Essex County, New Jersey

Essex County Public Schools in Virginia dismissed students early on Friday, Sept. 11, after threats were made against the schools. All county schools let out at 10:30 a.m. following the advice of local and state authorities, who recommended erring on the side of caution.

School officials asked parents to receive their children at home rather than at schools to avoid congestion and allow buses to move quickly. Staff remained on standby throughout the day to confirm all students reached home safely, with the district staying in touch with families until pickups and drop-offs were complete. After-school activities were canceled for the day.

Details about the nature or source of the threats have not been released. The incident adds to a string of recent school threats nationwide that have prompted heightened security responses and early dismissals as districts weigh safety precautions against disruption to students and families.

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, communities across the country continue to maintain memorials honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed and the first responders who died in the response. Beyond the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, dozens of smaller tributes exist in states far from the attack sites, including Kansas, Arizona, California, Texas and Illinois. Many incorporate recovered steel or artifacts from the World Trade Center, donated to towns that raised funds or built connections with New York agencies in the aftermath.

New additions mark the anniversary, including a Brooklyn wall dedicated this year honoring retired FDNY members who died from WTC-related illnesses, underscoring that the attacks' death toll has continued to grow over the past 25 years. Organizers and artists behind the memorials say the goal is to keep the tragedy personal rather than abstract, ensuring the scale of loss doesn't obscure the individual lives behind it.

Essex County Public Schools in Virginia closed on Wednesday, Aug. 26, after a water main break left Tappahannock Elementary School, the School Board Office and the surrounding residential area without water. The district announced the closure on Facebook, noting that the disruption affected the school building and nearby homes.

Lunch was made available for pickup at James Cary Intermediate School at noon on a first-come, first-served basis for students affected by the closure. All 12-month employees were permitted to telework or use liberal leave for the day. The district said it would provide an update once water service is restored. Essex County Public Schools began its 2026-2027 academic year on Monday, Aug. 10, meaning the closure came just over two weeks into the new school year.

Massachusetts voters headed to the polls Tuesday in a primary highlighted by a competitive Democratic Senate contest between incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, 80, and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, 47. The race reverses a familiar dynamic in this year's Democratic primaries, with progressives Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backing the incumbent over the more moderate challenger. Markey held a large fundraising advantage and led recent polls by double digits; Moulton, a Marine veteran and 2020 presidential candidate, drew support from The Boston Globe's editorial board, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, and VoteVets. Moulton has also faced scrutiny over past comments on transgender athletes, which he has since apologized for. The primary winner will face Republican John Deaton in November.

Similar generational clashes played out down-ballot: progressive attorney Patrick Roath, who has spent more than $1 million on his campaign, challenged longtime Rep. Stephen Lynch in the 8th District, while a crowded six-way Democratic field, including Dan Koh and Tram Nguyen, competed to succeed Moulton in the 6th District. Other notable races include a Republican gubernatorial primary between Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve, and contested district attorney races in Norfolk and Suffolk counties. Given the state's heavy Democratic lean, primary winners are strongly favored in November, with results shaping the competitive landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms.