>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJ INSURANCE GROUP.

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS .

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THE U.S. ECONOMY IS IN BETTER SHAPE THAN MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MONTHLY JOBS REPORT RELEASED EARLIER TODAY WAS AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER.

528,000 NEW JOBS WERE CREATED IN JULY, MUCH MORE THAN EXPECTED.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DIPPED TO 3 1/2%, A 50 YEAR LOW.

THE REPORT REVEALED STRONG HIRING ACROSS THE SECTOR, AND WORKER WAGES ARE RISING.

THE NEW NUMBERS, THE TIME WHEN THERE ARE WORRIES ABOUT WHETHER THE ECONOMY IS SLOWING AND POTENTIALLY HEADING INTO A RECESSION.

I TACKLED THESE TOPICS WITH PROFESSOR JAMES HUGE, DEAN EMERITUS AT RUTGERS.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THESE NUMBERS IN THE JOB MARKET, AND YOU THINK THE NEW JERSEY JOB NUMBERS ARE MIRRORING WHAT WE ARE SEEING NATIONALLY?

>> THIS WAS A SURPRISE TODAY.

THE JOB NUMBERS ARE NEARLY DOUBLE WHAT WE HAD SEEN PREVIOUSLY TO THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE SO MANY ECONOMIC INDICATORS SUGGESTING A WEAKENING ECONOMY OR ECONOMY ABOUT TO FALL OUT OF BED, BUT THIS PROVES THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

SO I THINK WHAT THIS WILL DO IS ENSURE THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE KEEPS INCREASING INTEREST RATES, PROBABLY BY A PERCENTAGE THIS MONTH.

NEW JERSEY HAS PARALLELED THE NATION QUITE CLOSELY.

IN JUNE -- THAT'S OUR LAST DATA POINT, WE WILL GET OUR JULY NUMBER TWO WEEKS FROM NOW -- WE HAD RECOVERED ALL OF OUR PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT.

WE ARE JUST SHY OF RECOVERING TOTAL EMPLOYMENT.

IN THE U.S.

THIS MONTH, WE SURPASSED OUR PRE-RECESSION PEAK.

SO WE ARE ALMOST IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE NATION.

WHEN WE GET OUR JOB NUMBERS TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, OUR TOTAL EMPLOYMENT WILL CERTAINLY HAVE SURPASSED OUR PREVIOUS PEAK.

THAT WAS FEBRUARY 2020.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED THE ECONOMY REBOUNDED SO QUICKLY FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND HAS THE U.S. ECONOMY BECOME MORE RESILIENT TO ECONOMIC SHOCKS?

>> THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST RAPID EMPLOYMENT RECOVERIES POST-RECESSION IN U.S. HISTORY.

IT IS ABOUT 27 MONTHS SINCE THE RECESSION BOTTOMED OUT, WHICH WAS APRIL OF 2020.

LOOKING FORWARD IN TERMS OF RESILIENCY AND HOW THE ECONOMY HAS CHANGED, WE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THE PAST TWO YEARS.

MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A ZOOM SESSION WAS IN FEBRUARY 2020, TWO MONTHS LATER THEY WERE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN ZOOM.

SO WORK CAN BE SPREAD OUT NOW.

IT IS NOT TIED TO A SPECIFIC PLACE.

AND THAT IS A PRETTY DRASTIC CHANGE FROM PAST PARAMETERS.

BUT THE ECONOMY IS STILL SUBJECT TO SHOCKS.

WE ARE SEEING WITH THE ENERGY SHOCK HAS DONE IN TERMS OF ENERGY PRICES IMPACTING CONSUMER SPENDING.

SO WE MAY BE MORE RESILIENT, BUT WE ARE STILL SUBJECT TO EXTERNAL SHOCKS.

WE ARE STILL SUBJECT TO INCREASES IN INTEREST RATES BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE.

