"It is a tricky forecast for the weekend," said Valerie Meola, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly. Watch video

A storm system that's expected to take shape this weekend is likely to saturate New Jersey with rain, but it could start out and end as a sloppy mix of rain, sleet and snow.

That's the latest word from forecasters who have been analyzing computer models that keep shifting the location of the expected storm track and the range of temperatures.

"It is a tricky forecast for the weekend," said Valerie Meola, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly. "Right now it looks like we could see rain through a good part of the area. For the northern areas, it could be more tricky. There could be snow, even a little bit of freezing rain and maybe some sleet at the beginning."

PLUS: Brief blasts of heavy snow could hit N.J. Tuesday

That would be late Friday night into early Saturday morning.

Even in higher elevation areas of New Jersey, which tend to get more snow because of lower temperatures, the precipitation is expected to change to all rain by Saturday afternoon, when temperatures will likely be rising from the low 30s into the low 40s.

But it could switch back to a mix of rain and snow in some northern sections of the state as the storm winds down Saturday night and temperatures drop back down near the freezing mark, said Carlie Buccola, a meteorologist at the weather service office in Upton, N.Y., which handles forecasts for Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson and Union counties.

As of now, "It's definitely not an all-snow storm," Buccola said, noting that the temperatures are expected to be warm enough to favor rain over snow.

Tom Kines, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, agrees.

"It looks like it's going to be mainly rain," Kines said. "It's not out of the question Friday night, when it first starts off, some snow could be mixed in across the northern part of the state."

The moisture will be coming from a low-pressure system moving from the Gulf Coast region towards the Cape Hatteras area of North Carolina, then up along the Atlantic coast, Kines said. Although our region should get mostly rain, by the time the storm system moves further north, colder air will be in place to bring snow to parts of New England.

"At least the northern half of New England should get some snow -- potentially a lot of snow," Kines said. "It is the type of storm where if we had enough cold air in place it certainly would give us problems."

Forecasts as far out as three or four days could always change, so Meola advises Jerseyans, especially those planning to do any traveling this weekend, to keep an eye on the latest forecast.

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

 

A graphic video of the group assault at the intersection of Broad and Market streets on Sunday has been widely shared on social media

This is Broad and Market Streets looking north from the middle of the street. File photo. (William Perlman | The Star-Ledger)
 

NEWARK - City police say they are searching for several suspects in a brutal downtown beating that was captured on video Sunday afternoon.

Newark police spokesman Capt. Derek Glenn said the department has "tentatively" identified several of the attackers in the assault, which occurred at about 1 p.m. near the intersection of Broad Street and Market Street, footage of which turned up on Facebook in recent days. (WARNING: The video contains graphically violent content and strong language.)

The busy corner is located in the heart of Newark's downtown.

In the graphic video, a man is seen sitting in the southbound lanes of Broad Street as three men trade turns punching and kicking him in the head. Onlookers calmly urge the men to stop, and they retreat to the sidewalk.

Armed robber taken down by gas station employees

The video then cuts back to the roadside, where the victim begins to throw punches at a member of the group. A number of men attack him once again, forcing him to the ground and continuing the assault.

The victim, his face now covered in blood, gets back on his feet and begins to berate the group, when a man approaches from behind to punch him in his head. He falls backward into a pile of garbage bags and covers his head to block a new barrage of blows.

In the latter portion of the video, two women urge the attackers to stop, though the cries are largely ignored.

While police believe they know the assailants, Glenn said they will need to find the victim "who is needed in order for police to pursue this incident criminally."

Anyone who can help locate him or provide additional information on the assault is asked call the department's 24-hour anonymous tip line at (877) NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or (877) NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867).

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

The Newark Tech girls basketball team could be forced to vacate its North 2, Group 2 sectional championship from last season after the state’s governing body for high school athle...

The Newark Tech girls basketball team could be forced to vacate its North 2, Group 2 sectional championship from last season after the state’s governing body for high school athle...

