(File Photo: Source for Photo: Vote stickers are seen at a satellite election office at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The primary elections are now underway in Beaver County. The polls opened at 7 a.m. this morning and will close at 8 p.m. tonight. Some of the main races include the Beaver Borough Mayoral election between Thomas Hamilton and Lincoln Kretchmar and the East Rochester Mayoral election between Bob Knox and Walter Pat Duffy. A website to find your local polling place can be found at the link below:

Click here for the link to a website for Polling Place Information

According to the Beaver County Times, here are the races for some Beaver County school districts and offices as well as the primary races in Pennsylvania that you can expect to vote for:

Pennsylvania’s contested primary races

• Judge of the Superior Court (10 Years) – Republican
  • Maria Battista (Clarion County)
  • Ann Marie Wheatcraft (Chester County)
• Judge of the Commonwealth Court (10 Years) – Republican
  • Matt Wolford (Erie County)
  • Josh Prince (Berks County)

Beaver County’s contested primary races

• Magisterial District Judge 36-2-01 (Conway, Economy, Freedom, New Sewickley, Rochester, East Rochester) – Cross-filed (Pick one)
  • John Farmer
  • Ronald Leindecker
  • Adam Johnston

Local offices’ contested primary races

• Ambridge Borough Council (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick four)
  • Scott Prentice
  • Russell G Basalyga
  • Mary Jane Jones Gilliam
  • Nadine Marie Palichat
  • Tony Cafarelli
• Beaver Borough Mayor (Four Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Thomas Todd Hamilton
  • Lincoln Kretchmar
• Beaver Borough Council (First Ward – Four Years) – Republican (Pick two)
  • Justin Ankrom
  • Margaret Mckean
  • Jarrod Thomas
  • Ron Stidmon
• Beaver Borough Council (Second Ward – Four Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Ellen Kretchmar
  • Phil Oshaughnessy
• Beaver Borough Council (Third Ward – Four Years) – Republican (Pick two)
  • Bill Egley
  • Roberta Good
  • Rebecca Beem
  • Whitney A Learn Conjeski
• Bridgewater Borough Council (Four Years) – Republican (Pick two)
  • Anthony Ellis
  • Gage Gimbus
  • Charles Bates
• Darlington Borough Council (Two Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Zander Mckeel
  • Glenda L Tetemanza
• East Rochester Mayor (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
  • Bob Knox
  • Walter Pat Duffy
• Economy Borough Tax Collector (Four Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Amy L Miller
  • Nicole Thompson
• Franklin Township Supervisor (Six Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Steve Bailey
  • Rod Richard
• Midland Borough Council (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick four)
  • Patsy Esposito
  • Joseph Donald Checca
  • Connie Ditri Drozdjibob
  • Gregory Gutierrez
  • Ivee Jo Roach
• Monaca Borough Tax Collector (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
  • Angel Zampogna
  • Barbara J Brummitt
• New Sewickley Township Supervisor (Six Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Artie Evans III
  • Jonathan Stragand
  • Daniel R Plunkett
  • Barbara Blake
• Shippingport Borough Tax Collector (Four Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Kayla Carpenter
  • John G. Depaolis
• South Beaver Township Supervisor (Six Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Jake Rosenberger
  • Caine A Laderer

Local school boards’ contested primary races

Note: Many candidates for school boards are cross-filed in primary races.

