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- Schundler’s Fall: Gov. Christie fired Education Commissioner Bret Schundler on Friday just days after New Jersey was denied federal Race to the Top funding, in part because of a clerical error. For his part, the former Jersey City mayor defended himself Friday against any perception that he had lied to Governor Christie about the bungled application, saying he “didn’t try to hide anything.” Meanwhile, Schundler now says the state would have easily won the federal competition if the plan had the support of the New Jersey Education Association, something he was working on earlier this summer. He insists that what was gained in a bolder proposal wasn’t worth what was lost in the union’s lack of support. “It is far from clear that Schundler was the party at fault,” the Ledger editorializes, calling the firing a loss to the state and a black mark on the Christie administration. “In fact, he makes a plausible argument that he did nothing wrong at all.” Elsewhere, state Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono has invited Schundler to tell his side of the story before the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee, and Salon’s Steve Kornacki has a solid look at the one-time rising GOP star’s fall.

- Liberty Humane Fails Inspection: Liberty Humane Society has failed another state inspection, but the shelter won’t be forced to close; instead, the state is giving it two weeks to develop a plan to address the inhumane conditions.

- Former Judge Sentenced for Fixing Tickets: Former Jersey City Municipal Court Chief Judge Wanda Molina has been sentenced to three years probation for “fixing” parking tickets.

- Brennan Courthouse Renovation Hits Delay: The restoration of the William J. Brennan Jr. Courthouse on Newark Avenue has hit a snag that will delay its completion for at least six months.

- NJCU Employee Charged with Theft: A 48-year-old suspended office manager for New Jersey City University’s Student Government Organization has been charged with stealing more than $167,000 in student funds.

- New Trial in Landlord/Tenant Fight: A Hudson County Superior Court judge has vacated a ruling that had ordered a Jersey City landlord to pay more than $3,000 to a former tenant after a clerical error led to the landlord’s absence at the initial hearing.

- Pastor’s Street Naming: The congregation of the Good News Bible Mission Church on Dales Avenue held a ceremony Friday that included the renaming of the street in honor of its pastor, Erwin H. Lanier Sr.

- Shooting Near Pershing Field: An unidentified person was shot near Pershing Field in Jersey City Saturday night and seven teenagers were arrested, but they were all released after no one — including the victim — could tie them to the shooting. Elsewhere, four men were shot at on Sunday morning near Claremont and West Side Avenues.

In Statewide News:

- After Schundler’s Exit: Longtime Department of Education staffer Rochelle Hendricks has been tapped as the department’s acting commissioner to replace Bret Schundler, as Gov. Christie tries to get his education agenda back on track without federal money — and without the man who was leading the effort. NJ Spotlight has more on the uncertainty following Schundler’s exit.

- Illegal Gun Flow: The effort to get guns off our cities’ streets is being hampered by the jumble of contradictory laws that exist from state to state, as well as loopholes in the laws of even strict gun-control states like New Jersey.

- Rip Currents: Many New Jersey beaches remained closed for swimming on Sunday, as Hurricane Danielle continued to spawn rough waves and rip currents.

- Just Jersey: “‘Jersey’” as a nickname for New Jersey is an oddity: there’s no corresponding clipping of ‘New York’ to ‘York,’ ‘New Hampshire’ to ‘Hampshire,’ and certainly not ‘New Mexico’ to ‘Mexico,’” Times language columnist Ben Zimmer writes. While some perceive the clipping of the name as yet another slight to the Garden State, Zimmer explains that “it has a distinguished historical pedigree.”