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Solar eclipse 2017: What about glasses, path and pets? 15 answers to your eclipse questions today

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The Great American Solar Eclipse happens today, Monday, August 21, 2017 (8/21/17). If you're curious about how to watch the eclipse, what you'll see, what happens if you look at the eclipse without proper glasses or eye protection, or if you have any other questions, use this guide to get the answers you need.


Synthetic pot sickens at least 10 in Newark, cops say

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The incident is similar to one in the city earlier this year.

NEWARK -- Multiple people were ill after apparently ingesting synthetic marijuana in Newark Monday, authorities confirmed.

Newark police first responded to a sick person on Park Place at 8:12 a.m. Monday, Department of Public Safety Captain Derek Glenn said. Over the next five hours, police responded to nine other people at various locations across the city who were also sickened, authorities said.

"Police are investigating the likelihood the influx (of illness) is being caused by individuals having ingested synthetic marijuana," officials said in a release. 

A similar incident occurred in the city in April, in which authorities said about 40 people, many of whom were homeless, were sickened by synthetic pot. Two men were arrested in that incident.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 877-695-8477 or 877-695-4867.

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

 

4 hit in overnight Newark shooting, cops confirm

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Authorities are investigating the shooting.

NEWARK -- Authorities are investigating an overnight shooting that struck four people in Newark, officials confirmed Monday.

All four people shot in the Fabyan Place incident at 3:26 a.m. Monday suffered non-life threatening injuries, Newark police said. Three have been treated for their injuries and released, and one refused treatment, police said Monday afternoon.

Authorities did not immediately release details on what may have prompted the shooting. No arrests have been made. Detectives from the Major Crimes Division are investigating.

No other details were immediately available.

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

 

PATH reaches record ridership during Penn Station repairs

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The track repairs at New York's Penn Station has caused PATH service to soar.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The extensive track repairs at New York's Penn Station this summer have been a boon for one of the region's rail lines.

While service on the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit has been cut back due to the repairs, ridership on PATH service operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has soared.

The Port Authority says average weekday PATH ridership reached 298,000 last month, nine percent over 2016 and the most since the agency took over the rail line in 1962.

PATH trains are handling more than 22,000 more commuters in Hoboken and Jersey City whose New Jersey Transit trains are being diverted.

Amtrak owns Penn Station and began weekday repairs after two derailments in the spring exposed aging equipment and infrastructure.

1 hurt as jet skis collide near George Washington Bridge

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Police said the jet skis collided near the New Jersey tower of the bridge.

FORT LEE - An East Orange man was seriously hurt Sunday after the jet ski he was riding collided with another jet ski near the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge, police said.

Palisades Interstate Parkway police received a call about 4:15 p.m. of a jet ski accident with injured people on the dock known as Hazard's Ramp south of the tower in Fort Lee.

Arriving officers found Rafael Rodriguez, 20, suffering from a serious leg injury, police said. A juvenile on the scene was also hurt and treated by EMS before being released to his family, police said.

Rodriguez was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center and is expected to survive, police said.

Puppies rescued from van in Walmart lot

Police said they determined one jet ski was idling too close to shore when a second jet ski failed to slow down and hit Rodriguez.

"All occupants were thrown into the water and assisted back to shore by bystanders prior to public safety arrival," police said.

The operator of the second jet ski was identified by police as Carlos Cruz, 24, of Newark. Cruz was not hurt, police said.

Multiple marine violations were issued and both jet skis were impounded, police said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

NJ Transit spent $1M on Penn Station project ad campaign

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NJ Transit spent more than $1 million on advertising to inform riders about the changes from a two-month repair project.

By JOSH CORNFIELD | Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey Transit spent more than $1 million on a digital advertising campaign this summer to inform riders about changes caused by a massive two-month repair project at Penn Station that limited service on its second-busiest rail line.

The campaign to promote a special website on service disruptions while making sure riders knew Amtrak is responsible for the project at the nation's busiest rail terminal cost about $300,000 more than New Jersey Transit says it typically spends in a full year on marketing.

"Given the magnitude of the summer rail service disruption, combined with its enduring impact to our customers, a unique and multi-faceted communications plan was crucial," said NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder. "To that end, NJ Transit enlisted outside assistance in formulating a comprehensive communications campaign that was efficient, effective and timely to keep our customers informed every step of the way and optimize their travel experience."

