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<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3c9Prf_1GrqxWHI00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3c9Prf_1GrqxWHI00" width="1920" height="1280" >Americans have spent months dealing with expensive gasoline. Now prices are finally moving in the right direction, raising hopes that filling the tank might become a little easier on household budgets.How long, however, will that respite last?Regular gasoline averaged $4.10 per gallon nationwide on Nov. 5, down from $4.23 a week earlier, according to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" rel="nofollow">AAA’s</a> latest fuel-price figures. Prices remain approximately $1.02 above year-ago levels.A average 15-gallon fill-up now costs more than $15 more than it did a year ago.If Middle East tensions subside and oil supplies rebound, the next months may provide further respite. However, Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon Mobil (XOM), is cautioning that fixing the world’s damaged refining infrastructure would take much longer.Woods said during Exxon’s Oct. 30 earnings call that it may take far beyond 2027, if not longer, to return to normal refining conditions.His warning coincides with Wall Street’s dispute about whether oil prices would continue to decrease or rise.While JPMorgan forecasts an increasing global supply glut that may ultimately put pressure on prices, Goldman Sachs predicts that Brent oil will hit $105 per barrel in December.The amount that Americans pay for gasoline next year and the amount that Exxon makes from producing and processing oil might be determined by those conflicting projections.<h2>Exxon CEO sees a longer road to cheaper fuel</h2>The supply of crude oil may not be the largest barrier to a sustained drop in gas prices. It is the capacity of the globe to transform that crude into finished fuels and transport them to the necessary locations.Fuel markets cannot return to normal until global refining capacity has recovered from interruptions brought on by the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, according to Woods.Reopening shipping lanes, fixing damaged refineries, and boosting refined-product exports from nations with excess capacity are the three trends he recognized as having the potential to restore equilibrium.Woods expects that process to extend well into 2027, according to <a href="https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/xom/transcripts/721367-q3-2026/" rel="nofollow">Exxon</a>.Because the price of gasoline doesn’t always follow the price of crude oil, timing is important. Shortages of gasoline and diesel may maintain high refining margins and impede a drop in retail fuel prices, even if crude prices drop.Instead of a consistent return to lower gas prices, that may result in inconsistent relief for American drivers.The resumption of refinery operations, the recovery of gasoline supplies, and the normalization of shipments via the Strait of Hormuz will be the next crucial indicators.Pump prices may decline until 2027 if those circumstances significantly improve. The current drop might be reversed by further interruptions.<h2>Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan see different futures for oil</h2>The most recent estimates from Wall Street show why it’s still unclear where gas prices will go.Because of the risk of more supply interruptions, Goldman Sachs increased its December Brent oil projection from $90 to $105 per barrel.The bank also increased its average 2027 Brent forecast to $88 from $80, according to <a href="https://www.energyconnects.com/news/oil/2026/november/goldman-hikes-oil-price-forecasts-on-substantial-supply-risks/" rel="nofollow">Bloomberg’s</a> report on Goldman’s revised outlook.If Middle Eastern supply continues to be severely impacted, Goldman anticipates a more dire scenario where Brent might average $130 next year.JPMorgan presents another viewpoint. Based on its estimate, the world’s oil supply outpaced demand by 1.4 million barrels per day in October. This suggests that prices may ultimately decline as production recovers and consumption declines.<a href="https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/jpmorgan-says-rising-exports-weak-demand-push-global-oil-market-into-surplus-4999413" rel="nofollow">Reuters</a> reported JPMorgan’s assessment on Nov. 4.For American customers, both situations have repercussions. Gas prices may continue to drop until 2027 if supply keeps improving. However, even if the oil supply is rising, prolonged refinery disruptions or a fresh military escalation might keep gasoline prices high.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3x1b3G_1GrqxWHI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3x1b3G_1GrqxWHI00" width="1920" height="1280" ><figcaption>Exxon’s CEO warns of a fuel problem beyond oil prices.<a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2152482741" rel="nofollow">Bloomberg / Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure><h2>What the oil outlook means for Exxon stock in 2027</h2>For investors in Exxon, the uncertainty presents a unique situation.Higher crude prices often help the company’s upstream activities, while shortages that support margins on gasoline, diesel, and other products may help its refining operations.Although it doesn’t completely remove vulnerability to declining energy prices, such diversification may help Exxon endure various market circumstances.<a href="https://investor.exxonmobil.com/company-information/press-releases/detail/1213/exxonmobil-announces-third-quarter-2026-results" rel="nofollow">Exxon</a> reported $15.4 billion in third-quarter earnings and $19.1 billion in free cash flow, according to its Oct. 30 earnings announcement.More Oil &amp; Gas:<ul><li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/cvx-chevron-ceo-mike-wirth-warning-oil-inventories-reserves" rel="nofollow">Chevron CEO issues stark warning on depleting oil reserves</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/investing/aramco-oil-supply-warning" rel="nofollow">World’s biggest oil CEO shares stark oil price warning as pressure builds and supplies run dry</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/investing/bank-of-america-raises-oil-price-target-with-strong-warning" rel="nofollow">Bank of America resets its oil price target with strong w</a></li></ul>Stronger refining margins contributed to its Energy Products division’s $7.17 billion profits, which increased from $5.47 billion in the second quarter.Exxon intends to buy $20 billion worth of shares in 2027, assuming favorable market circumstances.A persistent drop in petroleum prices may pressure upstream profits and limit funds available for shareholder payouts. Nonetheless, the Energy Products division’s profitability can be supported by ongoing refining restrictions.Therefore, in addition to crude pricing, investors should keep an eye on refining profits, production costs, and free cash flow.Later this quarter, Exxon aims to provide further information on its financial plans for 2027. This will be followed by more comments during its fourth-quarter results call in late January.These revisions might make it clearer how management plans to handle a crude market that could be weaker.<h2>What American drivers should expect over the coming months</h2>A better picture of whether gas prices continue to decline may emerge in the coming weeks.According to the most recent data from AAA, drivers are already feeling some respite. However, fuel is still pricey, averaging about $6.26 per gallon on Nov. 5, which may keep distribution and transportation prices high.The Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release its next Short-Term Energy Outlook on Nov. 10, providing updated projections for fuel prices and supplies.Whether the current downturn turns into a long-term trend may be determined by that report as well as happenings in the Middle East.Compared to trying to forecast oil markets, checking local gas costs and keeping an eye on regional averages may provide consumers planning vacation travel greater immediate savings.Consumers should also refrain from believing that a one-day increase in petroleum would always result in higher pump prices the next morning. Usually, retail prices react slowly.The rate at which damaged refineries and international fuel-shipping networks recover is what determines the longer-term picture, which is less obvious than the figures seen at a gas station.Throughout 2027, Exxon’s profitability and shareholder returns may change as a result of that recovery.It may decide whether today’s slight alleviation translates into a significant decrease in household costs for American drivers.At last, the cost of gasoline is decreasing. Problems that won’t be resolved until next year or even later might determine whether they remain down.<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/exxon-mobil-cfo-warning-hidden-risks-oil-supply-shock" rel="nofollow">Related: Exxon Mobil CFO warns of hidden risks behind oil supply shock</a></div></body>

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While drivers may see relief at the pump, Exxon warns of trouble ahead.

Gas prices could fall, but Exxon CEO warns of a 2027 catch

<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2FuhdX_1GqfsCU100" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2FuhdX_1GqfsCU100" width="1600" height="899" >When it comes to cutting grass on large properties, riding lawn mowers are the undefeated champs. They also make cutting grass easy for people who have physical limitations and cannot operate another <a href="https://www.hunker.com/13729551/how-to-choose-the-best-type-of-lawn-mower/" rel="nofollow">type of lawn mower</a> easily. However, deep down, their engines are working really hard, and one thing that keeps them running like all other gas-powered mowers is the oil. Oil lubricates different engine parts and keeps things cool. However, oil does not last forever, and you need to change it from time to time. So, how often should you change it on riding lawn mowers? Well, every 50 to 100 hours of use or at least once per mowing season, whichever comes first.That's because, over time, the oil of a riding lawn mower can collect dust and other debris. This reduces its efficiency, and once that happens, the oil cannot protect the engine properly, which can lead to quite a few issues. Now, of course, not every riding lawn mower follows the same schedule. The exact time after which you need to change the oil in your riding lawn mower varies. There is also one important exception to remember if you have just bought a new riding lawn mower. Many manufacturers recommend changing the engine oil after the first five hours of use. This is commonly known as the break-in oil change.So, make sure that you check out your riding lawn mower's manual. And if you want to avoid the hassle of dealing with oil changes altogether, consider getting a <a href="https://www.hunker.com/2241800/best-battery-riding-lawn-mower-brand-ego-over-john-deere/" rel="nofollow">battery riding lawn mower</a>. They have electric motors instead of gasoline engines, which do not require engine oil.Read more: <a href="https://www.hunker.com/2233489/how-to-sharpen-lawn-mower-blades-without-removing/?zsource=newsbreak" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How To Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades Without Removing Them</a><h2>Consider this when changing oil in riding lawn mowers</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1mgcae_1GqfsCU100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1mgcae_1GqfsCU100" width="780" height="438" ><figcaption>A person mowing grass with a riding lawn mower Photovs/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Using the number of hours of use to determine when to change the engine oil of your riding lawn mower is a good rule of thumb, but the conditions in which the riding lawn mower operates get a say as well. If, for instance, you use your riding lawn mower in sandy or dusty soils, the engine oil might need to be changed sooner than the general 50 to 100 hours of use timeline. Similarly, cutting thick grass, mowing frequently in summer, and working on steep hills are all things that might require you to change the engine oil sooner, as these put stress on the engine, pushing it to work harder, which breaks down the oil faster.When it's time to change&nbsp;the oil of your riding lawn mower, park it on a flat, level surface. If the engine is cold, run it for one to two minutes. This will help&nbsp;drain the oil more easily.&nbsp;Switch off the engine, engage the safety brake, and remove the ignition key. Then, disconnect the spark plug wire. Place a piece of cardboard under the machine to catch spills and drips, and slide a basin under to collect the oil. Open the drain valve or plug to release the oil.&nbsp;Once the oil is fully drained, change the oil filter, and replace the oil plug or close the valve. Then,&nbsp;then slowly pour in the recommended amount of a manufacturer-suggested engine oil.Do not add more oil than needed. It can make the engine smoke. Plus, do not pour old oil down the drain. Instead, take it to a recycling center or collection facility. Also, make sure to <a href="https://www.hunker.com/2281374/how-much-cost-service-repair-riding-lawn-mowers/" rel="nofollow">service your riding lawn mower</a> regularly, as it will keep your machine running optimally and may also help the engine oil last longer and save you from the trouble of changing it too soon.Want more design inspiration? <a href="https://subscribe.hunker.com/newsletter-syndicated?utm_source=newsbreak&amp;utm_medium=hunker-NL-feed" rel="nofollow">Join our free newsletter</a> to get the best home and garden tips, design hacks, and DIY projects delivered right to your inbox. You can also <a href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=hunker.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">add us as a preferred search source</a> or <a href="https://profile.google.com/@hunker" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">follow us</a> on Google!Read the <a href="https://www.hunker.com/2306659/how-often-change-oil-riding-lawn-mower/?zsource=newsbreak" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">original article on Hunker</a>.</div></body>

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New to riding mowers? We explain when, why, and how to change the oil. It's an important step to keep your mower in top condition all season long.

