Latest news with #Piscataway
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Thunderstorms bring flash flooding to Central Jersey. Here's what we know
For the second time in as many weeks Central Jersey towns were pelted by a storm July 14, this time bringing heavy rain and local street and highway flooding. Among the communities hardest hit were North Plainfield, Piscataway, Watchung, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, and Westfield. Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency due to flooding around New Jersey. 'I am declaring a State of Emergency given flash flooding and high levels of rainfall in parts of the state,' the governor wrote in a post on X. 'Please stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Stay safe, New Jersey.' News12 reported flooding on Route 22 through Somerset and Union counties and parts of the Garden State Parkway. Route 22 westbound from Voeseller Avenue to Chimney Rock Road in Bridgewater was closed as of 7:45 p.m. and Route 206 was closed in both directions in Hillsborough because of flooding under the Norfolk Southern Bridge. Warren and Watchung police instructed residents to shelter in place. Franklin police reported multiple roads were flooded. Facebook posts showed some cars floating on flooded Rahway streets. In a Facebook post Metuchen Mayor Jonathan Busch said police closed several roads due to flooding and emergency officials will be taking motorists whose vehicles cannot be driven to the high school. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain fell in an hour in the hardest hit areas east and south of Somerville, according to the Rutgers NJ Weather Network. At this time no river flooding is anticipated. This story is developing. This article originally appeared on NJ storms bring flash flooding to Union, Middlesex, Somerset counties
Fox News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
3 Best 2025 NBA Draft Fits for Rutgers Star Dylan Harper
Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall prospect in the Class of 2024, is coming off a superb freshman season in Piscataway, where he dazzled as an impact scorer who facilitated and made an impact on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-6 Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, four assists and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 48.4/33.3/75.0 in 29 games. He figures to be a Day-1 starter in the NBA. It's simply a matter of whether teams view him as a point guard or more of a combo guard/off-guard. While former Duke forward and 2024-25 Men's College Basketball Player of the Year Cooper Flagg figures to be selected first overall in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Harper will likely be right behind. That said, here are the top three NBA fits for Harper, among the teams selecting in the top six. The Jazz have had budding young players for some time, but only so many definitive franchise building blocks. Harper would be a player whom the franchise can label as a pillar and who would form a deadly, long-term backcourt with Keyonte George. Two years ago, Utah appeared to have a franchise player in Lauri Markkanen, who was coming off a breakout season that saw him earn an All-Star nod. However, Markkanen's scoring has dropped in each of the past two seasons (25.6 points per game in 2022-23 to 23.2 points in 2023-24 to 19.0 points in 2024-25), and the Jazz were 21st in the NBA in scoring (111.9 PPG) and tied for 22nd in field goal percentage (45.4%) this season. They need offensive voltage, which Harper would provide. A backcourt pairing of George and Harper would be one of two quick, blossoming guards who can score in a variety of ways and become the heart of head coach Will Hardy's offense. In the wake of that development, defensive attention comes off Markkanen, who has been asked to carry the offensive load for three seasons. The Jazz have a guard glut with Collin Sexton and Isaiah Collier, among others, in place, but a team that just posted the worst record in the sport can't turn down the chance to add high-ceiling talent; they can draft or trade up to select Harper (Utah has picks No. 5 and 21 in the first round this year) and then make a trade with their guard depth to bolster the frontcourt. What likely stops Harper from landing in Salt Lake City, though, is him potentially being off the board before pick No. 5 (yes, Utah slipped from No. 1 to No. 5 in the NBA Draft Lottery), and the Jazz potentially feeling that drafting based on need — if value is equal — is the more plausible route, anyway. Alex Sarr is a tremendous talent who can fly up and down the floor, hit the boards and deny shots like nobody's business, but the Wizards still don't have a franchise centerpiece. Harper could become that player for Washington. The Wizards were 27th in the NBA in scoring (108.0 PPG), 28th in field goal percentage (43.9%) and 29th in 3-point shooting percentage (33.5%) this season, and that came with trading Kyle Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks in February. In other words, offense is desperately needed here. Harper would have the ball in his hands a great deal, likely running head coach Brian Keefe's offense, and could play to his strengths, as he'd potentially be their No. 2 scorer behind Jordan Poole — who could easily be traded within the next eight months — from the outset. With Harper and Poole in the backcourt, Sarr becoming a more impactful interior offensive player and the continually improving Bilal Coulibaly and Corey Kispert present, the Wizards begin to have a legitimate core to build through. Having a multidimensional offensive player in Harper makes the difference. Washington would likely have to trade up from pick No. 6 to draft Harper, but it could include one of its younger guards (Bub Carrington?) and a future first-rounder in a