>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER AND 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.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI AND IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU FOLLOWING MY MATERNITY LEAVE.

>>> WE BEGIN OUR COVERAGE IN TRENTON WHERE THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF APRIL MEANS WE ARE IN THE FULL SWING OF BUDGET SEASON AND AFTER COLLECTING PUBLIC INPUT ON THE STATE'S MASSIVE $49 BILLION SPENDING PLAN LAWMAKERS TODAY HEARD FROM THE STATE TREASURER AND THE NONPARTISAN OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES, TWO INFLUENTIAL VOICES.

BOTH SAY NEW JERSEY ONCE AGAIN FINDS ITSELF FLUSH WITH CASH.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> FOR STATE REVENUES AS WITH THE OVERALL ECONOMY, FISCAL YEAR 2022 WAS A BOON YEAR.

>> Reporter: FISCAL EXPERTS TOLD THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT A RED HOT RECOVERING ECONOMY FIRED UP STATE TAX REVENUES EVEN MORE THAN ANTICIPATED, A REMARKABLE SURGE IN SPENDING POWER COMING ON THE HEELS OF THE PANDEMIC.

NEW JERSEY'S TREASURER SAYS IT'S BLOWN OUT PRIOR ESTIMATES.

>> WE HAVE INCREASED THE ' '22 FORECAST.

>> IN FY ' 22 REVENUES HAVE BEEN BEATING EXPECTATIONS BY WIDE MARGINS.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS FROM NEW JERSEY'S NONPARTISAN OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES SAID THE TREASURER'S REVIVED REVENUE FORECAST IS ALMOST 11% MORE THAN ORIGINALLY CALCULATED LAST JUNE AND THAT OLS REVISED FIGURES LOOK EVEN ROSIER AT 14% AND ESTIMATES COULD STILL RISE.

>> THERE'S A STILL DIFFERENCE TOTALING MORE THAN $3.2 BILLION OVER THE TWO YEARS.

ALTHOUGH LARGE, THIS SORT OF DISCREPANCY SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISING IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR UNUSUAL FISCAL TIMES.

>> Reporter: BUT GOVERNOR MURPHY'S PROPOSED $49 BILLION BUDGET WOULD ACTUALLY SPEND MORE THAN REVENUES BRING IN RELYING ON A MASSIVE SURPLUS TO HELP KEEP IT BALANCED.

MURPHY'S BUDGET WOULD MAKE ANOTHER FULL $6.88 BILLION PAYMENT TO THE PUBLIC PENSION FUND, BOOST SCHOOL AID BY 650 MILLION AND MAKE A DEBT REDUCTION PAYMENT OF 1.3 BILLION.

OLS WARNED -- >> A BUDGET THAT RELIES ON 1.7 BILLION IN SURPLUS TO BE BALANCED IS NOT SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG RUN WHEN THE SURPLUS IS 4.6 BILLION.

MAYBE REVENUE GROWTH WILL CONTINUE TO SURPRISE US AND WILL CLOSE OR AT LEAST CONSIDERABLY NARROW THE GAP.

>> WE'RE SETTING A BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR BASED ON THESE NUMBERS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE NUMBERS ARE.

MY CONCERN IS WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN WE'LL TAKE IN.

>> Reporter: THE STATE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF REVENUE FIGURES WHEN TAXES ARE FILED IN APRIL, BUT OFFICIALS PREDICT THAT THIS WILD REVENUE RIDE WILL BE COMING TO AN END LOOKING AHEAD TO 2023 AND BEYOND.

THE OVERALL ECONOMY'S EXPECTED TO COOL DOWN AND RISING INFLATION AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE COULD ALSO IMPACT REVENUES.

>> AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE UPGRADES AND THE OVERALL BUDGET SYSTEM AND THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THIS YEAR, WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THIS BOON TIME CASH RETURNED DIRECTLY TO TAXPAYERS.

>> WE'RE FLUSH WITH CASH.

WHY DON'T WE CUT TAX RATES FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS TO PUT MONEY DIRECTLY INTO THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHO EARN IT INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT.

>> Reporter: HEARINGS WILL CONTINUE THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE STATE BUDGET DEADLINE JUNE 30th.

>>> IS IT A CANCER CLUSTER OR A COINCIDENCE?

A COLONIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE IS ON A MISSION TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AFTER DISCOVERING MORE THAN 80 ALUM FROM THE WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DEVELOPED THE SAME RARE BRAIN TUMOR AND GRADUATED BETWEEN THE YEARS 1975 TO 1995.

THE MAN LEADING THE CHARGE BELIEVES THERE'S A LINK BETWEEN COLONIA HIGH AND THE DOZENS OF BRAIN CANCER CASES.

JOANNA GAGIS HAS THE STORY.

>> I WAS DIAGNOSED IN '99 AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 27 WITH A VERY RARE, VERY LARGE PRIMARY BRAIN TUMOR.

THE DOCTOR EXPLAINED TO ME THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE RARE, I WAS RARE WITHIN RARE.

>> Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE SPEED AT WHICH AL LUPIANO'S TUMOR GREW, BUT FAST FORWARD TO 2021 AND RARE BECAME A WORD HE'D GET ALL TOO USED TO.

HIS WIFE AND SISTER WERE ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH RARE BRAIN TUMORS ON THE SAME DAY.

HE SAID THE ONCOLOGIST WAS STUNNED.

>> HE SAID THE THREE OF YOU TOGETHER ARE JUST -- IT'S LIKE ALL THREE OF YOU GETTING HIT BY LIGHTNING ON THE SAME DAY.

HE GOES IT'S JUST THAT RARE AND THAT'S WHAT STARTED ME ASKING QUESTIONS OF WHO ELSE HAS THIS?

>> Reporter: THE RESULTS WERE SHOCKING.

HE FOUND 15 OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS ALSO WITH RARE CANCERS.

THEN HE TOOK TO FACEBOOK AND THAT NUMBER SKYROCKETED TO 65.

LAST WEEK HE TOLD HIS STORY ON NATIONAL NEWS AND HE'S NOW AT 80.

THE ONLY CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL OF THEM, THEY WERE ALL AT COLONIA HIGH SCHOOL IN WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP FROM THE '70s TO LATE '90s.

MANY, INCLUDING HIS SISTER, DIED OF THEIR DISEASE.

>> WHAT'S EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND STAFF AFFECTED.

THEY DON'T LIVE THERE.

THEY WORK IN THE SCHOOL.

THEY GO HOME TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE AND I SAID THAT'S TELLING THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO ONLY WORK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL ARE ALSO AFFECTED, MEANS THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY.

>> Reporter: WHEN HE STARTED DIGGING FURTHER, MANY OF THESE PEOPLE TOLD HIM HOW THEY HAD WHAT DOCTORS CALLED CURIOUS CANCERS TELLING HIM -- >> I HAVE THIS CANCER THE DOCTOR SAID THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, SUPER RARE OR ONLY PEOPLE THAT WERE EXPOSED TO NUCLEAR RADIATION AS A CHILD LIVING NEXT TO A POWER PLANT THAT WAS CONTAMINATING THEIR WATER HAVE THIS.

ONE INDIVIDUAL SAID THEY WERE TOLD THEY'VE ONLY SEEN THIS CANCER IN AGENT ORANGE VICTIMS FROM VIETNAM WAR AND I SAID HOW ARE ALL THESE CURIOSITIES COMING TO ME AND THE ONLY COMMON DENOMINATOR IS COLONIA HIGH SCHOOL?

>> Reporter: LUPIANO SPENT HIS CAREER IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TESTING GROUND SAMPLES FOR TOXINS, SO HE KNEW A TEST OF THE GROUND AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL COULD REACH OUT TO A POSSIBLE HAZARD.

HE REACHED OUT TO MAYOR JOHN McCORMICK FOR HELP.

>> INVOLVED DR. MASSANINO WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE TOOK IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS WE HAD.

WE KNEW WE HAD TO HELP HIM GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL BECAUSE WE COULD GET TO THE GOVERNMENT EASIER THAN A CITIZEN.

SO WE HOOKED UP CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SOMETHING CALLED THE AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCE DISEASE REGISTRY.

