Author: Beaver County Radio

AAA and Bread Financial® Survey: 76% of Travelers Planning Milestone Trips in 2026

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a recent release from AAA East Central in Pittsburgh, a new study from AAA and Bread Financial® finds that travel in 2026 will be driven by milestone moments that matter. Among the 61% of Americans that are planning to travel in 2026, 76% of them said that their trips will be planned around important milestones in life, such as anniversaries, birthdays, weddings and other celebrations. Millenials and Generation Z are leading this shift, and they are approaching those trips with a greater intention as they will balance showing up for the biggest moments in life with financial confidence and thoughtful planning.

Felix A. DeLuca, Jr. (1937-2026)

Felix A. DeLuca Jr., 88, of Palm Coast, Florida, formerly of Rochester Township, passed away on February 5th, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was born in Beaver Falls on August 14th, 1937, the son of the late Felix A. Sr. and Helen E. Perrotta DeLuca. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Diana J. (Jackson) DeLuca in 2020, as well as one daughter, Linda DeLuca, in 1964. He is survived by one daughter, Phyllis A. DeLuca, of Palm Coast, Florida, and one son and daughter-in-law, Phillip A. and Jennifer Schroeder DeLuca of Rochester Township, four grandchildren: Brandon Boyd, Anthony J. DeLuca and his wife, Danielle, Michael DeLuca and his wife, Stephanie and Katie Schroeder, two great-grandchildren, River Gramm and Ashton DeLuca; as well as a brother-in-law, Steve Jackson and his companion, Donna, of Rochester.

Felix was a retired Sheriff of Beaver County, where he served for ten years. He was also a Rochester Borough Police Officer for 30 years, where he served as Chief for twenty of those years. He was the former owner of a TV repair shop in Rochester as well as an employee at Crucible Steel before he started his career in law enforcement. He was a 1955 graduate of Rochester Area High School and a member of St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church in Rochester, part of Our Lady of the Valley Parish. He was also a peacetime Marine Corp Veteran and a life member of the Beaver Valley Rifle and Pistol Club, a life member and former president of the F.O.P. Lodge #4, a life member of the Beaver Valley Police Chiefs Association, Western Pennsylvania Chiefs Association, and Pennsylvania State Chiefs Association, as well as the Pennsylvania and National Sheriff’s association. He was also a retired Rochester Borough volunteer fireman. He enjoyed hunting, riding his motorcycle, taking care of his cats and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers. Friends will be received on Sunday, February 15th from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m., at the William Murphy Funeral Home Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester, who was in charge of his arrangements and where the F.O.P Lodge #4 will have a Police Service on Sunday, February 15th at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 16th at 10 a.m., at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, 632 Virginia Avenue, Rochester. The Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #862 will also have full military honors for their fallen comrade on Monday, February 16th at 11:15 a.m. at the Sylvania Hills Memorial Park and Cemetery, 273 PA-68, Rochester. Entombment will take place at Sylvania Hills Mausoleum, 273 PA-68, Rochester. Felix was truly one of a kind and is going to be missed greatly. His family wishes that memorial contributions be made to the Beaver County Humane Society at 3394 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001, or Tunnels to Towers at 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.

Donald Carl “Sonny” Kathary (1941-2026)

Donald Carl “Sonny” Kathary, 84, of Center Township, passed away at Heritage Valley Beaver, on February 8th, 2026, with his family by his side.

He was born in Marietta, Ohio on May 4th, 1941, a son of the late Carl and Anna Kathary. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Frances M. Kathary, his brother, Robert Kathary, his twin sister, Virginia Laughlin and his mother and father-in-law, Elizabeth and Lawrence Huffman.

