Category: News

Pirates activate catcher Endy Rodríguez from the 10-day injured list

(Credit and Caption for Photo: The Pirates’ Endy Rodriguez celebrates his game-tying home run against the Marlins in the fifth inning June 12 at PNC Park. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to Danny Demilo of PittsburghBaseballNow.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated catcher Endy Rodríguez from the 10-day injured list yesterday.

Rodriguez was not in the starting lineup in yesterday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park last night.

He suffered the injury on July 5th in the Pirates’ game against the Washington Nationals in Washington D.C. and was put on the injured list on July 8 because of a left glute strain.

Rodríguez slashed .260/.388/.470, along with earning five home runs, two stolen bases, 16 RBI and 15 runs over his 35 games with the Pirates.

The Pirates also recently optioned catcher Shawn Ross to Triple-A Indianapolis so Rodríguez can have a spot on the active roster. 

Ohio man charged after unlawfully using emergency highway crossover when hit by Zelienople woman’s vehicle

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported today that forty-three-year-old Nicholas Popio of Struthers, Ohio was charged with summary traffic violations after a two-vehicle crash in Allegheny County on July 15th. 

Popio was driving on I-79 North in Franklin Park Borough and unlawfully used an emergency highway crossover to go into the southbound travel lanes.

The vehicle driven by twenty-two-year-old Lauren Marsico of Zelienople hit the vehicle of Popio and she did not stop her vehicle in time after realizing that Popio was in the wrong lane.

There were no reported injuries. 

Center Twp. Police Honor 8-year Old Who Knew To Call for Help During Medical Emergency

(Photos courtesy of Dawn Sparks) Pictured left to right, Corporal Brown, Gabi Sparks, and K-9 Officer Peake.

Story by Beaver County Radio General Manager, Frank Sparks

(Center Twp., Beaver County) The day started normal for 8-year old Gabi Sparks as she was dropped off by her mom at her grandma’s house in Center Twp. on July 14, 2026. That all changed in the late morning hours as Gabi’s Gigi started suffering from a medical emergency. Gabi acted quickly after shaking her and not receiving any response by picking up the phone and calling for  help.

On Monday, Center Twp. Police Corporal Kristen Brown and k-9 Officer Will Peake along with his partner Tonda honored Gabi for her quick response that saved her Gigi’s life. The officer presented Gabi with a Center Twp. Police K-9 hoodie, a special bracelet, and Tonda charms for her Crocs. Gabi was also able to meet Tonda. Gabi said that she is just glad that her Gigi is ok.

Monaca woman charged after single-vehicle crash in Findlay Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Findlay Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported today that thirty-four-year-old Bailey Baker of Monaca was charged after a single-vehicle crash in Findlay Township on July 5th.

Baker was driving on I-376 West at 4:40 p.m. and went across both the middle and right travel lane of the road.

Baker’s vehicle hit a concrete barrier and she suffered a suspected minor injury as a result of this crash.

However, she refused transportation. 

Beaver Falls woman charged after single-vehicle crash in Findlay Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Findlay Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported today that twenty-nine-year-old Jamera Jones of Beaver Falls was charged with summary traffic violations after a single-vehicle crash in Findlay Township on June 28th.

Jones was driving on I-376 East at 4:35 p.m. and lost control of her vehicle because it hyrdoplaned on the wet surface of the road.

Her vehicle then hit a cable barrier.

There were no reported injuries. 

AAA: National Average Continues to Climb

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are six cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at about $4.21 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline went up 11 cents from last week to $4.11.

Twenty-eight states are now at an average of $4 per gallon or higher for regular gas.

The volatility along the Strait of Hormuz and instability in that region pushed crude oil prices to more than $80 per barrel.

The national average for a gallon of regular gas is 24 cents higher than a month ago and 97 cents higher than a year ago. 

The report states that the average price that you can expect for a gallon of regular unleaded gas here in Beaver County is about $4.21. 

According to a release from AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here are the average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline this week in various Pennsylvania areas:

$4.088      Altoona
$4.212      Beaver
$4.161      Bradford
$3.899      Brookville
$4.301      Butler
$4.045      Clarion
$4.154      DuBois
$4.209      Erie
$4.220      Greensburg
$4.142      Indiana
$4.247      Jeannette
$4.287      Kittanning
$4.274      Latrobe
$4.162      Meadville
$4.310      Mercer
$4.264      New Castle
$4.233      New Kensington
$4.221      Oil City
$4.286      Pittsburgh
$4.148      Sharon
$4.427      Uniontown
$4.246      Warren
$4.224      Washington

Pennsylvania State Police Beaver conduct DUI checkpoint detail in Beaver County; 4 DUI arrests made

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported today that they conducted a DUI checkpoint detail in Beaver County on Friday and Saturday.

The results of this initiative were that there were four arrests for driving under the influence.

Police also reminded the public that it is illegal for anyone that is under twenty-one years old to drink alcohol and the legal blood alcohol limit in the state of Pennsylvania is 0.08%. 

Pirates rookie outfielder Esmeryln Valdez leaves game with hand injury

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly, center, watches as Esmerlyn Valdez, left, is examined by a team trainer, right, after being hit by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmeryln Valdez was removed from the team’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park last night after being hit in the left hand by a pitch from Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly in the fourth inning.

Valdez, who has 14 home runs in his limited playing time this season, took a 92 mph fastball from Kelly to the area around his left hand and wrist.

The 22-year-old Valdez winced in pain while he was being tended to by medical staff.

He slowly walked toward the Pirates dugout before being replaced by Jared Triolo.

Valdez’s recent performances has helped the Pirates stay in playoff contention despite injuries to some of their other key players like Oneil Cruz, Spencer Horwitz and Konnor Griffin.

Valdez has a hand injury and can be considered as day-to-day.

According to Kevin Gorman of Tribune-Review Sports, he is expected to undergo more imaging for this injury today. 

Brandon Lowe’s 10th-inning hit rallies the Pirates over the Diamondbacks 3-2

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum celebrates after scoring on a single by Brandon Lowe off Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandon Lowe singled home Billy Cook in the bottom of the 10th inning to rally the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

Lowe finished a three-hit night by lacing a line drive off Diamondbacks reliever Taylor Clarke (2-2) that smacked off the glove of Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas and rolled away, allowing Cook to race home as the Pirates pulled even with the Diamondbacks for the National League’s third wild-card spot.

Mason Montgomery (4-3) worked around an error by third baseman Nick Gonzales and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 10th to earn the victory. The Pirates’ bullpen, which has been a sore spot much of the season, tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Bryan Reynolds delivered a game-tying RBI double in the eighth for Pittsburgh, which lost promising rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez to a left-hand injury in the fourth inning after getting hit with a fastball by Arizona starter Merrill Kelly.

Kelly allowed one unearned run in 5 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out six while lowering his ERA to 4.86, the lowest it has been since early April.

Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller had his second straight solid start coming out of the All-Star break, giving up two runs in 5 1/3 innings, his only real mistake coming in the sixth when three singles loaded the bases, and Max Kepler followed with a rope to the corner in right that gave the Diamondbacks the lead.

Kepler finished with three hits for the Diamondbacks, who lost for just the fifth time in 15 games. Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno went hitless in four at-bats, but extended his on-base streak to 24 games with a first-inning walk.

Up next

The series continues on Tuesday when Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt (5-1, 4.43 ERA) gets the start against Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.47).

22 year old charged with 100 counts of child porn in New Brighton

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News. Published July 27, 2026 6:47 P.M.

(New Brighton, Pa) A Beaver County man is facing 100 felony charges of child pornography.   

22 year old Luke Poteete of Beaver Falls is currently in the Beaver County Jail on a $150,000 bond. 

According to the criminal complaint filed Monday, a search warrant was executed by the New Brighton Police Department after Poteete was previously arrested earlier this year after being accused of raping and assaulting a child in New Brighton. 

Investigators searched the suspects phone and cloud account to recover files during a limited time frame for when Poteete allegedly communicated with the victim of the previous case. 

During that search, they discovered over 2,500 images and videos of child pornography,  involving children thought to be between the ages of 2 and 10.

According to the complaint, the videos contained a variety of footage involving male and female children being forced to engage in sexual acts with adults and animals. 

According to Poteete’s LinkedIn profile, “working with children” is listed as one of his top skills and he is listed as previously working at the Beaver County YMCA, coaching and leading activities for children until 2021.  

Poteete attended and was an athlete at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, where his father, who is an internationally recognized cybersecurity expert, is the Associate Professor of Computer Science.   

Poteete is scheduled for a preliminary hearing regarding this case for 100 counts of Child Sexual Abuse Material in August. He is slated to go to trial for the former case on charges of Rape of Child and Sexual Assault, among others, in September.