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<body><div><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video title="Oil and Gas Association president fears Texas becoming 'Californicated'" poster="https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/854081161001/45b7329d-fe72-438f-bdf2-01c088e52aa0/2d28f3db-7ed2-443f-aa3d-5c756452e50c/1280x720/match/image.jpg" allowfullscreen="true" controls="true" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"><source src="https://vod.foxbusiness.com/media/v1/pmp4/static/clear/854081161001/45b7329d-fe72-438f-bdf2-01c088e52aa0/940e1e43-d063-4f48-88ef-359287779731/main.mp4" type="video/mp4"></video></div><p>U.S. Oil and Gas Association President Tim Stewart is sounding the alarm over the potential fallout if the Lone Star State were to adopt California-style energy policies.</p><p>Stewart stressed that "the absolute worst thing that could happen to the United States economy would be to have California-style energy policy implemented in Texas."</p><p>During an appearance on "<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/shows/big-money-morning" rel="nofollow">Big Money in the Morning,</a>" Thursday, Stewart explained how Texas adopting energy policies similar to those in California or Colorado could deal an economic blow to the state and the U.S. economy overall.</p><p>"It would have dire consequences for the U.S. economy when you take a $27 billion industry like ours in Texas and you begin to heavily overregulate it," he said.</p><p>Stewart's warning comes after Democrats made significant gains in Texas during Tuesday's midterm elections, including victories by Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrat-gina-hinojosa-stuns-abbott-makes-history-first-latina-texas-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>DEMOCRAT GINA HINOJOSA STUNS ABBOTT, MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST LATINA TEXAS GOVERNOR</strong></a></p><p><a href="https://foxbusiness.onelink.me/Zkcx/wlfgvouc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP</strong></a></p><p>"When we saw that clean sweep of Democratic elections take place in Colorado, for example, in 2019, we've seen a 40% reduction, a 25 to 40% reduction in production in Colorado," he explained while discussing the effects of regulations.</p><p>"My big fear, and I've said this to my Texas friends, is what happens if Texas becomes Californicated. For example, it's, like, if you're a business in California, you don't like being regulated, you pick up and you move to Texas." </p><p>"We have to go where the actual resource is," Stewart said. </p><p>He explained how oil and gas companies from Colorado and California have moved their operations to Texas because of the availability of resources.</p><p>"We don't have any other place to go."</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3FGnEY_1GnpHkyx00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3FGnEY_1GnpHkyx00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>U.S. Oil and Gas Association President Tim Stewart warns of "dire consequences" for the U.S. economy if Texas becomes "Californicated." Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>Stewart told FOX Business’ Dagen McDowell that Tuesday’s election was watched "very, very carefully" and that "alarm bells were going off" once the election results were in.</p><p>The U.S. Oil and Gas Association president highlighted Hinojosa's emphasis on<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/data-centers-ballot-voters-sent-unmistakable-message?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow">data center and electricity costs</a> rather than the oil and gas industry.</p><p>"I think she fully understands that $27 billion contribution to the economy and 1.4 million jobs is important," he said.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/oil-giants-post-billions-profits-americans-feel-pain-pump" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>OIL GIANTS POST BILLIONS IN PROFITS AS AMERICANS FEEL PAIN AT THE PUMP</strong></a></p><p>Stewart highlighted how outgoing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott approached energy policy and recognized the industry's economic importance, while also offering his outlook on the incoming Hinojosa administration.</p><p>"We anticipate that, again, that the governor-elect will understand how important the<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/energy/trump-touts-historic-300b-texas-refinery-first-new-us-plant-nearly-50-years" rel="nofollow">role that we play to her state, </a>and we hope that she's willing to work with us."</p><p>"Governor Abbott supported an all-above approach. We hope that the governor-elect will do the same," he added. </p><p><a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/apps-products" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO</strong></a></p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video title="Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne on whether California transplants diluted Texas red vote" poster="https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/854081161001/6c53aa2b-a559-44c6-b8b0-ccb692d13303/da342290-d662-4f5e-b7f2-27dfb97910c7/1280x720/match/image.jpg" allowfullscreen="true" controls="true" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"><source src="https://vod.foxbusiness.com/media/v1/pmp4/static/clear/854081161001/6c53aa2b-a559-44c6-b8b0-ccb692d13303/ebbf78a2-af85-4b0d-889d-df8993f50c35/main.mp4" type="video/mp4"></video></div></div></body>

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U.S. Oil and Gas Association President Tim Stewart warns of 'dire consequences' for the economy and energy industry following Democrats' midterm election victories.

Texas oil industry becoming 'Californicated' could have 'dire consequences' for economy, energy boss warns

<body><div><p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1kEYLX_1GpzCmLm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1kEYLX_1GpzCmLm00" width="1440" height="960" ></p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">On election night, as Republicans <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/11/04/voters-incumbents-republicans-congress-chambers-control-50-years/" rel="nofollow">lost both chambers of Congress</a>, President Donald Trump finally acknowledged the war in Iran had played a role. In a <a href="https://fortune.com/company/fox/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fox</a><a href="https://fortune.com/company/news-corp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">News</a> interview, he said the public was unwilling to tolerate high gas prices. That night, he also told the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/11/05/nx-s1-6029365/gas-diesel-price-congress-midterms" rel="nofollow"><em>New York Times</em></a> he knew voters were unhappy about gas prices all along.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">What voters wanted was simple: to afford a burger on the grill and a full tank of gas. Both had gotten more expensive. <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/10/15/midterm-elections-2026-beef-prices-vegan-politicians/" rel="nofollow">Ground beef cost $6.79 a pound in September</a>, up 22% since Trump returned to office. Gas prices rose 40% since the Iran war began in February. His Liberation Day tariffs will <a href="https://abcnews.com/Business/tariffs-cost-us-households-1000-year-yale-budget/story?id=135945432" rel="nofollow">cost</a> the typical household more than $1,000 a year. <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/10/28/fed-rates-steady-midterms-october-3-75-to-4-percent-cook-hammack-dissent/" rel="nofollow">And inflation climbed to 3.7% over the year</a> through September, with energy driving roughly 40% of the increase.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">In 2024, Democrats largely lost after what many regarded as the end of an era of cultural politics. In his second term, Trump built his presidency around fights that defined his own political identity— deportations and military force—seemingly not heeding the lesson Democrats did and all the while as voters were watching what they paid at the pump and the grocery store. On Tuesday, they didn’t vote identity: They voted on the prices.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">‘<strong>You can’t call it a hoax and suggest that people are going to believe it</strong>‘</h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">For two years, Trump and his party treated affordability as a Democratic talking point. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The word ‘affordability’ is a con job by the Democrats,” Trump <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/12/04/trump-affordability-fake-narrative-con-job-democrats-tennessee-election/" rel="nofollow">said at a Cabinet meeting</a> last December. At the G7 summit in June, he called it a <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/11/06/beef-prices-ad-mississippi-senate-race-democrat-republican-colom-hyde-smith/" rel="nofollow">“fake word made up by the Democrats.”</a> At the Republican convention in September, he said it again: “They use the word affordability, right? It’s fake.”</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">When the war sent oil prices up in March, Trump wrote that prices would drop once the Iran threat was over, and <a href="https://suozzi.house.gov/media/in-the-news/democrats-seize-oil-price-surge-trump-downplays-ithttps://suozzi.house.gov/media/in-the-news/democrats-seize-oil-price-surge-trump-downplays-it" rel="nofollow">that</a> “ONLY FOOLS” would not see higher costs as a small price to pay. A Republican National Committee spokeswoman then later accused Democrats of “fearmongering” about gas prices.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Though it could have been contained as a talking point for Trump, it didn’t stay that way for long: In what is now the still hotly-contested, razor-thin Senate race in Mississippi, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a cattle rancher, answered a question about beef prices by noting that voters have <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/11/06/beef-prices-ad-mississippi-senate-race-democrat-republican-colom-hyde-smith/" rel="nofollow">“so many proteins to choose from.”</a> In Ohio, Sen. Jon Husted said one way to make things more affordable was to <a href="https://boingboing.net/2025/12/15/republican-solution-to-affordability-crisis-announced-americans-should-earn-more.html" rel="nofollow">“earn more.”</a> Last week, when asked by a young voter how her generation could afford to start a family, Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/11/04/jd-vance-ohio-sherrod-brown-jon-husted-democrats-flip-affordability/" rel="nofollow">opened with a joke</a> about Husted’s backside before admitting Republicans haven’t addressed the cost of living crisis adequately, and Husted lost on Tuesday.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">The inability to take affordability seriously didn’t just rest with the White House or with candidates. When former President Barack Obama hit the administration over prices on the campaign trail, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6173437-bessent-mocks-obama-cheesecake-factory/" rel="nofollow">responded</a> by eating at a <a href="https://fortune.com/company/cheesecake-factory/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cheesecake Factory</a> near the White House and mocking Obama, who responded that the administration focused on his joke instead of the prices. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6180017-obama-trump-cheesecake-factory-joke/" rel="nofollow">“These are not serious people,”</a> he said.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://fortune.com/2025/12/05/trump-economy-affordability-con-job-cost-of-living-inflation-republican-voters/" rel="nofollow">Nearly three-quarters of Trump’s voters</a> rated the cost of living bad or the worst ever last December. In an October <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/trump-shrugs-off-affordability-republicans-say-crisis-12578363" rel="nofollow">survey</a>, 96% of Republicans said the U.S. was in an affordability <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/trump-shrugs-off-affordability-republicans-say-crisis-12578363" rel="nofollow">“crisis.”</a> Some in the party had warned about the gap. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“You can’t call it a hoax and suggest that people are going to believe it,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5643398-trump-republicans-affordability-concerns/" rel="nofollow">said</a> last December.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Bringing back kitchen table economics</strong></h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Voters worried about the economy <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/11/06/trump-harris-economy-voters-hispanic-prices-consumers-election-negative" rel="nofollow">broke for Trump by 2 to 1</a> in 2024, fretting about the cost of everything from food in their pantries to gas in their trucks to their medications. In 2020, Joe Biden won voters with a negative view of the economy by 63 points, but four years later, Kamala Harris lost them by 40.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">This go-around, it appears as if Democrats learned from that loss. The party’s winners this year were mostly moderates who ran on costs, and the cultural politics that peaked in 2020 and 2021 continues to recede.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump, meanwhile, made his own version of the mistake. He staked his second term on mass deportations, an immigration crackdown, and a war in Iran, while the problem families named in 2024 hadn’t gone away. By this fall, a <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/10/02/americans-view-socialism-favorably-trump-taxpayer-ads-jd-vance-affordability/" rel="nofollow">record 43% of Americans viewed socialism</a> positively, and Vance warned his party not to blame young people for that when housing costs kept them from buying homes. Even billionaires like <a href="https://fortune.com/company/paypal-holdings/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">PayPal</a> cofounder Peter Thiel and <a href="https://fortune.com/company/amazon-com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Amazon</a> founder Jeff Bezos said they <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/10/12/jeff-bezos-socialism-gallup-poll-housing-affordability-greedy-landlords-austin-rents/" rel="nofollow">understood why socialism was surging</a>.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here’s the issue: Trump took office in 2025 with an economy that had recovered from the pandemic and an AI investment boom underway. He could have kept blaming Biden for inflation. Instead, he spent his political capital abroad. On Jan. 3, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an operation that gave Trump considerable sway over the country’s oil reserves without extended U.S. military action. Just because he got lucky in Venezuela didn’t inherently mean he would in Iran, and aides struggled to convince Trump that Iran was unlikely to unfold like the Venezuela raid. Nonetheless, eight weeks later, the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump could have maintained the idyllic economic prosperity that he touted when running for reelection. Instead, in the national exit poll, 89% of voters called the cost of living crucial or a major factor in their vote, second only to government corruption, at 90%. <em>NBC</em>’s exit poll found Republicans had <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/live-blog/midterm-election-results-2026-news-trump-live-updates-rcna605763" rel="nofollow">lost</a> their advantage on the economy, the issue that helped return Trump to the White House.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Following the Blue Tsunami on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats intend to end the war and bring down costs, promising “relief is on the way.” But the relief may be slow: Gas still averages $4.12 a gallon, about $1 higher than a year ago, and even in the most optimistic scenario, prices could take three months after a ceasefire to return to prewar levels.</p><p>This story was originally featured on <a href="https://fortune.com/2026/11/06/trump-admits-iran-war-hurt-republicans-midterms/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fortune.com</a></p></div></body>