The death of the 32-year-old Irvington man found at a violent car crash in Newark last week has been ruled a homicide, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

NEWARK -- An autopsy has confirmed that Dino Whitaker, the Irvington man found severely wounded at the scene of a violent car crash on North 6th Street last week, died of a gunshot wound, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Whitaker's death is now being investigated as a homicide, said Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter.

The exact cause of Whitaker's death has been under investigation since Jan. 7, when a silver BMW he was driving crashed into two parked cars shortly before 3 p.m. near the intersection of North 6^th Street and Park Avenue. 

Newark police officers dispatched to the scene to investigate reports of a shooting found the vehicle overturned with Whitaker trapped inside, according to police reports obtained by NJ Advance Media.

After removing him from the vehicle, emergency personnel found Whitaker unresponsive and transported him to University Hospital in Newark, the reports state. Hospital officials pronounced him dead a short time later, the reports said.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/authorities_identify_body_found_at_the_scene_of_ne.html

At what point Whitaker sustained the gunshot that ultimately killed him remains unclear. As does the motive behind the shooting.

Asked for additional details on the circumstances of Whitaker's death, Carter declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation by the prosecutor's office Homicide Task Force.

Investigators discovered multiple live bullet rounds at the scene of the crash, the reports said.

Whitaker's death brings the city's 2016 homicide count to three.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

An East Orange man was sentenced to 33 year in prison for the robbery of a woman as she was getting out of her car in Elizabeth two years ago.

Diken Michelle, 30, of East Orange, was sentenced to 33 years in prison for robbing a woman as she stepped out of her car in 2014. (Union County Prosecutor's Office) Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

ELIZABETH -- A Superior Court judge ordered consecutive prison sentences for  Essex County man who was convicted of robbery after he held up a woman in Elizabeth two years ago.

Superior Court Scott J. Moynihan last week sentenced Diken Michelle, 30, of East Orange, to a total of 33 years in prison, and ordered that he serve at 85 percent of the term before being eligible for parole, authorities said.

The sentence came two years to the month after Michelle robbed a woman getting out of her car on Bayway Avenue in the city, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park said.

As the woman was gathering items in the car, Michelle approached her, pulled out a gun and demanded the property, said Union County assistant prosecutors Armando Suarez and Michael D'Agostino, who tried the case.

Michelle fled with the woman's purse, cell phone, makeup case, a duffel bag and car keys, the prosecutors said. They said a bystander who witnessed the crime then approached the victim and called 911.

City police used an app and located the cell phone on the 300 block of South Front Street, where they found Michelle and arrested him, authorities said.

They said the victim identified Michelle at the robbery, and the following day, officers searched the area around the robbery and found a handgun matching the description of the weapon used in the robbery.

Last October, a jury found Michelle guilty of first-degree robbery and of a second-degree charge of being prohibited from having a firearm because of prior convictions.

MORE UNION COUNTY NEWS

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

 

National Weather Service advises New Jersey drivers to take it slow on the road.

Parts of northern New Jersey could get hit with a brief blast of heavy snow during the evening rush-hour and later Tuesday night, according to a special weather statement issued by the National Weather Service.

Although no official warnings are in place for the fast-moving storm system that's expected to coat the ground with a small amount of snow, the weather service said visibility could get bad at times and roads could get slick.

The statement is aimed at motorists in Bergen, Essex, Passaic and Union counties, but roads could also get covered with a half-inch to 1 inch of snow in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, as well as in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. 

2 rounds. 1st: Mainly rain. 4 to- 5:30pm. 2nd: Light snow. 7:30 - 9:30 track it https://t.co/zonDhsIGXq pic.twitter.com/NDqOT5oiJe

-- NY1 Weather (@NY1weather) January 12, 2016

Snow showers from a quick-moving "clipper" system are expected to hit northern New Jersey Tuesday afternoon and continue through the evening commute.

"These will be locally moderate and possibly heavy for a brief time," the weather statement reads. "Temperatures in some locations will be cold enough for snow to stick to the ground... creating slippery conditions."

PLUS: 'Tricky' winter storm taking aim at N.J. this weekend

Winds are expected to become more gusty as the day progresses, cutting visibility to a mile or less in some locations, the weather service said. Snow could accumulate about 1 inch or less.

"Motorists should be aware of these conditions and travel extra slowly and carefully this afternoon through this evening," the weather statement says.

Strong wind gusts expected

The weather service office in Mount Holly has issued a wind advisory for most of northern, central and southern New Jersey, effective until 5 a.m. Wednesday.

As a cold front moves through the region, winds will become steady at about 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as strong as 45 to 50 mph Tuesday night, the advisory says. As a result, some trees and power lines could get damaged.

Part of the advisory reads: "Very windy conditions are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Use extra caution. Light-weight outdoor objects such as patio furniture and garbage cans should be secured."

Light snow in Franklin, Sussex County

Burst of snow moving through Franklin, NJ See you on #abc7ny First at 4!

A video posted by Jeff Smith (@jeffsmithabc7) on Jan 12, 2016 at 12:32pm PST

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

 

A man shoved the attendant back and grabbed money from her drawer before fleeing with the cash, a state trooper said.

The Keyport-Hazlet toll booth entrance to the Garden State Parkway is seen in this 2010 NJ Advance Media file photo.  

EAST ORANGE -- A man robbed a tollbooth attendant Sunday, shoving her back and grabbing money from her drawer before fleeing with the cash, authorities said. 

State troopers responded around 3:10 p.m. to milepost 146.9 on the Garden State Parkway South, Trooper Alina Spies said. 

Spies said an unknown man entered the lane, handed the attendant a plastic bag and demanded money.

The man then leaned into the tollbooth, pushed the attendant out of the way and took money from the drawer before he drove away, Spies said.

An investigation is ongoing, Spies said. 

MORE ESSEX COUNTY NEWS

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Authorities have arrested a 31-year-old Woodbridge woman for allegedly operating a "mobile drug bazaar" out of a Dodge Dart.

Najimah Nash (Essex County Corrections)Vernal Coleman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

NEWARK -- Authorities have arrested a 31-year-old Woodbridge woman for allegedly selling drugs from her motor vehicle--the second such drug-related arrest since the week began.

Najimah Nash, 31, of Woodbridge Township, now faces multiple drug-related charges after undercover Essex County Sheriff's Office investigators on Monday observed her allegedly conduct a drug transaction near the intersection of Springdale Avenue and North 11th Street, said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura.

According to investigators, Nash exchanged drugs for cash with a second suspect after arriving at the intersection in a Dodge Dart, Fontoura said.

After the exchange was completed, both Nash and the second suspect were detained. A search of Nash's car turned up 501 envelopes of heroin, 11 grams of crack cocaine, 90 grams of marijuana and $1,378 in cash, Fontoura said.

Danielle Cortese, 23, of Bloomfield, the woman investigators said purchased a quantity of heroin from Nash during the exchange, was issued a court summons and released to her own recognizance, Fontoura said.

Nash was arraigned on several drug-related charges Monday, and ordered held at the Essex County Correctional Facility on a cash bond of $250,000.

Andre Higgs, 43, of Watchung, has been charged with driving drunk and crashing into a minivan on the New Jersey Turnpike while he was released on $1 million bail in the killing of the mother of his four-year-old daughter

NEWARK -- While released on $1 million bail on charges of killing the mother of his four-year-old daughter in Essex County, a man is accused of driving drunk and crashing into a minivan early Christmas morning on the New Jersey Turnpike in Middlesex County.

Andre Higgs, 43, of Watchung, is charged with assault by auto and driving while intoxicated for allegedly crashing into the rear of the minivan and injuring the other motorist shortly after midnight in the southbound portion of the Turnpike in Cranbury, according to the New Jersey State Police.

