(File Photo of State Representative Josh Kail)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro delivered his state budget address to outline his $53.26 billion proposal for Fiscal Year 2026-27 in Harrisburg on Tuesday, which is a 5.4% increase in spending over the current fiscal year. According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from State Representative Joshua D. Kail’s (R-Beaver/Washington) office, Kail issued the following statement:

“Similar to past budgets, this spends way too much. Pennsylvanians would lose more money to taxes, and the Rainy Day Fund, which is designed to cover emergencies, would see a 60% reduction in its balance to go toward the governor’s priorities. This plan is wide of the mark of addressing the affordability and energy crises the Commonwealth is experiencing. As families continue facing an onslaught of expensive grocery and energy bills, the goal should be to reign in spending. We must implement sound energy policy that unleashes the resources beneath our feet. By maximizing our potential, we can lower prices and attract key investment opportunities to Pennsylvania. We have a distinct advantage with our abundance of resources and getting them to market. Unfortunately, Harrisburg is standing in the way of prosperity – causing families to flee to our neighboring states while the Commonwealth remains stagnant. Pennsylvania should not be interested in being just competitive. We should strive to dominate and be the envy of the nation. Affordability is not a left versus right issue. It’s a bipartisan matter. For us to achieve affordability, we need to have tough discussions centered on facts. We have the tools to leverage economic growth and business opportunities, but we must simplify the process and get out of the way so everyone can benefit. If the finalized product reflects this vision, I will vote in favor of it.”

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver COunty Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that due to the upcoming winter storm, restrictions on the I-279 and I-579 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the City of Pittsburgh and Ross Township began. Beginning at approximately 11:00 PM last night, the HOV lanes closed to traffic due to anticipated weather conditions. Crews will monitor the roads and determine when these HOV lanes are safe to reopen and more information will be provided in advance of reopening those lanes. According to a release from PennDOT District 11, PennDOT offers this advice if drivers must travel and encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow, even though the safest choice is avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter weather conditions.

• Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions.
• Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights.
• Stay in your lane and increase your following distance.
• Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
• Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required.
• Use your defroster and wipers.
• Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
• During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway.
• Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision.
• Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
• Always buckle up and never drive impaired.
• Have an emergency kit handy. Here are some suggestions of what you could include in your emergency kit.

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Carlisle, PA) PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll highlighted the process of the Shapiro Administration to upgrade PennDOT facilities while visiting the newly renovated PennDOT Driver License Center in Carlisle. That center is one of 23 driver license centers across Pennsylvania which recently underwent renovations to modernize facilities and improve customer service for Pennsylvanians. The Shapiro Administration has a commitment to making government more accessible and more effective for Pennsylvanians across the state. Millions of Pennsylvanians visit one of the many Driver License Centers from PennDOT every year and these facility improvements will help serve more Pennsylvanians, speed up processes, and cut wait times. PennDOT has been able to add more workstations and counters, expand seating for customers and overall space for buildings, upgrade both electrical and HVAC systems and install new flooring, lighting and carpet, among other projects as part of the renovations for driver license centers. Select driver license center locations offer free public Wi-Fi in addition to physical renovations improving the customer experience. The Motor Vehicle Network, which displays relevant information to customers on flat-screen TVs while they wait, are also equipped in all 76 PennDOT driver license centers in Pennsylvania. Customer queuing information on these screens that display the Motor Vehicle Network are also displayed at 59 of those driver license centers.

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington D.C.) Congressman Chris Deluzio celebrated today that funding for eight more of his community projects was signed into law by President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. The Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development spending bill that President Trump signed yesterday included over $6.8 million in federal funds for key transportation and community development projects in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. According to a release in Washington D.C. from Deluzio’s office, the $6,888,581 in funding passed into law breaks down across the following eight projects:  

1. $2,000,000 for the Borough of Aspinwall to create a safer intersection by realigning Brilliant Ave at Freeport Rd and the entrance to Allegheny RiverTrail Park–formerly known as Aspinwall Riverfront Park 
2. $1,338,581 for the Borough of Crafton to implement a streetscaping and pedestrian safety project along Crafton Blvd, from Noble Ave to Baldwick Rd 
3. $850,000 for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to replace the existing Verona Bridge in the Municipality of Penn Hills, located on Verona Rd between Mt. Carmel Rd and Lincoln Rd.
   
4. $850,000 for Allegheny County to extend Panhandle Trail by about 3.4 miles by acquiring and converting inactive Pittsburgh & Ohio Central Railroad property from Genesse and Wyoming, Inc. (G&W) in the Borough of Carnegie 
5. $850,000 for Mt. Lebanon Municipality to upgrade and expand their existing community recreation center, focusing on accessibility upgrades 
6. $500,000 for Churchill Borough to build an all-inclusive, fully accessible playground 
7. $250,000 for the Borough of Sewickley to implement the Sewickley Road Safety Improvement Project, which aims to monitor and eliminate roadways vulnerable to landslides 
8. $250,000 for Ben Avon Borough to install a rooftop solar photovoltaic system on a borough-owned building

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Community College of Beaver County)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) According to Statista projections, the global airline pilot shortage could reach 50,000 by 2025, while the National Air Traffic Controllers Association reports that the FAA is short nearly 4,000 air traffic controllers. The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) and Republic Airways Inc. have signed an agreement to create the Aviation Career Pipeline Interview Program to address industry hiring demands and to put future pilots and air controllers on successful career paths, as stated in a recent release from CCBC. The purpose of this agreement is to increase the access of Republic Airways to qualified candidates for certain positions while increasing the employment opportunities for graduates of CCBC’s renowned James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Darlington Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that an unidentified driver caused a single-vehicle crash in Darlington Township yesterday evening. At 10:34 p.m., the driver was driving west on Constitution Boulevard on Route 51 near its intersection with Oakdale Road. A deer came from a wood line on the left side of that road and the driver tried to slow their vehicle down before hitting the deer, but they were unable to, which resulted in the front passenger side of their vehicle making minor contact with the deer. The driver then drove their vehicle off of the right side of the roadway, leaving the road that was cleared for travel. The driver that was involved in this crash was not injured and the vehicle of the driver sustained minor damage as a result of the crash, but the driver requested that their vehicle would be towed from the scene.

(File Photo of a Dollar Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a Facebook post yesterday from the Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania House just advanced a bill to finally raise the minimum wage in the state to $15 an hour. This happened in Harrisburg not too long after Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget address on Tuesday. Shapiro called on both parties and both houses yesterday to get that done and to put a bill regarding minimum wage on his desk. The office of Shapiro also noted in the aforementioned post that the Senate of Pennsylvania should follow the lead of the House regarding this development. 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Brighton Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that forty-six-year-old Elissa Allen of Beaver was charged after a two-vehicle crash in Brighton Township on Monday morning. At 7:44 a.m., Allen was driving on I-376 East near Exit 36 and she lost control merging onto I-376. Allen crossed both lanes of traffic with her vehicle and was hit by the vehicle of forty-six-year-old Anna Edris of Beaver Falls. There were no injuries as a result of the crash and both vehicles were towed by Monroe’s Towing from the scene.