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Block Source: Fortune

Trump admitted on election night the war hurt Republicans. Gas is up 40% since it began, and tariffs cost families $1,000 a year.

Trump admitted the Iran war and gas prices hurt Republicans. It was his version of the identity politics that cost Democrats 2024

<body><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0JYIGB_1Gq4FkUe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0JYIGB_1Gq4FkUe00" width="1600" height="900" ></figure><p>I’m Danny Tran, and I live here in Texas. As of early November 2026, I’m thinking about what happens when I put the gas mower away for winter. I used to leave whatever untreated fuel was in the tank, expecting the mower to start when mowing returned. The mower looked put away, so I counted it as ready. I wasn’t treating the fuel in its tank as a separate storage decision.</p><p>Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Extension advises draining fuel from gas-powered mowers as the growing season ends. That gives me a question to take out to my mower: am I about to leave untreated gas sitting in it? I want the answer before I walk away from it for the season, not when I need it to start again.</p><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%3Dlandscaping%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DMy%2520yard%2520is%2520getting%2520overgrown%252C%2520and%2520I%2520need%2520help.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N959%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N959.top.t3-strip%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3s-a"><span class="nearby-t3s-t"><span class="nearby-t3s-h">Is your yard getting overgrown?</span>Tell Nia about your yard in a few taps. It’s free.</span><span class="nearby-t3s-go">→</span></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 Briggs &amp; Stratton says</h2><p>Briggs &amp; Stratton puts the risk plainly: "Gas begins to degrade in as little as 30 days which can lead to your engine's fuel system clogging and your equipment not starting the following season." That is the gap in my old routine. I was thinking about the mower as something I could park and forget, while the gas inside it could change before I needed the mower again.</p><p>The risk is about what *can* happen, not a promise that every mower left with untreated gas will refuse to start. It still changes the decision for me. Leaving the fuel alone and expecting a normal start is not a storage step; it is an assumption about what will be in the tank when mowing returns.</p><p>Briggs &amp; Stratton also advises keeping the operator’s manual nearby when preparing a mower for storage. I can take the risk of degrading gas seriously without treating one storage method as the answer for every mower. The manual is where I start before choosing what to do with the fuel in mine.</p><div id="nearby-article-card-mid" class="nearby-t3m"><span class="nearby-t3m-k">Quick check · tap yours</span><span class="nearby-t3m-q">Does your mower start when you need it?</span><span class="nearby-t3m-g"><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dlandscaping%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DMy%2520yard%2520is%2520overgrown%252C%2520and%2520my%2520mower%2520won%25E2%2580%2599t%2520start.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N959%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N959.mid.t3-choice-o1%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o"><span>Won’t start</span></a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dlandscaping%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DMy%2520mower%2520starts%252C%2520but%2520I%2520need%2520help%2520with%2520my%2520overgrown%2520yard.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N959%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N959.mid.t3-choice-o2%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o"><span>Starts normally</span></a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dlandscaping%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DMy%2520yard%2520is%2520overgrown%252C%2520and%2520I%25E2%2580%2599m%2520not%2520sure%2520whether%2520my%2520mower%2520starts.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N959%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N959.mid.t3-choice-o3%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o nearby-t3m-w"><span>Not sure</span></a></span><span class="nearby-t3m-f">Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</span></div><h2>Why the fuel step matters</h2><p>Briggs &amp; Stratton describes storing a mower with a full tank of treated fuel to help prevent moisture from condensing inside the tank. It says that moisture can lead to rust and a clogged carburetor. For that treated-fuel approach, it also advises running the mower after adding stabilized fuel so the treated fuel circulates through the fuel system.</p><p>In plain words, that approach is more than adding something to the tank and walking away. The treated fuel needs to reach the parts where fuel moves. Draining the fuel is a different storage approach. Either way, the part my old habit missed was making a deliberate choice instead of leaving untreated gas where it was.</p><h2>What I do instead</h2><ul><li>I read my mower’s operator’s manual before putting it away. I look for its fuel-storage instructions rather than assuming the tank should stay as it is.</li><li>If the instructions call for draining the fuel, I drain it. That is also the step Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Extension advises for gas-powered mowers at the end of the growing season.</li><li>If the instructions call for storing treated fuel, I follow the treatment directions. In the treated-fuel approach Briggs &amp; Stratton describes, the tank is filled with treated fuel and the mower is run briefly so that fuel circulates through the system.</li></ul><p>I thought leaving gas in the mower meant it was ready to use later. Now I treat that as the question I need to settle before storage: what does this mower’s manual say to do with its fuel? The answer might be to drain it or to store it with treated fuel. What I don’t do is leave untreated gas in the tank by default and count on an ordinary start when mowing returns.</p><p>If I need help, I describe the job as preparing a gas mower’s fuel system for seasonal storage according to its operator’s manual.</p><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%3Dlandscaping%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DMy%2520yard%2520is%2520overgrown%252C%2520and%2520I%25E2%2580%2599d%2520like%2520a%2520landscaper%25E2%2580%2599s%2520help.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N959%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N959.end.t3-full%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3e-a" aria-label="Describe my yard"><span class="nearby-t3e-r"><span class="nearby-t3e-k">Landscapers · overgrown yard</span></span><span class="nearby-t3e-h">Get help with your overgrown yard.</span><span class="nearby-t3e-s">You can tell a landscaper whether your mower starts and what help your overgrown yard needs.</span><span class="nearby-t3e-st"><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">1</span>Say what’s going on</span><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">2</span>Answer a few quick questions</span><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">3</span>Local pros reach out if you want</span></span><span class="nearby-t3e-btn">Describe my yard →</span><span class="nearby-t3e-f">Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</span></a></div></body>

Block Source: Danny Tran

I’m Danny Tran, and I live here in Texas. As of early November 2026, I’m thinking about what happens when I put the gas mower away for winter. I used to leave whatever untreated fuel was in the tank, expecting the mower to start when mowing returned. The mower looked put away, so I counted it as ready. I wasn’t treating the fuel in its tank as a separate storage decision.

You park your gas mower with untreated fuel, but Briggs & Stratton says gas can degrade in as little as 30 days.

