Brian Novak, 63, of Chippewa Township, passed away on October 4th, 2025 after an extended illness.
In accordance with Brian’s request, there were no services. Arrangements have been entrusted to the branch of Gabauer Fueral Homes.
Memorial donations may be made in Brian’s name to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital- 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, which was a cause close to his heart.
Edith “Jean” Basinger Milkovich, 85, of Midland, passed away on October 1st, 2025, at home with family at her side.
She was born in Midland on May 3rd, 1940, a daughter of the late Beryl “Red” and Roberta Adkins Basinger. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her spouse of 41 years, John “Shakey” Milkovich, a daughter, Melissa Ann Milkovich, and three brothers, Robert, Richard and Beryl. She is survived by three children and their spouses, Robin and Doug Birchard of St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and Scott Portonova, with whom she resided, and John and Sherry White of Severn, Maryland, a sister, Carol McFarlane, five grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Edith was a member of the Christian Assembly Church. She was a retired caregiver who spent over 30 years taking care of the loved ones of many area residents. She lived out her beliefs through quiet strength, compassion, and service to others. She loved to bake and cook and was known for her famous coffee cakes and pizzelles. She will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know her.
In accordance with Edith’s wishes, there will be no public visitation. Professional arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Carnegie Library of Midland, 61 Ninth Street, Midland, PA 15059.
(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT announced yesterday that all of their photo and driver’s license centers will be closed from Saturday, October 11th through Monday, October 13th to observe both Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day. This includes the full-service PennDOT center in Harrisburg. PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services Website is available anytime for services and items like driver and vehicle products, publications, forms, and driver training manuals. The link to that website can be found below:
Click here to go to PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: People attend a memorial service marking two years since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas cross-border attack on Israel, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, southern Israel where many of its community members were Killed and abducted, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
REIM, Israel (AP) — Thousands of people converged on southern Israel on Tuesday to mourn the dead as the nation marked two years since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack plunged the region into a devastating war, while Israel and Hamas hold indirect talks in Egypt.
The main memorial is being organized by the bereaved families, separate from a ceremony the government will hold on the anniversary next week according to the Hebrew calendar. The split reflects deep divisions over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s leadership, which many blame for the failure to secure a ceasefire that would free the remaining hostages held by the militants.
In the Gaza Strip, where Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed tens of thousands of people and razed entire towns and cities, those who can are fleeing another Israeli invasion of Gaza City while others are sheltering in place. Many are unable to make the arduous and costly journey south.
It’s been two years since thousands of Hamas-led militants poured into southern Israel after a surprise barrage of rockets. They stormed army bases, farming communities and an outdoor music festival, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, including women, children and older adults.
They abducted 251 others, most of whom have since been released in ceasefires or other deals. Forty-eight hostages remain inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to still be alive. Hamas has said it will release them only in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until all of the captives are returned and Hamas has been disarmed.
The attack set in motion a cascade of events that led Israel into combat with Iran and its allies across the region, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which suffered major losses. The United States joined Israel in attacking Iran’s military and nuclear program in a 12-day war in June.
Israel has killed several top militants as well as Iranian generals and nuclear scientists, and it has vastly depleted the military capabilities of its enemies while seizing control over most of Gaza as well as parts of Lebanon and Syria.
But the failure to return the hostages has left the country deeply divided, with weekly mass protests against Netanyahu. Israel is more isolated internationally than it has been in decades.
Nearly 400 Israelis were killed and dozens abducted from the Nova music festival in the border community of Reim. Over the last two years, it has emerged as a memorial site, with portraits of the kidnapped and fallen affixed to Israeli flags.
There’s no official ceremony at the Nova site, due to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which coincides with the anniversary. Yet, scores of people descended on the site to share memories of relatives and friends who were killed, weaving through hundreds of photos encircling the spot where DJ booth stood. At 6:29 am, the exact time the attack began, the music — the same track that revelers were listening to at the time — stopped for a moment of silence.
Meanwhile, explosions echoed from Gaza. The army said a rocket was launched from northern Gaza in the morning, but no damage or injuries were reported.
