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Cops seek gunman in shooting at hair salon

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Victim listed in stable condition Saturday, police say.

NEWARK -- A man was wounded in a shooting at a hair salon in Newark's Central Ward Saturday, police said.

The victim was listed in stable condition at University Hospital after the attack on the 400 block of Central Avenue, according to police.

Officers rushed to reports of a person shot at the salon shortly before 4 p.m., authorities said. A possible motive for the shooting was not immediately available.

The gunman had a scarf hiding his face and was last seen running north on 4th Street, according to police.

Anyone with information was urged to call the 24-hour Newark police division's tipline at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867).

Information can also be submitted using the division's smartphone app.

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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West African refugee reopens Newark IHOP with plans to hire

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Adenah Bayoh hopes the new restaurant will shift the focus from revitalizing Newark's downtown area to less developed parts of the city.

NEWARK-- When West African refugee Adenah Bayoh landed in Newark 26 years ago, the city was "literally heaven on earth" for her.  

She arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport at the age of 12 after the civil war pushed her from her Liberian village into a refugee camp in Sierra Leone.

"Coming from somewhere with no toilets or running water... When I heard people say Newark is this dangerous place, I didn't know what they were talking about," said Bayoh.

Now a successful businesswoman and developer, Bayoh is opening her third IHOP restaurant in the same city she spent her childhood, and hopes to be part of what officials are calling "Newark's renaissance." 

Under its previous owners, Bayoh said the pancake house-- located on Bergen Street-- was on the verge of closing when she decided to step in to purchase the property in March. She said dozens of employees would have lost jobs, but instead, she plans on hiring 40 new workers. 

After walking away from initial negotiations in 2012, Bayoh returned when she saw the restaurant in disarray. The acquisition and renovations combined, she said, totaled more than $1.5 million and included a redesign, new furniture and a conference room.

The project was personal for Bayoh, who attended Weequahic High School and volunteered at University Hospital as a teenager. She now lives in Englewood, but said her roots are in Newark.

Above all, Bayoh hopes the new restaurant will shift the focus from revitalizing Newark's downtown area to less developed parts of the city.

"Right now, the focus is on the downtown area. But if you look up here, businesses are closing," she said. "I just want to spark something in this community with this project."

And if anyone can turn the restaurant around, friends and city officials say it's Bayoh, who has experience working in inner cities.

Ten years ago, Bayoh opened her first IHOP in Irvington in 2007 after realizing the closest franchise at the time was more than an hour away.

"I scheduled a meeting with the mayor because I was a citizen and needed to let him know," she said. 

At 25-years-old, Bayoh bought an Irvington diner that was on the market and began her journey as the youngest African-American franchisee of IHOP. Her restaurant application was denied seven times and she struggled to find a bank willing to fund her vision, but she said the setbacks fueled her. 

Eight years later, the 38-year-old opened her second flapjack house in Paterson. 

"I could not be more proud. She is very dedicated to the community and a fierce businesswoman. She's really giving it back," said IHOP's Senior Director for Franchise Development Nicole Durham-Mallory.

With a $225 million real estate portfolio under her belt, Durham-Mallory called Bayoh a role model for young girls who aspire to become business owners. 

Urban League of Essex County Board Member Vivian Cox Fraser commended Bayoh's plans to hire 40 additional employees as a way to spark "transformative change."

"Most of us get our income from a job, so it's really great when you have people who believe in investing in communities to bring jobs," she said. "Jobs are so important."

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Even ex-mayor ends up with no coverage as city switches to state health plan

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Retired city employees say the switch to Newark's new health benefits plan left them with gaps in coverage

NEWARK -- The city's roll-out of a new health benefits plan -- that left some retirees with little notice of the change and others without coverage -- unleashed furor among public safety unions, elected officials and some of Newark's longest-serving employees.

Among them: Former Mayor Sharpe James.

When Brick City's political giant tried to get treated for his back pain, he was denied; his city-issued health coverage had lapsed, he said. 

"I am not concerned about the clinic denying my scheduled August 2, 2017 treatment for my excruciating leg and back pains," James wrote in an email to NJ Advance Media.

"I am concerned about others suffering from permanent and terminal illness pain that can't survive ten days or more of no treatment simply because the city was negligent in negotiating a no lapse in policy plan," he said.

Complaints like these jammed the phones of City Hall, City Council members and union leaders as Newark transitioned its 3,000 employees and more than 2,100 eligible retirees into the state's health benefits plan beginning on Aug. 1. 

