House fire occurs in Chippewa Township

(File Photo of Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa Township, PA) A house caught fire in Chippewa Township yesterday evening which caused multiple fire units to respond to it. According to Beaver County dispatcherscrews were called to the 3700 block of 37th Street Extension at 8:40 p.m. The side and the roof near the front door of this house that caught fire were damaged and Beaver County dispatchers told WTAE that one dog was rescued from inside. There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Swastika and German war eagle tiled on floor of Beaver County home

(Photo Courtesy of KDKA-TV, CBS Pittsburgh, posted on Facebook post on August 25th, 2025)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Beaver County home that is currently owned by Lynn Rae Wentworth and her husband still has a swastika and a German war eagle tiled onto its floor which was discovered under a table and rugs in its basement. According to Wentworth, the seller never informed them about the symbols until they found them, and they believe it was intentional. The Wentworths bought their home in 2023. Daniel Stoner is the attorney of the Wentworths who has called the symbols a “material defect” after filing an appeal in court. Stoner confirms the seller apparently installed the symbols in the floor himself in the 1970s, and argued the symbol of the swastika was a popular design in the 1920s on greeting cards, soft drinks, and sports uniforms back in that time. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has also made a response to this case. Laura Cherner, the director of community relations for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, had this to say about this case: “It’s not anything I’ve encountered before. It’s really shocking and I definitely feel for the Wentworth family that they bought a home and then they uncovered something so, so dark.” Stoner also states that The Superior Court will be expected to give their opinion on this case by the end of 2025. 

Monaca Walmart hosts grand reopening

(File Photo of the Walmart Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) Tomorrow at 9 a.m. will be when the Walmart in Monaca will have an official grand reopening because the remodel of that store has been completed. A ribbon cutting ceremony, giveaways from vendors to attendees, and over $8,000 in grants being presented to local organizations who have made an impact in their community will also occur at this event. Monaca Mayor John Antoline, local officials, first responders and associates of the Monaca Walmart who have worked there for more than thirty years will be among the guests present for this grand reopening of that store.

PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank Elected Vice President of Organization of PJM States, Inc.

(Photo of Stephen M. DeFrank Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, their chairman, Stephen M. DeFrank has been elected Vice President of the Organization of PJM States, Inc. or OPSI. OPSI represents the interests of makers of public policy that are collective throughout the PJM Interconnection, one of the largest regional transmission operators in the world, which manages the wholesale power markets and the high-voltage electric grid serving over sixty-five million people across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. DeFrank previously served on the OPSI Board of Directors and is also an active member of several other regional and national organizations which are focused on reliability of energy, infrastructure, and affordability for consumers:  including the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Board of Directors, NARUC’s Committee on Gas, and the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (MACRUC) Board of Directors.

Man charged and cited for hitting police vehicle in North Sewickley Township

(File Photo of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Cars)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(North Sewickley Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release that they were called to the scene of a two-vehicle accident in North Sewickley Township that happened on Harpers Ferry Road at its intersection with Chapel Drive on Saturday at 5:07 p.m. This crash occurred between a Koppel Borough police vehicle driven by Officer Kusma and another vehicle that was driven by Edward Price, who was not cooperative at a road closure and initially drove around Kusma. Kusma initiated a traffic stop in a lot that was open and while Price was backing up, Price hit the vehicle of Kusma in its push bumper. Price related that he did not realize that Kusma was pulling him over and he was turning around and backing up. Price also related that the vehicle of Kusma hit the vehicle in its driver side. Price was charged and cited by police. There were no reported injuries and both vehicles were drivable from the scene after these vehicles sustained minor damage.

I-376 Beaver Valley Expressway Spur Restriction Monday in Potter Township

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Potter Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that on Monday, October 13th, weather permitting, a spur restriction on I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) in Potter Township, Beaver County will occur. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, a closure of the spur from eastbound I-376 to southbound Route 18 (Frankfort Road) at the Monaca/Shippingport (Exit 39) interchange will occur as crews from Lindy Paving conduct milling and base repair operations there. Traffic from the ramp will be directed to continue straight to the traffic light and turn right onto Route 18. A single lane closure on southbound Route 18 will also occur in the area of the spur during this time.

Bernstine Applauds Launch of RowAmerica Pittsburgh at Lake Arthur Backed by Philanthropist Howard Winklevoss

(File Photo of Representative Aaron Bernstine)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler, PA) According to a release from Representative Aaron Bernstine’s office, Bernstine announced yesterday in Butler the upcoming launch of RowAmerica Pittsburgh, a state-of-the-art rowing facility scheduled to open in spring of 2026 at Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Howard Winklevoss is who this project is made possible by through his support of it. RowAmerica Pittsburgh will serve as a hub for both competitive and recreational rowing. There will also be a press conference to mark the announcement of the new rowing facility tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Portersville at the Bear Run Boat Ramp, which is RowAmerica Pittsburgh’s future site. The new rowing facility located on the 3,000 acre Lake Arthur will offer programming for athletes of every skill level, from first-timers to competitors that are elite. A multi-million dollar investment will also be included in this project, with construction on it set to start this fall. Programming is expected to start in April of 2026 will include learn-to-row clinics, adult and youth rowing teams, competitive masters and junior’s teams and partnerships with local schools, universities and community organizations. You can visit www.RowAmericaPittsburgh.com for updates and more information, or if you are a school, organization or individual that is interested in RowAmericaPittsburgh.

Loose cow rescued on I-79 near Cranberry Township

(Photo Courtesy of KDKA)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) Yesterday morning was when a cow was rescued from the median of Interstate 79 near Cranberry Township. According to police, several people reported seeing the cow at around 7 a.m. It is unknown at this time how the cow got loose on I-79. Police were on the scene during this incident and traffic was backed up for about two miles approaching the Butler County area where the cow was spotted. Local farrier Kyle Carson was able to both rope the cow shortly after 10 a.m. and get the animal loaded onto a trailer. The cow is receiving veterinary care at a local farm.

Pennsylvania budget impasse is delaying financial aid for in-state college students

(File Photo: Source for Photo: The Pennsylvania State Capitol is reflected on the ground June 30, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Aimee Dilger, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Financial aid for thousands of Pennsylvania college students is on hold as a result of the state budget impasse, creating more delays for a vital program that has faced serious challenges over the past year.

The PA State Grant Program is the commonwealth’s largest need-based financial aid provider, giving more than 100,000 students an average of $2,000 each semester.

Starting in mid-2024, federal data glitches combined with the chaotic rollout of a new state software system to leave many students waiting months longer than usual for the grant funds, Spotlight PA reported.

As the standoff over the state budget stretches into its fourth month, students face another round of delays.

“Here we are again dealing with the same stuff, the same frustration,” said Melissa Bush, a student at Pennsylvania Western University who is waiting on almost $2,500 in aid for the fall semester. While she’s confident the money will arrive, it’s demoralizing to deal with more holdups, she said. Last year, she didn’t receive the money until after Thanksgiving break.

“It’s like there’s always something.”

Even once Gov. Josh Shapiro signs the budget into law, it will take at least four weeks for schools to begin receiving the money, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) said.

Students qualify for the grants based on financial need and their status as Pennsylvania residents. In the 2023-24 academic year, the program gave out $372 million in grants to more than 110,300 students. For full-time students, the maximum annual grant amount was $5,750.

Last year, the rollout of a new federal financial aid form collided with the launch of a new state software system to create long delays and widespread confusion among students and financial aid administrators.

The snags forced some students to take out additional loans, use up their savings, and spend hours trying to get answers from PHEAA. In response, the agency announced it would switch back to its older system for the current academic year.

Colleges and universities across Pennsylvania are taking steps to help students navigate the latest funding gap. Some are paying students from other funding sources, crediting their accounts with the aid they anticipate receiving, and waiving late fees. Some also offer emergency grant and loan programs.

Those stopgap measures, however, can’t last forever, Thomas P. Foley, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, told Spotlight PA in a statement.

Most of the private, nonprofit schools represented by the association — which educate about half of the students who receive state grants — “pinch pennies already” to balance their budgets and do not have significant endowments to fall back on if the funds continue to be held up, Foley said.

Students cannot receive their grants until Shapiro signs the state budget into law. State lawmakers missed the June 30 deadline to pass the budget because of deep disagreements over funding for public transit and overall spending levels.

As the standoff drags on, county governments and school districts are borrowing money, withholding payments to contractors, and scaling back services.

Ariana Little, an education student in her senior year at Drexel University, feels the sting in multiple ways.

Her eldest son’s high school has warned it might have to cut services if the impasse continues. Almost $2,000 in state grant funding for her fall semester is in limbo. The same goes for a $10,000 stipend she had been hoping to receive from a separate program overseen by PHEAA, which is intended to provide financial support for student teachers while they complete required classroom placements.

The program, which launched last year, aims to relieve the financial strain of teaching requirements, which were previously unpaid, and help tackle Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage.

Without the aid, Little has been juggling a part-time job at a convenience store with her teaching requirements and classes.

The impasse, she said, has “rearranged my whole entire life this year.”

2 Pennsylvania state police officers and a suspect were shot while officers responded to a call

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Two state police officers and a suspect were shot while officers were responding to a call in Pennsylvania, authorities said.

The troopers were taken to hospitals after Wednesday’s shooting, Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement. An update on their conditions would be made public later, it said, along with information about what happened and suspects.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he and his wife, Lori, were praying for the officers and asked others to join them.

“Pennsylvania’s law enforcement officers are the very best of us — running towards danger every day to keep our communities safe,” Shapiro said in a post on the social platform X.

State police said there was no threat to the public but “the scene remains very active.”

The shooting took place in southern Franklin County, which is about 85 miles (135 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore.