFFECTED.

SO YES WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE LIMITATIONS ON OIL AND ENERGY IMPORTS.

THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE U.S. ECONOMY AS WELL.

PROBABLY IT'S GOING TO DENT THE GDP A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO PUSH ANY ECONOMY INTO A RECESSION PHASE.

BUT RUSSIA WILL SUFFER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ALREADY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GROWTH ESTIMATES FOR RUSSIA AND THEY COULD BE A 10% DROP IN REAL GDP GROWTH, WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY COULD ILL AFFORD.

>> WE'VE SEEN NUMEROUS AMERICAN COMPANIES MOVE OUT OF RUSSIA.

THEY'VE ENDED OPERATIONS THERE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF HOW PERMANENT THAT IS?

IF RUSSIA IS NOT A KEY MARKETPLACE FOR AMERICAN COMPANIES, WHY BE THERE?

>> WELL IN SOME INSTANCES IT IS IMPORTANT FOR SOME COMPANIES, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUNG BRANDS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVEN'T EXACTLY CLOSED UP OPERATIONS.

THEY HAVE A $1 BILLION A YEAR REVENUE FROM THAT PARTICULAR STORE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHTS ON THIS.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>>> THERE HAS BEEN AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AROUND NEW JERSEY TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE THROUGH DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERING AT DRIVES SET UP BY EVERYONE FROM UKRAINIAN IMMIGRANTS TO LIFELONG NEW JERSEYIANS.

ADD FIREFIGHTERS TO THAT GROWING LIST.

THE CLIFTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IS COLLECTING EQUIPMENT FOR UKRAINIAN FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE RUNNING LOW ON RESOURCES.

TONIGHT WE WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TED GOLDBERG.

HE SHARES THIS STORY OF HOW NEW JERSEY IS SUPPORTING UKRAINE IN MANY WAYS.

>> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF BOXES AND PLENTY OF PRIME TRUCKS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO FORT LEE.

DROPPING OFF THOUSANDS OF AMAZON PURCHASES FOR PEOPLE IN UKRAINE.

SASHA MURKOVSKY ORGANIZED THE DONATION DRIVE.

IN HONOR OF HIS OLD ADDRESS IN UKRAINE.

>> WE STARTED THE DRIVE WITH WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY WAR, I'M IN AMERICA.

WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO START SOMETHING, A HUMANITARIAN AID BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF USE I CAN BE AND DEFINITELY WANT TO BE MORE HELPFUL.

>> HIS SON MAXIM WAS STUCK IN UKRAINE FOR FIVE DAYS AND WAS EVEN ARRESTED BEFORE BEING RECOGNIZED FROM DANCING WITH THE STARS.

BACK IN BERGEN COUNTY, BARANOVA 27 NEEDED JUST TWO DAYS TO BRING IN 26,000 ITEMS BOUGHT ON AMAZON.

>> ENORMOUS SUPPORT BY PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE CITY OF FORT LEE HAS BEEN A HUGE HELP.

THE LANDLORD GAVE HIM THIS SPACE FREE FOR SIX WEEKS.

CITY EMPLOYEES ARE UNLOADING THESE TRUCKS.

THAT'S NOT FORT LEE'S ONLY DONATION.

THEY ALSO SENT FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT TO CLIFTON, WHOSE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SENDING GEAR TO UKRAINE.

FIREFIGHTER OLEG WAS BORN THERE BEFORE IMMIGRATING TO NORTH JERSEY.

HE GOT A CALL FROM A UKRAINIAN FIREFIGHTER ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE.

>> I SAID I'LL MAKE A FEW PHONE CALLS AND SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

IF I COULD HELP OUT, AND RIGHT NOW THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF.

IT'S JUST TREMENDOUS.

>> Reporter: OLEG WAS AFRAID UKRAINIAN FIREFIGHTERS MIGHT HAVE TO WORK IN STREET CLOTHES DUE TO DWINDLING EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES.

