Interstate 79 Wexford Interchange Project Restrictions Friday, Saturday in Allegheny County

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

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

The following restrictions will occur to accommodate barrier relocation work and line painting operations, according to this schedule from a release courtesy of PennDOT District 11:

7:00 PM Friday to 9:00 AM Saturday 

  • Northbound I-79 will be reduced to a single-lane of traffic between the off and on-ramps at the Route 910/Wexford (Exit 73) interchange 

7:00 AM to 3:00 PM Saturday 

  • Eastbound Route 910 will have lane restrictions controlled by flaggers between Nicholson Road and the I-79 southbound on and off-ramps 

When the work is completed, the following traffic patterns will be in place: 

  • Traffic from Route 910 to the northbound I-79 on-ramp will be switched to the temporary ramp 
  • Eastbound Route 910 traffic will no longer be shifted 

PHEAA President and CEO Announces Departure After More Than a Decade of Service

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) announced on Wednesday that President and Chief Executive Officer James H. Steeley will be stepping down at the end of this year after more than a decade with the PHEAA. 

Steeley has led the PHEAA through some of its most significant challenges and opportunities since he joined the organization in 2015.  

These include the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as overseeing the end of its federal student loan servicing contract and implementing some organizational changes that were designed to ensure long-term sustainability.  

PHEAA also launched the PA Forward and Keystone Student Loan Programs during Steeley’s tenure, which expands affordable financing options for students and families in both Pennsylvania and neighboring states. 

PennDOT Beaver County Job Fair Next Thursday in Rochester

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT is inviting the public to attend a job fair on Thursday, September 3rd so they can learn about available positions that the department offers in Beaver County. 

The event will be from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. and will be held at PennDOT’s Beaver County Maintenance Office, which is located at 155 Stewart Avenue in Rochester.

The available positions in Beaver County for PennDOT include

  • CDL Drivers 
  • Diesel and Automotive Mechanics 
  • Tradesman Helpers 
  • Winter Dispatchers 

Jobseekers that are attending this event should bring two forms of identification. Recruitment staff from the state of Pennsylvania will be on-hand to discuss the current job openings in Beaver County.

Hiring managers will also be onsite to talk with individuals that are interested in this opportunity, and assistance with application, interview opportunities, potential conditional offers on certain job titles and road tests will occur onsite. 

Meeting held in Big Beaver concerning Switch’s plans to build data center on former Pitt Race property

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pitt Race International Complex)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Big Beaver Borough, PA) Residents in Big Beaver went to a meeting yesterday to voice their opinions about the data center company Switch planning to build a data center complex at the former Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum. 

This meeting was originally scheduled to be held in the Big Beaver Borough municipal building, but it was moved outside because so many people attended. 

Switch is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and they are planning to convert the 400-acre former Pitt Race facility into a 600,000-square-foot data center complex that will have three buildings.  

Their proposed development would span an area roughly equivalent to 300 football fields. 

Neighbors in Big Beaver have raised concerns about the project’s planned data center.  

They have addressed water usage, noise, pollution, whether their electric bills would increase, what more traffic would mean for residents that live nearby and about possible problems with old, closed mines that are underground at the Pitt Race facility in Wampum. 

The Big Beaver Borough council is still asking for environmental studies and changes to this project before voting on Switch’s proposal. 

Beaver Falls Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Possessing Firearm and Ammunition

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a resident of Beaver Falls pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon and was sentenced to 88 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction.

Twenty-four-year-old Javon Turner was sentenced.

According to information presented to the Court, on August 16th, 2025, members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s Violence Prevention Unit encountered Turner on Pittsburgh’s South Side carrying a loaded, stolen 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

Turner was previously convicted on a state robbery charge and federal law prohibits a convicted felon possessing a firearm or ammunition.

PennDOT Allegheny County Job Fair Today in Aspinwall

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT is inviting the public to attend a job fair today from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. so they learn about available positions that the department offers in Allegheny County.

The event will be held at PennDOT’s Allegheny County Maintenance Office, which is located at 51 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh.

According to a release from PennDOT District 11, available positions in Allegheny County include:

  • CDL Drivers
  • Diesel and Automotive Mechanics
  • Tradesman Helpers
  • Tunnel Maintainers
  • Winter Dispatchers

Recruitment staff from the state of Pennsylvania will be on-hand to discuss current job openings in that county.

Hiring managers will be onsite to talk with individuals that are interested and opportunities for interviews, assistance with applications, potential conditional offers on certain job titles and road tests will also be on site.

Jobseekers that are attending this event should bring two forms of identification.

Acrisure Stadium Hosts 2026 Kickoff and Rib Festival September 3rd-7th

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Acrisure Stadium)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Acrisure Stadium Management recently announced the return of the annual Kickoff and Rib Festival, which will run from Thursday, September 3rd through Monday, September 7th, presented by I.C. Light.

This annual Labor Day event brings together some of the top barbecue pitmasters for a weekend of ribs that fall off of the bone, live music, and fun for the whole family, while also marking the beginning of football season in western Pennsylvania.

Click here to find out more information on this event: Kickoff and Rib Festival – Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA

According to a release from Acrisure Stadium, here is more information about this event:

This year, the 2025 Kickoff and Rib Festival Champion, Off the Bone BBQ, will return to defend its title against a stacked lineup of regional and national favorites. This year’s roster includes— Afterhours, Bad Azz BBQ, Carolina Rib King, Cowboy’s BBQ & Rib Co., Jim’s Smokin Que, Mojo’s, Off The Bone BBQ, Pigfoot BBQ, Ribbins BBQ, Smokin T’s BBQ, Swine BBQ, and R&G Smoke Shack—each bringing their own signature style, rubs, and sauces to the competition. Attendees can expect everything from classic dry-rubbed racks to ribs drenched in sauces ranging from tangy to sweet. The variety of vendors ensures there will be something for every rib enthusiast’s palate. Judged by a celebrity panel, the 2026 PA Pork Pitmaster Awards will crown a first-place grand champion who will receive an authentic Wild Cat Championship belt. Adding to the festival atmosphere will be University of Pittsburgh football, free concerts, and fun for all. Admission to the festival grounds is free. Food and drink and admission to the Panthers football game will be available for purchase.
FESTIVAL HOURS each day are as follows:
Thurs., Sept. 3, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 4, 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept.5, 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 6, 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Mon., Sept. 7, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
FREE PERFORMANCES throughout the festival, including:
Fri., Sept. 4 – DJ Bonics at 7:30 p.m. and West 22nd at 9:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 5 – Post-game Street party with DJ Steve Maffei Jr. from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 6 – Junior Guthrie and The Push at 7:30 p.m. and The Jack Wharff Band at 9:00 p.m.

Mon., Sept. 7 – BBQ & Blues Monday with House of Soul at 3:00 p.m., Guitar Zack at 4:30 p.m. and
Billy Price at 6:30 p.m.

FREE ACTIVITIES DAILY:
The Jim Beam Experience; new drink offerings from Tito’s, High Noon, I.C. Light and Jim Beam (available for purchase throughout the festival grounds); I.C. Light Booth prize wheel and other contests, and new Chevrolet vehicle displays. The FedEx Great Hall will be open featuring Steelers memorabilia including Steelers Super Bowl Trophies. The Steelers Pro Shop will also be open, plus rides, games, vendors and more! Also, test your skills at the Steelers Experience and meet Steely McBeam.

New McDonald’s restaurant planning to open in Rochester, issues from inspection at Beaver Falls McDonald’s resolved

(File Photo of the McDonald’s Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester, PA) Andy Grandinetti, the Director of Operations for Tri-County McDonald’s Management, talked with Frank Sparks on “Driving in the Fast Lane” today and he mentioned that a new McDonald’s restaurant is planning to open in Rochester.

This new restaurant will be located in the back of the Giant Eagle plaza among all the hustle and bustle of Rochester.

The restaurant is currently being built and Grandinetti estimated that it could be completed by around December of 2026 or January of 2027.

It will have a classic drive through and Grandinetti confirmed that flyers have been mailed out this week to hopefully hire “50 to 60 people, maybe 10 good managers” for the restaurant.

Grandinetti also addressed and made clear that the issues from the recent inspection for the McDonald’s location in Beaver Falls has been fixed.

The organization took care of this immediately on the day of this inspection and he said that the biggest thing that came up during the inspection were that two refrigerators were holding product at 40 to 50 degrees.

These pieces of equipment were removed from the rotation, and any food that was in the refrigerators were discarded.

Grandinetti confirmed that “food safety is critical to any business serving food, has to the number one priority.”

Pirates catcher Endy Rodríguez undergoes season-ending hip surgery, sidelining him for 2026

(Credit and Caption for Photo: The Pirates’ Endy Rodriguez celebrates his game-tying home run against the Marlins in the fifth inning June 12 at PNC Park. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that catcher Endy Rodríguez is out for the rest of their 2026 season after he had surgery yesterday to repair the labrum in his left hip. 

Rodríguez had been on the 10-day injured list with left hip inflammation since August 13th. 

Parent company of Kennywood sued over alleged hidden online ticket fees

(File Photo of the Kennywood Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County radio News

(West Mifflin, PA) Kennywood’s parent company, the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, is now being sued after it is being accused of hiding fees for online tickets.

According to court paperwork, a Pennsylvania woman says the amusement park’s parent company uses “drip pricing.”

That means that the total cost is not revealed until the buying process has ended.

The woman is stating that the company is duping customers into thinking that prices are lower than they are and she is seeking damages through a lawsuit.