THE USUAL QUIP IS THAT EXPANSIONS USUALLY DON'T DIE OF OLD AGE, THE FEDERAL RESERVE MURDERS THEM.

WE ARE HEARING THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL INCREASED INTEREST RATES VERY AGGRESSIVELY IN ORDER TO REDUCE DEMAND AND REDUCE INFLATION, TIPPING US INTO RECESSION.

>> BUT AS OF TODAY, LOOKING AT THIS REPORT, IS IT SAFE TO SAY RECESSION FEARS CAN BE PUT TO BED, AT LEAST FOR THIS MONTH?

>> CERTAINLY FOR THIS MONTH.

HOWEVER, THIS IS DATA FOR JULY.

NOW WE ARE RAPIDLY MOVING INTO AUGUST.

SO I THINK IN THE SHORT TERM WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE ECONOMY FALLING OUT OF BED, BUT IT JUST MAY WELL BE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE TOUGHER TIMES AS WE GET INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

THERE IS STILL A GOOD POSSIBILITY OF A RECESSION AS WE GET INTO 2023.

>> WE WILL EXPECT MORE OF THAT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

IT IS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AND HEAR YOUR EXPERTISE ON TODAY'S NUMBERS.

THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET REACTED TO TODAY'S JOBS REPORT.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, HELPING TO BUILD A STRONGER, FAIRER NEW JERSEY ECONOMY.

>> TRENTON'S UPCOMING ELECTION IS SHAPING UP TO BE ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME THE ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN NOVEMBER, MOVED FROM MAY.

AT LEAST 22 CANDIDATES OF TAKEN OUT PETITIONS TO RUN FOR THE SEVEN COUNCIL SEATS UP FOR GRABS.

THE DEADLINE TO FILE IS SEPTEMBER 6th, SO THERE COULD BE EVEN MORE WHO STEPPED FORWARD TO TRY TO LEAD NEW JERSEY'S CAPITAL CITY AT A TIME WHEN RESIDENTS CONTEND THAT THINGS JUST AREN'T GETTING DONE, AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS DYSFUNCTIONAL.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ SORTS OUT WHO IS TO BLAME, AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO TRY TO FIX WHAT YOU COULD CALL IS A HOT MESS IN TRENTON.

>> Reporter: IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAT WAVE, TRENTON CAN SEEM ESPECIALLY DEFLATED, ITS RESIDENTS LIKE WILTED FLOWERS WAITING FOR RAIN.

AS THE PEOPLE SWELTER, LEADERS SEEM CONTINUED TO POUR GASOLINE ON WHAT IS CALLED A DUMPSTER FIRE OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

>> YOU HAVE EVERY DAY, JUST A MELANGE OF STORIES THAT CENTER ON THE DYSFUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: TRENTON REPORTER ISAAC LUSSIER HAS BEEN ON THE BEAT SINCE 2015.

HE SAYS THIS IS A NEW LOW FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL IS FOUR MONTHS BEHIND VOTING ON A BUDGET.

THEY WON'T APPROVE DEBT PAYMENTS OR EVEN AGREE ON A SEVEN CITY COUNCILMEMBER TO FILL THE VACANCY.

MAYOR REED GUSCIORA -- >> INSTEAD OF JUST RUNNING ON THEIR OWN RECORDS OR WHAT THEY WOULD DO, THEY HAVE SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS OBSTRUCTING THINGS THAT I WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS IS MEMBER VAUGHN.

SHE MADE THIS ACCUSATION OVER ZOOM.

>> YOU ARE JUST A BIG, FAT DRUG ADDICT PEDOPHILE, THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE!

>> I HAVE MOVED ON FROM IT, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE DONE.

I THINK THE ISSUE WITH MR. GUSCIORA OR ANYBODY ELSE COMING INTO A TOWN THAT THEY DIDN'T GROW UP IN, THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE MAYOR HAS.

ALL PREVIOUS MAYORS IN THE CITY OF TRENTON WERE SONS OF TRENTON, RIGHT?

