By BJ Austin, KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – The statewide average gasoline price has crept up 6 cents and is at its highest point in more than two years.
The AAA Texas survey released Thursday says the price jumped to $2.91. That's the highest since Oct. 15, 2008, when a gallon of regular unleaded averaged $2.93.
The average in Texas has jumped 25 cents in the past month and is 44 cents higher than this time last year.
The most expensive gas this week is in Texarkana, up 4 cents to $2.93. The least expensive is El Paso at $2.85, a nickel higher than last week.
AAA Texas says the increasing price of crude oil is the biggest reason behind the rising cost at the pump.
Some Dallas Cabbies Boycott New Year's Eve
A taxi could be a little harder to get this New Year's Eve in Dallas.
Members of the Association of Taxicab Operators won't be picking up fares. They're boycotting New Year's Eve as a protest of city policy allowing "compressed natural gas", or CNG cabs, to go the head of the taxi queue at Love Field. The independent taxi operators say that puts them at a competitive disadvantage to the big cab companies that can afford CNG.
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert has called the "front of the line" policy a good incentive to promote cleaner-fuel taxis, and help clean up the air.
The independent cabbies say it could run them out of business.
The Mayor's office says the major cab operators comprise 90% of the taxi drivers in Dallas, and they WILL be picking up fares and getting people home safely from New Year's celebrations.
Son Of Former Dallas Maverick Arrested For Murder
The son of a former Dallas Mavericks player is under arrest for murder.
Dallas Police say 20 year old Nickey Maxwell Van Exel is charged with capital murder in the death of 23 year old Bradley Bassey Eyo. His body was found dumped in a park near Lake Ray Hubbard on Sunday. He had been shot.
Dallas and Garland police investigators say Eyo was actually murdered at a home on George Brown Drive in Garland, and dumped about a mile away at the lake. Van Exel is in jail. His bond is set at one million dollars.
His father, Nick Van Exel played guard for the Dallas Mavericks from 2001 to 2003.
Services For Fallen Arlington Officer
A candlelight vigil for Arlington Police Officer Jillian Smith will be Monday night at Mount Olive Baptist Church on West Sanford Street. A memorial service is Tuesday at 11 at the church.
Officer Smith was shot and killed Tuesday night in a southeast Arlington apartment, where she had gone to take a report about an earlier assault.
Investigators say Smith died while protecting an 11 year old girl from her mother's ex-boyfriend - who returned to the apartment and opened fire. Police say 38 year old Barnes Nettles killed Officer Smith, then his ex-girlfriend Kimberly Carter, then himself.