Our daily Chester County business briefs keep you up to date with what’s happening around Chester County. This morning:

La Salle University Names New Board of Trustees Chair

La Salle University has appointed Stephen T. Zarrilli, the chief executive officer of Safeguard Scientifics, to chair its Board of Trustees.

Zarrilli’s appointment comes right after the University hired its first female president, Colleen Hanycz, and both took up their new positions in July.

A major player in Greater Philadelphia’s investor community, Zarrilli sits on the board of Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the University City Science Center. He also drove Safeguard Scientifics forward by moving the company to new offices in Wayne increasing the share price by 36 percent last year.

“Steve brings many strengths to his role as Chair of La Salle’s Board of Trustees,” said William Sautter, Zarrilli’s predecessor of nine years. “Among those strengths are keen business acumen, a deep respect for the mission and values of the Christian Brothers, and a commitment to advancing the University.”

New Data Shows Chester Valley Trail’s Popularity

New measuring devices that record the popularity of the Schuylkill River Trail show that it deserved its recently awarded title in the USA Today reader’s choice poll as the best urban trail in the country.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission began placing counting devices on circuit trails throughout the Philadelphia area last year. The data collected shows the Schuylkill River Trail at Kelly Drive was used by 663,201 pedestrians and cyclists between June 2014 and June 2015.

Coming in second was the Chester Valley Trail with 240,182 bikers and pedestrians who enjoyed the beautiful nature surrounding the track through Central Chester County from East Caln Township East to Montgomery County.

The DVRPC has installed six additional counters since last summer, bringing the total to eleven. Supporters of the trails hope that the more data is collected, the easier it will be to push for more funding for additional infrastructure from the city and state.

So far, Congressman Costello Likely to Retain his Seat According to Congressional Vulnerability Ranking Report

Two Democrats are fighting for the nomination to try and unseat the GOP Representative Ryan Costello from his position in Congress.

Costello, the former chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners, is serving his first term in Congress for the 6th District which spans portions of Montgomery, Chester, Berks, and Lebanon counties, after succeeding former Republican Congressman Jim Gerlach last year, with 56 percent of the vote.

While Republicans believe Costello has good standing for reelection, Democrats are thinking that the presidential election year turnout could make a difference.

Both Democratic hopefuls are army veterans. Mike Parrish, who ran briefly in 2014, has received the endorsement of Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro, but has not held political office before. The other candidate, Joe Denham, is a member of the West Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors.

Drug Pricing Causing a Headache for Endo

Always a hot potato in health care, drug pricing is requiring some creative thinking from Endo International CEO, Rajiv De Silva.

De Silva said in a conference call with stock market analysts on Monday that his company sees a mixed bag of opportunities to raise prices, considering critics such as patients, doctors, and congressional leaders generally question price increases.

Malvern-based Endo, has already moved into the top five highest revenue generating pharmaceutical companies and expects its generic income will grow once it closes the $8.05 billion acquisition of Par Pharmaceuticals, announced in May.

It has both branded patented drugs and generic drugs in its product line, and has already increased its quarterly revenue from $592.85 million in Q2 2014, to $735.17 million for the same period this year.