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Who has N.J.'s best winter student section? Hurry and nominate your school! (It's easy)

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Get your nominations in for the winter edition of our statewide contest

UPDATE, Jan. 24, 11:15 a.m.: We've added a few new nominations to the photo gallery above. Congrats to those schools nominated, and thanks to the fans who sent pics. (And Haddonfield, you're in - you can take a break.)

If your school isn't represented in the photo gallery, what are you waiting for? If you're waiting for the rain to stop - well, it slowed down, at least. Games should be back on. It's time to take a pic and get your school nominated, the first and most essential step to having your school community participate in this contest.

The nomination period only lasts until next Monday, Jan. 30, at 11:59 p.m. There's no time to waste.

Nominating your school couldn't be easier. Just take a pic, and use the form below to submit it.


Can you feel the gym shake? Are you looking at a sea of red, white and blue, or have the bleachers become a balmy beach scene in the middle of January? Is that organized cheer still rattling in your head?

Student section at work.

Whether it's themes, cheers, chants or banners, we know there are some student sections that help the team catch fire - home or away. We want to know which N.J. school has the best student section this winter, and we're relying on those student sections - and the rest of the school community - to show us - with pictures, with testimonials and in the end, with votes.

We're launching the winter version of our best student section contest (Oakcrest won the football version this fall). It's journey that will last until the end of February, and it starts with an critical first step - a nomination.

To be a part of all that follows, your school has to get a nomination by Monday, Jan. 30. That's not a ton of time, but nominating a school is super easy.  Someone just needs to take at least one picture of the student section and use the form below to submit it.  That's it. Done deal.

Our photographers will also be around the state looking for student sections, and we'll use some of our photos to make nominations too, but don't count on us - we can't be everywhere. Make it a sure thing, and nominate your school with a pic.

Contest format:
Nominations will be open through Monday, Jan. 30. We will then split the nominations into regions and launch a one-week qualifying poll for each region. Your voting in the regional qualifying polls will determine the schools that move on to an elimination bracket, with week-long head-to-head voting matchups to determine regional finalists. We will skip the regional finals and have one big statewide final for all the would-be regional finalists.  The whole thing is targeted to wrap up Monday, Feb. 27.

Nomination and photo submission notes:
• The form below will work with your cell phone - you can nominate your school from the game!
• NJ.com staff will also make nominations with our own photography.
Only upload photos you have shot or that you personally received permission to use. We can't use photos from other media outlets. Please don't grab and submit photos from other websites.
• Multiple nominations for a school are welcome, but we may not use every photo.
• Submitted photos will be added to the gallery after some processing time; nominations will be compiled and listed on top of this post after the weekend's play.

So start talking and sharing - rally the troops to nominate, vote and make your student section officially the best in N.J.

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION PHOTOS


3 face gun charges after Newark cops find vehicle wanted in robberies

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Guns found hidden behind toilet after police chase, according to authorities.

2mugsnewark.jpg(Photos: Dept. of Public Safety) 
NEWARK -- Two men and a teen were charged with weapons offenses after Newark police found them hiding in a Central Ward apartment, where officers were searching for the assailants involved in two Belleville gunpoint robberies early Friday, authorities said.

Detectives with the Newark police division's Special Enforcement Bureau found a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was used in the holdups and an ensuing pursuit with Belleville officers shortly after midnight, according to city Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose. The Jeep was left in a lot and city detectives found the group in a nearby apartment.

In the apartment, detectives recovered a loaded .380 caliber high-capacity gun and a .40 caliber handgun both hidden in a toilet, Ambrose said in a statement. The guns were reported stolen out of state and the Jeep was stolen from Mountain Lakes.

The three -- Jaquee Amons, 23, Al-Samad Hodges, 18, and a 17-year old male, all Newark residents, were charged with weapons offenses, including disposing of a large capacity ammunition magazine.

Police did not identify the teen because of his age. 

Belleville police, which handled the robberies, could not be immediately reached for more information.

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

 

NYC's famous food cart, The Halal Guys, opens second N.J. location

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New York City's famous chicken and rice cart has come to Newark

NEWARK -- New York City's food cart legend, The Halal Guys, has come to the Brick City. 