He is survived by his daughters, Crystal (Gregory) Conjeski of Beaver and Tina (James) Lowman of Plum, his grandchildren, Michael (Whitney) Conjeski, Eric (Maggie) Conjeski and Colton (Cassie Wiles) Lowman, his great-grandchildren: Benjamin (Emily Szczesny) Conjeski, Alexia Conjeski, and Zackary Conjeski; his brother-in-law, Robert Laughlin, his sister, Cindy (Bryan) Scott, his faithful four-legged companion, Susie-Q, as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Donald was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, and had worked and retired from Conrail after nearly 40 years. He was a member of the Slippery Rock Camp Ground, where he enjoyed spending a majority of his summers for the past 40 years. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Friends will be received on Thursday February 12th, from 3 p.m. until the time of a service at 5:30 p.m. in the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, who was in charge of his arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com.

Inurnment will take place at a later date with his wife at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville.

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

Ruth Ann Sabino (1939-2026)

Ruth Ann Sabino, 86, of Wampum, formerly of East Rochester, passed away at her home, on February 10th, 2026. She was born in Conway on May 13th, 1939, a daughter of the late Wilfred E. Sr. and Helen A. Smith Shanholtz. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, to whom she was married in 1959, Joseph J. Sabino (2022), one son, Michael J. Sabino in 1991, three brothers, John, Thomas and Wilfred Shanholtz, two sisters, Nancy Johnson and Barbra David. She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Joey K. (Sabino) and William Phillips of Monessen, one son and daughter-in-law, John W. and Michelle Sabino of Wampum, two granddaughters, Caitlyn Jo Phillips and her husband, Noah Quatro and Sydney R. Phillips, all of Monessen, three grandsons, John Michael Sabino of Wampum and Joseph and Nicholas Horinka of Koppel, three great-grandchildren, Bella, Octavia and Nicholas Horinka, one sister and brother-in-law, Margaret J. and James Bullock of Concorde, North Carolina and two brothers and one sister-in-law, Robert G. and Etta Shanholtz of Belmont, North Carolina and Douglas G. Shanholtz of Canonsburg, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Ruth was a retired Unit Clerk with the former Aliquippa Hospital and UPMC Mental Health Services. She was a member of St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church in Rochester, where she was a former member of the church choir and Resurrection Choir. She was also a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, the Conway V.F.W Auxiliary and the Conway Senior Citizen Bowling League. Friends will be received on Friday, February 13th, from 2-6 p.m., at the William Murphy Funeral Home Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester, who was in charge of her arrangements.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 14th, at 10 a.m., at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, 632 Virginia Avenue, Rochester. Interment will follow in St. Cecilia’s Cemetery, 761 Allendale Road, New Brighton. The family wishes to thank Good Samaritan Hospice, especially Pastor Thomas and Becky.

California man facing over 50 charges for allegedly extorting and threatening a female Pitt student

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man from California is facing over 50 charges after officials said he threatened and tried to extort a University of Pittsburgh student. According to a criminal complaint, 19-year-old Michael Vaca harassed a young woman whom he had met through a mutual friend via text message. Vaca and the woman had met in July of 2025. Vaca resided in Hollister, California, while the woman lived in San Jose. The complaint said Vaca and the woman started casually dating, but were not in a formal relationship. Documents state “intimate images and videos” were exchanged between both individuals prior to the woman beginning school at the University of Pittsburgh last August. The complaint also noted that Vaca soon began to accuse the girl of cheating and threatened to share the photos sent to him online if she did not stop talking to other men. Police confirm that the charges against Vaca include stalking and sexual extortion. Vaca allegedly also threatened to kill her cat and vandalize her parents’ home. Messages that were shared with police by the woman in January of this year showed multiple texts from Vaca saying he would share the photos with her parents, professor and school. After the messages were shared with the University of Pittsburgh Police Department, an investigation started involving the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and Allegheny County police. In addition to the threats, the complaint also expressed that Vaca attempted to extort the girl for $40 by threatening to share her explicit photos and videos if she did not pay him money. Vaca later began sending screenshots to the woman, showing videos and photos shared with her family and friends. Vaca also threatened to call ICE on her and her family because court documents confirm that the woman and her family had immigrated from another country. The victim told police the situation grew to the point where Vaca was beginning to demand full control of her life, including deciding who she was following on social media, who she was allowed to talk to, and who she was allowed to be with at any given point. Police state that they have found several accounts connected with Vaca that were used specifically for the purposes of harassing her. According to police, Vaca is facing over 50 charges, including sexual extortion, stalking, terrorist threats, and identity theft.