City officials acknowledged several issues in the process but vowed to fix it and work with the unions to ensure every current and former employee was covered. 

"They are frustrated because of their inconvenience and they should be," Mayor Ras Baraka told NJ Advance Media. "But we're going to fix it and get through this painful time."

He stood by the city's decision -- which was approved by the City Council -- to move to the state plan.

"It's the best thing the city needs to do, it saves millions of dollars, it saves the taxpayers money," Baraka said. "The health insurance was spiraling out of control. We knew it was going to be painful, we should have braced ourselves a little better."

Business Administrator Jack Kelly told council members during a heated meeting Wednesday that the state, not the city was responsible for notifying retirees. But Kelly said Thursday the city, too, sent a letter to retirees on May 22 informing them of the changes.

Willem O. Rijksen, a spokesman for the Office of the Treasury, which is processing health insurance applications, said it send letters to 2,182 retirees on July 15 and had processed and received 908 applications since. Another 200 were received on Aug. 2. 

Juan AquinoJuan Aquino, known as John, is a retired Newark firefighter. He now has Alzheimer's and lives in Orlando. (Courtesy: Dulce Aquino) 

"Why the hell did they take this long and not send me the proper forms?" asked Dulce Aquino, 56, whose husband, Juan Acquino served on city's fire department for 30 years. "This should have never happened."

Aquino lives in Orlando, Fla. with her husband who has Alzheimer's. She said she received a notification from the state on July 28, three days before her old coverage expired.  

"I am really upset," she said, adding that she was working with the union to overnight her application to the state. "I'm devastated knowing I have no coverage."

For Kecia Daniels, the city's personnel director, retirees have been coming to her with issues that are vast and nuanced. 

One retiree, with no living family,  said he didn't know where to start. A nephew wondered if he could enroll -- and sign -- the new health plan on behalf of his infirm uncle. 

"It's little things like that that can potentially be a powder keg," she said behind her desk piled with paperwork. "But this city, you have lots of employees who have lots of issues."

Daniels said she's in "triage mode," trying to help retirees that are sick, in hospitals or nursing homes. But she said there are some things she can't help with because she doesn't know who needs help. It was the state that reached out to the retirees and applications are mailed directly to the them. 

Unless they call the city, "I have no way of knowing," Daniels said. 

Rijksen, the spokesman for the state's treasury office, said it takes 10-14 business days to process an application. He said the state notified retirees of how to apply for their new benefits in non-certified letters sent July 15. 

When asked why notifications were sent two weeks before the new plan kicked in, he said the city did not submit a list of eligible retirees until July 7. 

Daniels said the city was focused on making sure current employees were enrolled and they didn't receive a request from the state until early July to identify retirees eligible for benefits. 

"There's enough blame to go around," Daniels said. "We are not without fault ourselves."

"We could have done a better job at meeting with the union officials and sitting folks down and working through this together despite our argument, contention and ego," Baraka said. "We didn't put together a strategy with the union to be able to deal with it in a more effective kind of way. We're dealing with it as a crisis as opposed to putting something together in anticipation that these things may occur."

Four police and fire unions sued the city over the benefit changes, saying it violated their contract. 

"This is a humongous nightmare," said Anthony Tarantino, president of Newark Fire Officers. But he said the unions were not being contentious. "If they would have just kept up with the contract and negotiated with us, we're reasonable people, we could have worked this all out."

A mayor denied

Former Mayor James, who said he sent in his application for the new benefits, said he couldn't see a doctor when he went for a follow-up visit after his MRI.

That same day, as James was denied coverage, his son, South Ward Councilman John Sharpe James, moved to issue a vote of no confidence against Kelly, the business administrator, saying he improperly rolled out the benefits plan. Three other council members gave Kelly a vote of no-confidence but the motion ultimately failed. 

"It's anger and emotion," Baraka said in response. "We'll get through this difficult thing."

The elder James said he applied for the new plan but received a letter from the state six days before his coverage lapsed, saying he needed to provide proof he was eligible for Medicare. The card he needed would take 10 days for Social Security to mail to his house, James said. 

James said Daniels, the city's personnel director, helped him complete the application and had a copy of the paperwork he needed in her office. 

"If the city had taken responsibility for pre-enrollment in assisting the seniors, all of this would have been known and the state could have been timely assisted," James said. 

