Miscellaneous
Local Beat is the NJ News Commons’ weekly roundup of the best reporting by community news sources. BEYOND HATE: A CONVERSATION WITH A REFORMED, FORMER KKK MEMBER Chaplain Joe Bednarsky was once the head of the Ku Klux Klan. Today, he preaches love over hate for all at a church in South Jersey, Ahmad Graves-El of SNJ Today reports. ICE OFFICER IMPRISONED AFTER ABUSING POWER FOR BRIBES AND SEX Arnaldo Echevarria of Franklin Township was a deportation officer for ICE before he was convicted of demanding bribes and sexual favors from undocumented immigrants in exchange for shielding them from deportation, reports Charlie Kratovil of New Brunswick Today. Echevarria is now behind bars in a Michigan federal prison. SPARTA COUNCILMAN MURPHY STRIKES DEAL IN DWI CASE Sparta Councilman Jerry Murphy struck a deal with the Hopatcong Municipal Court to avoid conviction on charges of driving while intoxicated, speeding, and careless driving. Jennifer Derricks of TAPinto Sparta says Murphy instead pleaded guilty to a minor charge involving his license plate, nearly two years after he was first arrested. ACTIVIST OUTED BY FRELINGHUYSEN: 'THIS WAS A GOOD DAY' Saily Avelenda, the activist who resigned from her job at a bank after she was "outed" by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, says she was glad to learn that Frelinghuysen had announced his retirement on Monday, reports Kevin Coughlin of Morristown Green. NEWARK COUNCILWOMAN TO INTRODUCE SEXUAL HARASSMENT LEGISLATION Newark Central Ward Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins plans to introduce an ordinance next week that would allow victims of sexual harassment to come forward without fear of reprisal or retaliation, reports Mark Bonamo of TAPinto Newark. The ordinance would also require all Newark City Hall staff and elected officials undergo sexual harassment training and would form a five-member sexual assault and harassment policy task force. JACKSON MAYOR ATTENDS TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE MEETING Republican Mayor Michael Reina of Jackson was one of roughly 50 mayors who attended President Trump's recent meeting of mayors at the White House last week, according to Bob Vosseller of Jersey Shore Online. Reina, an avid Trump supporter, was the only Ocean County mayor to attend the meeting, the theme of which was municipal infrastructure.