SO HE IS NOT.

>> CAN YOU CHARACTERIZE THE GUSCIORA TENURE HERE IN THE CITY?

>> I THINK IT HAS BEEN ONE OF OVER-PROMISING AND UNDER- DELIVERING.

HE KIND OF PAINTED HIMSELF AS THIS SHINING KNIGHT THAT IS GOING TO COME AND SAVE TRENTON, BUT I THINK WHAT HE DOESN'T REALIZE IS THAT THE PROBLEMS IN TRENTON ARE SYSTEMIC.

YOU HAVE RECORD HOMICIDES IN THE CITY OF TRENTON.

THE PAST TWO YEARS THERE IT WAS FOUR HOMICIDES.

WHEN YOU HAVE SYSTEMIC ISSUES IN THE CITY, YOU NEED MORE COOPERATION, NOT LESS COOPERATION.

>> WHAT MAKES ANYTHING WORK AS A TEAM EFFORT.

WE DON'T HAVE A TEAM EFFORT.

>> Reporter: JOE FESTA HAS BEEN CUTTING HAIR HERE FOR 50 YEARS.

HE SAYS THE MESSAGE THAT CITY HALL IS SLOWING PROGRESS IN THE CITY, EVEN ON SOUTH WARREN, WHERE ON A SUNNY DAY YOU COULD FORGET WHERE YOU ARE.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A CITY WITH MORE HISTORY THAN ANYWHERE.

OUR COUNTRY STARTED HERE.

WE ARE DOING NOTHING WITH IT.

WE HAVE A HOTEL IN THE CAPITAL CITY CLOSE FOR THREE YEARS.

I THINK OUR GOVERNOR CAN HELP US WITH THAT.

>> I WELCOME THE STATE INVOLVEMENT, BUT FOR THE STATE WE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE SERVICE PAYMENT OR CONTINUED IN OPERATION.

TECHNICALLY ON JULY 1st WE SHOULD HAVE SHUT DOWN AND MADE MASSIVE LAYOFFS.

>> Reporter: BUT NOBODY IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE APPEARS TO GET MUCH MORE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE MAELSTROM AT CITY HALL.

RIGHT NOW IT IS GOING TO BE UP TO TRENTON TO FIX TRENTON.

WITH THREE PEOPLE POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR MAYOR RIGHT NOW AND ALMOST TWO DOZEN OTHERS SIGNING UP TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO LACK OF INTEREST FROM RESIDENTS, OLD HANDS AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE, WHO SEEM TO BE SAYING, HEY.

WE CAN'T DO ANY WORSE THAN THE GANG THAT IS IN THERE NOW.

FROM TRENTON, I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY ASKING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION AT NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY.

THE GOVERNOR SAYING NJ SEE YOU IS A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, AND IT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY.

REPORTS ARE THAT THE UNIVERSITY WENT FROM A SURPLUS IN 2014 TO A $67 MILLION DEFICIT THIS YEAR, PLUS ACQUIRED AN ADDITIONAL $150 MILLION IN DEBT.

ITS PRESIDENT, SUE HENDERSON, A MEMBER OF THE NJ PBS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, RESIGNED FROM NJ SEE YOU IN JUNE, SHORTLY AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES DECLARED A FINANCIAL EMERGENCY.

THE GOVERNOR STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PANDEMIC PUT A MASSIVE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON MOST INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING HERE IN THE STATE, IT APPEARS THAT THE FINANCIAL ISSUES AT NJCU PREDATE THE START OF COVID-19.

NJCU IS A FUNDER OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS AND PROVIDES FUNDS FOR THE BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT POSITION.

NJCU DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO AND MEDIA REQUESTS FOR COMMENT.

>>> WITH RISING MONKEYPOX CASES IN NEW JERSEY, HEALTH EXPERTS HELD A WEBINAR TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIRUS.