The state said 218 applications were received that required proof of Medicare and remained pending.  

'We are taking care of you'

Retired police officer Fred Soto, 76, who lives in East Brunswick, said he went to pick up his wife's rheumatoid arthritis medication that he usually pays $1.50 for and was charged $623.

Soto said his prescription coverage had lapsed even though he mailed in his insurance application more than a month ago. 

Fred SotoFred Soto retired from the Newark Police Department in 1995. (Left) Pictured with his wife. (Courtesy: Fred Soto) 

"I feel scared, I feel depressed, I feel like we're being betrayed by the city after I served for over 25 years. I never had no problem before," he said. 

Former Fire Director James W. Stewart, said he didn't get a notification from the state until Aug. 1. He said he received a letter from the city a few months back but it didn't tell him what to do.

"It might have been the state's responsibility but since we retired from the city ... the city should not have totally left it up to the state," he said. 

Baraka said Newark would continue to take care of its workers -- past and present. He said the problem needed context: Many retirees and their spouses have health care benefits for life, he said.

"We're taking care of you and the city of Newark residents are taking care of you and in some instances we can't afford to take care of you," he said, citing escalating costs. "We're not finished, there's more we have to do with the health benefits but we have to do it."

The council agreed to move to the state's health benefits plan in January as a way to cut $14 million in spending. At the time, Kelly said health care costs made up about 16 percent of the city's $650 million budget.

Originally Kelly recommended hiring a new broker, Frenkel Benefits, LLC., to transition the city to a self-insured plan. The city previously contracted Brown & Brown as its broker. But the council rejected the measure and city alternately proposed moving to the state's insurance plan. 

Daniels said two additional workers are staffing her office and she's working late to take calls from people who need help. Current or former employees who need assistance can call the state at 609-292-7524 or the city at 973-733-8008.

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

How 4 controversial arrests led to a police chief's suspension

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The town hired a consulting firm to conduct a $35,000 independent review of the police department

As vets re-enter civilian life, these NJ lawyers offer free legal aid

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After three years stationed in Iraq, U.S. Navy veteran Jose Lopez began readjusting to living in New Jersey. The 35-year-old had developed post-traumatic stress disorder since joining the military in 2006 and afterwards moved to Newton in Sussex County, where he says "country life is a better place for veterans."  But when it came to legal issues, Lopez still needed guidance.  "As a...

After three years stationed in Iraq, U.S. Navy veteran Jose Lopez began readjusting to living in New Jersey.

The 35-year-old had developed post-traumatic stress disorder since joining the military in 2006 and afterwards moved to Newton in Sussex County, where he says "country life is a better place for veterans." 

But when it came to legal issues, Lopez still needed guidance. 

"As a civilian, I didn't know where to go," Lopez said.

That's where Volunteer Lawyers for Justice stepped in with its new Veterans Legal Wellness Clinics. They helped Lopez draft a will following the death of his in-laws and birth of his two-year-old daughter.

With attorneys from BASF Corporation and Panasonic Corporation of North American, the non-profit organization helps solve veterans' legal problems during a clinic at the East Orange VA Hospital. Veterans sit at tables in the hospital once a month huddled over paperwork with lawyers trying to find legal remedies to their problems. 

While local attorneys charged Lopez $1,000 for legal services, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is free. The 10-person team tackles everything from criminal record expungements and drivers license restorations to estate planning and child support. 

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice created the new program in 2017 after hospital staff brought attention to the lack of easy access to legal aid for nearby veterans, said Cathy Keenan, the organization's Executive Director.

Prior to the free clinic in East Orange, she said, former military members in the area had to either travel 45 minutes by bus to another center in Lyons or stop by the group's Newark office for legal help

"We want to come to them, not the other way around," Keenan said.

"I have been managing pro bono programs for 17 years," Keenan said. "I have rarely seen a program that has had such an immediate impact on the clients and the volunteer attorneys as this program has."

Five months since its inception, attorneys have donated about $55,000 in legal services to 80 veterans, who served overseas in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Korea. 

But the clinic doesn't only help the veterans. 

For Matt Lepore, it is personal. Lepore's late father was a former psychologist at the East Orange hospital, and said the program has reconnected him with the same military members that his dad once served.

"I feel that this clinic ties me back to (my father's) work in some small way," said Lepore, BASF Corporation's general counsel and senior vice president. "We are helping (the veterans) navigate the legal system to ease their transition into civilian life."

