New Britain Borough gears up for two-mill tax rise
New Britain Borough Council expects to vote on Wednesday for a budget that would increase property taxes by two mills to a total of 44.55 mills, enlarging the municipal tax bite on the average homeowner by roughly $40. Debt service is the reason local officials gave for the planned adjustment. Negotiations with the Central Bucks Regional Police Department over officer compensation could however push the tax level even higher, Borough Manager John Wolff said, calling the two-mill hike proposal a “start and guess.” An arbitrator overseeing the labor negotiations, which could beget a police salary rise above the four percent written into the budget, will ultimately decide the outcome.
PennDOT reminds residents about hearing on U.S. 1 project
PennDOT is reminding residents that a key public hearing on the next phase of the long-running U.S. 1 reconstruction project. The agency, working with the Federal Highway Administration, will hold the meeting on Wednesday, December 10, at the Sheraton Bucks County Hotel in Langhorne from 4:00 to 8:30 p.m. The session is part of a 45-day public comment period on the environmental assessment for Section RC3, a 2.7-mile safety and congestion-relief project running through Middletown Township, Langhorne Manor, and Langhorne Borough. The assessment compares “build” and “no build” options and outlines expected environmental impacts along with proposed mitigation. PennDOT has already identified the build alternative as its preferred path forward, saying it best meets safety, and mobility needs while limiting environmental harm and reflecting feedback from residents and local governments. The public can review the full assessment at us1bucks.com and submit written comments through January 2, 2026.
Bensalem Police arrest man who allegedly tried to meet teen
In Bensalem, township police announced the arrest of a Philadelphia man accused of attempting to meet what he believed was a thirteen-year-old girl for sexual purposes. Investigators say 44-year-old Curtis Evans began communicating with an undercover officer posing as a minor on a social media app, then escalated his conversations over several weeks to request explicit photos and arrange a meeting. On November 18, Evans allegedly drove toward Bensalem, telling the “girl” he was stopping to buy condoms. Police obtained a warrant and, on December 2, Philadelphia Highway Patrol officers located and arrested him. Evans is charged with unlawful contact with a minor, sexual abuse of children, criminal use of a communication facility, and related offenses. He was arraigned in Bensalem and sent to Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10% of $500,000 bail. Township police emphasized their ongoing efforts to aggressively pursue child-predator cases with help from regional law-enforcement partners.
Local doctor: know the signs of stress during busy season
With the holiday season ramping up, a local doctor is urging residents to take stock of their stress levels before they snowball into health issues. Dr. Johnathan White of Saint Mary Medical Center told WBCB’s Upwards with Chris Ermer that December’s hectic pace often triggers high blood pressure, headaches, palpitations, sleep issues, and social withdrawal. He recommends regular exercise — walking, jogging, yoga — to release natural endorphins that help the body manage physical and emotional strain, calling them “natural mood boosters in the body” built into the brain’s chemistry.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.