Category: News

Aer Lingus Illuminates Three Sisters Bridges Celebrating its First Ever Direct Flight from Pittsburgh to Ireland

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A view from inside Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Ken Maguire, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Aer Lingus, Ireland’s national airline, is marking the launch of a new Pittsburgh-to-Dublin route by illuminating the city’s iconic Three Sisters Bridges in green, white and orange, creating a symbolic “Bridge to Ireland” across the Allegheny River. 

The special lighting display celebrates Aer Lingus’ first direct flight from Pittsburgh to Dublin, which is scheduled to depart today. The new service will operate four times a week, providing travelers with a direct connection to Ireland. 

Through Dublin, Aer Lingus also offers connecting service to destinations across Europe, including Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Geneva, Berlin and London. 

No charges filed against driver who hit a deer in Robinson Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh said yesterday that no charges will be filed against a driver involved in a crash in Robinson Township on May 3. 

Police said the driver was traveling south on Interstate 79 at about 8:39 p.m. when the vehicle struck a deer that entered the roadway. 

No injuries were reported, and the investigation has been closed.

Memorial Day 2026: Flags at half-staff until noon and closures

(File Photo of an American Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Today is Memorial Day, a day where we honor our veterans that have passed away in the line of duty and thank the veterans that are currently serving. The U.S. Postal Service, all government offices, banks and some businesses will be closed. Governor Josh Shapiro ordered on Friday that all United States and Commonwealth flags on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds statewide will fly at half-staff in accordance with the United States Flag Code. Flags will fly at half-staff from sunrise until noon today. All Pennsylvanians can participate in the tribute. 

Recall alert: Kettle Cuisine issues allergy alert for undeclared shrimp in minestrone soup sold in PA, 16 other states, and D.C.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the FDA)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lynn, MA) Kettle Cuisine is recalling 24-ounce cups of Whole Foods Market Kitchen minestrone soup due to potential undeclared shrimp allergens, federal officials said.

According to a news release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Lynn, Massachusetts-based company said the undeclared shrimp could pose a risk to individuals with shellfish allergies.

The recalled soup was distributed in 17 states and the District of Columbia, including Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, the FDA said. The product was also sold at Whole Foods Market locations and online.

The affected product is packaged in a 24-ounce clear plastic cup marked with lot code 1762181 and a “Use By” date of 05/27/26 on the top rim. It also carries a UPC code of 099482502065 on the back label, according to the FDA.

No illnesses have been reported.

The recall was initiated after a store discovered a single cup containing an incorrect product that included shrimp. No other soups or lot codes are affected.

Consumers who purchased the affected product are advised to return it for a full refund.

Customers with questions can contact the company at 617-409-1100 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Springer hits 65th leadoff homer as Blue Jays hand Skenes back-to-back defeats, beat Pirates 5-2

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — George Springer hit his 65th leadoff home run and the Toronto Blue Jays sent Paul Skenes to losses in consecutive starts for the first time this season, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 Saturday for their fourth straight win and seventh in 10 games.

Skenes (6-4), the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed four runs and a career-high nine hits and one walk in five-plus innings with two strikeouts, just his second time with fewer than five this season. His ERA rose to 3.00.

Skenes left after giving up four straight hits in the sixth. In his previous outing, against Philadelphia on May 17, Skenes tied his big league high by giving up five runs .

Tyler Heineman also homered for the defending AL champions, his first since last July 19.

Patrick Corbin (2-1) allowed one run and five hits in six innings with a season-high seven strikeouts. Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save in eight chances.

Pirates pitching coach Bill Murphy and manager Don Kelly were ejected in separate incidents in the sixth. Murphy was tossed after plate umpire Alan Porter initially missed a challenge request from catcher Henry Davis, while Kelly was tossed for arguing a checked swing call.

Springer homered on Skenes’ third pitch of the game, snapping the right-hander’s 15-inning road scoreless streak. Springer has five homers this season and is second in leadoff homers by 81 by Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.

Marcell Ozuna’s two-out RBI double tied the score in the sixth, and the Blue Jays took a 4-1 lead in the bottom half on Jesús Sánchez’s run-scoring double, Ernie Clement’s RBI single and a run-scoring, double-play grounder by Andrés Giménez.

Up next

Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease (3-2, 2.98 ERA) is scheduled to face Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (4-2, 3.86) in Sunday’s series finale.

Pirates call up red-hot prospect Esmerlyn Valdez, start him in right field at Toronto

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates’ Esmerlyn Valdez plays during a spring training baseball game, Feb. 22, 2026, in Clearwater, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

TORONTO (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled prospect Esmerlyn Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis after a recent hot streak and had him in the lineup in right field Friday night for their game at Toronto.

Valdez was 0 for 3 with a groundout, two strikeouts and a walk in his major league debut, a 6-2 Pirates loss.

Valdez, 22, hit five home runs in the last five Triple-A games and was batting .355 with seven extra-base hits, 10 RBIs, a .903 slugging percentage and 1.315 OPS in his last eight.

Valdez hit .253 with 10 homers, 10 doubles and 29 RBIs in 46 games with Indianapolis this season. He also has 33 walks.

The right-handed hitter is the organization’s No. 9 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He led Pittsburgh’s minor league system with 26 home runs last season and represented the club at the All-Star Futures Game.

Valdez was signed by Pittsburgh as a nondrafted free agent on Jan. 15, 2021.

Pittsburgh optioned outfielder Billy Cook to Indianapolis following Thursday’s game at St. Louis.

Blue Jays beat the Pirates 6-2 for their 3rd straight victory

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) works against the Pittsburgh Pirates during first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Kevin Gausman pitched into the seventh inning, Yohendrick Pinango and George Springer had two-run doubles and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

After Springer scored Toronto’s first run in the third inning, Pinango drove in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho in the inning.

Gausman (4-3) settled in after giving up a run in the first inning. The right-hander allowed six hits, one walk and had eight strikeouts.

Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler (1-6) allowed three runs — only one earned — in five innings. The Pirates have lost five of seven to fall to 26-25.

Gausman was pulled with two outs in the seventh inning with two runners in scoring position. Reliever Mason Fluharty then needed one pitch to get Oneil Cruz to fly out.

Pittsburgh had two more runners in the eighth before Toronto manager John Schneider called on closer Louis Varland for a rare six-out save. The Pirates scored on a fielder’s choice, but left the potential tying run at third base when Jhostynxon Garcia grounded out. Varland has seven saves.

Toronto scored three times in the eighth. Jesus Sanchez had an RBI double, and Springer drove in two runs with a ground-rule double.

Toronto improved to 24-27.

Up next

RHP Paul Skenes (6-3, 2.63 ERA) was set to start for the Pirates on Saturday against LHP Patrick Corbin (1-1, 4.23).

VERDICT: Allegheny County Man Guilty of Forging Signatures on Nominating Petitions for 2022 U.S. Congressional Candidate

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that an Allegheny County jury has convicted a man for forging signatures on nomination petitions for a U.S. congressional candidate prior to the 2022 primary election.

Following a weeklong trial, Kirk Rice of Allegheny County was found guilty this morning of theft by deception, forgery, perjury and related charges. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17.

According to testimony, Rice was paid $1,340 to collect 437 signatures for Democratic candidate Steve Irwin. Investigators determined the signatures — including one allegedly belonging to a federal judge — were falsified.

The Office of Attorney General said it interviewed dozens of people listed as signers, and none confirmed they had signed the petitions.

“This defendant deliberately undermined the integrity of Pennsylvania’s election process by falsifying signatures for financial gain,” Sunday said. “This type of conduct is taken very seriously as it threatens the foundation of our democracy. I applaud the agents and prosecutors whose work exposed the fraud and ultimately brought the offender to justice.”

According to testimony, Rice submitted 34 pages of signatures totaling 437 names, which were filed for Irwin’s nomination. He was paid per signature.

The campaign later discovered that Rice may have submitted fraudulent signatures, including the forged signature of U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon.

During the investigation, Rice admitted he did not go door-to-door, but instead collected signatures in Pittsburgh by entering businesses and gathering names without verifying whether signers were registered Democrats, a requirement of the petition process.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Alexander Cashman.

Crash temporarily shuts down stretch of Kennywood Boulevard

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Melissa Watkins)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(West Mifflin, PA) A crash temporarily shut down part of Kennywood Boulevard in West Mifflin yesterday.

Police in West Mifflin said both lanes of the boulevard were closed between Glenn Street in West Mifflin and Mifflin Street in Whitaker. The roadway has since reopened.

Video provided to WPXI shows a heavily damaged vehicle that appears to have struck a barrier.

It is unclear whether anyone was injured.

Pennsylvania American Water begins monthly water quality sampling at Butler County reservoir

(File Photo of Water)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler County, PA) Pennsylvania American Water has begun monthly boat-based water quality sampling at Lake Oneida and Thorn Run reservoirs in Butler County.

The enhanced monitoring program is intended to help ensure safe, high-quality and reliable drinking water for more than 20,000 customer connections.

According to the company, the sampling program will help operators better understand changing reservoir conditions and make real-time adjustments to treatment processes to maintain water quality.

Pennsylvania American Water also uses solar-powered mixers in both reservoirs to improve water quality by creating continuous circulation that helps prevent algae growth.

Jake Gentile, senior director of operations for Pennsylvania American Water, said the work is important to maintaining reliable service.

“This work helps us deliver the high-quality water our customers depend on every day,” Gentile said. “By monitoring conditions across the reservoirs, we can make real-time adjustments to treatment and continue providing safe, reliable service.”

The Lake Oneida and Thorn Run reservoirs supply water to customers in the City of Butler; the boroughs of Connoquenessing, East Butler and Saxonburg; and the townships of Butler, Center, Clinton, Connoquenessing, Donegal, Forward, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lancaster, Oakland, Penn and Summit.

Recreational boating is prohibited on both reservoirs, though shore fishing is permitted.