Authorities removed 45 roosters, including five that were dead, from a social club in the city's North Ward, police said. Watch video

NEWARK - Police announced Sunday the arrests of two city men after they removed nearly 50 roosters, including five that were dead, from a cockfighting event Saturday night.

Noralberto Orengo, left, and William Aviles. (Newark Police Department

The two men, Noralberto Orengo and William Aviles, are the business owner and manager, respectively, of El Cacique Social Club located on the 800 block of North 6th Street in the city's North Ward.

On Saturday night, Newark police and officials with the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) removed 45 roosters, including five dead ones, from the social club, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a press release.

Police had responded to the club around 10 p.m. after receiving an anonymous tip about a cockfighting event, Ambrose said.

"Officers entered the social club where they witnessed a large crowd watching and participating in a cockfighting event," the police director said.

Orengo and Aviles, both 53 of Newark, each received charges associated with illegal gaming and managing an establishment hosting live animal fighting.

Ambrose said these establishments are often "catalyst for other criminal activity taking place or will take place." 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Union City's mayor and state senator, Brian Stack, created the program to assist residents who may not have access to other forms of identification

The city clerk's office at Union City Hall will begin taking applications for a municipal photo ID program on March 1City of Union City 

UNION CITY -- Amid rising fear of the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown, residents of immigrant-rich Union City age 14 and older can apply for a municipal photo ID card starting March 1, Mayor Brian Stack announced.

"We believe this will be a great service for residents, especially those who do not have access to other types of identification," Stack, who is also a state senator, said in a statement.  

To make the process more convenient for working people, the city clerk's office at city hall will be open to process applications for the ID cards after normal business hours, from 4-7 p.m., on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Stack said.

#municipal #ID for all #unioncitynj #residents @njdotcom @jerseyjournal @hudson_reporter @MarciRubinN12 @NJTVNews pic.twitter.com/gxCGajw3Lo

-- Union City, NJ (@OfficialUCNJ) February 26, 2017

A flier released by the city on Sunday listed two dozen forms of identification that would be acceptable for a photo ID, including a utility bill, a birth certificate and proof of enrollment in the Union City school district, as well as "any other documentation deemed acceptable by the City of Union City. 

The ID program is modeled after one implemented in 2015 by the City of Newark, at least in part to help residents secure financial services or gain access to cultural institutions that typically require a photo ID, including opening a savings or checking account or applying for a loan.

A spokeswoman for Stack, Erin Knoedler, said the city has been in contact with local financial institutions to make sure the new municipal ID cards are acceptable forms of identification.

Knoedler said the ID program is also intended to provide a degree of stability, financial security and peace of mind for immigrant residents who may be unsettled by the rhetoric of President Donald Trump, which some have viewed as anti-immigrant.

The list of acceptable forms of documentation to apply for a municipal ID includes a foreign passport, foreign drivers license or national ID card, while proof of legal immigration status is not required.

The program follows another initiative unveiled by Stack earlier this month, when he and fellow Democratic lawmakers from the immigrant-rich 33rd Legislative District introduced legislation that would reimburse municipalities designated as sanctuary cities for federal funds denied to them by the Trump Administration for failing to enforce immigration rules.

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

Investigators searching the Mr. Mini Mart in Newark found marijuana and pills packaged for sale, along with opioid pain medication, according to the Essex County Sheriff's Office.

Manuel Ramirez (left) and Norberto Ramirez. (Essex County Correctional Facility)
 

NEWARK -- A father and son are facing drug charges after a raid by sheriff's detectives on a city bodega Saturday turned up pot, cocaine and pills, according to investigators.

Manuel Ramirez, 49, and his son Norberto, 23, were arrested after officers from the Essex County Sheriff's Office Bureau of Narcotics served a search warrant at the Mr. Mini Mart store at 534 Broadway, according to a statement from Sheriff Armando Fontoura.

Prior to entering the store, officers conducting surveillance saw Manuel Ramirez remove a black bag from a nearby parked car and place it behind the store's counter, the statement said. 

After moving in to detain Ramirez, the statement said, officers forced their way into the residential part of the building and found Norberto standing in a hallway.

The younger Ramirez threw down another plastic bag into a nearby bedroom and attempted to flee the scene, but was immediately taken into custody, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the bag behind the counter contained 64 grams of cocaine and 21 grams of marijuana packaged for street distribution, while the second bag in the bedroom contained 182 grams of marijuana and 88 tablets of Tramadol, an opioid pain medication.

The Sheriff's Office estimated the seized drugs were worth $9,000 on the street, and said the bodega was found to be ringed with surveillance cameras with DVD recorders and video displays.

Authorities said both men were charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and one count each of possession with intent to distribute and unlawfully maintaining a fortified narcotics distribution facility.

Jail records show both men were booked into the Essex County Correctional Facility and later released.

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

The event raised $1.3 million as of the event's closing and the event's $2 million goal was expected to be reached, said a spokeswoman for CareOne.

NEWARK -- Take a left at the tunnel of treats and you'd find yourself approaching Ice Kingdom at the Prudential Center on Sunday.

The arena transformed into a candy land for a fundraiser hosted by CareOne, a senior health care provider, to raise money for the state's chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The event raised $1.3 million as of the event's closing and the event's $2 million goal was expected to be reached, said a spokeswoman for CareOne.

Nico Amadio, a 10-year-old who lives in Bloomingdale, swam and fed dolphins in the Bahamas as part of his wish granted by the foundation. He was diagnosed with AVM, a malformation of blood vessels in his brain, two years ago.

Amadio was there on Sunday with his family to take part in the fun.

"We're just really happy to be a part of it," Nico's mother, Jeannina Amadio said.

The smell of popcorn filled the arena as children ran around to take pictures with the people dressed up as movie characters, to jump on the inflatable bouncy houses at the event and get their faces painted.

"There's nothing more tragic than a sick child," said CareOne Executive Vice President Elizabeth Straus. "To be able to make their dreams come true is very powerful."

Tickets to the fundraiser were $125 per adult and $25 per child.

The tickets included food, drinks, games and face painting. Different booths offered other take-home gifts, such as a Build-a-Bear stuffed animal and candy from Dylan's Candy Bar.

Each wish, on average, costs about $10,000.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.

Two gunman were seen running from a building near Lincoln Park just after the 4 p.m. shooting

A man was shot and wounded near Lincoln Park in Newark on Sunday, police said.Google 

NEWARK -- A man is in critical condition and investigators are searching for a pair of gunman who shot him near Lincoln Park in Newark on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The 4 p.m. shooting took place in a 3-story building on Lincoln Park, a street that runs along the west side of the triangular park, said Capt. Derek Glenn, a Newark Police spokesman.

The victim, a 26-year-old male, was hospitalized in critical condition, said Glenn.

Glenn said the victim appeared to have targeted, though no motive was given.

A pair of gunman were seen running from the building following the shooting, and Glenn said investigators are looking into that and other leads. 

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

The slaying is the first known homicide in the borough this year, and the second in the county this weekend.

CALDWELL -- Authorities are investigating a homicide in the borough on Bloomfield Avenue, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office confirmed Sunday night.

Katherine Carter, a spokesperson for the Prosecutor's Office, said there had been a homicide with a male victim, but couldn't provide any further details as of 9:30 p.m.

The killing is the first known homicide in Caldwell this year and the second in the county this weekend, following the fatal shooting of a woman early Saturday morning on Hillside Terrace in Irvington.

The Irvington slaying was also that township's first homicide of the year.

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

The fatal shooting of Tajmiah Phillips early Saturday was Irvington's first homicide of 2017, after a dramatic reduction in killings for all of 2016

IRVINGTON -- The victim of Irvington's first homicide of the year was identified as a 31-year-old Newark woman, authorities said. 

A 31-year-old Newark woman was found shot to death on Hillside Terrace in Irvington SaturdayGoogle

Tajmiah Phillips was fatally shot around 1:30 a.m. Saturday on Hillside Terrace, said Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Carter said there was no further information on the shooting, including any word on a motive or suspects.

Irvington had gone nearly two months without a killing in 2017 after a having dramatically reduced its number of homicides last year.

The decline followed a reorganization of its police department and creation of new units to focus on preventing drug and gang-related crime rather than reacting to it.

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

Dogs and cats await adoption at rescues and shelters throughout New Jersey.

You can teach an old dog new tricks.

From television shows to the internet to specialists for hire, there are a myriad of sources a pet owner can select from on the topic of dog training. How can they tell who's right and who's wrong?

While there are many opinions out there, one trainer, Alyona DelaCoeur of whydoesmydog.com, addressed some of the more common - and misleading - training beliefs.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. False! Sometimes it's actually easier to teach mature dogs tricks because they're less distracted. Certainly some unwanted behaviors will take longer to stop because the dog has had longer for them to become habits, but they can be retrained. Bear in mind, though, that older dogs will need more frequent rest breaks in training.

Bribe your dog with food to get results. Positive reinforcement through motivation works best in dog training; the use of treats and food should not be the main focus. While treats and toys can be helpful, building a strong connection with your pet is the most important part of training.

Dogs misbehave because they are mad, stubborn or need to be dominant. Dogs do not have an agenda behind what they do. He peed on the floor because he had to go and didn't get let out; she tore up a cushion because she was bored. Only a handful of dog breeds exhibit 'dominance;' assuming human personality traits to dogs doesn't help in training at all.

Training is guaranteed for life. One way dogs are like humans is that they can forget their good manners and learn new bad habits throughout their lives. One way to avoid this is to not introduce major changes into a dog's life; a dog who never begged before may start if someone gives him food from the dinner table, for example.

In dog training, simple common sense is usually the best approach; the proven methods are usually the best methods. Bear in mind that some trainers are promoting different methods solely for the sake of being different; approaches that have worked for generations still work today.

Here's a gallery of pets in need of adoption in New Jersey. More adoptable pets can be viewed by clicking here and here.

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

North Star Academy and hundreds of other charter schools in NJ provide a high level of education that is essential for it's students and community.

By Barbara Harris

I'm headed to Trenton this morning because I need legislators to know what my grandsons' public charter school means to them.

I'm raising two African American boys in Newark and we all know in this country what can happen to African American men, especially if they drop out of school.

Uncommon Schools' North Star Academy is providing my grandchildren with an education like nothing that I experienced for myself or for my own children.

When I hear my elected representatives speaking negatively about charter schools, I want to ask them if they have ever visited North Star Academy. If they did, they would quickly see how well it is serving my grandchildren and the other kids who attend.

There are too many lawmakers who have never stepped foot in North Star Academy, or a school like it. They have never come for morning circle. They have not met with our wonderful teachers. They have not seen how well our children are doing in class.

So I'm going to the Trenton State House along with hundreds of other charter families from across the state to let these lawmakers know that charter schools are working for our children.

In my experience, North Star approaches education differently. It starts early in the morning when the children come to school. Many of the kids in our neighborhoods come from broken homes, where there may be drugs or violence.

When they arrive at North Star, there are usually three or four teachers there to greet them, shake their hand, give them hugs and say, "good morning." I don't know how the teachers do it, but they remember every child's name. It may seem like a small thing, but it's exactly what our kids need. It's daily nourishment for the soul.

When my own children went to public school 20 years ago, if I wanted to get in touch with their teacher, I'd have to call the main office, then leave a message. More often than not, I wouldn't get a call back. At North Star, I am never left in the dark. I have teachers' cell phone numbers. I can call them anytime I want. And believe me, I do.

The teachers and the families at North Star have a special bond. It's like we are one big family all working together to raise our children. The school is so inviting for parents, and grandparents, like me.

From the moment my oldest grandchild entered North Star, I knew it was going to be different. Even in kindergarten, they told me about the expectations for my grandson to go to college. 

One of my grandsons was diagnosed with ADHD. In many schools, he would have been medicated and classified as special education. At North Star, they understood I didn't want him medicated and they have been willing to work with him, though it's not always easy.