>> MOST CLOTHES ARE NOT DESIGNED, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MADE OF PLASTICS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WILL MELT TO YOUR BODY.

>> Reporter: OLEG HOPES TO RECEIVE 500 SETS OF GEAR BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

HIS DEPARTMENT IS HELPING THE EFFORT.

WHILE BARANOVA 27 RELIES ON VOLUNTEERS.

>> A FRIEND OF MINE POSTED THE INSTAGRAM HANDLE.

I LOOKED IT UP, THEY SAID THEY NEEDED VOLUNTEERS.

I DIDN'T HAVE WORK TODAY.

>> Reporter: DEZI IS ONE OF 100 VOLUNTEERS ALL HOPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DOING EVEN THE TINIEST AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN.

>> WHATEVER LITTLE WE CAN DO TO HELP OUT, MAKE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE EASIER, IT IS FULLY WORTH IT.

>> Reporter: THESE DONATION DRIVES STARTED IN NORTH JERSEY, BUT HAVE GRADUALLY WORKED THEIR WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> SEEING HOW EVERYBODY COMES IN THESE HARD TIMES FROM ALL THE TOWNS.

IT SHOWS YOU HOW STRONG AND POWERFUL WE ARE AS ONE WORKING TOGETHER.

>> PROBABLY MY ENGLISH VOCABULARY IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE.

BUT EVEN WITH MY SMALL VOCABULARY, IT'S OVERWHELMING GRATITUDE AND ABSOLUTELY OVER ANY EXPECTATION THAT I PERSONALLY, THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, COULD EXPECT.

>> Reporter: VOLUNTEERS WERE ORIGINALLY WORKING EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

SASHA SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY DONATIONS THEY MIGHT NEED PEOPLE HERE 24/7.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I'M TED GOLDBERG.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LEARNING JUST HOW MUCH THEY WILL RECEIVE OR LOSE IN STATE AID IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR NOW THAT THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HAS RELEASED DETAILS ON WHERE THE STATE DOLLARS ARE GOING.

THE FORMULA USED TO FUND SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN A SORE SPOT FOR DISTRICTS ON THE LOSING END OF FUNDING WHILE GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS THE DIRECT AID IS A FORM OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

SOME SAY THERE IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS.

WE HAVE THAT REPORT.

>> Reporter: EVERY RENEWED DOLLAR OF STATE AID IS A NEW DOLLAR FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY TOUTED HIS PLANS THIS WEEK TO PUMP AN ADDITIONAL $650 MILLION INTO K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEXT YEAR.

PART OF HIS OVERALL $19.2 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR SCHOOLS.

HE TIED IT TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR THE NEARLY 400 DISTRICTS THAT WILL SEE INCREASES.

>> THE INCREASE IN STATE AID ALLOWED TO GO TO ZERO TAX LEVIES.

>> 200 DISTRICTS WILL SEE CUTS.

THE ADJUSTMENTS ARE A PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S SEVEN-YEAR PHASE IN OF THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA SET BY THE COURTS IN 2008, BUT WASN'T FUNDED UNTIL 2018.

THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS ON TRACK TO FULLY FUND THE FORMULA BY 2025, BUT IN ORDER TO DO SO SOME DISTRICTS WILL SEE MAJOR CUTS LIKE FREEHOLD.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A REDUCTION OF $3.5 MILLION IN STATE AID.

WE HAD ANTICIPATED $6.7 MILLION, SO IN THE SENSE THAT A $3.5 MILLION CUT CAN BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE BIT POSITIVELY, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

>> Reporter: FREEHOLD IS ONE OF SIX SCHOOL DISTRICTS INCLUDING BRICK, TOMS RIVER, AND JACKSON THAT SUED THE STATE OVER THE FORMULA WANTING TO SEE HOW THE CUTS WERE CALCULATED AND HOW INCREMENTAL CHANGES WOULD TAKE EFFECT UNDER S2, A LAW PASSED IN 2018 THAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS ADDRESSES HOW THE FORMULA WAS OVERFUNDING SOME DISTRICTS WHILE UNDERFUNDING GROWING DISTRICTS.

