St. Luke’s takes over emergency care in Upper Bucks – Bucks Round-Up – March 10, 2026
St. Luke’s takeover of emergency care in Upper Bucks in effect
For more than half a century, the Upper Bucks Regional Emergency Medical Service provided ambulance services to nine municipalities within a 185-square-mile area in Upper Bucks County. After many months of negotiations, and the backing of nine affected municipalities, the deal was made between UBREMS and St. Luke’s University Health Network. Now that deal is in effect. The decision involved the transfer of UBREMS’s $1 million assets, job opportunities for all UBREMS first responders, and no loss of benefits. It was a smooth transition with all interested UBREMS employees moving over to St. Luke’s. It was known in various communities that UBREMS was struggling financially and a merger with St. Luke’s could secure the future of emergency care for the Upper Bucks communities. The various municipalities served by UBREMS each voted to approve community ambulance contracts with St. Luke’s. They are Bedminster, Bridgeton, Durham, Haycock, Nockamixon, Riegelsville, Richland, Springfield and Tinicum.
State Rep. Marcell officially running for new term
Citing common sense, dedication, and a willingness to work across the aisle, State Representative Kristin Marcell (R-Wrightstown) said her priorities haven’t changed as she announce a bid for reelection this week. Marcell said her work in Harrisburg is directed toward improving economic security, education, job growth, fiscal responsibility, constituent services, and safe communities. Among the bipartisan initiatives she spearheaded that became law was improvement to patient safety and care in nursing homes. In a news release this week, Marcell said she plans to continue her constituent-centered focus, community needs, and securing of funding grants for Bucks County projects. Prior to her initial election in 2022, the lawmaker spent more than two decades in the private sector providing strategic and communications counsel to businesses in various fields. Her 178th Legislative District includes Northampton, Upper Southampton, Warwick, and Wrightstown townships.
FBI searching for clues in a Middletown self-storage unit
The FBI search Monday of a Middletown Township self-storage unit on South Flowers Mill Road came two days after a New York City protest, a bomb that failed to detonate, and the subsequent arrests of two Bucks County men as well as an FBI raid on their homes. The federal charges against the pair include using a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to ISIS, an international terrorist organization. FBI activity at the storage facility followed the filing of criminal charges by federal prosecutors in New York. Charged were Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, of Newtown, and Emir Balat, 18, Middletown. The investigation is ongoing.
Pat Wandling is a veteran journalist, formerly of the Bucks County Courier, and was a mainstay on WBCB for over 20 years.
