(File Photo of the McDonald’s Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) McDonald’s is launching new value menu items and meal deals which will be available starting later this month. Starting on April 21st, the expanded McDonald’s McValue Menu will be available at participating restaurants around the country. A news release from that company on April 2nd states that these offers include an entire menu of items running less than $3 each, a breakfast meal deal for $4 and lunch and dinner meal deals starting at $5. McDonalds also has the McValue Menu that was launched in 2025 and these deals build on it. The restaurant also has Extra Value Meal menu items, which feature options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here is what to know about the new deals from McDonald’s:

Here’s an overview of the new McValue offerings:

• Under $3 menu
• $4 breakfast meal deal
  • Sausage McMuffin or Sausage Biscuit, served with Hash Browns and a small McCafé Premium Roast Coffee
• Lunch and dinner meal deals for $5 or $6
  • McChicken Meal Deal for $5 or a McDouble Meal Deal for $6 – each comes with 4-piece McNuggets, small fries and a small soft drink

The new under $3 menu at McDonald’s will feature at least 10 menu items available throughout the day, the chain said.

For breakfast, customers can get a Sausage McMuffin, Sausage Biscuit, Sausage Burrito, Hash Browns or a medium McCafé Premium Roast Coffee off the under $3 menu.

Those looking for lunch or dinner can get the following off the menu: McChicken, McDouble, 4-piece chicken McNuggets, small fries, and a medium soft drink.

Throughout the year, McDonald’s said it will spotlight select favorites on the under $3 menu at a lower price. First, the Sausage McMuffin will be $1.50 and the McDouble will go for $2.50.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s reelection campaign confirms that it raised more than $10 million in the first three months of 2026, which sets a new state record for that reporting period. According to a top Shapiro campaign official, the total more than doubles the previous benchmark for a Pennsylvania gubernatorial race at this stage. The official states that the haul puts the campaign
in a strong financial position after ending 2025 with over $30 million in cash on hand.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Police confirm that a large amount of marijuana was seized from a home in Rankin Borough yesterday during a drug bust and an investigation into narcotics violations is why a warrant was issued. According to the Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police Department, officers executed a search warrant that day at a home along Rankin Boulevard with the assistance of the Pitcairn Police Department and the Swissvale-Braddock Hills Regional Police Department. Police stated that that officers seized a quantity of marijuana and a gun that was later found to have been stolen. A photo from the Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police Department shows what appears to be a large amount of marijuana packed into multiple plastic bags and two large containers. A specific amount of marijuana that was seized was not given by police. Police also confirm that a 28-year-old man from Rankin will be facing multiple charges in connection with the drug bust. The man’s identity was not revealed at this time and it’s unclear at this time what specific charges he will face.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: This image provided by NASA shows a downlink image of Earth taken by NASA’s Artemis II astronaut commander Reid Wiseman inside the Orion capsule on Friday, April 3, 2026. (NASA via AP)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Artemis II astronauts have captured our blue planet’s brilliant beauty as they zoom ever closer to the moon.

NASA released the crew’s first downlinked images Friday, 1 1/2 days into the first astronaut moonshot in more than half a century.

The first photo taken by commander Reid Wiseman shows a curved slice of Earth in one of the capsule’s windows. The second shows the entire globe with the oceans topped by swirling white tendrils of clouds.

As of midmorning Friday, Wiseman and his crew were 90,000 miles (145,000 kilometers) from Earth and were quickly gaining on the moon with another 168,000 miles (270,000 kilometers) to go. They should reach their destination on Monday.

The three Americans and one Canadian will swing around the moon in their Orion capsule, hang a U-turn and then head straight back home without stopping. They fired Orion’s main engine Thursday night that set them on their course.

They’re the first lunar travelers since Apollo 17 in 1972.

