(File Photo of the Cornerstone of Beaver County Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) According to a release in Beaver Falls yesterday from The Cornerstone of Beaver County, they will join Beaver County Continuum of Care and partner organizations in hosting this year’s Homeless Persons Memorial Day ceremony on Thursday, December 18th at 5 p.m. at Uncommon Grounds Cafe in Aliquippa. That ceremony follows a Homeless Memorial Proclamation which will be delivered earlier in the day at 10 a.m. by the Beaver County Commissioners at the Beaver County Courthouse in Beaver. The memorial will also honor those across the nation who have died while homeless. 2025 resulted in three reported deaths of residents in Beaver County who were homeless. The memorial events in 2023 and 2024 honored the lives of one and two reported deaths, respectively. Both refreshments and resource information will be available at the event.

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to a release in Washington D.C. yesterday from Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office, after learning that the U.S. Senate snuck a provision into the annual defense bill to close America’s Navy Reserve Centers (NRCs), Deluzio, a Western Pennsylvania Congressman and Navy veteran successfully led the fight to remove the provision and keep NRCs open. This included the NRC at the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon Township and the NRCs in Harrisburg and Avoca, Pennsylvania. The Navy Reserve in the United States will stay supported, trained and ready to do its bidding both anywhere and anytime. NRCs ensure readiness for the Navy Reserve of the United States by performing administrative, training, and support to Navy Reserve Sailors. 

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that today, weather permitting, hillside cropping on westbound (outbound) I-376 (Parkway West/Fort Pitt Bridge) in the City of Pittsburgh, will occur. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, hillside cropping operations requiring a single lane closure will occur on westbound I-376 between the Fort Pitt Bridge and Banksville Road (Exit 69A) interchange, including the Fort Pitt Tunnel as crews from A. Liberoni, Inc. will conduct the work there. 

(File Photo of the Top of a School Bus)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Public Schools will have a two-hour delay this morning because of the cold weather today. You can check the delays and closings in that area by going to these website links below

by clicking here, here, or here.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has indicted 13 individuals from Pennsylvania, California, New York, Florida, and New Mexico on charges of violating federal drug and firearm laws. A two-year investigation went into the drug trafficking organization and the seven-count indictment followed it. Rivetti confirms that all of the suspects are facing sentences in prison, fines of $250,000, or both provided by the law. The suspects include forty-eight-year-old Aaron Mitchell of Pittsburgh and three men from New Kensington, Pennsylvania. According to a release in Pittsburgh yesterday from the Department of Justice yesterday, here is more information about this indictment:

The Indictment named the following individuals as defendants:
Name Age Residence
Feng Ruan 35 Brooklyn, NY
Maoxuan Xia 30 Flushing, NY
Jhon Canizales-Soto 32 Miami, FL
Marcos Francisco-Tomas 34 Riverside, CA
Andres Flores-Cedeno 39 New Kensington, PA
Eric Vega 38 Riverside, CA
Manuel Rivera 43 Coachella, CA
Fernando Gonzalez-Gonzalez 24 Los Angeles, CA
Julio Flores 23 Los Angeles, CA
Michael Johnson 63 Albuquerque, NM
Aaron Mitchell 48 Pittsburgh, PA
Raymond Simmons 54 New Kensington, PA
Toriano Wilson 46 New Kensington, PA

According to the Indictment, from January 2023 to April 2024, Francisco-Tomas, Flores-Cedeno, Vega, Rivera, Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Flores, Johnson, Mitchell, Simmons, and Wilson conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Additionally, on August 30, 2023, Rivera possessed with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. On February 17, 2024, both Francisco-Tomas and Flores-Cedeno possessed with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The Indictment further alleges that, on January 17, 2023, Ruan engaged in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, and that, from in and around January 2023 through in and around April 2024,
Xia, Canizales-Soto, Francisco-Tomas, Flores-Cedeno, Vega, Rivera, Gonzalez-Gonzalez, and Flores participated in interstate travel or transmission in aid of racketeering. Finally, the Indictment charges that, on October 5, 2023, Mitchell possessed a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
For Francisco-Tomas, Flores-Cedeno, Vega, Rivera, Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Flores, Johnson, Mitchell, Simmons, and Wilson, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. For Ruan and Xia, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. For Canizales-Soto, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. In relation to the firearms charge for Mitchell, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the
seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the
full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The HSTF for the Western District of Pennsylvania comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service, with
the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that tonight through Friday night, weather permitting, overnight closures of the southbound Route 65 ramp to the southbound Fort Duquesne Bridge (I-279) in the City of Pittsburgh will occur. From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night, bridge deck and barrier repair work requiring the closure of the ramp that carries southbound Route 65 approach to the southbound Fort Duquesne Bridge will happen and the Allegheny Avenue/Ridge Avenue/Reedsdale Street ramps to the Fort Duquesne Bridge will close overnights.

