Author: Beaver County Radio

Lincoln Park presents ‘Hairspray’

BEAVER COUNTY RADIO

MIDLAND — Get ready for laughter, romance and hair piled bouffant-high as the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center presents “Hairspray: The Broadway Musical.”

The popular, high-energy, family friendly musical opens May 1.

Part of the 2025-2026 Clearview Federal Credit Union Subscription Series, “Hairspray” runs  May 1-3 and May 8-10.

Following the storyline of a beloved movie and the Broadway musical, which won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Lincoln Park’s production includes all the deliriously tuneful songs.

Set in 1962 Baltimore, the musical follows the irrepressible Tracy Turnblad, a teenager with big hair, a big heart, and even bigger dreams. When Tracy lands a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show,” she uses her newfound
platform to challenge the segregation that divides her city.

Packed with unforgettable songs, infectious choreography, and plenty of heart, “Hairspray” reminds us that progress often begins with someone brave enough to step forward and say, “You can’t stop the beat.”

Justin Fortunato, producing artistic director for Lincoln Park, said, “‘Hairspray’ is a joyful, high-energy celebration of individuality, courage, and the power of young
people to change the world. This exceptional cast, along with the creative team of director Brady Patsy, choreographer Amber Ardolino and music director Kathleen Billie, are creating a can’t miss experience. Tickets are selling very quickly, get yours today!”

Tickets are available by visiting LincolnParkArts.org or calling 724.576.4644.

Tickets start at $18.

Transgender women athletes banned from women’s Olympic events by new IOC policy

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – IOC President Kirsty Coventry speaks during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Yves Herman/Pool Photo via AP, File)

GENEVA (AP) — Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women’s events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday which aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females,” the International Olympic Committee said, to be determined by a mandatory gene test once in an athlete’s career.

It is unclear how many, if any, transgender women are competing at an Olympic level. No woman who transitioned from being born male competed at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, though weightlifter Laurel Hubbard did at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 without winning a medal.

The eligibility policy that will apply from the LA Olympics in July 2028 “protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category,” the IOC said.

“It is not retroactive and does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports programs,” said the IOC, whose Olympic Charter states that access to play sport is a human right.

After an executive board meeting, the International Olympic Committee published a 10-page policy document which also restricts female athletes such as two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya with medical conditions known as differences in sex development, or DSD.

The IOC and its president, Kirsty Coventry, have wanted a clear policy instead of continuing to advise sports’ governing bodies who previously have drafted their own rules.

“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, said in a statement. “So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.”

She set up a review of “protecting the female category” as one of her first big decisions last June as the first woman to lead the Olympic body in its 132-year history.

Female eligibility was a strong theme in a seven-candidate IOC election last year — held after a furor around women’s boxing in Paris — when Coventry’s main rivals pledged a stronger policy to leading on the issue.

Before the 2024 Paris Olympics, three top-tier sports — track and field, swimming and cycling — excluded transgender women who had been through male puberty. Semenya, who was assigned female at birth in South Africa and has high natural testosterone levels, won a European Court of Human Rights judgment in her years-long legal challenge to track and field’s rules which did not overturn them.

The IOC document details its research that being born male gives physical advantages that a working group of experts believes are retained.

“Males experience three significant testosterone peaks: In utero, in mini-puberty of infancy and beginning in adolescent puberty through adulthood,” the document said.

It added this gives males “individual sex-based performance advantages in sports and events that rely on strength, power and/or endurance.”

The IOC said its expert group agreed the current gene test is “the most accurate and least intrusive method currently available.” It screened for “the SRY gene, a segment of DNA typically found on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex development in utero and indicates the presence of testes/testicles.”

Still, the mandatory gender screening — already conducted by the governing bodies of track and field, skiing and boxing — is likely to be criticized by human rights experts and activist groups.

One of the two women’s boxing gold medalists at the center of the gender controversy in Paris, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, has passed her gene test and can return to competition, the World Boxing governing body said last week.

