Author: Beaver County Radio

Two women hospitalized after shooting and physical assault in McKeesport

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on May 25th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(McKeesport, PA) A woman was shot and another was physically assaulted in McKeesport yesterday, according to the Allegheny County Police Department. 

Police said officers were called to the Harrison Village housing complex around 8:17 p.m. 

Investigators said a woman who had been shot twice in the torso was found at the scene. 

She was listed in stable condition. 

Another woman was found suffering from blunt force trauma and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. 

Police said everyone involved in the incident has been identified, but detectives are continuing to investigate. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Allegheny County Police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous. 

Two people dead after house fire in Butler County

(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler County, PA) Two people are dead after a house fire in Butler County yesterday. 

Butler County dispatchers told WTAE that emergency crews were called to a home along Old Route 68 around 5:30 p.m. following reports of a fire. 

According to state police, two people were found dead inside the home. 

Dispatchers said it took firefighters about an hour to extinguish the flames. 

Henry Davis slugs late go-ahead homer as Pirates send Cubs to a 9th straight loss in 2-1 victory

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz scores a run on a RBI-double by Pittsburgh Pirates’ Brandon Lowe during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, May 25, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Henry Davis hit a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their ninth straight loss with a 2-1 victory on Monday.

Davis turned on a 91 mph cutter from Cubs reliever Trent Thornton (2-1) and sent it well over the right-field fence for his fourth home run of the season.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen made it stand up. Wilber Dotel (1-0) tossed three scoreless innings in relief to pick up the victory. Gregory Soto worked a perfect ninth for his sixth save as the Pirates beat the Cubs for the third time in four tries so far this season.

Brandon Lowe had two hits for Pittsburgh, including an RBI double. Spencer Horwitz also had a pair of hits and a handful of excellent plays at first base, all of them against Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong. Horwitz was perfectly positioned to snatch a couple of line drives and then made a brilliant diving grab on a sharp grounder before tossing to Dotel covering first to rob Crow-Armstrong of a hit.

Michael Busch hit his sixth homer of the season for Chicago, but it wasn’t enough to halt a funk that is nearing three weeks. Chicago’s nine-game skid is the franchise’s longest since a 10-game slide in 2022. The Cubs have dropped 13 of 15 overall to fall into the middle of the pack in the hyper-competitive NL Central, where all five teams started Memorial Day above .500.

Cubs starter Ben Brown allowed one run and four hits over six innings with two walks and seven strikeouts, whittling his ERA to 2.01.

Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski — fighting hard to stay in the rotation as Jared Jones nears his return from elbow surgery — allowed one run over five innings with three walks and three strikeouts.

Up next

The series continues on Tuesday. Braxton Ashcraft (3-2, 2.89 ERA) starts for the Pirates.

Manager of Central Diner & Grille in Robinson Township detained by federal agents

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Rasheed Bennett, Caption for Photo: The exterior of Central Diner & Grille stands like a beacon of comfort food promise under Pittsburgh skies. Some buildings just look like they contain happiness)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) The manager of Central Diner and Grille was detained by federal agents in Robinson Township yesterday. 

Video shared on social media appears to show two men identified as federal agents pinning the manager to the ground. 

The restaurant closed for the remainder of the day following the incident. 

According to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page, agents were searching for someone who ran from authorities after a car chase ended in the diner’s parking lot. 

The owner said the manager initially refused to let the agents inside and asked them to wait outside. According to the owner, agents eventually searched the restaurant. 

The owner said agents did not find the person they were searching for, but they left with the manager, who the owner said is a U.S. military veteran. 

In a Facebook post, Central Diner and Grille said it planned to reopen during regular business hours today. 

Pittsburgh International Airport celebrates first direct flight to Dublin, Ireland

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A view from inside Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Ken Maguire, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A new era of international travel began at Pittsburgh International Airport with the launch of a direct route to Dublin. 

The inaugural nonstop flight between Pittsburgh and Dublin took off yesterday aboard Irish carrier Aer Lingus. 

The route will operate four times a week from Pittsburgh International Airport. 