The ramp from southbound I-279 (Parkway North) to the Fort Duquesne Bridge will also be closed on those nights. Traffic will be detoured and according to a release from PennDOT District 11, here is the detour route for this work:

Posted Detours

Southbound Route 65 to the Fort Duquesne Bridge

·       From southbound Route 65, take the ramp to South 19/51 toward the West End Bridge

·       Cross the West End Bridge

·       Continue straight onto southbound Route 19/51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)

·       Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport

·       Bear left toward South Truck 19/51 Uniontown

·       Stay left to East 376/South 51

·       Merge onto eastbound (inbound) I-376 (Parkway West)

·       Continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

·       End detour

Allegheny Avenue/Ridge Avenue to the Fort Duquesne Bridge

·       Take Ridge Avenue westbound

·       Ridge Avenue becomes Fulton Street

·       Turn left onto Western Avenue

·       Bear left toward South 19/51/North 65 West End Bridge/Ohio River Boulevard

·       Continue straight onto the West End Bridge

·       Cross the West End Bridge

·       Continue straight onto southbound Route 19/51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)

·       Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport

·       Bear left toward South Truck 19/51 Uniontown

·       Stay left to East 376/South 51

·       Merge onto eastbound (inbound) I-376 (Parkway West)

·       Continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

·       End detour

Reedsdale Street to the Fort Duquesne Bridge

·       Follow Reedsdale Street to Allegheny Avenue

·       Turn right onto Allegheny Avenue

·       Turn left onto Ridge Avenue

·       Ridge Avenue becomes Fulton Street

·       Turn left onto Western Avenue

·       Bear left toward South 19/51/North 65 West End Bridge/Ohio River Boulevard

·       Continue straight onto the West End Bridge

·       Cross the West End Bridge

·       Continue straight onto southbound Route 19/51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)

·       Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport

·       Bear left toward South Truck 19/51 Uniontown

·       Stay left to East 376/South 51

·       Merge onto eastbound (inbound) I-376 (Parkway West)

·       Continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

·       End detour

(File Photo of the AAA East Central Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) AAA is now projecting that 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period that begins on December 20th, 2025 and ending on January 1st, 2026. The travel forecast for this year is a 2.2% increase over 2024, surpassing the record of 119.7 million travelers from last year. According to a recent release in Pittsburgh today from AAA East Central, here is some more information about these holiday travel statistics:

Mid-Atlantic Region Year End Forecast Highlights:
*Region includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Method of Travel	Total Travelers	% Change from 2024
Automobile	12.4 million	+ 2.0%
Air travel	945,000	+ 1.6%
Other (bus, train, ship, etc.)	451,000	+ 11.8%
Region Total	13.8 million	+ 2.3%

Year-End Travelers by Mode of Transportation

By Car: AAA projects 109.5 million Americans will travel by car for their year-end trips, an increase of 2% compared to last year. Driving is the overwhelming favorite among all modes of transportation because of its convenience and low cost. This year, 89% of holiday travelers will take road trips. Gas prices are lower compared to last holiday season when the national average was $3.04 to end 2024. For the first time in 4 years, the national average dropped below $3 a gallon this month.

With a record number of car travelers, AAA urges drivers to prioritize safety. December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month which serves as a timely reminder to make safe choices and stay vigilant. AAA and MADD encourage holiday travelers to plan safe rides home this holiday season during one of the most dangerous times of year on the road.

During 2024’s year-end holiday period, AAA responded to more than 860,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks. When AAA responds to those roadside emergencies, safety is a top priority. safe. Slow Down, Move Over means when there is a stopped vehicles on the side of the road, motorists should move over a lane if safe to do so, and reduce speed. That gives tow truck technicians, law enforcement officials, and other individuals room to complete their work safely.

