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

>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGAN WITH STUNNING FINDINGS FROM THE STATES COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION INTO THE ADDICTION REHABILITATION INDUSTRY, WHERE BAD ACTORS PRAYED ON A LEGITIMATE RECOVERY COMMUNITY AND OFTEN PLACED PROFITS ABOVE PATIENT CARE, ALL AT A TIME WHERE THE ADDICTION CRISIS ACROSS NEW JERSEY AND THE NATION WAS DEEPENING.

THE COMMISSION'S FINDINGS SHOW SOME TREATMENT CENTERS OFFERED KICKBACKS TO THOSE WHO SENT THEM CLIENTS IN NEED OF HELP WITH THEIR ADDICTION TO OPIOID AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, WHILE OTHERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE BY EXPLOITING THEM FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.

AT A HEARING IN TRENTON TODAY, INVESTIGATORS AND FORMER ADDICTION CENTER CLIENT AND PROFESSIONALS OFFERED SWORN TESTIMONY, FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS OF THE SHAMELESS TACTICS AND CORRUPTION WITHIN THE INDUSTRY THAT IS LONG LACKED EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: A FORMER MISS NEW JERSEY, HAUNTED BY OPIOID ADDICTION, GOT BUNDLED INTO A SOUTH JERSEY TREATMENT CENTER.

NOT BECAUSE IT OFFERED THE BEST CARE, BUT BECAUSE THE FAMILY HAVE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE.

SHE STOLE THE STATE COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION.

>> ROPED YOU BY SAYING, WE TAKE YOUR INSURANCE.

THEY ARE JUST NOT UP FRONT ABOUT WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE COVERED, BECAUSE MONEY WAS AN ISSUE.

MY PARENTS WERE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, AND THAT WAS A HUGE CONCERN FOR US.

>> THE DEMARIA FAMILY WITHDREW FROM THE PROGRAM WHEN INSURANCE STOPPED PAYING.

YEARS LATER, HER ILLNESS TOOK HER LIFE.

BUT SHE FEELS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

>> WE DID NOT TRUST THIS INJURY AT THIS POINT.

WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR HER.

>> Reporter: THE REALITY IS, IS THAT MANY INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES ARE VICTIMIZED BY THE VERY SYSTEM THAT SUPPOSED TO HELP THEM RECOVER AND BUILD THEIR LIVES.

>> THERE'S A MONETARY BUSINESS PROCEED FOR REFERRING PATIENTS WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE.

THIS IS KNOWN IN THE INDUSTRY IS BODY BROKERING.

>> Reporter: THEY DUG INTO SOME OF THE $32 BILLION INDUSTRY'S ALLEGED BODY BROKERING, WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN NEW JERSEY AND AGAINST FEDERAL LAW.

THEY SINGLED OUT SO-CALLED RECOVERY COACHES LIKE THE LATE JOHN BROGAN MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FIGHTING THE OPIOID ADAMIC.

>> THEY USED LONG GOVERNMENT CONTACT TO GET HIM ACCESS TO CLIENTS.

USE THESE PATIENTS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE TO GET LARGE SALARIES FROM TREATMENT CENTERS HE GAVE THEM TWO.

>> Reporter: THEY DESCRIBED A VAST NETWORK OF SIMILAR OPERATIONS POINTING TO RECOVERY ADVOCATE OF AMERICA IN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, WHICH AGENTS TESTIFIED WERE FROM 2017 TO 2020 20 OUT TO TREATMENT CENTERS AND FLORIDA.

>> IT WAS A SERVICE AGREEMENT THAT AMOUNTED TO PROVIDING REFERRALS TO SPECIFIC TREATMENT CENTERS IN EXCHANGE FOR A MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY DOLLAR AMOUNT.

THESE WERE PRIMARILY THE PATIENTS THAT WERE BEING BROKERED BECAUSE OF THE ANTICIPATED INSURANCE REVENUE.

>> Reporter: HE ASKED RECOVERY ADVOCATES TO COMMENT, NO ANSWER.

