Author: Beaver County Radio

Old Economy Park pool liner, Big Knob Grange Maple Syrup Festival among topics discussed in most recent Commissioners’ work session

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed at the Beaver County Commissioners’ work session this morning at the County Courthouse. One of them was when Dan Cole, the director of Public Works for the Commissioners, brought up some things like a old gas well on a property back by Economy Park. It was leaking, but the situation is being taken care of at this time. Cole also brought up the reminder that the ongoing movement of boxes with documents from the Wampum Mushroom Mines to a facility owned by St. Barnabas could be faster if grass could be cut. However, he said that his department is doing the best that they can in that instance. In other business, Beaver County Recration and Tourism Director Tony Caltury let the audience know about the third annual “Tap for Sap” Race event take place at Brady’s Run Park this Saturday. This is a 25k trail race with 300 participants. It will not have any road closures affecting it. After Caltury mentioned this, Commissioner Jack Manning questioned him about an update on the liner of the pool at Old Economy Park in Baden. The goal is to get a new liner installed because at the Commissioners’ work session on March 4th, 2026, Caltury noted that it was been determined that the liner of that pool is “no longer viable for the last couple of years.” According to Caltury, the first invoice for it has been submitted, and “we are waiting for the project manager to assign the timeline from there and then we’ll know when exactly it’s getting installed. I’ve been in contact with the YMCA as well.” As for the opening of the pool, Caltury noted of a possible Fourth of July start. Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles mentioned twenty-four resolutions for tomorrow, which included money for demolition regarding a building in Beaver Falls. Manning also congratulated the work of those at the Big Knob Grange in Rochester after they hosted the Big Knob Grange Maple Syrup Festival this past weekend. It replaced the Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music Festival that was cancelled this year. Manning hopes that it can become a permanent event in the county after its initial success. He also congratulated the Cornerstone of Beaver County for their event at the Fez in Hopewell for their tenth anniversary of the work they have done to support those that do not have homes in Beaver County. He also let the audience know of an event at the Larry Bruno Foundation in Beaver Falls from 12 noon to 8 p.m. tonight with things like food trucks to celebrate the upcoming NFL draft that begins in Pittsburgh tomorrow through Saturday.

2026 NFL Draft is ready to take its place in Pittsburgh

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Visit Pittsburgh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) An estimated 500,000 to 700,000 fans are expected to attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, which will take place from tomorrow through Saturday. The next generation of football stars will become professional football players in the National Football League (NFL) as all 32 of its teams will make their selections in the seven-round event. Round 1 will begin at 8 p.m. tomorrow, Rounds 2 and 3 will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 noon on Saturday The NFL previously announced that the North Shore will host the event while both Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park will have elements of the city during the draft. The expected attendance for the event could make it the biggest event in the history of Pittsburgh for its visitors.

Highmark Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Riveters, renamed F.N.B. Stadium after agreement with First National Bank

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Posted on Facebook on April 22nd, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Highmark Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Riveters, now has a new name. The Riverhounds announced today a multi-year stadium naming rights agreement with First National Bank. The new name of the stadium is F.N.B. Stadium as a result. First National Bank also becomes the official bank of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the official banking partner of the stadium as part of this agreement. The stadium opened in 2013 and Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network are still long-term partners with the Riverhounds even with the name of it changing. Soccer fans will soon notice updated signage and other improvements in the stadium, alongside upcoming renovations and expansion.

U.S. Steel Announced as Naming Rights Partner for New Youth Sports Field at Hazelwood Green

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – The United States Steel logo is pictured outside the headquarters building in downtown Pittsburgh, April 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Project partners, community leaders, student athletes, and local supporters gathered today for a ribbon cutting of the newly named U. S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green on the eve of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The new multipurpose field is designed to provide expanded access to recreation, sports, and community space for the Hazelwood community, the adjacent Mon Valley and residents across the Pittsburgh area. Project partners, including the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Tishman Speyer, Hazelwood Green Youth Sports Charities and Steelers Charities, were joined by National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell, U. S. Steel CEO David Burritt and members of the community to commemorate this historic milestone. Under the naming rights agreement, the field will be officially known as U. S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green, reflecting U. S. Steel’s commitment to supporting the communities where it operates. Programming at the new field will highlight the company’s dedication to bringing long-term benefits and vitality to Hazelwood, the neighboring Mon Valley and broader Pittsburgh area.