The Halal Guys opened its second location in New Jersey at 72 Halsey Street Friday, drawing hundreds of patrons who lined up down the block to munch on lamb or chicken gyros, combo platters and taste the famous magic white sauce. 

"We always go to one New York," said Josephine Santos, who came with her 22-year-old daughter. She was happy she could now get her dose of white sauce closer to her house. 

"The food is really good," added Tia Adams, 34, of Montclair. "I'm not cooking tonight," she said as she walked out with a large bag of food -- and a handful of coupons. 

The Halal Guys began when Egyptian immigrants Muhammed Abouelenein, Ahmed Elsaka and Abdelbaset Elsayed decided to open a food cart on the corner of W. 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan in the 1990s. 

Elsayed said they opened the food cart after realizing taxi cab drivers, many of whom were Muslim, wanted hot halal food at night.

"From then, once you try that food one time, it's like you get addicted to it," Elsayed said, adding that his customer base began to widen to tourists and nearby residents. "It's a great moment to see one more store open to satisfy our customers." The Halal Guys also have a store in East Brunswick.

Customers packed the restaurant as a DJ played music outside for waiting guests. Mayor Ras Baraka was also on hand to officially welcome the business to the city.

"Adding to all the businesses that are coming to Halsey Street, we appreciate your support of Newark and bringing the diversity of businesses that we need," Baraka said. 

The store hired 48 employees, more than half of whom are Newark residents, said Joseph Hafez, the store's general manager. Hafez said the restaurant partnered with the U.S. Labor Department and Goodwill to offer its employees workforce development, teaching them financial literacy, computer skills and soft skills. 

"I'm proud to be in Newark because I've seen this city struggling before and I'm glad that we are part of the success story," Hafez said. 

The Halal Guys has more than 200 locations in development worldwide. The Newark location will be open from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. every day. 

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook

 

Feds charge 2 men after finding 9 pounds of cocaine in the mail

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The drugs were stuffed inside shrink-wrapped boxes of children's toys, according to court filings.

NEWARK -- Two men are facing federal drug-trafficking charges after the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted more than 9 pounds of cocaine being mailed to Essex County from Puerto Rico.

Vladimir Karilen and Jose Flores Maldonado are both charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine under a criminal complaint filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Newark.

According to the complaint, investigators intercepted the package on Monday while being mailed from Puerto Rico to an address in Newark. Postal inspectors found just over 9 pounds of the drug stuffed inside shrink-wrapped boxes of children's toys, the complaint states.

After a woman came to an unspecified Newark post office on Wednesday looking for the package, she was confronted by the inspectors, according to the complaint. After she contacted Karilen to pick up the package at the Newark address, the complaint states, he was arrested by officers waiting inside the residence.

Feds: Man punched postal worker on Christmas Eve

Investigators confronted Maldonado outside after they found him in a waiting car, the complaint states. Inside the car, they allegedly found $2,062 in cash, multiple cellphones and a ledger of apparent drug transactions.

Both men made initial appearances Thursday before Magistrate Judge Leda D. Wettre, and were released after posting $100,000 unsecured appearance bonds, according to court records.

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

 

Police, workers stop couple accused in Newark airport robbery, officials say

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Woman robbed early Thursday at train station.

NEWARK -- A Union County couple robbed a traveler from England at a Newark Liberty International Airport train station before the duo was stopped by Port Authority police and workers, officials said Friday.

The 30-year-old woman, from Cambridge, England, was approached by Summer Ahmed, 21, and DeJuan Franklyn, 20, at the airport's Northeast Corridor train station platform around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Port Authority police spokesman Joe Pentangelo.

The pair pursued the woman and took her pocketbook, the spokesman said. Franklyn put his hand in his pocket to simulate a gun and threatened the woman, who went to an NJ Transit worker for help.

Pentangelo said the couple took off running, but Ahmed was detained by NJ Transit staff in a ticketing area, the spokesman added.

Shootings leave 4 wounded in 4 days in Orange, source says

Franklyn jumped a turnstile, ran into the train track area and fled into a fenced off restricted area, according to police. A contractor working in the area managed to detain the alleged assailant.