MEANWHILE, THE SUBPOENAED OWNER OF KINGS SUPPORT CENTER NEVER SHOWED UP AND HAD NO COMMENT.

THEY SAY HE AND HIS WIFE RUN FIVE SOBER LIVING FACILITIES THAT HOUSE CLIENT ALMOST LIKE DORMS FOR THEIR TREATMENT CENTER.

>> TO PURSUE CLIENTS TO CHOOSE KINGSWAY AS THEIR FACILITY, EVEN IF IT WASN'T THE BEST PLACE FOR THEM, AND ALSO KEPT THEM THERE.

>> Reporter: THEY TESTIFY THAT KINGSWAY HAS 30 TO 40 CLIENTS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

INVESTIGATORS ALSO TESTIFIED THEY FOUND FRAUDULENT DOUBLE BILLING AND BANKING PRACTICES AIMED AT EVADING OVERSIGHT PRACTICES LIKE BOGUS BUSINESS LOANS.

>> AS SOON AS THE INSURANCE MONEY COMES INTO THE BANK ACCOUNTS, IT FLOWS OUT.

THESE TYPE OF BANKING ACTIVITIES ARE RED FLAGS OF MONEY LAUNDERING AND INCOME TAX EVASION.

>> SEI SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH AUTHORITIES.

>> KINGSWAY MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITHIN THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD.

AND THESE MONIES WERE FUNNELED DOWN FROM KINGSWAY'S BANK ACCOUNT INTO THE DeSIMONE'S JOINT AND PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT, AND THEN USED TO FUND THEIR LAVISH LIFESTYLE AND TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS OPERATIONS.

>> TO THE PUBLIC, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE ARE NOT DONE HERE.

>> Reporter: THE SEI ADJOURNED.

THEY WILL ISSUE A REPORT AND HAS REFERRED ITS FINDINGS TO STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES FOR PROSECUTION.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT MEANS.

>>> FEDERAL LAWMAKERS TONIGHT ARE RAMPING UP CALLS FOR CONGRESS TO AGAIN TAKE ACTION ON THE DATA PROGRAM AND FIND A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION AFTER A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT DECISION RULED THE PROGRAM A VIOLATION OF U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW.

THE PROGRAM HELPS UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ROT TO THE U.S. AS CHILDREN, OFTEN CALLED DREAMERS, GET WORK PERMITS AND FINDS PROTECTIONS AGAINST DEPORTATION.

THIS LATEST DECISION ALLOWS PROTECTIONS TO REMAIN IN PLACE FOR RECIPIENTS ALREADY ENROLLED, INCLUDING ABOUT 16,000 HERE IN NEW JERSEY, BUT BARS ANY NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM APPLYING.

DAVID CRUZ HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION WARM MUST HAVE SEEMED POSSIBLE.

EVEN THE MOST PESSIMISTIC OBSERVER OBSERVED THAT THE LEAST EFFECTIVE, THE EFFORT WAS A DEAL TO SECURE THE STATUS OF 600,000 DACA RECIPIENTS.

BUT AFTER AN APPEALS COURT SENT THEM BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DISTRICT, RECIPIENTS AND NOT TO MENTION MORE THAN 10 MILLION OTHER UNAUTHORIZED RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTRY, ARE IN AS TENUOUS A POSITION AS THEY WERE -- IF NOT WORSE --THAN WHEN JOE BIDEN WAS SWORN IN.

>> THE END OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MADE A LOT OF PROMISES, THAT IMMIGRATION WAS A PRIORITY, THAT IMMIGRANTS WERE GOING TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT UNDER THEIR ADMINISTRATION.

AND AS YOU SAID, THEY'VE BEEN VERY SLOW TO ACT, EVEN IN ITS THIS IS WHERE THEY COULD.

