Man charged with attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in White House correspondents’ dinner shooting

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Members of law enforcement control shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who authorities say tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with guns and knives has been charged with the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. He appeared in court Monday to face charges in a chaotic encounter that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being rushed off the stage and guests ducking for cover underneath their tables.

Cole Tomas Allen was taken into custody after the shooting on Saturday night and is being charged in federal court in Washington. Authorities say an officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot in the vest but is expected to recover.

Allen, of Torrance, California, is being represented by lawyers with the federal defender’s office and sat beside them in court in a blue jail uniform. He also was charged with transport of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce and with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He did not enter a plea.

Prosecutors have not revealed a motive, but in a message reviewed by The Associated Press that authorities say was sent by Allen to family members minutes before the attack, Allen referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin,” made repeated references to the Republican president without naming him and alluded to grievances over a range of Trump administration actions.

Investigators are treating the writings, along with a trail of social media posts and interviews with family members, as some of the clearest evidence of the suspect’s mindset and possible motives.

Allen, 31, is believed to have traveled by train from California to Chicago and then onto Washington, where he checked himself in as a guest at the hotel where the gala dinner was held with its typically tight security, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Video posted by Trump shows a man, who authorities say was armed with guns and knives, running past a security barricade as Secret Service agents run toward him.

Records show Allen is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer. A social media profile for a man with the same name and a photo that appears to match that of the suspect show he worked part-time for the last six years at a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to aspiring college students.

Check out Rich Engler guitar collection at free event

BEAVER COUNTY RADIO

PITTSBURGH — For the first time in more than 50 years, well-known music producer and promoter Rich Engler is hosting a one-of-a-kind auction event. This extraordinary collection features more than 40 autographed guitars signed by some of music’s biggest stars including Kiss, AC/DC and Bon Jovi along with a wide range of rare sports memorabilia.

Highlights of the sports items include items connected to legends such as Arnold Palmer, Hank Aaron, Jack Ham, Lynn Swann and many others.

In total, the auction includes over 40 pieces of significant sports memorabilia. To browse or place bids now through May 2 for both the guitars and the sports collection, visit billarnold.hibid.com.

In addition to the online auction, fans also can attend the “Final Bidding Party” on May 2 at The Distillery Complex at 59 South Second Street near Station Square. This event is in cooperation with Fuzion Entertainment and the
Distillery Complex. Come and be part of the live auction process or just enjoy seeing all the memorabilia on display. Admission is free.

As part of last weekend’s the NFL Draft Experience, Engler had his guitars displayed for the public to stop in and see at Fifth Avenue Place in downtown Pittsburgh.

A glimpse at the guitars in Rich Engler’s collection.

Engler discussed the guitars and sports memorabilia, and shared tales from his days as a Pittsburgh concert promoter when appearing Tuesday on the Beaver County Radio Morning Show.

Here is Engler’s interview:

 

Police: Woman killed, three others injured in Armstrong County bar shooting; suspect in custody

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Armstrong County, PA) A woman died and three others were injured in a shooting at a bar in Armstrong County, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Troopers said they were called shortly after 1:15 a.m. Sunday to Niki’s Quick Six on First Street in Parks Township for reports of shots fired. A local officer who arrived first found one woman dead and multiple people with gunshot wounds, according to a state police report.

The victim was identified as 34-year-old Jessica Hilliard of Apollo. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another victim, 24-year-old Rebecca Boston of McIntyre, was found at the scene and was listed in critical condition. Two others — 34-year-old Hector Saballos of Vandergrift and 25-year-old Dominik Dellach of Vandergrift — left before troopers arrived and were later listed in stable condition, police said.

State police identified the suspect as 36-year-old David Dunmire of Vandergrift. He remained at the scene and was taken into custody without incident.

Investigators said a physical altercation broke out in the parking lot before Dunmire allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired multiple rounds, striking several people.

Police said they consulted with Armstrong County District Attorney Katie Charlton, who approved a criminal homicide charge. The investigation is ongoing.

Biennial Sewickley House Tour returns this week

(File Photo of the Sewickley Bridge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Sewickley, PA) The biennial Sewickley House Tour will take place May 1 and 2 in Sewickley.

The tour offers visitors a chance to see distinctive homes not typically open to the public, including properties featuring rare ballroom spaces.

Proceeds from the event benefit children’s charities that provide services such as food assistance, health care and access to opportunities like summer camp.

You can purchase tickets for this event by clicking here.

Washington media dinner shooting suspect is set for his first court appearance on federal charges

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Members of law enforcement control shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who authorities say tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with guns and knives while President Donald Trump appeared in court Monday to face charges in a chaotic encounter that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being rushed off the stage and guests ducking for cover underneath their tables.