<body><div><p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=37ykZF_1GmjWjtW00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=37ykZF_1GmjWjtW00" width="1250" height="833" ></p><p>There appears to be some good news for people who drive in New York State this week. Following Election Day, gas prices appear to have taken a noticeable dip. If you’re heading to work early this week, you may notice that prices have come down at gas stations throughout the area.</p><p>Did you get out and vote? Were you able to cast your ballot during early voting or on Election Day? My experience was pretty good. We had no issues getting in and out, and voting was a breeze this year.</p><p>Related: <a href="https://wyrk.com/new-consumers-beverages-hamburg-new-york/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">New Beer Store Opening in The Village of Hamburg, New York</a></p><p>It was an interesting election season, as it seemed there were more negative campaign ads than ever before. Thankfully, the election cycle is over, and we can enjoy a few months without campaign commercials, text messages, and phone calls from candidates!</p><h3>Gas Prices Take a Noticeable Dip After Election Day</h3><p>There seems to be some good news following Election Day. For whatever reason, gas prices have come down, and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/04/oil-price-iran-war-us-election-strait-hormuz.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">oil prices have also dropped following the election</a> here in the United States.</p><p>On my way into work, I noticed that gas prices at one local station had dropped below $4 per gallon! I’m not sure if that’s the case everywhere, since I was only driving my regular route this morning, but seeing gas prices under $4 definitely caught my attention.</p><figure id="attachment_654194" class="content-post-image alignnone"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Osyke_1GmjWjtW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Osyke_1GmjWjtW00" width="1250" height="1277" ><figcaption>Unsplash</figcaption></figure><h3>Will Gas Prices Continue to Fall in New York?</h3><p>There doesn’t seem to be any indication of whether prices will continue falling, but we can certainly be hopeful!</p><p>As we get ready for the winter season, gas stations also begin transitioning to what is commonly called winter-blend gasoline. There is a lot of science behind seasonal fuel blends, but the transition can sometimes coincide with changes in what drivers pay at the pump.</p><p>With gas prices coming down, now might be a good time to fill up your vehicle and get your gas cans ready for your snowblower. Like it or not, we’ll likely be putting those machines to use relatively soon!</p><h3>What Happens Next With Oil Prices?</h3><p>We’ll continue keeping an eye on gas prices and developments in the Middle East, including the ongoing situation involving Iran. <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/04/oil-price-iran-war-us-election-strait-hormuz.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Global events can have an impact </a>on oil markets, which can eventually affect what we pay at the pump here in New York.</p><p>Fingers crossed that we can enjoy an even bigger decline in gas prices in the weeks ahead!</p><a class="gallery-placeholder-link" href="//wyrk.com/new-york-state-gas-prices-drop/" rel="nofollow">Click here to view photo gallery</a></div></body>

Block Source: CNY News

Gas Prices Have Dropped Overnight in These New York State Areas

<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1XQX7R_1GnTMRkt00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1XQX7R_1GnTMRkt00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Image Credit: Sherwood Park Toyota on YouTube / MasterJacks on Youtube</figcaption></figure><p>A Toyota RAV4 owner says a warranty company is questioning her maintenance history after she filed a claim to replace the vehicle’s rear differential. They said the repair would cost more than $2,200, which she cannot afford.</p><p>The situation was shared on the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/s/U6J2e9zecR" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">r/legaladvice</a> subreddit, where the poster identified themselves as a 24-year-old female. She explains that she bought a used 2011 Toyota RAV4 from a Subaru dealership in Feb. 2025 along with a third-party extended warranty that covers the vehicle for up to three years or until it reaches roughly 212,000 miles.</p><p>She said the vehicle's transmission started slipping a week after purchase, but the warranty covered a replacement that cost around $5,500. It also covered repairs for an oil consumption issue related to the intake manifold.</p><p>However, she recently started hearing a grinding noise when turning and suspected the rear differential was failing. She brought the vehicle to her usual repair shop and was told the differential needed to be replaced.</p><h2>An Issue With the Extended Warranty</h2><p></p><blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" data-embed-height="316"><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/1xmjsk7/extended_warranty_claim_nullified_by_diy_oil/" rel="nofollow">Extended warranty claim nullified by DIY oil change- HELP!</a><br> by<br><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Independent_Count106/" rel="nofollow">u/Independent_Count106</a> in<br><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/" rel="nofollow">legaladvice</a></p></blockquote><p><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script><br> To her surprise, the repair shop contacted her and started asking about the vehicle's oil services, requesting records. But she pointed out that oil maintenance has nothing to do with the differential failure.</p><p>The owner explained that she changed the oil herself at the recommended intervals but did not keep records of when she changed it, what oil or filters she used, or the vehicle’s mileage.</p><p>The extended warranty on her vehicle is now nullified because she did the oil changes herself rather than through a licensed repair shop. She explained that she mostly uses the vehicle for work because she transports tools between job sites.</p><p>Since she purchased the vehicle, she has put around 22,000 miles on it, and it now sits at roughly 196,000 miles. Without the vehicle, she can’t get to work and cannot afford the $2,200 repair, so she is turning to Reddit for answers.</p><h2>Commenters Offer Some Advice</h2><p>Under the post, one commenter told the owner to look over the warranty contract, explaining that some extended warranties require maintenance to be performed at licensed shops. The comment also suggested the owner look up Toyota’s recommended service intervals to see if they had a reasonable argument.</p><p>Another commenter said the rear differentials require regular maintenance and suggested that failing to perform scheduled maintenance can void warranties.</p><p>The owner responded and acknowledged that the vehicle requires regular differential maintenance. She said the recommended service interval is around 30,000 miles, but she had not checked the previous owner’s Carfax records to see whether it had been serviced before she purchased it.</p><p>Now she suspects the extended warranty company is just trying to find reasons so they can deny her claims. But that hasn't been confirmed, and it remains unknown whether she was able to fight the denial.</p></div></body>

Block Source: Guessing Headlights

A Toyota RAV4 owner says a warranty company is questioning her maintenance history after she filed a claim to replace the vehicle’s rear differential. They said the repair would cost more than $2,200, which she ... Read more

Woman Says Extended Warranty Company Is Denying Toyota RAV4 Repair After She Changed Her Own Oil

<body><div><p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4bvcWl_1Go0WFdG00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4bvcWl_1Go0WFdG00" width="2000" height="1334" ></p><figure class="embed embed--type-video embed--type-content_video is-video embed--float-none embed--size-medium is-hero "><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://amp-static.cbsnews.com/amp/embed/video/?feature%5Bconsent%5D=0&amp;setDevice=mobile&amp;optanonConsent=0&amp;v=6e3ede019d0448db266d6735c92eec601794070247&amp;usprivacy=null#vVd7axw3EP8qy1IotNbt%2B3VQWsdOaGibmKShf2TLoZVmb1XvC0nrs0n83TvS7j18LZSGujbY0mg0o%2FnNcz%2B5dNLD2NIHd63lBBeuUFdD29JRiaoFd13TViGVw51guHW7oRJIv3DvBIfBXX9yhYZOueuPn1z9MBqWu4HjueC4zHxaBEUMJM3SgsR%2BAITytCJFlhVRQpGYUeTtxvt3UL%2F%2BFzcGKbaif8mFFkOP1yaFRNVOW1w3knSso0qDJENPmmFHOHQDk1QrshO9IqInugHSCY48ncLFttGENbTfgj0RkvZkRyUK1UIbHNwfV%2B9Wzi%2FsFyvXGXoH5TrXe7lfO0awI3oHrzt7wY4V7MyC7clrFOzMgjncolhc1FPbPpsWRvuhF4y2vz6XBi06UJp2o7sO0Ed5GBWpjz9o4YQirX%2FSKDhuf6YVtPiSwF9HAQpo532PMGDYdHQLysSVMuHQaD2qdemVHlUKtIpWrFI97BRq1IKt2NCVXjNVpSdKT5Ze6Idp6QVB6fkx7uKc%2BeADKRI%2FInFSJaSKaEaiOE%2BiOgtYUOWlp5upq3oq2tJLY%2F8%2BSv3Sy4uah0UFUNGasaRIogTyKPAhD2jIWFF65h2knpQwIfbfRRw5vGb1x7hFdJq%2FgyF4XhiCMPfvsxBxSJLILyANgrquIcX%2FwPO8CrKK8prXef5%2F4fB44Y4SaxDsPsj2CSCjHPgKS46tR3tYZkCWTendISRNi4u4iNM4zjd2Mz901UVTfqxnzyU5fBbR9SA7qlE0HccWs9ykV%2Bndk26E7Yd3PyPHdAbXbrd7qs8%2BATX9d64rPVP%2B1etuHIy4Qw%2FBPiOY7RgmpKOKJ0UdRIQVMQZllQDJfb8iWZqEtI7DPOT1sabjk4l5MwljkhHWitEU%2FEaApJI12Lw%2BGhbHsDhh7GTOzPI7hg2V0Otfje43tDMV8OrFe%2BfNzEgy5%2Bpc1ouHme%2FjKaOzZ0SJtEVIP%2F6OIQmjUANHXqxuCqiyrciUNAXbDrXOB9OIoavUAQe8f8kYUl60A7s9FD71QYF8P1WKSVEBP7CrcejVIPd8DdxfXkNNp9b43b%2FAX9dSXxypUXERJxdJgQeUG8Tr3fx304r%2B9kk8ZLWfZau7Vb3rZLfqQWOJ4aW3xSLwvWvRo7a7GyRbqk3A4X2DcyWB3rqPCIOWlN2Kfmt0YEwpNkiwawz6yPcTP0%2BxEcUz9G%2BWyDO9KUXSN8Ys3PRqo%2FRmC4v0mULHDTWYvim9ywMPMybesSA8UJQ%2Bk21etZ3HEzZMvZYCFiOqFt%2FaCnPDKH40wL%2FCxcu9K0%2Fa0Ns7kFIcid10fyOHEaR%2B%2BAkw5twwzoDTBLtbxoME87QIwiiiUeo%2BoqoONLWNDPHRsH0wa6Q1A58TFnpuH7qEeA1UTxI4YaZPgpmhloEKLcIYMPF0HEeMa0eBi0MG3zeYeQxnN2BzGThcK71z2ZiiZ34T6mVPceLjSwRTiX2lhcsJ3yvNZIYJRvM0Z1CQgFNO4jxOScGDmKDRnFIehTT1bX6cXt3nUkflg8Omvkd9De1O%2BOaxL%2BFpXrCMQJ77JI5x7Mux7JGqKioW5XWO8B5fdTNV12iG8QA2OhIExE90GKyDYu373%2Fo%2B%2Fj03QZnZ9ewNB5b9bDSt1MrZUuWMEqddZaYji5GjBwezsXVwUMFp6avYocjWtkN%2F4cC9CQjlKByhjwL3jus14r9ZqO5%2Bjl6OMQZspbyGO2OKTbft%2FtAkwcbM1ptjsmGsIOV86kXSj8LUWUQZ%2Ff2wo5o1BmBz8n6OBju5H87moxNFe%2FG2RFuHxDnPk5wxkiU5R4QhNM4Oie8HeQ05xVLt7y8sdfWJglZ0wmSl8drmBs1amJbeg7Vn7nKINpnRJhZcUg%2BTJNx8gkhFZnCRAbhgWtnOgrjbaq7%2BavCC82%2BD5Fcm7Y3%2B0PTJClsTv1nql7VvecfGAPEE4cPAfEN1Y%2FPrSx96kHQ%2BsvylB3%2BxhrNi6y7V1l3K7YmSf1VusXjQp8X1VBJWDsykW9CYRlftMPG3cmsxDfzrKAjDJAmTV6%2BSrPAv48K%2Fjq9%2FuORDBci1RPgSCl9ut3HaW%2FsFeJoEN1KYDH%2BnxOJgsR%2BS8fAk5q%2F337IHt3%2F%2B%2FPnwXWu4nsbqQryy7eGEqIG2YuoM%2BNCbDDZTnTFRDrVoT3itfoMamkBvBmXTd8m%2BFihfYPnHMMGCj9U%2BxPERA70HOQNoLSg9DG78DFtJpb63ufddkPj74fMfJT%2FLEPj4%2BCc%3D" allowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><figcaption class="embed__caption-container">H.R. McMaster on how Democrats' wins in the midterms might change the Iran war 10:31 </figcaption></figure><p></p><p></p><p>Motorists could soon see U.S. gasoline prices fall below $4 a gallon for the first time since July, according to energy experts.</p><p>Patrick De Haan, a petroleum expert at price-tracking firm GasBuddy, told CBS News that he expects the national average for gas, which the price-tracking firm put at <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="/essentials/n95-like-masks-for-kids/">$4.06</a> a gallon on Thursday, to dip below the $4 threshold by next week. He also predicted diesel could fall below $6 a gallon by Thanksgiving.</p><p>The average price was still at $4.06 early Friday, according to GasBuddy.</p><p>Gas and diesel prices have both dropped in recent weeks. The decline was largely due to market expectations that the U.S. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/election-day-2026-midterms/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">midterm elections</a> would underscore public dissatisfaction with the war in Iran and increase pressure on the Trump administration to strike a deal ending the conflict, De Haan said.</p><p>"Oil prices have been falling in the run-up to the election," he said. "My read is because there was optimism that after the midterms these problems would be addressed."</p><h2>Other factors pushing down gas prices</h2><p>Other factors are also putting downward pressure on fuel costs. Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has picked up, easing constraints on global oil supply, De Haan said. </p><p>Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell below $100 on Thursday for the first time since September, trading at $97.44 by midday. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, was trading at $90.42 a barrel.</p><p>The recent drop in gas prices is also partly due to seasonal shifts. Prices tend to dip in the fall when Americans pull back on road trips and summer travel, De Haan noted. Filling stations are already switching to winter-blend gas, which is less costly to produce than summer-blend fuel.</p><p>Tom Kloza, chief energy adviser for Gulf Oil, predicts that the average U.S. gas price will sink below $4 within the next 10 days. The profit gas stations earn on each gallon of gas sold — currently around 75 cents per gallon — is also larger than usual.</p><p>"Historically, that is too outsized," he said in an email. "A more normal markup would be 40 cents a gallon, and that means that even if futures prices and physical markets hang around present levels, we should see lower pump prices for the foreseeable future."</p><p>The Trump administration has used various tools to ease gas prices. That includes expanding access to<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-red-dyed-diesel-executive-order/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> tax-free red-dyed diesel</a>, opening the door to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-russian-diesel-imports-prices/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Russian diesel imports</a>, and waiving what's known as the <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jones-act-waiver-trump-oil-prices/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jones Act</a>, a federal statute that requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be moved on ships that are U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed. </p></div></body>