How Often Do You Need To Change The Oil On Riding Lawn Mowers?

<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Qdz0W_1Gqwq5SK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Qdz0W_1Gqwq5SK00" width="1024" height="576" >Sen. Mark Kelly is accusing President Donald Trump of turning the presidency into an opportunity for personal financial enrichment, alleging that Trump has made more than $2 billion since returning to office while Americans continue struggling with grocery bills and gasoline prices. The Arizona Democrat called Trump a “corrupt president” who is “not even trying to hide it,” pointing specifically to cryptocurrency ventures, financial arrangements involving foreign governments and tens of thousands of stock transactions. His latest criticism follows months of efforts to restrict financial activities by elected officials and raise questions about potential conflicts of interest involving Trump’s business interests.Kelly published his statement on November 6, 2026, directly challenging the president’s financial activities and questioning whether Trump’s decisions are being driven by the interests of the American public or his own financial interests.Kelly’s full <a href="https://x.com/SenMarkKelly/status/2118821624002883606?s=20" rel="nofollow">statement</a>:<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“Trump is a corrupt president and he’s not even trying to hide it. While Americans are struggling to put food on the table and pay for gas, Trump has made more than $2 billion in his second term in office. All from crypto scams, sweetheart deals with foreign nations, and tens of thousands of stock trades. The only person he works for is himself.”</blockquote>Kelly’s opening accusation that Trump is a “corrupt president” establishes the central argument of his statement. Rather than criticizing one isolated business transaction, Kelly is describing what he believes is a broader pattern in which the president’s private financial interests overlap with his public responsibilities. His assertion that Trump is “not even trying to hide it” reflects his criticism of the scale and visibility of the president’s reported financial activities, particularly the cryptocurrency ventures and transactions disclosed during his second term.The financial figures provide important context for Kelly’s $2 billion allegation. Forbes published an <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/article/the-definitive-networth-of-donaldtrump/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow">updated assessment</a> of Trump’s wealth on September 15, 2026, estimating his net worth at approximately $7 billion. Forbes calculated that Trump was $2.7 billion wealthier than when he won the 2024 presidential election, attributing much of the increase to cryptocurrency ventures and overseas business arrangements. Forbes also estimated that his cryptocurrency and liquid assets were worth approximately $2.4 billion.There is an important distinction between the Forbes estimate and the amount Kelly says Trump has made. Forbes is measuring the increase in Trump’s estimated net worth, while financial disclosure forms provide information about reported income and transactions. The figures are related, but they are not interchangeable. A separate analysis of Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure, published June 30, 2026, found that he reported more than $2.2 billion in income, including substantial proceeds from cryptocurrency ventures, real estate, settlements and other business activities.Cryptocurrency is the first specific source of wealth Kelly identifies. Trump launched his $TRUMP meme coin shortly before beginning his second term, while his family also developed World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency business that introduced its own digital tokens and stablecoin. The president’s financial disclosure reported billions in cryptocurrency-related income and proceeds, making the sector one of the most significant contributors to his reported earnings after returning to office.Kelly has previously pursued legislation specifically addressing this issue. On May 7, 2025, he <a href="https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-end-crypto-corruption-by-trump-and-other-government-officials/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow">introduced</a> the <a href="https://www.kelly.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/End-Crypto-Corruption-Act.pdf" rel="nofollow">End Crypto Corruption Act</a>, legislation intended to prohibit the president, vice president, senior executive branch officials, members of Congress and their immediate families from issuing, endorsing or sponsoring cryptocurrency assets. The proposal specifically addresses products such as meme coins and stablecoins, which can generate substantial financial returns for their issuers and promoters.When introducing the legislation, Kelly said Trump was “cashing in on his presidency” and described the cryptocurrency activity as “corruption in broad daylight.” His office cited an estimated $2.9 billion increase in Trump’s net worth connected to cryptocurrency investments and argued that public officials should not be able to profit from financial products they could potentially influence through government policy. The legislation demonstrated that Kelly’s concerns about Trump’s cryptocurrency interests predated his November 6 statement.Kelly’s reference to “sweetheart deals with foreign nations” also points toward the international financial relationships involving Trump’s cryptocurrency businesses. Forbes identified a major transaction involving an entity connected to the United Arab Emirates, which reportedly agreed to use the Trump family’s USD1 stablecoin in connection with a $2 billion investment in cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Forbes also <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/article/the-definitive-networth-of-donaldtrump/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that Trump received approximately $200 million after taxes from selling a portion of one business venture to an Emirati royal. These arrangements have attracted scrutiny because they involve foreign financial interests and businesses connected to the president’s family while the administration conducts diplomatic and economic relations with those countries.Reuters also examined Trump’s cryptocurrency earnings and the subsequent movement of money into traditional financial investments. A July 13, 2026, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-invested-crypto-gains-stocks-and-bonds-filings-show-2026-07-13/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow">report</a> found that Trump received more than $1.4 billion during 2025 from his family’s cryptocurrency projects, including World Liberty Financial and the Trump meme coin. Reuters found that Trump’s stock and bond portfolios increased substantially as cryptocurrency proceeds flowed into more traditional investments. The report relied on financial disclosures filed with the Office of Government Ethics.The stock transactions Kelly references represent another major part of his criticism. Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure included hundreds of pages detailing securities transactions, with thousands of purchases and sales involving individual companies and financial instruments. The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/30/trump-earned-over-1-billion-cryptocurrency-coin-ventures-last-year/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that the filings contained more than 800 pages of stock-related information. The transactions raise questions about the management of presidential investments because federal policy decisions can affect the value of companies and industries represented in an investment portfolio.However, the financial disclosures do not establish the precise net profit from every stock transaction. The reporting requirements use broad financial ranges, making it difficult to calculate exact gains and losses from individual purchases and sales. Kelly’s reference to tens of thousands of trades highlights the extraordinary volume of disclosed activity, but the number of transactions should not be confused with the amount of money Trump personally earned from those trades.The White House has rejected allegations that Trump or his family are engaging in conflicts of interest. In response to questions about the financial disclosures, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said neither the president nor his family had engaged in conflicts of interest and characterized the allegations as a false narrative. The Trump Organization also pointed to the disclosures as evidence of financial transparency. Those responses represent the administration’s position as Democrats continue questioning the relationship between Trump’s private business interests and presidential responsibilities.Kelly’s final assertion, “The only person he works for is himself,” brings the individual financial allegations together into a broader criticism of Trump’s priorities. By placing the president’s reported wealth increase alongside the cost of groceries and gasoline, Kelly is arguing that the administration’s financial activities stand in contrast to the economic pressures facing ordinary Americans. His statement does not establish that every transaction was unlawful, but it makes clear that he believes the scale of Trump’s personal financial gains warrants scrutiny and stronger restrictions.The November 6 post continues Kelly’s effort to make financial accountability a central issue in his criticism of the administration. His proposed cryptocurrency restrictions, previous statements about presidential conflicts of interest and latest accusations involving foreign business arrangements and stock transactions all point toward the same concern: whether the president’s personal financial interests are being adequately separated from the responsibilities of the office.</div></body>

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Block Source: Combat Rated

Sen. Mark Kelly is accusing President Donald Trump of turning the presidency into an opportunity for personal financial enrichment, alleging that Trump has made more than $2 billion since returning to office while Americans continue struggling with grocery bills and gasoline prices. The Arizona Democrat called Trump a “corrupt president” who is “not even trying […]

Mark Kelly Accuses Trump of Being a “Corrupt President” Who “Isn’t Even Trying to Hide It” — Says President Has Made More Than $2 Billion While Americans Struggle to Afford Food and Gas

<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1lHov0_1GtDdzSY00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1lHov0_1GtDdzSY00" width="1600" height="899" >Most drivers likely prefer some brands of gas stations over others, be that for their convenience offerings, their loyalty schemes, or simply their gas prices. Far fewer drivers are likely to be aware of who they're actually spending money with when they visit their favorite chain, since the ownership of each location can vary even if the sign out front stays the same.Plenty of gas station brands are owned by parent companies that drivers might not know about, including many foreign companies. Some <a href="https://www.slashgear.com/2097991/us-gas-station-chains-owned-by-british-companies/" rel="nofollow">popular brands are owned by British companies</a>, while others are <a href="https://www.slashgear.com/2102334/us-gas-station-chain-owned-by-canadian-company/" rel="nofollow">owned by Canadian companies</a> or even&nbsp;Japanese companies. 7-Eleven is one of the chains with Japanese owners, having been a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tokyo-listed Seven &amp; i Holdings company since 2005. As well as operating gas stations under its own branding, 7-Eleven also owns two more gas station brands, Stripes and Speedway.It bought its first Stripes locations in 2018 and then acquired the remaining locations in 2024. Speedway is another recent purchase, having been acquired by 7-Eleven in 2021. Those purchases have helped bring 7-Eleven's combined gas station network to over 8,200 locations in total. That network has been gradually expanded over the course of almost a century, with 7-Eleven's predecessor, Tote'm Stores, adding its first fuel locations back in 1928, just a year after its very first convenience location was opened.Read more: <a href="https://www.slashgear.com/2265252/family-minivans-better-ratings-than-chrysler-pacifica/?zsource=newsbreak" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">4 Family Minivans With Better Ratings Than The Chrysler Pacifica</a><h2>Some 7-Eleven gas stations are independently operated</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2nSXtD_1GtDdzSY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2nSXtD_1GtDdzSY00" width="780" height="438" ><figcaption>Speedway gas station in New Jersey Jhvephoto/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>As previously mentioned, who operates different locations of a chain can vary, even if the branding doesn't.&nbsp;This is the case for several major gas station brands, including 7-Eleven and its subsidiary brands, because entrepreneurs can open their own 7-Eleven location under the company's franchise program.To open a 7-Eleven franchise location, entrepreneurs need to have at least $100,000 in cash or other liquid assets, and they'll ideally have&nbsp;experience owning or managing a similar business.&nbsp;If they meet those initial criteria and pass enough further checks, they'll be able to operate their own 7-Eleven franchise location.The appeal is pretty clear: as well as being recognizable to drivers across the country, 7-Eleven and its sister brands are regarded as being some of the <a href="https://www.slashgear.com/2159663/best-gas-stations-in-2026-ranked/" rel="nofollow">best gas station brands</a> by many drivers. Franchisees get to take advantage of that brand prestige, while 7-Eleven gets another location to add to its ever-growing network.Want the latest in tech and auto trends? <a href="https://subscribe.slashgear.com/newsletter-syndicated?utm_source=newsbreak&amp;utm_medium=slashgear-NL-feed" rel="nofollow">Subscribe to our free newsletter</a> for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also <a href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=slashgear.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">add us as a preferred search source</a> on Google.Read the <a href="https://www.slashgear.com/2306005/gas-station-brands-owned-by-7-eleven/?zsource=newsbreak" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">original article on SlashGear</a>.</div></body>

Block Source: SlashGear

Not every gas station connected to 7-Eleven has its name on the sign. The convenience store giant has grown through deals that aren't always obvious to drivers.

