Category: News

Highland Middle School Kids of STEEL Program to Receive Grant Support from P3R

(File Photo of the Blackhawk School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) Highland Middle School in the Blackhawk School District will welcome Maria DeCello of P3R and the Kids of STEEL program on March 12th, 2026, during the team’s regularly scheduled practice as the school receives grant funding to support its growing youth running program. The Highland Middle School Kids of STEEL program prepares student-athletes and their families to participate in events that are associated with the Pittsburgh Marathon that takes place each spring. Students train together while building lifelong habits centered on goal setting, physical activity, and teamwork through the program. DeCello will present grant funding from P3R to support the continued growth and success of the Highland Middle School program. The funding will help provide resources that ensure more students and families can participate in training and upcoming race events during the practice on March 12th, 2026.

Allegheny Health Network’s Cardiovascular Institute Opens Clinic Dedicated to Congenital Heart Disease in Adult Patient Populations

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from Allegheny Health Network, (AHN), AHN Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh announced the launch today of its comprehensive Adult Congenital Heart Center, which is a regional resource for patients with abnormal heart chamber structures, holes in the heart, malformed valves and other heart defects. This center is led by Allegheny Health Network’s Nael Aldweib, MD, who is a board-certified cardiologist that specializes in congenital heart disease and heart failure. Up to 2.4 million Americans have some form of congenital heart disease (CHD), and that number continues to grow, according to the American Heart Association. 

Andrew McCutchen, 39, and the Texas Rangers make agreement for his minor league contract

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sept. 6, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, File)

(AP) The Texas Rangers and outfielder Andrew McCutchen agreed to a minor league contract.

As part of the deal announced Friday, the 39-year-old would make $1.5 million this season while playing in the major leagues if he’s added to the 40-man roster.

McCutchen has three weeks of spring training to show the Rangers he’s worth a spot. They’re well-positioned in the outfield with rising standouts Wyatt Langford in left field and Evan Carter in center field and veteran newcomer Brandon Nimmo in right field.

Still, Carter was limited by injuries to 63 games in 2025, so depth is a concern that McCutchen could help alleviate. His right-handed bat could also serve as a natural complement at the designated hitter spot, where left-handed hitter Joc Pederson is slated for the bulk of the playing time.

McCutchen played the last three seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the club that drafted him in the first round in 2005 and promoted him in 2009 for his major league debut. McCutchen played his first nine years in MLB with the Pirates, making five straight All-Star teams and winning the 2013 National League MVP award while becoming one of the most popular players in that franchise’s history.

McCutchen bounced around with four other teams between 2018 and 2022, before reuniting with the Pirates. He played in 135 games last season, with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .700 OPS. When the Pirates reported to spring training last month, general manager Ben Cherington publicly kept the door open to bringing back McCutchen, but the signing of veteran Marcell Ozuna effectively eliminated a spot on their roster for him.

“No matter what, Andrew’s a Pirate and certainly our desire will be to continue to have a really strong relationship with him into the future, whatever that looks like,” Cherington said then.

Penn State fires women’s basketball coach Carolyn Kieger after seven seasons

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Penn State head coach Carolyn Kieger directs her team against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Columbia, S.C., Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(State College, PA) Penn State fired their women’s basketball head coach Carolyn Kieger yesterday after seven seasons. Kieger finished with an 84-123 record. The Lady Lions had an 11-18 record this season with a 4-14 record in Big Ten play and did not make the 14-team field for the Big Ten conference tournament. According to Penn State, it will conduct a national search for its next coach. 

Leadership Beaver County Applications Now Open

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) According to a recent release from the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, applications are open now for Leadership Beaver County.

Click here to find more information about applying for this opportunity and to apply.

Leadership Beaver County is a cohort-based program that has a maximum of twenty participants which is designed for existing and emerging leaders whose primary residence or professional work is in Beaver County with sessions being held at various locations throughout Beaver County. Each of its cohorts meets from September through May, from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. and it is usually on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

AAA Gas Price Update: Prices Continue Upward

(File Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell,  Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to AAA, today’s national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.32, which is 34 cents more than Monday and 42 cents higher than a month ago. Today’s national average is the highest since September of 2024. Some tips that AAA recommends for Pennsylvanians and beyond to improve vehicle gas mileage can be found below, according to a release from AAA East Central in Pittsburgh:

The Daily Drive

  • Slow down and drive the speed limit. On the highway, aerodynamic drag causes fuel economy to drop off significantly as speeds increase above 50 mph.
  • Reduce trips and lighten your load. Limit the amount of cargo in your vehicle when possible.
  • Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and hard acceleration. These actions greatly increase fuel consumption. Accelerate smoothly with light to moderate throttle.
  • Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine. Even in winter, idling, and warming up an engine are unnecessary and wastes fuel.
  • Look ahead. When approaching a red light or stop sign, let off the gas early and allow the vehicle to coast down to a slower speed until it is time to brake.
  • Use cruise control to help maintain a constant speed and save fuel. However, never use cruise control on wet roads because a loss of vehicle control could result.
  • Take advantage of fuel savings programs. AAA members have access to savings when filling up at Shell gas stations. More information is available at AAA.com/Shell by cliking here.

Ownership, Maintenance, and Repairs

  • Keep tires properly inflated. Under inflated tires reduce fuel economy, but more importantly, tires low on air affect handling and braking, wear more rapidly and can overheat and blowout.
  • Maintain the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular maintenance will ensure optimum fuel economy, performance and longevity.
  • Make all necessary repairs. Take the vehicle to a trusted repair facility by clicking here as soon as possible if the “Check Engine” light comes on.

President Donald Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid criticism over immigration enforcement

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/ J. Scott Applewhite, File)

(Washington, D.C. – AP) Donald Trump has fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He made the announcement Thursday. He also said he’ll nominate Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her. Trump made the announcement on social media, two days after Noem faced a grilling on Capitol Hill from GOP members as well as Democrats. Trump says he’ll make Noem a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative that he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere. Noem is the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term. Noem’s departure caps a tumultuous tenure overseeing immigration enforcement tactics that have been met with protests and lawsuits.

Former Highlands School District teacher accused of sexually assaulting his students headed to trial; pleads not guilty

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) A former Highlands School District teacher accused of sexually assaulting his students is headed to trial. Fifty-three-year-old Sean Dicer pleaded not guilty during his formal arraignment yesterday in the Allegheny County Courthouse. According to Allegheny County Police, Dicer is accused of sexually assaulting two young boys at his home in 2021. The victims were eleven and twelve years old at the time. Court paperwork gave details of graphic accounts where a victim said that Dicer would buy gifts as well as paying the kids up to 20 dollars after performing sexual acts on one another while Dicer watched. Dicer resigned from his teaching position in 2022. If convicted on all of the charges against him, the maximum amount of time Dicer could face is seventy-nine years in prison. The criminal complaint also stated that Dicer performed sexual acts with one of the victims at least ten times. There were not any victims yesterday in Allegheny County Court, but Judge Jaime Hickton brought up the importance of not violating a “no contact” order that was put in place.

Allegheny County Jail inmate charged with trying to bring drugs into the jail

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This Oct. 17, 2023 file photo shows the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County jail could significantly increase its mental health staffing and provide more training about use of force and restraint after five inmates alleged that the Pennsylvania facility treats those with mental illness unfairly, under proposed settlement filed Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) An inmate is now charged with trying to bring drugs into the Allegheny County Jail. According to Allegheny County police, detectives were called to the jail on October 15th, 2025 for a reported conspiracy to smuggle synthetic cannabinoids, also called K2, into the jail through the attorney-client mailing process. Detectives alleged that an inmate, forty-four-year-old Edwin Wylie-Biggs worked with people outside the jail to smuggle drugs inside. Police state that witness interviews helped detectives recover documents addressed to Wylie-Biggs that tested positive for K2. Wylie-Biggs is facing multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility and the investigation into this incident is ongoing.