Some of the $1,009,775 was spent to target ads to those directly affected by the work, according to invoices that NJ Transit provided to The Associated Press after a records request. Snyder said the campaign drew 600,000 people to the website. NJ Transit is the nation's third-largest provider of bus, rail and light rail service, with a current operating budget of $2.2 billion.

A transit advocacy group praised the campaign for keeping riders informed.

"I don't think I heard many reports of riders not knowing what was going on," said David Peter Alan, chairman of the Lackawanna Coalition, a group that advocates for better service on the Morristown & Essex lines.

Democratic state Sen. Loretta Weinberg agreed that was valuable but questioned the need to spend any of the money to cast blame on Amtrak.

A section of the special website reads, "The reality is that Amtrak has been neglecting this work for years, but it must happen now to prevent even more delays and to create a safer commuting environment."

Weinberg said, "A dollar spent on advertising to prove whose fault this was or to embellish themselves is a dollar misspent away from the problems that the everyday commuters face."

A spokeswoman for Amtrak declined to comment.

Amtrak, which owns Penn Station, drew the ire of Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie this spring after two derailments and a series of other problems that caused travel headaches throughout the Northeast Corridor.

Amtrak's replacement of aging tracks and other equipment, much of which dates to the 1970s, was originally to be done over two or three years but was condensed into a summer project scheduled to wrap up the end of August.

NJ Transit responded by having trains on the Morris & Essex line serving the northern part of the state end in Hoboken, where riders had to catch another commuter line or ferries to get into New York.

The ad campaign, managed by MV Digital Group, included about $200,000 spent on search engines, $153,451 on Facebook and $82,991 on Twitter. Consulting firm Kivvit received about $66,000. MV Digital Group is the digital ad company owned by Advance Media, which publishes NJ.com, the Star-Ledger and other newspapers in the state.

Riders told the agency before work began that communications on disruptions was a priority, and a large majority said in a follow-up survey they had received the right amount of information, with some saying there could have been more, Snyder said.

Though many commuters have experienced longer trips and some delays, the "summer of hell" predicted by Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others largely has failed to materialize. The timing of the work to coincide with summer vacations played a role, and rail officials have praised commuters for being flexible and keeping apprised of service changes through social media and official outreach efforts.

Most NJ Transit riders said in a survey they did not change how they traveled this summer.

Contact Josh Cornfield at Twitter.com/JoshCornfield

Man accused of stabbing co-worker at Newark Airport

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The suspect was arrested at the same hospital where his alleged victim was treated

NEWARK-- A Newark man was arrested while at the same hospital where another man he allegedly stabbed was also being treated, a spokesman for the Port Authority said Monday.

Port Authority police were called to a building at Newark Liberty International Airport around 9 p.m. Friday on a report of a stabbing. The 48-year-old man told responding officers he and a co-worker, Dennis V. Jagoo, 51, had gotten into an argument before Vagoo assaulted him with a knife, Pentangtelo said. The victim managed to fight off Vagoo, who fled, Pentangelo also said.

The victim, who had suffered a puncture wound to the arm and a stomach laceration, was taken to Newark Beth Israel for treatment.

While at the hospital, police found Vagoo, who had gone there to get checked out, Pentangelo said. The knife used in the attack was also allegedly located inside Vagoo's car.

He has been charged with aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.

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

 

 

At least 1 dead in Newark shooting

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NEWARK -- One person was shot and killed Monday in the West Ward near the Irvington border, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.  The shooting occurred in the 700 block of S. 19th Street near Springfield Avenue sometime before 6 p.m. Fennelly was unable to confirm reports that two other people were shot and wounded,...

NEWARK -- One person was shot and killed Monday in the West Ward near the Irvington border, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. 

The shooting occurred in the 700 block of S. 19th Street near Springfield Avenue sometime before 6 p.m. Fennelly was unable to confirm reports that two other people were shot and wounded, stating the investigation was in its preliminary stages. 

A woman at the scene said the victim was a co-worker who had just finished for the day when she was hit by a drive-by shooter. 

"She was an innocent bystander," the distraught woman, who did not give her name, said. "She don't even know nobody around here."

