Students were taken to an area hospital as a precaution, police said.

NEWARK -- None of the 14 children on board a school bus was involved in a crash Tuesday morning were injured, police said.

The school bus and an SUV were involved in a minor crash at about 8:43 a.m. near the intersection of Clinton Place and Randolph Place, police said. The two vehicles, which hit side mirrors, sustained minor damage, authorities said.

The children on board the bus were taken to the hospital as a "precautionary measure," but none suffered injuries in the crash, police said.

No other information about the crash was immediately available.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

All New Jersey residents will have the potential to gain in quality of health care services, improved health outcomes, and savings on health care costs.

By Jeffrey Brenner, Gregory Paulson and Stephen Schneider

Most people have received fragmented, disjointed care at some point in their health care experience.

For some, this lack of coordination may not only be costly but dangerous as well. Take for example, Jane (a real case here in New Jersey), a middle-income woman in her early 30s. In 2011, she went to the emergency room 102 times, was admitted 54 times and received 147 CT scans, resulting in a lifetime radiation amount that increased her likelihood for cancer. Once a group of physicians came together to conference on her case and visit her in her home, they learned that she had a severe anxiety condition, which drove much of her utilization.

Now imagine Jane's story coupled with chronic health conditions, substance-abuse issues, weak social networks, poor transportation access and limited financial means. For patients with the most complex health and social needs, failures in the health care delivery system are even more profoundly felt.

In 2014, New Jersey took important steps to address the fragmented, disjointed health care system by certifying three Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations - known as ACOs - in Trenton, Newark and Camden.

These community-based Medicaid ACOs are the only entities that link local, competing stakeholders in a given community for the purposes of improving people's health and transforming health care delivery. Because ACOs are grounded in their communities, each is able to rely on their community's data and needs to develop the most appropriate programming. Through the innovative use of integrated data as the foundation for the work, ACOs help coordinate care for all patients and target individuals experiencing expensive and inefficient "super utilization" of the hospital system.

Sparking local innovation, ACOs have advanced social-service solutions for their complex patients, such as supportive housing. For example, the Camden ACO, with the support of the state, launched a Housing First program. Modeled after Trenton's successful Housing First program, the Camden organization is convening local housing and behavioral-health service providers to target supportive housing to high-cost, high-need patients who are also homeless.

The preliminary results of this program have been staggering, with a 40 percent decrease in expensive hospital utilization for participants.

Although Medicaid ACOs are relatively new models, in New Jersey and other states, longer-established ACOs across the country have shown significant promise, many of which have been supported by upfront investments from their states. The Center for Healthcare Strategies reports that Colorado's ACO-type organizations have reported $77 million in net savings to Medicaid and have demonstrated lower rates of emergency-room visits, high-cost imaging and hospital readmissions. Minnesota has attributed $76.3 million in savings within the first two years of its program, and Vermont reported $14.6 million in savings in its program's first year.

New Jersey has been recognized nationally for its innovation in developing this model. The state's leadership, support and investment in the ACOs has been vital in signaling the tremendous potential of the work the ACOs have begun - and need to continue. The state has been integral in the development of the ACOs under a three-year demonstration project. For ACOs to have a chance to accomplish what they were created to do, we encourage the state to continue its support of the project.

Most important, all New Jersey residents, especially patients with complex health conditions, will have the potential to gain in quality of health care services, improved health outcomes, and savings on health care delivery costs.

Jeffrey Brenner is executive director of the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers. Gregory Paulson is executive director of the Trenton Health Team. Stephen Schneider is executive director of the Healthy Greater Newark Accountable Care Organization.

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If you've got a budget of $350,000, here are 10 ways to spend it on a New Jersey home

From a 2-bedroom condo in a North Bergen high-rise with views of New York City to a storybook cottage on 17 acres in Warren County, there are plenty of options in New Jersey if your home buying budget is $350,000.

That's a little over the median sale price of homes in the state -- $305,000 -- between August and November of 2016, according to Trulia, and it will barely get you inside the front door in the state's priciest counties (Bergen, $468,000). But in the second priciest county, Morris, there's a renovated 3-bedroom townhouse with a family room and walk-out basement.

