(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A worker collects shopping carts in the parking lot of a Target store on June 9, 2021, in Highlands Ranch, Colo. Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month, after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg today from Representative Marla Brown’s office (R-Lawrence), Brown is planning to introduce legislation that would require students in grades six through twelve to participate in shop class, This would help to expand hands-on learning and better prepare students for in-demand careers. The proposal from Brown comes amid a growing concern about workforce shortages in the skilled trades and a renewed focus on practical education opportunities which connect students directly to career pathways, and she stated: “Requiring shop class is about giving students real opportunities to discover skills they may not otherwise be exposed to and putting them on a path toward meaningful, family-sustaining careers. What we heard during our workforce development hearing made it clear increasing awareness of the trades and expanding hands-on learning are essential to closing workforce gaps and strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy.” Brown also noted that the effort builds on conversations and feedback gathered during a recent House Republican Policy Committee hearing that she hosted in Lawrence County, which focused on strengthening development in the workforce in Pennsylvania’s trades. The hearing was titled, “Built in Pennsylvania: Workforce Development in the Trades,” and it brought together educators, employers and labor leaders to discuss solutions to workforce gaps and ways to increase awareness of trade careers. Participants highlighted the value of career and technical education programs while they also identified challenges in expanding access and student participation. Testifiers and lawmakers also agreed that greater exposure to hands-on learning at earlier grade levels could play a critical role in addressing those challenges. Brown expressed that employers, labor organizations and schools all play an important role in preparing the next generation of workers and that stronger collaboration between those groups will be key to long-term success.

(File Photo of the Beaver County Transit Authority)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Beaver County Transit Authority (BCTA) is one of the ten regional transit companies that will provide service to Pittsburgh during the weekend of the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held from April 23rd-25th. The BCTA will utilize three different routes for the draft and this will give passengers connections to Pittsburgh’s “T” light rail system, which will be free to all riders throughout the draft. According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here are the routes that can be taken during that time:

BCTA Draft Express

• Direct route from the Expressway Travel Center (131 Pleasant Drive, Aliquippa, Pa. 15001) to Downtown Pittsburgh
• Boarding time from ETC to Downtown Pittsburgh on April 23rd-24th: 3:45-4:10 p.m.
• Departure time from ETC to Downtown Pittsburgh on April 23rd-24th: 4:15 p.m.
• Boarding Time No. 1 from Downtown Pittsburgh to ETC on April 23rd-24th: 9:45-10:10 p.m.
• Departure time from Downtown Pittsburgh to ETC on April 23rd-24th: 10:15 p.m.
• Boarding Time No. 2 from Downtown Pittsburgh to ETC on April 23rd-24th: 10:45-11:10 p.m.
• Departure time from Downtown Pittsburgh to ETC on April 23rd-24th: 11:15 p.m.
• Boarding time from ETC on April 25th: 9:15-9:40 a.m.
• Departure time from ETC on April 25th: 9:45 a.m.
• Boarding Time No. 1 from Downtown Pittsburgh to ETC on April 25th: 2:45-3:10 p.m.
• Departure time from Downtown Pittsburgh to ETC on April 25th: 3:15 p.m.
• Boarding Time No. 2 from Downtown Pittsburgh to ETC on April 25th: 4:45-5:10 p.m.
• Departure time from Downtown Pittsburgh to ETC on April 23rd-24th: 5:15 p.m.
• Riders are encouraged to download the Mobile ticketing app and arrive early to guarantee a spot is available for you.
• Riders must be present to claim their seat. Holds and reservations by another passenger are prohibited.
• Fares are $5 each way per rider. Passengers can also purchase a $10 unlimited day pass if purchased on the bus or $9 if purchased on the BCTA mobile app. The pass includes unlimited rides on all BCTA fixed route vehicles when the pass is activated.

Route 4

• The BCTA Express Route 4 will operate as normal on April 23rd-24th. However, buses may be delayed due to traffic conditions.
• The route will begin at the Center Township Park & Ride Location

Route 5

• BCTA Route 5 operates from the Ambridge Park & Ride to Downtown Pittsburgh every hour Monday-Friday
• There is no Route 5 service on Saturday
• The last Route 5 bus leaves Downtown Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Monday-Friday. However, buses may be delayed due to traffic conditions.

