The government's key witness in the trial that led to convictions against two former members of the Christie administration, David Wildstein is hoping his cooperation will keep him out of prison.

NEWARK--The  sentencing next week of David Wildstein, a key figure in the Bridgegate scandal, has been postponed until next month.

The delay until July 12 was approved by U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton after a scheduling conference with prosecutors and the defense on Monday.

Wildstein, 55, who pleaded guilty for his role in the case and served as a major witness in the trial of two former members of the Christie administration, could get up to 27 months in prison for his role in the scheme. He is hoping his cooperation with prosecutors will keep him out of prison.

A patronage appointee to the Port Authority in a $150,000-a-year position with no job title, Wildstein admitted that he was the one who first came up with the plan to use the toll lanes at the George Washington Bridge to deliberately cause traffic in Fort Lee in September 2013. He claimed the plan, coordinated with Bill Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Bridget Anne Kelly, a one-time deputy chief of staff to Gov. Chris Christie was aimed at punishing Mayor Mark Sokolich for his refusal to support Gov. Chris Christie for re-election.

Wildstein testified last year against Baroni and Kelly. Both were convicted last November, largely on the Wildstein's testimony, and have already been sentenced to prison terms.

Christie was never charged with any wrongdoing and denied any advance knowledge of the scheme, which played out as the governor embarked on his ultimately unsuccessful run for the presidency.

Wildstein has been free on bail and living in Sarasota, Fla., since pleading guilty in May 2015.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Officials said six people in the shelter, the bus driver and a passenger all suffered minor injuries in the 9:30 a.m. accident at Broad and Market streets

NEWARK -- Eight people were hurt and one of Newark's busiest intersections was shut down during Monday morning's rush hour when an NJ Transit bus ran into a bus shelter, causing it collapse, officials said.

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said five women who were waiting at the shelter were injured, as well as the bus driver and two male passengers. All eight were taken to University Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, he said.

Ambrose said the accident occurred at 9:32 a.m., at the intersection of Broad and Market Streets in the heart of downtown Newark's shopping district. 

He said the driver told investigators that, "mechanical problems caused him to lose control and to hit the bus stop."

No charges were filed Monday, when Ambrose said the incident remained under investigation.

Lisa Torbic, a spokeswoman for the NJ Transit, said it was the No. 25 bus, which travels from the Essex County Correctional Center near the Passaic River in Newark, to Milburn Avenue Avenue in Maplewood.

Broad and Market streets are both main thoroughfares in Newark, and intersect in the city's downtown shopping district. Ambrose said the intersection was closed briefly to remove the bus and the canopied bus shelter from the scene

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

20-year-old Samid Strothers is charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer

Samid StrothersNPD 

NEWARK -- Police arrested a 20-year-old suspect in a shooting last month in Newark, though a second suspect remains at large, the city's public safety director said.

Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said officers arrested Samid Strothers of Newark in connection with a April 19 shooting that wounded a 33-year-old man.

The shooting occurred at Vassar and Maple Avenues, and Ambrose said officers patrolling on Maple Avenue on Saturday recognized Strothers as a suspect in the incident, and arrested him without incident.

Strothers is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and conspiracy.

Ambrose said the victim was shot at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday night by Strothers acting with another male suspect. The victim was treated at Newark Beth Israel Hospital and released.

The second suspect remained at large Monday, Ambrose said.

Anyone with information was urged to call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867).  All tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.

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

Forecasters say temperatures will be running 10 to 20 degrees below normal on Tuesday and Wednesday.

We're almost a full week into June, when it's supposed to be safe to toss aside jackets and break out the short-sleeve shirts.

But Mother Nature is behaving like it's April, with cloudy skies, damp days and cooler than normal temperatures lingering in New Jersey.

During the next two days, daytime highs are forecast to run about 10 to 15 degrees lower than normal across most of the state, and about 20 degrees below normal in the state's northern region.

The thermometer in Newark usually reaches 79 degrees on June 6, but on Tuesday the city's high is projected to climb no higher than 59, which is more common in early April than early June. The overnight low in Newark will be closer to 50 instead of 60, the National Weather Service says.