City and airport leaders attended a celebration marking the launch, which also featured Irish dancers and live music. 

Eat ‘n Park also provided hundreds of shamrock-shaped Smiley Cookies for passengers, giving travelers a small taste of Pittsburgh on their journey to Ireland. 

Barge still lodged against dam in Beaver Falls after breaking free from a construction project on the Beaver River

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Curtis Walsh, Beaver County Radio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) A barge that broke free from a construction project on the Beaver River nearly two months ago remains lodged against a dam in Beaver Falls. 

Residents who live along the river say they are surprised the barge has not yet been removed. 

The barge broke free April 2 from a Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge project nearly four miles upstream before becoming stuck on the dam. 

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission told WPXI’s Andrew Havranek that a second barge that also drifted downstream was removed with a crane shortly after becoming lodged near the Beaver Falls-New Brighton Bridge. 

Crews have continued working to remove the remaining barge. Cranes have been positioned on the opposite side of the river, but officials said the vessel has not moved. 

Crispin Havener, assistant press secretary for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, said water levels and equipment access have complicated removal efforts. 

Neighbors also said they are worried about possible damage to the dam. 

Officials have not provided a timeline for when the barge will be removed. 

FirstEnergy holding power outage in Chippewa Township this weekend to “complete upgrades to nearby substation”

(File Photo of a Power Outages Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa Township, PA) An overnight power outage will affect residents in Chippewa Township May 30-31, according to electricity provider FirstEnergy. 

The outage is scheduled to begin at 11:30 p.m. May 30 and end around 7:30 a.m. May 31. 

If weather conditions force a scheduling change, FirstEnergy said the outage would instead take place from 11:30 p.m. June 6 until 7:30 a.m. June 7. 

“This outage is necessary to allow our crews to safely complete important upgrades to a nearby substation, helping improve long-term reliability,” a FirstEnergy spokesperson said in a statement. 

A social media post on the Chippewa Township Facebook page said FirstEnergy crews are working to transition electric service in the area to a new substation on Wallace Run Road. 

The township also directed anyone with questions about the planned outage to call FirstEnergy at 1-800-720-3600. 

Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 4.2 Percent in April, Remains Below National Average

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released its preliminary employment situation report for April 2026 on Friday. 

L&I said the state’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.2% in April. 

The rate was one-tenth of a percentage point below the national unemployment rate, which also remained unchanged at 4.3%, according to the report. 

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate matched its April 2025 level of 4.2%, while the U.S. rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point from a year earlier. 

The state’s civilian labor force — the estimated number of residents working or looking for work — increased by 14,000 over the month to 6,607,000. Employment accounted for the gain, while the number of unemployed residents held steady. 

Dryer fire scorches home in Robinson Township, displaces family

(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) A family is trying to pick up the pieces after a fire tore through their home in Robinson Township on Saturday.

Fire crews responded to the house shortly before 11:30 a.m. and found a dryer engulfed in flames. The fire displaced the family and destroyed many of their belongings.

The Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary housing and other immediate needs.

Hierodeacon Joseph Wirag (1956-2026)

Hierodeacon Joseph Wirag, 69, of Ambridge, passed away unexpectedly on May 21st, 2026.

He was born on August 26th, 1956. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Geri Szabo. He is survived by his best friend of 40 years, Father Frank Mitolo, his nephews, Jeff (Kim) Szabo, and Gary Szabo, all of Pittsburgh, and many friends.

Hierodeacon Joseph was a member of St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ambridge. He joined the community of Brothers of the Holy Spirit when he joined the Ukrainian Catholic Rite and was designated a Heirodeacon in 2014.

Friends will be received on Tuesday, May 26th from 3-6 p.m. in the Schwerha-Noll Funeral Home, 629 Midland Avenue, Midland, who was in charge of his arrangements. Hierodeacon Joseph will lay in state on Wednesday, May 27th from 11 a.m. until the time of a service at 1 p.m. at the St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, 404 6th Street, Ambridge.

Interment to follow in Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver.