Luigi Mangione’s attorneys say they will not argue psychiatric defense in New York state murder trial regarding killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

(Credit for Photo: Luigi Mangione appears for a pre-trial hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Manhattan, NY) Luigi Mangione’s attorneys informed the judge in his New York state murder case yesterday that they would withdraw their plan to argue at trial that he killed UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive officer Brian Thompson while suffering an extreme emotional disturbance. The notice came in a court filing one day after a hearing in which the attorneys of Mangione had indicated they would argue psychiatric defense. His lawyers could be reached for comment immediately and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office did not comment. Judge Gregory Carro said at a hearing on Wednesday that he planned to unseal records related to an affirmative defense available to New York state criminal defendants charged with murder, in which the accused admits to the charged conduct but argues they should not be held fully criminally liable because he or she acted while experiencing a mental health episode. However, in light of the defense’s withdrawal, Carro commented yesterday that he would keep those records sealed. If a jury finds that a defendant has proved by a preponderance of evidence they acted because of an extreme emotional disturbance, the crime is reduced from murder to manslaughter, which carries far less time in jail.

PUC Advances Proposed Cybersecurity Regulations for Pennsylvania Utilities

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted 5-0 yesterday in Harrisburg to approve a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) which would strengthen cybersecurity requirements for regulated utilities. This will continue the PUC’s efforts to help protect utility infrastructure that is critical and maintain reliable and safe service for consumers in Pennsylvania. These proposed regulations would modernize and expand the PUC’s existing cybersecurity framework and would also establish updated standards for utility cybersecurity programs, enhance cybersecurity incident reporting requirements and require annual certifications of compliance by jurisdictional utilities.

Enon Valley woman taken into custody for driving under the influence of alcohol in Lawrence County

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported today that an unidentified thirty-one-year-old woman from Enon Valley was taken into custody after driving under the influence of alcohol in Lawrence County on June 7th. Police initiated a traffic stop along the 2000 block of Churchill Road in Mahoning Township at 12:35 a.m. An investigation determined that the female suspect was operating her vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Charges will be filed against her. 

Texas man charged for bringing gun into the Pittsburgh International Airport

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Allegheny County Police Department, Posted on Facebook on June 18th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A Texas man is facing charges after police said he brought a gun to the Pittsburgh International Airport. 

According to Allegheny County Police, charges were filed against twenty-three-year-old Liam Grant of Royse City, Texas yesterday. 

TSA agents reported finding a handgun in his carry-on bag at 10:08 a.m. It was found at the security checkpoint. Police stated that Grant did not have a valid carry permit. The FBI was also brought in to investigate this incident. 

Grant and anybody else that is charged with bringing a gun into an airport security checkpoint will face up to $10,000 fines.  

Repeat offenders can be fined up to $13,910. 

York man charged after two-vehicle crash in Allegheny County

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported yesterday that a thirty-four-year-old York man was charged after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Allegheny County on June 2nd. Delando Belton was driving on I-376 East in Green Tree Borough at 7:11 p.m. and hit the vehicle driven by forty-seven-year-old Nicholas Seemann of Imperial. According to police, Belton was trying to merge his vehicle into the right east bound lane before hitting Seemann’s vehicle and Belton was charged with a summary traffic violation. There were no reported injuries. 

Pittsburgh teenager charged after two-vehicle crash in Robinson Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported today that a sixteen-year-old boy from Pittsburgh was charged after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Robinson Township on April 8th. The teenage driver was traveling on I-79 North at 5:18 p.m. and hit the vehicle driven by fifty-two-year-old Anil Siew of Ambridge. There were no reported injuries.  

Two Beaver County Police Academy graduates become Ambridge Borough police officers

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Ambridge Borough Police Department, Posted on Facebook on June 17th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) Beaver County Police Academy graduates Anthony Carter and Jacob Weiman recently completed countless hours of training, physical conditioning and studying to make their way into the Ambridge Borough Police Department. 

Both of them are now police officers and they were honored in a graduation ceremony. 

Ambridge Police Chief John DeLuca and K9 Patrolman Michael Longo also attended the graduation ceremony to welcome them into that department.

They will now serve the citizens of Ambridge Borough as police officers.  

Braves acquire catcher Joey Bart from Pirates for pitcher Hunter Stratton

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates’ Joey Bart steps in to bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game, May 7, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves acquired catcher Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton on Thursday night.

Atlanta made room for Bart on the 40-man roster by designating catcher Sandy León for assignment. The Pirates assigned Stratton to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Bart was batting .259 with two homers, six RBIs and a .670 OPS in 21 games with Pittsburgh. He grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and played college ball in the city at Georgia Tech before being selected second overall by the San Francisco Giants in the 2018 amateur draft.

The NL East-leading Braves (46-27) already have two fine catchers in 2025 NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin and 2023 All-Star Sean Murphy, but Murphy is on the 60-day injured list with a broken finger.

Stratton appeared in one game with the Braves this year and pitched a scoreless inning. He played for the Pirates from 2023-25 before getting traded to Atlanta last July.

León was batting .091 with zero RBIs in 21 games this season.

Scwhebel Baking Company closing after 120 years

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of WTAE-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on June 18th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Youngstown, OH) The Schwebel Baking Company is closing after 120 years. Schwebel’s operations will wind down throughout the summer, according to the company. The Youngstown, Ohio-based bakery cited rising costs, aging manufacturing equipment and facilities, and said that it was unable to find a buyer. The company said in a statement: “The Schwebel’s brand has been known for the highest quality of bread, buns and other bakery products for over 100 years, and we are devastated to reach the point where liquidation is the only remaining option.”

Imperial Resident Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Possession of Machinegun

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a resident of Imperial has been sentenced in federal court to three years of incarceration, followed by two years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating a federal firearms law. Twenty-two-year-old Ja’Shon Spencer was sentenced on Wednesday. According to information presented to the Court, on June 16th, 2025, Spencer possessed a Glock semiautomatic pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), or “Glock switch,” during a drug transaction with undercover members of law enforcement. An MCD is a device that converts a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. Both the MCD as well as the firearm with which the MCD is equipped are considered to be machineguns and are illegal under federal law.