In Sussex, the projected high on Tuesday is only 57 degrees, which is almost 20 degrees cooler than the normal June 6 high of 76 degrees. The overnight low is forecast to drop to a chilly 46 degrees, 7 degrees cooler than normal. 

Down in Atlantic City, the gap is not as big as it is in northern New Jersey, but still significant. The normal June 6 high at Atlantic City International Airport is 78 degrees, but Tuesday's forecast high is 66. The projected low is 51, which is 7 degrees cooler than the normal low of 58.

Wednesday's temperatures are expected to be similar to those on Tuesday, but are forecast to get slightly warmer on Thursday and much warmer on Friday, with bright sunshine returning for a few days.

Cooling factors

Three factors are contributing to the lower temperatures during the first part of this week, according to Jared Klein, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's regional office in Mount Holly.

One culprit, he said, is a strong low pressure system in the upper atmosphere that is pushing cool Canadian air down over the New Jersey region. Another is the persistent cloud cover over the Garden State. And another contributing factor is a northeasterly wind that's blowing cold air from the Atlantic Ocean over the Shore and, when it's strong enough, inland areas as well.

"The ocean is still cold" this time of year, Klein said, noting it usually takes a couple of months to warm up from the heat of the summer sun. Late July to late August is usually the period with the warmest ocean temperatures along the Jersey Shore, according to federal climate data.

While many New Jerseyans might not be thrilled about this week's cool weather pattern, it's not unprecedented to get temperatures this low in early June, said New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson at Rutgers University.

Robinson said Newark's coolest maximum temperature on June 6 was 56 degrees, back in 1894, and Sussex's temperature rose no higher than 57 degrees on June 6 in 2000.

More New York City area weather

More Philadelphia area weather

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

See who is running for what.

ESSEX COUNTY -- New Jersey residents will head to the polls Tuesday to choose the candidates who will run in November's general election.

All eyes may be on the gubernatorial race, as voters will choose who will duke it out to succeed Gov. Chris Christie, but a few contested elections in Essex County are heating up, as well. 

As you prepare to vote, check the list of local candidates running in Essex County below.

Freeholder -- 1st District

One three-year term

Robert Mercado (D)

Franklin Ventura (D)

Karina L. Garces (R)

Freeholder -- 2nd District

One three-year term

Wayne L. Richardson (D)

Douglas H. Freeman (R)

Freeholder -- 3rd District

One three-year term

Britnee N. Timberlake (D)

Freeholder -- 4th District

Leonard M. Luciano (D)

Adam Kraemer (R)

Freeholder -- 5th District

One three-year term

Carlos M. Pomares

Council -- 1st Ward

One three-year term 

Jenny Mundell (D)

David G. Tucker, Sr. (R)

Council -- 2nd Ward

One three-year term

Nicholas Joanow (D)

Ciro A. Spina III (R)

Council -- 3rd Ward

One three-year term

Sarah Cruz (D)

Pedro Taveras, Jr. (R)

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

Jonathan Lace (D)

Henderson Cole (D)

John Cascarano (R)

Kristian Brown (R)

Mayor

One four-year term

Theodore R. Green (D)

John Thompson, Jr. (D)

Kenwyn S. Williams (D)

City Council -- 1st Ward

One four-year term

Christopher James (D)

City Council -- 2nd Ward

One four-year term

Romal Bullock (D)

Khalfani Alleyne (D)

City Council -- 3rd Ward

One four-year term

Bergson Leneus (D)

Jerome Black, Sr. (D)

City Council -- 4th Ward

One four-year term

Tyshammie L. Cooper (D)

City Council -- 5th Ward

One four-year term

Alicia Holman (D)

Mayor

One four-year term

Edward A. Davis (R)

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

John A. King (R)

Bernard J. D'Avella (R)

Town Council

Two three-year terms 

John LaForgia (R)

Thomas J. Morgan (R) 

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

No candidates

Township Committee

Two three-year terms

Victor DeLuca (D)

Dean Dafis (D)

Michael Summersgill (R)

Township Committee

Two three-year terms

Jacqueline Benjamin Lieberberg (D)

Cheryl H. Burstein (D)

Robert Tillotson (R)

Michael Birnberg (R)

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

Cynthia D. Santomauro (R)

John F. Chiaia (R)

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

Christopher Bardi (D)

Roger Freda (D)

Michelle Tolli (R)

Mark Vidovich (R)

Township Council

Two three-year terms

Michael Docteroff (R)

Kathy L. Canale (R)

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

Who is representing the Garden State in the NCAA Tournament?

