Barr condemns ‘rioters’ in much-anticipated House testimony
By ERIC TUCKER, MARY CLARE JALONICK and MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr is defending the aggressive federal law enforcement response to civil unrest in America, saying “violent rioters and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests” sparked by George Floyd’s death at the hands of police. Barr told members of the House Judiciary Committee at a much-anticipated election year hearing Tuesday the violence taking place in Portland, Oregon, and other cities is disconnected from Floyd’s killing, He described Floyd’s death as a “horrible” event that prompted a necessary national reckoning on the relationship between the Black community and law enforcement. Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler says Barr has “aided and abetted” President Donald Trump’s worst impulses.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Hopewell Township Commissioners at last night’s meeting adopted a resolution  to  obtain  a $142,800  grant  through the Commonwealth Financing Authority . The funds will be used for a watershed  at the Community Park where an amphitheater will be built. The township engineer from  HRG, Inc. told the commissioners  a meeting concerning the DCNR grant for the amphitheater  and a meeting with Recreational Resources  USA is needed to finalize plans for the project.

• Require all customers to wear masks while entering, exiting or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail food service business (face masks may be removed while seated). Further, employees are required to wear masks at all times.
• Provide at least six feet between parties at tables or physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back.
• Ensure maximum occupancy limits for indoor and outdoor areas are posted and enforced.

AAA: Gas Average Dips in PA as Prices Move Downward Nationwide
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is a penny cheaper this week at $2.447 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

On the week, only a handful of states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region saw gas prices increase: Maryland (+3 cents) and Delaware (+2 cents). North Carolina (-4 cents) saw the largest decrease.

With a 3.4-million-barrel draw, the region’s stock levels have dipped to 67.6 million barrels. While measurement levels have not been this low since the end of March, stocks sit at a 9-million-barrel year-over-year surplus, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Stock levels have steadily declined for one month, which has contributed to low volatility at the pump. Pump price savings are expected to continue into August, especially with low demand amid COVID-19 travel restrictions.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.447
Average price during the week of July 20, 2020                                        $2.458
Average price during the week of July 29, 2019                                        $2.951

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

$2.496      Altoona
$2.406      Beaver
$2.495      Bradford
$2.482      Brookville
$2.430      Butler
$2.461      Clarion
$2.477      DuBois
$2.481      Erie
$2.389      Greensburg
$2.508      Indiana
$2.425      Jeannette
$2.429      Kittanning
$2.399      Latrobe
$2.489      Meadville
$2.508      Mercer
$2.347      New Castle
$2.437      New Kensington
$2.496      Oil City
$2.431      Pittsburgh
$2.462      Sharon
$2.430      Uniontown
$2.499      Warren
$2.310      Washington

On the National Front
As COVID-19 case numbers surpass 4 million, demand for gasoline is weakening across the country. The latest EIA demand reading measures at 8.5 million b/d, which is about 11% less than a year ago. The lower demand contributed to a cheaper national average on the week – down one penny to $2.18. This is the first time since late April that the national average has declined.

Today’s national average ($2.18) is one cent more than last month and 56 cents cheaper than last year. Motorists can find gas for $2.25 or less at 70% of gas stations across the country.

At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by 22 cents to settle at $41.29 per barrel. Domestic crude prices increased due to a slight decrease in the value of a U.S. dollar. However, crude prices could fall this week, since EIA’s weekly report revealed that total domestic inventories increased by 4.9 million barrels. The increase, amid falling gasoline demand, could mean that the domestic crude market is oversupplied.

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

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 78 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.