Electric vehicles (EVs) are taking up more real estate in dealership showrooms nationwide. Their attractive blend of cutting-edge design, advanced technology and energy efficiency have expanded their popularity.

The new 2023 AAA Car Guide is here to help consumers navigate this evolving automotive marketplace by ranking and rating the newest vehicles, including EVs. The Guide provides consumers with reviews, based on testing by AAA Engineers, highlighting how many advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are included in the vehicle, along with other criteria and information.

Announced at this month’s New York International Auto Show, the 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 earned the overall top score for the 2023 edition of the AAA Car Guide. All but one of the category winners for 2023 is electric– the gasoline-powered Kia Carnival SX took the minivan category. Meanwhile, Rivian Automotive placed two models in the top five – the R1T Adventure pickup (Pickup Truck category winner) and the R1S Launch Edition SUV.

Gas priced soared in 2022. The national average reached $5.01 a gallon in June. Consumers responded by purchasing more than 760,000 EVs, a 65% increase from 2021. Of the 71 vehicles reviewed for the 2023 AAA Car Guide, 19 are pure electric.

“EV sales continue to increase each year, but consumers still have a lot of questions about them, such as battery life and ease of charging,” said Mike Hoshaw, vice president of automotive services, AAA East Central. “The AAA Car Guide is an easy-to-understand resource that takes some of the stress and guesswork out of car-shopping by providing the vital information consumers need to make the right choice.”

The 2023 AAA Car Guide includes comprehensive reviews of each vehicle based on 13 criteria, including the number of ADAS safety features, fuel efficiency, emissions, braking, handling, ride quality and acceleration. These vehicles are tested, scored and placed in one of six vehicle-type categories by the Automotive Research Center (ARC) of the Automobile Club of Southern California, a member of the AAA federation of motor clubs.  Additionally, there are three categories based on price.

For those in the market for newer used vehicles, the online AAA Car Guide website also contains links to the two previous editions from 2022 and 2021.

Each of the 2023 AAA Car Guide winners has numerous ADAS safety features and achieves high fuel efficiency. The highest scoring ranked by category are:

Winners, detailed evaluation criteria, vehicle reviews and an in-depth analysis of the ADAS technology can be found at AAA.com/CarGuide. AAA also provides consumers with other resources like the Your Driving Costs calculator and Used EV Car Buyer’s Guide to help with car-buying decisions

The AAA Car Guide also contains detailed information about AAA’s recent research on current automotive technologies such as ADAS and headlight effectiveness.

The image above shows Trez Everett being recognized for his efforts.      
Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published May 10, 2023 10:15 A.M.

(Ambridge, PA) At Tuesday night’s regular council meeting 2 youths, Shamar Underwood, wasn’t present, but Trez Everett attended, and Underwood were responsible for rescuing 2 small children, firefighters Dan Caul, Larry Charlton, Brian Brown, Justin Miller, and Lenny Maytic were honored for their efforts at the fire at 816 11th Street last Sunday night. Police officers, Seng, Causer, and Anderson were honored. The 2 small children’s grandmother was also rescued, and was taken to the hospital, but was at Tuesday’s night’s meeting and thanked everyone for their assistance. She said a cat died in the fire.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published May 10, 2023 10:10 A.M.

(Ambridge, PA) Councilwoman Tina Iorfido Miller was appointed mayor by council replacing Gerald “Duke” McCoy. The resignation is effective on Monday, May 15, 2023. Her first official duty was presenting a proclamation and gift to Trez Everett, one of the youth that rescued the 2 children from last Sunday morning’s fire. Mrs. Miller will run for McCoy’s unexpired term in the next  election.

(Monaca, PA) Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is proud to release 176 names of full-time students who achieved either President’s List or Dean’s List honors for the spring 2023 semester.
To be named to the President’s List, students must have completed at least 12 hours of credit-bearing courses in which performance grades are awarded and have received a 3.75 grade-point average or above for the semester. Dean’s List honorees must have completed at least 12 hours of credit-bearing courses in which performance grades are awarded and have received a 3.25 to 3.74 grade-point average for the semester.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that line painting operations on various roadways in Beaver county will occur Wednesday through Saturday, May 10-13 weather permitting.