Meanwhile, Ahmed fled again before she was stopped by Port Authority police, the spokesman said. The officers recovered the woman's pocketbook.

Ahmed, of Elizabeth, and Franklyn, of Plainfield, were each charged with robbery and conspiracy. Franklyn faces added charges of trespassing and having a small amount of marijuana.

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

 

Member of luxury carjacking ring gets 10 years

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Donnell Carroll was one of nearly two dozen charged in October 2015

TRENTON  -- Another member of a 22-person carjacking ring busted in 2015 has been sentenced to prison, state Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced Friday.

Donell-Carroll-sm.jpgDonell Carroll (Attorney General's office)  

Donell Carroll, 29, of East Orange, was given a 10-year sentence after pleading guilty last month to a racketeering charge and admitting to being a member of the ring, which was taken down in an investigation dubbed Operation 17 Corridor on Oct. 27, 2015.

The ring focused on Porsches, Mercedes, Land Rovers and other high-end vehicles along the Rt. 17 corridor, which cuts through an affluent area of Bergen County. The ring stole or carjacked  the vehicles, which were then shipped to buyers in Africa.

Authorities recovered more than 90 vehicles worth more than $4 million in addition to making the nearly two dozen arrests.

"We made our communities safer through Operation 17 Corridor by arresting carjackers and completely dismantling a criminal organization that was providing a lucrative market for luxury stolen vehicles," said Porrino. "We are sending these ring members to prison, where they can no longer threaten residents with this dangerous type of street-level crime."

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

 

Man sentenced for wild crime spree that left cop injured

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Terry Saunders cut a swath of mayhem through Newark one day in 2014

TRENTON-- A Newark man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for a criminal rampage during which he tried to run down the employee of a rental car facility, carjacked another man and injured a State Police detective in the space of just a few hours, Attorney General Christopher Porrino said Friday.

Terry-Saunders-sm.jpgTerry Saunders (Attorney General's office)  

Terry Saunders, 28, who is also known as Tarik Smith, pleaded guilty Nov. 14 to carjacking, robbery and aggravated assault and must serve at last eight and a half years in prison under the state's No Early Release Act.

Shortly after 5 a.m. on Sept. 30, 2014, Saunders drove a stolen car onto the lot of Alamo Rent A Car on 1&9 in Newark, drove to the back and stole a Chevy Tahoe. Saunders pulled up to the closed gate and honked, but a suspicious security guard approached the truck instead of opening the gate. 

Saunders rammed the gate, went into reverse and slammed into two other vehicles, then drove directly towards another security guard who had come by to assist. The guard shot Saunders in the shoulder with a .40-caliber handgun before Saunders crashed into the gate once more, this time disabling the SUV. Saunders ran and was chased by the guard, but Saunders escaped following a brief struggle.  

A radio alert went out to area police providing a description of Saunders and also describing him as armed, although a subsequent investigation determined there was no evidence he had a weapon at the time.

Shortly after the alert was issued, a State Police detective patrolling in Newark spotted Saunders as he was attempting to carjack a Monte Carlo on Frelinghuysen Avenue. Saunders opened the car's passenger door as it was stopped at a light and ordered the driver into the back seat.  

The detective, who was not identified, left his unmarked Jeep and entered the Monte Carlo, kneeling on the driver's seat facing Saunders. The two wrestled before the detective drew his weapon and ordered Saunders to put his hands up. Saunders instead threw the car into reverse, prompting the detective to fire, according to an investigation of the shooting. None of the three to four rounds struck Saunders.

The detective was then thrown from the car and dragged several feet until it crashed into the detective's Jeep. When Saunders attempted to drive off, the detective fired seven or eight more rounds, fearing for the safety of the Monte Carlo's driver, who was still in the back seat. This time, Saunders was hit in the back.  

Saunders drove off before abandoning the car shortly afterward and fleeing on foot. The carjacked driver was unharmed.

Saunders was arrested at Harlem Hospital Center that night after seeking treatment for the gunshot wounds, The detective suffered broken bones in his spine, a broken shoulder, broken ribs and head wounds.

A subsequent investigation by the state Division of Criminal Justice found that the detective was justified in firing his weapon.

