Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published September 13, 2023 7:46 A.M.

(Hookstown, Pa) State Police now say that a robber stole approximately $1500 dollars and a gun that was behind the counter at Johnstown Market on Pine Street in Hookstown. It was stated that just before 10pm, an unknown male wearing all black, and covering his face entered the store, brandished a knife, and demanding the clerk open the register. He was also said to have worn a green backpack. The initial press release by State Police stated that the robber had gotten away with $1000 and only attempted to steal the firearm. A following press release contradicted those statements. The suspect is said to have fled the scene and State Police are looking to hear from anyone that may have information.

Two young technicians installing heavy solar photo voltaic panel on tall steel platform on green tree background. Exterior solar panel voltaic system installation, dangerous job concept. Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Connection

It has been one year since the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act became law, and Pennsylvania is seeing and using some of the funding.

The groundbreaking law directs $370 billion to clean-energy efforts through tax incentives, grants and loan guarantees. The Keystone State has set a goal of using 100% clean energy by 2050, and the law is helping to make it a reality.

Annie Regan, campaign director for the environmental watchdog group PennFuture, said together, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have brought more than $300 million to Pennsylvania.

She pointed out a variety of projects are already benefiting from the funding.

“We also know the Inflation Reduction Act is lowering energy costs for families in Pennsylvania, with estimates ranging from $300 to $1,800 in annual savings,” Regan observed. “Folks will notice — within this year, in the next couple of years, especially — that their energy bills will become lower and more affordable.”

Regan added the funding has already added 64 electric school buses in seven school districts in the state, with more than $19 million in rebates. Republican opponents of the Inflation Reduction Act have cited concerns about the U.S. budget deficit and the effect on jobs in the oil and gas sector.

Regan explained funding from the law puts the Keystone State on the cusp of a Green Revolution, which promises not only cleaner skies, but economic growth and opportunities.

“It’s going to bring an estimated $270 million of investment in large-scale, clean power generation and storage to Pennsylvania by 2030,” Regan outlined. “It’s going to provide $30 billion in tax credits to accelerate domestic production of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and critical minerals processing.”

Regan added her group, along with ReImagine Appalachia, are working to make sure the states in their region are all taking advantage of the federal funding for renewable energy opportunities, affecting communities in need.

“We want to create good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs with these federal climate investments,” Regan emphasized. “I think that’s where we’ve seen a pivot in the environmental movement, of not just employing clean energy, but making sure it’s done right, using union labor.”

The massive law also includes money to update the nation’s power transmission systems, and tax credits for projects using American-made steel and iron, which should result in more jobs in those fields.

Gas prices are two cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.838 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                          $3.838
Average price during the week of September 5, 2023                                       $3.852
Average price during the week of September 12, 2022                                     $3.984

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

$3.892      Altoona
$3.729      Beaver
$3.758      Bradford
$3.742      Brookville
$3.932      Butler
$3.888      Clarion
$3.853      DuBois
$3.955      Erie
$3.847      Greensburg
$3.894      Indiana
$3.870      Jeannette
$3.872      Kittanning
$3.897      Latrobe
$3.620      Meadville
$3.996      Mercer
$3.647      New Castle
$3.859      New Kensington
$3.991      Oil City
$3.837      Pittsburgh
$3.611      Sharon
$3.796      Uniontown
$3.999      Warren
$3.778      Washington

Trend Analysis:

The national average for a gallon of gas is up two cents over the past week to $3.83. The increase comes after a recent uptick in the price of oil, the primary ingredient in gasoline. Today’s national average is a penny less than a month ago but 12 cents more than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased from 9.07 to 9.32 million barrels per day last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks dropped from 217.4 to 214.7 million barrels.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate rose by 85 cents to settle at $87.54. The price of oil has increased amid news that Saudi Arabia plans to continue its voluntary 1 million barrels per day production cut through the end of the year. Additionally, the EIA reported that total domestic commercial crude inventories decreased significantly from 422.9 to 416.6 million barrels.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at gasprices.aaa.com.

[Sept. 11, 2023] — The American Red Cross is experiencing a national blood shortage. Fewer donors than needed gave this summer, drawing down the national blood supply and reducing distributions of some of the most needed blood types to hospitals. Hurricane Idalia further strained the blood supply with blood drive cancellations and reduced blood and platelet donations in affected areas.  

 

Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, and there is an emergency need for platelet donors and type O blood donors to make an appointment to give now to ensure patients across the country continue to receive critical medical care.  

 

When Idalia slammed into the Southeast – leading to widespread power outages, travel hazards and flooding – the storm also forced the cancellation of over a dozen blood drives and caused hundreds of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. This compounded a shortfall of about 30,000 donations in August. Right now, blood product distributions to hospitals are outpacing the number of blood donations coming in. 

 

The Red Cross needs blood and platelet donors now. Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

 

In thanks for helping rebuild the blood supply, all who come to give Sept. 1-18 will receive a limited-edition Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. Those who come to give throughout September will also receive a coupon for a free haircut by email, thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts. Plus, they’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a VIP NASCAR racing experience. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/RaceToGive. 