Both companies send at least five lawyers to each clinic, along with support staff and paralegals. 

Other attorneys involved say speaking face-to-face with military service members about their problems is a refreshing break from their usual work in business law.

Panasonic Corporation General Counsel Damien Atkins described the clinic as a "two-way-street" that positively impacts both veterans and professionals. The program, Atkins said, exposes him to areas of the law not seen from the comfort of his office.

The company moved its headquarters to Newark in 2013, and teamed up with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in hopes of getting more involved in the community, Atkins said. 

"It's rewarding to break out of silos and see a positive impact of my work," he said. "Getting a block of time to get out of the office and work on family issues and issues that impact people is worthwhile."

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Woman charged with stealing car at knifepoint, cops say

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The woman turned herself into police after learning she was being sought as a suspect.

NEWARK -- An 18-year-old Maplewood woman was arrested and charged with stealing a car at knifepoint on Saturday, city police said. 

Oziona Okoro was charged with carjacking, aggravated assault, conspiracy and weapons offenses after police said she and a accomplice stole a car around 3:40 p.m. at the corner of Dawson and Thomas streets, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement. 

Ambrose said the car's owner was approached by a male armed with a knife and Okoro. The man demanded the victim give up his car and then the two drove away in the victim's vehicle, according to Ambrose. 

The two also stole the vehicle owner's computer tablet and other personal items, Ambrose said. 

Okoro turned herself in to authorities after learning she was being sought by police as a suspect. 

Ambrose asked anyone with information to call the Newark Police 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). Police said anonymous tips via the tip line are kept confidential and could lead to an award. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.newarkpdonline.org. 

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

 

Newark police searching for aggravated assault suspect

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Police are searching for city resident Daisean Williams, 36.

NEWARK -- Police are searching for a man wanted in connection with an aggravated assault incident in the city on Saturday. 

Daisean WilliamsDaisean Williams (Newark police)

Investigators are searching for city resident Daisean Williams, 36, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced in a statement. 

Ambrose said officers responded around 11:45 p.m. to a report of a person shot at Lyons Avenue and Dewey Street. Though a report came in of shots fired, police learned that no one was actually shot, Ambrose said. 

But detectives learned that Williams was responsible for firing the shots and issued a warrant for his arrest, Ambrose said. 

"While police are actively searching for Williams, we seek the public's assistance in quickly locating him and removing him from our streets," Ambrose said.

The investigation is active and ongoing. 

Anyone with information to call the Newark Police 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). Police said anonymous tips via the tip line are kept confidential and could lead to an award. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.newarkpdonline.org. 

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

Newark man, 70, threatened neighbor with shotgun, cops say

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Police said he was arrested without incident.

NEWARK -- A 70-year-old city resident was arrested Saturday after he threatened a neighbor with a shotgun, police said. 

Lester Martin Lester Martin (Newark police)

Lester Martin was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun for unlawful purpose following the 12:32 p.m. incident, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement.

Ambrose said officers responded to a residence on Underwood Street after receiving a report of a man on a porch armed with a shotgun.

"The suspect is alleged to have threatened a neighbor and was still on the porch," Ambrose said in the statement.

Martin was arrested without incident and police confiscated the shotgun, Ambrose said.

Anyone with information to call the Newark Police 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). Police said anonymous tips via the tip line are kept confidential and could lead to an award. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.newarkpdonline.org. 

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


Newark man wanted in Saturday afternoon assault, cops say

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A female acquaintence of the man reported he threatened and assaulted her.

NEWARK -- City police are searching for an 18-year-old man they say attacked a female acquaintence Saturday afternoon.

Abdul McCrayAbdul Jalil McCray. (Newark Department of Public Safety) 

Abdul Jalil McCray, of Newark, is wanted in connection with an aggravated assault reported around 1 p.m. Saturday, Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said in a statement Sunday afternoon.

The victim told responding officers that McCray had both threatened and assaulted her, police said. Authorities did not provide specific details of the alleged attack in Sunday's statement.

Ambrose urged anyone with information about McCray 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).  

Police said anonymous tips may also be made using the police division's website at www.newarkpd.org or through the new Newark Police Division smartphone app available on iTunes and through Google Play.

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

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The 25 homes with the highest property taxes in N.J., from least to most expensive

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You think your tax bill is high? Some residents pay up to $415K in taxes on their homes.

School enrollment help for Newark residents

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The Family Support Center is open to assist families.

