(Pittsburgh, PA) Parishioners filled the pews at Madonna del Castello Church in Pittsburgh for one final Mass yesterday as church consolidation starts within St. Joseph the Worker Parish. The Rev. Michael Stumpf, the pastor of that Parish, announced on October 23rd, 2025 that Saint Maurice Church in Forest Hills will take on all parishioners. The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh cited declining attendance for Mass and financial strains in its decision to close these seven churches. Madonna del Castello Church was one of seven churches that will be closing permanently in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and here are the other six churches that will be closing and the times and dates they will be closing:
Tonight, (March 3rd) at 7 p.m. – Sacred Heart Church
Tomorrow (March 4th) at 7 p.m. – Good Shepherd Church
Thursday, March 5th at 7 p.m. – St. Jude the Apostle Church
Monday, March 9th at 7 p.m. – St. John Fisher Church
Tuesday, March 10th at 7 p.m. – St. Anselm Church
Wednesday, March 11th at 7 p.m. – St. Colman Church
The new weekend schedule starts on Saturday, March 14, which is when all Masses will be celebrated at St. Maurice Church.
(File Photo of the Basketball Schedule Broadcast Logo)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Beaver County, PA) The 2025-2026 PIAA girls high school basketball playoffs are ready to begin with its first-round tipping off this Friday and Saturday. Seven teams from the area of the Beaver Valley will compete in this year’s state playoffs. They are Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Blackhawk, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,Quaker Valley, Rochester and Sewickley Academy. According to the Beaver County Times, here is the full schedule for the first round of the 2025-2026 PIAA girls high school basketball playoffs, with the local teams in bold:
(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) According to the most recent star rating report from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), AHN Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network’s flagship quaternary medical facility, has been recognized among the nation’s top adult cardiac surgery programs. The hospital in Pittsburgh has received the highest rating in five out of six evaluated categories for its outcomes of surgical care and quality metrics for aortic valve replacement, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, mitral valve replacement and repair, and multivalve procedures, as well as surgical valve replacement that is combined with coronary artery bypass graft surgery.A release in Pittsburgh today from Allegheny Health Network states that STS has also rated AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville and AHN Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Hills with 3-star designations in isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery and aortic valve replacement with coronary artery bypass graft surgery, respectively. All three AHN surgical programs received a 3-star designation in the new STS “multiprocedural” category. This comprehensive evaluation assesses the morbidity and mortality rates for patients across all analyzed procedures, as well as making an adjustment for patient risk factors.
(Washington, D.C.) According to a release in Washington D.C. today from Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office, Deluzio (PA-17) joined fellow U.S. House members Congressmen Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Michael Rulli (R-OH-06), and John Garamendi (D-CA-08) to introduce the Railway Safety Act of 2026. This bill would make freight rail safer by strengthening hazardous materials oversight, emergency response support, and rail safety standards overall following the disastrous Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine. On February 26th, 2026, Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Jon Husted (R-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and others introduced a Senate version of this measure.
PITTSBURGH — Parting is such sweet sorrow, but it also brought sweet sounds Monday from Journey.
In night No. 2 of a farewell tour, the classic rockers treated Pittsburgh faithful to a night of hits played well and with enthusiasm.
Journey at PPG Paints Arena on March 2. (Photo: Scott Tady).
There’d be a few surprises, maybe a few missed marks, but an overall highly pleasing performance for a close-to-full PPG Paints Arena crowd decisively old enough to recall Journey vinyl spinning at basement parties or proms.
Neil Schon starred as the guitarist, unleashing clean, robust riffs from the set-opening “Any Way You Want It” through a two-hour-10-minute performance culminating with “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Journey at PPG Paints Arena on March 2. (Photo: Scott Tady).
Lead singer Arnel Pineda frequently flashed smiles and did a few mid-air splits, ensuring audience engagement amid hitting the soaring vocal heights of Steve Perry-era Journey.
Journey at PPG Paints Arena on March 2. (Photo: Scott Tady).
Those vintage Perry-era tunes can be a mighty climb, so Journey also enlisted a hired gun (voice?) in Nashville singer Jason Derlatka who quite capably handled lead on “Suzanne” and “I’ll Be Alright Without You,” that latter tune introduced by keyboardist Jonathan Cain as a number reflecting Journey’s Motown and R&B influences.
Many of Monday’s song selections featured multiple backing harmonies. That reached a level of distracting on early pick “Stone in Love,” where Pineda’s lead vocals were overpowered by his bandmates’ crooning.
There was a moment in “Escape” where Deen Castronovo added a drum fill that seemed a smidge out of place. Blame exuberance, perhaps, or the band still locking in its timing early on the tour.
Castronovo and Cain each carried themselves well taking turns on lead vocals, the former — most notably — on “Lights,” which prompted fans to wave aloft illuminated cellphones as the stage’s huge video screened showed San Francisco Bay scenery.
Cain began his introduction of 1983’s “Faithfully” explaining it was written about striving to hold a family together as the band headed off on the road. But in this modern context, amid America’s 250th anniversary, he dedicated it to U.S. veterans, dating back to Colonial shop owners taking up arms against the British, noting the lyrics also can convey the notion of troops leaving behind spouses and children to embark on freedom-preserving military missions. The song’s swelling, heart-tugging power ballad chords absolutely worked in that lyrical manner for an audience on its feet.
