BREAKING NEWS: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has denied Monroe County-based Mount Airy Casino’s application to open a mini-casino in Big Beaver, thwarting a second plan to bring gambling to Beaver County and Lawrence Counties. The board denied a proposal by Mount Airy to open a Category 4 mini-casino in Big Beaver. Officials with the board said Mount Airy was not able to come up with the funding that is required to build such a casino in the county. In response, County Commissioner Dan Camp tells Beaver County Radio News that he is disappointed that such an establishment is not coming to the county, but that it’s no reason to give up:

(Photo of Hopewell High School Paint the Plow provided by
Michael E. Allison, Proud Principal of Hopewell High School.
Students featured Hannah Berkovic, Paulina Deutsch, Abbey Garofalo, Ainsley Kindred, Kelly Kypta, Victoria Lutz, Josh Maxin, Molly Nagy, Kain Nice, Cora Reddinger, Jillian Schrift, Linday Sedlacek, Olivia Stokes and Teacher Mrs. Sue Masley)

PennDOT has announced the winners of the ‘Paint the Plow’ contest in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Beaver Falls High School won the “Fan Favorite” award, which was determined by online voting at www.penndot.gov and the “Judges’ Pick” award for its incorporation of the “Don’t Rush in Ice and Slush” safety message and overall design.
During the winter weather season, the plow designed by Beaver Falls, along with those painted by Freedom Area and Hopewell high school students, will be used to maintain state-owned roadways in Allegheny and Beaver Counties.Beaver County Radio News Intern Alex D’Itri has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Alex’s report…

Meteorologist Kevin Benson will not be returning to the air on Channel 11. Officials with WPXI-TV yesterday confirmed that Benson is no longer with the station. Benson was charged with driving under the influence in Washington County in September. According to a criminal complaint, a blood test showed that Benson had a blood alcohol content almost four times the legal limit and had an inactive cocaine metabolite in his blood. Both Benson’s photo and biography have been removed from the station’s website, WPXI.com.

(Photo provided by Center Township Police Chief Barry Kramer)

Police officers from Center and Hopewell Township are being honored for their heroic actions. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

A major step forward in the process to deal with Beaver County’s court-ordered reassessments was brought to light at the Commissioners’ work session on Wednesday. Matt Drzik has details from the courthouse:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh’s third-term city controller is running for an open state auditor general’s office next year. Democrat Michael Lamb made the announcement Tuesday, two weeks after he was re-elected to the fiscal watchdog job in Pennsylvania’s second-largest city. Pennsylvania’s current auditor general, Eugene DePasquale, is completing a second four-year term and is barred from seeking another.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Democrat in Pennsylvania’s state Senate is switching his registration to become an independent and will caucus with the Republican majority. Sen. John Yudichak of Luzerne County said Tuesday that registering as an independent is the only way he can faithfully and fully serve his district. Yudichak’s departure comes after Democrats picked up six seats in the past year. Yudichak won a third Senate term last year. He’s occasionally split with Democratic leadership on floor votes.

A state representative wants to make bullying illegal. Democratic Rep. Brandon Markosek introduced an anti-bullying proposal that gives police the tools they need to fight bullying in schools. Markosek said he was bullied as a child and that bullying in schools shouldn’t be tolerated. Markosek represents the 25th district of Allegheny County, which includes Monroeville, East Pittsburgh and McKeesport.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez is facing nearly two dozen new counts in Westmoreland County after being arrested for sexual assault. In his second preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Vazquez was charged with 11 counts of child pornography, along with 10 counts of unlawful contact with a minor. According to a police affidavit, police found an iPhone XS and a MacBook Pro at Vazquez’s Pittsburgh apartment. On those devices, detectives said they saw seven photos and three videos of an underage girl in “various stages of nudity.” Police say Vazquez requested the images and videos from the girl. The 28-year-old Vasquez has pleaded not guilty to charges that he had sex with a 13-year-old girl in a car, however he admitted to exchanging sexually explicit pictures with the victim. The defense fought for a $1 million bond and electronic monitoring, but the judge denied bond.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Two Seneca Valley high school students are in police custody after a gun was found in a parked car on campus. Seneca Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Tracy Vitale says several students reported seeing a gun in a student’s possession at Intermediate High School Tuesday morning. Vitale says police believe the weapon may have been sold to another student. Both students were removed from school grounds and taken into police custody. Vitale says all students in the district are safe.