(File Photo of the Vitalant Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant is facing a critical shortage of type O blood and is urging all donors, especially those with type O blood, to make an appointment now. The type O blood supply has decreased and recently dropped to a two-year low since May, and donation appointments in Western Pennsylvania need to be filled up to boost the supply of blood between now and the end of July. According to a release from Vitalant, here is more information about how to donate blood:

How to Help

Most people are eligible to donate blood, and it only takes an hour to make a lifesaving difference. Blood donors of all types, especially those with type O, and platelet donors, are urged to make an appointment at one of Vitalant’s eight air-conditioned donation centers in the Pittsburgh area or community-hosted blood drives by visiting vitalant.org (click here), downloading and using the Vitalant app, or calling 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

As a special thank you to all who answer the call during this critical time, all donors who show up to donate with Vitalant by July 11th can receive their choice of T-shirt while supplies last, and those who schedule an appointment using promo code JULYGIFT-2026-V (click here to find out more) will receive a $20 gift card in Vitalant Donor Rewards*. Plus, starting July 9 through August 8, all Vitalant donors will automatically be entered to win a car (find out more by clicking here)** (valued up to $30,000).

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are nine cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.14 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. Gas prices were the lowest they’ve been in several weeks as millions of drivers traveled for this year’s long Independence Day weekend. The national average is at $3.79 for a gallon of regular gas, which is down 40 cents from a month ago, and even though that number is higher than last year, this is a relief from this past spring, which was when the national average peaked at $4.56 on May 21. Crude oil prices have also fallen to their lowest levels in months, dropping to the range of $65 per barrel. The report states that the average price that you can expect for a gallon of regular unleaded gas here in Beaver County is about $4.44. According to a release from AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here are the average prices of unleaded self-serve gasoline this week in various areas:

$3.922      Altoona
$4.444      Beaver
$4.201      Bradford
$4.009      Brookville
$4.300      Butler
$4.030      Clarion
$4.011      DuBois
$3.841      Erie
$3.926      Greensburg
$4.161      Indiana
$3.892      Jeannette
$4.395      Kittanning
$4.157      Latrobe
$4.130      Meadville
$4.073      Mercer
$4.285      New Castle
$4.380      New Kensington
$4.349      Oil City
$4.421      Pittsburgh
$3.475      Sharon
$4.530      Uniontown
$3.959      Warren
$4.329      Washington

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that roadway improvement work is underway on Route 168 (Centennial Avenue, Elmwood Boulevard, Second Street, Market Street, Ohioville Road) in South Beaver and Darlington townships and Darlington, New Galilee, and Big Beaver boroughs.

From 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. each day through early November, single-lane alternating traffic will occur on Route 168 between the Lawrence County line and Route 51. Flaggers will assist drivers through work zones as needed and weekend work is also permissible.

This group paving project worth $3.93 million has Lindy Paving as its prime contractor. Improvement work includes base repairs, curb replacement, milling and paving and other various construction related activities.

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Darlington Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that roadway improvement work is underway on Route 551 (Hollow Road) in Darlington Township.

From 7 A.M. to 5 A.M. each day through early November, single-lane alternating traffic will occur on Route 551 between the Lawrence County line and Fifth Street. Flaggers will assist drivers through work zones as needed and weekend work is also permissible.

This group paving project worth $3.93 million has Lindy Paving as its prime contractor.  Improvement work includes base repairs, curb replacement, milling and paving and other various construction related activities.

(File photo of the National Weather Service Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler County, PA) Slippery Rock Borough in Butler County declared a disaster emergency after excessive and intense rainfall hit the area yesterday afternoon. 

Mayor Jondavid Longo issued the declaration after a recent statement on social media, relating that dangerous flash flooding created dangerous conditions for residents and first responders. 

Officials told KDKA-TV that numerous streets remain impassable, and Mayor Longo is directing all residents to stay home and avoid areas that are flooded unless they are in immediate danger. 

These declarations allow the borough to quickly access resources which would otherwise take more time. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler, PA) Government officials stated in a recent report that during President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler back in 2024, Secret Service officials failed to receive more than 100 urgent messages about an active shooter. 

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General on June 30th, 2026, Secret Service failed to carry out and arrange several security measures during Trump’s then-campaign rally for president at the Butler Fairgrounds on July 13, 2024. 

This report was sixty-four pages and outlined the shortcomings of the Secret Service, and stated that members failed to receive 102 radio transmissions from local authorities concerning an “increasingly intense search for a suspicious person.”

The shooter, who was later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, shot Trump, who was grazed by a bullet and sustained an injury to his ear. 

The report noted that the Secret Service received only five phone calls and three text messages about Crooks.

These calls included reports that Crooks possessed a range finder and a long gun when he positioned himself on top of the roof of the American Glass Research International Complex.

Fifty-year-old Corey Comperatore was killed and two other attendees were injured as a result of this incident. 

A U.S. Secret Service counter-sniper shot and killed the twenty-one-year-old Crooks.

Authorities confirmed that the Secret Service did not establish a joint communications room with representatives from all law enforcement agencies, which, if it was accomplished, could have prevented injury or harm to Trump and attendees of the rally.

(File Photo of a Fireworks Burst)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Saturday was the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which commemorates the United States of America’s independence from Great Britain.

The document was signed on July 4th, 1776.

Local events like the Fourth of July parade in Midland and shooting off fireworks in communities capped off the semi-quincentennial Independence Day weekend.