Hoax phone calls threatened Bucks high schools and more – Bucks Round-Up – May 5, 2026

Hoax phone calls threatened Bucks high schools and more 

School districts throughout the region received threatening phone calls Monday morning at the start of the school day, including three in Bucks County: Pennsbury, Council Rock, and Central Bucks. The calls are described by authorities as “swatting,” i.e., making a threatening bogus phone call to draw a lot of police to the scene. The swatting calls are occurring sporadically nationwide, according to police, and the FBI is investigating. Authorities said the same type of calls have been received in school districts in Montgomery, Chester, Berks, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties. In Bucks County, Pennsbury School District reported a call from California that someone was on the way with a rifle and pipe bomb, which was untrue. Students had a day at the computer and all other schools in the district went on as usual. Council Rock High School North went into lockdown when the same type of call was received and later lifted. Central Bucks received a similar phone threat which also was unfounded. The other area school districts that reported receiving “swatting” calls were Hatboro-Horsham in Montgomery County and Conestoga High School in Chester County. The Monday phone threats came just as most school districts were starting the day, forcing school administrators to alter bus routes, keeping all students in classrooms with no one entering or exiting until the situation was deemed safe.

Upcoming decision could settle a dispute over local 9-11 memorial 

For many years, the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield was the center of a solemn ceremony on September 11 to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. But this year, timing became an issue. The 25th Year Remembrance event falls this year on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. The original committee that arranged the ceremony each year was replaced by a township supervisors-appointed committee that suggested changing the time of the traditional after-sundown candlelight vigil because of the holiday, but there was disagreement, still unresolved. At their meeting this week, May 6, the Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors will make a final decision. The township committee favors hosting two events on this September 11: the morning ceremony and another in the afternoon with the program concludingby sundown, which would enable the remaining attendees to engage in the traditional candlelight vigil after dark. 

Popular kids’ clothing store downsizing 

Atlanta-based Carter’s, which also operates the OshKosh B’Gosh label and has dozens of stores in Pennsylvania, including in Langhorne, said it plans to close 150 stores nationwide and cut 300 corporate jobs. The first announcement last year indicated a three-year schedule. The company cited higher costs, tariffs, and changing shopping patterns as leading to the decision. Carter’s has embarked on a plan to right-size the company to stay afloat. No announcement will be made about specific store closures until the store leases expire, the company said. Other Carter’s stores in the area include those in Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, Exton, Pottstown, and Kennett Square.

Pat Wandling is a veteran journalist, formerly of The Bucks County Courier, and was a mainstay on WBCB for over 20 years.