Category: News

Pennsylvania House adopts resolutions from State Representative Rob Matzie on government transparency, Pennsylvania charter and multiple sclerosis

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg from State Representative Rob Matzie’s office, the Pennsylvania House adopted two resolutions yesterday introduced by  Matzie to highlight the importance of government transparency and the unique history of the commonwealth’s government, and a third resolution to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis. Matzie’s H.R. 398 gives a designation for March 15th-21st as “Sunshine Week” in Pennsylvania to promote dialogue about the importance of open government and public access to government documents and meetings. Matzie also introduced H.R. 409 to designate March 8th, 2026 as “Charter Day” in Pennsylvania, to mark the anniversary of the 345th birthday of the commonwealth and to celebrate the significance of the charter which serves as its birth certificate. Finally, the House adopted Matzie’s H. R. 392, designating March 8th-14th, 2026, as “Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania, which encourages people to learn more about the disabling central nervous system disease that is affecting close to 1 million Americans. 

Top NHL prospect and Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna charged with felony assault

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Canada forward Gavin McKenna (9) controls the puck during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal game against Finland, Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn, File)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna, a freshman center and the presumptive top pick in this summer’s NHL draft, has been charged with felony assault following an incident on Jan. 31.

McKenna, 18, struck a 21-year-old male in the face during the altercation, according to the incident report. The male sustained multiple facial fractures that required surgery. McKenna was also charged with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct, according to court documents. His representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press.

McKenna was arraigned and released on $20,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11.

The incident happened in the hours after Penn State lost to No. 2 Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium, home of the Nittany Lions football team.

McKenna, who is from Whitehorse, Yukon, has 11 goals and 21 assists in 24 games this season for the Nittany Lions. He decided to play for Penn State after the NCAA lifted its ban on Canadian Hockey League players competing at the Division I level.

A name, image and likeness deal with the Nittany Lions helped sway McKenna to join a program that has been at the Division I level for less than 15 years.

McKenna recently had four goals and six assists at the World Junior Championships while helping Canada to a bronze medal.

Right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger agrees to minor league contract with Pittsburgh Pirates

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Chicago White Sox’s Mike Clevinger pitches in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Right-hander Mike Clevinger agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will attend big league spring training camp.

The 35-year-old is 60-44 with a 3.55 ERA across nine seasons with Cleveland, San Diego and the Chicago White Sox.

Clevinger has dealt with injuries in recent seasons and struggled with the White Sox last spring after being moved to the bullpen. He bounced back after returning to the rotation with Triple-A Charlotte. Clevinger went 7-3 with a 4.20 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 22 starts in the minors last summer.

The Pirates have a young rotation led by reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, veteran Mitch Keller and rookie Bubba Chandler, who went 4-1 during a stint in the majors at the end of last season.

Clevinger’s best days came with Cleveland from 2017-19 when he was 38-18 with a 2.91 ERA.

Steelers hire Brian Angelichio as their offensive coordinator

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press, Caption for Photo: Minnesota Vikings passing game coordinator/tight ends coach Brian Angelichio walks the sideline wearing a “Salute to Service” shirt before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers announced yesterday that Brian Angelichio was hired as their new offensive coordinator. Angelichio was the former passing game coordinator and tight ends coach for the Minnesota Vikings. The move will reunite Angelichio with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who worked with him for the Green Bay Packers from 2016 to 2018, when Angelichio was serving as the tight ends coach. Angelichio will replace former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was hired by Ohio State University on Saturday to work in the same position.  

Injured Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones suspended 20 games by the NHL for violating PED policy

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Penguins’ Caleb Jones skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, in Pittsburgh, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL suspended injured Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones for 20 games on Wednesday for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

Jones, 28, is in his first season with the Penguins. The club placed him on injured reserve in late October with a foot injury, then assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He played one game for Wilkes-Barre in January before sustaining an upper-body injury.

Jones said through a statement released by the NHL Players Association that he believes he was exposed to a contaminated substance while undergoing exosome therapy from an outside provider.

“While I did not use the prohibited substance intentionally or for performance enhancement, I understand that players are responsible for everything that enters their body and accept the discipline imposed by the program,” Jones said. “I’m sorry to have let down my teammates, the Penguins organization, and our fans.”

Jones, the younger brother of Panthers defenseman Seth Jones, had one point in seven games with the Penguins in October after signing a two-year deal with Pittsburgh last summer.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said the club “appreciates” Jones’ transparency and that Jones will follow all NHL and NHLPA protocols during the suspension. Dubas added that Jones has the “full support” of the organization.