For travelers who are renting cars, AAA car rental partner says December 20th is expected to be the busiest pick-up day. The top 5 markets with the highest demand are Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, and Phoenix. Small SUVs make up the most popular car rental class over the year-end holidays. According to AAA booking data, domestic car rentals are 1% more expensive this holiday season compared to last year.

By Air: AAA projects a record 8.03 million travelers taking domestic flights this holiday season, a 2.3% increase compared to last year. This will be the first time on record that the number of domestic air travelers over the year-end holiday period exceeds 8 million.

According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their holiday trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is 7% more expensive this year, averaging nearly $900 a ticket. The days leading up to Christmas Day are the most expensive, while flying on the holiday itself is cheaper. New Year’s flights are also pricey with many people returning home on New Year’s Day or even squeezing one extra weekend out of the holiday season and coming back on Sunday, January 4.

By Other Modes: Travel by other modes is expected to go up by 9% with 4.9 million people traveling by bus, train, or cruise. This category has seen a 25% increase since 2019, mainly due to the record-setting demand for cruises post-pandemic.

AAA’s Year-End Top Destinations

The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data for the year-end travel period. Warm destinations dominate the domestic side with travelers heading to Florida, Southern California, and Hawaii. Caribbean destinations and resort towns in Mexico are also popular to celebrate the year-end holidays and ring in 2026.

RANKING	DOMESTIC	INTERNATIONAL/CARIBBEAN
1	ORLANDO	CANCUN, MEXICO
2	FORT LAUDERDALE	PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
3	MIAMI	COZUMEL, MEXICO
4	ANAHEIM/LA	SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
5	HONOLULU	PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
6	TAMPA	SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
7	NEW YORK CITY	NASSAU, BAHAMAS
8	MAUI	ROME, ITALY
9	DALLAS/FORT WORTH	ORANJESTAD, ARUBA
10	LAS VEGAS	SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Christmas week to be busier on the roads than New Year’s week, but both weeks will see days of increased traffic. Interstates will be extra congested the weekend before Christmas, as travelers hit the road on Saturday and Sunday ahead of the holiday. Friday, December 26 is also expected to be busy as travelers make moves post-Christmas Day. Because the year-end holiday travel period spans a longer time frame, travelers have more options for departures and returns. The holidays themselves – Christmas and New Year’s Day – are typically the lightest traffic-wise but remember crashes or severe weather could create unexpected delays.

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car
Date		Worst Travel Time			Best Travel Time
Saturday, Dec 20		12:00 PM – 8:00 PM			After 9:00 PM
Sunday, Dec 21		1:00 PM – 7:00 PM			Before 11:00 AM
Monday, Dec 22		1:00 PM – 7:00 PM			Before 10:00 AM
Tuesday, Dec 23		1:00 PM – 7:00 PM			Before 10:00 AM
Wednesday, Dec 24		Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Thursday, Dec 25		Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Friday, Dec 26		11:00 AM – 8:00 PM			Before 11:00 AM
Saturday, Dec 27		11:00 AM – 8:00 PM			Before 11:00 AM
Sunday, Dec 28		11:00 AM – 8:00 PM			Before 11:00 AM
Monday, Dec 29		12:00 PM – 8:00 PM			Before 10:00 AM
Tuesday, Dec 30		12:00 PM – 7:00 PM			Before 10:00 AM
Wednesday, Dec 31		Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Thursday, Jan 1		Minimal Traffic Impact Expected

SOURCE: INRIX

 

Holiday Travel Forecast Methodology

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

Historical travel volume estimates come from MMGY’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. MMGY contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was finalized the week of November 17th, 2025.

Because AAA holiday forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes, whether traveling for work or leisure. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.

INRIX Methodology

INRIX blends statistically grounded models with real-world road behavior to forecast travel conditions on the most heavily traveled routes across the U.S. during peak holiday periods. INRIX’s holiday traffic forecast combines pre-selected high-impact travel routes, rich multi-source traffic data, and a statistically robust linear regression model to generate detailed, time-specific travel delay predictions. INRIX’s data sources include a wide array of vehicle-based and infrastructure-based inputs. These include connected vehicle GPS data, mobile apps and navigation services, roadside sensors and cameras, and commercial fleet telematics. With expansive coverage, high temporal resolution, and historical context, this forecasting process provides essential insights for travelers, media, and agencies alike.

