(Headline Photo and Photos Below Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Department of Aging announced today that visitors to the State Capitol Main Rotunda in Harrisburg during the holiday season can check out hundreds of handmade ornaments hung on the Christmas tree that were created by older adults from across Pennsylvania. As part of an annual invitation from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, older adults from 93 Senior Community Centers in 36 Pennsylvania counties submitted ornaments for the Christmas tree, which will remain in the State Capitol Main Rotunda until January 8th, 2026. According to a release in Harrisburg today from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, Senior Community Centers that submitted holiday ornaments include:

• Allegheny County – AgeWell at the JCC, Caring Heights Community Care and Rehab, Mt. Washington Healthy Active Living Community Center, Sheraden Healthy Active Living Community Center
• Beaver County – Circle of Friends Conway, Circle of Friends New Brighton
• Blair County – Williamsburg Senior Center
• Bucks County – Eastern Upper Bucks Senior Center, Middletown Senior Citizens Association
• Butler County Area Agency on Aging on behalf of the seven Senior Community Centers
• Cambria County – Cresson Senior Center, Ebensburg Senior Center, Forest Hills Senior Activities Center, Johnstown Senior Center, Northern Cambria Senior Center
• Carbon County – Jim Thorpe/Penn Kidder Senior Center, Lehighton Senior Center, Panther Valley Senior Center, Palmerton Senior Center
• Chester County – Surrey Services Devon
• Clearfield County – Clearfield Center for Active Living, Coalport Center for Active Living, Mahaffey Center for Active Living
• Cumberland County – Carlisle Senior Action Center
• Delaware County – Good Neighbor Senior Center
• Elk County – Bennetts Valley Senior Center, Senior Junction of Ridgway
• Fayette County – Smithfield Community Center
• Franklin County Area Agency on Aging on behalf of the eight Senior Community Centers
• Greene County – Waynesburg Community Center
• Indiana County – Chestnut Hills Social Center, Two Lick Valley Senior Center
• Jefferson County – Brockwayville Depot, Brookville Heritage House, Punxsutawney Senior Center
• Lancaster County – Elizabethtown Area Senior Center
• Lawrence County – Challenges – Options in Aging
• Lebanon County – Myerstown Senior Community Center
• Lehigh County – Cedar View Senior Center, Coopersburg Senior Center, Fountain Hill Senior Center, Gross Towers Senior Center, Ridge Manor Senior Center, Slatington Senior Center
• Luzerne County – Kingston Active Adult Center, Mountaintop Active Adult Center
• McKean County – Greater Bradford Senior Activity Center
• Monroe County – Chestnuthill Community Center, Loder Senior Center, Mountain Senior Center
• Montgomery County – ACLAMO Senior Community Center, The Center at the Open Link, Jaisohn Wellness Center, Montco SAAC Norristown, SPARK Senior Center of Harleysville, TriCounty Active Adult Center
• Northampton County – Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, Park Plaza Senior Community Center
• Northumberland County – Herndon Adult Community Center, Mount Carmel Adult Community Center, Sunbury Adult Community Center
• Perry County – Central Perry Senior Citizens’ Center, Duncannon Senior Citizens’ Center
• Philadelphia County – Center in the Park, Firehouse Active Adult Center, KleinLife, Martin Luther King Older Adult Center, The Senior Center at Lutheran Settlement House
• Snyder County – Penns Creek Adult Resource Center, Selinsgrove Senior Center
• Sullivan County – Mildred Active Living Center
• Washington County – Beth Center Senior Citizen Center
• Wayne County – Hamlin Senior Center
• Westmoreland County – Alle-Kiski Center for Active Adults, McKenna Center for Active Adults, New Alexandria Center for Active Adults, New Florence Center for Active Adults, Valley Center for Active Adults
• Wyoming County – Wyoming County Active Adult Center
• York County – South Central York County Senior Center

(File Photo of the Allegheny Health Network Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release in Pittsburgh today from Allegheny Health Network, the Allegheny Health Network Neuroscience Institute is launching a new, dedicated neuroscience track within AlphaLab Health, the nationally recognized accelerator jointly operated by Allegheny Health Network and Innovation Works. An anonymous donor made this expansion possible through a generous grant, which further solidifies the commitment that the AHN Neuroscience Institute has to drive innovation in critical health care areas. 2027 is when the new track will launch with its first class of companies.

(Photo Provided with Release)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) According to a release, Beaver Falls will have a Christmas Eve service for the community at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24th, 2025. It will be at the Falls Park on 7th Avenue and 13th Street and those that are attending the event are advised to dress for the weather and to bring their own beverage and chair. This event will also maybe have cookies for attendees to share.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) A first degree-murder charge was dropped yesterday at the Beaver County Courtroom for twenty-five-year-old Taevaughn Goodnight of Baden after he was apprehended for shooting and killing twenty-four-year-old Gevod Tyson in Aliquippa. Tyson died at Heritage Valley Sewickley on October 14th, 2025 after a dispute with Goodnight that night. Goodnight shot Tyson in his right thigh once with a firearm during a physical altercation with Tyson on Wade Street. Police said the two men were fighting over a custody dispute with a woman. Goodnight will be able to get out of jail on bond without the first-degree murder charge but his trial is currently set for sometime in May of 2026. Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible confirms that this is a case of the victim and defendant knowing each other and added that there is no threat to the community. 

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s Office, Caption for Photo: Gov. Josh Shapiro delivers remarks during the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Main Rotunda.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Yesterday, the holiday season kicked off with Governor Josh Shapiro, First Lady Lori Shapiro, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, and Department of General Services Secretary Reggie McNeil were among those attending the 2025 Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg that day. The approximately 25-foot Douglas Fir that was in the Main Rotunda was grown by Crystal Spring Tree Farm in East Lehighton of Carbon County and was adorned with over 2,400 LED lights and 1,700 handmade ornaments created by both children from Pre K for PA and older adults from across Pennsylvania, which reflects the creativity and care of communities statewide. According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from the office of Governor Shapiro, attendees experienced a celebration where craft, community and history came together that could stand the test of time as they were surrounded by the glow of the Capitol and scenes that were inspired by classic artistry of Christmas.  

(Photo Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Lottery)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A winning Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 with Quick Cash ticket that was worth $350,000 was sold in Allegheny County for a Saturday drawing. It matched all five numbers drawn, 5, 12, 19, 21, and 22 and the ticket was purchased by an unidentified person at Wilson’s Pharmacy located in Pittsburgh. That store will receive a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket and over 12,300 other Cash 5 with Quick Cash tickets also won prizes in the Saturday drawing. 

(File Photo of the Top of a School Bus)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders held a public hearing yesterday and they confirmed that they will not propose raising taxes beyond the 4% increase proposed in the weeks leading up to a vote despite a vote on November 25th, 2025 against closing schools. The preliminary budget would have seen a budget surplus in the budget and that preliminary budget factored in the school closing. $6.5 million is where the deficit now stands, which is still down from past years, according to district leaders. If these school board members vote not to raise taxes, that increase would be closer to a total of $14 million in 2026.