Gas prices increase

Gas prices increase

CAMARILLO, Calif.

The average price of a regular gallon of gas jumped 13 cents in the past two weeks to $2.33, repeating the hike seen two weeks prior for a total 26 cents rise in the last month.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that the rise follows months of crashing prices and is still $1.08 per gallon less than a year ago. She attributed the rise to an increase in crude oil prices in mid-January and labor strikes at several refineries.

Refinery workers’ strike has spread

The first nationwide oil refinery strike in more than 30 years was poised to expand this weekend in a labor dispute that may start having more of an impact on the price consumers pay for gasoline.

The United Steelworkers union said Saturday that workers at the largest refinery in the U.S., the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, started their strike at midnight Friday. Employees at two other refineries and a chemical plant in Louisiana planned to strike at the end of Saturday.

Mercedes recall

INDIANAPOLIS

Mercedes-Benz is recalling more than 147,000 sedans and station wagons made over the past few years to fix a problem with an engine-compartment seal that could spark a fire.

The recall mostly affects E350 sedans from the 2013 through 2015 model years.

The company says a rubber seal in the back of the engine bay that is designed to muffle noises can stick to the hood when it opens. It can then drop into the engine compartment, where it may increase the risk of a fire if it touches the exhaust system.

Mercedes-Benz will start the recall next month. Car owners can then take their vehicles to dealers, who will fix the issue for free by attaching four additional retaining clips to the seal.

South Africa: All 486 miners found safe

JOHANNESBURG

All 486 miners trapped underground after a fire broke out at a South African gold mine have been found safe, the mine’s spokeswoman said Sunday.

The 18 miners who were still missing shortly before 9 p.m. have been located, said Harmony Gold Mining Company spokeswoman, Charmane Russell. A rescue mission was underway to bring the remaining miners above ground, the mining company said. The miners were trapped when a fire started about 7,545 feet below the surface, said the mining company.

Crews free whale

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii

A 45-ton humpback whale tangled in heavy fishing line in Hawaii waters for more than a week has been freed.

A crew from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary on Saturday used a pole equipped with a knife to saw the line free, West Hawaii Today reported. Entanglements can result in drowning, starvation, infections and increased susceptibility to ship strikes, according to whale experts.

Plant’s long life

ANN ARBOR, MICH.

A towering American agave plant that waited 80 years to flower and produce seeds is dying after fulfilling its purpose and will be taken down next month, said its caretaker at the University of Michigan’s botanical gardens.

The unusually old specimen has called Ann Arbor home since 1934. It grew to 28 feet tall after a rapid growth spurt last spring that preceded its flowering, which ended last year. Once it stopped flowering, the agave went into rapid decline, which is normal for the species, said Mike Palmer, horticulture manager at Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Associated Press