Man hospitalized after being shot in the abdomen in a home in the Arlington neighborhood of Pittsburgh

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man was found with a gunshot wound to the abdomen inside a home in the Arlington neighborhood of Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon. Authorities were called to a reported shooting around 12:30 p.m. on the 2100 block of Spring Street. When they arrived, they found a man inside a home who had been shot. He was taken to the hospital, which is where he is in critical condition. The investigation into this shooting is ongoing. Further information on a potential suspect or what the cause of the shooting is has not been released at this time.

City of McKeesport appoints Thomas Maglicco as its new mayor and Kevin Kovach as its new fire chief

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the City of McKeesport- Mayor’s Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(McKeesport, PA) The city of McKeesport now has a new mayor and a new fire chief. Thomas Maglicco was appointed as the new McKeesport mayor and was sworn in at a McKeesport City Council meeting yesterday evening. Maglicco will replace Michael Cherepko, who announced in a statement yesterday that he was retiring after fourteen years. Kevin Kovach was also appointed as the new fire chief of McKeesport at the same city council meeting. Kovach has been a member of the McKeesport Fire Department for 24 years. 

State Representatives Rob Matzie and Tom Mehaffie laud passage of bill to clear the way for construction of small modular nuclear reactors

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie Speaking)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg from State Representative Rob Matzie’s office, Pennsylvania Nuclear Energy Caucus Co-Chairs Matzie and Tom Mehaffie hailed the state House’s unanimous passage of legislation yesterday which would clear the way for the construction of the nuclear industry’s small modular reactors and microreactors to help meet growing demands on Pennsylvania’s energy grid. The lawmakers expressed that H.B. 2017, which was introduced by Democratic State Representative Jose Giral, (D- Philadelphia) would pave the way for small modular reactors and microreactors by authorizing a change in fees that have posed an obstacle to the construction of these smaller nuclear reactors. 

Three men facing charges for scheme to smuggle contraband into the Allegheny County Jail in a Doritos bag

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This Oct. 17, 2023 file photo shows the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County jail could significantly increase its mental health staffing and provide more training about use of force and restraint after five inmates alleged that the Pennsylvania facility treats those with mental illness unfairly, under proposed settlement filed Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Three men are now facing charges of criminal conspiracy, contraband and criminal use of a communication facility because a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Allegheny County Jail was busted after police said they found a Dorito bag containing drugs in the bathroom of a magistrate’s office. According to Allegheny County police, detectives last month learned about plans between 31-year-old Tyreace Platt and 39-year-old Chaz Coles to smuggle synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2, into the jail, where they were incarcerated. Detectives confirmed that they reviewed jail records on Monday that indicated Platt and Coles were working with someone outside of the jail. Police stated that the duo planned to get this man to put drugs in a bathroom at a local magistrate’s office on Tuesday, which was when Coles was scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing. Around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, police note that detectives went to the magistrate’s office and saw 33-year-old Tyrique Craighead arrive and go into the bathroom. After he left, police said detectives went in and searched the bathroom. Detectives expressed that they found an open bag of Doritos that appeared to contain “multiple items of suspected contraband.” and police also discovered that there were multiple pieces of rolled paper in the bathroom, which tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids.  Police noted that Craighead was taken into custody. 

Emergency crews evacuate patients and battle blaze at a Pennsylvania hospital in Dickson City

(File Photo: Source for Photo: This photo provided by NEPA Fire Photography, shows firefighters battling a blaze at the Lehigh Valley Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 in Dickson City, Pa. (NEPA Fire Photography via AP)

DICKSON CITY, Pa. (AP) — Emergency crews battled a blaze and evacuated patients from a hospital Wednesday night in Pennsylvania as fire engulfed part of the facility, according to officials.

All patients, staff and visitors were safely evacuated from Lehigh Valley Hospital in Dickson City, according to a hospital spokesperson. Emergency responders continued to work at the scene early Thursday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said on the social platform X that the state’s police, emergency management agency and health department had responded to the fire.

“Thank you to every first responder running toward danger to help their fellow Pennsylvanians,” he said. “Lori and I are praying for the staff, patients, their families, and the entire community tonight.”

In video and photos posted online, flames can be seen shooting out from the top of what appears to be the hospital’s Orthopedic Institute.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire in Dickson City, which is about 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of Scranton.

“Deep gratitude goes to the first responders and hospital teams whose swift, professional actions ensured the safety and well-being of everyone involved,” U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., whose district includes the city, posted on X.