• Aliquippa School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
  • Sandra Gill
  • Tina Price Genes
  • Brian M Sims Sr.
  • Nakita L Strickland
  • Yvonne Jackson
  • Ezra G Lowe Jr
  • Torri Durham Flannigan
• Ambridge Area School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
  • Kelly Romasco
  • Joshua Gill
  • Kaylin Majeran
  • Amy Fitsko
  • Michael Jackson
  • Thomas Samarco
  • Mark D Reichard
  • Kathleen A Curtis
  • Jesse Hernandez
  • Thomas G Short III
• Ambridge Area School District – Republican (Pick Four)
  • Mark D Reichard
  • Joshua Gill
  • Amy Fitsko
  • Jesse Hernandez
  • Kathleen A Curtis
  • Thomas G Short III
  • Thomas Samarco
  • Kelly Romasco
  • Michael Jackson
  • Kaylin Majeran
• Beaver Area School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
  • Michael Litchfield
  • Donald E Phillips
  • Peter Grundberg
  • Aaron Bovalino
  • Celina Petronzi Hendershot
  • Andrea Walker
  • Steven Neeley Jr
  • Karin M Pilarski
• Beaver Area School District – Republican (Pick Four)
  • Donald E Phillips
  • Andrea Walker
  • Aaron Bovalino
  • Michael Litchfield
  • Peter Grundberg
  • Steven Neeley Jr
  • Karin M Pilarski
  • Celina Petronzi Hendershot
• Blackhawk School District (Region Two – Four Years) – Democratic (Pick Two)
  • Frank Makoczy
  • Thomas A Wire
  • Chad McMillen
• Blackhawk School District (Region Two – Four Years) – Republican (Pick Two)
  • Frank Makoczy
  • Thomas A Wire
  • Chad McMillen
• Ellwood City Area School District (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick Four)
  • Kathy C Tillia
  • Robyn Nicklas
  • Nick J Mancini
  • Norm Boots
  • Victoria Kincaid
  • Brady Guy
  • Claire Fauzey
• Ellwood City Area School District (Four Years) – Republican (Pick Four)
  • Kathy C Tillia
  • Robyn Nicklas
  • Nick J Mancini
  • Norm Boots
  • Victoria Kincaid
  • Brady Guy
  • Claire Fauzey
• Ellwood City Area School District (Two Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
  • Robyn Nicklas
  • Brady Guy
  • Victoria Kincaid
  • Kathy Galbreath
  • Norm Boots
  • Kathy C Tillia
• Ellwood City Area School District (Two Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Robyn Nicklas
  • Brady Guy
  • Victoria Kincaid
  • Kathy Galbreath
  • Norm Boots
  • Kathy C Tillia
• Freedom Area School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
  • Christian A Brenckle
  • Michelle Micija
  • Wes Sterrett
  • Laura B Stofan
  • Monica Grunnagle
• Freedom Area School District – Republican (Pick Four)
  • Christian A Brenckle
  • Michelle Micija
  • Wes Sterrett
  • Laura B Stofan
  • Monica Grunnagle
• Hopewell Area School District (Region Three – Four Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
  • Tory Aquino Sims
  • David Piroli
• New Brighton Area School District (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick Four)
  • Bernadette Saiko Mattica
  • Christeen Deane Ceratti
  • TJ Lofaso
  • Steven Powell
  • Matthew Ledonne
  • Katherine Crisci
• New Brighton Area School District (Four Years) – Republican (Pick Four)
  • Bernadette Saiko Mattica
  • Christeen Deane Ceratti
  • TJ Lofaso
  • Steven Powell
  • Matthew Ledonne
  • Katherine Crisci
• New Brighton Area School District (Two Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
  • Matthew Ledonne
  • Katherine Crisci
  • Steven Powell
  • Bernadette Saiko Mattica
  • Christeen Deane Ceratti
• New Brighton Area School District (Two Years) – Republican (Pick one)
  • Matthew Ledonne
  • Katherine Crisci
  • Steven Powell
  • Bernadette Saiko Mattica
  • Christeen Deane Ceratti
• South Side Area School District – Republican (Pick Four)
  • Craig Stewart
  • Jonathan Glenn
  • Michael W Rounds
  • Cynthia Cusato
  • Jesse Streeter
• Western Beaver County School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
  • Shawn Roman
  • Daniel Trent
  • Samantha Trimble
  • Ronald J Bender
  • Michael Smith
  • Erin Majors
  • Peter Kadilak
• Western Beaver County School District – Republican (Pick Four)
  • Shawn Roman
  • Daniel Trent
  • Samantha Trimble
  • Ronald J Bender
  • Michael Smith
  • Erin Majors
  • Peter Kadilak

(File Photo of the United States flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lebanon County, PA) According to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs, the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial Trust Fund is available to donate to support fallen veterans and people can also make and send a check to be payable to the “Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial Trust Fund” and mailed to: DMVA Office for Veterans Affairs, Bldg. 9-26, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003-5002, as well as for veterans, donations can be made “In Honor Of,” “In Memory Of” or “On Behalf Of.” All of these donations will help to get parts for the Pennsylvania Veteran’s Memorial in Lebanon County. The link with a website to donate online can be found at the link below:

Click here for the link to donate: www.donate.dmva.pa.gov

(File Photo of Background with a Power Outage Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) On Monday, officials in Pittsburgh made an announcement that they need help following the storms in Western Pennsylvania last month that caused power outages in the area. This occurred on April 29th, 2025 and a survey has now been released to provide information for officials and gets them closer to applying for low-interest loans. The link to a website for the survey can be found at the link below.

Click here for the survey: Storm Damage Assessment – Pittsburgh, PA

(File Photo of Cranberry Township logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) Graham Park in Cranberry Township hosted the Miracle Legue of Southwestern Pennsylvania on Saturday, which is a baseball league for those with disabilities, for their 2025 season. According to its official website, the league has been dedicated to “providing the opportunity for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities to play organized baseball.” The seventeenth season of the league is being recognized this month. The league began back in 2007.

(File Photo of Open for Business Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Castle, PA) Several Big Lots stores in Pennsylvania will reopen on June 5th, 2025. According to TribLive, eleven stores are on the list and one of them is the Rochester location in Beaver County. On Thursday, the Big Lots store in New Castle and nine other Big Lots stores in Pennsylvania reopened. Once the re–openings are finished, there will be a total of twenty-four Big Lots stores in Pennsylvania. In September, Big Lots filed for bankruptcy protection. 

