AAA: Gas Prices Take a Dip in Pennsylvania

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are a penny lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at about $4.33 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is at $4.08.

Crude oil prices remain in the $85 per barrel range because of continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz.

The national average for a gallon of gas in August has been above $4 per gallon every day for the first time ever.

This month is poised to set a new record as the most expensive August at the gas pump, which surpasses the previous August record that was set in 2022.

The report also states that the average price that you can expect for a gallon of regular unleaded gas here in Beaver County is about $4.40.

According to a release from AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report,

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline today in various areas:      

$4.321      Altoona
$4.399      Beaver
$4.317      Bradford
$4.132      Brookville
$4.394      Butler
$4.110      Clarion
$4.359      DuBois
$4.317      Erie
$4.368      Greensburg
$4.392      Indiana
$4.419      Jeannette
$4.379      Kittanning
$4.395      Latrobe
$4.275      Meadville
$4.374      Mercer
$4.290      New Castle
$4.345      New Kensington
$4.399      Oil City
$4.365      Pittsburgh
$4.128      Sharon
$4.415      Uniontown
$4.399      Warren
$4.344      Washington

Freedom Schools evacuated for “Bomb Threat”

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published August 31, 2026 1:50 P.M.

(Freedom, Pa) Students and staff were evacuated from the Freedom Area High School shortly before 1pm Monday afternoon. The Middle and Elementary schools were also evacuated shortly after.

Messages sent to parents said the reason for the evacuation was a “nondescript bomb threat” that was emailed to the High School Principal Steve Mott.

An early dismissal of students was held and police remained on scene as of 1:30pm Monday.

We have no additional details at this time.

McDonald man given warning after crashing vehicle in Chippewa Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported today that thirty-six-year-old Vincent Scappe of McDonald was given a warning by police after crashing his vehicle in Chippewa Township on August 2nd.

Scappe was driving on I-376 West at about 1:35 p.m. and he lost control of his vehicle.

He went off of the road with his vehicle, and his vehicle hit a guide wire.

There were no reported injuries. 

Philadelphia man suffers medical emergency, crashes vehicle in New Sewickley Township

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Sewickley Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported today that forty-one-year-old Stewart Rodes of Philadelphia crashed his vehicle in New Sewickley Township yesterday.

According to police, Rodes was traveling on I-76 East south of Harkins Mill Road in an area within a warning zone leading up to a construction zone at 8:55 p.m.

Rodes suffered a medical emergency and lost consciousness while he was driving and traveled off of the road.

His vehicle then hit a concrete barrier. 

There were no reported injuries and no charges were filed in connection with this incident. 

PennDOT Driver’s License, Photo Centers Closed for 2026 Labor Day Holiday

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT announced today that all of its driver’s license and photo centers will be closed from Saturday, September 5th through Monday, September 7th in observance of the 2026 Labor Day holiday.

Customers can still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle services and products, which include driver training manuals, forms and publications at PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website by clicking here.

Incarcerated Ambridge Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machinegun and is Sentenced to Five Years of Prison

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to one count of possession of a machinegun and was sentenced to 60 months of
incarceration on his conviction.

Twenty-one-year-old Nasean Hunt received this sentence and he is already serving a sentence of 15 to 40 years in prison for a conviction in Beaver County for conspiracy to commit murder of the third degree in connection with his possession of a machinegun.

According to information presented to the Court, on July 9th, 2023, Hunt was found in possession of a loaded Glock 17 pistol equipped with a “switch” or auto-sear that rendered the semi-automatic handgun capable of fully automatic fire.

Hunt also had gunshot residue on his hands when he was apprehended.

Hunt is also one of two suspects who was accused of killing a fifteen-year-old boy on Church Street on the exact same date of July 9th, 2023.

Hunt’s federal sentence will run concurrently with the sentence that he is currently serving.

AAA: Cruises, National Parks, and European Cities Popular Among Labor Day Travelers

(File Photo of the AAA East Central Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Many travelers are taking advantage of the last long holiday weekend of the season during Labor Day weekend as summer comes to an end.

According to AAA booking data, Seattle, Orlando, Boston, Denver, and New York are the top domestic destinations, while Rome, Vancouver, London, Dublin, and Paris top the international list.

