Government & Politics
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Upper Darby Mayor’s Plan Moves Publicly-Funded Summer Stage to Private Nonprofit
Upper Darby Mayor Barbarann Keffer announced a proposal Tuesday night to preserve the future of Upper Darby Summer Stage, writes the staff for CBS 3 Philly. Her proposal calls for the program to be administered by the nonprofit Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation. It would have “full artistic, personnel and financial control,” according to…
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Determining the Future of Upper Darby’s Summer Stage
There’s a discussion going on over Upper Darby Township’s popular theater program, Summer Stage, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times. Its former director, Harry Dietzler, has suggested the nonprofit Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation take over the program. The township and the school district have run the program through a joint Department…
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Delaware County’s Bond Rating Boost Good for Businesses and Residents
Delaware County’s bond rating has been bumped up to AA+, the second highest rating available. A higher bond rating lowers the interest on general obligation and special purpose bonds for long-term county investments and projects, like securing open space, improving government operations and creating new state-of-the-art buildings. That makes long-term investments easier to finance at…
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Two Lawmakers Launch Bipartisan Effort to Legalize Recreational Marijuana in Pennsylvania
In a move uncharacteristic to today’s divisive political landscape, two Pennsylvania lawmakers from opposite parties have joined forces to launch a bipartisan effort to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, writes Jan Murphy for the Penn Live Patriot-News. Senator Mike Regan, a Republican, and Representative Amen Brown, a Democrat, said their teaming up on this…
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Era of Running Delco’s Prison With a For-Profit Firm Coming to an End
A tactic that used a private for-profit entity, GEO Group, to run the prison instead of the county is coming to an end. The Delaware County Jail Oversight Board voted 6-2 Sept. 28 to recommend ending Delaware County’s contract with the GEO Group out of Florida, writes Vinny Vella for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The George…
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Delaware County Council Makes It Official: Prison Will No Longer Be Private
Delaware County Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to de-privatize the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, and end its contract with GEO Group, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY. The for-profit company has been running the prison in Thornbury since 1998. The vote to de-privatize comes following a recommendation from the Delaware County Prison Oversight Board. The…
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Media Democrat Goes Door to Door, to Talk With Republicans
Deb Ciamacca, a 63-year-old former teacher and Marine Corps veteran from Media, is on a listening tour. She’s knocking on hundreds of doors, talking with Republicans and independents, writes Andrew Seidman for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Ciamacca is a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for the 168th District state House seat last year. This time, though, she’s…
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New Upper Darby Police Superintendent Puts Focus on Community
Timothy Bernhardt, 49, was sworn in on Sept. 22 as Upper Darby’s new police superintendent, writes Vinny Vella for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Bernhardt has been acting as interim superintendent for 21 months after former superintendent Michael Chitwood retired in November 2019. Under his leadership, the Upper Darby Police Department will take a community-driven approach to…
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Delaware County Parents Renew Battle for Passage of Deana’s Law
Parents of a Delaware County woman struck and killed by a repeat DUI offender two years ago addressed the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee on Sept. 21st about Deana’s Law, writes Jon Campisi for patch.com. Rich and Rosann DeRosa are fighting for passage of Senate Bill 773, known as Deana’s Law, named for their 45-year-old daughter,…
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Hundreds of Thousands of Pennsylvanians to Lose Federal Unemployment Aid After This Week
Federal unemployment aid, with its COVID-19 supplementary support, ends next week. Its exit from the household budgets of hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians will have significant effects. NBC10 explained the widespread implications. The cessation of Washington’s financial support includes the extra $300 per week and additional13 weeks of benefits, as well as benefits for the…
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A New Deal: School Will Be Built and Clifton Heights Gets Its Field
Upper Darby School District and Clifton Heights Borough are ending an 18-month battle, allowing a new middle school to be built at Clifton Field, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times. Thirty to 40 residents, many from the Clifton youth league teams, cheered the agreement. Back in 1972, a deal was struck giving Upper Darby…
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Delaware County Has 3 Skate Parks. It Needs More, One Group Says
Media mom Stacy Olkowski desperately needed outdoor activities for her children in the summer of 2020, writes Kenny Cooper for whyy.org. “I realized that the skateparks were always busy. There are always people there, and it wasn’t just kids,” Olkowski said. That got her thinking. Why don’t we have more skateparks? There are three: Havertown,…
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Delaware County Man Concerned for His Family Left Behind in Afghanistan
A Delaware County man is concerned for his family members in Afghanistan who are in hiding and trying to escape, even as the last elements of the U.S. military pulled out, writes Jaclyn Lee and the 6abc digital staff for 6abc.com. “I’m in contact with them, and they’re very scared,” said Sayed Kalimullah Barialai Aqeli.…
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Philly Council Visits Chester To Find Out What It’s Doing Right About Gun Violence
Members of Philadelphia City Council met with Chester city and county officials Tuesday to find out how Chester has managed a 63% drop in gun homicides, writes Alex Rose for the Daily Times. Philadelphia has seen gun violence run out of control while Chester has had great success with its new anti-violence initiative. Chester’s gun…
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Media FBI Break-in Commemoration on Target for Sept. 1
A Sept. 1 celebration commemorating the 1971 break-in at the Media field office of the FBI is on track, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.org. Fifty years ago, Bonnie Raines and Keith Forsyth and other antiwar activists broke in and took over 1,000 classified documents detailing illegal investigations of American citizens, including Martin Luther King, Jr. …
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2 With Delaware County Ties Wait for Afghan Relatives to Come Home
One Delaware County woman is clearing out her guest room for her son and his family who have left Afghanistan as part of the Afghanistan evacuation, writes Ellie Rushing and Oona Goodin-Smith for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia-born businessman Amir, his wife, and their 20-month-old daughter were placed on a flight out of Afghanistan Wednesday. Amir…
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‘Delco Mom,’ Long-time EMT Mary Ellis Dies After Valiant Cancer Fight
“Delco’s Mom,” Mary Ellis, a special EMT in Delaware County, died Aug. 13 after a valiant fight with cancer, writes Nicole Acosta for dailyvoice.com. Mary Theresa Ellis was born in Collingdale and had a 30-year career in emergency services. She was a volunteer at Collingdale Fire Company Ambulance, then Darby Fire Company Ambulance before becoming…
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Upper Darby Lists Ways to Spend $41M, From Flood Relief to Rental Help
Covering COVID expenses. Repairing bridges, culverts, and storm water run-off to reduce flooding. Upgrading fire equipment. Replacing lost revenue. Building the new community center. These are some ideas being floated on how Upper Darby will spend $41 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times. The township received half…
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