Pennsylvania

A year after deadly flash flooding in Bucks County, families remember loved ones

Published

2 years ago

July 29, 2024

A year after deadly flash flooding in Bucks County, families remember loved ones

Dave Love and his wife Yuko were on their way home from a shopping trip in Princeton. Yuko loved fashion, food and finding deals so much, friends called her the “professional shopper.”

The couple of almost 33 years cut their trip short because of the rain — putting them in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Love said he was driving on Washington Crossing Road when several vehicles stopped suddenly. After turning around, the couple saw water catching up with their Tesla. Their car was lifted by the water, sending it in the direction of another vehicle.

As the water came towards them more rapidly, the couple decided to get out of their car and walk down the road. However, the flooding worsened and carried them away in different directions.

After Dave Love lifted his head above water, he was able to cling onto a tree, breaking his arm during the struggle, until emergency responders rescued him.

Yuko didn’t survive.

“I sincerely believe that we were the victims of climate change,” Dave Love said.

Dave Love and his wife Yuko. The couple was swept away in flooding in Bucks County last year; Dave broke his arm, and Yuko died. (Courtesy of Dave Love)

A year later, Love said he’s trying to resume the activities he enjoyed with his trip-planning wife, such as going to a Broadway play or musical, in order to heal. Love said one year, the couple saw 26 shows in New York City — dining at different restaurants while there. He always ordered something different off the menu, so his “foodie” wife could eat off his plate.

But Love still can’t get himself to visit one of their favorite Japanese grocery stores in New Jersey, unsure of what to buy without the guidance of his wife, who grew up in Tokyo.

“Shopping in general, whether it’s food, or clothes, or whatever, is probably the most painful, because that was her thing,” Love said.

Dave Love and his wife Yuko smile — Dave Love and his wife Yuko. The couple was swept away in flooding in Bucks County last year; Dave broke his arm, and Yuko died. (Courtesy of Dave Love)

Katie Seley, her fiancé and their three young children were going to a barbeque at her future father-in-law’s house.

The family, along with Seley’s mother, got swept away in floodwaters. Seley’s mother Dahlia, fiancé Jim and son Jack survived the flood. Katie did not survive, along with two of her children; Mattie, who only ever wanted to be around her mother; and Conrad, who had recently learned how to crawl.

Katie Seley and a baby, Conrad Sheils — Katheryn “Katie” Seley, 32, Matilda Sheils, 2, and Conrad Sheils, 9 months, died in the flash flood. (Courtesy of Josie Villalobos)

Katie was very close with her older sister Josie Villalobos, who describes her sister as athletic, witty and social — and the “mediator” of the family. Villalobos, who’s 10 years older, said in recent years she offered her sister parenting advice.

“My sister and I were best friends. She is the funniest person I know. I miss her so much all the time,” Villalobos said. “This was just such a shock. Not something we ever saw coming. And it really broke me. So, I got a lot of help. I really needed it … We’ll never be okay, but we are definitely closer as a family — all of us.”

Katheryn Seley and her sister, Josie Villalobos — Katheryn “Katie” Seley, 32, Matilda Sheils, 2, and Conrad Sheils, 9 months, died in the flash flood. Above, Seley and her sister, Josie Villalobos. (Courtesy of Josie Villalobos)

Officials say the flash flood happened so suddenly, it was difficult to prepare residents. The storm was isolated, making it difficult for people to understand the danger.

The incident also did not trigger a wireless emergency alert, which is not issued for every type of flash flood.

“Looking back, we weren’t getting quite as many of the real-time reports, so we didn’t realize at the time how severe the flooding had been,” said Johnson of the National Weather Service. “That’s something we’ve reviewed, and we’ll certainly learn from for future events.”

Upper Makefield Township manager David Nyman said the tragedy moved the township to take another look at its stormwater infrastructure. The township hired engineering firm Gilmore & Associates to study various projects that would capture and slow down rainwater to help prevent Houghs Creek from flooding during large storms.

The township has also secured funding for a high-water-rescue vehicle, and an ATV to access difficult-to-reach areas.

Villalobos said she’s pleased to see the local community take action in response to the tragedy. She said she hopes it will persuade officials to take climate-related issues more seriously.

“This is definitely climate-driven,” Villalobos said. “This was a very unusual weather event, something that does not regularly happen — and shouldn’t happen.”

MaryAnne Tierney, a regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said communities can build their resiliency by having fewer impervious surfaces and improving sewer systems. FEMA is providing grants to help cities reduce flooding, she said.

“Most urban sewer systems are only designed to really manage about an inch of rain per hour,” Tierney said. “But with some of these more severe storms, [there’s] multiple inches of rain per hour.”

To honor the victims, the township plans to launch a butterfly garden in Brownsburg Park, while The Crossing church in Upper Makefield is seeking donations to create a garden, where three trees were donated and planted.

Love, who met his wife Yuko while singing together in their college choir, said the Allegheny College Choir Fund, formed by the couple, plans to change its name in Yuko’s honor.

Love, Villalobos and De Piero say they’re grateful for the support they’ve received from the community over the past year, and wish every person suffering a loss could experience the same help.

Villalobos, who said she still feels very close to her sister, said she’s learned a lot about loss.

“This is just something that could happen to anybody at any time — whether it’s a cancer diagnosis, or it’s a sudden death, it’s a car accident,” she said. “I don’t take my family for granted. I’m thankful for them all the time. I am learning to live with a great deal of pain, and learning to take things one hour at a time, when I can’t bear it.”

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 2 Day results for Feb. 27, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

11-18-39-43-67, Mega Ball: 23

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 4-7, Wild: 5

Evening: 8-8, Wild: 0

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 6-7-7, Wild: 5

Evening: 0-0-3, Wild: 0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 7-2-1-4, Wild: 5

Evening: 5-7-3-1, Wild: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 8-4-5-4-4, Wild: 5

Evening: 1-1-9-8-7, Wild: 0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

04-14-16-20-38

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

02-04-08-13-30

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

10-12-23-31-33-46

Check Match 6 Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

03-04-13-28-42, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Ensure your ticket has your signature, name, address and phone number on the back.
Prizes up to $600: Claim at any PA Lottery retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes from $600 to $2,500: Use a Claim Form to claim at a retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes over $2,500: Mail your signed ticket with a Claim Form or in person at a Lottery Area Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Lottery Headquarters is currently not open to the public. Visit the PA Lottery website for other office locations near you.

When are the Pennsylvania Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: 1:35 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. daily.
Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. daily.
Treasure Hunt: 1:35 p.m. daily.
Match 6 Lotto: 6:59 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Pennsylvania editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Pennsylvania

Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania Helps Homeowners Protect Their Investment Across Generations » NCRC

Published

14 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania Helps Homeowners Protect Their Investment Across Generations » NCRC

For the past 17 years, the Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) has provided a range of programs designed to build wealth within low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. AHCOPA provides services to approximately 3,000 people each year via their pre-purchase, post-purchase and mortgage prevention counseling programs.

When Kenneth Bigos joined AHCOPA as their Executive Director in 2013, he set out to expand the organization’s offerings beyond first-time homeownership counseling services. He identified estate planning as an urgent need for the region’s LMI communities as well.

A 2022 Consumer Reports survey found that 77% of Black and 82% of Hispanic Americans do not have a will in place, which is needed to ensure that their home investment continues to build generational wealth. Consequently, the state court steps in upon the owner’s passing to decide how assets will be distributed, with property not being able to be transferred to an heir until that lengthy process is complete. In Philadelphia alone, there are approximately 10,000 properties with titles that have not been legally settled.

In response to this, AHCOPA launched the Will Power program in 2022 by leveraging existing relationships with pro-bono lawyers in the creation of wills and trusts for community members. The program has created an opportunity to serve a larger portion of Philadelphia’s population.

While the first-time homebuyer program initially attracted people in their mid-30s, Will Power participants are generally in their late 60s, prompting AHCOPA to think about what housing support looks like across an individual’s lifetime.

“Elderly households are more vulnerable,” Bigos said. “To reach these homeowners, we had to develop relationships with trusted agencies, such as senior centers, churches and other institutions that we would not typically work with in our first-time homebuyer program.”

As a result of that work, AHCOPA marked a major milestone in October 2025: the signing of 1,000 wills. Thanks to the success of Will Power and the first-time homebuyer program, AHCOPA has solidified its reputation as the go-to financial advisor for working-class residents.

Looking ahead, they are planning to add a new program designed to support people beyond the initial purchase of their home, which will include coaching to help owners develop their financial literacy. This would encompass how to build savings to buy a first home and avoid foreclosure in the event of a crisis.

For Bigos, NCRC membership is key to ensuring the success of these programs, especially in terms of organizing at the federal, state and local levels advocating for continued funding.

“Engaging with decision makers is very important and being an NCRC member has helped facilitate those relationships,” Bigos said. “Their support has been very impactful.”

Jesse Rhodes is a Contributing Writer.

Photo courtesy of the AHCOPA team.

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Pennsylvania

How gambling revenue helps Pennsylvania fire departments

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

How gambling revenue helps Pennsylvania fire departments

It is hard to imagine that money spent and collected at casinos and in slot machines around the state can wind up being used at local volunteer fire departments throughout the commonwealth, but it’s true.

In Pennsylvania, a portion of the state’s gaming revenue is allocated to support fire departments and emergency management services to the tune of about $30 million each year.

Departments can apply for those funds through a series of state grants, and most departments say that the money from gaming is vital to help them pay for equipment, vehicles and even improvements to their buildings.

“This time we put in for a grant to finish our second floor of our facility here,” said Derry Township Fire Chief Mark Piantine.

Piantine says that gambling revenue has purchased many things for his department in the past like swift water rescue boats as well as a new equipment washing station. Now he hopes that money can give his company a place to sleep when they are working long shifts in bad weather.

“The last storm we had, the Snowmageddon here a couple of weeks ago, we had people staying overnight,” Piantine said. “They were laying across the seats of the trucks and on the floor sleeping because our second floor is not finished.”

Piantine says every little bit helps both their department and other departments, because when it comes right down to it, running a fire department is expensive.

“When you buy a regular pair of gloves, you may pay $25 for them. We buy a pair of gloves, they’re $75 to $100,” said Piantine. “You can buy a pair of boots for $50, ours cost $600.”

Just a few miles away, in the city of Latrobe, Chief John Brasile says that while the city does a lot for them financially, gaming revenue helps a lot. It even helps them make payments on their rescue unit.

“We have about a year’s worth of payments left on it,” Brasile said. “And we use our money for debt reductions on that truck.”

“And that’s essentially from gambling revenue?” Chris DeRose asked.

“Yes. It comes from the State Fire Commissioners’ Office,” Brasile said.

“When is that truck paid off?” DeRose asked.

“About this time next year,” Brasile replied. “And then we can use that money for other stuff then. We would like to get new rescue tools for that truck and they’re expensive.”

The fire departments KDKA has spoken with about using state grant money from gambling revenue say that gambling money is great, but it is not a cure-all. And in fact, on Thursday night, the Latrobe Fire Department was holding yet another fundraising event to help them once again raise money for new fire equipment.

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