This is also the point of year when travelers start planning vacations for next spring and summer.

According to a release from AAA East Central, here are AAA East Central’s Top Labor Day Weekend Destinations:

RANKING

DOMESTIC

INTERNATIONAL

1

ANCHORAGE, AK

NASSAU, BAHAMAS

2

ORLANDO, FL

VANCOUVER, CANADA

3

HAWAII

LONDON, ENGLAND

4

LAS VEGAS, NV

DUBLIN, IRELAND

5

ANAHEIM, LOS ANGELES, CA

PARIS, FRANCE

6

CHICAGO, IL

CALGARY, CANADA

7

ANAHEIM/LOS ANGELES, CA

BARCELONA, SPAIN

8

LAS VEGAS, NV

ATHENS, GREECE

9

ANCHORAGE, AK

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

10

ATLANTA, GA

HALIFAX, CANADA

Rush returning to Pittsburgh

Scott Tady

PITTSBURGH — Rock legends Rush will perform in Pittsburgh on Nov. 15.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and co-founders Geddy Lee [bass, keys, vocals] and Alex Lifeson [guitar, vocals], today announced four new arena shows on their celebrated 2026 headline tour, Fifty Something.

The band will perform at PPG Paints Arena. General on-sales begin 10 a.m. Friday with presales beginning on Tuesday, also at 10 a.m., for Citi cardmembers.

Lee and Lifeson shared about the significance of these newly added dates, “When we initially booked this tour we didn’t know how well we would hold up to the rigors of the road – so we played it safe with lots of days off to recover – but life is nothing if not surprising and we’re doing fine and having a blast – so why not try to hit a few more of the cities that have always treated us so well.”

Rush returns to Pittsburgh. (Richard Sibbald)

Julie Chirstner Belcher Baskal (1951-2026)

Julie Christner Belcher Baskal, 74, of Baden, passed away peacefully on August 26th, 2026. She was born on October 21st, 1951, the daughter of the late Bud and Bessie Christner.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Baskal, and her son, Richard J. Belcher.

She is survived by her son, Brian (Kathy) Belcher, her grandchildren, Brandon Belcher, Tristin Lippert, and Chloe Lippert and a very special friend, Nancy.

Julie was a graduate of Ambridge High School and later worked for many years at Eat ’N Park. She enjoyed shopping, gardening—especially tending to her roses—and watching the Home Shopping Network. She also loved decorating for every holiday and making each occasion special.

Above all, she cherished her grandchildren, whom she loved and adored.

She was affectionately known as “GiGi,” and she treasured the time she spent with them and the special memories they shared.

Services are private for Julie.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alvarez-Hahn Funeral and Cremation Services, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge.

CCBC Foundation Welcomes Four New Board Members

(File Photo of the CCBC Logo, Credit for Four Photos Below: Photos Provided with Release Courtesy of the Community College of Beaver County)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) Foundation recently welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors: Aubrey Plane, Pamela M. Johnson, Dr. Joseph A. Guarino, and Paul Duty.

They will assist CCBC and its mission to expand opportunities for students.

Aubrey Plane (pictured below) graduated from CCBC and she currently serves as a Business Development Manager at BELFOR Restoration.

 

 

Pamela M. Johnson, RN, BSN, (pictured below) also graduated from CCBC. She is a retired hospice nurse that has 47 years of experience in clinical care and administration. She previously served for 10 years as a trustee for CCBC and Beaver
County residents, which included serving as Chairperson of the Board during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Joseph A. Guarino (pictured below) currently serves as the Superintendent of the New Brighton Area School District and will be serving as the Superintendent of both the New Brighton Area School District and Rochester Area School District through a shared superintendent model in the future. Guarino has spent over 23
years working with the New Brighton Area School District, starting his career there as a teacher before becoming the principal of New Brighton Middle School.

Paul Duty (pictured below) is an airline captain with the regional carrier of American Airlines, Envoy Air. He is currently a flight instructor and an aviation curriculum developer with over 20 years of experience in aviation training and leadership. Duty graduated from CCBC’s Professional Pilot program in 2002.