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Katy Perry will play 4 N.J.-area shows this fall on new Witness Tour

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The pop star will play New Jersey for the first time since 2014

NEWARK -- Katy Perry will return to New Jersey this fall. 

The pop superstar announced Monday her new Witness Tour, a crop of North American dates that includes an Oct. 8 show at Prudential Center in Newark. 

Perry, 32, will also play Madison Square Garden Oct. 2, Barclays Center in Brooklyn Oct. 11, and Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia Sept. 18. Tickets go on sale May 22 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster. 

The singer also announced the name of her forthcoming fourth LP would be titled "Witness." Perry has released two singles in 2017, first the politically conscious "Chained to the Rhythm" and last month the suggestive dance jam "Bon Appetit." 

Perry, who is known to provide a visual spectacle on tour, visited Prudential Center in 2014, as part of her mammoth Prism World Tour.  

Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  


Newark notches 27 gun and drug arrests over the weekend

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Police also seized of $11,120 worth of heroin, cocaine and marijuana and $4,694 in cash, officials announced

Newark Stephone Cook.jpgStephone Cook

NEWARK --  There were 27 drug arrests in Newark over the weekend as part of crackdown in response to residents' complaints, the city's public safety director announced.

The director, Anthony F. Ambrose, said Monday that in addition to the arrests, police also recovered three firearms, and confiscated 787 bags of heroin, 109 vials or bags of cocaine, 40 bags of marijuana, and $4,694 in cash. The street value of the drugs seized totaled $11,120, Ambrose said.

Newark drug Siddiq Hooper.jpgSiddiq Hooper 

"We are pleased to announce that this operation, which came about as a result of reports from concerned citizens, is producing tangible results that reduce crime," Ambrose said in a statement.

"I commend the officers and supervisors involved for their hard work and continued vigilance," Ambrose added.

On Saturday, Ambrose said officers arrested 45-year-old Stephone Cook of Newark on weapons and drug possession charges after stopping a vehicle at Nye Avenue and Clinton Place, based on an outstanding warrant, and then smelled marijuana and spotted a .45 caliber handgun inside the vehicle. 

Newark Paris J. Armwood.jpgParis J. Armwood 

Siddiq Hooper, 38, and Paris J. Armwood, 21, both of Newark, were arrested on similar charges on Sunday, Ambrose said, after they fled from police who had arrived in the area of Chelsea and Tremont avenues on a report of suspicious activity.

The two dozen people arrested on drug charges were from Newark, Belleville, East Orange, Nutley and Hamburg, Ambrose said.

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

No evidence accused bomber Ahmad Rahimi intended to kill police, lawyer says

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Rahimi was wounded 11 times and fired 29 shots at police in a shootout, lawyers say

ELIZABETH -- Accused bomber Ahmad Kahn Rahimi has been wrongly charged with serious crimes because the prosecutor is reacting to the emotions stirred up by the case, a defense attorney argued in court Monday.

Union County Deputy Public Defender Peter Liguori vigorously argued that the indictment against Rahimi for charges from a shootout with Linden police should be dismissed because of a lack of evidence.

"There is a valid concern of over charging because of the attention to this case," Liguori told Superior Court Judge Regina Caulfield. Union County Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Ann Luvera disputed Liquori's claims and defended the indictment.

Rahimi has pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempted murder of officers, charges filed after he was captured in a gunfight with Linden police on Sept. 19, 2016.

Hours before the shootout, the FBI identified Rahimi in the bombings in Seaside Park and in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. There were 29 people injured the New York City bombing.

During Monday's hearing, lawyers disclosed that Rahimi fired 29 shots at police and that he had been wounded 11 times, four more time than originally revealed.

Liguori, in his argument to dismiss the indictment, acknowledged that two Linden officers, Angel Padilla and Peter Hammer, were wounded, but said there was no evidence he intended to kill three other officers in the gunfight.

"He was running and firing over his shoulder. He was trying to get away. He didn't go after these officers. There was not a purpose to kill. The prosecutor has a duty to charge based on the fact," Liguori said.

Caulfield, reading from grand jury transcripts, said police testified to seeing Rahimi aim at other officers.

"The testimony was that he was firing at them," Caulfield said.

Liguori said there was no evidence of intent to kill the police.

Luvera countered that investigators found other witnesses who said Rahimi was shooting directly at the police, including one person who saw the defendant raise his arm and shoot even after he had fallen to the ground wounded.

Police recovered 29 shell casing from shots Rahimi fired, Luvera also said.