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


Kaboobie, Newark's No. 1 sports fan, will be missed | Carter

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James E. Sedgwick Jr., better known as Kaboobie, was Newark's No. 1 sports fan. You could always find him at any high school basketball and football game, but he cheered the loudest for Malcolm X Shabazz high school and the lady Bulldogs. Kaboobie, 84, died leaving a trail of hoop dream and gridiron memories.

He was Newark's biggest sports fan, its sixth man in the stands, who cheered unabashedly for city athletes as if they were his own children.

James E. Sedgwick Jr., better known as "Kaboobie," wore Newark pride on his sleeve, making himself the local city griot of high school basketball and football sports for decades. Think of national sports analysts commentating on high school and collegiate players. That's what Kaboobie was to Newark.

"He could tell you the best players on a team, what team they were going to struggle against, the teams' records, the best players in the city,'' said his goddaughter, Li'za Donnell Woodard, a former WNBA player and member of the 1982-1983 Malcolm X Shabazz High School girls' basketball team, which went undefeated at 30-0 during that championship year.

"Kaboobie was the man.''

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns   

On July 31, Kaboobie died at age 84, leaving a trail of hoop and gridiron memories behind.

The Newark resident's life was celebrated last weekend during an all-day community cookout at the Malcolm X Shabazz High School athletic complex. There was music, vendors, a huge picture of Kaboobie on an easel, and a short program featuring alumni and city officials remembering Kaboobie as a community hero. 

"Kaboobie supported us completely, so wholly, so fully without payment,''said Mayor Ras Baraka.  "If anybody was going to support our events, Kaboobie was going to be there.''

Shabazz, also known as Bulldog nation, was the only place where this outdoor party could have been held. Kaboobie was Shabazz's number one supporter, adopting the school when it was called South Side after he settled in Newark when he left Navy around the 1950s.

Kaboobie cheered for all of Newark's team, even the Pop Warner squads during football season. But on the high school level, he embraced Shabazz as if it were his alma mater. He rarely, if ever, missed a game, especially when the lady Bulldogs basketball team was playing.

He sat across from the team, giving referee's a hard time if they made a bad call. Kaboobie was so into the game, he made you want to win just for him, said Vanessa Watson, the former legendary head coach. When the girl's basketball team won the state championship in 2013, friends said Kaboobie ran from the bleachers and did a head first belly slide into the pile of kids celebrating at center court.

"We kind of stole his heart the way we competed on a high level,'' Watson said. "He had our back.''

He had Newark's back, too, and he put the kids first. Not just on the court, but in life.   

"He took care of us like a family,'' Watson said.

If a kid needed clothes, sneakers or food, friends and fans said, Kaboobie reached into his pocket to make sure Newark youth in need didn't go without. He gave back, using money from a variety of businesses that he owned. They ranged from a dental orthodontic practice and shoe shine parlor to a record store and an eatery that sold burgers and fries.

For that reason, and many others, Watson called him The Godfather, a name he relished just as much as Kaboobie, which brings me to how this nickname came about.  Kaboobie was the name of the flying camel on the cartoon series "Shazzan,'' which was televised from 1967 to 1969.

The nickname was given to Sedgwick by Marc Little, a Newark native who now resides in Jacksonville, Fla. Little said that when he was a teenager he thought the man he admired resembled the camel and that Sedgwick didn't mind when he started calling him by the colorful name. Kaboobie stuck and spread city-wide whenever people saw him.

Kaboobie liked it so much that he named his record store on Watson Avenue, "Kaboobie's Cool Spot  No.1. When he wasn't producing dentures, a trade he learned in the Navy as a dental technician, young people could gather at the store and listen to music and hang with Kaboobie.

"He was our big brother,'' Little said. "He was the guy we could sit down and talk to.''

In that store, including an eatery on Watson Avenue, Kaboobie also sold snow cones and lollipops, a treat that became another neighborhood name for him.

He was Kaboobie, the original lollipop man. Most likely, though, he got the name from his late uncle Cedric Sedgwick, who also sold lollipops. Away from his store, Kaboobie sold the candy treats during football games from the concession stand or from a large tennis bag slung over his shoulder when he was in the crowd.

That memory stays with Wesley Jenkins, executive director of Newark's Babyland Family Services, an organization that offers an array of programs for children and families.

When Jenkins was 9 years old, he said, Kaboobie taught him how to be an entrepreneur. As a kid, he sold lollipops at school - two for a quarter and one for 15 cents.

"Examples like that make us recognize that he was part of the fabric of the city,'' Jenkins said. "He was invested in us.''

Whatever you called him, Godfather, Kaboobie or the lollipop man, Sedgwick kept young people in line, making sure they went to school, remained courteous and respectful.

If Kaboobie was upset with someone for breaking those rules, everyone in the city was aware because he'd would say, "You got life.'' That meant you were in Kaboobie's doghouse. A young person couldn't participate in his summer basketball league at Peshine Avenue School or anything else he was involved in, such as the Newark Instructional Basketball Camp. His ban wasn't lifted until they reconciled with Kaboobie. Even adults wound up on his list if he became frustrated with them.

Born in Newport News, Va., Kaboobie never married. He had one son, Steven Drake, with Rosetta Foster of Delaware, who called him the ultimate businessman, selling everything from clothing to shoes, ice cream, popcorn and candy.

"He did it all,'' she said.

MORE CARTER: Hillside Little League tries to make comeback with church at the plate

Friends described Sedgwick as a selfless man who thought more about others, which earned him a place in the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame for community service.

"He got the longest and loudest standing ovation than anyone who was inducted,'' said Autrey Reynolds, vice president of the organization.

As his health began to fade, Donnell Woodard, his goddaughter took care of him and was with him when he died. She said they talked about what he'd like for a memorial to his life. Woodard said that until she mentioned a possible tribute he hadn't realized just how much he touched the lives of so many people in Newark.

It all came together on Saturday when Woodard, Watson and Deborah Wilkerson, a South Side alumni, made it happen.

People danced, one of Kaboobie's favorite activities other than sports. Line and swing dancing would keep him out on the floor. Folks told Kaboobie stories, too. He probably gave away more lollipops than he sold, they said. He was the information center for the hottest high school game to watch in town. When people saw Kaboobie, they ran to greet him.

Every memory had a central theme. Kaboobie was a good man. He loved Newark and he never gave up on its kids.

Black and gold balloons - the school colors for Shabazz - were released into the air in his memory by alumni.  The last balloon was white and it was for Kaboobie.

While the others floated away, his lingered underneath the back stop on the baseball field. It was as if Kaboobie wanted to hang around for a little while longer. He'll always be there as long as his fans cheer as loudly as he did for the city.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or 

nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL

Infant's death from delayed malaria diagnosis leads to $4.5M settlement

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The 16-month-old died in 2014 after returning with her family from a trip to Ghana, her family's attorney said.

NEWARK -- The family of a 16-month-old girl who died from malaria in 2014 reached a $4.5 million settlement this month with a doctor and hospital accused of failing to properly diagnose and treat the infant. 

The news of the settlement between the family and University Hospital in Newark was first reported by NJLawJournal.com.

In November 2014, 16-month-old Janai Salifu returned with her family to Kearny from a trip to Ghana to visit relatives when she started experiencing several symptoms, including a high fever, according to her family's attorney David Mazie.

When the toddler went to University Hospital on Nov. 6, 2014, her family alleged Dr. Noah Kondamudi sent her home with antibiotics, but without testing her for malaria, Mazie said.

Santander bank encouraged me to work unpaid OT, manager says in suit

Her condition worsened, and by the time she returned to the hospital two days later and received the malaria test, Mazie said it was too late. Though she was given treatment, she died two days later, the attorney said.

The girl's family sued the doctor and hospital, and reached the settlement earlier this month, before a trial was set to start in Essex County, Mazie said. The state, which owns the hospital, will pay the settlement, Mazie said.

"This is a very fair settlement for this family," said Mazie, of Mazie Slater Katz and Freeman in Roseland. "It will never bring Janai back, but it will allow this family to move on from this tragedy and hopefully have a fresh start at life."

As part of the settlement, the doctor and hospital did not admit any wrongdoing, Mazie said.

Kondamudi is a Rutgers employee who is affiliated with the hospital. The doctor and an attorney for the defendants did not return requests for comment Monday. University Hospital and Rutgers officials declined to comment.

