Category: News

Overnight closures of the northbound I-79 to westbound I-376 Parkway West ramp will begin, weather permitting

(File Photo of Road Closed Signs on a Road)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that occurring tomorrow night, weather permitting, overnight closures of the northbound I-79 to westbound I-376 (Parkway West) ramp in Robinson Township, Allegheny County will begin. According to a release from PennDOT District 11, paving operations and pavement marking installation work will be conducted by crews along I-376 (Parkway West) between the Campbells Run Road (Exit 62) and I-79 (Exit 64A) interchange ramps and on the interchange ramps at I-79 and the northbound I-79 ramp to westbound I-376 (Exit 59B) will close for milling and resurfacing and pavement marking installation work according to the following schedule:

Weekend Closures, August 15-18

  • 6:00 PM Friday, August 15 to 7:00 AM Saturday, August 16
  • 9:00 PM Saturday, August 16 to 7:00 AM Sunday, August 17
  • 9:00 PM Sunday, August 17 to 5:00 AM Monday, August 18

Weeknight Closures, August 18-21

  • 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM each night Monday through Thursday

Weekend Closures, August 22-25

  • 6:00 PM Friday, August 22 to 7:00 AM Saturday, August 23
  • 9:00 PM Saturday, August 23 to 7:00 AM Sunday, August 24
  • 9:00 PM Sunday, August 24 to 5:00 AM Monday, August 25

Weeknight Closures, August 25-26

  • 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM, Monday and Tuesday

Ramp traffic will be epxerience a detour, and according to that same release from PennDOT District 11, here is the detour route:

Posted Detour

  • Continue straight on northbound I-79 past the closed ramp
  • Take the Route 60 Crafton/Moon Run (Exit 60) off-ramp
  • Turn left onto Route 60 (Steubenville Pike)
  • Take the ramp to I-79 South toward Washington
  • From southbound I-79, take the ramp to West 376 toward Pittsburgh International Airport/Beaver (Exit 59B)
  • End detour

I-376 will keep having single-lane restrictions happening in both directions between the Ridge Road (Exit 61) and I-79 (Exit 64A) interchanges from 9 P.M. to 5 A.M. on weeknights and from 9 P.M. to 7 A.M. on weekends through late October. Milling, paving, and pavement marking installation work occurring in coordination with the ramp closures will be seen by motorists. Motorists will be driving on milled roadway surfaces until paving work occurs as the project progresses as part of this work.

Neil Diamond musical making its Pittsburgh debut

By Scott Tady

PITTSBURGH — Good times may have never seemed so good when “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical,” makes its Pittsburgh premiere Sept. 9-14 at the Benedum Center.

Created in collaboration with Diamond himself, “A Beautiful Noise” has been hailed for its uplifting and authentic portrayal of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting, show-stopping American rock icon. With 120 million albums sold, a catalogue of classics like “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “Sweet Caroline,” an induction into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, a Grammy Award Lifetime Achievement Award, and sold-out concerts around the world, Diamond’s story was made to shine on Broadway-and head out on the road across America.

“Some of my most thrilling nights have been while I was on tour, bringing my music to audiences across the world,” Diamond said in a media release. “Having ‘A Beautiful Noise’ go on tour is an honor and I can’t wait for audiences across North America to experience this show. I hope they enjoy it as much as I have.”

Nick Fradiani will portray the younger Diamond in Pittsburgh, directly from playing the role on Broadway since October 2023. Fradiani won the title of “American Idol” in 2015, and released his debut album “Hurricane” in 2016. Currently On tour with Fradiani are Tony Award nominee Robert Westenberg (Neil Diamond – Now), Hannah Jewel Kohn (Marcia Murphey), Lisa Reneé Pitts (Doctor), Michael Accardo (Bert Berns/ Kieve Diamond), Tuck Milligan (Fred Weintraub/ Tommy O’Rourke), Kate A. Mulligan (Ellie Greenwich/ Rose Diamond), and Tiffany Tatreau (Jaye Posner), with Joe Caskey as the standby for Neil — Then.

Nick Fradiani (center) as Neil Diamond “Then” (center) in “A Beautiful Noise_ The Neil Diamond Musical”. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

The Broadway production had featured North Sewickley Township native and Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School graduate Amber Ardolino, who’s currently playing Jordan Baker in Broadway’s “The Great Gatsby Musical.”

“Neil is one of the best live entertainers the world has ever seen… In his 50-year career, he’s performed for millions of fans around the globe. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to honor his legacy than having ‘A Beautiful Noise’ touring North America, visiting the same cities where he gave so many people so much joy,” the show’s producer, Ken Davenport, said.

“A Beautiful Noise,” Broadway’s Neil Diamond musical, makes its Pittsburgh premiere. (Photo: Jeremy Daniel)

“A Beautiful Noise” was written by four-time Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Two Popes”).

For tickets, visit the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website, TrustArts.org; or pick them up in person at Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh; or by calling 412-456-4800.

Kate A. Mulligan as Ellie Greenwich in “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical,” making its Pittsburgh premiere in September. (Photo Jeremy Daniel)

“A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” has raised $750,000 for the Parkinson’s Foundation. For more information on how you can help visit abeautifulnoisethemusical.com/partners

Single-lane restriction in the Fort Pitt Tunnel in the city of Pittsburgh will occur, weather permitting

(File Photo of the Fort Pitt Tunnel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced tomorrow night, weather permitting, a lane restriction in the Fort Pitt Tunnel on I-376 in the City of Pittsburgh will occur. From 10 P.M. tomorrow to 5 A.M. on Saturday morning, a single-lane restriction will occur in the outbound westbound Fort Pitt Tunnel. Drainage work will be conducted by PennDOT crews.

Update on the status of the survivors of the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant explosion in Clairton

(File Photo: Source for Photo: The Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, is seen Tuesday, Aug 12, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (Sean Stipp/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Clairton, PA) A recent confirmation from hospital officials states that seven of the ten people that got injuries from the explosion that took place at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke works plant on Monday got released. According to a UPMC spokesperson, three patients are still being treated at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. No word was given on their condition. Thirty-nine-year-old Timothy Quinn and fifty-two-year-old Steven Menefee of Clairton were the two people that were killed from this explosion in Clairton on Monday. The number of the people that got treated at the scene of this explosion is unknown. The cause of this explosion is still being investigated. Routine maintenance had been scheduled in Batteries 13 and 14 of the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke works plant, which is where this explosion happened. Several batteries of that same plant are still shut down from the explosion. A GoFundMe campaign to assist the families of those who were injured and the families of both Quinn and Menefee by United Steelworkers Local 1557 can be found below:

Click here for the link to the GoFundMe Fundraiser by Travis Laing : Help Families of USW Local 1557 Clairton works

Tractor trailer gets overturned partially on a Downtown Pittsburgh road

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: police car lights at night in city with selective focus and bokeh background blur) Credit for Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images/iStockphoto/z1b)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A tractor-trailer got overturned partially on a Downtown Pittsburgh road this morning. Crews responded to the scene of this incident which happened on the road of Fort Pitt Boulevard and Stanwix Street, which police were also blocking at the scene. It appeared that the tractor-trailer cab was upright and its back got turned over on the road of the scene. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time and there were no reported injuries.

New Brighton powerlifter achieves six more world records during two national meets, one in Pittsburgh and another in Detroit, Michigan

(File Photo of New Brighton)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Seventy-year-old Tom Proya, a powerlifter from New Brighton, achieved six world records during two national meets held in June and July of 2025. One of those meets that Proya competed in recently was the USPA Nationals meet in Pittsburgh where he was in the 165 lb. weight class and was in the master raw bench press 70-to-74 age group. The other of those meets that Proya competed in recently was the WPC National Championships in Detroit, Michigan. Proya bench pressed 331 pounds in one meet and 336 pounds in another to get first place in both as well as awards for outstanding master raw bench press in both. During both meets, Proya also made three national records. In November of 2024, a 42nd world record was set by Proya on the bench press at the WPC World Championships in Chicago, Illinois. Proya was also the winner of the 2014 WPC World Championships and in 2011, he was one of the people that competed in the APF Ohio State meet. In October of 2025, Proya will compete in the 2025 IPL Olympia Pro Powerlifting meet in Las Vegas, Nevada.  

Dog helps family escape temporary fire that occurred at an Upper St. Clair home

(File Photo of Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Upper St. Clair, PA) Yesterday morning, a dog of a family helped them escape a fire that happened that day in Upper St. Clair at a home on the 1400 block of Meadow Road just after 4:30 a.m. The fire was under control after around forty-five minutes of work by fire crews from Upper St. Clair. They even had to get a fire hydrant down the road because one hydrant could not be operated and a collapse was seen at one part of the house that caught on fire. According to Upper St. Clair Fire Chief Ted Hale, the dog of two adults and a one-year-old child woke them up and got them safely displaced before the fire happened. This fire is being investigated by the Allegheny County fire marshal. The cause of this Upper St. Clair house fire that is believed to have started on the back porch of that home is unknown at this time. 

East Deer Township man accused of allegedly sexually assaulting twelve-year-old girl multiple times along a walking trail in Allegehny County

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Forty-year-old Brian Ball of East Deer Township is in jail and is accused of allegedly sexually assaulting a twelve-year-old girl along an Allegheny County walking trail multiple times. The charges for Ball include indecent exposure, indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors. This alleged incident occurred on the night of July 28th, 2025 on a walking trail near the Allegheny River and the Allegheny Valley Police Department responded to a sexual assault report. According to witnesses, two female minors were on the trail and Ball made an offer to help them off of it. Ball then allegedly sexually assaulted the twelve-year-old victim multiple times after offering the two minors marijuana. Ball is in the Allegheny County Jail and later this month will be when he will make an appearance in court. 

Seventy-seven year old man last seen in Polish Hill before he went missing found dead near the East Busway in Pittsburgh

(Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to Pittsburgh officials yesterday, a seventy-seven-year-old man who was reported missing in July was found dead near the East Busway in Pittsburgh last week. Pastor Rodriguez Rivera, Jr. went missing and a search for him was conducted on July 21st, 2025. Officials confirm that before he went missing, Rivera was last seen on the 1000 block of Herron Avenue at a facility for senior living in Polish Hill. Rivera was found dead on Friday, August 8th, 2025 and the Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group got the credit for helping to find Rivera. At this time, the manner and cause of death for Rivera is unknown and according to the family of Rivera, he was in the beginning stages of dementia. 

Texas shooter who killed 3 outside Target, including a child, randomly chose his victims, police say

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Police monitor the scene near a Target after a shooting in Austin, Texas, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A random shooting outside a Target store in Texas began when a gunman killed an employee collecting shopping carts then a man and his 4-year-old granddaughter, sparking a chaotic hour of stolen cars and crashes that ended with him arrested naked holding a Bible, police said Tuesday.

Ethan Nieneker, 32, is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of murder over Monday’s shooting in Austin. Court records show a series of past arrests for domestic violence and assault.

“What happened yesterday was an unprovoked and deliberate attack, a deliberate act of violence,” Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference. “Innocent lives were taken in broad daylight, in a place where people should feel safe to run their everyday errands and to live their everyday lives.”

The police chief said that although Nieneker had a history of mental health issues, she was unaware of any specific diagnosis. Sgt. Nathan Sexton said the firearm Nieneker used in the attacks was acquired through family.

After shooting the Target employee, Nieneker shot the grandfather as he sat in the driver’s seat of his sport utility vehicle, then fatally shot the little girl in the back seat before stealing the vehicle and driving away fast, police said.

“It was a completely random choosing of the victims,” Sexton said.

Police said the Target employee, Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24, was taken to a hospital where he died. Adam Chow, 65, and his granddaughter were pronounced dead at the scene while Chow’s wife sustained minor injuries. The name of the child was not released.

Over the next hour, Nieneker tried to steal a water truck at a construction site, caused multiple vehicle crashes, wrecked Chow’s vehicle and then stole a Volkswagen he’d crashed into, police said. He also tried to break into a Waymo self-driving vehicle, threw a brick through the home of an acquaintance and walked naked through a backyard.

Officers found Nieneker walking naked on a street after he ditched his clothes in a portable toilet, police said. He was holding a Bible and was subdued with a Taser when he would not comply with demands.

“He said that he was Jesus,” Sexton said.

Police received multiple 911 calls as the suspect made his way across the city.

Chris Ferran said he was driving on a highway when he saw an SUV fly past him, then smash into two vehicles and keep going. “I’m not letting anybody get away with this, so I chased him down and called 911,” he said.

Ferran watched as the driver pulled into a construction site, got out of the SUV and ripped a worker out of a water truck. Ferran said the SUV’s driver, who was clad in what looked like swim trunks and a Hawaiian shirt, was in the truck for a while. So Ferran started shooting a video.

But when the man got out of the water truck, Ferran realized he had a gun.

“As soon as I saw that, I threw the phone down and I reversed and I was trying to get us out of there,” said Ferran, who had his two daughters with him.

Jail records did not list an attorney for Nieneker on Tuesday.

Online court records show Nieneker was arrested several times in recent years in both Travis County, which includes Austin, and neighboring Williamson County.

His Travis County arrests include misdemeanors for criminal mischief and driving while intoxicated, and three arrests on felony domestic violence charges. He was convicted of a charge of assault causing bodily injury family violence in 2016 and briefly sentenced to jail.

Another charge within days of the 2016 episode was dismissed. It was not immediately clear if those two charges were related. Another charge of felony assault on a family or household member in 2019 was dismissed three years later when prosecutors could not locate the victim.

Williamson County records show repeated run-ins with law enforcement, including two cases of misdemeanor family violence in 2015 that were later dismissed. He was also convicted of possession of marijuana in 2012 and entered a no contest plea to a charge of criminal mischief in 2016.

Monday’s shooting came as back-to-school shopping was in full swing ahead of the upcoming academic year. It also comes about two weeks after an attack at a Walmart in Michigan in which a man stabbed 11 people. The suspect has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder.