The storm held down the number of protestors for the 43rd annual March for Life in Washington.

WASHINGTON -- A smaller-than-usual crowd marched against abortion rights in the nation's capital as a blizzard that threatened to paralyze the nation's capital keep many protestors away.

Many of the buses scheduled to carry demonstrators from New Jersey to Washington were canceled, and some of those that did make the trip left earlier than usual to stay ahead of the storm.

Snow began falling as demonstrators made their way to post-march receptions in House office buildings, including one hosted by U.S. Reps. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) and Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.). Smith co-chairs the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.

"We have to change people's minds and hearts," said Jim Hughes, a retired state employee from Irvington and a former president of Essex County Right to Life who was one of four dozen on a bus from St. Leo's Church. "Do it by kindness and perseverance."

The storm threat wasn't enough to cancel or postpone the March for Life, which has been held for 43 years on Jan. 22, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

"Someday soon, America will protect the weakest and most vulnerable," Smith, the only House member who was scheduled to speak, told the crowd. "And into eternity, each and everyone of you will have played a crucial part in that all-important human rights struggle."

Many protestors who couldn't make it to Washington joined an anti-abortion march in Trenton instead. Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, said her group had a record crowd in the state capital.

In Washington, Lynda Matthews, a stay-at-home mother from Belvidere, was accompanied by her son Aran and two of his classmates from Cairn University in Langhorne, Pa., on a bus from Chester that ordinarily would have been filled but for the weather.

"People are realizing they can't ignore the problem," Lynda Matthews said.

"It's killing kids," interjected one of Aran's classmates, Liza Burchman of Hopkinson, Mass. 

Whiile Aran has been making the trip to Washington since middle school, his college roommate, Noah Anderton of Lancaster, Pa., was attending his first march. 

"The more people who are made aware of the issue, things are going to change," Anderton said.

Former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina was the only Republican presidential candidate who spoke at the rally.

Citizens, fight with me. https://t.co/ve2tvSYk6G

-- Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) January 22, 2016

Others weighed in from the campaign trail.

Today I stand with thousands marching for life & defending the most vulnerable of all: https://t.co/flzntbl7wq https://t.co/A1jCv36F4i

-- Jeb Bush (@JebBush) January 22, 2016

The right to life is a human right. #MarchForLife #whywemarch pic.twitter.com/lrI0stqwwD

-- Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 22, 2016

This year's march occurred just weeks after congressional Republicans cleared legislation cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood, the women's health-care provider. President Barack Obama vetoed the measure.

Republicans have been outraged following the release of heavily-edited videos made secretly by an anti-abortion group that claimed they showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of tissue from aborted fetuses, which is used in medical research.

Federal law prohibits the sale of such tissue, though allows groups like Planned Parenthood to recover shipping costs. Planned Parenthood has said it no longer will seek reimbursements of its expenses.

After a series of congressional investigations found no evidence to support the allegations, the House GOP formed a new subcommittee and launched another probe. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) is a member of the panel. 

 

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

United's flights are among more than 600 canceled at Newark Airport on Saturday as a massive snowstorm approaches the area. Watch video

NEWARK -- United Airlines is winding down operations at Newark Liberty International Airport for the duration of storm, airport officials said Friday afternoon.

"United Airlines will be shutting down operations at EWR. Please check the status of your flight prior to going to the airport," the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in an alert issued Friday afternoon.

Earlier today, Philadelphia International Airport announced all flights would be canceled Saturday.

Flight cancellations top 6K as storm causes travel chaos

United's flights are among more than 600 canceled at Newark Airport on Saturday as a massive snowstorm approaches the area, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service.

United previously announced it would waive the fee for passengers to switch to later flights.

The Newark arena prepped for Monster Jam.

NEWARK -- It was one dirty job, literally.

More than 100 truck loads of dirt were dumped on the floor of the Prudential Center Friday afternoon in preparation for a monster truck rally and trick show scheduled for this weekend.

Monster Jam's first ever shows at The Rock are slated for Saturday and Sunday, and will feature the company's signature trucks climbing and doing jumps and tricks on the dirt mounds.

The trucks, which are about 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide, weigh about 10,000 pounds each. The trucks are able to jump about 35 feet in the air, and leap lengths of about 130 feet.

Despite an impending winter storm this weekend, the event had not been cancelled as of Friday evening.

This is not Monster Jam's first trip to the Garden State. In 2013, the dirt trucks transformed MetLife Stadium in preparation for the event.

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

Bloomfield Police Officer Orlando Trinidad was convicted of official misconduct and related offenses in connection with a 2012 arrest

NEWARK -- Former Bloomfield Police Officer Orlando Trinidad said he had wanted to be a husband and a father, own a home and "live the American dream."