Work to repaint lines will occur from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday in the following locations:

Beaver County

• Route 68 in Ohioville Borough
• Route 65 in North Sewickley Township
• Route 288 in Ellwood City Borough and Franklin Township
• Route 1001 River Road in North Sewickley Township
• Route 1002 Cherryhill Road in North Sewickley Township
• Route 1003 Brighton Road in North Sewickley Township and Ellwood City Borough
• Route 1005 Chapel Road in North Sewickley Township
• Route 1006 Mercer Road in Franklin Township
• Route 1009 Old Furnace Road/Fombell Road in Franklin Township
• Route 1012 Harpers Ferry Road in North Sewickley Township
• Route 1013 North Tower Road in Franklin Township
• Route 1015 Hartzell School Road in Marion and New Sewickley townships
• Route 1017 Ridge Road in Marion Township

Roadway line painting is an important part of PennDOT’s highway safety initiatives. Paint lines provide direction, delineation, and guidance to motorists.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing ramp improvement work at the I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) Monaca/Shippingport Route 18 interchange in Potter Township, Beaver County will continue Wednesday, May 10 weather permitting.

Beginning at 5 a.m. Wednesday, the ramp from eastbound I-376 to Route 18 at the I-376 Monaca/Shippingport (Exit 39) interchange will close to traffic continuously through the evening of Saturday, May 20 for improvement work.

Ramp traffic will be detoured to allow crews from Lindy Paving to conduct milling and paving operations, inlet adjustments, signage improvements, and pavement marking installation.

Posted Detour

Eastbound I-376 to Route 18

• Continue eastbound on I-376 past the closed ramp
• From eastbound I-376, take the Center (Exit 42) off-ramp
• Turn left onto Pleasant Drive
• Take the ramp for West I-376 toward New Castle/Beaver
• Follow westbound I-376 back to the Monaca/Shippingport interchange
• Take the ramp Route 18 Monaca/Shipportport (Exit 39) off-ramp
• End detour

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Beaver Falls has been a city for 95 years, and the current city council spent their May 9 meeting acknowledging a major part of their past…while also discussing current success that they hope creates a brighter future.

First, a past contributor to the city was honored with a proclamation for his decades of service. Mayor Dr. Kenya Johns presented Sound Ideas LLC owner Mark Peterson with a proclamation acknowledging his 37 years of service with WBVP/WMBA, including ownership of the Beaver Falls studios from 2014 until his retirement in 2021. Peterson was there to accept his proclamation certificate along with his wife and Sound Ideas co-owner, Cyndi.

“It’s really neat that this comes from the Beaver Falls council chambers,” Peterson reminisced, recalling how he used to use a since-removed landline phone labelled “WBVP” to carry the live feed of the city’s council meetings when he started in 1986. “That was one of my earliest memories of the station seeing that thing over there, that was one of the earliest places I sat, and here I am again.”

Peterson wasn’t the only one to have fond memories of the past at Monday night’s meeting, as many members of council and several department heads lauded the first events at the newly renovated Library Park that occurred since the last meeting. Community Development leader Rochelle Burks, who was chief in organizing the two events, was happy to see community support and council’s support during the launch of Beaver Falls CORE and the recent Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

City manager Charles Jones was also vocal about his support for the park’s first events, highlighting the beauty of community gathering and the new possibilities that have been made available. “People in the downtown who aren’t ever really able to get out because of wheelchair access or issues with walkers; they were able to just enjoy that space in the downtown,” Jones stated. “And that makes us all feel good, that we’re providing a great venue and space for everyone to come out and hear music and experience things that a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to.”

As far as the recent damage done to the new “THE FALLS” sign soon after the sign was erected, Jones claimed that the structural integrity was at fault and the city is “going to be working with the designer” to move forward on any issues with the sign being negated.

Future events for the city are being anticipated as well: Burks announced that the next event that Community Development is working on is the city’s Juneteenth event, as well as the beginning considerations for the creation of a city flag. She also stated that the early planning stages of the next annual “Back To School Bash” are underway. Councilwoman Vanessa Ford Taylor announced that the “End of School Bash” fundraiser to benefit Ruhe Park’s renovation is set for June 2nd, and city clerk Paula Durish reminded the public about the Beaver Falls Car Cruise on June 10.

Additionally, an event by Hope Community Reformed Presbyterian Church was greenlit by council, as they unanimously approved a recommendation to the Safety Committee by Bethany Warren to close parts of Pear Alley and 5th Avenue to hold their annual block party on July 22. The council also unanimously approved General Fund and Payroll expenditures totaling $418,706.46.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for May 23 at 7:00 PM.

