New Brighton Police have charged a borough man with using a fake Skype account to ask a 12-year-old for nude photos. According to police, 24-year-old Cody Mengel was charged with solicitation of child pornography, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors. He was released after posting bond. The alleged incident took place in September of 2016.
Authorities have charged a Baden man with holding up a Speedway convenience store in Harmony Township this week. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…
A man will spend up to 50 years in prison after being convicted of setting fire to a Rochester apartment building. Donald Thomas was sentenced Wednesday after being found guilty in January to the fire on the 200-block of West Madison Street in July 2017. After initially denying any involvement, Thomas admitted to starting the fire after threatening to burn one of the resident’s belongings, according to investigators.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 28TH, 2019
TODAY – OVERCAST WITH SHOWERS AT TIME. HIGH
HIGH AROUND 60.
TONIGHT – CLOUDY WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWERS.
LOW NEAR 50.
FRIDAY – A STEADY RAIN IN THE MORNING. SHOWERS
CONTINUING IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH – 58.
SATURDAY – CLOUDY WITH PERIODS OF RAIN.
A THUNDERSTORM POSSIBLE. HIGH – 61.
SUNDAY – CLOUDY. HIGH NEAR 40.
By Mark Peterson, Beaver County Radio.
(Beaver Falls, PA) The Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation kicked off their annual lecture series last night and hosted a public meeting at the Carnegie Free Library in town to give attendees an overview of the what the future holds for the city. A capacity crowd filled up the double meeting room in the library for the first of three planned meetings, and those in attendance heard very encouraging words from City Manager, Charles “Mick” Jones, Jr. as he gave his talk which focused on municipal improvements and activities. Jones beamed with excitement as he described the upcoming renovations to 7th Avenue, where bike lanes will be added, along with wider sidewalks, and reverse parking to potentially create a more pedestrian friendly business district, much like the bustling outdoor cafe and shopping areas seen in other cities. Work on the infrastructure along the main street in Beaver Falls has already begun, with the major road work to commence in earnest later in this summer, after the Beaver Falls Car Cruise on June 8. The good news didn’t stop with street improvements. Jones lauded a new “Innovation Station” coming to Beaver Falls that will be located in the old Angeles Apartment Building in the 1300 block of 7th Avenue, and a Children’s Museum that will be housed in the old News Tribune Building on 13th Street.
Renee Suhr, owner of Stray Cat Studio in Beaver Falls also spoke at the meeting and unveiled her plans for a brand new building to be constructed in the 1400 block. The impressive undertaking, called the Portabella Building , will include space for an art studio, gift shop, cafe, black box theater and a large meeting room. Suhr opened Stray Cat Studio, a gift shop and pottery art class enterprise about 7 years years ago and has watched the upstart business outgrow its current digs at the lower end of town at 507 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls. In that time, Suhr reported that over 800 people have taken classes at her shop, where she and her staff offer classes in several different styles of pottery making. Suhr hopes to begin construction soon on the new two story building that will span 3 parcels on the city’s main drag.
The “State Of The City” meeting was organized by Wendy Whelply, Executive Director for the Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation. Last night’s meeting, which centered around the topic of business and government, was the first in a series of three gatherings, each focusing on a different aspect of Beaver Falls. The next meeting is April 10. Education and Church will be the themes of that upcoming lecture which will include commentary from Dr. Calvin Troup, President of Geneva College and Rev. Bernard Tench, Pastor of Second baptist Church in Beaver Falls. Admission is free and the programs start at 7 P.M. at the Carnegie Free Library in Beaver Falls. More information and upcoming schedules can be found here.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is facing sharp pushback over a proposal to cut federal funding to the Special Olympics. Celebrities, politicians and activists have taken to social media to rebuke DeVos for her plan to cut funding for the group as part of $7 billion in reductions in 2020. The organization received $17.6 million from the Education Department this year, but DeVos says it should be supported through philanthropy.
Attorney General William Barr is combing through the special counsel’s report on the Russia probe, removing grand jury and classified information in hopes of releasing it in April and testifying to Congress. That’s according to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who had dinner with Barr on Tuesday. Graham tells The Associated Press the attorney general is going through the report now to make sure there’s nothing that could compromise national security or intelligence “sources and methods.”
Prosecutors offered little explanation when dropping charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett in a decision that infuriated Chicago’s mayor and police chief. The move also raised more questions. Because despite dropping 16 felony counts related to making a false police report, prosecutors insist Smollett faked a racist, anti-gay attack on himself. Smollett’s attorney said Wednesday that the men who attacked him are lying about Smollett’s involvement.
A jury outside Philadelphia is weighing the death penalty or life in prison for a man who pleaded guilty to raping, strangling and dismembering his girlfriend’s 14-year-old daughter. Wednesday is the second day of deliberations. Jacob Sullivan pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and related charges in the 2016 slaying of Grace Packer. Grace’s mother, Sara Packer, is due to plead guilty Wednesday for her role. Prosecutors say Sullivan acted out a rape-murder fantasy he shared with Sara Packer.
The Pittsburgh City Council has given tentative approval to gun-control legislation introduced in the wake of the synagogue massacre. The legislation would place restrictions on military-style assault weapons like the AR-15 rifle that authorities say was used in the attack that killed 11 and wounded seven. Council members voted 6-3 on Wednesday to pass it. A final vote will take place next week. Gun-rights supporters say they’ll file suit against the city if the bills go through.