Iran War Keeps Pushing Gas Prices Up

May 11, 2026 3:39 pm

Gas prices are 20 cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.851 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.  Even though the national average has been decreasing over the past few days, this week’s average is still seven cents more than a week ago at $4.52. Pump prices are 39 cents more than a month ago and $1.39 higher than they were a year ago. Prices have not been this high since summer of 2022. While crude oil prices dipped below $100 per barrel amid ongoing negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, gasoline prices continue to face pressure from global supply concerns.  According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.10 million barrels per day to 8.81 million.  Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 222.3 million barrels to 219.8 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

Trump Wants Federal Gas Tax Suspended

May 11, 2026 3:37 pm

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says the Iran ceasefire is on “life support” after he rejected Tehran’s latest proposal to end the war. Officials said the proposal included some concessions on Iran’s disputed nuclear program, but on Monday Trump dismissed it as “garbage.” The stalled diplomacy and recent exchanges of fire could tip the Middle East back into open warfare and prolong the worldwide energy crisis sparked by the conflict. Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and America’s blockade of Iranian ports are still in place. Trump said he would suspend the federal tax on gasoline to help Americans shoulder higher fuel prices caused by the war.

Oil Jumps 3% And Asian Shares Are Mixed

May 11, 2026 5:12 am

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks are mixed after Wall Street set more records. Oil prices have surged more than 3% following U.S. President Donald Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s response to the latest U.S. proposal on ending the war in Iran. U.S. futures edged lower. Markets in South Korea and Japan hit an intraday high. With Brent crude trading at nearly $105 a barrel, analysts say resolving supply chain disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz remains the key. The Iran war is also set to be part of the discussion when Trump meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing later this week.

Child Among Two Injured In Rollover Crash

May 11, 2026 4:58 am

CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP, Pa. – A child is among two people hospitalized after a crash in Chartiers Township Sunday night. Washington County 911 says emergency crews were called to the 1500 block of Henderson Avenue around 8:45 p.m. One vehicle reportedly hit a pole and rolled over. The child was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital while the driver was taken by ambulance to a Pittsburgh hospital. Henderson Avenue was briefly closed in the area while first responders were on scene.

Police Ask Residents To Check Their Vehicles

May 11, 2026 5:06 am

SMITH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Law enforcement officials are asking residents in two communities for help with an ongoing investigation. The Smith Township Police Department says that shortly after midnight on Sunday, officers were dispatched to multiple residences in Burgettstown and Langeloth for reports of burglary, vehicle break-ins, thefts and suspicious activity. Now, police are asking residents and businesses to check their vehicles and property, then report missing, stolen or damaged items to 911. Those with surveillance cameras are also asked to check their feeds for footage of suspicious persons or vehicles. Any footage can be shared with Patrolman Tyler Evans via email — tevans@smithtownship.org.

Fayette County Man Charged With Attempted Homicide

May 11, 2026 5:02 am

DUNBAR, Pa. — A Fayette County man faces charges after police say he fired a shotgun at a person he was arguing with on Saturday. According to a Pennsylvania State Police release, troopers were called to Lowery Drive in Dunbar at 1:53 a.m. for a reported disturbance and multiple gunshots. Troopers determined that Sebastian Kozakovsky, 23, of Connelsville, got a 12-gauge shotgun and started arguing with and threatening two people. He reportedly fired multiple rounds, including one directly at one of the victims. Kozakovsky was arrested and placed in the Fayette County Jail, PSP says. Online court records show he’s charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, simple assault and disorderly conduct. He has been denied bail, having been deemed a “flight risk,” as well as a “threat to self and others,” records show. Kozakovsky is scheduled to appear in court May 20 for his preliminary hearing.

Three Cruise Passengers Test Positive For Hantavirus

May 11, 2026 5:11 am

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A French woman and two Americans have tested positive or showed symptoms of hantavirus. Authorities announced the new cases as nations around the world repatriate passengers from a cruise ship hit by an outbreak and quarantine or isolate them. French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said Monday that the woman was among five French passengers repatriated Sunday to Paris from the MV Hondius. One the 17 American passengers evacuated from the ship and flown to Nebraska also tested positive for the hantavirus but is not showing any symptoms, and another had mild symptoms, U.S. health officials said late Sunday. The World Health Organization recommended close monitoring of the former passengers, and many countries quarantined them.

Iran War Could Make Trump China Trip Chillier

May 10, 2026 5:15 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s trip to China may not come with the same fanfare that accompanied his first-term visit. In 2017, China went all out to welcome the new American president. For this week’s get-together between Trump and China’s Xi Jinping, the Iran war is raising the stakes for both sides. For one, China is the biggest buyer of Iran’s oil. Trump, meanwhile, had hoped China would do more to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But Trump has predicted a warm welcome from Xi, even expecting to be offered a “big, fat hug.”

NTSB Gathering Details After Person Hit By Plane

May 11, 2026 5:14 am

The National Transportation Safety Board says it is gathering information about the evacuation of a Frontier Airlines plane after it hit a person on the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff. The Frontier Airlines flight from Denver to Los Angeles reported the incident late Friday night. Frontier Airlines stated that smoke was reported in the cabin, leading pilots to abort takeoff. Passengers were evacuated via slides and taken to the terminal. An airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to hospitals and some passengers described issues with the evacuation.

Poll Finds Young Americans Job Market Optimism Falls

May 11, 2026 5:16 am

(AP) – A new poll finds that younger Americans are more pessimistic than older ones about the state of the job market. This is a sudden reversal from just three years ago, when older Americans were more pessimistic. In the United States until 2023 and in many countries globally, young people tend to be more optimistic about the job market than older people. Gallup found that, typically, around the world, younger people are more likely by 10 percentage points than older ones to report their local job market is good. In the United States, younger people are 21 percentage points less likely to do so than older ones.