For the second straight day, daily temperature records have been broken across New Jersey as the intense summer-like heat continues in early May.

Do you hear that hum? That's the sound of a million air conditioners working overtime around New Jersey as an unusual blast of summer weather has pushed temperatures up as high as 94 degrees in parts of our region Thursday afternoon, breaking several record highs for May 3.

The latest records to be shattered were at the airports in Newark, Trenton and Atlantic City, as well as in New Brunswick, according to data from the National Weather Service and the New Jersey Weather & Climate Network at Rutgers University.

At Atlantic City International Airport, located inland in Pomona, the mercury hit 90 degrees at about 1 p.m., then rose to 92 degrees during the next two hours, breaking the airport's previous record high for May 3 by three degrees. The old record of 89 degrees was set in 1913, then matched in 2001.

At Newark Liberty International Airport's climate station, located in the Elizabeth section of the airport, the temperature rose to 92 degrees shortly before 2 p.m., then climbed to 93, the weather service reported. The airport's previous record high for May 3 was 91 degrees, set in 2001.

At Trenton-Mercer Airport in the West Trenton section of Ewing, the very old record high of 90 degrees, set in 1913, was broken in the late afternoon, when the airport's thermometer reached 91degrees. 

[?] And another record goes down! This one at Newark Airport. #njwx #nywx pic.twitter.com/ttjcbovBQD

-- Len Melisurgo (@LensReality) May 3, 2018

Hottest places in N.J.

The steamiest places in New Jersey Thursday afternoon were Sicklerville, Teterboro and Toms River, where the mercury soared to 94 degrees. Checking in at 93 degrees were Haworth, Oceanport, Oswego Lake, Sea Girt and Vineland.

And these are among the many towns that hit 92 degrees: Berkeley Township, Cedar Bridge, Hamilton, Hawthorne, Hillsborough, Hopewell, Howell, Jersey City, Upper Deerfield, Walpack, Wayne and West Deptford.  

All of this hot air is flowing into New Jersey from the south and west, thanks to a large dome of high pressure that's stationed off the Carolina coast. Known as a "Bermuda high" because of its proximity to Bermuda, this type of weather pattern is more common during the summer months than early spring.

New Jersey can expect one more day of summer-like temperatures -- and higher humidity -- on Friday, before things return to normal this weekend, when highs will be in the upper 60s and low 70s.

It's official: we can start complaining about the heat now #NYC @PIXweather @PIX11News pic.twitter.com/SSmpajFlah

-- Greg Mocker (@gregmocker) May 3, 2018

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

NJ.com takes a look at the top 80 sophomores in the state.

A woman and her 5-year-old daughter that were headed to the Trenton-Mercer Airport have been missing since May 3, 2018.

Sawatha Ford, 47, of Carteret. (courtesy Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office)

Police are asking for help in locating a Carteret woman and her 5-year-old daughter who have been missing since early Thursday, authorities said.

The Carteret Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office are seeking information on Sawatha Ford, 47, and her daughter after they were reported missing by family members.

A release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office states that they left the Union Township area at 3:43 a.m. and were headed to the Trenton-Mercer Airport, but never boarded their plane.

Ford and her daughter were last known to be in Ewing Township near Bear Tavern Road a short distance from the airport.

Authorities said Ford was driving a white 2007 Acura MDX with license plate VPE96W.

Anyone with information can call Carteret Police Sgt. Kenneth Freeman at 732-541-4181 or Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Det. Christopher Pennisi at 732-745-3300.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.

He was indicted on 16 counts related to filing false federal tax returns

A tax preparer has been charged with overstating or falsifying some clients' information to give them larger returns than they were entitled, and pocketing the extra for himself.

Federal prosecutors believe the federal government lost about $290,000 from the alleged scheme involving 19 clients of tax prepper David Patterson, 37.

He owned D&D Tax Service LLC in Woodbridge Township's Keasbey section, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey. He also did business in Jersey City.

