Here's what you can do to save that furry friend trapped in a hot car.

The hosts of the Dennis & Judi show repeatedly referred to New Jersey's attorney general as "turban man" during their afternoon show on July 25.

A "bold new direction" at the State Department of Education doesn't include dozens of employees.

Thirty four employees were dismissed from the state Department of Education earlier last month in a controversial move that's prompted questions about the department's leadership.   

The employees, including three who retired when they learned they would be let go, were dismissed as part of a larger reorganization of the agency, Department of Education spokesman Michael Yaple said Wednesday.

New Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet is "moving the Department of Education in a bold, new direction to help all New Jersey students excel both in and out of the classroom," Yaple said. 

Repollet is expected to present his reorganization plan to the state Board of Education next month, state officials said. 

The dismissals were first reported Tuesday by education blogger Laura Waters, a former Board of Education member in Lawrence Township.

Waters reported that an anonymous former Department of Education employee told her dozens of staff members were abruptly let go on July 20, after only one day of notice that they needed to meet with the personnel department.  

Many of the staffers worked in the Office of Comprehensive Support, a division that provides guidance to the state's lowest-performing school districts, Waters reported. 

Yaple said those districts will continue to receive support from the state under Repollet's reorganization plan. 

It's not uncommon for state agencies to overhaul their staff after a new governor takes office. But Waters' anonymous sources suggested the moves were politically motivated and possibly ordered by the New Jersey Education Association, the state's largest teachers union.

Steve Baker, a spokesman for the union, dismissed that idea, calling it "pure nonsense." 

Ask Alexa

"NJEA does not make staffing decisions at the NJDOE and learned about these staffing changes after they happened," Baker said. "Laura's anonymous sources are wrong. Of course, we don't know who those sources are, so we don't know what motive they might have to 'confirm' something that didn't happen."

The state Board of Education was informed of the dismissals during an executive session Wednesday, Board President Arcelio Aponte said.

He's unsure of the reason for the changes, he said. 

"I don't know the rationale other than the commissioner feeling that he needed to reorganize in order to focus in on the type and level of services that he wants," Aponte said. 

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

Its 35 airport stores, including the one at Newark Liberty International Airport will remain open

The effort to cut down on violence in New Jersey city centers has been dubbed "Operation Summer in the City."

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office announced Thursday the arrests of 166 fugitives from four cities across the state in a summer effort to curb violent crime. 

From July 16 to 20, The U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force teamed with local authorities to target New Jersey's gang members and most violent offenders in Jersey City, Camden, Trenton and Newark, the Attorney General's statement said. 

Marshals and task force officers focused on fugitives with violent charges and documented gang relations. 

Among the 166 fugitive arrests, 61 of which were documented gang members. They included 42 Bloods, 13 Crips, three Latin Kings, and one Surenos member and one Trinitarios gangster.

The attorney general's office did not identify any of the arrestees.

Eleven firearms, over seven kilograms of narcotics, one vehicle, and $100,000 in cash were seized confiscated during the arrests. 

The operation, called "Operation Summer in the City," also aimed to impact on the quality of life for the residents in the four cities, the statement said. 

"Law enforcement agencies work best when they work together, and this sweep of gang members and violent offenders is an outstanding example," Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in the statement.  

"We listened to you loud and clearly, and we will continue pursuing these violent fugitives that are hiding in every corner of your city," Juan Mattos, the U.S. Marshal for the District of New Jersey said.

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross.  

The suspect was found near a community park, passed out behind the wheel, cops say

A Bordentown Township man was high on heroin when his car drove onto two front lawns, toppled a mailbox and then sideswiped a parked pickup truck Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Carl Jungman, 37, left a trail of destruction on Maple Avenue in the township and fled the scene of the 3:15 p.m. crashes, police allege.

And he wasn't done crashing, police say.

On nearby East Drive, his northbound Subaru crossed over the center line, narrowly missing a passing motorist, and then hit the curb at the intersection with Spruce Avenue, launching his car into the air and crashing off the street into a small grass field next to a home.

But he kept driving, Bordentown Township police said.

Jungman drove to the area of Groveville Road near Northern Community Park where, according to witnesses, he passed out behind the wheel.

Police officers and firefighters found him there, and examined him for injuries. He was not seriously injured, and taken to the police department, where an investigation found he was under the influence of heroin, police said.

