Author: Beaver County Radio

Pennsylvania State Police warn public of new law enforcement impersonation phone scam

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

Allegheny County, PA) People are falsely posing as law enforcement in a phone scam happening in local communities.

According to information shared by Pennsylvania State Police yesterday, troopers have received several reports of scam calls being made to residents in the Troop B area.

This Troop B area includes: Allegheny (except the townships of Frazer, Fawn, Springdale, Harrison, and East Deer, the boroughs of Brackenridge and Tarentum, and SR 28), Fayette, Greene, and Washington, and the townships of Rostraver and South Huntingdon, the boroughs of Smithton, West Newton, and North Belle Vernon, the city of Monessen and Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County.

Police stated that the scammers claim to be with state police and some other law enforcement agencies, including sheriff’s offices, local police department or federal agents. They then tell the intended victim that they are reaching out about jury duty or outstanding warrants and demand payment via cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Troopers noted that the cryptocurrency requested in typically Bitcoin.

Troopers emphasize that no law enforcement agency will ever call people to demand payment.

Anyone who receives a call like this is asked to call the Pennsylvania State Police at 724-223-5200.

Senate Calls for Congressional Medal of Honor for Maj. Richard D. Winters

(File Photo of an American Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Senate unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 326 yesterday in Harrisburg. This urges Congress to recommend Maj. Richard D. Winters for the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33), the chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Winters was a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania and he served as the commanding officer of the 101st Airborne Division’s Easy Company during World War II. His heroic deeds were depicted in the acclaimed HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” He passed away on January 2nd, 2011.

State Representative Rob Matzie: $50,000 grant will support improvements to the Aliquippa Bucktails

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) State Representative Rob Matzie announced in Aliquippa today that a $50,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Game Commission will fund improvements to Beaver County’s oldest sportsmen club.

According to Matzie, this funding to the Aliquippa Bucktails will allow the club to construct a new archery range and mitigate environmental damage from the shooting range and the funding was secured under the Game Commission’s Pennsylvania Shooting Range Improvement Program.

Ellwood City comic book and collectables store New Dimension Comics celebrating 40 years in business woth a 40-hour sale this weekend

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of New Dimension Comics)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ellwood City, PA) New Dimension Comics, a comic book and collectables store in Ellwood City is celebrating 40 years in business by having a 40-hour sale at their location this Friday, July 3rd starting at 8 p.m. The doors will stay open until Sunday, July 5th at 12 noon. Over 400,000 books will be available to buy for just 40 cents each. Silver Age comics and other items are also ready to be sold to customers. Only the books worth $1 will be 40 cents each while the rest of them are marked with their respective prices, with some sections sorted. The store is normally only open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each week and is filled with comics for just $1 each. A brand new selection of 40,000 sorted DC Comics will also premiere at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, July 4th. Cookout treats and refreshments will also be served. New Dimension Comics opened in June of 1986 by Todd McDevitt in Ellwood City and has grown to 6 stores in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Valdez, Triolo and Rodriguez homer for Pirates in 11-7 win over Phillies

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Endy Rodríguez reacts after hitting a three-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Chase Shugart during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 29, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Esmerlyn Valdez and Jared Triolo both hit home runs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates escape an early five-run deficit, and Endy Rodriguez closed the deal with a three-run homer in the ninth for an 11-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.

The Pirates posted a six-run fifth inning against struggling starter Aaron Nola (3-5).

The Phillies fought back with two runs in the eighth to cut the lead to one run, but Rodriquez homered on a two-out pitch off reliever Chase Shugart in the ninth. Mason Montgomery closed for the Pirates.

The Phillies jumped on starter Braxton Ashcraft for five runs. Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh each homered in the first inning, and Bryce Harper hit his 20th of the season in the third inning.

But Nola gave up two home runs in 4 1/3 innings, moving into a tie for fifth-worst in the majors at 19 homers allowed. After easing through the first three innings, Bryan Reynolds hit a double off the top of the left field fence and Valdez bombed one to left to cut the Phillies’ lead to 5-2.

In the fifth, Nola allowed a leadoff home run to Triolo, his first of the season. Nola left with the game tied at 5.

Reliever Seth Johnson then gave up an RBI single to Tyler Callihan, and a Turner error helped boost the Pirates’ lead to 8-5. Ashcraft (8-3) settled down and went six innings for the win.

The Phillies scored twice in the eighth, as Marsh hit his second homer of the game and J.T. Realmuto singled home Bryson Stott. But with two on and two outs, Pirates reliever Yohan Ramirez struck out Justin Crawford.

Up next

The Pirates will send RHP Bubba Chandler (3-7, 4.42 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night against Phillies ace LHP Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 2.13 ERA).

