Falls Township clears way for new high school campus – Bucks Round-Up – February 2, 2026

Falls Township clears way for new high school campus

Falls Township supervisors have unanimously granted both preliminary and final land development approval for Pennsbury School District’s long-planned consolidation of its East and West high schools into a single, unified campus. The new ninth-through-12th-grade high school will be built along Hood Boulevard, with construction expected to begin later this year and doors opening for the 2029–2030 school year. The proposed three-story, 497,000-square-foot building will rise on the south side of the existing campus, allowing current schools to remain operational during construction. Plans also include a new bus maintenance garage, transportation office, field maintenance building, and concession and restroom facility. Once the project is complete, the existing high schools, Village Park Elementary School, and several accessory structures will be demolished. The approval follows prior sign-offs from the Falls Township Planning Commission and Bristol Township Council, which oversees a portion of the district’s property. One resident questioned the need for final approval at this stage, citing concerns over potential cost overruns. Township officials pushed back, emphasizing that construction bids and finances fall under the school board’s authority. The project’s estimated cost is $270 million.

Broad + Liberty hosts 15 DAYS documentary at Newtown Athletic Club

Broad + Liberty hosted a screening of the documentary 15 Days: The Real Story of America’s Pandemic School Closures at the Newtown Athletic Club on Sunday. The film analyzes why many of America’s schools were closed for longer than 500 days, how teachers unions used the Covid-19 pandemic to spur hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending and take control of public schools, and how that policy affected America’s children. The film features now-director of the National Institutes of Health, Stanford’s Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, among other experts. Paul and Vanessa Martino, Bucks County natives and open schools advocates, were among numerous families featured in the film. The father and daughter appeared on a panel after the screening alongside film producer Natalya Murakhver of Restore Childhood and Broad + Liberty education reporter Beth Ann Rosica. Dawn Stensland, host of WPHT’s Dawn Stensland Show, moderated the discussion. Murakhver cautioned against America ever again following those like former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci who put forth draconian Covid countermeasures while claiming to “represent science.” “‘The science’ is not something that’s static,” she said. “It evolves.”

Anti-ICE activists hold “vigil” at BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Opponents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement held a candlelight “community vigil” at BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Friday evening alongside other leftist groups including the Council on American-Islamic Relations Philadelphia Chapter, the NAACP Bucks County Branch, and The Welcome Project. BuxMont UU leaders called on like-minded area residents to gather to “unite in songs, stories, and solidarity” to “honor those affected by ICE policies and work towards building a more just and welcoming world.” The organizations promised attendees “resources to get involved.” Observers from the conservative nonprofit Early Vote Action attended the event as well, objecting to what that meant in practice. “Activist organizations and government officials are attempting to normalize the tracking of law enforcement activity in order to benefit their political agenda,” EVA regional coordinator Alix Paul said. “When do you ever see people following local police and tracking their locations? You don’t. This is not normal and no one should accept this as normal behavior.” Bucks County’s coordination with ICE has been minimized as new Sheriff Danny Ceisler (D) pulled out of a cooperation agreement entered into by previous Sheriff Fred Harran (R).

Grant expands victim services in Central Bucks

The Central Bucks Regional Police Department has secured a $425,560, three-year federal grant to support and expand its multi-jurisdictional Victim Services Unit. Funded by the Office for Victims of Crime, the grant will enhance services for victims in Doylestown, Chalfont, New Britain, and Buckingham Township. Police say the funding will help provide immediate assistance, counseling, and trauma-informed care, with a particular focus on domestic violence, sexual offenses, assaults, stalking, and harassment cases. Department leadership says the program strengthens accountability and improves public safety.

PennDOT targets potholes across Bucks County

Drivers across Bucks County should expect lane closures and slowdowns this week as PennDOT crews tackle potholes on 39 state highways. Routes scheduled for repairs include U.S. 13 in Falls Township, New Falls Road in Bristol and Middletown Townships, Route 309 in Richland, Route 332 in Lower Makefield and Newtown, Route 413 in central Bucks, and several heavily traveled local roads. Since January, nearly 900 pothole complaints have been logged across the five-county region, largely due to freeze-thaw cycles. Drivers are urged to slow down in work zones and report road issues directly to PennDOT at 1-800-FIX-ROAD or at www.customercare.penndot.pa.gov

Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.