Free Republic

PATERSON — Citing the cruelty of the crime and the defendant's extensive criminal background, a state Superior Court judge on Friday sentenced a Newark man to 35 years in prison for his role in the robbery and throat slashing of a Lodi man who survived the attack but killed himself nine months later. The judge also sentenced two other men in the crime against Jason Zabotinsky, which occurred in December 2005.  Drake Primus, 38, of Newark, who received the longest sentence of 35 years, was convicted of aggravated assault, armed robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon. Zabotinsky's blood...

YOUNGSTOWN — Muslims are just like anybody else, said Saeeda Yasmin Ghani, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown. Indeed, a major purpose of a public open house Saturday at the Masjid Al-Khair mosque on Homewood Avenue was to demonstrate to the community the similarities between Muslims and people who belong to other religions. "We want the community at large to be aware that the Muslim community exists here and has for 40 years," Ghani said. "We are peace-loving and ask that people not condemn the whole Muslim nation because of a few fanatics," she said as the sixth...