(File Photo)
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Gas prices are nine cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.507 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. Today’s average in the region is 42 cents lower than a month ago.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                $4.507
Average price during the week of July 25, 2022                                      $4.591
Average price during the week of August 2, 2021                                   $3.305

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

$4.404      Altoona
$4.635      Beaver
$4.573      Bradford
$4.422      Brookville
$4.523      Butler
$4.562      Clarion
$4.477      DuBois
$4.460      Erie
$4.491      Greensburg
$4.504      Indiana
$4.448      Jeannette
$4.511      Kittanning
$4.497      Latrobe
$4.496      Meadville
$4.521      Mercer
$4.441      New Castle
$4.473      New Kensington
$4.499      Oil City
$4.539      Pittsburgh
$4.467      Sharon
$4.600      Uniontown
$4.558      Warren
$4.549      Washington

Trend Analysis:

The national average for a gallon of gas has fallen 14 cents over the past week to $4.21. Today’s average is 63 cents less than a month ago and $1.04 more than a year ago. Additionally, gasoline is now below $4 a gallon at nearly half of the gas stations around the country.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased from 8.52 million barrels per day to 9.25 million barrels per day last week. The estimated rate is 80,000 barrels per day lower than last year, but it could slow pump price decreases if the trend holds. Additionally, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 3.3 million barrels to 225.1 million barrels, signaling that higher demand reduced inventory last week.

New survey data from AAA finds that drivers are making significant changes to cope with high pump prices. Almost two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults changed their driving habits or lifestyle since March, with 23% making “major changes.” Drivers’ top three changes to offset high gas prices are driving less, combining errands, and reducing shopping or dining out.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $2.20 to settle at $98.62. Crude prices increased last week as market concerns eased about weakening demand this summer and the EIA reported that total domestic crude stocks decreased by 4.5 million barrels to 422.1 million barrels last week.

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

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 71 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Vote stickers are seen at a satellite election office at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Third-party candidates in Pennsylvania for governor and U.S. Senate are filing paperwork to get on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, potentially making a crucial difference in the high-stakes races. Monday’s close-of-business was the deadline. The state’s online candidate list shows that three parties — the Keystone Party, the Libertarian Party and the Green Party — all have candidates who filed voter signatures for governor and U.S. Senate. A third-party candidate’s draw in a general election could make a difference in a close race between the major party candidates. A Fox News poll conducted in late July showed Democrats polling higher than Republicans in the two races.

FILE – The son, left, and daughter, back right, of Pittsburgh dentist Lawrence “Larry” Rudolph head into federal court for the afternoon session of the trial, July 13, 2022, in Denver. Rudolph accused of shooting and killing his wife in their cabin at the end of an African safari trip has denied that he killed her. Rudolph took the stand Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at his murder trial in Denver federal court. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
By COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — A wealthy dentist accused of fatally shooting his wife at the end of an African safari has been found guilty of murder and mail fraud. The verdict reached Monday for Lawrence “Larry” Rudolph came from a jury in a Denver federal court following a trial that lasted three weeks. Rudolph was charged with murder in the death of Bianca Rudolph as well as mail fraud for cashing in $4.8 million in life insurance claims in what prosecutors describe as a premeditated crime. Rudolph maintained his innocence. His attorney suggested his wife of 34 years shot herself while trying to pack a shotgun in a hurry as they prepared to return to the United States in 2016.

(Muddy Creek Twp., Butler County Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting this morning that they were called to the scene of a reported motorcycle accident on Interstate 79 Southbound at mile marker 95 at 12:51 PM on July 21, 2022.
Upon arriving and investigating Troopers found out that 32-year-old Spencer Repka of East Aurora New York was operating his 202 Victory Motorcycle southbound on the interstate when he said an unknown vehicle carelessly merged causing him to put on his brakes. The motorcycle began experiencing an speed wobble causing Repka to lay the motorcycle down on the highway causing disabling damage. Troopers said that Repka suffered serious injuries and was air-lifted to UPMC Presbyterian.

There was no description of the vehicle that was merging as Troopers continue to investigate.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(McKees Rocks, Pa.) A McKees Rocks grandmother is wanted by police after her 10-month-old grandson that she was caring for overdosed in McKees Rocks on Sunday.
Police say that 47-year-old Elizabeth Boyer took off during the incident as paramedics were treating the unresponsive baby using Naloxone.
Boyer is facing charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia after police obtained a search warrant and found suspected drugs, as well as syringes, glass pipes and stamp bags in her home and in her car.

(File Photo of Beaver-Falls-Municipal-Building where the Beaver Falls Fire Department is housed)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Several area fire companies are warning residents on their social media pages about a text message scam.
A post on the city of Beaver Falls Fire Department’s Facebook page says If you receive a text message asking to purchase our t-shirts, this is a scam. Our fire department is not selling our t-shirts via text message. Please do not click on the link in the message.
Similar posts appear on the Chippewa, Rochester, and Center Twp. Fire Department Facebook Pages.
Area residents have reported receiving the text messages advertising fire department T-shirts for sale.
The departments are once again advising you not to click on the link or give any personal information and delete the message. It is a scam.

(FILE – Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania Senate seat, speaks during a video interview from his home in Braddock, Pa., July 20, 2022.) (Julian Routh/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File)
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — In one of this year’s most competitive U.S. Senate races, the biggest moments aren’t playing out on the campaign trail. They’re on social media. In one stunt, Democrat John Fetterman is trying to get his Republican rival enshrined in New Jersey’s Hall of Fame. It’s a nod to Dr. Mehmet Oz moving from New Jersey to run. Fetterman also has New Jersey icons recording videos telling Oz to come home. The stunts are cheap and potentially potent ways for Fetterman to define Oz. Republicans acknowledge that Fetterman’s social-media game is top-notch. But they say many voters don’t see the material and it’s missing issues like inflation that voters consider when casting ballots.

(File Photo)
LEECHBURG, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a crash during a motorcycle charity ride in western Pennsylvania sent at least eight riders to hospitals. Officials in Westmoreland County’s Allegheny Township said the crash occurred at about 1 p.m. Saturday during the 11th annual Riding For the Cure event to raise funds for research and treatment of breast cancer. Chief Duane Fisher told KDKA-TV that arriving officers were told that a rider went down after a curve and other bikes then became caught up in the crash. Oklahoma-Vandergrift C&S Ambulance supervisor Monica Stringer told the Tribune-Review that four people were flown to Pittsburgh trauma centers and four others were taken by ambulance to hospitals.

(File Photo)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A woman who pleaded guilty to setting fire to police cars amid the 2020 racial justice protests in Philadelphia has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that since 35-year-old Lore-Elizabeth Blumenthal of Jenkintown has been in custody since her arrest two years ago, she could be released in a matter of months. Blumenthal pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing law enforcement during civil disorder related to throwing a piece of burning police barrier at a police car. Police used photos from the protest and social media profiles to find her.