(Credit and Caption for Photo: Gecko Robotics, headquartered in Pittsburgh’s North Side, plans to open a manufacturing facility in Sewickley, which will focus on defense manufacturing. (James Engel | TribLive)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Sewickley, PA) Gecko Robotics, a Pittsburgh-based robotics and defense firm, will open a new manufacturing facility in the Sewickley area soon.

The company announced its plans for the 10,000-square-foot facility at the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, which finished yesterday in Carlisle.

This facility will sit at an industrial park in Aleppo Township about 3 miles from Sewickley’s business district.

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that beam placement work on Interstate 79 in Marshall Township and Franklin Park Borough, Allegheny County will continue tomorrow night, weather permitting.

Northbound I-79 will be reduced to a single-lane of traffic between the Route 910/Wexford (Exit 73) off and on-ramps from 7 p.m. tomorrow to 6 a.m. on Saturday morning to accommodate beam placement work.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a resident of Ross Township has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his convictions of production and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.  

Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on forty-six-year-old Ralph Talerico yesterday. 

According to information presented to the Court, in and around June through July of 2023, Talerico produced videos of two children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Talerico also possessed videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent and under 12 years of age on or about June 6th, 2024.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Castle, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a resident of New Castle, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to charges of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine base.

Thirty-year-old Akeem Evans pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a quantity of fentanyl on March 13th, 2024, and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base on September 12th, 2024.

Judge Cercone scheduled Evans’ sentencing for November 13th, 2026 and he could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both on each of the two counts provided by the law.

(File Photo of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection, in 31 states, including Pennsylvania.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora. The illness can come from eating unwashed produce and cause watery diarrhea, fatigue, dehydration, nausea, and vomiting.

According to the Allegheny County Health Department, people can prevent cyclospora by washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly and cutting away any damaged or bruised areas.

You should also refrigerate both fruits and vegetables as soon as possible, and cook your food whenever it is possible to do so, because heating food to 158 degrees or more kills cyclospora.

You need to wash your hands with soap and warm water, as well as wash and sanitize dishes, countertops, cutting boards and utensils when you’re done handling produce.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame, Posted on Facebook on July 15th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A second class of inductees was announced for the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame in the city’s Strip District. The 2026 class of inductees for this walk of fame which is located at the Strip District’s Terminal building, includes ten people who helped shape the history of the Steel City through the arts, commerce, industry, sports and more. The inductees will be honored during a free public induction ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13th. 

The inductees for this year’s class are as follows:

• the late Myron Cope (Steelers commentator and broadcaster, man who invented “The Terrible Towel”)
• the late Martha Graham (choreographer and dancer)
• the late H.J. Heinz (entrepreneur, co-founder of Heinz Ketchup)
• the late Charles “Teenie” Harris (photographer)
• the late Franco Harris (legendary Steelers running back known for “The Immaculate Reception” football play)
• Shirley Jones (singer and actress)
• the late Henry Mancini (composer, Henry Mancini musical theatre awards named for him)
• Mario Lemieux (legendary Penguins hockey centre who now is part of the ownership of the team
• the late Jimmy Stewart (actor known for his roles like Gegore Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” pilot)
• the late George Westinghouse (inventor best known for creating the railway air brake, engineer)

The Pittsburgh Walk of Fame was unveiled last year with a goal of celebrating people with ties to southwestern Pennsylvania who have made their mark on America.

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones addresses media following a fire at Second Avenue Commons in June 2024. Jones, who has led the bureau for nearly 20 years, will retire effective September 15th, 2026, after what Mayor Corey O’Connor called a “comprehensive review of the oversight of finances and operations” of the bureau. (Sebastian Foltz/Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) A former Aliquippa fire chief is retiring as the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief. Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor announced yesterday that Darryl Jones will retire after a review of the bureau’s financial, operational and administrative management.

O’Connor’s office confirmed that Jones will retire on September 16th.

Jones was put on paid administrative leave last month and he has been the fire chief of the Steel City for almost twenty years and he became the first Black fire chief of Pittsburgh in 2007.

He spent 20 years with the Aliquippa fire department before the position in Pittsburgh, which included 12 years as the Aliquippa Fire Chief. 

O’Connor’s office noted that Assistant Chief Mathew Davis, who has been serving as the acting chief since Jones was placed on leave, will continue to serve in that position until a permanent replacement for Jones is named. 

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Castle, PA) A man from New Castle was indicted on Tuesday on drug charges by a federal grand jury. 

Fifty-two-year-old Keith Jackson faces a charge of a count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

The indictment in this case did not offer any specific details but said that Jackson had fentanyl on him in a hotel room in New Castle on January 13th. 

(File Photo of State Representative Josh Kail)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Industry Borough, PA) Representative Josh Kail announced yesterday that the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) awarded a grant worth $5.547 million to Industry Borough Municipal Authority for its ongoing water quality project. 

Several upgrades will be made to the process of drinking water treatment disinfection, and this includes adding both a raw water tank for oxidation and a 6,000-gallon distribution pumping tank, as well as installing an emergency generator and the cleaning of two groundwater wells. 

This investment is the result of collaboration between state and local leaders who share a commitment to improving the quality of life for local residents.

Kail worked to secure this funding, and he thanked local officials throughout this process for their advocacy, dedication and partnership.

These resources will help strengthen the community.