Last year the Newark Archdiocese closed the Queen of Angels School. But with principal Everlyn Hay leading the way, the faculty, staff, parents and students have fought to keep the school open this year as Affirmation Academy. Next year they hope to continue as a charter school.
Video by John Munson/The Star-Ledger

Meet the men who work high above the Hudson River to paint the nine million square feet of surface area on the George Washington Bridge. Video by John Munson/The Star-Ledger

New Jersey recently became the 14th state to pass a medical marijuana law, allowing the use of cannabis to treat certain medical conditions, but Gov. Chris Christie has asked for a six to 12 month delay. With so little information about how New Jersey’s program will work, The Star-Ledger visited two states with existing cannabis laws -- New Mexico, which the New Jersey Legislature looks to as a model of a responsible medical marijuana program, and Colorado, which has lax laws and is seen by some as a state that has lost control. Video by John Munson; Story by Susan K. Livio/The Star-Ledger

Evan Ruggiero was already enrolled as an actor and tap dancer at Montclair State University when he was diagnosed with cancer four years ago. But after losing his right leg to the disease, he is now performing at a new level. Video by John Munson/The Star-Ledger

The Star-Ledger took a cross-country trip to tell the story of Americans' longing to connect with this nation's great tragedies -- to touch hallowed ground -- at the anniversary of 9-11. We started at Ground Zero and we kept going, visiting the country's most wounded places: Gettysburg because Americans continue to grieve about a war that began 150 years ago and because Gettysburg, over three days in July 1863, was the scene of the greatest loss of life on American soil; Arlington National Cemetery our most sacred burial ground; Oklahoma City, site of the first major terrorist attack on U.S. soil; and Pearl Harbor, site of the first foreign attack on U.S. soil and the highest loss of life from a foreign attack -- until 9/11. Video by John Munson; Essay by Amy Ellis Nutt/The Star-Ledger

70 years ago George Prezioso was in the middle of the War in the Pacific, fighting the Japanese from a B-17 bomber. Today the Belleville native, now 93, took another flight in a B-17 and remembered his five years of World War II service, his 72 missions and his 535 combat hours. Video by John Munson/The Star-Ledger

Maureen Fields moved to Pahrump, Nevada, with a willful husband and a dreadful premonition. Two questions now remain: Was she killed and, if so, where's the body? Video by John Munson; Story by Kathleen O'Brien/The Star-Ledger

Nine-year-old Matthew Whitaker's life is filled with music. Ever since getting a keyboard for his third birthday, he has amazed everyone who hears him play. Spend a day with him and see why he's called a musical prodigy. Video by John Munson/The Star-Ledger

A team of divers and volunteers spent the last week searching the Santa Monica Bay for WWII WASP pilot Gertrude Tompkins who is the only WASP pilot that is unaccounted for from the war. On site to help in the search was her grand-niece Laura Whittall-Scherfee who has been involved in various searches over the years. Video by John Munson/The Star-Ledger

Despite being born with no legs and only one arm, Nick Santonastasso has led an active childhood. Now, as he nears his 14th birthday, he has decided to try life with a pair of prosthetic legs. Video by John Munson/The Star-Ledger