Journey at PPG Paints Arena on March 2. (Photo: Scott Tady).
Another highlight, and surprise, was “Wheel in The Sky” taking an unexpected heavy metal turn. Pineada even did a metal horns salute with his right hand as Schon shredded guitar notes and Castronovo bashed away on his drums with a heaviness befitting fellow Bay Area rockers Metallica.
Schon’s fretwork earlier had achieved the requisite screams and bluster to make “Who’s Crying Now” another standout.
Several dozen white T-shirts emblazoned with Journey’s logo were hurled from backstage as far as 16 or so rows into the crowd for a raucous “Lovin,’ Touchin’ Squeezin.'”
A little after 10 p.m., this “Evening With Journey” ended, giving local fans one last memory of a top-notch Journey concert.
How soon till they play the Sphere in Las Vegas?
Meanwhile, for anyone reading this review from a city further on in Journey’s swan song tour, still pondering if you should buy a ticket… my answer, is yes.
(Scott Tady is the mid-day deejay at 97.7 The Rock Station in Butler, Pa., and hosts the morning show at WBVP-WMBA in Beaver County.)
(Beaver County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that twenty-six-year-old Shelby Capan of Clinton was charged after a two-vehicle crash in Beaver County on the afternoon of February 24th, 2026. At 12:47 p.m., Capan was driving on the intersection of State Route 18 and State Route 30 in Hanover Township and hit the vehicle of fifty-seven-year-old Duane Helman of Salem, Ohio. Helman stopped his vehicle and stayed at the intersection when it remained clear and Capan traveled forward after the traffic light turned green and hit the vehicle of Helman. Capan was transported by Medic Rescue because of a suspected minor injury as a result of this crash.
Rosemary Fitzpatrick, 82, of Beaver, passed away on February 25th, 2026, at Heritage Valley Health System – Beaver Campus. She was born in Beaver Falls on April 26th, 1943, the daughter of the late Raymond and Mary Ann (Balzer) Engle. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kerien “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, her brothers, Carl Engle, George Engle, and Raymond Engle and a sister-in-law, Pamela Engle. She is survived by her brother, William “Bill” (Carol) Engle, a stepson, Kerien (Kimberly) Fitzpatrick, her sisters-in-law, Anna Engle and Donna Engle, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Rosemary retired as an executive secretary from ARCO Chemical after many years of faithful service. She was a member of Saints Peter & Paul Church in Beaver, part of Our Lady of the Valley Parish. In her free time, she enjoyed cross stitching and working in her yard and garden.
Friends will be received on Saturday, March 7th from 11 AM until the time of prayers at 12:30 P.M. in the GABAUER-TODD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES (Branch), 340 Third Street, Beaver, who was in charge of her arrangements.
A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Saturday, March 7th at 1 P.M. at Saints Peter & Paul Church, 200 Third Street, Beaver. Fr. Howard Campbell will serve as the celebrant of the service.
Interment will be private at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 2927 Clayton Road, Beaver Falls.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Saints Peter & Paul Church, Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 200 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009.
(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a former resident of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to a charge of cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking. Fifty-one-year-old Wade Shaw pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine in September of 2023.Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer scheduled the sentencing for Shaw on May 28th, 2026. According to Revetti, Shaw could face a maximumtotal sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both, provided by the law.
Patricia E. McMillen, 85, of Chippewa Township, passed away on March 2nd, 2026, at Heritage Valley Beaver. She was born on February 2nd, 1941, a daughter of the late John H. and Marjorie (Druschel) McMillen. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grand-nephew, Ricky Collett. She is survived by her sister, Jonelle (Don Conley) McMillen, her brothers, John (Nancy) and Jay (Becky) McMillen, her nephews, Aaron (Kristy), Andrew, Adam (Amy), and Zachery (Roni) McMillen, her nieces, Jessica (Leo) Collett, JoHannah (Jim) Brawdy, and Maegan McMillen and lastly, her grand nieces and nephews: Michael and Josh Collett, Reese and Prehya McMillen, Connor McMillen, and James and Jacklyn Brawdy.
Patricia dedicated many years to education, shaping young minds with patience and care. Her time teaching at both Alexandria Public School in Virginia and Western Beaver reflected not only her commitment to her students, but her deep belief in the power of knowledge. Teaching was never just a job for her, it was a part of who she was. In 2001, she returned to Pennsylvania from Virginia, bringing with her a lifetime of stories and experiences. Her faith remained a steady foundation through her life as a devoted member of Steffin Hill Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls. Patricia had a love for travel, embracing opportunities to see and learn from the world around her. Out of all the places she journeyed, Africa held a particularly special place in her heart.
Above all, Patricia cherished her family. She adored her nieces and nephews, taking great joy in their lives, accomplishments, and everyday moments. Her love for them was unwavering and evident in the pride she carried and the warmth she shared.
In accordance with Patricia’s wishes, no services will be held. Arrangements have been entrusted to the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc., 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton.
(North Sewickley Township, PA) Applications are available now for the North Sewickley Township Hometown Heroes Project, which is for retired service members who are residents of that township or graduates of Riverside High School. This does not include active-duty members or veterans that are living outside of North Sewickley Township. You can find the application at northsewickleytownship.com or at the North Sewickley Township building in Beaver Falls. The deadline to submitthis application is April 10th, 2026.
