Westminster College: Titan Radio: Digital 88.9 News

School districts & Penn State Shenango fire private firm with felony and sex offender guards

2012-02-06 00:00:00 EST

SHARON, Pa.-- � Penn State-Shenango has joined with three other local public school districts that has fired a private security company after discovering that some guards were convicted felons and sex offenders.

Fire at Mercer County gas well site

2012-02-03 00:00:00 EST

GREENVILLE, Pa.-A compressor at a natural gas well in Mercer County caught fire and burned for about three hours, prompting at least one nearby home to be evacuated.

Couple face charges for allegedly robbing New Wilmington bank

2012-02-02 00:00:00 EST

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa-- Police say two suspects wanted in last week's robbery of the Huntington National Bank on Market Street are in custody.� A couple form Ohio face charges that they stole more than a thousand dollars in the hold-up last Wednesday afternoon.� The pair was arraigned before a Lawrence County magistrate via video conference from Beaver County on Thursday.� Police say they were picked up by officers in Beaver County where they were pulled over for a traffic violation.� The car they were traveling in matched the description from the New Wilmington robbery.

Groundhog sees his shadow

2012-02-02 00:00:00 EST

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair to 'see' his shadow on Thursday, in the process predicting six more weeks of winter.

New Castle leaders drop police chief to select a new one

2012-01-26 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-- The New Castle city council has voted not to reappoint sitting police Chief Tom Sansone to his position.� During a Tuesday night meeting council New Castle Mayor Anthony Mastrangelo is searching for a new police chief turned down the mayor's reappointment of Sansone by a 3-1 vote.� However, the reappointments for fire chief and other department heads were approved.

Bank robbed in New Wilmington

2012-01-24 00:00:00 EST

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- New Wilmington police, Pennsylvania state police and the FBI are working together to apprehend a bank robber and a possible person-of-interest in connection with a holdup at the New Wilmington branch of the Huntington Bank on Market St. on Tuesday afternoon.� Police say the robbery occurred around 3 o'clock, a busy time in town with busses departing the local schools.�

Search for bank robbers in Mercer County

2012-01-23 00:00:00 EST

FREDONIA, PA-- State Police in Mercer County say are now working with the FBI to apprehend two suspects who held up the Mercer County State bank in Fredonia on Thursday afternoon.

Mercer County professor running for Congress

2012-01-21 00:00:00 EST

SHARON, Pa. (AP) - A psychology professor at the Penn State-Shenango campus is the first Democrat to announce she'll run against freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly.

No one wants to head up county prison board

2012-01-21 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) - The board overseeing the Lawrence county jail has postponed its reorganization meeting for a month because nobody wants to be its president.

House fire kills mother and daughter in Shenango Township

2012-01-20 00:00:00 EST

SHENANGO TOWNSHIP, Pa.- A Lawrence County mother and her 8-year old daughter died in a fire that ripped through their Shenango Township home on Friday morning.� A state police fire marshal says the bodies of 31-year-old Lisa Oliver and 8-year-old Katherine Thomas were found by firefighters as they battled the blaze.

Urinating cat sparks smoke & firefighter response

2012-01-19 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) -- The New Castle Fire Department learned that there's not necessarily fire wherever there's smoke.

Lawyers want boy murder suspect released

2012-01-19 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-Attorneys for a Lawrence County boy who was just 11 when he allegedly killed his father's pregnant fianc�e and unborn child want the Pennsylvania Superior Court to release him from juvenile custody while the court decides an appeal by newspapers to open his juvenile court trial to the public.

Robbery suspect used infection threat

2012-01-18 00:00:00 EST

SHARON, Pa. (AP) - Police say a man tried to rob a Mercer County gambling parlor by threatening to spread a staph infection.

Troopers break up underage drinking part in Wilmington Township

2012-01-16 00:00:00 EST

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- State police say 14 juveniles were arrested for partying with alcohol and marijuana in a field in Wilmington Township on Sunday night.

Remembering New Castle coaching legend Lindy Lauro

2012-01-13 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.- Generations of high school football fans are joining family and friends of Lindoro 'Lindy' Lauro in remembering the legendary football coach who passed away this week.� He was born in New Castle on June 23, 1921.

Convicted felon elected to office says he will fight to be sworn in

2012-01-11 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa. - A convicted felon elected to New Castle city council says he'll fight for his seat despite a petition to keep him out of office.

