The Beaver County Commissioners met this morning for the first time since Republicans Sandy Egley and Dan Camp were sworn in as the new Republican majority. Former commissioners chairman Tony Amadio is the lone Democrat. The Commissioners immediately faced a budget dillema today. Beaver County Radio’s Greg Benedetti reports that county Controller David Rossi says the county is facing a 17-million-dollar deficit in 2016. But Egley and Camp declined comment.

Police in Rochetser Borough are investigating a school bus accident. Police confirmed to Beaver County Radio News that a school bus crashed into a telephone pole on East Washington Street at around 7:00 this morning. Police have not confirmed reports that it was a stolen bus that was involved in the crash. There were no injuries reported.

The Beaver County coroner’s office is seeking information for anyone who knows any relatives or friends of 69-year-old Eugene Waugh of Aliquippa. Anyone with information is asked to call Coroner David Gabauer at (724) 498-2127.

Police say a suspect wanted in connection with two robberies in Lawrence County has been taken into custody. The Shenango Township Police Department says 46-year-old John Graham Jr. was arrested overnight after the Shenango China Federal Credit Union in New Castle and the Last Minit Mart in Shenango Township were held up on Wednesday. According to New Castle Police, the Shenango China Federal Credit Union in the Town Mall was robbed just after 3 p.m. Wednesday. The suspect was believed to be driving a white cargo van with ladder racks.  Then, later last night, Shenango Township Police say the Last Mini Mart on New Butler Road was held up. Police say the suspect was armed with a knife and left in what appeared to be the same white cargo van as the New Castle robbery. Shenango Township Police say Graham is charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and simple assault.

A man killed Sunday when he was hit by a train in McKees Rocks has been identified. 44-year-old Richard Schmidt – whose address was unknown – was struck by a train at the CSX crossing at River Road shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday, according to the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene less than 10 minutes later from multiple blunt impact injuries. The manner of death remains under investigation.

There’s been no letup in the fighting over a state budget. The GOP-controlled House yesterday voted to stop Governor Tom Wolf’s use of a formula targeting extra school subsidies to districts hardest-hit by past spending cuts. Republican lawmakers say Wolf lacks authority for the move.

Tonight is the big night. Not a presidential debate or a State of the Union address, but the estimated $1.5 billion Powerball drawing – the largest lottery jackpot in the world. The jackpot started at $40 million on Nov. 4, but no one has matched all six Powerball numbers since then.

The National Weather Service has issued a “special statement” about a snow squall moving through Beaver and surrounding counties this afternoon. The squall will affect Beaver, Allegheny, Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette and Greene Counties. Expect a quick additional inch of snow with wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph. Visibility may briefly drop to near zero. Locations that may be affected include Aliquippa, Moon Township, Franklin Park, Cranberry Township and Pittsburgh.

An Ambridge man died Monday after being hit by a car near the Windgap-Fairywood border. According to police, 23-year-old Jonathan Jaquay hit a deer and then got out of his car to check the damage when the second car struck him and his car. This happened on Windgap Avenue near the intersection with Broadhead Fording Road in Allegheny County. Jaquay was unresponsive when paramedics arrived and was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in critical condition. He died a few hours later. An autopsy has been scheduled for today.