There are times when he goes into a closet in a classroom and just cries. But the staff knows how to handle that. They are patient and kind and work with me. Together as a team we are making progress for him.

Sometimes, I think about moving.

But my grandsons don't want to leave because of North Star. I will not leave because of how well they are doing at North Star.

When it comes to my grandsons, I don't play. That's why I'll be in Trenton today.

Barbara Harris is a grandparent and primary caregiver of two boys attending North Star Academy, which serves over 4,600 students in Newark and is part of Uncommon Schools.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Which N.J. towns have the highest average property taxes in the state that has the nation's highest property taxes?

Jury selection for the first of four murder trials in the death of Dustin Friedland is scheduled to begin this week in state Superior Court in Newark.

Live updates as the seeds for each weight class are announced

ROBBINSVILLE – The official seeds for each weight class in Atlantic City will be determined on Monday morning at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association headquarters. 

With action set to kick off Friday night at Boardwalk Hall, find out who will be wrestling who when the tournament begins by following the comments below.

We will have up-to-the-minute updates as the seeds and brackets are released. Be sure to stay with NJ.com as individual brackets will be posted later on Monday.

Brian Deakyne may be reached at bdeakyne@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook. 

Two world premieres, and a much-buzzed-about musical about dancing senior citizens in New Jersey, are in the offing for the 2017-18 season.

One year after winning the prestigious Regional Theater Tony Award, and with two productions that originated at the theater on Broadway this spring ("A Bronx Tale," currently playing, and "Bandstand," opening in April), the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn is aiming to up its game still further.

For its just announced 2017-18 season, the theater will be mounting two world premiere musicals, and two East Coast premieres -- arguably the most ambitious line-up in the theater's history.

A number of these projects are high-profile efforts that have their ultimate eyes on Broadway -- further heightening Paper Mill's national profile. In addition to "A Bronx Tale" and "Bandstand," the theater has also premiered "Newsies" and "Honeymoon in Vegas" in recent years.

"Paper Mill Playhouse has become one of the nation's leading theater incubators, nurturing shows in multiple stages of development," said Mark S. Hoebee, the company's Producing Artistic Director, in a statement.

The season will kick off in September with the world premiere of "The Honeymooners," based on the classic television show, to be directed by John Rando, who mounted the ravishing 2014 Broadway revival of  "On the Town." The show has been in development since 2011. Although no cast has been announced, workshops have featured Michael McGrath, Hank Azaria, Leslie Kritzer and Laura Bell Bundy.

The second show on the list is the most familiar, the musical "Annie," to be directed by Hoebee. It's the first time Paper Mill has staged "Annie" in fifteen years. That production starred Sarah Hyland in the title role; the young actress has since gone on to fame in "Modern Family.

January brings "The Outsider," a comedy by Paul Slade Smith, which has had only one previous production in Wisconsin. Last year, Paper Mill initiated an industry reading of the show that featured Kelsey Grammer in the lead.

John Rando will again return to the theater starting in March 2018 for "The Sting, a new musical" -- another world premiere, based on the classic Paul Newman-Robert Redford film. The composers are Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, who wrote "Urinetown."

The season concludes with "Half Time," to be choreographed and directed by Jerry Mitchell ("Kinky Boots"), and based on a documentary called "Gotta Dance," about a group of New Jersey seniors who set out to become halftime dancers at a major league basketball game. The musical had a well-received tryout in Chicago in 2016 and has been talked about for Broadway ever since -- though Shayne Miller, the Paper Mill's Director of Press and Public Relations, said it has undergone significant work since then. 

"People are looking at us as that next step, just before they cross the river," said Miller. "None of these shows have specific Broadway plans, but every one of them hopes to make it over the river."

Season-long subscriptions are available now at www.papermill.org. Single tickets for the shows go on sale in August.

More information about the individual productions from the Paper Mill's press release is below:

"The Honeymooners" 

September 28 through October 29, 2017

"The Honeymooners" is a brand new musical comedy inspired by the classic television series.  Ralph Kramden and his buddy Ed Norton are back and still shooting for the moon in this world-premiere musical.  After shocking their wives by winning a high-profile jingle contest, they are catapulted out of Brooklyn and into the cutthroat world of Madison Avenue advertising, where they discover that their quest for the American Dream might cost them their friendship.

"Annie"

November 22 through December 31, 2017

"Annie," the world's best-loved family musical returns to Paper Mill Playhouse just in time for the holidays. Little orphan Annie is taken from her orphanage, and the clutches of cruel Miss Hannigan, to stay at billionaire Oliver Warbucks' mansion for the holidays. When Annie wins the hearts of Warbucks and his staff, they set out on an epic mission to find Annie's parents. 

"The Outsider"

January 24 through February 18, 2018

At once a razor-sharp comedy and a sincere tribute to democracy, "The Outsider" is a timely and hilarious take on modern American politics. Ned Newley doesn't even want to be governor. He is terrified of public speaking; his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive chief of staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But a political guru named Arthur Vance sees things a little differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for... the worst candidate to ever run for office.

"The Sting, a new musical"

March 29 through April 29, 2018

Chicago. 1936. Get ready to enter a smoke-filled world of cons and capers, where nothing is what it seems and no one is who they appear to be. Based on the 1973 Academy Award-winning film, "The Sting" tells the tale of a pair of con men, small town grifter Johnny Hooker and big time hustler Henry Gondorff, who plot to bring down the city's most corrupt racketeer. 

"Half Time, a new musical"

May 31 through July 1, 2018

From the director/choreographer of "Kinky Boots" comes the incredible true story of ten ordinary seniors with extraordinary dreams who audition to dance at halftime for a major basketball team. Only after making the cut do they learn they won't be dancing tap, salsa or swing--instead, they will bring down the house with a style that is entirely new to them: hip-hop. Take the uplifting journey with these dreamers--and the young coaches who inspire them along the way--as they battle self-doubt, stereotypes and even each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of 20,000 screaming fans.

Christopher Kelly may be reached at ckelly@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chriskelly74. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Guzman allegedly offered the police officers $200 to let him go, police said.

Alejandro Guzman, 41, was arrested at Newark Penn Station on Sunday and charged with drug counts, bribery and other offenses. Courtesy of Port Authority police 

A Jersey City man carrying 100 bags of heroin was busted at the Newark PATH station Sunday after he skipped paying the fare -- despite having more than $600 cash on him, police said. 

Port Authority police spokesman Joe Pentangelo said Alejandro Guzman, 41, was spotted entering the PATH at Newark Penn Station at around 4:40 p.m. without paying.

Port Authority police officers followed him Guzman onto a train and removed him, discovering that he had two "bricks" of heroin on him, totaling 100 bags, Pentangelo said. 

Guzman, who allegedly offered the police officers $200 to let him go, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, bribery, theft of service and bail jumping.

A records check found that the Beacon Street resident had two warrants out of Bayonne and one from Jersey City, Pentangelo said.

Police are still working to identify the driver.

GLEN RIDGE -- Authorities are looking for a Lyft driver who they say slapped a passenger during a dispute.

The driver and passenger got into an argument at 6:45 p.m. Feb. 18 during a ride, according to Glen Ridge police.

While the two were inside the Lyft car, they starting fighting about where the passenger was headed and how he would pay for the ride-share service once arriving, police said.

During the disagreement, the passenger told police, the driver hit him. Police said the passenger was not hurt by the "open-handed strike" to his face.

The driver left the scene of the incident, near the intersection of Ridgewood and Woodland Avenues, before police arrived, authorities said.

Lyft did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Police have not yet identified the driver. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call 973-748-5400 ext. 115.

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

The extent of injuries suffered is unclear.

NEWARK -- Authorities are investigating a police shooting, officials confirmed.

Few details were available about the shooting near Irvine Turner Boulevard and Muhammad Ali Avenue Monday afternoon, but the Essex County Prosecutor's Office was responding to the scene, a spokeswoman confirmed.

According to James Stewart Jr., president of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police, the officer involved and his unit were patrolling in the area when "they encountered a suspect who was armed and failed to comply with the orders given to him. That suspect was subsequently shot and is being treated at the hospital."

The officer was also hospitalized, and treated for trauma, Stewart said.

The officer fired his gun at about 1:20 p.m., shooting a man in the arm, authorities Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said in a release Monday. No officers were shot in the incident, she said.

Neighbors in the Grace West apartment complex, where the shooting took place, said they heard several shots fired and saw a police officer chasing a man through the middle of the complex in the area of a recreation center. 

Eboni Kornegay, 21, who has lived in the complex since she was 7-years-old, said she was standing outside her apartment when event unfolded.

"I was standing out here and I saw the officer running," said Kornegay, who said she did not see the officer fire his weapon.    

Stewart commended the officers involved in the incident.

"The bad guy and a gun are off the street," he said. "Job well done by all involved."

Newark public school officials confirmed the nearby Louise A. Spencer School went on lockdown at 1:30 p.m. as a result of the shooting.

"At 1:47 p.m., the Newark Police Department indicated that the area was safe and secure, and allowed the school to return to normal operations," school spokesman Paul Nedeau said.

"The crime scene, which is located in the courtyard of a nearby housing complex, remains an area of active investigation," he said. "Additional support" will be at the school building to assist with dismissal, he said.

The shooting did not involve school district students or staff, officials said.

The Prosecutor's Office Professional Standards Bureau and the Critical Incident Response Team are investigating the shooting.

Reporter Steve Strunsky contributed to this report.

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

New Jersey native and Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving donated thousands to help an 8-year-old star play AAU.

A former hoops prodigy is giving back to the younger generation.

Kyrie Irving, the West Orange, New Jersey native turned Duke recruit, Olympic gold medalist and NBA Finals star with the Cleveland Cavaliers, helped make a dream come true for an eight-year-old basketball sensation.

Jahlil Owusu wanted to play on the Riverside Hawks, an AAU travel team in New York City, but his parents couldn't afford the costs. According to The Score, Owusu set up a GoFundMe account with a goal of reaching $2,500 in donations.

Irving blew that out of the water with a $6,500 donation.

Owusu took to Instagram to thank the NBA All-Star.

Big thanks to big bro @kyrieirving for the huge support!!! And all those who donated!!! I won't let you'll down,I'm going to keep working hard in school and on the court until my dream becomes a reality! [?] [?]swipe to see more[?] [?] @espn @nba @slamonline @nikebasketball #JahlilOwusu #JahSwish #BasketballNeverStops #BallisLife #BooksIsLife #8yearsOld

A post shared by [?] [?] JAH SWISH[?] [?] (@jahswish) on Feb 23, 2017 at 11:53am PST

Owusu captioned the Instagram with the following: "Big thanks to big bro @kyrieirving for the huge support!!! And all those who donated!!! I won't let you'll down, I'm going to keep working hard in school and on the court until my dream becomes a reality!"

Kyrie said get em...imma get em! Motivated to work even harder. @riversidehawksnyc 9u let's get it! @kyrieirving rooting for us! Road to AAU nationals 2017. [?] [?]swipe to see more[?] [?] #JahSwish #JumpshotJah #DemRiversideBoys #RiversideHawks #9u #BasketballNeverStops #BallisLife #8yearsOld

A post shared by [?] [?] JAH SWISH[?] [?] (@jahswish) on Feb 23, 2017 at 9:31pm PST

During Irving's youth, he played on an AAU team in New Jersey called the RoadRunners.

The former No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft played high school basketball at St. Patrick in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

American Legion Boys State is accepting applications.

STATE -- Each year since 1946, the American Legion Jersey Boys State has provided high school boys with a hands-on lesson in citizenship.

Sponsored by the American Legion, the weeklong event teaches boys about civics and government by having them form a hypothetical state, elect their own local, state, and national representatives and then govern their state by holding legislative sessions, general assemblies and court proceedings. Delegates also participate in athletics, band and career seminars.