A partnership between NJPAC's Musical Theater Residency Program and the Johnny Mercer Foundation guides students from five schools in the creation of an original musical. This is the program's fifth year

Students from five New Jersey middle schools are learning how to survive the troublesome tween years -- through song.

The students wrote a musical -- complete with original music and lyrics -- through a unique enrichment program offered by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Musical Theater Residency Program and the Johnny Mercer Foundation. The five participating schools first came together in March to choose their musical topic and united June 2 for a full performance of "Flip the Script," about one ninth-grade girl's fight to join her high school football team, which highlights concerns these young authors share about fake friends, fair treatment and their futures.

"Middle school is a rite of passage, and with art we can help these students find a way to dramatize that," said Alison Scott-Williams, NJPAC's vice-president of arts education. "The solutions they come up with are powerful. No canned musical helps you do that."

This is the program's fifth year in New Jersey. One past musical focused on the break-up of Destiny's Child, exploring relationships, conflict, betrayal and forgiveness. Another followed the life of singer Michael Jackson, looking at families, unity and dreams about a peaceful future world.

"It's easier to write a story about somebody else that gets your own heart out there," said Jonathan Brielle, executive vice-president of the Mercer Foundation, which honors the legendary songwriter who crafted more than 1,400 songs, including "Moon River," "Summer Wind" and "That Old Black Magic." 

"Storytelling and expression is so important when so much of school can be about testing," he said. "The foundation believes songwriting can be another tool in your toolbox. Words with music are really powerful and can move the heart and mind."

The number of schools seeking to participate has grown threefold, from seven in year one to about 20 this year, Scott-Williams said. The schools chosen for this year are Belmont Runyon School and Discovery Charter School, both in Newark; John Marshall School #20 in Elizabeth; Lincoln Avenue School in Orange;and Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy in Passaic.

While the program is free to participating schools, it is time-intensive -- visiting teaching artists work wth the students at least twice a week for about 12 weeks. Each school group writes a fifth of the musical and at least one song. The program's teaching artists travel between schools to ensure consistency and cohesiveness. 

"When we tell them we want them to tell their own stories and write their own music, they give you that look like, 'What are you talking about?' But they learn pretty quickly," said lead teaching artist Janeece Freeman-Clark, describing how the songwriting lessons start with the difference between perfect versus imperfect rhyme and then move on to breaking down a song by its structure. 

"They learn the idea of a song is to move the story along, so we write the script and look for the biggest moment of impact where we feel this character has to have a heightened moment."

The students then come together to perform the musical, with each school group taking on its own section, meaning past years have featured five Beyonces and five Michael Jacksons. Every student plays some part in the final show.

"Every child gets to feel like a star," Scott-Williams said.

Apolonia Mendez Crespo, an eight-grader at Elizabeth's John Marshall School, has one of this year's lead roles, portraying the best friend of the girl who wants to join the football team. Mendez Crespo said she was eager to be part of the program, as most performing arts programs cater to those in grade five and under.

"I was never into musical theater, never did acting. I never pictured myself singing in front of other people," Mendez Crespo said. "But I really liked this. Even if you didn't get a main role or you were only 'Student one,' 'Student two,' 'Student three,' everybody has lines and got really involved."

John Marshall School social worker Sara Laface said the program helps students discover their strengths as they forge their future identities.  

"They're figuring out where they fit in," she said. "Am I better behind the scenes? Am I better acting? Or should I be in the chorus?"

That's an important part of the program, Brielle said. 

"At its heart, it teaches collaboration and how to work with others," Brielle said. "Even if you're not going to be the next Lin-Manuel Miranda, the lessons stay with you."

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

Six teams will vie to become the first ever champion.

Arrests came after police spotted an altercation on North Ward street, authorities said.

NEWARK -- Two men face charges after detectives seized a loaded gun and heroin in a stop late Monday in Newark's North Ward, authorities said.

Detectives with the city police Special Enforcement Bureau spotted an altercation on the street at North 6th Street and 7th Avenue around 11 p.m., according to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, who said police saw two men speed away from the scene in a car.

Police pulled over the vehicle and smelled marijuana, Ambrose said in a statement. Detectives discovered a loaded .380 handgun in the car.

The driver, Ahmad Johnson, 38, of Newark, was charged with weapons offenses, according to police. A passenger, Wali Magwood, 36, of Irvington, was charged with having six glassine envelopes of heroin.

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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Who got the bids?

The Newark supermarket will close by June 16, the company confirmed.

NEWARK -- After a big expansion in New Jersey several years ago, Acme is closing one of its Garden State grocery stores.

The Acme on Ferry Street in Newark will be shuttered by June 16, company spokeswoman Danielle D'Elia confirmed Tuesday.

The store -- one of many former Pathmark locations Acme took over after the demise of A&P, Pathmark's parent company -- opened Nov. 8, 2015.

"Like all retailers, we are constantly evaluating our store portfolio and have to look at every angle of the business," D'Elia said in a statement about why Acme is closing.

"This store has not met our goals and we have made the decision to deploy the team and resources to other locations to serve our customers." 

Whole Foods opens in Newark

Though D'Elia did not respond to a question about how many employees will be affected by the closure, she did say the company "will be diligently working with each affected associate and the labor unions to discuss the impact and effects of this decision under the applicable law or labor agreements."

The store is one of three Acme locations in New Jersey the company closed this year, including those in Upper Deerfield Township and Shrewsbury.

D'Elia said Tuesday the company is not planning any other closures in New Jersey, and is opening two new stores in Philadelphia.

"Closing a store is always a tough decision. Let me assure you they are not made without a great deal of consideration, but we are focused on growing our business and reinvesting those resources into our new stores," she said.

The closure comes to a city once dubbed a food desert, but that has seen a lot of growth in supermarket options in recent years, with the opening of a ShopRite in Newark's Central Ward in 2015, and a downtown Whole Foods earlier this year.

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

A South Orange Middle School student penned an op-end defending her right to pass on the photo

One of the students who turned down a chance to take a photo with House Speaker Paul Ryan said she made the decision on her own.

In an op-ed published on local news site VillageGreenNJ.com, eighth-grader Jordan McCray-Robinson wrote that her teachers at South Orange Middle School try to instill in students the ability to think for themselves.

Got that #FridayFeeling [?]

A post shared by Speaker Paul Ryan (@speakerryan) on May 26, 2017 at 6:39am PDT

"I am here to tell the nation that although we're only in the 8th grade, we have our own thoughts and opinions," McCray-Robinson wrote. "My teachers did not influence my decision not to take a picture with Mr. Ryan. I decided I didn't want to take a picture with someone who doesn't have my best interests in mind. Mr. Ryan and the administration want to cut health care for 23 million people. Am I one of those U.S. citizens that will be affected?"

National news outlets including the Washington Post and Breitbart picked up the story. 

A group of South Orange Middle School students touring the Capitol during a field trip were offered the photo opportunity. About half of the students refused, while the other half took the picture.

McCray-Robinson pointed out in her op-ed that students made individual decisions. One of her classmates who doesn't agree with the Wisconsin congressman's views stood for the picture because Ryan is second in line for the presidency, she wrote.

The middle schooler closed by firing back against online commenters who claimed the students were disrespectful in shunning Ryan.

"I will not tolerate my peers and I being shamed for voicing our opinions," she wrote. "My generation is the future. I will be working and living in a society created by today's decisions. So why shouldn't I be able to speak my truth?"

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

Everything you need to know about the state semifinals.

TUESDAY ESSENTIALS
• Tuesday's schedule/scoreboard
• Sectional final results and links 
• Previews and predictions for Tuesday's 12 state semifinals
• State tournament stat leaders from every section in N.J. baseball 
• Who are the 2017 NJ.com Player of the Year finalists? 
• Top 31 performances from Friday's sectional finals
• NJ.com Top 20: Swashbuckling back to No. 1 
• Statement wins & upsets through Friday's finals 
• 2017 State tournament brackets 

FEATURED: Who are the 67 N.J. alums playing in NCAA Baseball Tournament?

TUESDAY'S FEATURED GAMES

NORTH JERSEY, NON-PUBLIC A FINAL
Delbarton vs. Randolph, 4pm at Lyndhurst
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

NORTH JERSEY, NON-PUBLIC B FINAL
Newark Academy vs. St. Mary (Ruth.), 4pm at Ramapo College
• Game story
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 1 SEMIFINAL
Emerson Boro vs. Glen Ridge, 4pm at Kean University
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 2 SEMIFINAL
Whippany Park vs. Pascack Hills, 4pm at Belleville Stadium
• Game story
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 3 SEMIFINAL
Pascack Valley vs. Cranford, 4pm at William Paterson University
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 4 SEMIFINAL
Ridgewood vs. Millburn, 4pm at Rutgers University
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

WEDNESDAY'S FEATURED GAMES

SOUTH JERSEY, NON-PUBLIC A FINAL
St. Augustine vs. Bishop Eustace, 4pm at Rider University
• Game story
• Live updates
• Box score

SOUTH JERSEY, NON-PUBLIC B FINAL
Gloucester Catholic vs. St. Rose, 4pm at Monmouth University
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 1 SEMIFINAL
Audubon vs. Middlesex, 4pm at Cumberland Community College
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 2 SEMIFINAL
Gov. Livingston vs. Manasquan, 2pm at Rowan University
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 3 SEMIFINAL
Highland vs. Allentown, 4pm at Rowan College at Gloucester County
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 4 SEMIFINAL
Southern vs. Hunterdon Central, 4pm at East Brunswick Tech
• Game story
• Live updates
• Box score

FULL STATEWIDE SCHEDULE/SCOREBOARD

# denotes tournament game. 

Note: Weather is causing some of Tuesday's schedule to be shifted to Wednesday. We will make changes in the brackets and in this post as soon as we get them. It is always advisable to check with one of the teams before heading to any game in questionable weather.

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

North Jersey, Non-Public A

North Jersey, Non-Public B

South Jersey, Non-Public A

South Jersey, Non-Public B

Essex County renamed an athletics facility after late running legend Tom Fleming.

BLOOMFIELD -- The late famed runner Tom Fleming never pressured his daughter Margot to share his love for the sport. Nonetheless, she says her new goal is to surpass the many miles her father ran weekly at a New Jersey park that held a special place in his heart.

"He never lived more than four miles away (from the park)... He loved Essex County. He loved Bloomfield, he loved Montclair, he loved Glen Ridge," Margot Fleming said of her recently deceased father. 

That's what prompted county officials to rename a section of Brookdale Park the "Essex County Tom Fleming Athletics Complex" during a Monday night dedication ceremony. The park, located in Bloomfield and Montclair, houses a quarter-mile track and synthetic grass field. 

Old newspaper clippings and photos of the two-time New York Marathon winner--who suddenly died April 19 at 65 from a heart attack while coaching a track meet in Verona-- were on display beneath a tent seating hundreds of Fleming's friends, family and students.  

Margot Fleming, who now has run 23 marathons, said she hopes people remember her father when they walk on the newly named track.

Fleming, head coach at Montclair Kimberly Academy since 2000, began his own running career at Bloomfield High School-- the town he grew up in. Following graduation, he became a four-time NCAA All-American and Conference Champion at William Paterson College. 

Running icon mourned throughout N.J.

Widely known for winning the New York Marathon in 1973 and 1975, Fleming was also a two-time Boston Marathon runner-up and a three-time Jersey Shore Marathon champion. He opened a store called Tom Fleming's Running Room in 1978 and was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame nearly four decades later.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo announced in April that he submitted a proposal to the county's Board of Chosen Freeholds to rename the complex after his longtime friend. 

Tom Fleming. (Submitted photo)
 

He described the teacher, coach and mentor as "the right example for all of us."

"Tom Fleming was Brookdale Park," DiVincenzo said. "The reason we did this and renamed is not for what he did on the track that impresses me... it's what he did off the track."

The dedication ceremony attracted other world-class athletes who raced against, trained with and befriended Fleming over the years. Bill Rodgers, a four-time winner of the New York and Boston marathons, and New England runner Joe Martino sat in the audience during the hour-long tribute. 

Glen Ridge Councilman Dan Murphy-- a former sprinter-- announced that the Sunset Classic, a 5-mile road race in Bloomfield that the late runner directed, will be renamed the "Tom Fleming Sunset Classic." The race is held annually in June.

Along with councilmen and mayors, students in Fleming's 4th grade class lined up by the microphone to share stories about their favorite teacher while admirers of Fleming's unique running style listened.

Mike Perry, a 54-year-old runner, drove to the ceremony from Verona and said Fleming inspired him to begin racing. 

"He's a legend," Perry said. "Runners often don't get enough recognition for what they do, so I wanted to stop by."

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Prosecutors said the woman went missing after leaving an Irvington bar.

Johnny B. Jones III. (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)
 

NEWARK -- A 33-year-old Georgia man who fatally stabbed a go-go dancer to death more than five years ago has been sentenced to 60 years in prison, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday.

Johnny B. Jones III, of Jonesboro, Ga., was found guilty at trial before Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin of murder, conspiracy and weapons offenses in the death of Denise Ramsey, 33, an Irvington resident who went missing after leaving the Dollhouse bar in the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 2011.

Her body was discovered in January 2012 under a mattress in a vacant lot in East Orange, authorities said.

Jones was later identified as one of the men Ramsey left the club with, and fled to Florida after giving a DNA sample that matched evidence found on Ramsey's body, authorities have said. 

Jones, whose case was brought to trial by assistant prosecutors Naazneen Khan and Jason Alterbaum, was later charged along with Brian Love, 44.

Love, whose DNA prosecutors said was found under Ramsey's fingernails, has since pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless manslaughter, and is scheduled to be sentenced June 19, according to court records.

A third man, Corey Fallen, of Atlanta, was arrested in October 2012 in connection with the case, but later released in April 2013 after investigators determined he wasn't in New Jersey when Ramsey disappeared.

Fallen has since filed a lawsuit against New Jersey State Police, the City of Newark and several individual detectives, which records show remains pending in U.S. District Court.

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

In addition to the gubernatorial primary, voters in Essex County also chose between candidates in local races.

ESSEX COUNTY -- The votes have been cast.

Essex County residents went to the polls Tuesday to not only vote in the gubernatorial primary, but also in a few local contested elections, as well. 

Check the list below for live, unofficial results of the local primaries, according to the county clerk's office. Presumptive winners will be bolded. 

This post will be updated throughout the evening Tuesday, so check back or refresh often for updated, unofficial results.

Freeholder -- 1st District

One three-year term

Robert Mercado (D)

Franklin Ventura (D)

Karina L. Garces (R)

Freeholder -- 2nd District

One three-year term

Wayne L. Richardson (D)

Douglas H. Freeman (R)

Freeholder -- 3rd District

One three-year term

Britnee N. Timberlake (D)

Freeholder -- 4th District

Leonard M. Luciano (D)

Adam Kraemer (R)

Freeholder -- 5th District

One three-year term

Carlos M. Pomares

Council -- 1st Ward

One three-year term 

Jenny Mundell (D)

David G. Tucker, Sr. (R)

Council -- 2nd Ward

One three-year term

Nicholas Joanow (D)

Ciro A. Spina III (R)

Council -- 3rd Ward

One three-year term

Sarah Cruz (D)

Pedro Taveras, Jr. (R)

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

Jonathan Lace (D)

Henderson Cole (D)

John Cascarano (R)

Kristian Brown (R)

Mayor

One four-year term

Theodore R. Green (D)

John Thompson, Jr. (D)

Kenwyn S. Williams (D)

City Council -- 1st Ward

One four-year term

Christopher James (D)

City Council -- 2nd Ward

One four-year term

Romal Bullock (D)

Khalfani Alleyne (D)

City Council -- 3rd Ward

One four-year term

Bergson Leneus (D)

Jerome Black, Sr. (D)

City Council -- 4th Ward

One four-year term

Tyshammie L. Cooper (D)

City Council -- 5th Ward

One four-year term

Alicia Holman (D)

Mayor

One four-year term

Edward A. Davis (R)

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

John A. King (R)

Bernard J. D'Avella (R)

Town Council

Two three-year terms 

John LaForgia (R)

Thomas J. Morgan (R) 

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

No candidates

Township Committee

Two three-year terms

Victor DeLuca (D)

Dean Dafis (D)

Michael Summersgill (R)

Township Committee

Two three-year terms

Jacqueline Benjamin Lieberberg (D)

Cheryl H. Burstein (D)

Robert Tillotson (R)

Michael Birnberg (R)

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

Cynthia D. Santomauro (R)

John F. Chiaia (R)

Borough Council

Two three-year terms

Christopher Bardi (D)

Roger Freda (D)

Michelle Tolli (R)

Mark Vidovich (R)

Township Council

Two three-year terms

Michael Docteroff (R)

Kathy L. Canale (R)

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

NEWARK -- A 46-year-old man was arrested Monday and charged in connection with a bank robbery late last month, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said. Police say Tyrone Anderson walked into the TD Bank on Mulberry Street May 26 and handed a teller a note demanding money. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. Anderson was captured by...

NEWARK -- A 46-year-old man was arrested Monday and charged in connection with a bank robbery late last month, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.

Police say Tyrone Anderson walked into the TD Bank on Mulberry Street May 26 and handed a teller a note demanding money. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

Anderson was captured by members of the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force.

"The FBI's participation with the Newark Police Department in the Violent Crimes Task Force continues to be instrumental in removing criminal offenders off the streets and improving our communities," said Timothy Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge of the Newark FBI.

"I want to once again thank our federal partners, we can't do this alone.  Law enforcement is more effective when we work together to address crime and remove criminals from our streets," Ambrose said. "And I commend detectives of the Newark Police Division's Major Crimes unit for their hard work in quickly identifying this suspect."

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

Jim Johnson's supporters gathered at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair as polls closed on primary day.

MONTCLAIR -- His supporters didn't come to Jim Johnson's primary party Tuesday night to mourn the end of a campaign after his loss to Phil Murphy in the governor's race.

Instead, they focused on the future -- and if this could mark the beginning of Johnson's role in state politics.

"I see Jim Johnson as a change agent," Ibrahim Sharif, of Piscataway, said at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, where supporters gathered after the polls closed.

If not the governor's race, Sharif said, he'd like to see Johnson challenge New Jersey's U.S. Senators, starting with Sen. Cory Booker. "I think he would be the one to break the paralysis" in the state," Sharif said.

Johnson, an attorney from Montclair, was largely unknown until he declared his candidacy in October. 

But he quickly pivoted his platform to fighting political "insiders" in government, fueling his campaign with populist undertones and a focus on letting the people, not the county level Democratic machines -- choose.

"We have made a difference in this state, we will continue to make a difference in this state," Johnson told a packed room of supporters, shortly after calling Murphy to congratulate him. "You will hear from us again and again and again."

Johnson said he'd focus on making sure Murphy is elected in November. 

Asked by reporters if there was a future for him in New Jersey politics, Johnson said "I think yes" but declined to be specific. "I need time to step back and reflect on all that I've learned and we'll make some decisions moving forward."

Johnson, 56, was the only black candidate in the field and if elected would have been New Jersey's first black governor. 

His supporters say -- and hope -- the political newcomer could still make history. 

"It's hard to find good candidates," said Hugh Lester, 51, of Weehawken. "Just because someone doesn't win one race, it's not the reason to stop supporting them."

"We need someone outside the system to change the system," said Heidi Wilenius, 44, of Hopewell.

About 100 gathered at the jazz club as The Associated Press declared Murphy the winner shortly after 9 p.m. Early results showed Johnson was the third-highest vote-getter in an election that received little national attention and failed to galvanize much public interest in the state. 

Voter apathy was widespread despite the public's chance to pick Gov. Chris Christie's potential successor. Christie is term-limited and holds historically low approval ratings. 

Johnson served as U.S. Treasury official under then-President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, was a former federal prosecutor, chairman of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University and an attorney at high-profile New York City corporate law firm Debevoise & Plimpton until he resigned in March. 

Nancy and I just cast our votes for Governor. Now, it's your turn.
Find your voting place: https://t.co/yFkgs2WUMr
Polls close tonight at 8. pic.twitter.com/XE3dUaTpm1

-- Jim Johnson (@jimjohnsonnj) June 6, 2017

During the campaign, Johnson targeted ethics reforms, proposed eliminating no-bid contracts, limiting public workers to one public pension, banning conflicts of interests of legislators and county executives and vowing to take a transparency pledge. 

Johnson also proposed a five-point plan to fight President Trump, including appointing a state attorney general to fight the Department of Justice on criminal justice and voting rights, creating the New Jersey Immigration Council that would protect immigrants and provide lawyers to work on immigration cases and appointing a chief science officer. 

"I am not giving up those fights," Johnson said. "Every single person in this room, whether you knocked on a door, you picked up a telephone, you donated money ... you took on the hard thing to get to the right thing and we will keep doing that."

The Nov. 7 election between Murphy and Republican primary winner Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, will be one of two gubernatorial races in the U.S. (Virginia is the other) in President Donald Trump's first year in office.  

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

Prom season continues

Science Park High school students turned out in their finest for their prom night held at The Fiesta in Wood Ridge on Tuesday night.

Prom season is in full swing and NJ.com is capturing the moments for many New Jersey high schools. Check back at nj.com/essex for other local high school prom coverage in the coming weeks.

Be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom.

BUY THESE PHOTOS

Are you one of the people pictured at this prom? Want to buy the photo and keep it forever? Look for a link in the photo caption to purchase the picture. You'll have the ability to order prints in a variety of sizes, or products like magnets, keychains, coffee mugs and more.

SHARE YOUR PROM PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Let's see your prom photos. Post your pictures on Twitter and Instragram with #njprom. We'll retweet and repost our favorites on Twitter @njdotcom and Instagram @njdotcompix.

Ed Murray may be reached at emurray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Ed on Twitter at @EdMurrayphoto. Find NJ.COM on Facebook.

The councilman received nearly 90 percent of the vote.

EAST ORANGE -- The results of Tuesday's primary, which all but decided the contested race for mayor of the city, could not have been much more decisive.

Ted Green, a councilman backed by the city's and Essex County's Democratic Parties, got nearly 90 percent of the vote, and about 10 times the number of ballots cast in his favor as the next-highest vote-getter, according to unofficial results released by the Essex County Clerk Tuesday night.

"I feel fantastic, man," said Green, who the clerk reported received 6,094 votes. With 91 percent of districts reporting, his competitors, John Thompson, Jr. and Kenwyn S. Williams received 645 and 74 votes, respectively.

"I think people saw my leadership on the council," Green said of the role he has filled in East Orange for the past 12 years.

"I think they saw that I am not only qualified, but that I made tough decisions, which led to me being selected as a candidate for being a mayor of this city, a city that I grew up in."

Green announced his candidacy earlier this year, after Mayor Lester Taylor declared he would not be seeking reelection at the close of his first term. Though other independent candidates may still enter the race before November's general election, the winner in the heavily Democratic town is usually decided during the primaries.

Green, who ran alongside a slate of council candidates who also won primary races Tuesday, said he will continue to campaign through Election Day.

But, on Tuesday night, he was busy soaking up a big win.

"This was a great victory in the city," he said. "We are ready to roll up our sleeves and really get some things done."

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