Author: Beaver County Radio

Pirates rookie shortshop Konnor Griffin progressing in recovery from a left ring finger injury

(Credit for Photo: The Pirates’ Konnor Griffin runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Reds, Friday, June 26, 2026, at PNC Park, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortshop Konnor Griffin is making progress in his recovery from a left ring finger sagittal band that he suffered during the team’s game against the Washington Nationals in Washington D.C. on July 5th when he was making a diving catch.

The 20-year-old shortstop is not wearing a splint on his left ring finger anymore after a checkup with the Pirates’ hand specialist and orthopedic surgeon.  

According to Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, the team is “optimistic” that Griffin will be ready to return from the injured list when he is eligible on September 4th.

Griffin will soon be undergoing rehab in Bradenton, Florida, and he has been on the 60-day injured list since July 11th. 

Center fielder Oneil Cruz returns to Pirates’ active roster after recovering from a hand injury

(Credit and Caption for Photo: The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Twins, Friday, May 29, 2026, at PNC Park, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Post Gazette)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz officially returned to the team’s active roster yesterday after being taken off the 60-day injured list.

Cruz has been injured since June 7th because of left hand fourth and fifth metacarpal non-displaced fractures in his left hand that he suffered on June 6th sliding into home plate during the team’s game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta.

Cruz was on the bench for yesterday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park, but according to Pirates manager Don Kelly, he will start for the second game of the three-game series tonight between the two teams in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates sent outfielder Ronny Simon back to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move yesterday to make room for Cruz on their roster. 

Other corresponding roster moves yesterday for the Pirates included left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco getting optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis and right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez returning from paternity leave.

McKees Rocks Police K9 Roman wins competition; will be featured in a 2027 national calendar

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the McKees Rocks Police Department, Posted on Facebook on August 17th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(McKees Rocks, PA) A McKees Rocks Police K9 named Roman is getting attention nationally.

According to McKees Rocks Police Chief Rick Deliman yesterday, Roman will appear in the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial 2027 Dogs of Law Enforcement Calendar.

Roman won a competition by receiving votes from supporters and residents to get him a spot on that calendar. 

Source: Former Aliquippa standout running back Tikey Hayes dismissed from the University of Nebraska program

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Aliquippa (23) Tikey Hayes breaks free from Avonworth (5) Carson Bellinger during a non-section football game at Avonworth High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Justin Guido/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lincoln, NE) According to Sean Callahan of On3 Sports yesterday, former Aliquippa standout running back Tikey Hayes was dismissed from the University of Nebraska program.

He joined the Cornhuskers college football team this summer after previously being at Penn State University and Iowa Western Community College.

Hayes was one of the top running backs in the country and he was rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star by ESPN, 247 Sports, and On3 Sports while at Aliquippa.

He was also ranked as the No. 7 prospect in Pennsylvania and the No. 20 running back for the Class of 2025.   

Sewickley man warned after crashing vehicle in Allegheny County

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported today that seventy-one-year-old Michael Lynch of Sewickley was given a written warning after he crashed his vehicle in Allegheny County on July 18th.

Lynch was driving on I-279 North in Ross Township at 3:03 p.m. According to police, his vehicle traveled off the road and hit a cable barrier.

There were no reported injuries. 

McGonigle homers as Tigers beat Pirates 8-5 and move into a tie for the last American League wild-card spot

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) celebrates with catcher Dillon Dingler, left, after getting the final out of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kevin McGonigle hit a two-run homer, and the Detroit Tigers held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 on Monday night and moved into a three-way tie for the final AL wild-card spot.

Brett Callahan and Hao-Yu Lee also drove in two runs as the Tigers built an 8-1 lead before Pittsburgh scored four times in the sixth.

Zach McKinstry and both hit RBI singles in the first, and McGonigle’s two-run shot in the second, his 13th of the season, made it 4-0.

McGonigle singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch in the sixth. Pirates reliever Yohan Ramirez walked the next three batters, resulting in McGonigle scoring before Callahan hit a two-run single to make it 8-1.

Framber Valdez (8-8) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and five hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Kenley Jansen struck out two in the final inning for his 15th save of the year.

