Daily editionTuesday, October 27th, 2026
Good morning, West Chester.
The West Chester Morning News Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 27th of October.
Community
A 17-year-old Downingtown East senior created MND Access, a free accessibility database with 1,674+ listings (about 900 in Chester County) that rates seven features and is available in Spanish; he plans student-led chapters in Chester County to verify and expand entries.
MyChesCoRead more
Halloween events run today through Nov. 1 across Chester County with costume parades, haunted hayrides, and family-friendly activities.
Highlights include West Chester’s free parade at 7:00 p.m. Oct. 28 (starts at Church and Market; rain date Oct. 29, borough garages charge a $20 event fee) and a sensory friendly Spooktacular 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at 839 Lincoln Ave.
VISTA TodayRead more
Culture
Bestselling author Liz Moore will appear Friday, Nov. 6 from 7-8 p.m. at Church Farm School's Chapel of the Atonement in Exton for a conversation, audience Q&A, and a ticketed book signing and cocktail reception, with proceeds supporting the school's scholarship and tuition assistance programs.
VISTA TodayRead more
Education
Settlement Music School has launched KWEST, an online platform that brings its Kaleidoscope arts-preschool methods nationwide to parents, preschool teachers, and childcare providers, using music, movement, and visual art to build school-readiness skills; subscriptions start at $7 a month for individuals and $10 for classrooms (designed to work alongside existing curricula).
VISTA TodayRead more
Environment
The Brandywine Museum is nearing completion of a $30 million floodproofing overhaul that has sealed about 12,000 sqft of lower-level space and added pumps, pipes, and protective barriers to withstand another big storm (five years after Ida).
Crews removed Hoffman's Mill Dam earlier this month as part of a watershed plan that calls for more dam removals, bridge replacements, and a proposed $100 million uphill expansion.
VISTA TodayRead more
Finance
Trumark Credit Union urges prospective homebuyers to start with a conversation with its local mortgage team to assess affordability, compare APRs and lender fees, and avoid mistakes like opening new credit or draining savings (mortgage guidance available now).
VISTA TodayRead more
Government
Gov. Shapiro signed Senate Bill 1014 requiring Pennsylvania public, charter, cyber, and private schools to ban student possession and use of personal cell phones during the school day, including lunch and recess; schools must adopt policies by the start of the 2027-28 school year — with exceptions for medical and special education needs.
WFMZ-TVRead more
PennDOT will close Corner Ketch Road (Hopewell to Route 322) Oct. 27–29 and Little Washington Road (Route 322–Route 282) weekdays Oct. 28–Nov. 3 from 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. for base repairs, with signed detours and local access maintained; work is weather dependent.
MyChesCoRead more
Health
Federal data show 4,588 confirmed U.S. measles cases as of Oct. 22, 2026, with outbreaks in 47 states and Pennsylvania passing 1,000 cases; the CDC says vaccination with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) is the best protection, so talk to your healthcare provider before travel.
FOX 29Read more