Mazie said settlements in such lawsuits do not often impact the involved doctor's licensing or employment.

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

 

I have 'most expensive body on Earth,' transgender model from N.J. says

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The Cedar Grove native makes the claim in her recently published book, 'Doll Parts'

Famed transgender model and Essex County native, Amanda Lepore, claims to have the "most expensive body on Earth."

The self-proclaimed "world's most famous transsexual," 49-year-old Lepore has undergone countless plastic surgeries, totaling $35,400. She also spends $550 a month, or $6,600 a year, in hormone treatments, according to a report by the New York Post.

The red-lipped, long-lashed, platinum blonde who became a fixture on New York scene makes the claim in her recently published book, "Doll Parts" -- an intimate and provocative memoir chronicling her life, love of fashion and gender transition, according to Kirkusreviews.com.

The Cedar Grove native began her transition by taking hormones at the age of 15 -- a metamorphosis that would continue for decades, involving countless plastic surgeries, including sexual reassignment surgery when she was 17.

Lepore -- who makes a living modeling, performing burlesque, singing and hosting nightclub events -- has also undergone surgeries like hairline lowering and eyebrow lifting, double eyelid surgery, roughly 20 silicone lip injections, cheekbone augmentation, rhinoplasty and breast implants, according to the report.

Her entry into the limelight began in the '90s, landing an appearance on "The Joan Rivers Show." 

She has been featured in countless fashion magazines and was on the cover of two music albums. She has had cameos in several music videos, including for Elton John. She was also briefly in the movie, Zoolander, and released her first music single in 2003.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Why cops think ticketing drivers will prevent car thefts

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A car was stolen with a 2-year-old girl sleeping inside the vehicle.

NEWARK -- Police are warning motorists they could face tickets for leaving vehicles idling in Newark, as part of an effort to prevent an increase in thefts of running, unattended cars the city.

The planned crackdown is set after repeated incidents where police say a thief made off with a car that was left unattended and idling. In one high-profile case, a man allegedly stole a car that was left running with a 2-year-old girl sleeping inside while her mother dropped off packages.

In July, a 16-year-old boy was accused of stealing an idling car and crashing it into a fence outside the city's public safety department headquarters.

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose has repeatedly issued public warnings urging drivers to help prevent the thefts.

"More than 200 vehicles were stolen in Newark so far this year because they were left running and unattended," Ambrose said in a statement. "This amounts to 15 percent of autos stolen in Newark so far this year."

Ambrose said motorists "are needlessly putting themselves and others at risk by their negligence."

"We continue to urge drivers to never leave their car running and unattended, not even for a second, due to the danger of theft involved," he added.

Police said the tickets will be issued under state statutes that says all motor vehicles on public or private property cannot idle longer than three minutes.

"We are warning motorists in advance," he said. "Expect to be ticketed."

According to police data provided in mid-May, the city would have seen a decline in reported car thefts if not for the jump in idling cars being stolen.

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

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

 

22-year-old woman killed in quadruple shooting

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Woman described as "innocent bystander" in Monday gunfire.

NEWARK -- Officials on Tuesday identified the 22-year-old woman who was killed in a quadruple shooting in Newark's South Ward.

Shirlena Coke, of Bloomfield, was shot along with three men in the 700 block of South 19th Street around 5:45 p.m. Monday, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Coke died from her injuries at University Hospital.

A woman interviewed at the murder scene Monday described Coke as a co-worker who had just finished for the day when at least one shooter opened fire from a vehicle.

"She was an innocent bystander," said the woman, who declined to be named.

A prosecutor's office spokeswoman would not comment on claims that Coke was not targeted in the attack. Authorities did not immediately disclose a possible motive for the shooting.

Police rushed to reports of gunfire in the area, near the Irvington town line, and found Coke along with the two men shot. Emergency crews brought the three to University Hospital.

A third man injured in the shooting later arrived at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston suffering from a gunshot wound, authorities said. All three men were expected to survive their injuries.

There were no arrests and detectives have not identified any suspects in the shooting, according to the prosecutor's office.

Anyone with information was urged to call the Essex County Prosecutor's Tips Line at (877) 847-7432.

