>>> 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.

>> WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA, MORE THAN 200 MISSILES HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED AT UKRAINE AS RUSSIA CONTINUES A FULL-SCALE INVASION ON DAY TWO UKRAINIANS FLEEING FOR SHELTER IN SUBWAYS AND BUNKERS AS RUSSIA CONTINUES TO ATTACK ON THREE FRONTS FROM THE NORTH IN KYIV AND TO THE EAST AND SOUTH.

THERE ARE REPORTS THAT AN AIRPORT HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE RUSSIAN FORCES, THE ACT OF AGGRESSION WAS ALSO FELT BY RUSSIANS AS PROTESTS CONTINUE THERE WITH REPORTS OF MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE BEING DETAINED.

AS THE BATTLE FOR CONTROL OVER UKRAINE'S CAPITAL CONTINUES, SOME 18,000 GUNS WITH AMMUNITION HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO RESERVISTS IN THE KYIV REGION AND ALL MALE CITIZENS BANNED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN AND PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SPOKE FOR 40 MINUTES TODAY ABOUT SANCTIONS AND DEFENSE ASSISTANCE.

IN RESPONSE, NATO TROOPS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED, HEADING TO THE BORDERS TO DEFEND NATO NATIONS, AIRCRAFT FROM THE 305th AIR MOBILITY WING AT JOINT BASE McGUIRE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED TO SUPPORT FORCES MOVING IN EUROPE.

THOUSANDS MILES AWAY, RESIDENCE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA REMAIN FEARFUL FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS BACK IN UKRAINE AS THEY WATCHED THIS WAR UNFOLD.

WE SPOKE WITH MEMBERS OF THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ATTACK ON THEIR COUNTRY.>> STRESS, ADRENALINE RUSH, AND TREMORS AND CONSTANT CHECKING WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, TRYING TO FIND MORE NEWS.>> HIS FAMILY IS IN A CITY THAT WAS ATTACKED BY RUSSIAN FORCES YESTERDAY AND THE SITE OF INTENSE FIGHTING FOR CONTROL OVER THE CITY, RIGHT NOW IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR CIVILIANS TO LEAVE AND EVEN IF THEY COULD -- >> THEY WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL TO THE NEAREST BORDER THAT IS NOT SHARED WITH RUSSIA OR BELARUS, IT'S EXTREMELY VAST.

>> Reporter: THEY WOULD HAVE TO CROSS A COUNTRY THE SIZE OF TEXAS, WHERE BATTLES ARE BEING FOUGHT, TO GET TO POLAND.

TATYANA RUNS A UKRAINIAN DELI, HER FAMILY IN UKRAINE IS FURTHER FROM THE FIGHTING BUT SHE STILL SCARED FOR THEIR SAFETY.

>> I KNOW IT'S SERIOUS, WE ARE ALL WATCHING TV, IT'S MAKING ME CRAZY.

I'M CRYING BECAUSE IT'S TERRIBLE.

PEOPLE CANNOT GO TO THE STORE BECAUSE THERE'S NO BREAD AND PEOPLE SAY DON'T GO TO WORK RIGHT NOW.

STAY AT HOME.

>> Reporter: HER NEPHEW IS OLD ENOUGH TO JOIN THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY.

>> AND HE WILL.

HE WILL.

>> WHEN WE REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS THIS PAST MONDAY, THE 21st.

WHEN PUTIN GAVE THAT SPEECH, BASICALLY QUESTIONING UKRAINE'S RIGHT TO EXIST, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT WENT FROM BEING WELL , IT'S ABOUT NATO OR PROCEEDS, SECURITY CONCERNS, WELL, NO, IT'S ABOUT HISTORY.

>> Reporter: RUSSIA'S HISTORY OF CONTROLLING UKRAINE, CONGRESSMAN, ANDY KIM SAYS HE FEELS LIKE HE'S WATCHING SOMETHING FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS ALTHOUGH HE IS HOPEFUL THAT NATO'S SUPPORT CAN STILL TURN THIS AROUND.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST FACTOR THAT MIGHT AFFECT PUTIN'S WILLINGNESS TO COME TO THE TABLE IS IF THIS GETS DRAGGED OUT, WHAT PUTIN WANTS IS A QUICK AND DECISIVE WIN.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES AND NATO HAVE GONE AS FAR AS THEY CAN AT THIS MOMENT WITH SANCTIONS?

>> WE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THIS FAR BEFORE WHEN IT COMES TO SANCTIONING A MAJOR POWER, SO I DO THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL RAISE THE COST SIGNIFICANTLY FOR RUSSIA.

I FOR ONE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF ADDITIONAL STEPS TO BE ABLE TO RAMP UP THE PRESSURE.

I THINK WHAT RUSSIA HAS DONE IS UNPRECEDENTED AND AS A RESULT REQUIRES THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE MEASURES.

>> Reporter: SOME HAVE CRITICIZED NATO, SWIFT IS A GLOBAL PAYMENT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO TRANSFER MONEY AND CONDUCT BUSINESS.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS FOR RUSSIAN BANKS TO COMMUNICATE, EVEN IF SWIFT IS CUT OFF.

>> I'M WILLING TO GO AS FAR AS TO DO SWIFT AND SANCTIONS AGAINST PUTIN AND SOME OF THESE OTHER STEPS.

I WILL SAY THAT THE SANCTIONS WE DID PUT IN PLACE TO ACHIEVE A LOT OF WHAT WE WOULD ACHIEVE WHEN IT COMES TO SWIFT.

I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT THERE IS KIND OF A MAGIC BULLET THAT WE HAVEN'T USED YET.

>> Reporter: AMID THE SHOCK AND GRIEF, THERE IS A SENSE OF RESOLVE AND UKRAINIANS HERE IN NEW JERSEY THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THEIR COUNTRY TESTED BEFORE AND IT WILL ENDURE.>> RIGHT NOW UKRAINIAN PEOPLE ARE SO STRONG AND SMART PEOPLE.

UKRAINE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEY WILL FIGHT, FIGHT AND THE COUNTRY WILL BE FREE AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.

>> SO FAR THERE'S DEFINITELY A FEAR ABOUT A DIRECT LAND INCURSION.

>> THE GENERAL FEELING IS SHOCK AND HORROR, BUT WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT IN THE LONG TERM, THIS WILL NOT SUCCEED.

>> Reporter: AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW IN THIS EARLY DAYS OF BATTLE.

>>> NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN RECENTLY TRAVELED TO UKRAINE WITH THE BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE COUNTRY IN THE FACE OF AN IMPENDING RUSSIAN INVASION, NOW THAT AN INVASION HAS BEGUN, MICHAEL WENT ON THE RECORD ABOUT WHAT COULD COME NEXT AND THE ROLE THAT U.S. AND NATO WILL PLAY.

>> WE ARE JOINED BY TOM MALINOWSKI, DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A QUICK WAR OR DRAGGED OUT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A QUICK WAR, I THINK THE UKRAINIANS ARE GOING TO FIGHT AND FIGHT HARD AND FIGHT LONG.

THEY MAY BE OUTNUMBERED, THEY MAY HAVE TO FALL BACK, THEY MAY SUFFER LOSSES, BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP THEIR COUNTRY.

NOT THAT EASILY.

SO I THINK PUTIN IS GOING TO GET A LOT MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR HERE.

>> ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT FROM BECOMING A BIGGER WAR?

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SAID THAT WE ARE GOING TO DEFEND EVERY INCH OF NATO TERRITORY, UKRAINE BORDERS AS YOU KNOW POLAND, ROMANIA, LITHUANIA, IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THE EASTERN FLANK.

THAT'S WHY PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS REINFORCED THOSE COUNTRIES AND I THINK PUTIN UNDERSTANDS THAT IF HE SENDS 12 NATO TERRITORY, HE'S GOING TO BE AT WAR WITH THE ENTIRE NATO ALLIANCE, I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO DO THAT.

>> DID PUTIN SURPRISE YOU THIS WEEK BY THIS MANEUVER?

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED ANYMORE BY ANYTHING THAT HE DOES, I KNEW THIS WAS A STRONG POSSIBILITY.

HE HAS A FANTASY THAT HE IS DESTINED TO RECONSTITUTE, TO REBUILD THE SOVIET UNION, TO DESTROY THIS YOUNG DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE.

HE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS, AND ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IN A LIFETIME OF WORKING ON THESE ISSUES IS WHEN DICTATORS SAY SOMETHING, THEY USUALLY MEAN IT EVEN IF IT SOUNDS CRAZY.

>> IS THE UNITED STATES DOING WHAT IT SHOULD BE DOING NOW, ARE THE SANCTIONS ENOUGH IN YOUR VIEW?

>> I THINK JOE BIDEN HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB PREPARING FOR THIS .

HE BUILT AN INTERNATIONAL COALITION THAT WAS READY TO PUNISH PUTIN BEFORE HE EVEN COMMITTED THIS CRIME.

WE ARE MUCH BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE IN 2014 WHEN PUTIN FIRST INVADED UKRAINE AND THE SANCTIONS HE HAS ANNOUNCED ARE INDEED EXTREMELY CRIPPLING.

THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE AND I'M PUSHING THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO MORE.

WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES TO CUT RUSSIA OFF FROM THE SWIFT SYSTEM, THAT IS THE BANK TO BANK TRANSFER SYSTEM.

IF YOU'RE NOT IN THAT, YOU'RE NOT IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US START SEIZING YACHTS AND PLANES AND LUXURY APARTMENTS BELONGING TO RUSSIANS AROUND THE WORLD.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT AND STILL ONLY THE SECOND DAY OF OUR RESPONSE TO THIS INVASION, BUT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE VERY SERIOUS AND SHOW REAL STAYING POWER OVER THE COMING WEEKS, MONTHS, AND POSSIBLY EVEN YEARS.

>> WHAT ARE THE FEARS THAT THIS COULD BECOME A WORLD WAR?

>> I BELIEVE DETERRENCE WORKS, MICHAEL, RUSSIA AND ALL THE YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP, THEY HAVE NEVER ATTACKED THE UNITED STATES OR ANY NATO COUNTRY, THEY RESPECT OUR POWER, THEY DO SPEC RESPECT DETERRENCE.

THAT IS WHY THEY WANTED TO BE MEMBERS OF NATO BECAUSE THAT COMES WITH PROTECTION.

SO I'M CONFIDENT AS LONG AS WE MAINTAIN OUR STRONG DEFENSES INCLUDING THE MILITARY SPENDING THAT IS A BURDEN TO US THAT KEEPS US SAFE, AS LONG AS WE STAY UNITED WITH OUR NATO ALLIES AND CONTINUE TO REINFORCE THEM THAT WE CAN DETER PUTIN FROM DOING SOMETHING THAT STUPID.

AND IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE HE PAYS A PRICE FOR WHAT HE'S DOING TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.>> CONGRESSMAN, TOM MALINOWSKI , THANK YOU FOR YOUR POINT OF VIEW.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SELECTED BROWN JACKSON AS HIS NOMINEE TO THE SUPREME COURT, SHE WOULD MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SIT ON THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE NATION.

THAT WOULD FULFILL A CAMPAIGN PROMISE BIDEN MADE 2 YEARS AGO.

THE 51-YEAR-OLD CURRENTLY SITS ON THE FEDERAL COURT OF APPEALS AND IS A FORMER DISTRICT COURT JUDGE WITH AN EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL DEFENSE BACKGROUND.

JACKSON WOULD BE THE FIRST FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER TO SERVE ON THE SUPREME COURT.

JACKSON ONCE A CLERK FOR JUSTICE, STEPHEN BREYER EMMA THE MAN SHE WILL REPLACE WHEN SHE RETIRES THIS YEAR.

IF CONFIRMED, SHE WILL FILL THE SEAT BUT NEVER HIS SHOES.