In the U.S., President Trump signed the executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” in February last year, and pledged to deny visas to some athletes attempting to compete at the L.A Olympics. The order also threatened to “rescind all funds” from organizations that allowed transgender athletes to take part in women’s sports.

Within months the U.S. Olympic body updated its guidance to national sports bodies citing an obligation to comply with the White House.

Allegheny Health Network Raises Awareness for Organ Donation During National Donate Life Month

(File Photo of the Allegheny Health Network Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) As part of National Donate Life Month, which is observed annually in April to drive awareness about the importance of organ, tissue and cornea donations, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) will host several celebrations throughout the month at hospitals across its footprint. The network will kick off its series of “Donate Life Month” events on Wednesday, April 1st with a flag raising ceremony at AHN Allegheny General Hospital (AGH). In addition to AGH, AHN will be hosting flag raising ceremonies at nine other hospitals, including Allegheny Valley, Canonsburg, Forbes, Grove City, Jefferson, West Penn, Wexford and AHN Hempfield Neighborhood Hospital in the Greater Pittsburgh region and at Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie. Each of them will feature inspiring stories of organ donation and will help to educate hospital staff, patients, visitors and the broader community about the importance of donation. According to a release today from Allegheny Health Network, here are the dates, times and locations for the flag raising ceremonies:

  • AHN Allegheny General Hospital: Wednesday, April 1 at 11:00 a.m.; Donor Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m.
  • AHN West Penn Hospital: Wednesday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m.
  • AHN Wexford Hospital: Thursday, April 2 at 9:00 a.m.
  • AHN Grove City Hospital: Monday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m.
  • AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital: Tuesday, April 7 at 11:00 a.m.
  • AHN Hempfield Hospital: Thursday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m.
  • AHN Saint Vincent Hospital: Friday, April 10 at 10:00 a.m.
  • AHN Jefferson Hospital: Monday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m.
  • AHN Canonsburg Hospital: Wednesday, April 15 at 10:00 a.m.
  • AHN Forbes Hospital: Friday, April 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Pittsburgh Unveils Comprehensive Regional Transportation Plan for 2026 NFL Draft Presented by Bud Light

(Photos and Headline Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of VisitPittsburgh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) As Pittsburgh prepares to host the 2026 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light from April 23rd–25th, the Pittsburgh Organizing Committee, alongside Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), and regional partners unveiled a comprehensive, multi-modal transportation plan yesterday that is designed to support both southwestern Pennsylvania residents and visitors while ensuring safe, efficient access to the event. The plan reflects a coordinated, multi-year effort to manage increased demand while maintaining reliable access to and through the city for those who live and work here with hundreds of thousands of fans expected across the three-day celebration. According to a release from VisitPittsburgh, here is some more information:

Officials encourage both residents and visitors to plan ahead, explore available transportation options, and allow extra travel time during peak periods.
Fans should download the NFL OnePass app by clicking here for all real-time event information.
 
Expanded Public Transit Service
PRT will operate expanded service April 23-25, with additional frequency and capacity on some routes, to safely and efficiently move fans between neighborhoods, park-and-ride locations, and the official Draft footprint.
Unless otherwise noted, all bus routes will travel their normal routes.
Draft weekend service includes:
  • Saturday-level service systemwide (April 23–25)
  • Weekday-level service on high-ridership corridors, including:
    • P1-East Busway
    • G2-West Busway
    • 54-North Side – Oakland – South Side
  • Four limited-stop Draft bus routes operating from the north, south, east, and west
  • Increased light rail service to Downtown and the North Shore
  • Additional service on the 28X-Airport Flyer
“Our plan for the Draft is about balancing the needs of the thousands of fans coming to Pittsburgh and meeting this special moment while continuing to deliver for the people who rely on us every day,” said PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman. “No matter why you’re traveling that week, our goal is to make transit the easiest and most reliable way to get there.”
In addition to regular fares, a special Draft Pass will be offered in the Ready2Ride app beginning April 1. The pass will provide unlimited rides for seven days for $25.
Football Flyer Routes & Regional Access
To reduce congestion and move large volumes of fans directly to the event areas, PRT will operate four special “Football Flyer” bus routes during Draft week. These routes will operate approximately every 15 minutes on Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24, and every 30 minutes on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day.
 