Gas Station Brands You May Not Have Realized Are Owned By 7-Eleven

<body><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0MqxXD_1GqcA7Vu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0MqxXD_1GqcA7Vu00" width="1600" height="900" ></figure>A homeowner in Texas was having a 20-year-old gas water heater replaced when they asked what the job should cost in a thread from March 2023. Repairing the old unit was beyond their expertise. With installation underway, they sought a price check; the final bill came to about $2,100.<div id="nearby-quote-receipt-v1" role="figure" aria-label="The quotes">The quotes · Texas water heaterHomeowner · gas heater installation~$2,100A commenter's 50-gallon replacement$1,745A commenter's two tanks and pump$2,900A commenter's tankless option$4,500Where they split≠ The $2,900 job included two tanks and a pump≠ The $4,500 option was tankless? The homeowner's tank size, warranty and installation details were not given</div><style>#nearby-quote-receipt-v1{box-sizing:border-box;margin:18px 0;padding:16px 16px 12px;max-width:560px;background:#fffdf6;border:1px solid #e9e1c8;border-radius:6px;color:#2b2b2b;color-scheme:light;font-family:"SF Mono",Menlo,Consolas,"Roboto Mono",monospace;box-shadow:0 1px 0 #e9e1c8,0 3px 0 -1px #fffdf6,0 4px 0 -1px #e9e1c8}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-t{display:block;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#8a7d55;margin:0 0 10px}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-r{display:flex;align-items:baseline;margin:7px 0;font-size:14px;line-height:1.35}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-l{flex:0 1 auto}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-d{flex:1 1 auto;min-width:12px;border-bottom:1px dotted #bbb;margin:0 6px}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-v{flex:none;font-weight:700;font-size:16px;white-space:nowrap}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-hi{color:#c0392b}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-lo{color:#1e7d4f}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-s{border-top:1px dashed #cbbf9a;margin:12px 0 10px}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-k{display:block;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#8a7d55;margin:0 0 6px}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-c{display:block;margin:4px 0;font-family:-apple-system,"SF Pro Text",Roboto,"Segoe UI",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.4}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-ok{color:#1e7d4f}#nearby-quote-receipt-v1 .rc-q{color:#9a6b00}</style>That matters to other Texas homeowners comparing bids: the replies put single gas-heater replacements beside two-tank installations and tankless conversions. Some numbers covered different jobs, including two-tank installations and tankless conversions.<div id="nearby-article-card-v1" class="nearby-t3s"><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%25E2%2580%2599m%2520replacing%2520an%2520old%2520gas%2520water%2520heater.%26tree_id%3Dnto-plumbing%26start%3Dwh_age%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26creative_id%3DHB-Q199%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26utm_content%3DHB-Q199.top.t3-strip%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3s-a">Replacing an old gas water heater?Tell Nia about your replacement in a few taps. It’s free.→</a></div><style>.nearby-t3s,.nearby-t3m,.nearby-t3e{box-sizing:border-box;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"SF Pro Text",Roboto,"Segoe UI",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;text-align:left}.nearby-t3s{display:block;margin:18px 0;background:#fff1ea url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat 16px 13px/62px auto;background-blend-mode:multiply;border:1px solid #ffd9c7;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3s-a{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;padding:34px 14px 13px 16px;text-decoration:none;color:#1f1f1f;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3s-t{display:block;flex:1 1 auto;min-width:0;font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.38;color:#4a4a4a}.nearby-t3s-h{display:block;font-size:17.5px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f;margin-bottom:3px}.nearby-t3s-go{flex:none;width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:700}.nearby-t3m{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px;margin:22px 0;padding:16px 16px 14px;background:#fff url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat right 16px top 17px/62px auto;border:1.5px solid #1f1f1f;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3m-k{display:block;font-size:11.5px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#c2410c}.nearby-t3m-q{display:block;font-size:21px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f}.nearby-t3m-g{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:8px}.nearby-t3m-o{display:block;text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3m-w{grid-column:1/-1}.nearby-t3m-o span{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;min-height:46px;padding:8px 10px;border-radius:10px;background:#fff1ea;border:1px solid #ffd9c7;color:#1f1f1f;font-size:15px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;text-align:center}.nearby-t3m-f{display:block;font-size:12.5px;color:#6b6b6b;text-align:center}.nearby-t3e{display:block;margin:26px 0 8px;background:#fdf4ed url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat 20px 20px/72px auto;background-blend-mode:multiply;border:1px solid #f0dcce;border-left:6px solid #d86c46;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3e-a{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;padding:50px 20px 18px;text-decoration:none;color:#1f1f1f;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3e-r{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap}.nearby-t3e-k{display:block;font-size:12px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#a94a26}.nearby-t3e-tag{display:inline-block;padding:3px 9px;border-radius:999px;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;font-size:12px;font-weight:600}.nearby-t3e-h{display:block;font-size:23px;line-height:1.15;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f}.nearby-t3e-s{display:block;font-size:15.5px;line-height:1.45;color:#3d3d3d}.nearby-t3e-st{display:flex;gap:8px;margin-top:2px}.nearby-t3e-st>span{flex:1 1 0;min-width:0;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:5px;font-size:12.5px;line-height:1.3;color:#3d3d3d}.nearby-t3e-n{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;width:22px;height:22px;border-radius:50%;background:#d86c46;color:#fff;font-size:12px;font-weight:700}.nearby-t3e-btn{display:block;margin-top:4px;padding:13px 0;border-radius:999px;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;text-align:center}.nearby-t3e-f{display:block;font-size:12.5px;color:#6b6b6b;text-align:center}</style><h2>The $1,500-to-$2,100 Gas-Heater Range</h2>One commenter reported seeing prices from $1,500 to $2,100 for a 50-gallon gas water heater. That gave the homeowner a point of comparison, though the homeowner had not specified the capacity of the new heater being installed.Another commenter described paying $1,745 for a 50-gallon replacement with a 12-year warranty. A commenter also reported an estimate just under $4,000 for a unit with a six-year warranty. The prices stood far apart, but the warranty descriptions alone did not make the two offers identical jobs.A commenter with a heater in an attic said a 50-gallon replacement with a 10-year warranty cost a bit over $2,000. The attic location and warranty were useful details. Neither established what was included in the Texas homeowner’s installation.<h2>Two Tanks, One Pump and $2,900</h2>Other replies moved beyond a single gas tank. One commenter reported $2,900 for two 50-gallon tanks and a pump, with a six-year tank warranty. The same commenter gave $4,500 as the price for a tankless option with a 15-year warranty.Another commenter said tankless-conversion estimates ranged from $3,600 to $7,600 as base prices and required a site check. Those figures could help explain why water-heater prices in the discussion varied, but they were not quotes for the homeowner’s stated job.The practical questions in the replies were narrower. One commenter suggested asking for the heater’s exact make and model to compare its features and warranty. Another suggested separating the heater price from labor and asking how many workers and hours the removal and installation would take.<div id="nearby-article-card-mid" class="nearby-t3m">Quick check · tap yoursHow old is the water heater?<a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%25E2%2580%2599m%2520replacing%2520an%2520old%2520gas%2520water%2520heater.%2520Under%25208%2520years.%26tree_id%3Dnto-plumbing%26start%3Dwh_age%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26creative_id%3DHB-Q199%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26utm_content%3DHB-Q199.mid.t3-choice-o1%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">Under 8 years</a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%25E2%2580%2599m%2520replacing%2520an%2520old%2520gas%2520water%2520heater.%25208%2520to%252012%2520years.%26tree_id%3Dnto-plumbing%26start%3Dwh_age%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26creative_id%3DHB-Q199%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26utm_content%3DHB-Q199.mid.t3-choice-o2%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">8 to 12 years</a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%25E2%2580%2599m%2520replacing%2520an%2520old%2520gas%2520water%2520heater.%2520Over%252012%2520years.%26tree_id%3Dnto-plumbing%26start%3Dwh_age%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26creative_id%3DHB-Q199%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26utm_content%3DHB-Q199.mid.t3-choice-o3%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">Over 12 years</a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%25E2%2580%2599m%2520replacing%2520an%2520old%2520gas%2520water%2520heater.%2520I%2527m%2520not%2520sure.%26tree_id%3Dnto-plumbing%26start%3Dwh_age%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26creative_id%3DHB-Q199%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26utm_content%3DHB-Q199.mid.t3-choice-o4%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">I'm not sure</a>Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</div><h2>The Installation Came To $2,100</h2>The homeowner later reported that the new water heater installation came to about $2,100. “Looks like they did a good job,” they wrote. The reported total met the upper end of one commenter’s range for a 50-gallon gas heater, but the homeowner did not give enough installation detail to treat those as matching scopes.That was the answer for this house: a completed replacement and an approximately $2,100 bill. The replies also described extra tanks, a pump and tankless conversion—not jobs the homeowner said they were having done.<h2>What to Ask Before You Sign a Water-Heater Quote</h2><ul><li>What are the new heater’s tank capacity, exact model and warranty?</li><li>Does the price cover removal of the old heater, the new unit and installation labor?</li><li>How many workers and hours are included in the labor estimate?</li><li>If a bid includes a pump, another tank or tankless conversion, what work does that add?</li></ul>Two or three written quotes for the same scope, item by item, are what show where a price gap comes from.<div id="nearby-article-card-end" class="nearby-t3e"><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%25E2%2580%2599m%2520replacing%2520my%2520gas%2520water%2520heater%2520and%2520comparing%2520what%2520quotes%2520include.%26tree_id%3Dnto-plumbing%26start%3Dwh_age%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26creative_id%3DHB-Q199%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_405281535%26utm_content%3DHB-Q199.end.t3-full%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3e-a" aria-label="Describe my replacement">Plumbing · gas water heater replacementFree for homeownersTalk to a plumber before you sign.You can tell a plumber how your replacement quotes cover the heater, removal, and installation labor.1Say what’s going on2Answer a few quick questions3Local pros reach out if you wantDescribe my replacement →Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</a></div></body>

Block Source: The Home Brief

A homeowner in Texas was having a 20-year-old gas water heater replaced when they asked what the job should cost in a thread from March 2023. Repairing the old unit was beyond their expertise. With installation underway, they sought a price check; the final bill came to about $2,100.

An old gas water heater was being replaced in Texas. The owner asked about price before the $2,100 bill arrived.