(File Photo of Police Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver report that an unidentified man from Aliquippa was arrested for driving under the influence in Aliquippa on April 16th, 2025. An unidentified thirty-seven-year-old man committed a vehicle code violation that day and was stopped by police. The incident occurred on Franklin Avenue and according to police, the man was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance and his charges are pending.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A sign with the company’s logo stands outside a Rite Aid store in Salem, N.H., on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Camp Hill, PA) According to an announcement from Rite-Aid, 115 of their stores are ready to close after Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings started this month for the company. These Rite-Aid stores are located in Pennsylvania and nine other states and fifty-two of those stores that are closing are in Pennsylvania. The drug store chain presently has 1,240 stores in operation in fifteen states while 10% of those stores are ready to be closed.

(File Photo of Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are trying to put more regulations on the industry of cremation for pets. This comes after an owner of a Pittsburgh funeral home got accusations of taking over $650,000 and giving the wrong ashes to customers. Patrick Vereb allegedly threw away the bodies of pets from 2021 to 2024. A change that lawmakers are working on is accountability for those working with cremations and possible penalties like removing their licenses.

(File Photo of the United States flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Brighton, PA) The New Brighton Memorial Day Association issued information in a Facebook post that today, the third graders of New Brighton Elementary School will be placing flags at two cemeteries. They will be going to both Grove Cemetery and Holy Family Cemetery and will be headed on a walk around New Brighton. The New Brighton Memorial Day Association also noted in that same post that drivers must be both patient and cautious during this Memorial Day tribute. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Hadi Matar walks in to the Chautauqua County court in Mayville, N.Y., Friday, May. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

MAYVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — A man who attacked Salman Rushdie with a knife in front of a stunned audience in 2022, leaving the prizewinning author blind in one eye, was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison.

Hadi Matar, 27, stood quietly as the judge pronounced the sentence. He did not deny attacking Rushdie, and when he was invited to address the court before being sentenced, Matar got in a few last insults at the writer. He said he believed in freedom of speech but called Rushdie “a hypocrite.”

“Salman Rushdie wants to disrespect other people,” said Matar, clad in white-striped jail clothing and wearing handcuffs. “He wants to be a bully, he wants to bully other people. I don’t agree with that.”

Rushdie, 77, did not return to western New York for the sentencing but submitted a victim impact statement in which he said he has nightmares about what happened, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said. The statement was not made public. Rushdie, through his agent, declined to comment after the sentencing.

During the trial, the author described how he believed he was dying when a masked attacker plunged a knife into his head and body more than a dozen times as he was being introduced at the Chautauqua Institution to speak about writer safety.

Video of the assault, captured by the venue’s cameras and played at trial, show Matar approaching the seated Rushdie from behind and reaching around him to stab at his torso with a knife. As the audience gasps and screams, Rushdie is seen raising his arms and rising from his seat, walking and stumbling for a few steps with Matar hanging on, swinging and stabbing until they both fall and are surrounded by onlookers who rush in to separate them.

A jury found Matar guilty of attempted murder and assault in February after deliberating for less than two hours.

Judge David Foley told Matar that he thought it was notable he had chosen to try and kill Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution, a summer retreat that prides itself on the free exchange of ideas.

“We all have the right to have our own ideals; we all have the right to carry them,” Foley said. “But when you interfere with someone else’s ability to do that by committing a violent act, in the United States of America, that has to be an answerable crime.”

The judge also gave Matar a seven-year term for wounding a man who was on stage with Rushdie, though that time will run concurrently to the other sentence.

After the attack, Rushdie spent 17 days at a Pennsylvania hospital and more than three weeks at a New York City rehabilitation center. The author of “Midnight’s Children,” “The Moor’s Last Sigh” and “Victory City” detailed his recovery in his 2024 memoir, “Knife.”

Matar’s lawyer, Nathaniel Barone, had asked the judge for a sentence of around 12 years, citing his lack of a previous criminal record.

Schmidt, the prosecutor, said Matar deserved the maximum sentence of 25 years, saying Matar “designed this attack so that he could inflict the most amount of damage, not just upon Mr. Rushdie, but upon this community, upon the 1,400 people who were there to watch it.”

Matar next faces a federal trial on terrorism-related charges. While the first trial focused mostly on the details of the knife attack itself, the next one is expected to delve into the more complicated issue of motive. He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted of the federal charges, Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Authorities said Matar, a U.S. citizen, was attempting to carry out a decades-old fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death when he traveled from his home in Fairview, New Jersey, to target Rushdie at the summer retreat about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southwest of Buffalo.

Matar believed the fatwa, first issued in 1989, was backed by the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah and endorsed in a 2006 speech by the group’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, according to federal prosecutors.

Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the fatwa after publication of Rushdie’s novel, “The Satanic Verses,” which some Muslims consider blasphemous. Rushdie spent years in hiding, but after Iran announced it would not enforce the decree he traveled freely over the past quarter century.