But standing before his fiancA(c)e and other supporters on Friday in a Newark courtroom, Trinidad was sentenced to five years in state prison as a result of his conviction last fall on official misconduct and related charges for submitting false police reports about a 2012 arrest.

"I am truly sorry for everything that has transpired," Trinidad said through tears, while wearing a prison uniform and with his hands cuffed in front of him. "I am a different man today as I stand here before you. I am a humbled man."

Trinidad, 34, of Bloomfield, must serve the entire sentence without an opportunity to be released on parole, and he will receive credit for 78 days of time served.

In New Jersey, an official misconduct charge carries a mandatory five-year prison sentence with a five-year period of parole ineligibility.

Trinidad and his co-defendant, former Bloomfield Police Officer Sean Courter, were convicted by a jury on Nov. 5 of making false statements in police reports about the June 7, 2012 arrest of Bloomfield resident Marcus Jeter on the Garden State Parkway.

After reviewing police dashboard videos -- including footage of Jeter with his hands raised inside his vehicle -- the jury determined the officers' reports falsely claimed Jeter tried to grab Courter's gun while Courter was removing Jeter from the vehicle, and that Jeter struck Trinidad.

Trinidad also was convicted of simple assault for striking Jeter during the incident.

Courter, 35, of Englishtown, is expected to be sentenced at a later date.

During Friday's hearing, Jeter said he continues to struggle with "nightmares" and wakes up in "cold sweats" as a result of the incident. Jeter said he still becomes nervous when he sees a police car.

"I feared for my life that night," Jeter said. "It's a situation that I would never want anybody to be in, and I believe that I didn't do anything to provoke the officers that night."

Marcus Jeter, right, who was falsely arrest by former Bloomfield Police Officer Orlando Trinidad, seated left, addresses the court before Trinidad was sentenced to 5 years in state prison. On Nov. 5 a jury found Trinidad and co-defendant officer Sean Courter guilty of official misconduct and related charges for submitting false police reports about a 2012 arrest of Marcus Jeter. Courter will be sentenced at a later date. Newark, NJ 1/22/16 (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Robert Sciarrino

Jeter noted how he was arrested and faced a possible prison sentence himself before his charges were ultimately dismissed. The stress of that experience caused him to lose some of his hair, Jeter said.

As police officers, Courter and Trinidad "had a responsibility to do what's right and I don't think that they did what's right that night," Jeter said.

Jeter also is pursuing a lawsuit against Bloomfield, Courter, Trinidad and other defendants in regard to the incident.

Citing the "needless physical and psychological injury" caused to Jeter, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Berta Rodriguez called on Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin to impose a seven-year prison sentence with a five-year period of parole ineligiblity.

By striking Jeter during the false arrest and then falsifying the police reports, Trinidad's actions "show a complete lack of respect for Marcus Jeter and the citizens of Bloomfield and Essex County, and a lack of respect for his position as a law enforcement officer," said Rodriguez, who tried the case with Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Frantzou Simon.

But Trinidad's attorney, Frank Arleo, asked the judge to impose a more lenient sentence and waive the requirement for the mandatory five-year prison sentence without parole on the official misconduct charge.

Noting how Jeter refused to get out of his vehicle and other factors, Arleo argued Jeter was not an innocent victim and that Trinidad was acting under strong provocation.

"He was a good cop and now he's lost all that," Arleo said.

Ravin rejected the state's request for a longer prison sentence, but he declined to waive the requirement for the mandatory sentence on the official misconduct charge. The judge found the circumstances of the case did not warrant such a waiver.

RELATED: Cops lose bid to throw out conviction for false police reports

The arrest occurred after Courter and Bloomfield Police Officer Albert Sutterlin had responded to a domestic-related call at Jeter's Bloomfield home. His girlfriend's sister called 911 after Jeter threw the girlfriend's cell phone down a staircase during a verbal dispute.

Soon after the officers arrived, Jeter left the residence. Courter has said Jeter was drunk and fled after he had ordered him to stop, but Jeter has said he was not drunk and that Courter indicated he could leave the residence.

Courter later stopped Jeter on the Parkway, followed by Sutterlin, and the officers approached Jeter's vehicle with their guns drawn and ordered him to get out. Trinidad arrived at the scene and struck the front of Jeter's car with his patrol vehicle.

After Courter received approval from a supervisor, he broke the driver's side window and removed Jeter from the vehicle. Courter and Trinidad later claimed in their police reports that Jeter tried to disarm Courter and that he struck Trinidad.

Jeter was charged with eluding, attempting to disarm a police officer, resisting arrest and aggravated assault.

While Jeter's case was still pending, prosecutors only had the dashboard video from Courter's patrol vehicle. Jeter's attorney later obtained the dashboard video from Trinidad's patrol vehicle through an open public records request made with the Bloomfield Police Department.

