Gas Prices Topping $3 Across the 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-and-a-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, but these appear to be exceptions to the prevailing price increases.

Scott Appointed 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.

The secretary of state slot has been vacant since May, when Rita Hughs resigned after the state senate declined to consider her confirmation. Since the Legislature isn’t scheduled to meet again until 2023, Scott will serve in an interim capacity until then.