 

NEWARK -- Newark Public Schools has a Family Support Center in place to help those still in need of a school placement for their children for the 2017-18 school year.

Those seeking a school placement can do so from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and, 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 26 at the Family Support Center, located at 301 W. Kinney St. No appointment is necessary.

"We are committed to providing high quality customer service to make sure parents have everything they need to identify and enroll in the school that is the best fit for their child," said Christopher D. Cerf, superintendent.

For more information, visit newarkenrolls.org or nps.k12.nj.us/.

To submit school news send an email to essex@starledger.com.

Why is the new pavement on Route 78 blinding drivers?

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Can a freshly paved road shine a little too much like a new car? Apparently a section of Route 78 has that problem for one driver.

Can a freshly paved road shine a little too much like a new car?  Apparently a section of Route 78 has that problem for one driver.

A section of Route 78 has a bad glare coming off the road surface, especially in the morning, which led a one reader to ask what was in that pavement.

"This morning, (the) glare off the roadway was really bad ... like driving on tin foil bad," he wrote

Q: "They just repaved Route 78 East around (Route) 24. The new surface is very reflective, almost silver at times. Why?

A: The answer is in the pavement itself, said Dan Triana, a Department of Transportation spokesman.

"NJDOT is using an asphalt mixture that has a longer life span and is more resistant to skidding for the I-78 resurfacing project in Union and Essex County," Trina said. "Due to the composition of the material used in this pavement, it may initially reflect light more than previous asphalt mixtures used on I-78."

The good news is that section of highway will get duller in time as the new wears off.

"Any apparent glare on the new highway surface will decrease over the next few months," he said.

If this section of Route 78 sounds familiar, it's because readers have been asking about when it would be repaved since 2015, after it was delayed several times by bad weather and finally by last summers state construction shutdown.

Have a commuting related question? We've gotten answers about a rare traffic sign that a reader never saw before and how many tickets are written for not signaling. What's your question?  

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

PHOTOS: Newark's 2017 Latin Festival draws music heavyweights

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The 2017 Newark Latin Fest drew thousands of spectators to celebrate Hispanic culture and hear back to back performances by Tito El Bambino and Jerry Rivera.

NEWARK -- Thousands crowded Bloomfield Avenue in Newark on Sunday for back-to-back performances by two Latin Grammy nominated stars. 

The third annual Newark Latin Fest featured salsa singer Jerry Rivera and Reggaeton star Tito el Bambino, who came to the heart of Newark's Latino community in the North Ward and offered the community a free concert. 

Organized by Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Quiles, volunteers and vendors filled the festival offering foods from across Latin America and highlighting Hispanic culture. 

"The main focus was to unite all Latinos as one and celebrate our accomplishments, our music, and celebrate our Hispanic heritage," Quiles previously told NJ Advance Media

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

Top lawmaker recruited by Democrats says no to challenging Frelinghuysen

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Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen could be vulnerable in 2018.

WASHINGTON -- Assemblyman John F. McKeon, who had been wooed by House Democrats to take on Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen next year, has decided not to enter the race.

McKeon (D-Essex) said that if he won re-election to the Assembly this fall and former U.S. Ambassador Phil Murphy was elected governor, he could play a major role in an all-Democratic state government.

"With a Democratic governor in Trenton, I hope to be an integral part of the solution as New Jersey faces some of its most challenging times," McKeon said in a statement. "Therefore, at this time I have decided to not run for Congress next year."

State lawmaker considers House race

McKeon did not endorse either of the two announced challengers to Frelinghuysen, the most powerful member of the state's congressional delegation as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

He said he would work with the eventual nominee and "continue to speak out and challenge Representative Frelinghuysen on issues that impact New Jersey and our nation."

The Cook Political Report, a Washington-based publication that tracks congressional races, has rated Frelinghuysen a slight favorite for re-election.

It listed the race as more competitive after Frelinghuysen switched positions and voted for the House Republican health care bill that the Congressional Budget Office said would leave 23 million more Americans without coverage. He also was criticized for identifying a member of an opposition group to her employer.

Leaders of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had reached out to McKeon and asked if he was interested in running for the House. He said he would consider it, but if he decided to run, wouldn't start raising money until after his re-election to the state Assembly.

Two other Democrats have entered the race, Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor, and Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett.

Sherrill picked up endorsements from two powerhouse fundraising groups, Emily's List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, and VoteVets, a progressive veterans' organization.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. 

Rehabbed loggerhead turtle gets 'Cake Boss' sendoff to the sea

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Humphrey, a 12-year-old loggerhead sea turtle, was the first loggerhead returned to the sea after long-term care in New Jersey

POINT PLEASANT BEACH -- When Sea Turtle Recovery opened at the Turtle Back Zoo in December, the recovery organization's staff knew they'd be filling a critical role on the East Coast for the endangered sea creatures.

Since the start of its operations, the center had taken pride in rehabilitating and releasing back into the wild 10 sea turtles to give them a second chance at life.

But none of the releases was as celebrated as the center's 11th on Tuesday in Point Pleasant Beach - the return of a 12-year-old loggerhead sea turtle named Humphrey to the ocean. The animal's release drew hundreds of spectators and celebrity baker Buddy "Cake Boss" Valastro.

"She washed ashore cold-stunned, fighting a lung infection, and now he or she is back in the ocean and healthy," said Brandi Biehl, co-executive officer at Sea Turtle Recovery.  "And I guarantee you it's going to have a great and wonderful life. He or she is a fighter.''

Humphrey was the first loggerhead turtle to be released from long-term care in New Jersey. Before Sea Turtle Recovery opened at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, the two other long-term care facilities on the East Coast for the mammals were in Boston and Virginia. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine can take in the sea creatures, but is only licensed to keep them for up to 45 days before shipping them - until now - out of state.

N.J. welcomes its 1st rehab facility for sick turtles

Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Stephen Reid said he met Biehl last year and became so interested in sea turtle rehabilitation that he put her in touch with staff at Jenkinson's Aquarium as a resource.

Humphrey's release grew into a spectacle to draw attention to the new non-profit center, and will be featured on a future episode of "Cake Boss," complete with a sea turtle cake Valastro designed for the event.

Driven in the back of an SUV to the release site on Jenkinson's Beach, Humphrey was fastened into a green "stretcher" and carried by five people toward the water's edge as hundreds of spectators lined the path.

Once released from the stretcher, Humphrey hesitantly crawled toward the surf as the hushed audience looked on. At one point, Humphrey turned around and started heading up the beach, prompting laughter from the crowd.

Hitting the first set of breakers, Humphrey was tossed back twice but continued the journey until disappearing under the waves as those in the crowd cheered or yelled "bye."

Humphrey washed ashore in Virginia on Dec. 24 with a version of hypothermia that develops when sea turtles are in cold water for too long. The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program took Humphrey in, but when that facility became overcrowded, the turtle's new home in May became Sea Turtle Recovery at Turtle Back.

The center was pressed into use quickly, said Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, who was also on hand for Humphrey's release.

"We're excited about today," DiVincenzo said. "Hopefully, there will be more that come out of Turtle Back Zoo that we can help with."

Biehl made vague references to Humphrey's gender because without subjecting it to expensive genetics testing, marine biologists can't tell a loggerhead turtle's sex until it reaches maturity at 26 years old. That's also the age when females, which are identified by having tails that don't extend beyond their shells, can start reproducing.

The females only come ashore for about an hour to lay their eggs between May and July and then head back to the ocean, said Sea Turtle Recovery intern Erika Bailey. Males never come ashore unless they're sick.

When Humphrey washed ashore, he or she was covered with barnacles, a good first indication that it was sick, as ill sea turtles sleep longer, allowing more time for barnacles to attach to their shells, Bailey said.

Humphrey weighed about 60 pounds when it was rescued. After a course of antibiotics and a steady diet of shrimp and squid over three months at Sea Turtle Recovery, Humphrey weighed in at 88 pounds and has a 2-foot-long shell.

But there's still a lot of growing ahead for Humphrey. Loggerhead turtles, which have a life span of 60 to 80 years, can weigh up to 200 pounds and have shells up to 4-feet long, Bailey said.  

Before Humphrey's release, all of Sea Turtle Recovery's releases had involved Kemp's ridley turtles, the smallest species of sea turtles. By their maturity at 12 years old, they can grow up to 2 feet long and weigh 100 pounds, Bailey said. Those releases occurred in the warmer waters off the coast of southern states, she said.

But more loggerhead releases may not be far behind because Sea Turtle Recovery is caring for two others, Bailey said.

Passionate about her job, Biehl said these public releases help draw attention to the plight of stranded and sick marine mammals and cautions the public to protect their environment.

It was emotional for her to see Humphrey go, but, Biehl said, it was also rewarding.

Humphrey is tagged for identification, but Biehl said she hopes use of the tags will never come into play unless Humphrey turns out to be female.

"If she ends up laying eggs in about 10 years or so, we'll get a report," Biehl said. "Otherwise, we hope never to hear from him again and he lives a long happy life out in the ocean." 

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.


Shooting victim pronounced dead after being left at Newark hospital

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Rashon Brown, 27, was originally from East Orange but had been living in Paterson. Investigators were still trying to determine where the shooting occurred.

Nswark Beth Israel Med Cent.jpgA 27-year-old shooting victim was pronounced at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Monday, after authorities said someone left him there.  

NEWARK -- A 27-year-old shooting victim was pronounced dead at a Newark hospital early Monday morning, after he was left there by someone who immediately fled, authorities said. 

The victim was identified as Rashon S. Brown, who was originally from East Orange but had been living in Paterson, authorities said.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in an announcement that Brown was "dropped off" at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center at about 1 a.m. on Monday, and was pronounced dead a half hour later.

They said the victim's identity was not known when he arrived at the hospital, and that he was only identified by investigators later on. As of Tuesday afternoon, Investigators were still trying to determine where the shooting occurred.

A spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, Kathy Carter, could not immediately say whether Brown was conscious or even alive when he was left at the hospital, or where he was left at the facility.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor's office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

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

Newark man admits ambush killing of ex's new boyfriend

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Prosecutors said he was angered she brought their daughter around the victim.

NEWARK -- A 24-year-old city man on Tuesday admitted gunning down the boyfriend of his child's mother on a street in Irvington, pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter under a deal that will see prosecutors recommend a 25-year prison term.

Marquis ArmstrongMarquis Armstrong. (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)
 

Marquis Armstrong's murder trial before Superior Court Judge James W. Donohue had entered its second day when he agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter and weapons charges in the killing of Rhasan Heath, 23, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

In doing so, authorities said, Armstrong potentially avoided what could have been a life sentence had he been convicted at trial of murder and weapons charges.

The name of Armstrong's attorney was not immediately available.

Prosecutors said Armstrong -- who has prior convictions for weapons and drug offenses, as well as resisting arrest -- grew angry at Heath after he began dating Armstrong's ex-girlfriend. 

Upset she brought their 1-year-old daughter around him, Armstrong was waiting outside her home in Irvington when she left with Heath and her daughter just before midnight on Sept. 3, 2014.

Armstrong began shooting at Heath as he walked toward his girlfriend's car. The man fled into the street, where he was struck by a passing car, according to Assistant Prosecutor Jason Goldberg, who handled the case with Assistant Prosecutor Eileen O'Connor.

Armstrong shot Heath five times as he lay on the ground, the final shot landed at the base of his skull, Goldberg said in a statement.

Heath was pronounced dead shortly after authorities arrived on scene, according to investigators.

"This is another example of a tragedy that occurred because of the presence of illegal weapons,'' O'Connor said in a statement.

Records show Armstrong remains jailed at the Essex County Correctional Facility. His sentencing has been set for 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 18.

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

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8 questions as Newark school takeover end nears, 8 answers from Mayor Baraka

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The Newark School Advisory Board is expected to receive local control of its schools as early as next month after 20 years under state control.

Violent patients 'running things' as assaults rise at N.J.'s largest psych hospital

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There were 560 patients in March at Greystone, a 450-bed hospital with cottages on the grounds that can accommodate another 60 people.

PARSIPPANY -- Patients at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital assaulted and injured 13 fellow patients and 12 employees during the first quarter of 2017, just as the state-run facility reached its highest capacity since opening nine years ago, according to state data released on Monday.

At this rate, the state's largest public psychiatric hospital is on course to easily exceed the 66 assaults reported all of last year, and the 39 assaults recorded in 2015, according to the Department of Human Services.

The statistics appear to bolster claims from a wide array of mental health advocates that Greystone is overcrowded and unsafe. 

N.J.'s largest public psychiatric hospital has fewer doctors, more patients 

Patients and employees at Greystone have confided in attorneys from the state Office of the Public Defender that the atmosphere inside Greystone is "prison-like, with the most violent patients running things," said Carl Herman, the office's director of Mental Health Advocacy. "Aggressive behavior leads to being afraid and staff members unable to respond appropriately."