Jungman is charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of heroin, and numerous traffic-related offenses.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Authorities say Alberto Lopez, who was tried as an adult for the murder of a 17-year-old, arranged a fake drug deal and rob the victim

Emotion filled a Trenton courtroom Thursday as a jury delivered a guilty verdict to Alberto Lopez for killing another teenager in 2013.

Lopez, now 21, was found guilty on counts of murder, felony murder, robbery and weapons offenses for the December 2013 shooting of Shamere Melvin, 17.

Lopez was 16 years old during the crime, and tried as an adult after being indicted in 2015. He shot Melvin in the head on the 300 block of North Clinton Avenue.

Shamere Melvin, 17, was shot in December 2013 in what authorities say was a botched robbery. (Family photo) 

He'd plotted to rob Melvin by arranging a phony drug deal, Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor Michael Grillo argued in court. 

"There are no happy endings to a story that starts with the murder of a 17-year-old," Grillo said. "But having seen his family throughout this process, having to continue to relive it and experience it, it's just nice to see that maybe this is a chance for them to start moving forward."

Shamere's mother, Natasha Melvin, said she felt a sense of relief and justice at the end of the trial.

"The last few years, it's been depressing," Melvin said. "I distanced myself from my family. I just didn't want to be here anymore. I wanted to be with my son because I know he didn't deserve this."

She recalled picking up her son's high school diploma in June, when he would have walked with his classmates at graduation, and said he had plans to go to college and pursue a nursing degree.

"He was always saying 'Mom, I'mma get you a diploma.' And I guess that's what it was, because I had to go on stage and get the diploma."

Public defenders Nicole Carlo and Jason Matey, who represented Lopez in court, were not immediately available to comment Thursday afternoon, but Carlo said in her closing statement that Lopez was not the shooter.

"Shamere Melvin deserves justice, but not at the expense of a wrongfully accused man," Carlo said. "He was just 16."

Carlo also claimed the two female witnesses, who were there the night of the shooting, lacked credibility, and that the "distorted memories" they recalled in their testimonies only suited themselves.

"There is more to it, and we will never know," she said.

Witnesses recall 'frantic' moments of teen's killing in opening of trial

The two female witnesses, who were ages 16 and 17 at the time of the shooting, were acquaintances of both Melvin and Lopez, and both went to school with them at some point.

One of the witnesses said she helped Lopez look for a dealer to buy marijuana from, and reached out to about 10 people she knew before Lopez chose Melvin.

She had the other witness drive her to Trenton from their Hamilton neighborhood. They picked up Lopez and another male, who went by the nickname "Mooch" and wore a ski mask, on Walnut Avenue. Authorities never identified him.

The witness who was driving the car said she saw Lopez shoot Melvin through her rearview mirror, and saw his body fall against the white metal fence of a nearby house.

The other witness, who helped Lopez arrange the drug deal, said she saw him going through Melvin's pockets after his body fell to the ground.

It took over two years for the girls to come forward and identify Lopez to the police. When they gave formal statements the night of the shooting, they never revealed who the shooter was because they feared being threatened.

"They shouldered an awesome responsibility," Grillo said in his closing statement.

"Those girls got nothing from testifying," aside from a sense of relief and satisfaction, he said.

Natasha Melvin said she looks forward to getting closure after spending the last two weeks in court.

"It's sad that two families lost a son today. But I feel like my baby can rest now."

Gianluca D'Elia may be reached at gdelia@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @gianluca_delia. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A bill working its way through the New Jersey Legislature would make it easier to donate days to a pregnant co-worker, for example, or someone who is grappling with an overwhelming health crisis.

You're a state employee who has legitimately used up all your allotted leave time - now where do you turn?

In New Jersey, you turn to colleagues, who under state policy are permitted to donate some of their own unused days to help see you through the crunch.

The longstanding arrangement has been a boon for workers who have exhausted not only their accrued sick and vacation time, but also their administrative leave.

A bill working its way through the state Legislature would codify that policy into law, making it easier to donate days to a pregnant co-worker, for example, or someone who is grappling with an overwhelming health crisis.

The beauty of the legislation, which cleared the Senate recently by a decisive 33-0 vote, is that in addition to supporting fellow employees, it also helps government workers build a sense of shared commitment and teamwork.

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) is the primary sponsor.

As the bill is crafted, state workers would be required to have at least one year of continuous service under their belts to qualify for donated leave.

Here's how N.J.'s new paid sick leave law will work

The recipient must be suffering from a catastrophic illness or injury, be providing long-term care for an ill or injured family member, or be in the process of donating an organ.