"Once behind the wheel of a stolen car, Saunders wielded that car like a weapon, with zero regard for the life of anyone who got in his way," said Porrino. "The State Police detective in this case is a true hero who risked his life to take this violent criminal off the street."

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

 

Latest threat by Newark teachers union escalates feud with district

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The teachers union says it will file a complaint with the state commission claiming 10 administrators do not have proper certifications

NEWARK - An ongoing feud between the school district and its teachers union over contract negotiations and staffing decisions has provoked rancorous remarks from both sides -- the latest concerning the union's public allegations that 11 high-ranking school district administrations are not certified for their jobs.

Earlier this month, the Newark Teachers Union said in a press release it had filed a complaint against the district for hiring individuals without proper certifications. The complaint, however, had not yet been filed with the state commissioner of education. 

NTU president John Abeigon told NJ Advance Media there was a "miscommunication problem" and the filing was delayed while the union awaited public records to confirm the gripe. The complaint also named one if it's own union members -- Abeigon says she will be removed from the complaint. 

"We're double checking; we just want to cross our t's and dot our i's," Abeigon said, adding he planned to file the complaint soon. "I take complete responsibility. I get 300-400 emails a day, I forwarded this one a little bit too soon but we still stand by what we said in it."

John AbeigonJohn Abeigon leads the Newark Teachers Union.  

The ordeal has furthered strained the tense relationship between the district and the union. The two are currently negotiating the contract the covers Newark's 4,000 teachers, clerks and aides, which expired in 2015.

When Abeigon emailed the district on Jan. 11 asking for information about the English as a Second Language/Bilingual department days after he made the public allegations, Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf replied:

"Last I checked you purported to file an action seeking to terminate our head of ESL, who happens to be an NTU member. She was outraged and hurt by the press attention you personally brought on her," Cerf wrote, according to the email forwarded to NJ Advance Media. "Given your unbelievably [sic] (if completely in character) hypocrisy, I have directed my team to not spend one second of management time responding to your letter."

In the draft complaint, NTU alleged 11 administrators were "legally ineligible" to hold their jobs, should be removed and all their actions in such roles voided.

Abeigon said the union would amend the complaint and remove the name of Maria Elena Suarez, a bilingual instructional specialist for the district and dues-paying member for 29 years.

Suarez said she was surprised to see her name in the complaint because she says she's certified - and qualified -- to do her job. "My heart dropped. How can this happen if I'm a member of the Newark Teachers Union?" Suarez, 52, of Newark, said. "NTU is suing me."

Abeigon said Suarez was named because she was running the entire bilingual department as a de factor executive director, a role she is not paid for or qualified to do. But he decided to remove her name because she could not testify against herself. He said he plans to file a separate complaint about the bare-bones bilingual department. 

Suarez said the department has not had an executive director for four years but denied that she's taken on additional responsibilities.

The district declined to comment on the matter but previously defended its administrators against what it called "frivolous lawsuits" by Abeigon.

"As with previous challenges of this nature filed by Mr. Abeigon, these new claims are a distraction from the important work of educating children and serving families," Cerf said in an earlier statement regarding the allegations.

In an October letter obtained by NJ Advance Media, Cerf wrote to Abeigon, alleging he had misrepresented facts, worked against the interests of his union members and failed to negotiate in good faith.

"John, I simply do not know how to engage with someone who so repeatedly and consistently lies, so viciously attacks people with slanderous claims, and is so totally resistant to engaging in a resolution-oriented negotiation," Cerf wrote on Oct. 6.

The letter reprimanded Abeigon for other actions that unfairly attacked district employees and delayed settling a contract for his members.

"It is ironic that you would then stand up at a public board meeting and say that the NPS was responsible for not giving your members a raise for last year when it was you, the NTU president, who is personally accountable for that unfortunately reality," Cerf wrote. "You have preferred drama and rhetoric to good faith negotiation."

Cerf confirmed the authenticity of the Jan. 11 email and Oct. 6 letter but declined to comment further. 

Abeigon disputed that he had made any misrepresentations when asked about the letter.

"I didn't put the district in the financial bind that it's in," Abeigon said, adding that Cerf should be thanking him for pointing out his leadership team was not certified for their roles.  

"I'm doing what I need to do for my members and the community," he said. 

It wasn't clear as of Friday whether the complaint had been filed. The union and one of its legal representatives did not say when they planned to file. 

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook


Where's all the snow in N.J. this winter?

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It appears New Jerseyans can keep their snow blowers in storage for a while, even though we're nearing the end of January. Watch video

It's a rare January in New Jersey when more snow falls down south in Atlantic City than up north in the hilly Sussex County town of Wantage.

But that's exactly what has happened this month. With just a few days to go before January 2017 comes to a close and no big snowstorms on the horizon, Atlantic City has gotten 7.0 inches of snow this month, while Wantage has had only 4.1 inches.

During a normal January, the casino city gets just 4.5 inches of snow and the high-elevation township in the state's northwestern region gets about 16 inches of snow.

"We are way behind," said Nick Stefano, a Wantage resident. "Way below normal."

nj-snow-stats-snowiest-januarys.jpg 

Stefano should know. He heads the Sussex County Weather Network, and he's one of the trained weather spotters who measures snow in his town during every snowstorm and sends those readings to the National Weather Service, where it becomes part of the official climate record.

Even though he loves snow, Stefano can't be too disappointed by the small amount of frozen precipitation that has fallen this month. Along with many other towns in Sussex County, Wantage had a very snowy December this winter.

Last month, Wantage picked up a total of 15.6 inches of snow from a series of small storm systems. That's 4 inches above normal for December.

Statewide snow stats

Across New Jersey, most regions got hardly any snow in December, but the Newark area is actually running about an inch above normal in snowfall this month, with 8.8 inches so far, according to data from the National Weather Service. After getting just a trace of snow in December, Atlantic City is running 2.5 inches above normal for January, thanks to the half-foot of snow that fell during a snowstorm earlier this month.

New Brunswick received only 2 inches of snow in December and is slightly below average in January, with 7.6 inches of snow measured this month, according to the office of New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson at Rutgers University. Statistics from Rutgers and Stefano show towns across the normally snowy northwestern region of the state fared well in December but are as much as 12 inches below normal in snowfall this month.

Any storms brewing?

Even though the long-range forecasts don't show any signs of a major snowstorm brewing in the next week -- we could get some minor disturbances with light snow showers Sunday night into Monday and perhaps a few days later -- the National Weather Service notes there's still a lot of winter ahead of us.

"While it has been a poor winter for snow so far, we still have about eight more weeks where winter can do considerable damage," the weather service's forecast office in New Jersey wrote in its forecast discussion Friday morning.

Keep in mind, February is usually the snowiest month of the year in New Jersey. And Stefano reminds us that the Garden State can get hit with big snowstorms as late as March or April.

"One of my biggest snowstorms up here was April 1, 1997," Stefano said, noting about 2 feet of snow piled up in his hometown of Wantage and 27 inches accumulated in High Point. Here's a video he posted on YouTube showing footage from that storm, which started as rain on March 31 and changed to snow that lasted into the following day.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

The Port Authority's top money makers (and losers)...

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From the bridges and tunnels, to marine terminals and airports, the Port Authority oversees nearly $8 billion in assets, revenues and capital projects. As the agency begins hammering out a new $30 billion capital plan, a look at it's biggest money making (and money losing) facilities...

Newark man, 25, charged in city shooting, police say

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Frederic Masucci, 25, was arrested and charged Friday in connection with a Jan. 12 shooting, Newark police said in a release.

NEWARK -- A 25-year-old city man was arrested Friday night in connection with a shooting earlier this month, police said. 

Screen Shot 2017-01-28 at 11.15.31 AM.jpegFrederic Masucci, 25, of Newark. (Newark Police Department)

Frederic Masucci was charged in the Jan. 12 shooting of 29-year-old man on the 300 block of North 10th Street, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a release.

The incident happened at about 5 p.m. after an argument between the two, Ambrose said. The shooter took off on foot and the victim was taken to University Hospital in Newark, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries, he said. 

Newark police later identified Masucci as a suspect in the shooting and were tipped off to his location on Friday, the release said.

Police arrested Masucci in a basement apartment on the 100 block of Garside Street without incident, according to police. 

Masucci was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and criminal attempt, Ambrose said.  

