Newtown water treatment plant plan nixed – Bucks Round-Up – November 21, 2025
Newtown water treatment plant plan nixed
A local authority has officially killed plans to construct a $128-million wastewater treatment facility on a seventeen-acre tract in Newtown Township between the Newtown Bypass and Lower Silver Lake Road. Area officials originally envisioned the plant, on a site nearing populous residential areas in Middletown Township, as a way to keep down sewer rates and relieve strain on the area’s wastewater treatment system. Many nearby Middletown residents, worried about odor and adversely affected property values, decried the idea. Board members of the Newtown-Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority who voted to terminate the plan anticipate offering the parcel back to its earlier proprietors. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-01) celebrated the news as a “major victory.”
County nonprofits recognize Hunger and Homelessness Week
Two Bucks County nonprofits marked National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week with a sobering update to the County Commissioners. Eric Clare, executive director of the Bucks County Housing Group, told commissioners that more than 64,000 county residents struggle with food insecurity, including roughly one in ten adults and one in nine children. John Rubin, CEO of the Penndel Mental Health Center, said the county’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count identified 421 residents in need of shelter, but stressed the true scale is far larger. Over the past year alone, 931 individuals experienced a housing crisis for the first time, 576 sought shelter access, and the county’s Housing Link helpline logged more than 15,000 calls. Commissioners recognized both organizations with a proclamation highlighting their service. For more information visit BCHG.org or penndelmhc.org.
Four assistant district attorneys and detective sworn in
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office formally welcomed four new assistant district attorneys and a new county detective during a ceremony emphasizing public safety and the demanding nature of prosecutorial work. DA Jennifer Schorn and Common Pleas Judge Matthew D. Weintraub offered pointed remarks about the mission of the office and the weight of its responsibilities. Detective Jack Agnew, whose résumé includes work with Homeland Security Investigations, was praised for his role in past collaborations, including cases that dismantled a bicoastal drug trafficking ring moving high-value narcotics into Bucks County. New ADAs Sara Hammond, Gabrielle Cohen, Lorena Pavon, and Victoria Pollock, were recognized for their strong legal credentials, pro bono distinction, and clear commitment to service. Schorn noted that each candidate chose Bucks County deliberately, calling the additions a major gain for the office.
AAA: Nearly one million from region to travel for Thanksgiving
AAA is forecasting record travel volume for the Thanksgiving holiday across the region and Bucks County. Nearly one million Philadelphia-area residents, including many from Bucks County, are expected to travel, a 2.3% increase from last year. Roughly 892,000 travelers will hit the road, while about 85,000 are projected to fly, both modest upticks. Other modes, including cruises, buses, and trains, are also seeing growth, with more than 21,000 local residents expected to use them. AAA attributes the surge to continued strong demand for leisure travel, aided by flexible work schedules and longer school breaks.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