Football Flyers: 
  • 99N – Will start at the McCandless Park and Ride (9700 McKnight Road), travel to the Ross Park and Ride (5204 Perry Highway) and will use the HOV lanes on I-279.
  • 99E – Will start at the Monroeville Mall and serve every station along the East Busway.
  • 99S – Will start at the Large Park and Ride (219 Peters Creek Road) and serve every station along the South Busway.
  • 99W – Will start at the University Boulevard Park and Ride (9000 University Boulevard), serve every stop on the West Busway, the Lower Station of the Duquesne Incline, and the Lower Station of the Monongahela Incline.
All four Football Flyers will drop off and pick up passengers near Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh and near PNC Park on the North Shore.
 
Light Rail Service
PRT will also increase light rail (T) service between Downtown and the North Shore during peak Draft hours.
The Red Line and Blue Line will operate from South Hills Village to North Side Station and will run every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. The Silver Line will operate from Library to Washington Junction where riders can transfer to the Red or Blue Lines. Allegheny Station will be closed from April 22–25. Riders should use North Side Station during that period.
Use of park-and-ride lots along the light rail system is highly encouraged. All lots will be open, and most are free:
For more information, riders can visit www.rideprt.org by clicking here.
* Indicates lots that are paid parking
—
Road Closures & Traffic Changes
To support a safe and secure event environment, as well as a highly walkable experience for attendees, select streets in and around Downtown and the North Shore will be temporarily closed to vehicle traffic during Draft week.
These closures have been carefully planned in coordination with public safety and transportation partners to balance event operations with the needs of residents, businesses, and commuters.
Phase 1 Closures (March 28 – April 12)
  • Art Rooney Ave, West General Robinson Street (to Tony Dorsett Dr), Scotland Ave
*Phase 2 Closures (April 13 – April 21): 
  • Casino Drive (from Sproat Way), North Shore Drive (to Chuck Noll Way), Reedsdale Street (to Tony Dorsett Dr), Chuck Noll Way, Tony Dorsett Drive, along with the closures in Phase 1
Phase 3 Closures (April 22 – April 25): 
  • Sproat Way, North Shore Drive (from Chuck Noll Way to Mazeroski Way), Mazeroski Way, West General Robinson Street, Lacock Street, Federal Street, I-279 Southbound Exit 1B ramp, Rt 65 southbound ramp to Ft. Duquesne Bridge, Rt 65 Northbound ramp from Ft. Duquesne Bridge, T1 ramp from Reedsdale Street, 6th Street Bridge (Roberto Clemente), 7th Street Bridge (Andy Warhol), Sixth Street, Ft Pitt Bridge on ramp from 10th Street Bypass, Commonwealth Place, Liberty Ave Extension, Penn Avenue (from Stanwix Street to 9th Street), Liberty Ave/PPG Paints Arena Exit off Ft. Pitt Bridge, and 279 HOV. Along with closures from Phase 1 and 2
*Phase 4 Closures (April 26 – May 1): 
  • Casino Drive (from Sproat Way), North Shore Drive (to Chuck Noll Way), Reedsdale Street (to Tony Dorsett Dr), Chuck Noll Way, Tony Dorsett Dive, I-279 Southbound Exit 1B, along with the closures in Phase 1
Phase 5 Closures (May 2 – May 6):
  • Reedsdale Street, Chuck Noll Way, Tony Dorsett Drive, along with the closures in Phase 1
Phase 6 Closures (May 7 – May 10): 
  • Art Rooney Drive, West General Robinson Street (to Tony Dorsett Dr), Scotland Ave
Organizers have been meeting for weeks with business owners and residents in the impacted area to inform them of the closures and to answer any questions they may have. Slight modifications will be made to the road closure plan in order to provide access for various businesses and PNC Park events. Road closure reminders will be disseminated in advance of the start of each phase. Updates will also be posted on the NFL OnePass app, nfldraftpittsburgh.com and pittsburghpa.gov.
 
