As the holiday season continues, the national average for a gallon of gas has fallen nine cents since last week to $3.15. The main reason is a weaker cost for oil, which is struggling to stay above $70 per barrel.  The falling price comes just a week after OPEC+ announced voluntary production cuts of about 2 million barrels daily.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Beaver County is currently $3.59

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published December 12, 2023 9:28 A.M.

(Brighton Township, Pa) The yearly tradition of Christmas Music ‘Round the Clock on WBVP and WMBA is back once again! Beaver County Radio will be gifting the airwaves to local artists for 48 hours straight starting at noon on Christmas Eve. The submission window is now open to submit Christmas songs to play on 99.3 FM & 1230 AM WBVP, and The Beaver 95.7 FM and 1460 AM WMBA.
You can send in your songs by emailing them to fsparks@beavercountyradio.com.
A full schedule of artists will be posted on our website prior to Christmas Eve.
We will be accepting submissions until Monday, December 18. Help spread joy through music this holiday season by being a part of Christmas ‘Round the Clock on Beaver County Radio!

DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis at Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg – Commonwealth Media Services

Harrisburg, PA — Today, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis joined Pennsylvania Insurance Department Commissioner Mike Humphreys, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley and community health experts for a news conference at the Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg to remind Pennsylvanians of Pennie’s first open enrollment deadline, Dec. 15, 2023, which is the last day to enroll in health coverage that will start Jan. 1, 2024.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act and the great work of the folks who run Pennie, every Pennsylvanian can shop around and find affordable, robust health insurance that covers essential benefits like prescription drugs, vaccines, maternity care and mental health treatments,” said Lt. Gov. Davis. “Whether you are in your 20s, starting a new business and need individual coverage or you’re retiring early and need coverage before Medicare kicks in, Pennie has great options for you. It doesn’t take long to go on the Pennie website and see what’s available and what savings you and your family qualify for.”

As Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace, Pennie is the only place where Pennsylvanians can get financial savings to reduce the cost of coverage and care. Currently, nine in 10 enrollees qualify and save more than $500 a month on average. The monthly cost for coverage through Pennie is based on income. Individuals making less will pay less – sometimes under $1 a month. Those with higher incomes will pay a higher share of the health insurance premiums, and no one will pay more than 8.5% of their household income.

During open enrollment, individuals can apply, shop, and enroll in coverage from the top insurance companies with financial savings. Plans and prices change every year, so Pennsylvanians who need coverage should review their options even if they have looked before. All health plans offered through Pennie provide comprehensive coverage, including care for pre-existing conditions and many free preventive screenings and vaccines. Current Pennie customers should update their account (family size, income and contact information) and see if they still have the best plan for their needs.

“Any Pennsylvanian without health coverage should visit pennie.com before Dec. 15 to start the new year with peace of mind and protection. If you wait until you need medical care, it will be too late to enroll,” said Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley. “Pennie makes sure health plans will financially protect Pennsylvanians in the case of illness or injury. Enrolling in coverage is the best way to make sure you are protected in 2024.”

Plans Through Pennie

Some health plans outside of Pennie may not have the same consumer protections as plans through Pennie. Shopping through Pennie is the clearest way to make sure you are getting a plan that will cover important medical care in the case of a serious illness or injury. Pennie’s application and resources to help consumers shop are always free – if you are being told that you need to pay to get help with enrolling, then go to pennie.com/connect for support at no cost to you.

“This open enrollment period is the best time to explore available options and shop around to find a plan, even if you already have insurance. Quality, comprehensive health care coverage has never been more affordable, or more within reach for Pennsylvanians, and Pennie is the clearest way to make sure you are getting a plan that will cover important medical care in the case of a serious illness or injury,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. “The Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s goal of increased competition in the marketplace has resulted in more choices, and increased affordability for consumers across the Commonwealth. We encourage consumers to research and compare plans to find coverage that best fits their needs and provides robust benefits for themselves and their families.”

Better coordination with Medicaid

Based on income, Pennie picks up where Pennsylvania’s Medicaid leaves off. Pennsylvanians who no longer qualify for Medicaid because of changes in income can see large savings on private health plans through Pennie. For anyone who has already lost Medicaid coverage, open enrollment is the best time to enroll for 2024. Only a loss of health coverage and other qualifying life events would allow you to enroll in health insurance outside of the annual open enrollment period.

“Your health is too important to go without coverage, and fortunately, Pennsylvanians have options. When you complete your Medicaid renewal, the Department of Human Services will determine whether you are still eligible to receive Medicaid, and if you aren’t, we will automatically and securely transfer you to Pennie so that you can pick a new health plan that’s right for you,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid or if you don’t have health coverage at all, open enrollment is the best time to pick a new plan through Pennie to make sure you’re getting the best cost savings and that you and your loved ones are covered in the new year.”

More information for those no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage and their options through Pennie can be found at: pennie.com/learn/loss-of-medical-assistance-coverage/.

Free or Low-Cost Help Available Through Pennie

Pennie provides free help to navigate the application process and plan selection in many languages. Pennie-certified experts including enrollment assisters, health insurance brokers, and Customer Service Representatives are available over the phone, in person, or online. Go to pennie.com/connect to find help near you.

Pennie encourages anyone seeking coverage to go to pennie.com before Dec. 15 and enroll to get the lowest costs on high-quality plans available in their area. Pennsylvanians interested in shopping for and purchasing health coverage through Pennie can visit pennie.com or call Pennie Customer service at 1-844-844-8040. Pennie’s Customer Service Center is open from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. during open enrollment.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published December 12, 2023 8:17 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Saturday, December 16, 2023 at noon is the lineup time at Auto Zone on Main Street in Aliquippa, for a parade to celebrate the victorious Quips. The parade will begin at 1pm. Mayor Dwan b. Walker issued the information at noon on Monday. Sponsors are the Aliquippa School District, SOS, the Fire Department, Aliquippa Police K-9, Aliquippa Diversity Council, Little Free Pantry, and the Salvation Army of Aliquippa. The parade concludes at Heinz Field, home of the QUIPS, according to Mayor Dwan B. Walker.

AAA projects 115.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the 10-day year-end holiday travel period*. This year’s total number of travelers is a 2.2% increase over last year and the second highest year-end travel forecast since AAA began tracking travel in 2000. 2019 remains the busiest Christmas and New Year’s travel period on record, with 119 million travelers.

“This year’s holiday forecast is a perfect example of the strong travel trends we’ve been seeing all year,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “More Americans are investing in travel, so they can make those special memories with loved ones and experience new places.”

Mid-Atlantic region Year End Forecast Highlights:
*Region includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

AAA expects nearly 104 million people will drive to their holiday destinations, an increase of 1.8% compared to 2022. This year’s projected number of drivers is the second highest on record since 2019, when 108 million drivers hit the road for the holidays. As 2023 ends, drivers can expect to pay about the same or less for a gallon of gas than they did last holiday season, when the national average on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day was $3.10 and $3.20, respectively.

Airports are expected to be the busiest they’ve ever been over the Christmas and New Year’s travel period. AAA projects 7.5 million air travelers this holiday season, surpassing 2019’s record of 7.3 million passengers. Average ticket prices are lower than last year. According to AAA booking data, the average price for a roundtrip ticket to Orlando this holiday season is $613, down from $735 last year.

People traveling by other modes, like bus, train and cruise, are projected to surpass 2019. AAA expects more than 4 million Americans will take alternative transportation over Christmas and New Year’s compared to 3.66 million in 2022 and 3.89 million in 2019. Demand for cruises has skyrocketed post-pandemic, and the industry is preparing for the wave of bookings that traditionally happens at the start of the new year.

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro  

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says there will be several days of potentially bad traffic during the 10-day holiday period. Saturday, December 23 and Thursday, December 28 will be the most congested days on the road. INRIX also says Saturday, December 30, when many people will be heading home from their holiday destinations or traveling for New Year’s Eve, will see an increase in traffic compared to a normal Saturday. The best times to hit the road are before lunchtime or after 7p.m.

“Nationwide, drivers could see travel times up to 20% longer this holiday season. In major metros, especially in Denver, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., drivers could experience nearly double the typical delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Avoid peak commuting hours and use traffic apps, local DOT notifications and 511 services to minimize holiday travel traffic frustrations.”

Top Destinations

This holiday season, many travelers are heading to warm-weather destinations like Florida and the Caribbean, tourist hotspots like New York and Las Vegas, and European cities like London and Rome. Here are the top domestic and international destinations based on AAA flight booking data:

Airport Parking Tips

With a record number of air travelers expected this holiday season, AAA recommends travelers plan ahead and take precautions when driving to the airport and parking their vehicles.

• Reserve a parking spot ahead of time to save time and money.
• Choose a well-lit, secure garage.
• On-site garages tend to be more expensive but offer convenience and peace of mind given their proximity to the terminals.
• If choosing off-site parking, look for reputable businesses like The Parking Spot, which is securely fenced and offers a shuttle to the airport (AAA members get a discount).
• Opt for covered parking if you live in an area expecting inclement weather.
• Remove valuables from your vehicle.
• Lock doors and roll up windows.
• Take a photo of your spot to remember where you parked.
• Keep your ticket – and receipt; if you prepaid – convenient to show when exiting.

AAA to rescue more than 930,000 at the roadside
The 104 million Americans planning to drive over the holidays need to be prepared for slowdowns and breakdowns. AAA expects to respond to more than 930,000 calls for help. Before a trip, vehicles should be inspected to check key components like the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels to avoid an unnecessary breakdown. It’s important to do this as early as possible in case there is an issue that needs to be fixed.

Holiday Forecast Methodology  

Travel Forecast

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from S&P Global Market Intelligence’s proprietary databases. These data include 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 gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and S&P Global Market Intelligence have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

Historical travel-volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitor^SM. The PERFORMANCE/Monitor^SM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts more than 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.

