(File Photo of Police Lights)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver report that a man from Aliquippa was arrested for possessing drugs in Aliquippa on Saturday. According to police, an unidentified twenty-two-year-old man was stopped on Waugaman Street for a vehicle violation and was then subsequently arrested for drug possession.
(File Photo of Handcuffs)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(New Castle, PA) A man from New Castle is now in jail after he stole a truck and was accused of leading police on a chase in both Beaver and Lawrence Counties. New Castle police sent a lookout warning for the truck, which was driven by the suspect, Thomas Reed. Reed went through New Castle and Ellwood City before the chase ended in Cranberry. Reed also attempted to steal from a TJ Maxx store, but police caught him and took him into custody.
(File Photo of the Allegheny Health Network logo)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from Allegheny Health Network, the company will kick off National Donate Life Month today at 10:30 a.m. with the first flag raising ceremony of their region to commemorate it. This event is being held at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and will include honoring the staff and clinicians as well as stories of heroism and survival being told.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Chester County, Pa., election workers process mail-in and absentee ballots at West Chester University in West Chester, Pa., Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Election boards in Pennsylvania’s 67 counties may not invalidate mail-in ballots simply because they lack accurate, handwritten dates on their exterior return envelopes, a federal judge ruled Monday.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter, the latest in a long-running legal dispute over what is a small percentage of votes cast in the state, was issued more than two months after the state Supreme Court announced it also would consider the issue.
Baxter wrote that most counties did not try to argue that the exterior dates, which are not used to show whether a ballot was received in time, serve an important state interest in regulating elections. The Republican National Committee and one county, Berks, did argue the dates help combat voting fraud, Baxter wrote.
“Absent from the record, however, is any evidence demonstrating how this requirement furthers that purported interest,” the judge wrote. The exterior envelope dating mandate violates the U.S. Constitution, she ruled, by impairing the right to vote under the First and Fourteenth amendments.
RNC spokesperson Abigail Jackson said it will appeal the decision, and Jeff Bukowski, Berks County’s lawyer, said he will discuss a potential appeal with the county commissioners. Jackson described the external envelope signature requirement as a commonsense safeguard.
The voter and groups that sued, including Democratic campaign organizations and a teachers’ union, called the exterior envelope dates “nothing more than a ‘compliance test’” to show how state voters “’can follow written instructions,’” Baxter said.
She ruled there is no state interest in requiring the signatures and noted that more than 10,000 votes statewide were invalidated as a result of the dating mandate in the 2022 election.
“Such disenfranchisement burdens the right to vote and there is no valid state interest to weigh this against,” Baxter wrote.
A decision by Baxter throwing out the envelope date mandate in a separate case was eventually reversed by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but it was decided on a different issue.
Lower courts have repeatedly deemed it unconstitutional or illegal to throw out such ballots. But higher courts — including the state Supreme Court most recently on Nov. 1 — have blocked those decisions from taking effect. New envelope designs have helped reduce the number of invalidated votes.
(File Photo of the PennDOT logo)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT is looking for feedback from customers about its winter services as the winter season came to an end. The responses are all anonymous and participants have until April 28th to finish the survey. The sixteen questions are about how safe the roads were, how much time it took to pass the roads and the ratings of both services and the priorities of snow removal. The website for the online survey can be found below.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025PDWinter
(File Photo of 2024 Boom on the Bridge Stage)
Beaver County, PA – March 31 – The much-anticipated Boom on the Bridge, Visit Beaver County’s addition to PUSH Beaver County’s Boom fireworks festival, is making an exciting move to Downtown Bridgewater! This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, bringing thousands of visitors to experience an unforgettable celebration in a brand-new setting.
The past two years, Boom on the Bridge has been held on the Veterans Bridge with a footprint spanning Route 51 and Riverside Drive. “From the very beginning, our vision for Boom on the Bridge was to rotate locations every two to three years,” said Tony Caltury, Director of Beaver County Recreation and Tourism. “By doing so, we can bring the excitement of this event to different communities throughout the County, ensuring that more businesses, residents, and visitors can experience the festival’s positive impact.”
Beaver County Boom has been a staple of Beaver County’s summer festivities, attracting over 10,000 attendees for a full day of family-friendly fun. This year, Boom on the Bridge will unite with Bridgewater’s beloved annual Summerfest, merging two vibrant celebrations into one unforgettable event. By joining forces, an expanded festival experience offers more entertainment, activities, and increased connectivity to adjacent events throughout the County. The move to Downtown Bridgewater is a natural progression that brings the festival closer to the fireworks and Boom Headquarters, offers a fresh location with enhanced viewing areas for the award-winning Zambelli Fireworks display, and a vibrant atmosphere for festival goers to explore.
“The Borough of Bridgewater has been fantastic to work with, and their support has been instrumental in bringing this event to the heart of the community,” said Commissioner Daniel Camp. “Their commitment to making this a successful and welcoming experience for everyone is truly commendable.”
Visitors can enjoy the best of both events from a diverse lineup of live music, local food vendors, artisans, family activities, and of course, the annual, award-winning fireworks display over the river to cap off the night, ensuring a breathtaking display for all in attendance. Vendors who have previously participated in Bridgewater’s Summerfest, and other interested vendors should apply at www.boomonthebridge.com.
“We are thrilled to bring Boom on the Bridge to Downtown Bridgewater,” said Caltury. “This new location allows us to expand the event, involve more local businesses, and create an even more immersive experience for residents and visitors alike.”
Mark your calendars for June 28, 2025 and join us in Downtown Bridgewater for an unforgettable Boom on the Bridge! For more information, visit www.boomonthebridge.com.
(File Photo of Aliquippa Elementary School)
(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)
(Aliquippa, PA) The pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grades at Aliquippa Elementary School need donations for their STEAM & Story Walk. The time to donate expires at the end of the day today and the money will purchase items which include camping gear for the sixteenth year of the event. The website to donate can be found using the link below:
(Photo Provided with Release)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Beaver, PA) According to a report from the Beaver Borough Police Department, an individual was arrested after spray painting antisemitic symbols on the side of a building in Beaver. According to a release, from the Beaver Borough Police Department, the incident was reported on Friday and the person was a contractor who painted the symbols after an argument involving business. The person was not local and confessed his crimes. The symbols have been taken off of the building and officers located a vehicle that was used by the suspect which led to the identification of the suspect. If you have any other details or questions regarding this incident, you can contact 724-775-0880.
(File Photo of Police Lights)
(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)
(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police arrested six people last week in a span of four days. Sixty-five-year-old Gregory McFarland was arrested on Friday and faces filed charges of disorderly conduct and harassment. Thirty-four year-old Terrance Bennett was arrested on Thursday and faces filed charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Forty-one-year-old Corey Tucker was apprehended on Thursday and is in the Beaver County Jail for public intoxication and four misdemeanor charges. Twenty-one-year-old Aaunisty Price was arrested on Wednesday and faces filed charges of stalking and harassment. The Beaver County Sheriff’s Department had warrants for thirty-five-year-old Chanae Humphries and thirty-nine-year-old Megan Platz. Both women were apprehended on Tuesday and are currently in the Beaver County Jail.
(File Photo of a Gavel)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Honululu, HI) A preliminary hearing will occur today for a former doctor who used to work at UPMC after he attempted to kill his wife in Hawaii. Forty-six-year-old Gerhardt Konig hit his wife with a rock after she did not want to take a selfie on the edge of a cliff. His wife also noted that Konig tried to force an injection of an unknown liquid into her. Konig was put in custody after being charged with second-degree murder and he has a bail of $5 million.