(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the City of McKeesport- Mayor’s Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(McKeesport, PA) The city of McKeesport now has a new mayor and a new fire chief. Thomas Maglicco was appointed as the new McKeesport mayor and was sworn in at a McKeesport City Council meeting yesterday evening. Maglicco will replace Michael Cherepko, who announced in a statement yesterday that he was retiring after fourteen years. Kevin Kovach was also appointed as the new fire chief of McKeesport at the same city council meeting. Kovach has been a member of the McKeesport Fire Department for 24 years. 

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie Speaking)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg from State Representative Rob Matzie’s office, Pennsylvania Nuclear Energy Caucus Co-Chairs Matzie and Tom Mehaffie hailed the state House’s unanimous passage of legislation yesterday which would clear the way for the construction of the nuclear industry’s small modular reactors and microreactors to help meet growing demands on Pennsylvania’s energy grid. The lawmakers expressed that H.B. 2017, which was introduced by Democratic State Representative Jose Giral, (D- Philadelphia) would pave the way for small modular reactors and microreactors by authorizing a change in fees that have posed an obstacle to the construction of these smaller nuclear reactors. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This Oct. 17, 2023 file photo shows the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County jail could significantly increase its mental health staffing and provide more training about use of force and restraint after five inmates alleged that the Pennsylvania facility treats those with mental illness unfairly, under proposed settlement filed Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Three men are now facing charges of criminal conspiracy, contraband and criminal use of a communication facility because a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Allegheny County Jail was busted after police said they found a Dorito bag containing drugs in the bathroom of a magistrate’s office. According to Allegheny County police, detectives last month learned about plans between 31-year-old Tyreace Platt and 39-year-old Chaz Coles to smuggle synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2, into the jail, where they were incarcerated. Detectives confirmed that they reviewed jail records on Monday that indicated Platt and Coles were working with someone outside of the jail. Police stated that the duo planned to get this man to put drugs in a bathroom at a local magistrate’s office on Tuesday, which was when Coles was scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing. Around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, police note that detectives went to the magistrate’s office and saw 33-year-old Tyrique Craighead arrive and go into the bathroom. After he left, police said detectives went in and searched the bathroom. Detectives expressed that they found an open bag of Doritos that appeared to contain “multiple items of suspected contraband.” and police also discovered that there were multiple pieces of rolled paper in the bathroom, which tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids.  Police noted that Craighead was taken into custody. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of WPXI/WPXI)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The City of Pittsburgh demolished a pedestrian bridge in the Brighton Heights neighborhood. According to the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), it has finished tearing down the long-closed Wilksboro Bridge. Crews used heavy equipment to collapse the structure yesterday. That bridge was closed in 2007 because of safety concerns. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: This photo provided by NEPA Fire Photography, shows firefighters battling a blaze at the Lehigh Valley Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 in Dickson City, Pa. (NEPA Fire Photography via AP)

DICKSON CITY, Pa. (AP) — Emergency crews battled a blaze and evacuated patients from a hospital Wednesday night in Pennsylvania as fire engulfed part of the facility, according to officials.

All patients, staff and visitors were safely evacuated from Lehigh Valley Hospital in Dickson City, according to a hospital spokesperson. Emergency responders continued to work at the scene early Thursday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said on the social platform X that the state’s police, emergency management agency and health department had responded to the fire.

“Thank you to every first responder running toward danger to help their fellow Pennsylvanians,” he said. “Lori and I are praying for the staff, patients, their families, and the entire community tonight.”

In video and photos posted online, flames can be seen shooting out from the top of what appears to be the hospital’s Orthopedic Institute.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire in Dickson City, which is about 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of Scranton.

“Deep gratitude goes to the first responders and hospital teams whose swift, professional actions ensured the safety and well-being of everyone involved,” U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., whose district includes the city, posted on X.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a citizen of Nicaragua illegally residing in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of assaulting a federal officer. Thirty-three-year-old Darwin Alexander Davila-Perez was the sole defendant of the one-count indictment. Davila-Perez was charged initially in a December 23rd, 2025, Criminal Complaint and according to the Indictment and Criminal Complaint, on December 17th, 2025, he assaulted an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer while being apprehended for being illegally present in the United States. According to Revetti, Davila-Perez could face a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in jail, an up to $250,000 fine, or both, provided by the law.

(File Photo of State Representative Aaron Bernstine)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County radio News

(Valencia, PA) Representative Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) will be hosting a Protect Our Kids Seminar at the Middlesex Township Volunteer Fire Company in Valencia on Monday, February 9th, from 5:30-7 p.m. This seminar will focus on internet safety and the ways that parents and caregivers can help protect children from online predators. According to Bernstine, as children spend more time online, it is important for families to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential dangers. 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release yesterday that they are investigating a report of trespassing that happened in Beaver County on January 13th, 2026. It occurred at 1:51 p.m. along Hill Road in Greene Township and the victim was an unidentified fifty-one-year-old man from New Castle. 

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Senate Republican Communications Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Lawmakers and advocates highlighted the Senate’s approval of Senate Bill 1014 in Pennsylvania yesterday afternoon, which establishes a statewide, bell-to-bell ban on student cellphone use for the full school day. According to a release in Harrisburg from the Senate Republican Communications Office, this legislation will make a consistent statewide standard that prohibits cellphone use during instructional hours. The measure is designed to reduce distractions in the classroom, improve academic performance, and address the growing concerns about both youth mental health and social development.   

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published February 4, 2026 10:38 P.M.

(New Brighton, Pa) Emergency crews responded to what appeared to be a person struck by a vehicle on 3rd Avenue around 9:30pm Tuesday.

Beaver County Radio witnessed a person laying in the road being attended to by emergency personnel.

A vehicle was also seen stopped in the southbound lane of the road.

The scene was cleared shortly before 10pm. We have no additional details to share at this time.