Former Steeler Joey Porter Sr. expresses negative feelings towards teammates Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison on Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward’s podcast

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Ben Roethlisberger (from left), Joey Porter and Maurkice Pouncey talk during a photo op for the Steelers’ Hall of Honor prior to the game against Miami on Dec. 15, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker and assistant coach Joey Porter Sr. expressed that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was not a good teammate or person on the podcast of Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, “Not Just Football,” when it was recorded last week. Porter also stated during that podcast that Roethlisberger and linebacker James Harrison “broke the brotherhood” by discussing team business and criticizing former head coach Mike Tomlin on their own podcasts. Porter and Roethlisberger won Super Bowl XL together on February 5th, 2006 and were teammates for three seasons. Porter was a teammate of Harrison for four seasons. 

Officials: Dresher, Pennsylvania man apprehended and charged in murder-for-hire plot to kill ex-girlfriend, two other men she dated

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Montgomery County, PA) According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, a man from Dresher, Pennsylvania was arrested in a murder-for-hire plot to kill his ex-girlfriend and two men she dated after they broke up. That same office confirms that yesterday was when forty-one-year-old Eric Berkowitz was charged with attempted murder, criminal solicitation for murder, and other offenses after he planned to drive to New York yesterday and meet an Upper Dublin Township resident, Steven Luker outside one of the intended targets’ homes.  Officials stated on Tuesday that Luker contacted police and said that Berkowitz offered him $5,000 to murder his ex-girlfriend and two other people she dated in New York. Berkowitz also allegedly gave Luker a Mac 11 firearm and a “burner” cellphone. Berkowitz was arrested by police while he was in an Uber after leaving his home. Berkowitz was taken to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, was denied bail, and his preliminary hearing will be on February 20th.  

Imperial Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Machinegun

(File Photo of Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a resident of Imperial, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating a federal firearms law. Twenty-two-year-old Ja’Shon Spencer pleaded guilty to one count and in connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about June 16th, 2025, Spencer possessed a Glock semiautomatic pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD) or “Glock switch.” A MCD is a device which converts a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. Both the MCD itself as well as the firearm equipped with it are considered machineguns and are illegal under federal law. United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak scheduled the sentencing for Spencer on June 17th, 2026, and he will stay in custody pending his sentencing. According to Revetti, Spencer could face a maximum of up to 10 years in prison, an up to a $250,000 fine, or both, provided by the law.

PAPUC Commissioner Zerfuss Leads National Effort to Recognize Renewable Natural Gas as Strategic Energy Resource

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), PUC Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss sponsored and helped advance a national resolution recognizing renewable natural gas (RNG) as a strategic energy resource this week, as part of some broader efforts to address the growing demand for energy, reduce emissions, strengthen system reliability and support agriculture and economic development. The resolution was adopted during the 2026 Winter Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. by the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). Commissioner Zerfuss serves on Committee on Gas for NARUC and she has been engaged actively in both state and national discussions which examine the role of renewable natural gas within a diversified energy portfolio. 

PAPUC Chairman DeFrank Leads National Effort to Strengthen Support for Energy Affordability Programs

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank helped lead a national discussion on energy affordability this week at the 2026 Winter Policy Summit of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) in Washington D.C., culminating in the adoption of a resolution supporting adequate and timely federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The resolution was adopted by the NARUC Board of Directors and urges Congress and the Administration to ensure predictable, sustained funding for LIHEAP, which is a long-standing federal program that helps vulnerable households manage cooling, heating and crisis-related energy costs, while supporting both energy efficiency improvements and weatherization.