Pennsylvania
Disturbing footage | Pa. pediatric nurse faces charges for allegedly abusing infant
A pediatric nurse in Pennsylvania has been accused of abusing a medically fragile infant, with disturbing surveillance footage revealing the incident.Disturbing surveillance A Ring camera captured a moment no parent should ever have to see. A pediatric nurse hired to care for a 1-year-old is now accused of abusing the child inside the child’s home.Cindy Desser, 58, is accused of slamming the Newtown Township baby in her crib. In the video from May of last year, Desser adjusts the baby’s medical equipment, walks away, but when the alarm sounds, she chokeslams the baby a second time.An attorney for the baby’s parents told NBC 10 they went to the police and have now filed a lawsuit against Desser and the company that employed her, Team Select Home Care.”They were utterly horrified seeing what they saw on the camera,” the attorney said. “As soon as they saw Desser treating their child like that and abusing her, they rushed into her room and confronted her. And then immediately they called Team Select. They said she cannot come back.”Baby born with spina bifida and needed 24-7 careThe baby was born with spina bifida and other medical complications. At the time of the incident, she was ventilator-dependent and needed 24-7 care.”So, while she was unable to defend herself or speak out on her own behalf and talk to her parents or cry for help, her vital signs, through her vital signs, she was screaming out for help and Team Select, who monitors those, was ignoring that,” the attorney said.Desser charged in separate caseOn March 27, Desser was charged in a separate Bucks County case, accused of abusing a three-year-old child while working for another home care company, Dynamic Home Care.Desser is facing several charges, including aggravated assault.Officials believe there may be more victims.”We firmly believe that given now that we’ve seen Desser assault two minor children who are medically compromised, that these are not isolated occurrences. These are rather part of her pattern,” the attorney said.The companies that Desser works for have yet to comment on the claims, as have her attorneys.
A pediatric nurse in Pennsylvania has been accused of abusing a medically fragile infant, with disturbing surveillance footage revealing the incident.
Disturbing surveillance
A Ring camera captured a moment no parent should ever have to see. A pediatric nurse hired to care for a 1-year-old is now accused of abusing the child inside the child’s home.
Cindy Desser, 58, is accused of slamming the Newtown Township baby in her crib. In the video from May of last year, Desser adjusts the baby’s medical equipment, walks away, but when the alarm sounds, she chokeslams the baby a second time.
An attorney for the baby’s parents told NBC 10 they went to the police and have now filed a lawsuit against Desser and the company that employed her, Team Select Home Care.
“They were utterly horrified seeing what they saw on the camera,” the attorney said. “As soon as they saw Desser treating their child like that and abusing her, they rushed into her room and confronted her. And then immediately they called Team Select. They said she cannot come back.”
Baby born with spina bifida and needed 24-7 care
The baby was born with spina bifida and other medical complications. At the time of the incident, she was ventilator-dependent and needed 24-7 care.
“So, while she was unable to defend herself or speak out on her own behalf and talk to her parents or cry for help, her vital signs, through her vital signs, she was screaming out for help and Team Select, who monitors those, was ignoring that,” the attorney said.
Desser charged in separate case
On March 27, Desser was charged in a separate Bucks County case, accused of abusing a three-year-old child while working for another home care company, Dynamic Home Care.
Desser is facing several charges, including aggravated assault.
Officials believe there may be more victims.
“We firmly believe that given now that we’ve seen Desser assault two minor children who are medically compromised, that these are not isolated occurrences. These are rather part of her pattern,” the attorney said.
The companies that Desser works for have yet to comment on the claims, as have her attorneys.
One person is dead, and two others were taken to the hospital after a crash involving multiple vehicles in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Tuesday afternoon, police said.
The crash happened around 4:45 p.m. at East Bristol Road and Brownsville roads, police said.
Police said a person driving a Toyota RAV4 was involved in a domestic-related incident in Lower Southampton Township before the crash.
The person driving the Toyota RAV4 was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle while attempting to pass a Hyundai Kona, according to police.
The Toyota then became airborne, struck a Honda SUV and a Ford pickup truck and rolled over. The driver of the Toyota died in the crash, police said.
