Gas prices have surpassed the $4 mark across North Carolina due to
global oil supply disruptions tied to the war in Iran, and local
rideshare drivers struggling to make up for the increased costs are
changing how they operate.

Joel Bender, an Uber driver from
Buncombe County, said he has been turning down more trips than he
accepts to offset heightened fuel costs.

“Right now, I’m at a 10% acceptance rate, and I’m at about a 20% cancel rate,” Bender said.

AAA
reports prices across the state are averaging out around $4.17 for a
gallon of regular as of May 13, 2026. Meanwhile, the national average is
spilling above $4.50 — about $1.50 more since the war started.

>>Economist says higher gas prices likely to continue into summer travel despite U.S. oil production

Bender
said he is questioning whether or not he is getting back how much he
spends to pump gas into his tank. Bender, a nearly decade-long rideshare
driver, said he is not alone in this.

“There’s still some drivers who just say, ‘Listen, I’m going to make sure that I’m not screwed on this ride,’” Bender said.

Bender created a Facebook group with almost 700 members — a place where rideshare drivers can connect and support one another.

He
said drivers part of this group have opened up to him about how they
are dealing with these rising costs. Bender said the gas hike is
especially burdensome on people whose primary income comes from
rideshare driving.

“There are a number of drivers who do this to put food on the table and to make their monthly obligations,” Bender said.

He
said more drivers — even ones who’ve been driving for years — are
choosing to steer clear from the business altogether, no longer helping
some pay their bills.

AAA said gas prices are averaging out to be
the highest they have been since 2022 with other states, like
California, exceeding $6 for a gallon.

While Uber said it is
expanding its fuel discount program for drivers and couriers through May
26, Bender said this is still not enough to help him make up for
losses.

NORMAN — Oklahoma didn’t shy away from the disappointment of losing to Georgia in the opening game of the SEC Tournament.

The Sooners have been open about using that as motivation in the Norman Regional.

The essons continue to be apparent, as third-seeded Oklahoma beat Kansas 9-0 in five innings Saturday at Love’s Field.

The Sooners have won their two games so far in the regional by a combined 20-0 while needed the minimum of eight at-bats.

“Georgia, did not feel good about that loss,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “But it really inspired us to be better and change.

“So coming back to Norman, really, really working hard on the field. Really holding players kind of accountable, saying, ‘Do it again, do it again.’ They’re holding each other accountable, saying, ‘Do it again.’ And the goal here is to start peaking, and I believe this is the best run show that I’ve seen from this team thus far. So I think we are going in that direction.”

The Sooners will look to continue their run when they take on Binghamton, Kansas or Michigan at 2 p.m. Sunday at Love’s Field. Oklahoma needs to win one game in potentially two chances to advance to the Super Regionals.

Against Georgia, Oklahoma scored four first-inning runs and made it 5-0 on Kai Minor‘s homer to lead off the second.

But the rest of the way, the Sooners managed just two hits.

While Gasso was plenty happy with the three second-inning runs Saturday that came on home runs by Kasidi Pickering and Isabela Emerling, she was happier about the way the six-run fourth unfolded.

“I love home runs. Everybody loves home runs, but I love watching our team run the bases,” Gasso said. “It’s fun to put them in motion sometimes. It was good heads-up base running. We were that all day long. We can do it all kinds of ways, as long as we swing hard.”

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The Sooners produced the runs without the benefit of a homer, getting two doubles two singles, and four walks to help push the runs across and move the game into run-rule territory.

“I think taking that loss and kind of using it as, not like dwelling on it, but just learning how to just take it and what we could do better,” Miali Guachino said when asked about the biggest change spurred by the SEC Tournament loss. “I think we’re just kind of using it as fuel, and kind of just getting gritty, I think that’s the best word. Like, at practice and everything. I think we’re just starting to get gritty now.” 

Oklahoma doesn’t figure to forget the loss to the Bulldogs anytime soon.

“Just being tougher, being more competitive, and not being denied again,” Emerling said. “Because we don’t want to feel like that again.”

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer said earlier this offseason that the Gamecocks would keep their transfer portal options open this spring. That has proven to be true.

Last month, USC added transfer portal kicker Malik Orsan to supplement the special teams position battles and add multi-year depth.

On Saturday, another portaler with multiple years of eligibility remaining landed with the Gamecocks.

Following a visit to Columbia that began on Thursday, former Stetson offensive lineman Vincent Chen committed to South Carolina. He will join the team this summer.

Chen’s decision to transfer to Carolina will make him the team’s 13th new offensive lineman of the offseason. To go with three high school signees and a junior college addition, Chen will be the ninth transfer portal blocker to join new offensive line coach Randy Clements’ room.

The Insiders Forum: Discuss South Carolina football!

Making his ascent to the SEC more impressive, Chen is still relatively new to football. He never played the sport until his upperclassman years at DeLand High School in Florida. Previously a basketball player, track athlete, and weightlifter, he adapted to the gridiron quickly.

As a player, Chen is a 6-8, 328-pound tackle. He saw action in 18 games across two seasons at Stetson, first winning a starting job as a true freshman in 2024. Chen was the Hatters’ primary starting left tackle in 2025.

On film, Chen shows off a strong base and heavy hands that allow him to stone pass rushers. He also has the size to make an impact as a run blocker.

Because he has played just two years, Chen has multiple seasons of college eligibility left. He adds real depth to a position room that will graduate at least seven offensive linemen after the 2026 season.