(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent

(Center Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) Center Township Board of Supervisors opened bids for road paving at Monday night’s meeting. The bids were turned over to  road chairman Rich George and he will review them with township engineer Ned Mitrovich, according to Bill Dicioccio, Jr., township chairman.

(File Photo)
Gas prices are four cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.204 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                $4.204
Average price during the week of April 11, 2022                                     $4.249
Average price during the week of April 19, 2021                                     $3.002

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

$4.103      Altoona
$4.294      Beaver
$4.198      Bradford
$4.208      Brookville
$4.177      Butler
$4.197      Clarion
$4.208      DuBois
$4.175      Erie
$4.175      Greensburg
$4.180      Indiana
$4.156      Jeannette
$4.206      Kittanning
$4.183      Latrobe
$4.194      Meadville
$4.242      Mercer
$4.198      New Castle
$4.182      New Kensington
$4.199      Oil City
$4.191      Pittsburgh
$4.208      Sharon
$4.198      Uniontown
$4.197      Warren
$4.197      Washington

Trend Analysis:

While gas prices have decreased again this week, market concerns remain about the return of seasonal gas demands and higher global oil prices. The war in Ukraine and fear of less Russian oil entering the market caused the price of crude to creep back above $100 a barrel. At the close of Thursday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $2.70 to settle at $106.95 as the European Union announced they are drafting plans to ban Russian oil imports. This move could potentially tighten global supply as member countries look for new sources for crude oil in an already tight market. Meanwhile, as more places in the U.S. see pump prices fall below $4 a gallon, demand is ticking back up. Domestically, the national average for a gallon of gas has fallen to $4.08. This is 19 cents less than a month ago and $1.21 more than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 3.5 million barrels to 233.1 million barrels last week. Gasoline demand increased slightly from 8.5 million barrels per day to 8.73 million barrels per day. Although supply and demand factors would typically support elevated pump prices, the fluctuating oil price continues to be the main factor influencing prices at the pump.

Meanwhile, consumers will enjoy a tasty gas price–related treat courtesy of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. For the next three Wednesdays, Krispy Kreme will lower the price of a dozen Original Glazed donuts to the national average that AAA reports each Monday. The offer runs through Wednesday, May 4^th. A dozen glazed doughnuts typically cost around $12. This Wednesday’s dozen should cost $4.08, not including sales tax, only in shop, drive-thru, and online pickup.

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.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
By JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is taking a key step to ensure federal dollars will support U.S. manufacturing. New guidance being issued Monday will require material for projects like bridges, highways and broadband internet funded by last year’s infrastructure package be produced in the U.S. Waivers can be granted if the material costs too much or cannot be sufficiently provided by domestic factories. Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, President Joe Biden hopes to create more jobs, ease supply chain strains and reduce the reliance on China. He’s betting that more domestic production will ultimately reduce price pressures to blunt Republican attacks that his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package triggered higher prices.

(File Photo)

(Koppel, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were called to Youngblood Paving on Big Beaver Blvd. in Koppel on March 31, 2022 at 1 PM for reports of an office building being graffitied.
Upon arriving and investigating it was determined that two known juveniles graffitied the building .
No other information about the incident was released by State Police.

(Pittsburgh, pa.) Allegheny Health Network (AHN) will celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week April 17 – 23 throughout its 14 hospitals across western Pennsylvania and in New York.

The folks wearing the unmistakable red smocks—766 in total—support hospital staff, patients and visitors in a wide range of assignments, including baby cuddling, escorting patients and visitors and delivering mail and flowers to patients. They serve in various departments: cancer centers, emergency departments, information desks, coffee shops as well as many patient care units.

“Our volunteers enhance our patients’ experiences by sharing a warm smile, a friendly word and a tender touch when it’s needed most,” said Kelly Kassab, Chief Operating Officer for AHN Jefferson and Canonsburg Hospitals; Kassab provides network oversight of the volunteer managers. “Their compassion and willingness to contribute their gifts of time and talent are an inspiration to everyone around them.” In 2021, AHN volunteers contributed a remarkable 55,304 collective hours of service.

Although AHN’s volunteers are mainly composed of retirees with newfound time on their hands, a growing number of college students appreciate the opportunity to serve while learning more about the inner workings of a hospital and exploring potential career options within the healthcare realm.

Along with their day-to-day hospital duties, the volunteers routinely take on special initiatives, including “Cheers from Volunteers,” aimed at caring for the caregivers during the height of the pandemic. The volunteers donated snacks for staff members to thank them and recognize their efforts during an extraordinarily difficult time. “Instead of this being a temporary project like we originally intended, a few volunteers continue to provide snacks for staff on a regular basis,” said Mona Philson, Program Manager for Volunteer Resources at AHN Grove City. “Honestly, they wholeheartedly reap as much satisfaction and joy as the staff members who receive the goodies, and it’s been a win-win for all and a real display of care and concern by our volunteers from moment one.”

“This year’s theme is especially fitting because navigating a hospital, no matter the size, can be puzzling for patients and visitors,” said Kimberly Giovanelli, Director of Community Services and Volunteer Resources for AHN’s Allegheny Valley Hospital. “Our dedicated, helpful volunteers help smooth the process by getting them where they need to go.

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.)  (AP) Authorities say shots fired at a house party in Pittsburgh left two 17-year-olds dead and at least eight more people wounded. The shooting happened at around 12:30 a.m. Sunday as hundreds of people had gathered at a short-term rental home. Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert says the “vast majority” of them were underage. Two male gunshot victims identified as Jaiden Brown and Mathew Steffy-Ross died at the scene and eight others were wounded by gunfire. Others were hurt trying to flee, including two who broke bones while jumping out the building’s windows. No arrests were immediately reported. Schubert said there was gunfire both inside and outside the rental home, “and potentially back and forth.”