Harrisburg, PA – Today, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll joined airport officials and local leaders at the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to highlight new Frontier Airlines service out of PIT, which will begin mid-May. Supporting safe, reliable infrastructure and enhanced mobility options for travelers is a key priority for the Shapiro administration.

Frontier is growing its presence in Pittsburgh by 600%, including twice daily flights to Philadelphia. This expansion is anticipated to bring $72 million in economic impact to the Pittsburgh region.

“Pittsburgh International Airport is an important economic engine and gateway for Western Pennsylvania – and this expanded service is a significant step forward as we connect Pennsylvania travelers, tourists, and businesses to the rest of the country,” said Governor Shapiro. “Western Pennsylvania is home to some of the greatest cities and towns, most innovative companies, and incredible natural beauty and commonsense infrastructure investments like expanding the number of direct flights from PIT has the potential to build on that growth. We’re getting stuff done in my first year as Governor and this is further proof that when government at all levels works together with business and workers to invest in our communities – we can do big things.”

New Fronter Airlines service from PIT will be:

1. Service from PIT to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) will be available twice each day, beginning May 16.
2. Service from PIT to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) will be available three times each week, beginning May 16.
3. Service from PIT to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) will be available four times each week, beginning May 17.
4. Service from PIT to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) will be available four times each week, beginning May 17.

“I’m proud to be here on behalf of the Shapiro Administration to celebrate the expansion of service at Pittsburgh International Airport. Our airports are gateways to local economies, and the Pittsburgh International Airport is critical to this region,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “This additional service will not only give travelers more options when flying out of Pittsburgh, but will help support good, life-sustaining jobs as well as the regional economy.”

According to a 2019 study, the aviation industry has an economic impact of over $34 billion annually and employs over 226,000 people in Pennsylvania, and these numbers have been steadily increasing over the past decade.

The Shapiro Administration recently announced over $2 million in investments in aviation improvements in Allegheny County from the state Capital Budget through the Aviation Transportation Assistance Program, which is supported by bonds. Additionally, thanks to federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Pennsylvania airports will receive over $70 million each year through 2026, which will help accelerate improvements to airports across the state. 

(Center Township, Pa) Community College of Beaver County officially cut the ribbon on the new campus Resource Center and Wellness Store on Wednesday, December 13. The Wellness Store will allow CCBC students in need to go “shopping” for food, clothing, and personal items. The Resource Center and Wellness Store are funded and supported through ACT 101, a Pennsylvania state program to assist students who meet certain academic and economic guidelines.

HARRISBURG, Dec. 14 – The PA House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee heard testimony Wednesday about legislation that would impose more stringent requirements for the acquisition of municipal water and wastewater systems and bring more transparency to that process, Majority Chairman Rob Matzie announced.

Matzie, D-Beaver, and several colleagues introduced the bill package to reform Act 12 – which was enacted in 2016 to change the way water and wastewater systems are valued for acquisition – to bring greater scrutiny and openness to these transactions.

“Act 12 was originally created to give public utilities incentives to acquire failing or stressed municipal systems that could no longer provide safe, reliable service to customers, Matzie said. “Unfortunately, that’s not how the act is being used. Instead, municipalities and municipal authorities are exercising the provisions to sell healthy, well-operated systems at amounts much higher than their present value. Consumers end up footing the bill for those purchases through hugely inflated rates – without any improvement to services.

“Even worse, the sales often happen with little notice to taxpayers or ratepayers, so the public is left in the dark about a pending sale until it’s too late. Our bill package would add needed guiderails to the act so that it would continue to allow for acquisition of struggling utilities but would better protect consumers from the sale of healthy systems.”

Matzie said that among other things, the legislation would:

• Place purchase price limits on the acquisition of healthy systems.
• Ease the burden on ratepayers by spreading out future rate increases.
• Give the Public Utility Commission the necessary time to review these sales.
• Add strict public notification requirements on both buyers and sellers.

Matzie introduced the legislation together with state Reps. Lisa Borowski, Carol Kazeem, Leanne Krueger, and Jennifer O’Mara, all D-Delaware; Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery; and Christina Sappey, D-Chester.

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Aliquippa, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 5 years of imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release, in connection with his involvement  in a drug trafficking organization from May 2021 to November 2021, United States Attorney Eric  G. Olshan announced today. 

United States District Judge William S. Stickman imposed the sentence on Anthony Tusweet  Smith, Jr., age 24. 

According to information presented to the court, Smith belonged to a multi-defendant  conspiracy that dealt in large quantities of controlled substances. Within the conspiracy, Smith  distributed fentanyl to end users in the vicinity of his residence in Aliquippa, PA. In conjunction  with his federal arrest, law enforcement seized four firearms from that residence, to include a loaded  semiautomatic rifle with an attached 30-round capacity magazine near packaged fentanyl. During  the course of the conspiracy, Smith was responsible for the distribution and/or the possession with  intent to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl.  

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman stressed that mixing drugs and guns equates to  death within the community.  

The successful prosecution of Smith was the result of an extensive and collaborative  investigation conducted by Federal, state, and local law enforcement operating under the High  Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program in Beaver County.  

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna and Special Assistant United States  Attorney Kara Cotter prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. 

United States Attorney Olshan commended the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and  the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of  Smith. 

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is inviting the public to attend a career fair today, Thursday, December 14 to learn about available maintenance positions the department offers for the winter maintenance program in Beaver County.

The event will be held at PennDOT’s Rochester Maintenance Building located at 155 Stewart Avenue, Rochester, PA 15074 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 14.

Available positions in Beaver County include full-time, permanent Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Operators, seasonal CDL Operators, and full-time and seasonal Diesel Mechanics. Commercial drivers must have a valid Pennsylvania CDL Class A or B with the Air Brake Restriction (L) removed and a current medical examiner certificate.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives is defeating legislation to send $33 million to the University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary school. That’s after the school’s president resigned amid criticism that it has tolerated antisemitism. The legislation on Wednesday night failed after the House Republican floor leader said the university must make it clear that it opposes antisemitism. Penn’s president Liz Magill resigned Saturday amid pressure from donors and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing last week where she was unable to say that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy. The funding is an annual appropriation that normally draws strong bipartisan support.

FILE – Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour,” May 5, 2023, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. Swift is adding one more accolade to her repertoire this year: a resolution recognizing 2023 as the Taylor Swift era in her home state of Pennsylvania. The resolution passed the state House of Representatives on Wednesday, Dec. 13. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Taylor Swift is adding one more accolade to her list of accomplishments this year: a resolution recognizing 2023 as the Taylor Swift era in her home state of Pennsylvania. The resolution passed the state House of Representatives on Wednesday. Lawmakers approved the resolution on Swift’s 34th birthday. Swift grew up in West Reading, and has nods to the Commonwealth in some songs. She left as a teenager to move to Nashville pursue a country music career. The resolution recognizes her musical, cultural and economic power.

(Pittsburgh, Pa) There’s even more time to get into the spirit of the season at Kennywood’s Holiday Lights this Friday and Saturday! With the weather looking unseasonably warm and sunny for a December weekend, the park will extend its hours offering guests the chance to visit from 4 – 10 p.m. on Friday and 1 – 9 p.m. on Saturday, that’s four extra hours to enjoy the rides, festive food and holiday cheer that make Kennywood Pittsburgh’s Home for the Holidays.
Holiday Lights transforms Kennywood into a winter wonderland with 20 rides, new seasonal culinary delights, and the nightly tree lighting at the tallest Christmas tree in Pennsylvania, standing at 100 feet. The enormous evergreen lights up the park with more than 125,000 sparkling lights strung across its nearly 2,500 branches. This year’s event is highlighted by an all-new Santa experience in Thomas Town™. Also, guests can indulge in a festive feast at the Dinner with Santa – an all-you-can-eat holiday buffet that is sure to make spirits bright.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Artist depiction of the woman obtained from Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers. Published December 14, 2023 7:53 A.M.

(Economy, Pa) Investigators are still continuing their attempt to determine the identity of a woman whose embalmed head was found in Economy in 2014. The head was found in a wooded embankment along Mason Road.

The Crime Solvers of Beaver County say that the case is a true mystery, and identifying the woman key to solving it. The woman’s remains were buried with a headstone that reads “Jane Doe.”

Tips to Crime Solvers of Beaver County can be made at (724) 774-2000.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Photo from the scene by Keith Walsh. Published December 13, 2023 10:02 P.M.

(Rochester, Pa) An accident occurred on Delaware Avenue in Rochester causing a temporary partial closure of the road.

Emergency responders were called to the scene around 9pm for a car that struck a telephone pole. The dispatch call stated that the operator of the vehicle suffered a seizure and police on scene gave confirmation to Beaver County Radio.

The struck pole suffered damage but did not block the road. Traffic was temporarily detoured northbound but has since reopened.

The condition of the driver is not known at this time.