* Pirates Game Day Access on the North Shore
Transportation and road closure plans have been designed to accommodate Pittsburgh Pirates’ home games at PNC Park.
On game days occurring during the weekends before and after the NFL Draft, select road closures and traffic patterns will be adjusted to support fan access to the ballpark and surrounding areas.
Fans attending Pirates games can expect continued access to the North Shore, with clearly marked routes, available parking options, and public transit service operating to support game day travel.
Additional details, including specific access routes and timing adjustments, will be shared in advance of each game to help fans plan ahead.
—
Getting Between Downtown & the North Shore
Traveling between Downtown and the North Shore will be easy and accessible throughout Draft week, with several convenient options available for both residents and visitors.
  • On Foot: Fans can walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge—closed to vehicle traffic during the event—offering a safe, convenient, scenic and uniquely Pittsburgh way to reach the North Shore. The pedestrian path encourages fans to explore local shops, restaurants and businesses as they walk by and take in Pittsburgh’s skyline, bridges and iconic rivers.
  • Light Rail (T): Free service is available between Downtown and the North Shore via the Gateway, Wood Street, Steel Plaza, First Avenue and North Side stations, providing a quick and reliable connection across the river.
  • By River: The Gateway Clipper Fleet will offer free fan transportation between Point State Park and the North Shore, providing another convenient and memorable way to travel across the full event campus.
“The NFL Draft is going to be an exciting time in Pittsburgh, and I’m thrilled that we have a robust, multi-modal plan to get visitors and locals to Downtown and the North Shore,” said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. “I want to offer a huge thank you to the planning committee that has worked so hard across agencies and departments to construct this plan and especially thank PRT for offering expanded service and park-and-ride locations. However they arrive, we want people to come on down!”
Visitors are encouraged to choose the option that best fits their plans, with all three routes offering efficient access between key Draft locations.
—
Regional Fan Access  
To support fans traveling from across southwestern Pennsylvania and surrounding counties, regional transit agencies will provide expanded and coordinated service to connect communities directly to Pittsburgh throughout Draft week. These services are designed to offer convenient, affordable alternatives to driving Downtown while helping reduce congestion in the city core.
“Football roots run deep in southwestern Pennsylvania, making the NFL Draft a celebration for our entire region. We invite fans from across the area to experience this once-in-a-lifetime moment for our community. Thanks to the collaboration of our regional transit agencies, expanded and coordinated service will give fans convenient, affordable ways to travel downtown and help to connect communities across the region to this unprecedented event.”
Several regional providers will operate enhanced service, including express routes, extended hours, and connections to park-and-ride locations with direct links into Pittsburgh’s transit system.
Key regional service highlights include:
  • Beaver County Transit Authority (BCTA): Additional express trips will operate between Beaver County and Downtown Pittsburgh, including dedicated service timed for Draft activities, alongside regular routes following designated detours.
  • Butler Transit Authority (BTA): Direct service from the Route 528 Park and Ride to the Ross Park and Ride, where riders can seamlessly connect to Pittsburgh Regional Transit service into Draft footprint.
  • New Castle Area Transit Authority (NCATA): Regular commuter service into Downtown Pittsburgh on Thursday and Friday, with adjusted routes to accommodate traffic changes.
  • Freedom Transit (Washington County): Extended service hours and late-night return trips from Downtown Pittsburgh, providing additional flexibility for attendees traveling from the south.
  • Fayette Area Coordinated Transit (FACT): Draft-specific service connecting Uniontown and surrounding communities to regional park-and-ride locations, with additional midday and evening service options.
  • Mid-Mon Valley Transit Authority (MMVTA): Regular commuter service will be supplemented by a special “Pittsburgh Express” route with late evening return trips from Downtown.
Together, these regional services create a coordinated network of access points across the region, making it easier for residents and visitors alike to travel to and from Draft events without needing to drive into the city.
Additional details, including schedules, fares, and boarding locations, are available directly through each transit provider. Fans are encouraged to review options in advance and select the route that best fits their travel plans.
—
Additional Ways to Get Around
“This is our city and our Draft, so we want everyone to come down, enjoy it and show our visitors and the millions of viewers what makes Pittsburgh so special. This is a big event, but this transportation plan provides ways for our residents to easily navigate getting Downtown and the North Shore to come to the events and tell the story of Pittsburgh.”
 
Gateway Clipper
Fans can arrive by river through special service from the Gateway Clipper Fleet. During the Draft, four vessels will operate Friday and Saturday, helping move visitors to and from the North Shore and Downtown areas. Two boats will travel from the Gateway Clipper’s dock in Station Square over to PNC Park. The other two boats will go between Point State Park and the landing area of the Acrisure Stadium Quay.
Visitors should check the Gateway Clipper Fleet for schedules, boarding locations and ticket information.
 
Pittsburgh’s Historic Inclines
Visitors looking for a uniquely Pittsburgh experience can also travel via the city’s historic inclines. The Monongahela Incline and the Duquesne Incline connect the Mount Washington neighborhood with the city below, offering sweeping views of the Golden Triangle and North Shore.
 
Rideshare
Designated Uber & Lyft pick-up and drop-off locations will be available near the event footprint. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead; many rideshare companies offer the opportunity to book a ride in advance. Designated areas will be available via the NFL OnePass app.
 
Bike Rental & Access 
Fans looking for flexible ways to explore the city during Draft week can take advantage of POGOH, Pittsburgh’s public bike-share program that offers both traditional pedal bikes and electric-assist bikes at stations across Downtown, the North Shore, and surrounding neighborhoods. Bikes can be unlocked via the POGOH app for short trips throughout the city. For more information on bike access, visit bikepgh.org.
 
Parking
Visitors planning to drive are encouraged to reserve parking in advance as garages and lots are expected to fill quickly, and street parking will be very limited. The NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers and VisitPITTSBURGH do not control parking lot inventory or parking rates.
North Shore parking will be limited, so fans who drive are encouraged to park in Downtown and Station Square lots and garages. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. Real-time availability is accessible via the ParkPGH app, with reservations available through platforms such as ParkWhiz—helping visitors compare options and secure the best available rates ahead of time.
As with any major event, parking rates may vary based on demand. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and use trusted platforms to avoid unexpected pricing and ensure a smooth arrival experience.
Parking restrictions will be enforced, and vehicles in restricted areas may be ticketed or towed.
 
PIT to Downtown
Visitors flying into the newly renovated Pittsburgh International Airport can use expanded service on PRT’s 28X-Airport Flyer, providing frequent connections between the airport, Downtown and several East End neighborhoods.
 
Coach Buses and Shuttles
Private charter buses and oversized vehicles can secure parking at PPGpublicparking.com or by calling 412-231-5746. Due to security restrictions, no pick-ups or drop-offs will be permitted near the Draft footprint.
 
Personal Watercraft & Private Boats
Personal watercraft and private boats will not be permitted near the Draft footprint during event operations from April 23-26. The following safety zones will be enforced along adjacent rivers, and boaters should avoid these restricted areas:
  • Allegheny River: From the Roberto Clemente Bridge to the Point
  • Monongahela River: From the Fort Pitt Bridge to the Point
  • Ohio River: From the Point to the Rivers Casino
 
ADA & Mobility Services 
The Draft footprint will be fully accessible. Mobility assistance services will be available onsite, and visitors are encouraged to bring personal mobility devices.  A comprehensive Accessibility Guide will be made available starting April 10, 2026.
—
Plan Ahead
With increased activity and temporary traffic changes throughout the city, both residents and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and explore the full range of available transportation options.
Downtown and the North Shore will remain accessible, but travel patterns will differ from typical conditions due to road closures, increased demand, and event operations. Reviewing transit options, parking availability, and route adjustments in advance will help ensure a smoother experience.
Fans and commuters alike are encouraged to take advantage of expanded public transit service, park-and-ride locations, and designated access points when traveling to or through the area.
The latest transportation updates, service information, and road closure details will be available at ridePRT.org and through the NFL OnePass app, which provides maps, schedules, and real-time event information.