Cole Tomas Allen was taken into custody after the shooting on Saturday night and is being charged in federal court in Washington. Court papers laying out the charges were not immediately available, though authorities have said Allen will face charges including assault on a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Authorities say an officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot in the vest but is expected to recover.

Allen, of Torrance, California, is being represented by lawyers with the federal defender’s office and sat beside them in court in a blue jail uniform.

Prosecutors have not revealed a motive, but in a message reviewed by The Associated Press that authorities say was sent by Allen to family members minutes before the attack, Allen referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin,” made repeated references to the Republican president without naming him and alluded to grievances over a range of Trump administration actions.

Investigators are treating the writings, along with a trail of social media posts and interviews with family members, as some of the clearest evidence of the suspect’s mindset and possible motives.

Allen, 31, is believed to have traveled by train from California to Chicago and then onto Washington, where he checked himself in as a guest at the hotel where the gala dinner was held with its typically tight security, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Video posted by Trump shows a man, who authorities say was armed with guns and knives, running past a security barricade as Secret Service agents run toward him.

Records show Allen is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer. A social media profile for a man with the same name and a photo that appears to match that of the suspect show he worked part-time for the last six years at a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to aspiring college students.

Westinghouse Announces Appointment of Dan Sumner as CEO

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Business Wire and the Associated Press: Caption for )

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apr 27, 2026– Westinghouse Electric Company (“Westinghouse”) announced today that Dan Sumner has been appointed President and CEO, effective immediately.

Sumner brings nearly 25 years of global experience to the role, most recently serving as Westinghouse’s interim CEO for the last 12 months, where he has been instrumental in positioning the Company for growth across its operating plant and new plant businesses. Prior to serving in this capacity, Sumner led Westinghouse’s Global Operating Plant business, where he was responsible for the delivery of the Company’s products and services to the global nuclear operating fleet. Before leading the Operating Plant business, Sumner was instrumental in the repositioning, transformation, and growth of the Company serving as Westinghouse’s Chief Financial Officer from 2017 to 2023. Earlier in his career, Sumner worked in various financial roles in banking and metals before joining Westinghouse in 2010.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I look forward to Dan continuing in the role of CEO,” said Dominic Kieran, Chairman of the Westinghouse Board of Directors. “Dan’s leadership and expertise combined with his deep knowledge of Westinghouse and our industry will be instrumental in positioning Westinghouse to deliver value for our operating plant and new plant customers around the world. We are confident that the business is well positioned for this growth under his leadership.”

“It is an honor to continue serving Westinghouse as its CEO,” said Sumner. “I am proud of Westinghouse’s storied history and the impact we have had in the world, but even more excited about the bright future that lies ahead for our company and industry. I look forward to partnering with our shareholders, leadership team and colleagues around the world to serve our customers and realize our full potential, together.”

Westinghouse Electric Company is the future of energy, providing reliable, innovative nuclear technologies and services globally. Westinghouse pioneered commercial nuclear power, delivering the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957. The company has industrialized more nuclear reactors than any other company, with its technology forming the basis of half of the world’s operating nuclear plants. More than 140 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle.

New details emerge from hit-and-run crash in Rochester that killed a child; suspect’s charges include homicide by vehicle while DUI

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester, PA) New details have been released following the arrest of a driver in a hit-and-run crash that killed a child in Rochester on Friday.

Dispatchers said emergency crews were called to the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Lacock Street at approximately 4:50 p.m. for reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.

Authorities said the victim, a third grader believed to be between 10 and 12 years old, was riding a bicycle at the time. Police said a driver in a black truck struck the child. According to a criminal complaint, the incident was captured on video.

Officials said first responders attempted life-saving measures, but the child died at the scene.

Investigators determined the vehicle was registered to 53-year-old Thomas Earl Cole of Monaca. According to the complaint, officers who spoke with Cole reported smelling an odor of alcohol on his breath.

The complaint states that Cole requested an attorney and questioned police about a potential DUI. After being taken into custody and advised of his Miranda rights, Cole told investigators he had been in the area and was trying to find his way home due to a road closure. He said he felt a bump while turning but believed he had struck a pile of rocks, according to the complaint.

Court records show Cole is charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI, accidents involving death or personal injury, and DUI.

Police said Cole was taken to the Beaver County Jail, arraigned Saturday, and denied bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 7.

A GoFundMe has been arranged so the family of the victim can pay for funeral arrangements and other expenses.

You can donate to the GoFundMe for the victim by clicking on the link below:

Click here to donate: Fundraiser by Veronica Weideman : Support for Funeral Arrangements After Tragedy

CCBC to Host Dual Events Showcasing Career Pathways and Workforce Opportunities

(File Photo of the CCBC Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) Community College of Beaver County will host two events Thursday, April 30, focused on career exploration and workforce development.

A Career and Transfer Fair will give CCBC students and those from the Beaver County Career & Technology Center an opportunity to meet with regional employers, local organizations and transfer institutions.

At the same time, Flourish Beaver County will host its Future-Ready Career Exploration Day, welcoming Beaver County high school juniors for hands-on learning experiences and exposure to career pathways such as STEM, cybersecurity, process operations and mechatronics.

Organizers said the event is the final stop in a three-part, multi-campus series aimed at helping students prepare for post-graduation opportunities.

The Career and Transfer Fair is from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. in the CCBC Dome and the Flourish Career Exploration Day is from 9 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the Student Services Center Building #1. 

Pittsburgh sets attendance record for fans attending NFL Draft

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Fireworks explode over the draft stage before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A record was set in Pittsburgh for attendance at the 2026 NFL Draft, with 805,000 fans attending the three-day event, according to the National Football League.

The total surpasses the previous record set in Detroit, which drew more than 700,000 fans during the 2024 draft from April 25-27.

Philadelphia museum brings Rocky statue inside after decades of tension

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Banners for the “Rising Up: Rocky” exhibition hang outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Every day, visitors from around the world make their way to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art — not necessarily for the galleries inside, but for a statue of a fictional boxer from Philadelphia.

The bronze figure of Rocky Balboa — arms raised in victory, clad in boxing trunks and boots — has become a point of pilgrimage for people around the world.

For decades, the museum kept an uncomfortable distance from this kind of devotion. Now, it is embracing it — and inviting Rocky in.

Opening this weekend, “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments” examines how a fictional fighter became a real-world symbol, placing the statue within the sweep of art history and Philadelphia’s identity. The exhibition is the brainchild of guest curator Paul Farber, who spent years exploring the meaning of the statue and public monuments — including through his NPR podcasts — before bringing the conversation into the museum.

The exhibition spans more than 2,000 years of boxing imagery, tracing a thread of human struggle that Louis Marchesano, the museum’s deputy director of curatorial affairs and conservation, said helps explain Rocky’s enduring pull.

“The common theme that runs throughout 2,000 years of boxing imagery is that people respond to the body under struggle, a conflict in much the same way today as they did 2,500 years ago,” Marchesano said. “It’s not simply about watching two people beat each other up — it’s about endurance, internal fortitude and internal struggle.”

When the bronze statue was left on the steps after filming the “Rocky” movies, the museum fought to have it removed. It was eventually relocated to South Philadelphia before returning to the bottom of the steps in 2006. It was welcomed back, but never fully embraced. The city owns the spot where the statue sits — not the museum.

“The museum has had — and I hate to say this, no pun intended — a rocky relationship with the statue,” Marchesano said.

“It took us decades to come to terms with it,” he added. “But I’m glad that we did.”

According to the Philadelphia Visitor Center, about 4 million people visit the steps each year — rivaling the nearby Liberty Bell in annual foot traffic.

David Muller, a wrestling coach from France who recently brought his students to the steps, said he thinks Balboa’s trials and travails are “good for the next generation.”

“The movie ‘Rocky’ is important for the mind of sport and the mind of life,” Muller said, after running with them up the steps as they raised their hands at the top, smiling and punching the air like boxers.

Kate Tarchalska traveled from Poland with family and made the statue one of their stops.

“He was my hero when I was younger,” she said. “And now I am so glad I could be in the same spot as him.”

Suraj Kumar, visiting his aunt in Philadelphia from St. Louis, made a point to photograph the statue to share with his father, who first introduced him to the films when he was growing up in Bengaluru, India.

“When I got to know this statue is here, I was like, I really have to come down here,” he said.

One gallery places Rocky in the global boxing fever of the 1970s, featuring works by Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol — all created during a time when boxing had the world’s attention.

“In the 1970s, we knew minute by minute who the heavyweight champion of the world was,” Marchesano said. “The artists in this gallery are responding to that global frenzy. Sylvester Stallone, in ‘Rocky,’ was doing the same — thinking about internal and external struggle.”

Another gallery turns to Philadelphia itself, presenting photographs of the Blue Horizon boxing gym and a section on Joe Frazier, whose real-life story at least partially inspired Rocky.

“Without Joe Frazier, Rocky doesn’t exist,” Marchesano said.

When the exhibition closes in August, the statue inside will move to a permanent home at the top of the museum’s steps — a place it has never officially held. The statue currently outside remains on loan from Stallone.

Rocky’s longtime spot at the bottom of the steps won’t be empty — a statue of Frazier will replace it.