(Photo courtesy of Dr. George Zambelli)

Virgina Avenue/Adams Street reopened to traffic.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is announcing the long-term closure of Route 68 (Adams Street, Virginia Avenue) in Rochester Borough and Rochester Township, Beaver County has been lifted.

Crews closed Route 68 between the Rochester Roundabout at Adams Street and Jefferson Street at Virginia Avenue on April 6 to conduct full-depth roadway reconstruction, drainage upgrades, concrete curb removal and replacement, shoulder improvements, and signal and intersection updates. The work requiring the full closure has been completed, and the road has reopened to traffic two months ahead of schedule.

There will continue to be alternating single-lane restrictions controlled by flaggers from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays, as needed, through mid-November to allow crews to complete drainage work, line painting, and other miscellaneous construction activities.

The Route 68 Virginia Avenue/Adams Street project began in May of 2025 for a cost of $7.04 million. The project is anticipated to conclude by late fall of 2026 and will include roadway reconstruction, drainage improvements, guide rail and signing updates, traffic signal upgrades, pavement markings and delineation, and other miscellaneous construction from the roundabout in Rochester Borough continuing approximately 1.3 miles to the intersection of Route 68 (Virginia Avenue) and Sunflower Road in Rochester Township.

Travelers can check conditions on major roads by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict11.

(Credit for Photos Below and Headline Photo: Photos Courtesy of Dr. George Zambelli, Posted on Facebook on September 15th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester, PA) Adams Street in Rochester will be reopening tonight after the road closed for construction work.

Dr. George Zambelli reported the reopening of the road and that the topcoat of pavement is going on it today.

The original entrance to get to Zambelli’s office is also open today.

This comes after Zambelli worked with Rochester Borough officials to demolish a home that he owned to make a new temporary roadway entrance so patients can gain access to the parking lot of his office during the construction work on Adams Street.

The plan included adding an entrance and exit connecting the lot to an alley behind the office between New York Avenue and Ohio Street.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a resident of Valencia, Pennsylvania, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with receiving a firearm and ammunition, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the firearm and ammunition would be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, including providing, attempting to provide, and conspiring to provide
material support or resources to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

Twenty-one-year-old Jonathan Hunter Kramer received this charge and FBI agents
interdicted him this weekend as he returned to a hotel in possession of three 30-round capacity rifle magazines and five boxes of rifle ammunition.

The FBI executed search warrants, seized a semiautomatic rifle and ammunition from his hotel room, and arrested him outside of the Cranberry Park Hotel.

One subsequent investigation confirmed that Kramer had been using the online persona of “Hamza Al Rashid” who claimed affiliation with ISIS and put up an offer to share explosive manuals with others, as well as making an expression for his intent to prepare for his “mission” and that he was just missing a “weapon.”

The United States has requested detention of Kramer and that he be held without bond pending trial, because the U.S. asserts that he is a danger to the community.

Kramer waived a detention hearing during his initial appearance in court yesterday,  but requested a preliminary examination hearing on the complaint, which is scheduled for tomorrow.

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) State Representative Rob Matzie announced today that new grants totaling nearly $2.7 million from the Commonwealth Financing Authority will fund multiple water infrastructure improvements and the purchase of new police and fire vehicles for Beaver County municipalities.

Matzie confirmed that many of the 17 grants secured will support construction and engineering costs to improve municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater services. 

According to a release from Matzie’s office, Matzie said the funding includes:

• $300,000 to Ambridge Borough for the purchase of a new ladder fire truck to replace the current unit, which has exceeded its useful life.
• $300,000 to Baden Borough to allow the Baden Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a new fire engine to replace an aging, malfunctioning one.
• $250,000 to Center Township Water Authority to replace deteriorating and undersized infrastructure in the water distribution system along Old Brodhead Road, including replacement of 2,300 feet of waterline plus service reconnections and site restoration.
• $250,000 to Hopewell Township to address frequent, localized flooding at Hopewell Community Park through 500 feet of stream restoration, riparian buffer planting and storm sewer installation.
• $200,000 to the Aliquippa Municipal Water Authority to replace 35,000 feet of antiquated cast iron waterlines joined with leaded sealant in the Plan 6 area constructed in the1900s-1930s. Work will include 50 water service line replacements, service reconnections and site restoration.
• $200,000 to Center Township Water Authority to replace 1,500 feet of aging/undersized waterlines on Elm Drive, part of Highland Avenue, and Chestnut Drive between Old Brodhead Road and Highland Avenue (plus service reconnections and site restoration) to improve reliability and fire protection.
• $200,000 to Center Township Water Authority to replace 1,700 feet of aging/undersized waterlines along Wickham Drive to reduce line breaks, service disruptions and improve pressure and fire safety. Work will include two new hydrants, service reconnections and site restoration.
• $150,000 to Baden Borough to repair an aging stormwater system causing poor drainage along State Route 2012/Philips Street. Work will include replacing 258 feet of pipe and treating another 1,459 feet with cure-in-place pipe lining.
• $150,000 to Center Township for storm sewer improvements to reduce flooding along Golfview Drive adjacent to Beaver Valley Mall, including replacing 770 feet of storm sewer pipe, seven inlets, and one manhole; spot repair to 200 feet of concrete curb; and site restoration work.
• $100,000 to Center Township to replace the existing stormwater culvert that carries the Moon Run stream under Wolfe Drive to improve water quality and motorist safety. Work will include installing a new culvert, storm sewers and related infrastructure, plus site restoration.
• $100,000 to Conway Borough to help the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department purchase six new patrol vehicles for use in Baden, Conway and Freedom boroughs and Rochester Township.
• $100,000 to the Freedom Borough Collection and Conveyance Authority for critical rehabilitation work to 3,785 feet of aging sanitary sewer infrastructure on 6^th to 8^th avenues between 14^th and 18^th streets, to restore pipe integrity and prevent blockages and overflows.
• $100,000 to Harmony Township for landslide remediation work to address areas of slope movement along Forest, Ridge and Valley roads. The project will include stabilizing active slide areas, anchoring unstable soils, constructing reinforced walls and other work.
• $100,000 to Rochester Area Joint Sewer Authority to replace the treatment plant’s belt filter press, which filters out sludge from water.
• $75,000 to Ambridge Water Authority to replace 650 feet of aging waterline along Maplewood Avenue in Ambridge, install 1,560 feet of restrained joint ductile iron pipe, replace lead lines as identified, reconnect 80 water services, install hydrants and perform site restoration.
• $75,000 to Rochester Township to demolish the existing exposed salt storage structure and construct a new, enclosed salt storage pole barn to safely house winter deicing materials.
• $25,000 to Rochester Borough for equipment for the Rochester Borough Police Department.

These grants come from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Local Share Account, which is funded by gaming revenue and local share assessments that are generated by licensed gaming facilities such as casinos and racetracks. 

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Los Angeles, CA) The HBO Max medical series “The Pitt,” which is a day-in-the-life series based on the medical work in Pittsburgh, earned two Emmys at the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards last night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. 

Actor Noah Wyle, who plays Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in the series, won the 2026 Emmy for best lead actor in a drama. 

Wyle’s character was introduced in the pilot episode of “The Pitt” as the senior emergency attending physician at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s emergency room. 

“The Pitt” also earned the 2026 Emmy for best drama series after earning the 2025 Emmy in that same category. 

The drama also earned four wins for Emmys in a pre-ceremony on September 6th at the Peacock Theater and it is the year’s top nominee for Emmys with 25. 

It won on September 6th in categories that included prosthetic makeup and best guest actor in a drama. 

That best guest actor in a drama award went to 73-year-old first-time nominee Ernest Harden, Jr. 

Harden portrayed the last days of Louie Cloverfield, who was the emergency room’s constant presence and constantly struggling alcoholic on “The Pitt.”

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported today that twenty-nine-year-old Destiney Williams of McKees Rocks was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Pittsburgh on September 7th.

Williams was stopped by police at 2:09 a.m. because she committed traffic violations and was subsequently arrested for DUI.

Charges against her are pending. 

(Credit for Photos Below: Photos Courtesy of the Beaver County Humane Society, Posted on Facebook on September 14th, 2026, Headline Photo: File Photo of the Beaver County Humane Society)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Beaver County Humane Society issued a Facebook post yesterday that they want to get five lost animals that are currently at the animal shelter in Aliquippa home to their owners.

The pictures of these lost animals and more information about them can be found below, and those at the shelter are looking to find the owners of four dogs and one cat.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Raccoon Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported yesterday that twenty-year-old Jeffrey Vogel of Monaca was charged after a three-vehicle crash occurred in Raccoon Township.

It happened on 1541 Frankfort Road at 10:39 p.m.

Vogel tried to pass a vehicle driven by forty-two-year-old Mark Thys of Orlando, Florida by utilizing the passing lane.

Vogel’s vehicle hit the vehicle driven by fifty-three-year-old Sharon Dabb of Langeloth, Pennsylvania, and subsequently hit the vehicle of Thys. 

Possible injuries were reported on the scene of this crash.

Vogel and Dabb refused transportation and Thys was not transported.

Thys was not injured, but Dabb had a suspected minor injury and it was unknown if Vogel was injured. 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Independence Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported yesterday that twenty-eight-year-old Huseyin Ece of Niles, Illnois was charged after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Independence Township on September 2nd.

This happened on a straightaway section on State Route 151’s westbound lane near the intersection with Stone Quarry Drive at 2:20 a.m.

Twenty-eight-year-old Mustafa Oncu of Pittsburgh was driving on the westbound lane until he noticed a fallen tree on the road.

After putting on his vehicle’s hazard lights, Oncu stopped his vehicle and exited his vehicle to try to clear the road before continuing on the road. 

Ece failed to maintain the speed of his vehicle and was unable to stop before his vehicle rear-ended the vehicle of Oncu. 

There were no reported injuries.  

(File Photo of a Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Brighton Township, PA) The father of a 10-year-old boy whose mother has been missing from Washington, D.C. since September 4th was arrested during a traffic stop in Brighton Township on Saturday. 

He has not been charged in the woman’s disappearance but he is being held in the Beaver County Jail. 

Antoinette Forbes was last seen close to her home in Washington, D.C. on September 4th.  

Forbes’ sister stated that they spoke on FaceTime the next morning. 

However, she did not connect to their usual family phone call on Sunday. 

Sixty-five-year-old Russell Ashford, who is Forbes’ son’s father, was arrested during a traffic stop at around 10:20 a.m. on Saturday in Brighton Township for violating his parole. 

Ashford was on parole after he was convicted of assaulting Forbes in 2021 and served 5 years of probation. 

Court records that are from a lengthy custody battle show that Ashford lives in an apartment at Bridgewater Crossing.