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

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

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

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

AFTER A MONTH LONG PANDEMIC DRIVEN DELAY, THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 CENSUS ARE FINALLY IN.

A SNAPSHOT OF THE COUNTRY, TAKEN ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS.

THIS ONE, SHOWING A NATION IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

THAT BROUGHT WITH IT DELAYS AND CHALLENGES THAT HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS OVER WHETHER THE HEALTH CRISIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AN UNDERCOUNT.

IT'S CRITICAL DATA, USED IT TO HELP STATES COMPETE FOR FEDERAL DOLLARS, AND DETERMINE THE BOUNDARIES OF CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

NEW JERSEY'S POPULATION OF NEARLY 9.3 MILLION PEOPLE MEANS THE STATE WON'T LOSE ANY CONGRESSIONAL SEATS THIS YEAR.

NOW, THAT HAPPENED ROUGHLY 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE COUNTS DECLINED.

THIS LATEST SURVEY ALSO SHOWS POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE LAST DECADE WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY IN URBAN AREAS.

CITIES, GROWING FASTER THAN THE NATION, AS A WHOLE.

LEADERS OF THE CITIES ACROSS NEW JERSEY WERE WAITING ON EDGE TODAY.

SOME, LOOKING TO CLAIM THE COVETED TOP SPOT AS THE LARGEST IN THE STATE.

THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU OFFICIALS TODAY SAY THEY STAND BY THE RESULTS.

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> YOU MAY NOT HAVE CANCELED YOUR PLANS TO WATCH THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 CENSUS, BUT THE DISTRICT AND DATA RELEASED BY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU TODAY WILL IMPACT EVERYONE IN THE STATE, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN URBAN AREAS.

>> GROWTH HAS BEEN IN URBAN AREAS, BUT IN CITIES.

>> NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS'S COLLEEN O'DAY SAYS THERE WAS A PER REAL RACE TO SEE WHICH CITY WOULD BE NUMBER ONE.

>> I'M SORRY JERSEY CITY, BUT MORE-- SO UP TO 311,000 PEOPLE.

NOW, YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE WITH ABOVE WITH 400,000, AND IT DECLINED OVER THE DECADES, BUT IT'S ON THE RISE.

JERSEY CITY AS WELL.

JERSEY CITY IS CLOSE TO 300,000 NOW, AND PATTERSON HIT A MILESTONE THAT IT WANTED TO WITH ITS 159,000.

>> HITTING THE 150,000 PERSON MARK WAS CRITICAL FOR THE CITY, SAYS THE MAYOR.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT.

WE NEED TO FIX OUR ROADS.

BUT ALSO, WE NEED TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS.

>> THE CENSUS DOES NOT COUNT BODIES BUT THAT'S HOW A PERSON IDENTIFIES THE RACE.

AND THE RESULT INCREASES THE HISPANIC POPULATION BY 29%, AND THE ASIAN POPULATION BY 31%.

>> AND HISPANICS MAKE UP ABOUT 21 OR 22% OF THE POPULATION.

ASIANS, ABOUT 10%.

THE BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION IS ABOUT 12% THE NON- HISPANIC POPULATION IS ABOUT DOWN 52%.

>> LAKEWOOD AND OCEAN COUNTY HAS A HUGE LIE NEXT POPULATION IS IN ADDITION TO ITS ORTHODOX COMMUNITY AND THAT TOWN, INCREASED BY A WHOPPING 46%.

>> THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY THE LARGEST INCREASE FOR ANY IS A PARTY IN THE STATE.

>> IMMIGRATION HAS, ONCE THE GROWTH LOCOMOTIVE FOR NEW JERSEY OVER THE PAST DECADE.

AND HAD WE NOT HAD ANY IMMIGRATION, NEW JERSEY MAY HAVE LOST POPULATION.

>> BUT EVEN WITH THE INCREASES, MAKING NEW JERSEY'S SAYS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S FAILED ATTEMPT TO ADD A CITIZENSHIP QUESTION ONTO THE CENSUS, IMPACTED THE OUTCOME.

>> THERE WAS ALL THIS CONFUSION MOTHER WHO WAS ACCOUNTED FOR.

SO, WITH THAT CONFUSION COMES THE LONG-TERM IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, ULTIMATELY WE UNFORTUNATELY SAW THAT.

>> WELL NO CENSUS IT PERFECT, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT TODAY'S RESULTS ARE HIGH CRITICALITY STANDARDS.

>> ABOUT 67% OF THE STATE REPORTED IN THE CENSUS, VERSUS 64% IN 2010.

AND WHILE CITIES WATCH TO SEE HOW MUCH FEDERAL FUNDING THEY WILL GET, POLITICAL INSIDERS WANT TO SEE HOW THE STATES POLITICAL MAPS WILL BE DRAWN.

WITH SO MUCH GROWTH IN CITIES, JIM HUGHES SAYS >> THE TRENDS ARE DEFINITELY TRENDING TOWARD IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOCRATS, WHICH ARE OVERWHELMINGLY DOMINANT IN OUR STATES URBAN AREAS, THE AREAS CLOSE TO NEW YORK CITY AND PHILADELPHIA.

>> MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, LIKE CONGRESSMAN COULD BE LOOKING TO SHOVE AREAS.

INTO OTHER DISTRICTS.

MORE CONCENTRATED ON THE CITIES.

AT THEIR CORE.

AND THEY COULD BE LOSING SOME OF THOSE OUTLYING SUBURBAN AREAS TO OTHER NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS.

>> IS THAT GOOD FOR THE CITIES.

>> I THINK IT IS GOOD FOR THE CITIES THAT THEY PICK UP VOTING TRENDS.

THERE'S NO QUESTION.

IF PATTERSON IS MORE POWERFUL IN THE DISTRICT, RELATIVE TO OTHER TOWNS, THEN IT'S GOING TO COMMAND MORE OF THE ATTENTION OF THESE REPRESENTATIVES.

>> THE DATA WAS DELAYED BY FOUR MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC CAUSING A MAJOR SHIFT IN HOW NEW JERSEY HANDLES REDRAWING THE MAPS GIVEN THAT OUR ELECTIONS HAPPEN ON THE ON YOURS.

WE HAD TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION ACTUALLY SAY WE HAVE OUR LEGISLATORS WERE IN THE OLD DISTRICTS THIS YEAR.

>> THAT MEANS A CONGRESSIONAL MAP WILL BE REDRAWN FIRST BY THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE IN PREPARATION FOR THE 2022 MIDTERMS.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AS JOANNA MENTIONED, THE LATEST CENSUS DATA IS ALSO SHOWING THE INCREASED DIVERSITY IN OUR STATE POPULATION.

NEXT TO A REWORKED SURVEY THAT INCLUDED COMPLEX RACIAL QUESTIONS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, ENABLING RESIDENTS TO IDENTIFY MORE CLOSELY.

OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE WRITER REPORT AND DATA WILL GO A LONG WAY FOR COMMUNITIES COMPETING FOR RESOURCES.

>> WHAT DO THEY ACTUALLY BEAR OUT?

>> WE DID SEE THE MORE DIVERSITY IN THE HISPANIC POPULATION 21 TO 22%, THE 17 OR 18%.

IN NEW JERSEY, THAT'S A NICE BUMP THERE IN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY TO 10%.

AND SO, THE BLACK COMMUNITY I GUESS IT STAYED PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

THAT WE WERE EXPECTING MORE DIVERSITY IN THE CENSUS.

THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, AND THEN WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THE NATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE POPULATION HAS BEEN DECLINING A BIT.

IN THIS YOUNGER MILLENNIAL POPULATION IS MORE DIVERSE.

WITH A SINGLE RACE AND MULTIETHNIC.

THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING.

>> OF COURSE THIS IS A 10 YEAR DATASET.

WE HAVE TO WAIT THESE LONG TIMES BETWEEN.

IS THIS ALL BECAUSE OF THE REWORKED SURVEY BECAUSE NOW FOLKS HAVE THE OPTION >> I THINK IT'S BEEN HAPPENING ESTIMATES THAT THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DISTRIBUTED IN THE LAST DECADES YOU KNOW, SINCE 2010 CENSUS HAS SHOWN THIS.

THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, HAS SHOWN THAT THE COUNTRY IS BECOMING MORE DIVERSE.

I THINK WERE GOING TO BE SEEING IS MORE DETAIL ON THAT.

THIS 2020 CENSUS ALLOWED PEOPLE TO CHOOSE ONE RACE AND THEN SAY THAT GERMAN ANCESTRY, THERE WAS WHAT YOU CAN CHOOSE A COUNTRY ORIGINS BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THAT MORE TYPE OF DETAIL.

BUT, THE COUNTRY IS JUST MORE DIVERSE, AND PEOPLE ARE ANSWERING THIS QUESTION THAT WAY BECAUSE OF ANCESTRY.

>> WHAT ARE WE THINKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING AND WE ARE AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> YEAH, THIS CREATES THE MAPS, RIGHT.

THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE, YOU KNOW.

RACIAL MAKEUP AVAILABLE TO THEM.

FROM PATTERSON I SPOKE TO THE MAYOR, HE SAID IN THE PAST DECADE AS THEY WERE SEEING MORE LATINOS REGISTER.

THE SCHOOL.

THEY WERE ABLE TO GETTING CLOSE TO 160,000 POPULATION.

GIVEN TO THEM TO ADJUST TO THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATIONS THAT HAPPENED THIS IS HELPFUL TO A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT SAW THIS CHANGE IN THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS.

>> AND WHAT IS IT GOING TO MEET FOR THOSE VOTING BLOCKS.

GIVEN THE NUMBERS THAT YOU DECIDED.

>> YOU ARE, SO WE WILL SEE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT.

BUT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN PATTERSON, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PATTERSON WHEN IT COMES TO YOU KNOW, FUNDS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING, AND YOU KNOW, FOR BASIC.

LIKE POLICE, FIRE, ALL OF THAT.

THIS IS GOING TO COME INTO PLAY, BECAUSE THEY CAN REQUEST MOMENT, APPLY FOR MORE GRANTS OUT THERE, BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION GROWTH.

>> ARRIVED, GREAT REPORTING.

WE WILL BE CHECKING BACK IN WITH YOU AFTER YOU HAVE EVEN MORE TIME TO DIGEST SOME OF THIS INFORMATION.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE CORONAVIRUS IS ONCE AGAIN ENVELOPING THE NATION WITH MORE THAN 98% OF U.S.

RESIDENTS NOW LIVING IN AN AREA CONSIDERED TO BE A HIGH OR SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

INCLUDING ALL 21 COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT IS A SHARP SPIKE FROM 19% OF RESIDENTS NATIONALLY, JUST A MONTH AGO.

WITH THE COUNTRIES LEADING INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS TODAY DECLARING A WORLDWIDE DELTA VARIANCE OUTBREAK.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, CITING DATA THAT SHOWS OUTBREAKS ARE OCCURRING IN COMMUNITIES WHERE AT LEAST 70% OF THE POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED.

ACROSS NEW JERSEY TODAY, ANOTHER NEARLY 1700 NEW CASES WERE CONFIRMED AND ATE MORE DEATHS.

WITH THE DELTA VARIANT ACCOUNTING FOR 90% OF ALL POSITIVE TEST, RECENTLY SAMPLED.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE ALSO DOUBLED IN THE LAST MONTH.

PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS SAY VACCINES ARE STILL THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST ILLNESS.

NEARLY 5.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE NOW FULLY IMMUNIZED.

AS FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS APPEAR POISED TO RECOMMEND COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT FOR THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

AND THAT DECISION IS EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW BY THE FDA.

BUT DR. FAUCI SAYS IT'S LIKELY THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE , EVERYONE WILL NEED A BOOSTER VACCINE.

MEANWHILE, THE CDC IS NOW DOUBLING DOWN ON HIS RECOMMENDATION THAT PREGNANT PEOPLE GET VACCINATED FOR COVID- 19.

BASED ON THE SAFETY DATA, FINDING NO INCREASED RISK OF MISCARRIAGE, AND EFFECTIVENESS THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY.

THE PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION WAS VAGUE, AT REST.

AND NOW COMES IN LINE WITH GUIDANCE FROM OTHER MAJOR MEDICAL GROUPS.

THE CDC IS URGING THOSE WHO ARE PREGNANT OR TRYING TO CONCEIVE OR THEIR SHOTS POINTING TO THE INCREASE RISK BECOMING INFECTED WITH COVID-19 DURING PREGNANCY.

LOW VACCINE NUMBERS AMONG THE POPULATION.

THERE STILL PLENTY OF QUESTIONS.