The main memorial ceremony will be held in Tel Aviv and will include musical performances and speeches. It’s being organized by Yonatan Shamriz, whose brother, Alon, was among three hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli forces after they escaped captivity early in the war.
Israel and Hamas held indirect talks Monday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss a new peace plan put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump. The talks were to continue Tuesday.
The war has already killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. It says women and children make up around half the dead, and many independent experts say its figures are the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
Israel’s offensive has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of some 2 million, often multiple times, and restrictions on humanitarian aid have contributed to a severe hunger crisis, with experts saying Gaza City is experiencing famine.
Experts and major rights groups have accused Israel of genocide, and the International Criminal Court is seeking the arrest of Netanyahu and his former defense minister for using starvation as a method of war.
Israel vehemently denies the allegations, saying it is waging a lawful war of self-defense and taking extraordinary measures to avoid harming civilians. It blames Hamas for the death and destruction in Gaza because the militants are deeply embedded in populated areas.
Hamas portrayed the Oct. 7 attack as a response to decades of Israeli land seizures, settlement construction and military occupation. But the attack has exacted a catastrophic toll on the Palestinians, whose dream of an independent state appears more distant than ever.
(Photo Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) Governor Josh Shapiro, several other leaders including Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, community leaders and law enforcement had an event outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Friday to highlight their progress in making Pittsburgh a neighborhood that is cleaner and safer for everyone as well as making that neighborhood more vibrant for everyone. This event happened one year after the Shapiro administration launched a plan to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh. According to PAcast on their website, here are some results that have been produced over the past year in Pittsburgh from partners from across Western Pennsylvania:
Shapiro noted during his remarks that a $62.6 million investment through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be incorporated “to spur on nearly $600 million in investments for new apartments, better parks and public spaces” which will cause visitors to visit Pittsburgh from across the region, across the state of Pennsylvania and across the country for events in Pittsburgh like the 2026 NFL Draft taking place in the North Shore from April 23rd through April 25th, 2026.
Some of the other leaders that were present at this event were Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, Allegheny County Executive Sarah Innamorato and Mayor Ed Gainey. Leadership from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates were also present at this event, while David Morehouse, the Executive Vice President for Strategy for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Travis Williams, the President of the Pittsburgh Pirates, spoke at it.
BEAVER COUNTY RADIO
AMBRIDGE — To help celebrate the grand opening of Philly Originals‘ cheesesteak shop in Ambridge, Comcast Business is sponsoring free cheesesteaks for the first 100 customers on Oct. 7.
Ditch the packed lunch and enjoy a classic sandwich starting at 11 a.m. while supplies last at the shop located at 1507 Duss Ave.
Comcast Business is helping Philly Originals modernize its operations and accelerate growth by delivering reliable internet, phone and mobile solutions that power everything from online ordering to in-store customer experiences.
Now, with the opening of a second, larger location in Ambridge, Philly Originals is serving a broader customer base closer to Pittsburgh and neighborhoods like Sewickley.
Technology Transformation Fuels Growth
Founded in 1993 in downtown Beaver, and purchased by sibling entrepreneurs Alexandra Spain and Eric Kaluza in 2023, Philly Originals has undergone a full digital transformation with Comcast Business as it has expanded to a second location.
Previously operating with a limited technology infrastructure, the new owners recognized the need for a digital overhaul. This included replacing an outdated cash register with a modern point-of-sale (POS) system and introducing online ordering capabilities, supported by Comcast Business Internet and phone solutions. The shop also added a self-service kiosk and secure guest Wi-Fi, creating a more modern customer experience while savoring the original flavors that have drawn people in from the start.
Philly Originals strengthened operations further by adopting Comcast Business Mobile, providing employees with reliable wireless connectivity across devices including phones, tablets, and smartwatches. These solutions help ensure the restaurant constantly stays connected and operational, so every order and payment goes through seamlessly.
Sales are up by more than 50 percent since the digital upgrades were implemented.
