BEAVER COUNTY RADIO

NEW BRIGHTON, PA – Harmony for Hope, the nonprofit founded by Brighton Music Center, presents its annual community benefit Sept. 19.

Taking place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., this year’s event holds special meaning as family,
friends and supporters celebrate Noah Schiemer’s successful battle with cancer while raising funds to help others facing the same fight through UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

What began as a community coming together to support Noah during his cancer journey has grown into something much bigger. Inspired by the overwhelming generosity and compassion shown throughout that experience, Harmony for Hope was established as an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing people together through the power of music while making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by cancer.

This year’s celebration is both a tribute to Noah’s courage and resilience and an opportunity to give back to the medical professionals, researchers and caregivers whose dedication provides hope to so many.

“After everything Noah and our family have experienced, this event is about gratitude, hope, and paying it forward,” said Richard Schiemer, founder of Harmony for Hope and co-owner of Brighton Music Center. “We’re celebrating a remarkable milestone while helping ensure that other families receive the same exceptional care and support that meant so much to ours.”

Guests can enjoy a full day of live music, food, family-friendly activities, raffles and
opportunities to support the mission of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Proceeds from the event will support cancer research, patient care and services that bring hope to families throughout our region.

Performance schedule

Whether attending to honor a loved one, celebrate a survivor, support someone currently fighting cancer, or simply to enjoy a day where music brings people together for a meaningful cause, everyone is encouraged to join this special day of hope and community.

Event Details

Harmony for Hope Community Benefit Event
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sept. 19

Beneficiary: UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
For additional information, sponsorship opportunities, raffle donations or volunteer information, contact: Richard Schiemer at Harmony for Hope.
Phone: 724-843-9380
Email: info@harmonyforhope.net
Website: www.harmonyforhope.net

Motto: Together, through the power of music, we can celebrate hope, inspire others, and help create a brighter future where more families hear the words, “cancer free.”

SCOTT TADY

Plenty of cool concerts await this August in western Pennsylvania.

Bruno Mars, Billy Idol, Zach Top, “Weird” Al Yankovic, the Black Keys and Goo Goo Dolls all will entertain Pittsburgh area concert audiences.

Here’s a concert calendar to help you pick your musical fun.

PAVILION AT STAR LAKE

Aug. 1: “Weird” Al Yankovic

Aug. 2: Ne-Yo & Akon

Aug. 7: Five Finger Death Punch

Aug. 8: Parker McCollum

Aug. 14: Goo Goo Dolls

Aug. 20: Billy Idol

Aug. 24: TLC, Salt-N-Pepa

Aug. 25: Kesha

Aug. 29: Rob Zombie & Marilyn Manson

Sept. 3:  Rufus Du Sol; Sept. 10: $uicide Boy$; Sept. 15: Breaking Benjamin; Sept. 20: Bryson Tiller.

STAGE AE, Pittsburgh

Aug. 2: Black Keys

Aug. 14: Todd Rundgren

Aug. 20: Helmet

Aug. 22: Dominic Fike

Sept. 1: Sierra Ferrell; Sept. 18: Black Label Society; Sept. 19: Mastodon; Sept. 20: Tucker Whitmore; Sept. 22: Sam Barber; Sept. 23: Rainbow Kitten Surprise; Sept. 25: Caamp; Sept. 29: MUNA; Oct. 6: Interpol; Oct. 10: Sugar; Oct. 6: Interpol; Oct. 20: Jesse Welles; Oct. 27: Sleeping With Sirens; Nov. 18: Beartooth.

PPG PAINTS ARENA, Pittsburgh

Aug. 13: Zac Brown Band

Aug. 20: Zach Top

Sept. 8: Kacey Musgraves; Sept. 29-30: Olivia Rodrigo; Oct. 1: Red Clay Strays; Oct. 6: Smashing Pumpkins; Oct. 9: Dan + Shay; Oct. 23: Rod Wave; Oct. 28:  “Worlds Collide Concert Tour” featuring stars from the “Descendants,”  “ZOMBIES” and “Camp Rock” films; Nov. 7: Jim Gaffigan; Nov. 12: Sombr; Nov. 20: Motionless in White; Dec. 21: Andre Bocelli.

JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE, Warrendale

Aug. 1: Everclear

Aug. 8: Buzz Poets

Aug. 10: Adrian Vandenberg

Aug. 20: Priscilla Block

Aug. 25: Ugly Kid Joe

Aug. 26: Parker Barrow

Aug. 28: The Calling

Sept. 16-17: Leonid & Friends; Sept. 28: Pure Prairie League; Oct. 4: Stryper; Oct. 8: Here Come The Mummies; Oct. 14: Tab Benoit; Nov. 6: Max Weinberg’s Jukebox.

HARTWOOD ACRES, Hampton Township

Aug. 2: The Wood Brothers

Aug. 9: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Aug. 16: The Lemon Twigs

Aug. 30: Blasey does the Beatles

Sept. 6: Buzz Poets

PALACE THEATRE, Greensburg

Aug. 2: Richard Marx

Aug. 30: George Thorogood

Sept. 20: LeAnn Rimes; Sept. 23: Celtic Thunder; Sept. 27: Brian Regan; Oct. 2: Robin Trower;  Oct. 15: Micky Dolenz; Oct. 26: Daughtry; Nov. 13: Foghat; Dec. 2: Stray Cats.

 

TIMBER ROCK AMPHITHEATER, Farmington

Aug. 7: Chris Young

Aug. 22: Dylan Scott

Aug. 28: Travis Tritt

Sept. 11: Ted Nugent

ROXIAN THEATRE @ CITIZENS, McKees Rocks

Aug. 12: Courtney Barrett

Sept. 18: Lakeview; Sept. 22: St. Paul & The Broken Bones; Sept. 27: Buffalo Traffic Jam; Sept. 29: Public Image Limited; Oct. 7: Soccer Mommy; Oct. 16: Wheeler Walker; Oct. 31: Dweezil Zappa; Nov. 5: Lauren Alaina; Nov. 28: Punchline; Dec. 6: GWAR

 

PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER, Pittsburgh

Aug. 21: Koe Wetzel

Sept. 17: Phil Wickham; Oct. 9: Johnny Blue Skies; Nov. 15: The Rock Orchestra.

MR. SMALLS THEATRE, Millvale

Aug. 4: Digable Planets

Aug. 16: The Mountain Goats

Aug. 29: Morgan Wade

Sept. 16: Brian Fallon; Sept. 18: Margaret Glapsy; Sept. 19: Frank Turner; Sept. 26: Ben Harper (sold out); Oct. 22: Low Cut Connie

YOUNGSTOWN FOUNDATION AMPHITHEATER, Youngstown

Aug. 9: Joe Bonamassa and Gov’t Mule

Sept. 11: Niko Moon; Sept. 19: Charley Crockett.

CITY WINERY PITTSBURGH

Aug. 8: Roger Humphries presents a jazz  night for Bill Strickland

Sept. 23: Ron Pope; Oct. 18: Lacey Sturm;  Nov. 14: Joshua Radin

THUNDERBIRD CAFE, Pittsburgh

Aug. 19: American Aquarium

Nov. 14: Michigander

CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL, Munhall

Oct. 9: Marc Maron; Oct. 13: Bruce Hornsby; Nov. 4: Judy Collins.

HEINZ HALL, Pittsburgh

Oct. 6: Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra; Oct. 13: Penn & Teller; Dec. 8: Leslie Odom Jr.

BYHAM THEATER, Pittsburgh

Oct. 8: Fred Armisan; Oct. 17: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; Nov. 28: Jim Brinkman

CITIZENS LIVE AT THE WYLIE, Pittsburgh

Oct. 1: Role Model; Oct. 2: Wiz Khalifa; Oct. 3: Styx; Oct. 4: Foster The People; Oct. 6: Two Door Cinema; Oct. 7: Freya Skye; Oct. 8: Matt Matthews; Oct. 9: Chelsea Handler; Oct. 10: Modest Mouse; Oct. 11: Chance The Rapper; Oct. 16: Boyz II Men; Oct. 20: Tedeschi Trucks; Oct. 21: The Story So Far; Oct. 23: Smokey Robinson; Oct. 25: Little Big Town; Oct. 31: Aries Spears; Nov. 2: Glorilla; Nov. 6-7: Sting; Nov. 12: Jack White; Nov. 15: Wyatt Flores; Nov. 19-20: Goose;  Dec. 2: Steven Wilson Jr.; Dec. 3: Sabaton.

RIVERS CASINO, Pittsburgh

Aug. 15: Jake Owen

Sept. 11: Colin Jost.

OTHERS

Aug. 7: BoDeans, Oaks Theater, Oakmont; Aug. 29: Bruno Mars, Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh; Sept. 2: Reb Beach, South Park Amphitheater.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is announcing utility work on the Route 65 (Mercer Road) in Daugherty Township, Beaver County will begin Monday, August 3 weather permitting.

Beginning Monday, single-lane alternating traffic controlled by flaggers will occur in both directions of Route 65 between Kenah Drive and McCreary Road from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM each weekday through early September. Crews from NPL, Inc. will conduct gas line work for Columbia Gas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of National Whistleblower Day, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act to provide long-term stability to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) whistleblower program, strengthen protections for whistleblowers, and speed up award processing. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). The CFTC ensures America’s commodity markets remain fair, transparent, and free from fraud and manipulation. This includes the markets farmers rely on to manage the prices of crops, livestock, and other agricultural products.

“Whistleblowers put their jobs and often their lives on the line to call out the most serious offenses in the workplace. Zero doubt that they should be protected,” said Senator Fetterman. “As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Senator Grassley to protect whistleblowers and improve the CFTC whistleblower program.”

“Since I helped get the CFTC whistleblower program up and running, I’m pleased to see it’s been a big success. This program roots out waste, fraud and abuse in the commodities trading industry and operates at no charge to the taxpayer. Now, it’s time for Congress to act so its success can continue. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens protections for patriotic whistleblowers, prevents unnecessary delays in the disbursement of whistleblower awards and ensures the CFTC whistleblower program can operate smoothly,” said Senator Grassley.

“The Commodity Futures Trading Commission plays a crucial role in protecting American commodity markets, and safeguarding its whistleblower program helps maintain public trust in the integrity of those markets,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would provide long-term stability for the CFTC whistleblower program by strengthening protections for whistleblowers, promoting the timely processing of claims, and eliminating a loophole that can prevent whistleblowers from receiving awards.”

“No one should be punished for speaking out when they see something wrong. This bipartisan bill promotes accountability and bolsters essential protections for people who risk their careers to stand up to fraud and corruption,” said Senator Warnock. “This legislation will benefit every American taxpayer, and I’m grateful to work with my colleagues across the aisle to strengthen this vital program.”

Background

Under current law, the Customer Protection Fund (CPF) is capped at $100 million. Any fines collected after the cap are sent to the Treasury Department’s general fund. As fines from whistleblower disclosures have increased in volume and value in recent years, reward disbursements have also risen. As a result, the CPF is depleting faster than it can be replenished due to the $100 million collection cap. This leaves the whistleblower office without the resources needed to pay whistleblowers or fund its operations.

The CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act would:

• Enhance protections for CFTC whistleblowers.
• Make permanent the separate account that funds the CFTC Whistleblower Office.
• Raise the CPF cap from $100 million to $300 million.
• Ensure whistleblower claims are processed in a timely manner.
• Eliminate a court-created loophole prohibiting whistleblowers from receiving an award because a company declared bankruptcy.
• Ensure CFTC-regulated entities inform their employees of their whistleblower rights.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is announcing restrictions on Interstate 79 in Marshall Township and Franklin Park Borough, Allegheny County will continue next week, Tuesday through Friday, August 4-7, weather permitting.

Southbound I-79 will be reduced to a single-lane of traffic between the off and on-ramps at the Route 910/Wexford (Exit 73) interchange from 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM each night for abutment work.

Please stay alert and drive cautiously – safety is everyone’s responsibility.

The $46.5 million I-79/Route 910 Wexford Interchange project will include new construction of a full offset single-point urban interchange (SPUI) at the I-79/Route 910 Wexford Interchange. The project limits along I-79 are from approximately 1.5 miles north of the I-79/I-279 split to Mingo Road and the limits on Route 910 are between Nicholson Road and Brandt School Road/VIP Drive in Franklin Park Borough and Marshall Township. Bridge work includes two new flyover structures over I-79, as well as sign structures and bridge preservation to the existing bridge carrying Route 910 over I-79. Other work includes traffic signal improvements, new highway lighting, minor ITS upgrades, drainage work, signing/pavement marking and guide rail updates, and other miscellaneous construction. During construction, three lanes of traffic in each direction are expected during peak travel times, as well as temporary ramps to maintain access for most of the project. Additionally, short-term lane and shoulder closures will be utilized. The project is anticipated to continue through the 2027 construction season.

FILE – A display shows $110.04 for gasoline on a fuel pump at a Mobil gas station on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — American oil and gas giants raked in massive spring profits while fighting between Iran and the U.S. impeded petroleum shipments and consumers around the world paid more for fuel and confronted shortages.

The conflict, now in its sixth month, halted most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that previously served as a delivery route for a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas. With global supplies constrained, prices for Brent crude, the international standard, soared from about $70 to above $100 a barrel for much of March, April and May, and at one point reached $126.

The money that oil companies accrued between the beginning of April and the end of June could receive extra scrutiny this year. Gasoline, diesel and jet fuel prices climbed during that period, increasing costs for drivers and airline passengers. Supplies ran low in some countries, leading to sporadic fuel rationing in Australia and government office closures in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The attacks between the U.S. and Iran resulted in huge profits for some of the biggest publicly traded oil companies as they sold their goods for higher prices. Exxon Mobil on Friday reported doubling its second-quarter profits to $14.53 billion, up 105% from the same time a year ago. The oil giant, based in Spring, Texas, brought in $116.02 billion in revenue, up 42% from the same time last year.

Chevron, based in Houston, nearly quadrupled its profits to $12.07 billion, up 385% from the same quarter last year, and reported $70.06 billion in revenue, up 56% from the same time last year.

Six of Europe’s largest oil companies posted first-quarter profits of $22 billion altogether, a total which was 43% higher than the same time last year, according to Global Witness, a nonprofit organization that investigates environmental problems.

“There are constituencies around the world who are having a very good crisis, and the oil producers are one of them,” said Patrick Galey, fossil fuels lead at Global Witness. “When you compare that to the hundreds of millions of people who are struggling with rolling blackouts, with electricity curbs, rationing, waiting in line for food queues, or the disruption to fertilizers and the potential impact that that has on food prices, we don’t think that it’s a justifiable price for the rest of the world to be paying.”

Lawmakers propose taxing major oil producers for war windfalls

Energy companies such as Exxon and Chevron do not set the price of American oil, which ricocheted from $68 to $115 a barrel during the quarter. It’s driven by supply and demand, and what traders, refiners and other buyers are willing to pay.

Nevertheless, Democrats in Congress introduced bills in March to tax major oil producers for profits they show from 2026 onward and have the tax proceeds redistributed to consumers.

“It’s fair to put a windfall profits tax on inordinate windfall profits rather than cut off children’s food programs,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat who introduced the Senate version of the legislation.

Whitehouse’s measure and a companion bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California would amend the U.S. tax code to impose a per-barrel excise tax on companies that produced or imported at least 300,000 barrels of oil per day in 2025. The tax would be 50% of the difference between the oil price at the time of the levy and the average price per barrel last year. Similar proposals failed to pass in previous years.

“We cracked $4 again per gallon last weekend in gas stations that I drove by, and that’s a big expense, particularly for families that get their income from driving around from job to job in the work van or the work truck,” Whitehouse said. “It makes a real difference.”

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S., which was below $3 before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, reached $4.11 Friday. That’s about $1 more than the cost of a gallon at this point last year.

Refineries rake in cash while consumers pay more for fuel

Outfits such as Exxon and Chevron, which not only extract oil and gas but also own refineries, are in the best position to profit from the current market conditions, said Tom Seng, assistant professor of energy finance at Texas Christian University.

Refineries turn crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and home heating oil. They’re enjoying historically high “crack spreads,” which is a term to describe the profits refineries expect to make based on the prices of oil and products such as gasoline and jet fuel, Seng said.

In late July, refineries planning to buy a barrel of oil for about $80 were looking at potential profits of $50-$60, which is huge compared to the average range of $20-$25, he said.

“The return on refining, on a percentage basis, has skyrocketed,” Seng said. “Oil right now is priced what it is priced because of the Iran war. But in the meantime, the refineries are making money hand over fist.”

Globally, not all refineries have been able to get the supply of crude oil they need to meet demand since the conflict began, said Timothy Fitzgerald, a University of Tennessee professor of business economics who studies the petroleum industry.

As a result, refineries that have ample oil to work with, including those in the U.S., are turning high profits, particularly when they make jet fuel and diesel, which is priced about 41% higher in the U.S. than before the Strait of Hormuz was blocked.

“If you’re a company that owns a bunch of refinery capacity, things look pretty good,” Fitzgerald said.

American refineries are running at near-full capacity and poised to benefit because some refineries in the Middle East and Russia were damaged, while others in Asia can’t get the amount of oil they used to from the Middle East.

“Ultimately, users of the energy services pay,” Fitzgerald said. “Consumers, people like you and me buying retail motor gasoline or diesel fuel or airplane tickets. But it also means that almost everything else we buy has an embedded energy content to it … and this is where you start to worry about it driving increases in costs.”

Not all oil and gas companies benefit in the same way

In the present geopolitical environment, some companies are winners while others are losers, Fitzgerald said.

“If you’re a company like a U.S. (oil) producer, even a U.S.-based international company like an Exxon or Chevron who’s got lots of production outside the Gulf, things are good. You’re selling your product at a higher price,” he said.

But companies in the Middle East that are not able to benefit from higher prices because they are struggling to get their liquefied natural gas out of the Persian Gulf or have a lot of damaged oil fields or processing facilities have a very different take on recent events, Fitzgerald added.

“Your ability to sell anything and the volume that you may be getting out is so curtailed that your revenues are way down and you’re incurring higher transportation costs and security costs,” he said.

Exxon and Chevron weren’t as profitable in the first quarter due to the way oil is traded; the first real opportunity they had to take advantage of higher prices oil was in April. Companies that had a lot of oil stored in floating tankers and available for spot-market trading, including some European ones, were able to benefit from March’s higher oil prices, Seng said.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published July 31, 2026 8:55 A.M.

(Monaca, Pa) The Borough of Monaca is advising residents that water service will be interrupted today.

Road closures will take place in the area of Allen Avenue and Walnut Street, where a waterline will be repaired.

Those living in the area may experience a water outage from around 8am through 3pm Friday.