Gas prices topping $3 across state
The price of a gallon of gasoline tops $3 across much of the state, which is up more than $1.20 from a year ago, according to AAA. The average price for regular gas in Texas stood at $3.03 per gallon on Sunday as crude oil prices continue to creep up, closing above $80 per barrel. Crude oil price is one of a quartet of factors that influence the cost of gasoline, reported The Dallas Morning News. The cost of refining, distribution expenses and taxes also affect the price at the pump.
“Things have really picked up steam in terms of national gas prices in the last two-anda-half to three weeks,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum at fuel savings app GasBuddy, told the newspaper. “The national average had been stable for a long period of time, but suddenly the price of oil surged, and the price of gasoline followed along with it.” Cheaper prices can be found, although it takes some searching. Gasbuddy. com reported prices hovering around $2.45 per gallon at locations in Dallas, Houston and Round Rock.
Scott appointed Texas Secretary of State.
John Scott has been appointed Texas Secretary of State, in which he serves as the state’s chief election officer. The veteran Fort Worth attorney served previously as a deputy attorney general for civil litigation when Abbott was attorney general. He subsequently served as the chief operating officer of the state Health and Human Services Commission, with a $50 billion biennial budget and 56,000 employees.
Scott briefly represented former President Donald Trump in a lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania, along with state Sen. Bryan Hughes. Both withdrew from the case a few days later, reported the Texas Tribune.
TPWD predicts a productive hunting season
It could be a fruitful season for Texas waterfowl hunters with millions of ducks in the Central Flyway.
“Duck production in prairie potholes of North Dakota, South Dakota, Saskatchewan and Alberta were reported to be below average due to extensive drought this summer,” said Kevin Kraai, TPWD Waterfowl Program Leader. “With that said, there are still millions of ducks in the Central Flyway, and we are on the heels of multiple excellent breeding seasons for ducks over the last few years.”
Wetter-than-average conditions during the first half of the year are leading to more surface water for ducks and geese. Hunters should purchase their 2021-2022 hunting license before hitting the field.
In addition, TPWD biologists says deer hunters can expect an excellent 2021-2022 white-tailed deer season. Late spring rains alleviated drought conditions at the end of 2020, leading to accelerated growth of weeds and flowering plants attractive to deer. The Edwards Plateau, at the crossroads of Central, South and West Texas, has the highest deer population in the state. The general season runs from Nov. 6 through Jan. 2, 2022, in the North Zone and Jan. 16, 2022, in the South Zone. A special youth-only gun deer season is set for Oct. 30- 31 and Jan. 3-16, 2022. Go to tpwd.gov for more information.
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.