(File Photo of the Big Beaver Falls Area School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) Beaver Falls High School is presenting “James and the Giant Peach” as their 2026 musical. The performance is based on the classic children’s novel by Roald Dahl. This show will be performed at 7 p.m. both tomorrow and Saturday, March 28th and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 29th in the Beaver Falls Middle School Auditorium. It is worth $10 for reserved seats, $5 for students’ general admission and $8 for adult general admission. Tickets are available to buy at the door or online at bfhsmusical.ludus.com.

(File Photo of the Hopewell Area School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Hopewell, PA) The Hopewell Area School District will hold remote classes as administrators work to resolve a “transportation matter.” According to that district’s superintendent, Maura Hobson, students will learn remotely today and tomorrow because of this issue. The district has not specified what the issue was at this time. All evening activities will continue as scheduled. 

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The American Red Cross is asking people to help patients in need by making an appointment to give blood or platelets now. Donors of all blood types are needed as spring begins. Those who give blood or platelets between March 30th-April 12, 2026, will get an exclusive Red Cross x Life is Good T-shirt, while supplies last. You can visit RedCrossBlood.org/LifeIsGood by clicking here for details. According to a release today from the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, here are the ways you can give blood.

It’s good to give. Grab a spot to donate blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org by clicking here, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App by clicking here, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org by clicking here, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

March 26th, 2026

School or Organization	Cancellation or Delay  ( If blank no cancellation or delay reported)
Adelphoi Education/Beaver (Rochester)
Aliquippa Area School District
Ambridge Area School District
Avonworth School District
Baden Academy Charter School
Beaver Area School District
Beaver County Courthouse
Beaver County Rehabilitation Center
Beaver Falls Crime Watch
Bethel Christian School (Raccoon Township)
Big Beaver Falls Area School District
Beaver County CTC
Beaver County Transit Authority
Beaver Valley Montessori School
Blackhawk Area School District
Blackhawk Meals on Wheels
Butler County Community College (All Locations, Including Cranberry Township)
CCBC
CCBC Aviation Sciences Center
Center at the Mall (Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca)
Central Valley School District
Chippewa Alliance Church
Cornell School District
Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church (Cranberry Township)
Divine Grace Parish (Cranberry, All Locations)
Education Center at Watson (Sewickley)
Ellwood City Area School District
Ellwood City Area Public Library
Ellwood City Meals on Wheels
Evangel Heights Child Care (Beaver)
Families Matter Food Pantry
Footprints in the Sand Daycare (Aliquippa)
Freedom Area School District
H.A.P. Community Outings (Aliquippa)
Head Start of Beaver County – Aliquippa
Head Start of Beaver County -Ambridge
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls 7th Ave.
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls 6th Ave.
Head Start of Beaver County – Central
Head Start of Beaver County – Blackhawk
Head Start of Beaver County – CCBC
Head Start/ Early Head Start of Beaver County
Head Start of Beaver County – Rochester
Head Start of Beaver County – Southside
Head Start of Beaver County – New Brighton Middle School
Head Start of Beaver County – New Brighton High School
Head Start of Beaver County – Riverside
Heart Prints Center for Early Education (Cranberry Township)
Hope Academy- Conway
Hopewell School District	Remote learning, no transportation both on Thursday and Friday because of a “transportation matter”
Kiddie Korner (Beaver)
Life Family Pre-School
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
Mc Guire Memorial EOC
Mc Guire Memorial School
Midland Borough school District
Montour Area School District
Monaca Senior Center
Monaca VFD #1
Moon Area School District
Mother’s Morning Out/Noah’s Ark Preschool/Sewickley
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Pre-school (Moon Twp.)
New Brighton Area School District
New Horizons (Beaver)
North Catholic School District
Our Lady of Fatima/ Hopewell
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School (Coraopolis)
PA Career Link (Beaver County)
Pawmazing Bakery (Beaver)
Penn State Beaver (Monaca)
Provident Charter School West (Baden)
Quaker Valley School District
Riverside Beaver County Area School District
Road to Emmaus Baptist Church (Beaver)
Rochester Area School District
Robert Morris University (Moon Township)
Seneca Valley Area School District
Sewickley Academy
Slippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation
Slippery Rock Area School District
Slippery Rock Program Center
Slippery Rock University
St. Andrews Day School (Moon Township)
St. James-Sewickley
St. Monica Catholic Academy
St. Monica Parish (Beaver Falls)
St. Killian’s Catholic School (Cranberry)
St. Peter & Paul School/Beaver
St. Stephens Lutheran Academy/Zelienople
South Side Area School District
Sto Rox
The Baden American Legion
The Lindsay Theater (Sewickley)
The Phoenix Center (Rochester)
The Prevention Network and Class Academy (Beaver County)
Vanport VFD
Western Beaver Area School District
West Allegheny School District
Zelienople Meals on Wheels

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed during the Beaver County Commissioners’ work session this morning at the Beaver County Courthouse in Beaver. Solicitor Garen Fedeles stated during the Solicitors’ report of the session that there are a few challenges that are out there for various races for ballots here in Beaver County, and for the senator race, there are a couple of Beaver County precincts that have the same senator. as the midterm elections in Pennsylvania draw closer. Fedeles also mentioned some of highlights of the forty-eight resolutions planned for tomorrow, which include: about $123,000 of PA250 grants awarded to various organizations and communities to celebrate America250, some leases that the Commissioners get for Beaver County Boom with the help of property owners for the event, and to get the liner for the pool at Old Economy Park so it can open for 2026. Another topic that was discussed during the commissioners’ report of the session was an update on bringing documents from the Wampum Mushroom Mines to a facility owned by St. Barnabas. Beaver County Controller Maria Longo said that there is a process to destroy some boxes even though 250 boxes are being brought back at a time. Longo also stated that the team that she met up about this endeavour told her in regards to the boxes: “they might be able to destroy upwards of 2,000 to 3,000 at the mines, once they get through all of their lists.” In other business, Commissioner Jack Manning commented on an event he attended recently at the SteamFitters’ new facility in Harmony in which commissioners from Beaver and eleven surrounding counties attended to talk about issues including housing development. In regards to that topic, Manning noted that Pennsylvania is 44th in the country for in terms of housing development.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Hookstown, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that twenty-nine-year-old Tony Warrick of Burgettstown was arrested for stealing some snacks from the Dollar General in Hookstown on Monday. He has since been released and charges were filed against him as a result of this incident. However, at 1:52 p.m. that day, Warrick stole Chips Ahoy cookies and pistachios from the store on State Route 18. The manager of that store recognized Warrick when he came into the store yesterday and called the police. Warrick also identified himself to that manager. Warrick was found at his place of work and was arrested for attempted retail theft, but actively resisted the arrest while it occurred. Warrick was processed before he was released.

(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

(Hookstown, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that they responded to the Dollar General in Hookstown on February 24th, 2026 when a woman from Hookstown was trespassing onto the property at 7:12 a.m. Forty-year-old Maryjo West was arrested at the store on State Route 18 and she has trespassed onto that store’s property before. Charges against West are pending. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A sign asks those getting vaccinated to keep 6 feet apart during the vaccination event, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, at Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley, Calif. The CDC has again revised its COVID guidelines, further relaxing quarantine recommendations and dropping the recommendation that people stay at least 6 feet away from each other. (Elias Funez/The Union via AP, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that a new COVID variant called BA.3.2 had emerged in the United States. According to a release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its morbidity and mortality weekly report last week, this variant has emerged in Pennsylvania and the following other states:

• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• Nevada
• New York
• Ohio
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wyoming

