Hermine remains the equivalent of a tropical storm and is expected to regain hurricane strength Sunday, when it turns back toward the coast.

Post-tropical storm Hermine has started to turn north, the start of an achingly slow process where the storm is expected to pivot back toward the coast and linger for days, forecasters from the National Hurricane Center said. 

In their 5 p.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said Hermine remains the equivalent of a strong tropical storm, with sustained winds of 70 mph.  It is moving east-northeast at 12 mph off the coast of North Carolina, indicating it has started its expected about-face toward the Mid-Atlantic coast.  

Forecasters expect Hermine to slow to a crawl and pivot toward the northwest over the next 24 hours, after which it may sit and spin just off the coast of New Jersey or Delaware for days. 

"The slow motion and large wind field associated with Hermine will result in a long duration of hazardous conditions along much of the mid-Atlantic coast extending into southern New England through the holiday weekend and into mid-week," wrote NHC Hurricane Specialist Michael Brennan in the afternoon forecast discussion. 

Why Hermine could be a freak show of a storm in N.J.

Additionally, the NHC expects Hermine to regain hurricane strength by Sunday. Conditions are expected to deteriorate along the New Jersey coast throughout Sunday, but when the worst conditions will occur remains somewhat in question.  

While initially, forecasters expected the worst conditions to occur Sunday night into Monday, if the storm tracks towards the Garden State more slowly, they could be delayed by 12 to 24 hours.

"Small changes in the meandering track of Hermine could result in large differences in the impacts along the mid-Atlantic coast during the next several days," Brennan said. "In addition, there could be multiple occurrences of tropical storm conditions in some locations within the warning area during this time." 

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for all coastal New Jersey counties (including Raritan and Delaware Bays) until further notice.  Governor Chris Christie also issued a state of emergency in three counties. 

Regardless of its exact track, Hermine is expected to bring coastal flooding of varying intensity to the entire Jersey Shore over several high tide cycles, beginning tonight and potentially lasting until Wednesday evening. Local details on tides can be found in the National Weather Service at Mount Holly's latest briefing package. 

Winds are expected to pick up statewide on Sunday, and could top 60 miles per hour along the coast. Extended power outages are possible.

Voluntary evacuations have been advised in many areas, such as Brigantine in Atlantic County. Officials are urging those along the coast who chose to stay to make preparations now. 

"We're talking about a situation where large parts of Long Beach Island could be underwater for long periods of time," said David Robinson, state climatologist at Rutgers University. "Anyone along the coast has to be persistently vigilant and probably should plan on spending Sunday and Monday, at least, elsewhere." 

More details will be posted as they are made available. The next National Hurricane Center update will be at 8 p.m. 

Anyone with information urged to call authorities

Ibraheim Hakeem (Photo: Dept. of Public Safety) 

Ibraheim Hakeem, who is also known as Ibn Abdulla, was charged with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to authorities.

"While police are actively searching for this suspect, we seek the public's assistance in quickly locating and removing him from our streets," a statement from the Newark Department of Public Safety said.

Missing Newark school principal found in Philly, sister says

Bail for Hakeem was set at $250,000 cash, authorities said. The investigation was ongoing.

Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose urged anyone with information to contact the Newark 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Authorities say tips can be kept confidential and lead to a reward.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Most of New Jersey's waterfalls are found in the rugged, mountainous Highlands region in the northern part of the state.

Every cloud has a silver lining, including rain clouds. While rainy weather may keep us indoors when we'd rather be outside, it makes for excellent conditions to view New Jersey's waterfalls. Cascades that are merely pretty in dry weather can quickly become spectacular after a good soaking.

A great time for a waterfall hike is a day or two after a heavy rainfall. Rain that has fallen on the ground takes some time to reach streams and rivers, so the sun may be out and shining by the time waterfalls are at their peak.

Not surprisingly, most of New Jersey's waterfalls are found in the rugged, mountainous Highlands region in the northern part of the state. Some are only a short walk from roads and parking areas, while others require a longer hike. Here are some great ones to visit.

Have you visited these 12 N.J. National Park sites?

Paterson Great Falls

This is the best known of New Jersey waterfalls, and one of the few located in an urban setting. Great Falls is the east coast's second largest waterfall, behind Niagara Falls, and it is the centerpiece of the recently-established Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park.

The roaring waters of the 77-foot Great Falls once powered mills and industry in the "Silk City" founded by Alexander Hamilton, the U.S.'s first treasury secretary.

Buttermilk Falls

Great Falls may be the state's largest, but Buttermilk Falls in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is the highest, at 200 feet. The falls, which cascade down a series of rocky ledges in the Kittatinny Mountains, are easily accessible, located only a few steps from a parking lot. After viewing Buttermilk from below, you can climb steps to the top for a gorgeous view.

Tillman Ravine

If you're visiting Buttermilk Falls, check out Tillman Ravine at the same time. It's a beautiful natural area only about 3.5 miles away in Stokes State Forest. Hike through a shady hemlock forest to follow the Tillman Brook as it drops over falls and through flumes and chutes.

Chikahoki Falls and Otter Hole

Norvin Green State Forest in Passaic County is known for its spectacular mountain views and the New York City skyline. Nearby Chikahoki Falls and Otter Hole are added attractions as they tumble over boulders and rock formations.

Apshawa Falls

These falls are not gigantic, but they're a lovely part of a hike in the Apshawa Preserve in West Milford that also features scenic overlooks, a former water supply reservoir nestled in a ring of mountains, a dam with cascading water, and the ruins of an old water purification system.

Greenbrook Falls

Rocky cliffs towering over the Hudson River, and waterfalls, too? That's what you'll find at the Greenbrook Sanctuary, a 165-acre woodland preserve on top of the Palisades in Tenafly and Alpine, Bergen County. The waterfalls can be seen from several overlooks above the Hudson.

Hemlock Falls

The South Mountain Reservation is the largest park in Essex County's system -- a green oasis in an urbanized area. It's an easy walk from the road to this beautiful 25-foot waterfall. If you're up for more of a challenge, you can hike around it on a loop trail.

Boonton Falls

The Rockaway River cascades through Boonton and once provided power to the town's iron industry. Located just outside Boonton's downtown area, Grace Lord Park includes the large Boonton Falls, as well as a smaller waterfall.

Paterson wants to move World War II sub to Great Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Located just inside the grounds of William Paterson College in North Haledon, Bridal Veil Falls is located in an old sandstone quarry. A trail passes behind the falls, allowing visitors to stand in a cave behind the falling water.

Tinton Falls

Tinton Falls, for which the Monmouth County town was named, is small gem that can be viewed from a wooden overlook platform off Tinton Avenue. Tinton Falls once powered mills, but is now a quiet spot that can be a refreshing change for vacationers looking to take a break from the beach.

Happy hiking! If you have a favorite New Jersey waterfall hike not listed here, please let me know at info@njconservation.org.

For more information, maps and detailed hike descriptions, visit the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference website, the NJ Hiking website or visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website.

Michele S. Byers is executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

The car had a loaded gun inside, police said.

NEWARK -- Police on Saturday arrested a 15-year-old suspected of stealing a car.

Newark Police saw the black 2002 Honda Accord at 1 a.m. at Quitman Street near Martin Luther King Boulevard, the city Department of Public Safety said.

The car had been reported stolen out of West Orange. NPD1, the Newark public safety helicopter, helped officers track the car to Murray Street near Pennsylvania Avenue.

The 15-year-old got out and ran, police said. Police arrested him.

Police found a loaded handgun in the car.

The teen was charged with receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, eluding and resisting arrest.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

New owners of Orange church 'respect' Revolutionary War history

Vincent Dahmen was puttering around the slim acreage of the historic cemetery of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Orange, where he is the self-appointed and attentive caretaker.

Only a rusted chain link fence separates the St. Mark's burial ground from the older and much larger historic cemetery of the vacant First Presbyterian Church of Orange, which is the final resting place for 78 Revolutionary War soldiers.

The church, which has been empty since 2010, was bought just weeks ago by the First Shiloh Baptist Church of West Orange for "upward of $1 million" according to a church official who asked not to be named.

As soon as the sale was complete, workers appeared to shore up the roof and remove yard debris from the massive brick complex. The clang of hammers and whir of power tools could be heard echoing in the high-steepled sanctuary.

Dahmen soon noticed hundreds of little white flags stuck in the ground among the headstones. They were slightly smaller than the American flags placed at veterans' graves on Memorial Day - and were in stark contrast to the ancient brown slate markers, some broken, some illegible and crumbing with age, and some that had weathered centuries of the elements just fine.