After reviewing that second dashboard video, prosecutors determined the video was inconsistent with the officers' police reports. The charges against Jeter were then dropped in April 2013 and Courter and Trinidad were indicted in January 2014.

Courter and Trinidad, who had been suspended without pay, ultimately lost their jobs as a result of their convictions.

Sutterlin, who retired in May 2013, pleaded guilty in October 2013 to falsifying or tampering with records. After testifying at the officers' trial, Sutterlin was later sentenced to two years of probation.

On the witness stand at the trial, Sutterlin said he included information in his police reports that Jeter tried to grab Courter's gun and that he struck Trinidad, even though Sutterlin had not witnessed those events. He said he received those details from Courter and Trinidad when he consulted with them about the sequence of events.

Sutterlin said no one had told him to lie about the incident, and that he believed his reports were accurate when he wrote them.

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

Most airlines are hoping runways will be cleared by Sunday morning, so flights can resume. But many Sunday flights are already canceled. Watch video

NEWARK -- The runways at some of the nation's busiest airports were silent Saturday morning as the East Coast waits for a massive winter storm to pass.

As of 6 a.m., more than 4,100 flights in and out of the U.S. are cancelled nationwide on Saturday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service.

More than 1,200 of the canceled flights were scheduled to leave airports in New Jersey, New York or Philadelphia Saturday, according to FlightAware.

Several airports, including Philadelphia International and Washington Dulles, announced the cancellation of all Saturday flights.

At Newark Liberty International, United Airlines announced Friday it was suspending operations until the storm passed. United is the airport's largest carrier.

N.J. blizzard intensifies Saturday, projections boosted in several counties

"We will be shutting down operations at Baltimore, New York LaGuardia, New York/Newark, Philadelphia, Washington Dulles and Washington National," the company said in a statement. "If you have a United ticket for travel to, from or through the East Coast of the U.S., please check the status of your flight before going to the airport."

American Airlines made a similar announcement, suspending operations in Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore. American Eagle will not fly out of Newark, John F. Kennedy Airport of LaGuardia Airport on Saturday, the company said.

The ripple effect of the cancellations across the country has created a travel nightmare for travelers. Many passengers who couldn't find alternate accommodations are waiting out the storm in the airports.

A United Airlines airliner seen from Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport. United will waive fees for travelers who have to rebook flights due to the weekend storm. (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

"The Port Authority also will have supplies of cots and other essential items ready to accommodate ticketed passengers who may become stranded at the airports," officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that oversees the region's airports, said in a statement.

Most carriers announced fee waivers that will allow passengers to book later flights for free. But, social media sites were filled with complaints from passengers who had to wait hours on the phone to get new flights or could not log in to overworked airline websites and mobile apps.

Most airlines are hoping runways will be cleared by Sunday morning, so flights can resume.

Inside look: 5 important ways N.J towns prep for a blizzard

Nearly 200 flights at Newark Liberty are canceled for Sunday, according to FlightAware. But, about 50 percent of flights are scheduled to take off, assuming the runways are plowed and operations return to normal.

Philadelphia, JFK and LaGuardia listed less than 30 percent of their Sunday flights as cancelled as of 6 a.m. Saturday, according to FlightAware. But airport officials said passengers should check with their airlines before attempting to travel to the airport Sunday.

The so-called "Newark Unity" ticket includes candidates from all corners of the highly charged debate around education in the state's largest city

NEWARK -- With school board elections just three months away, a number of seasoned rivals in the city's highly charged education debate have decided to lay down their arms.

A surprising partnership between Mayor Ras Baraka, charter school advocates and other local political heavyweights has produced the "Newark Unity" slate -- a rainbow coalition aimed at diffusing the hostile rhetoric that often arrives part and parcel with campaigns for city office.

"Political bickering amongst adults doesn't serve children well. When adults bicker politically, children are caught in the crossfire," said Muhammad Akil, Executive Director of the Parent Coalition for Excellent Education (PC2E), which helped coordinate the ticket.

"At the end of the day, all the camps wanted to do what was right."

Baraka decries latest charter school spat as 'organized campaign' to divide parents

The slate represents interests from across Newark's political landscape, including an increasingly mobilized bloc of charter school supporters represented by Kim Gaddy - an environmental justice organizer and former who has served on the school board and as chief of staff to Council President Mildred Crump.

Leah Owens, a former Central High School teacher and an organizer with New Jersey Communites United - an organization that has been among the most vocal critics of state-backed school reform efforts - will run on behalf of Baraka's "Children First" team.

Octavio "Tave" Padilla will represent For Our Kids, backed by Councilman Anibal Ramos and other North Ward officials. Padilla works in the recreation department at the city's North Ward Center and served as chief of staff to former Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo.

