State Wrap: Newark Cop Killed; Supreme Court School Funding Decision; Father-Son Drug Bust

A 16-year veteran of the Newark police department, described as being "personable" and "well-liked," was in a drive-by shooting in the city's South Ward.

Officer William C. Johnson, who was unarmed and off-duty at the time of the shooting, was one of three struck by bullets inside Texas Fried Chicken and Pizza at 250 Lyons Ave. shortly before 10 p.m. Johnson, 45, who was assigned to the department's communications division, was pronounced dead at 3:10 a.m. at University Hospital. A 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman with a toddler also were shot inside the restaurant.

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By a 3-2 vote Tuesday, New Jersey's supreme court , as it applies to 31 districts with a high percentage of "disadvantaged" students. That law, adopted in 2008, promised to provide school districts throughout New Jersey with enough money to enable their students to achieve the "thorough and efficient" education promised in the New Jersey state constitution.

In the 2011 budget proposed by Gov. Chris Christie and adopted by the legislature, SFRA was under-funded by almost $1.6 billion, according to the court's calculations. The governor and lawmakers said they had no choice, given the state's $11 billion budget deficit.

But a majority of the justices rejected that argument. Now the governor and lawmakers must decide where to find an extra $500 million, including the possibility of re-allocating school funds to take money away from wealthier districts and move it to districts where students have poorer performance.

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FBI agents were at Hoboken City Hall's information technology office on Thursday morning at the request of city officials. Corporation Counsel Mark Tabakin said the raid was part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged breach in electronic communications.

Computers were being removed from the office Thursday. Tabakin—not at liberty to disclose which city employees are involved in the investigation or how many employees are involved—said the investigation involves a violation of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, which covers a variety of computer fraud-related crimes. A statement released by Mayor Dawn Zimmer's press office confirmed that the investigation involves a "compromised security in the electronic communications within the City."

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A Cedar Grove man and his teenage son were arrested this week and , following a lengthy investigation by Montclair State University authorities and others, police said Thursday.

Mark N. Benevento, 50, owner of the Wood's Dog House hot dog stand on Bloomfield Avenue in Verona, and his 18-year-old son, Mark J. Benevento, a Cedar Grove High School student, were both arrested on Tuesday, May 24 after police searched the hot dog stand and a Stevens Avenue apartment in Cedar Grove where the two men live. Police said drugs were being distributed out of both locations.

Evidence seized by police included nearly $5,000 in cash and narcotics.

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With part of Elm Street in Westfield blocked off for construction vehicles Wednesday, work on the renovation of the fire-ravaged restaurant took steps forward. Giuseppe DiPietro, a member of the Ferraro family and chef at the venue, confirmed that Wednesday’s work was to remove some debris to allow the family and insurance adjusters to access parts of the restaurant, which was destroyed during a on May 5.

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Representatives from law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey  on Tuesday to honor fallen police officers and add four names to the list of those killed while on duty. Christopher Matlosz, a Lakewood police officer who was  during what began as a routine stop, and Teaneck Police Officer John Abraham Jr. were among those honored. Watch a video of the ceremony at right.

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About is planned by Ocean County on 14 miles of streets this summer. Ocean County’s freeholders are expected to approve getting bids for the work this Wednesday.

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The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has announced a huge change in the way people can drive to Long Branch and its surrounding towns.

NJDOT announced Friday that new there are in Eatontown. NJDOT’s contractor, DeFino Contracting Co., permanently closed the existing Route 35 southbound jughandle ramp to Route 36 eastbound, located near the Eatontown shopping plaza that contains Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond and other stores.