Connect with us
Flager & Associates , PC
lower bucks hospital

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

State Supreme Court Declines to Weigh In on Mail In Ballot Issues For Now

Published

on

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has declined to step in and immediately decide issues related to mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania with early voting already is underway with 29 days left before Election Day.

On  Saturday night, the court rejected a request by voting right and left-leaning groups to stop counties from throwing out mail-in ballots that lack handwritten dates or have incorrect dates on the return envelope.  The court, in advance of already hotly contested races, cited prior rulings pointing to the risk of confusing voters so close to the election.

“This Court will neither impose nor countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election,” the unsigned order said.

Chief Justice Debra Todd dissented, saying voters, election officials and courts needed clarity on the issue before Election Day.

Justice P. Kevin Brobson, said in a concurring opinion that the voter advocacy groups delayed for more than a year after an earlier high court ruling to bring their challenge, and it was “an all-too-common practice of litigants who postpone seeking judicial relief on election-related matters until the election is underway that creates uncertainty.”

Todd disagreeing with her colleagues on the high court’s stance said, “We ought to resolve this important constitutional question now, before ballots may be improperly rejected and voters disenfranchised.”

Some voters are apparently confused or do not understand the legal requirement to sign and date their mail-in ballots, leaving tens of thousands of ballots without accurate dates since Pennsylvania expanded mail-in voting in 2019. The issue of whether to count, not to count, notify or not notify voters who have filled out mail-in ballots, thinking they have voted is definitely seen as giant massive issue.

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs said a number of courts have found  a voter-written date is meaningless in determining whether the ballot arrived on time or whether the voter is eligible.  Rejecting a ballot, the plaintiffs say, on that basis should be considered constitutional violation at the state level. “The parties won their case on the same claim in a statewide court earlier this year but it was thrown out by the state Supreme Court on a technicality before justices considered the merits,” an AP report says.

Statewide Democrats have sided with the plaintiffs; ack Political Empowerment Project, POWER Interfaith, Make the Road Pennsylvania, One PA Activists United, New PA Project Education Fund Pittsburgh United, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and Common Cause Pennsylvania.

Republicans have repeatedly said the date requirement is a safeguard protecting elections and voters in numerous media accounts.

Mail-in voting for now is a partisan issue with just under 75 percent of those votes coming from Democrats. Both political parties have said the specter of mail-in voting being rife with fraud can be laid at the feet of former president Donald Trump.  He continues to make unfounded claims that mail-in voting is “rigged.” 

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has five Democratic justices and two Republican justices elected to it. The Court is more than likely to continue playing an integral role in the 2024 elections.

Mail-in ballots, for those that applied for one in Bucks County, started appearing in voter mailboxes over the last few days with some locals already receiving theirs.

 

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Flager & Associates , PC
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township

NJ Man Has Aggravated Assault Charges of Police Held Over for Trial

Published

on

A Millville, New Jersey man accused of stealing a vehicle and subsequently striking a Bensalem Police officer last year, when attempting to flee a traffic stop had all of his charges held over for trial at preliminary hearing last week.

Late last month Magisterial District Judge Michael W. Gallagher ruled there was enough evidence presented by the Commonwealth to sustain two felony counts of aggravated assault, felony fleeing, felony theft and related offenses filed against Devit Sanchez of New Jersey.

According to the probable cause, on Friday, August 8, 2025, Bensalem Township Police conducted a stolen vesicle investigation at the Sunoco Gas Station, located at 1432 Street Road,  The stolen vehicle was identified as a 2020 Acura ILX. white in color, bearing NIN97NMP, The vehicle is listed in NCIC as stolen out of Mount Laurel, NJ. Police were alerted to the stolen  vehicle traveling in the area of Bensalem Twp.

Police saw the stolen vehicle at the gas pumps of the Sunoco Station and a male entering the driver’s seat.

Officers pulled behind the stolen vehicle af the gas pumps and another Bensalem officer pulled in front of it, and the driver reversed the allegedly stolen vehicle rammed a patrol car causing the officer’s head to hit the interior roof.

Sanchez then fled the Sunoco Station at a high rate of speed traveling Eastbound on Street Rd. Bensalem officers pursued the vehicle that fled onto Northbound I-95 exceeding speeds of over 100 mph. The pursuit was eventually terminated and the vehicle got away.

Surveillance footage from the Sunoco Gas Station was obtained by the Bensalem Police, court records show.

Investigators circulated the video surveillance to other police agencies and to the public depicting the stolen vehicle and driver. Through investigation, a suspect was developed, identified as Sanchez, according to the probable cause.

On  October 7 , Police conducted an interview with Sanchez in which he allegedly admitted he was the driver of the stolen vehicle in this incident that hit an officer’s police car and fled.

An arrest warrant  was issued on January 27 for Sanchez and he was arrested on Feb. 2.

Sanchez remains in County Jail unable to post bond although a county judge reduced his his bail to half of the original set, to 10 percent of $100,000.00

He is scheduled for a formal arraignment in Doylestown on March 13 and is legally represented by the Bucks County Public Defender’s Office.

