(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against a northwestern Pennsylvania pharmacy technician for diverting nearly 90,000 prescription pills from her place of employment. 

Thirty-four-year-old Alyssa R. McDowell, is charged with several felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, theft by unlawful taking, and related misdemeanor charges.

McDowell surrendered yesterday morning and was arraigned, when her bail was set at $100,000 unsecured. 

According to the Office of Attorney General’s investigation, McDowell diverted nearly 90,000 prescription pills: Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, from Sheffield Pharmacy in Warren County between 2022 and 2026. 

Investigators allege that between January of 2022 and May of 2026, McDowell diverted 80,926 Oxycodone pills and 8,744 Hydrocodone pills.

McDowell ordered extra bottles and took them for herself, then altered paperwork in attempts to conceal the thefts. 

(File Photo of an Open for Business Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester, PA) A store with items like breakfast pastries and coffee is about to open at Rhode Island Avenue across from the Rochester-Monaca Bridge.

A Dunkin’ Donuts store which has been under construction on the property since May, is set to open Monday, October 26, according to signs on the building.  

This is occurring over two years after the DeAngelis Donuts in Rochester closed down.

That location had a well-known spinning doughnut sign.

This will be Dunkin’ Donuts’ fifth location in Beaver County, and the upcoming Rochester location joins the shops in Aliquippa, Chippewa Township, the Center Township Walmart, and New Brighton.

The New Brighton Dunkin’ Donuts location opened last year on the former Pizza Joe’s site that is located at the New Brighton-Beaver Falls Bridge. 

(File Photo of a Beaver County Sheriff’s Office Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Beaver County Sheriff’s Office has been notified by numerous callers over the past few days that a person had called them and identified himself as Sergeant Howard of the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office.

That caller then advised that the call was being recorded and he was following up on a federal court subpoena in which the victim failed to show.

The scammer then told the victim that they need to report to the courthouse to immediately handle this issue.

Therfore, the scammer notes that they will need to pay a fine or they will be arrested on the spot.

The scammer then hangs up when they have agreed to come to the courthouse and calls them back to tell them that they will be tased and thrown on the floor.

They can pay in a variety of ways in which the actors will end up with the victim’s hard-earned money if they want to pay without coming into the building.

The scammer’s intention is to scare the victim, with one of these aforementioned lies, into paying the amount they have claimed is owed.

They are trying to access things like bank account information, credit card numbers, gift card numbers or a PayPal type account number.

Always call the agency the caller purports to be before you give anyone your personal information.

In this case, if the caller claims that the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office has a warrant for you, please call that office at 724-770-4602 or Beaver County Emergency Services at 724-775-0880. 

According to a release from the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office, here is a summary of how to safeguard you from becoming the victim of any scam:

1. Under no circumstances should a resident ever provide any personal information over the phone when receiving calls. If you have any question as to the legitimacy of the call, get the individuals name and position, hang up and then obtain legitimate contact information for the company/agency, through independent means,
and re-contact them. As in this case, if they say there is a warrant for your arrest in Beaver County, contact the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office.

2. NEVER provide credit card information, social security numbers, your date of birth, bank information, gift card numbers, etc. to anyone with whom you have not initiated the call.

3. Note any telephone number of the caller displayed on your caller ID. Beware, however, that many scammers “spoof” the numbers of a legitimate entity to make you think the call is from who they claim to be.

4. Document the conversation with the suspect.

5. Disconnect without providing any financial and/or personal information.

6. Criminals are able to access much of our personal information simply with the use of personal computers and
Web sites.

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) State Representative Rob Matzie announced today that nearly $400,000 in newly awarded tax credits will leverage investments to strengthen Beaver County health, nutritional and family resources and support economic development.

According to Matzie, nearly $81,300 in tax credits will leverage community corporate partner investments to support Adagio Health, which provides health, nutrition and family support services for Beaver County and other families in the region.

Matzie also stated that in addition to the tax credits that support Adagio Health, $285,000 in tax credits were awarded to leverage investments that support economic development work by the Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation, and $26,000 in tax credits were awarded to leverage investments in Neighborhood North Museum of Play projects to expand accessible family and youth spaces in Beaver Falls.

The tax credits that support Adagio Health were awarded under the Charitable Food Program, and the tax credits supporting the projects in Beaver Falls were awarded under the Neighborhood Assistance Program.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A polling judge, right, helps guide a voter’s ballot into a voting machine during the Pennsylvania primary election, at Mont Alto United Methodist Church in Alto, Pa., on May 17, 2022. Voter-by-voter electronic election records are not subject to public scrutiny, a Pennsylvania court ruled Monday, March 4, 2024, in a case that began with a request for those records by an election researcher whose work has fueled right-wing attacks on voting procedures. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded registered Pennsylvania voters today who are planning to vote by mail ballot in the November 3rd general election that they must apply for their ballot online (click here to learn more) or in person (click here to learn more) by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27th.

