(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff, 02/08/26 at 6:22 a.m.

(New Sewickley Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) The New Sewickley Township Police Department is investigating a fatal head on vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 6:18 pm on Friday on Freedom Crider Road in New Sewickley Township.
New Sewickley Twp. Police are reporting via release that 68 year old Denise Babyak of Harmony Township, Beaver County, died at the scene. The operator of the
other vehicle involved was not injured.
New Sewickley Police Chief Gregory Carney said the preliminary investigation indicates that Babyak was driving westbound in the 1200 block of Freedom Crider Road when her vehicle crossed into the eastbound lane and collided head on with another vehicle.  Chief Carney said that weather and road conditions are not believed to have been a factor in causing this accident. The New Sewickley Township Police Department is continuing to investigate.
Freedom Crider Road between State Route 989 and Lovi Road was closed for
approximately 3 hours while the on-scene investigation was completed.

BEAVER COUNTY RADIO STAFF

CARNEGIE — Two hearts, 50 years, one compelling story.

In an era defined by instant communication, “Love Letters” stands ready to warm hearts and stir thoughts.

Opening this Valentine’s weekend at the Carnegie Stage in Carnegie, the play produced locally by Gargaro Productions, reminds theatergoers that saying everything is not the same as choosing someone.

The action will unfold Feb. 12-21, told entirely through correspondence. The play, follows two people whose relationship develops over a lifetime, shaped as much by restraint and timing as by love itself.

Tammy Wyatt, a regular on the professional stage, local film and commercials and Zach Wyatt, a theater graduate who leveraged his acting skills as a CIA officer (now retired), have a personal connection to the play.

“Our relationship started with an exchange of handwritten letters,” Tammy Wyatt said. “The play has a message we are delighted to share”.

“Love Letters” is not about falling in love. It’s about what remains after the choices are made and the years accumulate, a Gargaro press release said.

Carnegie Stage is at 25 West Main St., Carnegie — an intimate, accessible, 90-seat theater with ample free parking. It is a space to contemplate the joys and challenges of love at this time of year.

Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com. Tickets are $20

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, and at 2 p.m. Feb. 15.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of WTAE-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on February 6th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A woman is now facing charges after police say that her vehicle hit a student and a teacher outside a Pittsburgh school last year. Online court records have shown that fifty-seven-year-old Nickeya C. Mitchell of Pittsburgh, is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle with DUI and related offenses. The crash happened on October 15th, 2025 outside Westinghouse Academy in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The two people that were hit were a staff member of Westinghouse Academy and a 12-year-old student. According to the criminal complaint, surveillance video showed an SUV failing to stop at a stop sign and continuing to drive onto Monticello Street. The vehicle then drove onto the sidewalk, where it hit the two victims. Police interviewed Mitchell on scene and she stated that she was heading to the store at the time and claimed she did stop at the stop sign. Mitchell reportedly told police that she swerved to avoid a vehicle right before the crash. The complaint also noted that Mitchell said: “I tried to stop and instead I accidentally put, I’m thinking, I put my foot on the accelerator instead.” A passenger that was in the SUV claimed that Mitchell had tried to stop at the stop sign, but the steering was loose. Police mentioned that they found open containers of alcohol in the vehicle, a test revealed her blood alcohol content to be .15% and Mitchell showed indicators of impairment. Mitchell was also temporarily detained. The complaint also confirms that the teacher continues to suffer pain and other symptoms after the crash and the student who was hit remains in the hospital for treatment.

(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A person and a cat were displaced after a fire in the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh this morning. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire was called for a structure fire at the 300 block of Knox Avenue around 2:45 a.m. Before they arrived, while heading to an unrelated call, Zone 3 Pittsburgh police officers saw the heavy smoke of this fire. One of those officers was able to get in contact with the person inside and get them out of the home. Firefighters were able to put out the flames on the first and second floors of the building. The person that was able to escape denied medical treatment even though they were evaluated by medics. The Fire Investigation Unit is investigating the cause of the fire.