Patterson is accused of preparing 53 falsified tax returns between 2010 and 2015. Without their knowledge, he would fudge their income, charitable contributions, business expenses and other information, resulting in an extra-large return, prosecutors said.

"Patterson then diverted a portion of the tax refunds to bank accounts he controlled without his clients' knowledge or consent," according to the prosecutors.

He was indicted on 16 counts of aiding and abetting in the filing of false tax returns on Thursday.

The maximum penalty on each charge is three years and a $250,000 fine.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Iris is FIV/FeLV negative, spayed and up-to-date on shots.

Iris 

WOODBRIDGE TWP. -- Iris is a 4-year-old female cat in the care of Angel Paws Rescue.

Saved from a high-kill shelter, she loves attention and human companionship but is not happy having to live with other cats and so must be the only cat in a home.  Iris is FIV/FeLV negative, spayed and up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Iris, call 732-340-1199, email info@angelpaws.org or visit the Pet Adoption Center at 490 Inman Ave. in Colonia. The center is open weeknights from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and weekends from noon to 3 p.m. The shelter is supported by the efforts of Angel Paws Rescue and is currently caring for 55 cats and kittens.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email middlesex@starledger.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

SAYREVILLE -- These grade school students at a school in Sayreville were photographed in 1915. By 1915, public school in New Jersey was free for ages 5 and 20, and education was made compulsory for all students between the ages of 6 and 16. MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey According to "New Jersey school laws and rules and regulations...

SAYREVILLE -- These grade school students at a school in Sayreville were photographed in 1915. By 1915, public school in New Jersey was free for ages 5 and 20, and education was made compulsory for all students between the ages of 6 and 16.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

According to "New Jersey school laws and rules and regulations prescribed by the State Board of Education," published in 1914, a teacher "with less than two years experience will be paid $408 per annum."

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to middlesex@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries on nj.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

The two vanished while driving to Trenton-Mercer Airport on Thursday

A Carteret mother and her 5-year-old daughter who went missing after missing a flight at Trenton-Mercer Airport on Thursday were found safe in Virginia on Friday morning, authorities said. 

Sawatha Ford, 47, of Carteret. (Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office) 

Chesterfield, Virginia police found Sawatha Ford, 47, of Carteret and the girl at a hotel there, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said. 

The two left the Union Township area at 3:43 a.m. Thursday to catch a flight at Trenton-Mercer Airport, but never boarded the plane, officials said previously.

Ford and her daughter were last seen in a white Acura on Bear Tavern Road in Ewing, a short distance from the airport. They were reported missing by family members. 

The prosecutor's office said no additional information was available.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

His death is not considered suspicious

A Rutgers University graduate student was found dead on the Busch Campus on Friday morning, but his death is not considered suspicious, authorities said.

The man was not identified nor did a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office say exactly when or where he was found on the Busch Campus, one of two Rutgers campuses in Piscataway.

"The university extends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the decedent," Rutgers said in a news release. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with them." 

A Rutgers spokeswoman said she had no further information.

The investigation into the cause of the man's death is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Michelle Bolognini of the Rutgers University Police Department at (848) 932-4842, or Detective David Abromaitis of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-4436.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author grew up in Middlesex County and graduated from Rutgers University.

One month after publishing an essay about being raped as a child, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz is facing accusations he forcibly kissed a graduate student and verbally abused other women.

Author Zinzi Clemmons, author of the 2017 novel "What We Lose", posted a string of tweets early Friday morning accusing Diaz of cornering her and forcibly kissing her when she invited him to speak a college workshop as a 26-year-old graduate student. 

"I'm far from the only one he's done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore," Clemmons wrote on Twitter, noting she has emails Diaz sent her after the incident.

As a grad student, I invited Junot Diaz to speak to a workshop on issues of representation in literature. I was an unknown wide-eyed 26 yo, and he used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me. I'm far from the only one he's done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore.

