(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A view of the scene Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, as the cleanup continues at the site of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. Norfolk Southern alone will be responsible for paying for the cleanup after last year’s fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio, a federal judge ruled, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(East Palestine, OH) Over three years after a train derailment involving a Norfolk Southern train occurred in East Palestine, Ohio, first responders that are across the region and nationwide will have a permanent training facility soon. 

Leaders have yet to decide on the exact location of the facility, but it will be in the area of East Palestine. 

Leaders revealed a new conceptual drawing yesterday that gives an idea of what it may look like, which includes an airplane, structures for hands-on training and real freight cars.

This is expected to be built in phases. It is unclear at this time when the facility will open.  

However, the village manager confirmed that they expect to break ground in 12 to 18 months. 

According to Dr. Jennifer Adams, Youngstown State University’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, plans include indoor simulation, outdoor response training, drone operations, rail and hazardous material scenarios, and a space to honor what happened in the village.

 A Norfolk Southern train derailed on February 3rd, 2023, and it burst into flames and released toxic chemicals into the air at the Pennsylvania-Ohio border. 

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler County, PA) An arrest was made after a bomb threat was found written on a bathroom wall inside Mars Area High School on Tuesday. 

According to a letter from the Mars Area School District to parents, the Adams Township Police Department made the arrest yesterday afternoon. 

Mars Area School District Superintendent Mark Gross stated that there is no threat to staff members and students in the district.

However, he also noted that out of an abundance of caution, “enhanced security measures” will be in place at the high school today.

Police will conduct an extra sweep of the building before the beginning of the school day. 

Gross confirmed: “The District would like to thank Adams Township Police Department, City of Pittsburgh Police, Northern Regional Police Department, Beaver County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement personnel for their quick and diligent response as well as for their continued support of the District’s efforts to ensure a safe and secure educational environment for our students, faculty and staff members.”

(File Photo of Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) 14 animals have been adopted after they were rescued from a home in the Westwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh on Barr Avenue.

Pittsburgh police recently filed charges against Kelly Roberts Kormick, who moved to Beaver County and was a former resident of the now-abandoned home.

Police described the conditions that the 14 animals were living in as “deplorable” and “unimaginable” in court documents.

The animals were taken to the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) on the North Side of the City.

According to police, at one point, Roberts Kormick lived in the home, and the address was listed on her ID.

Roberts Kormick told police that the house originally belonged to her parents.

However, they no longer live there.

Investigators noted she told them she moved to Beaver County, she had not returned to the home in months, and she had no idea what it looked like.

Police paperwork stated that the animals were found with insects on their bodies and severely malnourished, surrounded by feces and flies on every surface that was imaginable.

Police also confirm that animal control officers and detectives found the bodies of dogs and skeletal remains after they responded to a 311 complaint of rotting trash that was piled up and the smell of ammonia on September 2nd.

One officer noted that he deemed it necessary to wear his gas mask because the odor was so strong.

Court documents affirmed that police said that the floors were wet with waste, squishy to walk on and stated that no dog food that is edible or sources of clean water were visible.

Roberts Kormick is facing over 40 counts of animal neglect or animal cruelty charges.

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Sharpsburg, PA) Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) announced today that his campaign and leadership PAC raised more than $925,000 in the third quarter of 2026.

That brings Deluzio’s cycle total to over $3.7 million, with $1.3 million in cash on hand heading into the final campaign stretch.

Deluzio has received almost 30,000 donations from the people of Pennsylvania during this cycle, and that has an average individual contribution of $40.

People in all 67 counties across Pennsylvania have supported his campaign, and over 10,000 contributions have come from his constituents in the 17th Congressional District.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro talks to the media prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll joined state and local officials today to highlight over $2 million in investments in Monaca and Ambridge boroughs through the Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF).

Governor Josh Shapiro recently announced an investment from this fund of more than $54 million in 50 infrastructure projects statewide.

Governor Shapiro and his administration have invested more than $197 million through the MTF to support transportation projects that connect communities, improve safety and grow local economies across Pennsylvania.

In the locally sponsored Monaca Gateway project worth $3.7 million, more than $200,000 from the MTF supports the construction of a roundabout to reduce congestion and potential crashes in Monaca Borough at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17^th Street.

Secretary Carroll also highlighted an almost $1.9 million MTF investment for safety and infrastructure upgrades along the Eighth Street (Route 989) corridor in Ambridge Borough.

The MTF provides grant funding to businesses, councils of governments, economic development organizations, municipalities, ports, public transportation agencies and rail freight entities to improve assets of transportation that enhance communities, pedestrian safety and transit access.

Applications for the next funding round of the MTF are being accepted until October 30th.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Voting booths are set up at a polling place in Newtown, Pa., Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt discussed on-demand mail ballot voting yesterday at his sixth weekly virtual media briefing before the election on November 3rd. 

According to Schmidt, “Pennsylvania voters have the option of going in person to their county elections office (click here to learn more), applying for a mail ballot, receiving it, filling it out, and returning it all in one visit. This option is available until October 27th, which is also the deadline to apply for a mail ballot.”

Voters should check with the elections office in their county for hours when that option is available.

Schmidt added. “Mail ballot voters also can fill out their ballot at home and mail it or hand-deliver it to their county elections office or a drop box designated by their county.”

County election offices must receive completed mail ballots by 8 p.m. on November 3rd for them to count. 

Schmidt also stated that the deadline to register to vote in the state of Pennsylvania in the November 3rd election is Monday, October 19th.

Pennsylvanians that are eligible to vote can register online (click here) at vote.pa.gov (click here) or at their county elections office (click here).

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of McDonald’s)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Coraopolis, PA) McDonald’s will be celebrating artwork created by talented Cornell High School and Sto-Rox Junior Senior High School students in support of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The selected artwork by Vanessa Bosetti will be displayed and unveiled tomorrow at the Coraopolis McDonald’s at 4 p.m.

This event marks the culmination of the “Golden Arches Mural Program,” which is a McDonald’s-supported initiative that honors student creativity and community pride.

Bosetti will receive an award of $1,000 from McDonald’s in recognition of her artistic achievement. 

The art departments at Cornell High School and Sto-Rox Junior Senior High School will also receive a grant of $500 to support creative endeavors in the future. 

High school art students from Cornell High School and Sto-Rox Junior Senior High School were invited to participate in the program this semester in partnership with local McDonald’s Owner/Operator Sam Nwagbo.

Students were challenged to create artwork which blends McDonald’s nostalgia with their unique interpretation of Coraopolis, to showcase their personal connection to the city.

The winning artwork will be transformed into 5-foot by 5-foot mural and will be displayed at the McDonald’s in Coraopolis to highlight the commitment the McDonald’s has to celebrate creativity and culture in every community.

Bosetti’s piece and pieces created by other students that participated in the program will be on display at the McDonald’s at 1010 4th Avenue in Coraopolis.