Author: Beaver County Radio

Host Steelers and new coach Mike McCarthy select Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor 21st in 2026 NFL Draft

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor runs during a drill during the school’s NFL football Pro Day, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers invested another high-round draft pick along the offensive line.

The Steelers selected Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor in front of their hometown crowd with the No. 21 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

“You can’t have enough big men up front,” new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said. “He’s a great fit for us and a stud of a young man. I think it’s an excellent pick for us and he’ll be a great addition to our offensive line.”

The Steelers nearly selected USC receiver Makai Lemon, but the Philadelphia Eagles moved up to the 20th pick in a trade with Dallas and selected the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top wideout.

“Pittsburgh called me and I thought they were going to draft me,” Lemon said. “And then the Eagles called at the same time. I guess it was meant to be.”

General manager Omar Khan said the Steelers were influenced by the Eagles’ decision to trade, but said that he was comfortable with adding Iheanachor to the mix.

“The way it shook out brought us to this position,” Khan said. “I think all those things that happened around us affect the conversation. It was the right pick for us.”

This is the third time in four years Pittsburgh drafted an offensive tackle in the first round.

The Steelers’ offensive line could use some reinforcements after veteran guard Isaac Seumalo left in free agency and as left tackle Broderick Jones – their first-round pick in 2023 – recovers from a neck injury that forced him to miss the last seven games of 2025.

There’s no timetable on when Jones might be ready, though he was with his teammates this week as part of the “medical group” when the Steelers held informal workouts.

“There’s a little bit of a concern,” Khan said of Jones’ injury. “We have guys on the offensive line that can play different positions. We have options.”

McCarthy didn’t rule out moving Troy Fautanu to left tackle. Fautanu, the Steelers’ 2024 first-round pick, played 17 games at right tackle last season.

“Those are discussions that will occur after the draft,” McCarthy said. “Position flexibility is bigger than ever in the NFL. To add Max to this group … I can’t tell you how excited I am with the pick.”

The 6-foot-5, 321-pound Iheanachor, started 31 games at Arizona State and was a second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection at right tackle. He was born in Nigeria, moved to the United States when he was 13 and played basketball and soccer before starting football in junior college.

Super Bowl 40 MVP Hines Ward was the wide receiver coach at Arizona State and told Khan that Iheanachor was a “true Steeler.”

“He’s a Steeler legend,” Iheanachor said of Ward. “I definitely got to experience what a Steeler is first-hand in the building and now I’m going into the building with the actual team.”

Iheanachor didn’t take a top-30 visit to the Steelers. McCarthy said Iheanachor started to stand out to them in February after the Senior Bowl.

“He’s only going to get better and better,” Khan said. “He’s such a talented football player. He hasn’t played a lot of football, but I’m excited what the future holds for him with us.”

An NFL-announced record crowd of 320,000 crammed outside Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium for the NFL’s marquee offseason event. They twirled yellow Terrible Towels while “Renegade” by Styx played to welcome Iheanachor, the newest member of the team.

It was the first draft pick for McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, who was hired to replace Mike Tomlin in January. Tomlin, who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl title in 2008, stepped down after 19 seasons as coach.

Pittsburgh won the AFC North last season, but the Steelers were routed 30-6 by the Houston Texans in the wild-card round, the most lopsided home playoff loss in team history.

Eastbound I-376 Beaver Valley Expressway Lane Closure Begins Monday in Potter and Vanport Townships

(File Photo of the Vanport Bridge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that a lane closure on eastbound I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) in Potter and Vanport townships will begin on Monday, April 27th, weather permitting. Traffic on eastbound I-376 will be reduced to a single-lane between the Beaver/Midland (Exit 38) exit and Monaca/Shippingport (Exit 39) interchange, and along the Vanport Bridge beginning at approximately 9 P.M. on Monday around-the-clock through late October. Crews will conduct steel repairs and painting operations. 

New Brighton hosts Co”MITT”ment to Cleanup New Brighton event in honor of late community member Don Mittner

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the City of New Brighton)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Brighton, PA) The New Brighton Area School District and the Borough of New Brighton are launching the first “comMITTment to Cleanup New Brighton” in honor of the late Don Mittner, who dedicated his life to the New Brighton community and its school district. This event will occur on Saturday, June 20th at 8 a.m. at Townsend Park, where supplies to clean up the community will be distributed upon arrival. Coffee and doughnuts are complimentary for all volunteers. You can register for this event by going to the link at this website, https://tinyurl.com/2eake5ue by clicking here by June 12th.  

Charlene Francis Short Reeder (1946-2026)

Charlene Francis Short Reeder, 79, of Chippewa Township, passed away on April 20th, 2026, at Heritage Valley Beaver Campus. She was born on September 5, 1946, the daughter of the late Charles and Virginia (Logan) Short. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Craft Reeder and her brother, Lance Short. She is survived by her children, Daniel (Kylee Hostetter) Reeder and Matthew Reeder, her stepchildren, Thomas “TC” Reeder, Roderick “Rod” Reeder, and Amy (Mark) Shaffer, her beloved grandchildren: Peyton, Daniel Jr., Bennett, Elida, Charlie, Kellan, Jake, Max, Lilly, and Kyle; as well as her great-granddaughter, Penelope, her brother, Brad Short and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Charlene dedicated many of her working years working with the mentally disabled at Verland, a role she took great pride in. Her compassion extended far beyond her profession, as she was deeply committed to helping individuals with mental disabilities. She was a faithful member of the Chippewa United Methodist Church. Above all, she cherished her family. She was devoted to her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She was a constant, loving presence in all her family’s lives. She will be remembered for her kindness, her strength, and the love she gave so freely to others.

Flowers are welcome and may be sent to the Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010. Memorial contributions may also be made to Charlene’s family to continue the loving support she provided to her children, cash or check donations will be accepted at that funeral home or can be made directly to the family.

Friends will be received for a memorial visitation on Wednesday, April 29th from 5 P.M. until the time of memorial service at 7 P.M. at the Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of her arrangements.

Edward J. Kozel (1955-2026)

Edward J. Kozel, 70, passed away peacefully on April 22nd, 2026, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by the love of his family. He was born on November 29th, 1955, a son of the late John and Katherine Kozel. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, John “Jack” Kozel. He is survived by his devoted wife of 42 years, Cheryl Kozel, and their two daughters, Lauren (Dan) Baker and Stephanie Kozel. He is survived by his grandchildren, Lucas and Cora Baker, whom he adored, his mother and father-in-law, Julian and Margaret Bobrowski, his two brothers-in-law, John (Lisa) Bobrowski and Michael (Candace) Bobrowski, his very good friend, Mike Pauvlinch, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Edward was a man who found joy in the simple pleasures, spending time at his family camp in Tionesta, hunting and fishing, and rooting for his favorite Pittsburgh sports teams. He was a proud Penn State alumnus who continued to follow their athletic successes with enthusiasm. Above all, his greatest joys came from being with his family and watching his grandchildren, Lucas and Cora grow and flourish. He treasured family vacations, especially the trip to the Grand Canyon and even enjoyed adventures in Las Vegas. He was known to relax with a cigar and had a deep love for music, attending concerts featuring Santana and embracing everything Rock n Roll. His family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Gateway Hospice, especially Dr. Gandhe and Dr. Gehrlein, for their exceptional care and compassion given to Edward. He will be deeply missed but fondly remembered for his kindness, humor, and the lasting impact he had on all who knew him. His legacy of love and devotion will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. He will be forever remembered as a loving husband, father, uncle, cousin and dear friend.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America at www.hdsa.org by clicking here.
A visitation will take place on Friday, April 24th from 11 a.m. until the time of a blessing service at 1 p.m. in the ANTHONY MASTROFRANCESCO FUNERAL HOME INC., 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa, who was in charge of his arrangements. Entombment will immediately follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 2186 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Edward J. Kozel please visit the Sympathy Store of the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday Reaches $40K Settlement With Florida-Based Company that Allegedly Posed as Pennsylvania State Agency Targeting New Business Owners

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, Sunday recently announced a settlement in Harrisburg with a Florida-based company and its owners for allegedly impersonating a Commonwealth agency as part of efforts to get money from owners of newly-registered Pennsylvania businesses. The company will pay $40,000 in total restitution to impacted business owners. PA Corporate Certificates, LLC, contacted Pennsylvania-based business owners to solicit purchases of a Subsistence Certificate, which is a legitimate document offered by the Pennsylvania Department of State (that costs $40), but it is often not necessary for many businesses. PA Corporate Certificates, LLC inflated the price to $102.50 and collected payment from nearly 2,000 Pennsylvania business owners and the company sent letters that appeared to be from the Pennsylvania Department of State and misrepresented the purpose or benefit of a Subsistence Certificate to perpetrate the alleged scam. Not all businesses who paid for a certificate actually received it. The settlement, in the form of a Consent Petition, resolves a lawsuit against PA Corporate Certificates, LLC, and its owners – Brian Capobiano, Dean Marshlack, and David Marshlack. PA Corporate Certificates, LLC has ceased operations in Pennsylvania and the settlement prevents the business or the individuals from operating in Pennsylvania, including soliciting for and/or engaging in the sale of certificates of subsistence. The Consent Petition was filed in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas and is pending approval of the Court.

Shapiro Administration Reminds Drivers to Slow Down and Pay Attention in Work Zones

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) hosted an event in the state today calling attention to work zone safety and urged drivers to slow down and pay attention in work zones as the weather gets warmer and more construction projects get underway. The Shapiro Administration hosted the event along with the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC). Governor Josh Shapiro proclaimed this week as National Work Zone Awareness Week as part of his administration’s mission to provide a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians. “Safe actions save lives,” is the theme of this year’s awareness campaign. According to PennDOT data, there were 1,393 work zone crashes in 2025, resulting in 12 fatalities. One of the most frequent contributing factors in fatal work zone crashes was driving too fast for conditions. In addition to crash data from police reports, PennDOT monitors work zone safety with internal reports. There were 428 reported intrusions in PennDOT work zones in 2025. 16 of those work zone intrusions resulted in injuries to PennDOT employees. Students from across the state were also in attendance to display their original work zone safety solutions as part of the annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which is a statewide competition for high school students to develop creative and strategic solutions to real-world transportation issues, while also encouraging them to explore careers in transportation that is now in its ninth year. This year’s contest asked students to develop a concept for the use of artificial intelligence in work zones to dramatically improve safety for road users and work crews. Pennsylvania’s New Driver Work Zone Safety Program, which you can find out more about by clicking here, is a statewide training program to improve new driver safety and roadway worker protection. This online training is free and uses infographics, knowledge checks, testimonials that are powerful and videos that are engaging to teach new drivers key facts, signage, and work zone laws, as well as offering real-life scenarios to enhance understanding. Pennsylvania’s Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, which you can find out more about by clicking here, uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record drivers exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices. Cameras are only operational in work zones that are active where workers are present. Work zones that have speed safety cameras that are active and present will have high-visibility signs in advance of the enforcement area, which alerts drivers to the upcoming enforcement. Registered owners will receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and a fine of $75 for a second offense, and a violation notice and a fine of $150 for third and subsequent offenses. These violations are civil penalties only and no points are assessed to driver’s licenses. You can visit  workzonecameras.penndot.gov by clicking here for more information on the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed. Drivers who are caught by police driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted of failing to drive at a safe speed, will automatically lose their license for 15 days. Additionally, fines for certain traffic violations, including driving under the influence, failure to obey traffic devices and speeding, are doubled in active work zones. The law also provides for up to five years of additional time in prison for individuals that are convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.

Beaver County announces America250 parade in Beaver to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Visit Beaver County, Posted on Facebook on April 23rd, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Beaver County recently announced that its America250 parade to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America will be on Saturday, September 19th starting at 10 a.m. on 3rd Street in Beaver. Entertainment, family-friendly activities, and learning about history continue at Fort McIntosh on River Road after the parade. If you want to march in the parade, you can register by going to beavercounty250.com by clicking here.

House adopts resolution from State Representative Rob Matzie designating April pf 2026 as “Limb Loss Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania House adopted State Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution last week in Harrisburg that designates April of 2026 as “Limb Loss Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. According to Matzie, he introduced House Resolution 404, which the House adopted by an overwhelming bipartisan majority on April 15th, to foster greater awareness about the multiple challenges faced by people who have lost a limb and those with a limb that is anatomically different in size, shape or structure compared to “typical” limbs. Matzie stated that he also introduced this resolution to help people understand that the main cause of limb loss is preventable.

Westinghouse eVinci™ Microreactor in Cranberry Township Selected for Malmstrom Air Force Base

(File Photo of the Cranberry Township Logo)

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apr 23, 2026– Westinghouse Government Services announces that the eVinci™ microreactor has been proposed for Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) by the Department of the Air Force, in conjunction with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), through the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program.

This is the next step in the ongoing contract between Westinghouse Government Services and the Department of the Air Force and DIU for the proposed deployment of a contractor-owned and operated nuclear microreactor on a Department of the Air Force installation. Under the ANPI agreement, Westinghouse and its deployment partners will evaluate siting and construction of an eVinci microreactor at Malmstrom AFB.

“Westinghouse’s eVinci microreactor is perfectly suited to ensure our Armed Forces have the reliable and resilient energy they need for mission-critical operations globally,” said Rich Rademacher, President, Westinghouse Government Services. “We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the Department of the Air Force and the Defense Innovation Unit.”

The eVinci microreactor builds on decades of industry-leading Westinghouse innovation to deliver flexible, portable and resilient energy to remote locations for a variety of defense applications. The highly reliable eVinci microreactor has very few moving parts and provides 5 megawatts of electricity, delivered 24 hours a day, seven days a week for eight-plus years without refueling. The technology is designed to be factory-built and assembled before it is shipped.

Westinghouse Electric Company is the future of energy, providing reliable, innovative nuclear technologies and services globally. Westinghouse pioneered commercial nuclear power, delivering the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957. The company has industrialized more nuclear reactors than any other company, with its technology forming the basis of half of the world’s operating nuclear plants. More than 140 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.