By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
Texas retail gasoline prices eased this week for the third week in a row. The weekly AAA Texas survey shows unleaded regular is averaging $2.51 per gallon at Texas pumps, a nickel less than last week and back to Jan. 1 price levels.
Nationally, the price is averaging $2.66 per gallon, down 3 cents from last week.
The state's lowest average price is in Fort Worth at $2.45, down 7 cents from last week. The highest price is in El Paso at $2.61, down a penny from last week.
An AAA Texas statement credits the price drop to a crude oil price that's dropped 6 cents from the start of the year to $75 per barrel on the New York Mercantile exchange. That's down about $2.50 from last week.
String of Texas church arsons worry congregations
Eight Texas churches barely 150 miles apart have caught fire since New Year's Day, putting pastors and congregations on edge and on guard wondering whether theirs is next.
Authorities have determined seven of those fires were intentionally set, and they are investigating one that broke out Thursday as a possible arson. There have been no reported injuries or arrests.
Six of the seven arsons were just nine days apart in January. That sent many congregations in east Texas scurrying to install security systems and prompted volunteers to keep close eyes on church properties.
Federal and local authorities have released scant details about the fires and say they need more information.
Swimming pool, jail among Texas' endangered places
The most most endangered historic places in Texas range from a county jail to a drive-in theater.
The list of seven was released Thursday at an Austin news conference by Preservation Texas Inc., a nonprofit group that raises money and awareness for saving historic places.
They include: Austin Women's Club in Austin; Brazos Drive-In Theatre in Granbury; Herff Farm in Boerne; downtown Austin's historic assets; Old Llano County Jail, known as "Red Top," in Llano; San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte; and the Swenson Swimming Pool and Bathhouse in Spur.
Preservation Texas has been releasing a list of endangered historic places since 2004.