In the past, students needed to be sponsored by an American Legion post; this year, for the first time, sponsorship is not required.

"Jersey Boys State is now accessible to every community, every high school, and every eligible student in New Jersey," said David S. Bagatelle, ALJBS director.

Boys States will be held at June 18 to 23 at Rider University in Lawrenceville. The event is open to high school juniors. To apply online, visit ALJBS.org. All applications must be completed by Friday, March 3.

Khalil Wheeler-Weaver previously had been charged via criminal complaints in the killing of two women, but authorities did not immediately indicate what incident the third count of murder stemmed from.

NEWARK -- A 20-year-old Orange resident arrested in December in connection with the slaying of a college student from Montclair has been indicted on first-degree murder charges in connection with her death and the killings of two other women, as well as the attempted murder of a fourth, prosecutors announced.

Khalil Wheeler-Weaver previously had been charged via criminal complaints in the murders of New Jersey City University student Sarah Butler, 20, and Joanne Brown, 33, but the indictment filed Friday in state Superior Court in Newark is the first official confirmation of his alleged involvement in the death of Robin West, 19.

In a statement Monday evening, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said a grand jury indicted Wheeler-Weaver on a total of 11 criminal counts, including one count of murder for each woman's death.

He's also charged with attempted murder for an alleged attack on a 34-year-old woman who survived the encounter, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Butler -- who authorities said was acquainted with Wheeler-Weaver -- was reported missing Nov. 23. Her body was later found buried underneath leaves and debris at the Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange.

Authorities said Brown was reported missing in October, and found dead Dec. 5 in a vacant house on Highland Avenue in Orange, where she was apparently killed.

Investigators said both Butler and Brown were strangled.

West, of Philadelphia, had been reported missing to the Union Police Department prior to the discovery of her body on Sept. 1, when firefighters responded to a blaze at an abandoned building on Lakeside Avenue in Orange.

Authorities allege Wheeler-Weaver set fire to the home after killing West.

Investigators said they were able to identify West from her dental records.

Wheeler-Weaver is believed to have had sexual interactions with the victims, authorities said.

In addition to the three murders, he is charged with aggravated arson, aggravated sexual assault, desecration of human remains, kidnapping, among other offenses.

It was not immediately clear when Wheeler-Weaver would next appear in court.

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

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) visits schools, attends church breakfasts and vets' clinics. He hosts tele-town halls by invitation. Nice. But the rest of his district, 640,000 strong, don't matter to him. Watch video

At a recent town hall in Livingston, where Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11^th Dist.) did not show, someone saluted the memory of a moderate Republican during the height of McCarthyism.

"By remaining silent," Rep. Peter Frelinghuysen said in 1954, "we permit the public to believe that most Republicans condone the senator's tactics. By remaining silent, we lend credence to the view that we prefer to risk losing our freedom than to offend a questionable asset to our party."

That was the Rodney Frelinghuysen's father, of course.

The speaker who invoked his memory, Matt Walters of Montclair, concluded by asking the absent congressman this question on Thursday night: "How much damage does President Trump need to do before you find your own Peter Frelinghuysen moment?"

It's a valid question. We have doubts that the congressman and other members of his party can provide an answer, or summon the will to break a voting pattern that is conspicuously Draconian.

Pro-Trump congressman hides from his constituents | Editorial

Groups such as the NJ 11^th For Change wonder whether Frelinghuysen even has the courage to defend his record - he hasn't met with constituents in a town hall in years - and the same waiting game is now being played in most red districts throughout New Jersey and the U.S.

The congressman says he "applaud(s) the effort" of NJ 11^th For Change to hold town halls, but he will continue to boycott them because he believes they are incapable of "civil discourse."

Meanwhile, he is batting 1.000: Fourteen times he has cast a vote this term, and every one supports the position held by Donald Trump. He lacks the mettle to buck Trump, and maybe Frelinghuysen can live with that. But he also lacks the mettle to uphold the legacy of a father who was a true profile in courage.

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