The driver of the Hyundai Kona left the road and came to a rest after striking a fence on Bristol Road, according to police.
It’s unclear if any drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash, police said.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Bensalem police.
Pennsylvania
Digital News Publishers Launch Pennsylvania Independent News Association (PiNA) to Advocate for Local News Organizations – Saucon Source
The publishers of two dozen local news brands across Pennsylvania today announced the official formation of the Pennsylvania Independent News Association (PiNA).
The new Harrisburg-based organization is dedicated to bringing together digital-first local news organizations to strengthen the independent press, modernize laws and policies, and ensure the long-term sustainability of community news.
“The news industry is in a period of profound transformation, and digital news publishers need a seat at the table,” said Tom Sofield, PiNA’s president and publisher of LevittownNow.com.
PiNA’s mission is to provide these publishers with a collective voice, advocating for policies that reflect the modern reality of news consumers, local businesses and civic organizations.
An immediate focus for the new association is the reform of Pennsylvania’s outdated public notice laws, which currently prohibit digital outlets from publishing legal notices. PiNA seeks the right for qualified and established digital outlets to compete against incumbent print outlets and for local municipalities to choose the publication and medium that’s best for their communities. PiNA’s proposed amendment draws from similar legislation in Virginia that was signed into law in 2024.
“PiNA publishers have long been ready to compromise and find policy solutions that work for all Pennsylvanians,” said PiNA secretary and treasurer Davis Shaver, publisher of LebTown. “When lawmakers and local government organizations say they want the ability to self-publish notices, it’s a result of legacy newspapers treating the print monopoly over public notices as a profit center.”
PiNA’s position is that independent outlets can provide the third-party affidavits of publication required to demonstrate compliance with public notice mandates–an essential role of the notice process that would not be possible if agencies were allowed to publish on their own websites.
“We understand why self-publication is desirable, but it’s not the only way to provide urgently needed financial relief for the onerous print newspaper tax on public notices,” said Shaver. “We’re tired of waiting for legacy newspapers to disrupt themselves. Enough is enough, let’s move on.”
PiNA has already engaged with state legislators from across the Commonwealth. PiNA leadership said that the group has been encouraged to learn that its position has widespread support. In particular, PiNA commends Representative Robert Freeman (D-136) for his leadership on this issue.
PiNA represents a group of serious-minded news organizations and leaders. Its membership spans the Commonwealth, from the most rural area to the suburbs and to the neighborhoods of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. PiNA member outlets are read by millions of Pennsylvanians monthly.
“We are coming together to advocate for our staffs, our readers and common-sense policies–like public notice reform–that support a free and modern press,” said Sofield. “By combining our strengths, we can ensure that every community in Pennsylvania has access to reliable local news.”
The association will work to bring collaboration among the locally-owned Pennsylvania small businesses to share ideas and solutions for growth, technology and sustainable revenue models.
“We believe in the power of local news to build stronger communities and improve lives,” said Sofield. “By forming PiNA, we’re creating a base for independent publishers to thrive together.”
PiNA is focused on ensuring that high-quality, trustworthy local news is a permanent fixture in Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. The founding members of PiNA include Burb Media, EYT Media Group, Fideri News Network, Lazerpro, Lebanon Publishing Company, NCPA Media LLC and Street Light Media Group. The first associate members include West Hills Gazette and Saucon Source.
Member Outlets: AroundAmbler.com, CentralBucksNews.com, explore814.com, exploreClarion.com, exploreJeffersonPA.com, exploreVenango.com, GlensideLocal.com, HorshamNow.com, LebTown.com, LevittownNow.com, MediaPANow.com, MoreThanTheCurve.com, NewHopeFreePress.com, NewtownPANow.com, NorthCentralPA.com, NorthPennNow.com, PerkValleyNow.com, PhillyDaily.com, SauconSource.com, StateCollege.com, WestHillsGazette.com, WillowGroveNow.com, and WissNow.com.
About PiNA
The Pennsylvania Independent News Association (PiNA) is a trade association representing digital-first local news publishers. PiNA works to promote the health and sustainability of independent news outlets through advocacy, collaboration and innovation.
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