(File Photo: Source for Photo: The proposed state budget boosts opportunities for students by adding $5.5 million to expand Career and Technical Education in schools. Credit for Photo: (Adobe Stock) – Danielle Smith, Keystone News Service, Caption for Photo: A group of students building and programming electric toys and robots at robotics classroom – Danielle Smith, Keystone News Service)

(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvanians will rally in Harrisburg on Tuesday urging lawmakers to boost public school funding. Over 1-point-7 million students are enrolled in Pennsylvania schools. Susan Spicka with Education Voters of Pennsylvania says her group is among those backing Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal. It would mean more than 500 million dollars for underfunded schools, 75 million for basic education and 40 million for special education. She adds every student deserves a well-funded education and warns that cuts could leave some school districts behind. Spicka says they’re also urging lawmakers to set a timeline to meet constitutional school funding requirements and to reject private school vouchers. Her group, along with the “P-A Schools Work” coalition, is leading the rally with support from parents and community groups. The state House and Senate must pass the budget by June 30th.

(File Photo of Police Lights)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA) There has been a recent surge of vehicle break-ins in Aliquippa. Aliquippa Police Chief John Lane ordered extra patrol on midnight shifts because of break-ins reported in the Sheffield Terrace and Hollywood areas of Aliquippa between 3-6 a.m. People should remove all valuables and personal items from their cars. The suspects are also getting into the vehicles by breaking the windows. If you have any video footage or information about the break-ins, contact 724-378-8000.

(File Photo of Open for Business Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Columbus, OH) Over seventy Big Lots stores located in Pennsylvania and twelve other states will reopen Thursday. In early June, a second round of Big Lots stores will also open. Ten Big Lots stores in Pennsylvania are on the list of openings for Thursday, which includes the store in New Castle on 2611 Ellwood Road. The company Ocean State Job Lot, which is based in Rhode Island, will also buy fifteen Big Lots stores located in Pennsylvania and seven other states. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: A person walks past a Nippon Steel Corporation sign at the company headquarters Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Tokyo, Japan) Nippon Steel of Japan is continuing to try to purchase U.S. Steel. According to a report from Nikkei Asia, the president of Nippon Steel said that turning U.S. Steel into a wholly-owned subsidiary is the negotiation starting point. However, President Donald Trump has a different outlook, because he does not want U.S. Steel to be owned by a company that is not American. If U.S. Steel becomes a subsidiary, it would be a part of the Japanese steel company. 

(File Photo of someone texting while they are driving)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) June 5th, 2025 is when Paul Miller’s Law will be effective in Pennsylvania, which prohibits anyone from using phones or devices that are handheld while driving. Police will still pull someone over if you look at your phone on your lap or on the seat for the passenger. Calling first responders for an emergency is one of the exceptions of the law. Governor Josh Shapiro signed the law in 2024, making Pennsylvania the 29th state to put a ban on driving distracted.  

(File Photo of the Duquesne Light Company logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) After the Western Pennsylvania storms that caused power outages all over the area on April 29th, 2025, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is going to go through a post-storm review. Issues from the storms that involve utilities from Duquesne Light and FirstEnergy will be investigated in the review. According to Commission records, Duquesne Light has not experienced storm-related outages of this magnitude since at least 1993.

(File Photo of the Center Township Water Authority Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) On Friday, the Robert E. Rager Municipal Water Treatment and Filtration Facility began operation in Aliquippa. This new facility is being described as a milestone that is major for the city of Aliquippa and its redevelopment. According to authority officials, the $18.5 million plant will satisfy any water demand. The company 72 Steel is getting ready to build a steel mill and Westinghouse is trying to find riverfront property that is vacant for a facility for microreactors.

(File Photo of Police Lights)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA) A sixteen-year-old male juvenile was shot in Aliquippa on Sunday. Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver are investigating this incident in which an unidentified suspect fired rounds of shots near 148 Wilker Street. The juvenile was hit in the leg and was life-flighted to Allegheny General Hospital. His condition is currently unknown. We will have updates as soon as they are available in this developing story.

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: African american boy take a drink of cool water from one of the schools water fountains)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(York, PA) A Pennsylvania senator is proposing prohibiting fluoride in drinking water in the state. Senator Dawn Keefer wants her bill to be similar to an adopted bill in Utah. Utah was the first state to forbid fluoridation in public water. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is among those who disagree because fluoride gets credit for getting rid of decay in your teeth. The American Dental Association is also calling for both the safety and effectiveness of fluoridation.