>> Reporter: HE'S ASKING THE EPA FOR A FULL FEDERAL AND STATE INVESTIGATION OF THE LAND AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE'S CONCERN THERE COULD BE RADIATION SOMEWHERE ON THE PROPERTY, SOMETHING LUPIANO DISCUSSED WITH THE ONCOLOGIST.

>> SO HE SAYS WHEN YOU START SEEING STUFF LIKE THIS, AS A NEUROSCIENTIST, HE SAYS WE LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND I SAID I KNOW FROM 20 YEARS IN THIS FIELD THEY'VE REALLY ONLY DETERMINED ONE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR THAT INCREASES BRAIN TUMORS AND THAT'S IONIZING RADIATION AND HE SAID BINGO.

>> Reporter: WHAT'S MORE CONCERNING, A ROCK WAS DISCOVERED IN A COLONIA SCIENCE CLASSROOM THAT WAS RADIOACTIVE.

IT WAS DONATED IN THE '70s AND REMOVED IN THE LATE '90s CONSISTENT WITH THE DATES OF THOSE WITH CANCER.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ROCK COULD BE THE CULPRIT HERE OR IS THAT TOO SIMPLE OF AN ANSWER CONSIDERING THE RARE CANCERS THAT HAVE COME UP NOW?

>> THE ROCK WAS REPORTED AS HIGH GRADE URANIUM ORE AND I COULDN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WHERE DOES A ROCK LIKE THIS COME FROM?

HOW DOES IT WIND UP IN A SCHOOL?

I KEPT SEEING REFERENCES TO A SECRET WORLD WAR II LABORATORY ABOUT 10, 11 MILES AWAY AS THE CROW FLIES CALLED THE MIDDLESEX SAMPLING PLANT.

THAT PLANT WAS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NUCLEAR BOMBS THAT WERE USED DURING WORLD WAR II AND IT WAS PART OF THE MANHATTAN PROJECT.

>> Reporter: HIS FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND THAT CONTAMINATED SOIL HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THAT PLANT, SOME USED AS CONSTRUCTION FILL RIGHT AROUND THE TIME COLONIA HIGH SCHOOL WAS BUILT.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOIL COULD BE UNDERNEATH THE HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.

NEW JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONFIRMED IT'S BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE MAYOR AND LUPIANO AND WILL WORK WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES IF AN INVESTIGATION IS DEEMED NECESSARY.

SPRING BREAK STARTS FOR COLONIA STUDENTS IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

LUPIANO SAYS THAT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO COME OUT AND TEST THESE GROUNDS UNINTERRUPTED.

IN COLONIA, I'M JOANNA GAGIS, "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

>> THAT INVESTIGATION JUST ANOTHER ADDED TO THE LONG LIST OF WORK FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

ADVOCATES SAY THE SECTOR HAS BEEN UNDERINVESTED FOR YEARS.

THE COVID CRISIS LAID THOSE WEAKNESSES BARE AND IT'S NOT OVER YET, 754 NEW CASES REPORTED TODAY, 2 NEW DEATHS.

NOW A GROUP OF HEALTH LEADERS AND PRIVATE FUNDERS HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BY CREATING THE STATE'S FIRST EVER PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE FUELED BY MOMENTUM FROM THE PANDEMIC AND A SIGNIFICANT POT OF SEED MONEY.

HEALTHCARE WRITER LILO STAINTON REPORTED ON THE PLAN AND JOINS ME NOW WITH THE LATEST.

LILO, IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR LATEST REPORTING.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS.

IT SEEMS IT TOOK A CRISIS TO REALLY SPUR ACTION FOR THIS.

>> YEAH.

NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK, BRI.

THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS.

THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE THIS TIME, ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTES SAYING THERE IS SOME SEED MONEY, BUT IT'S REALLY THE SENSE THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC EXPOSED SO MANY, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WERE TRUTHS AND KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY BUT WEREN'T NECESSARILY KNOWN BY SORT OF THE WIDER WORLD, RIGHT, LIKE THE ROLE OF CONTACT TRACERS, THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SET UP A TESTING SITE OR A VACCINE SITE QUICKLY.