Liguori admitted many shots were fired, but said he has not seen evidence of how many times police shot at Rahimi. Liquori said the evidence in the case might support a lesser charge of aggravated assault.

"He should be treated like any other person. This case cries out for all of us in the court to act on the highest level as professionals," Liquori said.

Caulfield quickly responded that, "Mr. Rahimi will receive a fair trial."

"Judge, you took the words right out of my mouth," Ligouri said.

Liquori also said his client was wounded 11 times, more than the seven wounds that authorities previously stated.

"But for miracle that was conducted at (University Hospital in Newark), he might not be here today," the defense attorney said of his client.

Liguori also argued that Luvera wrongly suggested additional charges to the grand jury, but Luvera countered by citing other cases where courts had upheld the presenting of all possible charges. Caulfield said the transcript showed that Luvera had repeatedly indicated she was listing proposed charges.

In another argument, Liguori said several grand jurors admitted having knowledge of the case before they heard the evidence.

Luvera said any juror who indicated they heard about the Rahimi case was questioned and that two jurors were excused from the grand jury.

Caulfield said all the jurors who heard the evidence said they could vote on the indictment fairly and impartially.

The judge said she will rule on the motion to dismiss by the end of the month.

The hearing came one month after another Union County judge denied a defense motion to move Rahimi's trial to another county.

In April, Superior Court Judge Karen Cassidy denied Ligouri request for a change of venue for the trial.

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

Newark man found guilty of robbing same bank twice

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Gregory Jones may be sentenced to life in prison

NEWARK -- A Newark man was convicted Monday of attempting to rob a Newark bank and returning to rob the same bank four months later, Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey William Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

Gregory A. Jones, 60, was found guilty of bank robbery, armed bank robbery and using a firearm in a crime of violence. He faces anywhere from 20 years to life in prison at his sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.

Jones entered a Capital One bank May 6, 2014, and handed the teller a note demanding cash. Jones left with the money but discarded it when a hidden dye pack burst, also leaving behind glasses, a scarf and a hat he had been wearing. Jones's DNA was found on the glasses and clothing.

Jones returned to the bank Sept. 19, this time demanding cash from a teller at gunpoint. He fired into the ceiling before leaving with several thousand dollars, authorities said.

He was later identified by witnesses and from surveillance video.

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

 

 

Owner of home where woman was killed dies from fall at work

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Anthony L. Olswfski Jr. was 49 years old. He died May 9 in Newark.

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP -- The owner of a township home where a Trenton woman was killed last month has died as a result of a workplace accident, officials said.

Anthony L. Olswfski Jr. was 49 years old. He died May 9 at University Hospital in Newark, his obituary says.

Officials say Olswfski was the electrician who fell 30 feet into a vault while working at the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences campus in Newark May 2. He was working for Lighton Industries at the time.

Newark firefighters rescued the man using a high-angle technique and took him to the hospital, Newark public safety officials said at the time. They did not expand on his injuries.

Olswfski owned the home on Washington Crossing-Pennington Road where police found Laura Perez's body on April 25.

Brian Sheppard, 53, of Trenton, is charged with killing Perez. He was renting a room at Olswfski's house, officials said.

Man charged with killing woman to remain jailed

At a detention hearing in Superior Court in Trenton Monday, a judge ruled Sheppard will be detained until his trial.

Prosecutors say Sheppard brought Perez there from Trenton in the homeowner's truck, which was later reported stolen.

Sheppard struck Perez multiple times in the head and face with an unknown object, according to a probable cause affidavit. He was arrested a few days later, a day after leading police on a high-speed chase in the truck.

Officials say Sheppard stole the truck from Olswfski.

The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said later Monday they are aware of Olswfski's death and do not anticipate it affecting their case against Sheppard.

Lighton Industries declined to comment on the incident, and Rutgers officials did not return messages about the incident Monday.

Olswfski was a lifelong Hopewell-area resident and an electrician for many years. his obituary said. He is survived by his three children, his parents and three siblings and several other relatives.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Newark man dies of injuries from Irvington shooting

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The Prosecutor's Office said the man was shot Friday afternoon in the 300 block of Myrtle Avenue.

NEWARK -- A city man shot Friday in Irvington has died of his wounds, sparking a homicide investigation by Essex County authorities.

Dino Bermudez, 33, was shot in the leg around noon Friday in the 300 block of Myrtle Avenue, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, which said Bermudez died of his injuries at approximately 5:30 a.m. Sunday at University Hospital in Newark.

Authorities said there had been no arrests made as of Monday afternoon, and described the investigation as "ongoing."

