(File Photo of a For Sale Sign)

Reported by Danielle Smith, Keystone News Service

(Pittsburgh, PA) Solving a shortage of affordable housing in Pittsburgh will require better coordination among municipalities across Allegheny County, according to a local nonprofit. The county doesn’t control zoning; instead, more than 130 local municipalities set their own rules, which makes it difficult to guide housing development. Ebony Flowers with New Voices for Reproductive Justice says demand continues to outpace available housing, and the county is moving toward a more coordinated housing approach under its “Housing for All” program. She adds that the strategy aims to bring alignment and coordination across all those municipalities. According to new data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Pennsylvania has just 39 affordable and available rental units for every 100 extremely low-income households. To meet the need, the report claims the state must add 263-thousand affordable homes and expand rental assistance.

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Castle, PA) Parents in New Castle are raising concerns after recent vandalism damaged equipment at the Park Avenue Playground. 

City officials said three slides at the playground have been damaged over the past two weeks. One slide was cut at the base and has since been boarded up, while two others have broken plastic that officials say poses a safety risk. 

Similar damage has been reported at Gaston Park, located about three miles away, where one slide appears to have been burned. 

Officials said repairs to the Park Avenue Playground could cost more than $55,000. City Administrator Chris Frye said the city is exploring whether Community Development Block Grant funding can be used to cover the costs, though the process could take time. 

The city is also considering installing cameras at local parks to help prevent future incidents.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Navy Office of Community Outreach)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Millington, TN) When NASA’s Artemis II crew returned to Earth following its planned mission around the moon, U.S. Navy sailors were ready to assist with recovery operations in the Pacific.

Wyatt Conley, a Petty Officer 3rd Class from Weirton, was among those who supported the retrieval of the Orion spacecraft and its crew. 

Conley, a 2020 graduate of Weir High School, is assigned to the USS John P. Murtha, the ship which is tasked with the recovery mission. 

Serving as an interior communications electrician, Conley said his role is to ensure reliable communication between critical stations during the operation. 

“My role in the Artemis II recovery is to make sure everyone has the ability to communicate with vital watch stations for a safe recovery,” Conley said.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Gavin Thunberg)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Freedom, PA) Firefighters responded to a house fire on Fifth Avenue in Freedom around 11 p.m. Monday. 

Freedom Volunteer Fire Department said flames were coming from two windows when crews arrived, indicating the fire was fully involved in at least one room. 

The fire spread to the attic and first floor before crews brought it under control after more than an hour. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania rose 49 cents over the past week to an average of $4.65 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s latest report. 

After declining for nearly two weeks, prices are climbing again, with the national average increasing by 34 cents over the same period. 

The national average is now $1.29 higher than this time last year, as oil prices top $100 per barrel amid uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. 

In Beaver County, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is about $4.69. 

According to AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here the average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline this week in various Pennsylvania areas:

$4.483      Altoona
$4.685      Beaver
$4.435      Bradford
$4.670      Brookville
$4.695      Butler
$4.679      Clarion
$4.653      DuBois
$4.627      Erie
$4.695      Greensburg
$4.664      Indiana
$4.706      Jeannette
$4.667      Kittanning
$4.694      Latrobe
$4.689      Meadville
$4.673      Mercer
$4.671      New Castle
$4.663      New Kensington
$4.682      Oil City
$4.687      Pittsburgh
$4.583      Sharon
$4.671      Uniontown
$4.694      Warren
$4.684      Washington

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Allegheny County Election Division Deputy Manager Chet Harhut explains the process of sorting mail-in and absentee ballots in preparations for Pennsylvania’s primary election on April 23, at the Elections warehouse in Pittsburgh, April 18, 2024. Pennsylvania election officials said Wednesday, May 8, 2024 that the number of mail-in ballots rejected for technicalities, like a missing date, saw a significant drop in last month’s primary election after state officials tried anew to help voters avoid mistakes that might get their ballot thrown out. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) As the 2026 Pennsylvania primary election approaches, voters in the Beaver Valley will soon decide a number of contested local races on May 19. According to the Beaver County Times, here are the positions available in the primary election and the candidates who are trying to earn your vote:

US Representative, 16th District

Democrat (vote for one)

Justin Wagner of Mercer is a senior controls engineer.

Republican (vote for one)

Mike Kelly, incumbent, of Butler, has served the office since 2011.

US Representative, 17th District

Democrat (vote for one)

Chris Deluzio, incumbent, of Aspinwall, has served the office since 2023.

Republican (vote for one)

Tony Guy of Hopewell Township is Beaver County’s sheriff.

Jesse James Vodvarka of Robinson Township runs a family-owned spring-manufacturing business. He previously ran for this seat in 2020, but was removed from the ballot before the primary.

PA Representative, District 14

Republican (vote for one)

Roman Kozak, incumbent, of Beaver Falls, has served since 2025.

PA Representative, District 15

Democrat (vote for one)

Sydney Speicher of Midland is a law student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Republican (vote for one)

Joshua Kail, incumbent, of Brighton Township, has served since 2018.

PA Representative, District 16

Democrat (vote for one)

Robert Matizie, incumbent, of Harmony Township, has held office since 2008.

Republican (Vote for one)

John Costanza of Center Township is co-owner of Cesina’s Sausage Co. in Aliquippa.

Member of Democratic State Committee (vote for three)

Hannah Brooks of Pulaski Township

Joe Janos of Hopewell Township

Mary Jane Jones Gilliam of Ambridge

Michael Jackson of Ambridge

Member of the Republican State Committee (vote for three)

Jon OData of Rochester

Toni Shuppe of Economy

Diana Campbell of South Beaver Township

Scott Presler of Baden

Abby Kail of Brighton Township

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of New Horizon School, Beaver County, Posted on Facebook on May 10th, 2024)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler County, PA) A teacher at a school for students with special needs in Beaver County has been charged with multiple child sex offenses. 

Justin Pavetto, who worked at the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit’s New Horizon School, faces nine felony charges, including attempted rape of a child. He was arrested Friday. 

According to a criminal complaint, Pavetto communicated online and by phone with an undercover officer posing as the stepfather of an 11-year-old child. Investigators said Pavetto allegedly expressed interest in sexual activity with the child and discussed meeting in person. 

Police said the two discussed meeting at a McDonald’s along Route 19. Authorities also allege Pavetto took part in a video call during which he attempted to observe sexual activity involving the purported child. 

Pavetto, a resident of Cranberry Towsnhip, is being held in the Butler County Prison on $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 29. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services: Caption for Photo: Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) honor fallen troopers and commemorate PSP’s 121 years of service to the Commonwealth.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police honored the service and sacrifice of Corporal Timothy J. O’Connor Jr. during a memorial ceremony at department headquarters in Harrisburg. 

The service marked the 121st anniversary of the agency’s founding and paid tribute to members who have died in the line of duty. 

O’Connor was killed March 8 in West Caln Township when he was shot during an encounter with a driver, according to authorities.