(Chippewa Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver report that nineteen-year-old Brandon Booher of Beaver died last night after crashing his motorcycle into a vehicle along Route 51 in Chippewa Township. Booher was driving too fast on his motorcycle on Constitution Boulevard at its intersection with the Chippewa Town Center and according to Chippewa Township Police Chief Eric Hermick, Booher was seen doing a wheelie at excessive speeds on Route 51, ran several red lights, continued to drive at an “extremely high rate of speed” and struck another vehicle. The vehicle that Booher hit with his motrocycle was driven by twenty-seven-year-old Corbin McHale of Monaca. Booher was pronounced dead at the scene. McHale was transported to Allegheny General Hospital after he got injured from this motorcycle crash that Booher caused in Chippewa Township yesterday.
PITTSBURGH — You know his hits, now learn the fascinating story behind Neil Diamond’s lustrous legacy outlined by “A Beautiful Noise,” the touring Broadway show running through Sunday at the Benedum Center.
You’ll laugh out loud, and get the chance to sing along a few times during the stirring, smart and expertly executed musical starring Nick Fradiani (2015’s “American Idol” champion) singing spot-on like the real Neil on “Solitary Man,” “Song Sung Blue” and other Diamond hits as dancers with a refreshing diversity of body types, add visual flair.
Tony Award nominated Robert Westenberg (“Into The Woods”) is sensational as the present-day Diamond, a senior citizen coming to terms with his career triumphs and personal setbacks.
Reluctantly sitting through a psychiatry session, where he’s shocked and a bit amused to learn his likeable shrink only recognizes one of his worldwide famous songs, the current Diamond soon finds himself in revelatory flashback mode.
Where it began, he can’t begin to know when until the psychiatrist starts asking him questions about his lyrics she’s found in a song book.
Audience members are instantly whisked to 1965 Manhattan, and the Brill Building, where Diamond — at that point a struggling songwriter with a wife and baby on the way — meets a dynamic, seasoned and jaded music industry pro Ellie Greenwich (a charming Kate A. Mulligan) who sees a creative spark and recognizes his hunger to succeed. Ellie starts selling Diamond songs to pop stars like Lulu and the Monkees (cue a fast-stepping musical number to “I’m a Believer”). Ellie soon realizes Diamond has potential to be a stage star, propping him up at a small but influential Greenwich Village club where career and personal fate take charge.
It’s here we meet Diamond’s second wife, Marcia, ( a vivacious Hannah Jewel Kohn reprising the Broadway role handled by Beaver County native Amber Ardolino), who joins a few other cast members in singing lead vocals on songs that steer the story in a thought-provoking and satisfying direction.
Cleverly, the show finds ways for the older and younger Diamond to appear simultaneously in some of the same scenes, as when the older Diamond reminisces regretfully as his younger self signs an iron-clad recording contract with a sketchy publishing company with gangster ties.
It takes a pretty huge hit song to get him out of the midst of those mobsters, as Act 1 ends, bringing a 20-minute intermission then a second act that at times rocks out like a straight-up Diamond concert, spotlighting Fradiani, using his “Idol” skills, performing like the music legend at the apex of Diamond’s arena-filling, multi-platinum prowess.
Still recollecting throughout with his psychiatrist, the storyline compellingly and convincingly details Diamond divorces and the demons he battles as he feels the pressure to stay a superstar. (“It meant a lot of sequins” the elder Diamond joked as his younger self sports a few stage costumes with enough sparkly lights to illuminate the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree.
Nick Fradiani (center) as Neil Diamond “Then” (center) in “A Beautiful Noise_ The Neil Diamond Musical”. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.
The psychiatrist (a marvelous Lisa Renee Pitts, who played Dr. Dre’s mom in the film “Straight Outta Compton”) gradually guides Diamond toward a few major mental breakthroughs regarding his childhood and now future where a Parkinson’s diagnosis will prevent him from singing on stage — the root of his entire identity.
“A Beautiful Noise,” Broadway’s Neil Diamond musical, makes its Pittsburgh premiere. (Photo: Jeremy Daniel)
We won’t spoil anything, though rest assured before evening’s end, you’ll be joining 2,700 fellow audience members singing along with or at least swaying to a song about good times never seeming so good.
So good, so good, so good… don’t sleep on the chance to see “A Beautiful Noise,” continuing at the Benedum for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances, along with matinees at 2 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday, plus a 6:30 p.m. Sunday finale.
(File Photo: Caption for Photo: police car lights at night in city with selective focus and bokeh background blur, Credit for Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images/iStockphoto/z1b)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle report that an ongoing investigation is being held for a theft that occurred on Monday in Plain Grove Township of Lawrence County. Forty-five-year-old Ginger Gall and forty-four-year-old Andrew Gall, both of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, had their information that was personal obtained by an undientified suspect and some money got withdrawn from their checking accounton Monday on 392 Burns Road by that suspect.
(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Hanover Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver report that sixty-six-year-old Rebecca Dorsey of Clinton, Pennsylvania was the victim of an incident of criminal mischief in Hanover Township on both August 24th and August 25th of 2025. On each of those days, an unidentified suspect slashed the $240 tire of Dorsey on 175 Murdocksville Road. According to police, the charges against the unidentified suspect are pending.
(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver report that thirty-year-old Joran Calior of Rochester was arrested on September 1st, 2025 for driving under the influence of alcohol in Aliquippa. Calior was found by police at the 100 block of Monroe Street. According to police, subsequently, Calior was arrested for driving under the influence of an alcoholic substance and her charges are pending.
(Harrisburg, PA) A ceremony was held yesterday in Harrisburg to honor two PennDOT District 11 employees for their outstanding performance with the highest recognition from PennDOT, the Star of Excellence Award.PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll recognized Nicole Perry and Brian Rampulla in Harrisburg yesterday at the National Civil War Museum at an awards luncheon that day. PennDOT District 11 employees represent Beaver, Allegheny and Lawrence Counties. According to a release from PennDOT District 11, here is some more information about both the 2025 PennDOT Star of Excellence employees and the Star of Excellnce Award from PennDOT:
Nicole Perry, Consultant Agreement Supervisor
Nicole oversees all construction inspection and management agreements within District 11. Known for her reliability and communication skills, Nicole has been able to use her expertise in her current role as well as previous positions to support and assist other staff members. She has held various roles in both the District’s Construction and Design Services Units. Her experience in the Construction Unit includes time as the District’s Finals Unit Manager, providing her with in-depth expertise in the Department’s Engineering Construction Management System (ECMS). Recently, the District 11 Construction Unit has welcomed a group of new Assistant Construction Engineers (ACEs). Nicole has been an invaluable mentor, guiding these ACEs in budgeting and planning their construction inspection teams for the first time. Additionally, Nicole serves as Inspector-in-Charge for several high-profile construction projects including the Pittsburgh Safe Routes to School and the Pittsburgh Pedestrian Wayfinding projects. Nicole is recognized for her skills in delivering outstanding customer service both internally and externally and also her ability to apply her extensive construction inspection and management knowledge in emergency situations.
Brian Rampulla, P.E., Structure Control Engineer
Brian improves the department’s efficiency, service quality, and workforce strength. He elevates every project he touches, contributing to measurable cost savings, safer work environments, stronger partnerships, and enhanced public trust. Brian consistently delivers an exceptional performance that exceeds expectations. His ongoing support for employee development, especially new engineers and inspectors, strengthens the department’s internal capabilities and success for the future. His clear communication, respectful demeanor, and willingness to teach make him a trusted figure across all stakeholder groups. His mentorship has helped close the knowledge gaps, reinforce professional standards, and instill a culture of continuous learning. He’s known for being present, engaged, and incredibly effective under pressure, often leading field coordination in real time during structural emergencies. Brian simply exemplifies PennDOT’s core values through his unwavering dedication to customer service, mentorship, innovation, and collaborative problem solving and most importantly safety at all levels. He is a great asset to District 11.
More Information on The Star of Excellence Awards from PennDOT
The Star of Excellence Awards are presented annually to employees who represent the department’s values of service, performance and integrity. The recipients represent a variety of organizational positions, spanning from highway maintenance and driver and vehicle services workers, to traffic control specialists, engineers and more.
(Chippewa Township, PA) An investigation into a deadly motorcycle crash that occurred last night in Chippewa Township is underway by troopers of the Pennsylvania State Police. A motorcycle and another vehicle were involved in this crash that occurred close to the Chippewa Town Center along Route 51. Someone was killed in this crash, but that person has not beenidentified yet. Video provided to KDKA from a witness shows that before slamming into the other vehicle, the motorcycle was driving through the area at a high rate of speed. It is unclear at this time of what injuries occurred in this crash, if any, and it is unclear at this time what led up to it.
(Sewickley, PA) According to court documents, thirty-one-year-old Dylan Lee Morris and thirty-four-year-old Noah Storm Sadowski will each spend up to twelve years in prison because they were accused of allegedly torturing sixty-two-year-old Jon Olson inside his Sewickley home last year. Thesetwo suspects were sentenced on Monday for their crimes. Olson testified that during an hour-long attack by these men, theyburned him with lit cigarettes, handcuffed him, poked his body with knives, put glue on his eyes,duct taped his mouth shut,and threatened to kill him. This alleged incident occurred on the night of April 7th, 2024 at the home of Olson in Little Street. On June 17th, 2025, Morris and Sadowski pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy, robbery, aggravated assault and related counts.
(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Harrisburg, PA) Submissions for the 2025-2026 PennDOT Innovations Challenge will now be accepted until January 30th, 2026 for high school students in Pennsylvania. All students in grades 9-12 in Pennsylvania can participate in this challenge. According to a release from PennDOT, this challenge encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers. A concept must be developed by high school students in this challenge which is to figure out a concept for artificial intelligence in work zones to improve safety for both those that use roads and work crews. The concept also should take deployment implications across Pennsylvania, outreach for the public and cost-benefit information into consideration and the concept must show how PennDOT can use systems that are smarter both to protect those who are working to make Pennsylvania better and to prevent accidents.For more information and to submit an entry for this challenge, go to penndot.gov/innovation.
(Aliquippa, PA) A fire occurred at a house in Aliquippa yesterday and Aliquippa Fire Chief Tim Firichconfirms that three adults and eleven kids escaped that fire safely. According to Beaver County dispatchers, emergency crews were called to the 400 block of Elmira Street at 3:11 p.m. yesterday because of that Aliquippa house fire which ended up damaging some of the house. An investigation is occurring for the cause of this fire.
