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Latest News Headlines From The Central Jerseyan

Flooded River Road in Highland Park, New Jersey, closed after heavy rain on July 9, 2026

Flash Flooding Swamps Route 1 in Edison as Storms Hit Central Jersey

Flash flood warnings hit Middlesex, Monmouth, and Somerset counties on Thursday as heavy rain flooded Route 1 in Edison and closed River Road in Highland Park.

Rahway City Hall in June 2026

Rahway’s 2026 Budget Jumps 9% on Rising Insurance Costs

Rahway's 2026 municipal budget rises nearly 9%, driven mostly by a 30% jump in employee health insurance costs. See the full spending and tax breakdown.

Three-story apartment building at 99 Florida Grove Road in Hopelawn, Woodbridge, NJ, the future site of Sunrise Village supportive housing

Woodbridge Approves Sunrise Village Agreement With YMCA

Woodbridge approved its agreement with the Raritan Bay Area YMCA for Sunrise Village Tuesday night, along with new traffic ordinances and storm recovery updates.

Rahway Welcomes You sign with the Rahway Rivers in the background.

PR Firm Contacted Rahway Before Water Study Was Approved

Records show MAD Global Strategy was in contact with Rahway's mayor's office seven weeks before the City Council approved the water utility study later cited to justify exploring a sale.

Rahway City Hall and Municipal Court sign

Rahway introduces 2026 budget with state aid, as downtown demolition sparks dispute

Rahway City Council introduced its 2026 budget Monday, crediting late state aid for softening the tax hike, while a downtown demolition project surfaced two conflicting accounts of how a blighted property ended up in city hands.

Rahway City Hall in June 2026

Rahway City Council Rolls Out a Packed Agenda on the Heels of the July 4th Weekend

Rahway City Council's July 6 agenda includes nearly $49 million in water utility borrowing, a vote to raise the city's own budget cap, downtown demolition near the train station, and a $6.65 million cell tower sale.

Downed trees along Route 27 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, after a severe thunderstorm on July 3, 2026

Storms Knock Out Power in Central Jersey, Heat Emergency Continues

A severe storm knocked out power across Rahway, Edison, and Woodbridge Friday night, disrupting NJ Transit as New Jersey's most dangerous heat wave in over a decade continues.

Elizabeth City Hall scaled

Judge Rejects Elizabeth Councilman’s Bid to Remove Rival From Ballot

Independent candidate Janei Holder will stay on the November ballot after a Union County judge rejected the second bid in eight days to remove a challenger.

Bombs Away! A melting Bomb Pop on a sidewalk means one thing....hot weather! And maybe also a crying child.

Worst Heat in 15 Years Hits Central Jersey This Week

An Extreme Heat Watch covers Rahway, Edison, and Woodbridge from Wednesday through Saturday, just as July 4th crowds head outdoors. Cooling centers, health risks, and safety tips.

Rabbi Stefanie Gedan and a member of the Neve Shalom delegation carefully unroll a Torah scroll wrapped in a handwoven mantle at Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi

Metuchen Synagogue Donates 250-Year-Old Torah to Mississippi Congregation After Arson

Neve Shalom of Metuchen donated a 250-year-old Torah scroll to Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, after a fire that investigators said was deliberately set destroyed two of the synagogue’s scrolls in January 2026.

Two puppies look up from inside a kennel at an animal shelter after being found roaming a Rahway neighborhood on June 20, 2026

18 Puppies Found Roaming Rahway Neighborhood

Rahway police are investigating the possible abandonment of 18 puppies found roaming a Jefferson Avenue neighborhood on June 20. Witnesses reported seeing a gray SUV in the area before the animals were discovered.

Fiber Cables 800 x 600

Edison Council Rejects 50-Year Fiber Deal After Learning Company Serves Data Centers

Four council members voted no on a right-of-way agreement after the township's own attorney described the company as a provider of high-speed connectivity for stock exchanges, AI data centers, and large enterprises — not a consumer broadband provider.