The Pirates scored their first run after Jake Mangum scored on a throwing error by Lee, then strung together a four-run inning in the sixth after Nick Gonzales doubled, Rafael Flores Jr. was walked and Mangum walked to load the bases. Nick Yorke cleared the bases with a double and Henry Davis hit an RBI single to make it 8-5.

Starter Carmen Mlodzinski pitched three innings and gave up eight hits and four earned runs. He struck out three and walked one.

With the Baltimore Orioles’ 7-6 loss on Monday to Tampa Bay, the Tigers tied Baltimore and Texas for the final AL wild card.

Up next

RHP Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) will start on the mound for the Tigers on Tuesday against the Pirates RHP Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.88).

Tornado touches down in Beaver County from recent storms and heavy rain

(File Photo of the National Weather Service Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The National Weather Service recently confirmed that a tornado touched down in Beaver County because of heavy rain and severe storms which occurred on Sunday.

Officials told WTAE that an EF-0 tornado touched down in the area of Upper Service Road in Greene and Raccoon Townships. 

The damage of it indicates that it touched down in that area after it formed in the woods near South Service Creek and ending near Gibbs Road. 

The National Weather Service stated in a preliminary storm report that winds reached up to 75 miles per hour, with roughly 50 yards of path width.

Multiple trees were damaged because of that tornado.

Man wanted in connection with reported domestic disturbance incident in Aliquippa

(Credit for Photo Below and Headline Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Aliquippa Police Department, Posted on Facebook on August 18th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) A man is now wanted in connection with a reported domestic disturbance incident that occurred in Aliquippa yesterday.

Aliquippa Police responded to the 200 block of 2nd Avenue at approximately 7:14 p.m.

They arrived and made contact with the female victim.

She reported her live-in boyfriend and father of her children had physically assaulted her by pulling her hair, biting her left arm, taking her cellular phone from her, and striking her on the left side of her face with the phone.

Physical injuries were observed which were consistent with the victim’s account, which included hair that was on her clothing, a visible bite mark that was on her left arm, and a laceration that was on the left side of her face.

Officers also found blood on the arms, face, hands and neck of the victim from the wound on her face. 

The suspect was identified as a thirty-year-old Hispanic man named Jorge Jhovany Montes, who escaped the area prior to the arrival of police officers. 

His picture can be found below, and a warrant is being obtained for his arrest. 

Anyone with information about where Montes is can call the Aliquippa Police Department at 724-378-8000.

Route 65 Ohio River Boulevard Overnight Patching Operations Begin Tuesday in Allegheny County

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that overnight patching operations on Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Emsworth and Ben Avon boroughs in Allegheny County will begin tonight, weather permitting.  

From 9 P.M. to 5 A.M. tonight through Thursday night, alternating single-lane restrictions will occur on Route 65 in both directions between Camp Horne Road and Dickson Avenue to accommodate patching operations. 

This work will be conducted by PennDOT maintenance crews. 

AAA: Gas Prices Lower in Pennsylvania as National Average Rises

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are three cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.16 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

After a week of falling prices, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is back on the rise, and it is now $4.06.

That average is five cents higher than last week.  

Crude oil prices are in the range of $80 per barrel again amid the continued uncertainty along the Strait of Hormuz.

Even though demand for gasoline is down, prices of crude oil are keeping prices at the pump higher than normal for this time of the year.  

This is the highest August on record so far when it comes to the national average for gasoline.

The average price that you can expect for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Beaver County is about $4.29. 

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

$4.143      Altoona
$4.293      Beaver
$4.213      Bradford
$3.888      Brookville
$4.300      Butler
$3.957      Clarion
$4.077      DuBois
$4.173      Erie
$4.197      Greensburg
$4.108      Indiana
$4.224      Jeannette
$4.202      Kittanning
$4.236      Latrobe
$4.172      Meadville
$4.305      Mercer
$4.164      New Castle
$4.255      New Kensington
$4.239      Oil City
$4.228      Pittsburgh
$3.772      Sharon
$4.130      Uniontown
$4.271      Warren
$4.141      Washington