New Jersey
9 hospitalized, dozens more treated for heat at New Jersey graduation
Graduation ceremonies rescheduled amid heat-related cancellations
Mayor Andre Sayegh declared a state of emergency on Monday after multiple people were sickened by the heat.
News 12
Several people attending an outdoor high school graduation ceremony in New Jersey during the widespread heat wave in the U.S. were taken to the hospital, while dozens more were treated at the scene, according to officials.
On Monday, June 23, nine people were taken to the hospital by emergency medical technicians, while 50 others declined hospital care and were treated on site at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, said Fire Department Chief Alex Alicea according to the Bergen Record, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Paterson is about 20 miles northwest of New York City.
Graduates were in folding chairs on the turf, while family members and other attendees sat in the grandstand with little shade.
On Monday, temperatures in the area rose to the upper 90s and the heat index reached 107 degrees, according to the Weather Channel.
Event stopped for safety
During a second ceremony later in the day, 100 people required treatment, while seven more were taken to the hospital, NBC News reported.
Seven more high school graduations were planned at the stadium, but were rescheduled due to the weather, the Bergen Record reported.
Sweltering heat continues
Tens of millions of Americans in the Eastern U.S. continue to face the heat wave.
Along the edges of the heat dome impacting the country, thunderstorms known as a “ring of fire” cropped up, according to forecasters. The severe thunderstorms could bring damaging wind gusts and hail to states on the outskirts of the dome, including parts of the Carolinas, Southeast and mid-Mississippi Valley, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
National heat index map: See which states feel hottest
The map embed below identifies areas where the heat index is forecasted to reach NWS-defined levels from “Caution” (80 degrees Fahrenheit) to “Extreme Danger” (above 125 degrees).
Heat index measures how hot it actually feels when factoring for humidity. Prolonged exposure to a heat index above 80 degrees can lead to fatigue, as previously reported by USA TODAY. As it gets hotter, the risk continues to increase − potentially resulting in heat stroke or even death. Older adults, children, and outdoor workers are generally at higher risk of heat-related incidents.
How to stay safe during extreme heat
People facing extreme heat should do the following, according to NWS:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Stay in an air-conditioned room
- Stay out of the sun
- Check up on relatives and neighbors
- Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles
- Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing outdoors
- Limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
Extreme heat can have a negative impact on people’s health.
“Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events,” according to the National Weather Service.
The following factors increase the possibility of a heat-related illness, according to the National Park Service:
- High humidity
- High elevation
- Strenuous activity
- Age: Infants, young children and people over 65 are more susceptible to heat illness
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Poor circulation
- Fever
- Mental illness
- Dehydration
- Sunburn
- Prescription drug and alcohol use
What are the symptoms of heatstroke?
There are multiple forms of heat illnesses, but heatstroke is the deadliest and most dangerous, according to the NPS.
The following are symptoms of heatstroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Body temperature of 103 degrees or higher
- Skins that is hot, red, dry or damp
- Fast, strong pulse
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Losing consciousness
In the case of heatstroke, the CDC recommends people do the following:
- Call 911 immediately
- Move the person suffering from heatstroke to a cool location
- Lower the person’s body temperature with a cool cloth or bath
- Do not give the person suffering from a heatstroke water or anything to drink
Contributing: Joe Malinconico, Paterson Press; Doyle Rice, Jeanine Santucci and staff, USA TODAY
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
New Jersey
New Jersey boardwalk crowned best boardwalk in USA TODAY 10BEST list
Spring fever heats up Seaside Heights beach and boardwalk in April
Warm weather draws crowds to the Seaside Heights boardwalk and beach on April 15, 2026.
Ready to take a stroll on the best boardwalks along the coast?
According to USA TODAY 10BEST Readers, the Garden State has three. Vistors planning to travel to Shore will bask in the golden days of summer at 3 of best boardwalks New Jersey has to offer where good food and fun meet.
The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards is an annual survey designed by panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite attractions across a wide range of categories in which 10Best editors nominate contenders to the public for a winning vote.
Three New Jersey beaches were voted on the list by readers. And here’s what editor’s said about Wildwood, Atlantic City and Point Pleasant Beach:
No. 1 Wildwood
Originally a 150-yard boardwalk at its inception in the 1890s, the boardwalk in Wildwood, New Jersey, now stretches for 38 blocks and is packed with shops, restaurants, bars, water parks, and an amusement pier featuring over 100 attractions.
This is the second year in row that Wildwood has topped the list.
No. 5 Atlantic City
The Atlantic City Boardwalk ranks among the most famous in the nation. Built in 1870, the boardwalk is lined with everything from high-end retailers to classic candy shops, casinos, and beach bars, all with ocean views.
No. 10 Point Pleasant Beach
Point Pleasant packs an incredible amount of fun into its mile-long boardwalk. Jenkinson’s Aquarium and Boardwalk Amusements are the crown jewels of this Jersey Shore venue, though there are classic arcade games, local eateries, an antique emporium, and plenty of gift shops too. The nightlife scene transforms the area into a colorful evening playground where visitors can enjoy live music, comedy shows, and fun bars and restaurants.
