Gas prices jump by 7 cents over past 2 weeks, to $1.84

Gas prices jump by 7 cents over past 2 weeks, to $1.84

CAMARILLO, Calif.

The average price of gasoline has jumped by 7 cents over the past two weeks, to $1.84 per gallon.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that despite the increase, the price is 70 cents per gallon cheaper than a year ago.

Lundberg said the moderate price increase is due to growing demand for gasoline across the nation and higher crude-oil prices.

In the Lower 48 states, the highest average price of regular gasoline was $2.51 per gallon in Los Angeles. The lowest was $1.33 in Tucson, Ariz.

The U.S. average diesel price is $2.07 per gallon, down less than a cent from two weeks ago and down 96 cents per gallon from what it was a year ago.

North Korea again threatens nuclear strikes

SEOUL, South Korea

North Korea issued its latest belligerent threat today, warning of an indiscriminate “pre-emptive nuclear strike of justice” on Washington and Seoul, this time in reaction to the start of huge U.S.-South Korean military drills.

Such threats have been a staple of young North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since he took power after his dictator father’s death in December 2011. But they spike especially when Washington and Seoul stage what they call annual defensive springtime war games. Pyongyang says the drills, which were set to start today and run through the end of April, are invasion rehearsals.

The North’s powerful National Defense Commission threatened strikes against targets in the South, U.S. bases in the Pacific and the U.S. mainland, saying its enemies “are working with bloodshot eyes to infringe upon the dignity, sovereignty and vital rights” of North Korea.

Carter says he no longer needs cancer drug treatment

ATLANTA

Jimmy Carter announced Sunday that he no longer needs treatment for cancer, less than seven months after revealing he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain.

Carter, 91, shared the news at one of his regular Sunday School classes at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Ga.

Carter always starts his lessons with a brief update on his recent activities. This week, Carter told the class he received an MRI lasting more than two hours.

“And then the doctors determined that I didn’t need any more treatment,” Carter said in a video posted by WXIA-TV. “So I’m not going to have any more treatment.”

Crews in Calif. work to restore power

Emergency crews are working to restore power to thousands of customers throughout California after heavy wind knocked down trees and power lines.

Utility provider PG&E said at least 2,900 customers remained without power Sunday in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Los Angeles, at least 1,600 customers were without electricity due to downed wires.

In Santa Cruz County, officials said several roads in the area are closed due to flooding and downed trees.

People living along Soquel Creek and the Upper San Lorenzo River were evacuated to shelters Saturday night because of rising water.

Associated Press