A lot has happened in the world since the spring semester. Let’s catch up on the major headlines from this summer:
The Hottest Summer on Record
Starting in April, Canada began battling wildfires that spanned the eastern provinces from Nova Scotia to Quebec to parts of Ontario. Smoke from these fires was visible across the Northeastern United States, polluting air in New York and New Jersey. Canada is no stranger to wildfires but this summer saw a significant increase among Canadian provinces that aren’t usually affected. Approximately 42.7 million acres of Canadian land has burned during this summer’s wildfire season.
In addition to the wildfires taking place in Canada, Phoenix experienced one of the hottest summers on record. A 31-day heatwave hit the city, where temperatures stayed at 110 degrees Fahrenheit or above every day from June 30 to July 30, according to the New York Times. The heat spell broke with a temperature of 108 degrees but the city remained unbearably hot through August.
Writers’ Strike Halts Movie and TV Production
Media productions, such as late-night television shows, halted in early May because of a strike orchestrated by the Writers Guild of America and later joined by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. These organizations went to the picket lines after failing to negotiate new contracts with representatives from some of Hollywood’s biggest production companies. The strike surpassed the 100-day mark on Aug. 9. Late Wednesday night, news broke that after negotiations, unions are near agreement.
The Titan Goes Missing
On June 18, an OceanGate submersible named Titan went on an underwater expedition to view the wreckage of the Titanic. About 45 minutes after the Titan’s initial submersion, the craft lost contact with OceanGate Expeditions, its operator. After a lengthy search for the submersible and any remains, the U.S. Coast Guard concluded that the craft most likely experienced a “catastrophic implosion” that would have left no survivors. The accident resulted in the loss of five passengers, including the founder and CEO of OceanGate.
New Lieutenant Governor for New Jersey
Former New Jersey Lieutenant Gov. Sheila Oliver passed away on Aug. 1 due to an unspecified medical complication. Oliver became the first Black woman in N.J. history to serve as assembly speaker in 2010, and as lieutenant governor, she helped initiate policies for affordable housing and local government services. In the midst of mourning Oliver, Gov. Phil Murphy appointed Secretary of State Tahesha Way to fill the role.
Island of Maui Destroyed by Wildfires
Wildfires consumed the Hawaiian island of Maui on Aug. 8, seemingly as a result of mismanaged power lines. The fires have killed at least 97 people, and 31 people are still presumed “missing.” The fires have left approximately 2,200 damaged or destroyed structures and the prospect of rebuilding currently appears too costly for the tourism-dependent island.
New Jersey Bill Makes Central Jersey Official
For New Jersey residents, the long debate about the existence of Central Jersey is finally over. On Aug. 17, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed the bill proposed to boost tourism to Central Jersey. The Central Jersey region is defined as Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties.
Trump’s Arrest in Georgia
There has been an ongoing investigation into former President Donald Trump’s hush money payments, connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection and possible voter fraud. In August, Trump was arrested in Georgia and met with felony charges for his connection to attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. This arrest was one of many for Trump, but it led to the first mug shot of a former U.S. President.
jhammer@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of StateFarms, Wikicommons
