Prosecutors: Former NCAA players and fixers charged over rigged basketball games

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – NCAA logo displayed on the fence before an NCAA softball game between Jacksonville and FGCU, March 24, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Philadelphia, PA) Federal prosecutors are giving charges to twenty-six people, which included former college basketball players who allegedly as recently as last season tried to fix games, in what they call a scheme to rig NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games. Fifteen people played basketball for Divison I NCAA schools as recently as the 2024-2025 season that were part of the defendants named in the indictment from today and five others were described as fixers by authorities. The charges were filed in federal court in Philadelphia and they include bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud. Authorities state that the fixers used “bribe payments” that were usually ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game to recruit the college basketball players. The indictment follows investigations from the NCAA that led to at least ten players receiving bans for the rest of their lives. Robert Morris University, which is located in Moon Township, was one of the seventeen schools that was named in the indictment.

Some museums in Pittsburgh and in Pennsylvania among museums in the running for 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards

(Photo Courtesy of the Kamin Science Center)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Some museums in Pittsburgh are among the museums in Pennsylvania that are up for USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards this year because of their amazing experiences that they provide to visitors. Voting is open now, once per day per device, until February 9th, 2026 at 11:59 a.m. and the winners will be announced at noon on February 18th, 2026. Three of the Pittsburgh museums that were nominated for these different awards are the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the Heinz History Center and the Kamin Science Center. The full list of nominees for ten different USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards can be found on the USA Today website by clicking here, which is where you can click on each category and vote for your favorite museum.

Fire occurs at a Giant Eagle store on the North Side of Pittsburgh

(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A fire occurred inside the Giant Eagle on the North Side of Pittsburgh this morning. Shortly after 7 a.m., firefighters responded to the grocery store on Cedar Avenue. A Giant Eagle spokesperson stated that it broke out shortly after the store opened, which prompted an evacuation. No employees or customers were injured as a result of this incident and the store has re-opened. However, access to certain areas of that store that were impacted by the fire may be limited.

WPIAL announces 2026 Hall of Fame class

(File Photo of the WPIAL Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The WPIAL announced their Hall of Fame class of 2026 yesterday at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, which includes sixteen inductees. The list includes two former Beaver County football players and a Beaver County team. They are the 2004 Hopewell girls volleyball team, Derek Moye, a wide receiver who played for both Rochester and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jordan Whitehead, a safety who played for Central Valley, the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who was the team Whitehead won a Super Bowl with in 2021 after the 2020 NFL playoffs ended. Headlining this list is Kurt Angle, who won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling in 1996 and competed on a wrestling team in high school at Mt. Lebanon. According to the WPIAL, here is the full list of the sixteen members of their 2026 Hall of Fame Class.

Athletes
  • Kurt Angle, Mt. Lebanon wrestling
  • Tricia Fabian Alderson, Chartiers-Houston softball
  • Bridget Guy Williams, Hempfield Area track
  • Maddie Holmberg Nickal, Hempfield Area track
  • Phil Mary, Chartiers-Houston wrestling
  • Derek Moye, Rochester football
  • Jordan Whitehead, Central Valley football
Coaches
  • Tim McConnell, Chartiers Valley/Bishop Canevin basketball
  • Joe Salvino, Monessen/Belle Vernon basketball
Teams
  • 1981 Mt. Lebanon boys soccer
  • 2004 Hopewell girls volleyball
Heritage
  • Jim Conklin, Waynesburg wrestling
Contributor
  • Anne Madarasz
Courage
  • Ethan Keener, South Fayette basketball/baseball
  • Warren Timko, Upper St. Clair football
Official
  • Charles Evans Hunnell, football/lacrosse

Tenaris facility in Koppel reactivates heat treatment and finishing lines

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Tenaris)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Koppel, PA) Tenaris is now restarting heat treatment and finishing operations at its manufacturing facility in Koppel, which reinforces its commitment to supply steel pipes that are domestically produced for the United States energy sector. This follows an investment of $2.1 million to restart operations and strengthen the industrial production footprint from Tenaris in the United States. Tenaris is also hiring over 80 employees to support the reactivation of these lines.

Congressmen Deluzio and Rulli Introduce Bipartisan “Under Pressure Act” to Study and Improve Rail Pressure Relief Devices

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) Congressmen Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Michael Rulli (R-OH-06) announced new, bipartisan rail safety legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives today. The bill that was introduced is called the Under Pressure Act of 2026, and it would study the performance of pressure relief devices on rail tank cars in a fiery derailment. The study bill from Deluzio was crafted with rail industry groups, multiple labor unions that represent rail workers and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). According to a release today in Washington D.C. from Deluzio’s office, specifically, the bill would: 

  • Require the FRA to submit a report to Congress on the rate and causes of rail tank car pressure relief device failures in derailments; 
  • Require this report to make recommendations to prevent such failures; and 
  • Require the report to include a status update on any recommendations issued by the NTSB on rail tank cars that have not been sufficiently answered.

Congressmen Deluzio and Rulli represent the communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio that were most directly impacted by the February 3rd, 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment that happened in East Palestine, Ohio. The duo also worked together on the Railway Safety Act of 2025, a comprehensive rail safety legislation. In July of 2025, Deluzio and Rulli also held a joint rail safety roundtable with union rail workers and leaders from both Beaver County and Eastern Ohio.