THESE ARE THINGS PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS DO FOR A LIVING KIND OF, BUT WHEN THEY DO IT WELL, WE DON'T SEE IT, RIGHT?

THERE ISN'T AN OUTBREAK WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THEY'RE IN ANY WAY AT FAULT FOR COVID.

IT'S JUST WHEN YOU HAVE A DISEASE MANAGED, THAT MEANS PUBLIC HEALTH IS WORKING.

WITH COVID WE LEARNED ALL THESE THINGS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE MISSING IN THE SYSTEM, THE LACK OF REDUNDANCY, THE LACK OF DATA COLLECTION.

WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW INEQUITIES ARE PLAYED OUT AND MAGNIFIED WHEN IT COMES TO RACE AND ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE ON THE RADAR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ALL THE TIME.

>> LET ME STOP YOU THERE.

IS THAT SOMETHING THEY FEEL COULD BE GAINED BY HAVING A PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE RATHER THAN THIS, I GUESS, PIECEMEAL OPERATION WE'VE SEEN FROM LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WHICH DID A GOOD JOB GIVEN WHAT THEY HAD TO WORK WITH?

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK THEY DID SAY TO BE CLEAR THAT ALL THESE PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY LOCAL INPUT IS CRITICAL, BUT WHAT THEY SOMETIMES MISS IS A SORT OF STATEWIDE ADVOCATE, AN ENTITY THAT IS FLEXIBLE AND CAN SCALE UP QUICKLY.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN VIRGINIA THERE'S A PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE WHEN FAIRFAX COUNTY NEEDED CONTACT TRACING, THEY TALKED TO THE INSTITUTE AND HELPED HIRE CLOSE TO 100 PEOPLE QUICKLY AND 600 PEOPLE OVER TIME.

IT'S THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN'T NECESSARILY DO AS WELL OR AS QUICKLY.

IT ALSO INVOLVES THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND GET FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES, BE IT FOUNDATIONS OR GET GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

A LOT OF GRANTS ARE NOW OPEN TO NONPROFITS.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ROLE THE INSTITUTE COULD PLAY.

>> VERY QUICKLY, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT FUNDING.

WHERE DOES IT STAND?

HOW MUCH SEED MONEY IS THIS GOING TO NEED?

>> ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION PUT UP 250,000 TO SORT OF GET IT STARTED, BUT THAT'S REALLY PART OF ABOUT $1 MILLION THEY'VE COMMITTED.

THE HOPE IS IT WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND GET OTHER RESOURCES TO BECOME AN INSTITUTE.

THAT'S SORT OF FOR THE INCUBATOR STAGE.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

>> TIRELESS REPORTING, AS ALWAYS, BY LILO STAINTON.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, BRI.

>>> TURNING TO THE LATEST IN UKRAINE, AS RUSSIA'S WAR EFFORT ENTERS A SECOND MONTH AND HORRIFIC NEW IMAGES EMERGE OF DEAD CIVILIANS WHO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN KILLED DELIBERATELY SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE, SOME WITH THEIR HANDS TIED BEHIND THEIR BACKS.

ACCORDING TO UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS, IT'S JUST THE LATEST IN MOUNTING EVIDENCE OF ALLEGED RUSSIAN ATROCITIES.

THE BODIES ARE BEING DISCOVERED ON THE STREETS OF TOWNS SURROUNDING THE CAPITAL KYIV AS RUSSIAN FORCES RETREAT.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY CALLING IT "GENOCIDE," DESPERATELY PLEADING FOR MORE SUPPORT FROM THE U.S. AND OTHER WESTERN ALLIES.

GLOBAL OUTRAGE IS BUILDING.

EUROPEAN ALLIES ARE CONDEMNING THE BLOODSHED.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY CALLING FOR A WAR CRIMES TRIAL AGAINST RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN VOWING TO INCREASE SANCTIONS AGAINST MOSCOW.

>>> MEANTIME TODAY MARKS THE FIRST HURDLE IN SUPREME COURT NOMINEE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON'S CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE TO MOVE HER NOMINATION FORWARD.

