[Aug. 26, 2024] — The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood emergency as remnants of Hurricane Debby and other severe weather events across the country have further complicated efforts to rebuild the nation’s blood supply. Those in unaffected areas are urged to make an appointment to give now. 

Weather in recent weeks has added to the summer shortfall in donations by forcing the cancellation of nearly 60 blood drives throughout the country, many of which were caused by Debby, causing approximately 1,500 lifesaving blood products to go uncollected. Annually, severe weather − such as blizzards, tornadoes, flooding and hurricanes − impacts about 90,000 blood donations made to the Red Cross. In Pennsylvania, more than 680 blood drives have been canceled due to weather over the last 10 years, including 35 so far this year. This has resulted in nearly 900 donations going uncollected in Pennsylvania in 2024. Because blood has a short shelf life and can only come from volunteer blood donors, any disruptions in the ability to collect lifesaving blood can have serious consequences for hospitals and patients. 

First-time donors and those who give regularly are critical to blood supply recovery. To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). In thanks, all who come to give through Aug. 31 will get a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. See RedCrossBlood.org/Help for details. 

Those who come to give Sept. 1-15 will receive an exclusive Red Cross raglan T-shirt, while supplies last. 

Be ready for emergencies 

September is National Preparedness Month, and a strong blood supply is key to preparedness for disasters and medical emergencies. As disasters occur more often and become more powerful due to the climate crisis, the Red Cross also encourages people to get their households ready for emergencies. This year the country has already seen the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded with Hurricane Beryl, and wildfires have burned 1.5 million more acres compared to all of 2023.

It’s important to build a customizable disaster plan and stay informed when devastation occurs. Step-by-step resources on how to stay safe and prepare for emergencies are available on redcross.org/gethelp. Download the free Red Cross Emergency App for real-time weather alerts and expert preparedness and safety advice in both English and Spanish.  

Gas prices are three cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.700 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                         $3.700
Average price during the week of August 19, 2024                                          $3.737
Average price during the week of August 28, 2023                                          $3.861

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

$3.475      Altoona
$3.813      Beaver
$3.808      Bradford
$3.550      Brookville
$3.681      Butler
$3.590      Clarion
$3.728      DuBois
$3.692      Erie
$3.740      Greensburg
$3.743      Indiana
$3.738      Jeannette
$3.750      Kittanning
$3.744      Latrobe
$3.701      Meadville
$3.770      Mercer
$3.639      New Castle
$3.623      New Kensington
$3.717      Oil City
$3.722      Pittsburgh
$3.673      Sharon
$3.730      Uniontown
$3.799      Warren
$3.673      Washington

Trend Analysis:
The national average for a gallon of gas fell six cents over the past week to $3.35 – a price point not seen since early March. Lower crude prices are contributing to the drop in gas prices. Today’s national average is 16 cents less than a month ago and 47 cents less than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased last week from 9.04 million barrels per day to 9.19. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks fell from 222.2 to 220.6 million barrels, but gasoline production increased, averaging 9.8 million barrels daily.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate fell by $1.24 to settle at $71.93 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 4.6 million barrels from the previous week. At 426.0 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 5% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Monday, Sept. 2 is Labor Day, which is known as the unofficial end of summer. This year’s booking trends show strong interest to destinations worldwide, specifically Europe. International travel over Labor Day weekend is 11% higher than last year, per AAA data. Eight out of the top ten international destinations booked through AAA are European cities.

“While road trips are still the most popular Labor Day getaway, many people are taking advantage of the long weekend and planning something extra special,” says Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “Trips to Europe come in many forms, including river cruises and small group tours, and all are unforgettable.”

Travelers renting a car abroad should consider getting an International Driving Permit (IDP), which translates their driver’s license information into 10 languages. Some countries – including Italy and Spain – require it. AAA is the only entity in the U.S. authorized by the State Department to issue an IDP.

According to AAA booking data, Seattle is the number one Labor Day weekend* destination overall, up nearly 30% from last year when it also topped the list. Top Labor Day destinations also include Orlando, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Top Labor Day Destinations

To make the most of any trip, AAA recommends identifying must-see sights and creating a flexible itinerary ahead of time. Trip Canvas is a great free resource for travelers who are still in the planning phase.

Gas Prices Expected to be Lower than Last Year
Americans taking road trips should expect to pay less for gas compared to last year. The national average over Labor Day weekend in 2023 was $3.81. In recent weeks, gas prices have remained steady, hovering around $3.40. Despite the popularity of summer road trips, overall gas demand is down as daily driving habits have changed post-pandemic, preventing pump prices from spiking. For drivers taking road trips in their electric vehicles, AAA offers information on the cost of Level 2 commercial EV charging and updates that data weekly.

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car over Labor Day Weekend
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says car travelers should avoid the afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, as those times will be the most congested. Drivers should hit the road in the morning unless they’re leaving on Saturday when the best time to travel by car is in the afternoon. Travelers returning on Sunday and on Labor Day should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon.

“Drivers should expect the most severe traffic jams before the holiday weekend as commuters mix with travelers,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Monitoring traffic apps, local news stations, and 511 traveler information services may help drivers navigate congestion and reduce driver frustration this Labor Day.”

Source: INRIX

*Labor Day Weekend

AAA looked at booking data for Thursday, August 29 through Monday, September 2, and compared those numbers with booking data for that same five-day period in 2023.

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 gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 26, 2024 2:03 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Thursday afternoon, a new page in the history of Aliquippa School District with the opening of the clubhouse to serve students ages 10 to 18. A ribbon cutting took place at the clubhouse and the Aliquippa band performed opening the program. Dr. Phillip K. Woods gave opening remarks.  The development was made possible through collaborative effort with the Greater Aliquippa Advisory Committee. They aim to provide a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for the youth in the community. Members of the advisory committee include: Dr. Mitchel Nichols, District Superintendent Dr. Phillip K. Woods, Joe West, Tina Price-Genes, Olivia Benson, Ed Palombo, Ed DeMailo, Tyrone Patillo, Mike Warfield, Michael Hauser,  Genetha Short, Nora Lemon, Rob Jones, Sam Gill, Rick Szymoniak, Tamu Gilbert, Robert Digiovine, Jr. and Salina Moreland.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 26, 2024 1:59 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) On Thursday, August 23, 2024 at 2:35am, police were summoned to Towne Towers Apartments for a male being stabbed. Upon arrival, they found Vincent Hall with a stab wound on his left arm and a deep laceration on his forearm. He told police the stabbing occurred while he was walking on Sheffield Avenue prior to entering the apartments. A witness who provided aid to Hall said he was attacked in the building’s elevator. Aliquippa Police said they canvassed the building and also found nothing in the elevator. Outside in a dumpster, police said they found bloody clothing. Hall was transported to the hospital by ambulance for treatment, The investigation is ongoing.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, August 31, 2024, through Monday, September 2, 2024, in observance of Labor Day.

A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2024 is available online. If you are planning to visit one of PennDOT’s On-Line Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays.