Category: News

Ohio State University hires former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to the same position

(File Photo: Source for Photo: (File Photo: Source for Photo: Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is pictured before a preseason NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/ Gene J. Puskar, File)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State hired Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator Saturday, the second straight year coach Ryan Day has turned to a coordinator with extensive NFL experience.

Smith was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons after being the Atlanta Falcons head coach from 2021 through ’23.

“He will bring immediate value to our program and was exactly what we were looking for as we set out to find our next offensive coordinator,” Day said in a statement. “His track record in the NFL, experience as coordinator, player caller and a head coach checked every box during the search. He’ll do a great job in helping our players reach their potential on the field while also connecting with them as people.”

Smith replaces Brian Hartline, who was hired as South Florida’s head coach after eight seasons in Columbus.

The 43-year old Smith has not been on a college staff since he was a defensive intern at Ole Miss in 2010.

Smith also interviewed for the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans head coach openings as well as the Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator position. He was on the Titans staff from 2011 through ’20. rising from a quality control coach to offensive coordinator his last two years. He began his NFL coaching career as a quality control coach in Washington in 2007.

He is the only offensive coordinator/head coach in the NFL to have seven different running backs with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in that past seven years — Derrick Henry at Tennessee, Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson at Atlanta, and Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell with the Steelers.

Smith has also coached quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill, Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariotta, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.

Day is hoping Smith’s hire goes as well as his selection of Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator last year. The Buckeyes had the nation’s top-ranked defense and allowed only 8.2 points per game.

Ohio State was 18th in the nation in scoring offense and 24th in total offense in 2025. Heisman finalist Julian Sayin will be returning at quarterback as as dynamic wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, an AP All-America selection the past two years.

About 20 students displaced after pipe bursts inside a residence hall at Point Park University

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) About 20 students were displaced after a pipe burst inside a residence hall at Point Park University. A Point Park University spokesperson confirmed to WTAE that a pipe burst inside Lawrence Hall on Saturday. WTAE was also told that the roughly 20 students that were impacted by this incident have since moved to different housing locations on campus as officials work to assess the damage. 

Police in Coraopolis investigating chargeback scam targeting a local gaming store involving the purchase of high-value Pokémon cards

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Coraopolis, PA) According to authorities, police in Coraopolis are investigating a chargeback scam targeting a local gaming store, which involves the purchase of high-value Pokémon cards. Investigators believe the suspects use credit cards to buy expensive Pokémon merchandise, then later dispute the charges with their banks to receive refunds while keeping the items. Police identified one suspect as Mylen Hailey of Detroit, Michigan, who allegedly targeted a Coraopolis gaming store last month. Police noted that Hailey used a fraudulent credit card to purchase nearly $3,500 worth of Pokémon merchandise and the store owner did not learn of the chargeback until about a month later, after the suspect and merchandise were no longer traceable. The charges were later disputed. Hailey has not been arrested, and the investigation into this incident remains ongoing. 

Monaca man arrested for possessing drugs in Aliquippa

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release yesterday that thirty-two-year-old General Hilton of Monaca was arrested for possessing drugs in Aliquippa on the evening of December 26th, 2025. At 11:01 p.m., Hilton was stopped by police during a traffic stop on the 1100 block of Sheffield Avenue because of a vehicle violation and he was subsequently arrested for drug possession. 

Rochester man crashes vehicle in Findlay Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Findlay Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported via release yesterday that fifty-six-year-old Robert Patrick of Rochester crashed in Findlay Township on the evening of January 22nd, 2026. At approximately 10:37 p.m., Patrick was driving on I-376 East when he hit a wheel that was on the road with his vehicle. There were no reported injuries and it was determined that a wheel came off a commercial vehicle that was located several hundred yards east of the crash location. The vehicle of Patrick sustained disabling damage to the passenger side front wheel and the undercarriage. 

Charges withdrawn from Pittsburgh woman after crash in Washington County

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported via release yesterday that charges were withdrawn from thirty-year-old Gulzoda Saidova of Pittsburgh after a crash occurred in Washington County on the morning of January 25th, 2026. At approximately 10:23 a.m., Saidova was driving on I-79 South in Cecil Township and lost control of her vehicle on the snowy road. Saidova hit the left barrier of that road with her vehicle, which caused it to be disabled on its left shoulder. There were no reported injuries. 

Mineo’s Pizza House opens new location at the Pittsburgh International Airport

(File Photo of the Pittsburgh International Airport Airside Terminal)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Mineo’s Pizza House has now opened its new location at the Pittsburgh International Airport after a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday. The popular pizza shop has been in business since the 1950s and in addition to their original location in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh and the airport location, Mineo’s also operates locations in Allison Park and in Mt. Lebanon.   

Public safety officials warn against walking on Pittsburgh’s frozen rivers

(Photo Courtesy of WTAE)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) River rescue crews are now urging people to remain off the ice as dozens of people were seen walking along the frozen Ohio River around 6 p.m. on Saturday. Despite the warnings from public safety officials and scientists, multiple people, including some with their children and friends, were seen walking near The Point. Some of them posed for pictures while others slid along the surface that was icy. The Allegheny River remains shut down to all river traffic through March 1st due to the icy conditions, and it is also closed to boats and barges from mile marker 1 up to mile marker 72 until March 1st. 

Allegheny River closed to all traffic until March 1st, 2026 due to icy conditions

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This April 2, 2021, file photo shows bridges spanning the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh. Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose President Joe Biden’s ambitious rebuild America agenda than to lend support for the costly $2.3 trillion undertaking for roads, bridges and other infrastructure investments. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) The Allegheny River is now closed to all traffic because of icy conditions until March 1st, which is when the river is closed to boats and barges from mile marker 1 up to mile marker 72. Both the Monongahela River and the Ohio River remain open. According to the Coast Guard, it will continue to monitor river and ice conditions. 

Man sentenced to life in prison for killing a teenager in front of a restaurant in the Strip District of Pittsburgh in 2021

(File photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man who was convicted of shooting and killing a teenager in the Strip District of Pittsburgh in 2021 was sentenced to life in prison on Friday. Howard Hawkins killed eighteen-year-old Ahmir Tuli in the Strip District of Pittsburgh on February 21st, 2021. Tuli, an alumnus of North Hills High School, was shot to death outside of his mother’s restaurant, the Preeti’s Pitt. According to police, surveillance video showed Hawkins going to a parked car and coming back with a gun, where he shot Tuli as he was taking a work break.