Dec. 2 (ZFJ) — Earth’s temperature exceeded 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels on Nov. 17-18, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Nov. 17 marked the first day in the ERA5 dataset, the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts’ climate record, that global temperatures exceeded 2 C above the average temperature before the extensive use of fossil fuels. Nov. 17 exceeded the 1850-1900 average by 2.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., Nov. 30 (ZFJ) — Authorities have accused Om Brahmbhatt, 23, of fatally shooting three of his family members on Monday at the Traditions condominium complex. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Brahmbhatt with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. According to an affidavit submitted by the police to establish probable cause for an arrest warrant, South Plainfield Police Department officers responded to a 911 call on Monday, Nov.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., Nov. 28 (ZFJ) — A South Plainfield man has been arrested and charged in connection with the Coppola Drive shooting on Monday, Nov. 27, announced Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Peter Papa of the South Plainfield Police Department. Om Brahmbhatt, 23, was arrested without incident and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Nov. 25 (ZFJ) — Minecraft YouTuber Stampy Cat uploaded the finale to his 11-year series, Stampy’s Lovely World, on Saturday, Oct. 21. The 823rd episode marked the end of the series, which began on May 19, 2012 (only 10 days after Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition released). He was a dominant personality in the Minecraft YouTube scene from 2013 to 2017 and pioneered the video format of storytelling using the blocky game.

Nov. 19 (ZFJ) — SAG-AFTRA ended its 118-day strike at 12:01 PT on Thursday, Nov. 9, after the union’s TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee unanimously approved an agreement with provisions on artificial intelligence in films and actor compensation. On Friday, Nov. 10, the SAG-AFTRA National Board approved the agreement with 86% of the vote. Union members now have until Tuesday, Dec. 5, to vote on ratifying the contract. SAG-AFTRA represents about 160,000 media professionals.

Nov. 12 (ZFJ) — The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether a federal ban on firearms possession by people under domestic violence restraining orders violates the Second Amendment in the case United States v. Rahimi (22-915) on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The statute in question, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8), prohibits people who are under a restraining order from possessing guns. The court order must include a finding that the person is a credible threat to an “intimate partner or child” or explicitly prohibit any physical force against them.

Nov. 10 (ZFJ) — Ørsted has pulled out of developing two offshore wind farms, set to have been New Jersey’s first ones, due to economic challenges, the company announced on Tuesday, Oct. 31. “Macroeconomic factors have changed dramatically over a short period of time, with high inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain bottlenecks impacting our long-term capital investments,” said David Hardy, group executive vice president and CEO of Ørsted Americas.

EDISON, N.J., Nov. 8 (ZFJ) — The Democrats won the four available seats on the Edison Township Council while Virginia White, Christopher Lugo, and Anjana R. Patel secured three spots on the Edison Board of Education, according to unofficial results from the Middlesex County Clerk for the Nov. 7 general election. Richard Brescher, Joseph A. Coyle, and Ajay V. Patil won reelection to the town council along with newcomer Asaf Shmuel.

Nov. 5 (ZFJ) — The Federal Reserve maintained the interest rate at 5.25-5.50% for the second time in a row on Wednesday, Nov. 1. This rate was set on July 26 and held steady on Sept. 20. The Fed has been aggressively increasing the interest rate since it raised it from 0.00-0.25% to 0.25-0.50% in March 2022 in order to fight stubborn inflation. Economic activity has been expanding at a strong pace, said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

EDISON, N.J., Oct. 19 (ZFJ) — A school bus with 28 John Adams Middle School students on board crashed into an Edison home on Rahway Road in the morning on Wednesday, Oct. 18. The bus, operated by contracted route provider Joy Transport, collided with the house’s garage, which sustained heavy damage. The house has been condemned by township inspectors for being structurally unsound. The cause of the crash is believed to be a brake failure, said Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan.