Just as a point of interest, during my trek the last couple days to Yreka and back gas was $4.68 a gallon in that northerly California city. Thankfully I was able to wait and gas up again at Seven Feathers at $4.28 (gosh, what a savings) and the lowest price I saw was in Winston at $4.27.
Meanwhile, the latest spin is that gas prices are a result of the new democratic majority in Congress AND environmentalists.