-- zinziclemmons (@zinziclemmons) May 4, 2018

Her tweet was followed by a series of tweets and Facebook messages from other women accusing Diaz of misogynistic or verbally abusive behavior.

Diaz has not responded to requests to comment, according to New York Magazine's The Cut, which compiled the social media posts accusing the author of misconduct.

Diaz was in Australia this week, where he spoke at the Sydney Writer's Festival on Thursday.

Junot Diaz is a widely lauded, utterly beloved misogynist. His books are regressive and sexist. He has treated women horrifically in every way possible. And the #MeToo stories are just starting. -\_(tu)_/-

-- Carmen Maria Machado (@carmenmmachado) May 4, 2018

The women accusing Diaz of misconduct include Carmen Maria Machado, a National Book Award finalist, who said the author yelled at her during a book tour appearance after she questioned his characters' treatment of women in his books.

Another author, Monica Byrne, said Diaz shouted "rape" in her face during a dinner party in a bizarre response to her comment about statistics in publishing. She ended up leaving the party due to Diaz's behavior, she said.

"I've never experienced such virulent misogyny in my adult life," Byrne wrote on Facebook.

Diaz, 49, won a Pulitzer Prize for his 2007 novel "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao". He was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the U.S. at age 6. He grew up in Parlin in Middlesex County.

In April, Diaz wrote as essay in the New Yorker revealing he was raped as a child by a man he knew.

"I was raped when I was eight years old," Diaz wrote. "By a grownup that I truly trusted."

Diaz said he kept the sexual abuse a secret and never got therapy. He wrote that the abuse contributed to a suicide attempt, depression and relationship problems with women as an adult.

"I think about the hurt I caused," Diaz wrote.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.

Phylis Kocheran, 52, of South River, has been charged with driving while intoxicated after she allegedly hit and killed a North Brunswick man on May 3, 2018, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said.

A woman was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after she struck and killed a recycling company employee working in South River on Thursday morning.

William Oross, 49, of North Brunswick, was hit by a Jeep Wrangler driven by Phylis Kocheran, 52, of South River, on Pulawski Avenue at 11:17 a.m., according to a release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. An investigation into the incident is "active and ongoing," according to a news release.

Oross was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner's Office showed that Oross died from blunt force injuries, according to the release.

Oross is employed by a private recycling company, authorities said. The name of the company was not released.

Anyone with information about the accident can call South River Police Det. Joseph Guiamano at 732-238-1000 or Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Det. Mark Morris at 732-745-4194.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The nonprofit SPCA used to be the ones to help cats, dogs and other animals in bad situations. Now it'll be your friendly neighborhood cop and they haven't been trained for that job yet.

Authorities seized 12 dogs and two horses from the rear of a residence in Howell Township on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. (Photo courtesy of the Monmouth County SPCA)Monmouth County SPCA 

Bon Jovi's 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction airs Saturday on HBO.

The Rutgers football team woke up early Saturday to clean up New Brunswick by picking up debris from the downtown streets. Watch video

As one of the leaders of the Rutgers football team, Gio Rescigno didn't have to offer up any motivational speeches as his teammates hit the New Brunswick streets to pick up garbage.

They were motivated on their own, the Scarlet Knights quarterback said.

"Our guys know what it means to do community service,'' Rescigno told NJ Advance Media. "It's important to give back, and we really do enjoy days like this.''

That was music to the ears of Jeff Jones, assistant director of player development for the Rutgers football team, who helped organize a cleanup event in New Brunswick on Saturday morning.

"This is something dear to (Rutgers) coach (Chris) Ash's heart and just for the overall program,'' Jones said. "We believe 100 percent in giving back to the community. This community does so much for our guys -- housing, food -- so a lot is required for them to give back.''

Will RU set a record for NFL Draft picks in '19? 10 Scarlet Knights with chance

In this case, giving back meant members of the Rutgers football team convened at two different New Brunswick downtown locations and then canvassed the streets, picking up debris along the way (watch the video above to see how the Scarlet Knights got their hands dirty in the cleanup).

