HARRISBURG >> Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Cappy, the Capitol Police public service dog, on August 5 joined supporters in a plea for legislative action urgently needed to protect Pennsylvania’s dogs, their owners and their communities.

DOYLESTOWN >> Tropical storm Isaias ripped through Bucks County for much of the day Tuesday, August 4 leaving behind a trail of downed trees, power outages, property damage and way too much water.

DOYLESTOWN >> The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, has confirmed that it was a tornado that struck part of Doylestown on Tuesday ripping part of the roof off a daycare center as Tropical Storm Isaias churned through the region.

DOYLESTOWN >> After a one-week lull, Bucks County’s COVID-19 cases once again increased over the past week, with 287 infections reported.

DOYLESTOWN >> As tropical storm Isaias advances through the Delaware Valley, the Bucks County Commissioners announced they have activated the county’s Emergency Operations Center to help monitor and respond to the expected high winds and heavy rains.

PHILADELPHIA >> United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Vontez Scales, 29, of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 320 months in prison, ten years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine by United States District Judge Mark A. Kearney for his leadership …

LEVITTOWN >> State Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks, on August 3 released the following statement regarding contact with an individual who recently tested positive for COVID-19.

BUCKS COUNTY >> The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the I-95 corridor, including all of Bucks County, for flooding rain and tropical storm force winds early Tuesday morning into early Tuesday evening.

WASHINGTON, D.C. >> U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced on August 3 that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $35.5 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to Pennsylvania to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

DOYLESTOWN >> Three protests played out on Sunday afternoon in the heart of the Bucks County seat and they couldn’t have been more different.

HARRISBURG >> Governor Tom Wolf today (July 31) said there is no truth in "widespread rumors that I will soon be announcing a statewide school building closure or cancelling classes this fall.

DOYLESTOWN >> The Bucks County Health Department reported 131 additional COVID-19 cases over the past three days (July 28 to 30), an average of almost 44 per day. Fifty-four of those 131 cases – more than 40 percent – were delayed reports that no longer are considered infectious.

HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP >> Hilltown Township Police rescued a horse after a fire broke out in a barn July 23 in the 1500 block of Hilltown Pike.

DOYLESTOWN >> The Bucks County District Attorney’s office assisted the Pennsylvania State Police in serving search warrants related to the damage and destruction of two state police SUVs during the May 30 protests in Philadelphia.

BUCKS COUNTY >> Bucks County’s Department of Consumer Protection is recommending caution after receiving reports of residents receiving “unordered” packets of seeds of unknown origin via overseas mail delivery. Suspicious seeds

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP >> The Newtown Township Police Department arrested Precious Etsekhume and Kathryne Simon, both from Bronx, New York, on July 27 on charges that they defrauded the Bucks County Community College.

HARRISBURG >> Owners of the state’s restaurants, bars and taverns told members of the House Majority Policy Committee on July 28 the industry cannot survive the governor’s extreme COVID-19 restrictions on indoor dining and bar seating.

DOYLESTOWN >> Bucks County last week posted a slight decline in the number of positive COVID-19 cases for the first time since the week ending June 20.

DOYLESTOWN >> Residents from Bucks County and the surrounding areas will be coming together on Sunday, August 2 to show support for their local law enforcement officers.

DOYLESTOWN >> The Bucks County Health Department reported 124 COVID-19 infections on July 21, 22 and 23. That total includes 47 deleted-report cases that are at least two weeks old and no longer considered infectious.

**UPDATE: The event registration is currently full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email Deanna Miller at dmmiller@buckscounty.org.

NEWTOWN >> Dr. Stephanie H. Shanblatt, who has served as president of Bucks County Community College since 2012, plans to retire next June, she recently announced.

HARRISBURG >> Governor Tom Wolf signed several bills into law on July 23 including HB 1459, which establishes a mental wellness and stress management program for emergency responders who experience post-traumatic stress injuries or traumatic brain injuries on the job. The legislature p…

NEWTOWN >> While the Data Science and Dance degrees are designed to transfer to a four-year college or university, the other new programs will help students enter a specific occupation upon completion, according to Provost Lisa Angelo.

FALLS TOWNSHIP >> Lt. Nelson Whitney, Falls Township Police Department’s incoming police chief, brought the national conversation about criminal justice reform to the local arena during the July 20 Supervisors meeting.

FALLS TOWNSHIP >> Improvements are planned for the hockey rink at the Falls Township Community Park. And, with any luck, most of the costs will be covered by a state grant.