RETURN TO DR. EDWARD WOLF WHO IS A SPECIALIST WITH RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

WHAT BODY OF DATA IS THE CDC NOW LOOKING AT, CAUSING THEM TO MAKE THIS A STRONG RECOMMENDATION FOR THE VACCINATION.

>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT:ME A STRONG RECOMMENDATION.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT 70% OF PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY HAD BEEN VACCINATED BUT ONLY 23% RECOMMENDATION FOR TO HAVE A REALLY VULNERABLE POPULATION.

SO THE ONE HAND, YOU HAVE THE DISEASE THAT IS DEVASTATING.

BUT, EVIDENCE IS COMING IN MUCH FASTER THAN I THINK PEOPLE REALIZE.

WHAT IS THE PROGRAM.

SO ALL THIS WILL MAKE IT VACCINATED POINT THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE CDC KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING AND HOW IT WAS GOING.

AND THIS IS NOW 139,000 PREGNANT WOMEN WHO REPORTED THE RESULTS .30 900 OF THEM ARE BEING FOLLOWED LONGITUDINALLY, AND IT IS LIKE THE RESULTS LOOK TO BE THE SAME AS IN PATIENTS WHO ARE NONPREGNANT FOR THE RATE OF COMPLICATIONS IS THE SAME AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS NOT HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE.

MEANING RATE OF MISCARRIAGE IN GENERAL IS 11 TO 16% AND PREGNANCIES.

AND RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE GETTING A DATE OF 13% WHICH FALLS RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE KIND OF DATA WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

>> ARE THESE WOMEN AND PEOPLE WHO ARE PREGNANT GETTING WERE SEVERELY ILL?

>> MOST OF THE TIME, MOST MU AND HAVE MILD DISEASE, JUST LIKE THE NONPREGNANT, BUT IF THEY GET TO THE SEVERE CATEGORY, COMPARED TO THE SAME WOMAN, THE SAME AGE, THERE ARE TWO TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE, 2 1/2 MORE TIMES LIKELY TO NEED A VENTILATOR.

THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE IN ICU.

SO WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING THAT WHERE THERE ARE FEWER VACCINATED PATIENTS RIGHT NOW.

>> WHEN YOUR NEW MOTHER, YOU'RE TOLD TO BE HIGHLY CONSCIOUS OF EVERYTHING YOU'RE PUTTING INTO YOUR BODY.

IF YOU HAVE A COLD, YOU HAVE TO TOUGH IT OUT.

CANNOT TAKE COLD MEDICINE.

BUT, YOU'RE TOLD THE VACCINE IS SAFE.

HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE RECONCILE THAT INFORMATION?

>> WELL, ONE THING IS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ORDER SOMEBODY TO DO IT.

NOBODY IS GOING TO BE FORCED TO DO IT.

WE TRY TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS I USE AS AN EXAMPLE, VERY HONESTLY IN OUR PARTNER, AND MY DOCTORS THERE'S 10 OF US IN ALL 10 OF US GOT THE VACCINE THE FIRST DAY WE COULD, INCLUDING MY PARTNER WHO IS PREGNANT, AND IS DELIVERED HER FOURTH CHILD.

THE FIRST DAY SHE COULD POSSIBLY GET THE VACCINE, SHE GOT IN MIND TO DO IT.

SO WHILE WE RECOGNIZE WE CANNOT SAY HERE IS 20 YEARS OF DATA, WHEN YOU REALLY DELVE INTO HOW THESE VACCINES WORK, THEY DON'T GET INCORPORATED INTO THE NUCLEUS OF THE CELL, THEY CANNOT CHANGE YOUR DNA, THEY DON'T DECREASE FERTILITY, AND ONE OF THE OTHER BENEFITS THAT WE SEEM TO SEE AND WE JUST NOT HAVE GONE FAR WANT TO PROVE IT, ONCE YOU MAKE THOSE ANTIBODIES, THEY CROSS THE PLACENTA AND THOSE ANTIBODIES ARE NO BABIES OR WHAT.

SO YOU'RE ALSO PROTECTING THE BABY POTENTIALLY TWO WAYS.

ONE IS YOUR HOPEFULLY NOT GETTING THE 27 WEEK PREMATURE BIRTH, BUT THEN WHEN THE BABY IS BORN, THE BABY HAS ANYBODY'S IN THE BLOOD AND IT MAY ALSO HELP PROTECT THE NEWBORN.

