(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A woman is facing charges after police say she zipped a puppy up inside a suitcase in Pittsburgh. Online court records confirm that fifty-six-year-old Jayme White is charged with cruelty to animals, disorderly conduct and related offenses. According to the criminal complaint, police were called to the 400 block of Avery Street around 11:51 p.m. on Friday. A man told officers that White had been yelling at her dog and then zipped it up inside the suitcase she was walking with. Records confirm that White appeared heavily intoxicated and yelled at officers throughout the whole incident. White was taken into custody by officers and she is in the Allegheny County Jail with her bail set at $1,000. 

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A woman has died after she was found unresponsive in the Perry North neighborhood of Pittsburgh early yesterday morning. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, emergency crews were called to the 100 block of Watson Boulevard around 2 a.m. after reports of an unresponsive adult woman. Medics pronounced her dead at the scene and a release from the Office of the Allegheny County Medical Examiner states that she was later identified as 44-year-old Michelle Sturdivant. Police confirm that detectives with the Violent Crime Unit are investigating and that the death of Sturdivant is considered suspicious. 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswelll, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported via release on Saturday that eighty-three-year-old Richard Neurohr of Pittsburgh was charged for careless driving after causing a three-vehicle crash in Allegheny County on the morning of December 22nd, 2025. Neurohr was driving on I-79 South in Franklin Park Borough when he slowed and stopped his vehicle while he was in the left lane after missing an exit at 9:15 a.m. The vehicle of Neurohr was hit by the vehicle of thirty-nine-year-old Stephan Tomayko of Freedom and the vehicle of Tomayko was then hit by the vehicle of sixty-one-year-old Leszek Wajler of Searsmont, Maine. No injuries were associated with this crash and the vehicles of both Tomayko and Wajler were towed following the incident.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release today that an incident of road rage in Lawrence County on December 19th, 2025 caused an unidentified thirty-five-year-old man from New Castle to get arrested. This happened in Union Township at approximately 3:43 p.m. and the arrestee got mad at an unidentified forty-seven-year-old woman from New Castle along West State Street on I-376 West. Traffic citations and non-traffic citations were filed as a result. 

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Castle, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release last Monday that forty-five-year-old Vincent Perrotta of New Castle was apprehended in New Castle on the evening of November 24th, 2025 after he gave a fake name to law enforcement that night so he could avoid an active warrant. Police from PSP New Castle went to the parking lot of the West Side Mini Mart to initiate a traffic stop for Pennsylvania Title 75 violations there at 10:59 p.m. and an investigation confirms that Perrotta gave a name that was false to law enforcement to avoid an active warrant. Perrotta was arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail. Charges for false identification to law enforcement were filed against him. 

(Photo Courtesy of Gavin Thunberg)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Vanport Volunteer Fire Department Station 24 was called for a brush fire over the hill from River Avenue in Beaver County along the railroad tracks on the afternoon of December 22nd, 2025. Their Engine 24-1 stretched a line over the hillside after responding. The fire was extinguished shortly after. 

(Photo Courtesy of Gavin Thunberg)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester, PA) The Rochester Fire Department and their first alarm were called to put out a residential structure fire along Ohio Avenue in Rochester on the afternoon of December 22nd, 2025. A caller reported that they heard smoke detectors from a home there and saw smoke. Crews arrived and saw smoke from the home and encountered a working fire that was inside. Reports that are unconfirmed state that two dogs were extricated by firefighters. One of the two canines was reported to be alive and the other, despite attempts of CPR, succumbed to injuries. The fire was quickly extinguished and other departments were requested to assist overhaul. 

(File Photo of Power Outages Logo Picture)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Thousands of people in Allegheny County were without power for hours yesterday because of wire damage. Duquesne Light Company confirmed to WPXI from a statement yesterday morning that crews were working to restore power to around 2,000 people in Mt. Oliver, surrounding Pittsburgh neighborhoods, New Homestead and Munhall. According to Duquesne Light Company, the cause of the wire damage was under investigation, and the outage had been resolved yesterday evening.  

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE—In this file photo from May 5, 2021, a vehicle speeds by a hiring sign offering a $500 bonus outside a McDonalds restaurant, in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pa. Pennsylvania will resume work search requirements in July for hundreds of thousands of people receiving unemployment compensation, a top Wolf administration official said Monday, May 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday, initial filings for unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania rose last week compared with the week prior. That department also confirmed that new jobless claims, which was a proxy for layoffs, went up to 15,805 in the week ending on December 19th, up from 14,668 the week before. 

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is urging residents in Pennsylvania to prepare now for potential power outages and to take steps to stay safe during upcoming severe winter weather if necessary. According to a release in Harrisburg on Friday from the PUC, here are some tips and other advice for power outages and severe weather this winter:

• Winter #UtilitySafety Tips
• The PUC encourages consumers to keep the following safety tips in mind before and during winter storms:
• Plan Ahead: Keep flashlights, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, and any necessary medications readily available.
• Charge Up: Fully charge cell phones, medical devices, and other essential electronics in advance of the storm.
• Stay Informed: Monitor weather forecasts and utility updates through local news outlets, official social media channels, and emergency alerts.
• Report Issues: Report power outages or downed power lines directly to your utility company. Always assume downed lines are energized and stay far away.
• If You Lose Power During the Storm

• If a winter storm causes a power outage, the PUC encourages residents to keep the following tips in mind:
• Report Outages to Your Utility: Call your electric utility’s outage hotline or use its online outage-reporting system. Do not assume the utility already knows about your outage.
• Stay Clear of Downed Lines: Never touch or approach fallen power lines and stay away from puddles or objects that may be in contact with them.
• Do Not Clear Debris Near Lines: Do not attempt to remove trees or limbs tangled in power lines – leave that work to trained utility crews.
• Use 9-1-1 Appropriately: Do not call 9-1-1 to report power outages. Reserve emergency services for life-threatening situations. If you see a downed power line causing a dangerous situation, immediately contact your utility and call 9-1-1.
  
• Staying Safe While Waiting for Power to Be Restored

• While crews work to restore service, households should take the following precautions:
• Use Safe Lighting: Rely on flashlights or battery-operated lanterns instead of candles to reduce fire risk.
• Protect Appliances: Turn off lights and unplug sensitive electronics. Leave one light on so you know when power has been restored and wait at least 15 minutes before turning other appliances back on.
• Operate Generators Properly: Run generators outdoors only and connect devices directly to the generator – not to your home’s wiring – to protect utility workers, and away from windows and doors or enclosed spaces to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Check on Neighbors: Look in on elderly neighbors or those with medical or mobility needs who may require additional assistance during extended outages.
• What Utilities Are Doing

• Utilities across Pennsylvania are activating their winter storm response plans, which may include:
• Pre-positioning crews and equipment to respond quickly to outages.
• Increasing staffing levels and system monitoring ahead of severe weather.
• Enhancing coordination with local emergency management officials.
• Maintaining close communication with the PUC, the Governor’s Office, and other state agencies.
• During major storm events, the PUC closely monitors utility operations and works with partner agencies to support a coordinated response and timely restoration of service.
• For additional winter safety information and updates, consumers can visit the PUC’s website or follow the Commission on social media.