AS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO DECLINE NATIONWIDE, FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO EASE MASK GUIDELINES.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE CDC WILL VOICE FROM RECOMMENDING ANYBODY IN AN AREA OF SUBSTANTIAL TRANSMISSION TO WEAR A MASK AND ALSO CONSIDER OTHER METRICS LIKE HOSPITALIZATION AND HOSPITAL CAPACITY.

MORE AMERICANS CAN TAKE THE MASKS OFF INDOORS.

THE CDC DIRECTOR HAS SAID THEY WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE A BREAK FROM MASK WEARING.

TODAY THE STATE SAW LITTLE MORE THAN 1000 CASES THERE ARE STILL A PERCENTAGE OF NEW JERSEYANS THAT REMAIN UNVACCINATED AND/OR UNPOSTED.

INCLUDING THOSE IN THE AFRICAN- AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY ONE WOMAN IS ON A MISSION TO USE FAITH, NOT FEAR, TO ENCOURAGE MORE MEMBERS OF BLACK CHURCHES TO GET VACCINATED AND ADDRESS OTHER HEALTH DISPARITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

ALYSSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> I WOKE UP ONE MORNING OVER 2 YEARS AGO, AND I SAW THEM PUTTING BLACK BAGS WITH BLACK BODIES IN THE BACK OF BLACK REFRIGERATOR TRUCKS.

AND I SAID, NOT ON GOD'S WATCH.

>> Reporter: DEBORAH MADE IT HER MISSION TO FIGHT COVID-19 ESPECIALLY IN HER OWN AFRICAN- AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

HIT HARD BY THE VIRUS, AND FOUNDED HEALTHY LIFE, SINCE 2020, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN TEAMING UP WITH CHURCHES TO GET BLACK RESIDENTS TESTED AND VACCINATED.

>> THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CENTER OF INFORMATION AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE LEADING EDGE OF ADDRESSING ISSUES IMPACTING PERSONS OF COLOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN THIS RIGHT HERE HIT, IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF OUR HISTORICAL BACKGROUND THAT WE WOULD BE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS.

THE ONLY THING WAS, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO REALLY EXECUTE AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO FORM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAME TOGETHER WITH US SO THAT WE COULD BE THE FORCE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE NEEDED TO BE.

AND WE WANTED TO SEE THEM COME BACK TO CHURCH.>> NEWARK WAS SELECTED , THE PROGRAM NOW INCLUDES 120 CHURCHES ACROSS 13 STATES AS WELL AS THE NATION'S CAPITAL.

THE NEWARK MAYOR RECOGNIZING THE PROGRAM FOR ITS ROLE IN ASSISTING IN THE SUCCESS OF INCREASING VACCINATION RATES IN THE CITY, WORKING IN 10 CHURCHES, ORGANIZING OVER 300 EVENTS AND DELIVERING TESTING OR VACCINATIONS TO NEARLY 50,000 RESIDENTS.

>> IT WAS NECESSARY FOR US TO PUT MEASURES IN PLACE TO SAVE FOLKS LIVES, DESPITE WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING THEY WANTED TO DO OR DIDN'T WANT TO DO, WE HAD TO DO IT ANYWAY BECAUSE OUR LIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLITICS AND OTHER THINGS, THAT USUALLY GET IN THE WAY OF OUR COLLECTIVE LIVES.

>> NEARLY 51% OF AFRICAN- AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN NEW JERSEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND 60% HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

BUT STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE NUMBERS COULD BE HIGHER SINCE THE RACE IS LISTED AS UNKNOWN.

>> IT WAS THROUGH CHOOSE HEALTHY LIFE THAT WE WERE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONGREGATE IN AN AMAZING WAY.

IT WAS BEYOND SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP, BUT IT WAS THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WAS TESTED AND THAT THEY WERE VACCINATED.

>> WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE NATIONAL MODEL THAT WILL ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES ACROSS THE NATION.

COVID-19 IS BECOMING ENDEMIC NOW.

BUT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER CRISIS AND THE CHURCHES ARE THE FRONT LINE OF DEFENSE IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> AN EFFORT THE CLERGY SAYS WILL CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS NEEDED.

>>> THIS MORNING HEALTH COMMISSIONER HOSTED A WEBINAR TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE REVISIONS TO THE COVID-19 HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MASKING AND QUARANTINING FOR K- 12 SCHOOLS.

MORE THAN 1000 SCHOOL LEADERS AND OFFICIALS PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT WHERE OFFICIALS FROM LOCAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS GOT MORE GUIDANCE ON THE NEW REVISIONS.

OUR EDUCATION WRITER LISTENED TO THE MEETING AND JOINS ME KNOW.

JOHN, MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THIS WEBINAR, CAN YOU GIVE US ANY INSIGHT INTO WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THAT MEETING?

>> IT WAS VERY INTERESTING, AS YOU SAID, IT WAS A BIG CROWD, IT WAS MAXED OUT, 1000 PEOPLE.

IT LOOKED LIKE MOSTLY SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND SCHOOL NURSES AND SUPERVISORS.

AND THIS WAS THE FIRST CHANCE THEY REALLY HAD TO TALK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHOWS ON THIS, BUT ALL THIS TIME.

SO THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GUIDANCE AND VERY SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, WHAT DO YOU DO IN TERMS OF BOOSTERS AND WHAT DO YOU DO WITH CONTACT TRACING?

THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND A FAIR AMOUNT OF ANSWERS TO IT BUT I'M SURE IT WAS ONLY AN HOUR LONG AND I'M SURE THERE STILL SOME QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED AND ANSWERED.>> WHAT KIND OF REACTION WAS RECEIVED FROM THE GUIDANCE?

WAS THERE ANY BACK-AND-FORTH?

WHAT WAS THE VIBE IN THE CHAT ROOM?

>> IT'S INTERESTING, THE QUESTIONS AS I SAID WERE FAIRLY TECHNICAL AND PRECISE, BUT IN THE CHAT ROOM YOU STARTED TO SEE, I WOULDN'T CALL IT PENSIONS, BUT FRUSTRATIONS AMONG SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON THIS DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT IS GUIDANCE AND WHAT IS MANDATED.

AND REALLY ALL OF THIS IS GUIDANCE AT THIS POINT, THE STATE IS TAKING AWAY THE MANDATE ON MASKING AND REALLY JUST GIVING RECOMMENDATIONS.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME WHO WANTED THESE TO BE STRONGER, AND OTHERS WHO ARE WELCOMING HAVING THAT FLEXIBILITY.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR A LOT OF DISTRICTS.

>> WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE BACK AND FORTH, WHAT WAS THE TOPIC OF SOME OF THOSE HEATED CONVERSATIONS?

>> THERE WERE QUESTIONS, WHAT IF THERE'S A MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILD AND WHAT DO THEY DO IN TERMS OF SCHOOL THAT MOST KIDS MAY NOT BE WEARING MASKS?

HOW DO YOU TREAT THAT KIND OF SITUATION?

AND ALL THAT, IT WAS REALLY LEFT TO LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE AND HEALTH OFFICIALS.

ANOTHER QUESTION, SEVERAL QUESTIONS AROUND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR TEACHERS.

AND IN TERMS OF CAN THEY REQUIRE MASKS BE WORN IN THEIR CLASSROOMS?

AGAIN, TO LOCAL DISTRICTS TO MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS AND IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THIS GUIDANCE IS NOT ABOUT TEACHERS, THIS IS ABOUT STUDENTS.

>> JOHN MOONEY, TIME WILL TELL, WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE MASKS AND ALL THESE PROTOCOLS SO HOPING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT BUT AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ALWAYS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

>>> THOUSANDS OF OPIOID -RELATED LAWSUITS TOTALING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WAS SETTLED TODAY INVOLVING JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER JOINS US WITH THE DETAILS AND ALL THE OTHER TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> JOHNSON & JOHNSON IN THREE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST DRUG DISTRIBUTORS HAVE AGREED TO FINALIZE A SETTLEMENT OVER THOUSANDS OF OPIOID LAWSUITS.

THE $26 BILLION SETTLEMENT RESOLVES LAWSUITS FROM STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHICH CLAIM THE COMPANIES PLAYED A ROLE IN FUELING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

J&J WHICH NO LONGER SELLS PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS WILL PAY $5 BILLION, THE REST WILL BE PAID BY THE DISTRIBUTORS.

CARDINAL HEALTH, THE MONEY FROM THE SETTLEMENT WILL GO TO COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH THE EPIDEMIC.

MEANTIME, REPORTS SAY A BANKRUPTCY JUDGE WILL ALLOW A JOHNSON & JOHNSON SUBSIDIARY TO REMAIN IN BANKRUPTCY, WHICH PREVENTS PLAINTIFFS FROM PURSUING 38,000 LAWSUITS AGAINST THE COMPANY, LAWSUITS THAT ALLEGE J&J'S BABY POWDER PRODUCTS CAUSE CANCER.

THE COMPANY PLACED THE UNIT INTO BANKRUPTCY TO SETTLE THOSE CLAIMS RATHER THAN LITIGATING THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

PLAINTIFFS ARGUE THAT THIS IS AN ABUSE OF THE BANKRUPTCY SYSTEM.

J&J HAS MAINTAINED ITS PRODUCTS ARE NOT LINKED TO CANCER.

THERE HAS BEEN AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S OPTION OF OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS OFF THE COAST OF NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK.

THE AUCTION DREW A RECORD $4.37 BILLION IN BIDS FROM DEVELOPERS.

THE ROUGHLY 480,000 ACRES OFF THE COAST DIVIDED UP INTO SIX LEASE AREAS AWARDED TO ATLANTIC SHORES OFFSHORE WIND BITE, ATTENTIVE ENERGY, WIND OFFSHORE, MID-ATLANTIC OFFSHORE WIND, AND OW OCEAN WINDS EAST, OUR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT WRITER TOM JOHNSON FOLLOWED THE AUCTION FOR US.

>> CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN IT, IT'S SORT OF AN AFFIRMATION THAT THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES TO AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTE OFFSHORE WIND ARE ALIGNING THEMSELVES WELL WITHIN THE MARKETPLACE.

>> YOU CAN READ MORE AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

AN UPBEAT REPORT ON NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY FROM CHOOSE NEW JERSEY, THE NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT, IT ASSISTED 32 COMPANIES IN RELOCATING OR EXPANDING IN NEW JERSEY LAST YEAR.

NOW, HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET CLOSED OUT THIS TRADING WEEK.

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

>>> MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN TO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER, SHE LOOKS AT HOW ROBOTICS POWERS NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY, TO HOW THE YOUNGEST ARE INNOVATING THROUGH ROBOTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CHECK IT OUT AT NJ PBS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

>>> SCATTERED ACROSS NEW JERSEY ARE HUNDREDS OF FORMER INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SITES KNOWN AS BROWNFIELDS, MANY ARE CONTAMINATED WITH SOME LEVEL OF POLLUTION.

WITH SOME WORK, THE SITES CAN BE TRANSFORMED TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT AND A NEW STATE PROGRAM LAUNCHED LAST MONTH WILL PROVIDE NEW GRANTS AND LOANS FOR THEM TO BE CLEANED UP AND GIVEN A SECOND LIFE.

WE VISITED ONE OF THE SITES AND LEARNED WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD.

>> STEEL SPUN THE WIRE CABLES THAT SUSPEND THE GOLDEN GATE IN BROOKLYN, BUT OVER TIME, THE FACTORIES FAILED AND FINALLY CLOSED.

NOW, THEY SIT RESTING IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE ICONIC CHAMBERSBURG SECTION, IT'S A SO- CALLED BROWNFIELD SITE, DERELICT, INDUSTRIAL, ENVIRONMENTALLY CHALLENGED, BUT THEIR FORTUNES COULD SOON CHANGE.

>> THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A REAL ESTATE BUBBLE GOING ON, NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY OR TRANSIT, BUT REGIONALLY FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY AND OTHER TYPES OF PROPERTIES.

>> CITY BROWNFIELDS COORDINATOR HOPES TO BREED NEW LIFE, INTO THE ACT OF SOLICITING PROPOSALS FOR ROLLING BLOCK TWO.

>> DEVELOPERS WHO ARE WELL- CAPITALIZED, WHO CAN ACTUALLY DO A VERY INTERESTING SEXY PROJECT AT THIS LOCATION.

>> I THINK NOW BROWNFIELDS ARE GETTING A SECOND LOOK WHEN YOU LOOK AT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DENSELY POPULATED AND BUILT OUT.>> TRENTON OFFICIALS TOOK US ON A TOUR, IT IS LITTERED WITH URBAN DEBRIS, TREES GROW THROUGH THE BUILDINGS BUT IT'S ONE OF THE FEW MAJOR MULTI-ACRE SITES LEFT FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN TRENTON AND NEW JERSEY IS OFFERING LOANS AND GRANTS THROUGH A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PROGRAM TO HELP ATTRACT BROWNFIELDS INVESTORS.

STILL RENOVATING WON'T COME CHEAP.>> IT'LL BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF COMMITMENT BUT THE OPPORTUNITY IS RIPE BECAUSE THERE IS STATE GRANT FUNDING AND TAX INCENTIVES SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEVELOPER TO COME AND REIMAGINE THIS ENTIRE BLOCK.>> PLUS, THIS GOES BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS.

>> YOU WANT TO KEEP AS MUCH OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SPACE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THIS AREA OVER HERE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE BUILDINGS AND THIS RED BRICK, IS NOTHING SHORT OF PHENOMENAL.

>> THE SITE OFFERS DEVELOPERS MORE THAN 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING SPACE AND SOME SEVEN ACRES, BUT OTHER BROWNFIELD SITES CAN BE AS SMALL AS AN OLD GAS STATION OR ABANDONED DRYCLEANERS.

TRENTON OWNS THE OLD DRYCLEANERS ON PROSPECT STREET, IT IS CONTAMINATED WITH TOXIC CHEMICALS, CLEANUP COULD COST A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS.

THIS IS ONE OF HUNDREDS ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

>> THEY ARE IN OUR RURAL AREAS, SUBURBAN AREAS, THOSE CLOSED GAS STATIONS ARE ALL OVER THE STATE.

>> THEY LAUNCHED A NEW INVENTORY TOOL SO DEVELOPERS CAN CLICK THROUGH THE SITES LITERALLY LITTERING THE LANDSCAPES IN IMPOVERISHED NEW JERSEY CITIES.

>> WHEN THAT INDUSTRY LEFT ABANDONED FACTORIES AND CLOSED MILLS AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES REMAINED, AND THOSE PROPERTIES WERE CONTAMINATED OR PERCEIVED TO BE CONTAMINATED.

>> APPLICATIONS FOR LOANS AND GRANTS OF UP TO $350,000 WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH APRIL 20 FROM JUST THE 12 CITIES.

AFTER THAT, ANY DEVELOPER WITH MEANS AND A DREAM CAN APPLY.

THE DEADLINE FOR THE RFP IS APRIL 4.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, DON'T FORGET TO CATCH UP ON ALL THE OTHER UPDATES OF THE WEEK WITH DAVID CRUZ, DAVID GOES ONE- ON-ONE WITH JERSEY CITY MAYOR TO TALK ELECTING THE REDISTRICTING MAPS.

ALSO TUNE INTO CHAT BOX WITH DAVID WHERE HE LOOKS AT THE ISSUE OF TEACHER BURNOUT AS THE NEW MASK QUARANTINE GUIDELINES ARE REVEALED.

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

I'M RAVEN SANTANA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

STAY SAFE, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.>> M JM INSURANCE GROUP, AND BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.