The economic disruptions that have followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led to record-high gasoline prices. As of Tuesday morning, the cost of regular gas in the U.S. is $4.17, according to AAA, up from $4.06 on Monday. Last week, the average cost was $3.60.
The previous national average high was $4.11, set on July 17, 2008. However, as NPR pointed out, accounting for inflation, that 2008 price would be about $5.37 in today's dollars.
The U.S. and its allies have imposed severe financial sanctions on Russia, but have avoided directly targeting Russian energy shipments. Western allies have been moving toward a ban on Russian oil imports and there has been pressure on President Joe Biden to join them, but he has resisted, knowing that doing so would push gasoline prices even higher.
Biden has sent diplomats to scour the globe, seeking replacements for Russian oil. The administration has approached Venezuela and is seeking to mend fences with Saudi Arabia in order to gain more imports. By brokering a deal with Iran on its nuclear policy, Biden also is hoping to return that country’s oil supply to the world market.
Meanwhile, Shell Oil today apologized for purchasing a cargo of Russian oil at a greatly reduced price, and said that it would make no further purchases from that country.
As this is written, word comes that Biden is now planning to impose a ban on Russian oil. He is scheduled to make the announcement at 10:45 a.m.
Snowmobile Crashes
A snowmobile crash on Corridor 18 in Errol led to a head injury for Frederick Crory, 62, of Center Sandwich. The Fish and Game Department reports that Crory was ejected from his snowmobile while traveling with friends, and has no memory of what happened.
Members of his riding group noticed he was not behind them and turned around to find the snowmobile undamaged and upright and on the trail. There was nothing to indicate what caused Crory to fall from his snowmobile.
Crory was taken to the Errol Motel where he was met by the Errol Ambulance, assessed, and transported to Upper-Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook.
A second crash occurred on Trail 142 (Indian Stream Road) in Pittsburg when Michael Pinelli, 73, of Smithfield, Rhode Island, was attempting to turn. He went off the side of the trail into a tree and his wife, who was on the back of the snowmobile, was thrown from the snowmobile, sustaining unknown injuries.
Pinelli was taken to UCVH, then placed on the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Air Rescue Team helicopter and flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Lebanon.
Fish and Game says the snowmobile was purchased that day and had been operated for about an hour when the crash occurred.
Reader Comments
On State of the Union Speech
I found it very difficult to watch Mr. Biden give that speech. Where is our country going? The Biden/Harris administration so far has created so much destruction because of their policies. Do they live in the same world that the average American lives in?
Barbara Greenwood
On Town Meeting
Thank you! I don’t know how many times I have read the warrant articles at home and thought I felt one way, only to get to town meeting to listen to the debate and vote differently. Great reading this morning!
Susan Duncan
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