<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3mCIPV_1GrNdvvq00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3mCIPV_1GrNdvvq00" width="1024" height="576" >Illinois drivers pay a state gas tax of 48.3 cents a gallon through Dec. 31, the same rate as before July 1, after lawmakers suspended the automatic inflation increase. The Illinois Department of Revenue says <a href="https://tax.illinois.gov/research/news/fy-2026-23-a-motor-fuel-rates.html" rel="nofollow">Public Act 104-0468</a>, signed June 16, suspended the scheduled July 1 adjustment for six months. The department’s <a href="https://tax.illinois.gov/research/publications/bulletins/fy-2026-23.html" rel="nofollow">rate bulletin</a> lists 48.3 cents for gasoline for July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026.The question for anyone who fills a tank in Illinois is what happens when the six months end. The revenue department has published rates only through Dec. 31 and says nothing about Jan. 1, 2027. The act froze the rate for six months and set no rate beyond that window.Retirement deadlines, in your inbox: Miss an enrollment or claim deadline and the money can be gone. Join the Retirement Money Brief and we’ll send you our 2026 Government Check Reality Tracker as a welcome gift.<a href="https://retireshield.com/c/newsletter-government-check-tracker/article-cta/top/nf_g1/illinois-drivers-pay-a-frozen-48-3-cent-a-gallon-state-gas-tax-through-dec-31-after-lawmak?src=tfw&amp;nocache=1" rel="nofollow">Get the Brief + the check tracker →</a>We may earn a commission from links on this page.<h2>How much did the freeze save at the pump?</h2>The inflation adjustment that was scheduled for July 1 would have raised the tax on both gasoline and diesel by 2.68 percent, according to <a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/state-fuel-tax-increases" rel="nofollow">Transport Topics</a>, which described a “six-month halt through Dec. 31” in a July 24 report on fuel taxes rising in several other states while Illinois paused. On gasoline that works out to about 1.3 cents a gallon, which would have put the rate near 49.6 cents, as Illinois Policy <a href="https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-set-to-suspend-gas-tax-hike-but-sweep-150m-in-sales-taxes/" rel="nofollow">reported in May</a> while the freeze was still a proposal.For a driver, the saving is small. A 15-gallon fill-up costs about 20 cents less in state gas tax than it would have under the scheduled increase, and a household that burns 500 gallons over six months saves roughly $6.50. That is real money, but it is small next to the swings most drivers see at the pump from week to week, and it is the whole gap between the frozen rate and the one that would have applied.Drivers who want the exact figure for their own car can do the arithmetic from the department’s number: multiply the gallons they buy by 48.3 cents. A driver who buys 40 gallons a month pays about $19.32 a month in state gas tax at the frozen rate, and about $19.84 at the 49.6-cent rate that would otherwise have applied.<h2>What do diesel and other fuels pay?</h2>The same bulletin sets the rest of the schedule for July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026. Diesel is taxed at 55.8 cents a gallon. Liquefied petroleum gas is 55.8 cents per diesel gallon equivalent, compressed natural gas is 48.3 cents per gasoline gallon equivalent, and liquefied natural gas is 55.8 cents per diesel gallon equivalent.The revenue department says the act “suspended the scheduled July 1, 2026, Consumer Price Index adjustment.” Its earlier notice had set a higher rate for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. That notice was replaced with the revised bulletin, which recalculated the rates for the shorter six-month period, and the department’s June 23 announcement said it was required to do so after the act was signed. The department reissued its rate bulletin on June 16, the day the act was signed, so 48.3 cents is the published rate for the full six months.<h2>Is the gas tax the whole story at the pump?</h2>It is not. Illinois also charges a 6.25 percent sales tax on gasoline, Illinois Policy noted, and lawmakers planned to use about $150 million in unexpected sales tax revenue from high gas prices to help balance the budget rather than return it to taxpayers. That means the share of each pump price that goes to the state moves with the price itself, not just with the cents-per-gallon rate.The state’s motor fuel tax rate is a fixed number of cents, so it does not rise when the price of a gallon climbs. The sales tax does. A driver watching the total at the pump is seeing both, along with federal taxes and the price of the fuel itself.Illinois Policy also noted that the state’s “lockbox” amendment arguably requires such funds to go to transportation, which makes the plan to use the money for the general budget a point of dispute. That dispute does not change what a driver pays at the pump.<h2>What should drivers plan for in January?</h2>The suspension covers only July 1 through Dec. 31. The revenue department has not said what rate takes effect on Jan. 1, so anyone budgeting for 2027 should treat 48.3 cents as the current rate and not a promised one.The revenue department points drivers and businesses to tax.illinois.gov for rate updates, and to MyTax Illinois for filing motor fuel tax returns. Fuel dealers, truckers and others who file those returns are the ones the department’s bulletins are written for. Drivers who only pay at the pump need nothing from the department.Gas is one of several ordinary costs where small changes add up. The price a driver pays to run a car also depends on insurance, and on transit or rail fares for the trips that do not need a car.<h2>Looking to cut what Illinois driving costs you before the freeze ends?</h2>The six-month freeze saved Illinois drivers about 1.3 cents a gallon, and it expires Dec. 31. The pump price will keep moving after that, and the gas tax is only one line in what it costs to keep a car on the road.Senior Discounts Worth Asking For includes the mature-driver car insurance course discount, plus Amtrak and city transit discounts, 10 percent off most rail fares and half fare on many buses. Its 12 pages also include a savings log of what asking is worth each year.<a href="https://retireshield.com/c/senior-discounts/end-block/footer/qe_v3/illinois-drivers-pay-a-frozen-48-3-cent-a-gallon-state-gas-tax-through-dec-31-after-lawmak?src=tfw&amp;nocache=1" rel="nofollow">Get the senior discount guide for car insurance and transit savings →</a>This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.The post <a href="https://thefinancialwire.com/illinois-drivers-pay-a-frozen-48-3-cent-a-gallon-state-gas-tax-through-dec-31-after-lawmak/" rel="nofollow">Illinois drivers pay a frozen 48.3-cent-a-gallon state gas tax through Dec. 31 after lawmakers suspended the July inflation increase, the state revenue department says</a> appeared first on <a href="https://thefinancialwire.com" rel="nofollow">The Financial Wire</a>.</div></body>

Block Source: The Financial Wire

Illinois drivers pay a state gas tax of 48.3 cents a gallon through Dec. 31, the same rate as before July 1, after lawmakers suspended the automatic inflation increase. The Illinois Department of Revenue says Public Act 104-0468, signed June 16, suspended the scheduled July 1 adjustment for six months. The department’s rate bulletin lists...  The post Illinois drivers pay a frozen 48.3-cent-a-gallon state gas tax through Dec. 31 after lawmakers suspended the July inflation increase, the state revenue department says appeared first on The Financial Wire .

Illinois drivers pay a frozen 48.3-cent-a-gallon state gas tax through Dec. 31 after lawmakers suspended the July inflation increase, the state revenue department says

<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0G6TLk_1GrZuEBK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0G6TLk_1GrZuEBK00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Kremlin official confirms Putin is open for talks with Zelenskyy. BY: MEGA</figcaption></figure>Russian President <a href="https://knewz.com/tag/vladimir-putin/" rel="nofollow">Vladimir Putin</a> is finally ready to talk it out with Ukrainian President <a href="https://knewz.com/tag/zelenskyy/" rel="nofollow">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a> after Ukraine pounded Russian oil refineries and military plants with relentless strikes. The Kremlin’s foreign affairs aide confirmed that Russia was open to negotiations and urged Zelenskyy to visit Moscow.Interestingly, Putin did not answer or return calls to the Ukrainian president since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. However, that seems to have changed after their neighboring rival responded to Russian attacks with precise strikes on oil refineries, including the Kstovo Oil Refinery owned by Lukoil, since Friday, October 30. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vladimir Putin is open to talks with Ukraine</h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2IfLUl_1GrZuEBK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2IfLUl_1GrZuEBK00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Putin is ready to talk to the Ukrainian president. BY: MEGA</figcaption></figure>The foreign affairs aide said that Putin has agreed to take a call from Zelenskyy after Ukraine resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the media that the Russian president was “open to dialogue with everyone” but added that no one had called him yet.However, the Russian leader is reportedly trying to avoid a physical meeting and wants deliberations done by phone instead. Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. are preparing for negotiations to end the war at a meeting to be held in Abu Dhabi, <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/putin-open-to-phone-call-with-zelensky-ukraine-suspects-a-kremlin-trap/" rel="nofollow">Kyiv Independent</a> reported. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Putin declined peace deal efforts by Zelenskyy</h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1jJIms_1GrZuEBK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1jJIms_1GrZuEBK00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zelenskyy retaliated to Russian attacks with strikes on oil refineries. BY: MEGA</figcaption></figure>The Ukrainian president has long been trying to get a hold of Putin since the start of the war. In May 2025, he invited the Kremlin to Istanbul for talks and proposed a trilateral meeting with President <a href="https://knewz.com/tag/donald-trump/" rel="nofollow">Donald Trump</a> to lead a peace deal. However, Putin did not attend the meeting and instead sent his delegate, Vladimir Medinsky. The Kremlin later met up with the POTUS in Alaska three months later. Many Ukrainian officials believe Putin wants to avoid a face-to-face meeting and would achieve little over a phone call. “They’ve already tried to do this over the phone,” said an official. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ukraine pounds Russian oil refineries</h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2XAfxP_1GrZuEBK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2XAfxP_1GrZuEBK00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ukraine struck five Russian oil refineries since Friday. BY: PEXELS</figcaption></figure>Ukrainian long-range drones struck the Kstovo refinery in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday, November 1. The attacks come against what was advised by the U.S. after a ceasefire in Oleshky ended over the weekend. Russian officials complained that Ukraine was “simply ignoring” U.S. wishes after the POTUS’ son-in-law, Jared Kushner, demanded the nation stop bombing Russian oil refineries that began on Friday, October 30, <a href="https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/ukraine-defies-trump-resume-attacks-172018000.html" rel="nofollow">AOL</a> reported.“The intensity of the strikes is very high, and the Russians are seeking to maximally exploit the ​deficit of ballistic missile interceptors,” said Zelenskyy in response to brutal attacks by Moscow. </div></body>

Block Source: Knewz

Kremlin official confirms Putin is open for talks with Zelenskyy. BY: MEGA Russian President Vladimir Putin is finally ready to talk it out with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Ukraine pounded Russian oil refineries and military plants with relentless strikes.  The Kremlin’s foreign affairs aide confirmed that Russia was open to negotiations and urged Zelenskyy to visit Moscow. Interestingly, Putin did not answer or return calls to...