The collision occurred while Higgs is facing murder and related charges in connection with the May 1 killing of Latrena May, 27, outside her East Orange home while their daughter was inside the residence. Higgs was released from custody on Aug. 14 after posting $1 million bail.

During a hearing on Monday in the murder case, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab said he filed a motion to either increase Higgs's bail or revoke it, because of the alleged drunk driving incident in Middlesex.

"This defendant poses a serious danger to the State of New Jersey," Edwab told Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler during Monday's hearing, adding that Higgs was "drunk driving and almost killed someone on the Turnpike."

But Higgs's attorney, Thomas Ashley, asked to postpone arguments on the bail motion until Thursday, because he only received court documents about the Middlesex case on Monday morning and he needed time to review them with Higgs.

Saying it was "a matter of fairness," the judge granted Ashley's request to return to court on Thursday. Wigler also instructed Higgs that he could drive home on Monday, but then he was prohibited from driving until Thursday's hearing.

The crash occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on Dec. 25 when Higgs crashed a Dodge Ram pickup truck into the rear of a Dodge Caravan that was parked on the right shoulder of the Turnpike, police said.

The driver of the Caravan, who had stepped out of the vehicle, was injured after being thrown into the right lane of the highway as a result of the crash, according to Trooper Alina Spies of the New Jersey State Police.

After hitting the Caravan, Higgs crossed the road and crashed into the left concrete barrier before coming to a final rest, Spies said.

Higgs was later arrested and ultimately released after posting $75,000 bail.

In the killing of Latrena May, Higgs was indicted on Nov. 6 on murder, weapons charges, possession of heroin, endangering the welfare of a child, hindering his own prosecution and aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at a police officer.

Latrena MayFile photo 

Authorities have said Higgs and May were arguing on the porch of her Tremont Avenue home while their daughter was inside the residence. As May flagged down a police officer patrolling the area, Higgs shot her three times and the officer then shot Higgs, authorities said.

After the shooting, Higgs went into the house and threw the gun on the floor of a hallway before he was ultimately apprehended, Edwab previously said. The girl, who lived with May, was in their first-floor apartment at the time of the shooting, and then ran to the second-floor apartment afterward, Edwab said.

May was pronounced dead at the scene. A teacher at Pride Academy Charter School in East Orange, May has been remembered as a dedicated and passionate educator who showed "unconditional kindness" to others.

Higgs was treated at University Hospital in Newark and transferred on May 11 to the Essex County Correctional Facility, where he remained until posting the $1 million bail.

Before Higgs was released from the county jail, his then-attorney, Sebastian Bio, indicated in court that the bail would be posted in large part with a property bond covering about $706,000 in equity from Higgs's Watchung home. The house is worth nearly $1.2 million, Bio said at the time.

During Monday's hearing, Ashley, Higgs's current attorney, said he was investigating certain aspects of Higgs's activities on the day of the shooting. Ashley also indicated he intended to present witnesses at the trial to address Higgs's intoxication at the time of the incident.

In addition to the bail motion, Edwab said during the hearing he was pursuing a motion to present evidence at Higgs's trial that May called 911 about a month before the fatal shooting, because Higgs was choking her.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The trial of Shawn Custis has been postponed till Feb. 9 after a change in defense attorneys Watch video

NEWARK -- After a change in defense attorneys, a trial has been delayed until next month for a Newark man charged with beating a Millburn woman in a 2013 home invasion attack caught on a "nanny-cam."

During a hearing on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler set Feb. 9 as the new date to begin jury selection in Shawn Custis's trial, according to an audio recording of the proceeding.

Custis was scheduled to go on trial on Jan. 26 with attorney Olubukola Adetula representing him.

But Wigler said during the hearing that Adetula has indicated he would be unable to continue to represent Custis, because their relationship has deteroriated to the point where Adetula does not believe he can adequately represent him.

The judge agreed to relieve Adetula as Custis's counsel and allow Essex County public defender John McMahon to represent him at the trial.

McMahon said during the hearing the postponement till Feb. 9 would allow him to better prepare for the trial. According to McMahon, Adetula and Custis both sought to end Adetula's representation in the case.

As a result of his lengthy criminal record, Custis is facing an extended state prison term of up to 40 years if he is convicted at the trial, Wigler previously said. Custis would then have to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole, Wigler said.

Custis, 45, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, robbery, burglary, criminal restraint and theft in connection with the June 21, 2013 incident.

Custis allegedly kicked, punched and threw the woman down the basement stairs as her daughter sat on the living-room couch, authorities said. Her 18-month-old son was asleep in an upstairs bedroom, authorities said. Custis also stole various items from the house, authorities said.

In May, Wigler ruled Custis is competent to stand trial after hearing testimony from two doctors. One doctor evaluated Custis for the defense and the other evaluated him on behalf of the state.

The judge found the state's expert to be "somewhat more credible." That doctor determined Custis understood the nature of the charges, could assist in his defense and understood the court procedures and roles of the parties involved, including the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge and jury.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Vanessa Rodriguez had become a controversial figure and lightning rod for controversy during her three-year tenure as chief talent officer

NEWARK - A high-ranking and sometimes controversial administrator with the city's school district has tendered her resignation.

Newark Public Schools spokeswoman Dreena Whitfield confirmed that Chief Talent Officer Vanessa Rodriguez will leave her position as chief talent officer as of Jan. 19.

In an email to colleagues provided to NJ Advance Media, she said she will pursue an unspecified opportunity outside the school district.

"The past three years have been extremely rewarding, and I am very proud of the work we have done to support Newark's talented educators," she said.

In a subsequent letter to staff, Superintendent of Schools Christopher Cerf praised Rodriguez for helping guide the district through a period of significant turmoil, including the departure of former school chief Cami Anderson, who hired her in January 2013.

He praised Rodriguez for implementing widespread changes included in a groundbreaking teachers' contract negotiated just after her arrival, which significantly reformed the way administrators hired and evaluated thousands of staff members.

Vanessa Rodriguez (LinkedIn)

"Needless to say, when executing this much change it does not always come easily," Cerf said. "Perhaps what I admire most about Vanessa's work is that she always stood up for what she believed was in the best interest of Newark children."

During her three years in Newark, however, Rodriguez became a frequent target of criticisms by those opposed to Anderson's regime and the drastic reforms she implemented - with varying degrees of success - over the course of her tenure.

In August - just weeks after Anderson vacated her position - the city's School Advisory Board voted to recommend Rodriguez be fired over her alleged role in processing $12,115 in vacation and sick leave payments to a former Newark assistant superintendent who had left the district for a position in Arkansas.

Three months later, the city's teachers' union filed a complaint with the state Board of Education and Education Commissioner David Hespe claiming she lacked the proper certifications to perform her duties, including the approval of layoffs and filing of tenure charges.

PLUS: Baraka, Cerf announce $12.5M plan to rescue needy Newark schools

Union President John Abeigon said a judge ordered the suit redirected to the state's Office of Administrative Law late last month.

"The fact is that she was never qualified or certified to do any of the things she did under her self-created title of Chief Talent Officer," he said. "Her leaving the district will not absolve her."

Rodriguez, who earns an annual salary of $118,501, will be replaced on an interim basis by Larisa Shambaugh, the district's executive director of special initiatives in the talent office, according to Cerf.

Prior to arriving in Newark, Rodriguez spent time with Teach for America, non-profit organization New Leaders for New Schools and as an administrator for the New York City public schools.

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

One person is dead following a fatal overnight shooting in the 800 block of South 14th Street, authorities confirm.

(File photo)

NEWARK -- One person is dead following a fatal overnight shooting in the 800 block of South 14th Street, authorities confirm.

The male victim, whose name has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at approximately 1 a.m. after being transported to University Hospital for medical treatment, said Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/43-year-old_newark_man_killed_in_overnight_newark.html

Additional details were not immediately available, Carter said.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

A 32-year-old Bloomfield man was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday after he was shot on a Paterson street, authorities said.