Employees who fit these requirements could receive a total of 260 donated sick or vacation days, with no more than 30 of them coming from one worker. Anyone who has been disciplined for chronic absenteeism or lateness within the previous two years would not be eligible.

For their part, donors must have at least 20 days of accrued sick leave and 12 days of accrued vacation left after their donation. This is designed to prevent the benefactor from being caught with no recourse if he or she becomes ill down the road.

A welcome element in the legislation will benefit pregnant workers.

Currently, an expectant mother is eligible to receive donated leave if she needs to be out of work for at least 60 days. Weinberg's bill reduces that number to 30 days.

The outspoken advocate for women's health has been seeking for many years to transform the current policy, established as a rule by the state Civil Service Commission, into law.

The political climate under Phil Murphy seems conducive to the move. The first-year governor has already signed bills regarding gender pay equity and sick-leave rules, while the Legislature also appears poised to adopt a broader and more expansive sick-leave policy.

One word of caution, however, if and when the bill passes: An effective mechanism is needed to prevent workers from being pressured or even bullied into donating their sick days if they choose not to. Nothing would turn the whole idea of teamwork upside down faster.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

The pursuit traveled on numerous roads and highways in 2 counties before ending in Trenton

A domestic incident at a Robbinsville home turned violent and public Sunday evening.

Authorities say two people kidnapped a woman and held held her handcuffed in a vehicle as police chased them along several roads in two counties, including the New Jersey Turnpike.

The incident ended in Trenton, where state troopers stopped the car, apprehended the kidnappers and rescued the woman from the ordeal, officials and court documents say.

Anthony Santoro, 44, of Robbinsville, and Jamie McLean, 43, of Pemberton Township, were charged with numerous felonies, including kidnapping, criminal restraint and aggravated assault for abducting the woman from the home on Robbinsville-Allentown Road.

Robbinsville police did not identify the victim since the incident is domestic in nature.

The incident started at about 7 p.m., when police received a panic alarm notification from the home, Robbinsville police Lt. William Swanhart said.

When a police officer got near the home, he heard a woman's screams coming from a vehicle and saw what appeared to be a struggle. The officer turned around to pull the car over, but it sped away, Swanhart said.

The vehicle drove into Hamilton, with police in pursuit, and then back to Robbinsville, where police lost sight of it, Swanhart said. 

Robbinsville police alerted area police and New Jersey State Police troopers spotted the vehicle on Interstate 195 west at about 7:50 p.m., state police spokesman Lt. Ted Schafer said.

Troopers pursued the vehicle, which exited onto the New Jersey Turnpike south, then exited that highway at exit 7, and headed north on Route 206 in Bordentown and back into Hamilton along South Broad Street and then into Trenton, Schafer said.

During the pursuit, troopers reported seeing a woman in the backseat of the car, popping up and down and appearing to be in distress, according to State Police audio recordings NJ Advance Media listened to.

Troopers pursued the car through numerous streets in Trenton's South and East wards before it stopped at Hamilton Avenue and Chambers Street, where officers arrested Santoro and McLean and freed the hostage.

Court documents show Santoro and McLean allegedly handcuffed the woman when taking her from the home, and Robbinsville police later found a taser in the home, for which Santoro is charged with possessing.

Santoro and McLean are scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The United States is a country awash in firearms, and now there is a new kind of gun that can be made with 3D-printers and other basic tools. Watch video

The United States is a country awash in firearms. For the most part, these weapons are legally owned by responsible people. But now there is a new kind of gun that can be made with 3D printers and other basic tools.

They could readily become the weapon of choice for terrorists, gang members and criminals. Because they are made of plastic, they won't set off metal detectors at security conscious locations such as airports, schools and large gatherings.

Equally troubling is that they can be impossible to trace since they can be made at a home or a clandestine location without serial numbers.

The threat of a proliferation of 3D-print plastic guns became a real concern when a Texas gun rights group called Defense Distributed announced its intention to resume making design schematics available on the internet after reaching a settlement with the Trump administration.

That prompted New Jersey and several other states and the District of Columbia to join Washington state in a federal lawsuit to prevent the group from publishing the blueprints.

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal took the added step of filing an emergency restraining order in state Superior Court last week to block the group from making the plans public. This followed a cease-and-desist letter Grewal sent to Cody Wilson, the founder of group.