Department of Justice files lawsuit, accusing Pennsylvania and three other states of refusing to provide SNAP data to federal officials

(FIle Photo of the Department of Justice Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington D.C.) The Department of Justice (DOJ) has now filed a lawsuit against Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Michigan and Minnesota accusing the states of refusing to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture with data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants. The DOJ states that the data was collected to ensure states properly enforced “their determinations of residents’ eligibility for SNAP, including household benefit levels.” The agency alleges that the USDA requested the last five years of SNAP applicant data from several states last year. After dozens complied, federal officials claimed that the USDA requested the data again from the four states in May of 2026. The DOJ is now seeking an injunction requiring the four states to turn over the data, claiming that failure to comply “creates the likelihood of ongoing, material waste, fraud, and abuse going undetected.”    

Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge Inspection Wednesday in Potter Township

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Potter Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that inspection work on the Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge in Potter Township will occur tomorrow, weather permitting. 

From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., there will be single-lane alternating traffic restrictions controlled by flaggers on the Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge just north of the intersection with Raccoon Creek Road. Bridge inspection activities will be conducted by crews from Mackin Engineering and the Sofis Rigging Company. 

Group opposed to proposed data center development project on former Pitt Race property hosts town hall in Big Beaver

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pitt Race International Complex)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Big Beaver Borough, PA) A group that is opposed to a proposed data center development in Big Beaver hosted its own town hall last night, drawing nearly 100 people to the Big Beaver Volunteer Fire Department. 

This meeting comes about a month after the data center company Switch⁠ held a community meeting about its plans for the former Pittsburgh International Race Complex property. 

Among the organizers was Dan Dennehy-Rodriguez with the Three Rivers Motorsport Preservation Society, which is a group formed by supporters of the former Pitt Race complex. 

According to Dennehy-Rodriguez, the goal of that town hall was to educate residents about data centers and help them better understand how the proposed development could affect the community. 

Switch is proposing a campus that consists of three data center buildings on roughly 400 acres of the former Pitt Race property, which is approximately the size of 300 football fields. 

Dennehy-Rodriguez stated that he hopes the concerns that were raised during the meeting reach both Switch and local elected leaders. 

Big Beaver officials voted in September of 2025 to amend an ordinance allowing data centers in the township. 

Several local officials were invited to attend this meeting and some council members were also present, but no representative from Switch attended. 

William Lloyd James (Passed on June 28th, 2026)

William Lloyd James, 78, of Freedom, passed away on June 28th, 2026. He was born in Homer City, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Freedom.

William was a graduate of Freedom High School and went on to continue his education, earning an Associate degree in accounting. He honorably served his country in the U S Army during the Vietnam War, stationed in Korea.

He spent his working years with the Construction and General Laborers Local 833, from which he later retired.

He really enjoyed sports. He was a talented basketball player in both high school and college, and his love of the game remained with him throughout his life. He later continued to give back to the sport as a referee for junior and senior high school basketball games, and coaching his grandson’s youth teams. He was also an avid golfer and found great enjoyment in the friendships and time outdoors that the game provided. He loved watching sports on TV and never missed his grandchildren’s sporting events, cheering them on at every soccer game, basketball game and track meet.

Another important part of his life was his 25 years of service with the Freedom Volunteer Fire Department.

Above all, he cherished his family. He was devoted to his wife of 54 years, Eleanor. He was a proud father to his son, William (Bill) James and his wife, Autumn, and his daughter, Jessica Melvin and her husband, Jason. He found great joy in being a grandfather to Jarek, Javin, Jersee, Adlee, and Brylee, and he treasured every opportunity to follow their activities and celebrate their accomplishments. He was also blessed to know his great-grandchildren, Tessa and Levi, who brought him additional happiness and pride.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lillian James, and a brother, David James. He is survived by his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, his siblings, Charles James, Dorothy Fraser and Clair James, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received on Thursday, July 2nd from 2-5 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca where military honors will be provided by the Beaver County Special Unit and a blessing service will be held at 5 p.m.

Carole Ann Alberts (Passed on June 27th, 2026)

Carole Ann Alberts, 87, a lifelong resident of Freedom and New Sewickley, passed away on June 27th, 2026 at Ridgecrest in Cranberry Township, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband Ken Alberts, her sister, Joan Coe and her parents, Erma and William (Bud) Adair.

She is survived by her three children, Sharon Alberts – Campbell (Mike), and their children, Jonathan Reagle and Brandy Reagle (Branden), and their children: Maysn, Jayce, Caroleena, Lalayna, Bella and Kal, daughter Tracy Alberts – Wilde (Jim Wilde), and her two children, Matthew Wilde (Marissa Dobson) and their children, Wyatt and Ryleigh Wilde and Brett Torres (Cassidy Negri), and son, K. Scott Alberts (Hyun-Joo Kim) and their children, Juni, Minu, and Seann, along with her lifelong friend, Chris Murphy.

Family and friends will be received at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, on Wednesday July, 1st from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., where a service will be held on Thursday, July 2nd at 10 a.m. SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES was the funeral home that was in charge of her arrangements. Interment will take place at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, 273 PA-68, Rochester.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be mailed to Prince of Peace, 60 Rochester Road, Freedom, PA 15042 in Carole’s name.