Like most college towns, New Brunswick was active Friday night and it was evidenced by litter that collected on the sidewalks along Easton Avenue.

"Getting up early is just the normal -- I think 8 a.m. is sleeping in for these guys,'' Jones said. "We thought it was important to get up early. Obviously being a college weekend, we figured there would be a lot more trash out here early in the morning, which there was. So we were excited that we definitely were able to make an impact at least in terms of picking up a lot of debris off the streets.''

By the time the cleanup was over around 9 a.m., the team collected approximately 60 bags of trash. All of it was loaded onto a van and taken away to a campus dumpster.

"It's pretty clean around here normally, but we figured, 'Let's check how it is Saturday morning after a late night on the town,' '' Jones said. "There was a lot more trash than we actually thought there would be today. It's good that we were able to get it all bagged up.

"The guys believe in community service and giving back. It's just part of their DNA.''

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

Akash S. Taneja was a graduate student in medicinal chemistry.

The student found dead at Rutgers University on Friday morning was a graduate student in medicinal chemistry, the school announced. 

Akash S. Taneja was found dead on Busch Campus in Piscataway, Rutgers said Friday in an email to the campus community. 

A cause of death has not been determined, but the death is not considered suspicious. 

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office announced the death Friday but did not say exactly where or when Taneja was found. 

"I am still in shock that he is not with us anymore," said Ahsan Anwar, a student at Rutgers who said Taneja was a teaching lab assistant for his organic chemistry lab.  

"He was a very smart and nice young man -- always smiling and ready to help," Anwar said Saturday. "This loss can't be recovered at any cost."

Taneja received a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in India in 2015 and was an academic tutor at Rutgers, according to his LinkedIn profile. 

An investigation into his death is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Michelle Bolognini of the Rutgers University Police Department at 848-932-4842 or Detective David Abromaitis of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-4436.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo. 

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In class program helps students become genetic investigators.

Wardlaw+Hartridge School sixth-grader Anushka Dalal reacts to what she sees under the microscope during the students' genetics investigation of zebra fish. Wardlaw+Hartridge 

EDISON -- Last month, the sixth-graders at the Wardlaw+Hartridge School participated in a genetics investigation of zebra fish. Representatives from Project BioEYES, a hands-on biology program, came to the classroom and worked with students for five days, guiding them in using a stereomicroscope to observe the eggs of zebra fish in petri dishes and collect data as the eggs develop from embryos to young larvae to try and predict what traits the offspring would have.

To submit school news send an email to middlesex@starledger.com.

School will welcome inductees at a dinner.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- On May 19 New Brunswick High School will welcome the newest members to the New Brunswick High School Athletic Hall of Fame at an induction dinner.

Being inducting into the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018 are Eric Baker, '03; Kevin L. Berry, '82; Kreg Butler, '06; Jim Dailey, '51; Carlos Gomez Jr., '09; Eric J. Hagood, '89; Lillian Jaquez, '07; George Lankas Jr., '67; Lopburi "Top" Sasinin, '10; and Safreethai "Sat" Sasinin, '11. This year's honorees are coach Michael Carter and Emanuel Marioudakis, '53.

The 23rd Annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will take place at 4 p.m. in the New Brunswick High School Cafe, 1000 Somerset St. Tickets are $40 and are available by calling 732-246-0977.

To submit school news send an email to middlesex@starledger.com.

Dogs and cats throughout the state await adoption.

Petfinder, the for-profit internet company that operates the largest online pet adoption website serving all of North America, put this list together of common adoption myths in the hope that more people will adopt dogs and cats from shelters and rescues.

* "I don't know what I'm getting."

There is likely more information available on adoptable animals than pets for purchase in pet stores. Many of the pets from rescue groups are in foster care, living with their fosterer 24/7; information on their personality and habits is typically vast. Even shelters have a very good idea about how the dogs and cats in their care behave with people and other animals.