With the hospital CEO on an extended medical leave and replaced temporarily by a senior official within the Human Services administration, "There is a huge leadership vacuum there, which impacts on morale," Herman said.

Members of the hospital's Board of Trustees said during a July 20 meeting that they have been inundated with letters from intimidated patients and staff who are looking for help. 

"What I have heard is staff are fearful and do not want to step up when there is an incident. Patients feel like there are no consequences, and staff feels like they have no backup," said Kimberly Donnenberg, the trustee board vice chairwoman.

"We are at the precipice of something bad that is about to happen,"  Donnenberg said.

 Plans are underway to reduce overcrowding by expediting the discharge of patients medically cleared to leave, acting Human Services Commissioner Elizabeth Connolly wrote in a letter to board President Eric Marcy on Aug. 3, acknowledging some of the problems discussed at the meeting.

Employees at all four of the state-operated psychiatric hospitals are getting trained in how to "de-escalate" volatile situations, the letter said.

Teresa McQuaid, the assistant director for the Office of State Hospital Management who was temporarily reassigned to serve as Greystone's interim CEO, intends to hire a recruitment specialist and work with Rutgers University Behavioral Health to retain psychiatrists, according to the letter. 

"There are multiple initiatives underway to recruit physicians and psychiatrists, to support patient and staff safety and to continue the successful placement of patients preparing for discharge," according to Connolly's letter, shared with NJ Advance Media when the news organization asked the Christie administration to respond to the criticisms at the hospital. "It is unfortunate that these actions are not being effectively communicated to and/or supported by some staff."

Marcy said he believe the hospital's overcrowding problems were created in part by the 2012 closing of Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in Lebanon Township, which served a sizable number of geriatric patients.

Two years later, the Christie administration closed the Woodbridge Developmental Center and the North Jersey Developmental Center that were home to hundreds of people with developmental disabilities, including some with mental illnesses. 

Not only are there more patients coming to Greystone, Marcy said, "We are moving to a more diverse demographic, and this demographic presents more difficult patients to treat."

Greystone's patient population grew from 460 in 2009 -- a year after the historic 132-year-old facility closed and a new hospital on the property took its place -- to 560 patients in March, according to state data. The facility was built for 450 with another 60 patients living in cottages on the property.

At the same time, psychiatrists and executive staff have retired or left for a better-paying private sector jobs and to avoid burnout, Marcy said. There were 30 to 28 psychiatrists in 2009 compared to 20 today, he said.

"I don't know how you can run a psychiatrist hospital with insufficient psychiatrists," he said. 

Robert Davison, executive director for the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris Counties, also blamed the overcrowding at Greystone on the "idiotic decision" to close Hagedorn. His staff who work closely with discharged patients and their families have said they don't feel safe.

"There are three to four people in a room for two, and sometimes as many as five. That concerns me," Davison said. 

Davison said he contacted Valerie Mielke, the assistant commissioner for Human Services in charge of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. She assured him she's hired more psychiatrists. But incremental hiring won't solve the crowded conditions, he said.

"The conditions are inhumane and demand immediate action," Davison said. "The only meaningful thing to do is alleviate the overcrowding. Hagedorn is still there - reopen that. There is no room at the inn."

Mary Moran of Allentown, Pa. said she has felt the impact of staffing shortages and escalating violence during visits with her 34-year-old son, Christopher, who was forced to leave Hagedorn and transfer to Greystone.

"Christopher has missed several of his scheduled day therapies because of 'short staffing,' " Moran said. His treatment team says a staff member must accompany Moran when she and her son want to take a walk outside, but several times they've been told to stay inside because no employee could join them, she said.

"Christopher has never been a harm to anyone but himself," Moran said. "But I was kicked last month by a patient, and when I reported it, I have not heard any update whatsoever."

Second-quarter data, from April to June, is not available, Human Services spokeswoman Ellen Lovejoy said.

Among the 25 assaults reported from January to March, all the victims required medical attention, although the report contained no details. One patient suffered  a "major" injury requiring hospital care, while 12 patients and 12 staff sustained "moderate" injuries, needing either a doctor's or hospital's attention, the data said. Five of the assaults were caused by two patients,  Lovejoy said.

There were no reported assaults by staff on patients, according to the data.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

N.J.'s best pizzeria: Which of these 10 finalists will be crowned the winner?

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Here's one last look at the ten finalists in our N.J.'s best pizzeria showdown.

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