(File Photo) 

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Gas prices are 17 cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.010 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                $4.010
Average price during the week of August 29, 2022                                 $4.189
Average price during the week of September 7, 2021                             $3.321

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

$3.994      Altoona
$4.082      Beaver
$4.024      Bradford
$3.915      Brookville
$4.008      Butler
$4.002      Clarion
$3.950      DuBois
$3.992      Erie
$3.999      Greensburg
$4.014      Indiana
$3.958      Jeannette
$4.021      Kittanning
$3.997      Latrobe
$3.999      Meadville
$4.087      Mercer
$4.037      New Castle
$3.996      New Kensington
$3.996      Oil City
$4.054      Pittsburgh
$3.999      Sharon
$4.087      Uniontown
$3.999      Warren
$4.019      Washington

Trend Analysis:

Lower oil prices, modest domestic gasoline demand, and a so-far quiet hurricane season are combining to drive pump prices lower. According to weather analysts, it’s the first time in 25 years that a named Atlantic storm did not develop in August. The national average for a gallon of gas fell seven cents in the past week to $3.77. Today’s national average is 31 cents less than a month ago but 59 cents more than a year ago.

Meanwhile, oil prices dipped on recent decreased Chinese manufacturing output due to lower demand for goods and new COVID‑19 outbreaks in critical industrial cities. This is fueling fears that oil demand could drop in China, the world’s largest importer of crude oil. Additionally, prices declined most of last week amid market concerns that crude demand will fall if economic growth slows or stalls due to a recession. EIA’s latest weekly report showed that total commercial crude inventories decreased by 3.4 million barrels to 418.3 million barrels.

According to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), domestic gas demand increased slightly from 8.43 million barrels per day to 8.59 million barrels per day last week. However, the rate is nearly 1 million barrels per day lower than the last week of August 2021. Also, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 1.1 million barrels to 214.5 million barrels.

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.

(File Photo)

HARRISBURG- Reps. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) and Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) issued the following statement on District Attorney Larry Krasner’s lawsuit against the House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order:

“In yet another move to prevent the House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order from examining public documents for cases handled by his office, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Friday sued the committee and its members to prevent them from doing their job.

“By suing, Krasner has made the ridiculous claim that the committee has no authority over him or his office, though the state Constitution explicitly gives the House the power of impeachment as a safeguard against corrupt or unfit elected officials.

“The reality is Krasner believes he’s above the law, and the lawsuit to stop the committee is a desperate act by a dangerous, desperate man.

“House Resolution 216 was passed by a bipartisan majority who are horrified by the crime and murder surging throughout the city. I can assure everyone the Select Committee’s ongoing mission will not be deterred no matter how much Krasner obstructs.”

“The House of Representatives has authority under the Pennsylvania Constitution and case law to subpoena the district attorney for its public records. Krasner is not above the law.”

House Resolution 216 established the Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order to investigate, review and make legislative findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives regarding the rising rates of crime in the City of Philadelphia; the city’s use of public funds intended for law enforcement and prosecuting crime; the enforcement of crime victim rights in Philadelphia; and the use of public funds for the purpose of benefitting the city’s crime victims. The resolution authorizes the chairman to subpoena information relevant to the committee’s work.

FILE – Mehmet Oz, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, best-known as the host of daytime TV’s “The Dr. Oz Show,” speaks during a town hall campaign event at Arcaro and Genell in Old Forge, Pa., in this file photo from Jan. 19, 2022. Oz will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony Friday, Feb. 11, just as he’s being attacked 2,000 miles away in a rival’s TV ad saying he’s to “Hollywood.” (Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune via AP)

By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz is teaming up with U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey to publicly call on his Democratic rival in Pennsylvania, John Fetterman, to participate in a debate. Holding a news conference in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Oz questioned Fetterman’s readiness for office and criticized his reluctance to speak with reporters since suffering a stroke in May. Fetterman’s campaign countered that Oz is fixated on “mocking John for having a stroke.” The news conference with the retiring senator both candidates are vying to replace signals Oz’s increasing aggressiveness in going after Fetterman’s health as he seeks to make up ground in polls with just nine weeks to go until Election Day.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News
(Center Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) The Center Township Supervisors held a work session Tuesday afternoon. During the work session the supervisors were updated on the Beaver Valley Mall Boulevard ‘s resurfacing project. Engineer Ned Mitrovich  said the project is nearly complete.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) The boil water advisory for the 15010 zip code remains in effect Wednesday after a 24″ transmission line broke on Monday afternoon in the area of 10th Ave. and 26th Street  in Beaver Falls.
Jim Riggio from the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority reported Wednesday morning that BFMA is required by DEP to complete two sets of samples of the water. The first set was collected Tuesday morning and the second set will be collected Wednesday morning. The results take 24 hours so they will know the results of the first test sometime Wednesday afternoon and the results for Wednesday morning’s test will be known on Thursday afternoon. Riggio said if all goes well the boil water advisory will expire tomorrow.
Stay tune to Beaver County Radio as Riggio said he will update us tomorrow and we will release that information was it becomes available.

(Photo supplied with release)

(Portersville, Butler County) The Pennsylvania State Police Troop D – Butler Station is investigating a burglary that occurred on 09/06/2022 at approximately 0145 hours at Last Minit Mart located on Perry Highway in Portersville, Butler County. Two White male suspects shattered the front door with a tire iron that was wrapped in a garbage bag, then filled a garbage can with cigarettes and fled on foot. The two suspects were dropped off and picked up by the pictured late 1990’s early 2000’s model red single cab pickup with silver rocker panels and running boards. The vehicle has amber running lights around the front bumper and a black vertical stripe on both sides of the bed. Anyone with information is asked to please contact Trooper Lesnett, PSP, Butler Station, at (724) 284-8100 or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=107 All callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH REWARD for information that leads to an arrest, the solving of a crime/cold case or the location of a wanted person/fugitive or missing person. All information is accurate as of Release Date and is subject to change or updated.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://www.crimewatchpa.com/crimestoppers/316/cases/pa-state-police-investigating-burglary-last-minit-mart-portersville-butler-county

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) A former Beaver Falls High School star athlete , 27-year-old Cadee Akins Jr of Beaver Falls has pleaded guilty and been sentenced in federal court to seven years of imprisonment and four years of supervised release on his convictions for violating federal narcotics laws.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence last Friday. According to information presented to the court, Akins, Jr. conspired with his father, Cadee Akins, Sr., and others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. The investigation revealed that from November 2017 to September 2020, the Akins Jr. supplied other drug dealers with cocaine or personally distributed crack to end users in Beaver Falls. During two controlled-buy operations, Akins jr. was recorded on audio and video distributing crack. Additionally, during a July 2019 traffic stop, law enforcement seized two kilograms of cocaine from the defendant’s father, who transported cocaine to individuals within the conspiracy using rental vehicles.

50-year-old Cadee Akins Sr. formerly of Monaca was sentenced in federal court, on July 14, 2022, to 15 years of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws.

(File photo provided by Penn Dot)

(File Photo of Pa State Rep Rob Matzie (16th) speaking on the Pa. House floor)

(AMBRIDGE, Pa.) Beaver County workers will benefit from new training and job opportunities in the masonry trades, thanks to nearly $300,000 in new state funding to bolster a successful apprenticeship program serving the region, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver, said the funding will help the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 9 continue its Western Pennsylvania Bricklayers Masonry Training Program, which teaches bricklaying, tile setting, terrazzo work and stone masonry.

“Our region’s need for skilled workers in the masonry trade is only growing,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help meet that demand by supporting a program that helps apprentices train under the supervision of journeymen, get extensive, real-world experience in a four-year course, and step into good, family-sustaining jobs.

“It builds our workforce and helps create pathways to jobs, which is an all-around win.”

The funding is administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development under the Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program. More about the funding is available here: https://dced.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-announces-new-funding-awarded-to-train-masonry-trades-apprentices-in-29-pennsylvania-counties-for-in-demand-jobs/.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver are reporting that they have charged a Bridgewater Police Officer with a traffic signal violation after they were dispatched to the scene of a two vehicle accident involving a Bridgewater Police Cruiser at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
Troopers said via release upon arriving and investigating it was learned that Officer Jonathan Nguyen was operating a 2021 Dodge Charger Police Cruiser south on Market Street in Bridgewater when he activated the emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop. Nguyen drove through a steady red signal at the intersection of Market and Bridge Street and collided n the middle of the intersection with a 2022 Chevy Blazer that was being driven east on Bridge Street by 56-year-old Crystal Conjeski of Beaver.  The Police Cruiser came to a final uncontrolled rest in a parking lot near the intersection and Conjeski’s vehicle came to a final uncontrolled rest in the middle of the intersection.  Medic Rescue EMS responded to the scene and evaluated both drivers. Officer Nguyen was not injured in the accident but was transported to Heritage Valley Beaver for further evaluation. Conjeski told Troopers that she had an injury to the left side of her ribs and she also displayed an injury to her left arm.
Both vehicles were disabled from the collision and towed from the scene. State Troopers cited Officer Nguyen with a traffic signals violation.