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook

 

Monster trucks battle for king of the hill in Newark (PHOTOS)

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Shows are Saturday (1 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) at the Prudential Center. Watch video

NEWARK -- It took 100 truckloads of dirt to transform the arena at the Prudential Center into a track for this weekend's Monster Jam, where custom high-power vehicles of all sizes compete for king of the hill.

Fans will get to watch eight drivers compete in three kinds of vehicles: Monster Jam speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs and the loud and powerful Monster Jam trucks.

 "It's sensory overload," says Kaedon Barry, the tour's manager. "The sights, the sounds, the big air. It's a very good family event."

Ear plugs are an option.

Remaining shows are Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).

Robert Sciarrino may be reached at bsciarrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SciarrinoRobert. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Trump's anti-immigration orders are 'inhuman,' says Newark archbishop

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The Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, said in a statement Friday the president's actions were "not rationals act" and "inhuman policies"

NEWARK -- One of the most prominent Catholic leaders in North Jersey took a stand against President Donald Trump and his anti-immigration executive orders that call for closing the borders and building a wall along Mexico. 

The Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, said in a statement Friday the president's actions were "not rational acts," calling the orders "inhuman policies."

The Cardinal, who has been at the Vatican this week for meetings, vowed to keep helping refugees resettle despite Trump's orders barring those immigrating from war-torn Muslims countries from entering the United States. 

"Wednesday's Executive Actions do not show the United States to be an open and welcoming nation," Tobin said. "They are the opposite of what it means to be an American."

Tobin also criticized the president for his attack on "sanctuary cities," which under the executive orders will cut off funds to those municipalities that do not help enforce immigration laws. New Jersey is home to at least 10 locally designated "sanctuary cities."

N.J. mayors pledge to stand by immigrants

Local leaders, including the mayors of Newark and Jersey City, promised this week to protect the undocumented residents who live in New Jersey's cities.  On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez had a similar message for the president, calling the orders a "terrible and ugly decision." 

Gov. Chris Christie, a Trump adviser, supported the Republican president's orders, which also called for 5,000 new border patrol agents and 10,000 additional immigration officers. 

Tobin, who was installed as the leader of the Archdiocese of Newark earlier this month, ended his statement saying, "This nation has a long and rich history of welcoming those who have sought refuge because of oppression or fear of death. Even when such groups were met by irrational fear, prejudice and persecution, the signature benevolence of the United States of American eventually triumphed.

"That confident kindness is what has made, and will continue to make, America great."

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Glen Ridge police issue alert after girls report encounter with 'suspicious' man

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Man reportedly asked if the juveniles wanted ice cream.

GLEN RIDGE -- Police on Saturday asked for tips from the public after two girls reported they were approached by a "suspicious" man in a sport utility vehicle in the borough.

The girls reported they were walking in front of the Glen Ridge post office on Ridgewood Avenue around 3 p.m. Thursday when an SUV pulled up, according to an alert from police Chief Sheila Byron-Lagattuta. The front seat passenger shouted at the pair, asking the girls if they were cold and wanted ice cream.

"The juveniles became alarmed and proceeded home, where they reported this incident to the police," police said.

73-year-old man attempted to lure teen girl into his car, police say

The passenger was described as a black man, approximately 40 to 50 years old, with short black hair, facial hair and a protruding front tooth.

Anyone with information was asked to call borough police at 973-748-5400 and dial 9-1-1 immediately if they criminal activity.

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

 

 

Tip leads police to gun, drugs at Newark housing complex, authorities say

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Cocaine, marijuana and pills among drugs seized at housing complex, according to police.

NEWARK -- Police arrested a Newark resident with a gun and various drugs at the Stephen Crane Village public housing complex after receiving a tip about the armed man, authorities said Saturday.

Jerome Brown, 23, faces weapons and drug-related charges, including possession of narcotics with intent to distribute the drugs and having a weapon as a convicted felon, according Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

Acting on a tip about a man with a gun, officers from Newark's 2nd precinct went to the Newark Housing Authority building on Cedar Lane late Friday, Ambrose said. Working with Newark Special Police Officers, who are hired by the NHA to patrol the complex, the officers arrested Brown without incident.

