Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania are six cents higher this week at $3.446 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                $3.446
Average price during the week of October 4, 2021                                  $3.380
Average price during the week of October 12, 2020                                $2.542

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

$3.451      Altoona
$3.439      Beaver
$3.557      Bradford
$3.493      Brookville
$3.378      Butler
$3.524      Clarion
$3.413      DuBois
$3.534      Erie
$3.297      Greensburg
$3.362      Indiana
$3.363      Jeannette
$3.467      Kittanning
$3.358      Latrobe
$3.554      Meadville
$3.569      Mercer
$3.403      New Castle
$3.357      New Kensington
$3.546      Oil City
$3.366      Pittsburgh
$3.510      Sharon
$3.380      Uniontown
$3.559      Warren
$3.375      Washington

Trend Analysis:

The national average price for a gallon of gas increased eight cents on the week to reach $3.27. This is the highest price since October 2014. The key driver for this recent rise in the price of gas is crude oil, which typically accounts for between 50% and 60% of the price at the pump. For the last several days, the cost of crude oil has been over $80 per barrel. And last week’s decision by OPEC and its oil-producing allies to not increase production further only exacerbated the upward momentum for crude oil prices.

According to new EIA data, total domestic gasoline stocks increased by 3.3 million barrels to 225.1 million barrels last week. Gasoline demand also increased slightly from 9.40 million barrels per day to 9.44 million barrels per day. This increase in gas demand aided in the national average’s rise.

Meanwhile, an October 1^st breach and spill in a key pipeline supplying fuel to parts of the southeastern U.S. led to tightened regional supplies. Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) originally said it expected repairs to its southeastern products pipeline to be completed October 9, with a restart afterward.  The repairs were slowed by the recent heavy rain and flooding around Birmingham, Alabama. The pipeline serves various metropolitan areas including Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Washington, D.C.

Today’s national average of $3.27 is 10 cents more than a month ago, $1.09 more than a year ago, and 63 cents more than pre-pandemic in 2019.

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

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 72 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)

Story by Beaver County Radio News/Program Director Frank Sparks

October 12, 2021- 6:21 AM

(Darlington Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were called to about a suspicious vehicle Monday morning, October 11, 2021,  in the area of Braden Road and Mc Roberts Road in Darlington Township.
Troopers stated via release that upon checking the area the suspicious vehicle was located and a traffic stop was initiated on a 2015 Chrysler PT Cruiser due to an improper registration plate being displayed. During the traffic stop it was determined that 30-year-old Cortni Rankin from Columbiana Ohio had false identification and had active warrants for her arrest in Ohio. It was also learned that the passenger 27-year-old Jordan McMillan also of Columbiana Ohio also had active warrants for his arrest.
Both McMillin and Rankin were arrested and taken to the Beaver County Jail prior to extradition to Ohio.
Rankin was also charged with presenting false identification to law enforcement and multiple summary traffic violations.

Pennsylvania state-owned university enrollment drops
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — New data shows the total enrollment at Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities has declined to the lowest level in decades. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the State System of Higher Education lost another 5,000-plus students this fall, dropping the universities’ total enrollment below 89,000 students. The newspaper says that’s a level not seen in more than three decades, dating nearly to the system’s founding. PennLive.com reported that the percentage drop in enrollment was the highest in well over two decades. System officials earlier warned state lawmakers and others that the 2021-22 year would be a “very challenging” one for enrollment, citing factors such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

File Photo of the New Brighton High School Main Gymnasium

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published October 11th, 2021 at 9:06 P.M.

(New Brighton, PA)  The New Brighton Area School Board heard from the public at their committee meeting Monday night.  One community member voiced his opinion that the board should terminate the current mask mandate.  He stated that he believes the district is administering a policy that shows no science at all, referencing that he does not believe masks serve any purpose in stopping viruses from spreading.  A parent took the microphone next to voice her concern over certain literature being used in the district.  She spoke about a book being read in high school classes titled “Speak” that heavily involves bullying and self harm.  In addition, the high schoolers are also viewing a movie based on the book in class.  She noted that 8th grade students are reading a book that centers around abortion as well and stated that she feels these books should be nowhere near the children.  The board took note of her concern and said they will handle the matter.  After public comment, the board went through their agenda of items that included school trips, a retirement and the hiring of basketball coaches that will be further discussed at their next meeting later this month.

Story by Sandy Giordano

2:56 PM 

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa’s long history in success and track and field competitions, despite not having a track has been noted by many over the years   Many championships in both girls and boys programs. and  not only locally, but on the state level  A few months ago, the school district’s Athletic Director Brandon LeDonne said he got a call from Dick’s  to see if the program had some needs, and  a representative was sent to the school..

Appeals court throws out life term in 2004 newborn’s death
WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — An appeals court has thrown out the life-without-parole sentence imposed on a western Pennsylvania woman in the murder of her newborn baby 17 years ago. PennLive.com reports that the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that now-44-year-old Jessica Rizor’s attorney erred in not advising her to take a plea deal that would have allowed her to get out of prison in as little as 5½ years. Authorities said Rizor gave birth in November 2004 in a bathroom and her husband found the baby in the garbage after Rizor told him to take out a trash bag, which she said was full of Thanksgiving leftovers.

Pennsylvania attorney general jumps into ’22 governor’s race
By MARC LEVY, MARK SCOLFORO and MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s high-profile attorney general, Josh Shapiro, is set to announce his candidacy for governor on Wednesday. That’s according to his campaign spokesperson. The 48-year-old is a self-described progressive who led a nationally prominent investigation into sexual abuse of children by clergy. He further raised his political profile by pushing back against Donald Trump’s effort to overturn his election loss last year. Shapiro is the only announced Democratic candidate for governor. The Democratic incumbent, Gov. Tom Wolf, is constitutionally barred from running for a third term.

Story by Beaver County Radio News/Program Director Frank Sparks

(Greene Township, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver are reporting that 24-year-old Brain Laskowski of Conneautville was robbed at gunpoint by two men in the 400 block of Upper Service Road, Greene Township, Beaver County.

The incident occurred on Friday at 9:15 PM when Troopers say the victim set up the purchase of an ATV with one of the suspects. The victim and two friends arrived at the location and were told that the ATV was being serviced and would be ready in a few minutes. In the meantime, one of the suspects asked for the money, and when the victim went to retrieve it from his vehicle, the suspect put a gun to his head and took a PNC bank envelope with $4,300 in it.

The second suspect slashed the driver’s side rear tire of the victim’s vehicle and the two drove off. The suspects were driving a black 2006 Dodge Journey with silver chrome and fled the area on Upper Service Road towards Route 18.