April 30, 2026
In the hours after a December explosion rocked Bristol Health & Rehab Center, leaving three dead and another 20 injured, first responders could not be certain they had evacuated everyone.
“There were probably extended searches that went on in that building that were unnecessary because we thought we had everybody, but we continued searching and searching to make sure, because we didn’t know,” Bristol Township Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said Thursday, the nursing home rubble behind him.
April 30, 2026
The biggest challenge facing the dozens of firefighters searching for survivors in a partially collapsed, gas-filled Bristol Township nursing home last year was that they didn’t know how many people were still inside.
With no record of unaccounted for people available, firefighters were forced to conduct extensive, hours-long searches under dangerous conditions that turned out to be unnecessary.
April 18, 2026
DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Doylestown Township Municipal Authority has been awarded a $4.4 million grant for the removal of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” from its water system.
The grant award, made through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), was announced by State Senator Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Tim Brennan.
April 7, 2026
LOWER BUCKS COUNTY – A group of state lawmakers has formally called on PECO to reconsider its recent regulatory filings seeking additional increases to electric and natural gas rates.
In a letter sent April 2, the legislators expressed concerns that PECO’s proposals would place further financial strain on residents already facing high utility costs.
The letter was signed by Sen. Frank Farry (R-6), Rep. Shelby Labs (R-143), Rep. Joe Hogan (R-142), Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-178) and Rep. Kathleen Tomlinson (R-18).
April 1, 2026
BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Three Pennsylvania lawmakers, including Bucks County State Senator Steve Santarsiero, have introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow local law enforcement agencies to use radar speed detection, a tool used by local police in every other state in the nation.
State Senators Nick Miller (D-14), Greg Rothman (R-34), and Steve Santarsiero (D-10) introduced bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill 1237, to put radar technology in the hands of local police departments.
March 30, 2026
For the third time in four years, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed legislation to raise the minimum wage. For the third time, this bill now sits in the Senate awaiting action.
The question is no longer whether we should raise the minimum wage. The question is why we haven’t already.
March 27, 2026
At $7.25, Pennsylvania has the lowest minimum wage in the Mid-Atlantic region – a fact that isn’t set to change any time soon unless Pennsylvania’s senators vote to finally increase it.
A vote on HB 2189 to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour cleared the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday 104-95 – mostly along party lines with Democrats supporting the move and most Republicans voting against it.
March 20, 2026
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and state Rep. Tina Davis, both Democrats announced the Third District Volunteer Fire Company has been awarded a $541,835 grant for facility improvements to the fire station.
The funds are earmarked towards the first of several planned major improvements to the fire station which was built in 1964, fire company officials said.
March 20, 2026
A perennial political question in Pennsylvania is back on the menu: should your local cops have radar?
A bipartisan group of state Senators announced Friday that they have re-introduced legislation that would permit municipal police in the commonwealth to use radar for traffic speed enforcement, something that currently only state police are broadly authorized to do.
March 13, 2026
In the United States, vaccines have long been one of the most successful public health tools available. They have saved millions of lives, prevented the spread of dangerous diseases, and allowed generations of children to grow up protected from once devastating illnesses. This progress is thanks to the work of scientists like Bucks County’s own Stanley Plotkin, the “godfather of vaccines”, who helped develop vaccines for rubella, rabies and rotavirus, and wrote a seminal textbook on vaccines that’s still in print today.
March 3, 2026
The Central Bucks Board of School Directors has formally thrown its support behind a proposed statewide ban on student cellphone use during the entire school day.
In a resolution approved at its Thursday night meeting, the board expressed unified support for Senate Bill 1014, legislation that would require Pennsylvania school districts to prohibit students from using cellphones “bell-to-bell” beginning in the 2027–28 school year.
The bill, co-sponsored by State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, passed the Pennsylvania Senate on Feb. 3 and has moved to the House of Representatives for consideration. Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced he would sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
February 28, 2026
On February 27, Sen. Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) introduced Senate Bill 1157 establishing the obligations of pipeline owners and anyone discharging hazardous substances to respond to and clean up spills and releases.
The bill also gives the Department of Environmental Protection additional authority to respond to these emergencies.
The legislation is in response to an Energy Transfer/Sunoco jet fuel pipeline rupture in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County that contaminated water wells in a residential neighborhood.
February 11, 2026
The Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 1014 last week, a bill to create cellphone-free classrooms from bell-to-bell in K-12 schools across our Commonwealth. As Senator Devlin Robinson (R–37), Senator Vincent Hughes (D–7), and I were writing the bill, we worked with many stakeholders to address concerns from parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members. This policy did not originate in Harrisburg, but in the lived experiences of parents, educators, and students who have seen firsthand how constant access to cellphones is reshaping the school day.
January 2, 2026
SOLEBURY TOWNSHIP, PA — A $350,000 grant awarded to Solebury Township by the state will be used toward the transformation of the historic Bond House at Aquatong Spring Park from a residential to a public use.
According to Solebury Township, the grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account will fund two-thirds of the cost required to create an accessible space inside the vacant structure.
December 28, 2025
BRYN MAWR, PA — Aqua Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG), has completed a new PFAS treatment system at its Edgely Water Treatment Facility in Bristol Township, marking the tenth PFAS treatment facility the utility has placed into operation since 2018 as it moves to comply with new national drinking water standards.
December 23, 2025
YARDLEY BOROUGH / LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — Local lawmakers have secured over $1 million in state grants for projects in the borough and the township, one which includes funding for the Patterson Farm buildings renovation project.
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Rep. Perry Warren (D-31) announced grants of $1,074,901 in state funding.
December 22, 2025
DOYLESTOWN, PA — Doylestown Borough celebrated the last day of Hanukkah on Sunday afternoon with donuts, games, and dancing in the streets at the Giant Dreidel.
Temple Judea, in partnership with Kehilat HaNahar (The Little Shul by the River), brought the afternoon of fun to downtown Doylestown where youngsters formed a human menorah, colored pictures and danced to songs played by a guest deejay.
December 15, 2025
A bill aiming to impose a ban on cellphones in Pennsylvania’s K-12 schools is gaining momentum in Harrisburg as educators struggle to compete with mobile devices for their students’ attention.
The state Senate Education Committee unanimously voted Dec. 9 to advance the legislation to the chamber floor for consideration.
December 12, 2025
Pennsylvania could soon follow more than half the states in the country in restricting cellphone use in schools if a bipartisan bill continues moving through the General Assembly.
Senate Bill 1014 would require school districts to prohibit students from using cellphones during the instructional day. Exceptions would include specific instructional use and students who need them to assist with disabilities or other conditions of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
December 11, 2025
School districts — whether public or private — across the commonwealth may be required to draft a policy prohibiting student cellphones with limited exceptions following a unanimous vote in the state Senate Education Committee Tuesday.
State Sens. Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny) and Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) introduced the bill to address the “growing issue” of cellphones in schools, where the devices can cause distractions and disrupt learning.
December 11, 2025
A Central Bucks West High School teacher said at a meeting Tuesday evening that the learning environment at CB West has improved dramatically now that students can no longer use their cellphones in class.
“This year has been absolutely wonderful” compared to last year, said psychology teacher Christie Besack.
The difference is a ban on smartphones during instructional time.
December 8, 2025
LOWER BUCKS COUNTY – A bill on how to eliminate cell phone use in schools will be discussed during a webinar on Tuesday night.
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) was among state legislators who introduced a bill in October for a “bell-to-bell policy” prohibiting students from using cell phones and other non-academic smart devices during the school day, with certain exceptions.
December 7, 2025
When the effort to restrict student cellphone use in schools first began two years ago, it was met with skepticism. Some thought it was unrealistic. Others worried it would create new enforcement headaches for teachers or intrude on parents’ ability to reach their children during the school day.
But since then, the conversation has shifted dramatically and decisively. What was once a fringe idea is now a mainstream movement.
November 13, 2025
Some 10 days after it warned it might run out of money and shut down in January, Morrisville School District this week felt a “huge sense of relief” learning the new Pennsylvania budget guarantees funding to keep it open.
Passage of the $50.1 billion budget, ending a 135-day impasse, sets aside $1.5 million in funding for Morrisville.
“It is a huge sense of relief to hear the state budget has passed and knowing there are additional dollars allocated for our district,” said Andrew Doster, superintendent.
November 5, 2025
MORRISVILLE, Pa. (WPVI) — The Morrisville School District is facing a financial crisis that could force the closure of its public schools by the end of January if Pennsylvania lawmakers fail to pass a long-overdue state budget.
At a joint meeting Tuesday night between the Morrisville School Board and Borough Council, officials discussed the district’s dire financial outlook. The meeting had been scheduled prior to the district’s recent announcement that it may have to shut down schools due to a lack of funding.