The flags were planted by a radar company that was hired by the new owners of the church to survey the grounds for human remains. On two occasions, Dahmen asked people working at the church what the new owners planned for the cemetery. Both answers were alarming, he said.

One man said the church was considering contacting relatives to exhume bodies before paving  over the cemetery. Another said the headstones would be removed or sheared to the ground and paved over.

What happened next was a five-alarm fire in historic preservation circles. Dahmen reached out to several people, including  Karen Wells, chairman of the Orange Historic Commission. Wells reached out to rally preservationists from state offices in Trenton to those in neighboring towns. Emails started flying. She called an emergency meeting of the commission for last Wednesday night.

"This isn't just Orange history," she said, while touring the cemetery on Tuesday. "This is New Jersey history. This is American history. This goes back to the very formation of the country. No one's going to dig this up.  It's not going to happen. To even think that is absolutely insane."

At the cemetery with Wells was with Bob Reed, who was a parishioner at First Presbyterian for 58 years and was the keeper of church history. Reed is 95 and knows, as they say, where all the bodies are buried.

"I'll show you a couple of my favorite tombstones," he said as he walked with Wells.

He pointed to a slab covering the reinterred remains of Anthony Olive, the first person buried in the cemetery in 1723, four years after the original church opened.

"He was moved, as were several others, when the foundation for the new (exisiting) church was built (in 1907)," Reed said. "He had a farm on what today is Llewelyn Park."

He then pointed to the grave of Jemima Cundit (also spelled Condit), who wrote an extensive diary about the church before her death in 1779. She was also the wife of Revolutionary War soldier Aaron Harrison, and her diary often speaks of reaction to news of battles.

"She used to come down in her horse and buggy all the way from Pleasantdale (now a section of West Orange)," Reed said.

The first names on the old brown markers are as dated as the Old Testament. Caleb, Enoch, Phebe, Rebekah, Zebulon.

The last names are modern and common. Baldwin, Crane, Condit, Dodd, Harrison, Williams. Thousands of people can trace their lineage to the cemetery.

The church role in the American Revolution is significant. With Presbyterian churches solidly behind the patriot cause, perhaps more than 100 men from the Orange congregation fought in the war. On the grounds are five monuments to the soldiers, including one dedicated by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1931, which lists the names of all 78 buried there.

"One had the bronze plaque pried off and stolen," Reed said, pointing to a defaced boulder by the church entrance.

That monument commemorated the British surrender at Yorktown.

The cemetery is also dominated by large sculpture called "The Dispatch Rider of the American Revolution," by Frank Edwin Elwell, a well-known sculptor from the turn of the 20^th century. It was dedicated in 1907.

"It was a big deal," Reed said. "They set up a grandstand and the whole town came out."

At the emergency meeting called by Wells, the representatives from Shiloh were invited.

"We're here to set the record straight," said Perry Tima, the church's youth pastor.

"What people are being told is completely inaccurate," said Benjamin Jeanty, an associate pastor. "We purchased the church to serve the community, and we know the history is important to the community."

Both men said their leadership of the largely Haitian congregation was somewhat unaware of the historical importance of the cemetery when it purchased the church.

"It caught us by surprise," Jeanty said, adding that they ordered the radar survey, which cost about $4,000, to find out the exact number of remains. "This was all new to us."

"By now, I think you realize you bought a cemetery as well as a church," said Troy Simmons, who ran the meeting for Orange commission.

The bottom line to all this, so far, might be a happy ending. The Shiloh congregation is interested in restoring the cemetery and appealed to the Orange commission for help. It also is trying secure grants to restore both the cemetery and the buildings.

"It was never our intention to desecrate graves, or destroy the history," Jeanty said. "We're proud to be a part of it now."

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.

Handel's 'Acis and Galatea' is based on Ovid's story about a nymph, a shepherd and an interfering Cyclops

You won't need opera glasses -- the performers are a few feet away.

You won't need to wear a tux -- the performers see you as a nymph, a shepherd or a swain.

And you won't need to read supertitles -- the opera is in English.

Opera up close has always been Mia Riker-Norrie's mission for the 4-year-old Opera Theatre of Montclair, which is performing George Frederic Handel's "Acis and Galatea," based on Ovid's myth about a nymph, her shepherd lover and the jealous Cyclops who interferes, in the round Sept. 8-10 at Redeemer Montclair.

Riker-Norrie, who founded the theatre in 2012 and is its general director, and Nicholas Tamagna, the stage director, decided to stage it in the round after looking at the church's space, which includes movable seats.

Presenting the Baroque opera in the round will free the singer "to not feel they have to only sing in one direction, or if they sing this way they'll be upstaging," says Tamagna, who is also a countertenor. After all, he points out, when someone moves across the room in daily life, "we turn around and talk to them that way."

Patricia Vital, who plays Galatea in two of the four performances, is used to unconventional stagings: She has performed with Brooklyn-based Opera on Tap, which stages performances in a bar, and she also sings on the subway. "It's one of the favorite things I do, because they're right there," she says. "I get to see their reaction."

"We live in 360 [degrees]," says James Haughom, who plays the shepherd Acis in two performances. "It's nice not to have to worry about 'staying out.' One of the big things young singers tend to struggle with is projecting out to the audience."  

Or course, there are challenges.

Barbee Monk, who shares the role of Galatea with Vital, says that "practically speaking, if you need to adjust something from your wardrobe, or clear your throat, there's no way to do that. There's no upstage." (Her colleagues start laughing in commiseration.) 

Cueing the singers is a challenge too, says Robert Butts, a Baroque specialist and musicologist who will conduct the 15-piece chamber orchestra. The chorus is also not staged in sections, so he can't cue the sopranos as one.

Chorus Master Alan Smullen agrees: "They have to be more aware on their own of cutoffs."

But the dispersal of singers, Butts says, will create "an envelope of sound."

A down-to-earth fairytale

While "Acis and Galatea" is based on a myth, the story has an earthiness, Tamagna says, and "a compactness that's very much like Broadway. There's a big chorus number in the beginning. There's a little build-up, then a big chorus." 

Because the songs are in English, Butts says, "people will leave not just humming great tunes but might even be singing them."

The German composer Handel wrote "Acis and Galatea," with a libretto by John Gay, in 1717, as composer-in-residence for the Earl of Carnarvon. (OTM helpfully notes that the Earl is the lord of Highclere Castle, where "Downton Abbey" is set.)

The vocal technique is a bit different from the Bel Canto of 19^th-century grand opera, Butts says. Breaths follow phrases, not words. The orchestra largely drops out when the singers perform. "I was told to sing it 'less like Mimi,'" Vital says with a laugh, referencing the Puccini classic "La Boheme." 

"Was I the one who told you that?" Butts interrupts, getting another laugh. "There's color but also weight," he explains. "There's less weight in Baroque music."

"Like my teacher used to say, it's 'the other side of the eyelash,'" Tamagna says.

Benjamin Boskoff came from Michigan to perform the role of Damon, Acis' friend, at all performances. There is no wall between the singers and the audience, Boskoff says: "The second that you go onstage you already have the energy. You maybe hear a gasp -- 'That looks really pretty' -- you hear the whispers, even though you're not supposed to listen, and as an actor, you subconsciously get that energy from it.

"Smaller companies are what's keeping the art form alive. You're going out around the block to a bar, to a subway, to a church, and you're seeing opera -- which I think is some of the most original intentions a composer could have."

Acis and Galatea

Opera Theatre of Montclair, Redeemer Montclair, 19 North Willow St., Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. performance on Sept. 10. 

Tickets are $25-$40, available here or via the company's Facebook page.

Gwen Orel can be reached at gwen.orel@gmail.com or via Twitter at @GwenOrel1. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is trying to help Democrats take control of the chamber. Watch video

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a rising star in national Democratic politics, isn't up for re-election until 2020, but that hasn't stopped his campaign committee from sending out fundraising solicitations.

The money isn't to re-elect Booker but rather to help him help his colleagues.

In a fundraising letter, Booker sought funds to help him travel around the U.S. and "do everything I can to bring about change" by helping to elect Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Senate Democratic candidates. The mailing was funded by Booker's campaign committee.

Booker gets star treatment at DNC2016

It's the latest example of Booker helping his fellow Democrats and raising his own profile. He also raised money for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and campaigned around the country for her.

This time around, Booker is seeking to help Democrats win back the Senate majority they lost in 2014. The effort, if successful, would give Booker a subcommittee chairmanship or two and could restore New Jersey's senior U.S. senator, Robert Menendez, to the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, if he is acquitted of federal corruption charges. (Menendez's term expires in 2019)

"I need your support to help progressives up and down the ticket in 2016. Are you in?" Booker said on a special page on his website earmarked for helping Democrats win back the Senate majority.

He also has sent out separate fundraising solicitations for Senate Democratic candidates for Republican-held seats in Missouri and Wisconsin.

The senator has worked with Republicans on issues such as overhauling the criminal justice system and broke bread with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), one of the conservative members of the Senate and an unsuccessful candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Booker's letter discussed the Senate Democratic filibuster to force votes on legislation to ban those on the terrorist watch list from buying weapons and to require background checks for all gun purchases.

He was on the floor for the entire filibuster, which ended when Senate Republican leaders agreed to votes on both measures. They then blocked action on the bills once they reached the Senate floor.

Ten Republican-held Senate seats are viewed as competitive this year, according to the Cook Political Report, compared with just one Democratic seat. Democrats need a net gain of five seats to win the majority, or four seats if Clinton is elected president.

The crash closed the westbound express lanes on I-78 temporarily.

NEWARK -- The driver and passenger of a car involved in a three-vehicle crash Sunday morning on I-78 fled the scene, police said.

A Nissan Rogue, Oldsmobile Aurora and Honda Accord crashed at about 2:48 a.m. in the express lanes of I-78 westbound in Newark, New Jersey State Police Trooper Alejandro Goez said.

The westbound express lanes were shut down for about 30 minutes, Goez said. When police arrived, the Honda Accord was at the scene, but no one was inside. The other people involved in the crash said the driver and passenger had fled.

The two people in the Oldsmobile were hospitalized with minor injuries, Goez said. Troopers are investigating the crash. They were unable to locate the driver and the passenger from the Accord.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Haniyah Woods was fatally shot on Sept. 3, 2016, at the 100 block of South 10th Street in Newark and was later pronounced dead after she had been transported to the hospital.

NEWARK - A teacher's aide at West Side High School said Sunday that it will be difficult for her to go back to school without Haniyah Woods, the incoming sophomore who sought her out every morning before the day started.

It won't be the same, Iesha Daniels said, without Haniyah, who started calling her "mom" after people at school suggested they looked alike.

Daniels said she doesn't yet know the school's plan to address the death of Woods, who was fatally shot in the early morning hours on Saturday. Woods would have been starting her school year at West Side when school resumes on Tuesday.

Woods was fatally shot at the 100 block of South 10th Street in Newark and was later pronounced dead after she had been transported to the hospital.

"She really touched my heart. It was genuine. It wasn't fake or phony. This is a tragedy. Just a tragedy," Daniels said.

Daniels said Woods was a dancer in the school's band troupe and had a core group of girlfriends.

Darrell Shoulars, director of bands and the leadership and membership of the West Side Campus Marching Band and Drum Corps, posted online that he spoke for the band and drum corps when he said that they loved Woods and that she would be "forever in our hearts.

"To the Woods family, my staff and I and the entire West Side Campus Family are here for you during your time of healing and bereavement! We love you and God will see us all through this!" he wrote.

While funeral arrangements could not be confirmed as of Sunday, Daniels said the school had counselors who would be available to talk with Woods' classmates.

Requests for comment from Woods' family were not immediately returned.

Another woman, who is 25, was grazed in the shooting and taken to the hospital. Neither her name nor condition have been released. A spokesman for the Essex County's Prosecutor's Office said Sunday that the investigation was active and ongoing, but had no further updates.

While a sunny Sunday has allayed many fears, Hermine is still expected to cause high winds and coastal flooding along the Garden State coastline.

Jersey Shore revelers and residents shouldn't let a sunny Sunday fool them, forecasters say -- post-tropical storm Hermine remains an imminent threat lurking just offshore. 

A visible satellite image of post-tropical storm Hermine at 5 p.m. Sunday. (courtesy NOAA)

While the forecast for New Jersey undoubtedly improved as the storm tracked farther east than expected Sunday morning, experts still predict the storm will pivot north and then back west toward the Garden State in the coming 24 hours.

As a result, tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the entire coastline.

"Although the (National Hurricane Center) forecast track has been shifted eastward today, there is still a threat of tropical storm conditions, coastal flooding and large waves along portions of the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States coast during the next couple of days," the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. update. 

As of 5 p.m., Hermine has slowed down significantly, and is now heading east-northeast at 5 miles per hour off the Virginia coast. Forecasters expect a trough of low pressure to interact with Hermine in the near future, pulling it back toward the coast.  

Clouds should increase overnight and rain and wind are possible along the entire New Jersey coast Monday morning. Moderate to major flooding remains possible during Monday's high tides, the National Weather Service said.  

"There is particular concern for tidal flooding in the back bays due to the prolonged nature of the event with Hermine stalling off the Delmarva and NJ coast for several days," the National Weather Service's Mount Holly wrote in its most recent briefing. "In these back bays, the water will fail to drain and thus the tidal flooding threat increases with each successive high tide. Access roads to the barrier islands will likely be closed around the times of high tides, especially Monday morning and Monday evening."

Officials are urging residents along the Shore to pay close attention to the forecast, as conditions can change rapidly with only minor changes to Hermine's ultimate track.  

Gov. Chris Christie seemed to be optimistic about the forecast for Labor Day. He directed that Island Beach State Park be reopened Monday at 9 a.m. but he noted state officials would closely monitor Hermine's track.

Also, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is resuming a regular holiday schedule, attending a Labor Day parade in South Plainfield in the morning and then another parade in Rutherford in the afternoon.

Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.

Just before Midnight on 13th Street, a young man was critically wounded in the head. Hours later, a man and woman were wounded less seriously a few blocks awary.

Authorities are investigating three shootings in Newark over the weekend, one on South 10th Street that killed a 15-year-old girl, three blocks from where a young man was shot in the head on South 13th Street. Google 

NEWARK -- Police are investigating a pair of shootings that wounded three people in Newark overnight, one of them critically, a day after a 15-year-old girl was shot dead just three blocks from one of the incidents.

In the first one, which occurred just before midnight Saturday on South 13th Street, just south of Route 280, a 26-year-old male was shot in the head and hospitalized in critical condition, said Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose. 

Shortly before 3 a.m., Ambrose said a man and a woman were shot at the intersection of 11th Street and South Orange Avenue, seven blocks to the south. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

No arrests had been made in either case as of Sunday afternoon, and both remained under investigation, Ambrose said.

The two incidents follow the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl and the wounding of a woman in an incident early Saturday morning on South 10th Street, three blocks east of where the young man was shot in the head.

Haniyah Woods, who would have been a sophomore at West Side High School this year, was killed in the 12:55 a.m. shooting on Saturday. An unidentified  woman was wounded in the shooting.

Ambrose and Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Maloney issued a joint statement saying suspects in the fatal shooting had been identified, though no arrests had been made as of Sunday.  

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Homeless pets from northern and central New Jersey that are awaiting adoption.

These are just a small sampling of the thousands of homeless animals currently being cared for by shelters and rescues in New Jersey.

Many lost their homes due to an owner's illness or having to relocate where pets were not allowed. Others have never known a real home, rescued as stray puppies and kittens or born in shelters.

In almost every case, however, they share one thing in common: the desire to become a loving pet for someone willing to adopt them.

Click on the caption button to see information on these adoptable animals and the organizations and groups caring for them. More pets in need of adoption can be seen by clicking this link and this link.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

This Labor Day, we're paying homage to the players from the North Jersey Super Football Conference that put in the extra work this summer to improve their game.

Daquill Grant was shot one block from where authorities say a 15-year-old was killed Saturday.

NEWARK -- A shooting that killed an 18-year-old Sunday was the city's fourth shooting of the weekend, authorities said. 

Public safety officials are investigating the shooting that killed Daquill Grant around 5:20 p.m. on the 100 block of South 9th Street, acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced. 

Police said they responded to the location of the shots and found Grant unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. 

Grant, of Union, was brought to University Hospital and pronounced dead shortly after 6 p.m., officials said. 

The fatal shooting took place one block from where a 15-year-old girl was killed Saturday and near two other weekend shootings. 

The prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, is investigating Sunday's shooting.

Officials ask anyone with information to call the prosecutor's tips line at 877-847-7432.

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The incoming Class of 2020 will miss out on some classic Rutgers experiences remembered by many alumni.

A look at how some of the N.J. natives in college football fared this weekend.

Authorities said the blaze was accidental but they are still investigating contributing factors to it.

MONTCLAIR -- An early morning fire Saturday destroyed a Bellevue Avenue business and damaged several others, officials said. 

The 5:30 a.m. blaze consumed one unidentified company on the first floor of 255 Bellevue Avenue and left others with smoke, water and other damage, township spokeswoman Katya Wowk said. 

A person using an ATM at the Chase Bank on Valley Road reported smelling smoke inside the building, Wowk said. She said firefighters who went to the site found smoke actually coming from the Bellevue Avenue building behind the bank. 

Firefighters put out the body of the fire in less than an hour and had it completely under control by around 7:30 a.m., Wowk said.

The bank had smoke damage on all floors and damage to its front door, according to Wowk. She said firefighters found an old doorway between the two buildings that enabled smoke to travel from the Bellevue Avenue business to the bank. 

Wowk said the fire was accidental, but officials are still investigating its contributing factors. 

Montclair firefighters suffered a cut hand, a knee injury and smoke inhalation. No civilians reported injuries, according to Wowk. 

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Hermine is slowly lurching back toward the coast, but forecasters predict the storm will weaken over the next several days.

New Jersey has likely avoided the worst impact from Post-Tropical Cyclone Hermine, but the storm remains just offshore and is slowly creeping back toward the coast. 

A more easterly track than expected spared the Jersey Shore from a prolonged and severe lashing from Hermine, which has sustained winds of 70 miles per hour and is located about 185 miles east of Atlantic City.  

Hermine has been inching north and west over the last 12 hours and is expected to do so until as late as Wednesday. But forecasters expect the storm to slowly weaken as it does, likely sparing New Jersey from major impact.  

It will however, likely keep tides high, winds brisk and surf dangerous, with swells creating a significant risk of rip currents.

Tropical Storm warnings were dropped last night for the Garden State, but forecasters say moderate flooding is still possible over the next several tide cycles as Hermine remains nearby.  

Model guidance suggests that Hermine, or what's left of it, will depart by late week and be replaced by more oppressive heat. Temperatures could peak in the upper 90s during the second half of the week, before returning to more seasonable levels after the weekend.  

The Montclair resident was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction.

MONTCLAIR -- A man who says he was falsely arrested and then subjected to a strip search has settled a lawsuit against the Montclair police for $30,000.

Montclair police settled a wrongful arrest suit for $30,000.Star-Ledger file photo 

The news was first reported by NJ Civil Settlements, which provides a partial list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them.

The Montclair resident alleged his constitutional rights were violated and that he suffered emotional distress following his Oct. 12, 2012, arrest on charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction.

Kevin Ali said he was a passenger in a car driven by a female friend when Montclair police pulled over the vehicle around 9:30 a.m on Bloomfield Avenue between Park Street and Midland Avenue. 

The Montclair resident said he was ordered out of the car after asking why they had been stopped, according to the lawsuit. After being told the vehicle failed to yield to a pedestrian, Ali said he was told to get back in the car.

Officers then allegedly changed their minds and instructed Ali to exit the vehicle and arrested him. 

While at the Montclair police station, Ali was ordered by police "to take his clothes  off in a humiliating manner while officers around him ridiculed and laughed," according to the lawsuit.

He was acquitted on both charges at trial, according to the lawsuit.

As is frequent in civil settlements, the defendant admitted no wrongdoing.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The fire started in a three-story duplex on Mount Prospect Avenue and also damaged four other buildings, authorities said. Watch video

A Labor Day fire on Mount Prospect Avenue in Newark severely damaged three residential buildings, officials said. (Courtesy of Newark Public Safety)

NEWARK -- A four-alarm fire on the 800 block of Mt. Prospect Avenue has left more than 50 people homeless and three buildings temporarily uninhabitable, authorities said.

At least 36 adults and 16 children were being relocated to relatives' homes or city shelters after the blaze that started in a three-story duplex and also damaged four other buildings, said Fire Chief John Centanni.

He said no residents were injured, but one fire captain suffered a knee injury in the fire that started at about 12:30 p.m. and was under control by 1:45 p.m.

Officials have not determined the cause of the flames and said crews were still working the scene around 2:45 p.m. An investigation is ongoing. 

The American Red Cross provided eight displaced families with temporary housing, food, clothing and personal care items. 

The fire had already hit two buildings when crews arrived, Centanni said. Four of the five affected structures were completely residential, and one was mixed-use commercial and residential. 

Natalie Horton, who witnessed the blaze, said she and her neighbor jumped in the car when they heard firetrucks whizzing by on their street several blocks away. 

"I looked out the window, and it was not normal for that many firetrucks," Horton said. "You could see the smoke from where I was."

She said there were about a dozen firetrucks at the scene. 

Video is courtesy of Natalie Horton.

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.