Year-End Holiday Travel Period

AAA’s year-end holiday travel period always includes two weekends. This year, that travel window is defined as the thirteen-day period from Saturday, December 20 to Thursday, January 1st.

(File Photo of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg today from Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, Sunday is advising Pennsylvanians considering a pet as a gift this holiday season to be aware of deceptive pet-sale practices and predatory financing schemes. Consumers should consider potential risks when shopping for a dog online or at a store, as their pet of choice may not actually exist or may be sourced from a puppy mill, facilities known for poor conditions and chronic health issues.
These situations can leave new dog owners facing unexpected financial burdens, including high-interest debt, veterinary expenses, and even the loss or severe illness of their new pet. “We are offering this advice so no one has to deal with the immediate loss of a pet, or encounter unexpected costs related to financing,” Attorney General Sunday said. “As a pet owner myself, I can’t imagine the heartbreak my family and I would feel if this happened to us. Don’t allow your holiday to be spoiled by misleading promises about a potential pet for your family.”

Indicators of potential scams may include:

• Offering puppies for thousands of dollars with high-interest loans.
• Requesting payment online or through apps before providing the puppy.
• Refusing to share breeder names, credentials or vaccination records.
• Selling puppies that are already ill or underage.

Consumers considering a new dog or cat are encouraged to:

• Explore breed-specific rescue groups if seeking a particular breed.
• If purchasing directly from a breeder, request to meet the mother of the puppy or kitten. The mother should appear healthy, clean and alert.

“Puppy mills keep dogs in poor conditions, so don’t be fooled by adorable photos or vague promises of responsible breeders,” Kristen Tullo, Pennsylvania State Director of the Humane World for Animals, said. “Consider your local shelter or rescue – many pets would love to start the new year in a loving home.”
Consumers seeking more information about safe pet sourcing can contact Humane World for Animals at Puppy buyer complaint form | Humane World for Animals by clicking here.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a pet scam or predatory pet financing scheme should file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General at Puppy Lemon Law – PA Office of Attorney General by clicking here.

(File Photo of the Vanport Bridge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Vanport, PA) PennDOT crews will now be closing one lane on the I-376 Vanport Bridge as they install containment structures so steel workers can make repairs in the spring for about a month or so. According to PennDOT, there will be work in the westbound lanes daily from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., and one lane eastbound will be closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The preparation work should be finished next month as long as the weather permits.

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed at the Beaver County Commissioners’ work session this morning at 10 a.m. at the Beaver County Courthouse in Beaver. The main topic that took up most of the meeting was when the Director and Recycling Coordinator of the Beaver County Department of Sustainibility and Waste Management, Becca Naber, mentioned that three landfills missed the deadline of about a month ago when Beaver County “closed their request for proposals for landfills for disposal capacity for all of Beaver County’s residents.” during the department head report of the session. These landfills that did not make the deadline were facilities that were associated with Brunner Disposal, Republic Services, and Waste Management’s (WM) backup facilities. Brunner Disposal and Republic Services did not submit to be part of Beaver County’s disposal plan and WM did not include their backup facilities. WM was required to do that in case there happened to be a closure and the refuse of Beaver County could not be delivered to their facility. Naber also asked the Commissioners if there could be a petitioning process that would be issued to contact all three of these companies and petition to be part of Beaver County’s disposal plan. Naber also noted that the Beaver County Recycling Center will be closed on Christmas Eve of 2025, Wednesday, December 24th, as well as Thursday December 25th and Friday December 26th of 2025, and January 1st, 2026. In other business, one of the things that Beaver County Commissioner Jack Manning mentioned was that the project for the Aviation Sciences building at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is almost complete. However, Manning mentioned that federal funds are still needed for a tower there to complete the project. Manning also expressed that the airport at CCBC is the third busiest airport in the state of Pennsylvania in terms of takeoffs and landings for its activity annually. Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles also noted that the Parking Garage at the Beaver County Courthouse is currently open to the public. Adam Tipko, the new executive director of the Beaver County Humane Society (BCHS), was also introduced at the session by Debbie Glasser, the Board Chair of the BCHS.