Author: Beaver County Radio

One person hospitalized after fire in the Homewood South neighborhood of Pittsburgh that destroyed a house

(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Homewood, PA) One person was rushed to the hospital after an early morning fire in the Homewood South neighborhood of Pittsburgh yesterday that destroyed a house. It was spotted on the 7500 block of Hamilton Avenue between Collier Street and North Braddock Avenue. Firefighters worked on Hamilton Avenue for hours on both the inside and the outside after getting called at around 4:25 a.m. The person that was hospitalized was the brother of Alvin Dean. Dean lives next door to the house which caught fire. The fire captain that KDKA spoke with said there was a partial collapse on the right side of the house.

AHN Study: Injected Lidocaine Improves Post-Sling Pain and Patient Satisfaction Without Increasing Urinary Retention Rates Among Surgical Population

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a recent release in Pittsburgh from Allegheny Health Network (AHN), a new AHN study confirms that lidocaine injections improve postoperative pain for women who undergo a surgical procedure to improve urinary incontinence symptoms, and these injections do not impact the ability of the patients to empty their bladder in the days following surgery. These findings have the potential to change the postoperative recovery plan and improve outcomes for women who need the midurethral sling surgery. The clinical trial results that were published in Urogynecology by researchers at AHN’s Women’s Institute showed that patients who receive retropubic lidocaine, which is a widely used local anesthetic, during midurethral sling placement report lower postoperative painkiller use, improved postoperative pain, and better overall satisfaction with surgical outcomes compared to their placebo counterparts. The use of lidocaine did not increase acute postoperative urinary retention (POUR) following the procedure to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) most notably, with the same number of patients being able to successfully empty their bladder in both the lidocaine and placebo groups. Charlie Miller, MD, Jessica C. Sassani, MD, and Lindsay Turner, MD, all of AHN Women’s Institute, who are all pictured in the headline photo for this story, were lead researchers of the trial.

Lawrence D. Busack (Passed on February 11th, 2026)

Lawrence D. Busack, 80, of Monaca, passed away on February 11th, 2026. He was born in Rochester, New York, a son of the late Carl and Gerda (Malack) Busack. He is survived by his wife, Jean Busack whom he married in 1969, their son, Adam (Natalie) Busack and two grandchildren, Brady Busack and Stella Busack, all of Michigan, and his brother Stephen D. Busack of Rochester, New York.

Lawrence graduated from Rush- Henrietta High School in Henrietta, New York and continued his education at Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam, New York, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers since college. He also earned his professional engineering license in Pennsylvania. Initially, he came to Pennsylvania to work for Michael Baker Engineering. He continued his civil engineering work with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Engineering as a dams engineer for 32 years before his retirement.

Friends will be received on Monday, February 16th from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, who was in charge of his arrangements, and where funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 17th at 11 a.m. with Reverend James Sands officiating. Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver.

To view online condolences, please visit www.simpsonfuneralhome.com.

Matthew James “Jim” Hartman (1955-2026)

Matthew James “Jim” Hartman, 70, of Beaver, passed away on February 7th, 2026, following a yearlong battle with cancer. He was born on a U.S. Army base in Stuttgart, Germany on March 9th, 1955, the eldest son of the late Matthew James and Geraldine Hartman. He is survived by his wife and friend, Anne Hartman, his daughter, Rachel, his brothers, Dave (Cyndy) Hartman and John Hartman, his sisters, Melissa Hartman and Laura (Max) Hartman, his nieces and nephews: Cory (Renee) Hartman, Troy (Leah) Hartman, Rebecca Hartman and Jack Hartman; along with five great-nieces and great-nephews.

After Matthew graduated from Beaver Area High School as a proud member of the Class of 1973, he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Penn State University. He spent much of his career as a chemist at the Beaver Valley Power Station, then operated by Duquesne Light, before working at TestAmerica, now Eurofins, until his retirement. Matthew’s real passion was numismatics. He was a lifelong collector of coins and tokens who loved “setting up” at flea markets, browsing antique stores and talking shop with fellow enthusiasts. He was a regular fixture at Rogers Flea Market and attended coin shows across the tri-state area, making friends wherever he went. He was also an avid sports fan who particularly enjoyed watching football and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Beaver Bobcats. His many interests also included genealogy, playing pinochle, and going fishing. Above all, he treasured time with his daughter, Rachael, with whom he shared his love of learning, music, and storytelling. His larger than life personality and sense of humor will be missed by all.

Friends will be received from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 7th, at the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, who was in charge of his arrangements. You can visit www.nollfuneral.com to share online condolences.

Memorial contributions in Jim’s name can be made to the Beaver Area School District Education Foundation, 1300 Fifth Street, Beaver, PA 15009 or to the American Red Cross.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Matthew J. Hartman, please visit the flower store of the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Current Fraternal Order of Police building in the Banksville neighborhood of Pittsburgh could house inmates

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on February 13th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The current Fraternal Order of Police building in the Banksville neighborhood of Pittsburgh could soon become transitional housing for 100 federal inmates. Kentucky-based charity Dismas Charities is going through the approval process and presented a plan to Banksville residents yesterday. There is no timetable for when its council could hold a final vote. 

Northbound Route 51 Clairton Boulevard Daylight Lane Restriction Starts Monday in Pleasant Hills

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny Coounty, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced a lane restriction on northbound Route 51 (Clairton Boulevard) in Pleasant Hills Borough in Allegheny County will begin on Monday, February 16th, weather permitting. From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. weekdays through late February, a single-lane restriction will occur on northbound Route 51 at the intersection with North Lewis Run Road as crews from Lindy Paving will conduct ADA curb ramp installation work there. 

Northbound I-579 Overnight Inspection Activities this Weekend in Pittsburgh

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that bridge inspection activities on the northbound I-579 “Cap” Urban Connector in the City of Pittsburgh will occur tomorrow night, February 14th and on Sunday night, February 15th weather permitting. Inspection activities will occur on the “Cap” Urban Connector requiring a northbound I-579 single-lane restriction between the Centre Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard overpasses from 9 P.M. tomorrow night through 5 A.M. on Sunday morning. The Northbound I-579 left-hand off-ramp to Convention Center/7th Avenue will be closed and detoured to accommodate these inspection activities, A northbound I-579 lane restriction will also occur in the same location from 9 P.M. Sunday night through 5 A.M. Monday morning. That listed ramp will remain open during this inspection work. According to a release from PennDOT District 11, here is the detour for the work:

Posted Detour

Northbound I-579 to Convention Center/7th Avenue

  •  From northbound I-579, take the right-hand off-ramp to PPG Arena/Centre Avenue
  • Turn left onto Washington Place
  • Turn right onto Bedford Avenue
  • From Bedford Avenue, bear left to take the ramp to 7th Avenue/Fort Pitt Bridge
  • Continue onto Seventh Avenue
  • End detour

Crews from HDR, Inc. and the Sofis Rigging Company will conduct inspection work there and some more ramp closures and mainline I-579 restrictions will occur. Information will also be provided prior of any work occurring.

WPIAL section tournaments for individual high school wrestling playoffs begin

(File Photo of the WPIAL Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The high school wrestling postseason transitions to the individual playoffs and tomorrow, local wrestlers will be competing in the WPIAL section tournaments at 9:30 a.m. with many aiming to defend their section titles, while others are also looking to punch their ticket to the WPIAL individual championships. Blackhawk, Moon Area and West Allegheny will be competing in the southern sectional tournament at South Fayette in Class 3A. Ambridge, Beaver Area, Beaver County Christian School, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Freedom Area and Quaker Valley will wrestle at the northern sectional tournament at Keystone Oaks, while Hopewell and South Side will compete at Burgettstown in the southern sectional tournament. A preview can also be found by clicking here.

Frozen salmon sold in Pennsylvania and six other states recalled after testing positive for Listeria

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Silver Spring, MD) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday that a recall has been initiated for frozen salmon sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club in seven states, one of which is Pennsylvania. A sample of the salmon, which was randomly collected by the FDA, tested positive for Listeria, a rare but potentially fatal cause of foodborne illness. No infections have been reported to date.

The recall affects bags of frozen salmon that are produced by Slade Gorton & Co., Inc. that can be identified with the following: 

  • Product name: Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon 
  • Size: 2 lbs 
  • UPC: 888670025963 
  • Lot number: 3896 

This product was sold from January 31st to February 7th, 2026, in BJ’s Wholesale Club locations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Check your freezer for this salmon and do not eat it if you have it. Call 1-888-628-0730 for instructions on how to obtain a full refund for the product and what to do with the remaining product. 

Contact a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea if you think you consumed contaminated salmon.

Northbound Route 65 Daylight Lane Restrictions Next Week in Emsworth

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that lane restrictions on northbound Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Emsworth Borough in Allegheny County will occur Monday through Wednesday, February 16th-18th weather permitting. From 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, a single-lane and shoulder restriction will occur on northbound Route 65 in the following locations:

  • Monday, February 16 – Near the intersection with Terrace Drive
  • Tuesday, February 17 – Between Greenwood Avenue and Terrace Drive
  • Wednesday, February 18 – Between Camp Horne Road and Orchard Avenue

Crews from State Pipe Services will conduct sanitary sewer work in these locations.