(Mercer County, PA) A house fire in Mercer County killed a mother and her two children yesterday. According to the Mercer County coroner, forty-eight-year-old Malinda Abrams, her sixteen-year-old daughter and her twelve-year-old son, were pronounced dead around 6 a.m. after a fire occurred at their home in Sandy Lake Township and firefighters found the family inside the home on Walnut Street as they were fighting the flames. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police’s fire marshal’s office. The coroner of Mercer County expressed that the cause and manner of death for all three victims are pending further forensic evaluation and testing and there is not any current evidence to suggest that foul play was involved. A report from CBS affiliate WKBN confirms that there were five people inside the home at the time of the fire. It broke out at about 4 a.m. All of the pets inside the home also died.
(Montgomery County, PA) Authorities announced yesterday that a Pennsylvania real estate agent and youth soccer coach was arrested and charged for possessing child sexual abuse material. According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, forty-eight-year-old Albert Stroble, of Lower Providence Township, is charged with 150 felony counts related to possession of child sexual abuse material, as well as criminal use of a communication facility. Stroble, who sources say was a coach with FC Montco, is also a real estate agent in the Philadelphia area. A LinkedIn profile stated that he previously worked at Chestnut Hill College as the school’s associate athletic director until 2016. A representative for FC Montco confirmed that Stroble resigned from position as a volunteer coach prior to his arrest. The office for the Montgomery County District Attorney revealed that the investigation began January 12th when the Montgomery County detectives received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of a Dropbox account suspected of uploading material of children being sexually abused. Prosecutors note that investigators uncovered content in the Dropbox that contained videos of prepubescent and pubescent girls being sexually abused by adult men. After discovering the videos, authorities executed search warrants on Google, Verizon and Dropbox, which linked the accounts to an IP address registered to Stroble’s home in Lower Providence Township. Investigators executed a search warrant of his home and confiscated multiple electronic devices, which included a laptop allegedly used to upload the material. Stroble was arrested and arraigned on Tuesday. His bail was set at $300,000 with conditions that include no unsupervised contact with children. He was released after posting bail on Wednesday. A preliminary hearing for Stroble is scheduled for April 28th.
(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on April 17th, 2026)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Sewickley, PA) A body was recovered from the Ohio River today. According to an Allegheny County Police Department spokesperson, the body of an adult man was found just after 7 a.m. near Neville Island. WPXI crews saw first responders working to recover the body at the Chestnut Street Boat Ramp in Sewickley. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office is working to identify the man and the investigation into this incident is ongoing.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust cut the ribbon Friday and celebrated the soft opening of Arts Landing – a four-acre, outdoor civic space in the heart of the Cultural District.
“Arts Landing builds on the Cultural Trust’s mission by creating a new Downtown destination where people want to gather, stay longer, and return more often,” Kendra Whitlock Ingram, president & CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, said.
Key features within Arts Landing include:
• The Dollar Bank Stage and great lawn will serve as the new permanent home for the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, as well as a schedule of recurring activities, to be announced in May.
• The Grable Playground is Downtown’s first-ever playground with artist-inspired play equipment.
• The Giant Eagle Foundation Backyard offers a relaxing atmosphere with tables, seating, overhead lighting, and games (finishing touches coming in June).
• The Highmark Courtyard provides flexible recreational space, including artist-designed mural pickleball courts and a fitness track (finishing touches coming in July).
• The BNY Visitor Center features public restrooms, a water refill station, and 24/7 security to ensure that Arts Landing is a safe and welcoming destination for everyone.
• The Colcom Foundation Overlook provides beautiful views of the skyline and bridges that can only be found in Pittsburgh.
• The Buhl Foundation Lawn Ledges provide respite and the best seats in the house.
• PPG Lane and the Fisher Family Garden Walk are beautiful new places for a Downtown stroll, surrounded by nearly 100 newly planted trees and native landscaping.
The new Arts Landing recreational space in downtown Pittsburgh. (Photo: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust)
For more than 40 years, the Cultural Trust has demonstrated the power of arts-driven revitalization downtown. Each year, the Trust’s work supports more than 1,700 jobs and generates more than $175 million for the regional economy, a press release said That’s $1 billion in cumulative economic impact for the region since reopening post-pandemic. Now, Arts Landing is positioned to enhance the Cultural Trust’s impact, in service to the community.
Arts Landing is a key project within the Downtown Revitalization Vision and Governor Josh Shapiro’s $600 million plan for Downtown Pittsburgh.
“Eighteen months ago, we brought together leaders from the public and private sector to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh and turn this neighborhood into a thriving center for innovation, opportunity, and culture,” Gov. Shapiro said. “Just a week before the NFL Draft, we have delivered on our promise to open Arts Landing on time. I’m proud of the progress we have already made together – building new affordable housing, creating safe, fun spaces like Arts Landing, and completing renovations at Point State Park – and we are going to continue to get stuff done in Downtown Pittsburgh for years to come.”
County Executive Sara Innamorato said, “What an incredible achievement for the Cultural Trust and all the partners who brought this project from idea to completion in just 22 months. Now locals and visitors will be able to enjoy this incredible public amenity, year-round,” said “Our shared efforts to make downtown a safer, more welcoming neighborhood, reimagine public spaces, and convert under-used office space to housing is already paying dividends.”
“Arts Landing is the perfect example of investing in the vibrancy and future of Downtown,” Mayor Corey O’Connor added. “This used to be an old lot that’s been transformed into a beautiful, modern civic space. Thank you to Kendra Whitlock Ingram and the Cultural Trust for your leadership in bringing partners together to create an asset that supports arts, culture, families, and livability Downtown.”
Arts Landing advanced from concept to ribbon cutting in 22 months, was completed in time for the NFL Draft, and is now positioned to serve residents and visitors alike for generations to come. Envisioned and operated by the Cultural Trust and designed by renowned landscape architecture firm Field Operations, the civic space was designed to welcome residents and visitors, host festivals and performances, exhibit public art, and provide opportunities for everyday recreation and relaxation.
In addition to the generous funders who supported these key locations within Arts Landing, the following organizations supported the civic space’s construction and kick started its annual operating and maintenance fund:
Elsie Dalessandri, 87, formerly of Aliquippa, passed away on April 15th, 2026, with her son and daughter by her side in Florida. She was born in Koppel on May 11th, 1938, a daughter of the late Vincenzo and Silvia (Tarquinio) Gismondi. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded by in death by her husband, Ronald Dalessandri. She is survived by her three children, Susan, James and Michael Dalessandri, her daughter-in-law, Tina, and two grandchildren Anthony and Cara. Elsie worked at Roma Catering in Aliquippa for many years helping serve the local patrons with their order. She was a member of St. Titus Church in Aliquippa and Mary Queen of Saints Parish. She was a devoted daughter to her parents. She also welcomed her mother to live with her after her father died in 1958. She was a loving wife and mother who was blessed with three children. Recently, Susan and Michael moved to Florida and were looking forward to making new memories with their mom.
A visitation will be held on Monday, April 20th from 11 a.m. until the time of a Blessing service at 12 noon at the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home Inc., 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa, who was in charge of her arrangements. Her burial will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 2186 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Elsie Dalessandri, please visit the Sympathy Store of the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Displaced residents drive back to their villages as locals wave Hezbollah flags and an image of late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in Zefta, southern Lebanon, Friday, April 17, 2026, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
BEIRUT (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister said Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, as a 10-day truce in Lebanon appeared to hold.
The truce offered a pause in fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and could clear one major obstacle to a deal between Iran and the United States and Israel to end weeks of devastating war. But it remained unclear whether whether the militant group would recognize a deal it did not play a role in negotiating and which will leave Israeli troops occupying a stretch of southern Lebanon.
In a social media post, Trump said Iran announced that the strait “is fully open and ready for full passage.”
Minutes earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the passage for all commercial vessels through the strait “is declared completely open” in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon. He said it would stay open for the remaining period of the ceasefire.
It was not immediately clear what that meant for the U.S. blockade of the strait.
Meanwhile in Beirut, barrages of gunshots rang out across the city as residents fired into the air just after midnight to celebrate the beginning of the truce, and displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs despite warnings by officials not to attempt to return to their homes until it became clear whether the ceasefire would hold.
A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon said Friday that they have not observed any airstrikes since midnight, but accused the Israeli military of violating airspace and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military did not immediately comment. According to the agreement shared by the State Department, Israel can act in self-defense against imminent attacks but cannot carry out offensive operations against southern Lebanon.
Trump heralded the deal a “historic day for Lebanon,” even as he expressed confidence that the war with Iran would soon end in a Las Vegas speech.
“I will say the war in Iran is going along swimmingly,” Trump said. “It should be ending pretty soon.”
An end to Israel’s war with Hezbollah was a key demand of Iranian negotiators, who previously accused Israel of breaking the current ceasefire deal with strikes on Lebanon. Israel said that deal did not cover Lebanon.
Pakistan’s army chief met Thursday with Iran’s parliament speaker as part of international efforts to press for an extension of the ceasefire.
While oil prices fell on hopes of a deal, the head of the International Energy Agency warned that energy shocks could get worse if the Strait of Hormuz did not reopen soon. Iran closed the crucial waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil normally passes, shortly after the war began. Europe has “maybe six weeks or so” of jet fuel left and broader economic consequences will grow the longer the strait is closed, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – In this April 25, 2019, file photo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks ahead of the first round at the NFL football draft in Nashville, Tenn. In a memo sent to the 32 teams Monday, April 6, 2020, and obtained by The Associated Press, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell outlined procedures for the April 23-25 draft. The guidelines include no group gatherings. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, FIle)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) Three Beaver County natives will take the 2026 NFL Draft theater stage in Pittsburgh to make picks for several NFL teams in the second and third rounds. Jimbo Covert, a Conway native, will be announcing one of the Chicago Bears’ three selections on day two of the draft. Hopewell graduate Tony Dorsett will announce the Dallas Cowboys’ third-round pick and fellow Hopewell graduate Paul Posluszny will be announcing one of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ four selections.Former Pittsburgh Steelers Jerome Bettis, Joey Porter, Sr. and John Stallworth, as well as Steelers cornerback Joey Porter, Jr., will announce the hometown team’s second and third round selections. The draft will take place on the North Shore from April 23rd-25th.
(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg from The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), they released its preliminary employment situation report for February of 2026 today. The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania was down one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.2 percent in February. The unemployment rate in the United States increased one-tenth of a point from January to 4.4 percent over that same period.
(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of New Horizon School)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Midland, PA) New Horizon School is hosting its Remake Learning Days event in Midland on May 18th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. According to a release from the school, students lead the way through a series of hands on learning stations. Guests will experience a wide range of interactive experiences, from canvas painting and seed planting to innovative opportunities like Unified Robotics and Build, Fly, Code. Community partners will also help bring learning to life through engaging exhibits such as WQED and Museum on the Move to offer even more ways to explore, create, and discover. Lunch, popcorn, and a frozen treat from The Frostbite will also be included.
The QR code to RSVP by May 6th can be found below:
(West Mifflin, PA) Kennywood will be opening for the 2026 season this weekend. The park will open at 11 a.m. tomorrow and will celebrate major milestones for two of the park’s iconic rides. The Phantom’s Revenge roller coaster turns 25 years old and the Whip turns 100 years old this year. The loading platform of the Phantom’s Revenge has had most of its decking replaced along with new automatic gates, new signage, and upgraded fencing and its cars will feature new logos this season marking the 25 years of “legendary thrills” the coaster has provided. The Whip was manufactured in New York and is the last remaining 16-car model of its kind in the United States.