(File Photo of the Transportation Security Administration Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A federal judge heard arguments in a class action lawsuit that Rebecca Brown is part of yesterday in Pittsburgh. Brown is a party to the suit and she claims the TSA stopped her at Pittsburgh International Airport and the Drug Enforcement Agency confiscated $82,000 from her as she was heading from Pittsburgh to Boston in the summer of 2019. Brown states that the money was her father’s life savings, but those who took the cash thought it was money from a crime. According to Dan Alban with the Institute for Justice, which represents the plaintiffs: “We think there is no dispute of material facts that the TSA unlawfully and unconstitutionally stops and seizes travelers with cash at the airport, even though it admits it poses no threat to transportation security.” Alban also notes that the problem with this is that while there are suggestions, there are also no guidelines when it comes to how much money is considered suspicious. Attorneys for the government confirm that the agents were working within their guidelines and asked the suit to be dismissed and they declined any comment on the proceedings yesterday.

(Credit for Headline Photo and Photos Below: Photos Courtesy of the City of Beaver Falls Police Department, Posted on Facebook on February 5th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) Multiple search warrants on Wednesday in Beaver Falls caused two people to get charged and one of them to be arrested. According to a release from the City of Beaver Falls Police Department, both their officers and the City of Beaver Falls Police Narcotics Unit Detectives executed two simultaneous search warrants on properties in the 1000 block of 11th Street and the 1300 block of Third Avenue. Police seized “large quantities” of crack cocaine, cocaine, fentanyl and heroin and methamphetamine from the scenes as well as drug trafficking items, two firearms and containers made to conceal contraband. Abigal Record was arrested by police at 309 Short 10th Street on a warrant from another investigation. The charges against her include possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Police state that they found more contraband and executed a search warrant for the 10th Street home during the arrest of Record. They seized $650 in cash, more crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin/fentanyl, as well as three firearms at that house. Police also confirm that David Charski will be charged as a person not to possess firearms.

(File Photo of the Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Bulter County, PA) At least one person is dead after a multi-vehicle pile-up in Butler County. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, several crashes occurred on I-79 yesterday morning, causing the highway to shut down in both directions, and “at least 18 vehicles” were involved. PennDOT also expressed that due to this multi-vehicle crash, both the northbound and southbound lanes have been closed between Exit 78 (Cranberry/Mars) and Exit 88 (Zelienople) The closures will stay in place until the crash is cleared. PennDOT has also reminded drivers that a speed limit restriction is in place due to winter weather on I-79. Speed has been reduced to 45 miles per hour in both the north and southbound directions between PA 5 in Erie as well as all the way to Butler.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Bensalem Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Bucks County, PA) According to officials yesterday, twenty-two-year-old Harrison Jones of Rockford, Michigan was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison after he set a home located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on fire with several people inside in 2025. The Bensalem Police Department in Bucks County states that Jones has been charged with arson, attempted murder, and related offenses in connection with a fire on February 10th, 2025. Police confirm that the arson happened shortly before 5:30 a.m. that day in the 5200 block of Merganser Way in Bensalem which injured six people and killed two dogs. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office confirms that Jones entered a plea of no contest to attempted homicide and aggravated animal cruelty charges after he set the home of a 21-year-old who had an online relationship with his ex-girlfriend on fire. Officials expressed that Jones traveled over 700 miles to set the house on fire. Jones ignited an accelerant, which caused an explosion, leveled the rear of the home and trapped six people inside. Jones was arrested in Michigan after the attack occurred and investigators used automated license plate readers to track him down. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette logo is displayed on the newspaper’s Pittsburgh office Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Chicago-based Hoffman Family of Companies reportedly has now expressed interest in possibly saving the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The company also reached a “definitive agreement” to purchase a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins from Fenway Sports Group in December of 2025. According to the founder and chairman of Hoffman Family of Companies, his company is in discussions to buy the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The owner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Block Communications, Inc., announced on January 7th, 2026 that the 240-year-old newspaper would publish its final edition on May 3rd, 2026, which will permanently cease its operations.

 

 

(File Photo of the Front of an Ambulance)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) An advanced life support ambulance that is based at the Oakdale fire station brings hospital-level care to parts of Allegheny County thanks to a recent partnership with Northwest EMS.  An advanced life support ambulance is not an ambulance that is basic, because inside the unit are cardiac monitors that are advanced, airway equipment, life-saving medications, and the ability to treat trauma that is severe, cardiac arrests and breathing emergencies on scene. This is care that used to start at the hospital that can now start at the side of the patient, and the unit is responding to calls already. It is staffed every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for twelve hours a day.