In past elections, both Children First and For Our Kids have fielded three-person tickets to engage in often-heated battles between the city's rival political camps.

"Over the years it's just been this clash that has taken the focus off of quality education," said Anthony Salters, a local political operative who helped coordinate Newark Unity.

"That's one thing that all three of these leaders have agreed on, that the focus needs to be on quality schools and quality education for all Newark students."

The cooperation comes as an added surprise given the recent public clashes between Baraka and education reform group over his request to halt the expansion of local charter schools until the state agrees to fully fund their public counterparts.

In a statement, the mayor acknowledged that he still shares "fundamental disagreements" with other backers of the slate, but said the dire state of school finances in Newark required that they be put aside.

"At this time we need to overcome our differences, to work together, to unite to ensure that all of our children get the very best education," he said. "We must move beyond the fighting, ideological wars and turmoil."

MORE: N.J. Education News

The trio of Newark Unity candidates will compete for seats currently held by board members Ariagna Perello, Khalil Rashidi and Rashon Hasan -- all of whom ran on the Children First slate in 2013. Various other hopefuls on all sides of the public-charter debate had already begun fundraising and laying groundwork for campaigns of their own, though it remains to be seen whether the new slate might affect those plans.

Owens, Gaddy and Padilla all claim experience in both education and politics -- backgrounds that are likely to be come in handy as the city moves closer to regaining local control over its schools after more than 20 years of state oversight. The winners of the April 19 election will win terms though 2019, by which time the board is likely to shed its current advisory status and assume true governing power over the district.

"We want candidates who have the capability to manage a nearly billion dollar budget," said Akil, who promised that P2CE, which bills itself as an advocacy organization, would play no direct role in the campaign.

"We think that this slate is the first step."

Salters said the candidates on the unity ticket would not be pressured to mold their views on the future of Newark's school system into a cohesive platform. Instead, they had agreed only to run a campaign that values respect over rancor.

"These three organizations are coming together to change the conversation," he said. "We think it's a tremendous step in the right direction."

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Octavio Padilla's workplace.

It's one thing to see this blizzard do its work through a window at home. Astronaut N.J. astronaut Scott Kelly has a, slightly, more amazing view. Watch video

It's one thing to see this blizzard do its work through a window at home. U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly has a, slightly, more amazing view.

Live updates: weekend winter storm blasts N.J. with blizzard conditions

Kelly, who grew up in West Orange, is in the midst of a record-breaking attempt to spend a year in space. Aside from his many scientific endeavors, he is known for the amazing photos he has snapped from his astonishing God's-eye-view.

Kelly has had this view since he launched into space in late March.

But these photos of the East Coast storm may be a couple of his best yet.

Rare #thundersnow visible from @Space_Station in #blizzard2016! #Snowzilla #snowmaggedon2016 #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/l3p6hjnJOq

-- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 23, 2016

Massive #snowstorm blanketing #EastCoast clearly visible from @Space_Station! Stay safe! #blizzard2016 #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/oq6ewYaTPQ

-- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 23, 2016

As #blizzard2016 passes over #Chicago, the #EastCoast seen in distance clearly has a long way to go. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/qMrkTXo9ie

-- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 23, 2016

Tell us what you think in the comments, and stay safe today.

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

More than 850 of the scrubbed flights were scheduled to fly in or out of New Jersey, New York or Philadelphia airports Sunday. Watch video

NEWARK -- Passengers hoping to catch a flight out of snowy East Coast airports on Sunday may have to wait a bit longer.

More than 850 flights scheduled to fly in or out of New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia airports on Sunday have been cancelled so far, bringing the two-day total to 2,000 for the region's airports, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service.

United and other airlines said they are hoping to resume flights at Newark Liberty International Airport and other area airports on Sunday after the snowstorm pummeling the East Coast passes.

Historic blizzard: Records could fall with 2 to 3 feet of snow likely in N.J.

As of noon, more than 1,300 flights in and out of the U.S. are canceled for Sunday, according to FlightAware's tracker. More than 850 of the nixed flights were scheduled to fly in or out of New Jersey, New York or Philadelphia airports.

The Sunday cancellations include nearly 50 percent of the scheduled departures from Newark Liberty and more than 35 percent of arriving flights.

Philadelphia International Airport, which announced airlines canceled all of its flights Saturday, will have additional flights scratched on Sunday. About 30 percent of departures and 20 percent of arrivals have been added to the canceled list, according to FlightAware.

Chances of flying out of John F. Kennedy International Airport or LaGuardia on Sunday are not much better. About a third of outgoing flights are canceled at LaGuardia and about 20 percent of departures are scratched at JFK.

Baby boom 9 months after a snow storm: Fact or fiction?

Airlines are expected to cancel additional Sunday flights if needed after they assess the snow's impact on the airports. Airport officials say travelers need to check with their airlines before attempting to go to the airport Sunday.

Most airlines are waiving change fees and allowing passengers to switch to open flights later in the week for free.

But, many passengers have turned to Twitter, Facebook and social media to express their frustration with the cancellations.

"You keep cancelling flights out of Newark on Sunday. How do I get to San Francisco before Monday?," read one tweet a Newark Airport passenger directed at United Airlines.

"Right now (our) operations team is working on the safest options for flying during this winter storm," United Airlines replied via Twitter.

Other passengers on other airlines complained about multi-hour waits on the phone to change flights or malfunctioning airline apps and websites that prevented them from rebooking.

Some passengers stuck at local airports after their flights were canceled have access to cots and supplies brought in by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the area's airports.

The snow has forced the shutdown of the AirTran monorail service that links the  terminals and the parking lots at Newark Liberty International Airport, the Port Authority announced in a 10:25 a.m. alert.

"Shuttle buses are available at terminals and stations," the alert said.

All cars and nonessential persons are required to stay off the streets until until 6 a.m. Sunday morning, Mayor Ras J. Baraka declared Saturday afternoon.

NEWARK -- As a blizzard continues to barrel down on New Jersey, the city's mayor has declared a state of emergency. 

All cars and nonessential persons are required to stay off the streets until 6 a.m. Sunday morning, Mayor Ras J. Baraka declared Saturday afternoon.

"We are cautioning Newarkers to stay off the roads so that our emergency personnel and vehicles can get to urgent calls,"  Mayor Baraka said in a statement. "We anticipate that the freezing temperatures and icy conditions will make travel more dangerous throughout the day. Please stay indoors today and stay tuned to news channels and the City of Newark website for additional information." 

The ban does not include emergency vehicles and is subject to change depending on conditions. 

"Cars are blocking plows from doing their jobs, and are endangering the lives of our first responders," added Director of Public Safety Anthony Ambrose. "Get your car off the road, don't drive, and look in on a disabled or elderly neighbor to see if they need help." 

The Emergency Snow Removal number is (973) 733-5830. For additional information about the snowstorm and the City's response, please visit the City's website at www.ci.newark.nj.us. 

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A few passengers are willing to pay to bypass the commercial airline hassle and use a private jet to escape the storm. Watch video

TETERBORO -- The blizzard has forced the cancellation of more than 2,000 weekend flights at airports in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia, stranding hundreds of thousands of frustrated travelers.

It will likely take days for most passengers to get flights out of the area.

But, a few passengers are willing to pay to bypass the commercial airline hassle and use a private jet to escape the storm.

Baby boom 9 months after a snow storm: Fact or fiction? 

Private jet operators flying out of Teterboro, Westchester and other small airports say they were able to get flights out of the area Friday night. More flights are expected to depart as soon as the snow lets up Saturday night or Sunday morning.

JetSmarter, a private plane sharing service, said it has private jets poised to leave from New Jersey and New York Saturday night with passengers bound for Miami and Los Angeles.

"People fly private for convenience, and this becomes evident when it's hard to fly in or out of a location, as we have seen with Winter Storm Jonas," said Sergey Petrossov, chief executive officer of JetSmarter.

JetSmarter members pay an annual fee of $9,000 for unlimited private plane flights on certain routes. Membership also allows travelers to charter their own private flight for an additional fee. This weekend, the service is offering free flights to stranded members and new members in New Jersey and New York.

Other private jet operators said they will begin flying again out of Teterboro as soon as the weather starts to clear.

Several commercial airlines, including United Airlines, said they hope to begin flying again Sunday at Newark Liberty International Airport and other area airports. But, about 50 percent of flights scheduled to depart from Newark Sunday have already been canceled.

Nationwide, more than 6,500 commercial flights have been canceled for Saturday and Sunday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. That includes more than 2,000 flights that were scheduled to depart from Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Philadelphia International Airport this weekend.

Most commercial airlines are allowing passengers to switch to flights later in the week for free.

Photos, videos and more from around the state

Three patrol officers sustained minor injuries when their vehicles collided with each other during the pursuit, officials said.

NEWARK -- Three Newark police officers were injured Thursday afternoon after a car chase involving a stolen vehicle, police said 

Police responded to Broad Street just before 4 p.m. Thursday, where the owner of a used car dealership told officers he and two others were robbed and struck by three armed suspects, according to a press release from Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose. 

The suspects then fled in the owner's 2015 BMW.

At around 5:30 p.m., officers on patrol saw the vehicle and tried to pull it over. The vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended when the stolen vehicle crashed into a patrol vehicle, officials said. 