Brighton Township Police Department warns residents about game called “Assassins” that is causing concerns

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Brighton Township, PA) The Brighton Township Police Department has received numerous calls about suspicious people and situations over the last few days and would like to make its residents aware of a game that is often played by high school students this time of year called “Assassins,” in which participants attempt to eliminate other players using water guns or similar toy devices. While it is intended to be a harmless game, these incidents can cause concern for residents who may observe people that are either running through neighborhoods, hiding near homes or vehicles, or carrying objects that may appear to be firearms. Parents also should speak with their children about the potential risks that are associated with playing this game in public areas.  

Teens get probation after using AI to create fake nudes of classmates at a private school in Pennsylvania

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Lancaster Country Day School in Lancaster, Pa., Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Two teenage boys who used artificial intelligence to create fake nude photos of their classmates at an exclusive private school in Pennsylvania received probation Wednesday after dozens of victims described the images’ traumatizing effect on them.

The boys were 14 at the time. They admitted this month that they made about 350 images, showing at least 59 girls under 18, along with other victims who so far have not been identified.

Authorities and the girls themselves said the boys took images of the girls from school photos, yearbooks, Instagram, TikTok and FaceTime chats in 2023 and 2024, and morphed them with images of adults depicting nudity or sexual activity.

More than 100 students and parents from Lancaster Country Day School were in court to hear victims describe the shock of having to identify their own faces in pornographic photos to detectives. Juvenile proceedings in Pennsylvania are normally closed, but this was opened by the judge, providing an unusual opportunity for the community to be seen and heard.

The girls described the fallout — anxiety attacks, a loss of trust, problems focusing on schoolwork and a fear that the images may someday surface in unexpected ways.

The two defendants stood stone-faced throughout, flanked by their lawyers and parents, as they were called pedophiles, “sick and twisted” and perverted.

“I will never understand why they did this,” one victim told Judge Leonard Brown, saying it “destroyed my innocence.”

One teen told Brown “how excruciating it is to bring these feelings up again and again.” Another choked back tears as she excoriated one of the defendants for expressing “fake empathy” as girls confided with him about their pain, before it became known that he had been involved. Still another said all of her friends transferred schools, and that she “needed trauma therapy to even walk around my neighborhood.”

Judge said he hadn’t heard boys apologize

The defendants declined several opportunities to comment to the judge, who said he had not heard either boy take responsibility or apologize.

“This has been a regrettable, long, torturous process for everyone involved,” said Heidi Freese, defense attorney for one of the defendants. “There were very interesting, underlying legal issues surrounding the charges in this case and those will be decided on a different day in a different case.”

The other defendant’s lawyers emailed a statement late Wednesday that said he was “extremely remorseful for his part in the AI-generated images and very sorry for any hurt he caused.”

Defense attorneys Adam Szilagyi and Christopher Sarno wrote that the images, which the lawyers said their client did not intend to be public, “contained nudity but did not contain any representations of sexual conduct or activity.”

They said their client did not use “any AI generator himself nor did he disseminate any of the images.” Szilagyi said in a follow-up text that his client was accountable as part of the conspiracy and that both of the boys “gathered and exchanged the unaltered/original images that were put into the generator.”

Brown ordered each to perform 60 hours of community service, have no contact with the victims and pay an unspecified amount of restitution. If they don’t have any additional legal problems, Brown said, the case can be expunged after two years.

As he imposed his sentence, Brown said that if they were adults, they probably would be headed for state prison. He said they should “take this opportunity to really examine” themselves.

Rise of AI has led to deepfakes

The resolution of the Pennsylvania case comes days after three teenagers in Tennessee sued Elon Musk’s xAI, claiming the company’s Grok tools morphed their real photos into explicitly sexual images. The high school students are seeking class-action status to represent what the lawsuit says are thousands of people who were similarly victimized as minors.