* "I can't find what I want at a shelter."

Not only are their breed-specific rescue groups, but some rescues and shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds. There are even means on Petfinder.com to be notified when certain breeds are posted for adoption.

*"I can get a pet for free from a friend or acquaintance; why pay an adoption fee?"

The 'free pet' from a source other than a shelter or rescue group isn't necessarily free. Adoption fees usually cover a number of services and treatments including spay/neuter and veterinary checkups. Covering these costs on your own would call for spending the following estimated amounts:

     * Spay/neuter: $150-$300

     * Distemper vaccination: $20-$30, twice

     * Rabies vaccination: $15-$25

     * Heartworm test: $15-$35

     * Flea/tick treatment: $50-$200

     * Microchip: $25-$50

* "Pets are in shelters because they don't make good pets."

Here are the main reasons animals end up in shelters or with rescue groups:

     * Owners have to move, pets not allowed

     * Allergies

     * Owner having personal problems

     * Too many, no room for littermates

     * Owner can no longer afford a pet

     * Owner's health does not allow for pet care

While no one can say that every pet adopted from a shelter or rescue will work out perfectly, it's important to remember that misinformation about these homeless animals often keeps them from finding loving homes.

With divisional and county tournament titles on the line, there are a bevy of must-see, can't miss high school baseball games this week.

"You can't fly me to f***ing Cleveland and ask me to make a speech and then edit the s*** out of me." Watch video

Radio legend Howard Stern was thrilled when Bon Jovi, the legendary rock band from Sayreville, was selected for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he was excited when he was asked to introduce the legends at their induction.

Then his introduction speech was cut for time. And now he's furious. 

The shock jock vented for 20 minutes at the beginning of his show on Monday about how HBO edited his speech for the show, which aired Saturday night after the Cleveland ceremony was held April 14.

"I really crafted my words, I wanted to make people laugh. I wanted to have a good time," Stern said in the rant. "I really crafted the thing...so some editor could determine if I was funny in places? They were probably like, 'Hey, that's a funny joke, but we gotta cut somewhere.' No you don't have to cut somewhere!"

Stern said that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wanted him there so badly that they flew him to Cleveland on a private jet for the event.

One of Stern's producers suggested that about three minutes of his speech was cut.

"Oh yeah, trust me there was another 15 minutes ... I understand they have to edit it down," Stern said, before joking that an intern was probably behind the edits. "I want to know the comedy genius...I've sat in on these sessions. It's kind of like, 'Yeah, cut that!' It's like a butcher shop. 'Cut the fat off!' It's like, 'Yeah, well we gotta cut something.' No, you don't! If something's good, you don't cut it!" 

Stern went on to say that he would have been okay with edits if he had been asked beforehand and given approval on what would be cut.

"You can't fly me to f***ing Cleveland and ask me to make a speech and then edit the s*** out of me," Stern said. "I wasn't there talking about my career. I spent a lot of time on that and they spent three minutes deciding what should be in and out...They completely...gutted me. Like a rotting fish, which I am. That's how I feel inside."

There's no questioning Bon Jovi's legendary status -- enough of a New Jersey legend to earn its own day decreed by Gov. Phil Murphy --  though NJ.com's recent reviews of the band's performances have been critical enough that the band has denied credentials for concerts.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A man was killed Sunday when the car in which he was a passenger struck a concrete barrier and burst into flames.

A man was killed Sunday when the car in which he was a passenger struck a concrete barrier and burst into flames.

The male passenger, whose name and age were not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene on Stelton Road in Piscataway during the "early morning hours," according to a release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

The release did not say if another car was involved.

The driver of the Toyota Camry was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with serious injuries and underwent surgery, authorities said. Their condition was not released.

The prosecutor's office release said no charges have been filed but that the accident is being investigated.

Anyone with information can call Piscataway Police Sgt. Constance Crea at (732) 562-2340, or Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Det. Erik Larsen at (732) 745-3263.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.