12 top stories from Butler County in 2025
As 2025 winds to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back at an eventful year in Butler County and what some of the biggest and most important stories of the year to impact the region were.
Here are the top stories of 2025 as chosen by the Butler Eagle editors.
After nearly four years of detention in Russia following his arrest for possession of a half ounce of medical marijuana in 2021, Butler County native Marc Fogel was freed on Feb. 11 after years of attempts to negotiate his release between Washington and Moscow.
With a handful of high-profile exceptions, Fogel has kept a low profile since his release as he adjusts back to a normal life at home.
Following President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown efforts, members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement began to show up in communities across the nation where they were rarely seen before and Butler County and the surrounding area were no exceptions.
The presence prompted concerns from some sectors of the community as the full extent of the actions planned for the crackdown were still unclear.
After calls for local law enforcement cooperation, agencies around the country began entering into cooperation agreements with ICE, including the Butler County Sheriff’s office.
Just two years after forming as a result of the merger of Butler Health System and Excella Health, it was announced Independence Health System will be acquired by West Virginia University Health System in fall of 2026.
WVU Medicine announced plans to invest at least $800 million in Western Pennsylvania, including $600 million in capital improvement investments.
Seneca Valley School District announced plans for a renovation to connect the current intermediate and senior high schools and construct a performing arts center at the campus.
While the project’s price tag — up to $165.89 million — drew community concern, the school voted to move forward with the project in November.
After years of deterioration and needed upgrades being put off, the a novel solution to ensure Pullman Park operates in good condition for the foreseeable future may have saved the day.
Early this summer, the city came to an agreement with Butler Area School District to share responsibility for Pullman Park. While the district agreed to partner on management, the city agreed to pay for needed renovations and repairs at the facility, to the tune of nearly $450,000 so far.
Butler city, school district agree on terms to jointly operate Pullman Park
More than a year after Butler County had the national spotlight land on it due to the assassination attempt on Trump at a rally at the Butler Farm Show Grounds in 2024, political violence is, unfortunately, still an issue across the nation, including in Butler County.
Despite the continuance of the trend, the anniversary did provide the people of Butler County an opportunity to look back and honor one of their own who was killed at the rally, Corey Comperatore.
The community rallied behind the Comperatore family on the weekend of July 13 with the first-ever Corey’s Cruise, a parade in Saxonburg and a private dinner where Helen Comperatore unveiled a statue of her late husband.
A federal government shutdown lasting over a month brought uncertainty to Butler County families relying on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds and strained community resources trying to keep up with the demand.
Issues with school funding, both positive and negative, seemed to come from all sides this year. From state and federal budget stalemates delaying funds to changes to cyber charter funding, local districts had to take steps to ensure they could keep the doors open and provide the education required of them.
Following the election of Trump to a second, nonconsecutive term, he kicked off his tenure with a flurry of executive orders and directions on a wide range of issues.
The actions drew both condemnation and support prompting rallies from those across the political spectrum, including protests and rallies of support within Butler County. The orders, particularly in relation to cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency, also caused uncertainty in some sectors.
After a series of officer resignations, the Middlesex Township Police Department moved forward with hiring its first chief in two decades.
In accordance with Pennsylvania Act 537 of 1966, the Sewage Facilities Act, Connoquenessing Township was forced to come to a decision on its future plans to provide sewage after the state sent the municipality a letter in 2023 noting it was in violation of state law.
What followed was an evaluation of various plans and, finally, the split decision to adopt one that would connect to the Saxonburg Area Authority. However, concerns over costs continue to linger with the public.
The decades-long search for the whereabouts of Cherrie Mahan, who disappeared from her Winfield Township home at the age of 8 in 1985, saw new energy this past year when a private investigator volunteered to support the search.