Putin ‘ready to talk’ with Zelensky as relentless Ukrainian strikes pound Russian oil refineries and military plants

<body><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Tv8HS_1GqT6twN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Tv8HS_1GqT6twN00" width="1600" height="900" ></figure>A Texas homeowner was at work when a roofer punctured a gas line while installing a roof, according to the homeowner's testimony. The roofer hired a plumber to repair it. A landscaper working at the house let the plumber inside, and a dispute later developed over whether that access also carried permission to hire him at the homeowners' expense.The plumber said he repaired the attic leak, but pressure tests indicated another leak. He said the landscaper authorized more repairs and that he eventually found the second leak in a hallway closet. The homeowner testified that the plumber dismantled a patio gas line and kitchen drawers. After reports of disorder and a broken water pipe in a washroom, the homeowner told the landscaper to have the plumber leave.Two invoices became part of the evidence. One sought $989 from the roofing company for repairing the attic gas line damaged by a nail. The other sought $2,262 from the homeowners' trust for installing gas valves and locating and repairing the second leak. The homeowners did not pay. The plumber placed a lien, a claim against the property for payment, on the house. The homeowners sued, and the plumber and his wife brought claims of their own.<div id="nearby-article-card-v1" class="nearby-t3s"><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520need%2520a%2520plumber%2520for%2520a%2520damaged%2520gas%2520line.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-C13%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-C13.top.t3-strip%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3s-a">Need a gas-line repair?Tell Nia what happened in a few taps; it’s free.→</a></div><style>.nearby-t3s,.nearby-t3m,.nearby-t3e{box-sizing:border-box;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"SF Pro Text",Roboto,"Segoe UI",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;text-align:left}.nearby-t3s{display:block;margin:18px 0;background:#fff1ea url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat 16px 13px/62px auto;background-blend-mode:multiply;border:1px solid #ffd9c7;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3s-a{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;padding:34px 14px 13px 16px;text-decoration:none;color:#1f1f1f;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3s-t{display:block;flex:1 1 auto;min-width:0;font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.38;color:#4a4a4a}.nearby-t3s-h{display:block;font-size:17.5px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f;margin-bottom:3px}.nearby-t3s-go{flex:none;width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:700}.nearby-t3m{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px;margin:22px 0;padding:16px 16px 14px;background:#fff url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat right 16px top 17px/62px auto;border:1.5px solid #1f1f1f;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3m-k{display:block;font-size:11.5px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#c2410c}.nearby-t3m-q{display:block;font-size:21px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f}.nearby-t3m-g{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:8px}.nearby-t3m-o{display:block;text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3m-w{grid-column:1/-1}.nearby-t3m-o span{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;min-height:46px;padding:8px 10px;border-radius:10px;background:#fff1ea;border:1px solid #ffd9c7;color:#1f1f1f;font-size:15px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;text-align:center}.nearby-t3m-f{display:block;font-size:12.5px;color:#6b6b6b;text-align:center}.nearby-t3e{display:block;margin:26px 0 8px;background:#fdf4ed url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat 20px 20px/72px auto;background-blend-mode:multiply;border:1px solid #f0dcce;border-left:6px solid #d86c46;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3e-a{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;padding:50px 20px 18px;text-decoration:none;color:#1f1f1f;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3e-r{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap}.nearby-t3e-k{display:block;font-size:12px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#a94a26}.nearby-t3e-tag{display:inline-block;padding:3px 9px;border-radius:999px;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;font-size:12px;font-weight:600}.nearby-t3e-h{display:block;font-size:23px;line-height:1.15;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f}.nearby-t3e-s{display:block;font-size:15.5px;line-height:1.45;color:#3d3d3d}.nearby-t3e-st{display:flex;gap:8px;margin-top:2px}.nearby-t3e-st>span{flex:1 1 0;min-width:0;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:5px;font-size:12.5px;line-height:1.3;color:#3d3d3d}.nearby-t3e-n{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;width:22px;height:22px;border-radius:50%;background:#d86c46;color:#fff;font-size:12px;font-weight:700}.nearby-t3e-btn{display:block;margin-top:4px;padding:13px 0;border-radius:999px;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;text-align:center}.nearby-t3e-f{display:block;font-size:12.5px;color:#6b6b6b;text-align:center}</style><h2>What each side argued</h2>The plumber relied on the landscaper's role at the house. His sworn statement said the landscaper let him in, explained the gas problem and presented himself as the homeowner's assistant. He argued that the landscaper had authority to approve the work for the homeowners.The homeowner acknowledged that the landscaper could admit the plumber and supervise him. But he testified that he never communicated with the plumber until after the lawsuit began. The homeowners challenged the evidence of any contract binding them to pay, as well as any notice that the plumber expected payment from them.The distinction mattered for the additional work, too. The homeowner learned about it after it had started and allowed it to continue for a time. The appellate court found that this did not establish that he authorized the landscaper to hire the plumber at the homeowners' expense.<h2>What the law says</h2>The August 2020 opinion applied Texas contract and agency rules. Agency means authority to act for another person. Permission to admit or supervise a worker did not, on this evidence, establish permission to make a contract. The court required evidence of the homeowners' words or conduct granting that authority; the landscaper's own statements about his role were insufficient.The plumber also sought payment under quantum meruit, a claim for the value of services even without an enforceable contract. Under the rule applied in 2020, that required reasonable notice that the worker expected payment from the person being charged. The court found no evidence of that notice to the homeowners.A separate rule controlled the lien dispute. Government Code section 26.043(2), in the version applied in 2020, barred county courts from hearing suits to enforce liens on land. The majority interpreted that restriction to cover these homeowners' attempt to invalidate the lien, too. It held that this county court lacked jurisdiction, meaning legal power to decide those claims.<h2>How it ended</h2>On August 17, 2020, the Fifth Court of Appeals upheld the judgment rejecting the plumber's contract and quantum-meruit claims. It reversed the lien-removal and lien-invalidation rulings, including the related attorney-fee awards, and dismissed those claims for lack of jurisdiction.The homeowners retained a separate $12,000 attorney-fee award for defending civil theft claims that the plumber and his wife had withdrawn. Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 134.005(b), as applied in 2020, allowed reasonable and necessary attorney fees to a prevailing party. The appellate court upheld the finding supporting that award.This was no ruling that the plumbing work was defective, and it did not decide that the lien was valid. It resolved the payment claims and the trial court's authority over the lien claims. The Supreme Court of Texas denied both petitions for review on March 26, 2021.<div id="nearby-article-card-mid" class="nearby-t3m">Quick check · tap yoursWhere are you with your gas-line repair?<a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%25E2%2580%2599m%2520getting%2520quotes%2520for%2520a%2520gas-line%2520repair%2520at%2520my%2520home.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-C13%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-C13.mid.t3-choice-o1%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">Getting quotes</a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520have%2520a%2520contract%2520for%2520a%2520gas-line%2520repair.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-C13%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-C13.mid.t3-choice-o2%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">Contract in hand</a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DMy%2520gas-line%2520repair%2520is%2520under%2520way%252C%2520and%2520I%2520have%2520questions.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-C13%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-C13.mid.t3-choice-o3%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">Work under way</a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520received%2520a%2520bill%2520for%2520gas-line%2520repair%2520at%2520my%2520home.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-C13%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-C13.mid.t3-choice-o4%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">Bill received</a>Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</div><h2>Before you hire</h2><ul><li>For gas-line repair, use a licensed plumber. Check the responsible master plumber's license and insurance information through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.</li><li>Get a detailed written estimate identifying the work and how the company expects to be paid. If another contractor called the plumber, clarify who will receive and pay the bill.</li><li>Put any representative's role in writing. Distinguish permission to provide access from permission to approve additional work and charges.</li><li>Ask the local plumbing inspection department whether the work requires a permit and inspection. Keep estimates, warranties and invoices together.</li></ul><div id="nearby-article-card-end" class="nearby-t3e"><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dplumbing%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520need%2520a%2520gas-line%2520repair%2520and%2520want%2520to%2520clarify%2520payment.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-C13%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-C13.end.t3-full%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3e-a" aria-label="Describe my repair">Plumbing · gas-line repairClarify the gas-line repair before paying.You can tell a plumber who requested the gas-line work and who has permission to approve additional repairs.1Say what’s going on2Answer a few quick questions3Local pros reach out if you wantDescribe my repair →Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</a></div></body>

Block Source: Danny Tran

A Texas homeowner was at work when a roofer punctured a gas line while installing a roof, according to the homeowner's testimony. The roofer hired a plumber to repair it. A landscaper working at the house let the plumber inside, and a dispute later developed over whether that access also carried permission to hire him at the homeowners' expense.

A plumber repaired their gas lines, then billed them for the work. A Texas court upheld rejection of his payment claims.

