Category: News

DEP investigation ongoing for Crescent Township home explosion

Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published March 20, 2024 10:47 A.M.

(Crescent Township, Pa) The Department of Environmental protection says they’re investigation is ongoing in regards to the house that exploded in Crescent Township earlier this month claiming the lives of a couple inside the home. DEP inspectors have established a soil gas monitoring network around the property and are conducting an extensive search for all potential gas sources, whether they are documented or not. DEP also screened the nearest residence as a precaution. DEP will continue to have a regular presence on site and assist the Allegheny County Fire Marshall’s Office.

Mega Millions jackpot reaches $977 million after no one wins Tuesday’s drawing

FILE – Dot Skoko, owner of Dot’s Dollar More or Less shop in Mt. Lebanon, Pa., hands a customer a Mega Millions lottery ticket, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2022. The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an astounding $977 million for Friday night’s drawing after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $977 million for Friday night’s drawing after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Tuesday night. The winning numbers drawn on Tuesday were 24, 46, 49, 62, 66 and the gold Mega Ball was 7. The estimated jackpot was $893 million with a cash prize of $421.4 million. The cash prize for Friday’s drawing is $461 million. Four people won $1 million each in California, Texas, Virginia and Florida.

Historic covered bridges are under threat by truck drivers relying on GPS meant for cars

This selection of undated still frames from security video camera footage provided by Michael Grant shows a variety of oversized box trucks crashing through the historic Miller’s Run covered bridge in Lyndon, Vt. Over the years, truck drivers have failed to notice the height warning signs leading to the bridge. (Michael Grant via AP)

LYNDON, Vt. (AP) — One of Vermont’s historic covered bridges is under threat from modern technology. Box truck drivers relying on GPS designed for cars continually crash through Lyndon’s 140-year-old Miller’s Run bridge. That’s despite signs, including a flashing one, to deter vehicles that are too tall or too heavy from crossing. Drivers can face fines of $5,000 from the town, plus state penalties. But the bridge keeps getting whacked. Lyndon is far from alone. According to head of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, last November, a tractor trailer truck seriously damaged a covered bridge in Princeton, Illinois, and a bridge in Ohio was damaged in a similar way a year earlier.

Allegheny County promises more mental health support, less use of force at its jail

FILE – This Oct. 17, 2023 file photo shows the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County jail could significantly increase its mental health staffing and provide more training about use of force and restraint after five inmates alleged that the Pennsylvania facility treats those with mental illness unfairly, under proposed settlement filed Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

The Allegheny County jail could significantly increase its mental health staffing and provide more training about use of force and restraint. This after inmates alleged that the Pennsylvania facility unfairly treats those with mental illness. A court order filed Tuesday awaits a judge’s approval. It responds to a class action filed in 2020 in federal court in the Western District of Pennsylvania by five people incarcerated at the county jail. Lawyers say mental health care in the jail was “non-existent or wholly deficient” when the lawsuit was filed, impacting intake, medication, counseling and suicide prevention.

Rabid Raccoon 100 at Brady’s Run featured runners from all over

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published March 19, 2024 1:13 P.M.
Photos by Keith Walsh – Beaver County Radio

(Beaver Falls, Pa) The Rabid Raccoon 100 took place over the weekend at Brady’s Run Park. Runners from all over traveled to Beaver County to participate in the main event, the 100 mile race, which consisted of 8 loops of the course.

The event was organized by Visit Beaver County and managed by Wolf Creek. Visit Beaver County stated the reason Brady’s Run Park was chosen for this years race was improved trail maintenance, an upgraded course with no road crossing, greater parking capacity, and close proximity to hotels, among other things.

The 1st place male and female winners of the 100 mile race received a large championship style belt, and all 100 mile finishers received a custom belt buckle.

Photos from the event:

Kathleen Lee on her 92nd mile
John on his 96th mile
Aid Station

St. Barnabas nominated for 9 categories as Best of the Valley

Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published March 19, 2024 11:18 P.M.

(Beaver County, Pa) St. Barnabas has been nominated in 9 categories for 2024 Best of the Valley Awards in Beaver County!

The following categories and St. Barnabas owned business will be up for vote:  

  • Grocery Store – Shop N Save
  • Hospital/Medical Center – St. Barnabas – Medical Center
  • Assisted/Senior Living – St. Barnabas Beaver Meadows
  • Retirement/55+ Community – St. Barnabas Beaver Meadows
  • Dental Clinic – St. Barnabas Dental
  • Employer – 101-500 Employees – St. Barnabas Health System
  • Employer – 500+ Employees – St. Barnabas Health System
  • Home Health Care Services – St. Barnabas Health System Inc.
  • Hospice – St. Barnabas Hospice

The voting process will take place from April 15th through the 29th and the winners will be revealed at an awards event in the summer.

The Best of the Valley is organized by USA Today and the Beaver County Times.