 

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month

One in 3 African American blood donors is a match for people with sickle cell disease. To help ensure patients have the blood products they need, the Red Cross launched the Sickle Cell Initiative in 2021 to grow the number of blood donors who are Black and improve health outcomes for patients. Together, longtime and first-time blood donors are helping patients with sickle cell manage their symptoms and showing support for their community. 

 

Joined by Blood is the initiative’s focus during Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September and continues through October. This year, the Red Cross is proud to partner with organizations focused on mentorship, including 100 Black Men of America, Inc.; Kier’s Hope Foundation, Inc.; historically Black colleges and universities and member organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council; as well as the Black Radio Hall of Fame and others, who are all showing up for patients with sickle cell by hosting blood drives. To learn more, visit RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood. 

 

How to donate blood 

To make an appointment, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 

Amplify your impact − volunteer

A stable blood and platelet supply is critical to national preparedness. Additionally, as we are in the beginning of what is expected to be another active hurricane season, the Red Cross urges everyone to get ready now and consider becoming a volunteer to help people affected by the growing number of climate-driven disasters. 

 

Support impacted communities by assisting at Red Cross shelters, using your professional skills as a licensed health care provider or becoming a member of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team. To learn more, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.

Authorities say escaped murderer Danelo Souza Cavalcante stole a rifle from a garage, fled a homeowner’s gunfire, and is on the run in suburban Philadelphia. Police have closed roads Tuesday and are telling residents to lock their doors. They say they have set up a new search area in the nearly 2-week-old manhunt. They say about 500 law enforcement personnel searching or guarding an 8- to 10-square mile area roughly 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Cavalcante escaped from the Chester County jail Aug. 31 after being sentenced to life for killing an ex-girlfriend in 2021.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of the I-279 and I-579 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in Ross Township and the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is underway Monday, September 11.

All of the HOV lanes have closed to traffic until further notice as crews conduct inspections of the system along I-279 and I-579.

The HOV lanes are used to reduce congestion along Interstate 279 (Parkway North) by promoting ridesharing via carpooling, van pooling, or public transportation.

FILE – A sign is shown on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Google will confront a threat to its dominant search engine beginning Tuesday when federal regulators launch an attempt to dismantle its internet empire in the biggest U.S. antitrust trial in a quarter century. Over the next 10 weeks, federal lawyers and state attorneys general will try to prove Google rigged the market in its favor by locking its search engine in as the default choice in a plethora of places and devices.

A package of Paqui OneChipChallenge spicy tortilla chips is seen on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Boston. Authorities are raising the alarm about a OneChipChallenge social media trend that encourages people to avoid seeking relief from eating and drinking for as long as possible after eating the chips, days after a Massachusetts teenager died hours after taking part in the challenge. The dare is popular on social media sites, with scores of people including children unwrapping the packaging, eating the chips and reacting to the heat. (AP Photo/Steve LeBlanc)

NEW YORK (AP) — A tortilla chip maker’s decision to pull its extremely spicy product sold as a “One Chip Challenge” from store shelves following the death of a Massachusetts teen has renewed attention on the popularity — and risks — of similar dares marketed by brands and spread widely online. Spicy food challenges have been around for years. From local chile pepper eating contests to restaurant walls of fame for those who finished extra hot dishes, people around the world have been daring each other to eat especially fiery foods. But extremely spicy products created and marketed solely for the challenges — and possible internet fame — is a more recent phenomenon, and teens are particularly exposed to them because of social media.

FILE – The DraftKings logo is displayed at the sports betting company headquarters, May 2, 2019, in Boston. DraftKings apologized Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, after using the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to entice people to bet on baseball and football games on the anniversary of the tragedy that killed nearly 3,000 people. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Sports betting company DraftKings has apologized after using the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to entice people to bet on baseball and football games. The Boston-based company offered users a 9/11-themed promotion titled “Never Forget.” It required the Yankees, Mets and Jets to win their games Monday. That is the 22nd anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and the downing of a passenger jet in a field in Pennsylvania. The tragedy killed nearly 3,000 people. An outcry on social media from people offended by the promotion followed. DraftKings later took it down and apologized.

This photo provided by the Chester County Prison shows Danelo Cavalcante. Cavalcante, convicted this month of fatally stabbing his girlfriend escaped Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 from the suburban Philadelphia prison and prosecutors say he is also wanted in his native Brazil in a separate slaying. (Chester County Prison via AP)

Authorities in Pennsylvania who have been trying to capture an escaped murderer for nearly two weeks say they’re shifting to a longer-term strategy and defended their efforts to this point. Robert Clark, the supervisor of the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force in Philadelphia, said during a news conference Monday that law enforcement teams have the advantage now that Danelo Souza Cavalcante is apparently in suburban Philadelphia rather than the heavily wooded and more complicated terrain of the initial search area. This comes after police say Cavalcante slipped through the search perimeter, stole a delivery van and abandoned it about 20 miles north. Cavalcante escaped from prison on Aug. 31 after being sentenced to life for killing an ex-girlfriend in 2021.