>> THEY'VE ADOPTED THESE, YOU KNOW, SUBSEQUENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT INVOLVED THEIR OWN CALCULATIONS LIKE S2 THAT ARE DESIGNED TO MOVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THEORY TOWARD THE FUNDING LEVELS LAID OUT IN WHAT THEY HAVE AS THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY ADEQUATE FORMULA.

>> Reporter: CONFUSED YET?

YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

IN FACT THE COURT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASE THE FORMULA AS MANY OTHER STATES DO.

>> WHAT THE STATE SHOULD BE DOING IS POSTING AS SOON AS BUDGET PROPOSALS ARE OUT THERE.

THEY SHOULD BE POSTING THE DETAILED SPREAD SHEETS THAT INCLUDES ALL THE PIECES OF DATA THAT DRIVE THE FORMULA FOR EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: BUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY HAS PARENTS LIKE MELISSA MORISON IN TOMS RIVER WONDERING HOW THE CUTS ARE FAIR.

>> WE'VE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF ABOUT $95 MILLION SINCE 2010.

SINCE S2 IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S BEEN $22.9 MILLION.

I KNOW THE NARRATIVE HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, TOMS RIVER, OVERFUNDED DISTRICTS.

EXACTLY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN OVERFUNDED?

PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT 35 KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Reporter: FREEHOLD HAS SIMILAR CHALLENGES.

>> WE'VE BEEN UNABLE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL COUNSELORS.

WE'VE BEEN UNABLE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF.

OUR CORE CLASSES ACROSS OUR SIX HIGH SCHOOLS, WE LITERALLY HAVE HUNDREDS OF CLASSES THAT ARE 30 DEEP.

>> Reporter: AND JERSEY CITY PARENT WANTS GOVERNOR MURPHY TO KNOW WHAT MORE THAN $68 MILLION IN CUTS WILL MEAN IN JERSEY CITY SCHOOLS.

>> WE HAVE 39 SCHOOLS.

MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE PORTABLE WORKING WATER FOUNTAINS.

MANY OF OUR CLASS SIZES ARE STILL TOO LARGE DUE TO NOT ENOUGH STAFF.

WE DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT WRAPAROUND SUPPORT IN TERMS OF STAFFING, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR MORNING CARE AND ALSO AFTER CARE, BUT THEN REALLY CRITICALLY ESPECIALLY NOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH AND SORT OF CRITICAL OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM SUPPORT.

SO THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY TOUGH.

>> Reporter: SHE'S ASKING FOR A SLOWER OFFRAMP OF STATE AID TO GIVE THE CITY MORE TIME TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES NOT THE RELIEF THE GOVERNOR PROMISED.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY'S BUDGET INCLUDES AN EXPANDED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM FOR BOTH HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS.

THE ANCHOR PROGRAM WILL GIVE $900 MILLION BACK TO TAXPAYERS.

CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT SPOKE TO MIKE AT RUTGERS BLASTING HOW MURPHY'S PROPOSAL FITS INTO NEW JERSEY'S HISTORY OF TRYING TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO RESIDENCE.

>> EVER SINCE BRENDAN BYRNES CREATED THE HOMESTEAD REBATE PROGRAM, NEW JERSEY GOVERNORS HAVE BEEN TINKERING WITH IT, TWEAKING IT, RENAMING IT.

SO MURPHY JOINED THAT TEAM THIS WEEK WHEN HE UNVEILED A MAJOR PROPOSAL TO INCREASE BENEFITS, INCREASE ELIGIBILITY.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY MARK PHEIFFER OF THE BLASTING SCHOOL OF RUTGERS.

MARK, HOW MEANINGFUL IS THE GOVERNOR'S PROPERTY TAX REBATE PLAN?

>> OH, I THINK IT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT IN THAT RESULT IN INCREASE BENEFITS TO A LARGER AUDIENCE OF TAXPAYERS.

MORE PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE MORE MONEY AS A CREDIT IF YOU WILL ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES THAN REALLY ALMOST SINCE THE BURN YEARS AND PROBABLY MORE AT THAT POINT GIVEN THE FACT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.

>> AND AM I RIGHT IN SAYING THAT IT INCLUDES RENTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME?

HAVE RENTERS BEEN COVERED BEFORE?

>> I THINK EARLY ON THERE WERE SOME CREDITS GIVEN TO RENTERS.

THOSE WENT AWAY AT ONE POINT DUE TO THE FISCAL PRICE.

I THINK DURING THE YEARS WHERE RENTERS WERE TAKEN OUT OF IT.

SO GETTING RENTERS BACK IN IT, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

RENTS HAVE BEEN GOING UP IN THE STATE AT A RATE HIGHER THAN WHAT PROPERTY TAXES HAVE BEEN GOING UP.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO HELP THOSE FOLKS OUT PARTICULARLY IF THE INCOME LEVELS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN POLICY.

>> AND HOW CONTENTIOUS OF AN ISSUE IS THIS GOING TO BE OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS DURING THE BUDGET SEASON?

>> I DON'T THINK THE POLICY ISSUES WILL BE TERRIBLY CONTENTIOUS.

IT WILL ALL BE A FUNCTION OF HOW MUCH MONEY THE STATE HAS THAT THEY COULD PUT INTO THIS PROGRAM.

MAKING REASONABLY ESTIMATED LEVELS THAT AT THE GIVEN INCOME THRESHOLD AND YOU WOULD PROVIDE SO MUCH OF THE REBATE BASED ON INCOME, THEY COULD GET CLOSE TO HOW MUCH THEY ARE GOING TO NEED.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET AS TO THE OTHER PRIORITIES THEY HAVE AND HOW MUCH THE LEGISLATOR WOULD REALLY WANT TO SPEND AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> SOME CRITICS CALL IT A GIMMICK, THE REBATE.

SAYING AS SOON AS THERE IS A REVENUE SHORTFALL IN THE STATE THAT'S THE FIRST THING TO GET CUT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I'M NOT GOING TO CALL THAT A GIMMICK.

YOU DO SOMETHING ONE AND DONE AND THESE ARE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND THE STATE HAS MADE A LOT OF EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS TO MEET NEEDS AT EVERY GIVEN POINT IN TIME.

AND THESE REBATES, THEY ARE WHAT WE WANT TO CALL THEM AND THEY ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FUND.

WHICH WILL COME FROM INCOME TAX THAT PEOPLE PAY.

AND IF INCOME TAX RECEIPTS GO DOWN, THEN SOMETHING HAS TO SUFFER ON THE STATE BUDGET SIDE.

IT'S GOING TO BE STATE AID OR DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO HOMEOWNERS IN THIS CASE RENTERS AS WELL.

>> SO YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD PROPOSAL?

>> I THINK THE PROPOSAL IS GOOD.

I THINK THE DEVIL WILL BE THE DETAILS, OF COURSE.

THERE IS ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORTS THAT WILL NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.

THERE IS A LOT OF PROCESS BEHIND THIS.

IN SENDING OUT APPLICATIONS TO PEOPLE, MAKING SURE THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, ONLY ELIGIBLE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THE BENEFIT.

AND THEN MOVING THAT PROCESS TO GET TO MUNICIPALITIES, SO IT SHOWS UP ON THE TAX BILLS AND ALSO FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL PAY THEIR TAXES VIA THE MORTGAGE TO GET THE INFORMATION TO MORTGAGE COMPANIES AS WELL.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PROCESS THAT WILL NEED TO TAKE PLACE AND THE LEGISLATIVE NEGOTIATIONS, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

>> MARK, THE BLASTING SCHOOL AT RUTGERS, THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR VIEWS WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

MY PLEASURE.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S MASK MANDATE FOR STATE WORKERS ENDS ON MONDAY.

GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT MASKS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED FOR CUSTOMERS OR VISITORS INDOORS IN ALL STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICES AND BUILDINGS.

PEOPLE CAN STILL CHOOSE TO WEAR MASKS IF THEY WANT TO.

TODAY'S COVID-19 CASE COUNT IN NEW JERSEY INCLUDES 888 POSITIVE CONFIRMED TESTS AND ANOTHER 24 DEATHS.

>>> A LANDMARK $641 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH OPIOID MANUFACTURERS WILL FUND THE EXPANSION OF THE ADDICTION TREATMENT IN REDUCTION PROGRAMS AROUND NEW JERSEY.

GOVERNOR MURPHY AND ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED THE PLAN IN THE TOWNSHIP TODAY.

HALF OF THE MONEY WILL GO TO STATE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND THE OTHER HALF WILL GO TO COUNTY AND LOCAL EFFORTS.

THE NEWS COMES AS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC CONTINUES TO GRIP THE STATE.

3,081 NEW JERSEYIANS DIED FROM OPIOID RELATED OVERDOSES IN 2021 AN INCREASE FROM BOTH 2020 AND 2019.

THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN SIX DEATHS EACH DAY.

>>> THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO RELEASE 852 ADDITIONAL INMATES THIS SUNDAY UNDER A PUBLIC HEALTH CREDIT PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS INMATES TO BE RELEASED UP TO EIGHT MONTHS EARLY IF THEY ARE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OF THEIR SENTENCE.

THIS COMES ABOUT A MONTH AFTER 260 INMATES WERE RELEASED.

MORE THAN 5,000 INMATES WERE RELEASED EARLY UNDER THE FIRST GOAROUND OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS REVIVED WHEN GOVERNOR MURPHY DECLARED ANOTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN JANUARY.

WHILE THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY HAS NOW ENDED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL INMATE RELEASES THROUGH NOVEMBER FOR PEOPLE WHO ACCRUED ENOUGH PUBLIC HEALTH CREDITS FOR EARLY RELEASE.

>>> IN TONIGHT'S SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, CONGRESS IS GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL TO A $1.2 TRILLION SPENDING PLAN THAT WOULD FUND THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES MORE THAN $13 BILLION IN EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR UKRAINE AS WELL AS INCREASE SPENDING FOR DOMESTIC PROGRAMS.

BUT ADDITIONAL MONEY TO FIGHT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WAS DROPPED FROM THE LEGISLATION.

NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE STOCK MARKET ENDED THE WEEK.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY MARTIN TUCKMAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AT NJIT.

OFFERING NEW JERSEY'S FIRST BACHELORS OF SCIENCE DEGREE.

BUSINESS FOCUSED, TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN.

>> AND MAKE SURE YOU JOIN ME FOR NJ BUSINESS WEEK THIS WEEKEND AS WE DEEP INTO GOVERNOR MURPHY'S BUSINESS.

AND WE WILL SPEAK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR WALLET AND NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.

CHECK IT OUT ON N J PBS ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:30.

>>> FOOD COSTS ARE SOARING AND THAT'S SENDING MANY PEOPLE TO FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVEN IN MORE AFFLUENCE COMMUNITIES.

THE HOBOKEN FOOD PANTRY HAS SEEN A SURGE IN NEED IN THE COMMUNITY AND IS NOW SERVING 400 HOUSEHOLDS A MONTH.

WE TALKED TO PATRONS AND VOLUNTEERS AT THE FOOD PANTRY AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES HUNGER IN NEW JERSEY.

>> Reporter: LYDIA HAS BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

THE MOM AND GRANDMOTHER IS NOW LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME.

MAKING ENDS MEET COULD BE SUPER TOUGH.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE PRICES THAT ARE GOING UP AND UP.

AND WOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY $10, $12?

YOU KNOW THAT WE USED TO BE VERY LOW ESPECIALLY THE CHICKEN.