<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1zA2UE_1Gr4JnKo00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1zA2UE_1Gr4JnKo00" width="1280" height="854" >Global lithium demand has jumped more than 400% just this decade, to over 1.5 million metric tons per year. By 2035, that demand could approach 4 million tons. Lithium-ion battery demand for electric vehicles, utility-scale and data center energy storage, and the emerging robotics industry are all driving the growth.The problem is the U.S. produces little more than 1% of the world’s lithium supplies, largely from Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine in Nevada. The world relies primarily on China for refining, as it does for many other <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/11/17/us-aims-breathe-easy-china-chokehold-rare-earths/" rel="nofollow">critical minerals and rare earths</a>.That may be about to change. About 1,500 miles from Silver Peak lies the oddly named Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas and East Texas. Crude oil was discovered there a century ago. Now industry is fixated on its unusually large lithium concentrations in its massive underground aquifer. Early French settlers called the area “Sumac Couvert,” meaning “covered in sumac bushes,” and the name evolved into Smackover.“It’s a geologic freak with its very high lithium concentrations,” Standard Lithium CEO David Park told Fortune. “We believe that our lands alone have the potential for over 150,000 tons per year of production.”<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The contenders</h2>Standard Lithium is, well, the standard bearer for the Smackover—the region with the most potential to turn the U.S. into a major lithium player. It is slated to authorize its South West Arkansas Project (SWA) late this year and start construction on the first 22,500-ton phase in the first quarter of 2027.Its brash challenger is Austin, Texas-based EnergyX (short for Energy Exploration Technologies), which is led by Elon Musk acolyte Teague Egan, 38. EnergyX could break ground on its 15,000-ton Project Lonestar commercial facility by the end of 2027. A 250-ton pilot plant came online earlier this year.Big Oil is following. ExxonMobil established its position three years ago and now holds more than 400,000 net acres, the largest in the formation. It plans to start building a pilot project there next year. <a href="https://fortune.com/company/chevron/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chevron</a> also bought a lot of land, announcing a 125,000-acre position last year.The U.S. lacks the traditional resources of leading producers Australia, Chile, Argentina, and China. It has few open-pit, hard-rock deposits or economically viable evaporation ponds, such as Silver Lake.The reason Exxon and Chevron bought in is because the Smackover instead requires newer direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology. Operators drill wells much like oil and gas producers do, pump out the brine water, process and refine the lithium, and return more than 90% of the brine underground. No hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is needed, limiting any seismicity concerns.Evaporation ponds can take two years to extract the lithium. DLE only requires about two days, though most of its costs come up front in the facility and well construction.“You extract the lithium, and then you reinject the remainder of the brine so that it leaves the ecosystem the same as it was before,” EnergyX’s Egan told Fortune. “There are no huge pits or huge ponds. It takes basically one-hundredth of the land footprint.”<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Making the business case</h2>Max Yerrill, a critical minerals analyst at BMO Capital Markets, is both skeptical and optimistic. DLE remains unproven at a commercial scale and must compete in a global market vulnerable to Chinese price manipulation. The Trump administration also has eliminated EV tax credits, weakening the domestic market.Regardless, Yerrill said, “I think DLE is the only way. It’s more out of necessity. The geology is what the geology is in a particular region.”“In theory, there are huge amounts of lithium in the Smackover. It’s yet to be proven if it’s economic to do so,” he said. “But I think it makes sense. You’re not planning for one year out. These are 25-year projects. You have to look way down the road.”Even in a bad year, he added, lithium is still a market that’s growing at close to 20% or more a year.The nascent self-driving vehicle and robotaxi industry is being built up almost entirely on EVs. <a href="https://fortune.com/company/tesla/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tesla</a> this week said it is discontinuing the costly Cybertruck to make way for the self-driving Cybercab, while Waymo, Avride, and Zoox are all betting on robotaxis. Egan sees them daily. “Living in Austin is seeing the future, and that is only going to spread.”Lithium is now about much more than just cars, medical devices, and electronics, including mobile phones, Egan emphasized. Utility-scale battery storage is the biggest growth area in the U.S. right now.“Batteries are the future, and lithium batteries have the most robust infrastructure, and that’s what we need for robotics,” Egan said. “That’s what we need for grid storage, for energy resiliency, for data center backup, and redundancy. It’s what we need for everything.”<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0tQ1zx_1Gr4JnKo00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0tQ1zx_1Gr4JnKo00" width="1024" height="563" >Standard Lithium</figure><h2 class="wp-block-heading">The U.S. buildout</h2>Similar to rare earths, lithium isn’t actually rare. The challenge is economically extracting its nearly invisible ions from brine. Lithium doesn’t exist as a shiny metal in nature. It’s typically either in the salty brine aquifers or locked inside off-white or pinkish rock ore.China isn’t the top lithium miner, but it is the top refiner and battery manufacturer.The Smackover projects build refining on site, so the lithium doesn’t have to go to China for processing. U.S. battery manufacturing is also on the rise.“It’s critically important to bypass the Chinese bottleneck,” said Park, of Standard Lithium. “We’ve seen them weaponize other critical minerals. We’re strategically exposed. If they want to cut us off, they can.”The challenge is building up the necessary financing and customer contracts to start construction, Park said. In the past, China has used price dumping to prevent potential competitors from getting off the ground. For Standard Lithium’s SWA Project, that work is already done.“I feel very good about things,” Park said. “It’s taken longer than I would have liked, but there were a lot of people to convince along the way.”That included both the Biden and Trump administrations for a lithium industry that has bipartisan support, even though many Republicans oppose EV subsidies. Biden’s Department of Energy gave SWA a $225 million grant, and the Trump administration fast-tracked project permitting. Norway oil and gas giant Equinor is also a 45% joint venture partner. Major offtake agreements are signed with global commodity trader <a href="https://fortune.com/company/trafigura-group/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trafigura</a> and battery manufacturer <a href="https://fortune.com/company/lg-electronics/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LG</a> Energy Solution, which is growing its U.S. operations.Once the first phase of SWA is complete, Standard Lithium plans to double capacity to 45,000 tons a year. It’s also advancing the Franklin Project in East Texas, for up to 70,000 tons, and two more East Texas facilities. “As we move into East Texas, the lithium concentrations get higher,” Park said. “Arkansas is more advanced technically and from a regulatory perspective than East Texas, but East Texas is catching up quickly.”In October, EnergyX inked a 10-year offtake deal with Trafigura for its Project Lonestar, near Texarkana, and its Project Black Giant in Chile. EnergyX is focused on U.S. and South American growth.Egan said the deal covers 100,000 tons and nearly $2 billion in lifetime value. He called it the largest DLE offtake in history. Trafigura will take 30% of Lonestar’s output, so more dealmaking remains.“This will cause a lot more dominoes to fall, and I’m excited for the next three to six months,” Egan said. He plans to expand Project Lonestar from 15,000 to 50,000 tons by 2031.With most of the critical minerals focus on rare earths and tungsten, Egan said he wants lithium to become an “unsexy commodity” like copper. “We want to be in an unsexy business that just produces a white powder that’s used in batteries.”<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Oil and big goals</h2>Lithium Americas may lead the U.S. lithium industry with Thacker Pass in Nevada, a 40,000-ton, open-pit clay mine that could be completed by the end of 2027. It’s much larger than Silver Peak and could eventually reach 160,000 tons. But analysts said the Smackover has more potential as few places have similar geology.Exxon made big waves in 2023 when disclosed a 120,000-acre position—now much larger—in southern Arkansas. Egan said that pushed a risk-adverse industry toward DLE. Egan would even like the oil majors to move faster. “They’re waiting for EnergyX or Standard Lithium to go build the first commercial plant and see it proven commercially. That kind of sucks because you would want those companies to make investments into the industry and push the innovation forward and help us.”Exxon told Fortune it plans to start building its Pine pilot project in Arkansas next year. Its acreage is at least triple that of Chevron or Standard Lithium. Exxon has drilled exploration and appraisal wells and is focusing on its technology at a Houston pilot plant.“The Smackover has the potential to become a significant source of domestically produced lithium, and&nbsp;ExxonMobil is uniquely positioned to help unlock it,” Exxon said in a statement.Slower U.S. EV sales are not reflective of the rest of the world as Chinese EV manufacturers such as BYD surge globally, Park said. And U.S. is recovering, helped by record-high fuel prices from the Iran war. “Demand is not the constraint at this point. The real question is, will supply be able to keep up?” Park said.He credited the Trump administration for helping get SWA started but said it could do more. “The administration may have thought they could focus on rare earths and deprioritize lithium a little bit,” Park said. “I think what they’re realizing right now is the industry could use another little shot, another catalyst.”Regardless, Standard Lithium is just about to commence construction on the first major Smackover project. “We’re near the finish line or, I should say, we’re near the starting line.”This story was originally featured on <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/11/07/geologic-freak-smackover-americas-lithium-dependence-china-big-oil/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fortune.com</a></div></body>

Show less about: Joe Biden

Block Source: Fortune

Standard Lithium, EnergyX, Exxon and Chevron are betting direct lithium extraction can turn the Smackover into a domestic supply hub and cut the U.S. reliance on China.

A ‘geologic freak’ called the Smackover may end America’s lithium dependence on China, and Big Oil is already there

<body><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2QkcnV_1GsIm8SH00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2QkcnV_1GsIm8SH00" width="1600" height="900" ></figure>You and I live here in Florida, and as of early November 2026, this season’s attic chores still bring out a familiar reflex: see a gap, seal it. In my house, I used to put the gap around a furnace flue in the same mental category as any other opening in the attic floor. Ordinary expanding foam seems made for a job like that. It comes out of a can, fills an awkward space, and lets you feel as though you have crossed an air leak off the list.The flue is the part that changes the job. A university extension service here in Florida advises sealing air leaks around fireplace chimneys, furnaces, and gas-fired water-heater vents with fire-resistant materials such as sheet metal or sheetrock and furnace cement caulk. That is a different set of materials from the ordinary foam I might reach for elsewhere.<div id="nearby-article-card-v1" class="nearby-t3s"><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dhandyman%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520have%2520an%2520attic-floor%2520gap%2520around%2520my%2520furnace%2520flue.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26creative_id%3DFL-N974%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26utm_content%3DFL-N974.top.t3-strip%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3s-a">Gap around your furnace flue?Tell Nia about the opening in a few taps, free and with no obligation.→</a></div><style>.nearby-t3s,.nearby-t3m,.nearby-t3e{box-sizing:border-box;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"SF Pro Text",Roboto,"Segoe UI",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;text-align:left}.nearby-t3s{display:block;margin:18px 0;background:#fff1ea url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat 16px 13px/62px auto;background-blend-mode:multiply;border:1px solid #ffd9c7;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3s-a{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;padding:34px 14px 13px 16px;text-decoration:none;color:#1f1f1f;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3s-t{display:block;flex:1 1 auto;min-width:0;font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.38;color:#4a4a4a}.nearby-t3s-h{display:block;font-size:17.5px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f;margin-bottom:3px}.nearby-t3s-go{flex:none;width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:700}.nearby-t3m{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px;margin:22px 0;padding:16px 16px 14px;background:#fff url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat right 16px top 17px/62px auto;border:1.5px solid #1f1f1f;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3m-k{display:block;font-size:11.5px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#c2410c}.nearby-t3m-q{display:block;font-size:21px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f}.nearby-t3m-g{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:8px}.nearby-t3m-o{display:block;text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3m-w{grid-column:1/-1}.nearby-t3m-o span{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;min-height:46px;padding:8px 10px;border-radius:10px;background:#fff1ea;border:1px solid #ffd9c7;color:#1f1f1f;font-size:15px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;text-align:center}.nearby-t3m-f{display:block;font-size:12.5px;color:#6b6b6b;text-align:center}.nearby-t3e{display:block;margin:26px 0 8px;background:#fdf4ed url(https://nearby.ai/nearby/email-logo.png) no-repeat 20px 20px/72px auto;background-blend-mode:multiply;border:1px solid #f0dcce;border-left:6px solid #d86c46;border-radius:14px}.nearby-t3e-a{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;padding:50px 20px 18px;text-decoration:none;color:#1f1f1f;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}.nearby-t3e-r{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap}.nearby-t3e-k{display:block;font-size:12px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#a94a26}.nearby-t3e-tag{display:inline-block;padding:3px 9px;border-radius:999px;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;font-size:12px;font-weight:600}.nearby-t3e-h{display:block;font-size:23px;line-height:1.15;font-weight:700;color:#1f1f1f}.nearby-t3e-s{display:block;font-size:15.5px;line-height:1.45;color:#3d3d3d}.nearby-t3e-st{display:flex;gap:8px;margin-top:2px}.nearby-t3e-st>span{flex:1 1 0;min-width:0;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:5px;font-size:12.5px;line-height:1.3;color:#3d3d3d}.nearby-t3e-n{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;width:22px;height:22px;border-radius:50%;background:#d86c46;color:#fff;font-size:12px;font-weight:700}.nearby-t3e-btn{display:block;margin-top:4px;padding:13px 0;border-radius:999px;background:#1f1f1f;color:#fff;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;text-align:center}.nearby-t3e-f{display:block;font-size:12.5px;color:#6b6b6b;text-align:center}</style><h2>What the Department of Energy says</h2>The U.S. Department of Energy puts the distinction plainly: "Gaps around masonry chimneys, flues, or combustion appliance vents shall be sealed with sheet metal and high-temperature rated caulk or foam." The word rated matters. That guidance includes foam only when it is high-temperature rated; it does not turn an ordinary can of expanding foam into the right material against a hot flue. The aim is still to close an air leak, but the materials have to suit what passes through that opening.<h2>Why the gap is different</h2>Attic air-sealing guidance allows one-part spray foam for attic-floor penetrations generally. Around hot flues, the guidance instead specifies metal blocking and collars. It is easy to miss that distinction when both openings appear to be holes in the same floor. From where I stand in the attic, they may look like variations of one chore. The material going through the hole is what makes them different chores.Guidance for combustion flues calls for fire-rated caulk with a rated collar, or sheet metal cut to fit and sealed with fire-rated caulk, while maintaining clearance between the flue and combustible materials. The Department of Energy gives a typical 1-inch clearance to combustibles for Type-B double-wall gas vent pipe. It also calls for heat-safe insulation dams around flues as needed, with the required combustion clearances maintained. So there are two things to get right: seal the route for air without treating the space that must remain clear of combustibles as an invitation to pack in ordinary foam.<div id="nearby-article-card-mid" class="nearby-t3m">Quick check · tap yoursWhat's at your attic-floor opening?<a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dhandyman%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520need%2520help%2520with%2520an%2520attic-floor%2520opening%2520around%2520a%2520hot%2520flue.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26creative_id%3DFL-N974%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26utm_content%3DFL-N974.mid.t3-choice-o1%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">A hot flue</a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dhandyman%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520need%2520help%2520sealing%2520an%2520attic-floor%2520opening%2520away%2520from%2520a%2520flue.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26creative_id%3DFL-N974%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26utm_content%3DFL-N974.mid.t3-choice-o2%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o">Another opening</a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dhandyman%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520have%2520an%2520attic-floor%2520opening%252C%2520but%2520I%2527m%2520not%2520sure%2520what%2520passes%2520through%2520it.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26creative_id%3DFL-N974%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26utm_content%3DFL-N974.mid.t3-choice-o3%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o nearby-t3m-w">Not sure</a>Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</div><h2>What I would do instead</h2><ul><li>Treat an attic opening around a furnace flue as flue work, not as another gap to fill from the can. Identify the vent before deciding how the surrounding opening should be sealed.</li><li>Ask for sheet metal and a high-temperature-rated sealing material at the opening, following the Department of Energy’s flue guidance. If foam is proposed there, ask whether it is rated for that temperature; ordinary expanding foam is not the same specification.</li><li>Keep the clearance to combustibles in the plan. A typical figure for Type-B double-wall gas vent pipe is 1-inch, but the job is to maintain the clearance required for the flue at hand, not to borrow a number from another opening.</li><li>Keep attic insulation away from the flue rather than pushing it into the space. ENERGY STAR calls for aluminum flashing to hold insulation back from a flue pipe.</li></ul>When I describe the job to whoever handles it, I would say: air-seal the attic-floor opening around the furnace flue with heat-appropriate materials while maintaining the flue’s required clearance from combustibles.<div id="nearby-article-card-end" class="nearby-t3e"><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dhandyman%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520need%2520help%2520sealing%2520the%2520attic-floor%2520opening%2520around%2520my%2520furnace%2520flue.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26creative_id%3DFL-N974%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862007%26utm_content%3DFL-N974.end.t3-full%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3e-a" aria-label="Describe my flue gap">Handyman · furnace flue gapAsk a handyman about your flue gap.You can describe the attic-floor opening and the need for heat-appropriate sealing that maintains clearance from combustibles.1Say what’s going on2Answer a few quick questions3Local pros reach out if you wantDescribe my flue gap →Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</a></div></body>

Block Source: Deb Kowalski

You and I live here in Florida, and as of early November 2026, this season’s attic chores still bring out a familiar reflex: see a gap, seal it. In my house, I used to put the gap around a furnace flue in the same mental category as any other opening in the attic floor. Ordinary expanding foam seems made for a job like that. It comes out of a can, fills an awkward space, and lets you feel as though you have crossed an air leak off the list.

You reach for expanding foam at the furnace flue, but the Department of Energy says Type-B gas vent pipe typically needs 1-inch clearance to combustibles

<body><div> <img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0WVchn_1GtAFu4Q00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0WVchn_1GtAFu4Q00" width="450" height="253" > Nov 8 (Reuters) - Iraq has reached understandings with the United States to allow Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz via a shipping lane near Oman, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in an interview with Al Jazeera. He said Iraq's losses from the Iran war and disruptions to oil exports had reached $60 billion. Iraq's oil exports recovered in October after a sharp drop the previous month. Exports rose to about 3.5 million barrels per day from 2.65 million bpd in September, according to Iraqi energy officials. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Nia Williams) </div> </body>

Block Source: Reuters

Nov 8 (Reuters) - Iraq has reached understandings with the United States to allow Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz via a shipping lane near Oman, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Iraq has reached understandings with US to allow oil exports through Hormuz, minister says

<body><div>It is 7:30 in the morning, and a mom who says she is “usually not awake at this time” is already in the car with a homemade coffee. Her toddler does not wake up until about 9:00 and, as she puts it, he is her alarm clock. Today she is up early for one reason: an estate sale.<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=388HKD_1GraCpWK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=388HKD_1GraCpWK00" width="1920" height="1080" ></figure><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@emiliekiser" rel="nofollow">@emiliekiser</a> says she has not been to an estate sale in a very long time. She took her followers along, and she came home with a $60 oil painting, a stack of vintage storybooks and a pair of curtains she says scream her name.<div data-type="SOCIAL_CARD"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@emiliekiser/video/7702188766022110494" data-video-id="7702188766022110494"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@emiliekiser/video/7702188766022110494" rel="nofollow">@emiliekiser</a></blockquote></div><script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><h2 class="wp-block-heading">She Left Early Because There Is “Usually Always A Line”</h2>Her plan was to be about 45 minutes early, because there usually is a line at these sales. The drive is about 42 minutes, but she says she has a condition where she thinks everything is a 30 minute drive, so she always leaves herself a 30 minute buffer.She credits a cup holder expander for making the morning easier. It lets her fit her wet jars in the car, and she says it does not move at all.Somewhere along the way she also hears about the “zipper method,” a reminder that merging on the road is something not everyone has mastered.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Cutest Neighborhood In Phoenix, And Still She Was Nervous</h2>The sale was in the historic district of Phoenix, which she calls the cutest neighborhood. She arrived roughly 40 minutes early, and she was still nervous there would be a whole line.A friend named Maddie showed up, which meant she could step out of line for a moment and run back to the car for a bag. She laughs that she is “apparently still an amateur at these things.”<h2 class="wp-block-heading">“So Much Good Kitchen Stuff” And Then A $300 Toy Box</h2>Inside, the house was packed. She spotted kitchen goods first, then art and furniture. “There’s so much to look at,” she says. “I’m, like, overwhelmed.”She also notes a toy box she thought was adorable. Its price was $300. “Wow,” she says.When she walked out, she says there were still a lot of people waiting in line. Checkout was so crowded that she was ready for a breather.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Vintage Book Series That She Decided To Buy All Four Of</h2>Back at home she showed off the haul, starting with the books. “When I saw them, I was like, I have to have these,” she says. She thinks they would look beautiful in a kids’ playroom or a potential nursery.One is a fairy tale book called Through the Fairy Halls. The others are from a series she calls My Bookhouse, which she had never heard of. They came as a set, volumes one, two, three and four, so she says she felt she had to buy all of them.She loves the illustrations and the gold on the covers. “They just don’t do books like this anymore,” she says. Even if they never go in a kids’ area, she says, the colors alone make them gorgeous.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Curtains She Will “Redesign A Room” Around</h2>Next up was the star of the show: a pair of curtains with big tassels. She says she loves home tassels, and the bigger the better.She has no spot picked out for them yet, and no promise they will suit her house. She says she will make them work somewhere, even if she has to redesign a room around them.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A $60 Oil Painting In A Gorgeous Frame</h2>Her best tip of the day is about art. She says oil paintings are a great score at estate sales because they are usually priced pretty well. The one she bought cost $60, and she says it comes in a gorgeous frame.She points out that oil paintings are usually one of a kind, which she finds special. She has already picked out the piece on her living room bookshelves that it will replace.She also grabbed what she describes as an old Crate and Barrel bowl, which she thinks could be a salad bowl or a fruit bowl.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Estate Sales Still Stress Her Out</h2>For all the great finds, she is honest. She says she gets very overwhelmed at these sales, and her anxiety kicks in. She calls them “hit or miss.”She says she loves to lollygag, taking her time and walking around, which is why she enjoys antique stores more. Estate sales, she says, kind of stress her out. Still, the day may have given her “groove back a little bit” to go to more.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Shop An Estate Sale Without The Stress</h2>Her morning offers a few easy lessons for first timers.<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Plan to arrive early. She says there is usually a line, and she planned to be there about 45 minutes before the doors opened.</li><li>Pad your drive time. She always adds a 30 minute buffer.</li><li>Bring your own bag. She went back to her car for one.</li><li>Look at the art. She says oil paintings are often priced well, and an original in a good frame is a one of a kind piece.</li><li>Buy matched sets when you love them. Her four book series looks better together.</li><li>Set your price limit before you go. A $300 toy box can be tempting, so decide what you will spend.</li></ul>Not every sale will be a winner, and a crowd can be a lot. But a $60 painting and a stack of storybooks made this one worth the early alarm.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More Stories You May Like</h2><ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://declutteringmom.com/picker-hit-garage-sales-with-mama-picker-and-says-the-last-sale-was-one-of-his-favorites-in-a-long-time/" rel="nofollow">Picker Hit Garage Sales With Mama Picker And Says The Last Sale Was One Of His Favorites In A Long Time</a></li><li><a href="https://declutteringmom.com/shopper-spends-150-dollars-at-estate-sales-and-comes-home-with-a-trivet-a-key-holder-a-soup-cookbook-and-a-bag-of-matchbooks-including-one-from-a-1974-wedding/" rel="nofollow">Shopper Spends $150 At Estate Sales And Comes Home With A Trivet, A Key Holder, A Soup Cookbook And A Bag Of Matchbooks Including One From A 1974 Wedding</a></li><li><a href="https://declutteringmom.com/paid-50-at-one-estate-sale-for-brass-dolphins-a-mahogany-curio-shelf-a-side-table-and-brand-new-coca-cola-hot-wheels-in-a-tiki-beach-house/" rel="nofollow">Paid $50 At One Estate Sale For Brass Dolphins, A Mahogany Curio Shelf, A Side Table And Brand New Coca Cola Hot Wheels In A Tiki Beach House</a></li></ul></div></body>

Block Source: Decluttering Mom

It is 7:30 in the morning, and a mom who says she is “usually not awake at this time” is already in the car with a homemade coffee. Her toddler does not wake up until about 9:00 and, as she puts it, he is her alarm clock. Today she is up early for one reason: ... Read more

Mom Lines Up 40 Minutes Early At A Phoenix Estate Sale, Walks Out With A $60 Oil Painting And Vintage Storybooks, Then Admits Estate Sales Stress Her Out

Block Source: eugenedailypost.com

Oregon – Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley criticized President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., after a federal judge blocked the project, arguing that the administration should focus on lowering everyday costs rather than spending billions on a monument honoring the president. “The American people want cheaper gas, groceries, and health care. Trump wants to waste BILLIONS on ego-fueled monuments to himself,” Merkley wrote on X. He also argued that voters had rejected what he described as Trump’s “families lose, billionaires win vision,” adding that he would continue fighting against the president’s proposed projects.