Three patrol officers sustained minor injuries when their vehicles collided with each other during the pursuit. They were taken to University Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition, officials said. 

Rodney Wright and Yasime Jones, both 21, were taken into custody and charged with receiving stolen property. A third suspect remains at large.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 877 695-8477.    

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

It is unclear how many flights will get out of Newark on time on Sunday as the airport digs out from several feet of snow. Watch video

NEWARK -- The largest airline serving Newark Liberty International Airport will start flying again Sunday afternoon, the company said.

United Airlines gave a ray of hope to weary travelers late Saturday when it announced it was preparing to restart operations after shutting down for most of the weekend as a massive storm engulfed the region.

"The airline plans to start very limited operations on Sunday afternoon at its Newark Liberty Airport hub and other New York City metro area airports," United officials said in a statement.

Flight canceled? Here's how you can fly out of N.J. for $9K

More than 2,000 weekend flights were canceled in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia due to the storm.

It is unclear how many flights will get out of Newark on time on Sunday as the airport digs out from several feet of snow.

As of 10 p.m. Saturday, 292 flights scheduled to leave Newark Airport on Sunday were canceled, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. That is more than 60 percent of the day's scheduled outgoing flights.

More than half of the flights scheduled to arrive at Newark Airport Sunday are also canceled, FlightAware said.

More than half of outgoing flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport are also canceled for Sunday, according to the flight tracker.

Travelers leaving from Philadelphia International Airport, where about a third of outgoing flights are canceled, appear to have a slightly better chance of getting out on Sunday.

While they plan to begin flying out of New Jersey and New York on Sunday, United Airlines officials were not as optimistic about the conditions at airports in Washington, D.C.

"United will not operate Saturday and Sunday service at Dulles and other Washington metro area airports and expects to gradually resume service on Monday," the company said in a statement.

United continues to offer passengers the chance to reschedule their flights for later in the week at no charge.

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

United will resume flights at Newark Airport Sunday afternoon, but there are mass cancellations at the region's airports. Watch video

NEWARK -- Planes will begin flying again at area airports Sunday, but chances appear to be slim that many flights will make it out as airlines struggle to resume normal operations after a crippling winter storm.

More than 3,300 flights scheduled for Sunday were canceled nationwide as of 6 a.m., according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. That brings the total weekend flights canceled to more than 7,800 nationwide.

The scratched outgoing Sunday flights as of 6 a.m. include 303 at Newark Liberty International Airport, 318 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 339 at LaGuardia Airport, four at Atlantic City International Airport and 178 at Philadelphia International Airport, the flight tracking service said.

Flight canceled? Here's how you can fly out of N.J. for $9K

More than 1,000 incoming flights are also canceled at area airports, bringing the total number of flights canceled for Sunday to about 2,200 in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

United Airlines said it would resume a "limited" number of flights at Newark Airport, its hub, by Sunday afternoon. Airline officials warned travelers to be patient and check the status of their flights before attempting to come to the airport.

"Customers with mid-Atlantic and Northeast travel should expect delays and cancellations," United officials said in a statement.

Most airlines continue to offer fee waivers for passengers who want to switch to flights later in the week.

All of the airports remain opened with cots and supplies ready for passengers who may be unable to get out, said officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the area airports.

The AirTran monorail service linking the terminals and parking lots at both Newark and JFK airports was suspended Saturday due to the snow, so passengers may need to use shuttle buses.

In Philadelphia, the cancellation of all flights on Saturday helped the airport get a jump on clearing the accumulating snow, a spokeswoman said

"Because these flights were canceled, the airport has been clearing snow continuously since last night from the runways, taxiways and the roads and sidewalks," Philadelphia International Airport spokeswoman Mary Flannery said Saturday.

Former Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield was sentenced on Jan. 15 to 12 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a disabled man

NEWARK -- Writing a letter from her cell at the Essex County Correctional Facility, former Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield wanted the judge to know she had only been acting out of love.

Facing a state prison sentence for sexually assaulting a disabled man, known as D.J., Stubblefield told Superior Court Judge Siobhan Teare in the letter that "my actions were motivated by love, and my love was grounded in my belief in (D.J.'s) intelligence and humanity."

"I cannot adequately express my dismay, and sorrow, and regret that my actions have led to so much distress for so many people," Stubblefield wrote. "All I can do is extend my heartfelt apology - I am sorry for the pain I caused you."

But in his own letter to the judge, Stubblefield's ex-husband, Roger Stubblefield, called her "a pathological liar and narcissistic."

"She will stop at nothing to fool the court and seek vindication regardless of the emotional and financial expense to her family or the primary victim's family," Roger Stubblefield told the judge.

Those letters, which were obtained by NJ Advance Media, were among the correspondence sent to Teare before the judge sentenced Stubblefield, 46, of West Orange, on Jan. 15 to 12 years in state prison for abusing the 35-year-old D.J., in her Newark office in 2011.

D.J. has cerebral palsy and is unable to speak beyond making noises. He also wears diapers and requires assistance with walking, bathing, dressing and eating, his mother testified last fall during Stubblefield's trial.

During the trial, the state presented testimony from psychologists who found D.J. is mentally incompetent and cannot consent to sexual activity. Due to his cognitive impairments, D.J.'s mother and brother have been designated as his legal guardians.

But Stubblefield has claimed she and D.J. fell in love and communicated via a controversial typing method, known as "facilitated communication."

The jury rejected that argument and determined D.J. is mentally incompetent and could not consent to the sexual activity. Jurors convicted Stubblefield on Oct. 2 of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault.

Stubblefield's position as a Rutgers professor has been forfeited as a result of her conviction and she will be barred from any future public employment. She previously served as chairwoman of the Rutgers' philosophy department.

'Intellectual equals'

Stubblefield worked with D.J. for about two years through facilitated communication. Under that technique, Stubblefield said she provided physical support to D.J. as he typed messages on a keyboard.

Critics argue the technique is ineffective, saying studies have shown the facilitators are controlling the users' movements. Several scientific organizations have declared the technique is invalid.

Stubblefield met D.J. in 2009 through his brother, then a Rutgers student, who was taking a course of Stubblefield's. During one class, Stubblefield presented a video that dealt with facilitated communication, and the brother later asked her for more information about the method to see if it might help D.J.

Stubblefield ultimately disclosed the sexual relationship to D.J.'s mother and brother in May 2011. Looking to have Stubblefield keep her distance, the brother ultimately reported the matter to a Rutgers official and the university later contacted Essex County prosecutors.

The letter Stubblefield wrote to the judge reiterates the main arguments she made on the witness stand at her trial - that she and D.J. were in love and she did not believe he was intellectually impaired.

"I believed that he and I were intellectual equals and that our romantic relationship was consensual and mutually loving," Stubblefield told the judge in her letter, which is dated Dec. 26.

(L-R) Defense attorney James Patton looks toward his client Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield, as she addresses the court before being sentenced to 12 years for sexually abusing a disabled man in her Newark office in 2011. Newark, NJ 1/15/16 (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Stubblefield also indicated in the letter that her actions stemmed from being "raised by parents who are committed to the cause of equal rights for people with disabilities." The letter discusses the work of Stubblefield's mother in helping the disabled and how Stubblefield assisted her efforts when she was a child.

Stubblefield wrote that she later "became increasingly involved in the fight for civil rights for people with disabilities," including by participating in marches in Washington, D.C. She also became friends with many people with disabilities, Stubblefield wrote.

When Stubblefield met D.J., she "saw him as someone I could potentially help as a friend," she wrote.

"Over time, as his skill at communicating increased and as it became apparent through objective evidence that he was the author of his words and a very intelligent man, we did become friends," Stubblefield wrote. "And then something happened that took me by surprise - we fell in love."

But Stubblefield said if she and D.J. had anticipated his family's negative reaction to their relationship, "we would have waited."

"He would have talked with his family and pursued emancipation from the guardianship, and I would have used the time to obtain a divorce," Stubblefield wrote. "That would have been a better path all around."

Stubblefield wrote that "I regret and sincerely apologize for the distress my actions have caused to" D.J.'s mother and brother."

"Finally, I especially regret that, due to the actions in which I engaged, (D.J.) lost access to his means of communication and his hopes of furthering his education and attaining self-determination in his life," Stubblefield added.

'An event of shock and awe'

The letters written by Stubblefield and her ex-husband both address the emotional impact on their daughter as a result of the case. The former couple is divorced and they have a daughter and a son together.

But Roger Stubblefield's letter blames his ex-wife for waging "a campaign of alienation of my daughter against me."

"I am shocked that Anna and her handlers would spin this incident as a disabilities rights case in a weak attempt to deflect Anna's willful participation when she should have known better," he wrote.

"The alienation of my daughter, my wife, and even the in-laws that I had considered family wounded me deeply as I felt suddenly adrift, abandoned and betrayed by the people who claimed to love me - until it appeared advantageous to Anna's case to consider me just another chunk of collateral damage."

His letter expresses concern for both children, adding that their son "has dropped out of school and I fear that he is indulging in harmful pursuits."

Roger Stubblefield wrote that he and the children were "traumatized" when the police arrived at their house to search for evidence against his ex-wife.

"As the police searched our house we were stunned beyond belief, disoriented and very afraid," he wrote. "This was an event of shock and awe, and nothing made sense."

As a result of the publicity surrounding the case, Roger Stubblefield said he has lost job opportunities and friendships.

"My income has been slashed and my ability to provide for my children in the prior way is now impossible. As a father I've been decimated," he wrote, later adding: "Clearly I am distraught about the situation."

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

Teams compete in DiscoverE's Future City Competition regional finals.

Heritage Middle School students and team "Calgarta-Pura" members Joyce He, Rachelle Hu and Sacha Nithikasem at DiscoverE's Future City Competition.

LIVINGSTON -- Six teams of students from Heritage Middle School were among the 30 teams of students to compete in DiscoverE's Future City(r) Competition regional finals held Jan. 16 at Rutgers University in Piscataway.

The competition challenged students in grades 6 through 8 to design and build a future city that addressed a specific sustainability issue, which this year was "Waste Not, Want Not: Solid Waste Management Systems of the Future." It took competitors nearly four months to brainstorm, design and build their cities using recyled materials. Once at the competition, the students put their cities on display and defended their designs in front of a panel of judges.

Heritage Middle School team "Calgarta-Pura" members Rachelle Hu, Joyce He and Sacha Nithikasem, earned first place for "Best Use of Engineering Principles."

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

Singer and writer Nana Camille Yarbrough will headline the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial program at Essex County College Jan. 26

NEWARK -- Singer and writer Nana Camille Yarbrough will headline the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial program at Essex County College Jan. 26.

The free program will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and also will feature performances by the ECC Choir, student soloist Jennifer Wicker, associate professor Richard Alston and poet Renatta Fordyce.

Yarbrough is most known for her song "Take Yo' Praise" and is also the author of such children's books as "Cornrows," "The Shimmershine Queens" and "The Little Tree Growing in the Shade."

The program will take place in the Mary Burch Theater on campus.

For more information, call 973-877-3219 or email Africana@essex.edu.

If you would like to submit news pertaining to your college, please send an email to essex@starledger.com.

Mike Romano may be reached at mromano@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @mromano26. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

A fire Saturday in a Reynolds Terrace apartment left two tenants with burns, city spokesman Keith Royster said.

A fire injured two people in Orange, Jan. 24, 2015. (Google Maps) 

ORANGE -- A fire Saturday in a Reynolds Terrace apartment left two tenants with burns, city spokesman Keith Royster said.

The fire broke out at about 4 p.m. at a five-story apartment building.

Two people suffered minor burns, Royster said. The sprinkler system caused water damage throughout the building, displacing several tenants.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A travel ban imposed by Mayor Ras Baraka will remain in effect until 1 p.m. Sunday.

NEWARK -- A travel ban imposed by Mayor Ras Baraka will remain in effect until 1 p.m. Sunday.

Baraka said "an overwhelming number" of police, fire and emergency vehicles have been delayed by vehicles stuck in the snow.

"Although we cautioned residents beginning on Friday about venturing out into the hazardous conditions caused by the snowstorm, many disregarded these appeals yesterday and brought their cars out onto the street and got stuck in the snow," Baraka said in a statement.

There were nearly 14 car fires overnight, Baraka said. Eighteen police vehicles got stuck in the street responding to emergencies, Police Chief Anthony Ambrose said.

Police responded 280 weather-related incidents, including motor vehicle accidents and downed power lines.

Most major roads have been plowed, he said. Plows will begin tackling secondary roads at noon.

Any private vehicles found blocking the streets during the ban may be towed and ticketed.

Anyone interested in seeing whether plows are on their way can use the snow response tracker on the city website.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

If Newark's snowfall total from this storm holds up, it would set a record for the city, pushing the big blizzard of January 1996 into second place. Watch video

Some of the latest unofficial snowfall totals from the monster weekend blizzard are in, and if these numbers hold up, Newark will break a record for the most snow the city has ever gotten in a multi-day snowstorm.

So, essentially, as of early Sunday afternoon, Newark's record has unofficially become official.

The National Weather Service said it has strict guidelines on verifying snowfall reports, and the verification process could take anywhere from three to six days.

Updated snowfall totals as of Sunday morning

But as of now, the weather service has Newark's snowfall total from this storm listed as 28.1 inches, which would set a record for the city, pushing the big blizzard of January 1996 into second place.

Newark's snowfall records date back to February 1931, said Faye Barthold, a meteorologist at the New York regional office of the National Weather Service.

New York City's unofficial snowfall total from the weekend blizzard was 26.8 inches, just one-tenth of an inch away from matching the city's two-day snowfall record, set in January 1996.

Here's a look at the biggest two-day snowstorms in Newark history:    

NOTE: We're still waiting for many updated snowfall totals to be confirmed by the National Weather Service. Once all the numbers are in, we will be posting the final numbers.

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