An Essex County man was listed in critical condition after a shooting in Paterson Jan. 12, 2016, police said (Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media) 

Officers responded to reports of a shooting around 1:40 p.m. Tuesday near 19th Avenue and East 33rd Street, where they found the wounded man lying in the street, according to Police Director Jerry Speziale.

The man had apparently just left his vehicle when two men approached and at least one started shooting, Speziale added. The victim was hit several times in his upper body.

"This is an isolated incident, and the individual was targeted and not random," Speziale added Wednesday morning. "The residents in the area are safe and we have increased police coverage to provide an additional layer of protection to avoid these isolated incidents. "

Detectives with the city's Major Crimes Division and Ceasefire unit were handling the case, Speziale said.

"We will tirelessly pursue all investigative leads as this investigation continues," the director said in a statement.

Police asked anyone with information to contact Paterson Detectives Jay English, Todd Pearl, Rolando Polio or Passaic County Prosecutor's Detective Michael Boone at 973-321-1120 or 973-321-1342. Anonymous tips can also be sent using the police department's website at patersonpd.com.

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

The tour of each of the city's five wards will stretch through the end of February

NEWARK - Mayor Ras Baraka will kick off a series of Town Hall meetings in each of the city's five wards tonight.

The tour, dubbed the "Newark 3.0 Town Hall Series" begins in the East Ward at St. Stephan's Grace Church, 7 Wilson St., at 7 p.m.

A flier for the event welcomes residents to voice concerns about public safety, education, crime, taxes, jobs, recreation and the city's efforts to help prisoners successfully reenter the community.

The rest of the meetings stretch across the remainder of January and February. Here is the complete schedule:

Central Ward: January 27th - Abyssinian Baptist Church (224 West Kinney Street)

West Ward: February 3rd - Speedway Academies (701 South Orange Avenue)

North Ward: February 17th - Third Presbyterian (395 Ridge Street)

South Ward: February 24th - Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church (88 Lyons Avenue)

An overnight fire that started in an Irvington restaurant displaced eight residents and severely damaged five structures, authorities said Watch video

NEWARK -- An overnight fire that started in an Irvington restaurant displaced eight residents and severely damaged five structures, authorities said Wednesday.

The fire started at approximately 1:30 a.m inside the basement of the building that houses the Headquarters bar and restaurant on Florence Avenue, said Irvington Fire Director John Brown. 

The fire eventually spread to the above lofts, and the later into the adjoining buildings, Brown said.

Five businesses and apartments were heavily damaged before the fire was brought under control several hours later, Brown added.

No civilians or residents were injured in the fire, Brown said. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries, Brown said.

Contending with freezing temperatures and high winds, one firefighter sustained frostbite, while another firefighter injured his back, Brown said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Brown said.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A Newark man was arrested last night for drunk driving after he told police he had been drinking at the airport, Port Authority Police said.

Bryan Santanadeaza, 23, was arrested at the Holland Tunnel and charged with DWI. Port Authority photo  

JERSEY CITY -- A Newark man was arrested last night on drunk driving charges after he told police he had been drinking at the airport, Port Authority police said. 

At 11:50 p.m., an officer noticed a green Honda Accord crossing over the roadway markings "several times" inside the Holland Tunnel despite a traffic sign stating that changing lanes is prohibited, Port Authority police spokesman Joe Pentangelo said. 

The police officer followed Bryan Santanadeaza, 23, through the tunnel and then attempted to pull him over, Pentangelo said. 

Santanadeaza did not immediately pull over and stopped a few blocks away on Jersey Avenue, Pentangelo said.

The officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol and Santanadeaza said he had been drinking "beer and liquor in the JFK airport lounge," police said.

The 23-year-old failed a field sobriety test and his blood alcohol content was a .12. He was charged with DWI, Pentangelo said.

 

Thomas Smith died shortly after midnight at University Hospital in Newark, authorities said.

NEWARK -- Authorities have identified the victim in a fatal overnight shooting in the city's South Ward as a 43-year-old city man.

Thomas Smith died shortly after midnight at University Hospital in Newark, said Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter.

He was transported there after Newark police officers on patrol in the 800 block of South 14th Street found Smith at the scene of an apparent shooting suffering multiple gunshot wounds, Carter said.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/gunshot_caused_death_of_man_found_in_newark_car_cr.html

The officers reported rushing to the scene at approximately 11:30 p.m. after hearing multiple shots fired, she added.

An investigation into the killing by the prosecutor's office Homicide Task Force is in its initial stage, Carter said. No suspects have been identified, and no arrests have been made, she added.

Additional details on the shooting were not immediately made available.

Smith's death brings the city's 2016 homicide total to four.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Three Newark men have been arrested in connection with a shooting during a robbery gone bad at the Howard Johnson Inn on Route 3 in Clifton this past October.

CLIFTON -- Three Newark men have been arrested in connection with a robbery gone bad at the Howard Johnson Inn on Route 3 this past October, police said.

Deshawn Mitchell, Tahir Johnson and Jimmie Nickerson are each facing charges of attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault and weapons charges, Detective Sgt. Robert Bracken said.

Police say the trio shot a 24-year-old Paterson man multiple times on the third floor of the hotel on the morning of Oct. 23.

The man who was shot and robbed was critically injured but he was later released from the hospital, Bracken said.

Mitchell, Johnson and Nickerson were arrested over the past three months by authorities in Essex and Union counties:

• Mitchell, 27, was picked up by Union County probation on Nov. 23.
• Johnson, 28, was arrested by Transit police in Newark on Dec. 18.
• Nickerson, 24, was arrested by Newark police Friday, Jan. 8.

Clifton police were assisted in their investigation by Newark police, Union police and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force.

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samantha Power spoke at Seton Hall University Wednesday.

SOUTH ORANGE -- U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samantha Power spoke at Seton Hall University Wednesday, in an follow-up to President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address.

The event took place at 10 a.m. in the university's Jubilee Auditorium before the media, invited guests, and university faculty and students, including several international studies and diplomacy students.

Christie to Obama: N.J. won't accept Syrian refugees

A few refugee families, who Power said live in Jersey City and Brooklyn, were also invited to the speech by Power's people.

According to a spokesman for the United States Mission to the United Nations, this may have been Power's first such talk at a N.J. school, though she has spoken at N.Y. high schools and given college commencement addresses.

Though Power said the event was "not to give you my version of the State of the Union," it was meant to take place after Obama's address, and Seton Hall was chosen because of its academic reputation, the spokesman said.

"We were all just thrilled that they reached out," said Laurie Pine, the university's spokeswoman. "So often it's diplomats talking to each other... These are issues that are so important to the people of America."

Power, who is in President Barack Obama's cabinet, described the United State an as enduring global leader and stressed the importance of not turning "others" away. She lauded audience memberHaledon Mayor Domenick Stampone, who told Obama he would welcome Syrian refugees.

Power's words explicitly or implicitly defended Obama's policies from naysayers who have said that U.S. has declined in its global standing and is less nationally secure because of the current administration.

She never named Republican political candidate Donald Trump but at several points condemned the idea he raised earlier this political season, of banning Muslims from the U.S. 

"This event, like the State of the Union, is about the 2016 election. It's worth reminding the American people that diplomacy is not the same as weakness and that we best solve global problems by working with other countries and by using the UN rather than avoiding it," said Assistant Professor Martin Edwards, who heads Seton Hall's Center for United Nations and Global Governance Studies. 

Several students in the 400-person audience asked Power questions, on subjects ranging from her journalism background (she worked in the Balkans before writing a Pulitzer-winning book on genocide), her proudest accomplishments (motherhood, she said), and how Americans can help Syria. 

