Mission BBQ adds Cranberry location

(Photo Courtesy of Khairil – stock.adobe.com)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry, PA) Mission BBQ will open its location in Cranberry today at noon for its third location in the region of Pittsburgh. The barbeque chain will open formally at 20229 Route 19. This restaurant now has more than 140 locations across the United States, with two of them in the area of Pittsburgh, one in Monroeville and one in Robinson. In 2011, Mission BBQ first opened in Maryland and it was founded by former executive of Under Armour Bill Kraus and former regional vice president of Outback Steakhouse Steve Newton.

World’s oldest president, Paul Biya, wins Cameroon election at 92

(File Photo: Source for Photo: President Paul Biya casts his ballot at the Government Bilingual primary school Bastos in Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2025 (AP Photo/Angel Ngwe)

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — The world’s oldest president, Cameroon ‘s 92-year-old Paul Biya, has won election again, the country’s top court said Monday, after days of protesters’ clashes with security forces left at least four people dead as opposition supporters demanded credible results.

Biya has led the central African nation since 1982, ruling longer than most citizens have been alive. Over 70% of the population of almost 30 million is below 35. The Oct. 12 election has displayed growing tensions between Africa’s youth and its many aging leaders.

The Constitutional Council said Biya received 53.66% of votes while former ally Issa Tchiroma Bakary got 35.19%. The turnout was 57.7%.

In a social media post after the announcement, Tchiroma asserted that security forces had shot at civilians, killing two in his hometown of Garoua.

“Shooting point-blank at your own brothers — I can’t help but wonder if you’re mercenaries,” he posted. “Kill me if you want, but I will liberate this country by any means necessary. What blatant impunity.”

Tchiroma had claimed victory days ago, citing results he said were collated by his party. Biya’s party members dismissed the claim.

Biya in a statement on Monday said his “first thoughts are with all those who have unnecessarily lost their lives, as well with their families, as a result of the post-election violence.”

‘Nothing will change’

Biya’s decision to seek another term angered youth and the opposition, which has accused him of having a hand in the disqualification of his strongest rival and using “state machinery” to manipulate the election.

The four protesters were shot dead Sunday in Douala, the economic capital, as hundreds of people stormed streets in several cities. Videos online showed clashes with security forces, who fired tear gas and tried to disperse people barricading roads in Douala and other cities, including Garoua and Maroua in the north.

Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, governor of the Littoral Region that includes Douala, said several members of the security forces were injured by protesters, and at least 105 protesters were arrested.

Dozens of opposition supporters, activists and leaders had been arrested in recent days, including several that Paul Atanga Nji, minister of territorial administration, asserted had been plotting violent attacks.

“I am ready to stake my life to defend my vote. I voted for Tchiroma because I want change,” said one protester, Oumarou Bouba, a 27-year-old trader in Maroua.

Following the announcement of election results, Sani Aladji, a 28-year-old hotel worker in Maroua, said: “Nothing will change. I expected that Issa Tchiroma would bring change, which is why I voted for him. There’s rampant corruption under Biya’s regime. We are tired of that.”

But one Biya supporter, Flicia Feh, said she believes that he remains the man for the job.

“Our president campaigned on hope,” she said. “He started so many projects, like the Yaoundé-Douala motorway, and it’s just normal that he is given more time to complete what he started.”

Cameroon’s government said over 5,000 national and international election observers were accredited to monitor the election. A group of eight local civil society groups noted several irregularities including the presence of deceased voters on electoral lists, unequal distribution of ballot papers and attempts at ballot box-stuffing.

The African Union mission said the vote was “conducted largely in accordance with regional, continental and international standards.”

President since 1982

Biya first came to power in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president and has ruled since then, later benefiting from a constitutional amendment that abolished term limits.

His health has been a topic of speculation as he spends most of his time in Europe, leaving governance to key party officials and family members.

While Cameroon is an oil-producing country with modest economic growth, young people say the benefits have not trickled down beyond the elites. According to World Bank data, the unemployment rate stands at 3.5%, but 57% of the labor force aged 18 to 35 works in informal employment.

“Many young people across the country and in the diaspora had hoped for change, but that their hopes have been dashed. It feels like a missed opportunity,” said Emile Sunjo, a senior lecturer in international relations at the University of Buea. “Cameroon could potentially slide into anarchy.”

Critics also accuse Biya of leading Cameroon from a period of relative stability into one of conflict. The country in recent years has faced attacks by Boko Haram militants in the north and a secessionist insurgency in the English-speaking North West and South West regions. That crisis, triggered by government attempts to impose French in schools and courts, has killed nearly 7,000 people, displaced more than one million and sent thousands fleeing to neighboring Nigeria.

Christopher Fomunyoh, regional director at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, said Cameroon’s Constitutional Council “boxed themselves into a corner” and was left with no choice than to declare Biya the winner.

All those who were involved should “brace themselves for the inevitable consequences and backlash,” he said.

What to know about the Louvre heist investigation

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Police officers look for clues by a basket lift used by thieves Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 at the Louvre museum in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

PARIS (AP) — More than 100 investigators are racing to piece together how thieves pulled off the brazen heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, working to recover the stolen gems and bring those responsible to justice.

The daytime theft of centuries-old jewels from the world’s most-visited museum, thought to be of significant cultural and monetary value, has captured the world’s attention for its audacity and movie plot-like details.

Two suspects are in custody, but thus far, little has been revealed about how the investigation is unfolding, a source of frustration for those accustomed to the 24-hour flow of information in American true crime or British tabloids.

Suspects, like the jewels themselves, have remained out of sight, the case file cloaked in mystery and French authorities characteristically discreet.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said that more details would come once the suspects’ custody period ends, expected midweek.

But here’s what we know so far about the case:

What investigators want to know

Authorities said it took mere minutes for thieves to ride a lift up the side of the museum, smash display cases and steal eight objects worth an estimated 88 million euros ($102 million) on Oct. 19. The haul included a sapphire diadem, necklace and an earring from a set linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.

Beccuau said an investigation was opened into potential charges of criminal conspiracy and organized theft, which can carry hefty fines and yearslong prison sentences.

How France handles arrests

Beccuau said investigators made arrests Saturday evening but didn’t name them or say how many. One suspect, she added, was stopped at a Paris airport while trying to leave the country.

In France, where privacy laws are strict, images of criminal suspects are not made public as they often are elsewhere. Suspects aren’t paraded before cameras upon arrest or shown in mugshots.

The presumption of innocence is inscribed in France’s constitution and deeply valued throughout society.

The French often express shock at the spectacle of criminal trials in the United States, including in 2011 when media outlets photographed Dominique Strauss-Kahn, then head of the International Monetary Fund and a contender for France’s presidency, on a “perp walk” to a New York jail after he was indicted on charges he sexually assaulted a hotel maid. The charges were eventually dismissed.

Information about investigations is meant to be secret under French law, to avoid compromising police work and to ensure victims’ right to privacy, a policy known as “secret d’instruction.” Only the prosecutor can speak publicly about developments, and violators can be prosecuted.

Police and investigators are not supposed to divulge information about arrests or suspects without the prosecutor’s approval, though in high-profile cases, police union officials have leaked partial details. Beccuau on Saturday rued the leak of information about the ongoing investigation.

A police official, who spoke anonymously as he was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing case, told The Associated Press that two men in their 30s, both known to police, were taken into custody. He said one suspect was arrested as he attempted to board a plane bound for Algeria.

Prosecutors said last week that the two thieves who entered the museum were assisted by two others, who waited outside before fleeing along the Seine, adding that additional arrests may follow as the investigation continues.

Inside the investigation

The more than 100 investigators that Beccuau said are assigned to the case are combing through 150 DNA samples, surveillance footage and evidence left behind in the thieves’ wake.

Those assigned include the Brigade for the Repression of Banditry — the special police unit in charge of armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts — and the Central Office for the Fight Against Trafficking in Cultural Goods.

Recovering the jewels could be among the most difficult parts of investigators’ work. French authorities have added the jewels to Interpol’s Stolen Works of Art Database, a global repository of about 57,000 missing cultural items.

Interpol, the world’s largest international police network, does not issue arrest warrants. But if authorities worry a suspect may flee, Interpol can circulate the information using a color-coded notice system.

The French investigators can also work with European authorities if required. They can turn to the European Union’s judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust, or its law enforcement agency, Europol. Eurojust works through judicial cooperation between prosecutors and magistrates, while Europol works with police agencies.

Both can help facilitate investigations and arrests throughout the 27-member bloc. Requests for help must come from the national authorities, and neither organization can initiate an investigation.

What happens next?

Beccuau said more details would be released once the suspects’ time in custody expires. Suspects investigated for criminal conspiracy can be held for up to 96 hours before charges are filed.

But don’t expect a flood of updates. Indictments and verdicts are not routinely made public in France. French trials are not televised, and journalists are not allowed to film or photograph anything inside the courtroom during a trial.

Pregnant Patients with Preexisting High Cholesterol May Have Elevated Cardiovascular Risk, According to New Research from Allegheny General Hospital

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to new research presented by clinicians from Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) in Pittsburgh at this month’s American College of Cardiology Conference, pregnant patients with pre-existing hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) may be at risk for obstetric complications as well as cardiovascular events within the first five postpartum years. A release from Allegheny Health Network states that when there is an excess of lipids or fats in the blood, hyperlipidemia occurs, which restricts the blood flow through the arteries and increases the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. The rising rates of metabolic syndrone, obesity and sedentary lifestyles is a response to the condition becoming increasingly common among younger women.

2025 WPIAL high school football playoff first-round matchups in each bracket

(File Photo of the WPIAL Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The 2025 WPIAL high school football playoffs kicks off this week as the first round in all six classes will start the journey to a WPIAL championship for each team that has qualified. Here are all the first round matchups that were revealed today with bold indicating the matchups of the Beaver Valley teams competing for their respective WPIAL championships, which will all take place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh:

Class 6A

#4 Canon-McMillan vs #1 Central Catholic (Location to be Determined, 11/07/25 at 7 p.m.)

#3 Norwin at #2 North Allegheny (11/07/25 at 7 p.m.)