Media lawyers make the case to open boy's murder trial to the public

2012-01-10 00:00:00 EST

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Attorneys for three newspapers asked an appeals panel Tuesday to open the juvenile court trial of a boy who was just 11 when he was charged with killing his father's pregnant fiancee with a shotgun blast.

Sparks spook copper theives

2012-01-05 00:00:00 EST

PULASKI, Pa. (AP) - Police in Pulaski township believe a would-be copper thief might have been spooked by sparks.

Volunteer firefighter responds to accident that left his own father dead

2012-01-04 00:00:00 EST

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- New Wilmington volunteer firefighters say they were stunned after responding to a fatal traffic accident on SR 158 on Wednesday morning.� One of the firemen discovered the victim was his own father.

Woman kidnapped over drug dispute

2012-01-03 00:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- Police in Lawrence County say a man kidnapped another man's girlfriend in a dispute over drugs then kicked her out in a rural area without shoes or a coat on New Year's Eve.

Man accused of punching police over icy roads

2012-01-03 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa. - A Lawrence County man is in custody on charges he punched a police officer after becoming upset about slick road conditions that apparently contributed to a crash involving his daughter.

End of the year earthquake shakes local communities

2011-12-31 00:00:00 EST

McDONALD, Ohio (AP) - An end of the year earthquake rocked northeast Ohio as well as parts of Western Pennsylvania.� People in New Castle, Sharon and Mercer reported feeling the ground shake.� It's the latest in a series of minor quakes in the Youngstown area.� The Saturday event sent some stunned residents running for cover as bookshelves shook and pictures and lamps fell from tables.

Mercer County bar owner killed outside his business

2011-12-31 00:00:00 EST

FARRELL, Pa. (AP) - Police say a man was shot and killed outside the Mercer County bar he owned.

Recycling plant in Lawrence County burns

2011-12-29 00:00:00 EST

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. (AP) - Firefighters are mopping up after a fire at a metals recycling plant in Lawrence County.

GE adding 150 jobs in Mercer County

2011-12-28 00:00:00 EST

GROVE CITY, Pa. (AP) - General Electric Co.'s transportation unit has announced plans to spend about $72 million to build a diesel engine plant and upgrade an existing plant in Mercer County, bringing up to 150 more jobs to the area by early 2013.

Cash tolls going up on PA Turnpike

2011-12-27 00:00:00 EST

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Tolls are going up again for drivers paying in cash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Insurer claims $1M policy won't cover turnpike goo

2011-12-26 00:00:00 EST

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The insurer of a trucking company whose tanker leaked sticky black goo onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Lawrence County into Allegheny County in November says in court filings that its $1 million policy likely won't be enough to cover roughly 1,000 claims for damaged vehicles.

Soldier from Mercer County among 8 transferred by the Army after suicide

2011-12-22 00:00:00 EST

NEW YORK (AP) - The Pentagon says it has transferred eight soldiers to another base in Afghanistan amid allegations that they mistreated one of their comrades shortly before he committed suicide.

Mercer County smoke shop turns heads with smoking Santa

2011-12-22 00:00:00 EST

GREENVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A Mercer County tobacco shop is turning the image of the jovial, pipe-smoking Santa on its head by having Saint Nick huff on a hookah.

Mercer County policemen won't be charged in shooting

2011-12-22 00:00:00 EST

FARRELL, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say two policemen who shot an unarmed man in Mercer County on Thanksgiving won't face charges. The investigation by state police strongly suggests that 27-year-old Donteau Napier was planning a confrontation in Farrell. Authorities say the officers had a reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary.

Mayor rejects atheist banner for holiday display including Nativity

2011-12-20 00:00:00 EST

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. - A Lawrence County mayor has refused to add a banner from an atheist group that says 'there are no gods' to a holiday display that includes a Nativity scene and symbols of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, Santa Claus, a snowman and a Christmas tree.

Two arrested for home invasion following standoff

2011-12-17 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-- State police in Lawrence County say two suspects were arrested after a standoff that followed a home invasion in which two men were shot and a third person was pistol-whipped.

Two men shot in their home during attempted robbery

2011-12-16 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-- State police say two men are in the hospital in critical condition after they were shot in a home invasion Thursday night in Union Township.�

Mercer County teacher accused of sexting students

2011-12-15 00:00:00 EST

JAMESTOWN, Pa. (AP) - State police have charged a Mercer County middle school teacher with sending sexually explicit text messages to two teen students, and exchanging explicit photos with one of the girls.