"I think it's wonderful," said Emily Erickson, 23, a master's student of the School of Diplomacy and International Studies who aspires to work for the state department. "The former president of the Dominican Republic, he came to speak at Seton Hall (in September)... In my very limited time here, speakers have been excellent."

Here are 7 notable quotes from Power's talk:

1. On the idea that the U.S. looks weak to the outside world: "Our challenge is not that people around the world lack faith in American leadership. It's frankly that they look for America to lead in every single crisis and sometimes believe that because of our strength and capabilities that we can solve, fix every problem by ourselves. That can sometimes prove a challenge, as others... sometimes are not willing to pull their weight."
2. On the refugee crisis: "We are witnessing the largest wave of refugees and displacement since the second world war, many of whom are fleeing the catastrophic conflict in Syria, where they are caught between a regime that gases, barrel bombs and deliberately starves its own people. Between that on the one hand, and violent extremists that sell women like cattle in markets... That is the world people are fleeing."
3. On engaging "hostile" nations: "This is something that has really been a hallmark of President Obama's leadership. Now, engaging regimes that have violated international was or are abusing their own people does not mean that we are condoning their behavior, that we are naive about the threats that they pose... Rather, we believe that we should explore the tools of the tool box to see what might work in order to bring about improvement to our national security (and improvement to people's lives abroad)."
4. On normalizing relations with Cuba: "Our efforts to isolate the Castro government actually ended up isolating the United States, providing the regime with a pretext for its oppression and an excuse for its shortcomings... They would just point to the embargo and say, 'It's the Americans, they're the reason you're struggling.'"
5. On Obama's Iran nuclear deal: "We built up a global coalition to pose sanctions. Those sanctions eventually brought the regime to the negotiating table... The result was a nuclear deal that, if implemented, will cut off Iran's pathways to a nuclear weapon. Does engagement diminish our concern about the instability that Iran fueled beyond its nuclear pathway? Of course not."
6. On ISIL: "The 65-nation coalition (we have marshaled) is operating militarily and has taken over 30 to 40 percent of the territory that ISIL has held in Iraq and Syria. ISIL is feeling the heat but it is really important to think about what ISIL is and how it has taken fuel. It has literally taken fuel by taking over oil fields. That has to stop... (We should also be) making sure that the people who have survived ISIL tell their stories, so that this notion that it's this nobel utopian project (dies)."
7. On banning people from the U.S. because of their religion: "The world... respects us for our diversity, for our openness, and the way that we respect everything. Compromising on those values has never made America more secure. And it never will."

Watch the whole event below:

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

The university is racing against the clock to submit a grant application for state money.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Rutgers University will hold a special board meeting on Thursday to beat the clock on a deadline for asking the state for $98.5 million, according to a school official. 

The university will ask its Board of Governors to approve eight building renovation  projects from its long-term master plan, said Antonio Calcado, Rutgers' senior vice president for institutional planning and operations.

Rutgers will then submit an application due on Friday for state grant money, he said.  

Approval from the board would be contingent on Rutgers receiving the grant, Calcado said. Otherwise, Rutgers doesn't have funding allocated for the projects. 

"We are not able to move on them because we don't have funds to do it," Calcado said. 

Rutgers had to act quickly after New Jersey announced in November it will put up $180 million in its latest round of grants for higher education building projects. 

The state in 2013 approved more than $1.3 billion in grants to New Jersey colleges to upgrade their buildings, classroom and laboratories. Those grants came after voters authorized borrowing $750 million to upgrade the state's college facilities. 

Rutgers is hoping to secure funding for projects on all three campuses, including $35 million to renovate it administrative services building on the Busch campus in Piscataway.  

Other buildings that would be renovated include: 

John Cotton Dana Library (Rutgers-Newark)

Olson Hall (Rutgers-Newark)

Writers House (Rutgers-Camden)

Artis Building (Rutgers-Camden)

Hickman Hall (Douglass campus, Rutgers-New Brunswick)

Clinical Academic Building (Rutgers-New Brunswick)

Research Tower (Piscataway campus, Rutgers-New Brunswick)

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.