>> Reporter: NICOLE MILLER SAYS EVEN BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER PREVENTING DACA RECIPIENTS IS SUBJECT TO, AND MOST LIKELY WILL BE OVERTURNED, BY THE COURTS, MAKING CONGRESSIONAL ACTION IN A LAME-DUCK SECTION A LAST GAS HOPE AFTERWARD COULD BE A MAJORITY CHANGING MIDTERM ELECTION.

>> WE NEED 10 REPUBLICANS.

THAT GETS US TO 60 TO JOIN SENATOR DURBIN AND I TO PASS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ALL DREAMERS AND AS MANY AS THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>> THE REPUBLICAN ELECTION STRATEGY IS TO ATTACK IMMIGRATION, TO ATTACK THE DREAMERS, TO ATTACK DACA.

>> Reporter: THAT MAKES IMMIGRATION A KEY ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS, TOO.

ONE THEY USE TO FUND RAISE AND MOTIVATE.

DACA RECIPIENT ESTHER JOHN HAS BEEN A STUDENT ORGANIZER AT RUTGERS AROUND THE ISSUE.

NOWADAYS, THEY SEE THE ORGANIZATION REFORM FIGHT DIFFERENTLY.

>> CONSIDERING THE PAST 21 YEARS OF THE DREAM ACT, IF WE ARE REALLY CONSIDERING A REALIST VIEW OF THE SITUATION, WE NEED TO CONSIDER A PATHWAY TO LEGALIZATION FOR RESIDENCY FOR ALL.

THIS IS NOT THE SEXIEST MESSAGE FOR POLITICIANS, SO FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE, IT'S ONE THEY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IF THE COMMUNITY IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

>> Reporter: 20-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE SOPHOMORE NINA PEREZ ARRIVED IN THE U.S.

WHEN SHE WAS SIX MONTHS OLD.

HER ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN LIVED AROUND ON INSURGENCY OF THE STATUS THAT SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CREATING.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THEM, TO BOTH THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS AND THE PRESIDENT AND ALL OF THEM, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM FROM NINA PEREZ?

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

LIKE, I --LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL -- CONTINUE LIVING WITH THE ANXIOUSNESS AND SITTING ON EDGE EVERY TIME THAT THE DACA GOES TO COURT.

>> Reporter: IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE EVEN IN A LAME-DUCK SESSION THAT THE SENATE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO 60 VOTES TO PASS DACA PROTECTIONS OR ANYTHING APPROACHING ACTUAL IMMIGRATION REFORM.

THEY ARE BACK TO, AS MOST ANYONE WHO'S BEEN BACK HERE ON THE DACA PROTECTION WOULD CALL IT, SQUARE ONE.

>>> ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, NEW JERSEY IMMIGRANTS ARE THE HARDEST HIT BY THE CITIES AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE AND ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO LOSING THEIR HOUSING DUE TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

A HOUSING INSECURITY SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY GROUP, MAKE ROAD NEW JERSEY, IS DIGGING INTO THE RISING COST OF HOUSING IN THE STATE, WHICH IS THE SEVENTH MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE NATION FOR RENTERS AND PULLED NEARLY 400 TENANTS IN CITIES WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGES.

WELL, THE STUDY REVEALS MOST OF THE TENANTS ARE LIVING IN DANGEROUS, UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS, FORGOING BASIC NEEDS TO AFFORD THEIR RENT WITH NO ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT AID.

THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE ROUGHLY 58,000 EVICTION CASES FILED BY NEW JERSEY LANDLORDS JUST IN THE FIRST PART OF 2022 ALONE.

WITH LOW INCOME RENTERS OF COLOR SHOULDERING THE WORST OF IT.

EDUARDO BENA VIEWED AS IS AN OUTREACH ASSOCIATION AND JOINS ME TO DIG A DEEPER LOOK AT THE REPORT.

>> SO YOUR TEAM LOOKED AT THESE THREE CITIES, TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF TENANTS.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> WE FOUND THE THREE MAIN TAKEAWAYS WERE THAT, ONE, RENTERS ARE IN A CRISIS.

