The Daily Rundown - May 5, 2026
Gas prices in the U.S. have risen more than 30 cents a gallon in the past week and are expected to continue climbing as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid the war in Iran. The average cost for regular gas as of Sunday is $4.446, up from $4.099 a week earlier, according to AAA. Before the war began on Feb. 28, gas averaged $2.98. Prices are now the highest they've been since late July 2022. President Trump has promised prices will "drop like a rock" when the war ends, but experts say relief may not come quickly. Kevin Book, co-founder of ClearView Energy Partners, said prices could keep rising for weeks or months depending on how long the strait stays closed. He added that even after reopening, it could take months to clear trapped ships, repair damaged facilities and replenish inventories. Between March 20 and April 24, the Department of Energy released 17.5 million barrels of crude oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help curb prices. Seven OPEC+ countries also announced Sunday they would increase production by 188,000 barrels per day starting in June. Higher pump prices are compounding the impact of a weakened U.S. dollar, which has depreciated about 10% since early January 2025, according to an analysis by Morgan Stanley. A weaker dollar could raise costs for Americans traveling abroad and increase prices on imported goods. Read the full story from NPR.
With wildfires already burning and drought persisting across much of the country, fire experts are bracing for what could be an extreme fire season. The U.S. Forest Service significantly reduced its vegetation management work in 2025, treating nearly 1.5 million fewer acres than in 2024, according to an analysis by NPR and firefighting experts. Prescribed burns — the low-grade fires intentionally set to clear dense underbrush — saw the steepest decline, falling to roughly 900,000 acres, about half of what was burned in both 2024 and 2023. The agency lost 16% of its workforce as of last summer, with 5,860 personnel leaving in the first six months of 2025 as part of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the size of government. Senate Democrats raised concerns that such cuts have hampered the agency's ability to prepare for wildfires. The Forest Service said the decline was mostly due to staff being occupied with firefighting and unfavorable conditions for prescribed burns in the Southeast. Matthew Hurteau, a forest ecologist at the University of New Mexico, experienced the consequences firsthand. Last August, the Garnet Fire burned through the Teakettle Experimental Forest in California's Sierra Nevada, destroying old-growth trees that Hurteau and colleagues had been working to protect with a planned prescribed burn since 2020. Bobbie Scopa, vice president of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, said cuts to support staff have also hampered prevention work. Experts warn the reduction in prescribed burns could set the stage for even more destructive fire seasons ahead.
A new report from the American Lung Association finds about half of U.S. children live in areas with unhealthy air quality, and several Mountain West cities rank among the most polluted in the country. The group's annual State of the Air report tracks ozone pollution, commonly known as smog, and fine particle pollution from sources like wildfire smoke, vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions. Phoenix ranks fourth nationally for ozone pollution, Denver eighth, Las Vegas 11th and Salt Lake City 13th. Fort Collins (18th), Albuquerque (19th) and Boise (24th) also appear on the list. Melissa Ramos, senior manager for clean air advocacy with the American Lung Association, said extreme heat is driving pollution across the region. Geography compounds the problem, as many cities sit in valleys or basins where polluted air becomes trapped. Wildfire smoke adds another layer as fires burn longer and more intensely in a hotter, drier climate. In northern Nevada, the Reno area showed improvement this year, dropping out of the top 25 for fine particle pollution. However, Ramos cautioned the gains could be short-lived without further action. Nationwide, more than four in 10 people live in areas with at least one failing air quality grade.
U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, both Nevada Democrats, are asking the U.S. International Trade Commission to not impose large tariffs on quartz imports. In a letter to the commission, they write that both domestic and imported quartz is used in household items like countertops. According to the senators, the price of a quartz countertop could rise by up to one thousand dollars per kitchen. They also say the domestic quartz fabricator industry includes more than 10,000 mostly small American businesses, which employ about 100,000 workers. More than 1,000 of them submitted declarations to the ITC saying trade restrictions risk hurting, rather than protecting, the profitability and employment of the industry.
It could cost more to take a ride on public transportation soon. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, or RTC, is proposing changes to its transit fares. The RTC says it is considering fare increases and pass eliminations for both paratransit and transit riders. The agency cites rising operating costs and increased demand as reasons for the proposal. Through June 23, the public can provide input and feedback on the proposal via a survey on the RTC website. Once the comment period closes, the RTC Board will consider adjustments in late summer.
Country star Dolly Parton is canceling her September run of Las Vegas dates at the Colosseum. The 80-year-old singer-songwriter announced the cancellation on her Instagram and Facebook accounts yesterday. She says she's feeling well and still working but is still dealing with health issues, and the medication she's on could compromise her ability to perform. Parton was originally scheduled to perform the six shows last December but moved those dates to September due to health struggles. Tickets are automatically being refunded to buyers soon, according to Ticketmaster.
The city of Henderson says construction on the 215 widening project is progressing. Crews will begin work on the Green Valley Parkway interchange by mid-to-late summer. The project will widen the freeway by two lanes in each direction between Pecos Road and Stephanie Street. Once complete, the updates will convert the 215 from three lanes and an auxiliary lane to five lanes and an auxiliary lane in each direction. Another major enhancement will be crews' conversion of the Green Valley Parkway bridge over I-215 into a diverging diamond interchange. Officials told the Las Vegas Review-Journal the improvements will create safer environments for both motorists and pedestrians. Crews will also construct a pedestrian bridge over Green Valley Parkway at Village Walk Drive, connecting the two sides of the District's outdoor shopping center. Work on retaining walls along the interstate will affect the 215 Trail for another six months. Officials expect the project to wrap up in mid-2028.
Ivan Barbashev scored off a pass from Pavel Dorofeyev with 4:58 remaining to put the Golden Knights ahead for good as Vegas defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 on Monday night in the opener of their second-round series. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Las Vegas. Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said icing should have been called before Barbashev's goal. Brett Howden scored his fifth goal in four games, while Mitch Marner assisted on Howden's goal and added a 162-foot empty-net goal. Carter Hart made 33 saves for Vegas. Mikael Granlund scored for Anaheim, and Lukas Dostal recorded 19 saves. Read more from The Associated Press.
