The Nation

LOWELL, Ind. — Officers with the Indiana State Police (ISP) had a chance to observe traffic from the cab of a big rig during a Trooper in a Truck enforcement patrol July 14. Working through ISP’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division, troopers from the Lowell, Toll Road, Indianapolis and Sellersburg posts partnered with the Indiana Motor Truck Association during the initiative, while ISP’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division teamed up with the ISP Aviation Section and district troopers to focus on the enforcement of unsafe and aggressive driving behaviors around commercial vehicles. The Trooper in a Truck initiative places a trooper in a commercial motor vehicle operated by a trained, qualified CDL driver. During the ride, the trooper watches for violations. While no dangerous traffic violations will be ignored during such ride-alongs, the July 14 event primarily allowed officers to watch for violations of Indiana’s “hand free” law. According to ISP, even though the law, which prohibits the use of handheld communication devices in all but emergency situations, has been in effect for over a year, distracted driving continues to be major problem on the state’s roadways. “The Indiana Motor Truck Association and its member carriers are partnering with ISP in this endeavor by providing the trucks and drivers,” said Maj. Jon Smithers, commander of ISP’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division. “The IMTA and CVED have long had a strong and mutually supportive relationship, as improving highway safety is a shared goal. The IMTA and its members have long been leading advocates for the implementation and enforcement of a strong and effective hands-free law and are passionate about educating our citizens about the dangers of distracted driving.” Crashes involving large trucks are often high profile and may result in tragic consequences, according to a statement from ISP. While the statistics vary some, studies show that in crashes involving large trucks, it is more often the case in which it is the fault of the other vehicle. A large, heavy truck is far less maneuverable and takes substantially more distance to stop than a smaller vehicle. Unsafe, aggressive driving behaviors near a truck may lead to disastrous results.

WASHINGTON — The bipartisan infrastructure deal senators brokered with President Joe Biden is hanging precariously ahead of a crucial Wednesday test vote as senators struggle over how to pay for nearly $1 trillion in public works spending. Tensions were rising Tuesday, July 20, as Republicans prepared to block the vote, mounting a filibuster over what they see as a rushed and misguided process. With Biden preparing to hit the road to rally support for his big infrastructure ideas — including some $3.5 trillion in a follow up bill — restless Democrats say it’s time to at least start debate on this first phase of his proposals. “It is not a ‘fish or cut bait’ moment,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), describing the procedural vote as just a first step to “get the ball rolling,” though Republicans say he is now downplaying the significance. Six months after Biden took office, his signature “Build Back Better” campaign promise is at a key moment that will test the presidency and his hopes for a new era of bipartisan cooperation in Washington. White House aides and the bipartisan group of senators have huddled privately since Sunday trying to wrap up the deal, which would be a first phase of an eventual $4 trillion-plus package of domestic outlays — not just for roads and bridges, but foundations of everyday life including child care, family tax breaks, education and an expansion of Medicare for seniors. Biden calls it a “blue-collar blueprint for building an American economy back.” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and some outside groups decry what they call Biden’s “spending spree.” A core group of Republicans are interested in pursuing a more modest package of traditional highway and public works projects, about $600 billion in new funds, they have been trying to negotiate with the White House. Biden has been in touch with both Democrats and Republicans for several days, and his outreach will continue “until he has both pieces of legislation on his desk to sign them into law,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday. While Biden proposes paying for his proposals with a tax hike on corporations and wealthy Americans who earn more than $400,000 a year, the bipartisan group has been working almost around the clock to figure out a compromise way to pay for its package, having dashed ideas for boosting the gas tax drivers pay at the pump or strengthening the Internal Revenue Service to go after tax scofflaws. Instead, senators in the bipartisan group are considering rolling back a Trump-era rule on pharmaceutical rebates that could bring in some $170 billion to be used for infrastructure. Ten Republicans would be needed in the evenly split Senate to join all 50 Democrats in reaching the 60-vote threshold required to advance the bill past a filibuster to formal consideration. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and outside groups including the conservative Americans for Prosperity encouraged Republicans to vote against proceeding to the bipartisan package until they have more details. “We still have a lot of work to do,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the members of the bipartisan group. “We’re making progress, but we need more time.” Many Republicans are wary of moving ahead with the slimmer package, fearing it will pave the way for the broader $3.5 trillion effort Democrats are preparing to pass on their own, under special budget rules that only require 51 votes. Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie. McConnell said big spending is “the last thing American families need.” “I think we need to see the bill before we decide whether or not to vote for it,” McConnell told reporters late Monday at the Capitol. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been working to keep restless Democrats in her chamber in line, as rank-and-file lawmakers grow impatient with the sluggish Senate pace. Liberal Democrats, in particular, are eager to make gains on Biden’s priorities — with or without Republicans. “Time’s a wasting, I want to get this work done,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told reporters Tuesday. Jayapal warned against giving Republicans too much time to negotiate the deal away. “We have all the history in the world to show that this is what Republicans do time and time and time again,” she said. Democrat John Yarmuth of Kentucky, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said if the bipartisan effort fails, Democrats will simply include some the infrastructure spending in the broader package they are compiling with Biden’s other priorities. Democrats hope to show progress on that bill before lawmakers leave Washington for their recess in August. The legislative maneuvering marks a major test of Biden’s ability to deliver on a massive package of economic promises and reforms he made during his campaign. Biden is making the case that America needs to make up for lost time with fresh federal outlays to shore up its aging infrastructure and households struggling to recoup from a shifting economy and the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy has come back to life as more Americans have gotten vaccinated and Biden’s earlier $1.9 trillion relief package has coursed through the country. Employers have added an average of nearly 543,000 jobs a month since January, with Federal Reserve officials anticipating overall economic growth of roughly 7% this year that would be the highest since 1984. Yet there is also uncertainty as employers say they’re struggling to find workers at the current pay levels and inflation concerns have yet to abate. By Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking. Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Josh Boak contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — Two truck drivers have been labeled as imminent hazards to public safety by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and have been barred from operating any commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. Robert Webb was served a federal order on July 2 and Kalilu Koneh on July 6. On June 28, 2021, Webb was stopped in New Castle, Delaware, by state police for a load securement violation. During the stop, troopers detected the smell of alcohol coming from Webb. Webb was transported to a Delaware State Police facility, where he was administered a series of sobriety tests as well as a breathalyzer test, which showed a blood alcohol Level (BAC) of .254, six times higher than the legal limit for commercial motor vehicle operators. Upon a search of Webb’s vehicles, troopers discovered an open 12-pack of beer in the sleeper, with only two beers remaining and an opened beer outside the box. The June 28 incident was Webb’s second driving-under-the influence offense. On March 10, 2014, Webb was convicted for operating a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol with a BAC at or over .04. Webb may not operate a commercial motor vehicle in the United States until such time he successfully completes the statutorily required return-to-duty process overseen by a Substance Abuse Professional. On June 16, 2021, Koneh, a commercial driver, was notified that he tested positive for marijuana metabolite and was disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle. However, Koneh continued to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce while disqualified in in violation of these rules. Records from the Texas Department of Public Safety show Koneh had not held a driver’s license for the past three years; he is currently ineligible to obtain any type of driver’s license. Despite this, Koneh operated a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce in, at least, January, February and June of 2021. Additionally, Koneh falsely indicated on his commercial driver application that he possessed a valid driver’s license. In addition, in January, February and March of 2021, Koneh falsified records of duty status. He operated a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce beyond the 11-hour driving limit and more than 14 hours after coming on duty in violation of FMCSA laws. FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Webb’s and Koneh’s “operation of any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death if not discontinued immediately.” Failure to comply with the provisions of the federal imminent hazard order may result in civil penalties of up to $1,928. Each day operating in violation of this order will constitute a separate violation and may result in a separate penalty. Willful violations may result in criminal penalties. Koneh may not operate a commercial motor vehicle in the United States until such time he fully complies with the remedial actions outlined by FMSCA.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers at 10 new Speedco and Love’s Truck Care locations. Each location is open 24/7 and offer tire, lube and light mechanical services, as well as U.S. Department of Transportation inspections, for professional drivers and fleets. “We’ll continue to open new Speedco and Love’s Truck Care locations where professional drivers need them most so they can get back on the road quickly and safely,” said Gary Price, executive vice president of Love’s Truck Care. “We know we’re in one of the busiest driving seasons of the year, and our team members are prepared to deliver strong and fast customer service at locations across the country.” The newest Speedco locations include: Diamond, Ohio: 4352 State Route 225; Etna, Ohio: 9901 Schuster Way; Green River, Wyoming: 8901 State Highway 374; Hillsboro, Tennessee: 1165 Aedc Road; Irvington, Alabama: 8400 County Farm Road; Kansas City, Missouri: 3201 N. Ameristar Drive; Omaha, Nebraska: 14375 Cornhusker Road; Sandersville, Mississippi: 182 Claiborne Road; and Winnemucca, Nevada: 3550 W. Winnemucca Blvd. The newest Love’s Truck Care location in Bath, New York, at 7748 State Route 53. Love’s Truck Care and Speedco offers locations throughout the U.S. and has a total of more than 1,500 maintenance bays to serve customers.

SOPERTON, Ga. — Crews have demolished a damaged overpass above a Georgia interstate and are hauling away the debris with the aim of reopening the road soon, authorities said Friday, July 16. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) said crews worked through the night to break up the overpass and will remove its remains Friday. Authorities said they hope to reopen Interstate 16, which connects much of Georgia to its coastline and the Port of Savannah, by next week after a crash knocked the overpass bridge from its support beams. Officials decided the fastest and safest way to reopen I-16 is to destroy the badly damaged overpass and replace it. A short stretch of the interstate was closed in both directions after a tractor-trailer hit the overpass Thursday. Detours have been set up on nearby roads. “Apparently, the tractor-trailer has a dump bed similar to a dump truck,” said Russell McMurry, GDOT commissioner. “It appears that it was raised, which then struck the bridge.” The plan is to open one of the westbound lanes — Savannah to Macon — by Sunday and one of the eastbound lanes by Monday, McMurry said. By late next week, officials hope to have all lanes in both directions reopened. Interstate 16 is the main route used by many people from metro Atlanta who travel south to Macon and then take it toward Savannah and Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. The bridge is about 150 miles southeast of Atlanta.

SOPERTON, Ga. — Interstate 16 has been shut down in both directions between Exit 71 and Exit 78 in Treutlen County after a large truck struck an overpass July 15. About 21,000 vehicles travel the stretch of highway between Macon and Savannah each day, including commercial trucks going to and from the Port of Savannah. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), between 1 and 1:30 a.m. Thursday, a truck hauling a large dump trailer filled with large tires hit the bridge that carries State Route 86 across I-16, shifting the structure nearly 6 feet. GDOT engineers and contractors are on site evaluating the damage. A Twitter post by GDOT East Traffic noted that the truck was traveling with its trailer lifted in a nearly vertical position. It was not clear why the trailer was raised. According to a spokesman for GDOT, the State Route 86 bridge will need to be demolished before I-16 can be reopened to single lanes of traffic in both directions. Demolition is expected to continue for at least a week. Detours are in place; however, motorists are encouraged to find an alternate route if possible because of anticipated traffic volumes along the detours. Alternates for truckers include Georgia State Route 297 and U.S. 1. Drivers who are unable to avoid the area should follow these routes: Eastbound: Take Exit 71 from I-16. Turn right onto State Route 15. Go through the town of Soperton and turn left onto State Route 46; then turn left onto State Route 56. Re-enter I-16 at Exit 78. Westbound: Take Exit 78 from I-16. Turn right onto U.S. 221 North and then turn left onto U.S. 80 West. Go through the town of Adrian and turn left onto State Route 15. Re-enter I-16 at Exit 71. Visit http://511ga.org for updates to the detour routes. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said Thursday there is no estimated time for the reopening of I-16. Demolition of the bridge is expected to begin Thursday or Friday. McMurry said GDOT will first work to restore westbound traffic along I-16 to help the movement of freight from the Port of Savannah. “Our goal is to, obviously, have this bridge removed so I-16 traffic can be restored as quickly as possible,” McMurry told the state transportation board Thursday.

