Kenny Cooper

Philly suburbs hit best off-year voter turnout since 2011 Voters in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties showed up in droves, despite there being no big-ticket federal race.

We crunched the numbers (that were available).

Philadelphia’s suburbs saw their highest voter turnout for an off-year election cycle dating back to 2011.

Was it Trump backlash? Interesting judicial races? Or good local candidates?

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Downingtown elects Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor Democrat Erica Deuso defeated Republican Richard Bryant in the borough of Downingtown’s mayoral election.

A small town a few dozen miles west of Philadelphia made history Wednesday morning by electing Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor.

Downingtown mayor-elect Erica Deuso said she carries “that responsibility with care and with purpose.”

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Democrats retain unanimous control of Delaware County Council Democrats Richard Womack and Joanne Phillips prevailed over Republicans Brian Burke and Liz Piazza.

Delaware County’s highest elected office will remain under sole Democratic control.

Unofficial results in this high-turnout, off-year election show Democrats defeating Republicans in the race for two seats on Delaware County Council.

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1 in 3 Pa. SNAP recipients are kids. Philly-area schools face ‘uncertainty’ feeding students Nearly 241,000 children in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties receive SNAP benefits.

1 in 3 Pa. SNAP recipients are kids. As cuts remain in limbo — and the state budget impasse continues, Philly-area schools face “uncertainty” feeding students.

Upper Darby School District only has sufficient food service funds through December.

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William Penn School District could run out of money within months More than half of the Delaware County school district's revenue comes from the state. Without a budget, funds could run dry by the end of January.

The William Penn School District in Delaware County could run out of cash as early as Jan. 31 if Pennsylvania’s budget impasse continues.

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Chesco250 apologizes for Facebook post highlighting Confederate leader Chesco250 said “the content originated from an intern unaware of Jefferson Davis’ role in American history and was posted through an automated process.”

Chesco250 posted on Facebook Tuesday honoring Confederate President Jefferson Davis for fighting “for a more perfect union.”

"The content originated from an intern unaware of Jefferson Davis’ role in American history," Chesco250 said in an apology.

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Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Springfield Hospital to be abandoned if a sale fails Springfield’s solicitor said that word of a possible abandonment came as a “total surprise.”

The starting bid for Crozer-Chester Medical Center is $7 million and the starting bid for Springfield Hospital is $3 million.

Prospect believes a sale will happen. If the sales fall through, a judge is allowing the company to abandon the property.

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Haverford school district at odds with teachers union over wage increase proposal Staff in Delaware County’s second-largest school district have been working without a contract since Sept. 1. The two sides are finally getting closer to a deal.

Teachers and staff at Delaware County's second-largest school district have been working without a contract since Sept. 1.

The two sides are finally inching closer to a deal.

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Why a Glenside veteran joined the global flotilla to get aid to Gaza As the flotilla gains worldwide attention, Philly, Montco and Delco lawmakers have signed on to legislation that would block the U.S. from sending certain weapons to Israel.

As the flotilla gains worldwide attention, Philly, Montco and Delco lawmakers have signed on to legislation that would block the U.S. from sending certain weapons to Israel.

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‘We don’t have enough seats’: Funding crisis upends William Penn School District A perfect storm of circumstances, including the Pennsylvania budget impasse, has led to problems for the chronically underfunded school district in Delaware County.

Pennsylvania’s budget impasse has paused dollars from reaching the cash-strapped William Penn School District just as contract negotiations between the district and its teachers union stalled.

The result? No homecoming dance. No extracurriculars.

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Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Springfield Hospital head to auction block Prospect Medical Holdings is selling real estate from the shuttered hospitals, with a possible auction if enough bids come in, court documents show.

Crozer Health was once Delaware County’s largest health system.

Now, investors are picking at what’s left of its shuttered carcass for property.

Prospect Medical Holdings is auctioning off Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Springfield Hospital.

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SPS Technologies pledges to return to Abington, unveils new design The aerospace parts manufacturer’s old plant went up in flames months ago and prompted evacuations and school closures in Abington, Cheltenham and Jenkintown.

SPS Technologies is pledging to rebuild its aerospace fastener facility in Abington, just months after a huge fire reduced the century-old plant to ash.

The company pledges the new facility will be smaller. Construction is set to begin in 2026.

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Cheltenham residents urge officials to adopt immigrant welcoming policy A growing number of communities in Montgomery County have turned to welcoming policies to prevent local law enforcement from assisting ICE.

A growing number of communities in Montgomery County have turned to welcoming policies to prevent local law enforcement from assisting ICE.

Cheltenham residents are urging township officials to act to protect local immigrants.

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U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon denied entry to region’s largest ICE detention center Delaware County’s member of Congress is considering joining a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

ICE officials denied U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon entry to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania.

It's the regions largest ICE facility.

Scanlon plans to join other Democratic lawmakers in suing the Trump administration.

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U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon denied entry to region’s largest ICE detention center Delaware County’s member of Congress is considering joining a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

ICE officials denied U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon entry to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania.

It's the regions largest ICE facility.

Scanlon plans to join other Democratic lawmakers in suing the Trump administration.

