Kenny Cooper
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Kenny Cooper
@kennycooper.bsky.social
93 followers 65 following 78 posts
Reporter at WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR station
Posts Replies Media Videos
kennycooper.bsky.social
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is leasing an upscale working space at Westlakes Office Park in Berwyn.

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DHS leases cozy high-end office space along the Main Line
The Westlakes Office Park is about a mile away from an elementary school in Berwyn, Chester County.
whyy.org
February 14, 2026 at 3:33 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
DHS and ICE have bought a 518,000-square-foot warehouse in Berks County for $87.4 million, according to official deed records.

“The County had no prior knowledge of the sale,” a Berks County spokesperson said Monday.

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ICE purchases Berks County warehouse for $87M
The Trump administration has previously eyed the facility in Upper Bern Township as a site for an immigration detention center.
whyy.org
February 2, 2026 at 10:57 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon conducted a congressional oversight visit Thursday at Philly’s Federal Detention Center just weeks after one of her constituents died in ICE custody.

She says detainees are treated like “prisoners.”

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Scanlon criticizes conditions for ICE detainees at Philadelphia Federal Detention Center
U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon conducted a congressional oversight visit at the facility just weeks after one of her constituents died in ICE custody.
whyy.org
January 30, 2026 at 12:21 AM
kennycooper.bsky.social
Leon Smith, a Haverford High School history teacher, has been named as one of the five finalists for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award.

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Haverford High School teacher among 5 finalists for National Teacher of the Year
Leon Smith teaches history at Haverford High School. The Council of Chief State School Officers will announce a winner this spring.
whyy.org
January 29, 2026 at 6:05 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
Senate Democrats are threatening to shut down the government in an effort to withhold funding for Trump’s immigration crackdown.

In another split with his party, U.S. Senator John Fetterman says he will never vote for a government shutdown.

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Sen. John Fetterman breaks with fellow Democrats over ICE funding
Although Fetterman called for the immigration operation in Minneapolis to “immediately end,” he vowed to never vote to shut down the government.
whyy.org
January 26, 2026 at 10:49 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
An independent investigation found “no evidence of intentional wrongdoing” behind an error that omitted more than 70,000 third-party voters in Chester County from poll books during the 2025 general election.

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Investigation finds ‘simple human error’ caused Chester County poll book error
West Chester-based law firm Fleck Eckert Klein McGarry found the county operated a system marred by inadequate training, safeguards, oversight and staffing challenges.
whyy.org
January 23, 2026 at 2:38 AM
kennycooper.bsky.social
After a long-standing back and forth, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that the city of Chester does not have the “unilateral authority” to seize the assets of the Chester Water Authority.

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Pa. Supreme Court rules Chester city does not have sole power to seize CWA
The Chester Water Authority is one of the region’s largest public water systems, serving approximately 200,000 across Chester and Delaware counties.
whyy.org
January 22, 2026 at 9:24 PM
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The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has opened a Title IX investigation into the Great Valley School District in Chester County over a decade-old policy regarding transgender students and sports.

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Trump administration probes Great Valley School District over transgender sports policies
The U.S. Department of Education’s probe into the Chester County school district is one of 18 new investigations against educational institutions across the country.
whyy.org
January 22, 2026 at 7:52 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
The Friends Association unveiled a new, 10-unit family shelter and office building in West Chester on Wednesday.

The multilevel space is the latest expansion of emergency housing in Pennsylvania’s wealthiest county by the local nonprofit.

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New family shelter opens in West Chester: ‘Welcome home’
The Friends Association’s new building located 825 Paoli Pike comprises an office space and a 10-unit family shelter.
whyy.org
January 21, 2026 at 11:34 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
As ICE activity rises, Norristown residents are demanding answers from the police regarding their proximity to masked ICE agents.

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Amid ICE activity, Norristown residents are demanding answers: ‘This community is under siege’
Advocates estimate ICE has detained at least 140 people in Montco since the immigration crackdown began. “What people are seeing in Minnesota,” said one resident, “is happening here.”
whyy.org
January 21, 2026 at 2:05 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
Parady La, of Upper Darby, died Jan. 9 while in ICE custody. La was hospitalized after being held at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. His family mourns.

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‘Like a father figure’: Family, friends mourn Upper Darby man who died in ICE custody
Parady La died Jan. 9 while in ICE custody. La was hospitalized after being held at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.
whyy.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:48 PM
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A bill aiming to impose a ban on cellphones in Pennsylvania’s K-12 schools is gaining momentum in Harrisburg as educators struggle to compete with mobile devices for their students’ attention.

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Inside the legislative effort to expel cellphones from Pa.’s K-12 schools
A bill that would ban cellphone use from "bell to bell" was advanced out of committee Tuesday to a full vote before the state Senate.
whyy.org
December 15, 2025 at 2:53 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
The Haverford Township Education Association has appointed a new union president in the middle of contract negotiations with Delaware County’s second-largest school district.