“Comcast Business changed everything for us – every system is more efficient and more reliable,” Spain, co-owner of Philly Originals, said. “We went from using the original cash register and no Internet to running multiple ordering platforms, kiosks, and a customer-friendly space where people even come to work. None of this momentum would be possible without the foundation Comcast Business provides.”
“Technology is foundational to growth for homegrown restaurants like Philly Originals,” Aaron Mimran, regional vice president of Comcast Business, said. “Our internet, phone, and mobile solutions help small businesses modernize operations, stay connected with customers, and scale into new markets. We’re proud to be part of Philly Originals’ success story, and we root for them as they expand across the Pittsburgh area.”
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published October 4, 2025 12:27 P.M.
(New Brighton, Pa) A Dollar Tree is moving into New Brighton. The store will take the former location of Family Dollar on 5th Avenue.
Crews have been working at the building which is currently empty.
We do not have word on when the store is expected to open.
(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) A house on the 100 block of Daisy Street in the Perry South neighborhood of Pittsburgh is where a SWAT situation, mainly a domestic incident, occurred after 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety officials, a man barricaded himself inside of the home on Daisy Street after a domestic incident and just before 7 a.m. yesterday, the suspect and another man from inside of the home were taken into custody. Police confirm that the man allegedly made threats to police. SWAT operators and negotiators spent a decent amount of yesterday morning trying to get the man to surrender. The two men that are now in custody for this incident were evaluated by medics. The primary suspect will face multiple charges.
(File Photo of the Top of a School Bus)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Monaca, PA) The inaugural Beaver County Ed Fest will be held on Monday, October 13th at the CCBC Dome in Monaca to celebrate teachers, aides, and paraprofessionals in Beaver County. According to Dr. Michelle McKinley, the director of curriculum for the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit, regarding this event: “As the largest gathering of its kind, it is both a celebration of the vital work of our educators and an opportunity for meaningful professional learning.” The featured speaker at the event will be Jimmy Casas, a nationally recognized author and educator. At the start of the morning, the colors will be presented by students from the Beaver Area School District JROTC, the pledge of allegiance will be said by a student from the Rochester Area School District, and the national anthem will be sung by students from the New Brighton Area School District. The educational workers will then be celebrated will be welcomed by the Blackhawk Area School District band and have food for breakfast and coffee the morning of the event before speakers like Casas and Dr. Roger W. Davis, the president of the Community College of Beaver County, address them with their speeches.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A sign on a door at The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is pictured at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — There are no $1 million giveaways to voters, cheesehead hats or even candidate debates. Elon Musk is nowhere to be found.
Yet the stakes in the Pennsylvania election this fall are very much the same as they were in Wisconsin last spring: partisan control of the highest court in a crucial presidential swing state.
In November, Pennsylvania voters will decide whether three state Supreme Court justices — all Democrats — should keep their seats for another 10 years on a court that has been at the center of pivotal fights over voting rights, redistricting and elections.
Spending is nowhere near the $100 million spent in Wisconsin — a record amount for a state supreme court race, much of it fueled by groups aligned with billionaires Musk, who briefly worked in President Donald Trump’s Republican administration, and George Soros, a donor to liberal causes.
Even so, both parties in Pennsylvania are pouring in money for campaign fliers, digital and TV ads and get-out-the-vote efforts.
The state’s supreme court has a 5-2 Democratic majority, so an across-the-board loss for Democrats on Nov. 4 could leave the court in a partisan 2-2 stalemate for two years, including through next year’s midterm elections.
A big difference from Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race earlier this year is that Pennsylvania’s doesn’t feature candidates running against each other. Instead, it’s what is called a retention election, in which voters are asked to vote “yes” or “no” on whether to give the current justices another term. The incumbents aren’t identified by party affiliation.
The traditionally under-the-radar election, with a late-emerging organized campaign by Republicans to defeat the justices, has Democrats worried. Educating their voters and getting them to the polls during an election with major races are top priorities.
“It’s a full campaign,” state Democratic Party Chairman Eugene DePasquale said. “The bigger challenge on that isn’t so much getting people to vote ‘yes.’ It’s just even getting some people to understand what a retention vote is, because this is really the first time it’s ever been heavily contested.”
The three justices — Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht — are backed by the Democratic Party in their bids for retention.
Should all three lose, their seats would become vacant in January and leave the court deadlocked with a 2-2 partisan split until voters fill the open seats in 2027 — unless Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and the state Senate can agree on temporary fill-in appointees.
Complicating it is that the Senate is controlled by Republicans, who might see an advantage in letting the court remain deadlocked.
That means the court might be unable to settle cases involving voting and election laws through the 2026 midterm elections, when the governor’s office and a handful of contested congressional seats will be on the ballot.
In recent years, the court has made major decisions around voting and elections, necessitated in part by a politically divided and often stalemated state government.
The justices in 2018 threw out a GOP-drawn map of Pennsylvania’s congressional districts as unconstitutionally gerrymandered and, four years later, again drew the boundaries after a stalemate in government.
The court also turned away GOP challenges to Pennsylvania’s expansive vote-by-mail law, which became a focal point of Republican efforts to overturn Trump’s loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Republican justices dissented.
With a month to go before Election Day, spending has exceeded any previous judicial retention election in Pennsylvania.
In 2017, two justices spent just shy of $1 million combined and had no organized opposition during an election in which turnout was less than 20%. Counting money that has been reported or verbally committed, spending in this year’s election is on pace to exceed $10 million.
While not all of the spending or sources of money have been disclosed publicly, big donors include trial lawyers and labor unions on the Democrats’ side. Spending also is coming from a group associated with billionaire Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvania’s wealthiest person, for the Republicans’ campaign against retention.
The justices have been campaigning around the state, mostly in front of friendly audiences, and lining up endorsements from Planned Parenthood and organized labor.
Democrats and their allies were first on the airwaves with a TV ad and are trying to hammer home the justices’ support for abortion rights, voting rights and labor unions in an ad campaign that advances them as defenders of the law against powerful people and corporations.
“We protected access to abortion and your right to vote, even when the powerful came after it,” the justices say in a new TV ad. “All Pennsylvanians deserve freedom and fairness.”
With mail ballots set to go out soon, Republicans are beginning to spend on an effort to convince voters that 10 years on the state’s highest court is enough.
Many of their ads are targeting registered Democratic voters with anti-establishment messages that use language typically associated with progressives who oppose Trump.
“This fall you can defend democracy and force an election for a new Supreme Court,” says one TV ad that ran most heavily in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold.
Fliers landing in the mailboxes of registered Democrats carry similar messages. In yet another twist, one flier accuses the justices of drawing the heavily criticized congressional districts that they actually threw out in 2018 as unconstitutionally gerrymandered.
A group that typically acts as a conduit for campaign contributions from Yass, who runs the Wall Street trading firm Susquehanna International Group and has an estimated net worth of $65 billion, is sponsoring TV ads and fliers.
The group, Commonwealth Partners, didn’t respond to inquiries about the spending.
Yass-funded groups have spent millions of dollars each of the last four years in Pennsylvania elections to help Republican candidates, including more than $10 million each in 2022’s GOP gubernatorial primary and 2024’s election for attorney general.
Beyond Pennsylvania, Yass is one of the biggest contributors to national conservative causes and, through his company, is an investor in Trump’s social media company. Yass’ firm also is a major investor in TikTok owner ByteDance, and this year, Trump’s super political action committee, Maga Inc., reported that Yass gave it $16 million.
The campaign also has drawn national party interest.
The Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee have each pledged $500,000.
A page on the Republican National Committee’s “Swamp the Vote” website is devoted to urging Republicans to vote “no,” and the Republican State Leadership Committee reported spending about $500,000 on digital ads and text messages.
It said defeating the three justices “would spur a seismic momentum shift in Pennsylvania that would create an opening for more conservative policy victories in the state.”
Borrowing from Democrats’ strategy in Wisconsin, where Musk personally campaigned in the closing days of the April race, DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement that “MAGA billionaires” are trying to buy the nation’s courts.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher in these judicial retention races, especially in the run-up to critical races across the Commonwealth in 2026 and winning back the White House in 2028,” he said.