(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania House adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution in Harrisburg yesterday that designates the week of Sept. 21-27, 2026, as “Rail Safety Week” in Pennsylvania. According to Matzie, he introduced House Resolution 537 to raise awareness about preventable rail casualties. Matzie’s Rail Safety Week is scheduled to concurrently run with Operation Lifesaver’s nationwide awareness campaign called “See Tracks? Think Train® Week,” that seeks to reduce collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossings and prevent trespassing on or near tracks. The efforts of Matzie to improve rail safety in Pennsylvania includes his work to reduce train derailments. In response to the 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio that spread toxic fumes throughout the region, Matzie introduced legislation that was recently passed by the House which would implement common-sense guidelines to prevent a similar catastrophe. 

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) A former personal care administrator was sentenced after she was convicted of neglecting to renew a patient’s medications, which caused a deadly seizure. 

Fifty-year-old Kelly Gonzales of New Castle, worked as a personal care administrator for ARC of Lawrence County. 

A male resident in her care home who suffered from a seizure disorder, died from a fatal seizure on December 2nd, 2021. 

According to prosecutors, Gonzales failed to renew his prescription for medication that could have prevented the seizure from happening. The man went without the medication for over 10 days before his death. 

Lawrence County President Judge Craig J. Cox sentenced Gonzales to one to three years incarceration yesterday. She is prohibited from serving in a personal care capacity while on supervision and was also ordered to pay $5,093 in restitution.

Gonzales was convicted on February 17th. She was charged with felony counts of neglect of a care-dependent person and tampering with records as well as misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter in November of 2023.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Homewood Borough, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported today that a forty-three-year-old Beaver Falls man was charged for careless driving after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Homewood Borough on May 30th. Levi Policaro was driving near the intersection of School Street and Norwood Drive at approximately 6:22 p.m. It was determined on scene that Policaro hit another vehicle that was parked on the right side of Norwood Drive. Policaro was not injured and he refused EMS even though he was complaining about shoulder pain. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Gavin Thunberg)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Firefighters were dispatched around 1 P.M. yesterday to a multiple dwelling home on Baker Street for a reported house on fire. The second floor was where smoke was reported but a fire was on the first floor. The fire was extinguished very quickly and it happened in the “Plan 1” area of Aliquippa. 

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that a shoulder and lane restriction on I-376 (Parkway West) in Greentree Borough and Scott Township in Allegheny County will occur today. As needed from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. a shoulder and single lane restriction will occur on westbound (outbound) I-376 near the Carnegie/Heidlberg (Exit 65) and Greentree/Crafton (Exit 67) interchanges. Crews from PennDOT will conduct guide rail repair work. 

(File Photo of a Fireworks Burst)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Independence Day 2026 is a big celebration for the United States of America, as the county celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, in which the 13 colonies of America officially declared themselves to be an independent nation and separated themselves from Great Britain. July Fourth falls on a Saturday this year, so July 3rd is when the official federal holiday will be observed on and most bank, business and government entities will be closed. However, the celebration for Fourth of July events throughout Beaver County and beyond are a blast. This includes Beaver County Boom 250 in Bridgewater this Saturday, which is expected to be the biggest event in the history of the county. According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here is a list of local and state events to launch the freedom of celebrating July 4th.

Beaver County BOOM 250 begins at 3 p.m. June 27th at Bridge Street in Bridgewater. Celebrating Beaver County and America’s semi-quincentennial with live music from Dustin Lynch, The Clarks, Gene the Werewolf, North to Nashville and Ashley Marina (from The Voice). Food, craft and artisan vendor booths, 880 wrestling, kids’ activities, Squonk Opera performances and more. Zambelli Fireworks show begins around 9:45 p.m. Shuttle service starts at 2:30 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. Guests can park their vehicles at either the Bradys Run Ice Arena, New Brighton Sanitation Authority or the Beaver County Courthouse parking garage and ride the shuttle to the festival.

July 3-5 events

Ellwood City Festival takes place on July 3rd-5th at Ewing Park, hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 3 and 4 and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 5th. Food, entertainment, vendor tables and children’s activities are planned; see festival schedule online for more information. Fireworks to start at 10 p.m.

Westminster College hosts its annaul Independence Day celebration on July 3rd at Brittain Lake. Food trucks will open at 6 p.m. and live music by River City Brass Band starts at 7:30p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on and enjoy the celebration. Fireworks display by Pyrotecnico starts around 9:15 p.m. Parking information can be found at the college’s website.

