(File Photo: Source for Photo: Large waste disposal bins sit out front of the Pennsylvania governor’s residence as crews work to tear out fire-damaged ceilings, walls and floors nine days after an alleged arsonist’s fire engulfed part of the residence’s south wing, Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Delaware County, PA) Police confirm that a man from Delaware County was taken into custody yesterday after allegedly making a verbal threat to commit arson at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion in Harrisburg. 

Pennsylvania State Police state that sixty-five-year-old Richard Franklin is charged with terroristic threats, ethnic intimidation, harassment and disorderly conduct and he allegedly used an antisemitic slur while making the threat. 

Franklin reportedly made the threat to burn Shapiro’s home on Tuesday while he was at Representative Leanne Krueger’s office in Brookhaven.

Troopers confirm that Franklin was speaking with a staff member about his outstanding taxes when he made that threat. 

According to court records, Franklin was taken to the Delaware County Prison and was unable to post monetary bail of $100,000.  

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16th. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of KDKA-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on May 1st, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) The first Wegmans store in the Pittsburgh area is set to begin construction soon. 

The store will be 115,000 square feet and will be located in Cranberry Township next to the Lemieux Sports Complex along Cool Springs Drive. 

Wegmans announced last year that it was expanding in western Pennsylvania, with executives stating that they were targeting an opening date late next year. 

A media representative for Wegmans confirmed to the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette that construction plans are in the works to begin this month. 

Construction is expected to take between 12 to 15 months once it begins. 

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced a phase change and restrictions on Interstate 79 in Marshall Township and Franklin Park Borough in Allegheny County will occur tonight, weather permitting. 

Restrictions are expected to occur in this following schedule, according to a release from PennDOT District 11:

Thursday, July 9 from 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM 

• Southbound I-79 will be reduced to a single-lane of traffic between the Route 910/Wexford (Exit 73) off and on-ramps to accommodate overhead beam work. 

Beginning 7:00 PM Thursday, July 9 around-the-clock through mid-August 

• The southbound I-79 off-ramp to Route 910/Wexford (Exit 73) will have a traffic pattern change. To accommodate work within the center section of the ramp, the left lane and right lanes will be separated. All turn movements will still be accommodated. 

• Traffic from Route 910/Wexford Bayne Road to southbound I-79 will be shifted to the new pavement on the on-ramp for work to occur on the old pavement. 

• There will be no changes to the northbound on and off-ramps as part of this phase change. 

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that roadway improvement work requiring the closure of Route 168 (Elmwood Boulevard) in Darlington Township will begin this Monday, July 13th, weather permitting. 

Beginning at 7 A.M. that day and going through mid-August, Route 168 will close to traffic around-the-clock between Moffett Drive and Elizabeth Street. The closure is necessary to allow crews to conduct milling and paving, slope repair work, and other miscellaneous construction activities. Traffic will be detoured, and according to a release from PennDOT District 11, here is the detour route for this work:

Posted Detours

Car Detour

South of the closure

• From Route 168 (Elmwood Bouelvard) head south
• Turn right onto New Galilee Road
• Bear right toward east 351 (Monroe Street)
• Turn right onto Route 168 (Centennial Avenue)
• End detour

North of the closure

• Same detour in opposite direction

Truck Detour

Trucks to north of the closure

• From the intersection of Route 168 and Route 551, continue north on Route 551
• Turn right onto Route 351
• Turn left to continue on east Route 351
• Continue to the intersection with Route 168
• End detour

Trucks to south of the closure

• From Route 168 turn onto west Route 351
• Bear right to continue on west Route 351
• Turn left onto Route 551
• Continue to the intersection with Route 168
• End detour

Lindy Paving in the prime contractor for this group paving project that is worth $3.93 million. Improvement work includes base repairs, curb replacement, milling and paving and other various activities related to construction.

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed at this morning’s Beaver County Commissioners’ work session at the County Courthouse. One of them was when Beaver County Recreation and Tourism Director Tony Caltury gave the Commissioners an update on the liner of the pool at Old Economy Park in Baden during the department head report of the session. Caltury met with the contractor yesterday for the project involving the liner and its repairs and a crew leader said that the crew is looking to complete the liner in about six or seven days. Some concrete work was completed and a steel plate was added around the side walls to connect the liner. Caltury called the YMCA this morning and once that process is done, a determination will be made on “whether to fill the pool or what the best options are moving forward.” Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles also addressed the checks that were sent out this week regarding the settlement from the 2023 East Palestine train derailment during the Solicitors’ report. Fedeles noted that “the county has nothing to do with that” and he stated that if you have any questions, you can call the phone number on the back of the check that you receive. Fedeles also mentioned the 457 retirement plan used by some individuals has now been moved to the checking account for Empower. Fedeles also confirmed that the Commissioners have authorized a time capsule to be opened and utilized in the county in 2076, which is the 300th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America and mentioned highlights of the twenty-six resolutions on deck for tomorrow, which includes an amendment for the Old Economy Park pool liner and an agreement to demo eight county homes. County Commisisoner Jack Manning also noted that the Commissioners are holding interviews for the position of jail corrections officers at the County Jail from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 25th. The starting pay is $20 an hour for part-time corrections officers in this position. Caltury also let the audience of the session know that Brush Creek Park will host events of the World Disc Golf Championship both tomorrow and this Friday with 433 people participating in the event.

(File Photo of an American Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Patterson Township, PA) A traveling tribute to more than 58,000 American military members who gave their lives in service to their country called the Moving Wall during the Vietnam War is coming to Patterson Township from July 16th-July 20th.  

This wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. which travels around the country each year for people to see it and pay their respects. 

According to Kayla Hall, an administrative assistant for Patterson Township who is involved with the group, a group effort by Patterson Township, Patterson Heights, White Township, Franciscan Manor, the Vietnam Veterans Association and the Beaver County Commissioners has arranged to bring the Moving Wall to the Beaver Falls area for America’s 250th anniversary.

An opening ceremony for The Moving Wall is scheduled for July 16th at 10 a.m. at Franciscan Manor. Hall stated that this opening ceremony will include a wreath laying and the reading of names of the 77 individuals from Beaver County listed on the memorial as killed or missing in action in Vietnam.

This memorial will stay open for 24 hours a day until the closing ceremony takes place at 12 noon on July 20th.

Onsite parking will not be available at Franciscan Manor, but visitors can park at the Patterson Township Fire Department and walk a short distance to the memorial.

Hall also confirmed that those who need handicapped accessible parking should park at the Patterson Primary School and take a shuttle to the memorial.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the event, including site volunteers that can assist during the 24-hour operation of the wall and help visitors that are looking for specific names on that memorial.

You can volunteer by signing up online at the Patterson Township website (click here), call 724-843-8339 or email accounting@pattersontwp.com.

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT is advising drivers to use the information available at a specialized website, https://www.511pa.com/map/page/CommercialStBridge (click here) so they can plan their trip ahead of the 25-day closure of the Interstate 376 Commercial Street Bridge starting on Friday at 9 p.m.

The page is dedicated to monitoring conditions of traffic on primary travel routes to events and routes around the greater Pittsburgh area.

These enhancements support the commitment of Governor Josh Shapiro to providing accessible, real-time digital services to every Pennsylvanian.

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) held a town hall with veterans in Beaver County last night.

He regularly holds open-question town hall events. Over twenty events were held during the 2025-2026 session of Congress, which is its current session.

The town hall gave Western Pennsylvania veterans the chance to talk directly with Deluzio about issues ranging from the Iran War to funding and staffing levels at local VA hospitals to current legislation that impacts veterans benefits.

Deluzio also shared updates on his work in Washington, which includes fighting back against the proposed benefit cuts for veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act.

This prompted House leadership to cancel the vote on the bill for now.

SCOTT TADY

CREIGHTON — A two-day celebration of local music, community and charity takes place this Saturday and Sunday on the Iron City Stages at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in Creighton.

The Pittsburgh Music Festival offers many of Western Pennsylvania’s favorite local musical artists — including Norman Nardini, David Granati, Billy Price, Joe Grushecky, the Gathering Field, the Shiners and more.

Co-organizers Ron Esser and John Vento handcrafted an event that will appeal to all sorts of live music lovers.

Esser, owner of Moondog’s blues bar in Blawnox and for eight years a mastermind
behind the Pittsburgh Blues and Roots Festival, appeared Wednesday on the Beaver County Radio Morning Show to discuss this weekend’s concert festival.

Here is that interview, with WBVP-WMBA host Scott Tady:

 

The band lineup:
Saturday, July 11:
● Gathering Field
● Norman Nardini with special guest David Granati
● Sun King Warriors
● Zac Keim Band
● The Shiners
● Band Together Pittsburgh Band
● Bill Toms & Hard Rain

Sunday, July 12:
● Billy Price
● Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers
● Kenny Blake & The New Hip with special guests Megan Paullet & Xavier Allen
● The Nied’s Hotel Band with special guests Jimmy Krenn, Joe Wodarek & Mike
Filosemi
● Guitar Zack
● Leonard T. Zanotti (LTZ) with special guest Nicole Belli

Inside Acoustic Stage
● Devin Russian
● Chet Vincent
● Tim Good

The newly expanded festival will continue its tradition of supporting Band Together
Pittsburgh and Autism Pittsburgh, while introducing a broader lineup of all-local
performers across multiple genres including blues, rock, Americana, country, roots,
jazz and more.

“After 30+ years of blues, we are still connecting with our blues audience but also
providing different types of music to expand our audience,” said Esser,
affectionately known as “Moondog.” “We are excited to broaden our reach for this new
chapter and continue supporting people living on the autism spectrum and their families through the power of music.”

The festival will feature multiple stages, 12 bands, acoustic performers,
and a full celebration of Pittsburgh’s music community at the home of Pittsburgh
Brewing Company.

“We can’t wait to collaborate with Ron Esser and John Vento (Band Together Pittsburgh
Co-Founders) for this new festival,” said Rebecca McCormick, director of events and
tours at Pittsburgh Brewing. “It’s an exciting opportunity to bring together the
community for a great cause. Pittsburgh Brewing Company is looking forward to
creating a new tradition in Pittsburgh.”

The Pittsburgh Music Festival will feature a diverse lineup of regional talent, local food
and beverages, and a vibrant atmosphere celebrating the city’s creative spirit while
raising funds and awareness for two important community organizations.

Co-organizer John Vento says, “As with the former Pittsburgh Blues & Roots Festival, the highlight for many of us is having great performers and production crew members who live on the autism spectrum present their talents.”

Tickets are now on sale through pghmusicfestival.com 

About Pittsburgh Brewing Company
Founded in 1861, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s brewing heritage.
Renowned for its iconic brands such as Iron City Beer and I.C. Light, the company blends time-honored brewing traditions with innovative techniques to craft beverages. The brewery is committed to celebrating the city’s hardworking spirit and vibrant culture.

About Band Together Pittsburgh
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Band Together Pittsburgh uses music as an instrument for change, providing innovative programming, experiences and vocational opportunities to enhance the lives of
those on the autism spectrum.

Learn more at bandtogetherpgh.org

About Autism Pittsburgh
Since 1967, Autism-Pittsburgh has been the foremost voice and resource of the local autism community. They are comprised of volunteers, parents and professionals, working on behalf of all children and those of adult age on the autism spectrum. Learn more at autismpittsburgh.org