(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Officials were on the scene last night after a fire broke out in Jefferson Hills. Allegheny County dispatchers confirmed to WTAE that crews were called to the 6600 block of Willem Drive for reports of a fire inside a structure. Both the cause of the fire and if anyone was inside the home at the time it occurred are unclear at this time. No injuries have been reported at this time. 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced yesterday a new agreement which allows students in their senior year at participating colleges and universities to earn their remaining credits toward an associate or bachelor’s degree by the successful completion of cadet basic training at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey. This new program awards academic credits much like a traditional internship completed during the final semester of a student, but instead of classroom time to earn their remaining credits, students will finish their training at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy to earn the remaining credits needed to graduate, which  allows them to receive their degree and become a trooper at the same time. The program is not limited to majors of criminal justice and participating colleges may apply the credits toward any degree program that they choose. This initiative reflects the commitment that Governor Josh Shapiro has in investing in PSP and law enforcement fully across Pennsylvania. 

The number of colleges and universities that have partnered with the PSP, which is growing in number, includes: 

• DeSales University 

• Keystone College 

• Saint Vincent College 

• Mercyhurst University 

• Luzerne County Community College 

• Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported via release yesterday that sixty-two-year-old Xiong Zheng of Mahopac, New York had charges withdrawn by police after he caused a two-vehicle crash in Allegheny County on Saturday evening. At 5:52 p.m., Zheng was driving on I-376 East in Carnegie Borough and did not respond to stopped traffic ahead of him and the vehicle of sixty-six-year-old Mark Cipriani of McKees Rocks. Cipriani stopped because of the stopped traffic and Zheng hit his vehicle. There were no reported injuries. 

(File Photo of the City of Aliquippa Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Police recently confirmed that an alleged assault of a man with mental disabilities happened at his apartment on Mill Street in Aliquippa on and around Christmas of this year. Police state that a neighbor who lives at the apartment called 911 on Sunday and told them an older man who lived there was assaulted by a woman identified by police as James-Lea Joann Glenn. The neighbor told police on Christmas that she saw Glenn press a lit cigarette into his face to extinguish it. Police also expressed that the victim told them Glenn punched the back of his head on Christmas, then the next day, said she hit him with what police said was a metal candle lid. Police have noted Glenn confessed to the assault. In addition to this incident, another man, Cody Perich, was taken to jail on drug charges. Glenn and Perich are both due in court on January 8th, 2026. 

(File Photo of Open for Business Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) The burger restaurant chain Shake Shack had a new location open at the Ross Park Mall yesterday. Attendees got mini Shake Shack tote bags during the ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration and throughout that day, Shake Shack also donated a dollar throughout for every sandwich sold to the 412 Food Rescue, which is a nonprofit that rescues fresh surplus food and delivers it to people in need. Shake Shack replaced the Panera Bread at the mall which closed down. 

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) According to a release in Ambridge yesterday from State Representative Rob Matzie’s office, Matzie announced yesterday that new funding of $132,024 will bring a smoother, safer commute to a busy Center Township intersection. This grant was secured under a reimbursement grant program known as the Green Light-Go Program. Matzie stated that the grant will support work to modernize the signal equipment at the intersection of Autumn Street and Pleasant Drive (Route 3017). 

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release yesterday that thirty-eight-year-old Tyrell Jaiquay Dawkins of Aliquippa was arrested for possessing drugs in Aliquippa on the early morning of November 9th, 2025. Dawkins was stopped for committing a vehicle violation on the 1500 block of Kennedy Boulevard at 12:16 a.m., and he was subsequently arrested for drug possession. 

(File Photo of the Big Beaver Borough Municipal Building)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Big Beaver Borough, PA) The Big Beaver Borough Volunteer Fire Company posted on Facebook yesterday that on January 1st, 2026, they will continue to provide fire protection services to Big Beaver residents. Big Beaver Borough will not be entering into a contract for services with the Beaver Falls Fire Department at this time. Big Beaver Borough Council and representatives of the Big Beaver Borough Volunteer Fire Company met with a mediator on December 11th, 2025 to discuss the continuation of fire services for their community and these discussions are ongoing. Mediation will also continue. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A sign outside the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington, on May 4, 2021. Effective immediately, the Internal Revenue Service will end its decades-old policy of making unannounced home and business visits — in a nod to worker safety and combatting scammers who pose as IRS agents. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to a release in Washington, D.C. today from the IRS, the IRS announced today that the optional standard mileage rate for business use of automobiles will increase by 2.5 cents in 2026, while the mileage rate for vehicles used for medical purposes will decrease by half a cent, reflecting updated cost data and annual inflation adjustments and beginning January 1st, 2026, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be:

• 72.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 2.5 cents from 2025.
• 20.5 cents per mile driven for medical purposes, down a half cent from 2025.
• 20.5 cents per mile driven for moving purposes for certain active-duty members of the Armed Forces (and now certain members of the intelligence community), reduced by a half cent from last year.
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, equal to the rate in 2025.

The rates will apply to fully-electric and hybrid automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. Optional standard mileage rates are used for the calculation of the deductible costs of operating vehicles for business, charitable, and medical purposes.