Subway Employee Bound in Robbery, Booker Kicks Off PrideFest Top Regional News

Essex County College Commencement Held Wednesday

Newarkers were among the most accomplished of the more the 1,400 students to receive diplomas Wednesday during Essex County College’s commencement ceremony. The school’s 44th annual commencement was held at the Prudential Center.

Newark Mayor Booker to Kick off NJ PrideFest

Newark Mayor Cory Booker wlll kick off the annual 2013 North Jersey Pride Festival, a day-long event on Sunday, June 9 from Noon to 6 p.m. at Memorial Park in Maplewood. The festival is the culmination of a full week of events in Maplewood and South Orange for the community of LGBT residents and supportive allies. 

The events are designed to focus on the importance of supporting Marriage Equality and LGBT youth.

South Orange Breaks Ground on Former Beifus Site

In a moment that has been nearly a decade in the making -- and that some residents feared might never come -- South Orange officials joined developers Wednesday morning to ceremonially break ground for a new, luxury mixed-use building on the site of the former Beifus car dealership in the center of town.

'Tanning Mom' Video Drops

Patricia Krentcil, infamously known as Tanning Mom, is the star of what TMZ has termed "Quite Possibly the worst video ever recorded."

Krentcil recorded her debut rap single, which opens with the tantalizing salvo "It's tan mom, b----," at a New York recording studio in late April. Now the song is available, in full, for public consumption, along with a promotional music video. 

Anthony’s Cheesecake Holds Oklahoma Benefit

When Philip Byrne saw the now-famous segment on CNN of the elderly woman finding her dog in the wreckage of her home after the Oklahoma tornado, he wanted to do something to help.

As heartwarming as the reunion was, his eyes were drawn to the the rubble that filled the rest of the frame.

The Caldwell-West Caldwell School District needs a technology upgrade.

At a meeting with district officials and parents Wednesday, Superintendent James Heinegg heard mixed reactions from parents about their children’s experience with technology in the classroom. While some parents said their children had access to laptop or desktop computers, others complained of a lack of resources and infrastructure. 

Local Cinnabon Raises Funds for Cancer Research

A local business is taking a sweet approach to fundraising for cancer research. 

Mayra Vargas, 20, has partnered with the local Cinnabon in Livingston Mall, where she works, to raise as much money as they can to fund breast cancer research. 

Montclair’s police chief told a room of concerned residents Tuesday night the only suspect in last week’s shootings at Canterbury Park died in a suicide. 

“Rest assured there is no one else out there,” Chief David Sabagh told those gathered at a community meeting for the Fourth Ward, a section of Montclair rattled after authorities say Brandon Brown, 26, of Montclair, shot his girlfriend Shanae Howard, 24, of Orange, multiple times before shooting himself in a quiet neighborhood park on May 16.

Three armed men robbed a Verona Subway Monday night in a manner similar to several other incidents in the area, according to the Essex County Sheriff's Office.

Just before 11 p.m. Monday, three men pulled up in front of the Subway restaurant located at 45 Bloomfield Ave. in a while four-door sedan, Verona police said.