(File Photo of the Top of a School Bus)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Verizon authorized dealer Round Room LLC is giving away free backpacks to school-aged children as families across western Pennsylvania start planning for a new school year. 

The 14th annual “School Rocks Backpack Giveaway” will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 26th at participating Wireless Zone stores in Beaver County and beyond, including the stores at these locations:

• Cranberry Township
• Chippewa Township
• East Liverpool, Ohio
• McMurray
• New Castle
• Sewickley

Each child that is in kindergarten to 12th grade who attends the event in person will receive one free backpack, while supplies last. 

One backpack with a golden ruler keychain will also be placed at 47 randomly selected stores across Round Room LLC’s over 1,200 stores nationwide.

The recipients of these backpacks called the 47 “Golden Ruler” backpacks will receive a $250 Visa gift card to use for other school-related items.

Backpacks that are left over after this giveaway event will be donated to local schools that are selected by each store. 

(File Photo of the National Weather Service Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Westmoreland County, PA) The National Weather Service recently confirmed that four tornadoes touched down in Pennsylvania on Saturday. 

NWS used video evidence over the weekend to confirm tornadoes in Derry Township in Westmoreland County and Summerville in Clarion County. 

Tornadoes in Latrobe in Westmoreland County and Punxsutawney in Jefferson County, were also confirmed as of Monday. 

The NWS spent those past two days surveying these areas. 

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) A former Pennsylvania House representative who served parts of Beaver, Allegheny and Washington counties is now facing federal charges after officials said he possessed photos and videos of sexually explicit content depicting underage teenagers. 

According to court papers obtained by WTAE yesterday, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received complaints via their CyberTipline on June 19, which were flagged as “child pornography possession, distribution, manufacture.” 

The report was also flagged for what appeared to be produced or homemade files. 

Court papers state that former Democratic state House representative Jesse White was identified as the person behind the generated report, and they affirm yesterday that the FBI executed a search warrant at his residence in Mechanicsburg, where multiple computers and hard drives were seized. 

Court papers also note that one of the laptops was found to contain numerous files containing images of child pornography which depicted minors between the ages of seven and fifteen. 

White allegedly told agents he used Telegram and the Tor Browser to access the content. 

White previously represented the 46th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015. 

(File Photo of Senator John Fetterman)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), John Thune (R-SD), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the Broadband Mapping Accurate Providers (MAP) Act of 2026 in Washington D.C. last week.  

This bill is bipartisan legislation that directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to evaluate and improve its broadband mapping process.  

The FCC has made strides that are significant in enhancing the accuracy of its National Broadband Map.  

However, providers have reported difficulties with the challenge process of the FCC, which allows providers to dispute the serviceability of certain locations. 

The Broadband MAP Act of 2026 would instruct the FCC to assess and review its mapping and challenge procedures. 

Scott Tady/Beaver County Radio

BEAVER FALLS — A fun, fine mix of musical talent will grace the stage again as the Beaver Valley Community Concert Association gets set for its 2026-2027 season.

The four-show series returns to Beaver Falls Middle School, with a new start time of 7 p.m.

The 2026-’27 schedule:

Sept. 29 – A Band Called Honalee, the modern-day folk trio inspired by the music of Peter, Paul & Mary, energetically entertains and interacts with its audiences, performing famous songs like “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Blowing in The Wind” and “Puff The Magic Dragon.”

Oct. 29 – Radio Recall, starring Broadway’s Aaron LaVigne (“Jesus Christ Superstar”) and Jenna Rubaii (“Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Groundhog Day”) in a high-energy throwback concert packed with the biggest radio hits of the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s and beyond.

April 26, 2027 – Yaniv Zarif, a fluent speaker of six languages, is a gifted singer and ambassador of song whose music provides an around-the-world trip minus the hassle of airport security.

May 3, 2027 – Jimmie Ross and The Jaggerz, Beaver Valley’s chart-toppers with “The Rapper” showcasing their rich melodies and soulful vocal harmonies that have satisfied concertgoers since the 1960s.

Season membership subscriptions for all four shows begin Aug. 1, costing $70 for adults and $10 for students.

For more information, contact Peggy McCullough at 724-846-3203 or visit the Beaver Valley Community Concert Association website at bvcommunityconcert.org

Single tickets will be sold at the door, costing $25 for adults and $5 for students.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Sewickley Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported today that forty-three-year-old Nicholas Knaff of West Alexandria, Ohio was not charged after he crashed his vehicle in New Sewickley Township on Saturday.

Knaff was driving on I-76 West on the Pennsylvania Turnpike at 7:50 p.m. and his vehicle hydroplaned on the wet road before it hit a center barrier.

There were no reported injuries.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Sewickley Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported today that forty-two-year-old Ireti Adebayo of Pittsburgh was not charged after she crashed her vehicle in New Sewickley Township on Saturday.

Adebayo was driving on I-76 West near Tulip Drive at 6:52 a.m. during heavy rain, which caused water to set on the road.

Adebayo’s vehicle began to hydroplane and she hit a center concrete divider with it, which caused the front left tire to go off the wheel of her car.

There were no reported injuries.

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: Neighborhood North Museum of Play in Beaver Falls.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) Beaver Falls Mayor Kenya Johns will join Neighborhood North Museum of Play (NNMOP) on Wednesday, July 29th to flip the switch on their new interactive solar demonstration system that was facilitated through the Rural Innovation through Solar Empowerment (RISE) partnership between nonprofits RiverWise and the PA Solar Center so they can inspire entities to explore solar energy.

RISE was a two-year project that was awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energizing Rural Communities Prize.

This project was funded by the Environmental Mitigation Community Fund and the system was designed and installed by AYA Instruments, which is a company based in Pittsburgh.

NNMOP’s solar installation is the first RISE project in Beaver County and it will serve as an additional site for the Energy Discovery Zone, which is an immersive educational platform developed by AYA Instruments that transforms renewable energy systems into hands-on learning experiences.

That project includes a 2.43 kW ground-mounted solar array, a 190 Ah battery bank, a 15 kW AC inverter, solar exhibits and a solar-powered Maxwell EV mobile classroom designed to offer a hands-on introduction to solar for the community.

The Mobile Maker Lab will bring NNMOP’s signature hands-on STEAM experiences directly into communities to make innovative educational programming more accessible to children and families across the region.

The Mobile Maker Lab will inspire curiosity about solar power, increase access to sustainability education, and empower young learners to imagine a cleaner, more innovative future by integrating arts education with environmental science and renewable energy concepts.

(File Photo of an American Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Annville, PA) The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is offering financial assistance to veterans who are facing an unexpected financial hardship.

Therefore, the Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA) program provides eligible veterans in Pennsylvania and their surviving dependents with financial relief for necessities of life such as clothing, food, fuel and shelter.

The DMVA has awarded over $8.6 million to assist over 9,650 service members, veterans and their families with emergent financial needs since the inception of the VTA.

Eligible veterans or their survivors can qualify for an amount not to exceed $1,600 in a period of twelve months. A veteran must have served a period of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and received a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable to be eligible.

A veteran who suffered a service-connected disability regardless of the length or status of their service, as well as the surviving dependents of an eligible veteran and the surviving dependents of a service member who died in line of duty or was killed in action, is also eligible.

You can get more information by clicking here and eligible veterans should contact the County Veterans Affairs Directors by clicking here.