Class 5A

#1 Pine-Richland (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#9 Kiski Area at #8 Shaler, (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#4 Penn-Trafford (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#12 Armstrong at #5 Moon Area (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#2 Peters Township (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#10 North Hills at #7 Bethel Park (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#3 Woodland Hills (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#11 Plum at #6 Upper St. Clair (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

Class 4A

#8 Chartiers Valley at #1 McKeesport (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#5 Mars at #4 Thomas Jefferson (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#7 Aliquippa at #2 Trinity (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#6 Montour at #3 New Castle (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

Class 3A

#1 Avonworth (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#9 Beaver Area at #8 Freeport (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#4 Elizabeth Forward (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#12 Burrell vs #5 North Catholic (Location to be Determined, 10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#2 Imani Christian (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#10 Hopewell at #7 Southmoreland (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#3 Central Valley (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#11 Derry at #6 Highlands (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#12 Beaver Falls at #5 Washington (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#2 Western Beaver (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#10 Riverside at #7 Apollo-Ridge (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#3 Steel Valley (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#11 Keystone Oaks at No. 6 Ellwood City

Class 2A

#1 Seton LaSalle (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#9 OLSH at #8 Mohawk (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#13 Waynesburg Central at #4 South Allegheny

Class 1A

#16 Avella at #1 Fort Cherry (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#9 Neshannock at #8 Leechburg (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#13 Jefferson-Morgan at #4 Laurel (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#12 Chartiers-Houston at #5 South Side (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#15 Monessen at #2 Clairton (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#10 Jeannette at #7 Bentworth (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#14 Greensburg Central Catholic at #3 Bishop Canevin (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#11 Frazier at #6 California (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

Hopewell High School football ends the longest-standing WPIAL playoff drought in the Beaver Valley at thirteen years

(File Photo of the Hopewell Area School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) Even though Hopewell High School’s football team lost to North Catholic High School 44-36 on Friday on the road in Cranberry Township, they broke their thirteen-year WPIAL playoff drought, which was the longest in the Beaver Valley. The Vikings finished the 2025 high school football season with a 6-4 record overall and a 2-4 record in the WPIAL 3A West Hills Conference, but still clinched a wild card spot as the #10 seed in the WPIAL 3A bracket. This is the first time since 2012 that Hopewell High School has reached the high school playoffs, and since their current head coach Matt Mottes got hired as their interim head coach in 2024, they have had one .500 season and two winless seasons since 2013. Hopewell will travel to Alverton, Pennsylvania to take on the #7 seed Southmoreland High School Scotties on Friday, October 31st at 7 p.m. Southmoreland is 9-1 overall with a 4-1 record in the WPIAL 3A Interstate Conference.

Borough of Conway given $10,000 Thriving Communities Grant from Norfolk Southern for two parks

(File Photo of the Visit Beaver County Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Conway, PA) Two parks in Conway will now be expected to get some updates thanks to a $10,000 Thriving Communities Grant courtesy of Norfolk Southern. The borough of Conway announced in September that they received this money and they will use these funds for three purposes: the building of a new pavilion at Buttermore Park, the installation of two new picnic tables at the Conway Borough Building Park and during next spring, the refreshing of the mulch at both parks. According to Norfolk Southern, the Thriving Communities Grant contributes to projects and programs in Norfolk Southern’s operating area that help communities with long-term recovery assistance, offer support for mental health needs, preserve community history and culture and beautify its public spaces.

Commemoration ceremony in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh will remember the victims of the 2018 Tree of Life Congregation synagogue shooting seven years later

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Police respond to an active shooter situation at the Tree of Life synagogue on Wildins Avenue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pa., on Saturday, October 27, 2018. (Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Today is the seven-year anniversary of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in the history of the United States, when forty-six-year-old Robert Gregory Bowers shot and killed eleven people and wounded six others at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. A commemoration ceremony this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community center in Squirrel Hill will remember the victims of that October 27th, 2018 attack. There will also be prayer and song, as well as a speech from a keynote speaker who was a Pittsburgh police commander at the time of the shooting, Jason Lando. Bowers was arrested at the scene of the shooting after being shot multiple times by police and he was charged with sixty-three federal crimes, with some of them being capital crimes. Even though Bowers pleaded not guilty on November 1st, 2018, he was found guilty on all counts on June 16th, 2023 and was then sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Woman from East Liverpool, Ohio arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in Greene Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Greene Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that thirty-three-year-old Katelynn Heddleston of East Liverpool, Ohio was arrested on the early morning of September 29th2025 for driving under the influence of drugs in Greene Township. Heddleston was stopped by police during a traffic stop on 1318 State Route 168 at 1:24 a.m. and was arrested and taken to jail because of an active warrant out of Ohio. The charges against Heddleston are pending.

Ellwood City woman arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in Aliquippa

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that forty-year-old Jeanne Blubaugh of Ellwood City was arrested on the early morning of September 27th, 2025 for driving under the influence of drugs in Aliquippa. Blubaugh was stopped by police during a traffic stop on the 1000 block of Main Street at 2:11 a.m. and she was arrested during the stop for driving under the influence. The charges against Blubaugh are pending.