THE EXPERTS SAID THAT MONKEYPOX CAN BE TRANSFERRED THROUGH CLOSE CONTACT.

NEW JERSEY HAS 114 CASES AS OF YESTERDAY, AND THERE ARE JUST OVER 7000 CASES IN THE U.S.

OVERALL.

THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT YET DECLARED MONKEYPOX A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, BUT THE STATE IS GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT VACCINES.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FIVE LOCATIONS ADMINISTERING VACCINES AGAINST MONKEYPOX, AND MORE SITES ARE PLANNED.

KATHY O'HEARN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HYACINTH A.I.D.S.

FOUNDATION SAYS THAT DEMAND FOR THE VACCINES HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING, PARTICULARLY IN THE GAY COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS CONTINUE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT IT IS A VIRUS THAT IS TRANSMISSIBLE WITHIN ANY COMMUNITY, BUT IN THIS MOMENT IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE WITHIN THE GAY MALE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO CONTROL IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T SPREAD BEYOND.

>> Reporter: IN NEW JERSEY, A PATIENT CAN CHOOSE WHETHER TO END HIS OR HER LIFE.

SINCE THE LAW BECAME LAW, FEW HAVE CHOSEN TO END THEIR LIFE.

BEYOND THAT, FEW PHYSICIANS KNOW THAT THE OPTION EXISTS, AND HOSPICES IN THE STATE DO NOT HAVE TO MENTION THAT THE ACT EXISTS.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN LOOKS INTO THE BARRIERS TO END-OF-LIFE OPTIONS.

>> I HAVE NEVER SEEN MY FATHER CRY.

THAT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN HIM CRY, BECAUSE HE WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN FROM HIS CANCER.

I KNOW THAT HAVING SO MUCH RELEASED FROM THAT SUFFERING COULD GIVE HIM PEACE.

>> Reporter: BRANDY ALEXANDER LOST HER DAD TO CANCER.

SHE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR MEDICAL AID IN DYING, BUT SHE SAYS HER FATHER NEVER GOT THE DISCUSSION.

IT IS A ROUGH DISCUSSION FOR MANY FAMILIES, AND A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR IN PARTICULAR AREN'T CHOOSING THAT PATH IN STATES WHERE IT IS LEGAL, INCLUDING NEW JERSEY.

ALEXANDER IS NOT SURPRISED.

>> UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OFTEN ACCESS CARE ATLAS RATES ANYWAY, AND MEDICAL AID AND DYING IS NO DIFFERENT.

>> IT IS STILL AN OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE, EDUCATED POPULATION WITH A PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER.

>> Reporter: RUTGERS RESEARCHER ALYSSA KOZLOV ANALYZED RESPONDENTS FROM 23 STATES AND FOUND THAT IN THE YEARS SINCE OREGON FIRST LEGALIZED MEDICAL AID IN DYING, MORE THAN 95% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE NON-HISPANIC WHITE, 72% HAD SOME COLLEGE, 75% HAD TERMINAL CANCER.

IN NEW JERSEY LAST YEAR, 47 OF 50 PATIENTS WERE WHITE, THREE ASIAN.

>> IT RAISES SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, IS THIS TRULY A PREFERENCE, OR IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THESE LAWS ARE WRITTEN AND ENACTED THAT MIGHT BE LEADING TO SOME DISPARITIES?

>> THE MISTRUST IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS A HUGE BARRIER.

UNTIL WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS MEDICAL RACISM AND THERE ARE THE STIGMAS, AND THERE IS THAT NEED FOR CULTURAL COMPETENCY WITHIN OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM, THERE ARE SO MANY END-OF-LIFE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.

>> THEY WILL OFTEN PHRASE IT THAT, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO MAKE IT SHORTER FOR ME?

>> Reporter: DR. PALMER SPECIALIZES IN MEDICAL AID IN DYING IN NEW JERSEY, WHERE 95 PATIENTS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT SINCE IT WAS LEGALIZED THREE YEARS AGO.