No trial date has been set as of publication time

 

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Pig Iron’s Franklin’s Key Returns This Summer to Light Up Philly’s 250th

Published

on

By

Credit: Pig Iron Theatre Company

Celebrated for its jaw-dropping special effects, imaginative  stagecraft, bold costumes, and original score, Pig Iron Theatre Company’s Barrymore Award-winning  production Franklin’s Key returns this summer following last year’s breakout world premiere that  captivated audiences and critics alike.

Pig Iron remounts its hit sci-fi adventure June 11 to 28, 2026, at the intimate, 220-seat venue -Plays & Players Theatre- located at 1714 Delancey Street, Philadelphia.

Set across iconic Philadelphia landmarks and steeped in the city’s real scientific legacy, Franklin’s Key is  an ideal cultural experience as the nation celebrates the Semiquincentennial. The show transforms  Philadelphia’s history of invention, revolution, and curiosity into a thrilling live adventure, making it a  natural fit for theater lovers exploring the city during America’s 250th commemoration. Fans of The  Goonies, Stranger Things, Harry Potter, and National Treasure will enjoy the artistry and mystery of this  thrilling live, immersive stage production. Last year’s debut generated strong audience demand,  extensive press attention, and praise for its inventive storytelling and visual ingenuity. Broad Street Review called the show “visually mesmerizing,” highlighting its blend of history, science, and myth as “a  timely look at who wields power and knowledge.”

Co-Director Dan Rothenberg offers, “This love letter to Philadelphia brings together sci-fi fans, history  nerds, and science enthusiasts. We were so delighted to hear audiences say it was the one show that  they could bring grandparents and kids to, and nobody felt left out. While the show offers adventure and  humor that keeps younger audiences engaged, the intrigue of secret societies and a story rooted deeply  in Philadelphia’s culture is sure to fascinate audiences of all ages. Our goal is to offer everyone a wild ride  that makes history and science surprising and arresting and twisty.”

During the War of Independence, the British feared Benjamin Franklin could control the weather.  Franklin’s Key asks: What if that were true? A mystery unfolds for audiences in an alternate reality where  Franklin’s undiscovered technology has been hidden underneath some of Philadelphia’s most treasured  landmarks for centuries. Set in present-day Philadelphia, Franklin’s Key follows two teenage prodigies:  Temple (Jameka Monet Wilson), a self-taught scientist, and her brother Arturo (Alton Alburo), a gifted  musician. The two uncover an ancient mystery, setting off a chain of events that draws them into a secret  battle between rival factions seeking to harness the incredible yet volatile powers of Franklin’s long-lost  technology. Aided by a cast of misfit friends, Temple and Arturo traverse hidden tunnels under the city,  leading them from abandoned subway platforms to the iconic statue of William Penn atop City Hall and  the building-sized organ inside the old Wanamaker Department Store. With time running out, the team must navigate a labyrinth hidden underneath Philadelphia, evade powerful enemies, and unlock the  secrets Franklin left behind before his discoveries fall into the wrong hands.

Almost all of the original Barrymore Award–winning cast returns for Franklin’s Key, reuniting the  celebrated ensemble that first brought the production to life and earned widespread critical acclaim in  Philadelphia. Their return underscores the production’s impact and the continued collaboration at the  heart of Pig Iron’s work.

Franklin’s Key runs approximately two hours with a short intermission and is recommended for children  ages eight and up. Previews run from June 11 to 14, with an opening, invite-only performance set for  Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices start at $45, with 20% discounts for patrons 18 and under or 65+, and group discounts are  available for parties of 10 or more. Click here to purchase tickets. To book a group of 10 or more  people, please email boxoffice@pigiron.org

Click here for more information.

Continue Reading

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

‘A Tribute to the Tenors’ Salutes More than a Dozen Singers 

Published

on

By

Credit: BCCC

Bucks Live! – the series of cultural events at Bucks County Community College (BCCC) that brings world-renowned entertainment to Newtown – proudly presents “A Tribute to the Tenors” with John D. Smitherman.

Smitherman, one of the original Three American Tenors, showcases his incredible vocal range, commanding stage presence, and heartfelt storytelling. With a voice equally at home in operatic arias and popular classics, Smitherman takes audiences on a musical journey celebrating the greatest tenor voices of all time.

The concert will be in the intimate Zlock Performing Arts Center, located on the BCCC’s main campus at 275 Swamp Rd. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 13. .The Zlock Lobby Bar serves drinks and snacks starting 90 minutes before curtain and during intermission.

Smitherman pays homage to more than a dozen songsmiths, varying in style, including such iconic artists as Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Tom Jones, Mario Lanza, Andy Williams, Luciano Pavarotti, and others. The show features many favorites, including “You Raise Me Up,” “It’s Impossible,” “Magic Moments,” “Time to Say Goodbye,” and many more. 

Reserved seating tickets are only $25, and free for BCCC students with current student ID. 

Click here to reserve tickets.

Click here for directions and a campus map..

 

Continue Reading

SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our newsletter today to receive a daily email digest of our recent stories.

Categories

Trending