(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Police: Credit for Photo: Courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Police)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today the funeral arrangements for Corporal Timothy J. O’Connor Jr., who lost his life in the line of duty on Sunday. The services will be held at St. Joseph Parish, which is located at 338 Manor Avenue in Downingtown. Public viewing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17^th from 4:30-8 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 18^th at 11 a.m. at the same location, but this service will be closed to the public. Commonwealth Media Services will provide a livestream of the funeral service on March 18th. Details about the livestream will be released through a media advisory on March 17th. Corporal O’Connor was shot and killed during a traffic stop in West Caln Township in Chester County, following a report of an erratic driver. As he approached the vehicle, the driver immediately opened fire from inside the vehicle, striking the PSP veteran of 15 years. After the fatal shooting occurred, the gunman exited the vehicle, walked a short distance, and then fatally shot himself. Corporal O’Connor enlisted with the Pennsylvania State Police in September of 2010 as a member of the 131st Cadet Class. Upon his graduation from the State Police Academy in April of 2011, he was assigned to the patrol unit at Troop J, Avondale. He was transferred to Troop J, Vice Unit in October of 2016 before he transferred to the patrol unit at Troop J, Embreeville in March of 2022. He was promoted to corporal in July of 2022, where he remained a member of the patrol unit at the Embreeville Station. Corporal O’Connor is the 105th member of the PSP to be killed in the line of duty. Anyone that is interested in donating to assist Corporal O’Connor’s family can send a check to the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association (PSTA) at 3625 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110. “O’Connor” should be written in the memo portion of the check, which should be made out to the “Survivor’s Fund.” Donations can also be made online at Support the family of Cpl. Timothy O’Connor, Jr. by clicking here.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monroeville, PA) According to a release in from Allegheny Health Network (AHN), they announced the opening today of a newly renovated, second cardiac catheterization lab at AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, which significantly expands the hospital’s ability to deliver advanced, life-saving cardiac care that is close to home for patients in eastern Allegheny County and its surrounding communities. This project marks the completion of a six-month renovation that has fully modernized Forbes Hospital’s second cath lab, which complements the first cath lab, which was upgraded three years ago. An advanced electrophysiology lab and hybrid operating room that are complete with a new reception area and post-operative recovery rooms, were constructed prior to the completion of the cath labs. Together, the two labs reinforce Forbes Hospital’s role as a regional destination for high-acuity heart care and support its growing volume of cardiac patients.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Beaver County BOOM, Posted on Facebook on March 11th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Beaver County BOOM!, the premiere event in Beaver County that launches fireworks at the end of the night over Bridgewater will take place this year on June 27th, 2026. It is expected to be bigger than it ever has with the culmination of America’s 250th birthday this year. The event will have food vendors, family fun for all ages and a patriotic celebration for America250. There will also be live music, and the headliner is country singer Dustin Lynch. It all ends with a huge fireworks show. This event is presented by Visit Beaver County and it was organized by PUSH Beaver County.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a recent release from AAA East Central in Pittsburgh, a new study reveals a growing crisis on America’s roads, one that leaves injured people alone, without help, and too often without accountability. The latest research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) published today finds that 15% of all police-reported crashes in 2023 involved a driver who fled the scene, which is the highest percentage recorded in any recent year. Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable and 1 in 4 pedestrians and nearly as many cyclists killed in crashes in 2023 were hit by a driver who fled the scene. They are frequently struck in darkness during the late-night or early morning hours, which is when visibility is low and there may be no one nearby to call for help. Roadside service providers who work just feet from moving traffic, often in dangerous conditions, are also. Unfortunately, 15 of them were struck and killed at the roadside last year, based on AAA’s tracking of reported roadside worker fatalities, and at least 6 of those 15 were killed by a driver who fled the scene. AAA is committed to protecting everyone who works or waits at the roadside, because roadside safety starts with everyone. The AAA Foundation’s research identifies practical solutions that can save lives including automatic crash notifications through both smartphones and vehicles, safer road designs that protect people walking and biking, and accountability measures, which include clear legal consequences and consistent enforcement that make fleeing the scene less likely.

