EDISON, N.J., Feb. 21 (ZFJ) — One juvenile was arrested in connection with a fight that occurred at Menlo Park Mall on Monday, Feb. 19. At about 5:30 p.m., Edison police received a call reporting that shots had been fired at the mall, said Police Chief Tom Bryan in a phone call. Based on the emergency call, police assumed that there was an active shooter, so they organized a large response.

EDISON, N.J., Feb. 21 (ZFJ) — Four juveniles and two adults were arrested by Edison police at Menlo Park Mall on Saturday, Feb. 17. At about 9:30 p.m., an individual called 911 and said that they were being chased by a group of kids, Edison Police Chief Tom Bryan said in a phone call. The police apprehended the suspects behind the McDonald’s right beside the mall. They were in possession of two firearms, one of which was stolen.

Feb. 20 (ZFJ) — Glen Rock police are investigating vandalism of the Glen Rock Starbucks’ sign as a bias incident. At 8:05 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, the manager of the Starbucks at 224 Rock Road in the borough’s Central Business District notified police that red paint had been splashed over the café’s sign at the corner of Rock Road and Glen Avenue. The responding officer also found stickers on the sign with messages related to the Israel-Hamas war.

METUCHEN, N.J., Feb. 18 (ZFJ) — The Metuchen Planning Board adopted a resolution at its reorganization meeting on Jan. 4 to approve Dasco Solutions’ drive-thru marijuana dispensary plan. Dasco intends to convert a 3,037 square foot former bank building at 700 Middlesex Avenue into a cannabis dispensary. It presented its proposal to the board on Nov. 2, 2023, and the resolution reflects the board’s actions on that date. RESOLUTION 23-1368 VOTE RESULTS

Feb. 14 (ZFJ) — The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, Feb. 11. Securing their third Super Bowl win in five years, the Chiefs have achieved a dynasty. The first half of the game was characterized by many punts and a few fumbles. Momentum really picked up from the second half. Overall? Absolutely thrilling game. The Chiefs won the coin toss and deferred.

Feb. 8 (ZFJ) — Joint European Torus (JET) researchers announced on Thursday, Feb. 8, that their tokamak set a new world record of 69.26 megajoules released in controlled nuclear fusion energy on Oct. 3, 2023, at 19:14 GMT. The record, equivalent to the energy released from burning two kilograms of coal, was set during a single pulse of JET over six seconds with only 0.21 milligrams of fuel. JET’s previous record from 2022 was 59 MJ.

SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J., Feb. 7 (ZFJ) — The discovery of a firearm in Union Catholic High School on Monday, Jan. 22, resulted in lockdowns at nearby schools and the arrest of one student. The Scotch Plains Police Department said in a press release that it received a call at about 10:45 a.m. from a Union Catholic administrator concerning a handgun that had been recovered in the school. The school was placed on lockdown, and Scotch Plains police officers recovered the weapon.

Feb. 6 (ZFJ) — Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music corporation, has pulled all of its music from TikTok following the expiration of its previous licensing agreement on Jan. 31 after renewal talks collapsed. That means that any TikToks containing music from Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Drake, Harry Styles, and many, many more artists have had their audio muted. Until a new licensing agreement is finalized, TikTok users won’t be able to add any music from Universal’s catalog to their videos.

EDISON, N.J., Feb. 1 (ZFJ) — A suspected gas leak resulted in the evacuation of J.P. Stevens High School students and staff on Thursday, Feb. 1, according to the school district. An odor of gas near the art and music wing and in the back of the building caused the evacuation, which, according to a ZFJ reporter, began around the start of third period. The Edison Fire Department and Elizabethtown Gas Company concluded that a construction crew hit an inactive gas line that still had residual gas remaining in it, resulting in the odor, according to a statement by Edison Township Public Schools.

METUCHEN, N.J., Jan. 30 (ZFJ) — YESTERcades of Metuchen will have its ribbon cutting and opening on Friday, Feb. 2, at 4:00 p.m., according to its announcement on social media. Patrons are asked not to line up outside the building at 442 Main Street, Metuchen, before 3:30 p.m. YESTERcades is a retro video game venue known for its focus on “golden age” arcade classics. The arcade has at least 82 games moved into the Metuchen building, according to a social media post.