Lawrence D. “Chacho” Lona (1942-2026)

Lawrence D. “Chacho” Lona, 83, passed away peacefully on January 14th, 2026, under hospice care at the Good Samaritan Hospice House in Wexford. He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio on October 8th, 1942, a son of the late Santiago and Milka Lona. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Milan “Fatso” Lona, Michael Lona and Steven Lona, his sister, Lola Baich, his brother-in-law, Joe Baich and his sister-in-law, Janet Lona.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy, his children, Lonée Lona (Ture) and Steve (Lisa) Lona, his brother, John (Colette) Lona, his sisters, Maria (John) Caruso and Theresa “Beba” Lona; and sister-in-law, Cathy Lona. He is survived by his nephews, Douglas Miller, Michael (Lori) Miller, Michael (Teresa) Lona and John Caruso, his great-niece, Taylor Miller, his great-nephew, Sawyer Lona, his great-niece, Adison Miller and his great-nephew, Milan Miller. He also held a special bond with his beloved cousin, John Martini.

Lawrence grew up in Midland, Pennsylvania, where his strong work ethic and deep love for family were first formed. He proudly served his country as an airman in the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1964 and was stationed in Lincoln, Nebraska. His was a graduate of Lincoln High School, he went on to build a life rooted in hard work, dedicating forty years as a steelworker in his hometown before retiring from Allegheny Ludlum.  Chacho found great joy on the golf course, where he spent many happy hours playing the game. He also enjoyed watching golf tournaments on television and never missed a chance to follow the sport he loved. He liked fishing and was a devoted Steelers football fan. Above all, he loved time spent with his family and friends, especially gathering together for dinners and celebrations. Known for his humor and gift for storytelling, Chacho’s kindness and spirit will live on through the stories, laughter, and love shared by his family and friends.

Friends will be received on Saturday, January 17th, from 1-3 p.m. in the Schwerha-Noll Funeral Home, 629 Midland Avenue, Midland, who was in charge of his arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, staff, and volunteers at the Good Samaritan Hospice House for the compassionate and dignified care they provided to Lawrence and his family during his final weeks.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lawrence D. “Chacho” Lona, please visit the flower store of the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Kristina Lynn Webb (1982-2026)

Kristina Lynn Webb, 43, passed away on January 13th, 2026, following a four-year battle with a re-ocurrence of brain cancer. She first faced cancer in 2012 and, with remarkable strength, went on to live nine cancer-free years before its return in 2021.

She was born in Beaver on March 25th, 1982, a daughter of Kenneth and Barbara Jobe. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Eryck Webb, her sister, Kendra, her niece, Grace, her nephews, John and Theo and her beloved dog, Frankie.

From an early age, Kristina was deeply rooted in her faith and remained a devoted churchgoer throughout her life. In high school, she found joy and belonging in marching band and color guard, passions that reflected her creativity, discipline, and love of teamwork. She pursued higher education with a focus on becoming an educator. She spent years substitute teaching and leading classrooms across multiple high schools, while also instructing high school color guard. Teaching was never just a job for her. It was an extension of her instinct to guide, encourage, and lift others. In 2011, she married Eryck Webb in East Liverpool, Ohio, and together they made their home in Midland, Pennsylvania. Their life was full of shared adventures, quiet devotion, and deep partnership. She poured her care outward. She cherished her many beloved dogs over the years, including Wally, Joe, Chico, and Frankie. She cared for her niece, nephews, cousins, and friends’ children as if they were her own, always offering patience, attention, and warmth. She took great pride in caring for her mother, helping extended family members manage medical needs, and checking in on neighbors. She also managed the financial side of Eryck’s art business, bringing order, steadiness, and support behind the scenes. She and Eryck loved exploring state parks with their dogs and traveling together across the country. Along the way, she delighted in collecting shot glasses and refrigerator magnets. She dipped her toes in the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, two of the Great Lakes, and the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, a small but joyful tradition that reflected her curiosity and sense of wonder. Despite enduring immense physical pain and uncertainty throughout her illness, she consistently focused on lifting others. She was known for her kindness and her steady optimism and humor. She had a joke ready for every member of her medical team and never lost her ability to laugh, even in the hardest moments. Her courage was quiet but unwavering, marked by grace, generosity, and an unshakable concern for those around her. She was an avid reader, and libraries meant a lot to her. She encourages everyone, instead of sending flowers, to send a donation to your local library.

Friends will be received on Friday, January 16th from 12 noon-2 P.M. and 4 P.M. until the time of a funeral service at 6 P.M. in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of her arrangements.

Interment will be private in Highland Cemetery, 339 Salem Church Road, Midland.

Steelers wide receiver and former Minnesota Vikings star receiver Adam Thielen retires from the NFL

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE = Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen warms up before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Oct. 19, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Adam Thielen recently announced on social media that he is retiring from the NFL. The thirty-five-year-old Thielen had indicated that this season would be his final season when he was waived by the Minnesota Vikings on December 1st, 2025 and he formally announced his retirement on Instagram yesterday. Thielen finished his NFL career with the Steelers and had 11 receptions for 117 yards in five games in three starts this season for the Steelers. Thielen was undrafted in 2013 after playing college football at Minnesota State University and in twelve seasons, he had 704 career catches for 8,497 yards and 64 touchdowns. Thielen was a star player on the Minnesota Vikings, where he played from 2013-2022, and in 2025 before the Steelers claimed him off of waivers on December 2nd, 2025, and his 542 receptions with the Vikings are 4th in Vikings history behind Pro-Football Hall of Fame wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss, as well as a current Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Thielen also played with the Carolina Panthers from 2023-2024 and he holds the NFL record for most consecutive 100-yard receiving games with eight. 

Legacies Alive selected as recipient of donation raised by Center Township police officers during No Shave November

(Photo Courtesy of the Center Township Police Department, Posted on January 13th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Center Township, PA) The Center Township Police Department announced on Facebook on Tuesday that Legacies Alive was selected as the recipient of the monetary donation raised by their officers during No Shave November. The fundraiser was made possible entirely through the participation and generosity of the officers of the Center Township Police Department.