FACT CHECK: What Columbia’s ICE Resolution Does — and Does Not — Do COLUMBIA, PA — Recent coverage of Columbia Borough Council’s discussion regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cooperation has raised questions about the borough’s policies, public safety, and the scope of local law enforcement authority. A review of borough records, council statements, and…
Columbia Borough Council Meeting Recap: Snow, Swearing‑In, and “Please Don’t Plow the Street” COLUMBIA, Pa. — Columbia Borough Council held its January 27, 2026 meeting, marking the Borough’s first meeting of the year and reminding everyone that winter, bureaucracy, and public comment season wait for no one. After roll call confirmed that everyone was present…
Historic Review Board Advances Signage, Porch, and Church Fence Projects in Columbia The Columbia Borough Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) held its January meeting on January 14, approving several property improvement projects across the borough’s historic district. The meeting focused on proposed storefront signage, storm‑damage reconstruction, and fencing intended to support a local school’s outdoor…
Columbia Borough Kicks Off 2026: Swearing-In, Big Decisions, and… Maybe Bigger Taxes? Columbia Borough Council rang in the new year with its January 5th reorganization meeting—a night of oaths, optimism, and a little financial reality check. The evening started with the ceremonial swearing-in of newly elected officials. Hands were raised, promises were made, and everyone…
Just because you aren’t physically there doesn’t mean were not a local news outlet for Columbia. Just remember that. Soon we will be posting town videos as well! Congratulations to all new council members!
Response Editorial: Accountability or Just Another Excuse to Sue? It’s interesting to watch how quickly some voices in town leap not toward solutions, but toward lawsuits. The latest editorial about the Chris Vera situation reads less like a call for transparency and more like a familiar pattern: stir outrage, demand legal action, and ultimately drain…
Editorial: Columbia Borough’s Finance Turmoil Demands Real Accountability—and a Clear Plan to Fix It Columbia Borough’s finance office has become synonymous with churn. Since late 2020, the borough has lost accountants and finance managers in rapid succession, with the most recent resignation announced at the December 2025 council meeting. Each departure arrives with scant public…
Columbia Police Chief Jack Broomer to Retire in May; Holly Arndt Poised to Make History COLUMBIA, PA — Police Chief Jack Broomer, who also serves as interim Borough Manager, will retire from the department in May before transitioning into the full‑time Borough Manager role. His departure sets the stage for a historic moment in Columbia…
A Republican View: Shared Responsibility for Columbia’s Budget Woes Columbia Borough faces a projected $1.1 million shortfall heading into 2026. Joe Lintner’s recent article frames this as a Republican-driven spending problem, but the facts tell a broader story: both Republicans and Democrats have overseen years of fiscal mismanagement that brought us here. Overspending Is Bipartisan…
Columbia Borough Faces Budget Crossroads: Reserves or Responsible Tax Policy? By Jesse Sweigart | ColumbiaPA.online Columbia Borough Council is weighing difficult choices as it prepares the 2026 budget. Contrary to recent reporting, the borough’s reserve fund stands at approximately $1.6 million, not $1.1 million. While some members have suggested draining those reserves to avoid a…
Saving Columbia’s Forgotten Dungeons: Rick Fisher’s Mission to Preserve History Beneath the bustling streets of Columbia, Pennsylvania, lies a hidden piece of American history—a series of six crumbling, windowless cells known locally as the Market House Dungeons. Built in 1836, these subterranean chambers were originally intended as storage for market vendors but were later converted…
Editorial: Columbia Schools’ $782K Surplus — Time to Put Taxpayers First By ColumbiaPA.online Columbia Borough School District has reported a $782,383 surplus at the close of the 2024–25 fiscal year. As we previously covered on ColumbiaPA.online, this is a rare moment of financial breathing room for a district that has long operated under tight margins….
The Government’s Back, Baby—and Columbia’s Got Questions, Coffee, and School Cash After 43 days of bureaucratic limbo, the federal government has finally reopened, and Columbia Borough is breathing a cautious sigh of relief—while still clutching its coffee and muttering, “Well, that was a ride.” President Trump signed the funding bill late Wednesday night, ending the…
Calling All Young Republicans: Step Up for Columbia Borough Columbia Borough has always been a community built on grit, tradition, and the belief that everyday people can shape the future. Now, more than ever, that spirit is needed in our local Republican Committee. We’re calling on the next generation of leaders—young Republicans across Columbia Borough—to…
Columbia Borough School District Should look at Transportation Options, Let’s look to Lancaster for Inspiration Columbia, PA — Columbia Borough School District (CBSD) has long been designated a walking school district, meaning it does not provide bus transportation for its general student population. Students are expected to walk or bike to school, with transportation only…
From Runways to Rollercoasters: Why McGinness Isn’t the Bermuda Triangle of Development (November 10th, 2025) Columbia, Pa. If you read Joe Lintner’s latest piece on the McGinness Airfield, you’d think Columbia Borough had just purchased a cursed plot of land where developers vanish into thin air and zoning laws are written in invisible ink. Rick…