The Department of State’s Elections Data page (click here) links to a downloadable Daily Mail Ballot Report, and this provides point-in-time data showing each county elections office’s statistics.

If voters either complete their mail ballot at home or at their county elections office, they should follow these easy steps, according to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of State, to ensure that their ballot can be counted:

• Read all instructions enclosed with the ballot.
• Fill out the ballot by following the instructions on how to mark selections. Check both sides of the ballot in case there are races listed on the second page.
• Seal the ballot in the yellow secrecy envelope marked “official election ballot.”
• Seal the yellow secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope.
• Sign and date the outer return envelope.
• Mail or hand deliver the completed ballot to their county elections office, or hand deliver the ballot to an officially designated satellite election office or drop box in their county. Under Pennsylvania law, a voter may hand deliver only their own ballot. The only exceptions are for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot and for voters who need an emergency absentee ballot.

County elections offices must receive their completed mail ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is November 3rd. Mail ballots that are returned after that time, even if they are postmarked by 8 p.m. on November 3rd, will not count.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Election Day for voters who are registered that want to vote in person. They can vote if a voter is in line by 8 p.m.

Voters who got a mail ballot, but have not returned it may vote in person on November 3rd if they bring their mail ballot materials with them to be voided.

Voters who requested a mail ballot and did not get it, or do not have it to surrender it, may vote by a provisional ballot at their polling place.

The provisional ballot will be reviewed by their county’s board of elections after November 3rd to determine whether it can be counted.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of PennDOT)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Schools throughout the state of Pennsylvania have recently been awarded over $10 million in funding to boost literacy and promote structured reading. 

Information that was shared by Governor Josh Shapiro’s office yesterday confirmed that the Pennsylvania Department of Education gave grants to 54 schools across 21 counties. 

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe, the money will be used to help schools build the systems, instructional capacity and evidence-based resources necessary to meet structured literacy requirements under the law. 

Central Valley schools received $415,405 and Freedom Area schools received $204,160 as a part of this funding. 

(Credit for Headline Photo and Photo Below: Photo Courtesy of Center Township Police)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Center Township, PA) Police and volunteers are looking for a 41-year-old man who is missing in Center Township.

According to police, Daniel Stewart, who is deaf, was last seen between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. yesterday on Grandview Avenue in Monaca.

Police stated that Stewart was wearing a blue striped collared shirt and a dark coat and had a book bag.

He wears glasses and is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall and 135 pounds, with blue eyes and blond hair.

His picture can be found below:

Anyone who has information about Stewart is advised to call 724-774-3329.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Allegheny Health Network’s Department of OB/GYN recently announced the opening of a specialized care clinic for postpartum patients who have experienced significant tears during labor and delivery, specifically in third-and fourth-degree perineal lacerations.

Lia M Miceli, MD, who is a board-certified OB/GYN and urogynecologist, serves as the clinical lead of the AHN Postpartum Care Clinic.

Dr. Miceli treats patients at AHN West Penn Hospital primarily, which is AHN’s flagship maternity hospital, but she will work in close coordination with the five labor & delivery programs of the systems across the region on a referral basis.

Studies estimate that perineal injury occurs in up to 90% of women delivering their first child, and up to 70% of women during subsequent births.

The majority of those tears are classified as minor as first- and second-degree tears, and they typically heal on their own after they get repaired in the labor suite.

However, roughly 5% of women across the country experience a degree of obstetrical injury that is higher that may require monitoring, rehabilitation or even wound revision.

If this is not treated correctly, the injuries can result in re-opening of the original tear and/or wound infection.

The AHN Postpartum Care Clinic will work in close coordination with a multidisciplinary team which consists of advanced practice providers, behavioral health specialists, colorectal surgeons and pelvic floor therapists.

You can make an appointment or get more information on the AHN Department of OB/GYN by either calling 412-DOCTORS or by visiting ahn.org.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) AHN Wexford Hospital announced today that it has been recognized as a top performer in the 2026 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Ranking by Vizient, Inc.

This is the second year in a row that AHN Wexford has been honored through the Vizient Quality and Accountability Ranking.

AHN Wexford had a ranking among the top 10 hospitals in its Complex Care hospital cohort and was just one of 22 hospitals that was nationally recognized for demonstrating excellence in delivering care that is high quality which is based on the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which has been conducted every year since 2005.

1,346 participating hospitals were segmented into seven cohorts for the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study in 2026.

This study measures performance on the quality of patient care in six domains: effectiveness, efficiency, mortality, patient centeredness, safety, and variation in care.

This study also factors in neasures from the Vizient Clinical Data Base and it includes performance data from both the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey and the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network.

Vizient, Inc. is the nation’s largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company and it provides solutions and services to over two-thirds of the nation’s acute care providers and over one-third of ambulatory providers.