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W E DN E SDAY, M AY 25, 2 02 2
Gas prices hit record high every day for past two weeks
Newsom warns of mandatory water restrictions amid drought By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE
(The Center Square) – California could enact mandatory water restrictions to combat the current drought if conservation efforts at the local level do not result in significant statewide water reduction over the summer, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned Monday. The warning came after the governor met with leaders from the state’s largest urban water suppliers Monday to urge them to take more aggressive measures to address the state’s drought and encourage their customers to participate in water conservation. Last July, Gov. Newsom called on state residents to voluntarily slash water usage by 15%. The state has come up short on that goal, however, with water usage in March increasing by 19% compared to March 2020, the Associated Press reported. California’s drought continues to rage. During a news conference in Los Angeles last week, state water officials said that California experienced the
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
Gasoline prices are shown at the Arco gas station at the corner of State and Mission Streets in Santa Barbara on Sunday. The cyclists in the foreground may have the right idea, as gas prices have been rising to new highs for weeks.
By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE
(The Center Square) – Gas prices have soared to new heights this month with the price of unleaded regular gas hitting a record high every day for the past two weeks. With Memorial Day weekend approaching, motorists face steep costs if they plan to travel. According to AAA, the national average regular unleaded gas price Tuesday came in at $4.60, a record high. Diesel gasoline is at $5.55 per gallon, just below the record set last week. “The national average for a gallon of gas has not fallen for nearly a month. Gasoline has either remained flat or risen every day since April 24 and has set a new record daily since May 10,” the group said. “That was the day gas eclipsed the previous record high of $4.33, set earlier this year on March 11. The national average for a gallon of gasoline is now $4.59 and all 50 states are above $4 per gallon.” In California, the average price of a gallon of gasoline was $6.07 Tuesday, highest in the U.S., while in Santa Barbara County, the average was $6.04. Motorists in the states of Hawaii ($5.40 a gallon), Nevada ($5.25), Washington ($5.21), Alaska ($5.19) and Oregon ($5.16) are paying more than $5 a gallon, on average. In the Midwest, Illinois stands apart with gas at an average of $4.97 a gallon. Motorist’s in Illinois neighbors Iowa and Missouri are paying $4.16 a gallon. These prices have been a pain point for Americans, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet. The rise has also drawn fresh criticism for the Biden
administration’s energy policies, which include stopping new oil leases and pipeline development. “They’re causing you pain at the pump because it’s all part of their radical agenda,” Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said. The Russian invasion of Ukraine helped propel the rise of prices, but energy prices had already been on a significant rise long before the February invasion. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks energy prices as part
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COURTESY PHOTO
Gov. Gavin Newsom
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Gas prices are advertised at the Fuel Depot gas station at the corner of Chapala and Carrillo Streets in Santa Barbara on Sunday.
The West Coast Kustoms 41st Annual Cruisin’ Nationals will take place during Memorial Day weekend in Santa Maria. Set for Friday through Sunday, the event includes the “City Cruise” and car show at the Santa Maria Fairpark, which showcases hundreds of classic cars. The event kicks off on Friday with a Hall of Fame Member dinner at the Historic Santa Maria Inn. The dinner is followed by a “City Cruise” down Broadway from 7 to 9 p.m. Attendees must pre-register to participate. On Saturday and Sunday, the event will take place in Santa Maria Fairpark. Tickets cost $20 for general admission, and $15 for seniors 60 and older and active military. Children are
admitted for free. Discount tickets are available at O’Reilly Auto Parts. The event will feature Kustom Kulture Art Show: a live music, multiple commercial vendors and food booths, the rollerskating rink, and automotive swap meet on Sunday only from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The model car show ends with an award ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Rick and Penny Pichette, event originators and previous owners of The Jet Drive-In, in Sunnymead, started this event in 1981 to showcase classic American-made cars — 1965 and earlier. Over the past 40 years, it has grown to one of the largest classic cars shows in California and has moved location only three times in its long history, according to a news release. email: kzehnder@newspress.com
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i nsi d e Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4
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the last 12 months. The energy index rose 30.3 percent over the last year, and the food index increased 9.4 percent, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending April 1981.” President Joe Biden addressed the rising gas prices while on a trip to Asia. “When it comes to the gas prices, we’re going through an incredible transition that is taking Please see GAS on A4
Car show to cruise into Santa Maria
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of inflation and has reported a steady rise since before the inflation. The most recent federal data on the consumer price index, a leading measure of inflation, showed energy prices soared in the past year. “The all items index increased 8.3 percent for the 12 months ending April, a smaller increase than the 8.5-percent figure for the period ending in March,” BLS said. “The all items less food and energy index rose 6.2 percent over
driest January, February and March on record, adding that there is growing evidence that this drought is a continuation of the previous drought in 20122015. “Every water agency across the state needs to take more aggressive actions to communicate about the drought emergency and implement conservation measures,” Gov. Newsom said on Monday. “Californians made significant changes since the last drought but we have seen an uptick in water use, especially as we enter the summer months. We all have to be more thoughtful about how to make every drop count.” During the state’s last drought in 2015, then-Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a mandatory 25% reduction in water use. Gov. Newsom, however, has veered away from introducing a sweeping “one size fits all” approach to water conservation and has instead favored keeping conservation mandates at the local level. In March, an executive order signed by Gov. Newsom directed the State Water Resources Control Board to consider a ban on the irrigation of decorative grass outside of industrial and commercial buildings. The governor also asked the board to consider an emergency regulation requiring urban water suppliers to move to Level 2 in their Water Shortage Contingency Plans, which implements conservation measures to prepare for a water shortage of up to 20%. Level 2 conservation actions typically include measures like limiting outdoor watering to certain days or hours and enforcing prohibitions on water use, though each water district sets Please see WATER on A3
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 8-13-21-39-47 Mega: 9
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 6-8-5-5
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 3-5-6-63-68 Mega: 25
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 5-8-11-18-23
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 01-06-05 Time: 1:44.23
Monday’s POWERBALL: 1-33-37-39-42 Meganumber: 26
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 8-5-9 / Midday 1-1-7