Moon Park & Recreation celebrates America’s 250th anniversary on July 4th from 4-10:30 p.m. at Moon Park, 1350 Joe DeNardo Way. Food trucks and kids activities begin at 4 p.m. and Nathan King provides live entertainment from 5-7 p.m. A Flag ceremony with the National Anthem takes place at 7:30 p.m., followed by music from The CommonHeart from 8-10 p.m. Children’s activities close at 8 p.m. Fireworks are to start at 10 p.m. Event presented by Brewer Airport Toyota.

City of Pittsburgh Independence Day celebration starts at 4 p.m. July 4 with activities at Point State Park, Liberty Avenue and along the North Shore. Food trucks, live entertainment, line dancing, hot air balloon rides and more. Security screenings will be conducted at some locations. Buy a ticket to ride on the Piatt Companies’ Salute to Service Ferris Wheel from July 1-5 and help the Veterans Leadership Program help area veterans. Fireworks display to start at 9:35 p.m. and will also be broadcast on WPXI.

Fourth at the Fort from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 4 at the Fort Pitt Museum, 601 Commonwealth Place in Pittsburgh. Join costumed reenactors, scouts, veterans and others to raise a 36-foot American flag to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, then spend the afternoon celebrating our nation’s birthday with music, living history demonstrations and fun family activities.

July 11 events

Ambridge will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and its annual fireworks show at 5 p.m. July 11 at Walter Panek Park, 798 Breitenstein Road. Live music by Casanova and the Divas, vendor booths, face painting, a bounce house and kids’ games. Parking and a shuttle service to the festival will be available. Fireworks display by Zambelli Fireworks ends the evening’s festivities.

Hopewell Park Fest Community Day from 3-9:30 p.m. on July 11 at Hopewell Community Park. Food trucks and craft vendors, inflatables, face painting, dunk tank, entertainment by the Hopewell High School cheer squad (5 p.m.) and live music by Never Know (6 p.m.) and Jordan McLaughlin and The Fourth Hour (8 p.m.). The event concludes with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Independence Township will present a fireworks display around 9:40 p.m. on July 11 at the Independence Township Park, 145 School Road.

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed at this morning’s Beaver County Commissioners’ work session at the County Courthouse. One of them was the status of the liner of the pool at Old Economy Park in Baden. The concrete issues regarding the liner are being worked on at this time. Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles stated that the county ordered a new liner for the pool and during an inspection by the company that is going to be fixing the liner, they found some “concrete issues and some other issues” that need to be taken care of before the liner is installed. Fedeles noted that company is telling the Commissioners they are “probably at least three weeks out” before the liner will be installed. Fedeles stated that at least until the middle or the end of July of 2026 is the realistic timeline if the pool is to open up this year. Fedeles also gave an update on the 457 retirement plan that some county courthouse employees participate in and the update was that the Commissioners have received its check from a court case in regards to it. The check will be forwarded to Empower, which is the current 457 plan of the Commissioners. Fedeles confirmed that Empower is in a process of setting up an amount to deposit money into before distributing it to the employees who participate in the 457 plan. Fedeles also highlighted a few of the fifty-nine proposed resolutions for tomorrow, and these include extending leases for Circle of Friends in Conway and New Brighton, new agreements for the Emergency Services Unit and Drug Task Force Teams and resolutions regarding the hazmat building that is being planned to be built along Route 51 near Brady’s Run Park. Commissioners Jack Manning and Tony Amadio welcomed the election directors from twenty counties in the western portion of the state of Pennsylvania as part of an all-day conference yesterday at Penn State Beaver. Fedeles also noted that the parking garage at the County Courthouse will open this Saturday for Beaver County Boom 250 even though it is closed at this time. Beaver County Boom 250 is also this Saturday starting at 3 p.m. with the fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m. in Bridgewater.

(Credit for Headline Photos and Photos Below: Photos Courtesy of David Kramer, Posted on Facebook on June 24th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) Monaca Borough Manager David Kramer posted on Facebook today that the Monaca pumphouse was vandalized last night. The suspect is unknown at this time and one of the spires was broken at the pumphouse. Kramer confirmed that charges will be filed against the suspect and that person will have to pay for the repairs because cameras are being reviewed. If anyone has information on this incident, you can message Kramer by clicking here.