State/County - Bensalem Township

Commissioners Declare Emergency Disaster in Response to Severe Flooding over the Weekend

Published

3 years ago

July 18, 2023

staff

Today, Bucks County Commissioners Bob Harvie, Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Gene DiGirolamo have unanimously signed a Declaration of Disaster Emergency in response to the severe flooding over the weekend. The declaration will be officially ratified retroactively this Wednesday, July 19 at the Board of Commissioners meeting.

A severe flash flood occurring Saturday evening in Upper Makefield Township, along Houghs Creek, trapped 11 vehicles. Multiple life-saving rescues were made by crews from Upper Makefield Township and neighboring fire departments as the incident unfolded, but tragically five people have died and two children, siblings aged nine months and two years old, are still missing. An ongoing search and recovery effort is underway.

The County has activated its Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and Major Incident Response Team (MIRT). Upper Makefield Township authorities continue to act as the lead agency coordinating the response. Hundreds of emergency personnel have contributed to the efforts.

On Sunday, Pennsylvania Task Force One was deployed and Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey, State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, and Rep. Perry Warren were on the scene to survey the damage. Sen. John Fetterman also visited Upper Makefield yesterday. They, along with other state and federal officials, have all pledged their support. Commissioner Harvie, Governor Shapiro and other officials walk along storm damaged road

Bucks County Commissioners Harvie, Marseglia, and DiGirolamo issue the following joint statement:

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy and express our deepest gratitude to the first responders whose heroic actions on Saturday prevented far greater loss of life. We continue to pray for the two missing children.

We would like to thank the numerous police, fire, and EMS personnel who responded swiftly and continue to work on the recovery efforts, especially Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer, who has led coordination efforts. Along with assistance from fire departments from all over Bucks County, water rescue teams from Montgomery County, and PEMA we are truly grateful to have partners that immediately jumped into action.

As always, we are extremely proud of our County’s 911 staff and Emergency Management personnel, led by Director Audrey Kenny, who quickly activated the EOC and continue to provide support and resources.

With today’s Declaration of Disaster Emergency, we will ensure that the County will continue to provide any and all resources necessary to continue responding to this unprecedented weather event that has affected so many lives in and out of Bucks County.” Officials gather where the road and drive way separate due to storm damage

Resource information from Bucks County Emergency Management for County residents affected by the flash flooding:

If there is damage to your home, please directly contact your municipality to make a report:

Lower Makefield Township residents: 267-274-1100
Upper Makefield Township residents: 215-968-334
Wrightstown Township residents: 215-598-3313
All Bucks County municipalities

Also, the American Red Cross has staff at the Yardley-Makefield Fire Company (105 South Main Street, Yardley, PA 19067). Red Cross staff is available Monday, July 17 until 7:00 PM.

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Bucks Republicans Announce Endorsed Candidates for 2026 Elections

Published

3 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

4 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

8 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.