Block Source: CBS News

Fuel prices have dropped in recent weeks amid hopes that the midterm elections would increase pressure on the U.S. and Iran to reach a peace deal.

U.S. gas prices on track to fall below $4 a gallon, experts say

<body><div><p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4I7ztZ_1GoAh6rg00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4I7ztZ_1GoAh6rg00" width="2000" height="1333" ></p><p></p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://nypost.com/nyp-video-player/embed/?placement=true&amp;playlisttagfilter&amp;playlisttype=dynamic&amp;wpplaylistexclude&amp;align&amp;media&amp;width=100&amp;player=SPdDOYds&amp;platform=jw-player&amp;playlist=W5xXwQyA&amp;aspectratio=16:9&amp;template_path&amp;jwpropertyid=XDErnc08&amp;autoPause%5Bviewability%5D=1&amp;autoPause%5BpauseAds%5D=1&amp;context=newsbreak" allowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Kyiv’s airstrikes have knocked 15 of <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/10/16/world-news/ukraines-strikes-on-russian-oil-refineries-is-not-impacting-us-gas-prices-report/" rel="nofollow">Russia’s 38 major oil refineries</a> out of operation — causing more than $23.2 billion in economic damage, Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) agency said Thursday.</p><p>Just 12 refineries are running at reduced capacity following the precision strikes, which wiped out nearly all of Moscow’s oil sector income from 2025, the HUR estimated.</p><p>The agency specifically cited five facilities that were hit as of September, including the massive &nbsp;Ryazan Oil Refining Company, with those refineries accounting for 33% of Russia’s total volumes. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2STpHu_1GoAh6rg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2STpHu_1GoAh6rg00" width="1485" height="1093" ><figcaption>Plumes of smoke rise from an oil refinery following a reported Ukrainian drone strike in Moscow in September. REUTERS</figcaption></figure><p><b><a href="https://nypost.com/2026/11/05/us-news/melania-trump-calls-for-peace-between-russia-ukraine/" rel="nofollow">Melania Trump calls for peace between Russia, Ukraine as she welcomes reps to White House</a></b></p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=21E8dC_1GoAh6rg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=21E8dC_1GoAh6rg00" width="1375" height="915" ><figcaption>Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to face pressure as Ukraine knocks out 15 of Russia’s 38 major oil refineries. POOL/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>The strikes have effectively cut Russia’s processing volumes by 55.4% compared to the beginning of the year, Kyiv added. </p><p>The attacks have served as a major headache for Moscow, which relies on its oil to fund its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. </p><p><b><a href="https://nypost.com/2026/11/03/opinion/melania-trump-is-one-us-diplomat-making-a-difference-in-ukraine-war/" rel="nofollow">Hail Melania Trump, the one US diplomat making a difference in the Russia-Ukraine war</a></b></p><p>The refinery attacks have also led to a gas shortage in various Russian regions, including the annexed Crimea, with more citizens feeling the pain in their wallets over the ongoing war. </p><p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that he would be open to <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/10/18/us-news/president-trump-easing-sanctions-on-russia-is-pressuring-putin-to-tone-down-war-in-ukraine-energy-secretary-says/" rel="nofollow">stopping the repeated strikes on Russian oil refineries</a> if the Kremlin halts its attacks on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0hFfeT_1GoAh6rg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0hFfeT_1GoAh6rg00" width="1352" height="901" ><figcaption>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia continues to bombard his country’s critical energy infrastructure. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p><b><a href="https://email.nypost.com/morning-report/?c=fmu5i4jfoewqjfci" rel="nofollow">CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MORNING REPORT NEWSLETTER</a></b></p><p><a href="https://nypost.com/2026/11/03/world-news/russian-strikes-knock-out-power-to-swathes-of-ukraine-kyiv-hits-russian-refinery/" rel="nofollow">Moscow has refused to comply</a>, with Zelensky telling world leaders on Thursday that Russian suicide drones continue to hit his country’s critical infrastructure.</p><p>“Russians are using Shahed drones and missiles to hit even the energy equipment that our nuclear power plants depend on,” Zelensky said in his address at the Ibero-American Summit. “Every power plant in Ukraine has been damaged in one way or another by Russian attacks.”</p><p>Ukraine and Russia continue to trade attacks, with Moscow bombing a postal logistics hub of Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest private delivery company, according to the Kremlin. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2eq9He_1GoAh6rg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2eq9He_1GoAh6rg00" width="1411" height="952" ><figcaption>Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a civilian warehouse in Kyiv on Thursday. SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA/Shutterstock</figcaption></figure><p>The Russians also hit a power substation in the Dnipropetrovsk&nbsp;and a cargo ship in the Black Sea, the Kremlin said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone strikes set off fires in an industrial zone in the city of Ryazan, about 125 miles southeast of Moscow.</p><p><b><i>For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit <a href="https://nypost.com/" rel="nofollow">nypost.com.</a></i></b></p></div></body>

Block Source: New York Post

Kyiv’s airstrikes have knocked 15 of Russia’s 38 major oil refineries out of operation — causing more than $23.2 billion in economic damage, Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) agency said Thursday. Just 12 refineries are running at reduced capacity following the precision strikes, which wiped out nearly all of Moscow’s oil sector income from 2025, the HUR estimated. The agency specifically cited five facilities that were hit as of September, including the massive Ryazan Oil Refining Company, with those refineries accounting for 33% of Russia’s total volumes. Plumes of smoke rise from an oil refinery following a reported Ukrainian drone strike in Moscow in September. REUTERS Melania Trump calls for peace between Russia, Ukraine as she welcomes reps to White House Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to face pressure as Ukraine knocks out 15 of Russia’s 38 major oil refineries. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The strikes have effectively cut Russia’s processing volumes by 55.4% compared to the beginning of the year, Kyiv added. The attacks have served as a major headache for Moscow, which relies on its oil to fund its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Hail Melania Trump, the one US diplomat making a difference in the Russia-Ukraine war The refinery

Ukraine knocks out 15 Russian oil refineries, causing $23.2 billion in damage: officials