Grewal made the right move to keep these plastic guns from becoming common lethal weapons. New Jersey, which has some of the toughest gun laws in the country, doesn't need untraceable and reportedly unsafe plastic guns on the streets of our cities and towns.

3D Guns. The printers, problems and politicians

The states' effort to prevent Defense Distributed from going public with its gun-making plans got a favorable ruling from a federal judge in Seattle who issued a temporary restraining order just hours before those plans were scheduled to go online.

Without a doubt, this case is fraught with all kinds of constitutional questions and Wilson has already filed a federal civil rights lawsuit claiming the legal objections amounted to "an unconstitutional prior restraint."

The group contends the publication of open-source designs for firearms is protected under both the First and Second amendments.

But before all the legal questions are settled, the safety of the public should be uppermost. For that reason, it makes sense to put a hold on the dissemination of what could be dangerous information.

But all this legal maneuvering may have little impact in the end. The Pandora's Box has already been opened and other websites have stepped in to share the 3D-printer directions for making plastic guns and thousands of downloads have already been made.

Unfortunately, the marvels of technology can work both ways.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

'If we accept the fatherhood of God; then we must accept the brotherhood of man'

Powerful and poignant, heartfelt and humorous, Jamaican-born, Brooklyn-bred Stogie Kenyatta celebrates our common humanity in his popular one-man show, "The World is My Home -- A Tribute to Paul Robeson," which he performed in Princeton this week.

For the first time, Kenyatta brought his nearly 20-year-old play, as a fundraiser, to the birthplace of the man whose life he is celebrating. Proceeds will benefit an At the Well Conferences, a leadership academy that was recently held at Princeton University.

Kenyatta wrote the educational story about an historical African-American figure that he admires. He said Robeson is the most unique of our heroes.

"We have great academia, great athletes and intellectuals...He succeeded in all of those," Kenyatta said.

Robeson fought globally for social justice for blacks, jews, Welsh and Spanish workers. Kenyatta's play spans from the horrors of the slave trade to the shame of the Holocaust.

He uses theater as a vehicle for social change. 

The play journeys from the artistic wonders of the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz-Bebop era to McCarthyism, blacklists, racism and lynching. 

"This passion piece is more than a show for me; it's a prayer for the forsaken and forgotten enslaved Africans who found enough forgiveness in their tortured souls to live, love and laugh," he said.

This show is about the triumph, tragedy and mistreatment of Robeson, who Kenyatta describes as an American genius.

He not only promotes diversity, brotherhood, tolerance, and education; but he challenges us to examine the notion that "if we accept the fatherhood of God; then we must accept the brotherhood of man," Kenyatta explained.

"This is a spiritual mission for us. The objective of the show is to inspire. The goal is to awaken, enlighten, and uplift," he stated.

"The World is My Home" won the Hollywood Beverly Hills NAACP Award for best one-man show.

Kenyatta has also appeared in television, films, soaps, and sitcoms. 

The event was held at Nassau Presbyterian Church in collaboration with the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, where Paul Robeson's late father, William Robeson, was the former pastor.

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When officers arrived at the scene they discovered 2 victims with gunshot wounds, officials said.

One man was killed and another injured in a shooting in Trenton just after midnight Saturday.

Police responded to reports of a shooting in the 100 block of Hoffman Aveue at 12:13 a.m. Saturday, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. 

When officers arrived they discover two male victims with gunshot wounds, Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Petrucci said.

Michael Monroe, 31, of Trenton was shot multiple times and was rushed to Capital Health Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 12:37 a.m., Petrucci said in the release.

The second male victim is a 27-year-old Trenton resident. He had a single gunshot wound and is currently being treated at the hospital, according to Petrucci. His name was not released.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force. 

So far no arrests have been made.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

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Activists from the city's largely African-American west side, which has lagged behind other parts of the booming shore resort, want a referendum on switching from an all at-large council to ward seats.

He's the manager of a Boston Red Sox AA affiliate

Darren Fenster never had a backup plan, so the plan had to find him. Then again, it didn't have to look very far.

Baseball was his passion, growing up in Monmouth County and onto Rutgers University where he would become an All-American shortstop and Big East Conference Player of the Year. Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2000, he reached AA ball and worked his way to the 2005 major league spring training camp.

A knee injury ended his season, and one year later, again at the Royals' spring training camp, the injury ended his career.

Fenster, now 39, sat in the visiting team dugout the other day, a few hours before the start of the Trenton Thunder game against the Portland Sea Dogs - he's the manager of Boston's AA affiliate.

The previous four years he managed its Class A team in the South Atlantic League.

This is his seventh season in the Red Sox organization. He broke into the MLB system as a hitting coach with the Greenville, South Carolina, where last year he managed the team to its first league championship. In his first year as a manager, in the Gulf Coast League in 2013, he led Fort Myers to a division title.

None of that was even a dream in early spring of 2006. That's when former Rutgers coach Fred Hill reached out to Fenster and asked if he would be interested in helping out the Scarlet Knights.

"I thought, 'Why not?' Fenster said, looking out at the field as Trenton took batting practice. "I did not have a Plan B.

Fenster in action. (Sea Dogs photo) 

"Todd Frazier was a sophomore on that team, and we had ten or twelve guys who wound up playing professionally. I already had relationships with them when I was still a player, working out in the offseason. The players just gave me almost a second purpose in the game, a reason to stay on the field.

"So I took to it pretty quickly, and without choosing it. By happenstance I was in the right place at the right time. Coach Hill saw something in me; that I'd be a pretty good coach, before I was even ready to look at life beyond baseball.''

Hill, now 84, is still in the game, an assistant at Kean University for manager Neil Ioviero; another former Rutgers player.

Why Fenster in 2006?

"First of all,'' Hill said over the phone, "he's very intelligent, and he loved the game. He was a very, very good player, so he could back up his words he was saying. He's a very, very good teacher, and he listens to his players.''

Austin Rei is one of them. A 24-year-old catcher with the Sea Dogs, the third round selection of the Red Sox also played for Fenster in A-ball.

"He loves the game, and that's probably one of the biggest compliments you can probably give a manager,'' said Rei, standing in the hallway outside the Sea Dogs clubhouse some two hours before the game. "He takes everything extremely serious, all the way down to the final details; sometimes the fine details more than anything else.

"He has great passion and he tries to instill that in all his players. He wants to make sure you get everything out of your talents, which is every coach's wish for his players. It's really cool to see someone care about their players that much. Leading is not just telling you, 'You need to move the runner over.' It's teaching us to be good men and everything like that.''

Thunder infielder Wendell Rijo knows. Approaching the dugout he caused his former manager to break into a smile. "Que' pasa, mi amigo!'' Fenster yelled. The brief exchange alternated between Spanish and English. Rijo played for Fenster two years ago before being traded to the Yankees organization.

"I wouldn't say I'm fluent, but I'm conversational,'' Fenster said about is bilingual skills. "Just the fact that I try and learn, I know they appreciate the effort. It kind of helps build relationships. I'd like to think I'm going in the right direction in terms of my own personal growth, so I can continue to impact these guys.

"I've grown as a man as much as anything else. When I started out I had a huge ego. I was very close-minded. Over the years there has been a growing and understanding how everybody is different. There are different demographics, backgrounds, guys who went to college, guys with who knows what their education level is, and everything in between.

"If you have one approach for 25 guys with completely different backgrounds, you're gonna hit on some and miss on more. I was the guy who tried to umbrella everybody. Now, you understand you have to have more than one approach.''

Like any coach in the game, Fenster would love to get to the top level, in this case Fenway Park. Unlike players, moving up the ladder is not something you can really work at; it is not a natural progression.

"It's something very much out of your control,'' he said about advancing. "But I'm making a living in a game I kind of grew up in. My worst days are probably better than most people's best days. I am very, very fortunate to be where I am. Professionally I've never been in a better place.''

A place he never planned on being.

Some crimes seem to increase given the weather.

The crash also led to another three-car crash when traffic stopped short at the scene

A tanker truck collided into two cars and caused another three-car pile up Friday night in Franklin Township after it overturned near John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Easton Avenue, police said Sunday morning.

Witnesses told police the driver of the truck fled on foot after the crash. Police later found the man along Veronica Avenue. He was identified as Christopher Bellamy, 44, of Piscataway.

Bellamy was transported to a nearby hospital and issued summonses for driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of a crash, failing to report a motor vehicle crash, and operating a vehicle while suspended and unlicensed. 

Police said the overturned truck crashed into an Audi and a Nissan sedan. It also discharged diesel fuel on the road; township firefighters and members of the Somerset County Hazardous Materials Team arrived on the scene to handle the clean up. 

Investigators said the crash was caused when Bellamy sharply cut the wheel while driving toward Easton Avenue.

As a result of the overturned truck, another three-car crash occurred on Easton Avenue when a Ford SUV stopped short because of the truck in the roadway, and two cars crashed behind it.

No one was injured in the three-car crash.

Gianluca D'Elia may be reached at gdelia@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @gianluca_delia. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

But this Manchester City team may have a season to remember in 2018-19, and there may not be much any of the chasing pack can do.

MANCHESTER CITY COMES IN AS HEAVY FAVORITES TO REPEAT 

There has not been a repeat winner in the Premier League since the 2008-09 season, when Manchester United won its third straight title.

That run a decade ago was the second time in the Premier League era (1992-present) that the Red Devils won three in a row (1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01), and one of four times that they won at least two straight titles (1992-93 and 93-94, plus 95-96 and 96-97).

The only other team in the last quarter century to repeat was Chelsea in 2004-05 (which held the previous record for points in a season with 95) and 05-06.

Manchester City broke that points record last season, becoming the first Premier League side to record 100 in a season. The Cityzens won 32 matches, drew four, and lost just two times (Liverpool 4-3, Manchester United 3-2), scoring 106 goals, while allowing just 27 (plus-79 goal difference.)

So what can Pep Guardiola's side do for an encore?

One hundred points may be a tall task, but Manchester City comes in as prohibitive favorites to become the third team to repeat in the Premier League era. The Cityzens are 8/11 to win the league, with Liverpool (4/1) and Manchester United (7/1) the closest contenders.

While Manchester City may come back to the pack some, possible with its sights on an elusive UEFA Champions League title (City is the favorite to win the competition with Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Juventus), it won the league by 19 points last year over Manchester United. Tottenham finished third, 23 points behind, while Liverpool was 25 points in arrears.

The Cityzens added Riyad Mahrez from Leicester, to an already stacked offensive squad. 

Will this season be over at Christmas like the last campaign? 

Maybe not.

But this Manchester City team may have a season to remember in 2018-19, and there may not be much any of the chasing pack can do.

OPENING WEEK SCHEDULE

All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Friday, August 10

Manchester United vs. Leicester City, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports, Universo, and Fubo.tv)

Saturday, August 11

Newcastle United vs. Tottenham, 7:30 a.m. (NBC Sports, Universo, and Fubo.tv)

Bournemouth vs. Cardiff City, 10 a.m. (NBC Sports Gold and Fubo.tv)

Fulham vs. Crystal Palace, 10 a.m. (NBC Sports Gold and Fubo.tv)

Huddersfield vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. (NBC Sports, Universo, and Fubo.tv)

Watford vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, 10 a.m. (NBC Sports Gold and Fubo.tv)

Wolverhampton vs. Everton, 12:30 p.m. (NBC and Fubo.tv)

Sunday, August 12

Liverpool vs. West Ham United, 8:30 a.m. (NBC Sports, Universo, and Fubo.tv)

Southampton vs. Burnley, 8:30 a.m. (NBC Sports Gold and Fubo.tv)

Arsenal vs. Manchester City, 11 a.m. (NBC Sports, Telemundo, and Fubo.tv)

Vive La France! Paul Pogba masterclass leads France to 2018 World Cup title

PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS

Top Six

1. Manchester City

2. Manchester United 

3. Liverpool

4. Tottenham

5. Chelsea

6. West Ham

Bottom Five

16. Brighton

17. Bournemouth

18. Southampton

19. Huddersfield Town

20. Cardiff City

Golden Boot

Harry Kane, Tottenham

Player of the Year

Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

First Manager Sacked

Claude Puel, Leicester City

UEFA Champions League Winner

Barcelona 

Bundesliga Winner

Bayern Munich

La Liga Winner

Barcelona

Ligue 1 Winner

PSG

Premiera Liga Winner

Porto

Serie A Winner

Juventus

MANCHESTER CITY WINS COMMUNITY SHIELD TO OPEN SEASON

Sergio Aguero's brace, with a goal in the first 15 minutes of either half, gave Manchester City its fifth F.A. Community Shield title, 2-0 over Chelsea. It is just the second season opening shield victory since 1972.

The striker scored in the 13th minute, to end a period of dominance to start the contest, and send the defending Premier League champions into the break with a 1-0 lead. Aguero then finished off the F.A. Cup champions in the 59th minute.

Aguero was the Whoscored.com Man of the Match with a 9.13 rating.

It was the first time since 2013 (Manchester United) that the Premier League champions lifted the trophy.

