(Harrisburg, Pa.) — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate swore in its newest member, Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny).

Senator Iovino won her seat in a special election earlier this month to replace Republican Senator Guy Reschenthaler who had resigned to run for Congress. She will represent the 37^th Senatorial District, which includes parts of Allegheny County and Washington County.

“Voters in the 37^th district saw in Pam the experience, intellect and commitment to public service that they want in a Senator,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny). “She’ll make a great Senator, ready to tackle important issues for her new constituents. Time to get to work!”

To follow along with Senator Iovino’s work in the Senate, visit her website at www.senatoriovino.com

Western Pennsylvania Gas Prices Increase; National Average Hits New 2019 High
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is six cents more expensive this week at $3.099 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. Most Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states are seeing large jumps at the pump week-over-week, including Pennsylvania (+7 cents).  At $3.05, Pennsylvania remains the only state in the region above the $3/gal mark, but a handful of others are just pennies away from being there: Connecticut ($2.99), Washington, D.C. ($2.96) and New York ($2.95).

As the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that regional refinery utilization jumped from 81.1% to 87.6%, gasoline stocks grew by 860,000 barrels – the largest build of any region in the country for the week ending April 19.  Despite the increase, overall stock levels are tight at 60 million barrels with summer right around the corner.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average               $3.099
Average price during the week of April 22, 2019                                    $3.036
Average price during the week of April 30, 2018                                    $3.058

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

$2.993      Altoona
$3.047      Beaver
$3.088      Bradford
$3.076      Brookville
$3.098      Butler
$3.111      Clarion
$3.009      Du Bois
$3.146      Erie
$3.116      Greensburg
$3.098      Indiana
$3.156      Jeannette
$3.158      Kittanning
$3.074      Latrobe
$3.150      Meadville
$3.115      Mercer
$3.041      New Castle
$3.153      New Kensington
$3.124      Pittsburgh
$3.099      Sharon
$3.098      Uniontown
$3.159      Warren
$3.060      Washington

On the National Front
With a four-cent jump on the week, today’s national gas price average sets a new high for the year at $2.88.  This average may only be seven cents more than a year ago, but it is nearly 20 cents more than a month ago and 63-cents more expensive than at the beginning of the year.  With 17 states within a dime of or already at $3/gal or more, the national average will likely surpass 2018’s high of $2.97 set during Memorial Day weekend.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate fell $1.91 to settle at $63.30.  Crude prices dipped after Baker Hughes, Inc. revealed that the number of oil rigs in the U.S. fell by 20, landing at 805 last week.  Crude prices increased earlier in the week following the U.S. announcing that it would end the use of waivers for countries to import oil from Iran.  Decreases in Iranian oil exports could tighten the supply in the global market, which has already seen decreases because of the ongoing U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela, and OPEC’s reduced production as a result of its agreement with its partners.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

NEW YORK (AP) — Measles continues to spread in the United States, with more 704 cases reported so far this year in 22 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the latest numbers Monday.

POWAY, Calif. (AP) — The FBI says it got tips about a threatening social media post about five minutes before a deadly attack on a synagogue near San Diego but it was too late to identify the suspect. In a statement to The Associated Press, the FBI said Monday that the tips included a link to the post but didn’t offer specific information about its author or the location threatened. The bureau says its employees immediately took action to identify who wrote the post but the shooting took place before they finished.

Iowa voters sent a record number of women to the Legislature during last year’s midterms. Women won two of the state’s most competitive U.S. House races, and a woman was elected governor for the first time. Yet across Iowa, there’s palpable anxiety among some Democratic women about nominating a female candidate to face off against President Donald Trump next year. And it’s not just Iowa. Across Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, three of the first states to hold 2020 nominating contests, dozens of women told The Associated Press that they are worried about whether the country was ready to elect a woman as president. Their concerns are political and personal, rooted as much in fear of repeating Hillary Clinton’s 2016 loss to Trump as in their own experiences with sexism and gender discrimination.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The search for a place to barbecue turned deadly for one woman, who police say collapsed after a fight over a parking spot in Philadelphia. Authorities say 57-year-old Lourdes Estremera had set up a grill in the parking spot on Friday night. Another woman drove up and wanted to park in the spot, and the two started arguing. The dispute turned physical and police were called. Estremera collapsed while talking with officers at the scene. She was pronounced dead there a short time later.

Austin, Tx (AP) – Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke has announced his first major policy initiative, a $5 trillion plan to combat climate change. O’Rourke released the plan Monday before visiting Yosemite National Park, calling for upping taxes on corporations and top earners and cutting tax breaks for fossil fuel companies. O’Rourke seeks to mobilize $5 trillion in spending over 10 years while pledging to take “significant actions to defend communities” preparing for intensified natural disasters.

THE ALIQUIPPA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS INTRODUCED STELLA, IT’S NEW K-9. SANDY GIORDANO REPORTS. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

The principal of Quaker Valley Middle School in Sewickley is being named P-A Principal of the Year. Anthony Mooney is receiving the honor from the Pennsylvania Principals Association. Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak spoke with Mooney this morning in a telephone interview. Mooney said he was pleasantly surprised when he received the phone call…

Mooney explained the process through which he was nominated for the award…

Mooney was asked to explain what it was that pushed him over the top to win the award…

Mooney says the response by the students and staff has been overwhelming…

Mooney was called a great leader who is well respected by his colleagues, students and their families by the president of the Quaker Valley School Board.

Today is the deadline to register to vote in Western Pennsylvania’s municipal primary elections. State officials say anyone who has not registered, recently moved or has not declared a party must do so by the end of the day. The primary election is set for May 21st. Information on voter registration can be found online at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov.