(Pittsburgh, PA) – Anthony Williams, a Pastor from Chicago, has been walking from his home city, to Washington D.C. in protest to violence across the country. Pastor Williams wants to convince President Biden that violence is a nationwide “health crisis” and should be viewed as such. “Our children need to grow up without fear of losing their lives. Our seniors need to be able to walk comfortably without losing their lives.”, Williams said in an interview with CBSN. He also made it very clear that his message is that violence does not discriminate, but it does divide.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a roughly $40 billion budget package, before he spoke Wednesday at a Capitol news conference celebrating new funding for public schools. The budget legislation won approval Friday in the Republican-controlled Legislature. The package holds the line on taxes, and puts billions of dollars in federal coronavirus aid into reserve. Wolf is touting $300 million extra for school district operations, including setting aside $100 million of that for the poorest districts. In exchange, Republicans got Wolf to repeal a regulation to expand the ranks of lower-wage salaried workers who qualify for overtime pay. Wolf, though, says more still needs to be done for public schools.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a father killed his two young children and then set fire to their northwestern Pennsylvania house, where he was also found dead. State police said the bodies of 48-year-old Richard Zimmer and the 10-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl were found after the blaze was reported shortly 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Greene Township home in Erie County. Police said concerned family members had gone to the home after Zimmer failed to show up for a custody hearing earlier in the day and arrived to find heavy smoke in the residence.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(West Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa police Chief John Lane reported an update Monday afternoon on the fatal motorcycle accident that claimed the life of Richard C. Nolte, 61 of Coraopolis, PA.. Nolte was found with his motorcycle resting on him at 7:39 PM Sunday night on the railroad tracks near the 600 block of McKee Ave. in West Aliquippa.  Chief Lane said the accident had occurred within 24 hours from the time Nolte’s body was discovered. Nolte had been staying with a friend in West Aliquippa. Beaver County Coroner David Gabauer’s office pronounced Nolte dead at the scene.

Police continue to investigate the cause of the accident.

Wolf vetoes GOP bill with voter ID, other elections changes
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor has vetoed a Republican-crafted elections bill that would have mandated voter identification in all elections and made a host of other changes to election law. Gov. Tom Wolf said outside his Capitol offices Wednesday that he considers it a voter suppression measure. Wolf also used his line-item veto authority to eliminate $3.1 million in funding in separate budget legislation after Republican lawmakers claimed that it had been earmarked to create an election-auditing bureau under the independently elected auditor general. Wolf had said there was no such agreement to use the money for an election-auditing bureau.

Story by Beaver County Radio Correspondent, Sandy Giordano.

(Monaca, PA) – Monaca firefighters were dispatched to a fire at Stoelzel Glass (Anchor Hocking ) at approximately 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Fire Chief Mike Siegel. Chief Siegel said there was an oil leak on the hot line and oil sprayed up into the ventilation fan.

(North Beaver Township, PA) – Pennsylvania State Police have reported via release that on June 29th, 2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m. Jeffrey Myers, a 56 year old male from Beaver, PA, was pulled over for a traffic stop near the 18.9 mile marker in North Beaver Township on I-376 West; he was operating a 2017 Ford Focus. During the traffic stop, Mr. Myers was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and was subsequently arrested. Myers did submit to alcohol testing.

(Gibsonia, PA) – Pennsylvania State Police have reported via release that on June 29th, 2021, at approximately 1:05 a.m. a Mr. Eric Carrol, a 25 year old man from Greensburg, PA, was traveling westbound on I-76 in a White 1998 Toyota Camry, when he passed the Pittsburgh Interchange, he performed a U-turn. As he was traveling eastbound on the shoulder, Mr. Carrol wrecked into a Speed Limit Advisory Trailer. During the impact, the front bumper struck the trailer. When he hit the trailer, the airbags deployed, making the vehicle disabled. After further investigation, Mr. Carrol exhibited signs of being under the influence of alcohol. He was then transported to Allegheny Health Network Harmar for a chemical test. No injuries were on Mr. Carrol and charges pending lab results.

Story by Beaver County Radio Correspondent, Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell Township, PA) – Hopewell Township Commissioners on Monday night approved a motion to apply for a Multimodal Transportation Fund grant for $226,463 for culvert replacement at the community park.

More Than 47 Million Americans to Travel This Independence Day Weekend
Travel expected to increase 40% compared to last July 4, reaching the second-highest travel volume on record

More than 47.7 million Americans will take to the nation’s roadways and skies this Independence Day (July 1–5), as travel volumes are expected to nearly fully recover to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, this will be the second-highest Independence Day travel volume on record, trailing only 2019. Overall, just 2.5% fewer Americans are expected to travel this year compared to Independence Day in 2019. This represents an increase of nearly 40% compared to last year, when total travel fell to 34.2 million.

While all modes of travel will see increased demand this Independence Day, road trips continue to dominate this summer. Despite the highest gas prices in seven years, more than 91% of holiday travel will be by car. An expected 43.6 million Americans will drive to their destinations, the highest on record for this holiday and 5% more than the previous record set in 2019. With 3.5 million people planning to fly, air travel volumes this Independence Day will reach 90% of pre-pandemic levels, and increase 164% compared to last year.

“There was a major uptick in travel for Memorial Day and it appears Independence Day will continue the trend,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “Americans are ready to catch up on those missed opportunities with their friends and families from last year, especially to sunny destinations likes beaches and lakes.”