<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1CIsM9_1GpgA1Dd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1CIsM9_1GpgA1Dd00" width="1280" height="960" ><figcaption>Pennsylvania Utilities Can't Cut Off Gas or Electric Service From Dec. 1 to March 31 for Households at or Below 250% of the Poverty Line</figcaption></figure><p>For a family of four, 250% of the federal poverty level works out to $82,500 a year, or $6,875 a month. Pennsylvania households at or below that line cannot have regulated gas or electric service cut off from Dec. 1 through March 31, according to the <a href="https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2026/11/pa-liheap-energyassistance-applications-open/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Altoona Mirror’s report on the state’s winter assistance rules</a>. The protection does not erase what is owed, so the bills keep building behind it.</p><h2>What 250% of the Poverty Line Means in Dollars for Each Household Size</h2><p>The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission lists the income ceilings month by month on its <a href="https://www.puc.pa.gov/media/3827/26_protections_for_responsible_utility_customers_020426.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">customer protections sheet</a>. At 250% of poverty, the monthly limits are $3,325 for one person, $4,508 for two, $5,692 for three and $6,875 for four. Each additional person adds $1,183 a month.</p><p>Those monthly figures line up with the federal numbers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the <a href="https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">2026 poverty guidelines</a> at $15,960 for one person, $21,640 for two, $27,320 for three and $33,000 for four in the 48 contiguous states. Multiplying by 2.5 gives annual ceilings of $39,900, $54,100, $68,300 and $82,500. Each added person raises the poverty line by $5,680, which is $14,200 at 250%.</p><p>The annual multiplication is simple arithmetic on the HHS numbers. The PUC sheet is dated February 2026 and uses the 2026 guidelines, which are updated every January.</p><p>For a household of four, the gap between the 150% threshold used for the state’s LIHEAP heating grants and the 250% shutoff line is wide. The Department of Human Services lists the LIHEAP limit for a family of four at $49,500 in gross annual income, according to its <a href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/newsroom/shapiro-admin-now-accepting-applications-for-2026-27-liheap" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">announcement of the 2026-27 season</a>. A family earning $60,000 would be above the grant limit but still inside the shutoff protection.</p><h2>Which Utilities and Services the Dec. 1 to March 31 Protection Covers</h2><p>The winter moratorium covers regulated electric and gas utilities, according to the Altoona Mirror. PUC-regulated water utilities are also barred from cutting off water to households that use it to heat their homes. The Department of Human Services makes the same statement in its LIHEAP announcement.</p><p>The PUC sheet describes the protection as one that “protects consumers from utility termination between December 1 and March 31.” During winter, the sheet says, service is restored within 24 hours after the customer pays and meets the utility’s conditions. If street or sidewalk digging is needed, restoration can take up to seven days.</p><p>The moratorium is not a blanket ban. The PUC sheet says service can be terminated without commission approval if a customer is not a responsible customer or if household income falls outside the utility’s qualifying guidelines.</p><p>The window runs about four months, from Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, to Wednesday, March 31, 2027. Households that are protected during those months still owe the usage, and the protection ends when the window closes.</p><h2>Unpaid Heating Bills Stay on the Account</h2><p>The moratorium “does not cancel a customer’s outstanding home heating bills,” according to the Altoona Mirror’s summary of the state’s guidance. Anything unpaid in December is still owed in April.</p><p>The PUC says households must still meet certain conditions to stay protected. The sheet lists paying the bill and following any payment arrangement, making any required deposit, allowing access to utility equipment and telling the utility about any loss of income or work hours so the household can be checked for assistance programs. A deposit can be required after bad or no credit history, a past termination for unpaid bills, or two consecutive missed payments or three within 12 months, and the sheet says it could average two monthly bills.</p><p>A separate protection applies when a licensed provider certifies that a household member is seriously ill. The PUC sheet says service will not be disconnected in that case, the initial certification lasts up to 30 days and extensions are possible. The bill must still be paid during the period.</p><p>By law, consumers must contact their utility first to resolve a billing problem, the PUC says in a <a href="https://www.puc.pa.gov/press-release/2023/callutilitiesnow-puc-urges-consumers-to-contact-utilities-about-payment-of-past-due-or-high-bills-as-annual-winter-utility-termination-moratorium-ends-on-march-31-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">press release on the end of the moratorium</a>. The same release advises households to ask their utility about customer assistance programs and new payment plans for past-due balances, and to dial 211 for local resources. A household that cannot settle the matter can then call the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380.</p><h2>LIHEAP Cash Grants of $200 to $1,000 Stay Open Through April 23</h2><p>The moratorium holds off a shutoff but does nothing about the size of the bill, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is the state’s main source of help with it. The 2026-27 season opened this fall, with applications accepted through April 23, 2027, according to the Department of Human Services. A cash grant is $200 at minimum and $1,000 at maximum, and a household may receive one per season. Crisis grants range from $25 to $1,000 per season.</p><p>The site has covered the details of <a href="https://thetonicedit.com/pennsylvania-liheap-2026-2027-cash-grants/" rel="nofollow">the cash grants</a> and <a href="https://thetonicedit.com/pennsylvania-liheap-crisis-grant/" rel="nofollow">crisis grants for broken furnaces and shutoff threats</a>.</p><p>Last season, 278,910 households received cash benefits averaging $289, and about 121,329 households received crisis benefits averaging $566, the Department of Human Services reported.</p><p>State Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said that households should apply for LIHEAP as soon as possible. PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank urged anyone struggling to apply early. Applications are filed online through COMPASS, or through the LIHEAP Helpline at 1-866-857-7095 for a paper form, and applicants do not need to know their eligibility beforehand.</p><p class="yeez-signup"><strong>Get stories like this by email.</strong><a href="https://parent-diaries.kit.com/7f0b14f9f0" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Sign up for The Parent Diaries Letter</a>.</p><p><em>This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.</em></p><p class="yeez-image-credit">Image: w_lemay – CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons</p></div></body>

Block Source: The Tonic Edit

Pennsylvania utilities cannot cut off gas or electric from Dec. 1 to March 31 for households at or below 250% of poverty, $82,500 for a family of four.

Pennsylvania Utilities Can't Cut Off Gas or Electric Service From Dec. 1 to March 31 for Households at or Below 250% of the Poverty Line

<body><div><p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2fQDaO_1Gn3bQ4w00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2fQDaO_1Gn3bQ4w00" width="1023" height="682" ></p><p><i>This story was originally published by <a href="https://calmatters.org" rel="nofollow">CalMatters</a>. <a href="https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/" rel="nofollow">Sign up</a> for their newsletters.</i></p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bay Area air regulators voted 16-1 Wednesday to delay the state’s first phaseout of gas water heaters by a year and let up to half of property owners who replace one skip the switch to electric heat pumps. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">The rule, adopted in 2023, does not require anyone to replace a working water heater. But starting in January 2028, a year later than planned, most Bay Area property owners replacing a gas water heater will have to install a model that emits no nitrogen oxides, typically an electric heat pump.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Low-income owners, those who spend heavily on housing, and homes with tight spaces or outdated electrical systems can apply for exemptions.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">The vote is the latest sign that California is easing off on its push to cut pollution from home appliances, one of the largest sources of smog-forming emissions. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Last year, Southern California air regulators rejected a plan to phase out gas water heaters and furnaces, and the California Air Resources Board has backed away from requiring all new space and water heaters sold to be zero-emission by 2030.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Supporters say the Bay Area is different. Regulators built in years to review the rules before they took effect, and SPUR, a Bay Area urban policy nonprofit, says the exemptions largely match what environmental groups asked for to address property owners’ concerns, even if they go further than advocates would have liked. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">In an email, an air district spokesperson said the just-passed water heater rule would prevent up to 16 premature deaths and 21 new asthma cases annually, and avoid $90 million in healthcare costs. But staff also estimate the exemptions could put roughly half of the rule’s originally projected pollution cuts out of reach.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">A heat pump water heater costs about $3,500 more to install than a gas model, according to the air district. Heat pump water heaters use roughly a third to a quarter as much energy as standard gas models, but because electricity often costs more than gas in California, savings on utility bills are smaller. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Property owner groups say the rules will become a financial burden to many residents. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The proposed mandate really doesn’t take into account all the nuances that have to be factored in when you look at many of the multi-unit buildings in the Bay Area that were built in the ’60s and ’70s, and even much earlier,” said Joshua Howard, executive vice president of local public affairs for the California Apartment Association.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Some board members agreed. Ray Mueller, a San Mateo County supervisor, said he wished the board could repeal the rule entirely. Shamann Walton, a San Francisco County supervisor, voted no after speaking about affordability concerns. Benicia Mayor Steve Young abstained. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">But board member John Gioia, a Contra Costa County supervisor who voted to delay the rule, said the amendments address affordability concerns. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We need to do this in a way that respects that lower-income residents may not be able to afford it. We need to figure out how to help them,” Gioia said. “And let’s face it, the exemptions are big enough to drive a truck through.” </p><h2 id="who-s-exempt" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Who’s exempt</strong></h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Under the amended rule, people with incomes at or below 80% of the area median, or who are enrolled in programs such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh, can avoid installing an electric water heater and instead install a gas one. So can people whose mortgage and property tax payments add up to at least 28% of their gross income. The air district estimates about 20% of Bay Area households qualify.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Homes with physical barriers, such as a cramped closet, a low ceiling or an electrical panel too small to handle a heat pump, get a one-time exemption, covering an estimated 20% of installations. People can continue to buy water heaters 30 gallons or smaller, about 10% of sales, because no zero-emission models of that size are available in the U.S.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Larger water heaters, common in apartment buildings and businesses, now have until 2033 instead of 2031. </p><h2 id="statewide-efforts" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Statewide efforts</strong></h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">The state Air Resources Board, which once aimed for all new space and water heaters sold in California to be zero-emission by 2030, has scaled back its plans. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">At a December 2025 workshop, air board staff proposed instead capping sales of gas models and creating a credit system that would let manufacturers switch to zero-emission equipment more slowly. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">The air board is “continuing to meet with interested parties to understand their feedback and evaluating potential revisions,” to the rules, said spokesperson Lindsay Buckley. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Still, the state backed the Bay Area’s rule. In a letter to the board, an agency official said the rule “contributes to California’s broader strategy to reduce building-sector emissions while delivering public health, clean air, environmental justice, and climate benefits.” </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">In Southern California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District proposed rules last year that would have set rising targets for manufacturers to sell more zero-emission appliances, with fees on gas models. It backed down under pressure from the Trump administration. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Advocates say that makes the Bay Area’s rule, even scaled back, a rare step forward.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The state and the Bay Area are doing a great job of trying to push things forward in a more challenging environment,” said Tony Sirna, deputy policy director of environmental group Evergreen Action. “We’re pedaling just as hard, but we’re facing headwinds, and so we are making slower progress than we would have otherwise.” </p><h2 id="the-cost-of-switching" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The cost of switching </strong></h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">The air district estimates up to 120,000 Bay Area households replace a water heater each year. </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">A consultant for the district estimated the amended rules will cost those households about $372.8 million a year, after accounting for about $60.8 million in energy bill savings. Howard, of the apartment association, said the district “needs to recognize the true cost of the mandate.”</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Adam Pearce, president of the California Rental Housing Association, said the newly-passed rule does not&nbsp; fix property owners’ concerns, and just “kicks the issue down the road.” </p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We’re not against clean air and healthy living. Certainly providing quality housing coincides with all of that,” he said. But forcing change isn’t the answer, Pearce added. “They would get a lot more buy-in over time if it was incentive-based.”</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Advocates say incentives can help close the gap. The Bay Area will receive about $55 million a year in heat pump incentive funds over the next few years, according to SPUR estimates, said Sam Fishman, a policy manager for the group.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“These rules are a really big deal,” Fishman said. “They are a strong market signal that can ramp up demand for heat pumps in California, show that they work, and build demand both from consumers, from contractors, from manufacturers at every level of the supply chain.”</p><p><nbtemplate data-content="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" data-id="MediaPlatformAmplitudeButton"></nbtemplate></p></div></body>