JACKSON IS A JUDGE ON THE D.C. FEDERAL COURT OF APPEALS EXPECTED TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE FULL SENATE LATER THIS WEEK WHERE ALL 50 DEMOCRATS AND ONE REPUBLICAN SAY THEY'LL VOTE IN FAVOR.

IF CONFIRMED, SHE'LL MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SIT ON THE SUPREME COURT IN ITS MORE THAN 230 YEAR HISTORY, BUT SHE WON'T JOIN THE BENCH UNTIL THIS SUMMER AFTER JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER'S RETIREMENT AND AT AGE 51 SHE COULD SERVE ON THE COURT FOR DECADES.

>>> WELL, IT'S BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL FOR CONGRESSWOMAN MIKIE SHERRILL OFFICIALLY LAUNCHING HER REELECTION CAMPAIGN THIS WEEKEND IN WEST CALDWELL.

SHE SERVED TWO TERMS IN THE 11th DISTRICT.

HER SEAT IS ONE OF A HANDFUL TARGETED BY REPUBLICANS.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ LOOKS AT WHETHER CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGN MANAGERS WILL PUT LESS WEIGHT ON PREELECTION POLLING THIS CYCLE, PARTLY BECAUSE SOME POLLSTERS SAY THEY NO LONGER PLAN TO DO IT.

COLLECTING PUBLIC OPINION IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT AND INACCURATE.

>> THE SNAPSHOT WAS WRONG.

WE HAVE TO OWN UP TO.

THAT.

>> Reporter: THAT'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLL WHICH UP TO NOW HAS HAD A FAIRLY GOOD RECORD REFLECTING WHAT VOTERS ARE THINKING, EXCEPT ON ELECTION NIGHT IN 2021.

>> PAST 11:30 ON ELECTION NIGHT, MICHAEL, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED.

>> Reporter: BUT MURRAY WHOSE POLL HAD THE INCUMBENT PHIL MURPHY UP 11 POINTS WASN'T THE ONLY ONE OFF.

OTHERS ALSO MISSED THE MARK.

IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AFTER ELECTION SEASON SOME POLLSTERS HAVE HAD TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT HOW THEY DID THEIR POLLING AND WHETHER IT WAS ACTUALLY SERVING THE PUBLIC.

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY POLL DIRECTOR SAYING POLLING HAS GOTTEN HARDER NOWADAYS.

>> PEOPLE DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE ANYMORE.

RESPONSE RATES HAVE PLUMMETED.

IT'S GETTING HARDER, TAKING LONGER AND IT'S, FRANKLY, GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO DO POLLING.

>> Reporter: SO IT'S PARTLY BANG FOR THE BUCK THAT PROMPTED STOCKTON TO GET OUT OF THE CANDIDATE VERSUS CANDIDATE POLLING BUSINESS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON ISSUE POLLS AND WE'RE CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS PROBLEM WITH ELECTION POLLS WHERE SOME VOTERS DON'T PARTICIPATE, THAT DOESN'T TRANSLATE INTO ISSUE POLLS.

>> Reporter: ALSO NOBODY TRUSTS POLLSTERS ANYMORE.

I MEAN WE HAVEN'T POLLED ON THAT, BUT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT REPUBLICANS ARE NOT INTO POLLSTERS AND THAT MINORITIES AND NONCELL USERS ARE GETTING EITHER UNDERCOUNTED OR OVERCOUNTED.

>> THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD FACTORED IN THE TRUMP DAMAGE TO POLLING AFTER THE 2016 ELECTION AND THEN THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO FACTOR IN EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND THEY WERE GOING TO UP THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES AND THAT THAT WAS GOING TO FIX IT AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THAT DIDN'T FIX IT.

SO EVERY TIME THEY THINK THAT THEY'VE GOT IT THEY DON'T.

>> Reporter: WELCOME TO MY WORLD SAYS KRIS RUSSELL, POLITICAL CONSULTANT FOR THE CHITARELLI CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR.

THE POLLS HAD HIS GUY DOWN DOUBLE DIGITS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

IT'S EASY FOR THEM TO SAY OH, WE GOOFED NOW.

>> THE REALITY IS THESE POLLS DO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE VOTERS.

THEY POISON THE ATMOSPHERE AND CERTAINLY FOR JACK LAST YEAR.