The CDC confirmed that it was detected in nasal swabs from four travelers, three airplane wastewater samples, clinical samples, and 132 wastewater samples from these 25 states. As of this February, BA.3.2 has been reported in the United States and 22 other countries after it was first detected in South Africa on November 22nd, 2024. A report from the San Francisco Chronicle notes that while it is spreading, it is not the dominant strain, and it doesn’t appear to be surging even though the first positive test came last June from a traveler who went through San Francisco International Airport. The University of Minnesota’s CIDRAP publication expressed that the person who first tested positive for BA.3.2 came from the Netherlands. A report from The Independent states that it is descended from the omicron variant and the current vaccines, which only target JN.1’s subvariants, may not protect against the virus. It also does not appear that BA.3.2 causes a different illness than other mutations.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A pedestrian passes the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Nov. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) House Republican policymakers launched their “Freedom Through Affordability” initiative today in Harrisburg, which is a plan to deliver tax relief and lower costs to make Pennsylvania a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. The initiative was unveiled at a Capitol press conference and it includes a package of six-month tax cuts and sales tax holidays, a multi-billion-dollar relief effort aimed at providing immediate relief to families and workers struggling under the weight of higher prices. Framing the effort, Representative David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, emphasized the direct connection between affordability and opportunity. He said: “Our goal is simple: Make Pennsylvania a place where families can afford to live, work and build their future. When people can keep more of what they earn and the cost of everyday life is within reach, they have the freedom to make their own choices about their future. That’s what this effort is about – achieving freedom through affordability for people across the Commonwealth.” At the center of the initiative are targeted proposals that are designed to provide immediate relief on some of the most pressing household expenses, including the suspension of key taxes for six months, directly reducing costs on essential services and daily expenses. Rowe is sponsoring legislation to reduce the state Personal Income Tax rate from 3.07% to 2.99% for six months. Representatives Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks), the vice chair of the House Republican Policy Committee, and Eric Davanzo (R-Westmoreland) are co-sponsoring legislation to suspend the Gross Receipts Tax on electricity and telecommunications for six months. Marcell pointed to the growing pressure households are facing and highlighted the impact on everyday families by expressing: “Everywhere I go in my community, people are looking for a break from rising costs, especially on the basics of life. This temporary tax holiday is a commonsense way to give them that break, save them some money and help make life just a little easier.” Davanzo underscored how energy costs can ripple throughout the broader economy and he noted: “The message from Pennsylvanians has never been louder or more clear: Energy costs are making their day-to-day unaffordable. Right here and now, we can give families a little bit of breathing room and help them stretch their budgets a little bit further,” Davanzo said. “Because energy costs factor into production, wholesale and retail costs on everyday products, this relief will be felt across the Commonwealth’s entire economy.” Representative Abby Major (R-Armstrong/Westmoreland) focused on transportation and emphasized the burden of fuel costs on working families in introducing legislation to suspend the state’s gas tax for six months. She stated: “High fuel costs compound the financial strain Pennsylvanians already face due to inflation and ongoing cost-of-living increases. My legislation will provide temporary relief to make it easier to balance a family’s budget. I urge immediate action so there is more money in the pockets of our hardworking residents. In addition to advancing immediate relief, lawmakers stressed the importance of continuing to hear directly from residents across Pennsylvania. Representative Joe Hogan (R-Bucks), deputy chair of the Policy Committee, announced the launch of the “Affordability Starts Here” tour, which will bring lawmakers across the Commonwealth to hear directly from families, workers and employers about what it takes to make life more affordable. Hogan commented: “As the Policy Committee’s Deputy Chair on affordability, I know how important this ‘Affordability Starts Here’ Tour of Pennsylvania is for so many families. “Starting next week, we will make our first stop in Hanover for a hearing on how we can reduce the costs of child care and expand the tour to all sectors of our economy. Folks across our Commonwealth have great ideas and I’m looking forward to identifying and promoting more ways to make Pennsylvania more affordable for everyone.” Hogan is a new father and he joins Rep. KC Tomlinson (R-Bucks) in co-sponsoring six-month sales tax holidays on car seats as well as newborn/baby products. Additional members sponsoring affordability-related tax relief proposals include: Reps. Mike Armanini (R-Clearfield/Elk), Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton/Union), Marla Brown (R- Lawrence), Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union), Ann Flood (R-Northampton), Jonathan Fritz (R-Wayne/Susquehanna), Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Kate Klunk (R-York), Roman Kozak (R-Beaver), Thomas Kutz (R-Cumberland), Andrew Kuzma (R-Allegheny/Washington), Shelby Labs (R-Bucks), Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia), Zach Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton), Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington), Brett Miller (R-Lancaster), Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne), Brian Rasel (R-Westmoreland), Chad Reichard (R-Franklin), Michael Stender (R-Northumberland/Montour) and Parke Wentling (R-Mercer). Legislation on this is forthcoming. The schedule for the Affordability Starts Here Tour is as follows:

• March 30, Hanover: Making Child Care Affordable for Pennsylvania Families
• April 7, Kingston: Reforming the Rain Tax to Make Pennsylvania More Affordable
• April 30, Sewickley: Making Child Care Affordable for Pennsylvania Families
• May 8, Bradford: Care Close to Home: Expanding Access to Labor and Delivery in Pennsylvania
• May 21, Reinholds: Making Housing More Affordable in Pennsylvania
• May 26, Hawley: Making Housing More Affordable in Pennsylvania
• May 27, Lebanon City: Making Housing More Affordable in Pennsylvania
• More dates to be announced!

For more information, visit policycommittee.com.