Gas prices in LA soar to over $6 a gallon as oil keeps climbing

Published

2 years ago

September 21, 2023

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A regular gallon of gas costs more than $6 on average in some parts of the Los Angeles area while prices reached as high as $7 in some parts of California on Tuesday as dwindling oil supplies put the squeeze on American motorists.

It was the first time since October of last year that gas in LA and Orange Counties surpassed the $6 threshold, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles TV.

The national average of a gallon of gas stood at $3.88, rising some eight cents in the span of a week, according to the American Automobile Association.

At this time last year, a gallon of gas was 18 cents cheaper nationally, AAA said.

Relief doesn’t appear to be on the horizon, at least not in the short term.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth predicted that oil prices would get close to $100 a barrel.

Supply is tightening, inventories are drawing the trends would suggest, we are certainly on our way, we are getting close (to $100/bbl), Wirth, who heads the nation’s second largest energy producer, told Bloomberg TV on Monday.

The uptick in gas prices has fueled higher rates of inflation — forcing consumers to shell out more for fuel while limiting discretionary spending.

As of Tuesday, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline costs motorists in Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous, $6.03.

A gallon of gas would set back drivers in neighboring Orange County $6.02, according to the latest data from AAA.

The most expensive gasoline in the state could be found in Alpine County, the area that lies about 120 miles east of Sacramento and which straddles the border with Nevada.

The average price of a gallon of regular fuel in Alpine County cost $6.99, according to AAA.

California has traditionally been plagued by the nation’s highest gas prices on average due mainly to the state’s high taxation rate as well as its clean energy regulations.

The Golden State hits drivers with both an excise tax on a gallon of gas as well as a sales tax, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

The tax revenue is used by the state to fix and maintain roadways and mass transit systems.

In October 2022, gas prices in LA hit a record $6.49 — prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration to distribute gas rebates to Californians ranging from $200 to $1,050 depending on income level.

The most significant factor that determines gas prices in California and the rest of the nation is the price of oil.

Oil prices reached $95 a barrel for the first time this year on Tuesday — a trend fueled by cuts in supply by petroleum producers Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, was trading at around $95.33 per barrel as of Tuesday morning.

The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, was priced at $91.48 per barrel.

On June 27, WTI stood at $67.70 per barrel.

“Oil costs are putting upward pressure on pump prices, but the rise is tempered by much lower demand,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said.

“The slide in people fueling up is typical, with schools back in session, the days getting shorter, and the weather less pleasant,” Gross added.

“But the usual decline in pump prices is being stymied for now by these high oil costs.”

Entertainment

Dolly Parton says ‘I ain’t dead yet’ after health fears triggered by singer’s sister

Published

2 hours ago

October 9, 2025

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Dolly Parton says 'I ain’t dead yet' after health fears triggered by singer's sister

Dolly Parton has declared she “ain’t dead yet” after her sister raised concerns about the singer’s health by asking people to pray for her.

“There are just a lot of rumours flying around. But I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay,” the 79-year-old singer said in a new two-minute video posted on social media.

“I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me. And I ain’t done working,” she added.

In the footage, captioned “I ain’t dead yet!”, the 9 to 5 singer is seen on a set speaking directly to the camera.

On Tuesday, a Facebook post shared by her sister Freida Parton escalated concerns around Parton’s health when she wrote that she had been “up all night praying for my sister, Dolly”.

Hours later, Freida Parton followed up with a clarification. “I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly,” she wrote.

“She’s been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer.”

Last month, Parton postponed her first Las Vegas residency in 32 years, citing “health challenges”.

She was scheduled to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December. The dates have been moved to next September

Parton offered her own clarification about her health condition in Wednesday’s video.

“Everyone thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here! Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you who seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate,” she continued.

“And I appreciate your prayers because I’m a person of faith. I can always use the prayers for anything and everything.”

She also referenced her late husband of nearly 60 years Carl Dean who died earlier this year at the age of 82.

“I want you to know that I’m OK. I’ve got some problems as I’ve mentioned. Back when my husband Carl was very sick, that was for a long time, and then when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself. So I let a lot of things go that I should’ve been taking care of,” she said.

“So anyway, when I got around to it, the doctor said: ‘We need to take care of this. We need to take care of that.’ Nothing major, but I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt, where I’m kind of having a few treatments here and there.”

And in true Parton fashion, she ended with a joke: “I wanted you to know that I’m not dying”.

Sports

Coach Sanders back at Colorado practice

Published

2 hours ago

October 9, 2025

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Associated Press

Oct 8, 2025, 04:45 PM ET

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders was back at practice Wednesday, a day after undergoing surgery related to his blood clots.

Sanders had a procedure called an aspiration thrombectomy, which involves the left popliteal — located behind the knee — and tibial arteries. He appears on track to be on the sideline Saturday when the Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) host No. 22 Iowa State (5-1, 2-1).

His son Deion Sanders Jr. posted a short video of him on social media Wednesday as the Buffaloes coach stood at the 35-yard-line with a play sheet dangling from his waist. His team was practicing on the other side of the 50.

On Tuesday night, in a video posted by Well Off Media, which chronicles the Buffaloes, Sanders and his medical team talked about the procedure that would clean out his arteries to prevent more clots. Sanders said it was his 16th surgery over the past few years.

“Same position,” Sanders said as he got comfortable in the hospital bed. “Never doubting God. Never stressing. Never second-guessing.”

Sanders received a visit from longtime NFL cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, who gave his friend a kiss on the head. Sanders also took calls from sons Shedeur and Shilo.

“If you give me $5 million just to have, I will make sure that you don’t have to get surgery anymore,” Shilo Sanders cracked on the phone call.

“I know where your care is coming from,” his dad playfully responded. “I don’t want nothing to do with your care.”

“If you give me five, I’ll make sure you’re alive,” Shilo said, drawing a laugh from his father and Jones.

Soon after, Deion Sanders was taken away to the operating room.

The 58-year-old was in pain during a 35-21 loss at TCU last Saturday, alternating between sitting and limping along the sideline with his leg throbbing. He didn’t wear a shoe on his left foot in the second half, and after the game he said he was “hurting like crazy.”

Sanders dealt with blood clot issues while at Jackson State in 2021, with doctors amputating two of the toes on his left foot. He also skipped a Pac-12 media day session in 2023 following a procedure to remove a blood clot from his right leg and another to straighten toes on his left foot.

Last spring, Sanders was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. He revealed details of his treatment, which involved doctors removing his bladder and reconstructing a section of his intestine to function as a bladder.