Author: Beaver County Radio

Avery Hayes scores twice in his NHL debut, Penguins beat Sabres 5-2

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Avery Hayes (85) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Avery Hayes scored twice in his NHL debut, Arturs Silovs made 26 saves and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Thursday night in the final game for both teams before the Olympic break.

Called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League with the Penguins hit by a series of injuries, Hayes tied at 1 at 9:18 of the period on his first shot on goal. He raced to beat defenseman Jacob Bryson to the puck and put a wrister past goalie Alex Lyon.

Hayes made it 2-1 with 1:13 left in the period, taking Anthony Mantha’s short, backward pass and knocking it in. He’s the third Penguins player to score twice in his NHL debut, joining Rob Brown (two goals on Oct. 21, 1987) and Jake Guentzel (two goals on Nov. 21, 2016).

Hayes has 13 goals and 10 assists in 31 games this season in the AHL. He made his NHL debut with Blake Lizotte out for the birth of his first child, Rickard Rakell nursing a lower-body injury and Noel Acciari sidelined by an illness.

Fellow rookie Ben Kindel gave Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead at 7:44 of the second, Tommy Novak made it 4-2 with 4:29 to go in the third, and Kindel had a short-handed empty-netter with 14 seconds to go for his 14th of the season. The Penguins rebounded from a 5-4 overtime loss at the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

Tage Thompson scored his 30th goal of the season for Buffalo. Jason Zucker also scored, and Lyon stopped 27 shots. The Sabres have lost two in a row.

Zucker opened the scoring for Buffalo at 1:46 of the first period. Thompson scored on a power play to cut it to 3-2 at 1:55 of the third.

Up next

Penguins: Host New Jersey on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Sabres: At New Jersey on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

 

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes to Close Thursday Night in Pittsburgh

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver COunty Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that due to the upcoming winter storm, restrictions on the I-279 and I-579 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the City of Pittsburgh and Ross Township began. Beginning at approximately 11:00 PM last night, the HOV lanes closed to traffic due to anticipated weather conditions. Crews will monitor the roads and determine when these HOV lanes are safe to reopen and more information will be provided in advance of reopening those lanes. According to a release from PennDOT District 11, PennDOT offers this advice if drivers must travel and encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow, even though the safest choice is avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter weather conditions.

  • Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions.
  • Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights.
  • Stay in your lane and increase your following distance.
  • Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
  • Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required.
  • Use your defroster and wipers.
  • Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
  • During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway.
  • Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision.
  • Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
  • Always buckle up and never drive impaired.
  • Have an emergency kit handy. Here are some suggestions of what you could include in your emergency kit.

Joanne M. Borkovic (1934-2026)

Joanne M. Borkovic, 91, of Freedom, passed away on February 3rd, 2026. She was born in Aliquippa on July 5th, 1934, a daughter of the late Joseph and Hilda Berny. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Victor Borkovic and two sisters, Margaret Edwards and Mary Ann Snowden. She is survived by her loving and devoted son, Ken Borkovic, who gave such loving and wonderful care to her at the end of her life, her daughter, Kathleen Borkovic Vertullo and her daughter’s husband, Dr. David Vertullo.

Joanne was very active in her beloved Catholic parish of St. Felix Catholic Church in Freedom by serving as a Eucharistic minister, lector, and holding and facilitating prayer groups with her beloved husband, Victor, with whom she was inseparable in life.

Friends and family will be received on Tuesday, February 10th, from 4-6 p.m. and on Wednesday, February 11th from 9:30 a.m. until the time of prayers at 10 a.m. at the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc., 1612 3rd Avenue, New Brighton, who was in charge of her arrangements. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Felix Catholic Church, 450 13th Street, Freedom on Wednesday, February 11th at 10:30 A.M. An internment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, 9th Street Extension at Pine Run Road and Lovi Road, Freedom (New Sewickley Township.)

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joanne M. Borkovic, please visit the flower store of the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Ramon E. Solero (1936-2026)

Ramon E. Solero, who was born on August 28th, 1936, in Conway, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on February 4th, 2026, at the Greenery Center Nursing Home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He was the loving son of the late Helen and Elliot Solero and was also preceded in death by his sisters, Sylvia, Anelia, Rita and Linda. He is survived by his beloved nephews, Darren and Jason Basich, who will remember him for his dedication, loyalty, and quiet strength.

Ramon was a proud graduate of Freedom Area High School and went on to serve his country honorably with four years of service in the United States Army. Following his military service, he pursued higher education at Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education. He dedicated his professional life to teaching, serving as a history teacher in the Ambridge Area School District. He had a deep appreciation for history and education and took great pride in teaching and mentoring his students.In his free time, he enjoyed fishing and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, faithfully cheering on his team. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, February 6th from 10 A.M. until the time of blessing service at 12 noon in the John Syka Funeral Home, Inc., 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge, who was in charge of his arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ramon E. Solero, please visit the floral store of the John Syka Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Getting Customer Service Done: Shapiro Administration Upgrades 23 PennDOT Driver License Centers Across Pennsylvania