If you're looking to spread out, there are two homes topping 3,000 square feet -- one, a 2009 5-bedroom with an enormous master suite in Barnegat, and the other a 2005 4-bedroom with a cherry kitchen on half an acre in Sicklerville, Camden County.

For those looking for a convenient commute to New York City, check out a raised ranch in West Orange located on the town's jitney route to the train station. And if you're looking to get away, you can find a beautiful 2-bedroom stone cottage in Washington, Warren County, with a stream running through the 17 acres. 

Take a tour through those properties and others that were on the market as of Monday for $350,000 in the gallery above. 

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out Remote Possibilities, the TV podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or Spreaker, or listen below or here.

Ep. 60: Best and worst TV of 2016

Responding to popular demand, "The Hip Hop Nutcracker" returns to NJPAC for its third holiday season.

Imagine Tchaikovsky's classic score for the "The Nutcracker" -- the opening overture, Act I's "March," the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." Now replace the ballet dancers on stage with a hip hop crew, with popping taking the place of plies and toprocking subbing for tendu.

Now it imagines it works and it works well. So well, in fact, that three years after "The Hip Hop Nutcracker" premiered with performances at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and New Yorks United Palace of Cultural Arts, the show is selling out in 25 U.S. cities and returning to NJPAC again on Dec. 17.

"It's so much bigger than anything I could ever have imagined," said Jennifer Weber, the show's director and choreographer, who credits NJPAC's support for "making all of it possible." "People love it because we are truthful to the story and the music. Fans can see all the things they love. We show appreciation for the iconic classic while turning it on its head."

The upcoming production features 12 dancers -- six male, six female -- as well as an electric violinist, a DJ and Guest MC Kurtis Blow. Blow was the first commercially successful rapper, signed to a major label in 1979 at age 20. Having a DJ and an MC involved in the production makes sense, Weber said.

"Hip hop is a culture based on samples and we wanted to sample as much of 'The Nutcracker' as we could," she said. 

Choreographer George Balanchine's version of the "The Nutcracker" ballet, which premiered in 1954, is the one most people know. It tells the now-familiar story of a girl named Clara who is given a nutcracker for Christmas. In her dreams, the Nutcracker comes to life and battles the vicious Mouse King to protect her. He then transforms into a prince, taking her on adventures. The show ends with Clara waking up holding the toy nutcracker.

In the hip-hop translation, the first act is a fairly faithful retelling but expect numerous twists. The setting is now New York City on New Year's Eve in modern times. The Clara character, here called Marai-Clara, is an adult.  In the traditional mice versus toy soldiers fight,  the mouse gang takes the stage wearing baseball hats with mouse ears attached and bomber jackets. Because of the wide variety of dance moves to choose from, the mice crew perform more breakdancing moves while the soldiers are "poppers and strutters," Weber said.

"In ballet, the choreography is similar for all the characters, but with hip hop we can create differences," she said. 

The second act leaves the original behind. Instead of going back to the Land of Sweets, this show goes back to a disco in the 1980s where Maria-Clara's now-feuding parents first met. 

Like the Balanchine version of the show, this production lasts just over two hours. But watch a video clip online and note how it seems to move more quickly.

"In the ballet version, there's a lot of gesturing and setting the scene. In our version, we focus on the choreography so there's a lot of high energy, big dance movements," she said. "We don't spend a lot of time entering a scene."

Weber wasn't familiar with the story behind "The Nutcracker" when she tarted the project. She soon realized she knew a lot of the music. She also realized that her hip hop-trained ear was picking up rhythms many people have probably missed.

"I'm not sure people realize how funky that music can be until they see how we've choreographed it," she said. "Hip hop dancers physicalize sound. It makes you hear different tones and instruments. Once you see what we do with it, you're never going to hear it the same way again."

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

Dec. 17, 3 p.m.

NJPAC's Prudential Hall, Newark

Tickets: $29-79, available at Ticketmaster.

Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Authorities say Khalil Wheeler-Weaver was previously acquainted with Sarah Butler, 20, when he encountered her on Nov. 22, the day she was last seen alive.

