Yardley free speech lawsuit settled – Bucks Round-Up – September 26, 2025
Yardley free speech lawsuit settled
A federal judge’s ruling has led Yardley Borough to settle a free speech lawsuit with resident Earl Markey III. Yardley Borough will pay Markey $2,500 after officials removed his Facebook comment about a ballot question ahead of the 2022 election. U.S. District Judge Mark Kearney ruled this summer that Council President Caroline Thompson and Borough Manager Paula Johnson violated Markey’s First Amendment rights by deleting the post. The borough decided to settle the suit over the appeals process. Markey, now the Republican candidate for Yardley mayor, said he will donate the money to charity and urged council to foster open debate. Markey will face Thompson in the November Mayoral race.
Bucks County pays $175K in harassment suits
Bucks County has paid $175,000 to settle lawsuits brought by two former female corrections officers who alleged sexual discrimination and hostile work conditions at the county jail. Rachel Stock and Noella Cruz both claimed county officials ignored repeated complaints of harassment from coworkers. Stock, who was fired in early 2023, alleged she was wrongfully terminated just before becoming union eligible. Cruz, a sergeant who worked at the jail since 2018, said mistreatment forced her into a lower-paying security job last year. The commissioners approved the payouts last month, including attorney fees, though the county declined public comment. The cases add to growing scrutiny over workplace culture at the Doylestown facility.
Garrity takes gubernatorial campaign to Newtown
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity visited the Newtown Sports & Events Center last night, making her case to Bucks GOP stalwarts that she’s the Republican best poised to unseat Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro next year. While state Senator Doug Mastriano (R-Chambersburg) is also considering a run, Garrity appeared unfazed by the possibility in remarks to the press, saying she has a “great relationship” with the lawmaker and “if he runs, he runs.” In her remarks to attendees of this stop on her “Help Is on the Way” tour, Garrity championed school choice and natural gas extraction. She also aligned herself with President Donald Trump on immigration enforcement and anti-crime policies. “I will be a partner with President Trump, and not a roadblock to make sure our streets are safe,” she said. Republicans in Bucks, for many years a majority-GOP county before suffering recent losses to Democrats, achieved a comeback last year, regaining a plurality of voters and eking out a victory for Trump, helping him win the Keystone State. Garrity herself won Bucks by 6.5% and received more votes across the commonwealth than any candidate in history. Political observers broadly consider Bucks County important to any candidate hoping to win statewide.
Bid-rigging charges in Upper Southampton
An Upper Southampton Township police officer and a former public works employee face felony charges in a bid-rigging scheme involving decommissioned township vehicles. Police Officer Derek Gale, 47, and former assistant public works director Brandon Valentino, 27, are accused of falsifying online auction listings to secure township SUVs at artificially low prices. Investigators allege they removed rims, understated the vehicles’ condition, and later resold them for profit. Gale purchased one Ford Explorer for just over $2,000 and drove it off the lot despite claims it needed extensive repairs. Both men were arraigned this week and released on unsecured bail. Gale is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
