Author: Beaver County Radio

Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.7 Percent in August of 2026, Lowest Level in Over Two Years

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released its preliminary employment situation report for August of 2026 today.

The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania was down two-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 3.7 percent in August, which is the lowest rate since May of 2024.

The rate for unemployment in Pennsylvania was four-tenths of a percentage point below the unemployment rate in the United States, which was unchanged over the month at 4.1 percent.

The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania has declined by seven-tenths of a percentage point from its level of 4.4 percent in August of 2025.

The unemployment rate in the United States has declined two-tenths of a percentage point over the past 12 months.

REMINDER: Route 65 Bridge over Connoquenessing Creek Replacement Begins Monday in Beaver County

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 is reminding travelers a 33-day closure of the Route 65 bridge over the Connoquenessing Creek in North Sewickley and Franklin townships will begin on Monday, September 21st weather permitting.

A full closure and detour of Route 65 that is between Country Club Road and Mercer Road (Route 1006) will occur around-the-clock from 6 A.M. on Monday, September 21st through 6 A.M. on Saturday, October 24th.

Crews from Swank Construction Company will complete the demolition of the existing structure and use accelerated bridge construction techniques so they can install the new precast modular concrete structure.

All traffic will be detoured, and the detour routes can be found below, according to a release from PennDOT District 11:

Posted Detours

Car detour

South of the closure

  • From Route 65 take Chapel Drive
  • Turn left onto Celia Road
  • Turn left onto Shadyrest Road
  • Turn left onto Route 288
  • Continue to intersection with Route 65/River Road
  • End detour

North of the closure

  • Same detour in the opposite direction

Truck detour

Trucks from south of the closure to north of the closure

  • From northbound Route 65, turn left onto Route 588
  • Turn right onto the Eastvale Bridge and cross over the Beaver River
  • Turn right onto north Route 18
  • Turn right onto eastbound Route 351
  • Turn left to continue on eastbound Route 351
  • Turn left onto Fifth Street
  • End detour at intersection with Route 65/Route 288

Truck detour

Trucks from north of the closure to south of the closure

  • From Route 288 continue past southbound Route 65
  • Turn left onto Fountain Avenue
  • Turn left onto Fifth Street
  • Turn right onto Spring Avenue
  • Turn left onto 6th Street
  • Turn right onto Beaver Avenue
  • Turn left onto 8th Street
  • Turn right onto Lawrence Avenue/westbound Route 351
  • Turn right to stay on Route 351/Arthur Street
  • Turn left onto southbound Route 18
  • Turn left onto eastbound Route 588 across the Eastvale Bridge
  • Continue to the intersection with Route 65
  • End detour

Barbara “Bobbie” J. (Dray) Jobe (1944-2026)

Barbara “Bobbie” J. (Dray) Jobe, 82, of South Beaver Township, passed away on September 16th, 2026 at her residence.

She was born on May 21st, 1944.

Friends will be received on Tuesday, September 22nd 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.

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit the flower store of the Gabauer Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services by clicking here.

Christy L. Sexton (1976-2026)

Christy L. Sexton, 49, of Ambridge, passed away on September 16th, 2026, at UPMC Presbyterian.

She was born in Sewickley on December 16th, 1976, a daughter of Debbie Hoko and the late David Muders.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by her loving husband, Justin Macurak, her son, William Sexton, her sister and brother-in-law, Dina and Jake Johns, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jared and Krystel Smith, her aunt, Robin Holtzman, her cousin and friend, Kyla McManigal and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her brother, Jimmy Willgruber.

Christy had a unique gift for connecting with people, using this talent to touch lives both in person and through her popular Facebook and TikTok platforms, amassing over 16,000 followers. Her generosity extended beyond her professional work as she was always eager to lend a helping hand. Her special talent for art was most visible in her incredible ability to transform faces with her exceptional skills in makeup artistry, especially her special effects for Halloween makeup.

A celebration of life for Christy will be held at a later date.

Professional services and arrangements were entrusted to CORLESS-MATTER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, LLC 1133 Church Street, Ambridge. Online condolences may be shared at www.corlessfuneralhomes.com. Those who knew her invite you to share your memories and upload photos of Christy to her memorial page by clicking here, as a tribute to her life.

Penguins 2026-2027 training camp underway in Cranberry Township

(File Photo: Credit for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his goal with Bryan Rust after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced on Wednesday that the Penguins invited 69 players to their 2026-2027 training camp, which is presented by UPMC. 

