The Butler Soapbox

09/09/2026

Because it receives federal funding, State College Regional Airport has to make sure “the airport will be available for public use on reasonable conditions and without unjust discrimination.”

09/08/2026

DJT Gas Log : Chapter 2 : Week 33 : Took a Holiday

We are reporting the Gas Log readings a day late in response to taking the Labor Day holiday off. The following figures are true as of yesterday (September 7) though.

The reading at our benchmark station outside of Butler, PA remains at $4.39 this week. While Labor Day has historically marked to beginning of declining gas price trends nationwide into the fall and winter, last year the weeks immediately following the holiday saw a period of increasing prices. Last year’s reading for Week 33 was $3.49- 90¢ cheaper than today.

For PA overall the AAA survey has an average reading of $4.30. That is up over 8¢ from last Monday, up 16¢ from August, up 92¢ from 2025 and up 88¢ from 2024.

Labor Day marked the 160th day of the PA average being above $4. We now sit within 3 weeks of surpassing the number of days above $4 set in the 2022 calendar year. Don’t believe we have ever witnessed a 30¢ decline in the PA average over such a short period, so it seems inevitable that 2026 will at least match 2022 on that measure.

For the Pittsburgh region the average stands at just shy of $4.35. That represents a roughly 1¢ drop from last week, a 10¢ increase from last month, a 75¢ jump from last year and 77¢ more than two years ago.

The Butler County average stands at over $4.30.

09/08/2026

It’s a little wild the hold western pa has established over the State’s US Senate seats.

Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) said he “might” mount a primary challenge to Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in 2028. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6074036-deluzio-challenges-fetterman-2028/

09/08/2026

When? Thought it was won a few times over now?

BREAKING: President Trump says oil prices will drop and gas prices will fall to $2 per gallon once the US "wins the war with Iran."

09/06/2026

Lake America is angry today…

09/06/2026

Probably will become a triennial exercise

Shell Chemical and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced a settlement of the past three years of violations at Shell’s petrochemical complex in Beaver County.

Shell agreed to pay $15 million, half of it to the department and half into a Beaver County Environment and Community Fund administered by the Pittsburgh Foundation. It also committed to making certain improvements to its facility, which had been a drag on the company’s financials but swung to its best performance in recent months, according to company earnings.

Link in the comments to read more. ⬇️

09/05/2026

Check out this nifty calculator!

Since the start of the Iran War, fuel prices have gone up in every county with data available, according to a Get the Facts Data Team analysis. Click the link in our comments to see how the price you're paying at the pump has changed ⬇️

09/04/2026

Sen. John Fetterman reportedly declined to meet with three wheelchair-bound veterans who had traveled to his office, telling staffers that he was sick.

09/04/2026

Big deal…not like he paid half a decade’s worth of delinquent taxes or anything! That would be real leadership.

Brandon Dukes will be sworn in as the 12th district representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a ceremony Tuesday on the House Floor in the state Capitol. https://buff.ly/3IUPknH