PROMOTED TEAM QUESTIONS

Can Wolves make the top 10? 

There have not been too many promoted teams that have come into the Premier League with more expectations than Wolverhampton this season.

The Wolves won the EFL Championship last campaign, and have added some quality players to a relatively strong squad. Rui Patricio, the Portuguese national team keeper, joined from Sporting after he cancelled his contract. Add in eight other players, and Wolverhampton could finish in the top 10.

Can Fulham stay in the Premier League for next season?

Fulham made some strong moves as well, signing Jean Michel Seri from Nice, Andre Schurrle from Dormund, and Alexandar Mitrovic from Newcastle, after the forward powered the Cottagers to the Premier League last year following his January loan move.

Is there any way the Cardiff City stays in the Premier League?

Cardiff City is the team universally regarded to go straight back down to the Championship.

The Bluebirds have brought in four players from the Championship, which compared to the teams around them, does not seem to be the moves needed to contend with the strength and depth of their new league. 

The squad just may not be strong enough to contend with the teams in the Premier League.

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean His weekly podcast, Box to Box Football, can be found on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/box-to-box-football/id1208561351?mt=2

Some of the thousands of animals awaiting adoption throughout New Jersey.

Here is this week's collection of some of the dogs and cats in need of adoption in New Jersey.

We are now accepting dogs and cats to appear in the gallery from nonprofit shelters and rescues throughout New Jersey.

If a group wishes to participate in this weekly gallery on nj.com, please contact Greg Hatala at greghatalagalleries@gmail.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at greghatalagalleries@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

A lifeguard competition and a rainbow highlight a day at the beach Watch video

For a week that was predicted to be a washout, the weather was wonderful at Point Pleasant Beach.

Bright sunlight mixed with big puffy marshmallow clouds, some white, some gray, made for beach scenes worthy of Kodachrome.

A brief afternoon shower late one day left in its wake a stunning rainbow gently fading into the ocean.

Water temperatures in the high 70's made splashing in the surf easy even for the timid.

Point Pleasant is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula. The borough's boardwalk is approximately one mile long, spanning the coastline from the Manasquan Inlet at the north to New Jersey Avenue in the south.

The central third of the boardwalk is largely amusement rides, the very family-friendly Jenkinsons Arcades and Aquarium is celebrating 90 years (while Point Pleasant Borough celebrates its 132nd anniversary).

As one would expect, there are plenty of eateries, arcades, games of chance, rides and miniature golf courses, not to mention Martell's Tiki Bar open every day from 10am to 2am and featuring some of the Jersey Shore's hottest acts.

For more fun in the sun at the Jersey Shore check these out:

Long Branch

Long Beach Island

Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso, Instagram @michaelmancuso and Facebook @michaelmancuso
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The Delaware River was running high all weekend into Monday, creating dangerous conditions for recreational activities. Watch video

It's hot out there, Jersey. But jumping into the Delaware River to cool off isn't a good option right now. 

The river has been running high and fast, catching debris and sending it swirling downstream at alarming rates. Rescuers have already pulled people in distress back to shore. 

"Due to high water levels, we discourage any type of boating or tubing in the Delaware River today," the New Jersey State Park Service wrote on Facebook Sunday morning. 

Worthington State Forest, Bulls Island Recreation Area, Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, and Washington Crossing State Park are all located along the Delaware River. 

The post from the park service is labeled as "common sense advice," as the service does not have authority to prevent people from tubing or boating on the river, according to Lawrence Hajna of the state's Department of Environmental Protection. The Park Service did, however, shut down a river tubing concession at the Delaware and Raritan Canal Park "due to the swift current," he said. 

On the Pennsylvania side of the river, two people were rescued Sunday night while clinging to a tree branch about 20 feet from the shoreline in Bucks County. Rescuers from New Hope, Lambertville and Makefield responded and were able to save the two people, after passerbys in the wooded area heard screams for help.  

"Please, Please, Please, stay off the river for the next few days," New Hope Eagle Volunteer Fire Company wrote in a Facebook post detailing the rescues. "We realize how hot it is, but there is no safe way to be in the river right now. Depending on further rain, it will take until at least Thursday for the river to be at a safer level."

Numerous boaters were rescued farther north in New York by the National Park Service and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Rangers Saturday. 

Delaware River Tubing, located in Milford, was closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday due to high waters, but hoped to reopen for customers Tuesday. 

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

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