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Haverford teachers union appoints new president during contract negotiations
Karen Potratz, a school psychologist at Chestnutwold Elementary School, will serve as interim president of the Haverford Township Education Association.
whyy.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:33 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
For the first time in more than three decades, “Everybody’s Hometown” in Delaware County will have a new mayor.

What does Joi Washington have in store for Media?

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Media Borough has a new mayor for the first time in 3 decades
What does Joi Washington — a transit-oriented, video game-playing millennial — have in store for "Everybody’s Hometown" in Delaware County?
whyy.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
Philly-area U.S. House members expressed displeasure over Senate Democrats making a deal to reopen the federal government without healthcare guarantees.

Each of the local members of Congress dismissed calls for an overhaul in Senate leadership.

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Philly-area U.S. House members express displeasure over shutdown Senate deal
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Philadelphia, said he doesn’t understand why his Democratic Senate colleagues would break ranks on the continuing resolution.
whyy.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:39 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
We crunched the numbers (that were available).

Philadelphia’s suburbs saw their highest voter turnout for an off-year election cycle dating back to 2011.

Was it Trump backlash? Interesting judicial races? Or good local candidates?

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Philly suburbs hit best off-year voter turnout since 2011
Voters in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties showed up in droves, despite there being no big-ticket federal race.
whyy.org
November 5, 2025 at 10:21 PM
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A small town a few dozen miles west of Philadelphia made history Wednesday morning by electing Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor.

Downingtown mayor-elect Erica Deuso said she carries “that responsibility with care and with purpose.”

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Downingtown elects Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor
Democrat Erica Deuso defeated Republican Richard Bryant in the borough of Downingtown’s mayoral election.
whyy.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:44 AM
kennycooper.bsky.social
Delaware County’s highest elected office will remain under sole Democratic control.

Unofficial results in this high-turnout, off-year election show Democrats defeating Republicans in the race for two seats on Delaware County Council.

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Democrats retain unanimous control of Delaware County Council
Democrats Richard Womack and Joanne Phillips prevailed over Republicans Brian Burke and Liz Piazza.
whyy.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:43 AM
kennycooper.bsky.social
1 in 3 Pa. SNAP recipients are kids. As cuts remain in limbo — and the state budget impasse continues, Philly-area schools face “uncertainty” feeding students.

Upper Darby School District only has sufficient food service funds through December.

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whyy.org/articles/sna...
1 in 3 Pa. SNAP recipients are kids. Philly-area schools face ‘uncertainty’ feeding students
Nearly 241,000 children in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties receive SNAP benefits.
whyy.org
November 1, 2025 at 12:24 AM
kennycooper.bsky.social
The William Penn School District in Delaware County could run out of cash as early as Jan. 31 if Pennsylvania’s budget impasse continues.

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William Penn School District could run out of money within months
More than half of the Delaware County school district's revenue comes from the state. Without a budget, funds could run dry by the end of January.
whyy.org
October 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
Chesco250 posted on Facebook Tuesday honoring Confederate President Jefferson Davis for fighting “for a more perfect union.”

"The content originated from an intern unaware of Jefferson Davis’ role in American history," Chesco250 said in an apology.

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Chesco250 apologizes for Facebook post highlighting Confederate leader
Chesco250 said “the content originated from an intern unaware of Jefferson Davis’ role in American history and was posted through an automated process.”
whyy.org
October 22, 2025 at 9:06 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
The starting bid for Crozer-Chester Medical Center is $7 million and the starting bid for Springfield Hospital is $3 million.

Prospect believes a sale will happen. If the sales fall through, a judge is allowing the company to abandon the property.

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whyy.org/articles/cro...
Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Springfield Hospital to be abandoned if a sale fails
Springfield’s solicitor said that word of a possible abandonment came as a “total surprise.”
whyy.org
October 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
Teachers and staff at Delaware County's second-largest school district have been working without a contract since Sept. 1.

The two sides are finally inching closer to a deal.

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Haverford school district at odds with teachers union over wage increase proposal
Staff in Delaware County’s second-largest school district have been working without a contract since Sept. 1. The two sides are finally getting closer to a deal.
whyy.org
October 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
As the flotilla gains worldwide attention, Philly, Montco and Delco lawmakers have signed on to legislation that would block the U.S. from sending certain weapons to Israel.

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Why a Glenside veteran joined the global flotilla to get aid to Gaza
As the flotilla gains worldwide attention, Philly, Montco and Delco lawmakers have signed on to legislation that would block the U.S. from sending certain weapons to Israel.
whyy.org
October 2, 2025 at 8:13 PM
kennycooper.bsky.social
Pennsylvania’s budget impasse has paused dollars from reaching the cash-strapped William Penn School District just as contract negotiations between the district and its teachers union stalled.

The result? No homecoming dance. No extracurriculars.

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whyy.org/articles/wil...
‘We don’t have enough seats’: Funding crisis upends William Penn School District
A perfect storm of circumstances, including the Pennsylvania budget impasse, has led to problems for the chronically underfunded school district in Delaware County.
whyy.org
October 1, 2025 at 6:14 PM