(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) AAA projects that 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday period between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25.

That figure is slightly higher than 2025, when 44.8 million people traveled during the holiday weekend.

AAA said the 2026 forecast would set a new Memorial Day travel record, with an estimated 39.1 million people expected to drive and another 3.66 million expected to fly.

Although gas prices are higher than they were during last year’s Memorial Day weekend, average airline ticket prices are lower, according to AAA.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Owners bring their dogs to a park in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. Veterinary laboratories in several states, including Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire, are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs that causes lasting illness and doesn’t respond to antibiotics. The Oregon Department of Agriculture, which is working with state researchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illnesses, has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Several regional kennel clubs are teaming up to host the Classic Dog Show Weekend at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds in New Castle. 

The event will run from Tuesday, May 19, through Monday, May 25, at the fairgrounds located at 464 Midway Road. Activities are scheduled to begin daily at 6 a.m. 

Participating organizations include the Western Pennsylvania Kennel Association, Altoona Area Kennel Association, New Castle Kennel Club and Mahoning-Shenango Kennel Club. 

The event will feature conformation judging for a variety of dog breeds, junior showmanship competitions and AKC-sanctioned puppy events for dogs under six months old. 

Organizers will also host a Pee-Wee class Sunday for young dog handlers beginning their involvement in dog shows. 

Admission to the event is free. Parking will cost $5 per day. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Reported by Zamone Perez, Keystone News Service

(Harrisburg, PA) As National Nurses Week comes to an end, one advocate is explaining the importance of nurses when discussing advance care planning, palliative care and hospice. Missy Moore has been a hospice nurse for more than 30 years. She says nurses should strive to do a better job at explaining complex components of advance directives. When patients better understand what an advance directive entails, she says it gives more power to patients. Moore says if someone doesn’t have a plan, it can mean difficulty in the hospital. According to the National Institutes of Health, just a third of Americans have taken the time to establish a directive for end-of-life care.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle said a 25-year-old Volant man was charged following a two-vehicle crash Sunday in Lawrence County. 

According to police, Shane Coast was driving along Lakewood Neshannock Falls Road in Hickory Township around 3:35 p.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck another vehicle driven by 56-year-old Ginger Grannis of New Castle. 

Police said Grannis suffered a suspected minor injury and was taken to UPMC Jameson Hospital for evaluation. 

No other injuries were reported. 

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle said no charges were filed following a two-vehicle crash Monday in Lawrence County. 

According to police, 22-year-old Angelo Peak of New Castle was driving along Route 18 in New Wilmington Township around 5:58 p.m. when his vehicle struck the rear of another vehicle driven by 59-year-old Janice Kohl of Evans City. 

Investigators said Kohl was attempting to turn right onto Heather Heights Road at the time of the crash. 

No injuries were reported. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of (PRNewsFoto/SHEETZ, INC.) Caption for Photo: Sheetz logo.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Greensburg, PA) Sheetz will open its fourth Greensburg location Thursday. 

The new store, located at 6090 Route 30, is the fourth Sheetz along the Route 30 corridor serving commuters traveling to and from Pittsburgh. 

The store will open to the public at 8 a.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 10:45 a.m. Customers will receive free self-serve coffee and soda throughout the grand opening day. 

Sheetz also plans to host an outdoor celebration beginning at 9 a.m. Company officials said the event is expected to draw area residents, nonprofit representatives and local elected officials. 

The company will offer giveaways during the event, including $250 in Sheetz gift cards and a chance to win free Sheetz for a year. 

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Sheetz will present a $2,500 donation to the Westmoreland Food Bank, which serves more than 18,000 households annually. 

Customers attending the grand opening are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items and will receive “Sheetz Swag” from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. while supplies last. 

Sheetz will also present a $2,500 donation to Special Olympics Pennsylvania during the event. The company has supported the organization for more than 30 years through volunteer work, product donations and financial contributions. 

(File Photo of the Beaver County Partnership/ Community & Economic Growth Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(North Sewickley Towsnhip, PA) A local police department is asking residents to help restore a cemetery that has fallen into disrepair. 

The North Sewickley Township Police Department issued a public call for volunteers to help clean up Locust Grove Cemetery along the 900 block of Brighton Road. 

Police Chief Tyler Kelosky said in a social media post that the cemetery has become severely overgrown and difficult to maintain. 

Kelosky said funding and maintenance resources are limited, and many families have expressed concerns about the cemetery’s condition. 

In response, police are encouraging residents, churches, businesses, organizations and other volunteers to help with cleanup efforts. 

(File Photo of Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) Doug Mastriano has been nominated to serve as the United States ambassador to Slovakia. 

Mastriano, a Republican state senator representing Adams and Franklin counties, was among more than a dozen nominations sent to the U.S. Senate on Monday by President Donald Trump. 

Mastriano’s nomination to serve as ambassador to Slovakia will require confirmation by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Mastriano ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 2022 and lost to Josh Shapiro, who received 56% of the vote.

Ahead of this year’s gubernatorial election, Mastriano weighed another run for governor, and ultimately decided not to run against Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is challenging Shapiro’s reelection bid.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on May 11th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Raccoon Township, PA) The driver of a Valley Waste garbage truck and a passenger suffered minor injuries after the truck went off Moffit Mill Road in Raccoon Township and into Raccoon Creek. 

Officials said the truck rolled nearly 100 feet down a hillside before landing in the creek. 

Hours later, crane operators with Allegheny Crane Rental removed the truck from the water. 

According to officials, the garbage truck was traveling along the rural, winding roadway when the driver attempted to move over to allow another vehicle to pass. 

As the truck pulled toward the edge of the road, the pavement reportedly began to crumble, causing the vehicle to slide down the hillside and into the creek. 

The owner of the crane company told WPXI that a nearby resident allowed crews to set up a 400-ton crane in his yard so operators could safely hoist the truck from the creek. 

Valley Waste did not comment on the incident.