Category: News

Blackhawk girls basketball and Sewickley boys basketball move on to the 2026 PIAA high school basketball playoff semifinals

(File Photo of the Basketball Broadcast Schedule Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The PIAA boys and girls high school basketball quarterfinals wrapped up on Saturday and those games took place around the state of Pennsylvania. Two local teams remain in this year’s PIAA playoffs after their recent victories as they moved on to the semi-finals. The Blackhawk girls defeated another local team in North Catholic High School by a score of 59-37 on Saturday in McMurray and the Cougars will take on Oakland Catholic tomorrow at a site and time that is to be determined. The Sewickley Academy boys defeated McConnellsburg 49-38 on Saturday in Johnstown and the Panthers will play Mercyhurst Prep in a semifinal tomorrow at Sharon High School at 7 p.m. New Castle’s boys lost to Central Dauphin 54-43 in Johnstown on Saturday. Moon’s boys lost to West York 59-53 in Hollidaysburg on Friday. North Catholic’s boys lost to Carver Engineering and Science 68-61 in McConnellsburg on Friday.

District 11 Road Closures and Restrictions Due to Inclement Weather – 9:15 AM Monday Update

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 is advising drivers that portions of the following state roadways are closed or restricted to traffic due to inclement weather as of 9:15 A.M. today:

Allegheny County

  • Noblestown Road (Route 3048) between Walker Avenue and Columbia Avenue in Collier Township – Closed due to a downed tree in wires

Lawrence County

  • Route 351 between Gilmore Road and Kauffman Road in Little Beaver Township – Closed due to downed tree in wires

The roadways will be reopened as soon as they are safe and as issues are addressed and PennDOT is advising that drivers are reminded to:

  • Reduce speed and remain alert for debris on the roadway.
  • Avoid driving through areas where trees, limbs, or wires are down.
  • Allow extra time for travel.
  • Never approach or drive over downed utility lines.

New Grenada Theater in the Hill District of Pittsburgh set to reopen soon after it closed for decades

(File Photo of an Open for Business Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Members of the Hill Community Development Corporation shared an update on the New Grenada Theater with WTAE on Friday. It is weeks away from reopening in the Hill District of Pittsburgh after its doors closed for several decades, which dates back to 1965. The space that is located along Centre Avenue will become a multi-purpose event center.

Steelers sign Super Bowl champion defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day for two years, $11 million

(Caption for Photo: Titans defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day heads to the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Credit for Photo: Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Tennessee Titans defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day, who signed a two-year deal that is worth $11 million with $6 million in 2026. Joseph-Day appeared in all 17 games in each of the last two seasons for the Titans and he recorded six tackles for loss in 2025. Joseph-Day also won Super Bowl LVI (56) on February 13th, 2022 in Inglewood, California when he was a member of the Los Angeles Rams. 

Beaver County native Joe Letteri wins his sixth Oscar® for his work in “Avatar: Fire and Ash”

(Caption for Photo: Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon, Richard Baneham, and Joe Letteri, winners of the Best Visual Effects award for Avatar: Fire and Ash pose with Sigourney Weaver in the press room during the 98th Oscars. Credit for Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Los Angeles, CA) A Beaver County man won an Oscar® Award at the 2026 Oscars® last night. Joe Letteri won the Oscar® for Best Visual Effects for his work on the movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Letteri shared the award with Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett when they won it at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, California last night. This is the sixth Oscar® that Letteri has won. 

“Person of interest” interviewed after hit-and-run crash kills a West View man in the Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) New details have emerged regarding a deadly hit-and-run crash that occurred in the Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh on Wednesday. According to police on Saturday, the vehicle involved in the incident had been identified. Investigators also recently interviewed a person of interest. Emergency crews were called to the area of Davis Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue in the city’s Brighton Heights neighborhood on Wednesday after receiving reports of someone lying in the roadway who was injured. Police stated that fifty-eight-year-old Lawrence Soeder of West View was hit by a vehicle at the intersection of those two streets at 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday. He was taken to a hospital, which is where he later died. The driver reportedly fled the scene. No charges have been filed at this time. Police state that they are still considering the investigation into this incident active and ongoing.  

Pitt athletic director: Men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel will return next season despite missed expectations

(Caption for Photo: Pittsburgh head coach Jeff Capel reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against NC State in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pitt men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel will return for his ninth season as the head coach of the Panthers next season despite no appearance in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and a 13-20 overall record this season. Pitt athletic director Allan Greene made the announcement on Friday in a letter that was sent out to Panther Nation after “evaluating every aspect” of the men’s basketball program. Capel is 127-127 in eight seasons as head coach at Pitt with just one NCAA tournament appearance to his credit in 2023. He earned honors as the ACC Coach of the Year that same season after leading the Panthers to a 21-10 regular season record while achieving a 14-6 record in ACC conference play. Capel is under contract through the 2029-2030 season after he signed an extension in 2024. 

Four people arrested after peaceful protest in West Mifflin honoring thirteen-year-old boy killed in a 2025 crash along Kennywood Boulevard

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of KDKA-TV)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(West Mifflin, PA) Several people were arrested yesterday in West Mifflin after a protest that day that honored a thirteen-year-old boy who was killed in a crash along Kennywood Boulevard on December 27th, 2025. This ended in a confrontation with police. According to West Mifflin Police, four people were arrested, including the boy’s father, after demonstrators blocked traffic along Route 837. Court records later showed that six people were charged. Police noted that pepper spray was used to disperse the crowd and one officer was injured.  

Beaver Valley Choral Society announces its 2026 Lenten Concert Series

(File Photo of the Beaver Valley Choral Society Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Beaver Valley Choral Society will present its 2026 Lenten Concert Series called, “O God Beyond All Praising”. The concert program will feature the debut of local composer Trey Tillitson’s “Pie Jesu,” and it will close with the title composition, which is a treasured hymn arranged by Dan Forrest featuring the Principal Choir, Treble Youth Chorale and the BVCS Orchestra. 

The Beaver Valley Choral Society 2026 Lenten Concert Series will be presented at the following locations: 

  • Sunday, March 22, 4 p.m. – Saints Peter & Paul Parish Church (Our Lady of the Valley Parish), 200 Third Street, Beaver, PA, 15009 

The admission for this event is free, but donations are accepted. 

Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh reverend accused of stealing over $1,000 worth of baseball cards from the Economy Borough Walmart resigns

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Photo Courtesy of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on March 15th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The reverend in charge of the largest cathedral in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has resigned after being arrested and accused of stealing over $1,000 worth of baseball trading cards. Rev. Aidan Smith, the head priest and administrator of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Downtown Pittsburgh, had been on administrative leave but resigned from his position over the weekend. Smith was arrested at the Walmart in Economy Borough on February 27th, 2026. According to police, his arrest followed a multi-day spree of stealing trading cards at the store. Smith faces charges of retail theft and receiving stolen property. He is free on a bail of $50,000 and he is due to face a preliminary hearing later this month.