deal to secure the Rutgers standout. The Wizards are a sweet landing spot for Harper to tap into his star potential. There's just a team that makes a little more sense for him. The Hornets are in a rut, but they're in that spot with compelling young players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Harper may be the perfect fit in-between Ball and Miller and help Charlotte finally make a jump. Ball will continue to be the centerpiece of Charlotte's offense, but having another player who can handle the rock and be a facilitator would do wonders, as Ball can get too 3-happy. On that note, Harper could be the team's point guard if and when Ball, who has been limited to 35 games per season over the past three years due to continual ankle and wrist injuries, misses time. Having Ball and Miller — whose 2024-25 campaign ended after 27 games due to a wrist injury — healthy is of the essence, as the team's top two scorers' absence this season led to Charlotte finishing last in the NBA in scoring (105.1 PPG) and field goal percentage (43%). Their returns — or at least more availability from the two homegrown players — with Miles Bridges, who has averaged 20.5 PPG over his last three seasons, and Harper by their side, would give the Hornets a compelling starting five on the offensive end. On the Harper front, the soon-to-be rookie wouldn't be asked to come in and play hero. He can ease into the mix and not be tasked with becoming the team's offensive focal point. Harper, 19, has the talent to be at least the No. 2 scorer on a contending team, but after just one year of college ball, it's likely best for the Rutgers star to develop in a tertiary offensive role to start his career. Charlotte, which has won no more than 30 games in each of the past three seasons, needs another building block for it to complement their foundation. Harper fits the bill. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In high school, Karl-Anthony Towns got sick of learning experiences. Winning followed.
It was just over 55 years ago that a hobbled New York Knicks warrior provided an emotional jolt that propelled his team to victory in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. That big man was Willis Reed, and despite finishing with just four points, his mere presence is credited for elevating New York to that championship – one that remains on the Knicks' Mount Rushmore of triumphs. Advertisement On Thursday, another Knicks star, Karl-Anthony Towns, fought through an injury and willed New York to a 111-94 win – dominating the Pacers with a 24-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. While the scenarios may be different, their 'win-at-all-costs' mentality and toughness under less-than-ideal circumstances are similar. For Towns, the desire to win was forged by his parents, Karl Towns and the late Jackie Cruz-Towns. When he was a junior at St. Joe's Metuchen during the 2012-13 basketball season, I produced "Center of Attention," a documentary about Karl-Anthony. During my reporting, I spent time with his family and soon learned that the dining room in their Piscataway, New Jersey, home was where many of life's lessons were imparted. That season, I observed Karl-Anthony's intense focus on winning and no-excuses attitude begin to crystalize after a loss to East Brunswick High School. Advertisement I was working on the documentary at the family's home when his mother suggested that the loss, the second to East Brunswick that season, should be a learning experience. Her son wasn't having it. 'We lost to East Brunswick the first day, we lost to East Brunswick today. It's always, 'You got to learn from this.' Well, sooner or later, you got to stop learning,' the then-17-year-old calmly explained to his mom. 'It's just like you being in college. OK, you go to college – you learn a lot. If you don't go and use it in the real world, your college education was useless... "And until we learn – actually learn, and decide to go on the street and use what we learn, and actually beat an elite team, for one time, this season, then we will not be what we need to be for the year.' Advertisement Jackie appeared pleased with Karl-Anthony's reasoning. After 19 practices and 12 subsequent games, Towns' St. Joe's Metuchen and East Brunswick faced each other for a third time – this one for the conference championship. St. Joe's Metuchen won, 66-63, in double-overtime. Indiana's Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the site of Saturday night's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, will no doubt be a hostile environment for Towns. Will he use what he's learned and lift the Knicks once again? We'll see soon enough. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Young KAT got sick of learning from losses. Wins followed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Piscataway High School students win $10,000 grand prize for safe-driving campaign
Piscataway High School's Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) won the $10,000 grand prize in the 15th annual U Got Brains Champion Schools Program. The contest is sponsored by the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ) and recognized the student group's multimedia campaign aimed at encouraging safe driving by teens and community at large. The annual initiative engages the state's high school students and staff in creating campaigns on teen driving safety. In particular, the contest's judges praised the students' "Pway You Know: Drive Safe, Drive Slow" project as "a creative, community-rooted effort focused on reducing speeding." "With bold branding tied to school spirit, strong teamwork, and cross-club collaboration, Piscataway's campaign reached 2,300 students and resonated across the community to lay a powerful foundation for ongoing change," the BIANJ wrote on its website. Along with