SHE NOTES THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HURDLES, INCLUDING THAT MANY DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS DON'T KNOW WHAT IS LEGAL.

SOME DON'T COOPERATE.

>> IN NEW JERSEY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO MENTION IT AT ALL.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAY WHAT THEIR POLICY IS.

WE HAVE RUN INTO LEVELS OF ACCEPTANCE WITH DIFFERENT HOSPICES.

AT THIS POINT I KNOW WHICH ONES WILL WORK WITH US, AND WHICH ONES -- WE HAVE HAD HOSPICES KICK PEOPLE OFF IF THEY EXPRESS INTEREST IN AID AND DYING.

>> Reporter: ALSO, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID DON'T COVER THE COST FOR THE TWO DRUGS AND THE MEDICAL CONSULTATION SPANNING A 15 DAY WAITING PERIOD.

IT IS A LONG TIME FOR SOMEONE WITH TERMINAL ILLNESS, AND SOME DON'T MAKE IT.

THE NEW JERSEY SPONSOR BILL SAYS THAT THAT CAN BE TWEAKED, BUT THE OPTION NEEDS TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY THAT HAVE MORE LUXURY OF PLANNING LIFE DECISIONS THAN OTHERS.

IT ALSO REFLECTS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL.

SERVICES BEING PROVIDED TO PEOPLE SHOULD INCLUDE A DISCUSSION OF WHETHER THIS OPTION IS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER IT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HOSPICES AND PATIENTS SHOULD -- ALEXANDER ADMITS THE COMMUNICATION ON THIS SENSITIVE TOPIC IS TOUGH, BUT PROVIDERS NEED TO CARE.

>> TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING AS PRECIOUS AS LIFE AND END-OF-LIFE.

>> Reporter: I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> 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.

>>> LOCAL HISTORIANS ARE IN AWE OF THE DISCOVERY OF SKELETAL REMAINS UNCOVERED DURING AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG AT A BATTLEFIELD IN SOUTH JERSEY.

RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THE REMAINS ARE OF HESSIAN SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF REDBANK.

SOME SAY THAT THAT BATTLE WAS THE GREATEST UPSET VICTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

TED GOLDBERG TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DISCOVERY AND WHAT ELSE WAS UNCOVERED.

>> Reporter: WHEN ARCHAEOLOGISTS DUG UP PART OF THE REDBANK BATTLEFIELD IN JUNE, THEIR MISSION WAS TO EXAMINE A TRENCH AROUND FORT MERCER.

>> OUR INITIAL SCOPE OF WORK WAS TO INITIALLY EXCAVATE A SMALL PORTION OF THAT FOR DITCH.

>> Reporter: UNTIL IT WASN'T SO SIMPLE.

>> ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO WAS TAKING SAID, I THINK I HAVE A BONE.

AND EVERYTHING STOPPED.

>> Reporter: IT WAS A HUMAN BONE, DISCOVERED TO BE A FEMUR FROM A SOLDIER WHO FOUGHT HERE 245 YEARS AGO DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

>> THE NATURE OF THE PROJECT WAS MODIFIED WITH THE DISCOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS, AND OUR TASK INCLUDED THE RECOVERY OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE TRAUMA OF WAR.

>> FIGHTING BATTLEFIELD REMAINS IS INCREDIBLY UNUSUAL, SO IN TERMS OF GUIDANCE, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO HERE?

WE WORKED THROUGH GLOUCESTER COUNTY BECAUSE WE ARE A COUNTY- RUN PARK.

WE CONTACTED A MEDICAL EXAMINER AND THE LOCAL POLICE.