Congressman Chris Deluzio, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Earned Railroad Retirement Benefits

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) Congressmen Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) introduced the Railroad Retirement Fairness Act in Washington D.C. yesterday that would eliminate an outdated provision in federal law which unfairly reduces railroad retirement payments for certain retirees and spouses who continue working in non-railroad jobs after retirement. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE.) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Railroad retirees and their spouses face a reduction in their retirement benefits if they continue working for their last prior non-railroad employer before retirement under current law. That current rule can force retirees and spouses to leave jobs they want to keep or switch employers, simply to avoid losing benefits they earned. The railroad retirement system provides benefits to rail employees through a two-tier structure. Tier I benefits are similar to Social Security, while Tier II benefits function like a private pension. Current law reduces some Tier II benefits based solely on whether a retiree or spouse continues working for the same non-railroad employer they had before retirement, even though a retiree who takes a different job after retiring would not face the same penalty. According to a release from Deluzio’s office, the Railroad Retirement Fairness Act would: 

  • Eliminate the arbitrary “last prior employer” deduction; 
  • Allow railroad retirees and their spouses to continue working in non-railroad jobs without losing earned retirement benefits; and 
  • Ensure more equal treatment for retirees regardless of where they choose to work in retirement. 

The bill is endorsed by the Transportation Communications Union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the Teamsters.

Joseph Paul Stefanosky (1961-2026)

Joseph Paul Stefanosky, 64, of Clarion, passed away on April 19th, 2026, at his home. He was born in New Brighton on April 30th, 1961, a son of Eileen F. McPherson Stefanosky and the late John A. Stefanosky. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia G. Stefanosky, one grandson, Austin C. Hancock, two brothers, John and Scott Stefanosky, one great-nephew, Devin Stefanosky, a niece, Tanya Stefanosky, and several aunts and uncles. He is survived by one daughter, Elyse I. Stefanosky, of Beaver Falls, two grandchildren, Ethan and Owen Stefanosky, and a special friend whom he also considered his daughter, Holly Dean, of Beaver Falls, as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Joseph was a retired former owner of J. and T. fleet repair and trucks n’ more in Punta Gorda, Florida, and was a self employed carpenter and previously worked for Bachmans Garage and Kruts Garage.

Friends will be received on Friday, April 24th, from 4-7 p.m., at the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc. 349 Adams Street, Rochester, who was in charge of his arrangements, and where a service will follow Saturday, April 25th at 11 a.m.

Inurnment will take place at St. Cecilia’s Cemetery, 761 Allendale Road, New Brighton.

Memorial contributions will be made to UPMC Children’s Hospital, 4401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224.

Shapiro Administration Highlights Governor’s Investments in Pennsylvania’s Direct Care Workforce, Calls for Increased Minimum Wage for All Workers

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services, Caption for Photo: Harrisburg, PA. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh speaks during Tuesday’s press conference. Dr. Arkoosh joined workers from SEIU Healthcare to highlight investments in the proposed 2026-27 budget that help workers and bring them above or closer to a $15 hourly wage. Thanks to Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget that invested $21 million to increase wages, direct care workers are now seeing an increase of $1-$5 per hour from their previous hourly wage. April 21, 2026.