IT'S ONLY BEEN EXACERBATED SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

RENTS ARE INCREASING.

AND RENTERS DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY THE RENT, BECAUSE BECAUSE OF JOB LOSS, AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR RENT.

ABOUT ONE IN FIVE RENTERS ACROSS ALL CITIES REPORTED LIVING IN AN UNHEALTHY AND DANGEROUS POSITIONS, ONE IN FIVE, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.

AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THOSE REGULATIONS.

AND FINALLY, THAT MONEY, THAT ASSISTANCE, IS NOT GOING TO THOSE WHO MOST NEED IT.

>> CERTAINLY, WE KNOW FOLKS WERE DISCREDITED FROM SOME OF THE COVID RECOVERY FUND, AND I'M SURE THAT PLAYS INTO THAT.

BUT YOU MENTIONED THE CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN.

I WAS READING IN THE REPORT ABOUT ONE TENANT LIVED IN THE SAME APARTMENT FOR 20 YEARS, FOUR ROOMMATES, AND COULDN'T GET THE CEILING FIXED BECAUSE OF LEAKS.

WHAT DID PEOPLE TELL YOU?

>> THE SITUATION WAS DIRE.

THEY FOUND THAT MOLD WAS STILL GROWING BECAUSE OF AN ACTIVE CEILING LINK, AND THE LANDLORD AT ONE POINT ACTUALLY TOLD HER THAT HE WOULD EVICT HER, AND THAT HE COULD MAKE $4000 A MONTH FROM THE APARTMENT SHE WAS LIVING IN, WHICH I THINK IS COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS.

NOT ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS THAT THIS IS MORALLY UNCONSCIONABLE AND COMPLETELY ILLEGAL, AND NOT ONLY SPEAKS TO HER VERY REAL ACHES.

IS IN THE LIFE LONG IMPACT OF THESE KIND OF DANGERS THAT THEY CAN HAVE ON AN INDIVIDUAL.

BUT I THINK HIS MENTALITY SPEAKS TO THE LARGER ISSUES OF DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION AND SPEAKS THAT MENTALITY THAT, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO STAY HERE, WE CAN PRICE YOU OUT.

THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY OF SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE TALK TO.

>> TODAY HAVE ANY RECOURSE?

IS THERE ANY HELP AVAILABLE TO THEM?

>> ONE, SWEEPING THOSE RENT CONTROL LAWS TO PROTECT ALL RENTERS, AND TO IMPLEMENT STRONG VACANCY CONTROL LAWS.

MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE PLACES, THAT RENT CONTROL LAWS ARE STRONGER.

WE THINK THAT CITIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LITTLE MORE STRONGER IN THEIR ENFORCEMENT OF CONDITION VIOLATIONS, SO WE NEED FASTER AND STRONGER ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE CONDITIONS ARE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED.

ALSO, NEW JERSEY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD INCREASE AND REPLENISH SOME OF THESE FUNDS FOR ASSOCIATION HELP AND OTHER AID AND AND STREAMLINE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THESE FUNDS FOR ALL TENANTS.

AND FINALLY, THEY SHOULD ALL IMPLEMENT MUNICIPAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAMS.

LOW INCOME TENANTS HAVE ACCESS TO PRO BONO COUNSEL IN ANY HOUSING ISSUES OR ANY OF THOSE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, BECAUSE A REPRESENTATION IS ALSO WHAT MATTERS ONCE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY, QUOTE UNQUOTE, IN THE SYSTEM.

>> THERE GOING TO BE HOSTING TOWN HALLS FOR FOLKS IN EACH OF THESE CITIES.

GERARDO BENAVIDES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> NEW JERSEY SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ MAKING ANOTHER FORCEFUL CALL THIS WEEK REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE FREEZE TO ALL U.S. COOPERATION WITH SAUDI ARABIA, INCLUDING ALL ARMS SALES.

IT'S A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES DECISION TO CUT OIL PRODUCTION WITH SURPRISE DWINDLING AMONG THE DWINDLING RUSSIAN UK MORE WHICH IS INTENSIFYING THIS WEEK.

