Gas prices are two cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.502 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                         $3.502
Average price during the week of Sept. 16, 2024                                              $3.521
Average price during the week of Sept. 25, 2023                                              $3.941

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

$3.422      Altoona
$3.579      Beaver
$3.780      Bradford
$3.394      Brookville
$3.545      Butler
$3.408      Clarion
$3.338      DuBois
$3.454      Erie
$3.522      Greensburg
$3.464      Indiana
$3.555      Jeannette
$3.639      Kittanning
$3.481      Latrobe
$3.484      Meadville
$3.711      Mercer
$3.401      New Castle
$3.404      New Kensington
$3.499      Oil City
$3.499      Pittsburgh
$3.323      Sharon
$3.580      Uniontown
$3.758      Warren
$3.310      Washington

Trend Analysis:
The national average for a gallon of gas has remained stable over the past week at $3.20. Gas prices have been relatively steady lately due to lower demand and lower oil prices. There are now 14 states with averages below $3 a gallon. Today’s national average is 17 cents less than a month ago and 65 cents less than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased slightly last week from 8.47 million barrels per day to 8.77. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks remained flat at 221.6 million barrels, while gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate fell by 28 cents to settle at $70.91 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 1.6 million barrels from the previous week. At 417.5 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 23, 2024 12:42 P.M.

(Monaca, Pa) From 2-6pm Saturday, George Washington Plaza in Monaca will be the  place to be. The event will feature food trucks, raffles, craft vendors and a Chinese Auction to benefit MS. From 2:30-5:30pm there will be Balloon Art and Face Painting. The Monaca Recreation Board is hosting a bake sale and  Pierogi Eating Contest in addition to a Chili Cook-off at 4 pm. The winner will be announced at 5 pm. Dave Kramer, Borough Manager, provided the information for this annual event.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 23, 2024 12:39 P.M.

(Center Township, Pa) On Wednesday, September 18, 2024 police found 65.92 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of marijuana, and 1.97 grams of crack cocaine as part of an undercover sting operation in Center Township. $3,000,00 in U.S. currency was also confiscated during the bust. Three people were arrested during the sting. No further information has been made available.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 23, 2024 12:36 P.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) Dr. Jeff Beltz, Hopewell Superintendent, sent a letter to  families and the community as the district prepares to vote on a district-wide school facility option at the Tuesday, October 22, 2024 meeting at 7 pm. Dan Engan and Jackie Cowan from DRAW Collective will review the school consolidation and facility options as well as recommendations once again. The options were previously presented at the June 11, 2024 meeting.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 23, 2024 12:34 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) At 6:55pm Sunday, Aliquippa officers responded to the 700 block of Wade Street. Two of the three callers reported to police that a tan or gold GMC Acadia  was seen leaving the area. No properties or persons were struck by the gunfire, according to the report.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on September 23, 2024 at 11:35 A.M.)

(Center Township, PA) The Beaver County Humane Society made an announcement that from Tuesday through Saturday that they will be hosting an adoption event called “Fall in Love.” Pre-approved adopters will be given free adoptions thanks to a friend of the humane society, and those can also complete a pre-adoption application and confirmation. Parents must bring a valid identification and any children or dogs in the home for a meet-and-greet. The Beaver County Humane Society will also offer activities including children’s arts and crafts, tables for pet product vendors, and behind-the-scenes looks at managing the shelter throughout the week. 

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published September 23, 2024 10:49 A.M.

(Londonderry Township, Pa) Constellation Energy announced Friday that they have plans to restart the idled Three Mile Island Reactor 1 by 2028, as long as the Nuclear Power Commission gives approval.

The TMI restart could create 3,400 direct and indirect jobs, bring in more than $3 billion in taxes annually, and add 800 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the power grid, according to a report produced by The Brattle Group.

A 20 year agreement was made between Microsoft and Constellation Energy for Reactor 1 to serve as power for Microsoft data centers supporting Artificial Intelligence. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Bobby Hollis, Vice President of Energy for Microsoft said “This agreement is a major milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to help decarbonize the grid in support of our commitment to become carbon negative. Microsoft continues to collaborate with energy providers to develop carbon-free energy sources to help meet the grids’ capacity and reliability needs.”

Constellation plans to rename the reopened plant to “Crane Clean Energy Center”, paying respect to their former CEO Chris Crane. Constellation says they are also pursuing a license renewal from the Nuclear Power Commission to extend operation until at least 2054. President and CEO of Constellation, Joe Dominguez, says the plant is in good shape and will be a reliable power source.

“Before it was prematurely shuttered due to poor economics, this plant was among the safest and most reliable nuclear plants on the grid, and we look forward to bringing it back with a new name and a renewed mission to serve as an economic engine for Pennsylvania.”

Constellation has also committed an additional $1 million to the Middletown region over the next five years for community needs and workforce development.

Pennsylvania 16th District State Representative Rob Matzie says he is in favor of the restart as it would boost clean power generation while generating billions in revenue and thousands of jobs.

“Pennsylvania is a net exporter of power generation, but our power grid is facing demands like never before in our history. Restarting Reactor 1 at Three Mile Island gives us more capacity and more flexibility to face demands – it’s not just clean power generation, it’s billions in tax revenue and thousands of good-paying jobs to boot, with even more jobs created in supporting industries.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has also weighed in on the announcement stating “Under the careful watch of state and federal authorities, the Crane Clean Energy Center will safely utilize existing infrastructure to sustain and expand nuclear power in the Commonwealth while creating thousands of energy jobs and strengthening Pennsylvania’s legacy as a national energy leader.”

TMI Reactor 1 was shut down in 2019 with plans to decommission it when former owner Exelon Generation experienced financial struggles operating the facility. The reactor was transferred to Constellation Energy in 2021. Reactor 2 ceased operations in 1979 when it was the site of a partial meltdown ranked as the worst United States nuclear power accident in history. It is now owned by EnergySolutions, who plans to continue to fully decommission and demolish the separate plant in coming years.

Nuclear power is nothing new to Beaver County residents, as the world’s first commercial nuclear power plant began operations in 1957 at the now decommissioned Shippingport Atomic Power Station, next to the current Beaver Valley Power Station.

(File Photo)

Story by Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio

09/20/24 @ 12:30 PM

(Ellwood  City, Pa.) 31-year old Timothy Woods of Ellwood City was taken into custody by police. He is accused of shooting and killing 36-year old Tim Bollman of Fombell, pa on Thursday evening.

Pa. State Troopers in New Castle are reporting via release that that the Ellwood City Police Department responded at 6:36 PM to Ellwood City Forge for a shooting that occurred within the facility. Upon arrival of several municipal police departments Bollman was found deceased from apparent gunshot wounds in one of the facilities buildings.  Police found out that the shooter had fled the scene on foot. Through investigation police were able to identify the shooter as Woods.

Woods was later taken into custody by the North Sewickley Police Department.

Criminal charges were prepared on Woods to include, Criminal Homicide, Firearms not to be carried without a license, and recklessly endangering another person. Woods was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail for await arraignment.

State Police are continuing to invstigate.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on September 20, 2024 at 10:16 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) A bill that can protect people with medical marijuana cards against discrimination is advancing forward thanks to a decision from the Pittsburgh City Council. The council could approve an amendment that would exempt jobs covered by union contracts that cover drug testing, but employers within Pittsburgh city limits would be restricted from testing workers for marijuana use. The city council is expected next Tuesday to have a final vote for approval of this bill.