Aliquippa Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms Charges

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced yesterday that 41-year-old Dana Penney of Aliquippa has pled guilty to committing firearm and drug trafficking crimes in 2017 and 2018 before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.
Sentencing will be scheduled to occur on a later date.
Penney pled guilty to three crimes: conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine; and brandishing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
The law provides for a sentence of at least seven years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $4,250,000.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the
Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
(OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Rochester School Board Approve Multiple Items at Meeting

Rochester

The featured image above shows the main entrance sign at Rochester School District
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published April 25, 2022 8:48 P.M.

(Rochester Township, PA)  The Rochester School Board met Monday night for a meeting.  The board approved an agreement with UPMC Sports Medicine to provide athletic training services this July through 2025 at a total cost of $80,520.  Also approved was a 5 year affiliation agreement with Duquesne University to collaborate in planning, implementing and evaluating field experiences, student teacher, and internships as part of a program leading to instructional certificates.  The board approved a request by the Beaver County Wind Ensemble as well to use the auditorium for a benefit concert that will help Ukrainian Refugees on May 23rd.

New Brighton Announces New Varsity Head Football Coach at School Board Meeting

The featured image above shows a lion painting in the New Brighton High School Gymnasium
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published April 25, 2022 8:22 P.M.

(New Brighton, PA) The New Brighton Area School Board met for a voting session Monday evening.  The board approved Tony Caltury as the new varsity football head coach.  Caltury made a brief speech showing appreciation to the district and former coach Joe Greco, who was in attendance.  Caltury closed his speech saying “We’re ready to go”.  Also on the agenda was the approval to appoint board members John Ludwig and Christeen Ceratti as voting delegates to the PSBA Delegate Assembly.  The board approved a reading of revisions to district policies as well including student discipline and controlled substances.  Dr. Joseph Guarino noted that these policy changes go along with how the district already handles these situations, and they are in place to keep district and community issues amongst students separate, unless they cause a direct effect on each other.

Bernstine Announces State Grant for BHIVE Information Hub in Beaver County  

(Photo of the former WIC office on 7th Ave in Beaver Falls that is going to be renovated into the BHive. Photo taken by Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio)

(Harrisburg, Pa.)  – With the Beaver Valley Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (BHIVE) set to open this fall, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (Beaver/Lawrence/Butler) has secured a $734,025 state grant to renovate the building located on Seventh Avenue in Beaver Falls.

Bernstine advocated for the funding through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).

“The BIHIVE is a very important addition to our community,” said Bernstine. “We need to put an emphasis on educating our students, revitalizing our communities, promoting sustainability, attracting investments, building wealth, encouraging entrepreneurships, and creating jobs. The facility will have working stations, offices for small businesses and businesses starting out and conference rooms.”

The project involves construction costs, construction contingency, architectural and building engineering fees, variable costs including hazardous material removal design and special inspections, project printing, permitting and legal fees.

The two-floor building is a planned innovation hub that is being coordinated by Geneva College, Penn State Beaver, Community College of Beaver County and Robert Morris University. These institutions for higher education have formed a quality of education partnership and the innovation hub will be used for students, businesses and entrepreneurs.

RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. These projects have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are funded by the state and cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.

Hunter Biden is Prime Target if Republicans Win Congress

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
By NOMAAN MERCHANT, FARNOUSH AMIRI and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are laying the groundwork to make Hunter Biden and his business dealings a central target of their investigative and oversight efforts. The financial dealings of President Joe Biden’s eldest son will come under new scrutiny if Republicans win control of one or both houses of Congress this fall, as is increasingly expected. Republican committee members and staff have discussed analyzing specific messages found on Hunter Biden’s laptop and financial transactions. They have also discussed issuing congressional subpoenas to foreign entities involved in paying Hunter Biden. And one key lawmaker recently asked intelligence officials what they know about allegations Russia was behind the release of the laptop.

Former President Trump’s Oz, Vance Endorsements Bring Cash, Windfall, Backlash

(Senate candidate JD Vance, left, greets former President Donald Trump at a rally at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Delaware, Ohio, to endorse Republican candidates ahead of the Ohio primary on May 3. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)
By JILL COLVIN, MARC LEVY and JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s late endorsements in hypercompetitive Republican Senate primaries in Ohio and Pennsylvania have unlocked a flood of support for his chosen candidates. But some Republicans believe Trump has betrayed his core supporters by backing author JD Vance in Ohio and TV’s Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania. Both candidates have been criticized as insufficiently committed to Trump and his “America First” agenda. A major conservative group aligned with a Vance rival called for a boycott of Trump’s Saturday night rally in Delaware, Ohio. The former president told those at the rally that Vance has the best chance to win in November.

Steelers Re-sign Safety Terrell Edmunds to 1-year deal

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing back safety Terrell Edmunds on a one-year deal. The deal will pay Edmunds $2.5 million. Pittsburgh drafted Edmunds in the first round in 2018, but declined to exercise his fifth-year option last spring. He put together a solid 2021, picking off two passes and finishing with 89 tackles in 17 games. The signing actually saved the Steelers more than $4 million based on what the value of Edmunds’ option would have been had they picked it up.

Woman Hits Barrier On Pa Turnpike in Cranberry Twp.

(File Photo)

(Cranberry Twp., Butler County, Pa.) Pa State Police Gibsonia are reporting that a one vehicle accident occurred on the Pa Turnpike on Cranberry Twp. Butler County last Tuesday, April 18, 2022, at 10:03 AM
Troopers reported upon arriving and investigating it was found out that 71-year-old Kathleen Miller of New Kensington was traveling westbound on the turnpike when she looked up at the exit 28 sign and struck the impact attenuator with the front of the 2019 Nissan Rogue that she was driving. After striking the attenuator her vehicle came to a final resting position facing east in the right hand lane 50ft from where impact occurred.
Miller wasn’t injured in the accident but was given a written warning for not driving a vehicle on roadways laned for traffic properly.

Independence Twp. Woman has Over $5000 Stolen From Checking Account

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(Independence Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that a 66-year-old Independence Twp. woman allegedly had $5,500 stolen from her bank account by a known individual on or around April 14, 2022.
No other information was available as Troopers continue investigating.

Beaver County Radio is not identifying the  victim due to the sensitivity of the situation.