Security cut before shooting that killed Newark teen, sources say

Brown had a 9mm handgun, 61 decks of cocaine, 33 bags of marijuana, 39 Xanax tablets, prescription pills and nearly $800, which was seized as evidence of drug sales, according to authorities.

"We will continue to work with the Newark Housing Authority to reduce violence and other criminal activities that adversely impact the quality of life in our public housing complexes," Ambrose said. "This cooperative effort removed a gun and a suspect from our streets and our community."

The special police officers are part-time, but have law enforcement authority and are used largely for security patrols in the city. Earlier this month, sources told NJ Advance Media the housing authority cut special officers from an assignment at the John Hyatt Court complex just days before a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed there. NHA officials have said the agency lacked funding for policing.

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

 

 


Priest attacked during mass at Newark basilica

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Attack occurred during Roberto Clemente event Saturday afternoon.

NEWARK -- A 48-year-old Newark man was charged with punching an auxiliary bishop during mass at Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The man, Charles Miller, was arrested by Essex County Sheriff's officers and charged with assault, according to sheriff's spokesman Kevin Lynch. The attack occurred during an event honoring baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente at the North Ward basilica.

Miller got up from his pew, went to the altar and allegedly punched Rev. Manuel A. Cruz, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, in the mouth, officials said. James Goodness, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark, confirmed Cruz was assaulted.

"We are thankful that law enforcement officers were able to apprehend the assailant," Goodness said. "This is not something that we expect to happen in any of our churches."

Security cut before shooting that killed Newark teen, sources say

Cruz was taken to the hospital for treatment and his injuries were not serious, according to authorities. Officials would not speculate on a motive for the assault. 

Capt. Derek Glenn, spokesman for the Newark Department of Public Safety, said the sheriff's office provides security for the basilica and is handling the investigation.

The Saturday event honored the life of Clemente, who died in a 1972 plane crash as he traveled to Nicaragua to deliver humanitarian help to earthquake victims.

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

 

 

Protesters rally at Newark airport against Trump's immigration order

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Ban applies to 7 largely Muslim countries.

NEWARK -- Protesters gathered Saturday at Newark Liberty International Airport against President Donald Trump's immigration order, which barred entry to the United States from seven largely Muslim countries, halted the nation's refugee program and reportedly left people detained at airports.

Make the Road New Jersey, a group that says it works to bring to justice to immigrants in the state, posted on Twitter that demonstrators were gathered at Newark airport's international arrivals area.

Photos on social media showed people holding signs that read "No to a Muslim ban," and "Immigrants make America great."

Protests were also reported at airports across the country, including at John F. Kennedy International Airport where an Iraqi who worked for the U.S. military was initially detained by immigration officials.

Trump's executive order put in place a 90-day travel ban for citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The order also halted the U.S. refugee program for 120-days. Trump has said the ban was needed to safeguard America from "radical Islamic terrorists."

The Associated Press contributed to this report 

 

Suspect shot by Newark police faces charge, authorities say

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No officers injured after early-morning shooting, prosecutor says.

NEWARK -- A 35-year-old Newark man shot by city police this week was charged with eluding law enforcement, authorities said Saturday.

Zireek Martin faces one count of eluding and the investigation was continuing, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly, of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide and Major Crimes Unit.

A Newark police officer shot Martin around 1:30 a.m. Friday on the 600 block of South 11th Street, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said in an earlier statement.

Martin was taken to University Hospital by a private vehicle and listed in stable condition Friday, according to authorities. No police officers were injured.

Shootings leave 4 wounded in 4 days in Orange, source says

The prosecutor's office, which is investigating the shooting in line with state guidelines, did not release details of the incident. 

James Stewart Jr., president of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police, said police apparently interrupted a crime in progress before the shooting. 

"Here it appears our two officers interrupted what may have been a carjacking attempt," Stewart added.

"Our men and women are out there all day and all night, doing everything they can to help keep the community safe," Stewart added. "The intended victim is safe, the officers are ok and we have a bad guy shot and in custody."