Block Source: CalMatters

Up to half of Bay Area households can skip electric water heaters under an updated rule by air regulators. Residents not exempt have one more year to comply.

New deadline for phaseout of gas water heaters gives Bay Area homeowners one more year

<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><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><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"><span class="nearby-t3s-t"><span class="nearby-t3s-h">Need a gas-line repair?</span>Tell Nia what happened in a few taps; it’s free.</span><span class="nearby-t3s-go">→</span></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><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><h2>What the law says</h2><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><h2>How it ended</h2><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><div id="nearby-article-card-mid" class="nearby-t3m"><span class="nearby-t3m-k">Quick check · tap yours</span><span class="nearby-t3m-q">Where are you with your gas-line repair?</span><span class="nearby-t3m-g"><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"><span>Getting quotes</span></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"><span>Contract in hand</span></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"><span>Work under way</span></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"><span>Bill received</span></a></span><span class="nearby-t3m-f">Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</span></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"><span class="nearby-t3e-r"><span class="nearby-t3e-k">Plumbing · gas-line repair</span></span><span class="nearby-t3e-h">Clarify the gas-line repair before paying.</span><span class="nearby-t3e-s">You can tell a plumber who requested the gas-line work and who has permission to approve additional repairs.</span><span class="nearby-t3e-st"><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">1</span>Say what’s going on</span><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">2</span>Answer a few quick questions</span><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">3</span>Local pros reach out if you want</span></span><span class="nearby-t3e-btn">Describe my repair →</span><span class="nearby-t3e-f">Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</span></a></div></body>

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><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0gerYN_1GmzN2yR00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0gerYN_1GmzN2yR00" width="720" height="480" ><figcaption>Image via Shutterstock </figcaption></figure><p class="wp-block-paragraph">GasBuddy analyst <strong>Patrick De Haan</strong> said that energy prices at the pump could see a big drop after the GOP suffered setbacks during Tuesday’s midterm elections amid the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62904685/iran-claims-victory-over-trump-after-democrats-flip-congress-strategic-defeat-in-hormuz-political-defeat-in-washington" rel="nofollow">ongoing war with Iran</a>.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gas Could Drop to $3.65/Gallon</h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a post on the social media platform <strong>X</strong>, De Haan said that there were “huge losses” in the oil market, which will “start passing” on to the pumps on Thursday and Friday.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“National average gas price could drop to $3.65/gal with diesel falling to $5.50/gal in weeks ahead based on today’s close,” De Haan said.</p><figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">huge losses in gasoline and diesel markets today- retail prices will start passing it on tomorrow and Friday- national average gas price could drop to $3.65/gal with diesel falling to $5.50/gal in weeks ahead based on today's close</p>— Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) <a href="https://x.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/2118149846372864126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow">November 5, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the same thread, De Haan also responded to user @Cyrus_McCoy1, who termed the timing of the falling prices a “coincidence.”</p><p><strong> Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62851381/grant-cardone-warns-james-talaricos-texas-win-could-spell-trouble-for-elon-musks-spcx-ai-bets-gina-hinojosa-governor-win-sparks-data-center-moratorium-talk" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"> Grant Cardone Warns James Talarico's Texas Win Could Spell Trouble for Elon Musk's SPCX, AI Bets—Gina Hinojosa Governor Win Sparks Data Center Moratorium Talk</a></strong></p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">De Haan said that the prices were down because “political pressure to act with how voters voted” was “very high” following the midterms, which was “putting downward pressure” on oil prices.</p><figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">yeah, political pressure to act with how voters voted is very high now, putting downward pressure on oil prices</p>— Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) <a href="https://x.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/2118164885951443438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow">November 5, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gas prices fell further on Thursday, with the <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" rel="nofollow">data</a> collected by the American Automobile Association (AAA) showing that the national average price of gas was $4.1003/gallon on Wednesday.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Diesel also fell, with the national average price at $6.2564/gallon, which is a slight decline from Wednesday’s $6.2875/gallon price.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Blames Iran</h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Following the Democrats’ sweep in the midterms, President <strong>Donald Trump</strong><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62854536/trump-blames-iran-for-gas-prices-that-hurt-republicans-in-midterms-people-dont-see-economic-gains" rel="nofollow">acknowledged the role played</a> by the steep gas prices in the polls.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Because of the gasoline price, people don’t see it as much as they would have without it. And the gasoline was caused by Iran," he said,” Trump said.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the other hand, Trump also touted that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62807847/trump-says-us-controls-50-of-worlds-oil-with-venezuela-deal-as-he-pushes-russian-diesel-new-jersey-gov-mikie-sherrill-fires-back" rel="nofollow">U.S. controlled over 50% of the world’s crude oil</a> supplies, including Venezuelan oil reserves. He also said that U.S. oil surpassed that of Saudi Arabia and Russia.</p><p><strong> Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62805905/us-strikes-irans-qeshm-island-as-trump-talks-of-de-escalating-war-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"> US Strikes Iran's Qeshm Island As Trump Talks of De-Escalating War: Report</a></strong></p><p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by</em><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><em>following this link</em></a>.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Image via Shutterstock</p></div></body>

Block Source: Benzinga

GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said that energy prices at the pump could see a big drop after the GOP suffered setbacks during Tuesday’s midterm elections amid the ongoing war with Iran . Gas Could Drop to $3.65/Gallon In a post on the social media platform X , De Haan said that there were “huge losses” in the oil market, which will “start passing” on to the pumps on Thursday and Friday. “National average gas price could drop to $3.65/gal with diesel falling to $5.50/gal in weeks ahead based on today’s close,” De Haan said. In the same thread, De Haan also responded to user @Cyrus_McCoy1, who termed the timing of the falling prices a “coincidence.” Read Also: Grant Cardone Warns James Talarico's Texas Win Could Spell Trouble for Elon Musk's SPCX, AI Bets—Gina Hinojosa Governor Win Sparks Data Center Moratorium Talk De Haan said that the prices were down because “political pressure to act with how voters voted” was “very high” following the midterms, which was “putting downward pressure” on oil prices. Gas prices fell further on Thursday, with the data collected by the American Automobile Association (AAA) showing that the national average price of gas was $4.1003/gallon on

Gas Could Drop to $3.65/Gallon, Says Top Oil Analyst, Citing ‘Very High’ Political Pressure Following Republican Midterm Setbacks

