Category: News

Bipartisan Bill to Prohibit Student Cellphone Use During School Day in Pennsylvania Passes Senate Education Committee

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This photo shows the Facebook’s Messenger Kids application on an iPhone in New York, Feb. 16, 2018. U.S. regulators say Facebook misled parents and failed to protect the privacy of children using its Messenger Kids app. The Federal Trade Commission says Facebook misrepresented the access it provided to app developers to private user data. As a result, the FTC on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 proposed sweeping changes to a 2020 privacy order with Facebook — now called Meta — that would prohibit it from profiting from data it collects on users under 18. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, file)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from the Senate Republican Communications Office, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee advanced bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Devlin Robinson, Vince Hughes and Steve Santarsiero, to require public schools across the commonwealth to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day. The approval of Senate Bill 1014 was received unanimously, and this legislation aims to curb distractions in the classroom, improve performance in academics, and address the growing concerns about mental health and social development for youth.

Duquesne University announces plans to build health sciences facility worth $68 million

(File Photo of the Duquesne University Athletics Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Duquesne University recently announced plans to build a $68 million health sciences facility on Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh, which is expected to open in fall 2028 and will consolidate programs for the John G. Rangos Sr. School of Health Sciences to enhance community access to clinical services and strengthen the role of Duquesne University in regional health care. The building will be 80,000 square feet and it will feature advanced simulation spaces, flexible classrooms, integrated technologies and street-level clinical entrances so the community can access them. 

Pittsburgh City Councilmember introduces a tax increase of 30%

(File Photo of a Dollar Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh City Councilmember Barb Warwick recently introduced a 30% tax increase. It is projected that the current budget is short by $30 million and city council members say this is needed to keep Pittsburgh running. Warwick introduced the tax increase proposal, declaring that this was the only option left after months of budget hearings. December 22nd, 2025 is when the public will have its chance to weigh in on the budget of Pittsburgh, which is due at the end of the month. 

Man killed in a shooting in the East Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man was killed in a shooting in the East Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh which happened a little before 2 a.m. yesterday on the 2300 block of East Hills Drive. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, a man was found behind a building with a gunshot wound to the head. He died after being taken to the hospital and he was later identified as 56-year-old Mark Easley of the Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. No arrests have been announced as of early yesterday afternoon. 

Pirates agree to 1-year, $7.75 million deal with reliever Gregory Soto, AP source says

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – New York Mets pitcher Gregory Soto throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sept. 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates and two-time All-Star reliever Gregory Soto have agreed to a $7.75 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.

Soto gives the Pirates an experienced left-handed option in a bullpen that will get a makeover in 2026 after relievers Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta were designated for assignment last month.

The 30-year-old Soto is 15-34 with a 4.26 ERA and 56 saves over seven seasons with five teams. He was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022 for Detroit. He spent 2025 with Baltimore and the New York Mets, who acquired him in late July just before the trade deadline.

Soto struggled in New York, going 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 25 appearances. His departure is the second significant subtraction from the Mets bullpen in free agency after closer Edwin Díaz agreed to a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier Tuesday.

Pittsburgh appears to be settled at the back end of the bullpen, where Dennis Santana performed well after two-time All-Star David Bednar was traded to the New York Yankees last season. Soto gives the Pirates a pitcher who has filled a variety of roles, including closer.

Woman from Chester, West Virginia causes single-vehicle crash in Greene Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Greene Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that thirty-five-year-old Ashley Plum of Chester, West Virginia caused a single-vehicle crash in Greene Township on the morning of December 2nd, 2025. Plum was driving east on State Route 30 in Beaver County and lost control on that road because it was covered with ice at 8:35 a.m. Plum left the right side of that road and then hit a tree with the passenger side tire of her vehicle and she was not injured after this crash occurred. The passenger side tire of the vehicle of Plum sustained disabling damage from the crash.

Northbound Route 65 Overnight Lane Restrictions this Week in Emsworth

(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 an overnight lane restriction on northbound Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Emsworth Borough of Allegheny County will continue tonight and tomorrow night, weather permitting.  From 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on each of those nights, a single-lane and shoulder restriction will occur on northbound Route 65 between Walliston Avenue and Terrace Drive as crews from Insituform will conduct sanitary sewer work there

Snow Watch Cancellations and Delays for Wednesday December 10th, 2025

Snow Watch logo

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

                         School or Organization       Cancellation or Delay  ( If blank no cancellation or delay reported)
  Adelphoi Education/Beaver (Rochester)        
  Aliquippa Area School District               
  Ambridge Area School District
  Avonworth School District
  Baden Academy Charter
  Beaver Area School District           
  Beaver County Head Start/ Hopewell Elementary
  Beaver County Rehabilitation Center
  Big Beaver Falls Area School District
  Beaver County CTC          
  Beaver County Transit Authority         
  Beaver Valley Montessori School
  Blackhawk Area School District           
  Blackhawk Meals on Wheels      
  CCBC            Opens at 10 A.M. Wednesday Morning
  CCBC Aviation Sciences Center            Opens at 10 A.M. Wednesday Morning
  Central Valley School District           
  Cornell School District
  Education Center at Watson (Sewickley)
  Ellwood City Area School District
  Freedom Area School District
  Head Start of Beaver County – Aliquippa
  Head Start of Beaver County -Ambridge
  Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls
  Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls 7th Ave.
  Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls 6th Ave.
  Head Start of Beaver County – Central
  Head Start of Beaver County – Blackhawk
  Head Start of Beaver County – CCBC
  Head Start/ Early Head Start of Beaver County
  Head Start of Beaver County – Rochester
  Head Start of Beaver County – Southside
  Head Start of Beaver County – New Brighton Middle School
  Head Start of Beaver County – New Brighton High School
  Head Start of Beaver County – Riverside
  Hope Academy- Conway
  Hopewell School District
 Life Family Pre-School
 Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter   School
  Mc Guire Memorial EOC     
  Mc Guire Memorial School
  Midland Borough school District
  Montour Area School District
  Moon Area School District
  Mother’s Morning Out/Noah’s Ark Preschool/Sewickley
  Most Sacred Heart of Jesus                       Pre-school (Moon Twp.)
  New Brighton Area School District
  New Horizons
  North Catholic School District
  Our Lady of Fatima/ Hopewell
  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School (Coraopolis)
  Penn State Beaver (Monaca)
  Provident Charter School West (Baden)
  Quaker Valley School District
  Riverside Beaver County Area School District
  Rochester Area School District
  Robert Morris University (Moon Township)
  Seneca Valley Area School District
  Sewickley Academy
  St. Andrews Day School (Moon Township)
  St. James-Sewickley
  St. Monica Catholic Academy
  St. Killian’s Catholic School (Cranberry)
  St. Peter & Paul School/Beaver
  St. Stephens Lutheran Academy/Zelienople
  South Side Area School District
  Sto Rox
  Western Beaver Area School District
  West Allegheny School District

Man who burglarized Grace Lutheran Church in Rochester identified and given a warrant for his arrest

(Photo Courtesy of WPXI and the Rochester Borough Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester, PA) Police have now identified the man who was caught on camera burglarizing some items from Grace Lutheran Church in Rochester on Sunday afternoon. The man accused of this crime is fifty-five-year-old Arthur Jack of Rochester and he is accused of taking money from offerings at Grace Lutheran Church and rummaging through holiday donations intended to be given to The Salvation Army and Glade Run. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Jack and anybody who sees him should call the Rochester Borough Police Department at 724-775-0880. His picture can be found below.

Steelers WR DK Metcalf expected to play vs. Dolphins after going to the hospital for abdominal issue

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf (4) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A brief hospital visit won’t keep Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf from playing next week against Miami.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Metcalf was hit in the abdomen at some point during Pittsburgh’s 27-22 victory in Baltimore on Sunday and remained behind when the issue persisted after Metcalf was treated with over-the-counter remedies during the game.

“It got probably progressively worse after the game and and so I’m appreciative of our medical experts,” Tomlin said. “We just exercised an abundance of precaution. We didn’t want to get him in the air without having a complete understanding about what he was dealing with and they did a good job of that.”

Metcalf finished with season highs in receptions (seven) and yards (148) as Pittsburgh regained control of the AFC North. The two-time Pro Bowler also filled in as a gunner on punt coverage late in the game after special teams ace Ben Skowronek exited with an injury, something Metcalf hadn’t done since high school.

“I just think that’s what time of year it is, that’s what type of game it was,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin added that Metcalf is “moving in the right direction” and he doesn’t anticipate the issue jeopardizing Metcalf’s availability when the Steelers try to win their 23rd straight home Monday night game.

The news isn’t as promising at left tackle. Starter Broderick Jones was placed on injured reserve two weeks ago. Andrus Peat, who filled in for Jones, is in the concussion protocol and backup Calvin Anderson is out after getting injured in practice.

Dylan Cook took over for Peat against Baltimore and would get the nod if Peat doesn’t exit the protocol in time.

“He certainly has worked hard and has been professional,” Tomlin said of Cook. “I loved his his mindset when when he went in. Happy for him. Oftentimes one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and he may get another opportunity this week. We’ll see where the week leads us.”

Rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon could return after missing two games with a knee injury unrelated to the knee injury that forced him to sit out Weeks 1 and 2.

Linebacker Malik Harrison and tight end Darnell Washington are also in the concussion protocol. Cornerback James Pierre is dealing with a calf injury.