CASPER, Wyo. — In a switch from two weeks ago, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline rose this past week while Natrona County drivers saw their average decline.
The nation’s average price rose 4.8 cents compared to a week ago, and stands at $3.09 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 12 million individual price reports. The national average is up 2.2 cents from a month ago but is 9.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
The national average price of diesel has decreased 0.2 cents in the last week and stands at $3.624 per gallon.
“While some states have seen gas prices inching up, much of the country continues to see mostly stable prices. States that experience price cycling have seen increases, while many others have only experienced minor fluctuations,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With tariffs on Mexico and Canada currently on pause, trade policy has yet to directly impact fuel prices. However, refinery issues are creating localized disruptions, particularly on the West Coast, where a refinery fire and the transition to summer gasoline are pushing prices higher. Elsewhere, volatility and seasonal trends continue to drive normal fluctuations.
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“For now, the overall direction of gas prices remains typical for this time of year, but we remain on watch for potential policy changes that could impact fuel prices.”
On Monday, AAA reported the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline at $3.13 per gallon, up 4 cents from last week. Wyoming’s average is $2.99, up 1 cent. Natrona County’s average of $2.70, down 3 cents, remains the cheapest in the state, according to AAA.
Albany County has the second cheapest average at $2.73 after falling 2 cents from last week, while Johnson County has the third cheapest at $2.81 per gallon after rising 5 cents.
(AAA graphic)
The cheapest fuel in Natrona County on Monday was $2.56 at Sinclair, 902 E. 2nd St., followed by $2.58 at Sam’s Club, 4600 E. 2nd St., according to GasBuddy reports.
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Also included in GasBuddy’s report:
OIL PRICES Oil markets remained under pressure last week, with WTI crude falling around $3 per barrel to close near $71 amid growing concerns over the global economy following new tariffs imposed by President Trump. Trade tensions escalated as China responded with retaliatory measures, heightening fears of a broader economic slowdown and weighing on oil prices. However, in early Monday trading, crude prices rebounded after Trump announced new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, with WTI rising $1.03 to $72.03 per barrel and Brent gaining $1.02 to $75.68 per barrel.
OIL AND REFINED PRODUCTS Last week’s report from the Energy Information Administration showed a large 8.7 million barrel increase in U.S. oil inventories, while the SPR rose 300,000 barrels and domestic oil production rose 238,000 bpd to 13.478 million. Gasoline inventories rose 2.2 million barrels, with motor gasoline implied demand, EIA’s proxy for retail demand, rising 25,000 bpd to 8.328 million. Distillate inventories fell 5.5 million barrels as cold weather boosted heating oil demand and diesel consumption. Refinery utilization rose 1 percentage point to 84.5%, with gasoline production falling to 9.2 million barrels per day, while distillate production fell to 4.6 million barrels per day.
GAS PRICE TRENDS The most common U.S. gas price encountered by motorists stood at $2.99 per gallon, unchanged from last week, followed by $2.89, $3.09, $3.19, and $2.79 rounding out the top five most common prices.
The median U.S. gas price is $2.99 per gallon, up 5 cents from last week and about 10 cents lower than the national average.
The top 10% of stations in the country average $4.31 per gallon, while the bottom 10% average $2.56 per gallon.
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The states with the lowest average prices: Mississippi ($2.63), Texas ($2.67), Louisiana ($2.70).
The states with the highest average prices: California ($4.54), Hawaii ($4.51), and Washington ($3.96).
DIESEL PRICE TRENDS The most common U.S. diesel price stood at $3.59 per gallon, down 10 cents from last week, followed by $3.49, $3.39, $3.29, and $3.69, rounding out the top five most common prices.
The median U.S. diesel price is $3.51 per gallon, up 1 cent from last week and about 11 cents lower than the national average.
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Diesel prices at the top 10% of stations in the country average $4.50 per gallon, while the bottom 10% average $3.09 per gallon.
The states with the lowest average diesel prices: Oklahoma ($3.20), Texas ($3.25), and Mississippi ($3.28).
The states with the highest average diesel prices: Hawaii ($5.32), California ($4.95), and Washington ($4.35).
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two men were detained in Wyoming in connection with a fatal shooting at a downtown Salt Lake hotel that killed one man.
Carlos Chee, 23, and Chino Aguilar, 21, were both wanted for first-degree felony murder after the victim, identified as Christian Lee, 32, was found dead in a room at the Springhill Suites near 600 South and 300 West.
According to warrants issued for their arrest, Chee and Aguilar met with Lee and another woman at the hotel to sell marijuana. During the alleged drug deal, Aguilar allegedly shot and killed Lee after he tried to grab at his gun.
MORE | Shootings
Investigators said they found Lee dead in the room upon arrival, as well as a single shell casing on the floor and a small amount of marijuana on the television stand.
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The woman told investigators she had met Chee on a dating app and that he agreed to come to the hotel to sell her marijuana. She had been hanging out with him in the room, which Lee rented for her to use, when Lee asked them to leave. Lee was then shot and killed following a brief confrontation.
Chee and Aguilar allegedly fled the scene in a 2013 Toyota Camry with a Texas license plate that was later found outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming just a few hours later.
The two men were taken into custody and detained at the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyoming (KUTV) — A man was hospitalized with critical injuries after he was reportedly shot by a deputy responding to reports of a disturbance.
Deputies with the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Rock Springs Police Department responded to the Sweetwater Heights apartment complex in the 2100 block of Century Boulevard just after 4 a.m. on Monday to investigate reports of a disturbance involving an armed individual.
Information that dispatch received indicated that the individual had shot himself. When officials arrived, they found the individual on the balcony of an upstairs apartment “who appeared to have a gunshot wound consistent with the initial report,” a press release states.
MORE | Officer-Involved Shooting
During the encounter, a deputy discharged their weapon and struck the individual.
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Emergency medical personnel rendered aid, and the individual was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
No law enforcement officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation will conduct an independent investigation.
The deputy who fired their weapon was placed on administrative leave per standard protocol.