The training camp roster for the Penguins this year, which can be seen by clicking here, includes seven goaltenders, 23 defensemen, 36 forwards and three injured players. 

Training camp opened yesterday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township. 

All practices at that facility are free and open to the public, and all practices unless noted otherwise are at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. 

According to a report from the Pittsburgh Penguins on nhl.com, here is the remaining schedule for the team’s 2026-2027 training camp:

(PASSED: Thursday, September 17th 8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice 11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice 12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice)

Friday, September 18th
8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice
11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice
12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice

Saturday, September 19th
8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice
11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice
12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice

Sunday, September 20th
DAY OFF

Monday, September 21st
10:30 – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME VS. BUFFALO

Tuesday, September 22nd
10:30 – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME VS. DETROIT

Wednesday, September 23rd
DAY OFF

Thursday, September 24th
11:30 AM – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME AT COLUMBUS (Nationwide Arena)

Friday, September 25th
12:00-1:30 PM – Practice

Saturday, September 26th
3:00 PM – GAME AT BUFFALO (KeyBank Center)

Sunday, September 27th
12:00-1:00 PM – Practice

Monday, September 28th
DAY OFF

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh recognized on new U.S. News and World Report list of top children’s hospitals in the U.S.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Jim Harris, Pittsburgh Business Times, Caption for Photo: UPMC Children’s Hospital)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The U.S. News and World Report put out a new national listing of top pediatric hospitals in the country. 

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was on this list, which was an “honor roll” of the 11 best children’s hospitals in the United States. 

This publication evaluated the facilities based on each hospital’s performance across 11 different specialties, including cancer, cardiology, neonatology and neurology.

Here is the rest of this list, with bold indicating hospitals in Pennsylvania:

  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
  • Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Children’s Hospital Colorado
  • Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Children’s National Hospital (Washington, D.C.)
  • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus
  • Seattle Children’s Hospital
  • Texas Children’s Hospital
  • UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh also tied for U.S News and World Report’s title of best pediatric health center in the mid-Atlantic region with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. 

Route 18 Seventh Avenue Bridge Inspections Continue in New Brighton and Beaver Falls

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that inspection work on the bridge that carries Route 18 (Seventh Avenue) over the Beaver River in New Brighton Borough and the City of Beaver Falls will continue today and Wednesday, September 23rd, weather permitting. 

Single-lane restrictions will occur on the Route 18 bridge between Fourth Avenue in New Brighton Borough and Third Street in Beaver Falls from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M., according to the schedule below courtesy of a release from PennDOT District 11: 

Friday, September 18th 

  • Single-lane restrictions will occur in the southbound direction 

Wednesday, September 23rd 

  • Single-lane restrictions will occur in both directions 

Inspection activities will be conducted by crews from Michael Baker International.

Route 18 Big Beaver Boulevard Drilling Work Underway in Beaver County

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that drilling work on Big Beaver Boulevard (Route 18) in Big Beaver Borough and the City of Beaver Falls is underway. 

From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. weekdays through Friday, October 2nd, single-lane and shoulder restrictions will continue on Big Beaver Boulevard between 8th Avenue and Fairlane Boulevard.

Work will be conducted by crews from All Ways Safe, JMT and Monaloh Basin Engineers.

Recidivist New Castle Felon Sentenced to More Than 17 and a Half Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine While on Federal Supervised Release

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a resident of New Castle has been sentenced in federal court to 212 months in prison, followed by six years of supervised release, on his conviction of trafficking fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine while on federal supervised release. 

Thirty-three-year-old Melvin Dorsey-Pace was sentenced. 

According to information presented to the Court, on February 12th, 2025, Dorsey-Pace possessed with intent to distribute a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, as well as a mixture of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.

Dorsey-Pace was on federal supervised release at the time, following a 2024 release from jail for a prior drug trafficking conviction.  

This instant offense was the third federal drug trafficking conviction during the last 10 years for Dorsey-Pace, and he also has been on federal supervised release when he engaged in the criminal conduct which led to his second federal drug trafficking conviction.  

Dorsey-Pace was also on Pennsylvania state parole following a sentence in prison for a drive-by shooting when he engaged in the criminal conduct that led to his first federal drug trafficking conviction.