This combo from photos provided by Philadelphia Dept. of Prisons shows from left, Nasir Grant, left, and Ameen Hurst. Authorities searched Tuesday, May 9, 2023, for two inmates, one accused of killing four people, who were gone from a Philadelphia prison for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing. Hurst, 18, and Grant, 24, escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center around 8:30 p.m. Sunday by cutting a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons said.(Philadelphia Dept. of Prisons via AP)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities are searching for two inmates — one accused of killing four people — who were gone from a Philadelphia prison for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing. Prison officials say the inmates cut a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on Sunday evening. But several headcounts conducted Sunday and Monday reportedly showed that all prisoners were accounted for. Philadelphia Prisons Department Commissioner Blanche Carney says “protocols were not followed.” The inmates were identified as 18-year-old Ameen Hurst, who is charged with fatally shooting four people, and 24-year-old Nasir Grant, held on conspiracy drug and weapons charges.

Harrisburg, PA – In preparation for the May 16 primary election, Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded Pennsylvania voters they can find comprehensive voting information at vote.pa.gov. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely and fairly, and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard, are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.

“Vote.pa.gov is a one-stop shop for Pennsylvanians looking for trusted, official information about elections and voting,” Schmidt said. “There, they can verify their voter registration, locate their polling place, learn how to return their mail ballot, and even watch a video of how to cast a ballot on their county’s voting system.

“Every vote is precious,” Schmidt continued. “I encourage all eligible voters to make their voice heard in this primary. Municipal elections matter because officials who have direct impact on our daily lives – those who set property taxes, oversee schools, and make public safety and road construction decisions, for example – are on the ballot.”

New this year on vote.pa.gov are webpages fully translated into Spanish so Spanish-speaking voters can navigate available resources without having to maneuver through pages in English.

“This new Spanish version of vote.pa.gov represents an important milestone in the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to make the voting process accessible to all eligible Pennsylvania voters,” Schmidt said.

Only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote in the primary to select nominees to represent their party in the Nov. 7 general election. However, all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, will be able to vote May 16 on any local ballot questions. In addition, all voters registered in the following districts will be able to vote in the special elections being held May 16:

• 108th Legislative District for state representative in parts of Montour and Northumberland counties, and
• 163rd Legislative District for state representative in parts of Delaware County.

Mail ballot deadline

Schmidt also reminded voters that 5 p.m. today is the deadline to apply for a mail ballot for the primary. To date, more than 700,000 registered Pennsylvania voters already have applied for a no-excuse mail-in ballot, and more than 73,000 voters have applied for an absentee ballot.

Pennsylvanians voting by no-excuse mail-in or absentee ballot should return their voted ballot immediately. The deadline for county elections boards to receive voted mail ballots is 8 p.m. May 16. Postmarks by that time do not count.

Voters can also deliver their ballot in person to their county board of elections or to a designated ballot drop box or satellite office. Voters should check vote.pa.gov to determine if their county has ballot drop-box locations and to find the hours for their county elections office.

Voters who received an absentee or mail-in ballot may vote in person on Primary Day if they bring their unvoted mail ballot packet, including the outer envelope, with them to be voided. After they surrender their ballot materials and sign a declaration, they can then vote on their county’s voting system.

Voters who already successfully voted by mail are not eligible to vote in person on Primary Day.

Voters who requested a mail ballot and did not receive it or do not have it to surrender may vote by provisional ballot at their polling place. The provisional ballot will be reviewed by their county board of elections after Primary Day to determine whether it can be counted.

For voters who wish to vote in person at their polling place on Primary Day, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 16.

Voters appearing at a polling place for the first time will need to show proper identification, which may be either photo or non-photo ID.

Voters may have assistance at the voting booth if they are unable to enter the booth or use the balloting system alone. The voter may choose who provides the assistance, although it may not be the voter’s employer, an agent of the employer, an officer or agent of the voter’s union, or the precinct’s Judge of Elections.

For complete information about voting in Pennsylvania, visit vote.pa.gov. Voters can also call the Department of State’s year-round election hotline, 1-800-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772), or follow the hashtag #ReadytoVotePA on social media.

A koala sits in a tree at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, Friday, May 5, 2023. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. The safety and effectiveness of the single-shot vaccine has previously been tested by vaccinating koalas individually brought into wildlife rescue centers for other afflictions. Now the scientists want to understand the impact of vaccinating a population of wild koalas. A 2020 government assessment found that koalas could become extinct in the wild by 2050 due to threats from disease, habitat loss and road collisions.