Passengers are also encouraged to either download the Mobile Ticketing App to make boarding the bus smoother or download the BCTA Bus Tracker, which you can access by clicking here, or the myStop app to see bus locations with capacity information for Routes 4-5.

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful are inviting environmentally-conscious students from 10th through 12th grades to help preserve the natural resources of Pennsylvania through the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program. This program empowers young Pennsylvanians to train and learn from leaders across Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, the private sector, state government and local media to protect the environment of the state and build problem-solving and leadership skills. Applicants should be committed to restoring and protecting the ecological landscape of Pennsylvania through volunteerism and leadership and should be passionate about the environment. Applications are being accepted from now through June 10th, 2026. Students will be chosen through a competitive application process. Students interested in applying should visit keeppabeautiful.org and choose Programs, Education then Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania to apply. Applicants can also call 724-836-4121, extension 114, or email kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org to apply. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will also provide education and training to program participants on topics related to the impact of civic engagement and public policy, litter on roadways, litter prevention, social media marketing, volunteer management and waste management and recycling. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has also partnered with industry leaders, Columbia Gas – NiSource Charitable Foundation and Dow to provide Job Shadow Days to select ambassadors, who will serve a one-year term from September of 2026 through May of 2027 and represent and uphold the mission and values of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. According to a recent release from PennDOT, program requirements include:

• attending 6 mandatory virtual education sessions;
• conducting a community assessment and creating a summary presentation;
• organizing a community cleanup event through Pick Up Pennsylvania and conducting one community education event or activity.

(File Photo of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Cars)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) has now opened a new selection cycle for men and women who are considering a rewarding career as a state trooper.  Applications should be submitted via the Commonwealth’s employment website, which can be accessed by clicking here, by May 29, 2026. Applicants who meet all of the eligibility requirements will move on to a qualifying written examination. They must also complete a polygraph examination, background investigation, physical readiness test, medical screening, and psychological screening before training at the academy. Applicants must have either a high school diploma or a GED certificate, as well as a valid driver’s license from any state. They must be at least 20 years old at the time of application, and they must be at least 21 years old and cannot have reached age 40 upon the entry into the training academy. Training for cadets lasts approximately 28 weeks and includes formal coursework in Pennsylvania’s crimes and vehicle codes, physical fitness activities, and training in police vehicles, firearms, and equipment. Upon completion of the training academy, cadets are promoted to the rank of trooper and they will receive an increase in salary, which is currently set at $71,647 annually. Troopers can earn approximately $96,225 after five years of service. You can visit PATrooper.com by clicking here for more information on becoming a state trooper, including applicant requirements and job benefits,