SANTA TERESA, N.M. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in late June announced the expansion of the Santa Teresa Land Port of Entry (LPOE) to streamline the processing of oversized cargo. The small-scale infrastructure improvement is implemented through a partnership between CBP, the General Services Administration (GSA) and TPI Composites Inc. The agreement was formed in December 2020 under CBP’s Donations Acceptance Program. This agreement marks the first time a private entity has partnered with CBP and GSA under the Donations Acceptance Program authority. The project consists of expanding the concrete pavement, installing a new gate and chain link fence, and relocating a light pole to increase the turn radius through the LPOE. “The expansion of the infrastructure at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry is critically important to ensuring the facilitation of lawful trade and travel,” said Fernando Thome, Santa Teresa Port Director. “These improvements will greatly improve our ability to process oversized cargo in a safe, efficient, and expeditious manner, in effect, positively impacting our country’s economic security.” Delaware-based TPI Composites ships oversized wind turbine blades produced in Juarez, Mexico, through the Santa Teresa LPOE; the company’s largest shipments measure about 78 yards long. As the size of wind turbine blades has increased over the years, some shipments have been delayed at the port. Expanding the entrance of the port will facilitate the movement of oversized shipments and improve the flow of traffic. “This project not only benefits the commercial interests on both sides of the border, but it also reflects a high level of collaboration and cooperation between the USA and Mexico, and between the public and private sectors,” said Charlie Hart, GSA’s Southern border executive. “It truly requires a team effort to enable such a project to reach this stage.” Although considered a small-scale project, the infrastructure improvements will provide benefits to all traffic and shipments processed through the port. Under the Donations Acceptance Program, small-scale projects are identified by a minimal size, scope, complexity and cost of $5 million or less. These projects are approved, designed and constructed in a shorter time frame than larger-scale projects. “Successful completion of this project at our port of entry positions TPI Composites Inc. as a wind blade manufacturer that can effectively accomplish big projects and deliver longer wind blades,” said Paulo Silva, senior vice president for TPI Composites. “By working together and coordinating efforts with our CBP authorities we have completed a high impact project for our company that will facilitate trade and attract more business.” CBP and GSA are authorized to accept donations of real property, personal property, including monetary donations, and non-personal services from private sector and government entities. Accepted donations may be used for port of entry construction, alterations, operations, and maintenance activities.

MIAMI — Demonstrators expressing solidarity with the thousands of Cubans who waged a rare weekend of protests around their island nation shut down a stretch of a major South Florida expressway Tuesday, July 13. The large group gathered at a busy Miami intersection chanting support for the Cubans, who had taken to the streets in the communist nation Sunday to air grievances about poor economic conditions and other complaints. A few miles away, hundreds of supporters gathered for hours Tuesday evening at a park. The peaceful crowd waved flags and cheered on the efforts of island protesters. Flavia Pérez, 16, was brought to the U.S. at age 1. She joined the rally at Tamiami Park, saying, “I’m here to support young Cubans on the island so they have the same opportunities as I have in the U.S.” South Florida is home to the largest U.S. population of Cuban Americans. News helicopter footage from broadcaster WTVJ showed demonstrators earlier Tuesday marching to Miami’s Palmetto Expressway, where many blocked traffic in the afternoon. Elsewhere, Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis held a round table with elected officials, including members of Congress. The gathering at Miami’s American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora was closed to reporters, but the governor later asserted that protests in Cuba were more than just about shortages of vaccines, food and other basic items. “They are revolting against a corrupt communist dictatorship that has ruled that island with an iron fist for over 60 years, that is responsible for death and destruction, not just on the island of Cuba but really throughout the Western Hemisphere,” DeSantis said at a news conference. He said the demonstrators desire “a free society.” Nationwide protests last year under the Black Lives Matter movement drew attention to racial injustice in the U.S. after the killings of Black people by police. Earlier this year, DeSantis signed into Florida law a measure that enhances penalties against protestors who turn violent and allows criminal penalties against those who organize protests that turn violent. DeSantis dismissed similarities between Black Lives Matter and Tuesday’s demonstrators. “These are people that are rebelling against a communist dictatorship,” the governor said. He said the demonstrations in Miami were “fundamentally different than what we saw last summer.” DeSantis, who is said to be considering a run for the White House in 2024, declined a direct response when asked how Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration should handle Cuba policy. But he said federal officials shouldn’t be satisfied with small Cuban government accommodations designed to quell demonstrations. Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar, the daughter of Cuban exiles, said the community needs to speak with one voice urging the Biden administration to stand tough against the Cuban government. “We cannot negotiate with the regime at this hour,” Salazar said. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami has been monitoring for any “unsafe and illegal” crossings between Florida and Cuba in response to rare street protests on the island. Rear Adm. Eric C. Jones issued a warning statement Monday night as groups of Cuban immigrants said they planned to travel in boats filled with supplies to Cuba to show support for the Cuban protesters. In Miami, Cuban social media personalities posted Monday that they would make the 10-hour boat ride to Cuba to show support after rare street protests broke out over the weekend, the Miami Herald reported. The influencers said they would bring aid — and guns — and urged people in Miami to offer up their boats. One group gathered Monday night at a marina and people brought cases of bottled water, flashlights and boxes of canned pasta, the newspaper reported. “Water, food, medicine, whatever we can take to Cuba. Whatever we can take to help is good,” organizer Dennis Suayero told WSVN. The group didn’t get very far Monday night. A message posted on organizer Santiago Rivera’s Instagram account early Tuesday said the Coast Guard stopped his group from traveling. Over the weekend, thousands of Cuban Americans gathered in Miami’s Little Havana in support of Cuban street marches against high prices and food shortages on the island. Such unsanctioned protests are extremely rare, and Cuban police were out in force Monday to control them. The last such demonstrations in Havana took place in 1994. President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused Cuban Americans of using social media to egg them on. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a Cuban American, tweeted that he has never “felt such raw emotion from the people of Miami desperate for intervention by the government and by themselves on behalf of Cuba.” Miami wasn’t the only Florida city where demonstrators gathered. For a second day, Cuban-Americans in Tampa gathered Tuesday at an intersection, blocking traffic and waving Cuban flags. Like the group in South Florida, Tampa demonstrators attempted to gain access to Interstate 275, but police held them back. Television images showed dozens of protesters in a city that traces its Cuban heritage back generations. Orlando also had hundreds of protestors blocking a busy street for about an hour Tuesday evening. By Bobby Caina Calvan and Marta Lavandier, The Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) in June approved fiscal year (FY) 2022 budgets for the commonwealth transportation fund, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the FY 2022-2027 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP), which allocates $24 billion to highway, rail and public transportation over the next six years. Among the recommended budget allocations for the commonwealth transportation fund budget are $47.8 million for the port trust fund, $26.7 million for aviation, $16.6 million for the space flight fund and $19.7 million for allocations and fees of the state’s department of motor vehicles. “The budgets and six-year program approved will advance our Commonwealth’s commitment to improving and maintaining infrastructure through the most critically needed projects,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine. “The range of projects included will allow us to build and sustain economic opportunity for all Virginians.” The SYIP funding also includes $17.2 billion for highways and $5.8 billion for rail and public transportation. In total, $24 billion was allocated using SYIP funding. VDOT’s Highway Construction Program provides funding to 3,700 projects and supported by $4.1 billion in funding provided by others. It also includes funding for the new Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program ($0.8 billion), the new Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program ($0.5 billion) and the new Special Structure funding program ($0.5 billion). DRPT’s SYIP approved $5.8 billion in allocations for rail and public transportation projects, including $4.2 billion for transit and transportation demand management initiatives and $1.6 billion for rail planning and preservation. VDOT’s FY 2022 budget has been set at $7.2 billion, and the state’s department of rail and public transportation has an $860.3 million budget for FY 2022.

BOISE, Idaho — Airport officials facing jet fuel shortages are concerned they’ll have to wave off planes and helicopters that drop fire retardants during what could be a ferocious wildfire season, potentially endangering surrounding communities. Sporadic shortages at some tanker bases in Oregon and Utah have already been reported. The worry is that multiple bases go dry simultaneously during what is shaping up to be a very busy wildfire season in the U.S. West. Tanker bases in Arizona, where many large fires are burning, have also had jet fuel supply issues in the last month. “We haven’t run into that before,” said Jessica Gardetto, a National Interagency Fire Center spokeswoman in Boise, Idaho, and a former wildland firefighter. “It’s a scary thought, with all the shortages going on right now.” Airport officials, aviation supply companies and jet fuel transport companies said jet fuel demand declined sharply and supply chains atrophied during the coronavirus pandemic. They have yet to bounce back in the Western U.S. even as the economy zooms ahead and more passengers flock to airports for long-delayed trips. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, jet fuel supplied in the U.S. in 2020 fell 38% compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Jet fuel demand has increased about 26% since the start of this year, though it hasn’t reached 2019 levels. The administration’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report for July 2 shows demand at 78% of 2019 levels. That’s up from 44% of 2019 levels for the same time period in 2020 when the pandemic had taken hold. Overall, the administration said, jet fuel inventories in the U.S. are at or above the five-year average, except in the Rocky Mountains, where they are 1% below. That appears to point to the supply chain as the potential problem, various industry officials said. “COVID, it lulled everybody to sleep,” said Mark Haynes, vice president of sales for Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Avfuel Corp., which supplies jet fuel across the U.S., including to about half of the nation’s 44 air tanker bases operated by the U.S. Forest Service or U.S. Bureau of Land Management in western states. Some states also maintain tanker bases. “Our business went to about zero,” Haynes said. “A lot of trucking companies had to lay off (jet fuel) drivers. What happened with the opening up of the U.S., demand for leisure travel has boomed.” Chris Kunkle is vice president of operations for the Central Coast Jet Center in Santa Maria, California. It’s a private airport known as a fixed based operator that provides services for private jets, such as refueling. It also serves as a Forest Service air tanker base, and is large enough for DC-10 air tankers. “In the blink of an eye, we can have a fire here within our response area that can bring in one to three DC-10s and a bunch of variable-sized air tankers,” he said. “We can go from a couple thousand gallons a day to 50,000 to 60,000 gallons.” He said he likes to keep 60,000 gallons at the airport, but is having trouble with limited deliveries. He fears running out if a large fire breaks out in the area. Decisions on where the fuel goes can be difficult. Commercial jet travel can be a huge economic driver in many communities. Air ambulances also need fuel. Industry officials said problems at large commercial carriers this year appear to have more to do with worker and pilot shortages than lack of jet fuel. Jeff Cyphers of Stockton, California-based Humboldt Pacific LCC, said he’s expanding the company’s fleet of 20 jet fuel tanker trucks to transport fuel to West Coast states and, during the wildfire season, Idaho, Montana and Utah. He said there’s currently both a shortage of drivers as well as jet fuel to deliver. “The supply chain right now is probably the most fragile I’ve ever seen in my years of experience,” said Cyphers, who has been in the industry since 1986. Most larger airports such as those in Denver, Seattle and Boise are supplied by pipeline. But many smaller, outlying airports such as those in Aspen, Colorado, and Jackson, Wyoming, and Hailey, Idaho, near the resort town of Sun Valley, rely on jet fuel delivery by truck. So do many of the airports with tanker bases, some of them hundreds of miles away from jet fuel refineries or pipelines. Cyphers said his company has even been trucking jet fuel to airports supplied by pipeline because they hadn’t received their full allocation of jet fuel. Hundreds of aircraft are used to fight wildfires each year. Most of the nation’s large retardant bombers are jets. Turboprop retardant bombers also use jet fuel. They lay down strips of red fire retardant ahead of approaching flames in support of ground crews who are more likely to hold a fire line after a retardant bomber has made a drop. Most firefighting helicopters also use jet fuel. It’s not clear if jet fuel supplies and delivery systems can be bolstered in time for this wildfire season to avoid potential problems keeping firefighting aircraft aloft if multiple large fires break out around the West. “Not this year,” predicted Cyphers, from the trucking company. “I could be wrong, but I don’t foresee them being able to bridge that gap.” By Keith Ridler, The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has signed into law the state’s first gasoline tax increase in decades. Longtime transportation funding advocate Parson signed the bill late Monday, July 12, according to spokesperson Kelli Jones. Parsons planned to attend ceremonial bill signings near Kansas City’s John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Memorial Bridge and at other infrastructure projects in the state on Tuesday. The law will gradually raise the state’s 17-cents-per-gallon gas tax to 29.5 cents over five years, with the option for buyers to get a refund if they keep track of their receipts. The first 2.5-cent increase is slated to take effect in October, which will bring the gas tax to 19.5 cents. The money will be used for Missouri’s roads and bridges. Once fully implemented, the gas tax hike could generate more than $500 million annually for state, county and city roads. But it’s unclear how much of that money governments will get to keep after some people request refunds. The Missouri Department of Transportation estimated that the state faces a $745 million annual funding gap for roads and bridges. A conservative advocacy group’s Missouri chapter launched an effort to put the gas tax hike to a public vote just days after lawmakers passed it. If Americans for Prosperity-Missouri collects enough voter signatures, the law will go before voters next year. Tax increases are widely unpopular among Missouri voters. Since voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1996 requiring all tax increases over a certain amount to go to a statewide vote, not a single general tax increase has passed. Most recently, voters in 2018 shot down a 10-cents-per-gallon tax increase that the legislature put on the ballot.