>> Reporter: UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS SAY THEY UNCOVERED THE REMAINS FROM 13 HESSIAN SOLDIERS, GERMAN SOLDIERS WHO HELP THE BRITISH ARMY DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

>> FIGHTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE BACKYARD SHOWS HOW MUCH HISTORY WE HAVE IN THIS AREA THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

>> Reporter: THE BATTLE OF RED BANK WASN'T A MAJOR BATTLE IN THE CIVIL REVOLUTIONARY WAR, BUT THIS SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

>> I FIGURE THAT WE LIVE IN NEW JERSEY, WHAT OTHER PUBLIC HISTORY IS THERE TO LEARN ABOUT THAT WE DON'T ALREADY KNOW?

BUT SEEING SOMETHING LIKE THIS UNFOLDING AS YOU ARE LEARNING ABOUT IT WITH EVERYBODY ELSE HERE IS DEFINITELY AMAZING.

I THINK THE PUBLIC HISTORY, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA SHOULD DEFINITELY BE TAUGHT MORE.

>> WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC AND GETTING THEM EXCITED ABOUT THE HISTORICAL PROCESS IS MY GOAL AS A PUBLIC HISTORIAN.

TO HAVE PEOPLE HOLD HISTORY IN THEIR HANDS IS AN ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT.

YOU CAN SEE THE ELECTRICITY.

YOU CAN SEE THE CONNECTION WITH THE PAST.

>> IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE IT HAPPEN FROM A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE, WHERE YOU DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS, WHERE YOU GET TO SEE ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, AND IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY -- JUST AMAZING TO WATCH.

>> Reporter: THEY ALSO FOUND MUSKET BALLS, RARE COINS, AND PIECES OF SOLDIER UNIFORMS.

BUT AS NOTEWORTHY AS THIS FIND IS, JANOWSKI SAYS IT IS ALSO A REMINDER OF THE HORRORS OF WAR.

>> THIS IS NOT HOW ANY OF THESE MEN EXPECTED TO MEET THEIR END.

SOME CAME TO AMERICA FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY IN THE NEW WORLD.

SOME CAME FOR ADVENTURE.

SOME CAME FOR SCIENCE.

SOME CAME BECAUSE THEY WERE CONSTRUCTED.

ONE SET THAT REMAINS IS LIKELY FOR THE YOUNG MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 17-19, THE AGE OF ONE OF MY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: THE AMERICANS WON THE BATTLE OF RED BANK DESPITE BEING OUTNUMBERED 3-1.

250 YEARS LATER, RED BANK BATTLEFIELD HAS GIVEN US ANOTHER HISTORIC VICTORY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM TED GOLDBERG.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT, THE NEXT EPISODE IN OUR 21-PART FILM SERIES IS NOW ONLINE.

THE SERIES EXAMINES THE SIMPLE QUESTION OF, DOES WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE AFFECT HOW YOU LIVE?

21 PROFILES ONE PERSON IN EACH OF OUR 21 COUNTIES AND LOOKS AT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT AFFECT THAT PERSON'S LIFE.

THE LATEST FILM HIGHLIGHTS CASEY MASSA FROM BURLINGTON COUNTY WHO CREATED CAMP NO WORRIES, A PLACE WHERE THE WORD CANCER DOES NOT EXIST FOR HUNDREDS OF KIDS BATTLING THE DISEASE.

THEY COME TO CAMP FOR A FEW DAYS AND ARE FREE JUST TO BE KIDS.

ANCHOR BREANNA -- WENT ONE-ON- ONE WITH CASEY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> Reporter: CASEY, YOU TOOK WHAT WAS A TRAUMATIC SITUATION FOR YOU AS A CHILD AND TURNED IT INTO SOMETHING THAT HAS GIVEN BACK TENFOLD TO FAMILIES IN SOUTH JERSEY.

HOW DID YOU THINK OF IT?

>> I AM OFTEN ASKED THIS VERY SAME QUESTION.

I THINK THE GREAT THING ABOUT WHEN WE STARTED CAMP IS THAT I WAS YOUNG AND TWO NACVE TO THINK OF WHAT COULD GO WRONG.

SO 19 YEARS OLD, I DREAMT BIG AND HAD VERY SUPPORTIVE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

EVERYONE WAS JUST VERY ENGAGED IN HELPING TO BUILD THE STREAM AND TO FOSTER SOME INDEPENDENCE AROUND IT.

WE HAVE JUST NEVER LOOKED BACK.

>> YEAH, THAT GOES A LONG WAY IN BEING ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A DREAM FOR SURE.

CAMP NO WORRIES, IT HELPS NOT JUST YOUTH, BUT THEIR SIBLINGS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE LIFELONG DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IT DO FOR THESE FAMILIES?

>> THE BEAUTY OF CAMP AND THE BEAUTY OF THE CAMP NO WORRIES PROGRAM THAT IT IS JUST ALLOWING KIDS TO BE KIDS.

WHEN WE ARE AT CAMP, EVERYBODY IS A CAMPER.

THERE IS NOT A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN PATIENTS AND SIBLINGS.

WHAT WE HAVE REALLY SEEN AND WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR FAMILIES IS THAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE TELLING ME WHAT I COULDN'T DO.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ON AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD, OR IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY BROTHER OR SISTER, BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE THERE DOING THAT.

SO WE REALLY JUST GOT TO BE KIDS.

>> Reporter: YOU ARE NOW GOING ON ALMOST 30 YEARS.

HOW MANY KIDS' LIVES HAVE YOU TOUCHED, IF YOU CAN EVEN ESTIMATE AT THIS POINT?

WHAT YOU HOPE TO DO FROM HERE?

>> WE HAVE TOUCHED THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

OUR HOPE FOR CAMP IS REALLY JUST FOR THIS MISSION TO CONTINUE.

THE BEAUTY OF WHERE WE ARE NOW 30 YEARS LATER IS THAT MANY OF OUR LEADERSHIP STAFF ARE FORMER CAMPERS.

SO IT REALLY SPEAKS TO WHAT WE ARE DOING AND HOW IMPORTANT IT BECOMES IN THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS PAST SUMMER, WE HAD A PARENT THAT FINALLY GRADUATED INTO THE ROLE OF A VOLUNTEER.

WE DO NOT ALLOW PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER WHILE THEIR CHILDREN ARE STILL PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, BUT THIS PARENT REMAINED COMMITTED, SAW THE IMPACT IT HAD ON HER CHILDREN, AND HER SON WAS A COUNSELOR.

WE SAW HOW IT IMPACTED OUR TEAM.

IT CAME FULL CIRCLE FOR THESE FAMILIES.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE FOR THESE KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS?

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THEIR SHOES.

>> I THINK THE OVERALL MESSAGE WE LIKE TO SEND AT CAMP IS TO SHOW CHILDREN LIFE BEYOND CANCER.

THAT THIS IS JUST ONE CHAPTER IN THEIR JOURNEY, BUT IT IS NOT THE WHOLE BOOK.

SO TO BE ABLE TO SHOW KIDS OTHER STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AS CHILDREN AND WHERE THEY ARE NOW PROFESSIONALLY, WHERE THEY ARE PERSONALLY, IT HELPS OUR FAMILIES SEE THAT MY CHILD WILL GO ON TO DO GREAT THINGS AND MAYBE EVEN HAVE A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN.

I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER GREAT PART OF CAMP.

>> Reporter: CASEY MASSA, YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE PERSON.

THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

>> YOU CAN MEET CASEY AND THE OTHER INCREDIBLE JERSEY RESIDENTS AT MY NJ PBS.ORG.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING, BUT MAKE SURE YOU HEAD OVER TO THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WEBSITE AND CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM RHONDA -- FOR THE ENTIRE NJTV TEAM , THANK YOU, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, AND WE WILL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

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

>> ORSTED .

COMMITTED TO A CLEAN AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

ONLINE AT US.ORSTED.COM.