The deadly shooting marked the 42nd murder in the state's largest city this year, according to police records. There were at least 58 killings in the same period last year. 

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

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Newark police looking for burglary suspect

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NEWARK -- Police are asking the public's help finding a man wanted for crimes in a number of cities, including Newark, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement. Emmanuel Sanchez, 21, is wanted on a warrant for hindering apprehension in Harrison, on a shoplifting warrant in Elizabeth and a Newark warrant for criminal mischief. Newark police also want...

NEWARK -- Police are asking the public's help finding a man wanted for crimes in a number of cities, including Newark, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement.

Screenshot (197).pngEmmanuel Sanchez (Newark police)  

Emmanuel Sanchez, 21, is wanted on a warrant for hindering apprehension in Harrison, on a shoplifting warrant in Elizabeth and a Newark warrant for criminal mischief. Newark police also want to question Sanchez in connection with a recent burglary.

Sanchez is about 5;8" and weighs approximately 135 lbs.

Anyone with information about Sanchez is being asked 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 anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.

Anonymous tips may also be made using the Police Division's website at: www.newarkpd.org or through the division's Smartphone App available at iTunes and Google Play. To download  it, search for Newark Police Division.

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

 

N.J.'s top 30 high school running backs of the last 30 years

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We rank the state's best ballcarriers of the previous three decades.


Girls soccer: Returning goal scorers - VOTE for who'll have best season in 2017

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Which top returning stat leader will light up the state again in 2017?

City approves major fix for retirees under new health plan

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The city's roll out of a new health benefits plan for current and former employees left retirees with higher prescription costs. Now the city has a plan to reimburse them.

NEWARK -- Relief is finally on its way for retired city workers facing steeper medication costs under Newark's new health benefits plan. 

The City Council on Tuesday approved hiring a third-party vendor to offset any additional prescription costs for retirees -- many who paid as little as $1.50 or $5 for medication but were confronted with co-pays of $600 or more. 

"We're in dire straits right now, I don't have the money," retired police officer Pat D'Amico told the council. D'Amico, 74, said insulin medication that once cost him $1.50 went up to $235 -- out of reach for his fixed income. 

"There are two pain medications I can't pick up ... what do we do in the meantime?" he asked. "We're scared." 

Under the contract with EB Employee Solutions, LCC, which is the parent company of The Difference Card, retirees will receive cards they can swipe at the pharmacy that will cover most, if not all, of the prescription cost that exceeds what they should pay. 

"We are obligated to reimburse our retirees consistent with the labor contract they have," Business Administrator Jack Kelly said. "We believe this is the most efficient way to do that. Once they're able to swipe this card at the pharmacy, most of their co-pay will be reimbursed."

The city transitioned current and former workers to the state health benefits plan starting Aug. 1 as a way to slash escalating health care costs.

While current employees remained on their old prescription plans, retirees were switched to ExpressScripts and immediately confronted with often staggering co-pays

Some left their prescriptions at the counter while others forked over the additional money, they said.

City officials have promised to reimburse all retirees and Kelly said the city has already paid back those who turned over receipts. 

"We are trying to help any employee if they need a certain drug," he said.

The City Council approved moving to the state's health benefits plan as a cost-cutting measure in January after proposals by the administration to hire a Jersey City-based broker to transition to a self-insured health care failed to pass.

While current employees did not experience major problems in the roll out, retirees complained they weren't properly informed of the changes, suffered lapses in coverage and faced higher prescription costs. 

D'Amico said he still didn't have his new insurance cards and never received a notification from the state or city about the new health plan. Kelly said the city sent additional mailings and applications to all retirees last week.

Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins said it was unacceptable that employees who served the city -- including former Mayor Sharpe James -- had issues accessing care. 

"There's still people who don't have insurance," she said.

City officials said it was the state's responsibility to inform retirees of benefits changes but Kelly previously acknowledged the city was "a little bit short-sighted" regarding prescription changes for retirees. 

"We should have had those cards sooner," he told NJ Advance Media earlier this month.

"They are trying to correct it," South Ward Councilman John Sharpe James assured the public on Tuesday. "There's no excuse for how it was rolled out."