Another 620,000 Americans are expected to travel by other modes this Independence Day, an increase of over 72% compared to last year, but 83% lower than in 2019. This includes travel by bus and train, and the return of cruising as early as late June. For anyone making the personal decision to travel, AAA reminds them that a travel advisor can help with what you can expect on your trip and travel insurance options to help protect your health and travel investment before and during your vacation.

Mid-Atlantic Region Independence Day Forecast Highlights
*Region includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

*AAA did not issue an Independence Day holiday travel forecast in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, actual travel volumes were recorded after the holiday for comparison purposes this year.

Top Destinations & Resources to Plan Your Trip
AAA Travel booking data also indicate a strong travel recovery for summer. Nationally, theme parks in Orlando and southern California, as well destinations including Denver, Las Vegas and Seattle are topping the list of Independence Day destinations this year.

Top Independence Day Travel Destinations:

1. Orlando, FL
2. Anaheim, CA
3. Denver, CO
4. Las Vegas, NV
5. Seattle, WA
6. Chicago, IL
7. New York, NY
8. Atlanta, GA
9. Boston, MA
10. Kahului, Maui, HI

*Based on National AAA Travel advance air and tour bookings, July 1–5, 2021

When planning a trip, refer to the new AAA Digital TourBook guides, now available for destinations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean at TourBook.AAA.com. Available on smartphone, tablet or desktop, the new interactive guides feature detailed destination information, must-see attractions, sample itineraries and more.

To meet the needs of today’s travelers, AAA is enhancing its Diamond inspections. Hotels that meet AAA’s standards for cleanliness, condition and new surface cleanliness testing will now be recognized as Inspected Clean and then assigned a Diamond designation. AAA inspectors will start conducting testing to identify Inspected Clean properties later this month. In the meantime, travelers can look for AAA’s Best of Housekeeping badge for peace of mind. Prior to any hotel stay, call ahead to ensure your hotel is open and ask what precautions they are taking to protect guests.

Long Delays Expected for Drivers
INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the worst congestion heading into the holiday weekend as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers, along with the return trip on Monday mid-day. Major metro areas across the U.S. could see nearly double the delays verses typical drive times, with drivers in Boston and San Francisco likely to experience nearly three-times the delays.

Daily Worst and Best Times to Travel

Travelers: Prepare for Higher Prices
While AAA found average airfares have declined 2% across the country compared to last Independence Day, travelers can expect to find higher prices for hotels and car rentals as demand climbs. Mid-range hotel rates have increased between 32% and 35%, with average nightly rates ranging between $156 and $398 for AAA Two Diamond and AAA Three Diamond hotels, respectively.

Daily car rental rates have increased 86% compared to last Independence Day, topping out at $166. Consumers have experienced high costs and limited availability of rental cars in some markets, due to the chip shortage impacting auto manufacturers. This production delay has presented a domino effect as rental car companies work to increase their inventory of new vehicles in time to meet the increased demand for domestic road travel.

The 43.6 million Americans expected to travel by car this Independence Day can expect gas prices to be the most expensive since 2014 with the national average likely to remain above $3 per gallon. AAA members can save on gas by joining the Fuel Rewards at Shell program. Save 30 cents per gallon on your first fill-up at Shell when you join between July 1 and August 31, 2021. Join now at AAA.com/Shell.

More Tips for Travelers
While many aspects of daily life start to return closer to a pre-pandemic normal, AAA cautions that the travel landscape has changed. Remember to exercise caution while traveling, and consider working with a travel advisor to plan your trip. They can help if you need to make any last-minute changes to travel plans, explore travel insurance options and help you plan a vacation that meets your needs and comfort-level this summer.

Although the CDC advises that fully vaccinated people can travel domestically at low risk to themselves, it’s important to keep in mind that some local and state travel restrictions may still remain in place. Travelers can refer to AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map and TripTik.AAA.com for the latest information to help plan their trip.

Make Sure Your Car is Road Trip-Ready
Before hitting the road, AAA reminds motorists to plan their route in advance and ensure their vehicle is ready, to help avoid a breakdown along the way. AAA expects to rescue more than 460,000 Americans across the country at the roadside this Independence Day weekend.

AAA makes it easy to request assistance—by phone or text (1-800-AAA-HELP), and members can track the service technician’s progress en route to their vehicle. Also, don’t leave home without an emergency roadside kit and continue to pack extra snacks or meals as well as cleaning supplies, including disinfecting wipes.

Regardless of how you plan to get to your destination, AAA advises travelers to seek the advice of a knowledgeable travel advisor to help plan their trips this Independence Day. To get started and to learn more, visit AAA.com/Travel.

Methodology: AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit. For the purposes of this forecast, the Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, July 1 through Monday, July 5. When the Fourth of July falls on any day of the week other than a Wednesday, it is considered to be a five-day holiday period. The travel forecast was prepared the week of June 1, 2021.

In cooperation with AAA, IHS Markit developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes, using macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays. For the 2021 Independence Day holiday travel forecast, IHS Markit also examined changes in the IHS Markit containment index regarding COVID‑19–related restrictions and activity.

About INRIX: INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. INRIX’s partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small.

About IHS Markit: IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world’s leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 73 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.