Republicans redraw maps making Mercer County and most of Lawrence County Mike Kelly's district

2011-12-14 00:00:00 EST

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A proposed map of Pennsylvania's 18 new congressional districts drawn in private by Republican state lawmakers will make Mercer County and most of Lawrence County part of Republican Congressman Mike Kelly's district.� The territory is currently part of the 4th Congressional District represented by� Democrats Jason Altmire.

Insurance company wants limits in turnpike tar mess

2011-12-12 00:00:00 EST

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- An insurance company says its liability for a pre-Thanksgiving asphalt spill on the Pennsylvania Turnpike should be limited to $1 million.

Needy kids shop with a cop in Lawrence County

2011-12-07 00:00:00 EST

UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- A tough economy means more local families will struggle when it comes to the essentials as well as giving their children Christmas gifts.� Police officers, deputies and state troopers came to the rescue of nearly 100 Lawrence County kids on Wednesday as they participated in the Shop With a Cop program at Wal-Mart in Union Township.

New Castle operations on the USPS chopping block

2011-12-06 00:00:00 EST

PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. Postal Service could close 11 mail processing facilities in Pennsylvania, including New Castle's, under a proposal that would slow mail travel and eliminate next-day deliveries.

Police charge man for possessing pot while visiting son

2011-12-06 00:00:00 EST

MERCER, Pa. - State police have charged a man with possessing marijuana and a pipe - while visiting his son at a state prison in Mercer County.

Man gunned down on New Castle street

2011-12-05 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa. - Police are searching for a man who gunned down another man on a New Castle street in broad daylight.

Breaking a silent night in New Wilmington with a Christmas parade (VIDEO)

2011-12-04 00:00:00 EST

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- A cold night in December turned into an evening of holiday lights, decorations and music on Market Street in New Wilmington.� The New Wilmington Chamber of Commerce presented the first-ever Christmas season parade for the community.� VIDEO ONLINE @ WCN 24/7.

Mother and two sons hospitalized after Sunday fire

2011-12-04 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-A mother and two sons have been taken to hospitals after a fire in their Lawrence County home.

Hearing scheduled to open Jordan Brown's murder trial

2011-12-04 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Superior Court will hear arguments in Pittsburgh Jan. 10 on whether to open the juvenile court trial for a boy who was just 11 when he allegedly murdered his father's pregnant fianc�e and her unborn child.

Residents rally around Ellwood City's nativity scene (Images & video)

2011-12-02 00:00:00 EST

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa.-- In the small town of Ellwood City, it has always been a Christmas tradition to display the Nativity scene in front of the Municipal building, along with other common holiday d�cor.� However, as of last year, the Nativity scene has begun to stir a bit of commotion.� In fact, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FRF) in Michigan has targeted Ellwood City after the receipt of an anonymous letter from a disgruntled citizen.� FRF claims it will sue the city for violating the separation of church and state.� VIDEO & IMAGES ON WCN 24/7.

Attorney wants boy's murder trial closed

2011-11-30 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-The defense attorney for the Lawrence County boy who was just 11 when he was charged with murdering his father's pregnant fianc�e wants a state appeals court to reject efforts by three newspapers to open the boy's juvenile court trial.

Drive charged in tar leak along PA Turnpike

2011-11-29 00:00:00 EST

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Maryland driver is facing charges in Pennsylvania after authorities said his truck leaked roofing asphalt along a 40-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike originating in Lawrence County last week.

NCPD loses police dog to cancer

2011-11-29 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.- New Castle police are mourning the death of its second police canine this year.

Deer season underway

2011-11-28 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa. - Hunters took to the woods in Lawrence and Mercer counties this morning and most school districts remained closed for the opening day of deer season.� Across the state, thousands of hunters are out for the gun season.

Sticky Turnpike goo disables scores of vehicles from New Castle to Allegheny County

2011-11-23 00:00:00 EST

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A flood of gooey black muck dropped from a tanker truck disabled about 150 cars and damaged an unknown number of other vehicles along a nearly 40-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, officials said.

New Castle teen rescues elderly neighbor from fire

2011-11-22 00:00:00 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-� Fire officials say a 15-year-old boy saved a woman from her burning New Castle home early Tuesday morning.� Justin Ritchie says his barking dog woke him up to see fire coming out of his neighbor's window.� He heard her calling for help.