>> Reporter: WHEN THEY FOUND OUT A PANTRY WAS OPENING UP, SHE COULDN'T WAIT TO START COMING.

>> I THOUGHT I COULD GO BUY THE FOOD FOR LESS MONEY AND FINALLY THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS FREE AND I SAID OH MY GOD.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP US A LOT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE.

THE GOAL WAS TO INITIALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE 96 LOW INCOME MEN LIVING IN THE HOBOKEN COMMUNITY HOUSING PROGRAM.

>> AND THE PANDEMIC HIT, EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY'S SEARCH TEAM AND LIKE THEIR EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEPARTMENT TO SET UP THIS SPACE AS A FOOD RESOURCE CENTER AND THEY DID DELIVERIES AND THEY DID ABOUT 4,400 DELIVERIES FROM MARCH 25 THROUGH THE END OF MAY 2020.

>> Reporter: NOW THE PANTRY CONTINUES TO BE UNNECESSARY RESOURCE FOR RESIDENCE ESPECIALLY WITH INFLATION CAUSING EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO GAS TO GO UP.

>> I'VE HEARD CLIENTS SAY I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE IN THIS POSITION AND EVEN PEOPLE THAT THEY TALKED TO, FRIENDS OF THEIRS, YOU KNOW, OH DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?

BUT THEY LOST THEIR JOBS OR THEY ARE IN A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE, SO THERE IS DEFINITELY THAT AND EVEN FAMILIES THAT WERE MID TO UPPER CLASS IN TOWN WHO THEY LOST THEIR JOBS IN THE PANDEMIC AND THEY HAVE HAD TO COME.

>> Reporter: THIS IS ONE LOCATION OUT OF THREE.

DISTRIBUTION WILL HAPPEN EVERY OTHER FRIDAY WITH HELP PROVIDED FOR NEARLY 400 FAMILIES.

>> THE FOOD STAMPS DON'T REALLY LAST THAT LONG AS YOU WOULD LIKE.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO REALLY BUDGET.

SO IT WILL REALLY GIVE YOU A SAFETY NET.

>> Reporter: JULIAN WA IS A PART OF THE HOUSING PROGRAM.

HE'S THANKFUL THE PANTRY HELPED CURB HIS EXPENSES, BUT ALSO MEANS SO MUCH MORE.

>> IT IS MARVELOUS.

I MEAN THEY'RE ANGELS.

THEY WORKED REALLY HARD FOR US.

THEY'LL TRY TO HELP YOU OUT ALL THE TIME.

AND THEY ARE ALWAYS BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL, SO IT IS QUITE GREAT.

FOR THEM THIS IS LIKE A SOCIAL GATHERING.

>> WE TRY TO MAKE EVERYONE FEEL COMFORTABLE.

THEY ARE REALLY AWARE OF THIS AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THEY REALLY ENJOY COMING.

WE KNOW OUR CLIENTS.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, AND I THINK THAT HELPS.

IT'S NOT SORT OF THIS FACELESS TRANSACTION.

>> Reporter: THE PANTRY IS OPEN TO ANYONE IN HUDSON COUNTY.

HYGIENE PRODUCTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR FREE EVERY OTHER TUESDAY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> DON'T FORGET TO CATCH UP WITH ALL THE OTHER TOP POLITICAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK ON REPORTERS ROUND TABLE WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ.

THAT'S SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00 ON NJ PBS.

ALSO TUNE IN TO CHAT BOX WITH DAVID WHERE HE TALKS TO FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWINGEY ABOUT HIS POLITICAL FUTURE.

THAT IS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30 A.M. ON NJ PBS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

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

AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

FUNDING FOR HUNGER IN NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION.

WORKING WITH OTHERS TO BUILD A NATIONAL CULTURE OF HEALTH THAT PROVIDES EVERYONE IN AMERICA A FAIR AND JUST OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

>>> ORSTED WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, 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.

ONLINE AT US.ORSTED.COM