Oregon Sen. Merkley says Americans want cheaper gas and health care after judge blocks President Trump’s ‘ego-fueled’ 250-foot arch approved by panel led by his allies

<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2nbVGr_1GrrZ6DA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2nbVGr_1GrrZ6DA00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure>President Donald Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr. are publicly contradicting each other on gasoline prices. While the president claimed oil prices are “dropping like a rock,” his eldest son acknowledged at a New York rally that gas prices are “high.” Their contrasting remarks come as Americans continue to report rising costs, despite recent declines in the national average.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Donald Trump claimed oil prices are ‘dropping like a rock’</h2><figure class="pubp-image__figure flex justify-start"><source media="(min-width: 1024px)"><source media="(min-width: 768px)"><source media="(min-width: 320px)"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1etH1s_1GrrZ6DA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1etH1s_1GrrZ6DA00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure><figcaption class="flex flex-wrap gap-gutter">Donald Trump Jr. offered a less optimistic assessment of gasoline prices while addressing supporters at a New York rally alongside Vice President J.D. Vance. BY: MEGA</figcaption>In a Truth Social post, the president linked falling oil prices to the possibility of an end to the conflict with Iran. “Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD, because people feel that there will not be a War with Iran. Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen,” he wrote.However, Don Jr. offered a less optimistic assessment while addressing supporters at a New York rally alongside Vice President J.D. Vance: “I get it, not everything’s perfect today. Gas prices are high — we understand that. You think they’re going to go down when the Democrats come in, and they stop all the drilling?” he asked the crowd.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gasoline and crude prices show recent declines</h2><figure class="pubp-image__figure flex justify-start"><source media="(min-width: 1024px)"><source media="(min-width: 768px)"><source media="(min-width: 320px)"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4WBfPI_1GrrZ6DA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4WBfPI_1GrrZ6DA00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure><figcaption class="flex flex-wrap gap-gutter">According to AAA, the national average price of regular gasoline stood at $4.1694 per gallon on Monday, November 2. BY: UNSPLASH</figcaption>According to AAA, the national average price of regular gasoline stood at $4.1694 per gallon on Monday, November 2 — down from $4.1732 the previous day. The average had been $4.2858 a week earlier and $4.3961 a month ago. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, was trading at approximately $104.23 a barrel on Monday, with its price falling noticeably since Friday, October 30. However, 19 states had prices above the national average, including Hawaii, California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">White House defends Iran policy and predicts lower fuel costs</h2><figure class="pubp-image__figure flex justify-start"><source media="(min-width: 1024px)"><source media="(min-width: 768px)"><source media="(min-width: 320px)"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=27Eo3R_1GrrZ6DA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=27Eo3R_1GrrZ6DA00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure><figcaption class="flex flex-wrap gap-gutter">The White House continues to defend President Donald Trump’s Iran policy. BY: MEGA</figcaption>White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Newsweek on Monday that fuel prices will fall further if the conflict ends. “Once this conflict comes to an end, gas prices will drop drastically, and the Iranian terrorist regime will not have a nuclear weapon,” she said. She also defended the president’s Iran policy and the war, saying, “Protecting America’s national security from threats by a radical terrorist regime that has chanted ‘Death to America’ for 47 years was the right thing to do — and President Trump is the only president who has had the courage to do it. Thanks to the exceptional work of the U.S. military, more oil is now flowing out of the Persian Gulf than before the Iran conflict began.”A recent YouGov survey, however, found that 41% of respondents said gas prices are increasing a lot where they lived, while 25% reported a smaller increase. Fourteen percent said prices were unchanged, 15% reported a slight decline, 1% said prices were falling significantly and 4% were unsure.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Donald Trump Jr. turns rally speech into broader warning about Democrats</h2><figure class="pubp-image__figure flex justify-start"><source media="(min-width: 1024px)"><source media="(min-width: 768px)"><source media="(min-width: 320px)"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3b8at8_1GrrZ6DA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3b8at8_1GrrZ6DA00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure><figcaption class="flex flex-wrap gap-gutter">Donald Trump Jr. urged supporters to vote like their lives depend on it ‘because they do.’ BY: MEGA</figcaption>Don Jr. also questioned whether rents would fall under Democratic leadership, asking the crowd if that would happen “when they open up the border and flood the country with hundreds of thousands and millions of illegals.” He further accused Democrats of wanting to make Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico states, abolish ICE and establish a “one-party country of the entire country,” echoing remarks billionaire Elon Musk made the previous week.During the rally, Don Jr. also urged supporters to vote like their lives depend on it “because they do,” he said, adding, “It matters.” However, the Republican midterm campaign ultimately suffered a major setback, as both the Senate and the House were overwhelmed by a Democratic wave on Election Day.</div></body>

Block Source: Wonderwall

President Donald Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr. are publicly contradicting each other on gasoline prices. While the president claimed oil prices are “dropping like a rock,” his eldest son acknowledged at a New York rally that gas prices are “high.” Their contrasting remarks come as Americans continue to report rising costs, despite recent...

Donald Trump Jr. contradicts his father’s line on gas prices, calling them ‘high’ before the president says they’re ‘dropping like a rock’

<body><div><figure class="sf-featured-image"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3QsSdJ_1GsmZo0n00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3QsSdJ_1GsmZo0n00" width="1280" height="960" ><figcaption>Asurnipal - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons </figcaption></figure>Heating oil averaged $6.08 a gallon in Massachusetts on Sept. 28, up 73% from $3.52 a year earlier, and the state has responded with a new benefit for households that earn too much for regular fuel aid. Middle-income families that heat with #2 oil can get a one-time payment of up to $680, according to the state’s <a href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/middle-income-heating-oil-relief" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Middle-Income Heating Oil Relief page</a>.Gov. Maura Healey announced the benefit on Oct. 5 alongside an energy emergency declaration, the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-announces-new-winter-energy-bill-relief-for-massachusetts-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">governor’s office said</a>. About 50,000 households are expected to qualify.<h2>Who Qualifies for the $680 Benefit</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=366nTn_1GsmZo0n00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=366nTn_1GsmZo0n00" width="1280" height="658" ><figcaption>Deloss Barnum – Public domain/Wikimedia Commons </figcaption></figure>The home must be heated with #2 home heating oil, and the household cannot qualify for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Gross household income must sit above 60% and below 100% of the state median income, the state page says.That test is why the benefit reaches families that usually miss out on aid. For a household of four, the range runs from $103,050 to $171,749. Fuel help takes other shapes elsewhere, such as in Ohio, where <a href="https://craftingyourhome.com/ohio-winter-crisis-program-1200-fuel/" rel="nofollow">the crisis program offers up to $1,200 for fuel oil</a>. Readers watching their own energy bills can also browse <a href="https://frenzhub.com/energy-efficient-home-improvements-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">energy-efficient home improvement tips</a>.The state page lists the fiscal 2027 limits by household size. A single person qualifies between $53,586 and $89,308, and two people between $70,074 and $116,788. Three people qualify between $86,562 and $144,268, five between $119,537 and $199,227 and six between $136,025 and $226,707. The page does not list limits for larger households. Families planning for a long season can pair the aid with a <a href="https://craftingyourhome.com/steps-before-turning-on-furnace-winter/" rel="nofollow">furnace checklist before the heat goes on</a> and a few <a href="https://frenzhub.com/kitchen-remodel-ideas-on-a-shoestring-budget/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">budget-friendly home projects</a>.<h2>When and How to Apply</h2>Applications for the heating oil relief open in December 2026, according to <a href="https://mass.gov/HeatingHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">the state’s HeatingHelp page</a>. No deadline is listed there, though the governor’s office says the benefit is available from December through April 30, 2027, or until funding runs out.The interest form linked from the state page only signs a household up to be notified when the program opens. It is not the application itself, and the page does not describe the application steps or the documents required. Questions can go to Mass 211, which is staffed around the clock, or to the Housing Resources Hotline at 877-211-6277.Other states are rolling out their own winter plans, among them <a href="https://craftingyourhome.com/new-york-heap-opens-990-fuel-benefit/" rel="nofollow">New York’s heating aid of up to $990 for oil and propane homes</a> and <a href="https://craftingyourhome.com/wisconsin-heating-aid-441-income-limit/" rel="nofollow">Wisconsin’s heating aid averaging $441 a household</a>. A <a href="https://frenzhub.com/top-smart-home-trends-for-this-year-and-beyond/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">smart thermostat</a> is one way to trim use, and small repairs matter in cold months too, from a <a href="https://frenzhub.com/how-to-fix-a-leaky-bathtub-faucet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">leaky bathtub faucet</a> to drafty windows.The money will not appear out of thin air. The order lets the state use alternative compliance payments that electricity suppliers make when they miss clean energy quotas, <a href="https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/10/05/healey-heating-bills-cost-cutting-assistance-oil" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">WBUR reported</a>. The executive order that created the benefit stays in effect until April 30, 2027 unless it is changed or revoked.<h2>Bigger HEAP Checks and Electric Bill Relief</h2>Lower-income households get help too. The regular HEAP season runs Nov. 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027, and the state is adding $15 million to raise benefits by 20% for oil-heated homes and 15% for homes heated by utilities. About 156,000 households are expected to see those increases, with current support ranging from about $525 to $1,200. Households can apply at mass.gov/heatinghelp.Electric customers are covered as well. The governor’s office says the SMART charge, a solar line item, will be removed from electric bills for three months, January through March 2027, with $80 million in state money. The alternative energy portfolio charge will be cut by 50% this winter, which the state estimates at about $20 million in relief.Altogether the package totals nearly $150 million, and the administration says it will lower bills for about 85% of ratepayers.<h2>Why the State Acted Now</h2>Healey said one in five Massachusetts households heat with oil and that many could pay as much as $700 more for a single fill-up. The governor said the state of energy emergency lets Massachusetts use every tool at its disposal, according to the state announcement.The Emergency Winter Warmth Fund, created with Citizens Energy Corporation, begins with a $100,000 contribution and will support both the existing aid and the new heating oil benefit, the governor’s office said. Joe Kennedy III, the group’s president, told WBUR that Massachusetts is likely heading into a very difficult winter.Lawmakers are separately weighing energy bills, WBUR noted, and Healey has said she is not waiting on them. A proposal to suspend the state’s 24-cent gas tax for two months has been filed but is not law. The governor also asked Congress for another $3 billion for the federal heating aid program.Get stories like this by email.<a href="https://crafting-your-home.kit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Sign up for Crafting Your Home</a>.This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.Image: Asurnipal – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons</div></body>

Block Source: Crafting Your Home

Massachusetts middle-income households that heat with oil can get a one-time benefit of up to $680, with applications opening in December 2026.

Massachusetts Adds a One-Time Heating Oil Benefit of Up to $680 for Middle-Income Households

Harmony, NC

Following a nice start to the week, turning much chillier and windier later this week