USAT 10BEST Readers’ Choice Public Spaces: Best Boardwalk
- Wildwoods Boardwalk (Wildwood, New Jersey)
- Kemah Boardwalk (Kemah, Texas)
- Ocean City Boardwalk (Ocean City, New Jersey)
- Carolina Beach Boardwalk (Carolina Beach, North Carolina)
- Atlantic City Boardwalk (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
- Venice Beach Boardwalk (Venice, California)
- Ocean Beach Park Boardwalk (New London, Connecticut)
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Santa Cruz, California)
- Virginia Beach Boardwalk (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
- Boardwalk at Point Pleasant Beach (Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey)
New Jersey
Dan Levy’s new Netflix comedy ‘Big Mistakes’ was filmed at these New Jersey locations
Filming Big Mistakes in New Jersey was no mistake at all.
The Netflix comedy series, which debuted earlier this month, has already hit the streaming service’s Global Top 10 English TV List, making it one of the most-watched shows out right now.
As per Netflix, the comedy series co-created, executive produced, written and starring Emmy winner Dan Levy, follows Nicky (Levy) and Morgan (Taylor Ortega), two deeply incapable siblings who are in over their heads when a misguided theft for their dying grandmother accidentally pulls them into the world of organized crime. Blackmailed into increasingly dangerous assignments, they clumsily fail upwards, sinking deeper into chaos they’re ill-equipped to handle. The dark comedy, which has only eight episodes, has a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes so far.
RECOMMENDED: Where was ‘Beef’ season 2 filmed? Behind the locations of the dark Netflix comedy
Set in the fictional New Jersey suburb of Glenview, the series was fittingly filmed primarily in numerous towns and cities in New Jersey, including Caldwell, Cranford, Franklin Lakes, Irvington, Jersey City, Union, Warren and Weehawken for a total of 40 filming locations. (The cartel storyline in Episode 7 was shot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where its coastline and architecture doubled as Miami’s waterfront, luxury estates and yacht life.)
“I’ve really enjoyed shooting in New Jersey,” location manager Mia Thompson said. “We have quite a number of recurring locations that have all just been wonderful—not only the home owners, but the business owners, the towns, the local police, the local fire departments, the town clerks. It’s been a really great experience.”
More than 300 cast and crew and 500 vendors took part in the production. Ortega, who plays Morgan, is actually a New Jersey native and was surprised to film in her backyard.
“It was surreal getting to film in my home state,” she said. “I grew up in New Jersey and was obsessed with film and television and never thought I’d be returning home for such a major project and moment in my life.”
The show filmed the scenes at Morelli’s Hardware, run by Nicky and Morgan’s mom (Laurie Metcalf), at Edison Millwork & Hardware, a more than 50-year-old, family-owned hardware store in Edison.
“It’s one of the few mom and pop hardware stores that are left anywhere, really, so it was really great to find this location that fits very perfectly with our story,” Thompson said.
The show was also filmed at Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Millburn—the backdrop for Nicky’s day job as a pastor and his living space.
“We’ve utilized every inch of space of that church inside and out,” said Thompson. “They’ve enjoyed the experience just as much as we have.”
Other spots they filmed at include Deerfield School, Essex County Airport, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, Hatfield Swamp, Springfield Municipal Building and the Crystal Inn in Eatontown.
“One thing about New Jersey is that it’s so diverse. The various neighborhoods offer different kinds of looks and aesthetics,” said Thompson. “You have everything that you could ask for.”
See Jersey in all eight episodes, streaming now on Netflix.
New Jersey
ACLU featured at Bruce Springsteen No Kings show in New Jersey
Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band tour rehearsal in Ocean Grove
Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band March 26, 2026 Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour rehearsal at the Ocean Grove Youth Center in Ocean Grove.
There will be No Kings at the Monday, April 20 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show at the Prudential Center in Newark but the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey will be there.
The group will be the “featured organization” for the New Jersey stop of the band’s Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen to advocate for the rights and freedoms that all people deserve,” said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha in statement. “This moment requires all of us, and we are grateful to Bruce, who is using his platform to fight against authoritarianism and for our rights. We share a love for New Jersey and a desire to make the Garden State safer and freer for everyone who calls it home. Our team is thrilled to connect with everyone who shares our mission to protect and defend civil liberties, and who knows the power that art and music have to change the world.”
Springsteen said the American Dream is under attack by “our wannabe king and his rogue government” when he announced the tour on Feb. 17. Promotional posters for the tour features the phrase “No Kings,” a reflection of the national anti-President Donald Trump protests that have taken place in the last year.
The tour kickoff was March 31 at the Target Center in Minneapolis and it included 27 songs over three hours. The show also featured some direct talk from Springsteen on the state of the country. The setlist included the newly composed “Streets of Minneapolis,” written after the fatal shooting by federal agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti of Minneapolis in January.
ACLU-NJ representatives will be at the Prudential Center to talk to concertgoers about its work. The American Civil Liberties Union previously released an ad with the Springsteen classic “Born in the U.S.A.” featured on the eve of the Supreme Court case where the ACLU is challenging the President Trump’s executive order attempting to overturn the current interpretation of 14th Amendment, which grants automatic citizenship to those born in the U.S. regardless of their parents’ legal status.
Visit www.aclu-nj.org for more info on the ACLU-NJ.
Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.
Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@app.com
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