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh advocated in Harrisburg yesterday for continued investments in Pennsylvania’s workforce alongside SEIU Healthcare direct care workers (DCWs) and celebrated recent investments that increased wages for this workforce. The investments made in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-2026 budget caused the hourly rates paid to certain DCWs support a $15 hourly wage, personal time off, and recognizes the cost of health insurance. These workers are seeing increases of $1-$5 per hour from their current hourly wage. Both employees and the person they work for must fill out, sign, and return a form by clicking here in order to receive the raise because wages are decided between DCWs and the individual they work with. Forms must be submitted and received by May 8th, 2026, to receive pay retroactive to January 1, 2026. 

Major sporting events will reshape Pennsylvania’s economy

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Visit Pittsburgh)

(Reported by Danielle Smith, Keystone News Service, Note and Credit for Story: This story was produced with original reporting from Anna Gustafson from the Pennsylvania Independent)

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pennsylvania is hosting some of the most well-known sporting events in the world, and the state expects to draw about 2-million spectators throughout the summer. This week, the N-F-L Draft is in Pittsburgh, the largest event the city has ever hosted, with 700-thousand people expected to attend the three-day whirlwind of football, food, art and music. Anne Ryan, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism, says the Philadelphia area is likely to draw about a million people between the P-G-A Championship in May, six FIFA World Cup matches in June and July, and M-L-B All-Star Week – also in July. She adds that each event is expected to bring millions of dollars to the local economy. Ryan points out hotel rooms are expected to sell out in Pittsburgh, and visitors are booking rooms in the surrounding area for the draft. The FIFA World Cup fan festival in Philadelphia will include 75 local food trucks and a “vendor village” for the duration of the tournament, and World Cup games will draw people to watch parties in Scranton and Reading. yan adds that planning the events didn’t happen overnight. Local and state officials have been working for years toward securing them. Tourism leaders in Pittsburgh, home of the Steelers, were eyeing the N-F-L Draft for about a decade, and Governor Josh Shapiro made an aggressive push for the event in 2023. Ryan adds that Pittsburgh has done an incredible amount of work to get ready for the draft. She points out Market Square, often referred to as the heart of downtown Pittsburgh and a major hub of entertainment, restaurants and civic life, is undergoing a 15-million-dollar renovation, with a grand opening happening today. Philadelphia has also invested millions of dollars in beautification projects to prepare for its events.

Creating Jobs in Allegheny County: Governor Shapiro Announces Mondi Bags USA Selects Pennsylvania for Manufacturing Expansion, Creating Approximately 170 New Jobs

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services: Caption for Photo: CLINTON, Pa., April 21, 2026 — Officials and leaders participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Mondi Bags USA following the announcement of a state investment to support manufacturing and job growth in Allegheny County.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Governor Josh Shapiro announced in Clinton yesterday that Mondi will expand its manufacturing operations in Pennsylvania, creating approximately 170 new jobs over the next three years in Allegheny County. The Shapiro Administration successfully competed against Ohio and West Virginia with a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $1,036,000 Pennsylvania First grant which is coordinated by the Governor’s BusinessPA team to secure the multi-million-dollar project. Mondi Bags USA’s new facility will relocate its existing manufacturing operations from their Oakdale, Pennsylvania, and Wellsburg, West Virginia facilities to a 200,000-square-foot Findlay Township industrial facility at 2201 Sweeney Drive in Clinton Commerce Park. 

Officials unveil new entrance to Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, Posted on Facebook on April 21st, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Visitors will now go through a new and improved entrance as they enter the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new front door and admissions plaza of the zoo yesterday at 11 a.m. According to zoo officials, the new entrance is more accessible, includes a new streamlined admission process, and features beautiful natural landscaping. New restrooms were also installed. The updated entrance is one of the first steps in the Pittsburgh Zoo’s 20-year plan that will reimagine the campus. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato stated that the investment will help unite the community. The investment is funded by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Allegheny County Regional Asset District (RAD), Colcom Foundation, and The Charity Randall Foundation. The zoo will welcome guests through a new entrance fit for the animal kingdom starting this Friday. Admissions operations, which includes ticketing and restrooms, will be available next week.