WE DEALT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM DONORS TO VOTERS SAYING OH, I LIKE YOU, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE AND THAT WAS DRIVEN BY PUBLIC POLLING.

>> Reporter: SO WHAT'S A POLLSTER TO DO IN THIS ENVIRONMENT?

THEY ARE REALLY CONDEMNED IF THEY DO AND CONDEMNED WHEN THEY DON'T.

FRINGIN SAYS HE'S ACTUALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF POLLING COUNTING ON VOTERS VOLUNTEERING TO TAKE POLLS.

>> WE CALL MOSTLY CELL PHONES.

IF WE DON'T GET A RESPONSE ON THE CELL PHONE, SHE'LL TEXT A LINK TO THE POLL TO THAT CELL PHONE AND WE'RE FINDING THAT PEOPLE WILL GO ON THE PHONE AND TAKE THE POLL.

WE'RE GETTING MORE RESPONSES THAT WAY.

>> Reporter: BUT ULTIMATELY ALL OF US NEED TO DO OUR OWN RESEARCH AND POLL OURSELVES ON WHAT WE ACTUALLY KNOW.

>> THEY SHOULDN'T TRUST THE CAMPAIGN'S POLL EITHER NECESSARILY.

I'M NOT SAYING SOME CAMPAIGNS MAY NOT LIE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEIR NUMBERS SAY, BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO YOUR POINT PEOPLE SHOULD SPEND SOME MORE TIME TALKING TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND SAME THING WITH THE MEDIA.

>> Reporter: YEAH.

WE MAY ALL RELY ON THE HORSE RACES A LITTLE BIT MUCH, BUT A POLL THAT LOOKS AT SERIOUS ISSUES IN A SERIOUS WAY LACKS THE KIND OF HEAT THAT MOST VOTERS HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM THE FOLKS WHO PUT THE POL IN POLLS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

>>> THE U.S. HOUSE VOTED FRIDAY TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH A SLIM BIPARTISAN APPROVAL.

THE VOTE WAS 220-204 WITH 3 REPUBLICANS JOINING DEMOCRATS IN THE VOTE CATCHING UP TO THE 19 STATES INCLUDING NEW JERSEY WHERE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS ALREADY LEGAL.

THE QUESTION IS WILL THE BILL DIE IN THE SENATE?

SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S UNLIKELY TO GET THE 60 VOTES NEEDED TO PASS IN THAT CHAMBER.

IF APPROVED, THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATION WOULD REMOVE MARIJUANA FROM THE FEDERAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES LIST, EXPUNGE CONVICTIONS FOR CERTAIN CANNABIS-RELATED CRIMES AND IMPOSE A SALES TAX ON PRODUCTS THAT'S MEANT TO HELP COMMUNITIES HARMED BY MARIJUANA PROHIBITION.

>>> YOU'VE GOT EXACTLY ONE MONTH TO BEGIN STOCKPILING YOUR COLLECTION OF REUSABLE BAGS.

THE STATEWIDE PLASTIC BAG BAN GOES INTO EFFECT MAY 4th AND IS BEING CALLED THE STRICTEST IN THE NATION, BUT AS RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, THERE ARE A FEW LOOPHOLES.

>> Reporter: COME MAY YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A REUSABLE BAG WHEN YOU CHECK OUT AT ANY FOOD OR RETAIL STORES IN JERSEY BECAUSE A STATEWIDE BAN IS GOING INTO EFFECT MAY 4th ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS AS WELL AS POLYSTYRENE FOAM TAKEOUT FOOD CONTAINERS AND OTHER PRODUCTS LIKE PLATES, CUPS, FOOD TRAYS AND UTENSILS.

THE ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR CLEAN OCEAN ACTION SAYS IT'S ALL IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND JERSEY FROM THE HARM OF PLASTICS POLLUTION.

>> OUR SWEEPS RESULTS WERE RELEASED FOR LAST YEAR AND THERE WERE OVER 9,300 PLASTIC BAGS FOUND ON BEACHES IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT WAS A TWO-DAY EVENT THREE HOURS EACH DAY BY SOME THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS.