Christopher Calderone, a sales director for the Difference Card, said the company will send letters out to all retirees informing them of the program this week. MasterCard will then mail the cards within 10 business days -- likely arriving early September. 

The cards will cover most of the co-pay but any balance left over will be paid up front by retirees and reimbursed by the company. Calderone said retirees will be able to mail, email or send a photo of the receipt through an app in order to claim their reimbursement that will take up to four business days to arrive. 

Any additional out-of-pocket expenses should not top $12, Calderone said. 

The city will enter a one-year contract with the company not to exceed $200,000. Newark will pay for all reimbursement costs. 

The council also debated Tuesday whether the reimbursement program was allowed by the state

According to an Aug. 4 letter from the state to the city obtained by NJ Advance Media last week, should Newark want to offer a reimbursement fund to employees or retirees, "a request for approval must be discussed" with the Division of Pension and Benefits.

Attorneys for the city submitted that request in a subsequent letter on Aug. 8 but did not hear back. On Tuesday, officials said they received an email from another state agency -- the Department of Community Affairs that monitor's Newark's budget -- allowing the city to move forward with the program. 

Though the approval came from a separate state arm, the city's legal counsel and the council's legal representative agreed Newark could move forward. 

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

 

Fired HS coaches cleared of bullying accusations fight back in lawsuit

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The former Columbia High School baseball coaches say the school misused the state's anti-bullying law to terminate them.

Need a job? Newark's 'jobmobile' is rolling through a community near you

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A job center on wheels will come to Newark communities to help residents look for and train for employment.

NEWARK -- As part of the city's push to get Newarkers trained and employed, Mayor Ras Baraka on Wednesday announced a new jobs program that will roll through the toughest neighborhoods. 

Literally. 

The Newark Workforce on Wheels (WOW) is a mobile job training center that will be deployed five days a week to traditionally neglected communities offering job opportunities, resume writing workshops and workforce training. The van once served as a mobile police unit. 

"We took a vehicle that used to arrest people and converted it into a vehicle that employs people," said Deputy Mayor for Employment Rahaman Muhammad. "We're going to use this vehicle to go into the toughest neighborhoods." 

On Wednesday the van was parked outside Bradley Court, a housing complex run by the Newark Housing Authority, and was already taking potential job candidates to fill positions at HelloFresh

"They helped me look for a job," said Tanae Stephens, 19, who is unemployed and was waiting to be interviewed for a customer service job. "It's a great idea; it's sitting in the community. Anybody can come downstairs and sign up."

The van, emblazoned with a photo of Baraka on the side under the words "hire Newark" has several laptop stations and seats inside and will be staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, said Tom Bacote, director of Newark Works, the city's workforce development arm. 

Bacote said the mobile unit will help those seeking entry level to higher level positions offering a space to apply directly to the companies, seek training materials or help polish their resumes. In the last year, Newark Works has helped 1,936 people find jobs, he said. 

Companies like Amazon, ShopRite and FedEx have also committed to working with the city to employ local residents, Muhammad said. And the mobile unit will help connect residents to those jobs. 

As part of the program, the city partnered with the Newark Housing Authority which will allow NewarkWOW to park on its properties. 1Huddle, a mobile game platform based in Newark, donated a customized game for residents to prepare for a state test that allows them to get more skills training. 

"This is such an important effort to make sure services are getting to people in communities where they live, where they work," state Labor Commissioner Aaron Fichtner told reporters. "I think this is new for New Jersey," he said of the mobile unit. 

The state is not providing funding for the mobile unit but does partner with the city in other workforce development programs. 

Newark's unemployment rate remains one of the highest in the state at 7.9 percent. The city wants to lower that to 3.9 percent by October 2018 -- which means employing more than 4,700 residents. 

Earlier this year, Baraka rolled out his "Hire. Buy. Live." and "Newark 2020" initiatives calling on corporations in the city to hire 2,020 Newark residents by the year 2020.

Baraka is also encouraging companies to hire locals, buy goods and services from other Newark businesses, and work to attract their employees or students to live in the city.

"Newark is changing very, very fast," Baraka told residents gathered outside the housing complex. "It's important for you to be a part of that growth."

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

The numbers game: Returning football stat leaders, 2017

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A statistical look back at the best players in New Jersey football.

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