The Prosecutor's Office has asked anyone with information about the shooting to call the Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tip line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC, or 1-877-847-7432.

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

 

Seton Hall graduates its largest class ever (PHOTOS)

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The South Orange university held its 160th commencement ceremony at the PNC Bank Arts Center. Watch video

HOLMDEL -- The excitement in the air was palpable.

Future teachers, nurses, scientists, and soldiers gathered at the PNC Bank Arts Center Monday morning to mark an education milestone -- graduating from Seton Hall University.

While the graduates may have experienced the same mix of emotions as their predecessors, the university was celebrating a few extra achievements this year.

With 1,465 undergraduates, the Class of 2017 marked the largest in the South Orange school's 160-year history. The class also puts the number of living Seton Hall alumni over the 100,000 mark.

"I feel honored to be a part of this class," Mohammad Hebbela, a political science major from Glen Rock, said when asked about his record-breaking class.

"It's been an unforgettable experience."

During a ceremony honoring the graduates' achievements over the past four years, alumni including the college's new interim president Mary Meehan, and commencement speaker Matthew W. Wright, the founder and president of Disciplina Group LLC, a risk consultancy firm, told the mega class it would make an impact on the world.

Wright told the students their diplomas were "winning tickets."

"As you go forward, I challenge you to engage in the world in meaningful ways," he told the graduates.

"As you invest in...helping others around you reach their goals, and find their purpose, your own purpose will be revealed."

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

Newark Ironbound residents cringe at plans for huge residential building

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Newark residents in the Ironbound section are opposed to a 12-story, 384 unit residential development. They say the project is too big and would overwhelm the neighborhood.

A short walk from the rear entrance of Newark Penn Station, residential lofts, condominiums and apartment buildings rise to four stories above an Ironbound neighborhood prime for continuing development.

While the city's master plan permits buildings up to eight stories tall, special permission (a variance) from the zoning board of adjustment is needed to exceed the height limit.

McWhorter LLC, which is owned by Jose Lopez Jr., needs a slew of variances to build its proposed 12-story, 384-unit building that includes ground-floor townhouses and commercial space. It is these ambitious plans that worry the nearby residents in PLANewark, a community group with architects and planners.

lopez1IMG_3130.JPGNewark residents in the Ironbound section are opposed to a 12-story, 384 unit residential development. They say the project is too big and would overwhelm the neighborhood.  

Bordered by McWhorter, Hamilton and Union streets, the project is so big it overwhelms the neighborhood, they argue.

"It's sort of like creating a wall, not to mention that the building will be towering over all of the adjoining structures and will ruin the feel of the Ironbound,'' said Lisa Sanders, who lives a block from the proposed site.

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns 

Residents and community organizations argue the project increases density, meaning too many people would live in the neighborhood. That notion is supported in a report by a planner the city hires to review proposals for the zoning board. Gerard Haizel, of the Nishuane Group, said the proposed 384 units are more than double what city zoning laws permit.

Lopez, in a statement, said he wants to build on the diversity of the area to offer an exciting living option.

"We are here for the long-run, and want to see this vibrant community build on its past and thrive in the future,'' he said.

Lopez has the support of the Ironbound Business Improvement District, which believes the residential building is good for the neighborhood. Executive Director Seth Grossman admits that the proposal needs to be tweaked, but he believes both sides can come to an understanding for the benefit of a neighborhood in transition.  People are relocating to Newark, he said, and want to live downtown.

"We can work this out,'' Grossman said.

Residents who live near the proposed building want development, too. They just want it done responsibly and in line with the master plan. Residents fear an approval of this project could open the door to other developers who will want buildings similar to, or even larger than, McWhorter's proposal.

"This is a test case,'' said Michael Panzer, who lives across the street from the site of the proposed builing. "It's worrisome. Given what the zoning allows, it (the building) is above and beyond what's suitable for the neighborhood.''

Residents say McWhorter is seeking too many accommodations. Among them, McWhorter LLC wants the project to cover 100 percent of the land, while city zoning laws limit coverage to 60 percent of the property.

Setbacks, the distance between the building and the street line, poses another dilemma for the developer. Newark's guidelines require a 10-foot setback, but McWhorter LLC wants zero setback, meaning the building would sit along the sidewalk, leaving no room for landscaping on Hamilton and Union streets.

If the name McWhorter LLC sounds familiar, you're right. This is the same company that has been operating a controversial surface parking lot, J&L Parking, on the same land since 2013.

parkga0916barcol Sapone(2).JPG Newark residents in the Ironbound section have been trying to stop J&L Parking from operating in the Ironbound. The owner, McWhorter LLC, now wants to use the land to build a 12-story, 384 unit building that residents oppose. 

Residents have been fighting McWhorter LLC on the parking lot for years, saying it should not be operating.

At last week's zoning board meeting, residents were prepared again to oppose McWhorter LLC on the parking lot and its argument that the property is part of Mulberry Commons.

MORE CARTER:  Debate duo from Rutgers University -Newark nabs two national d championship tournaments

Instead, residents found themselves cringing over McWhorter LLC's massive residential proposal, which calls for the first two floors of the 12-story building to be used for 198 parking spaces. As part of the application, McWhorter also requested a temporary variance to continue operating the existing parking lot until it submits a construction plan on the residential development.

Lisa Scorsolini, an attorney with New Jersey Appleseed, a nonprofit legal advocacy center representing PLANewark residents, said McWhorter LLC shouldn't receive an interim variance because of an appellate division ruling on the parking lot that supports the residents.

"I look at it as a runaround to keep their parking,'' Scorsolini said.

She'll make that point and chronicle flaws in McWhorter's latest proposal when the zoning board meets Aug. 10.

Both sides should have presented their case last Thursday, but the city of Newark didn't submit an engineering report, and McWhorter LLC turned in a traffic study late.  McWhorter LLC, however, was willing to proceed with the hearing but zoning board members said they did not want to discuss the application until they had time to review all the required information.

The 67 people who raised their hand last week to oppose the developer will have to return in force this summer. The project is two big for them to ignore. 

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or http://connect.nj.com/user/bcarter/posts.html

or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL


The 50 school districts that spend the most per student in N.J.

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What does it cost to educate a child in New Jersey? The average is $20,385. But some school districts spend much, much more.

Frelinghuysen's letter to activist's employer sparks outrage

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The activist said the letter "was a factor" in her decision to resign.

MORRISTOWN -- Social media was abuzz with outrage Monday over U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen's handwritten postscript outing a member of an activist group opposing him to her employer.

Saily Avelenda was a senior vice president and assistant general counsel at Lakeland Bank in March when Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) sent a fundraising letter to a member of the bank's board of directors informing him that Avelenda was one of the "ringleaders" of NJ 11th for Change.

"There's only one reason he did that," Avelenda said. "It wasn't innocuous. It was done to cause me trouble."

NJ 11th for Change has been pressuring Frelinghuysen for months to hold an in-person town hall with his constituents in his district, which he hasn't done since 2013, and has criticized him over his support of President Donald Trump's agenda and the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act. 

Avelenda said she was forced to write a statement explaining her actions to her CEO, and that the letter "was a factor" in her decision to resign from her position.

Numerous commenters took their ire to Frelinghuysen's Facebook page. A post about his visit on Monday with fifth graders at Central Avenue School in Madison instead became a sounding board for comments such as these: 

Norman Wear What an unAmerican act, to complain to someone's employer that you don't like their stand on issues. You don't deserve the position you have attained.
Kimberly Gorman Gavagan You should be ashamed of yourself writing to the employer of one of your constituents complaining about her political views and use of her right to FREE SPEECH. The fall out caused her to leave her job. This is America, Rodney, but that move was right out of the Dictator's Guide for Dummies. This story is going viral and you can keep visiting all the classrooms you want and avoiding your constituents but we will not forget come next November!!
Brian MacLaine Careful kids. Best not stick your tongue out or raspberry at the poor congressional snowflake. He may write a letter demanding your suspension.
Katie Brennan After your capitulation on healthcare I knew I would never be able to support you. But after your constituent bullying and attack on free speech and free association, I think you should consider resignation.
Christopher Dunn So, you do or don't believe in free speech or the right to assemble and protest? Please clarify, as you seem to think it is appropriate to target an individual exercising their right to gather and protest, a constitutional right. A right that you supposedly have sworn to uphold and protect? You forced someone to resign because of your actions? How is that appropriate? Do you plan on targeting all your constituents in this manner who oppose you?
Kelly Coad Carey Plenty of time for photo ops and letter writing to undermine a constituent, but not enough time to meet with us face to face. You're a disgrace and I'm never voting for you again!

Frelinhuysen wasn't the only one to find himself at the center of the Internet's wrath. 

In response to numerous comments following news of the congressman's letter, Lakeland Bank posted a statement on its Facebook page on Monday saying it promotes "our employees' full awareness and interest in civic and political responsibility."