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester Township, PA) PennDOT announced the long-term closure of Route 68 (Adams Street, Virginia Avenue) in Rochester Borough and Rochester Township will begin on Monday, April 6th weather permitting. Route 68 will close between the Rochester Roundabout at Adams Street and Jefferson Street at Virginia Avenue around-the-clock through mid-November beginning at approximately 7:00 A.M. Crews will conduct concrete curb removal and replacement, drainage upgrades, full-depth roadway reconstruction, line painting, shoulder improvements, signal and intersection updates, and other miscellaneous construction activities. Local traffic will have access to both homes and businesses during this construction. Traffic will be detoured, and according to a release from PennDOT District 11, here is the detour route for this work:

Posted Car Detour

East of the Closure

• From the Rochester Roundabout, take the North 18/To North 65 exiting point onto Brighton Avenue
• Turn right onto Jefferson Street
• Follow Jefferson Street to Route 68 (Virginia Avenue)
• End detour

West of the Closure

• From Route 68 (Virginia Avenue), turn right onto Jefferson Street
• Turn left onto Brighton Avenue
• Enter the Rochester Roundabout
• End detour

Posted Truck Detour

East of the Closure

• From the Rochester Roundabout, take the Brighton Avenue exiting point toward North 18/To North 65
• From Brighton Avenue, bear left onto West Madison Street
• Turn right onto Delaware Avenue (Route 18)
• Merge onto northbound Route 65/18
• Turn right onto 13^th Street
• 13^th Street becomes Sunflower Road
• Sunflower Road becomes Marion Hill Road
• Follow Marion Hill Road to Route 68 (Sunflower Road)
• End detour

West of the Closure

• From Route 68 (Sunflower Road), turn onto Marion Hill Road
• Marion Hill Road becomes 13^th Street
• Turn left onto southbound Route 65/18 (3^rd Avenue)
• Take the left-hand ramp to South 18
• Merge onto Pleasant Street
• Turn left onto Rhode Island Avenue
• Follow Rhode Island Avenue to the Rochester Roundabout
• End detour

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Bridgeville, PA) PennDOT District 11 officials highlighted more than 58 projects expected to be bid this year, along with 52 projects that will continue in 2026 in the three-county greater Pittsburgh region at an event in Bridgeville yesterday. These investments support the vision of Governor Josh Shapiro of a safe and reliable transportation network that connects people to opportunity and each other. PennDOT anticipates investing over $380 million in the region spanning Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties. According to a recent release from PennDOT District 11, here is some more information about these projects:

This investment includes improving over 1,200 miles of highways and working on 43 bridges. Under Governor Josh Shapiro’s Administration, 19,451 miles of roadway have been improved and work has advanced on 1,738 state and local bridges.

Because of the 2025-26 state budget signed by Governor Josh Shapiro, PennDOT is also investing $37.5 million this state fiscal year to pave and preserve less traveled, often rural roadways in 20 counties. This roadwork is made possible through Motor License Fund investments redirected from the Pennsylvania State Police while ensuring PSP’s critical mission continues. Work began last year and will continue this year, with $6 million being invested on nearly 20 miles in Beaver and Lawrence counties and making improvements possible five years faster than originally planned:

• Milling, paving, shoulder repair, drainage and other upgrades on nearly 7 miles of Tuscarawas Road (Route 4028) in Ohioville Borough and Brighton Township, Beaver County in 2025.
• Milling, paving, shoulder repair, drainage, and other work on nearly 4 miles of Market Street/Hollow Road (Route 551) and nearly 5 miles of Elmwood Avenue/Centennial Boulevard (Route 168) in South Beaver and Darlington townships and Darlington, Big Beaver, and New Gallilee boroughs, Beaver County planned this year.
• Milling and resurfacing on nearly 2 miles of Route 551 (Enon Road) and over 2 miles of Route 351 (Vine Street) in Enon Valley Borough and Little Beaver Township, Lawrence County planned this year.

Notable projects that are expected to begin, continue, or conclude in Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties include:

New projects that will begin in 2026:

• Route 22/30 over I-376 Parkway West Interchange project in Allegheny County, $57.93 million.
• I-376 “Bathtub” Flood Control Improvement project in Allegheny County, estimated $31-35 million.
• I-376 Parkway East – Edgewood to Churchill Betterment project in Allegheny County, $99.31 million.
• Route 2114 McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge Preservation project in Allegheny County, $50.77 million.
• Route 65 Country Club Bridge Replacement project in Beaver County, $9.45 million.
• Route 422 – Business 422 to Butler County Betterment project in Lawrence County, estimated $19-21 million.

Ongoing projects that will conclude in 2026:

• Route 28 Wrong Way Detection System in Allegheny County, $5.36 million.
• I-376 Parkway East – Churchill to Monroeville Betterment project in Allegheny County, $70.17 million
• Country Club Drive over Route 19 Bridge Replacement project in Allegheny County, $2.5 million
• Liberty Tunnel Roof Replacement project in Allegheny County, $3.47 million.
• Route 68 – Virginia Avenue to Adams Street Betterment project in Beaver County, $7.04 million.
• Route 158 North Jefferson Street Betterment project in Lawrence County, $3.84 million.

Ongoing projects that will continue beyond 2026:

• 51 Clairton Boulevard – Coal Valley Road to Lebanon Church Road Betterment project in Allegheny County, $19.85 million.
• I-79 at Route 910 Wexford Interchange Improvement project in Allegheny County, $46.5 million.
• I-376 Commercial Street Bridge Replacement project in Allegheny County, $95.07 million.
• Route 2040 Curry Hollow Road Betterment project in Allegheny County, $28.16 million.
• Route 2006 East Washington Street Bridge Replacement project in Lawrence County, $7.28 million.

As construction projects are underway in the region, the traveling public can anticipate seeing many work zones and are urged to keep in mind their safety and the safety of highway workers. When encountering a work zone, please drive the posted speed limit, turn on your headlights, pay close attention to signs and flaggers, and avoid all distractions.

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man from New Jersey accused of assaulting a woman who was dressed as the Easter Bunny at the South Hills Village Mall in Pittsburgh faced a judge for the first time yesterday. Thirty-six-year-old Bera Shivakrishna is the suspect, who was taken into custody as a result of this incident. According to the criminal complaint, a woman working as the Easter Bunny on March 23rd, 2026 at the mall was taking pictures with children and families when a man approached her and began to ask her questions, which she referred to an assistant.  The man refused and began touching the woman dressed as the Easter Bunny’s arm, then the top of her chest, and then grabbed her breasts. According to the assistant, prior to the alleged assault, he asked questions such as “Is it a boy or a girl?”  The man also began to put his fingers in the nose and mouth of the costume along with grabbing the woman dressed as the bunny, After speaking with the victim and a witness, police reviewed security footage from the mall and were able to identify the suspect. He was later found in the AMC Theater next to the mall and he was asleep in the top row of one of the auditoriums. As he was being taken into custody, according to the criminal complaint provided to KDKA-TV, he asked police, “Is it on the close to Five Below, the merchandise thing, the bunny?” After being read his Miranda Rights, he then asked the police, “It’s a doll, right?” He was informed it was a person, not a doll, and said, “By mistake, my hand touched her, if it’s a lady.” The suspect was identified as Shivakrishna after police were provided with a New Jersey driver’s license that was on his person, and he was charged with indecent assault.  A trial date has not been set yet for Shivakrishna. 

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ellwood City, PA) A man accused of shooting and killing a woman and injuring her daughter in Lawrence County in 2023 pleaded guilty but mentally ill yesterday. According to court documents, twenty-five-year-old Keegan Tyler Willis-King of New Mexico, pleaded guilty to murder in the third degree and aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 15-30 years of confinement for the murder charge as well as 5-10 years for the aggravated assault charge. Investigators confirm that he shot Cassidy Smith, who was his girlfriend at the time of the incident, and killed her forty-two-year-old mother Krista Knechtel, in an apartment on First Street in Ellwood City on January 30th, 2023. Police stated that he surrendered about ten minutes later.