Looking Back
by Kyle Hudson
What was 2025 like in our community?
In our final issue of the year, we take a look back at our top stories and the biggest events of 2025.
JANUARY
Almost one year ago, 2025 kicked off with two major snowfalls in our coldest month of the year. On January 20th, the United States of America inaugurated its 47th President, Donald Trump.
FEBRUARY
The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their 2nd Super Bowl victory, thrashing the Kansas City Chiefs (40 – 22). At the time, our live footage of the celebration was our most watched video.
Later in the month, we interviewed Lawerence Shine and Bill Doggett of the Bayard Rustin Coalition in San Francisco, CA, to discuss the national impact of West Chester’s own civil rights activist Bayard Rustin.
MARCH
We interviewed local lawyer Sam Stretton about his role in creating the ward system here in the Borough. Stretton talked about the racial tension in West Chester in the 90’s and shared how he, alongside other members of the community, worked to change the way our local government was structured.
APRIL
On April 5th, the nationwide “Hands Off” protest against the current presidential administration held coordinated demonstrations across the United States. The West Chester protest drew thousands of citizens to protest at the historic courthouse across from our offices in town.
April also saw the beginning of SEPTA’s struggle to secure funding that lasted almost all year.
MAY
Pennsylvania held its primary election. Locally, focus was on the Democratic contest in West Chester’s Ward 7, where challenger Lisa Kearns defeated party-endorsed candidate Lisa Bryan-Conforti. In spite of Bryan-Conforti’s massive spending effort, she was unable to secure the position, losing to Kearns in a landslide.
Due to ballot error, the Prothonotary race was left off the primary ballot, allowing the parties to choose the candidates instead of the voters.
Also, the Open Air Market reopened, Real ID requirements went into effect, and another class of hardworking students graduated from West Chester University.
JUNE
This month started with a discussion of HB502, a bill attempting to establish an industry board with the authority to override local zoning restrictions and facilitate large scale energy projects. Local politicians withdrew their support after public pressure, however through Governor Josh Shapiro’s “PA Permit Fast Track Program”, the effort to fast track large scale energy projects has continued at the state level throughout the year.
June concluded with the “No Kings” rally, another nationally-organized protest against the Trump administration. The West Chester chapter was notably marked by the arrest of Kevin Krebs, who brought a gun and several bombs to the protest. We have more on his story later in this issue.
JULY
We sat down to talk with Tim McDermott, President of the Philadelphia Union, after the team finished their MLS season at the top of their conference only to lose to New York City FC in the quarterfinals (1 – 0).
In town, the Business Improvement District proposed its expansion, which was ultimately granted approval later in the year.
We spoke with former West Chester Mayor and PA State Representative Dianne Herrin about her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, we interviewed local painter John Hannafin in a discussion that would become our most watched interview of the year.
AUGUST
SEPTA entered a full funding crisis that resulted in the tentative choice to pass their “Doomsday Budget”, introducing a staggering number of service cuts. The planned cuts were slated to include significant reductions to ⅔ of West Chester bus routes, as well as fully terminating train service to the Exton, Downingtown, and Thorndale stations. SEPTA additionally implemented a 21.5% rate increase across all transportation fares.
On August 7th, former Prothonotary Debbie Bookman (D) was charged with misapplication of entrusted property and property of government or financial institutions, a second-degree misdemeanor. She has since been released on bail and is awaiting trial.
SEPTEMBER
The SEPTA budget crisis was resolved, with the organization announcing that their funding had been secured into 2027. Service was restored, but the rate increase remains in effect. On September 10th, political commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Orem, Utah. Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, partnered with the Chester County Republican Committee to hold a vigil in his honor at the Historic Courthouse on September 14. Additionally, Chester County government established a Human Relations Commission, and our community was stunned by Iron Hill Brewery’s sudden announcement on September 25 that they were permanently closing the doors at all 15 locations, citing bankruptcy.
OCTOBER
Borough Council discussed new student housing on South High St. At the end of the month, the second No Kings protest became the largest protest in West Chester history and our video from the event is currently our most watched video ever. October also saw the beginning of the longest Federal Government shutdown in history.
NOVEMBER
On November 4th, thousands of third-party and independent voters were affected by errors in the general election. Chester County Voter Services sent out poll books that did not include the names of any voters not registered to the Democratic or Republican parties. The investigation into possible causes is still currently underway.
DECEMBER
We closed out this year by enjoying both local culture and holiday cheer, visiting exhibits at West Chester University’s Anthropology department and covering Borough events like the Christkindlmarkt and West Chester Christmas parade.
We spoke with members of the Modena Borough Council about the vandalism of their town Menorah bringing their community closer as they worked together to acquire a new one in time for Hanukkah.
Finally, we launched our very first weekly print publication, bringing you even more local news, right to your doorstep.