A number of commenters apparently remained unconvinced: 

Meghan EQuin You may have said code of ethics but it doesn't excuse the fact that the employee experienced an untenable working environment after being 'outed' by the congressman. Had you followed your own invisible (imo) ethics, this wouldn't be a discussion to have had. Clearly, her outside interests DID in fact, affect her employment. Shame on you, Lakeland Bank
Shannon Coulter I sent this email to the entire Lakeland Bank executive team earlier today. No reply yet. By the way, Lakeland Bank folks --the fact you have only one woman on your senior executive team of 11 people makes this look even worse for you, particularly given that Saily Avelenda was promoted to Senior Vice President just three months before no longer being employed there. I also want to add that I find your choice of wording here -- "an individual who identified herself as a former employee" -- particularly problematic, as if you're trying to make people wonder whether or not Avelenda was ever really an employee there. Very shady. Are you aware that two former high ranking Lakeland employees have endorsed Avelenda on LinkedIn?
Jeremy Mack Anything short of an unequivocal statement that the bank believes Frelinghuysen's actions were an abuse of his authority AND refusal to contribute ANYTHING to his campaign heretofore is just empty talk. Lakeland Bank had a chance to do the right thing, but apparently their "Code of Ethics" profides that they should assist a corrupt politician instead.

Democrats, too, have pounced on Frelinghuysen's letter. 

Morris County Democratic Committee chairman Chip Robinson said in a statement the congressman's actions were "an affront to the society we have all spent over 200 years building."

"Shame on Congressman Frelinghuysen for using his powerful perch against an average citizen," he said. "And shame on all of us if we fail to hold the Congressman accountable for actions that fly in the face of our societal norms and constitutional protections."

Mikie Sherrill, who plans to seek the Democratic nomination in next year's race for the 11th district, called Frelinghuysen's actions "wrong, unethical and immoral."

"This shameful abuse of power by Representative Frelinghuysen is exactly why we need new representation in Congress," she said. "Frelinghuysen has gone from simply refusing to meet with his constituents and telling them to 'back off,' to threatening constituents who are exercising their freedom of speech."

Assemblyman John McKeon, who is also being wooed by Democrats to challenge Frelinghuysen, said he was going "to reserve judgment until I hear from the congressman." 

"Our stark policy differences aside, I've always thought of him as a person of integrity," McKeon said. "On its face, this certainly crosses the line." 

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Rutgers-Newark hit with bias suit from former coach, 7 former players

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The athletic director and an interim coach allegedly made homophobic, racist and sexist remarks

NEWARK -- A former Rutgers-Newark women's basketball coach and seven former players have filed a bias lawsuit against the university, alleging the athletic director and an interim coach made discriminatory comments that went unpunished by the administration. 

image_handler.jpgRutgers-Newark athletic director Mark Griffin 

The suit, first reported by Law360.com, claims that athletic director Mark Griffin made homophobic and racist comments in the presence of coach Kevin Morris, who was later retaliated against for complaining about his boss' behavior.

Rutgers-Newark Senior Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs and Chief of Staff Peter Englot issued a comprehensive statement to NJ Advance Media that said in part, "The claims by Kevin Morris, the former women's basketball coach, are without merit and will be defended vigorously and aggressively."

The suit claims Griffin made homophobic and racist comments at staff meetings as well as sexist and obscene comments about female student athletes both privately and in public.

Morris says his complaints to a senior administrator were ignored and he was threatened by Griffin. He took the issue to human resources in July 2014 and then went out on medical leave, the suit alleges.

Morris was fired the following May after being told he had to be back at work by a certain date. The school fired him a week later, according to Law360.

Rutgers-Newark had a different version of what happened.

"Mr. Morris' employment was terminated for cause because he abandoned his job and the women's basketball program when he failed to return to work, following a 10-month leave of absence, after having been given ample opportunity to do so," the school's statement said 

"His history of similar litigation against Fordham University, where he also served as women's basketball coach, and his abandonment of his Rutgers-Newark team and program reinforce our commitment to vigorously defend the institution."

While Morris was out, assistant men's basketball coach William Zasowski was put in charge of the women's team. He is accused of making derogatory comments about several players.

For example, the suit says, he called players "mentally retarded" when they made mistakes. He also allegedly used a slur to describe the sexual orientation of two players. In addition, he asked if "the 'nappy look' was back because it looked like several players 'combed their hair with firecrackers.' "

The school says it didn't ignore Zasowski's alleged comments. "Rutgers University - Newark does not condone the comments alleged in the lawsuit and believes it acted appropriately in addressing the issues when raised." 