RUSSIA CARRIED OUT TWO DAYS OF AERIAL STRIKES ACROSS UKRAINE, CONSIDERED A LEVEL OF AGGRESSION NOT SEEN SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR, TARGETING ENERGY FACILITIES AND CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, KILLING AT LEAST 19 PEOPLE AND LEADING TO WIDE BREAD WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGES AND POWER OUTAGES.

UKRAINE PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY PLEADED WITH LEADERS OF THE G7 DURING AN EMERGENCY MEETING TODAY FOR BETTER AIR STRIKE DEFENSES AGAINST RUSSIA.

WORLD LEADERS VOWING TO HOLD RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECENT ATTACKS, ALLEGING TO BRING SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR RUSSIA IF IT WERE TO USE CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS AS THE WAR ENTERS ITS EIGHTH MONTH.

THE RISK TO JOURNALISTS COVERING THE EVENT IS ALSO ESCALATING.

TODAY, MORE THAN A DOZEN REPORTERS FROM UKRAINIAN MEDIA OUTLET SHARED HOW THEY WAY GETTING THE STORIES WHILE KEEPING THEIR SAFETY.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> HE WAS SLEEPING IN HIS CAR DURING THOSE TRIPS.

>> Reporter: THERE WERE MANY TEARS AMONGST THIS GROUP OF UKRAINIAN JOURNALISTS VISITING THE U.S. TODAY, RECOUNTING SOME OF THEIR MOST POIGNANT MOMENTS OF REPORTING DURING THIS WAR THAT CONTINUES TO RAVAGE THEIR COUNTRY.

>> THERE WAS A BOSS WITH KIDS WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES AND CANCER DISEASES, AND THE OCCUPANTS DIDN'T LET THEM GO.

AND ONE CHILD DIED IN THAT BUS.

>> Reporter: THIS ISN'T THE FIRST VISIT TO THE METRO AREA FOR MANY IN THE GROUP WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN A UKRAINIAN MEDIA PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN 2017 AND 2019.

THE PROGRAM IS RUN BY THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND EXCHANGES BOARD AT THE CUNY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, WHO HOSTED TODAY'S CONVERSATION.

>> WE DISCOVERED LIVE BEATS AND TOPICS LIKE ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

BUT AFTER THE 21st, WITHOUT ANY PREPARATIONS, IT HAD TO BE WAR CULTURES WHO RECOVERED THE WAR.

THEY HAD TO WEAR BULLETPROOF VEST AND HELMETS, AND IT WAS QUITE HARD.

>> Reporter: THEY COME FROM ALL OVER UKRAINE, SOME FROM REGIONS HARDEST HIT FROM RUSSIAN ATTACKS MANY OF THE REPORTING TEAMS HAD TO FLEE, OTHERS HAD TO SHIFT TO DIGITAL NEWS OPERATIONS ONLY, BECAUSE THE PRESS ARE RUSSIAN TARGETS.

THEIR RESOLVE TO CONTINUE DOING THEIR WORK IS UNSHAKEN.

>> NOWADAYS I UNDERSTAND THE MISSION OF MY PROFESSION.

A LOT OF MY FRIENDS, THEY ASKED ME TO GO ABROAD AND TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY, BUT I CAN'T DO IT.

BECAUSE UNDERSTAND THAT I REALLY --MY COUNTRY NEEDS ME, AND I CAN DO A LOT TO GIVE FREEDOM TO MY COUNTRY.

>> SHE WORKS FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION AND UKRAINE, AND AT SOME POINT, FUNDING RAN OUT AND THEY WERE WORKING FOR FREE.

WHEN THE BUILDING WAS TAKEN OVER BY RUSSIANS, HER DAD ASKED THE UKRAINIAN ARMY TO DESTROY HIS SHOP.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF RUSSIANS AND THEY WERE BASICALLY USING IT AS THEIR CAMP FOR THE SOLDIERS.

>> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE FOR YOUR FATHER WHAT A DIFFICULT DECISION THAT WAS.

>> IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT WE NOW UNDERSTAND OF THE CURRENT TIME THAT THE GENERAL GOOD OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PRIVATE GOOD.

>> Reporter: VICTORIA AND HER HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO BREAK THEIR RENTING PRESSES BEFORE THEY LEFT THEIR HOME, BUT RUSSIAN SOLDIERS WERE ABLE TO FIX THEM AND TAKE OVER THE SHOP.

>> THEY SENT OUT FAKE NEWSPAPERS FROM EDITORS IN MOSCOW, I THINK, AND THEY USED OUR RIGGING TO MAKE THIS USE AND TO PRINT OUT NEWSPAPERS.

WE CREATED A NEW WEBSITE.

SO THIS IS THE ONLY WAY PEOPLE CAN READ THE NEWS, REAL NEWS, ABOUT HERE.

>> Reporter: THEY CAME HERE BECAUSE THEY WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW WHAT THEY'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND.

>> THIS IS MY TEAM.

IT'S ME, AND IT'S OUR TEAM.

AND ALSO, WE ARE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE JUST TO CLEAN ALL THIS MESS.

>> Reporter: FROM HERE, THIS GROUP WILL HEAD DOWN TO WASHINGTON, D.C., FORGING NEW RELATIONSHIPS OF THE OUTLET SO THAT THE NEWS FROM UKRAINE CONTINUES TO REACH AUDIENCES LIKE OURS HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, AND JOANNA GAGIS.

>>> COVID-19 IS STILL SPREADING IN NEW JERSEY BUT A NEW POLL FINDS MOST PEOPLE FEEL THE PANDEMICS IMPACT ON DAILY LIFE IS OVER.

MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY'S LATEST SURVEY FINDS 71% OF RESPONDENTS OPPOSE BRINGING BACK COVID RELATED RESTRICTIONS LIKE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FACE MASK REQUIREMENTS.

JUST 25% SUPPORTED REINSTATING THOSE GUIDELINES, AND AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF PEOPLE SURVEYED --63% -- OPPOSE VACCINE MANDATES, TO.

IT ALSO SHOWS PEOPLE ARE SHIFTING THEIR WAY OF THINKING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

26% OF THE COUNTRY THINKS IT'S NOT OVER YET, BUT WILL BE AT SOME POINT, WHILE 50% OF THE NATION BELIEVES THE PANDEMIC WILL NEVER BE OVER AND WE WILL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT.

THE POLL RESULTS ALSO REVEAL FEWER PEOPLE PLAN ON GETTING THE NEW BIVALENT BOOSTER SHOT, ROUGHLY 51% OF IT ADULTS GOT THE PREVIOUS BOOSTER WHEN IT WAS FIRST APPROVED A YEAR AGO.

BUT JUST 33% OF RESPONDENTS IN THE POLLS SAY THEY ARE VERY LIKELY TO GET THE NEW SHOT.

IN NEW JERSEY, APPROXIMATELY 425,000 BIVALENT BOOSTERS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

ON WITH UNIVERSITY POLLING INSTITUTE DIRECTOR PATRICK MURRAY CALLS THE POLL RESEARCH A WARNING SIGN FOR OFFICIALS.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, OVER AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, UNION WORKERS RALLY TODAY AGAINST WHAT THEY SAY ARE UNION BUSTING ACTIONS BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY.

A GROUP OF UNIONS REPRESENTING DOCTORS, NURSES, AND OTHER EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED BY RUTGERS ALLEGED THAT SINCE THE SCHOOL PARTNERED WITH A PUBLIC HEALTH COMPANY RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH FOUR YEARS AGO, EVEN SHIFTING UNION JOBS OVER TO THEIR PRIVATE PARTNER.

IN A STATEMENT, RUTGERS SAYS THE SCHOOL COMMITTED THAT EMPLOYEES WOULDN'T BE TRANSFERRED, BUT THE UNIVERSITY, QUOTE, CANNOT SPEAK TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HIRED BY RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, AS WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT.

