AAA: Western PA Gas Prices Rise Slightly; National Average Not Swayed by Hurricane
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania increased three cents this week to $2.464 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.464
Average price during the week of August 3, 2020                                     $2.433
Average price during the week of August 12, 2019                                   $2.861

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

$2.493      Altoona
$2.450      Beaver
$2.477      Bradford
$2.470      Brookville
$2.451      Butler
$2.457      Clarion
$2.427      DuBois
$2.483      Erie
$2.399      Greensburg
$2.489      Indiana
$2.484      Jeannette
$2.467      Kittanning
$2.482      Latrobe
$2.490      Meadville
$2.504      Mercer
$2.412      New Castle
$2.486      New Kensington
$2.499      Oil City
$2.449      Pittsburgh
$2.420      Sharon
$2.492      Uniontown
$2.499      Warren
$2.400      Washington

Trend Analysis:
On the week, the national average is down a penny from last Monday to $2.17. Most states, aside from Utah (+9 cents), Michigan (+6 cents), and Kentucky (-4 cents), fluctuated no more than three cents.  The majority saw gas prices decrease minimally – by one to two cents, or had no change at the pump. Today’s average is two cents less than last month and 49 cents cheaper than a year ago, with August pricing out to be the second cheapest start to the month in more than a decade.

In the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly report, gas demand fell from 8.8 million b/d to 8.6 million b/d while stocks held steady at 247 million barrels.

 

While Hurricane Isaias did not disrupt gas prices, the 2020 hurricane season is far from over. Last week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) released the association’s annual August update, which revised the May forecast from 13 to 19 storms to 19-25 through the end of November. This year’s season could be one of the busiest as it has already produced a record-setting nine named storms. Major storms and hurricanes that take crude and gasoline infrastructure and refineries offline have the largest impact on gas prices.

 

One positive factor for this year, U.S. gasoline supply is plentiful sitting at a 17 million barrels year-over-year surplus. If a major storm or hurricane does hit the U.S., it will be a matter of short-term shortages and how quickly gasoline stocks can get to areas of need.

 

At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate decreased by 71 cents to settle at $41.22 per barrel. Domestic crude prices decreased last week due to a weak U.S. dollar and after EIA’s weekly report revealed that total domestic inventories decreased by 7.4 million barrels, bringing total domestic stocks to 518.6 million barrels. The decrease in total supply, amid low gasoline demand, could mean that the domestic crude market is rebalancing. Crude prices have the potential to stabilize this week if EIA’s report shows continued growth in demand alongside a reduction in supply.

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, Penns

Constraints gone, GOP ramps up effort to monitor voting
By ERIC TUCKER and NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican Party heads into its first presidential contest this November free from decades-old legal constraints on the use of volunteers to monitor the polls on Election Day. It’s a boon for a party that has consistently raised the specter of voting fraud. But it’s also a concern for Democrats and voting rights groups. They fear the planned influx of tens of thousands of poll watchers under the imprimatur of the Republican National Committee is a thinly veiled effort to suppress Democratic turnout, particularly in minority communities.

Pro wrestling star James ‘Kamala’ Harris dies at 70
By RUSSELL CONTRERAS Associated Press
Former professional wrestler James Harris has died at the age of 70. The Mississippi-born sharecropper gained international fame as “Kamala the Ugandan Giant.” World Wrestling Entertainment confirmed his death in a statement Sunday. The man who co-wrote Harris’ autobiography says Harris died from COVID-19. Harris’ wrestling career took off under the gimmick of Kamala after other characters failed. He’d come to the ring in body paint and a spear before taking on the likes of babyface wrestlers the Junkyard Dog, Hacksaw Butch Reed, and later Hulk Hogan and the Undertaker. He recently had his legs amputated because of diabetes.

Pittsburgh Penguins Team Up with Pennsylvania Department of State and Allegheny County on Voting Initiatives  

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar today announced a championship collaboration among the Department of State, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Allegheny County, in a spirited initiative to boost voter participation and assist election administration for the November election.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are the first NHL team in the country to announce such a collaboration. Additional Pennsylvania professional teams and athletes are expected to join similar collaborations soon.

“Pennsylvania is home to outstanding professional teams and athletes, and regardless of what team you root for, we can all agree that voting is a fundamental right of every fan,” said Secretary Boockvar. “The Department of State is excited to work with the Penguins to get the puck to the net and strengthen secure and accessible voting options in November.”

The collaboration announced today has been inspired by the national campaigns led by More Than a Vote, which aims to expand voting rights and is driven by inspirational professional athletes such as LeBron James.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins are proud to join in supporting this initiative to help increase voter participation and expand opportunities for voting,” said Ron Burkle, co-owner of the Penguins. “We appreciate Governor Wolf, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Secretary Kathy Boockvar for bringing us all together to help secure our most cherished American freedom of the right to vote.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins are working in conjunction with Allegheny County and the Department of State to explore initiatives such as volunteering as and helping to recruit poll workers, educating the public about voting, and sponsoring get-out-the-vote campaigns.

“As an athlete born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, I’m thrilled to see a hometown sports franchise step up in partnership with government leaders to ensure that everyone can safely vote during the ongoing public health crisis,” said Andrew Hawkins, More Than A Vote member, former NFL wide receiver and Johnstown native. “Their willingness to encourage employees to serve as poll workers will address one of the greatest challenges we face as a democracy this year. These are the types of innovative solutions that will pay dividends in the form of high voter turnout in Allegheny County this fall. We look forward to seeing similar partnerships throughout the Keystone State in the coming weeks.”

The Penguins also announced they will be providing a company-wide paid day off on election day to encourage all staff members to vote, volunteer as poll workers, and advocate for civic engagement.

“We are delighted to partner with the Penguins for such an important initiative,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it’s absolutely imperative that we have the resources, including personnel, to be able to administer our elections. We’re hopeful that this effort by the Penguins catches on and that we see even more businesses and organizations in our community offer their employees the ability to participate more fully in this democratic process.”

To learn more about voting in Pennsylvania and to apply for a mail-in ballot for the November 3 election, visit votesPA.com.

Southbound Route 51 Ramp to Southbound Route 65 Inspection Begins Tuesday in Rochester

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing inspection activities on the ramp from southbound Route 51 to southbound Route 65 in Rochester Borough, Beaver County will occur Tuesday through Thursday, August 11-13 weather permitting.

Lane narrowing will occur on the ramp that carries traffic from southbound Route 51 to southbound Route 65 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The ramp will remain open to traffic at all times as crews from the Larson Design Group will conduct the inspection work.

Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns. Please use caution when driving through the area. Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) The City of Beaver Falls Police Department via press release said they were dispatched around 11:30 Sunday night, August, 9. 2020, for several reports of persons having been shot and gunshots heard in the area of 14th Street and 5th Ave. in the city.

According to the release Officers and Medical crews did locate two gunshot victims away from the location of the incident and a third victim was found to have been transported to a local hospital in someone’s personal vehicle.

Police say the victims one that is 19 year old female and another that is a 20 year old male are in stable condition and the third is a 23 year old male who is in critical but stable condition. Police said no further information on the victims will be released at this time and they are asking anyone who may have information that could assist in the investigation to contact them at (724) 846-7000.