AAA: Western PA Gas Prices Steady; Some Gulf Refineries Still Offline
Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania are stable this week at $3.321 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                 $3.321
Average price during the week of August 30, 2021                                  $3.323
Average price during the week of September 8, 2020                              $2.569

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

$3.299      Altoona
$3.359      Beaver
$3.359      Bradford
$3.366      Brookville
$3.296      Butler
$3.356      Clarion
$3.323      DuBois
$3.343      Erie
$3.297      Greensburg
$3.299      Indiana
$3.278      Jeannette
$3.305      Kittanning
$3.358      Latrobe
$3.347      Meadville
$3.354      Mercer
$3.276      New Castle
$3.273      New Kensington
$3.359      Oil City
$3.328      Pittsburgh
$3.299      Sharon
$3.268      Uniontown
$3.357      Warren
$3.279      Washington

Trend Analysis:

Following Labor Day weekend and the remnants of Hurricane Ida, the national gas price average has stabilized at $3.18, which is just 3 cents more expensive on the week. The storm took about 13% of U.S. refinery capacity offline and while there are no firm re-start dates, refineries are expected to be back online this month. For now, the downed production could put pressure on crude supplies and prices as the recovery and restoration process unfolds in the region.

 

Gasoline stock levels are currently at 227.2 million barrels, which is a healthy level. However, stock levels could tighten until refineries resume normal operations. Typically, a limitation on stocks would mean higher gas prices, but with demand expected to decrease going into the fall, price fluctuation should be minimal. Today’s national average is the same as last month, but 96 cents more than a year ago.

Historically, gas demand starts to decline in the fall as schools reopen and summer road trips end, which leads to less expensive gas prices. Despite the dip in demand, the national average may remain above $3 per gallon especially as crude oil continues to price on the higher end.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 72 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

(North Sewickley Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of a tractor trailer accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Sunday morning, September 5, 2021,  at 5:11 AM.
Upon arriving on the scene and investigating Troopers reported that 63-year-old Edward Hicks from Schertz Texas was operating a 2016 Peterbilt semi-truck traveling eastbound on the Turnpike in North Sewickley Twp.  when he was having a right front brake issue which caused the truck to leave the roadway and into a grassy embankment where it came to a final rest. Hick’s was transported to UPMC Passavant in Cranberry for suspected minor injuries. Troopers charged Hicks with not driving properly on roadways laned for traffic.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT is announcing lane restrictions on the McKees Rocks Bridge (Route 3104) in Stowe Township, Allegheny County will occur Wednesday and Thursday, September 8-9 weather permitting.

(Photo courtesy of Penn Dot)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Overnight lane restrictions inside the Fort Pitt Tunnel will be in effect tonight and Thursday Night. Single-lane restrictions will be in place in each direction from 9:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. .Crews will be repairing lights in the tunnel.

(Photo Courtesy of TSA) 

(Moon Twp., Pa.) An Ohio man was stopped with a loaded 9 mm handgun in his backpack Tuesday at Pittsburgh International Airport. Transportation Security Administration officers spotted the gun loaded with seven bullets in the checkpoint X-ray machine.

TSA officers alerted Allegheny County police who confiscated the gun and detained the man for questioning.

Travelers are not permitted to carry their guns onto airplanes, however, passengers are allowed to transport their firearms as checked baggage if they are properly packed and declared at their airline ticket counter.

This is the 19th handgun stopped at a checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport this year.

Keystone State News Connection

September 8, 2021

Emily Scott

STOYSTOWN, Pa. — Many have called United Flight 93, one of the four hijacked planes on Sep. 11, 2001, the first battle in the war on terror. This week, chalk artists from across the country are creating portraits, to honor those on board who attempted to retake control of the plane.

Flight 93 is the only hijacked plane from 9/11 that did not reach its intended target, believed to be Washington, D.C. Instead, it crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing the 40 passengers and crew members.

Erik Greenawalt, a chalk artist from Pittsburgh, will display his art, along with nine other artists, at the Flight 93 National Memorial near the crash site. Greenawalt said he is proud to create art on hallowed ground.

“Flight 93 is very close to our hearts, and still in our memory and still in our collective minds,” Greenawalt reflected. “I think I, along with the artists, really recognize the solemnity of what it is that we’re doing. And this is going to be one to memorialize those heroes from that day and, at least for a moment, let the visitors at the memorial see who those people were.”

The portraits will be made on three-by-five-foot cement boards that are transportable in case of rain. The artists will use photos provided by the National Park Service, which runs the memorial.

Nate Baranowski, a Chicago-based chalk artist, visited the Flight 93 National Memorial during a road trip earlier this year and was moved by its tribute to the victims. He said he is looking forward to participating in the project, and using an art form like chalk is a great way to symbolically remember the lives lost on 9/11.

“Because in a lot of ways, honoring those on Flight 93 is honoring their lives, but also acknowledging the sort of ephemeral nature of life and how it is short in a lot of ways,” Baranowski remarked. “It shows the beauty of lives, although tragically cut short.”

More events at the memorial this weekend include a speaker series with local first responders and family members of Flight 93 passengers, as well as a lantern vigil.

Route 588 Eastvale Bridge Inspection Wednesday in Beaver County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing restrictions on the bridge that carries Route 588 over the Beaver River in Eastvale Borough and the City of Beaver Falls, Beaver County, will occur Wednesday, September 8 weather permitting.

Single-lane alternating traffic will occur on the bridge from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday as crews from TranSystems conduct routine inspection activities.

Motorists are advised to use caution, slow down, and be prepared for changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area. Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

 

Steelers optimistic Watt’s status will be resolved by Sunday
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt will be available when the defending AFC North champions open the season in Buffalo. The three-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract and negotiations on a possible extension are ongoing. Watt didn’t play during the preseason and did not participate in 11-on-11 drills during training camp. If Watt for some reason can’t go, veteran Melvin Ingram will likely get the start against the Bills.