Chester County

Philly-area police are launching a summer traffic safety campaign targeting aggressive driving on U.S. 1 in five counties to reduce crashes and fatalities. The initiative addresses behaviors like speeding, tailgating, and lane changing, citing 2,190 crashes and 37 deaths in the region due to aggressive driving in 2025. A recent high-speed collision in Limerick Township, which killed one driver and involved a DUI charge, highlights the campaign's urgency.

Chester County Council approved a 6-month moratorium on new data center development to allow time for setting rules and guidelines. The county will hold public educational meetings starting next month to discuss data centers.

Chester County EMS reduced emergency response times by adding new crews, equipment, and expanding coverage, with western county times dropping from 27 to 13 minutes. A family reported a 5-minute response during a medical emergency.

The Charlotte region is expected to experience high temperatures, storms, and an air quality alert this weekend. Severe weather is likely on Sunday, with a cold front potentially lowering temperatures by mid-week.

An elderly man in a wheelchair was struck by a pickup truck in Chester County on July 17. The truck fled the scene, but police identified the vehicle as a white Dodge Ram through surveillance and found it parked nearby with matching damage. The driver, Jermaine Latimore Davie, was arrested for hit and run after providing inconsistent statements.

Rain and thunderstorms return to the Charlotte region this weekend, with severe weather risks on Sunday. High temperatures in the upper 90s and a Code Orange Air Quality Alert are in effect Friday through Sunday, with storm coverage peaking on Sunday.

Chester County drivers in South Carolina report significant gas price differences between stations near I-77 and other areas. Nathan Smith observed higher prices at Exit 55 compared to stations farther north, attributing it to traffic-driven demand. Factors like competition, operating costs, and supply chains influence pricing, while state laws limit price gouging only during emergencies.

The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) signed a memorandum of understanding with Amtrak to revive passenger rail service between Philadelphia, Phoenixville, Pottstown, and Reading. Formed by Berks, Chester, and Montgomery counties in 2022, SRPRA aims to reconnect communities to the Northeast Corridor, with Amtrak committed to cost estimates and next-phase planning.

Two individuals were arrested after a 'social gathering' in downtown Chester County escalated into a fight and stabbing. Narderious Brown and Jasmine Caldwell face attempted murder charges, and a man injured in the incident is expected to survive.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected this evening with a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. for Chester, Lancaster, and Chesterfield counties. High temperatures will struggle to reach 80 degrees due to the Carolina Wedge, returning to the mid-90s by Thursday.

Severe thunderstorms and potential tornadoes affected the Charlotte region on July 12, 2026, with active and expired weather alerts for multiple counties in North Carolina and South Carolina. Storms brought damaging winds, hail, flash flooding, and localized power outages, though widespread outages were not reported.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Lancaster County, South Carolina, through 3:45 p.m. on July 12, with 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail expected. Additional counties in the Charlotte region were under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m., with risks of damaging winds, flooding, and power line hazards.

A former Great Falls town council member was charged for allegedly placing unauthorized tracking devices on vehicles with a former town administrator and police chief. The devices, placed in Chester County in May 2025, were tracked using Tracki, paid for by a town credit card, and reimbursed for $1,212.94. The council member faces charges including misconduct in office and criminal conspiracy.

Two new measles cases have been reported in Chester County, Pennsylvania, as part of a regional outbreak affecting multiple counties with 77 cases since late April. Declining vaccination rates are contributing to increased vulnerability, with Pennsylvania recording 89 cases in 2026 compared to 16 in 2025 and 6 in 2024. The Chester County Health Department is implementing contact tracing and quarantine protocols.

Chester County in South Carolina is considering a six-month moratorium on data centers to evaluate their potential economic benefits, including significant revenue from property taxes and equipment value. County officials highlight that a medium-sized data center could generate $30–$40 million annually, nearly doubling the county's budget and potentially reducing taxes. Regulations on data center operations, such as buffers and decibels, have already been established.

Heat advisories were issued for nearly all Charlotte-region counties, effective at noon on Thursday, July 2, until 8 p.m. Weather officials warn of heat index values reaching 105-108°F, risking heat-related illnesses.

A 32-year-old Waxhaw man, Slava Pak, was charged with first-degree murder after his mother was found shot dead in Union County and with attempted murder following a shooting in Chester County, South Carolina. Pak turned himself in to police and waived his right to an attorney, with court proceedings scheduled for North Carolina next month.

Slava Pak is accused of a cross-state shooting spree that resulted in two deaths and one injury, including shooting his mother, Larisa Pak, at their home in Waxhaw. He confessed to investigators in Charlotte and is facing first-degree murder charges, with extradition to Chester County pending for another shooting where a victim survived.

Slava Pak, a 32-year-old Union County man, is charged with first-degree murder after shooting his mother, Larisa Pak, in Waxhaw and attempting murder in a separate shooting at Great Falls Nature Trail in Chester County. Pak surrendered to police and is held without bond in Union County.

Chester County researchers at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety are conducting wildfire safety experiments to determine which home-building materials resist fire spread. The tests involve simulating wildfires with wind and real-world furnishings to study fire behavior and provide guidance for builders in the U.S., where building codes vary by state and city.

A Chester County couple sustained no injuries after a car crashed into their home on Starnes Street in Chester. The front of the home was damaged, and police secured the scene with tape, though the cause and potential charges remain under investigation.

Chester County leaders have approved the first reading of a six-month moratorium on data centers. During the pause, the county plans to host educational workshops to address environmental impact and regulations.

Chester County appointed Michele DiCaprio as the new director of the Department of Voter Services following controversy around the 2025 election. DiCaprio previously worked as a foreign service officer with USAID in Mozambique, focusing on democracy and governance. She holds degrees from Indiana University and the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

A fifth person was charged in connection with the drive-by shooting death of 16-year-old Avery West in Chester County. Four individuals, including Micah Cason, Dayvontae Lamont Adams, John-David Estes, and Quentin Craig, face murder charges, while 53-year-old Kenyetta Sims was charged as an accessory after the fact.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged a fifth suspect, Micah Tyquon Cason, in connection with a deadly drive-by shooting that killed a 16-year-old in Chester County. Cason, 21, faces murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Chester County achieved a 'functional zero milestone' for chronic homelessness in December 2025 and January 2026, with three or fewer people experiencing chronic homelessness each month. This progress followed the county's adoption of the Built for Zero initiative, real-time data tracking, and a housing-first model coordinated by local partnerships and nonprofits.

Herr’s introduced three new potato chip flavors—Freedom Loaded Cheese Fries, Liberty Hickory Barbeque, and United Jalapeño Cream Cheese—as part of its 'Flavored by Philly: Taste of 250' campaign. The flavors were selected from nine curated options through a public vote that received nearly 100,000 submissions. The campaign honors Philadelphia’s 250th anniversary and includes future plans for collaboration with the Philadelphia Phillies.