(File Photo of the AAA East Central Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) AAA is now projecting that 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period that begins on December 20th, 2025 and ending on January 1st, 2026. The travel forecast for this year is a 2.2% increase over 2024, surpassing the record of 119.7 million travelers from last year. According to a recent release in Pittsburgh today from AAA East Central, here is some more information about these holiday travel statistics:

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

Method of Travel	Total Travelers	% Change from 2024
Automobile	12.4 million	+ 2.0%
Air travel	945,000	+ 1.6%
Other (bus, train, ship, etc.)	451,000	+ 11.8%
Region Total	13.8 million	+ 2.3%

Year-End Travelers by Mode of Transportation

By Car: AAA projects 109.5 million Americans will travel by car for their year-end trips, an increase of 2% compared to last year. Driving is the overwhelming favorite among all modes of transportation because of its convenience and low cost. This year, 89% of holiday travelers will take road trips. Gas prices are lower compared to last holiday season when the national average was $3.04 to end 2024. For the first time in 4 years, the national average dropped below $3 a gallon this month.

With a record number of car travelers, AAA urges drivers to prioritize safety. December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month which serves as a timely reminder to make safe choices and stay vigilant. AAA and MADD encourage holiday travelers to plan safe rides home this holiday season during one of the most dangerous times of year on the road.

During 2024’s year-end holiday period, AAA responded to more than 860,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks. When AAA responds to those roadside emergencies, safety is a top priority. safe. Slow Down, Move Over means when there is a stopped vehicles on the side of the road, motorists should move over a lane if safe to do so, and reduce speed. That gives tow truck technicians, law enforcement officials, and other individuals room to complete their work safely.

For travelers who are renting cars, AAA car rental partner says December 20th is expected to be the busiest pick-up day. The top 5 markets with the highest demand are Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, and Phoenix. Small SUVs make up the most popular car rental class over the year-end holidays. According to AAA booking data, domestic car rentals are 1% more expensive this holiday season compared to last year.

By Air: AAA projects a record 8.03 million travelers taking domestic flights this holiday season, a 2.3% increase compared to last year. This will be the first time on record that the number of domestic air travelers over the year-end holiday period exceeds 8 million.

According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their holiday trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is 7% more expensive this year, averaging nearly $900 a ticket. The days leading up to Christmas Day are the most expensive, while flying on the holiday itself is cheaper. New Year’s flights are also pricey with many people returning home on New Year’s Day or even squeezing one extra weekend out of the holiday season and coming back on Sunday, January 4.

By Other Modes: Travel by other modes is expected to go up by 9% with 4.9 million people traveling by bus, train, or cruise. This category has seen a 25% increase since 2019, mainly due to the record-setting demand for cruises post-pandemic.

AAA’s Year-End Top Destinations

The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data for the year-end travel period. Warm destinations dominate the domestic side with travelers heading to Florida, Southern California, and Hawaii. Caribbean destinations and resort towns in Mexico are also popular to celebrate the year-end holidays and ring in 2026.

RANKING	DOMESTIC	INTERNATIONAL/CARIBBEAN
1	ORLANDO	CANCUN, MEXICO
2	FORT LAUDERDALE	PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
3	MIAMI	COZUMEL, MEXICO
4	ANAHEIM/LA	SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
5	HONOLULU	PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
6	TAMPA	SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
7	NEW YORK CITY	NASSAU, BAHAMAS
8	MAUI	ROME, ITALY
9	DALLAS/FORT WORTH	ORANJESTAD, ARUBA
10	LAS VEGAS	SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Christmas week to be busier on the roads than New Year’s week, but both weeks will see days of increased traffic. Interstates will be extra congested the weekend before Christmas, as travelers hit the road on Saturday and Sunday ahead of the holiday. Friday, December 26 is also expected to be busy as travelers make moves post-Christmas Day. Because the year-end holiday travel period spans a longer time frame, travelers have more options for departures and returns. The holidays themselves – Christmas and New Year’s Day – are typically the lightest traffic-wise but remember crashes or severe weather could create unexpected delays.

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car
Date		Worst Travel Time			Best Travel Time
Saturday, Dec 20		12:00 PM – 8:00 PM			After 9:00 PM
Sunday, Dec 21		1:00 PM – 7:00 PM			Before 11:00 AM
Monday, Dec 22		1:00 PM – 7:00 PM			Before 10:00 AM
Tuesday, Dec 23		1:00 PM – 7:00 PM			Before 10:00 AM
Wednesday, Dec 24		Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Thursday, Dec 25		Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Friday, Dec 26		11:00 AM – 8:00 PM			Before 11:00 AM
Saturday, Dec 27		11:00 AM – 8:00 PM			Before 11:00 AM
Sunday, Dec 28		11:00 AM – 8:00 PM			Before 11:00 AM
Monday, Dec 29		12:00 PM – 8:00 PM			Before 10:00 AM
Tuesday, Dec 30		12:00 PM – 7:00 PM			Before 10:00 AM
Wednesday, Dec 31		Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Thursday, Jan 1		Minimal Traffic Impact Expected

SOURCE: INRIX

 

Holiday Travel Forecast Methodology

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’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 SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

Historical travel volume estimates come from MMGY’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. MMGY contacts over 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. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was finalized the week of November 17th, 2025.

Because AAA holiday forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes, whether traveling for work or leisure. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.

INRIX Methodology

INRIX blends statistically grounded models with real-world road behavior to forecast travel conditions on the most heavily traveled routes across the U.S. during peak holiday periods. INRIX’s holiday traffic forecast combines pre-selected high-impact travel routes, rich multi-source traffic data, and a statistically robust linear regression model to generate detailed, time-specific travel delay predictions. INRIX’s data sources include a wide array of vehicle-based and infrastructure-based inputs. These include connected vehicle GPS data, mobile apps and navigation services, roadside sensors and cameras, and commercial fleet telematics. With expansive coverage, high temporal resolution, and historical context, this forecasting process provides essential insights for travelers, media, and agencies alike.

Year-End Holiday Travel Period

AAA’s year-end holiday travel period always includes two weekends. This year, that travel window is defined as the thirteen-day period from Saturday, December 20 to Thursday, January 1st.

(File Photo of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg today from Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, Sunday is advising Pennsylvanians considering a pet as a gift this holiday season to be aware of deceptive pet-sale practices and predatory financing schemes. Consumers should consider potential risks when shopping for a dog online or at a store, as their pet of choice may not actually exist or may be sourced from a puppy mill, facilities known for poor conditions and chronic health issues.
These situations can leave new dog owners facing unexpected financial burdens, including high-interest debt, veterinary expenses, and even the loss or severe illness of their new pet. “We are offering this advice so no one has to deal with the immediate loss of a pet, or encounter unexpected costs related to financing,” Attorney General Sunday said. “As a pet owner myself, I can’t imagine the heartbreak my family and I would feel if this happened to us. Don’t allow your holiday to be spoiled by misleading promises about a potential pet for your family.”

Indicators of potential scams may include:

• Offering puppies for thousands of dollars with high-interest loans.
• Requesting payment online or through apps before providing the puppy.
• Refusing to share breeder names, credentials or vaccination records.
• Selling puppies that are already ill or underage.

Consumers considering a new dog or cat are encouraged to:

• Explore breed-specific rescue groups if seeking a particular breed.
• If purchasing directly from a breeder, request to meet the mother of the puppy or kitten. The mother should appear healthy, clean and alert.

“Puppy mills keep dogs in poor conditions, so don’t be fooled by adorable photos or vague promises of responsible breeders,” Kristen Tullo, Pennsylvania State Director of the Humane World for Animals, said. “Consider your local shelter or rescue – many pets would love to start the new year in a loving home.”
Consumers seeking more information about safe pet sourcing can contact Humane World for Animals at Puppy buyer complaint form | Humane World for Animals by clicking here.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a pet scam or predatory pet financing scheme should file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General at Puppy Lemon Law – PA Office of Attorney General by clicking here.

(File Photo of the Vanport Bridge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Vanport, PA) PennDOT crews will now be closing one lane on the I-376 Vanport Bridge as they install containment structures so steel workers can make repairs in the spring for about a month or so. According to PennDOT, there will be work in the westbound lanes daily from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., and one lane eastbound will be closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The preparation work should be finished next month as long as the weather permits.

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed at the Beaver County Commissioners’ work session this morning at 10 a.m. at the Beaver County Courthouse in Beaver. The main topic that took up most of the meeting was when the Director and Recycling Coordinator of the Beaver County Department of Sustainibility and Waste Management, Becca Naber, mentioned that three landfills missed the deadline of about a month ago when Beaver County “closed their request for proposals for landfills for disposal capacity for all of Beaver County’s residents.” during the department head report of the session. These landfills that did not make the deadline were facilities that were associated with Brunner Disposal, Republic Services, and Waste Management’s (WM) backup facilities. Brunner Disposal and Republic Services did not submit to be part of Beaver County’s disposal plan and WM did not include their backup facilities. WM was required to do that in case there happened to be a closure and the refuse of Beaver County could not be delivered to their facility. Naber also asked the Commissioners if there could be a petitioning process that would be issued to contact all three of these companies and petition to be part of Beaver County’s disposal plan. Naber also noted that the Beaver County Recycling Center will be closed on Christmas Eve of 2025, Wednesday, December 24th, as well as Thursday December 25th and Friday December 26th of 2025, and January 1st, 2026. In other business, one of the things that Beaver County Commissioner Jack Manning mentioned was that the project for the Aviation Sciences building at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is almost complete. However, Manning mentioned that federal funds are still needed for a tower there to complete the project. Manning also expressed that the airport at CCBC is the third busiest airport in the state of Pennsylvania in terms of takeoffs and landings for its activity annually. Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles also noted that the Parking Garage at the Beaver County Courthouse is currently open to the public. Adam Tipko, the new executive director of the Beaver County Humane Society (BCHS), was also introduced at the session by Debbie Glasser, the Board Chair of the BCHS.

(File Photo of Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Darlington, PA) A fire occurred at a Beaver County salvage yard this morning. According to emergency dispatchers, the fire broke out around 8:03 a.m. at Brickyard Auto Parts in Darlington. Photos sent to WPXI showed heavy smoke coming from the area. 911 confirms that no injuries have been reported at this time. The cause of this fire is unknown at this time. This is the second fire that has happened at Brickyard Auto Parts in under a month as a fire broke out there on November 17th, 2025.

(File Photo of the Allegheny Health Network Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cancer Institute announced its 2026 Saturday cancer screening schedule today, which is designed to empower patients with accessible, convenient and vital tools for early prevention and detection. Patients can receive several different cancer screening tests for these types of cancer: breast, cervical, colorectal, head and neck, lung, prostate and skin. According to a release in Pittsburgh from Allegheny Health Network today, here is some more information about these screenings:

• Weekly Comprehensive Clinics: Offering one-on-one personalized cancer screenings by appointment Monday through Friday at AHN Cancer Institute – Jefferson, AHN Cancer Institute – Forbes, and AHN Cancer Institute – West Penn.
• Monthly Saturday Cancer Screenings: For those whose weekday commitments make appointments difficult, these popular monthly Saturday events bring screenings to various locations across Western Pennsylvania. Registration for Saturday clinics opens approximately one month before the event date and fills up quickly.
  • January 10th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – West Penn
  • Febuary 7th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Allegheny Valley
  • March 7th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Allegheny General
  • April 18th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Forbes
  • May 16th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Saint Vincent (Erie)
  • June 13th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – West Penn
  • July 18th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Jefferson
  • August 15th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Allegheny General
  • September 12th, 2026 – AHN Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion
  • October 17th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Saint Vincent (Erie)
  • November 7th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Grove City
  • December 5th, 2026 – AHN Cancer Institute – Hempfield

 

• Registration is now open for the first Saturday clinic of 2026, set for January 10th, 2026, at the AHN Cancer Institute – West Penn, located at 4815 Liberty Avenue, Suite 340, Pittsburgh.
• To schedule an appointment for either the weekday or Saturday cancer screening events, patients in Pittsburgh can call (412) 359-6665.

(File Photo of State Representative Josh Kail)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg today from Pennsylvania State Representative Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Kail announced that he will host two more in-person town halls in the 15th District to discuss issues impacting both the region and Pennsylvania. Kail will have his next town hall on Monday, December 15th, from 5-6 p.m., at the Burgettstown Senior Center in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. The final town hall that Kail will have this year will be on Thursday, December 18th, from 5-6 p.m., at the Independence Township (Beaver County) Community Center, 116 School Road, Aliquippa. Kail also noted that pizza will be served and attendees to come with concerns, questions, ideas and appetites. Anyone that has questions is asked to contact the Vanport Township district office of Kail by calling 724-728-7655.

(File Photo of a Drawing of a Dollar General Store)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, Sunday announced a settlement with Dollar General Corporation and its parent company (Dolgen Corp, LLC) regarding consumers being charged higher prices than what was labeled and advertised on shelves. The Office of Attorney General investigation uncovered numerous occasions when consumers were charged higher prices at registers at Dollar General, which operates more than 900 retail locations throughout Pennsylvania. The investigation also revealed that Dollar General stores failed more than 40 percent of pricing accuracy inspections between 2019 and 2023. The corporation, under the settlement, will pay $1.55 million to the Commonwealth in penalties and costs, and agreed to improve their business practices through employee training and sufficient staffing.

“Our investigation found widespread and repeated instances of Pennsylvanians being overcharged at checkout — blatant deception of customers all over the Commonwealth,” Attorney General Sunday said. “We are hopeful the corporation takes this settlement very seriously as Pennsylvanians expect to pay the price that is on stickers and labels.”

This settlement resolves allegations that Dollar General misrepresented prices and engaged in practices that are prohibited by the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. In addition to the settlement funds, the settlement further requires that Dollar General modify its business practices to prevent future violations of the Pennsylvania consumer protection law. As detailed in the settlement agreement, Dollar General will undertake the following steps in its Pennsylvania stores:

• Train employees on ensuring price accuracy as well as their obligation to honor the lowest advertised price, including Dollar General’s obligation to provide price adjustments for overcharges;
• Maintain sufficient staffing to update shelf tags on at least a weekly basis;
• Ensure each store undergoes at least two unannounced pricing audits during each fiscal year;
• Conduct either an enhanced audit or full store assessment of each store that fails three or more price audits during a 12 month period;
• Correct all reported or known price inaccuracies within 24 hours; and
• Post a notice at each register (point of sale) stating that the lowest posted price will be honored and informing customers that they can seek a price override if necessary.

Consumers who see retailers charging higher prices at the register than as advertised are encouraged to file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection online, over the phone at 717-787-3391, or by emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov. This settlement was submitted for filing as an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney General Jaimie George.

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Dave Sunday speaks to the audience in the Forum Auditorium across the street from the Capitol after taking the oath to become Pennsylvania’s next attorney general, Jan. 21, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, Sunday reacted to pair of bills that passed Pennsylvania Senate voting sessions this week: They are House Bill 1425, which would establish a directory similar to cigarettes for electronic nicotine devices (vapes) and House Bill 1615, which would maintain DUI sentencing conditions that preserve treatment programs while holding repeat offenders accountable.

On HB1425, Attorney General Sunday said: “Unregulated vaping devices and other e-cigarettes are often manufactured to appear attractive to children, who are most susceptible to such marketing. The reality is that users of these unregulated products have no idea what they are actually consuming. The products often contain no reliable disclosures about contents or potential dangers attached to consumption. I commend the bipartisan work in the Senate and House that recognized a threat to our children and took action to protect all Pennsylvanians.”

On House Bill 1425 Sunday said: “This bill remedies a state court’s ruling that essentially disregards a first DUI offense resulting in ARD when a second DUI conviction occurs. While I am an advocate of second chances when appropriate, I have found in my career that many DUI offenders are at high risk to re-offend, so precautions must be in place to ensure accountability if they commit subsequent offenses. Every time someone makes the intentional decision to get behind the wheel intoxicated, they endanger every person they encounter on the roadway. I have seen far too many tragedies caused by completely avoidable vehicle crashes rooted to DUI. I will continue to advocate for ARD and other worthy diversion programs as positive resolutions to criminal charges for certain offenders, but there is no such thing as a freebie when it comes to driving while intoxicated.”

Both bills return to the House for their concurrence on Senate amendments. Finally, the Senate Judiciary passed House Bill 1934, which offers clarification of discovery requirements under the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, which applies to the Governor, Commonwealth executive/independent agencies, and their employees. The legislation protects the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and other state agencies that have increasingly been subjected to “exhaustive” and “inappropriate” discovery demands in civil litigation.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Congressman Chris Deluzio’s Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to a release in Washington D.C. yesterday from Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office, Deluzio’s bipartisan legislation to rename the post office in Sewickley at 521 Thorn Street after Mary Elizabeth “Bettie” Cole passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously by a voice vote last night. This is a significant step forward in the commemoration of the beloved Western Pennsylvania community leader, local historian, and author.