(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are eight cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at about $3.22 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $2.87. The report states that the average price for a gallon of gas in Western Pennsylvania at this time a year ago was around $3.50 and the average price that you can expect for a gallon of unleaded gas here in Beaver County is about $3.24. According to a release from AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here are the average prices of unleaded self-serve gasoline this week in various Pennsylvania areas:

$3.231      Altoona
$3.243      Beaver
$3.292      Bradford
$2.076      Brookville
$3.234      Butler
$3.175      Clarion
$3.245      DuBois
$3.229      Erie
$3.261      Greensburg
$3.180      Indiana
$3.240      Jeannette
$3.251      Kittanning
$3.089      Latrobe
$3.280      Meadville
$3.238      Mercer
$3.085      New Castle
$3.233      New Kensington
$3.299      Oil City
$3.198      Pittsburgh
$3.053      Sharon
$3.263      Uniontown
$3.425      Warren
$3.211      Washington

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that thirty-one-year-old Zackarie Mitchell of Industry was arrested for drug possession in Aliquippa early yesterday morning. This happened along Bet Tech Drive and Woodlawn Road at 1:18 a.m. According to police, PSP Beaver responded to the Beaver County Jail in reference to Mitchell concealing drugs and paraphernalia in his privates. Charges against Mitchell are pending. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: A view of the scene Feb. 24, 2023, as the cleanup continues at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday, March 6, 2023 that Norfolk Southern has pledged several million dollars to cover the cost of the response and recovery in Pennsylvania after last month’s derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals just across the border in Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, file)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(East Palestine, OH) Today is the three-year anniversary of the massive Norfolk Southern train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. Over three dozen freight cars of a train that was carrying hazardous materials derailed near East Palestine close to the Pennsylvania line. The derailment prompted an evacuation immediately and the intentional burning of toxic vinyl chloride that occurred three days later sent flames and acrid smoke in the air. There is a dashboard from Norfolk Southern called “Making It Right” which outlines several financial commitments, including a $600 million settlement reached in 2024. The company has also allocated funds of $115 million for support in the East Palestine community, as well as $25 million for a city park revitalization project, along with $22.2 million for direct assistance to local families. 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Cars)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A multi-vehicle crash temporarily shut down the northbound lanes of Route 28 in Pittsburgh yesterday morning. The interstate was closed to traffic for about an hour until around 10:15 a.m. at the 31st Street Bridge/Strip District exit. One vehicle appeared to have flipped onto its roof on footage on traffic cameras. It’s unknown at this time if anyone was injured in the crash or the details about the cause of the crash.

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Moon Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that intermittent traffic stoppages on Thorn Run Road (Route 3087) in Moon Township will occur today, weather permitting. From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., intermittent traffic stoppages of 15 minutes or less will occur on Thorn Run Road between University Boulevard and Old Thorn Run Road as crews from the Duquesne Light Company will conduct wire replacement work there. 

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that inspection activities on the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge, which carries Route 2114 over the Monongahela River in the cities of McKeesport and Duquesne will occur today, weather permitting. As needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., single-lane alternating traffic will occur on the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge as crews from HDR, Inc. and the Sofis Rigging Company will conduct inspection activities there. 

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) A crash happened this morning near Heritage Valley Beaver. It backed up traffic in the area. There were at least two people affected by the crash. That is all the information that we have at this time.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of People’s Natural Gas)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Today is National Energy Assistance Day, and Peoples Natural Gas urges its customers to explore assistance programs that are available now that can help manage monthly bills. According to a release in Pittsburgh today from People’s Natural Gas, several programs to help customers keep their homes warm and manage their monthly bills can vbe found below:

• Customer Assistance Program (CAP): Click here to find out more – This Peoples program offers payment plans for customers based on household income or budget, rather than gas usage.

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Click here to find out more – A federally funded, state-run grant program that makes payments directly to Peoples on a customer’s behalf. Customers experiencing a heating crisis, such as broken heating equipment or a utility shut-off notice, may be eligible for additional funds through LIHEAP. Applications are open through April 10, 2026 or until funds are exhausted. 

• Dollar Energy Fund (DEF) Grants Click here to find out more – Peoples customers can access grants of up to $500 through DEF, available on a first-come, first-served basis while funding is available.   

• Usage Reduction Program Click here to find out more – A Peoples-funded program that helps eligible customers repair broken heating equipment or gas lines. 

 

• Customers can check eligibility for various programs using the income guidelines chart below:
• (Photo Below Provided with Release Courtesy of People’s Natural Gas)

 

 

 

You can learn more about these programs and apply by either calling 1-800-400-WARM (9276)  by visiting peoples-gas.com/help by clicking here.

 

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Center Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that twenty-year-old Joseph Verbeck of Imperial, Pennsylvania was charged after a single-vehicle crash in Center Township yesterday morning. At 7:24 a.m., Verbeck was driving too fast on I-376 East for a left-hand curve and lost control of his vehicle. Verbeck eventually hit a snow bank after leaving the right of the roadway and hit a guard rail, but he was not injured as a result of this crash.