HARRISBURG >> In keeping with its dedicated efforts to provide commonwealth citizens with fair and equitable services, PennDOT is now offering a non-binary gender designation option for its driver licenses and photo identification cards.

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP >> Middletown Township in partnership with TMA Bucks has announced that the Middletown Township Municipal Center at 3 Municipal Way, Langhorne and the Department of Public Works building at 700 Veterans Highway, Levittown, now feature ChargePoint electric vehicle ch…

DOYLESTOWN >> The Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force together with local law enforcement partners have charged four members of a drug ring that used stolen identities to buy prescription drugs in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties.

HARRISBURG >> The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has approved a six-percent toll increase for all E-ZPass rates systemwide and for PA Turnpike TOLL BY PLATE rates that had been established before last month’s permanent conversion to All-Electronic Tolling (AET) at these locations:

DOYLETOWN >> Bucks County’s total number of COVID-19 infections passed the 6,000 mark over the past four days (July 17, 18, 19 and 20), as the daily case average continues to move upward since the July 4 holiday weekend.

DOYLESTOWN >> Amid the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bucks County Commissioners continue to re-shape their management team, filling three key leadership positions over the past four months.

BUCKS COUNTY >> With a string of sweltering days looming, Bucks County officials are urging residents without air conditioning or other refuge from the heat to visit community centers across the county that will be open during the expected heat wave.

DOYLESTOWN >> The Bucks County Commissioners announced on July 16 that they will purchase face shields for all elementary and secondary schools in the county, while expressing hope that recent COVID spikes elsewhere in Pennsylvania will not inhibit local schools from reopening in the fall.

BUCKS COUNTY >> Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), along with Reps. Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Will Hurd (TX-23), and Jared Golden (ME-02), on July 16 introduced the Defund Cities that Defund the Police Act.

HARRISBURG >> Governor Tom Wolf and Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine on July 15 signed new orders for targeted mitigation efforts in response to the recent rise in COVID cases, primarily in southwest Pennsylvania, but also in other counties in the state, influencing the decision for st…

DOYLESTOWN >> Bucks County averaged 22 new COVID-19 infections between Friday, July 10 to and Monday, July 13, maintaining a low baseline of cases for another weekend. Out-of-state travel and infections spread within households continued to account for the largest numbers of new cases.

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP >> Felony warrants have been issued for the arrest of two Bronx, New York residents for dealing in proceeds from unlawful activity, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.

HARRISBURG >> Bucks County State Rep. Wendi Thomas (R-178) has introduced legislation to crack down on home delivery theft.

DOYLESTOWN >> The number of Bucks County residents hospitalized for COVID-19 infections dropped on July 9 to a level not seen since late March, while new infections continued at a low baseline over the past few days.

BUCKS COUNTY >> Heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Fay is expected to overspread New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania through the day on Friday. Widespread amounts of 1 to 4 inches are likely with locally higher amounts possible.

HARRISBURG >> Governor Tom Wolf and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn on July 9 reminded Pennsylvanians to wear masks while enjoying the outdoors when they are not able to consistently maintain social distancing from individuals who are …

NOCKOMIXON >> Natural Lands has purchased two properties totaling just over 14 acres and transferred them to Nockamixon State Park. The properties, both located immediately adjacent to the park, were at risk for development, but are now protected forever.

DOYLESTOWN >> A former Catholic priest who served for 10 years at a Lower Bucks church has been sentenced to state prison for the sexual abuse of two altar boys.

HARRISBURG >> Governor Tom Wolf has signed a new executive order that protects homeowners and renters from eviction or foreclosure until Aug. 31, if they have not received assistance from a new program administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) or are not already re…

DOYLESTOWN >> The Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) Education Foundation has been named the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the PPL (Pennsylvania Power and Light) Foundation.

WARMINISTER >> The Pennsylvania Department of Health will host a virtual community meeting on Thursday, July 9 from 7 to 9 p.m.  to discuss the PFAS National Multi-Site Health Study for residents of Horsham, Warminster and Warrington townships.

“And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” - [Melvin] Lee Greenwood, American country music artist

DOYLESTOWN >> Bucks County recorded 103 new COVID-19 infections over the past four days, an average of about 26 per day. Almost half of those new cases involved people who became infected while traveling out of state.

NEWTOWN BOROUGH >> The historic Newtown Quaker Meetinghouse, 219 Court Street, is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, activities continue on Zoom every Sunday with robust participation.