Piscataway, two other high schools − Indian Hills and Matawan − were highlighted as grand prize winners of the more than 60 schools competing. The grand prize money was donated by NJM Insurance Group. "As a first-year club, to win the grand prize award competing against over 60 other schools in New Jersey has been nothing short of amazing," said Piscataway's SADD adviser Laura Benjamin, a health and physical education teacher. "I am so proud of the commitment these students made to ensuring such an important message about safe driving and no speeding got out to the student body of PHS and the community of Piscataway." Principal Chris Baldassano said he is proud of the SADD Club, not just for its victory in theU Got Brains competition, but for all their hard work in starting and building the club. "This is such a talented, driven group of students that genuinely cares about making their community a better, safer place, and I am so impressed with their effort this year," Baldassano said. "I am looking forward to seeing what they have in store for the future." More: Bound Brook students' PSA on distracted driving to air later this year SADD, which has more than 40 members, worked closely with Officers William Kloos, Mark Chanley and Ian Paglia and Sgt. Hakeem Abdullah of the Piscataway Police Department to determine its messaging and to share the campaign with the community. The students used police data to zero in on speeding as the top traffic-safety issue in the community. The police also invited the students to join Piscataway's Safe Streets Initiative and joined the students at events to share information about safe driving. "One of the best takeaways from this experience has been the relationship we built with the three officers and sergeant of the Safe Streets team at the Piscataway Police Department," Benjamin said. "We joined their events, and they joined ours. There wasn't one event in regard to this campaign that wasn't a collaborative effort. They have grown to be just as much a part of the team as the students and myself, and we really appreciate them." The centerpiece of the safe-driving campaign was the 'Pway You Know: Drive Safe, Drive Slow' logo and slogan. The logo was created by junior Josiah Johnson, who is a member of the SADD leadership team along with Tanvi Narava, Tyler West and Gabrielle Williams. The message has been showing since February on electronic signs in front of every school in the district, as well as police and township signs and information. SADD members also sold merchandise such as shirts, hats, and pins displaying the slogan. SADD also partnered with the Piscataway's Art Honor Society for a "Chalk the Walk" event on April 10, drawing creative safe-driving messages on the sidewalks outside the high school as another creative way to spread the word. As part of SADD's entry into the U Got Brains competition, SADD members created a video detailing the multitude of outreach programs the students implemented with the Safe Streets program. "We kind of learned as we went, which makes this win even more special," Benjamin said. "The students worked together, brought friends on board to join the group, built confidence in themselves, showed commitment, and really let their talents shine. Everyone had something to offer to the group to get us to our win." email: cmakin@ Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@ or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Piscataway HS students win $10K grand prize for safe-driving campaign
Fox News
25-05-2025
- Fox News
Dramatic video shows hero cops drag dazed driver from car before train smashes into it
Heart-pounding video has been released showing the moment two brave New Jersey police officers pulled an impaired man from a car stuck on railway tracks, seconds before the speeding locomotive rams the vehicle. Police vehicle dashcam footage shows quick-thinking officers in a life-or-death incident, desperately pulling the driver from the car just after midnight May 12 as the railroad crossing gates are dropping down with warning lights flashing and bells sounding. "We're dragging him out of the car. The car is stuck," an officer can be heard saying over the police radio system. Screams and howls then ring out, although it isn't clear from whom. "It's going to hit the car," the officer says as the train blasts its horn. Seconds later, the train smashes into the car, which appears to be a Tesla. The two officers, Devin Hinchcliffe and John Ward of the Piscataway Township Police Department, have been praised for their heroism in saving the driver's life. "Recognizing the imminent danger posed by an approaching train, the officers swiftly and safely removed the driver just seconds before impact," the Piscataway Township Police Department said in a news release on Facebook. "Their quick action prevented a potential tragedy, and we commend Officer Hinchcliffe and Officer Ward for their prompt and effective response." The near-tragic incident happened on New Brunswick Avenue. Police said that because of the driver's impaired condition, "he was unable to follow instructions to exit the vehicle." "Their professionalism and quick decision-making undoubtedly prevented a tragedy," the department wrote in another post. "Excellent job!" It is unclear what was wrong with the driver and how the car became stuck on the tracks. Facebook users gave high praise to the officers and hailed them as heroes for their selfless actions. "This is amazing. God bless them. They do not get paid enough," one woman wrote. "Thank you for always putting your life on the line to protect someone else's and trying to keep the community safe," wrote another. "#BACK THE BLUE." The incident happened days before dashcam footage showed the moment an out-of-control dump truck smashed into a New Jersey home after its driver had a medical emergency.