Here are some other notable findings according to that same release from AAA East Central

• Hit-and-run fatalities most often occur late at night or in the early morning hours, when it is dark and witnesses are less likely to be present.
• Among known hit-and-run drivers in fatal crashes, 40% did not have a valid driver’s license, and more than half were driving vehicles not registered in their name.
• The majority of identified hit-and-run drivers were young, male, and crashed within a short distance of their homes.
• Research suggests drivers are less likely to flee when they believe they will be caught, pointing to the potential impact of traffic cameras and “Yellow Alerts” that notify and seek information from the public after serious or fatal hit-and-run crashes.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the City of Aliquippa Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) A man from Ambridge who was one of the three people charged in the brutal beating of Preston Coleman that occurred in the Aliquippa VFW 3577 bar on January 5th, 2025 pleaded guilty yesterday. Ronald Brown was sentenced in Beaver County yesterday morning to three to six years in prison. Brown admitted to participating in the beating and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault causing serious injury. A video obtained by WPXI shows Brown watching Brett Ours of Aliquippa attack Coleman in the bar located on Penn Avenue before Brown threw seven punches at Coleman. Ours, the main suspect of this crime, was found guilty on January 16th, 2026 to all of the charges against him except for attempted murder. Ours will be sentenced on Tuesday, March 17th. Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible stated that Coleman and his family agreed with the sentence for Brown. Ireland Brown of Ambridge, the daughter of Brown and the bartender on duty at the time of this incident, was also charged for this crime. Her trial is set for May of 2026. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Allegheny County Airport Authority)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg from PennDOT District 11, The PennDOT Office of Public-Private Partnerships (P3) announced today that public comment on the Allegheny Airport Authority’s (ACAA) proposed Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Shuttle Project will be available for Pennsylvanians starting March 15th through April 14th. ACAA is the project sponsor and they would be responsible for implementing the proposed AV shuttle system and associated civil infrastructure, which would provide automated passenger transportation along a dedicated guideway connecting landside parking facilities, landside amenities, and the new landside terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport. In conjunction with ACAA, PennDOT has prepared a detailed project analysis addressing the anticipated location of the project, the type of transportation facility and service the estimated costs, the anticipated contract term, the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts, the applicable federal and state laws and alternative delivery models to the proposed P3 delivery model. The P3 law of Pennsylvania requires PennDOT to make the detailed project analysis available for public review and comment in advance of any consideration by the P3 Board. The project analysis and supporting documentation will be available for public review during the comment period at www.pa.gov/P3comment by clicking here.

Comments may be submitted from March 15th to April 14th, 2026, in the following ways, accordign to that same release from PennDOT District 11:

• Through the online comment form at www.pa.gov/P3comment.
• By email to ra-pdpitenhancements@pa.gov.
• By mail to PennDOT P3 Office, 400 North Street, 6^th Floor, Harrisburg PA 17120. Comments must be received by April 14th to be captured as part of the comment period.

All feedback received during this comment period will be collected, summarized, and considered prior to any action by the P3 Board.

(File Photo of a Dollar Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Jersey City, NJ) Forbes released its 2026 World’s Billionaires list on Tuesday, which ranked the richest people in the world, and the list features billionaires with ties to the Pittsburgh area. This list features a record total of 3,428 people that are either entrepreneurs, investors and heirs that are worth a record of $20.1 trillion. The richest people in the Pittsburgh area, according to Forbes, are Edward Stack and family, Thomas Tull, and Maggie Hardy. Forbes confirms that Stack is the executive chairman and the largest individual shareholder of Dick’s Sporting Goods. The business based in Coraopolis has helped him acquire an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion. He is No. 780 on Forbes’ list. Tull founded the production company Legendary Entertainment and he owns minority stakes in the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Yankees, according to Forbes. He has an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion, which lands him at No. 806 on the billionaires list. Hardy is the owner and CEO of 84 Lumber, which the magazine says is one of the largest privately-owned building materials suppliers in America. She is also the owner Nemacolin. Hardy has an estimated net worth of $4.3 billion and is No. 984 on the list. Pittsburgh natives David Tepper and Mark Cuban were on Forbes’ latest ranking of the world’s wealthiest people. However, both of them do not live in Pennsylvania. Tepper owns the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers and he founded Appaloosa Management. He grew up in Pittsburgh’s Stanton Heights neighborhood. Cuban owns a minority stake in the National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks and he founded the video portal Broadcast.com. He grew up in Mt. Lebanon. According to Forbes, Tepper has an estimated net worth of $23.7 billion, landing him at No. 109 on the ranking, while Cuban’s estimated net worth of $6 billion slotted him in at No. 694. Forbes says the richest person in Pennsylvania is Jeff Yass, who came in at No. 28 with an estimated net worth of $67.4 billion. He is the cofounder of Susquehanna International Group, which the magazine describes as “one of Wall Street’s largest and most successful trading firms.” Forbes confirms that the 2026 ranking of the richest people in the world was based on stock prices and exchange rates from March 1st. The full list can be found by clicking here.