NEWARK -- In a courtroom packed with news media and family members of his alleged victim, a 20-year-old Orange man made his first appearance Tuesday on allegations he strangled a New Jersey City University student and dumped her body in a West Orange park.

Dressed in a baggy blue dress shirt, his hands cuffed, Khalil Wheeler-Weaver entered not-guilty pleas to charges of murder and disturbing human remains.

Authorities say Wheeler-Weaver was previously acquainted with Sarah Butler, 20, when he encountered her on Nov. 22, the day she was last seen alive.

Sarah Butler. (Facebook)
 

Butler's family reported her missing the next day; her 2007 Dodge Caravan was discovered abandoned in Orange three days later.

Butler's body was found on Dec. 1, buried underneath leaves and debris at the Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange.

Wheeler-Weaver was arrested six days later.

Judge Ronald D. Wigler said the charges against Wheeler-Weaver will be referred to a grand jury for consideration.

Butler's family sat stoically during the brief proceedings, not looking at Wheeler-Weaver. Some sobbed, and one woman cried out, "My baby."

Man strangled college student, authorities say

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carloyn Murray has said there is no indication the Butler and Wheeler-Weaver were romantically involved. 

Butler, a dancer, also worked part-time as a lifeguard at the Park Street Branch of the YMCA of Montclair.

Wigler said Wheeler-Weaver's bail has been set at $1 million cash or bond.

Staff reporter Noah Cohen contributed prior reporting.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

This 90-minute show features one performing playing all the roles from the classic Jimmy Stewart film

Certainly the holidays are a time for families and friends to share company and warm memories. But they are also a chance to take a breath and lick our collective wounds from what usually proves to be a bumpy ride from one New Year to the next.

Luna Stage's holiday production, "This Wonderful Life," seeks to capture both of these important aspects of the season by suggesting that a little sentimental indulgence can go a long way to soothing aching souls.

Adapted by Steve Murray from the iconic 1946 Jimmy Stewart film "It's a Wonderful Life" and first performed in 2005, "This Wonderful Life" is a 90-minute solo show that asks its one performer to bounce in and out of all the movie's roles -- all the while narrating the movie's plot with the exuberance of an emotional super fan.

At Luna, our narrator and versatile performer is Erica Bradshaw, who changes hats, small costume pieces, and voices as she embodies the tumultuous life of George Bailey and company in Bedford Falls.

Under the direction of David L. Stewart, though, the play searches for more cultural resonance than a simple retelling of a classic tale. Before Bradshaw's entrance, we hear news commentary of clashes between protestors and police at Standing Rock, and of the recent attack at Ohio State University. When Bradshaw opens the black box theater's door to enter, she is accompanied by the voice of Wolf Blitzer announcing the results of America's recent presidential election. Bradshaw slams the door and takes a slug from a flask. She opens the door to double check she's heard right and takes another.

Once Bradshaw finds a script of "It's a Wonderful Life" sitting on a table and confesses her love for the film we can see all her tension wane. The magic of holiday warmth comforts her angst. 

Bradshaw moves through the script and around Christopher and Justin Swader's meticulously haphazard set with vigor as she takes us all the way through the film's plot. Although the show is billed as one actor playing all the parts of the movie, ultimately Murray's script features much more narration than drama.

Bradshaw moves the plot along with description, dramatizes a scene or a quick speech, and then moves back into description. Bradshaw's performance, featuring a range of voices and mannerisms for regular characters, is energetic and effective in capturing a sense of abiding affection for the magic of the classic film.

Still, what the show offers beyond a remembrance of the movie is never entirely clear. Mostly "This Wonderful Life" features a performer relating a familiar story with some theatrical embellishment. There is not much new or enlightening to be found here.

To its credit, the Luna production makes frequent efforts to suggest that that very sense of comfort and familiarity is just the point. At the show's close, for example, Bradshaw steadies herself before resolutely marching through the door into the scary world she shut out to begin the performance. What might seem like holiday escapism is, in fact, an effective means of processing fear, anxiety, and trepidation. The holiday warmth of what we know and love, the show suggests, can help provide the strength we need to face the dangerous and unknown on the horizon.

This Wonderful Life

Luna Stage Company, 555 Valley Road, West Orange, through December 18.

Tickets: $32-$37; online at www.lunastage.com or by phone: (973) 395-5551

Patrick Maley may be reached at patrickjmaley@gmail.com. Find him on Twitter @PatrickJMaley. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Archbishop John J. Myers spent a week in the hospital after dislocating his hip and falling

Newark Archbishop John J. Myers is recovering at a rehabilitation facility after dislocating one of his surgically repaired hips and falling last week, his spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Myers, 75, who is due to retire in January, spent about a week in the hospital after the fall, which took place early last week at his Newark residence, said the spokesman, Jim Goodness.

The archbishop underwent surgery to repair his damaged right hip late last week and is now in an undisclosed rehabilitation center, Goodness said.

"He's still handling the work of the archdiocese," the spokesman said, adding Myers was in "good spirits."

The injury deprives Myers of the chance to publicly celebrate the final weeks of his 15-year tenure in Newark. Goodness said Myers will not attend annual Christmas carol concerts at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

The archbishop also will be unable to preside over Christmas Eve Mass at the Newark cathedral.

It remained unclear if he would be present for the installation of his successor, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, on Jan. 6.

"I wouldn't want to make any predictions at this point," Goodness said. "Certainly everything depends on his progression. We know it will be a number of weeks."

Pope Francis named Tobin, previously Archbishop of Indianapolis, a cardinal in October. Shortly afterward, the pope announced Tobin's move to Newark, home to more than 1.2 million Roman Catholics in Essex, Hudson, Union and Bergen counties.

Tobin will be the first cardinal to preside over the archdiocese in its 163-year history and the first to serve in New Jersey.

Myers, previously bishop of Peoria, had been scheduled to attend a celebration of his 50th year in the priesthood there later this month. The event has been canceled.

The archbishop has had both of his hips replaced, one in 2014, the other last year.

Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

Videos of the three-year-old McClure twins have millions of views. Watch video

WEST ORANGE -- Take two adorable three-year-old girls, add an interview about their lives, and a touch of nonsensical twin speak. That is the recipe for a video to go viral.

At least, it's worked for the McClures, who about a year ago were an average family living in West Orange when parents Ami and Justin decided to start documenting their identical twin girls, Ava and Alexis.

"We're passionate about our family and we're passionate about our daughters," said Ami McClure of why they started taking and posting the videos.

"And, we think they're funny. Fortunately, other people do, too."

The McClures' YouTube videos have been a smash hit. Their most popular, in which the twins realize they look the same, has gotten nearly 1.8 million views since it was posted last month.

Whole Foods set to open this winter in Newark

Over the past few months, the girls have been everywhere from "Good Morning America" to "Inside Edition." They have thousands of online subscribers who come back several times a week to see new vlogs featuring the feisty twins.

The online success, the McClures say, may lead to modeling or acting for the girls when they are older, books, or a reality show. Whatever project they work on next will keep the same happy message their videos have now, the McClures say.

"We have had so many people reach out...saying the videos made their day," said Justin McClure. "It just touches me because I'm so grateful that we have the family that we do...and that we can have this impact on people."

To that end, the family is offering to bring a little holiday cheer to North Jersey families this year. Anyone who knows a local family who is in need of a surprise holiday pick-me-up can nominate the family for a meal and visit from the video sensations. Send nominations to themccluretwins@gmail.com before Dec. 21. The McClures will choose a few local families to surprise with holiday visits and meals after the nomination period closes.   

"We just want to surprise them," said Justin, "and spread a little happiness."

The Newark man was found on the street Dec. 1 unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the hospital

PLAINFIELD -- A man is being held in the Union County jail for the Dec. 1 fatal shooting of a father of six on a Plainfield street, authorities said Tuesday.

Khasim Green, 37, faces a first-degree charge of murder in connection with the death of Al-Muakhkhir Kearney, 35, of Newark, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park said in a statement.

Park said that at about 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, Plainfield police responded to reports of a unresponsive man on the 100 block of of Netherwood Avenue and found the wounded Kearney.

He was rushed to JFK Medical Center in Edison where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, Park said.

Relatives said Kearney had six children and was making a fresh start after overcoming prior legal problems.

Investigators developed evidence identifying Green as the suspect, and he was arrested Monday afternoon without any further incident, the prosecutor said.

Authorities are asking that anybody with information about this matter to call Sgt. Johnny Ho of the Union County Homicide Task Force at (908)-403-8271 or task force Detective William Guy at (908) 347-2212.

The case was investigated by the task force, Plainfield police, Union County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit, and Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit, the prosecutor said.

Murder charges carry a penalty of 30 years to life in prison upon conviction.

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The body of Sarah Butler, of Montclair, was found at Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange more than a week after she went missing.

MONTCLAIR -- The New Jersey college student who was killed a few days before Thanksgiving will be buried about a week before Christmas.

Sarah Butler. (Facebook) 

A wake for Sarah Butler, the 20-year-old Montclair woman whose body was found in a park in West Orange on Dec. 1, will be held at St. Mark's Methodist Church in Montclair Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. The church will hold a funeral service Friday at 11 a.m.

A family friend set up a GoFundMe account to raise money to help cover her burial and other expenses. In 10 days, it raised nearly $14,000.

"Sarah was a happy, caring and kind young lady who was adored by her family and friends," Elaine Wynn Boghosian wrote on the fundraising site.

"Sarah shined a light on this world that we will never be able to replicate or replace."

Butler's family reported her missing on Nov. 23. The New Jersey City University student's body was found at Eagle Rock Reservation more than a week later.

Authorities have since arrested Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, of Orange, in connection with the homicide. Wheeler-Weaver Tuesday pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and disturbing human remains.

Authorities have said that they believe Butler and Wheeler-Weaver had been acquainted before the night of her death, but that there is no evidence that they were romantically involved.

Butler, who was a freshman in college and a lifeguard at the YMCA in Montclair, was a lifelong dancer. Authorities have not released a possible motive in the killing.

Wynn Boghosian described her death as a "senseless homicide."

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Prosecutors say the victim, who was handing out free cigarettes and CDs at the corner of Broad and Market streets, was targeted by men who accused him of "taking business from them." Watch video

NEWARK -- Five men charged with the Jan. 10 beating of a downtown street vendor pleaded guilty Tuesday to various degrees of aggravated assault.

Prosecutors say the 28-year-old victim, who was handing out free cigarettes and CDs at the corner of Broad and Market streets along with flyers to promote his business, was hospitalized with injuries to his head, face and body after an attack that was captured on video by a bystander.

The eight to 10 attackers -- who accused the victim of taking business from them -- also stole the briefcase containing the man's cigarettes, CDs and flyers, according to prosecutors.

The two "most culpable" defendants -- Corey Sabb, of East Orange, and Trevone Craig, of Newark -- took plea agreements for three-year prison sentences, of which they must serve 85 percent, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

The three other defendants --  Julio Pendola, Jahid Nelson and Joshua Craig, all of Newark -- pleaded guilty before Judge Richard T. Sules to lesser degrees of aggravated assault, according to prosecutors.

Beating caught on video prompts stepped-up patrols

Pendola, 18, must serve a flat four-year sentence in state prison, while prosecutors say they expect Nelson, 18, and Craig, 19, to be sentenced to flat three-year sentences.

In a statement, Assistant Prosecutor Vander Woude described the guilty pleas and recommended sentences as "an appropriate resolution of the case given the brazen attack that occurred in broad daylight in downtown Newark."

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Rajohn Wilson will likely be sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison, officials said.

NEWARK -- A 25-year-old gang leader admitted to a host of illegal activities, including murder, that he carried out when he was a teenager.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in a file photo.
 

Rajohn Wilson, of Newark, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of an indictment charging him with a racketeering conspiracy involving murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced in a release.

Wilson, who is also known as "1090," was a high-ranking member, known as a "five-star general" in the Sex Money Murder set of the Bloods street gang in Newark - a group operating primarily near Spruce Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Newark that authorities say was run by his older brother, Narik "Spaz" Wilson.

The younger Wilson Tuesday, who was indicted with his brother and two other alleged gang members in 2014, admitted to plotting two murders of rival gang members in 2007, and taking part in two drive-by shootings, Fishman said. He also admitted conspiring to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin, authorities said.

Gang members admit to roles in shootings

As part of his plea agreement, officials said Wilson will likely be sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison, minus time served, and five years of probation. He is set to be sentenced on March 23, 2017.

Wilson's brother pleaded guilty to related crimes last month, and will likely serve 30 years in prison, authorities said.   

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Authorities said Anthony Fields was intoxicated and carrying a gun when he tried to enter Slick's Go-Go Bar around 12:30 a.m. on Christmas Day 2013.

NEWARK -- An Essex County jury has convicted a 22-year-old city man of murder and manslaughter charges in a Christmas Day 2013 shooting that left three dead and two injured at an Irvington club.

Authorities said Anthony Fields was intoxicated and carrying a gun when he tried to enter Slick's Go-Go Bar around 12:30 a.m. that morning. When he was denied entry, investigators said, Fields stepped back and opened fire, killing bouncer Woodley Daniel, 32, manager Pierre Clervoyant Jr., 34, and Mushir Cureton, 27.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray announced Tuesday that a jury had found Fields guilty of murder for Daniel's killing, and of aggravated manslaughter for the killings of Clervoyant and Cureton.

Clervoyant and Cureton had exited the club after the disturbance erupted at the door, according to Assistant Prosecutor Purva Deshpande, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Austin Edwards.     

Police and relatives said at the time that Clervoyant had attempted to de-escalate the situation after Fields began arguing with bouncers.

Two other men sustained gunshot wounds in the attack, but survived their injuries, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Person of interest in Newark stabbings arrested

Fields was arrested by the FBI two days after the shooting at his mother's home in Florida.

Fields, who was also found guilty of weapons offenses, faces life in prison, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

His sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 27, 2017.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Mandee Brady of West Caldwell faces several charges

FAIRFIELD-- A West Caldwell woman was arrested Tuesday, a month after she struck a utility pole with her car allegedly while under the influence of prescription drugs, Chief of Police Anthony Manna said in a statement.

Mandee Brady, 38, left the roadway and crashed her 1997 Mazda the afternoon of Nov. 10 in front of Sunrise Assisted Living on Greenbrook Road, police said.

Brady handed off a 16-month-old infant who was in the car to a passerby who'd stopped to help before Brady passed out, police also said. Police administered CPR and she was taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson. The infant, who appeared unhurt, was also evaluated at the hospital.

Mandee Brady (Fairfield police)  

In a statement, police did not disclose the relationship between Brady and the infant. An email to Manna sent Tuesday night was not immediately returned.

A search of the car turned up prescription bottles containing tablets and other evidence of illicit drug use, police said. Brady was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, assault by auto, being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, driving while under the influence and doing so in a school zone, and possession of paraphernalia. She surrendered to police Tuesday.

Brady was being held on $50,000 bail.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

Two Newark men were arrested on various drug charges Tuesday, authorities announced.

NEWARK -- Undercover sheriff's officers arrested two men Tuesday caught selling crack cocaine in the city's South Ward, authorities said.

Marcus Alexander, 44, and Terry Williams, 49, both of Newark, were dealing drugs out of a parked 2003 Ford Windstar on the 100 block of Mapes Avenue, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. The sheriff's officers were investigating the area in response to neighborhood complaints.

During a search of the car, officers found 25 jugs of crack, 32 envelopes of heroin, and marijuana, Fontoura said.

Both men were arrested on 16 criminal counts related to the alleged sale and intent to distribute drugs, authorities said. Officers also seized $519 in cash from the men.

They were taken to the Essex County jail on $50,000 cash bond, officials said. An arraignment has been set for Wednesday.

A 57-year-old woman who police allegedly saw buying crack from the men was issued a summons and released.   

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Is sports bookmaking coming to New Jersey sooner than you think? Watch video

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday said voters were "dumb" to reject north Jersey casinos in a referendum last month, and predicted the state will see casinos beyond Atlantic City within five years.

The governor also said he expects sports betting will be legal in the state by the time he leaves office in 2018.

Appearing as a co-host on WFAN's "Boomer and Carton" sports radio show, the Republican governor made his comments after fielding a call from a distraught John "Jay" Coffey, the mayor of Oceanport, the town that is home to Monmouth Park Racetrack. 

"We're getting eaten alive by other states," said Coffey.

Coffey quickly voiced his support for a new measure in the state Assembly (A4255) that would allow New Jersey's racetracks, including Monmouth Park, to create legal "internet gaming cafes" at the tracks where those visitors could play already-legal online gambling games in a designated space leased by casinos.

"It's not going to happen, Jay," Christie said. "We just put a referendum on to have casino gaming in other parts of the state and it lost with 80 percent of the vote. Jay, the people have spoken." 

New Jersey voters overwhelmingly shot down a ballot question asking whether to amend the constitution to allow casino gambling outside of Atlantic City by building two casinos in the northern part of the state. 

"No, the people have spoken that they didn't want that legislation," Coffey said, but the governor cut him off.

"They do not want casino style gaming spread in other parts of the state," Christie said. "It's that simple. That's why I'm going for sports gambling. We're doing our best to try and get you sports gaming in Monmouth, which would really help Monmouth, but you're not getting VOTs (video gaming terminals), or slots or anything like that. ... It's not gonna happen."

Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex), a co-sponsor of the internet gaming cafe measure, has denied his bill is circumventing the public's will, noting that online gaming is legal in the state, and that bettors could simply be allowed to play those online games in a designated space leased by racetracks.

Sports betting fight heading to U.S. Supreme Court?

Christie said he supported  the failed referendum because he feared that competition from across the Hudson River would soon dominate the north Jersey bettors market.

"All the New York money sponsored commercials in New Jersey, and people listened to the New York money, and you know what's going to happen?" Christie asked. "New York's going to expand casino gaming into New York City, they're going to make all the money, and New Jersey's not. And it was a dumb move by the voters, but they did it."

New Jersey lawmakers are prohibited from putting the question on the ballot before voters again for two years, but the governor said he was optimistic that by 2021, counties like Essex and Hudson and Bergen would be able to offer the same gaming offerings as Atlantic City.

He also laid down a marker on the fate of sports betting fight. Christie's administration has been fighting for years to legalize such wagering at New Jersey's casinos and racetracks but has been rebuffed in court each time. The state has now petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case.

"I also think that we'll have sports gambling in New Jersey in the next year," Christie said. "Before I leave office, I think we'll have sports gambling in Monmouth Park."

Christie is term-limited and must leave office on Jan. 18, 2018.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

New Census data released last week shows that average commute times are getting longer, especially for residents that take public transportation. Find out which towns have the best and worst commutes to work, according to the Census data.

The 'From One Princess to Another' initiative will hand out dolls and letters to 100 city girls.

NEWARK -- Every little girl looks like a princess.

That's the message of a new initiative meant to inspire confidence and self-assurance in young girls living in the state's largest city.

Shennell McCloud, a lifelong Newark resident and director of advocacy for KIPP New Jersey, which operates several charter schools in the city, said the idea for the movement came when she was pregnant with her first child.

"When I found out I was having a girl, I realized that I really needed her to be aware of how to build a positive self image from the time she was born," McCloud said.

McCloud, her husband, and their new 3-month-old daughter Avon have teamed up with the Girls, Live, Love, Laugh, Inc. nonprofit organization to make sure that 100 other Newark girls get the message, too.

They launched the "From One Princess to Another" initiative, which McCloud says she plans to make an annual event.

As part of the program, the group will hand out 100 African American princess dolls -- toys that McCloud called "huge for our girls."

"I needed this 30 years ago and I'm happy our girls can have it now. They should know we have princesses in our image."

Celeb chef to open Newark restaurant

Along with the dolls, each girl will receive a letter written by women who are community leaders. The letters, McCloud said, contain messages of empowerment from real, successful women.

"I don't think we do enough mentorship," she said.

So far, the group has collected about 50 letters. McCloud is asking interested women in New Jersey who can share a message "about what it means to be able to believe in your beauty and to believe in your power," to submit a letter to the cause via an online form by Friday.

Girls, Live, Love, Laugh, Inc. Founder Allison James offered the event to many of the 5,000 Newark girls her organization has worked with in the past.

The nonprofit hosts events throughout the year at the Newark Center of Hope that she says are meant to empower and support city girls. This Saturday, the Center will host the 100 girls for the princess giveaway.

"We want to be advocates for girls in the community, for them to know how valuable they are," James said.

The dolls and letters "are really about women coming together to support girls."

To contribute a letter to the cause, use this online form.

Get links to all of NJ.com's post-season football content including All-State, All-Group and local county and conference honors for the 2016 season.

Welcome to Part 1 of NJ.com's postseason honors and season in review for the 2016 football season.  Part 2 will be added here Thursday morning. Enjoy and congrats to the honorees.

TOP HONORS
• Player of the Year (Coming Thursday)
• Defensive Player of the Year (Coming Thursday)
• Coach of the Year (Coming Thursday)
• Team of the Year (Coming Thursday)

ALL-STATE TEAMS
• First Team All-State: Offense | Defense (Coming Thursday)
• Second Team All-State: Offense | Defense (Coming Thursday)
• Third Team All-State: Offense | Defense (Coming Thursday) 

RELATED: WATCH & VOTE for video Play of the Year

FINAL TEAM RANKINGS
• NJ.com Football Final 50: The Top 20 (and 30 more) 
• Conference rankings
• Group 4
• Group 3
• Group 2
• Group 1
• Non-Public
• Public
• Prep 

ALL-GROUP
• All-Group 5 (Coming Thursday)
• All-Group 4 (Coming Thursday)
• All-Group 3 (Coming Thursday)
• All-Group 2 (Coming Thursday)
• All-Group 1 (Coing Thursday)
• All-Non-Public (Coming Thursday)
• All-Prep

CONFERENCE SEASONS IN REVIEW
Players of the Year & other honors
• Greater Middlesex Conference
• North Jersey Football Super Conference
• Mid-State 38 Conference
• North Jersey Interscholastic Conference
• Shore Conference
• West Jersey Football Conference

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
As selected by each conference
• Greater Middlesex Conference (not yet announced)
• North Jersey Football Super Conference
• Mid-State 38 Conference (not yet announced)
• North Jersey Interscholastic Conference
• Shore Conference
• West Jersey Football League 
• All-Mid-Atlantic Prep League

STAT LEADERS
• Season heroes: Single-game leaders
• Season stat leaders

Nutley police are looking into at least five holiday display thefts.

NUTLEY -- Could the Grinch be at work in Nutley this year? Township police are investigating a string of holiday thefts that seem like they could be from the fictional character's anti-Christmas playbook.

Police say this dark car was caught on video in one of the thefts. (Courtesy Nutley police)
 

As many as five township families have reported Christmas lights and other holiday decorations stolen from their front lawns over the past few weeks.

Though the thefts also work to squash holiday cheer, police say they are more likely motivated by the displays' pricetags.

"The Christmas thefts are mostly those laser light (displays) valued at about $100 to $160," Det. Sgt. Anthony Montanari said.

Surveillance video at one home caught two people stealing a light decoration, and speeding off in a dark or black car, he said.

Like many other towns, the police department has also seen a holiday uptick in thefts of packages from front lawns and porches, though Montanari said police do not believe the light thefts and packages are being stolen by the same people.

The decoration thefts include a motion light stolen from a home on Milton Avenue on Dec. 3, two laser Christmas displays stolen from an East Passaic Avenue front lawn also on Dec. 3, a Christmas projector taken from a Pershing Avenue residence on Dec. 5, and a laser light projector that went missing from a Howard Place home on Nov. 27, authorities said.

Police said overlapping undercover patrols are working to catch the thieves.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.