HOWEVER, THAT'S JUST A SNIPPET OF WHAT PLASTIC BAGS, YOU KNOW, AND OTHER BAR GARBAGE, OF COURSE, THEY'RE FINDING IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.

>> Reporter: THE LAW DOES HAVE EXCEPTIONS.

>> ANY BAGS CONTAINING MEAT, FISH OR CONTAINING BULK FOODS FROM THE BULK FOOD AISLE, BAGS USED FOR CONTAINING LIVE ANIMALS, GETTING THAT FISH AT THE FISH STORE AND ALSO DRY CLEANING BAGS, NEWSPAPER BAGS.

>> Reporter: SOME TOWNS LIKE LAMBERTVILLE AND RIDGEWOOD HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED A BAN ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS AND SAY EDUCATION IS KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION.

>> THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE FROM THE GATE.

EVERYONE TRANSITIONED SEAMLESSLY TO UTILIZING PAPER BAGS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE USE OF REUSABLE BAG.

>> I THINK FOR THE BUSINESSES ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WAS UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE ALTERNATIVES WERE TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS THAT WE HAD BANNED, PLASTIC STRAWS, POLYSTYRENE, STYROFOAM AND PLASTIC BAGS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID TO HELP WITH THAT WAS HOLD A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS FORUM WHERE SOME OF THE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAD ALREADY IMPLEMENTED SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES SPOKE AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND SHARED WITH BUSINESSES WHAT ALTERNATIVES THEY HAVE TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

>> Reporter: THE LEAD AUTHOR OF A STUDY BY UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SAYS WHILE THE LAW HAS GOOD INTENTIONS, THE STUDY DISCOVERED AN OFFSETTING EFFECT OF ELIMINATING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS.

>> SO THEY SWITCHED THEIR DEMAND FROM REGULATED GROCERY PLASTIC BAG TO UNREGULATED TRASH BAG.

SO THE STUDY IDENTIFIED OKAY, THIS TYPE OF GROCERY BAG REGULATION CAN INCREASE THE TRASH BAG SALES.

>> Reporter: RAYMOND CANTOR IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION WHO HAS OPPOSED THE BAN CLAIMING THE LAW DOESN'T FULLY RECOGNIZE THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE FOOD BUSINESS.

>> IT'S GOING TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE IT'S LESS CONVENIENT TO DO RETAIL SHOPPING THAN MAYBE IT WOULD BE TO DO THINGS ONLINE.

IT'S EVERY FOOD TRUCK.

IT'S EVERY SCHOOL.

IT'S EVERY HOSPITAL, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS A CAFETERIA.

IT'S EVERY SUPERMARKET THAT SERVES, YOU KNOW, FRESH FOOD OR TAKEOUT FOOD.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THIS.

>> Reporter: AS THE STATE GEARS UP TO IMPLEMENT THE LAW, THE NEW JERSEY CLEAN COMMUNITIES COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAVE LAUNCHED WEBSITES TO OFFER GUIDANCE TO HELP THE PUBLIC AND BUSINESSES TRANSITION.

FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS," I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW STOCKS FARED TODAY ON WALL STREET.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, WORKING FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY BY UNITING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT INFORMATION ONLINE AT CHAMBERSNJ.COM.

♪ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO N JSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED ON ALL THE NEWS ABOUT THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT!

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES MORE THAN 100 YEARS AND BY THE PSE&G FOUNDATION.

>>> NJM INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN SERVING NEW JERSEY POLICYHOLDERS MORE THAN 100 YEARS, BUT JUST WHO ARE NJM'S POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY'RE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

NJM, WE'VE GOT NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH HAS TWO EASY WAYS TO DO IT FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SEE AN URGENT CARE PROVIDER 24/7 ON ANY DEVICE WITH OUR TELEMED APP OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH AN RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

>>> HAVE SOME WATER.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME AN ASL TEACHER TO GIVE MY STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE, A CHANCE TO BELONG AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN NJEA MEMBER.

>>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON MORE THAN CLEAN ENERGY.

OUR FUTURE RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS, OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STREETS, THE PSE&G FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT INVESTING IN PARKS, HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN, SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.

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