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Chester city homicides decline 85% this summer Reported instances of both nonviolent and violent crime are down in Delaware County’s only city during the summer of 2025.

Following similar trends across the country, the city of Chester has experienced an 85% decline in homicides since June.

There were seven homicides during the summer of 2024.

There has been one homicide this summer.

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Pennsylvania budget impasse halts millions in state funding to Chester County Stalled budget negotiations have upended SEPTA operations and are beginning to impact crucial services in Chester County.

Stalled negotiations in Harrisburg have upended SEPTA operations — and are beginning to slice into crucial community services in Chester County.

The county Department of Human Services has already missed out on $10 million in state funding.

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ICE engaged in ‘standoff’ in Trenton, N.J. ICE agents failed to gain entry to detain an unknown number of people inside a home on Bayard Street.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surrounded a home Thursday in the Chambersburg section of Trenton. ICE failed to gain entry to detain an unknown number of people inside.

Immigration advocates are claiming victory.

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Norristown appoints new police chief. Not every councilmember was on board Michael Trail, who is currently Lansdale’s chief of police, will begin his tenure as Norristown’s top cop Nov. 3.

Norristown Municipal Council voted 4-1 Tuesday evening to appoint Michael Trail as the next chief of police.

Two council members opted to abstain. Trail will become Norristown's fourth police chief in as many years.

He declined to comment.

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Bucks County Democrats call on state legislators to fund SEPTA ahead of deadline Elected officials and residents expressed concerns over how SEPTA cuts could impact students, seniors and commuters who live in the suburbs.

SEPTA is facing a major budget shortfall. Without an influx of state funding, the transit agency plans to cut 45% of its services.

Bucks County officials rallied Thursday at SEPTA’s Yardley station, demanding more funding for the agency.

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‘A feast for your ears’: Century-old Lansdowne Theater set to return as concert hall The historic theater in Delaware County is set to open its doors Aug. 22 for the first time in nearly 40 years.

For the first time in nearly four decades, Lansdowne Theater is opening its doors on August 22nd with a presentation of “Chazz Palminteri: A Bronx Tale.”

The small town theater is making a big comeback.

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Pennsylvania legislator to introduce bill blocking federal takeover of local police State Sen. Art Haywood, of Montgomery County, wants to prevent President Donald Trump from taking over police in Pennsylvania like he did in Washington, D.C.

State Sen. Art Haywood, of Montgomery County, wants to prevent President Donald Trump from taking over local police like he did in D.C.

Legal scholars agree that Trump would have a difficult time finding any basis for such a move in other cities.

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From ashes to art: Ardmore artist crafts ceramics from cremated remains Grieving clients send cremated remains to Ahava Memorials, where artist Daniel Hoffman transforms ashes into ceramic art.

Through Daniel Hoffman’s hands, ashes of the dead receive new life as art for the living.

Grieving customers send a scoop of cremated remains to Ahava Memorials where the Ardmore artist turns the last vestige of a loved one into a ceramic memorial.

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From ashes to art: Ardmore artist crafts ceramics from cremated remains Grieving clients send cremated remains to Ahava Memorials, where artist Daniel Hoffman transforms ashes into ceramic art.

An Ardmore artist crafts ceramics out of cremated remains to help families memorialize their loved ones.

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Delaware County plagued by longer ambulance rides, emergency room waits Crozer Health’s shutdown is affecting everyone from Delaware County’s working-class neighborhoods near the riverfront all the way to the Main Line.

With only two remaining hospitals in Pennsylvania’s second densest county, Delaware County’s average ambulance transport time has more than tripled since 2020.

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ChristianaCare to open West Grove ‘neighborhood hospital’ in August The site of the former Jennersville Hospital in Chester County will soon be home to ChristianaCare’s first neighborhood hospital.

ChristianaCare is set to open its new West Grove "neighborhood hospital" on the former Jennersville Hospital campus in August.

Chester County has had only three hospitals since Tower Health shutdown Brandywine and Jennersville in 2022.

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South Jersey military base to be temporarily used to hold immigrant detainees New Jersey Congressional Democrats are condemning the move, calling it “unacceptable and shameful.”

The Trump administration has approved the use of South Jersey’s Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to hold immigrant detainees.

It’s the latest move in the administration’s plan to conduct mass deportations.

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Norristown immigrant community, allies shaken after ICE raid at supermarket Residents shared their concerns about the latest in a slew of arrests in Norristown and surrounding areas.

Dozens of immigrant community members and allies held a vigil Wednesday night in the parking lot of the Super Gigante grocery store in Norristown, where earlier that day immigration enforcement officers detained at least 14 people.

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Chester stormwater authority must stop paying board salaries, Pa. court rules Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Judge Matthew S. Wolf issued an order calling for the agency to reduce the size of its board and cease paying board salaries.

Big changes are coming to the Stormwater Authority of the City of Chester. The authority must reduce the size of its board from nine to five members, and the remaining board members will no longer receive salaries.

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Norristown Area School District approves $12M expansion project Norristown Area School District is installing prefabricated additions to Cole Manor Elementary School, Hancock Elementary School and the administration building.

Norristown Area School District is running out of school space.

The district's school board unanimously approved a $12 million project to increase the capacity of its buildings by installing prefabricated additions.

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