>> IF YOU HAVE ONE FINAL MESSAGE FOR ANYONE WHO IS ON THE FENCE, OR WHO SEES THIS DATA, OR IS MAYBE EVEN WAITING FOR SOME GUIDANCE LIKE THIS TO COME OUT, WHAT WITH THAT MESSAGE BE?

>> I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE JOINT STATEMENT THAT CAME OUT YESTERDAY, EVERYBODY IS URGING YOU TO DO IT.

SO, IT WAS NOT JUST ONE GROUP.

THIS IS NOT JUST THE CDC.

A SOCIETY OF MATERNAL MEDICINE.

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS AND FAMILY PHYSICIANS.

IF YOU ASK THE DOCTORS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ABSOLUTELY GETTING THE VACCINE.

WE REALLY BELIEVE IN IT.

WE UNDERSTAND THE HAZARDS, BUT THAT IS WHAT WE DO ALL DAY LONG.

MY JOB IS TO TRY AND PROTECT MOMS AND BABIES, AND WE ARE TRYING TO DO THAT WITH THIS VACCINE.

>> DR. EDWARD WOLF, GOOD TO TALK TO.

THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHT.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> WHILE THE RISE OF THE DELTA VARIANT OF CASTING UNCERTAINTY OVER SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS, WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WILL OPERATE IN THE COMING MONTH.

SAFETY CONCERNS OF COURSE, TOP OF MIND, AND A WORSENING STAFFING SHORTAGE AMONG PROVIDERS.

CREATING LONG WAIT LISTS, REDUCED HOURS, AND MAKE IT POSITIONS IN DAYCARES.

CAUSING ALREADY HESITANT PARENTS TO DELAY RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE.

WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR THE STATES RECOVERY?

LEAH MISHKIN HAS THE STORY IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT.

>> I WOULD DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF NEW JERSEY AS BEING IN CRISIS MODE.

>> Reporter: EPICENTER OF THE CRISIS, A STAFFING SHORTAGE.

MEGAN HAS SEEN IT FIRSTHAND.

SHE RUNS A CHILDCARE CENTER IN NORTH COUNTY, AND WHILE SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN HER CORE STAFF, IT IS FINDING ADDITIONAL HELP THAT SEEMS AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.

>> YOU CANNOT FIND STUFF TO WORK EARLY MORNING, AND LATER AFTERNOON HOURS.

I AM HEARING FROM ELECTORS, AND , RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM ME, YOU KNOW.

JUST WE CAN OPEN OUR CLASSROOMS BECAUSE WE JUST CANNOT FIND THEM.

>> SHE SAYS THE NIETZSCHE THE EXTRA HELP TO EXTEND THE DATE BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC HOURS.

THEY HAD TO CUT BACK BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE IN PODS FOR THE 11 HOUR DAY.

>> USUALLY, YOU'RE ABLE TO BRING GROUPS TOGETHER, AND HAVE TEACHERS, YOU KNOW.

THAT WORK EARLIER IN THE MORNING, AND THEN LEAVE EARLIER, BECAUSE THEN THEIR GROUP MAY COME TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER -- NUMBER START TO REDUCE.

>> SHE WORRIES BECAUSE IF SHE LOSES ONE OF HER STAFF MEMBERS, THERE IS NO TALENT POOL TO REPLACE THEM.

PEOPLE ARE NOT EVEN REPLYING TO ADD, SHE SAYS.

>> I THINK IT'S DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE COMPENSATION ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN PART OF OUR INDUSTRY FOR DECADES NOW.

AND, THAT COMPENSATION, LACK OF BENEFITS AND PROFESSIONAL PACKAGES HAVE LED ALL OF OUR WORKFORCE THAT WAS PART OF OUR WORKFORCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND ANY NEW WORKFORCE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES WHERE THE JOB IS LESS TAXING, HIGHER-PAYING, BETTER BENEFITS.

>> BENEFITS HAVE NOT BEEN PART OF THE CHILDCARE STAFFING.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT MOST CENTERS ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PROVIDE.

>> THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF JUMPING JACKS, A DAYCARE CENTER AND PREMISE.

>> ALL OF OUR EXPENSES ARE GOING UP, AND IN ORDER TO GIVE THE EMPLOYEES WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, WE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE TUITION FOR OUR FAMILIES, WHICH THEY CANNOT AFFORD EITHER, SO YOU'RE KIND OF IN A CATCH-22 SITUATION.

IT'S A STRUGGLE RIGHT HERE.

>> A NEW STUDY WHICH POSED 781 ADULTS IN NEW JERSEY FOUND ALMOST SEVEN AND 10 HAVE THEIR NEWBORNS TO THREE-YEAR-OLDS IN NONPARENTAL CARE.

PRETTY CLOSE TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

THE DIFFERENCE IS, NEARLY HALF OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE GOING TO RELATIVES FOR CHILDCARE SUPPORT.

>> SO AMONG THE PARENTS WHO ARE NOT CHILDCARE, MAYBE THE BIGGEST REASONS FOR NOT USING CHILDCARE IS EITHER CONCERNED ABOUT COVERT RELATED RISKS.

>> THEY SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD CHILDCARE.

ESSENTIALLY OF COURSE THE ECONOMY AND GETTING FAMILIES BACK TO WORK.

THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT CAME OUT OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

CLOSE TO RECEIVING HAVE $700 MILLION.

WE ARE RECEIVING THAT FOR THE STATE TO RELEASE WHAT PLANS THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE.

>> ENOUGH TO GET PPP GRANTS.

SOME GRANTS IN THE BEGINNING.

RIGHT NOW, WE KIND OF FLOATED ON OUR OWN.

JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, WE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME.

>> Reporter: FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM LEAH MISHKIN.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT WALL STREET'S COATINGS CLOSING TRADING NUMBERS.

>>> WHILE THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER ARE BACK WITH DANGEROUSLY HOT WEATHER BLANKETING THE STATE, TEMPERATURES ONCE AGAIN, REACHING WELL INTO THE 90s.

HUMIDITY, THOUGH, PUSHING THE HEAT INDEX TO TRIPLE DIGITS, AS HIGH AS 109.

ACCORDING TO METEOROLOGIST, MOST OF THE STATE IS UNDER AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

FORECASTERS SAY ON AVERAGE, HEAT IS THE DEADLIEST WEATHER HAZARD.

SO, STAYING COOL TODAY IS A MUST, OF COURSE.

BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR RELIEF AT THE SHORE, YOU NEED TO CHECK FOR SWIMMING ADVISERS BEFORE YOU GO.

THE STATE DEP HAS BEEN PERIODICALLY BANNING SWIMMING AND ISSUING ADVISORIES THAT VARIOUS BEACHES DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF FECAL BACTERIA.

THE LATEST CLOSURE WAS AT STOCKTON AVENUE IN LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, ADVISORIES WERE ISSUED, THEN LIFTED AT FOUR OTHER BEACHES IN MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES THIS WEEK.

MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CONTAMINATED WATER.

EVEN FLULIKE SYMPTOMS.

THE DEP SAYS HIGH LEVELS OF BACTERIA ARE MOST OFTEN CAUSED BY STORMWATER RUNOFF AFTER WE GET HEAVY RAIN, WITH MORE THUNDERSTORMS ASK ACTED TO HIT THE STATE TONIGHT.

AFTER A BOOST IN PET ADOPTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC, SEVERAL ANIMAL SHELTERS ACROSS THE STATE SAY THEY ARE NOW NEARING CAPACITY.

SEEING A SPIKE IN THOSE SAME FURRY FRIENDS, BEING RETURNED.

AN UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCE OF THE RETURN TO WORK TRAVEL, AND OUR HECTIC SCHEDULES BUT SO FAR THIS YEAR, DATA FROM THE ASPCA SHOWS NEARLY 17,000 PETS WERE RELOCATED NATIONWIDE., THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEW PET OWNERS STILL HAVE THEIR ANIMALS IN THEIR HOMES, BUT THE NUMBER OF FOSTER OPTIONS IS ALSO DWINDLING.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS.

>> Reporter: MEET LAYLA, SHE IS FOUR YEARS OLD, LOVES TO RUN AROUND, AND LIKES LOTS OF LOVE.

SHE'S ALSO HOPING TO FIND A NEW HOME ALONG WITH DOZENS OF OTHER ANIMALS HERE AT FRANK AND TOWNSHIPS IN SOMERSET.

>> WE HANDLE ANYWHERE FROM 700 TO 800 ANIMALS A YEAR.

SO, WE HAND DOWN TO SEX AND BURROW, AND MILLSTONE AND BOROUGH.

RIGHT NOW IS, WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 25 DOGS?

AND WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 94 CATS.

WE ALSO HAVE LOTS OF RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS.

IN TWO WORDS.

>> SR.

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER, SHELTER ORDINATOR SAYS THEY USUALLY SEE ABOUT 275 300 ANIMALS EVERY YEAR.

BUT, ONCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT WENT UP ABOUT 40%.

>> WHAT WE SAW IN THE BEGINNING WAS, LOTS OF PEOPLE COMING, LOTS OF PEOPLE WANTING ANIMALS FOR COMPANIONSHIP.

THEY HAVE THE TIME NOW, THEY WERE HOME.

JUST MAKE THEM GET OUT AND EXERCISE.

SO, WE HAD SEVERAL ADOPTIONS THROUGH THAT, WHICH IS GREAT.

>> BUT AS THE MONTHS WENT BY, AND RESTRICTION STARTED TO EASE, THEY BEGAN SEEING AN UPTICK IN OWNERS RETURNING THE SAME ANIMALS.

>> THEY ARE NOT HOME ENOUGH, BACK TO WORK, LIFESTYLES HAVE CHANGED, THEY MOVED, EITHER THEY LOST THEIR JOB.

YOU KNOW, HAVE TO MOVE TO AN APARTMENT THAT PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

>> THE SHELTER SAYS THEY STARTED NOTICING A LOT OF PEOPLE SURRENDERING ANIMALS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND SINCE THEN, THAT NUMBER HAS DOUBLED THE AMOUNT, PRE-PANDEMIC.

>> TO ME, IT IS HARD WORK.

I MEAN, I LOVE THESE GUYS.

LIKE THEY ARE MY OWN.

AND YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU SEND THEM OUT, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE BOWING INTO THE HOME FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

SO, IT REALLY IS HEARTBREAKING.

YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, LIFE CHANGES AND THINGS TO HAPPEN TO PEOPLE.

BUT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO.

IN THE BEGINNING WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED.

IT'S LIKE OH, LET'S GET A PUPPY, IT'LL BE GREAT.

WE ARE HOME AND WE CAN TRAIN THEM.

AND THEN NOW, EVERYBODY'S BACK TO WORK, MORE HOURS, DIFFERENT SCHEDULES.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE SHELTER INTERVIEWS POTENTIAL OWNERS ABOUT THEIR LIFESTYLES BEFORE FINALIZING ADOPTIONS, OFFICIALS SAY PETS COME WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, AND THEY WORRY SOME PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY MAKE SURE ADOPTING ONE WOULD BE A GOOD FIT.

>> DO SOME RESEARCH.

DO SOME RESEARCH IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY'S THAT COME ALONG WITH CARING FOR THE ANIMAL.

ASK YOUR FRIENDS, GO ONLINE, CALL THE SHELTER, JUST LOOK INTO IT JUST LIKE YOU AND ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD, MIGHT COME THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE SO GOOD FOR YOU.

THERE'S GOING TO BE TIMES THAT NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE FOR THAT ANIMAL.

IT'S GOING TO BE A COST ATTRIBUTED TO THAT.

IF IT'S CARE, IT'S FOOD, IF IT IS SHELTER.

>> DID NOT, THE SHELTER WILL CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THESE ANIMALS WITH THE GOAL OF EVENTUALLY FINDING THEM LOVING HOMES AGAIN.

>> I THINK THEY'RE STILL GOOD.

WE JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE MORE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, AND MOST OF IT IS JUST BEING SOCIAL.

MORE SOCIAL WITH PEOPLE.

SO WHAT WE DO BETWEEN OUR STAFF AND OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE TAKE THE DOGS OUT AS ALL SHELTER WORKERS DO.

TAKE THE DOGS OUT, START WORKING WITH THEM, GET THEM USED TO PEOPLE.

SO THAT THEY CAN BE ADOPTED.

INTO A FAMILY WHERE THERE WILL BE SOCIAL AND OKAY.

>> MUST IMPORTANT, CELTIC OFFICIALS SAY WHATEVER HOME THESE ANIMALS GO TONIGHT, THEY JUST ASKED THEIR OWNERS TO BE PATIENT AND GIVE THEIR FURRY FRIENDS A CHANCE TO ADJUST TO A NEW LIFE.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT YOU CAN HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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