2 women killed when SUV crashed into plasma center ID’d
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Authorities have identified two women struck and killed by a sport utility vehicle that crashed into a building housing a plasma center in Pittsburgh, killing the two and a third person and injuring two others, one critically. The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said Sunday that 55-year-old Parveena Abdul of Clairton and 35-year-old Laura Meneskie of Pittsburgh were killed in the 11:30 a.m. Saturday crash into the Biomat USA Plasma Building in the Manchester neighborhood. Officials said both were struck by the vehicle. A spokesperson for the plasma donation center earlier confirmed that two of its employees were among the three people killed.

(Story and Photos by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Rochester, PA) Rochester and East Rochester Fire Departments and Police, as well as other nearby fire departments responded to a commercial structure fire at Snowy White Laundromat in Rochester Sunday night. A dryer caught on fire inside the building around 11:15 pm. Smoke was still dispersing from the building as of 11:30 pm, while crews had the scene under control. We have no reports of any injuries. Beaver County Radio has exclusive eyewitness video of the fire and aftermath which can be found below:

VIDEO:

(Video Courtesy of Sarah Gibson)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 264 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL OHIO BELMONT CARROLL COLUMBIANA COSHOCTON GUERNSEY HARRISON JEFFERSON OH MONROE MUSKINGUM NOBLE TUSCARAWAS IN PENNSYLVANIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 15 COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA FOREST MERCER VENANGO IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ALLEGHENY FAYETTE GREENE WASHINGTON WESTMORELAND IN WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ARMSTRONG BUTLER CLARION INDIANA JEFFERSON PA IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA BEAVER LAWRENCE IN WEST VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 9 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA PRESTON TUCKER IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA MARION MONONGALIA WETZEL IN THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA BROOKE HANCOCK MARSHALL OHIO THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALIQUIPPA, AMBRIDGE, BEAVER FALLS, BROOKVILLE, BUTLER, CADIZ, CALDWELL, CAMBRIDGE, CANONSBURG, CARROLLTON, CLARION, COLUMBIANA, CONNELLSVILLE, COSHOCTON, DAVIS, DOVER, EAST LIVERPOOL, ELLWOOD CITY, FAIRMONT, FOLLANSBEE, FORD CITY, FRANKLIN, GREENSBURG, GROVE CITY, HERMITAGE, INDIANA, KINGWOOD, KITTANNING, LATROBE, MARTINS FERRY, MASONTOWN, MONACA, MORGANTOWN, MOUNDSVILLE, MURRYSVILLE, NEW CASTLE, NEW KENSINGTON, NEW MARTINSVILLE, NEW PHILADELPHIA, OIL CITY, PARSONS, PITTSBURGH METRO AREA, PUNXSUTAWNEY, SALEM, SHARON, ST. CLAIRSVILLE, STEUBENVILLE, TERRA ALTA, THOMAS, TIONESTA, UNIONTOWN, WASHINGTON, WAYNESBURG, WEIRTON, WELLSBURG, WHEELING, WOODSFIELD, AND ZANESVILLE.

(Photo courtesy of Tenaris)

(Koppel, Pa.) Steel production is now underway at Tenaris’s Koppel Steel Shop. The shop in is Tenaris’s first melt shop in the United States that will soon supply steel bars for its seamless pipe mills in the U.S. and Canada.

The steel shop in Koppel was part of the company’s strategic acquisition of IPSCO in 2020 and has now started producing steel bars following a year-long investment of more than $15 Million in upgrades to integrate the facility into Tenaris’ global network of steel mills.

The investments included expansion of the mill’s capabilities to produce a wider range of steel bars.

Luca Zanotti, Tenaris US President said via release:  “With Koppel as our source of local supply for steel bars, our extensive footprint of mills and service centers, our direct, mill-to-well Rig Direct® model, we have even greater flexibility to support our customers and are further optimizing the entire value chain, enhancing our response to the ongoing market forces.”

As part of the ramp-up of the steel shop, testing of the facility will continue over the following months to steady production and streamline processes, and align with the company’s integrated high standards for quality, health, safety, and environment. The Koppel facility is expected to be fully commissioned by end of summer.

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — The former chief operating officer of a Pennsylvania hospital system and her ex-detective husband have both been sentenced to federal prison terms for embezzling more than $1 million from the wife’s employer. Federal prosecutors say Scott and Stephanie Roskovski used the stolen money for personal expenditures including expensive vacations, home improvements and lavish parties. The funds were taken from Butler Health System from 2011 to 2017. Stephanie Roskovski received a 51-month sentence Thursday, while her husband got a 30-month term. The couple will also have to pay restitution, but that amount hasn’t yet been determined. Scott Roskovski has tried unsuccessfully to withdraw his guilty plea and will likely appeal the sentence.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, man has been arrested on assault, robbery and other charges for his alleged participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Robert Morss was arrested Friday and was scheduled for a first appearance in federal court in the Western District of Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon. According to court documents, Morss was identified by witnesses who told investigators he was a Penn State University graduate and a veteran who may have mental health issues from his military service. Federal investigators say Morss rallied, directed and made multiple attempts to organize members of the crowd to push past Capitol guards, as well as trying to take a flagpole, shields, a baton and fencing from guards.

By DANICA KIRKA and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — Joe Biden will become the 13th American president to meet Queen Elizabeth II. Biden and his wife, Jill, are set to sip tea with the queen at Windsor Castle on Sunday after a summit of world leaders being held in southwestern England ends. The queen has met every American president since Dwight Eisenhower, except for Lyndon Johnson. Johnson didn’t visit Britain while he was in office. She was a princess when she met President Harry Truman in Washington in 1951. The White House says Biden previously met the queen in 1982, when he was a U.S. senator.

Story by Beaver County Radio Correspondent, Sandy Giordano –

(Aliquippa, PA) On Thursday school officials at Aliquippa announced that 15 students involved in a senior prank late last Thursday into Friday morning will walk in graduation ceremonies at the school tonight.

(Beaver, Pa.) During Open Statements yesterday in Sheldon Jeter Jr’s Trial for the murder of his friend and room mate Tyric Pugh Investigators allege that Jeter shot Pugh on Kiehl Street after the two got ice cream together on May 15, 2020.

The prosecution, seeking a conviction of first-degree murder. In opening statements the prosecution stated that the evidence links Jeter to the crime scene just moments before Pugh was found dead.

Defense attorney Randall McKinney is casting doubt that Jeter killed Pugh by emphasizing the friendship between the two men and the lack of motive.

The first witnesses Thursday were two witnesses who saw Pugh’s body on Kiehl Street in Aliquippa. Two Pa State Troopers who investigated the crime also testified.

Jeter’s trial will continue in Beaver County Court Today

(AMBRIDGE) New grant funding of $1.3 million will create affordable housing and other opportunities for Beaver and Allegheny county residents struggling with homelessness, substance use and other issues, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today.

Matzie said the funding – administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund – will go to area organizations serving the area’s most vulnerable residents.

“Having a place to call home can provide new hope and a fresh start for those in our community who are struggling because of addiction, domestic violence and other hardships,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help them get back on their feet, and it comes at an important time, when the pandemic has made life more difficult for many of our most vulnerable residents.”

Matzie said the projects funded include:

• Cornerstone of Beaver County – Emergency Shelter Renovation Project — $200,000.
• Beaver County Commissioners – Home Modification Program — $100,000.
• Beaver County – Rental and Utility Assistance — $50,000.
• Willissae’s Agency for Vision and Empowerment for WAVE Housing Services — $50,000.
• Allegheny County Department of Human Services – Mobility Counseling Program — $350,000.
• Allegheny County Save Your Home Program Housing Counseling — $150,000.
• North Hills Affordable Housing – HEARTH 25 years of changing loves– $200,000.
• Catapult Greater Pittsburgh Inc. – Decreasing Racial and Economic Disparity Through Homeownership and Asset Building — $200,000.

Funding for the grants came from Marcellus Shale Impact Fees and Realty Transfer Taxes.