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed at the County Courthouse during the Beaver County Commissioners’ work session this morning. The main topic was during the Solicitors’ report when Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles discussed a possible new agreement after a meeting that the Commissioners had yesterday with representatives from various communities that are within the county’s Emergency Services Unit (ESU) and Drug Task Force. They also met up with various police chiefs and solicitors and this agreement between the communities and the county that has been in place since 2017 regarding how officers from the local communities that serve those various task forces are paid. Fedeles confirmed that the Commissioners came out of this meeting “with the hope that we will be able to hope to implement a new agreement between the communities that would keep the Drug Task Force and the ESU members who are from communities who serve on those as employees for their local municipality; in return, the county would give a reimbursement to those municipalities as opposed to those individuals being employees of the county.” Officers of those task forces asked if they could remain employees of their local municipalities because they are county employees. Fedeles confirmed that the reason they asked this is because it helps them with certain fringe benefits that they get when they work for their local communities. Some recent and upcoming events were also brought up during the session. The first was the Pennsylvania First Day of Trout for fishing at Brady’s Run and Brush Creek Parks this Saturday mentioned by Beaver County Recreation and Tourism Director Tony Caltury during the department head report. Commissioner Jack Manning also praised the event that was held yesterday at the county courthouse to introduce the LETI program to the county, which is a program used by Pennsylvania counties to avoid giving criminal charges to individuals who may simply just need help. Manning also talked about the Envirothon event which will be held today at Brady’s Run Park where juniors and seniors in different high schools will be quizzed on different environmental topics to try to make to it the state competitions. That event is run by the Beaver County Conservation District. In other business, it was also addressed during the department head report that if anyone goes into the side doors of the county courthouse to enter or exit, an alarm will ring. If you are either an employee of the county courthouse or not, you must use the front and the back entrances of it to go inside.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of The Butler County Early Care & Education Council)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler, PA) The Butler County Early Care & Education Council, which is a community collaboration to support school readiness, will be celebrating national “Week of the Young Child” with a free special event called “Early Learning is Dino-mite!” on Saturday, April 18th from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Monarch Training Institute at Monarch Place in Butler. This is especially designed for young children from birth through grade school and it includes more than 20 learning activities, a visit from Readasaurus the Dinosaur, a show from Mad Science, community resources, prizes and more. Each participating family will receive a free book that is called “Don’t Blow Your Top” while supplies last. According to a release today from the Butler County Early Care & Education Council, here are the scheduled activities for this event:

Scheduled Activities: 

10:30 am – 1:30 pm: Meet Readasaurus the Dinosaur! Photo opportunity provided by 

Family Pathways. 

11:30 am: STORY TIME “Don’t Blow Your Top” read by the South Butler Community Library. 

11:45 am: MUSIC “Roar and Restore!” with Create and Connect Therapy. 

12:30 pm: MOVEMENT “Dinosaur Yoga!” led by Early Learning Resource Center 3. 

1:15 pm: FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT: “Fire and the Ice Age” presented by Mad Science. 

(File Photo of the New Brighton Area School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Brighton, PA) New Brighton Area School District was recently given approximately 100 boxes of non-perishable food for the upcoming break because of a generous donation. They are available to any families that could use them and they are located in the District Administration Office and will be handed out both today from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. through tomorrow at those same times. You may pull up in the Bus Lane to retrieve a box and they will be given out on a first come, first served basis until all of them have been handed out.   

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Visit Pittsburgh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) New legislation that was proposed in front of Pittsburgh City Council would increase city parking meter rates Downtown and on the North Shore to $5 per hour during the 2026 NFL Draft. This legislation was proposed by Councilman Bobby Wilson, who represents the city’s District 1, which includes parts of Downtown Pittsburgh and parts of the North Side. Under the proposed legislation, the increased revenue from the higher rates would help to offset expenses to the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh. There is expected to be additional manpower that is needed during the upcoming massive three-day event that is being held from April 23rd through April 25th. Existing street parking rates in the city vary from $1.50 per hour to $4 per hour depending on where you park. Parking violations during the proposed rate increase period would cost $120. If the legislation is approved, the increased parking rates would be temporarily in effect from April 22nd through April 27th. California Avenue, East Ohio Street, James Street, Middle Street and Perrysville Avenue on the city’s North Side would be exempt from the increased rates under the proposed legislation. The language of it explains that the existing penalties for parking violations are “unlikely to serve as a disincentive to violations” while parking lot and garage rates on the North Shore are expected to be in the ballpark of over $200 per day.

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release today that an unidentified forty-three-year-old man from Cortland, Ohio was apprehended for trespassing a building in Lawrence County on Sunday at 1:58 a.m. A report came in for a man forcing entry into a building on Churchill Road in Shenango Township. It was determined that when police arrived, that man was not allowed to enter the building. He was taken into custody as a result of this incident. 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release yesterday that fifty-two-year-old Stacy Christopher of New Castle was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance in Lawrence County on March 14th, 2026. PSP New Castle barracks conducted a traffic stop in the area of the 100 block of West Balph Avenue at approximately 5:10 p.m. and Christopher displayed signs of impairment during the stop. Christopher was also found with a small amount of marijuana for her personal use and charges will be filed against her.