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

 

Why these 5 N.J. 'sanctuary' communities could be targeted by Trump

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There is no legal definition of a "sanctuary city"

View 'Sanctuary City' specifics in New Jersey towns in a full screen map

NEWARK -- Two days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order cutting grant funding to "sanctuary jurisdictions" across the United States, questions remain about which municipalities in New Jersey will be affected, and how.

In the order, which Trump signed Wednesday, the president said sanctuary cities "are not eligible to receive Federal grants, except as deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes by the Attorney General or the Secretary (of Homeland Security)."

Trump-sanctuary-citiesDuring a joint press conference this week, immigrant organizers, Muslim advocacy groups and other elected officials from Maplewood, East Orange and Newark pledged to continue to protect immigrants in light of Donald Trump's executive orders. (Karen Yi| NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

Which towns that would impact, however, is a bit unclear, immigration advocates say.

"There is no clear answer as to what a sanctuary city is," said Ari Rosmarin, public policy director for the New Jersey ACLU. "It is not a legal term."

In the order, Trump defines the term as jurisdictions that "willingly refuse to comply" with federal laws governing the communication between local government agencies and national immigration services.

"The Secretary has the authority to designate, in his discretion and to the extent consistent with law, a jurisdiction as a sanctuary jurisdiction," the order reads. 

"The Attorney General shall take appropriate enforcement action against any entity that violates (the law), or which has in effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or hinders the enforcement of Federal law."

Sanctuary or welcoming

In New Jersey, towns that have identified themselves as "sanctuary," "welcoming," or in other ways to indicate that they are supportive of undocumented aliens, do so in different ways.

Newark, which has embraced its "sanctuary city" moniker, for example, has policies in place instructing local law enforcement agencies not to comply with federal requests to hold undocumented inmates in jail, unless the detainer request is accompanied by a judge's order. But, undocumented immigrants who are arrested on criminal charges are detained and processed as legal residents would be, city officials say.  

On the flip side, politicians in Jersey City have been very vocal about supporting the city's immigrants, and the town has laws on the books reflecting that - but none expressly forbidding local police from cooperating with federal immigration officers.

Cities vow to ignore Trump immigration order

Mayors in Maplewood and East Orange, which passed sanctuary-type laws after Trump's election, have joined those mayors in denouncing Trump's order.

Other cities have chosen different labels. Princeton has signed on as a "Welcoming America" city, which, according to its website, is a network of more than 100 municipalities across the country that "provides the roadmap and support (communities) need to become more inclusive toward immigrants and all residents."

Sanctuary-like policies

According to immigration advocates, some other towns and counties in New Jersey have sanctuary-like policies in place to avoid potential wrongful imprisonment liabilities, but do not identify themselves as "sanctuary." Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, and Union Counties have varied versions of such policies in place, advocates say.

The extent to which any sanctuary-type law impedes federal immigration law is also up for debate.

Though he declined to comment on any city specifically, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Alvin Phillips said that since the implementation of the Priority Enforcement Program in 2015, the agency has been working more effectively with local officers.

"We continue to make significant strides to build relationships with our local law enforcement agencies," Phillips said, noting that ICE officers focus on detaining "convicted criminals and individuals who pose a threat to public safety and/or national security."

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

11 men arrested in undercover prostitution sting

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Police arrested the 'Johns' in an overnight sweep.

NEWARK -- Police arrested 11 men Saturday night for allegedly soliciting prostitutes.

Newark Police arrested the 'Johns' as part of an overnight sweep, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.

The operation came in response to complaints from residents living in the areas of Sherman Avenue and East Bigelow Street as well as Hawthorne Avenue and South 20th Street. Most of the men were from Newark while three were from out of state.

The men allegedly solicited sex from an undercover cop. The 11 men were charged with soliciting prostitution:

  • Dwayne Reeves, 34, of Newark
  • Spencer Patterson, 33, of Newark
  • Benjamin Bagyina, 42, of Yeadon, Pa.
  • Harrison Uruamg, 42, of Irvington, N.H.
  • Luis Romero, 28, of Baltimore, Md.
  • Robert Murray, 37, of Elizabeth
  • Dale Fisher, 29, of Newark
  • Alhagie Touray, 54, of Newark
  • Curtis Bracy, 28, of Newark
  • Paul Demitz, 53, of Newark
  • Jahid Braxton, 23, of Newark

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

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