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Carlisle, PA) PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll highlighted the process of the Shapiro Administration to upgrade PennDOT facilities while visiting the newly renovated PennDOT Driver License Center in Carlisle. That center is one of 23 driver license centers across Pennsylvania which recently underwent renovations to modernize facilities and improve customer service for Pennsylvanians. The Shapiro Administration has a commitment to making government more accessible and more effective for Pennsylvanians across the state. Millions of Pennsylvanians visit one of the many Driver License Centers from PennDOT every year and these facility improvements will help serve more Pennsylvanians, speed up processes, and cut wait times. PennDOT has been able to add more workstations and counters, expand seating for customers and overall space for buildings, upgrade both electrical and HVAC systems and install new flooring, lighting and carpet, among other projects as part of the renovations for driver license centers. Select driver license center locations offer free public Wi-Fi in addition to physical renovations improving the customer experience. The Motor Vehicle Network, which displays relevant information to customers on flat-screen TVs while they wait, are also equipped in all 76 PennDOT driver license centers in Pennsylvania. Customer queuing information on these screens that display the Motor Vehicle Network are also displayed at 59 of those driver license centers.

Congressman Chris Deluzio Delivers $6.8 Million More for Western Pennsylvania Projects

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington D.C.) Congressman Chris Deluzio celebrated today that funding for eight more of his community projects was signed into law by President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. The Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development spending bill that President Trump signed yesterday included over $6.8 million in federal funds for key transportation and community development projects in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. According to a release in Washington D.C. from Deluzio’s office, the $6,888,581 in funding passed into law breaks down across the following eight projects:  

  1. $2,000,000 for the Borough of Aspinwall to create a safer intersection by realigning Brilliant Ave at Freeport Rd and the entrance to Allegheny RiverTrail Park–formerly known as Aspinwall Riverfront Park 
  2. $1,338,581 for the Borough of Crafton to implement a streetscaping and pedestrian safety project along Crafton Blvd, from Noble Ave to Baldwick Rd 
  3. $850,000 for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to replace the existing Verona Bridge in the Municipality of Penn Hills, located on Verona Rd between Mt. Carmel Rd and Lincoln Rd.
  4. $850,000 for Allegheny County to extend Panhandle Trail by about 3.4 miles by acquiring and converting inactive Pittsburgh & Ohio Central Railroad property from Genesse and Wyoming, Inc. (G&W) in the Borough of Carnegie 
  5. $850,000 for Mt. Lebanon Municipality to upgrade and expand their existing community recreation center, focusing on accessibility upgrades 
  6. $500,000 for Churchill Borough to build an all-inclusive, fully accessible playground 
  7. $250,000 for the Borough of Sewickley to implement the Sewickley Road Safety Improvement Project, which aims to monitor and eliminate roadways vulnerable to landslides 
  8. $250,000 for Ben Avon Borough to install a rooftop solar photovoltaic system on a borough-owned building

CCBC and Republic Airways Establish Aviation Career Pipeline Agreement

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Community College of Beaver County)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) According to Statista projections, the global airline pilot shortage could reach 50,000 by 2025, while the National Air Traffic Controllers Association reports that the FAA is short nearly 4,000 air traffic controllers. The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) and Republic Airways Inc. have signed an agreement to create the Aviation Career Pipeline Interview Program to address industry hiring demands and to put future pilots and air controllers on successful career paths, as stated in a recent release from CCBC. The purpose of this agreement is to increase the access of Republic Airways to qualified candidates for certain positions while increasing the employment opportunities for graduates of CCBC’s renowned James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences.

Driver causes single-vehicle crash in Darlington Township after hitting a deer

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Darlington Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that an unidentified driver caused a single-vehicle crash in Darlington Township yesterday evening. At 10:34 p.m., the driver was driving west on Constitution Boulevard on Route 51 near its intersection with Oakdale Road. A deer came from a wood line on the left side of that road and the driver tried to slow their vehicle down before hitting the deer, but they were unable to, which resulted in the front passenger side of their vehicle making minor contact with the deer. The driver then drove their vehicle off of the right side of the roadway, leaving the road that was cleared for travel. The driver that was involved in this crash was not injured and the vehicle of the driver sustained minor damage as a result of the crash, but the driver requested that their vehicle would be towed from the scene.

Pennsylvania House advances bill to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania to $15 an hour

(File Photo of a Dollar Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a Facebook post yesterday from the Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania House just advanced a bill to finally raise the minimum wage in the state to $15 an hour. This happened in Harrisburg not too long after Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget address on Tuesday. Shapiro called on both parties and both houses yesterday to get that done and to put a bill regarding minimum wage on his desk. The office of Shapiro also noted in the aforementioned post that the Senate of Pennsylvania should follow the lead of the House regarding this development. 

Beaver woman charged after two-vehicle crash in Brighton Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Brighton Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that forty-six-year-old Elissa Allen of Beaver was charged after a two-vehicle crash in Brighton Township on Monday morning. At 7:44 a.m., Allen was driving on I-376 East near Exit 36 and she lost control merging onto I-376. Allen crossed both lanes of traffic with her vehicle and was hit by the vehicle of forty-six-year-old Anna Edris of Beaver Falls. There were no injuries as a result of the crash and both vehicles were towed by Monroe’s Towing from the scene.