WE ARE SEPARATE ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE ARE NOT PRIVY TO SUCH INFORMATION.

WELL, TRENT EIGHT IS AN UNDERWRITER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, WE REACHED OUT FOR COMMENT BUT DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE IN TIME FOR THIS PODCAST.

>>> NEWLY RELEASED FEDERAL DATA FIND INCIDENTS OF US SPINES AND SCANS ARE ON THE RUN WITH THE POPULAR PEER TO PEER PAYMENT SERVICE ZELL.

NEARLY 18 MILLION WERE SCAMS INVOLVING DIGITAL PAYMENT APPS IN 2020, WHILE SOME OF THE NATION'S LARGEST BANKS THAT PARTLY OWNED ZELL AND USE THE NETWORK, HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS OF THIS SCAM.

SENATOR MENENDEZ AMONG HIS MANY STOPS TODAY HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH ADVOCATES AND VICTIMS IN JERSEY CITY, REITERATING HIS CALL FOR THE BANKS, INCLUDING BANK OF AMERICA, CHASE, CAPITAL ONE, AND WELLS FARGO, ALONG WITH THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU, TO DO MORE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AND HOLD BANKS ACCOUNTABLE FOR FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS.

>> YOU MADE THE TRANSACTION, THEREFORE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.

THAT'S NOT RISK CONSTABLE.

THEY SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND ULTIMATELY HAVE THE FRAUD REMOVED, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MET THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

>>> HEARS A CHECK ON TODAY'S CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS AFTERMARKET OPENED IN THE RED.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW JERSEY, ANNOUNCING HIS 2022 NEW JERSEY BUSINESS HALL OF FAME NOVEMBER 3rd AT THE HYATT REGENCY IN NEW BRUNSWICK.

YVETTE DETAILS ONLINE.

AND BY ROWAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

>>> AN UPDATE TONIGHT ON THAT INVESTIGATION INTO WOMEN'S SOCCER AND --IT IS CAUSING A SHAKEUP AT THE TOP.

FOUNDING OWNER IS REMOVING HIMSELF FROM CUB GOVERNANCE.

HE CAME UNDER FIRE WOULD REPORT FROM THE INVESTIGATION WAS RELEASED, OUTLINING YEARS OF SYSTEMIC ABUSE IN WOMEN'S PRO SOCCER, ZEROING IN ON THE BEHAVIORS OF THREE COACHES IN PARTICULAR, INCLUDING GOTHAM FC'S FORMER HEAD COACH KRISTI HAWLEY, AND ALLEGEDLY ABUSIVE AND UNLICENSED COAST, WAS ABLE TO GET ANOTHER COACHING JOB AFTER BEING FIRED FROM GOTHAM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SKY-BLUE SOCCER CLUB.

THE REPORT WAS COMMISSIONED BY U.S. SOCCER AND LED BY FORMING ACTOR U.S. ATTORNEY SALLY YATES BRINGING TWO YEARS >> FANS OF THE CLUB ARE CALLING FOR TAMARIS TO BE REMOVED ENTIRELY FROM OWNERSHIP OVER HOW HE HANDLED REFERENCE CHECKS ON HOLLY, GIVING A GLOWING RECOMMENDATION.

FOR HIS PART, THOUGH, TAMARIS SAYS HE WAS UNAWARE ABOUT COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT THE COACH AT THE TIME.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG AND FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

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

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> A CHANCE TO BELONG, AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA TORI IANNI, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A NJEA MEMBER.

>> AND JM INSURANCE GROUP HAS BEEN PART OF NEW JERSEY FOR OVER A CENTURY.

WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH A CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAM, SUPPORTING ARTS AND CULTURE RELATED AND ON PROFIT RELATED ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, REBUILD COMMUNITIES, AND HELP TO CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF SAFE DRIVERS.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF NEW JERSEY.

NJM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.