A woman with ties to Beaver County may soon be ready to stand trial for murder in Florida.  Physicians determined in May that Kimberly Kessler wasn’t competent to stand trial for the 2018 murder of a co-worker at a Florida salon.  She was committed to a Florida hospital in July with the intention that she have another competency hearing within 30 days.  The staff at that hospital sent a letter to the judge saying they felt Kessler was now ready to face the charges for the death of Joleen Cummings, whose body hasn’t been found.

State troopers say an Ellwood City man is dead after falling into a pit at a small sewer plant in Franklin Township yesterday. The 61-year-old man fell at the plant on Park Road in Moraine State Park. The Man’s identity hasn’t been released.

Two Pennsylvania state senators have introduced a new bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. SB 350 would allow anyone who is at least 21 years old to consume cannabis, according to Sen. Daylin Leach’s website. The bill also says the use of marijuana in public would be generally prohibited, but that lounges could allow consumption on their property. Last month, Governor Tom Wolf said he was in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, saying most of the state’s residents support it and the state has a wealth of knowledge from the experience in other states to guide the new effort. Eleven states have legalized recreational marijuana. Wolf would like Pennsylvania to be the 12th. Public opinion polls in Pennsylvania have shown a majority of those asked were in favor of legalizing marijuana, as did a report released Wednesday from Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s statewide listening tour on legalizing marijuana. According to the report, the legalization of recreational marijuana has the support of 86 percent in Beaver County.

State police have seized over $8.5 million in illegal drugs in the third quarter of 2019. Beaver County radio news intern Alex D’Itri has the report…

The future of the Maple Syrup Festival once again finds itself in a cloud of confusion after some major changes in the Beaver County Conservation District, including the leaving of director Jim Shaner. Matt Drzik has more from the County Courthouse:

UPDATE: Police have detained one person in connection to a late-night fatal stabbing in Hopewell Township. According to Hopewell Township Police, the stabbing was initially reported around 11 p.m. Tuesday on Guy Street. The victim was taken by Stat MedEvac to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officials are not yet releasing his name. Officials were on the scene for at least eight hours, collecting evidence. At one point, they were waiting on a search warrant to comb through the crime scene. Police tape surrounded the entire home. The Hopewell Police chief says one person has been detained and there is “no danger to the public at this time.” The investigation is continuing. Aliquippa Police, Beaver County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and Beaver County Detectives are assisting with the investigation. Stay with Beaver County Radio News for the latest on this developing story.

BREAKING NEWS: Rochester police are looking for a man who tried rob the cashier inside the Asian Kitchen on Brighton Avenue. They said the suspect was wearing a mask and told the victim to give him money. After the cashier refused to give the suspect money, she ran out of the restaurant, went after the suspect and told him she would call police. A pizza delivery driver spotted the suspect when he ran off. He managed to get away. The pizza delivery driver called 911 after checking on the victim. Anyone with information is asked to call police.

UPDATE: Last night, Aliquppa residents were being asked to be on the lookout after a reported attempted luring. But his morning, Aliquippa police report there was no attempted abduction. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has the update. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

BREAKING NEWS: There’s been a big drug bust in Aliquippa. A press conference is scheduled for 10 a-m at the D-A’s office. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano will be there…and will have a detailed report for us during the Noonday Report and during the afternoon news on Beaver County Radio.

BREAKING NEWS: There was a fatal stabbing overnight in Hopewell Township. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details.  Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…