(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT recognized employees this month with Innovation Awards honoring projects aimed at improving efficiency and operations across the department.
According to PennDOT, two employees from District 11 — which includes Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence Counties — were among the award recipients.
PennDOT said the annual awards program recognizes employee-developed ideas and practices intended to improve department operations, safety and services.
Officials said recipients were honored during a department ceremony earlier this month.
(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has issued a final order establishing a new tariff framework for large electricity users, including expanding data centers.
According to the commission, the framework is intended to address growing electricity demand while limiting impacts on existing utility customers.
The final order follows a vote during the commission’s April 30 public meeting adopting a modified framework for large-load customers after more than a year of hearings, stakeholder input, public comments and technical review.
(Pittsburgh, PA) Tajay Singh, 29, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for his role in a lottery scam that targeted elderly victims, according to U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Federal prosecutors said Singh, a resident of St. James Parish in Jamaica, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
According to evidence presented in court, the scheme operated from January 2021 through October 2023.
Investigators said conspirators contacted elderly victims and falsely told them they had won a lottery prize but first needed to pay taxes and fees to claim the winnings.
After victims sent the money, prosecutors said, they never received any prize money.
Authorities said the conspiracy used bank accounts opened in victims’ names, wire transfers, ATM withdrawals in Jamaica and purchases of physical goods to carry out and conceal the fraud scheme.
(Pittsburgh, PA) Robert Schatzman, 21, of Butler, has been sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm, according to U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Federal prosecutors said law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Schatzman’s home in April 2025 and recovered a Glock pistol from an air vent in his bedroom.
Authorities said Schatzman had previously been convicted of robbery in Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas, making it illegal under federal law for him to possess a firearm or ammunition.
(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Chris Deluzio and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy introduced legislation Wednesday aimed at limiting the role of private equity firms in youth sports programs.
The proposed “Let Kids Play Act” would prohibit private equity ownership in youth sports organizations, according to the lawmakers’ offices.
U.S. Senator Cory Booker is co-leading the bill in the Senate.
Supporters of the legislation said the measure is intended to address rising participation costs for youth sports programs.
(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) Allegheny Health Network said physicians within its Cardiovascular Institute have seen encouraging results in patients with severe, medication-resistant hypertension following a procedure known as renal denervation.
The minimally invasive treatment is currently performed at Allegheny General Hospital, AHN Saint Vincent Hospital and AHN Wexford Hospital.
According to AHN, Saint Vincent has performed the highest number of renal denervation procedures in the region under the leadership of Orestis Pappas, MD.
The American Heart Association estimates that nearly 47% of adults in the United States have hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure.
Renal denervation systems received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration in late 2023. The procedure became more widely available after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Medicare coverage for eligible patients in 2025.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Colorado Rockies’ Mickey Moniak (22) is greeted by Tyler Freeman (2) and Ezequiel Tovar (14) as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mickey Moniak doubled, tripled, and homered on his 28th birthday, Jake McCarthy had the first unassisted double play by a left fielder in the majors since 2013, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-4 on Wednesday night.
The Rockies ended a three-game losing streak and snapped a five-game skid against the Pirates dating to last Aug. 3.
In the first inning, McCarthy caught a sinking line drive from Bryan Reynolds on a full sprint for the second out. He then stepped on second base to double off Oneil Cruz. It was the first unassisted double play by a left fielder since Boston’s Jonny Gomes on July 31, 2013, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Kyle Karros, McCarthy and Ezequiel Tovar each drove in runs in the fifth before Moniak’s two-out homer that put Colorado ahead 6-3.
Moniak added a double in the eighth and a two-run triple in the ninth. His 26 RBIs lead the Rockies.
Colorado’s TJ Rumfield finished 3-for-4 with a double and a homer. His .277 batting average ranks fourth among qualified rookies.
Jose Quintana gave up three runs on five hits in four innings. Antonio Senzatela (3-0) allowed one run in three innings of relief.
The Pirates scored in the second inning after Henry Davis reached on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded. Ryan O’Hearn scored from third, and Nick Gonzalez was caught in a rundown but scored due to interference by Quintana.
Reynolds had an RBI single in the third and O’Hearn homered in the sixth.
Mitch Keller (4-2) was perfect through four innings, but allowed five straight hits to open the fifth. He gave up six runs in 5 2/3 innings.
The start of the game was delayed 26 minutes by rain.
Up next
Rockies RHP Chase Dollander (3-2, 3.35 ERA) gets the start against Pirates RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3, 4.50) as the series concludes on Thursday.
(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed during the Beaver County Commissioners’ work session Wednesday morning at the County Courthouse. The main topic was when Beaver County Recreation and Tourism Director Tony Caltury gave an update to the Commissioners about rules for locals walking their dogs off leash. Commissioner Jack Manning brought this issue up at a previous work session on April 29th because he has gotten several complaints about it happening at Brady’s Run Park because people are either jogging or walking through there and are being approached by dogs that are not on a leash. Caltury received some rules for dogs being walked off leash from sources like Solicitor Garen Fedeles’ office. These rules need to be reviewed. The rules will also be updated and will be presented to the Commissioners “for an updated ordinance.” Caltury also stated: “I think one of the questions we’ll have is ‘Who is the enforcing agents of said instructions and violations?'” Solicitor Fedeles also mentioned some things to keep in mind. There will be a police memorial in Beaver in front of the County Courthouse on Friday at 10 a.m., so residents should know that the roads around there will be shut down at around 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. Fedeles also informed the public that Beaver County is still the number one county in the state in terms of ballots returned at 73%. The 2026 Primary election day in Pennsylvania is May 19th, and the County Courthouse is open to the public on that day. If you have a matter that is related to the election, you can visit the county’s elections office. Fedeles also mentioned some upcoming resolutions for tomorrow, which includes most of them as community development projects. These include one for a portion to assist Harmony Township in having their municipal building redone and another one for a sewer line improvement in Rochester Borough.
(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Allegheny County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported that William Orton, 23, of Big Lake, Minnesota, was charged following a two-vehicle crash Tuesday in Allegheny County.
According to police, Orton was traveling westbound on Interstate 76 in Pine Township at about 12:46 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle while approaching a lane closure.
Investigators said Orton’s vehicle struck a Turnpike attenuator truck driven by Jacob McNeil, 19, of Gibsonia.
Both drivers were injured and transported to UPMC Passavant Cranberry for treatment.
SEWICKLEY — The Lindsay Theater hosts an exclusive documentary screening Sunday of “Boys of Summer: Short Stop,” a road trip film with a heartfelt and inspiring message.
“Boys of Summer: Short Stop” chronicles a precious trip to PNC Park in Pittsburgh and every other Major League Baseball stadium by California filmmaker Robert Cochrane and his father, Dan Cochrane, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2001.
The third installment in a four-part series, “Boys of Summer: Short Stop” includes a scene with Pittsburgh Pirates legend Dave Parker, who lived with Parkinson’s disease for 13 years before his death last June.
“Short Stop” will play at The Lindsay on Sunday, May 17, at 1 p.m. All tickets to this event are discounted to $8.75 each.
Robert Cochrane will participate in a virtual Q&A immediately following the screening.
Cochrane appeared Wednesday on the Beaver County Radio Morning Show with Scott Tady, expounding upon how much he and his father and son loved PNC Park.
Here that interview here (just press play):
“I hope viewers will engage with us like we are members of their family—or neighbors, to put it in Mister Rogers terms,” Cochrane said. “The greatest compliments are that people laughed, cried, thought and are inspired to do more with their own family.”
Cochrane is the founder and CEO of Yes, And…eXercise!, a nonprofit dedicated to motivating and inspiring people impacted by Parkinson’s to gain confidence, connect with others, and discover joy through improvisation and storytelling.
After his father’s diagnosis, Robert and Dan set off on a two-month, 20,000-mile baseball road trip that he made into the 2004 documentary “Boys of Summer: First Base.”
“Boys of Summer: Second Base” followed in 2014, with “Short Stop” coming in 2020.
Part four, “Boys of Summer: Third Base,” will premiere later this month at the World Parkinson Congress in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Short Stop” picks up almost two decades after Dan’s initial diagnosis. He struggles at times with losing pieces of himself and accepting support as his disease advances. This time, Robert’s son, Giuseppe, joins his father and grandfather on an adventure as they get MVP treatment at Dodger Stadium, Petco Park and the Oakland Coliseum.
The heartwarming and inspiring true story “Boys of Summer: Short Stop” gets an exclusive screening at the Lindsay Theater.
The film explores what happens between the big moments, capturing quiet struggles, inside jokes and the unspoken weight of time passing.
“We hope that those affected by Parkinson’s feel a sense of hope despite the many challenges the disease presents,” Casey Peluso, vice president of programs & outreach for Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania, said.
“The collaboration between Robert Cochrane and The Lindsay Theater is very special because it not only brings awareness of Parkinson’s, but it shows that
there is a community of support.”
Adds Robert Cochrane: “I believe movie theaters are sacred space. It’s an amazing and all-too-rare opportunity to share a communal experience in the dark with people we don’t know and remember how we’re much more alike than different.”