The scandal in Pennsylvania led to a student protest, criminal charges against the two teenagers and the departure of leaders at the school, which says it has about 600 students K-12, class sizes averaging just 12 kids, and “an endowment in excess of $25 million.”

Nadeem Bezar, a Philadelphia lawyer who represents at least 10 of the victims, said Tuesday he expects to file a claim “against the school and anybody else we think has culpability in these deepfakes being created and disseminated.”

He said he has not yet seen the photos but expects the legal process to determine “exactly when and where and how the school knew, how the boys created these images, what platforms they used to create these images and how they were disseminated.”

As AI has become accessible and powerful, lawmakers across the country have passed laws aimed at barring deepfakes.

President Donald Trump signed the Take it Down Act last year, making it illegal to publish intimate images including deepfakes without consent, and requiring websites and social media sites to remove such material within 48 hours of being notified by a victim.

Forty-six states now have laws addressing deepfakes, with legislation introduced in the remaining four — Alaska, Missouri, New Mexico and Ohio — according to the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen.

Two Pennsylvania state senators introducing bill to hold repeat toll offenders on the Pennsylvania Turnpike responsible

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Vehicles move past signs that indicate payment methods for driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the entrance ramp in Gibsonia, Pa. in this file photo from Aug. 30, 2021. Gov. Tom Wolf gave final approval on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, to legislation aimed at getting owners or operators of some 25,000 vehicles to pay their overdue bills for turnpike usage, The law that could trigger the suspension of thousands of vehicle registrations early next year. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Westmoreland County, PA) Two Republican state senators want to hold people accountable for evading tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, who represents Westmoreland County, and state Senator Judy Ward, who represents parts of central Pennsylvania, will introduce the bill, which aims to strengthen penalties for repeat toll evaders on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This targets people who accumulate thousands of dollars in unpaid tolls at the expense of others.  

Southbound I-79 Shoulder Restrictions Thursday in Robinson Township

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that shoulder restrictions on southbound I-79 in Robinson Township will occur today, weather permitting. From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., there will be shoulder restrictions on southbound I-79 just south of the westbound I-376/Airport (Exit 59B) exit to accommodate guide rail repair work.

Pennsylvania House passes bill from State Representative Rob Matzie to improve rail safety

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania House passed legislation introduced by State Representative Rob Matzie, (D-Beaver), in Harrisburg yesterday. This bill is called House Bill 1191 and it will improve rail safety for both workers and the communities that trains pass through. Matzie introduced it to improve public safety at railroad crossings and it comes three years after the February 3rd, 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which released toxic chemicals and caused widespread environmental and health concerns. According to a release from Matzie’s office, this bill would:

  • Prohibit trains from blocking crossings, which could delay emergency responders. This can ensure faster response times.
  • Limit the length of freight or work trains to 8,500 feet, or approximately 1.6 miles.
  • Require safe staffing levels for trains or light engines, including a minimum of a two-person crew on a train or light engine.
  • Authorize a union representative to monitor safety practices and operations of a railroad, which would allow a representative to take photographs and conduct investigations without being accused of trespassing.
  • Ensure proper functioning of wayside detector systems. These are trackside sensors that warn when trains are overheating because of problems that can cause derailment.
  • Strengthen oversight by requiring studies, a reporting system and additional precautions for trains transporting hazardous materials or waste.
  • Impose civil penalties for violation of these regulations.

Similar legislation that was sponsored by Matzie called House Bill 1028, passed the House in 2023 but it never received a vote in the state Senate. House Bill 1191 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Volunteers needed for the Redd Up the Ramps program in Beaver to clean up the community

(File Photo of the Clock in Downtown Beaver)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Volunteers are needed now for the Redd Up the Ramps program in Beaver, which community members made to help keep that borough clean and beautiful. The event will be held at Cafe Kolache on Third Street from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, April 18th. Plastic bags, gloves and orange safety vests will be provided for all volunteers. Volunteers need to be 16 years or older to participate and if you are interested in this opportunity, call 724-728-0550.