State/County - Bensalem Township

OD’s Decrease, but Fetanyl remains as Leading Killer in Bucks, Coroner Says

Published

3 years ago

May 2, 2023

Data released by the county coroner’s office says over the last year there was a slight decrease in the number of confirmed overdose fatalities from 178 to 173 in 2022. Fetanyl remains as the most common drug found on toxicological reports during death investigations.

Coroner Meredith J. Buck said overdose deaths were mostly occurred in men (70.5 percent) who are white (82.7 percent) with an age range of 18 to 69, an average age of 43. Around one-third of the deaths were in those aged 35 to 44.

Lab testing, Buck said, continued to confirm Fetanyl as the most common drug in fatal overdoses. The deadly opioid synthetic was found alone or in combination in a total of 137 deaths (79.2). The next most common drugs were methamphetamine (27.7 percent) xylazine (25.4 percent) and cocaine (17.9 percent). 75 percent of drug caused deaths involved a combination of drugs, rather than a single substance.

Township’s with more than 10 confirmed overdose deaths were; Bristol (51); Bensaelm (23); Falls (18); and middletown (15) coroner data shows.

Four persons died due to acute alcohol intoxication with no other substances involved. Uncommon single-drug deaths in 2022 included one death attributed to mitragynine (also known as kratom) and two deaths attributed to bromazolam, an unapproved benzodiazepine, which new to the Bucks area, Buck said

“Drug deaths, particular opioid-related deaths, continuing to plague…Bucks, said the coroner, “my office diligently investigates each suspected drug death according to the highest national standards. we performed autopsies, in 84 percent of drug deaths in 2022 to ensure an accurate cause and manner of death.”

The office shares drug death data with agencies such as a the DEA

“It is my hope that the information we provide will inform prevention effiorts as we continue to battle the opioid epidemic.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Health provided a grant to help offset testing costs involved with suspected drug caused death investigations, officials said.

Related Topics:Coroner Meredith J. Buck Fetanyl overdose deaths

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Bucks Republicans Announce Endorsed Candidates for 2026 Elections

Published

4 hours ago

March 12, 2026

staff

The Bucks County Republican Committee on Wednesday announced their recommended slate of candidates for the 2026 election.

Following a rigorous vetting process, committee members from across the country are supporting a team of proven leaders and dedicated newcomers. From defending our taxpayers to ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe, these candidates have the integrity and work ethic required to deliver results for our communities, said Chairwoman Pat Poprik.

“Our 2026 ticket represents the very best of Bucks County,” said Poprik. “We are united and ready to get to work.”

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦:

U.S. Congress: Brian Fitzpatrick

Credit: Bucks County Republican Committee

PA Senate: (Lower Bucks) Frank Farry

Credit: Bucks County Republican Committee

PA House: (Lower Bucks) Kristin Marcell, K.C. Tomlinson, Joe Hogan

Credit: Bucks County Republican Committee

Statewide: Stacy Garrity (Governor) & Jason Richey (Lt. Governor)

Credit: Bucks County Republican Committee

You can click here to get involved and learn more about the endorsed candidates

The Primary Election will be held Tuesday May 19 with the General Election scheduled for November 3.

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Fmr Bucks County Resident, Trump Voter Convicted of Voter Fraud

Published

5 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Jeff Bohen

Earlier this month federal prosecutors announced a Bethlehem man was convicted of election fraud by a federal jury for voting twice in the 2020 presidential election

United States Attorney David Metcalf announced Matthew Laiss, 32, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was convicted at trial on March 3 of election fraud offenses in connection with the 2020 presidential election.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Laiss was charged by indictment in September of last year with one count of voting more than once in a federal election and one count of voter fraud and was convicted on both charges.

According to court filings, from at least October 2012 until about August 2020, Laiss resided in, and was lawfully registered to vote in, Ottsville, Pennsylvania, a municipality located in Bucks County. In or around August 2020, Laiss moved his primary residence from Ottsville, to Frostproof, Florida. The same month, he applied for and obtained a Florida driver’s license and registered to vote in Florida.

In or about October 2020, the Bucks County Board of Elections mailed a ballot for the November 2020 general election to the Laiss’ former address in Ottsville, Pennsylvania, where his parents continued to reside.

As proven at trial, on or about October 31, 2020, Laiss filled out and returned the Pennsylvania mail-in ballot, casting a vote for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America, prosecutors say.

Then, according to investigators, on or about November 3, 2020, Laiss went to a polling location in or around Frostproof, Florida, and voted in the 2020 general election, casting a vote for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America.

According to a Penn Capital-Star report, the double voting was uncovered with the help of a multistate voter roll maintenance program called ERIC, which was the target of conservative attacks in the years after the 2020 election.

Numerous conservative-run states left ERIC between the 2020 and 2024 election, including Florida, where Laiss was double-registered, the report says

Pennsylvania remains an ERIC member state, even though legislation has been authored by Republicans at the state level to withdraw from the program, according to state records.

This “…conviction reinforces a simple principle: our elections must be fair, secure, and lawful, ” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Casting a ballot in more than one jurisdiction undermines public trust and dilutes the votes of others. Our office will continue to protect the integrity of federal elections and hold accountable those who violate the law.”

Laiss is scheduled to be sentenced June 10, 2026, and faces a maximum possible sentence of five years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $10,000 to $250,000 fine, for each of the charges on which he was convicted.

This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of State, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.

Editor’s Note: Mr Laiss in myriad of media reports publicly declared his support and votes for President Trump in the 2020 Elections

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Construction Planned for Thurs.-Fri. Nights on I-95N in NE Philadelphia

Published

9 hours ago

March 12, 2026

staff

PennDOT announced that construction activities will occur at night Thursday on northbound I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia.

Motorists are advised of the following travel restriction:

Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13, from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning, a lane closure will be in place on northbound I-95 between the Castor Avenue and Betsy Ross Bridge interchanges for sheet pile installation.

All scheduled activities are weather permitting. Motorists are advised to allow extra time for traveling on northbound I-95 because backups and delays will occur.

The sheet piles will help support the embankment during northbound reconstruction of I-95 between Wheatsheaf Lane and Margaret Street as part of PennDOT’s $355.3 million I-95/BR3 project.