Category: News

2026 Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music Festival cancelled

(File Photo of a Past Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music Festival)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PUSH Beaver County recently announced that the annual Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music Festival which is traditionally held at Brady’s Run Park will not take place this year. Regis Collins, the director of that festival, formally notified the organization’s Board of Directors at PUSH Beaver County’s January’s board meeting that he needed to unfortunately cancel the event. The Board and leadership team of PUSH Beaver County then engaged in further discussion following that notification and finally determined that a pause of the Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music Festival was necessary to responsibly evaluate its future. That decision was not made lightly, however; PUSH Beaver County has chosen to pause that festival in order to explore opportunities to reimagine the event for 2027 or beyond and to study its long-term sustainability.

Andrea Bocelli to sing in Pittsburgh

By Scott Tady

PITTSBURGH — One of the most beloved and recognized musical voices in the world, maestro Andrea Bocelli, announced new North American dates for his 2026 Romanza 30th Anniversary World Tour, including a Dec. 21 performance in Pittsburgh.

Bocelli will entertain at PPG Paints Arena, celebrating his widely-acclaimed 1997 breakthrough album “Romanza.”

The Andrea Bocelli North American social fan presale starts 10 a.m. Feb. 5, followed by the general ticket on-sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 6. For more tickets and information, visit https://www.andreabocelli.com/tickets.

American Express is providing eligible card members access to Amex Presale Tickets. starting 10 a.m. Feb. 4.

Bocelli’s fall North American tour kicks off on Sept. 8 in Seattle and concludes on Sept. 21 in Denver, while his winter tour kicks off on Dec. 10 in Boston, and concludes on Dec. 22 in Philadelphia.

“Romanza“ became a global phenomenon upon its release in 1997, selling more than 20 million copies worldwide. The record earned Platinum and Diamond certifications in over 20 countries, including Triple Platinum in the United States and Diamond status in Canada. It is both the best-selling Italian-language album and the best-selling predominantly non-English language album of all time. “Romanza” also topped the charts in 11 countries and reached the top of Billboard’s U.S. World Albums and Top Catalog Albums charts.

Maestro Bocelli is set to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Feb. 6. Returning to the Olympic stage after his appearance at the Torino 2006 Closing Ceremony, the world-renowned tenor will bring his iconic voice to San Siro Stadium for this historic moment.

Andrea Bocelli has a Christmastime date in Pittsburgh.

Clendon Thomas, former Pro-Bowl defensive back for the Steelers, dies at 90

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Former Oklahoma halfback Clendon Thomas speaks during a news conference in New York, Dec. 6, 2011. (AP Phot/ Seth Wenig, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Tulsa, OK) Clendon Thomas, a former Pro-Bowl defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers has died at the age of 90. Chuck Bowman, a longtime friend and a former college roommate of Thomas, confirmed on Tuesday that Thomas died of pneumonia on Monday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thomas was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 1958 NFL Draft. Thomas was traded to the Steelers in 1962 and played for them from 1962-1968. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1963. Thomas was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and played for the University of Oklahoma from 1955-1957, helping the Sooners win back-to-back national championships in 1955 and 1956.

Charges filed against man who walked on the icy Allegheny River for hours after trespassing a former VA building in Pittsburgh

(Photo Courtesy of WPXI/WPXI)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Charges have now been filed against the man who fled from officers by walking on the frozen Allegheny River for hours. The incident all began at the former Veterans Affairs building on Highland Drive in the Lincoln-Lemington Belmar neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Police were called to the area shortly after noon yesterday for someone trespassing. According to the criminal complaint, when officers arrived, they found a man, later identified as Gary Cawley, tampering with an electrical panel. Police note that Cawley ignored their orders and ran across a large field covered with snow and into the woods. Cawley eventually made his way onto the icy Allegheny River and walked several miles. Around 4 p.m., Cawley complied and was taken into custody in Harmar Township near a Target store. He was then taken to a hospital in stable condition. Cawley has charges of burglary, criminal trespassing, possessing instruments of crime, evading arrest and disorderly conduct. 

Fugitive who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty found in crawlspace and arrested in East Pittsburgh

(Photo Courtesy of WPXI/WPXI)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) According to police, a fugitive who previously pleaded guilty to animal cruelty was arrested in East Pittsburgh after he was found in a crawlspace. The suspect that was recently arrested was twenty-five-year-old Kachyphe McCullough-Williams, who the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office confirms pleaded guilty to eleven counts of animal cruelty in 2022. Investigators confirm they tracked McCullough-Williams to a house on Franklin Avenue in East Pittsburgh using information that was provided to them this week. He was taken into custody without incident and is being held at the Allegheny County Jail.

Three Pittsburgh-area athletes among five Pennsylvanians selected to compete for the U.S. in 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy

(Credit for Photo: LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK – MARCH 14: Kaysha Love and Jasmine Jones of the United States compete during the two-woman Bobsleigh heat 1 on day five of the 2025 IBSF World Championships at Mt Van Hoevenberg on March 14, 2025 in Lake Placid, New York. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Several athletes who are Pittsburgh–area natives have been selected to compete for the United States in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy from February 6th to February 22nd. Jasmine Jones of Greensburg was selected for the two-woman bobsled team. Jones has earned five medals during International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation competitions throughout her career. Vincent Trocheck, a Pittsburgh native who plays hockey for the NHL’s New York Rangers and played youth hockey with the Pittsburgh Hornets, was named to the United States men’s hockey team, who are aiming to win their first gold medal since 1980. Trochek is in his 13th season with the Rangers, whose head coach is former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach, Mike Sullivan. Ava McNaughton of Seven Fields, who is a junior at the University of Wisconsin, was selected for the United States women’s hockey team. McNaughton played youth hockey in the area of Pittsburgh, skating with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Girls Team and the Arctic Foxes boys team. Two other Pennsylvanians have been selected for Team USA. Taylor Anderson of Broomall, Pennsylvania will compete in curling for the United States and Summer Britcher of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania will be a representative for Team USA in the luge.

Geneva College hires Tom Contenta as their next college football head coach

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Geneva College Athletics, Posted on January 28th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) Geneva College Athletics announced on Facebook yesterday that Geneva College hired a new college football head coach. Tom Contenta was recently hired by the Golden Tornadoes following a national search and he will become the 30th head football coach in the history of the school located in Beaver Falls. Contenta has served on the Geneva football coaching staff since 2007 and also played for the Golden Tornadoes from 2002-05. Contenta will become just the third Geneva head football coach since 1976. Contenta will replace Geno Demarco, who stepped down after his 33rd season as the head Geneva College football coach, which helped DeMarco become the longest tenured college football coach at any level. Contenta has served as the assistant head coach for the football program next to DeMarco for the last several seasons. Contenta spent time as both the offensive and defensive coordinator for the Golden Tornadoes, and he has also served as the recruiting coordinator for Geneva College for many years.

Woman scammed out of $544 via Cash App in Lawrence County after trying to sell a fish tank on Facebook Marketplace

(File Photo of a Dollar Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(North Beaver Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release today that an unidentified thirty-two-year-old woman was scammed out of $544 via Cash App on Tuesday evening in Lawrence County. At 5:06 p.m., PSP New Castle was dispatched to East Poland Road in North Beaver Township because of a theft. The female victim was scammed after trying to sell a fish tank on Facebook Marketplace. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. 

Three-year-old girl found dead inside a Harrison Township home

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: police car lights at night in city with selective focus and bokeh background blur, Credit for Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images/iStockphoto/z1b)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrison Township, PA) A child was found dead inside a home in Harrison Township yesterday. According to Allegheny County Police, they were called to the 50 block of Pine Street at 12:18 p.m. for reports of a three-year-old child who was unresponsive. The child was a girl and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner is now working to determine the cause and manner of death. Police are asking anyone that has information about this incident to call 1-833-ALL-TIPS. 

Suspect damages a transformer owned by New Castle company

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release today that an incident of criminal mischief occurred in Lawrence County on the afternoon of October 2nd, 2025. At 12:45 p.m., the suspect deliberately damaged a transformer that was owned by FirstEnergy of New Castle in Little Beaver Township along State Highway 351.