The travel forecast is reported in-person trips. AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday-travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of October 9, 2023.

*Year-End Holiday Travel Period

For the purposes of this forecast, the year-end holiday-travel period is defined as the 10-day period from Saturday, December 23, 2023 to Monday, January 1, 2024.

About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology, so they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan today for tomorrow. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.

About DKSA

DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel, both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding more than 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic-planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.

About INRIX   

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent-mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic-signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gases, optimizing last-mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.

Harrisburg, PA –  Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced over $140 million in passenger rail investments through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP-National) grant program and the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program. These investments are part of an $8.2 billion federal investment to transform passenger rail in the United States, and is among the many ways the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) continues to deliver for Pennsylvania’s transportation network.

“From my very first day in office, my Administration has worked aggressively to create real opportunity for the good people of Pennsylvania,” said Governor Shapiro. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership and our federal representatives’ support, we have a historic opportunity to build infrastructure that will connect our communities, spur economic development, and create opportunity for generations to come. I am proud of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for winning this competitive funding that will benefit people across the Commonwealth.”

Pennsylvania will receive $143 million through the FSP-National program to support the expansion of passenger rail along the Keystone West corridor between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Currently, the Pennsylvanian Amtrak service travels roundtrip between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg once daily. The agreement that Norfolk Southern and PennDOT entered into supports increasing those Pennsylvanian passenger services to twice a day. To support these expanded passenger operations, the Commonwealth will invest more than $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvements, which will now be partially offset by this federal investment.

“Enhancing passenger rail and restoring these connections will deliver new mobility options for Pennsylvanians,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Expanding this service will reduce commute times, help connect hundreds of thousands of residents, and boost local economies.”

Additionally, FRA has identified three passenger rail corridors in Pennsylvania for study and development through the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program, a comprehensive intercity passenger rail planning and development program that will help guide intercity passenger rail development throughout the country and create a pipeline of intercity passenger rail projects ready for implementation. The Corridor ID grant funds will support the Scranton to New York Penn Station (NYP) Passenger Rail Corridor project, the Keystone Corridor: Pittsburgh to Philadelphia project, and the Reading-Philadelphia-New York Corridor. Each corridor will receive up to $500,000.

The Scranton to New York Penn Station (NYP) Passenger Rail Corridor project will restore intercity passenger rail service between Scranton, Pennsylvania and New York Penn Station (NYP), providing access to New York City, northwestern New Jersey, and Scranton for employment, business, leisure trips, tourism, recreation, and opportunities at higher education institutions along the route. The Corridor has been the subject of numerous studies, including the Amtrak Connects US Corridor Vision Plan, and long-range transportation plans that show growing demand for intercity passenger rail service along a corridor that has heavy auto traffic and unpredictable travel times for commuters. The Corridor will provide an intercity transportation option for historically under-served northeastern Appalachian Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey.

The Keystone Corridor: Pittsburgh to Philadelphia (Corridor) project will expand, modernize, and improve the two state-supported Amtrak services – the Pennsylvanian and the Keystone Service – to meet the demands of intercity passenger rail in the Corridor and improve co-mingled operations for intercity, commuter, and freight trains. PennDOT’s overarching goals for the Corridor are to increase frequency of service, reduce trip times, and improve the passenger experience, leading to higher ridership. PennDOT and its partners have invested significantly in the Corridor over the past two decades, designing and implementing station and rail infrastructure improvements between Harrisburg and Philadelphia and identifying improvements between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg to allow for a second daily Pennsylvanian frequency.

The Reading-Philadelphia-New York Corridor would connect Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties with Philadelphia and New York City, as well as other communities along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and beyond. The corridor would run on an existing rail alignment that has not had passenger trains running since 1983, wiht new intermediate stops in Pottstown, Phoenixville and potentially Norristown, with four to eight daily roundtrips connecting southeastern Pennsylvanians with Philadelphia and New York, NY, from Reading. This application was submitted by the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published December 11, 2023 9:26 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) A massive congratulations was sent to Aliquippa on winning their FIFTH state championship title, and for an incredible undefeated football season, according to a release.
Peter Hall, President of Kraft Heinz Ingrediants and US Away from Home Congratulated the Quips by writing “It’s been an honor getting to know this amazing community and help support its hardworking students and members – from the unveiling the new home of Heinz Field., to hosting our first-ever mentoring program with bright young leaders from the Aliquippa School District. There is even more to come as we look to break ground on the academic and athletic center”.
The letter was sent to Superintendent Dr. Phillip K. Woods, Dr. Jennifer Damico and Football Coach Mike Warfield.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published December 11, 2023 9:14 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) At approximately 11 pm Friday night a 37 year old male was stabbed in the back in the 300 block of Superior Avenue. Aliquippa Police were dispatched to the scene and the man was life flighted to a Pittsburgh Hospital.
The incident is under investigation, according to police.