A state of emergency was declared in Plainfield, New Jersey, and the city urged residents to remain indoors and stay off the roads.

New Jersey residents can expect a picture-perfect Fourth of July weekend with clear skies, low humidity, and comfortable temperatures in the 80s. The National Weather Service forecast indicates a dry, sunny Independence Day with northwest winds around 5-10 mph.

On Thursday, community leaders filled the main atrium of the Hennepin County Government Center to call for an end to violence in Minneapolis. The plea came after the murder of a young mother at Boom Island Park, the killing of an 11-year-old boy in broad daylight and the additional killings of two young women in the last two weeks.