Flight diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport after passenger suffers medical emergency

(File Photo of the Pittsburgh International Airport Airside Terminal)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A flight was diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport after a passenger suffered a medical emergency. 

Director of Public Affairs Bob Kerlik told WPXI that an American Airlines flight traveling from New York to Austin landed at the airport in Pittsburgh at 3:25 p.m. yesterday. 

A passenger was taken to Allegheny General Hospital from the airport. 

Flag holders stolen from veterans’ graves at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Center Township

(File Photo of an American Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Center Township, PA) Flag holders placed at veterans’ graves in a local cemetery have been reported stolen, and authorities say it is not the first time such thefts have occurred in Beaver County. 

The thefts were reported at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Center Township. 

The flag holders are provided by the Beaver County Department of Veterans Affairs and are placed at veterans’ graves ahead of Memorial Day. 

Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible said the holders are made of brass or bronze, making them a target for thieves seeking to sell them to scrap yards or pawn shops. 

At this time, authorities have no information on who took the flag holders from St. Joseph’s Cemetery. However, Bible said those responsible could face multiple criminal charges if identified and apprehended. 

Anyone whose flag holder was stolen, or who has information about the thefts or potential suspects, is encouraged to contact their local police department. 

Ambridge Borough Police Department recognizes retirement of Lt. John Chickos

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Ambridge Borough Police Department, Posted on Facebook on June 1st, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) The Ambridge Borough Police Department recognized Lt. John Chickos on his retirement following 27 years of service to the Borough of Ambridge. 

According to the department, Chickos served the community for nearly three decades, during which time he mentored fellow officers and contributed to public safety efforts throughout the borough. 

Department officials thanked Chickos for his years of service and wished him well in retirement. 

Pennsylvania House passes bill to restrict cell phones in schools

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A man uses a cell phone in New Orleans on Aug. 11, 2019. A number of Americans are dealing with cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and other service providers, according to data from Downdetector, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) A bill that would restrict student access to cell phones during the school day has passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 

House Bill 1814 received bipartisan support and passed yesterday by a 126-75 vote. 

Under the legislation, students would be required to store their phones in a manner that prevents access during the school day, with exceptions for certain medical needs approved by school administrators. The policy is commonly referred to as a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban or an “away for the day” policy. 

The bill is sponsored by Mandy Steele, who represents Pennsylvania’s 33rd Legislative District in Allegheny County. 

The legislation now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.  

State police investigating shots fired incident in Aliquippa

(File Photo of Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) The Aliquippa Police Department received reports of shots fired in the area of Main Street and Burton Street at approximately 2:30 a.m. today. Initial reports indicated that a male may have been struck by gunfire. 

Shortly afterward, the male drove to the Aliquippa Police Department, where he was met by officers and EMS personnel. An investigation determined that he had not been struck by gunfire and did not sustain any injuries. However, the vehicle he was driving had been damaged by gunfire. 

Due to the nature of the incident, the investigation has been turned over to the Pennsylvania State Police. 

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police Beaver Barracks at 724-773-7400.  

Allegheny Health Network’s Wexford Hospital Earns Center of Excellence Designation for Obstetric Anesthesia Care

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pine Township, PA) Allegheny Health Network‘s AHN Wexford Hospital announced today it has earned the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Center of Excellence designation, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to obstetric anesthesia care for patients before, during and after childbirth.

The designation is awarded to hospitals that meet standards for excellence in maternal care, patient safety and anesthetic services related to pregnancy and delivery.

Obstetric anesthesia includes pain management and anesthetic care during pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum recovery. Services can include epidural and spinal anesthesia for vaginal births, anesthesia for cesarean deliveries, and care for patients with complex maternal health conditions.

Switch’s public town hall meeting in Big Beaver regarding plan to build data center on former Pitt Race Complex looms

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pitt Race International Complex)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Big Beaver Borough, PA) Switch, the company proposing a data center project in Big Beaver Borough, will hold a public town hall meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m.

The meeting will take place at the Big Beaver Borough Volunteer Fire Company fire hall.

Officials said the fire hall is serving only as the meeting venue for the event, where residents will be able to ask questions and receive information about the proposed project.

According to a news release from Switch, the company plans to build a data center campus on the former Pittsburgh International Race Complex property. The proposed development would span an area roughly equivalent to 300 football fields.

However, some residents in Big Beaver have raised concerns about the project’s potential impact on local resources, particularly water usage.

The closure of Pittsburgh International Race Complex on November 9th, 2025, surprised many in the local racing community.

According to property records, the land was sold for $50 million.

Looking for a Summer Job? Attorney General Sunday Warns Students, Graduates to Watch for Employment Scams

(File Photo of a Scam Alert Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Attorney General Dave Sunday is urging Pennsylvanians, including students and soon-to-be graduates, to be cautious when reviewing online job opportunities and to watch for employment scams.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, fraudulent job offers — particularly work-from-home opportunities — often promise high pay, flexible schedules or easy income. In many cases, scammers use fake job applications to obtain personal or financial information from job seekers.

“Scammers are constantly adapting their tactics to steal personal information and money from unsuspecting consumers,” Sunday said. “Now is the time of year for students, graduates, and other Pennsylvanians to line up summer jobs, and I encourage job seekers to do their research. If a job posting seems too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, a legitimate employer will never ask for payment upfront as part of the hiring process.” 

Officials warned that some scams involve asking workers to receive packages at their homes and then repackage and ship them elsewhere. The goods are often purchased using stolen credit cards, and victims frequently discover the employer is fake when they attempt to collect their pay.

Another common scam involves offers to purchase brand-name products at discounted prices for resale. Authorities said victims often pay for the merchandise but either receive nothing or receive items that are worthless.

The Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection is offering the following tips to job-seekers to stay vigilant to potential scams:

  • Search online. Look up the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See if others say they’ve been scammed by that company or person. No complaints? It doesn’t guarantee that a company is honest, but complaints can tip you off to possible problems.
  • Talk to someone you trust. Discussing the offer with a friend or family member can help identify red flags before taking action.
  • Don’t pay for the promise of a job. Honest employers, including the government, will never ask for you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a scammer.
    • One Pennsylvanian was offered a part-time work-from-home job. She was told she would get an Apple laptop to begin her work but that she needed to buy and send her employer two $200 prepaid gift cards for the company to load the software onto the computer. When she began setting up her direct deposit for her new role, the “employer” told her she would be paid in cryptocurrency. This raised red flags for her and she did not move forward with the “job.”
  • Never bank on a “cleared” check. No honest potential employer will ever send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send on part of the money, or buy gift cards with it. That’s a fake check scam. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check.
    • One Pennsylvanian accepted what appeared to be a legitimate remote position with a medical technology company. The company mailed this person a check to pay for their supplies to start their new work-from-home job. When they cashed the check, the bank called the next day to tell them the check was fictitious and they owed the bank the full amount back.
  • Call the company to verify the offer. Be sure to obtain the phone number off the company’s website – not the phone number included in any potential job offers.
    • Another Pennsylvanian applied for a job on Indeed for a virtual personal assistant role with the Ocean Club of Florida. The “employer” did the interview over email and text because the “employer” was allegedly hard of hearing. This Pennsylvanian got the job and the “employer” sent her a check that she was supposed to send partial funds back to her “employer.” She discussed it with her friend and realized something was off. Upon researching the company, she found the company is real. The person she was supposed to be in contact with was real, but she was speaking with a scammer who had used this company and its employees in their scam.
  • Check the sender’s email address carefully. Legitimate businesses typically use official company domains rather than personal email accounts such as Gmail or AOL. Government email addresses will always end in “.gov.”

 

There are many websites that post jobs – start with safe and reliable sources:

If you paid a scammer – immediately contact the company you used to send the money to report the fraud, and ask to have the transaction reversed, if possible.

If you have fallen victim to an employment scam, you are highly encouraged to file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Pennsylvanians can file complaints online by clicking here, by emailing consumers@attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling 1-800-441-2555.

AAA: Gas Prices Tumble in Pennsylvania

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, gasoline prices in Western Pennsylvania are down 10 cents this week, averaging about $4.60 per gallon.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline fell 18 cents over the past week to $4.32. AAA said crude oil prices declined amid reports of potential peace talks with Iran, though uncertainty surrounding those discussions could lead to higher oil and gasoline prices in the future.

Despite the recent decline, gas prices remain at their highest levels in four years and are expected to stay elevated as the summer driving season gets underway. The national average is seven cents lower than a month ago but $1.18 higher than it was a year ago.

In Beaver County, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is about $4.80, according to the report.

According to a release from AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here are the average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline this week in various areas:

$4.464      Altoona
$4.799      Beaver
$4.530      Bradford
$4.418      Brookville
$4.700      Butler
$4.556      Clarion
$4.524      DuBois
$4.553      Erie
$4.382      Greensburg
$4.665      Indiana
$4.414      Jeannette
$4.798      Kittanning
$4.459      Latrobe
$4.577      Meadville
$4.640      Mercer
$4.638      New Castle
$4.751      New Kensington
$4.896      Oil City
$4.754      Pittsburgh
$4.306      Sharon
$4.696      Uniontown
$4.557      Warren
$4.680      Washington

Deborah Maxine (Hirst) Lawson (1951-2026)

Deborah Maxine (Hirst) Lawson, 75, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family on May 30th, 2026. She was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on February 3rd, 1951, the daughter of the late William and Marguerite (Weimert) Hirst. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Hilliary Lawson Coe. She attended Huntingdon Area High School and married her former husband, Richard Lawson, in 1968. Together, they welcomed three daughters: Shannon Pfeuffer (Steven Pfeuffer) of New Sewickley, Pa, Hilliary Lawson Coe (deceased), and Summer Kirkpatrick (Chad Kirkpatrick) of Ellwood City. In 1980, she and her family moved to New Sewickley Township, where she resided most of her life. She was a proud and loving grandmother to Shane and Brooke Pfeuffer; Jackson (Sonny) and Sam Coe; Taylor, Reese, and Connor Dean; and Gracyn, Emma, and Ava Kirkpatrick. She was also blessed with five great-grandchildren: Naomi, Stevie Rose, Abraham, Emery, and Sophia, all of whom brought her tremendous joy.

She spent her childhood in Marklesburg, Pennsylvania, where she developed the deep love for family, faith, and home that would remain at the center of her life. She dedicated her life to being a homemaker. She created a home that was beautiful, peaceful, welcoming, and full of love. Her family was her world, and she cared for them with a gentle spirit, a soft heart, and quiet strength that made everyone around her feel safe and deeply loved. She found joy in tending to her flower gardens, decorating and caring for her home, quilting, time with close friends, and simply being surrounded by the people she loved most. Her faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life. She attended the Rochester Free Methodist Church for many years. Her trust in the Lord guided the way she lived and loved, and she found comfort and strength in her faith throughout her life.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, June 5th  from 4-7 p.m. at the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester, who was in charge of her arrangements, and where a funeral service celebrating her life will immediately follow at 7:15 p.m. A graveside service and interment will take place at Union Cemetery in Marklesburg, Pennsylvania.