(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A polling judge, right, helps guide a voter’s ballot into a voting machine during the Pennsylvania primary election, at Mont Alto United Methodist Church in Alto, Pa., on May 17, 2022. Voter-by-voter electronic election records are not subject to public scrutiny, a Pennsylvania court ruled Monday, March 4, 2024, in a case that began with a request for those records by an election researcher whose work has fueled right-wing attacks on voting procedures. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded registered Pennsylvania voters today who are planning to vote by mail ballot in the November 3rd general election that they must apply for their ballot online (click here to learn more) or in person (click here to learn more) by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27th.

The Department of State’s Elections Data page (click here) links to a downloadable Daily Mail Ballot Report, and this provides point-in-time data showing each county elections office’s statistics.

If voters either complete their mail ballot at home or at their county elections office, they should follow these easy steps, according to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of State, to ensure that their ballot can be counted:

• Read all instructions enclosed with the ballot.
• Fill out the ballot by following the instructions on how to mark selections. Check both sides of the ballot in case there are races listed on the second page.
• Seal the ballot in the yellow secrecy envelope marked “official election ballot.”
• Seal the yellow secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope.
• Sign and date the outer return envelope.
• Mail or hand deliver the completed ballot to their county elections office, or hand deliver the ballot to an officially designated satellite election office or drop box in their county. Under Pennsylvania law, a voter may hand deliver only their own ballot. The only exceptions are for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot and for voters who need an emergency absentee ballot.

County elections offices must receive their completed mail ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is November 3rd. Mail ballots that are returned after that time, even if they are postmarked by 8 p.m. on November 3rd, will not count.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Election Day for voters who are registered that want to vote in person. They can vote if a voter is in line by 8 p.m.

Voters who got a mail ballot, but have not returned it may vote in person on November 3rd if they bring their mail ballot materials with them to be voided.

Voters who requested a mail ballot and did not get it, or do not have it to surrender it, may vote by a provisional ballot at their polling place.

The provisional ballot will be reviewed by their county’s board of elections after November 3rd to determine whether it can be counted.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of PennDOT)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Schools throughout the state of Pennsylvania have recently been awarded over $10 million in funding to boost literacy and promote structured reading. 

Information that was shared by Governor Josh Shapiro’s office yesterday confirmed that the Pennsylvania Department of Education gave grants to 54 schools across 21 counties. 

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe, the money will be used to help schools build the systems, instructional capacity and evidence-based resources necessary to meet structured literacy requirements under the law. 

Central Valley schools received $415,405 and Freedom Area schools received $204,160 as a part of this funding. 

(Credit for Headline Photo and Photo Below: Photo Courtesy of Center Township Police)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Center Township, PA) Police and volunteers are looking for a 41-year-old man who is missing in Center Township.

According to police, Daniel Stewart, who is deaf, was last seen between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. yesterday on Grandview Avenue in Monaca.

Police stated that Stewart was wearing a blue striped collared shirt and a dark coat and had a book bag.

He wears glasses and is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall and 135 pounds, with blue eyes and blond hair.

His picture can be found below:

Anyone who has information about Stewart is advised to call 724-774-3329.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Allegheny Health Network’s Department of OB/GYN recently announced the opening of a specialized care clinic for postpartum patients who have experienced significant tears during labor and delivery, specifically in third-and fourth-degree perineal lacerations.

Lia M Miceli, MD, who is a board-certified OB/GYN and urogynecologist, serves as the clinical lead of the AHN Postpartum Care Clinic.

Dr. Miceli treats patients at AHN West Penn Hospital primarily, which is AHN’s flagship maternity hospital, but she will work in close coordination with the five labor & delivery programs of the systems across the region on a referral basis.

Studies estimate that perineal injury occurs in up to 90% of women delivering their first child, and up to 70% of women during subsequent births.

The majority of those tears are classified as minor as first- and second-degree tears, and they typically heal on their own after they get repaired in the labor suite.

However, roughly 5% of women across the country experience a degree of obstetrical injury that is higher that may require monitoring, rehabilitation or even wound revision.

If this is not treated correctly, the injuries can result in re-opening of the original tear and/or wound infection.

The AHN Postpartum Care Clinic will work in close coordination with a multidisciplinary team which consists of advanced practice providers, behavioral health specialists, colorectal surgeons and pelvic floor therapists.

You can make an appointment or get more information on the AHN Department of OB/GYN by either calling 412-DOCTORS or by visiting ahn.org.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) AHN Wexford Hospital announced today that it has been recognized as a top performer in the 2026 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Ranking by Vizient, Inc.

This is the second year in a row that AHN Wexford has been honored through the Vizient Quality and Accountability Ranking.

AHN Wexford had a ranking among the top 10 hospitals in its Complex Care hospital cohort and was just one of 22 hospitals that was nationally recognized for demonstrating excellence in delivering care that is high quality which is based on the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which has been conducted every year since 2005.

1,346 participating hospitals were segmented into seven cohorts for the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study in 2026.

This study measures performance on the quality of patient care in six domains: effectiveness, efficiency, mortality, patient centeredness, safety, and variation in care.

This study also factors in neasures from the Vizient Clinical Data Base and it includes performance data from both the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey and the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network.

Vizient, Inc. is the nation’s largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company and it provides solutions and services to over two-thirds of the nation’s acute care providers and over one-third of ambulatory providers.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Russell Ashford is still in the Beaver County Jail on a $2.5 million bond. 

Ashford is the father of a 10-year-old boy whose mother, Antoinette Forbes, has been missing from the Washington, D.C. area since September 4th. 

Ashford learned yesterday that he will go to trial for seven gun-related charges. 

Investigators state that he was not allowed to have guns legally because of a previous conviction in Maryland. 

Pennsylvania State Police filed those charges last month after he was arrested in Brighton Township on September 12th for violating his probation.   

Ashford was convicted previously of assaulting Forbes. 

According to CNN, Ashford served in the military for more than 20 years, and records show he earned the rank of commander and retired as a decorated intelligence officer. 

He was not allowed to leave the state of Pennsylvania, but police stated that he was seen on license plate readers in the Washington D.C. area at around the same time Forbes disappeared. 

A woman who dated Ashford on and off for the last three years took the stand yesterday.

She told the court that Ashford stored the guns at her house.

She believed that he was moving to Nashville and going to and from Washington D.C. for work.

She told police she believed that he was retired from the CIA or FBI.

She also stated that she did not know about Ashford’s previous convictions or about his 10-year-old son, who was found with Ashford when he was arrested in Beaver County.

No one has been charged in the disappearance of Forbes. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: David McCormick, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, listens during a discussion with military veterans organized by his campaign at an American Legion hall, Jan. 18, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A bomb squad and hazmat team were called to the Grant Building in Downtown Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon after a suspicious letter was reported at Senator Dave McCormick’s office. 

The FBI is conducting tests on what was found, which was a letter-sized package in McCormick’s office. 

Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Mat Davis confirmed that there is no risk to the public. 

Two sources told KDKA-TV that the package had a pacifier inside, and one of them said that there was a handwritten note about President Donald Trump. 

A spokesperson for Senator McCormick shared this following statement: “We received a piece of mail that caused us to reach out to local law enforcement, and we have nothing else to say at this time. Our office remains open for business.” 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Kennywood, Posted on Facebook on October 19th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(West Mifflin, PA) A drone show in the sky is a new element that is being added to Kennywood’s 2026 Phantom Fall Fest schedule. 

This show is scheduled for Saturday, October 24th at 10:15 p.m at the park in West Mifflin.

Over 500 drones will create haunting and iconic images that use lasers. 

A special trick-or-treat event will also be held at Kennywood Park on Halloween day. 

The 2026 edition of Phantom Fall Fest ends on November 1st. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of McDonald’s)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) McDonald’s is celebrating Halloween as the company’s Boo buckets are returning to the popular restaurant chain.

The Disney Villains Boo Buckets Happy Meal® is coming to McDonald’s, because they are partnering with Disney and this set features five Disney villains: Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmatians) Jafar (Aladdin) Maleficent, Scar (The Lion King) and Ursula (The Little Mermaid).

This will be available for Disney and McDonald’s fans starting today at participating McDonald’s restaurants while supplies last. 

Customers can order any of their favorite options for McDonald’s Happy Meal® with these Halloween Pail, which will replace the classic Happy Meal box while supplies last beginning today.

Those Halloween Pails will be available only with Happy Meal® orders. This includes the 4 pc. Chicken McNuggets® Happy Meal, 6 pc. Chicken McNuggets® Happy Meal or Hamburger Happy Meal.