The statement added that the university "wholeheartedly rejects the attempt by the plaintiffs' attorney to sensationalize this case by linking it to unrelated past events."

Kean settles discrimination suit for $375K

While Zasowki is no longer employed by the school, Griffin is still the athletic director.

The former players who sued are Sharee Gordon, Jasmine Daniels, Jade Howard, Pia Malcampo, Adayshia McKinnon, Sarah Schwartz and Arianna Williams.

The suit was filed May 4 in Superior Court in Essex County. 

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

 

 

From 'Allentown' to 'Zac': An A-Z guide to the baseball state tournament

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An alphabetical breakdown of the baseball state tournament

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These 50 players could be X-factors in the boys lacrosse state tournament

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We give you the team that is going to come out of every group.

With this part of Obamacare here to stay, hospitals move to offer home care

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As part of the trend of discharging patients faster, safely, the field of home health care continues to grow.

Several major hospitals in the northeastern New Jersey are forming a new company to provide in-home nursing and hospice care to patients in Bergen, Passaic and parts of Morris County.

Taking care of patients in their own homes fulfills two goals: It usually makes the patients happier, and it saves money.

"We are like a hospital in that we don't have hours of operation. We basically take care of our patients 24/7," said Michelle Mendelson, vice president of Hackensack Meridian Health At Home. "Patients like to be at home."

That's why no one in Washington is considering tossing the provisions of Obamacare that encourage it.

The new company, announced Tuesday, is a partnership between the Paterson-based St. Joseph's Healthcare System and Hackensack Meridian Health, headquartered in Hackensack.

For St. Joe's, which is the smaller hospital, the joint venture will allow it to discharge some of its patients sooner than before. While the hospital offered home health care, its services were geared to the elderly and post-surgical patients.

Now it will be able to let its pediatric patients leave the hospital sooner by providing treatments like IV infusions at home, courtesy of Hackensack's expertise in that area, said Kevin Slavin, CEO of St. Joseph's Healthcare System.

Called Visiting Health Services of New Jersey, it will be available at all the hospitals owned by the two chains: St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center (Paterson); St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital; Hackensack University Medical Center; Pascack Valley Medical Center (Westwood) and Mountainside Medical Center.

Under Medicare rules, the new agency can provide home health and hospice services to patients in these Morris County towns: Montville, Riverdale, Kinnelon, Butler, Pequannock, Jefferson Township and Lincoln Park.

The growth in home health care has been encouraged by the Affordable Care Act, which has gradually moved from having Medicare pay doctors and hospitals for every service they provide to paying them based on how the patient fares.

Although the fate of the ACA, or Obamacare, is being hotly debated on a weekly basis in Washington, that approach by Medicare is unlikely to change, said Robert Garrett, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health.

Roughly three-quarters of most patients receiving hip and knee replacements used to be discharged from the hospital to a rehab center, Garrett said.

That has changed dramatically in the last year or so, so that now three-quarters of patients go directly home and receive rehab services there.

Hackensack will also work with St. Joe's to make sure more doctors and patients know about what hospice services are available. New Jersey has a low rate of hospice use relative to other states, Garrett said.

The families of patients become quick converts. In satisfaction surveys afterward, Mendelson said the most frequent comment is, "I wish we had started earlier."

Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  


Frelinghuysen hit with ethics complaint over outing of activist to her employer

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A March fundraising letter has landed U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen in hot water this week.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) is facing more heat after a watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against him over a fundraising letter outing a local bank executive's activism to her employer.

The complaint was filed by the Campaign for Accountability, some of whose advisory board members have ties to the Democratic Party.

The group, in its complaint, requested an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics into whether Frelinghuysen violated House ethics rules by singling out Saily Avelenda in the postscript of a letter to a board member of the bank.

"The House ethics committee requires members to act in a way that 'reflects creditably on the House,'" Campaign for Accountability executive director Daniel E. Stevens said in a statement. "If trying to get someone fired for exercising her constitutional right to engage in political activity doesn't reflect poorly on the House, what does?" 

The OCE investigates alleged ethical violations by members of Congress, and, based on an investigation's findings, the office then refers cases to the House ethics committee for further review. The House committee, which could take several actions against a member, including censure, is now headed by a Republican.

Avelenda was a senior vice president and assistant general counsel at Lakeland Bank in March when Frelinghuysen sent the letter to the board member saying she was one of the "ringleaders" of NJ 11th for Change.

"There's only one reason he did that," Avelenda told NJ Advance Media. "It wasn't innocuous. It was done to cause me trouble."

NJ 11th for Change has been pressuring Frelinghuysen for months to hold an in-person town hall with his constituents in his district, which he hasn't done since 2013, and has criticized him over his support of President Donald Trump's agenda and the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act. 

Avelenda said she was forced to write a statement explaining her actions to her CEO, and that the letter "was a factor" in her decision to resign from her position.

The fundraising letter -- and an attached newspaper article about Avelenda -- was sent to Joseph O'Dowd, a Lakeland Bank board member. According to Federal Election Commission records, O'Dowd donated $700 to Frelinghuysen in previous elections, and, days after the March letter, another $250.

Frelinghuysen's letter spurred outrage over social media on Monday as news of the story went viral. 

Assemblyman John F. McKeon, who is also being wooed by Democrats to challenge Frelinghuysen, said he has "significant concerns" about Frelinghuysen's statement.

"Referencing this note as innocuous is troubling," he said. "It can well be interpreted as a direct attempt to intimidate through inappropriate means a thoughtful individual exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights. The specter of using ones position in such a manner has serious implications and should be considered by the Office of Congressional Ethics."

Mikie Sherrill, who has announced her intention to seek the Democratic nomination in next year's race for the 11th district, said the complaint was "a step in the right direction."

"As a former federal prosecutor, I am appalled that Rep. Frelinghuysen used the power of his office to intimidate and target one of his own constituents," she said. "It is frankly chilling, and clearly deserves further scrutiny. This abuse of power demonstrates why he needs to go next November."

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Loaded gun recovered after crash in East Orange, sheriff says

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Dodge crashed into two other cars.

rodwell.jpegAlshaquan Rodwell (Photo: Essex County jail) 
EAST ORANGE -- Essex County Sheriff's officers arrested a Newark man on weapons charges after the stolen car he was riding in crashed in East Orange late Monday, officials said.

Patrol officers tried to stop a Dodge Charger that was speeding on Central Avenue shortly before 11 p.m., according to Sheriff Armando Fontoura. Officers turned on their emergency lights and sirens, but the car took off and crashed into two other vehicles at South 20th Street.

Four people jumped from the Dodge after the crash, the sheriff added. The front seat passenger, Alshaquan Rodwell, 18, was arrested after a brief foot chase. The others escaped.

Sheriff's officers found a loaded .22 caliber Taurus semi-automatic handgun on the front passenger seat, Fontoura said.

Authorities charged Rodwell with possession of a handgun without a permit, resisting arrest and receiving stolen property. The Dodge was reported stolen from Newark May 10, officials said.

Fontoura said there were no injuries from the crash.

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

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Another N.J. college making the SAT optional

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Students will no longer need to submit SAT or ACT scores to be admitted, starting with the Fall 2018 application process, school officials said.

BLOOMFIELD -- Add Bloomfield College to the list of New Jersey schools questioning the value of standardized tests.

The small, private college will no longer require prospective freshmen to submit SAT or ACT scores with their applications, school officials announced Tuesday.

"Rather than continue to insist that all applicants take one or more standardized tests, we will evaluate students on the other criteria. Our goal is to identify those capable of having a successful college career, rather than place barriers to admission in their path," said Richard Levao, Bloomfield College's president.

N.J. schools with the top SAT scores in each county

Applicants will be evaluated based on their high school grade point average, recommendations, writing skills and other achievements, college administrators said. Some applicants may be asked to submit other materials or come in for an interview.

Bloomfield College joins a growing list of colleges and universities around the nation going SAT-optional. Drew and Montclair State universities are among the New Jersey schools that have no longer require SAT scores with applications.

The SAT has been criticized for being biased against low-income and minority students who can not afford prep classes to prepare for the test. That was one of the factors officials at Bloomfield College considered when making the test optional.

Bloomfield College has long had a reputation for welcoming low-income and minority students who might not be able to afford or get into other area colleges.

"By going test-optional, we can expand our access mission to exceptional students with limitless academic potential but maybe without the means to afford pricey test preparation courses," said Adam Castro, Bloomfield College's vice president for enrollment management.

The College Board, which oversees the SAT, recently began offering free SAT prep through the Khan Academy to help students of all incomes do better on the test.

"On the new SAT, it's easier than ever for students to show their best work. Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy is free and personalized, and we see students achieving substantial score gains," College Board President David Coleman said last month.

At Bloomfield College, the SAT-optional policy will start with students applying for the Fall 2018 freshman class. Some students may still be required to submit SAT or ACT scores for scholarships and other programs, college officials said.

The 2,000-student college currently charges $29,300 tuition annually for undergraduates before room and board are added to the bill. However, nearly all of the school's incoming freshmen receive financial aid, according to campus statistics.

In 2015, Bloomfield College accepted 60 percent of those who applied, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The average SAT score of enrolled first-time students ranged from 770 to 950 (out of a possible 1,600).

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.

Prep school dean, parish priest abused me, man alleges in suits

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One of the priests named is the now-deceased former headmaster of Seton Hall Prep

NEWARK -- A former member of Sacred Heart Parish who attended Seton Hall Preparatory School is suing both institutions and the Archdiocese of Newark, claiming they failed to protect him from repeated sexual abuse by two priests in the 1960s.

The plaintiff, whose representatives asked that he be identified only as "John Doe," claims Revs. Robert Gibney -- who was a priest at the now-closed Vailsburg church -- and William Giblin, the former headmaster of Seton Hall Prep, both sexually abused him in the 1960s.

Gibney, who died in 2012, is alleged to have abused the boy on several occasions. Giblin, who died in 2011, is alleged to have abused the boy at the prep school, according to John Doe's lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian of Boston.

In addition to the priests' alleged injuries to him in violation of New Jersey law, Doe's two complaints in state Superior Court seek punitive damages for what the lawsuits claim were gross negligence and intentional misconduct by the institutions, whose officials he says should have known of the abuse and prevented it.

"In each of the two cases, one has to question where the supervisors were and why they were they not properly supervising the Catholic priest, whether that priest was Rev. Robert Gibney or Rev. William Giblin," Garabedian, who was portrayed by Stanley Tucci in the 2015 film "Spotlight," said.

Jim Goodness, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese -- which oversees the church and schools -- declined to comment Tuesday when reached by email.

Garabedian said he has settled one prior claim for an amount "well into the five figures" regarding alleged abuse by Gibney at Sacred Heart. In that case, Garabedian said, his client was 10 to 12 years old at the time of the abuse.

The attorney, who expects to be filing an appearance in state Superior Court, told NJ Advance Media his client should be proud of himself for reporting the abuse.

"In doing so, he has empowered himself, other sexual abuse victims and made the world a safer place for children," he said. "The allegations raise a red flag to parents everywhere to watch their children diligently when in the presence of adults."

Sex lawsuits mount against ex-priest

Giblin served as a professor at Seton Hall University -- also named as a defendant -- until the late 1960s, when he took over as headmaster at Seton Hall Prep, a role he served in until the 1980s, The Star-Ledger previously reported. He later served at St. Joseph's in East Orange until 2001.

He was charged by authorities in Canada in 2002 with soliciting sex from minors, allegations prosecutors said stemmed from the discovery of a teenage prostitution ring in Montreal.

Authorities alleged Giblin had negotiated sex between another New Jersey priest, Rev. Eugene Heyndricks, and a 16-year-old male prostitute, the paper reported at the time.

The charges against Giblin were later dropped, while Heyndricks pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation.

Garabedian said the litigation was initiated with two separate complaints filed in March.

As both Gibney and Giblin are deceased, Garabedian said he intends to seek damages from their estates "if possible."

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

Candidate for acting FBI director led agency in Trenton

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William Evanina led the FBI in Trenton from 2006 to 2008.

TRENTON -- One of the candidates under consideration to be interim head the FBI is William "Bill" Evanina, who held several top roles with the agency in New Jersey before heading to Washington.

Trump FBI Interim DirectorWilliam Evanina, AP photo. 

Evanina is currently the national counterintelligence executive in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, a post he's held since 2014. Before that, he held a counterintelligence post at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) following similar posts at the FBI in Washington.

Multiple news reports put him on a list of several candidates being interviewed last week to be the interim FBI director after President Donald Trump fired James Comey.

Evanina started his federal law enforcement career with the FBI's New Jersey field office, in Newark in 1996. He was the spokesman for the office in the years after the 9/11 and Anthrax terrorists attacks, and later led a joint terrorism task force for the office.

From 2006 to 2008, he led the FBI's Trenton office, which is now located in Hamilton. Evanina, from his media role, spoke for the office himself, regularly updating reporters on cases and investigations.

At the time, many Trenton-based agents were partnered with or working on gang investigations with Trenton police and Mercer County prosecutor's detectives.

Evanina was promoted to the national security branch of the agency's Washington field office in 2009.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

 
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