<body><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=29LLJT_1GpQV41j00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=29LLJT_1GpQV41j00" width="1600" height="900" ></figure><p>As of early November 2026, the reflex in my house is easy to understand: turn down the central heat, light the decorative vented gas logs, and spend the evening in the living room. The room feels like the place we want to be, so it is tempting to treat that choice as a smaller gas bill. I live in Texas, in a first house with a clay slab, humidity to deal with and an AC that runs all day when it is hot. When the season shifts toward heat, I still have to think about what the house is using, not just where I feel warmest.</p><p>I used to put the lower thermostat setting and the fire together in my head and call it saving gas. But those are separate actions: the central heat is set lower, and the logs are burning fuel. The Railroad Commission of Texas suggests wearing warmer clothes and turning down the thermostat when possible. That is a useful Texas reminder for me.</p><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%3Dhvac%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2527d%2520like%2520my%2520decorative%2520vented%2520gas%2520logs%2520checked.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N955%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N955.top.t3-strip%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3s-a"><span class="nearby-t3s-t"><span class="nearby-t3s-h">Want your gas logs checked?</span>Tell Nia how you use them in a few taps, free.</span><span class="nearby-t3s-go">→</span></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 Hearth, Patio &amp; Barbecue Association says</h2><p>The Hearth, Patio &amp; Barbecue Association describes decorative vented gas fireplaces this way: “these products are not utilitarian heating appliances, but are instead designed for aesthetic use”. That gets at the part I missed. I was asking a product meant for appearance to do a heating job, then assuming the gas bill would reward me for it. I can enjoy the fire without making that assumption. A flame I can see from the couch tells me the logs are on; it does not tell me how the gas used by the logs compares with the gas the central heat would have used.</p><div id="nearby-article-card-mid" class="nearby-t3m"><span class="nearby-t3m-k">Quick check · tap yours</span><span class="nearby-t3m-q">What do you expect from your gas logs?</span><span class="nearby-t3m-g"><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dhvac%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2520use%2520my%2520decorative%2520vented%2520gas%2520logs%2520for%2520their%2520appearance%2520and%2520want%2520them%2520checked.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N955%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N955.mid.t3-choice-o1%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o"><span>Their appearance</span></a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dhvac%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2527ve%2520counted%2520on%2520my%2520decorative%2520vented%2520gas%2520logs%2520for%2520heat%2520and%2520want%2520their%2520operation%2520checked.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N955%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N955.mid.t3-choice-o2%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o"><span>Heat for my house</span></a><a href="newsbreak://openweb?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmytown.newsbreak.com%2Fhome-services%2Fquote-agent%3Fservice%3Dhvac%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2527m%2520not%2520sure%2520what%2520to%2520expect%2520from%2520my%2520decorative%2520vented%2520gas%2520logs%252C%2520and%2520I%2527d%2520like%2520them%2520checked.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N955%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N955.mid.t3-choice-o3%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3m-o nearby-t3m-w"><span>Not sure</span></a></span><span class="nearby-t3m-f">Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</span></div><h2>Why the room can feel warm without settling the bill</h2><p>Building America Solution Center says most fireplaces in existing homes draw the air they use for combustion from the room where they sit. The hearth trade group’s point about decorative use matters here too. Feeling comfortable beside the logs is a real experience, but it is a different question from whether running them in place of central heat lowers total gas use. Turning down one control does not stop the other flame from consuming fuel.</p><h2>What it costs</h2><p>Angi estimates gas fireplace fuel at $0.35 to $0.62 per hour, with the cost depending on factors that include fuel type and heat output. That is an hourly cost for running a gas fireplace, not a promised increase or decrease in my whole-house bill. It gives me a better way to think about an evening fire: time spent burning fuel has a cost of its own. The lower central-heat setting is only part of the picture. I cannot read the gas bill from the thermostat setting alone while the logs are on.</p><h2>What I do instead</h2><ul><li>I decide whether I want the logs for their appearance. If I do, I treat that as the reason to use them, rather than calling it a gas-saving move.</li><li>If I can comfortably turn down the thermostat and wear warmer clothes, I can do that without lighting the logs. Those choices do not depend on a decorative fire.</li><li>When the logs are on, I remember that they have an hourly fuel cost. I do not count a lower thermostat setting as savings without accounting for the fireplace running too.</li><li>I keep the question plain: am I choosing the look of a fire, or am I trying to reduce gas use? Those aims may feel connected from the couch, but I do not treat them as the same decision.</li></ul><p>If I call someone, I describe the job as checking my decorative vented gas logs and how they operate, not as making them heat the house for less.</p><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%3Dhvac%26entry_source%3Darticle%26q%3DI%2527d%2520like%2520a%2520pro%2520to%2520check%2520my%2520decorative%2520vented%2520gas%2520logs%2520and%2520how%2520they%2520operate.%26campaign_id%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26creative_id%3DTX-N955%26utm_source%3Dnewsbreak%26utm_medium%3Darticle_card%26utm_campaign%3Dnearby_nto_404862006%26utm_content%3DTX-N955.end.t3-full%26nb_layer%3D1&amp;fullscreen=true" class="nearby-t3e-a" aria-label="Describe my gas logs"><span class="nearby-t3e-r"><span class="nearby-t3e-k">HVAC · vented gas logs check</span></span><span class="nearby-t3e-h">Ask a pro to check your gas logs.</span><span class="nearby-t3e-s">You can tell a pro whether you use the decorative vented logs for appearance or have counted on them for heat.</span><span class="nearby-t3e-st"><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">1</span>Say what’s going on</span><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">2</span>Answer a few quick questions</span><span><span class="nearby-t3e-n">3</span>Local pros reach out if you want</span></span><span class="nearby-t3e-btn">Describe my gas logs →</span><span class="nearby-t3e-f">Free for homeowners · Your number stays private</span></a></div></body>

As of early November 2026, the reflex in my house is easy to understand: turn down the central heat, light the decorative vented gas logs, and spend the evening in the living room. The room feels like the place we want to be, so it is tempting to treat that choice as a smaller gas bill. I live in Texas, in a first house with a clay slab, humidity to deal with and an AC that runs all day when it is hot. When the season shifts toward heat, I still have to think about what the house is using, not just where I feel warmest.

You turn down central heat for vented gas logs, but a gas fireplace can cost as much as $0.62 per hour to run

<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0CGg3Q_1GpEmQFL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0CGg3Q_1GpEmQFL00" width="720" height="480" ><figcaption>Image via Shutterstock </figcaption></figure><p class="wp-block-paragraph">President <strong>Donald Trump</strong>‘s son, <strong>Donald Trump Jr.</strong>, admitted on Thursday that the energy shocks induced by the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62965446/trump-iran-strikes-midterm-losses" rel="nofollow">ongoing war with Iran</a> played a major role in the GOP suffering setbacks during this week’s midterm elections.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">‘Jacked Up’ Gas Prices Caused GOP Defeat</h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Appearing on the ‘Triggered’ <a href="https://rumble.com/v7hx3rw-after-midterm-defeats-what-comes-next-triggered-ep.388.html" rel="nofollow">show</a> on video platform <strong>Rumble</strong>, Trump Jr. outlined that the administration, since Trump took office, had secured major “wins” like lower crime and poverty rates, as well as “secure borders.” However, he then acknowledged that the “downstream effects” of the Iran war had “pushed voters in a different direction.”</p><p><strong> Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62875824/elon-musk-gets-double-miss-from-2026-midterm-elections-474-million-donated-net-worth-drops-by-23-billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"> Elon Musk Gets Double Miss From 2026 Midterm Elections: $474 Million Donated, Net Worth Drops by $23 Billion</a></strong></p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I’ve seen a few talking heads…out there trying to claim that the Iran war had nothing to do with Republicans losing,” Trump Jr. said, calling the claims “disgusting” on the show. “The Iran war is largely what shifted voter sentiment,” he added.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">“It [Iran war] jacked up the price of gas, that’s the thing that people feel most immediately in their pockets, and it is what changed their minds,” he said.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gas Movement</h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" rel="nofollow">data</a>, the national average price of gas fell further on Thursday to $4.0688/gallon, down from Wednesday’ national average price of $4.1003/gallon.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Diesel prices also recorded a decline on Thursday, AAA data showed, with the national average at $6.2305/gallon, down from $6.2564/gallon on Wednesday.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Notably, GasBuddy analyst <strong>Patrick De Haan</strong>, on Wednesday, said that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62912904/gas-could-drop-to-3-65-gallon-says-top-oil-analyst-citing-very-high-political-pressure-following-republican-midterm-setbacks" rel="nofollow">prices at the pump could fall</a> following the midterm elections, citing “very high” political pressure to follow the voters’ sentiments.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Blames Iran for High Gas, Touts Venezuela Oil</h2><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump, following the midterms, blamed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62854536/trump-blames-iran-for-gas-prices-that-hurt-republicans-in-midterms-people-dont-see-economic-gains" rel="nofollow">high gas prices on Iran</a>, which overshadowed the purported growth that the U.S. had recorded ever since he took office in 2025.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the other hand, he also said that the U.S. holds <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62807847/trump-says-us-controls-50-of-worlds-oil-with-venezuela-deal-as-he-pushes-russian-diesel-new-jersey-gov-mikie-sherrill-fires-back" rel="nofollow">vast amounts of oil reserves</a> that exceed those of countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia, pointing to Venezuelan oil. It’s worth noting that Trump, during a rally in Texas last month, also said that the U.S. had received its first shipment of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/10/62644224/trump-says-iran-wants-a-deal-as-1-million-barrels-of-venezuelan-oil-arrive-in-texas-ahead-of-midterms-its-a-question-of-when-do-i-want-to-end-it" rel="nofollow">a million barrels of oil from Venezuela</a>.</p><p><strong> Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/11/62904685/iran-claims-victory-over-trump-after-democrats-flip-congress-strategic-defeat-in-hormuz-political-defeat-in-washington" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"> Iran Claims Victory Over Trump After Democrats Flip Congress: 'Strategic Defeat' in Hormuz, 'Political Defeat in Washington'</a></strong></p><p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by</em><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><em>following this link</em></a>.</p><p class="wp-block-paragraph">Image via Shutterstock</p></div></body>

President Donald Trump ‘s son, Donald Trump Jr. , admitted on Thursday that the energy shocks induced by the ongoing war with Iran played a major role in the GOP suffering setbacks during this week’s midterm elections. ‘Jacked Up’ Gas Prices Caused GOP Defeat Appearing on the ‘Triggered’ show on video platform Rumble , Trump Jr. outlined that the administration, since Trump took office, had secured major “wins” like lower crime and poverty rates, as well as “secure borders.” However, he then acknowledged that the “downstream effects” of the Iran war had “pushed voters in a different direction.” Read Also: Elon Musk Gets Double Miss From 2026 Midterm Elections: $474 Million Donated, Net Worth Drops by $23 Billion “I’ve seen a few talking heads…out there trying to claim that the Iran war had nothing to do with Republicans losing,” Trump Jr. said, calling the claims “disgusting” on the show. “The Iran war is largely what shifted voter sentiment,” he added. “It [Iran war] jacked up the price of gas, that’s the thing that people feel most immediately in their pockets, and it is what changed their minds,” he said. Gas Movement According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) data ,

Donald Trump Jr. Echoes President's Iran War Comments, Says ‘Jacked Up’ Gas Prices Caused Republicans to Lose Ground During Midterms

<body><div><figure id="attachment_2562" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0H6IN2_1GpacKyN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0H6IN2_1GpacKyN00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption class="mtSubImg">Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group/Newscom/The Mega Agency; Ingram Publishing/Newscom/The Mega Agency</figcaption></figure><p>A <a href="https://firstforautos.com/tag/gmc-sierra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">GMC Sierra</a> owner who has taken his truck to the same dealership for every oil change since buying it new says his loyalty has left him facing a $1,600 repair bill.</p><p>The driver shared his experience on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/askcarguys/s/DCA62jtJbf" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Reddit</a>, explaining that he brought his 2014 GMC Sierra, which has about 114,000 miles on it, to the dealership for a routine oil change.</p><p>During the appointment, a service representative told him the threads on the oil pan’s drain plug had been stripped.</p><p>According to the owner, the representative blamed the truck’s age for the problem.</p><p>“Multi-point vehicle inspection: caused by threads worn out on oil pan. Replaced with a bigger plug for now. Vehicle needs attention as soon as possible,” the dealership’s invoice stated, according to the Reddit post.</p><p>The temporary fix didn’t appear to solve the problem. The owner said he woke up the following morning to find oil spots on his driveway underneath the truck.</p><p>When he called the dealership, he was quoted $1,600 to replace the oil pan, including parts and labor. Plus, he was told it would take several days for the replacement part to arrive.</p><p>“I was sticker shocked with that price,” the owner wrote.</p><figure id="attachment_2564" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0lTLkY_1GpacKyN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0lTLkY_1GpacKyN00" width="1500" height="1000" ><figcaption class="mtSubImg">Ingram Publishing/Newscom/The Mega Agency</figcaption></figure><p>Now he’s questioning why he should pay for damage he believes happened while the truck was in the dealership’s care.</p><p>“My thought process is, I was there roughly 7-8 months ago for my last oil change and figured they would’ve brought up any issues with the drain plug at that time,” he explained.</p><p>The owner believes a technician may have stripped the threads while reinstalling the drain plug during the latest oil change.</p><p>“With all of that said, shouldn’t the dealership be responsible for replacing my oil pan?” he asked.</p><p>He suggested the dealership should cover the entire replacement or at least charge him for the part at cost and waive the labor.</p><p>The driver said he planned to speak with dealership management but wanted to hear other people’s opinions before making his case.</p><p>“The reason for my post was to get a temperature check and see if my line of thinking was wrong before I have a conversation with management,” he wrote.</p><p>It’s unclear whether the dealership ultimately agreed to cover any of the repair costs.</p><h1>Read More From First for Autos</h1><ul class="moreFromList"><li><a href="https://firstforautos.com/florida-driver-challenges-officer-after-dui-arrest-during-traffic-stop-i-passed-the-test/" rel="nofollow">Florida Driver Challenges Officer After DUI Arrest During Traffic Stop: ‘I Passed the Test’</a></li><li><a href="https://firstforautos.com/elon-musk-to-wind-down-tesla-cybertruck-production-in-2027-as-sales-continue-to-struggle/" rel="nofollow">Elon Musk to Wind Down Tesla Cybertruck Production in 2027 as Sales Continue to Struggle</a></li><li><a href="https://firstforautos.com/police-use-new-adhesive-gps-tracker-to-avoid-chasing-suspect-in-stolen-vehicle-in-washington/" rel="nofollow">Police Use New Adhesive GPS Tracker To Avoid Chasing Suspect In Stolen Vehicle In Washington</a></li></ul></div></body>

Block Source: First For Autos

A GMC Sierra owner who has taken his truck to the same dealership for every oil change since buying it new says his loyalty has left him facing a $1,600 repair bill. The driver shared his experience on Reddit, explaining that he brought his 2014 GMC Sierra, which has about 114,000 miles on it, to […]

GMC Sierra Owner Takes Truck to Dealership for Oil Change, Leaves Facing $1,600 Repair Bill

<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1FZgNm_1Gq6V7v400" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1FZgNm_1Gq6V7v400" width="1280" height="960" ><figcaption>Massachusetts Gas and Electric Companies Can't Shut Off Heat From Nov. 15 to March 15 for Households That Can't Pay and Earn Up to $103,049 for a Family of Four</figcaption></figure><p>Massachusetts households behind on a gas or electric bill get a hard stop on heat shutoffs starting Nov. 15. From that date through March 15, state law bars gas and electric companies from cutting off service that heats a home when the household cannot pay because of financial hardship, and for this winter that hardship test covers a family of four earning up to $103,049 a year.</p><p>The protection is not automatic. A household has to tell its utility about the hardship and back it up with a form. But for those who do, the companies cannot send a termination notice or pull the plug on heat for the four coldest months of the year.</p><h2>What the Law Says Starting Nov. 15</h2><p>The rule comes from <a href="https://malegislature.gov/laws/generallaws/parti/titlexxii/chapter164/section124f" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Chapter 164, Section 124F of the Massachusetts General Laws</a>, which states that “No gas or electric company shall between November fifteenth and March fifteenth shut off gas or electric service” to a residential customer who has fallen behind because of financial hardship, when that service provides heat or runs the home’s heating system.</p><p>The Department of Public Utilities spells out the details in its billing regulations. Under <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/220-CMR-25-03" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">220 CMR 25.03</a>, the winter protection applies when the customer cannot pay an overdue bill because of financial hardship, the service is used for heat, and the service had not already been shut off for nonpayment before Nov. 15. The regulation also says no termination notice may be issued between Nov. 15 and March 15 to a customer who has given notice of financial hardship, unless the department authorizes it.</p><p>That last condition matters for anyone already in trouble. A household that loses service before Nov. 15 is not covered by the winter rule in the same way, which makes the next nine days the window to get a hardship claim on file.</p><h2>Who Counts as a Hardship Household This Winter</h2><p>Massachusetts ties the hardship test to the income limit for its Home Energy Assistance Program, known as HEAP or fuel assistance. That limit is 60% of the state median income. The state’s <a href="https://mass.gov/HeatingHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">heating help page</a> lists the FY27 limits as:</p><ul><li>$53,585 a year for a household of one</li><li>$103,049 a year for a household of four</li></ul><p>The household also has to be unable to pay an overdue bill. Income alone does not trigger the protection; a household that is under the limit but current on its bill has nothing to protect yet.</p><p>The same page estimates this season’s fuel assistance benefit for a one-person household at $870 to $1,450 for those who heat with delivered fuel such as oil or propane, and $600 to $1,000 for those who heat with a utility. Fuel assistance and the shutoff protection work together: the grant chips at the balance, and the moratorium keeps the heat on while it does. Households above the HEAP line who heat with oil may qualify for the state’s separate <a href="https://thetonicedit.com/massachusetts-heating-oil-benefit-680/" rel="nofollow">middle-income heating oil benefit of up to $680</a>.</p><h2>How to Get the Protection on File</h2><p>According to the regulation, a hardship claim can start with a phone call to the utility. The customer then has seven days after receiving the company’s financial hardship form to return it. A signed statement showing income within the guidelines counts as presumptive evidence of hardship unless the department decides otherwise.</p><p><a href="https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/winter-moratorium-protection-against-shutting-heat" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Massachusetts Legal Services</a> notes that the company’s hardship form is usually required, and that bills keep piling up during the moratorium. Any unpaid balance can lead to a shutoff for nonpayment once the protection ends.</p><p>Hardship status is normally renewed every three months, but 220 CMR 25.03 waives that renewal between Nov. 15 and March 15 if the hardship is ongoing. One more detail helps households that got help last year: if the utility received fuel assistance payments for a customer the prior winter, the company must presume that customer meets the hardship guidelines and protect the account from Nov. 15 through Jan. 1, giving the household time to apply for this season’s assistance. If no application or other hardship certification is made by Jan. 1, the company may resume normal collection.</p><h2>Extra Protections for Infants, Illness and Older Adults</h2><p>The winter moratorium sits alongside other protections listed in the state’s <a href="https://www.mass.gov/doc/shut-off-protection-flyer/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">shutoff protection flyer</a>. For households with a financial hardship, the flyer says service cannot be shut off if anyone in the home is seriously ill or if a child under 12 months lives there. It also lists protection when all adults in the home are 65 or older.</p><p>Under the regulation, infant protection stays in effect without renewal until the child turns 12 months old, once a birth certificate or other qualifying document is filed within seven days. Serious illness protection needs a call from a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or local board of health official, followed by a certificate. Those certificates are renewed every three months, or every six months for a chronic illness.</p><p>The flyer also points to the department’s Consumer Division for complaints, at (617) 737-2836 or toll-free at (877) 886-5066.</p><h2>How Massachusetts Compares</h2><p>Neighboring states are adding heating help of their own this winter. New Hampshire households can get <a href="https://thetonicedit.com/new-hampshire-fuel-assistance-2500/" rel="nofollow">fuel assistance of up to $2,500</a>, and Maine is paying <a href="https://thetonicedit.com/maine-ecip-emergency-heating-aid/" rel="nofollow">up to $500 in emergency heating aid</a> to HEAP-eligible households. In Massachusetts, the four-month shutoff protection is set in state law, so it returns every winter on the same dates, Nov. 15 through March 15.</p><p>For a household that is behind and under the income line, the practical step is simple: call the utility before Nov. 15, say the words “financial hardship,” and return the form within seven days.</p><p class="yeez-signup"><strong>Get stories like this by email.</strong><a href="https://parent-diaries.kit.com/7f0b14f9f0" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Sign up for The Parent Diaries Letter</a>.</p><p><em>This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.</em></p><p class="yeez-image-credit">Image: MarkBuckawicki – CC0/Wikimedia Commons</p></div></body>

From Nov. 15 through March 15, Massachusetts gas and electric companies can't shut off heat for households that can't pay because of financial hardship and earn under the HEAP income limit.

Massachusetts Gas and Electric Companies Can't Shut Off Heat From Nov. 15 to March 15 for Households That Can't Pay and Earn Up to $103,049 for a Family of Four