Steelers sign special teams ace Killebrew to 2-year deal, WR Van Jefferson to 1-year deal

FILE – Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew jogs off the field the field following an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Aug. 11, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. The Steelers signed Killebrew, an All-Pro as a special teamer last season, to a two-year deal Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed special teams ace Miles Killebrew to a two-year contract. The team also came to terms with wide receiver Van Jefferson on a one-year deal. Killebrew, a safety, earned All-Pro honors for the first time as a special teams selection in 2023. He collected 13 tackles in kick coverage and blocked a punt that turned into a momentum-shifting safety in a victory over Baltimore on Oct. 8. Jefferson joins Pittsburgh after splitting time between Atlanta and the Los Angeles Rams last season. The 27-year-old Jefferson has 113 career receptions for 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns in 61 career games, most of them with the Rams.

Aliquippa man’s preliminary hearing rescheduled

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 19, 2024 8:26 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) An Aliquippa man’s preliminary hearing has been rescheduled.
David Askew faces a preliminary hearing in Beaver County Court on Thursday, April 18, 2024. He was charged and arraigned on animal cruelty charges last month after he struck Juan Hall’s pitbull Maize with a hatchet. Hall and his dog were at the corner of Main  Street and Maratta Road when the incident occurred.
Askew was released from jail after $100,000 bond was posted, according to court records.

Governor Josh Shapiro Backs Pittsburgh Steelers’ Bid to Host the NFL Draft

Harrisburg, PA – Continuing his commitment to making Pennsylvania a national economic leader, Governor Josh Shapiro announced his support of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent bid to host the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft.

Since 2015, the NFL has hosted its annual player selection process in cities across the nation, including Philadelphia in 2017. If selected for the 2026 or 2027 draft, the Steel City could see more than 350,000 visitors and a boost of over $100 million in direct spending into Pennsylvania’s economy.

 

Tourism is one of the largest and most important industries in Pennsylvania, generating over $76 billion a year and supporting more than 486,000 jobs across the Commonwealth. VisitPittsburgh estimates that if chosen to host the draft, Pittsburgh would see an economic impact between $120 million and $160 million.

 

“As the birthplace of America – and as we prepare to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday in 2026 – the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be a central hub of economic activity over the next several years, and we would be honored for the NFL Draft to be a centerpiece of these celebrations,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Today, Pittsburgh has established itself as one of the most dynamic cities on the East Coast – and the birthplace of professional football; Pittsburgh is the best choice in the country to host the NFL Draft.  The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is excited and ready to work together to host this historic draft and show the country what Pennsylvania is all about.”

 

In 2026, Pennsylvania will host a number of premier national and international events to highlight the United States of America’s 250th birthday, including the MLB All Star

Game, the FIFA World Cup, NCAA March Madness, and the PGA Championship.

 

From Pittsburgh’s hospitality and entertainment industries to their state parks, trails, and outdoor recreation businesses – tourism serves as a powerful economic engine, giving Pennsylvanians more opportunities to pursue their passion, support their families, and succeed.

That’s why Governor Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy – the first of its kind in nearly two decades – prioritizes the tourism industry and adopts a new marketing strategy to showcase all that Pittsburgh and the Commonwealth have to offer. This strategy builds on the Shapiro Administration’s work to make Pennsylvania a leader in innovation and economic development and to create economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.

 

Governor Shapiro believes it’s not enough to talk about it, we have to make real investments in our tourism industry and in our small businesses. Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget proposal calls for an $18 million increase in funding for tourism and business marketing to help attract more visitors to Pennsylvania and help the industry they support. The Governor’s budget also calls for a $25 million investment in the Main Street Matters program to support small businesses; and $3.5 million to create and launch the Pennsylvania Regional Economic Competitiveness Challenge to incentivize regional growth.

 

The Governor’s letter of support for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bid to host the NFL Draft, which he sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, can be read in full here.

AAA: Gas Prices Jump in Pennsylvania as National Average Climbs

The national average for a gallon of gas has been steadily rising over the past week, moving seven cents higher to $3.46, and gas prices are eight cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.715 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The current average for a gallon of gas in Beaver County is $3.70.

With the cost of oil crossing the $80 per barrel mark and gas demand popping as spring approaches, these seasonal increases are expected. Another critical factor is the arrival of more expensive summer blend gas in some markets, which tends to increase pump prices by 10 to 15 cents. Today’s national average of $3.46 is 19 cents higher than a month ago and two cents higher than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased slightly from 9.01 to 9.04 million barrels per day last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks dropped by 5.6 million barrels to 234.1 million barrels. Higher gas demand, amid tightening supply, has pushed pump prices higher.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $2.16 to settle at $79.72. Oil prices jumped after Ukrainian drones hit Russian refineries. The extent of the damage is unclear, but repairs could curtail Russian petroleum product exports, including diesel, and lead Russia importing products it needs. Additionally, the EIA reported that total domestic commercial crude stocks decreased by 1.5 million barrels to 447 million barrels last week.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at gasprices.aaa.com.